cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cross-Cultural Differences in the Influence of Peers on Exploration During Play.

Certain social context features (e.g., maternal presence) are known to increase young children's exploration, a key process by which they learn. Yet limited research investigates the role of social context, especially peer presence, in exploration across development. We investigate whether the effect of peer presence on exploration is mediated by age or cultural-specific experiences. We test its impact on exploration across development (2-11 years) and across cultures (United States and the Tsimane', indigenous farmer-foragers in Bolivia). Specifically, peer presence does not boost exploration among young U.S. children and becomes more inhibitory among school-age children. In contrast, peer presence facilitates exploration and provides an additional boost for older Tsimane' children, who differ from U.S. children in their cultural-specific learning experiences (e.g., formal education), among other differences. We discuss potential cultural factors and mechanisms by which peer presence may boost exploratory behavior.
When Mercy Seasons Justice

This monograph derives in large part from the University Lecture in Religion and Politics entitled, The Quality of Mercy and Common Dignity: Safeguarding The Last Right, and delivered at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, March 1, 2007. In June, 1994, the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs of the American Medical Association determined that physicians are not obligated, ethically, to deliver care which will not have a reasonable chance of benefitting their patients. For some, this policy has been the source for exploring the contemporary validity of the principle of medical futility. Accordingly, this monograph explores the rationale of this principle and concludes that its application should not be seen as causing or aiding a suicide but - rather - is viewed more correctly as a compassionate and merciful act of adjusted end-of-life care. Managing refractory pain in end-stage illnesses is a proper medical goal. And, legally, the validity of this goal has been recognized eloquently in a concurring opinion by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in a 1997 case before the United States Supreme Court styled Washington v. Glucksberg. Legislatively, the state of Oregon acted - in passing its Death with Dignity Act - to re-enforce the right of its citizens, who are terminally ill, to a humane death. The debate and defeat of the Assisted Dying for The Terminally Ill Act on May 12, 2006, by the British House of Lords, is analyzed as a contemporary paradigm of the complex socio-religious and medico-legal values at play in this area of concern. The conclusion drawn from the monograph is that the principle of medical futility is an equitable and tested mechanism to assist policy makers, legislatively, and legal and medical decision makers, in resolving conflicts over the nature and extent of the right to die with dignity. Tempering the attitudes of all those who participate in setting standards of normative conduct within the crucible of acceptable societal action here should be an awareness of the admonition that mercy should always season the administration of justice and an appreciation that the merciful receive, ultimately, mercy themselves.
A High-Fidelity Simulation Is Effective in Improving Athletic Training Students' Self-Efficacy with Emergency Cardiovascular Care Skills.

Context High-fidelity simulation can provide an ideal adjunct to clinical or real-world experience by providing a realistic and safe learning environment for the practice of low-incident encounters...
Acquired widespread lymphangiectasia mimicking immunobullous disease: A case report.

A 76-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a 3-year history of a recurrent pruritic eruption on the hips, thighs, and under the breasts associated with intermittent lesions resembling vesicles an...
Utilization and impact of peer-support programs on police officers' mental health

Police officer suicide rates hit an all-time high in the province of Ontario, Canada, in 2018. Sadly, this statistic is somewhat unsurprising, as research has shown that police officers suffer from higher rates of mental health disorder diagnoses compared to the general public. One key reason for the elevated levels of suicide and other mental health issues among police officers is believed to stem from the stigma associated with seeking help. In an attempt to address these serious issues, Ontario's police services have begun to create internal peer support programs as a way of supporting their members. The present research explores the experiences of police officers serving as peer-support team members, particularly with regards to the impacts of peer support. In addition, this research also examines the importance of discussing shared experiences regarding a lack of standardized procedures for the administration and implementation of peer support in relation to the Policy Feedback Theory. The Policy Feedback Theory (PFT) posits that, when a policy becomes established and resources are devoted to programs, it helps structure current activity. This study utilized a phenomenological, qualitative approach, with data collection consisting of face-to-face interviews with nine police officers serving on the York Regional Police's peer-support team. The findings revealed that peer support is more than just a "conversation"; rather, it suggests to contribute to enhancing mental health literacy among police officers, and it significantly contributes to stigma reduction. The findings also revealed that internal policy demonstrated an organizational commitment to mental health and peer-support, and that a provincial standard is necessary to ensure best practices and risk management in the creation and maintenance of peer-support programs.
Combinatorial Algorithms for Strain Level Metagenomic Microbial Detection and Quantification

Identifying and quantifying the microbial composition of a complex biological or environmental sample is one of the primary challenges in microbiology. Many software tools have been developed to classify metagenomic sequencing reads originating from a mixture of bacterial or viral genomes, and to estimate the microbial abundance profile of the mixture. Unfortunately the accuracy of these tools significantly degrade in the presence of large portions of shared content among the genomes in the mixture or the genomic database in use. Here we introduce CAMMiQ, a novel combinatorial solution to the microbial identification and abundance estimation problem, which improves all available tools with respect to the number of correctly classified reads (i.e., specificity) by an order of magnitude and resolves possible mixtures of similar genomes, possibly at the strain level. The key contribution of CAMMiQ is its use of arbitrary length, doubly-unique substrings, i.e. substrings that appear in exactly two genomes in the input database, instead of fixed-length, unique substrings. In order to resolve the ambiguity in the genomic origin of doubly-unique substrings, CAMMiQ employs a combinatorial optimization formulation, which can be solved surprisingly quickly. CAMMiQ9s index consists of a sparsified subset of the shortest unique and doubly-unique substrings of each genome in the database, within a user specified length range and as such it is fairly compact. In short, CAMMiQ offers more accurate genomic identification and abundance estimation than the best known k-mer based and marker gene based alternatives through the use of comparable computational resources. Availability: https://github.com/algo-cancer/CAMMiQ
Gradient Based Memory Editing for Task-Free Continual Learning

Prior work on continual learning often operate in a “task-aware” manner, by assuming that the task boundaries and identifies of the data examples are known at all times. While in practice, it is rarely the case that such information are exposed to the methods (i.e., thus called “task-free”)–a setting that is relatively underexplored. Recent attempts on task-free continual learning build on previous memory replay methods and focus on developing memory construction and replay strategies such that model performance over previously seen examples can be best retained. In this paper, looking from a complementary angle, we propose a novel approach to “edit” memory examples so that the edited memory can better retain past performance when they are replayed. We use gradient updates to edit memory examples so that they are more likely to be “forgotten” in the future. Experiments on five benchmark datasets show the proposed method can be seamlessly combined with baselines to significantly improve the performance.
A Practical Approach to Acute Postoperative Pain Management in Chronic Pain Patients

In the United States, more than 100 million people suffer from chronic pain. Among patients presenting for surgery, about one in four have chronic pain. Acute perioperative pain management in this population is challenging because many patients with chronic pain require long-term opioids for the management of this pain, which may result in tolerance, physical dependence, addiction, and opioid-induced hyperalgesia. These challenges are compounded by the ongoing opioid epidemic that has resulted in calls for a reduction in opioid use, with a concurrent increase in the number of patients with chronic opioid exposure presenting for surgery. This article aims to summarize practical considerations for acute postoperative pain management in patients with chronic pain conditions. A patient-centered acute pain management plan, including nonopioid analgesics, regional anesthesia, and careful selection of opioid medications, can lead to adequate analgesia and satisfaction with care. Also, a meticulous rotation from one opioid to another may decrease opioid requirement, increase analgesic effectiveness, and improve satisfaction with care.
Midkine in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in the developed countries. Midkine is expressed in prostate cancer but not in normal prostate, indicating that midkine can be used as a biomarker for diagnosis of prostate cancer. The levels of midkine expression are higher in the late stage and metastatic prostate tumors compared to the early stage prostate tumors, hinting at a potential use of midkine as a prognostic biomarker. However, no study has been conducted to evaluate serum midkine levels in diagnosis or prognosis of prostate cancer. Midkine expression is increased in several castration resistant prostate cancer cell lines, suggesting a possible role of midkine in development of castration resistant prostate cancer. Midkine expression is upregulated by several growth factors and cytokines including tumor necrosis factor α and androgens. Midkine has been shown to activate extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and p38 pathways, which is associated with cellular survival in LNCaP cells. Midkine siRNA and antisense oligos have been shown to inhibit PC3 cell growth in vitro and in vivo, which appears to synergize with chemotherapeutical drug paclitaxel. C-terminal peptides, small molecular weight compounds, and humanized monoclonal neutralizing antibodies hold potential in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.
Synthesis of Modality Definitions and a Theorem Prover for Epistemic Intuitionistic Logic

We propose a mechanism for automating discovery of definitions, that, when added to a logic system for which we have a theorem prover, extends it to support an embedding of a new logic system into it. As a result, the synthesized definitions, when added to the prover, implement a prover for the new logic.
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Validity of Self-Report Dietary Assessment in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis: Comparison with Doubly Labeled Water Measured Total Energy Expenditure

Background: Diet is a modifiable behavior of interest in multiple sclerosis (MS); however, measures of diet in persons with MS have not been vetted for feasibility, acceptability, and validity. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the Automated Self-Administered 24-H (ASA24) Dietary Assessment Tool in 30 persons with MS and 15 healthy control (HC) participants. Participants were prompted to complete six ASA24 recalls and undergo a standard doubly labeled water (DLW) protocol. Acceptability of ASA24 was assessed using an online questionnaire. Total energy expenditure (TEE) from DLW was compared with ASA24-reported energy intake for assessing validity. Results: All participants completed four or more ASA24 recalls, indicating feasibility of ASA24. Regarding acceptability, the hardest part of completing the ASA24 was remembering everything eaten the previous day. Pearson correlation coefficients between DLW TEE and ASA24 kcal/day were not significant among HC (r = 0.40; p = 0.14) or MS (r = 0.26; p = 0.16) participants. The absolute mean error between DLW TEE and ASA24 among HC participants was 694.96 ± 506.25 mean kcal/day and among MS participants was 585.37 ± 529.02 mean kcal/day; this represents a mean difference of 30 and 25%, respectively. Conclusion: This study established the feasibility and acceptability of ASA24 in persons with MS and provides a foundation regarding the need for further validation research examining appropriate outcomes for supporting dietary interventions.
Population based cohort study of fetal deaths, and neonatal and perinatal mortality at term within a Somali diaspora

BACKGROUND Somali women deliver at greater gestational age with limited information on the associated perinatal mortality. Our objective is to compare perinatal mortality among Somali women with the population rates. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study from all births that occurred in Minnesota between 2011 and 2017. Information was obtained from certificates of birth, and neonatal and fetal death. Data was abstracted from 470,550 non-anomalous births ≥37 and ≤ 42 weeks of gestation. The study population included U.S. born White, U.S. born Black, women born in Somalia or self-identified as Somali, and women who identified as Hispanic regardless of place of birth (377,426). We excluded births 42 weeks, > 1 fetus, age 45 years, or women of other ethnicities. The exposure was documented ethnicity or place of birth, and the outcomes were live birth, fetal death, neonatal death prior to 28 days, and perinatal mortality rates. These were calculated using binomial proportions with 95% confidence intervals and compared using odds ratios adjusted (aOR) for diabetes, hypertension and maternal body mass index. RESULTS The aOR [95%CI] for stillbirth rate in the Somali cohort was greater than for U.S. born White (2.05 [1.49-2.83]) and Hispanic women (1.90 [1.30-2.79]), but similar to U.S. born Black women (0.88 [0.57-1.34]). Neonatal death rates were greater than for U.S. born White (1.84 [1.36-2.48], U.S. born Black women (1.47 [1.04-2.06]) and Hispanic women (1.47 [1.05-2.06]). This did not change after analysis was restricted to those with spontaneous onset of labor. When analyzed by week, at 42 weeks Somali aOR for neonatal death was the same as for U.S. born White women, but compared against U.S. born Black and Hispanic women, was significantly lower. CONCLUSIONS The later mean gestational age at delivery among women of Somali ethnicity is associated with greater overall risk for stillbirth and neonatal death rates at term, except compared against U.S. born Black women with whom stillbirth rates were not different. At 42 weeks, Somali neonatal mortality decreased and was comparable to that of the U.S. born White population and was lower than that of the other minorities.
The Effect of the Afl-Cio's 'Voter Education' Campaign on the 1996 House Elections

Analysis of the effects of the AFL-CIO's "voter education" campaigns aimed at House Republicans in 1996 indicates that they were highly effective against targeted freshmen but not against more senior Republicans. Indeed, labor can plausibly claim responsibility for defeating a majority of the first-term losers. Thus, money spent outside the regular campaigns on "voter education" can have a major effect on election results, especially if it is spent against incumbents. Labor's efforts did not succeed in delivering the House to the Democrats, however, because too many of the Democratic candidates and campaigns fell too far short on their own for labor's help to put them over the top.
On the use of suborbital drone imaging and in-situ calibrations of the water surface for characterization of water waves: a space-time imaging approach

Remote sensing technologies are useful tools when gathering spatial and temporal information about dynamic coastal regions. A method is presented using an in-situ space-time drone imaging technique for evaluating wave periods and wavelengths of surface water waves in shallow urban coastal water environments. High-definition drone video imagery (viewed near-nadir) of shallow water waves was acquired and time synchronized with littoral video imagery. Drone video imagery records of a wave patch with reflected sun glint and non-affected sun glint surface water waves facets, staff gauges, and a simultaneously deployed line target were used to determine wave periods and wavelengths. Time series analyses was applied to the video derived time series imagery. Wave energy spectrums can be extracted and used to simulate synthetic images using a gravity wave model based upon a Weibull probability distribution that simulates the sea state. Applications in shallow water coastal environments continue to benefit from knowledge of wind driven water waves. Data extracted from the Banana River in Florida was used to determine the procedure and techniques.
Murder and Suicide

When murine B-lymphoma cells are activated by crosslinking their membrane IgM receptors, they show evanescent myc transcription, growth arrest mediated by an increase in p27, and then undergo programmed cell death. Our laboratory has previously shown that the initiation of this process requires the activation of src-family protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) via their association with the ITAM (Immunoreceptor Tyrosine Activation Motif) in the Ig-associated proteins, Igα and Igβ. While PTK activation is required for growth arrest and apoptosis, it is not sufficient since mutation of critical tyrosines in the ITAM may allow for initial phosphorylation events, but no apoptosis. To explore the role of these kinases in apoptosis, we transfected both T cell and B cell lymphomas with CD8-PTK chimeric fusion proteins and found that only CD8-syk crosslinking led to cell death in the A1.1 T cell line; none of the B cell transfectants were responsive to CD8 crosslinking. Interestingly, many of the T cell transfectants showed strong PTK activation, but no measurable biologic response. Thus, initial signaling (chemistry) need not have cellular consequences (biology). To examine the role of c-myc in B cell apoptosis, we used antisense for c-myc and found that it prevented the loss of message for this oncogene and blocked apoptosis; antisense oligos for p27 also blocked cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Interestingly, treatment of B cell lymphomas with dexamethasone augmented apoptosis induced by receptor crosslinking, whereas it blocked anti-TCR-mediated apoptosis in T cells. We propose that myc is critically regulated by dexamethasone in establishing the responsiveness of T versus B cell lines. In addition, receptor crosslinking led to FasL expression and suicide in T cell lines but not in B lymphomas. Although B cells are sensitive to Fas-mediated death, anti-IgM-driven B cell apoptosis appears to be Fas-independent. These data suggest that T and B cell apoptosis may be independently regulated to maintain the integrity of the immune system, and that myc transcription plays a pivotal role in this process.
Infrared Photochemistry of Gas Phase Ions

Experiments involving molecules which are truly isolated for time periods .exceeding several milliseconds require special techniques for particle storage at low pressure. In the case of charged species, crossed electric and magnetic fields can be used to restrain particle motion for time periods exceeding several hours, establishing conditions in the laboratory which exist in nature only in the interstellar medium. The phenomenon of ion cyclotron resonance provides a sensitive and selective means to detect charged particles stored in a magnetic field. At pressure below 10 torr stored ions are forced to maintain equilibrium with their environment by the absorption and emission of infrared radiation rather than in collisions with other molecules. Infrared lasers offer the possibility of upsetting this equilibrium by exposing molecules to an enormous photon flux at specific wavelengths. What fraction of the ion population will absorb infrared radiation at a specific wavelength? Can more than one photon be absorbed?
Pronounced and Extensive Microtubule Defects in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae DIS3 Mutant

Subunits of the RNA processing exosome assemble into structurally distinct protein complexes that function in disparate cellular compartments and RNA metabolic pathways. Here, in a genetic, cell biological and transcriptomic analysis, we examined the role of Dis3, an essential polypeptide with endo- and 3'→5' exo-ribonuclease activity, in cell cycle progression. We present several lines of evidence that perturbation of DIS3 affects microtubule (MT) localization and structure in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cells with a DIS3 mutant: (a) accumulate anaphase and pre-anaphase mitotic spindles; (b) exhibit spindles that are misorientated and displaced from the bud neck; (c) harbour elongated spindle-associated astral MTs; (d) have an increased G1 astral MT length and number; and (e) are hypersensitive to MT poisons. Mutations in the core exosome genes RRP4 and MTR3 and the exosome cofactor gene MTR4, but not other exosome subunit gene mutants, also elicit MT phenotypes. RNA deep sequencing analysis (RNA-seq) shows broad changes in the levels of cell cycle- and MT-related transcripts in mutant strains. Collectively, the data presented in this study suggest an evolutionarily conserved role for Dis3 in linking RNA metabolism, MTs and cell cycle progression.
Second opinions on elective surgery. The Cornell/New York Hospital study

Programmes for securing second opinions on elective surgery are designed to help patients make a more informed decision once elective surgery has been recommended. The patient is assessed before surgery is performed, which allows alternatives to be considered. The Cornell/New York Hospital second opinion programme is the only one to have accumulated statistics on voluntary and mandatory programmes. Data from the mandatory programme showed that 18.7% of the 6799 patients screened were no confirmed for surgery. Follow-up data at one year showed that 67.5% of the unconfirmed patients had not in fact had surgery. A cost-benefit analysis showed that for every $1.00 spent there was a benefit of $2.63.
SCENARIOS AND ACCEPTANCE OF FORECASTS

Scenarios are stories that depict some future event. We reviewed the research in which scenarios were created either by researchers or by research participants with or without structured guidelines. Regardless of how scenarios are created, they have been shown to alter people’s expectations about the depicted events. Evidence suggests that the ease with which a scenario is imagined or constructed, or the plausibility of a scenario, upwardly biases beliefs that the depicted event could occur. In some instances, attitudes or behaviors consistent with the altered expectancies have been observed. For example, persons who imagined subscribing to cable television were more likely to have favorable attitudes toward cable television and to subscribe than those receiving standard sales information, and mental health clinic clients who imagined remaining in therapy for at least four sessions were less likely to drop out prematurely than clients who simply received information on remaining in therapy. Practitioners who wish to alter clients’ expectancies regarding specific events can provide scenarios that (a) depict the occurrence of an event using concrete examples (not abstract information), (b) contain representative events, (c) contain easily recalled supporting evidence, (d) contain events linked by causal connections, (e) ask clients to project themselves into the situation, (f) require clients to describe how they acted and felt in the situation, (g) use plausible elements in the story, (h) include reasons why the events occur, (i) require clients to explain the outcomes, (j) take into account clients’ experiences with the topic, and (k) avoid causing reactance or boomerang effects in clients who might resent blatant influence attempts. We make additional recommendations concerning the situation in which clients are exposed to scenarios and the use of multiple scenarios.
Phenylalanine hydroxylation by Pseudomonas species (ATCC 11299a). Nature of the cofactor.

Abstract The phenylalanine hydroxylase cofactor from Pseudomonas species (ATCC 11299a) has been purified. The techniques used included dialysis, Florisil chromatography, carboxymethyl Sephadex chromatography, and paper chromatography with butyl alcohol-acetic acid-H2O as solvent. After oxidation of the purified material, several pteridines were isolated. The major component was shown to be 2-amino-4-hydroxy - 6 -(l - threotrihydroxypropyl) pteridine, l - threoneopterin. Also present were 6-carboxypterin, pterin, and xanthopterin. Some evidence was also obtained for the presence of erythroneopterin and a cyclic phosphate of neopterin. The observations suggest that the phenylalanine hydroxylase cofactor from Pseudomonas is reduced l-threoneopterin.
Focusing of 28.5 GeV electron and positron beams in meter-long plasmas

Plasmas can focus both electron and positron beams. However, while the incoming Gaussian transverse profile of an electron beam is preserved upon focusing, the focusing of a positron beam by a long, high-density plasma results in a tightly focused core with the formation of a charge halo. The plasma acts on the positron beam as focusing element with transverse and longitudinal aberrations. The analysis of the focused positron beam transverse profiles is presented here.
A circuit component placer for optimizing layout with arbitrarily shaped rectilinear and soft blocks

A novel circuit component placement algorithm to place arbitrarily shaped rectilinear and soft blocks is proposed. Experimental results on randomly generated cases and industrial examples demonstrate that the algorithm can both find a very compact placement and minimize the wire length. >
Distress screening, rater agreement, and services in pediatric oncology.

Objective: Empirically based data support the validity of the distress thermometer recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network as a standard screen for patient distress. However, the feasibility and utility of the distress thermometer has not been studied in the pediatric oncology setting. We conducted a study to: (1) investigate the validity of an adapted distress thermometer with pediatric oncology patients, (2) assess the degree of agreement among different respondents, including physician and psychosocial staff, with respect to (a) the pediatric cancer patient's distress and (b) the caregiver/parent's distress, and (3) to evaluate the relationship between distress levels and the psychosocial services provided to patients and families. Methods: Ninety-one patients and their English and Spanish-speaking caregivers were prospectively assessed at 3-month intervals for 1 year. The quantity of psychosocial services provided to each family was logged for a 12-month period. Results: Convergent validity was demonstrated by reasonable agreement between the pediatric distress rating tool and standardized measures. Additionally, the demographic and medical predictors of distress were consistent with previously reported findings using more extensive assessment. There was reasonable agreement among multiple raters of the child's distress; however, there was discrepancy between self-ratings of caregiver distress and psychosocial staff ratings of caregiver distress. This difference in perception impacted the quantity of psychosocial services provided following the baseline assessment. Conclusion: The single-item distress thermometer is a viable option as a rapid screening tool of patient and caregiver distress to help efficiently identify those who should be evaluated further. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of on-Line Laboratory Computer Analysis to Fast Neutron Activation Oxygen Determinations

The development of an on-line laboratory computer analysis system designed for routine high volume oxygen determinations is discussed. The system is based on the detection of 16N photopeaks from the 16O(n,p)16N reaction occurring during fast neutron irradiation. A system interface has been designed and constructed which is capable of controlling the Kaman 710 neutron generator, the sample transfer system, switching the BF3 beam monitor detector or NaI(Tl) detector outputs as required to a multichannel scaling MCA, and proper sequencing of the procedure. In addition, specific software has been developed for the control of the system during acquisition as well as evaluation of the MCS spectra generated.
Characterization of cytochalasin B binding to adult rat liver parenchymal cells in primary culture.

Abstract The characterization of cytochalasin B binding and the resulting effect on hexose transport in rat liver parenchymal cells in primary culture were studied. The cells were isolated from adult rats by perfusing the liver in situ with collagenase and separating the hepatocytes from the other cell types by differential centrifugation. The cells were established in primary culture on collagen-coated dishes. The binding of [4-3H]cytochalasin B and transport of 3-O- methyl - D -[ 14 C]glucose into cells were investigated in monolayer culture followed by digestion of cells and scintillation counting of radioactivity. The binding of cytochalasin B to cells was rapid and reversible with association and dissociation being essentially complete within 2 min. Analysis of the kinetics of cytochalasin B binding by Scatchard plots revealed that binding was biphasic, with the parenchymal cell being extremely rich in high-affinity binding sites. The high-affinity site, thought to be the glucose-transport carrier, exhibited a KD of 2.86 · 10−7 M, while the low-affinity site had a KD of 1.13 · 10−5M. Sugar transport was monitored by 3-O- methyl - D - glucose uptake and it was found that cytochalasin B (10−5M) drastically inhibited transport. However, D -glucose (10−5M) did not displace cytochalasin B, and cytochalasin E, which does not inhibit transport, was competitive for cytochalasin B at only the low-affinity site, demonstrating that the cytochalasin B inhibition of sugar transport occurs at the high-affinity site but that the inhibition is non-competitive in nature. Therefore, the liver parenchymal cells may represent an unusually rich source of glucose-transport system which may be useful in the isolation of this important membrane carrier.
Phosphatidylcholine breakdown and signal transduction

PC hydrolysis by PLA2, PLC or PLD is a widespread response elicited by most growth factors, cytokines, neurotransmitters, hormones and other extracellular signals. The mechanisms can involve G-proteins, PKC, Ca2+ and tyrosine kinase activities. Although an agonist-responsive cytosolic PLA2 has been purified, cloned and sequenced, the agonist-responsive form(s) of PC-PLC has not been identified and no form of PC-PLD has been purified or cloned. Regulation of PLA2 by Ca2+ and MAPK is well established and involves membrane translocation and phosphorylation, respectively. PKC regulation of the enzyme in intact cells is probably mediated by MAPK. The question of G-protein control of PLA2 remains controversial since the nature of the G-protein is unknown and it is not established that its interaction with the enzyme is direct or not. Growth factor regulation of PLA2 involves tyrosine kinase activity, but not necessarily PKC. It may be mediated by MAPK. The physiological significance of PLA2 activation is undoubtedly related to the release of AA for eicosanoid production, but the LPC formed may have actions also. There is much evidence that PKC regulates PC-PLC and PC-PLD and this is probably a major mechanism by which agonists that promote PI hydrolysis secondarily activate PC hydrolysis. Since no agonist-responsive forms of either phospholipase have been isolated, it is not clear that PKC exerts its effects directly on the enzymes. Although it is assumed that a phosphorylation mechanism is involved, this may not be the case, and regulation may be by protein-protein interactions. G-protein control of PC-PLD is well-established, although, again, it has not been demonstrated that this is direct, and the nature of the G-protein(s) involved is unknown. In some cell types, there is evidence of the participation of a soluble protein, which may be a low Mr GTP-binding protein. What role this plays in the activation of PC-PLD is obscure. Agonist activation of PC hydrolysis in cells is usually Ca(2+)-dependent, but the step at which Ca2+ is involved is unclear, since PC-PLD and PC-PLC per se are not influenced by physiological concentrations of the ion. Most growth factors promote PC hydrolysis and this is mainly due to activation of PKC as a result of PI breakdown. However, in some cases, PC breakdown occurs in the absence of PI hydrolysis, implying another mechanism that does not involve PI-derived DAG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Differential expectations and realities: race, socioeconomic status and health of the oldest-old

Comparisons by race indicate that African Americans are significantly more disadvantaged than whites in their socioeconomic status. Despite complaints about their situation, however, African Americans report that their situation is better than they had expected. Although they perceive their health as poorer than whites, they are no more disabled functionally, and they have significantly better morale. Within-group correlations find the predictable associations between socioeconomic status and physical, psychological, and social outcomes for both groups. Nevertheless, both qualitative and quantitative data indicate that economic well-being is related to the congruence between expectations and the realities of life in advanced old age, making objective and subjective factors of similar importance.
Abnormal RNA splicing causes one form of α thalassemia

The alpha 2-globin gene from a patient with alpha thalassemia contains a pentanucleotide deletion in intron 1 immediately adjacent to exon 1. We tested the functional consequences of this mutation by introducing the thalassemic gene, along with its normal counterpart as a control, into cultured monkey cells on SV40 plasmid vectors. Both genes are expressed, at similar levels, into globin RNA with the correct 5' and 3' ends. However, while most of the normal transcripts are appropriately processed, the thalassemic transcripts are abnormally spliced from a 5' donor site in the middle of exon 1 to the normal 3' acceptor site. This results in the synthesis of a truncated RNA incapable of encoding a normal globin polypeptide. The alternative donor, also used at a low level in monkey cells transfected with the normal gene, shows strong homology to the consensus donor sequence characteristic of many eucaryotic splice junctions. No unspliced or partially spliced thalassemic RNA was detected, indicating that recognition of this site is efficient and does not block removal of intron 2. The alternatively spliced RNA was also found in bone marrow RNA from the alpha-thalassemic patient, although not in that from a normal individual or a beta +-thalassemic patient. The thalassemic phenotype of the patient therefore results from abnormal RNA splicing owing to the deletion of the first splice donor signal.
Expert managers of uncertainty: intermediaries of capital in Hong Kong

Abstract Intermediaries of capital include firms and individuals in commercial and investment banking, commodity export and import, money management, and multinational corporate management. Those who operate in Hong Kong control and coordinate the exchange of capital within Asia and between Asia and the rest of the world, but they face a new regime after China regains control. This momentous transformation elicits widespread speculation about the future of Hong Kong as the global metropolis for Asia. Uncertainty unleashed by this change, nevertheless, follows a long history of uncertainty that these intermediaries have experienced in Asian trade and finance. The worst case scenario of turmoil in China that spreads to Hong Kong also leaves other Asian business centers vulnerable to economic disruption. Internal disruption in Hong Kong stands as a possibility, but past actions of its citizens imply that those will remain muted, with limited economic ramifications. Much of the uncertainty about Hong Kong is rooted in questions about how China will manage it. The engagement of leading firms and others in Hong Kong with China, however, demonstrates that they do not have a dire view of the future. Their business networks give them access to information about opportunities for investment and risks associated with them. They have extensive experience working with government and private firms in China, and they know how to deal with connections as a means of transacting business. Actions of the United States government may generate as much uncertainty as actions of the Chinese government.
A simple network thermodynamic method for modeling series-parallel coupled flows. I. The linear case.

Abstract A linear network thermodynamic approach to coupled flows through biological structures is developed based on the techniques introduced by Peusner (1970) who developed a means by which electrical network diagrams could be used to represent the flow-force equations of non-equilibrium thermodynamics. In this work, Peusner's methods are extended and elaborated, and a complete linear theory is presented. In further work in this series a non-linear theory is built upon the linear theory and applied to coupled flows through such tissues as epithelia. The network technique used here resembles the equivalent circuit approach used extensively to treat ion flows in cell and epithelial membranes (Finkelstein & Mauro, 1963). The major distinction is that the equivalent circuit approach was developed for independent ionic currents while the network thermodynamic approach deals explicity with the coupling in a multicompartment system. Using an obvious analogy between Kirchhoff's laws in electrical circuits and the conservation laws of continuum physics as applied to mass transport and chemical reactions, a purely topological argument leads to a proof of Tellegen's quasi-power theorem. From this Onsager reciprocity follows almost trivially for this kind of linear system and can be extended into the non-linear domain for certain non-linear systems. Tellegen's theorem also leads to a version of the minimum dissipation theorem in a rather elegant manner. Apart from the ease in obtaining these general theorems, the network approach has the advantage of giving a method for examining the effects of organizational or topological influences in any experimental design and allows for sorting out effects which arise from specific molecular properties (the properties of the hardware in the circuits) and those properties which arise from the way the systems are connected (topology). Methods are given for combining linear n -ports in series and parallel, reducing them symbolically to 1-ports connected in the same topology, Making sure that the computations are compatible with matrix algebra, the result of ordinary circuit analysis is used to deduce the matrix algebraic analysis appropriate for the n -port system from the solution to the 1-port circuit. The methods are applied to the Curran-MacIntosh model for isotonic transport in a series membrane system. The result shows how the membrane structure determines the composition of transported fluid independent of pump rate. In Appendix A, the relation between the network approach and Lagrangian mechanics is developed. In Appendix B, the method for dealing with time dependencies by using capacitors is illustrated using the osmotic transient as an example. In the thirdand final Appendix, the relationship between network thermodynamics and the reductionist philosophy that underlies so much of modern molecular biology is briefly examined.
The examination of the underlying dimensions of information quality to create a research instrument

This study examines information quality in the context of clinical decision making by nurses in hospitals in the USA. The study uncovers underlying dimensions of the information quality construct. These dimensions are used to develop a questionnaire to measure information quality. The instrument is validated through a research process that includes a pretest, pilot test and survey. Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) from 214 hospitals completed the survey. Their responses were used to confirm the validity and reliability of the instrument. The instrument can be used in studies examining information quality as either a dependent or independent variable.
Structure-Activity Studies on the Cleavage of an RNA Analogue by a Potent Dinuclear Metal Ion Catalyst: Effect of Changing the Metal Ion

Dinuclear Cd(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes of L2OH (L2OH = 1,3-bis(1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropane) are compared as catalysts for cleavage of the RNA analogue HpPNP (HpPNP = 2-hydro...
Probing non-Born-Oppenheimer dynamics and conical intersections in polyatomic molecules using two-color femtosecond XUV pulses

We measured correlated photoions and photoelectrons in a violet ultraviolet pump and extreme ultraviolet probe scheme to trace the non-Born-Oppenheimer dynamics of isomerization of ethylene and ring opening of cyclo-hexadiene.
Fitting psychometric models with methods based on automatic differentiation

Quantitative psychology is concerned with the development and application of mathematical models in the behavioral sciences. Over time, models have become more complex, a consequence of the increasing complexity of research designs and experimental data, which is also a consequence of the utility of mathematical models in the science. As models have become more elaborate, the problems of estimating them have become increasingly challenging. This paper gives an introduction to a computing tool called automatic differentiation that is useful in calculating derivatives needed to estimate a model. As its name implies, automatic differentiation works in a routine way to produce derivatives accurately and quickly. Because so many features of model development require derivatives, the method has considerable potential in psychometric work. This paper reviews several examples to demonstrate how the methodology can be applied.
Nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon pools in natural and transplanted marsh soils

Total nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon were compared in natural and transplanted estuarine marsh soils (top 30 cm) to assess nutrient storage in transplanted marshes. Soils were sampled in five transplanted marshes ranging in age from 1 to 15 yr and in five nearby natural marshes along the North Carolina coast. Dry weight of macroorganic matter (MOM), soil bulk density, pH, humic matter, and extractable P also were measured. Nutrient pools increased with increasing marsh age and hydroperiod. Nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon pools were largest in soils of irregularly flooded natural marshes. The contribution of MOM to marsh nutrient reservoirs was 6–45%, 2–22%, and 1–7% of the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. Rates of nutrient accumulation in transplanted marshes ranged from 2.6–10.0, 0.03–1.10, and 84–218 kmol ha−1yr−1 of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon, respectively. Accumulation rates were greater in the irregularly flooded marshes compared to the regularly flooded marshes. Approximately 11 to 12% and 20% of the net primary production of emergent vegetation was buried in sediments of the regularly flooded and irregularly flooded transplanted marshes, respectively. Macroorganic matter nutrient pools develop rapidly in transplanted marshes and may approximate natural marshes within 15 to 30 yr. However, development of soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus reservoirs takes considerably longer.
A simple technique for detection and quantitation of lactose synthesis and secretion.

Abstract A combination of high specific activity [14C]glucose, two-dimensional chromatography, and autoradiography can be utilized to follow the flow of glucose carbon into lactose and various intermediary metabolites of the mammary gland. The technique described requires a minimum amount of tissue manipulation, is quantitative, utilizes microgram quantities of sample, and can be used for tissue pieces, single cell suspensions, and cells in culture. Clean separation of lactose from intermediates of glucose metabolism in a single chromatogram will aid the study of the regulation of mammary-specific functions.
Number of Response Categories and Statistics on a Teacher Rating Scale.

Each of six forms of a 10-item teacher evaluation rating scale, having 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 response categories per form, was administered to over 100 students at a Pacific Coast college. Means of item responses increased linearly and item variances increased curvilinearly with number of response categories. Internal consistency reliability coefficients (alpha) of total scores did not change systematically with increases in the number of response categories.
Non-linear absorption of soil water from a disc source

IN'on-linear absorption of water from a surface-disc source is examined. The solution can be evaluated only by numerical techniques. However, results can be generalized in a dimensionless form invariant to disc radius, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and capillary length. Gravity effects are negligible for small time and for small disc radii. For the limiting effect of gravity for large times, Wooding's equation gives the ratio of excess flow due to gravity as ~r0/(4~) compared to 1, where ro is the disc radius and ~¢ the capillary length. Examples are presented by using two sets of empirical hydraulic functions as well as an estimate of the product of saturated hydraulic conductivity and capillary length from field data. Key word~: disc sources, soil water, inflltmdon.
Estrogen production by luteal cells isolated from rhesus monkeys during the menstrual cycle: correlation with spontaneous luteolysis.

To assess the hypothesis that luteolysis in primates may occur as a consequence of estrogen secretion by the corpus luteum, the production of estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and progesterone (P) was examined in suspensions of luteal cells isolated from corpora lutea of rhesus monkeys at various stages of the menstrual cycle. Cells were obtained on days 16–19 (5-7 days after the preovulatory LH peak), days 21-22 (8-10 days after the LH surge), and days 23-25 (11-14 days after the LH surge) of the menstrual cycle. Under basal conditions (no exogenous hormones), day 16–19 cells secreted picogram quantities (per 5 × 104 cells/ml nutrient medium) of E2 and E1 compared to nanogram amounts of P for up to 6 h in vitro. Estrogen production by day 16–19 cells was significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced by as little as 0.1 ng/ml hCG, with a maximal response at 100 ng/ml. Under basal conditions, day 16–19 cells produced significantly greater amounts of E2 than E1, whereas day 21-22 cells synthesized similar quantitites of th...