cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution and the scientific method.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating age related disease that currently effects as many as 4 million Americans. It has, and as the “graying” of America proceeds, will continue to have a dramatic impact on our social, health and economic capabilities. Although we have made immense progress in the understanding of the disease, its cure has yet to be realized. In 1906 Alois Alzheimer described unusual clumps and tangled fibers in the brain of a deceased woman. These clumps and tangles are now known to be deposits of amyloid(A ) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) of hyperphosphorylated tau respectively. These features remain the defining characteristics of the AD brain and understanding their relationship to the progression of the disease will almost certainly be key to finding a cure for AD. Deposits of A , or plaques, in addition to being a key morphologic feature of the AD brain, have been a driving force guiding much of the AD research of the past several decades. This body of work has led to what is now known as the “amyloid hypothesis.” This hypothesis states that progressive accumulation of A within the brain initiates a complicated cascade of events that ultimately results in neuronal dysfunction and loss [14]. This cascade involves multiple cell types and signal transduction pathways that result in a wide variety of functional and structural changes in the brain. In this review, Robinson and Bishop take an alternative look at the existing data and propose a “bioflocculant hypothesis” for the function of A in normal aging as well as in the AD brain. This hypothesis proposes that A functions as a neuroprotectant by binding to extracellular neurotoxic solutes. A then precipitates into plaques thereby capturing these toxic agents and presenting them for efficient phagocytic removal. Much of the review and criticism of the data supporting the amyloid hypothesis presented by Robinson and Bishop focuses on the role of mature A plaques in the pathogenesis of AD. However, as the amyloid hypothesis has evolved, focus into the toxic role of A has turned from these mature
Effect of food concentration on the carbon balance of Bosmina longirostris (Crustacea: Cladocera)

SUMMARY. 1. The carbon balance of the small cladoceran, Bosmina longirostris, was examined at four food concentrations (0,05, 0.10, 0.25, 2.50mg C 1-−1) based on long-term growth experiments. 2. At birth, B. longirostris allocated about 60% of assimilation to body growth at all food concentrations. However, allocation to body growth decreased with age and was less than 5% after the fourth instar at the lowest food concentration. The proportion allocated to reproduction increased with increasing food concentration, but was relatively constant among different adult instars. 3. Assimilation rate increased with increasing food concentration and increasing body size: the mean rate from birth to 15 days was 6.6 times higher at the highest food concentration than at the lowest food concentration. However, with decreasing food concentration and increasing body size, a higher proportion of the assimilated carbon was lost as respiration. As a result, the net production rate reached a plateau at intermediate body size and was 9.1 times higher at the highest food concentration than at the lowest food concentration. 4. Comparison with previous studies revealed that B. longirostris is more efficient than Daphnia with regard to carbon production, especially at low food conditions, if the death rate is negligible.
Probable rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder increases risk for mild cognitive impairment and Parkinson disease: a population-based study.

Objective REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is associated with neurodegenerative disease and particularly with the synucleinopathies. Convenience samples involving subjects with idiopathic RBD have suggested an increased risk of incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia (usually dementia with Lewy bodies) or Parkinson’s disease (PD). There is no data on such risk in a population-based sample.
A study of transfer RNA, total RNA and protein interrelationships in control and stressed isolated perfused rat hearts

Abstract The active biosynthesis of RNA by the isolated perfused rat heart preparation was demonstrated. Incorporation of precursor label was directly related to the oxygen tension of perfusing solutions. Either nucleoside or base was extracted from the perfusate and incorporated into myocardial RNA. The study confirms the operation of the nucleoside kinase and the purine pyrophosphorylase reactions. Incorporation of nucleoside into RNA was preferential and incorporation into DNA was negligible. Rapid charging of tRNA with [3H]leucine was observed. This label was rapidly chased from tRNA and was incorporated into protein. There was no significant difference in the incorporation of [3H]leucine into myosin or nonmyosin cardiac fractions. During acute ischemia the incorporation of [3H]leucine into protein was reduced. After surgically induced constriction of the aorta, [3H]leucine-tRNA saturation fell below the control level. The significance of these findings is discussed in terms of integrative mechanisms of protein synthesis during ischemic and hemodynamic stress.
An alternative analysis of low- and high-altitude observations of ring current ions during a storm recovery phase

Explorer 45 equatorial observations of ring current ions during a storm recovery phase have shown pitch angle distributions and decay rates inconsistent with proton charge exchange with neutral hydrogen. This inconsistency has led to the suggestion that recovery phase ring current ions at L less than or equal to 4 and energies not greater than 50 keV are dominated by He(+) rather than protons. The absence of He(+) on flux tubes from which H(+) and O(+) were precipitating in ion mass spectrometer measurements made during the same period by the low-altitude polar-orbiting satellite 1971-089A led Sharp et al. to suggest a source of H(+) and O(+) to L = 3 during this period. An alternative explanation, in which the magnetic field lines labeled L = 3 at the earth's surface near local midnight were mapped to about 3.7 earth radii in the equatorial plane during the storm recovery phase and during the period of enhanced activity, is proposed. If the proposed explanation is correct, the observations of Sharp et al. are not incompatible with the conclusion that the recovery phase ions at less than 50 keV were dominated by He(+) for L not greater than 3.7.
Risk-constrained FTR bidding strategy in transmission markets

In electricity markets, financial transmission right is an important instrument for hedging congestion charges. There are two types of financial transmission rights: point-to-point right (FTR) and flow-based right (FGR). This paper proposes a risk-constrained FTR bidding strategy in transmission auction markets. Based on the forecasted LMP differences between sink and source points of certain FTRs, bidders try to maximize their expected payoffs by taking into account the associated risks. Supposing the forecasted distribution of LMP differences and bidders' risk preferences are known to respective bidders, the FTR bidding problem is modeled as a bilevel optimization with the upper subproblem representing bidders and the lower subproblem representing the solution to the ISO's FTR market clearing problem for maximizing the revenues collected from the FTR auction. The bilevel optimization problem is solved by developing the sensitivity of a bidder's expected utility with respect to its bidding strategy. A three-bus system with four bidders is considered for illustrating the proposed method. The numerical results discuss the distinction between FTR obligation and FTR option bidding strategies. The results further demonstrate the impact of contingency constraints, forecasted LMP differences, and bidders' preferred risk levels on FTR bidding strategies.
Energy Function Theory and Direct Methods

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Energy Functions Energy Function Theory Estimating Stability Region Using Energy Functions Optimal Schemes for Estimating Stability Regions Quasi-Stability Region and Energy Function Conclusion
Serotonin Syndrome Induced by Fluvoxamine and Mirtazapine

OBJECTIVE:To document a case of serotonin syndrome associated with the combined use of fluvoxamine and mirtazapine, and to discuss the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions that were the likely causes of this potentially serious adverse drug reaction (ADR).CASE SUMMARY:A 26-year-old white woman with a 12-year history of anorexia nervosa was being treated with fluvoxamine. After mirtazapine was added to her therapy, she developed tremors, restlessness, twitching, flushing, diaphoresis, and nausea, symptoms that are consistent with serotonin syndrome.DISCUSSION:The possible causes of this ADR are discussed, including the effects of fluvoxamine and mirtazapine alone, the possible pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions of these two drugs, and the patient's underlying anorexia nervosa.CONCLUSIONS:An increasing number of drugs that affect serotonin are available and are indicated for various disorders. Since there is a significant likelihood of these agents being prescribed concomitantly, c...
Detection of calibration drifts in spaceborne microwave radiometers using a vicarious cold reference

The coldest possible brightness temperatures observed by a downward-looking microwave radiometer from space are often produced by calm oceans under cloud-free skies and very low humidity. This set of conditions tends to occur with sufficient regularity that an orbiting radiometer will accumulate a useful number of observations within a period of a few days to weeks. Histograms of the radiometer's coldest measurements provide an anchor point against which very small drifts in absolute calibration can be detected. This technique is applied to the TOPEX microwave radiometer (TMR), and a statistically significant drift of several tenths of a Kelvin per year is clearly detected in one of the channels. TMR housekeeping calibration data indicates a likely cause for the drift, as small changes in the isolation of latching ferrite circulators that are used in the onboard calibration-switch assembly. This method can easily be adapted to other microwave radiometers, especially imagers operating at frequencies in the atmospheric windows. In addition to detecting long-term instrument drifts with high precision, the method also provides a means for cross-calibrating different instruments. The cold reference provides a common tie point, even between sensors operating at different polarizations and/or incidence angles.
Agricultural landscape change (1937-2002) in three townships in Iowa, USA

While agricultural landscape change over the course of 20th century has generally resulted in substantial gains in productivity, there is growing concern that the spatially uniform, functionally homogenized agricultural landscapes lack both environmental resilience and socioeconomic sustainability. The State of Iowa, USA provides a specific example where agriculture is highly developed and functions in a highly modified, human-dominated landscape; yet, few spatially explicit, comprehensive, and consistent data are available from which to assess change. To begin filling this gap, we digitized land cover information from aerial photographs for three Iowa townships (Orient Township in Adair County, Bloomfield Township in Clinton County, and Denmark Township in Emmet County) at five time steps between 1937 and 2002 and analyzed landscape change using a case study approach, landscape metrics, and graphical analysis. Results showed several consistent patterns across townships, including increased area devoted to row crops; decreased area devoted to small grains, hay, and grass; decreased numbers of farm fields concomitant with an increase in average field size; and a loss of rural infrastructure, such as farmsteads and rail lines. This generalized pattern describes an overall loss in agricultural landscape diversity over time, which is clearest in Denmark Township, while more detailed analysis reveals fine-scale diversification in Orient and Bloomfield Townships due to the adoption of conservation practices. A comparison of the three case study landscapes suggested that technology, economics, and federal farm policies, as meditated by variability in natural resource constraints, were drivers of the changes we observed.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for couples coping with cancer.

Quality of life (QOL) is a multidimensional construct that includes physical, psychological, and relationship well-being. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies published between 1980 and 2012 of interventions conducted with both cancer patients and their partners that were aimed at improving QOL. Using bibliographic software and manual review, two independent raters reviewed 752 articles with a systematic process for reconciling disagreement, yielding 23 articles for systematic review and 20 for meta-analysis. Most studies were conducted in breast and prostate cancer populations. Study participants (N=2645) were primarily middle-aged (Mean = 55 years old) and white (84%). For patients, the weighted average effect size (g) across studies was 0.25 (95% CI = 0.12-0.32) for psychological outcomes (17 studies), 0.31 (95% CI = 0.11-0.50) for physical outcomes (12 studies), and 0.28 (95% CI = 0.14-0.43) for relationship outcomes (10 studies). For partners, the weighted average effect size was 0.21 (95% CI = 0.08-0.34) for psychological outcomes (12 studies), and 0.24 (95% CI = 0.6 - 0.43) for relationship outcomes (7 studies). Therefore, couple-based interventions had small but beneficial effects in terms of improving multiple aspects of QOL for both patients and their partners. Questions remain regarding when such interventions should be delivered and for how long. Identifying theoretically based mediators and key features that distinguish couple-based from patient-only interventions may help to strengthen their effects on patient and partner QOL.
Coordination of aminoborane, NH2BH2, dictates selectivity and extent of H2 release in metal-catalysed ammonia borane dehydrogenation

In situ(11)B NMR monitoring, computational modeling, and external trapping studies show that selectivity and extent of H(2) release in metal-catalysed dehydrogenation of ammonia borane, NH(3)BH(3), are determined by coordination of reactive aminoborane, NH(2)BH(2), to the metal center.
Changes in DNA loop domain structure during spermatogenesis and embryogenesis in the Syrian golden hamster.

The DNA in eukaryotic cells is organized into loop domains that are 25 to 100 kilobases long and attached at their bases to the nuclear matrix. This organization plays major roles in DNA replication and transcription. We examined changes in DNA loop structure of the 5S rDNA gene cluster in the Syrian golden hamster as a function of cellular differentiation by direct visualization with fluorescent in situ hybridization. The 5S rDNA cluster is large enough to encompass more than one loop domain but small enough that individual loop domains can still be resolved. We found that the sizes of the 5S rDNA loops are much smaller, and that the numbers of loops per locus are larger, in all pluripotent cell types than they are in adult somatic tissue. Within the pluripotent spermatogenic cell lineage, the loop domain organization was cell specific. The loop size decreased during the early stages of spermatogenesis but did not change during spermiogenesis, suggesting that DNA loop structure is independent of the chromatin condensation that occurs when protamines replace histones. In early embryonic cells, the loop structure remained small, but in differentiated somatic cells, it became much larger. We suggest that these changes in the 5S rDNA loop domain structure may be related to the maintenance or loss of developmental potential. developmental biology, implantation/early development, sperm, spermatid
Perinuclear sudanophil bodies in mammalian epidermis

1. In the epidermis of laboratory mammals there are perinuclear lipid spherules which are demonstrated clearly with sudan black. The centre of the larger of these droplets is occupied by a sudanophobe core of varying dimensions. 2. The distribution of the bodies corresponds to the osmiophil elements in comparable tissues, and the structural pattern is similar to that of the Golgi elements in other tissues, as described by Baker and his associates. 3. With the exception of the skin of the monkey, the lipid bodies are negative to the acid haematein test.
Phenotypic variability and genetic susceptibility to genomic disorders

The duplication architecture of the human genome predisposes our species to recurrent copy number variation and disease. Emerging data suggest that this mechanism of mutation contributes to both common and rare diseases. Two features regarding this form of mutation have emerged. First, common structural polymorphisms create susceptible and protective chromosomal architectures. These structural polymorphisms occur at varying frequencies in populations, leading to different susceptibility and ethnic predilection. Second, a subset of rearrangements shows extreme variability in expressivity. We propose that two types of genomic disorders may be distinguished: syndromic forms where the phenotypic features are largely invariant and those where the same molecular lesion associates with a diverse set of diagnoses including epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism, intellectual disability and congenital malformations. Copy number variation analyses of patient genomes reveal that disease type and severity may be explained by the occurrence of additional rare events and their inheritance within families. We propose that the overall burden of copy number variants creates differing sensitized backgrounds during development leading to different thresholds and disease outcomes. We suggest that the accumulation of multiple high-penetrant alleles of low frequency may serve as a more general model for complex genetic diseases, posing a significant challenge for diagnostics and disease management.
Screening Method for Determining Salmonella-Negative Samples of Pasteurized Dried Whole Egg

Abstract MANY methods have been proposed for isolation of salmonellae from egg products since Bornstein et al. (1941) isolated Salmonella senftenberg from dried egg. Due to the low numbers of salmonellae in dried egg, so-called enrichment broths were used to increase the probability of isolating these organisms. Gibbons and Moore (1944) used tetrathionate broth while Schneider (1946) found that Selenite-F was more satisfactory for isolating S. pullorum from dried egg. North (1961) suggested the use of a lactose pre-enrichment when dried egg albumen was examined. Other suggestions for determining salmonellae in dried egg products include centrifugation (Silliker and Taylor, 1958), agglutination with antiserum (Sugiyama et al., 1960) nitration (Kirkham and Hartman, 1962, and agglutination with fluorescent antiserum (Haglund et al., 1964). Angelotti et al. (1966). Angelotti et al. (1966) suggested methods for determining salmonellae in various egg products. Their method for dried whole eggs employed lactose pre-enrichment for 24 hrs. followed . . .
Control of nitrogen catabolite repression is not affected by the tRNAGln-CUU mutation, which results in constitutive pseudohyphal growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae responds to nitrogen availability in several ways. (i) The cell is able to distinguish good nitrogen sources from poor ones through a process designated nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR). Good and poor nitrogen sources do not demonstrably affect the cell cycle other than to influence the cell’s doubling time. (ii) Nitrogen starvation promotes the initiation of sporulation and pseudohyphal growth. (iii) Nitrogen starvation strongly affects the cell cycle; nitrogen-starved cells arrest in G1. A specific allele of the SUP70/CDC65 tRNAGln gene (sup70-65) has been reported to be defective in nitrogen signaling associated with pseudohyphal formation, sporulation, and NCR. Our data confirm that pseudohyphal growth occurs gratuitously in sup70-65 mutants cultured in nitrogen-rich medium at 30°C. However, we find neither any defect in NCR in the sup70-65 mutant nor any alteration in the control of YVH1 expression, which has been previously shown to be specifically induced by nitrogen starvation.
The elusive Hampton's hump.

A 66-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department with a 1-day history of weakness and left-sided chest pain. He had a complex medical history including insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease with a history of myocardial infarction, hypertension, chronic renal insufficiency, and history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). He described the pain as sharp and stabbing in the left side of the chest that was made worse with movement and inspiration. The pain came on suddenly the day before and had remained constant since. The patient had taken nitroglycerin and proproxephene with little relief of his symptoms. The pain was confined to the chest and had no radiation to the arms or jaw. The patient also complained of generalized weakness, nonfocal in nature, that had prevented him from performing the activities of daily living. The patient denied any trauma, fevers, cough, chills, hemopytsis, shortness of breath, or leg swelling. Physical examination revealed an elderly man in no respiratory distress. Cardiovascular examination showed a regular rate and rhythm without murmurs, rubs or gallops. Pulses were equal bilaterally. Pulmonary examination demonstrated mild bilateral crackles. The chest wall was nontender to palpation. The lower extremities had no edema, pain, cords or swelling. The initial work-up of this patient was directed towards a cardiac pathway, considering the patient’s past medical history. Initial management with nitroglycerin, aspirin, and morphine made no improvement in the patient’s symptoms. The patient’s original electrocardiogram (EKG) was unremarkable, as were the laboratory studies. However, the patient’s portable AP chest X-ray study revealed a left-lung-based wedge-shaped opacity not previously seen on prior radiographs (Figure 1). There was also a new small left-sided pleural effusion present. The radiologist thought this opacity was consistent with an infectious process, or a “Hampton’s hump.” Although a pneumonia could explain the chest pain and weakness, the acute onset, history of a DVT, and the finding of a “Hampton’s Hump” prompted a work-up for a pulmonary embolus. With the patient’s history of chronic renal insufficiency, a ventilation-perfusion scan was ordered to establish the diagnosis. A perfusion defect in the same area was deemed a high probability for an acute pulmonary embolism. The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism remains a diagnostic challenge. Standard chest radiographs are often obtained in the initial work-up of pulmonary embolism but are often unrevealing (1). Before newer techniques were discovered, the chest radiograph was the only imaging technique available for aiding in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Multiple radiographic abnormalities have been described by the early radiologists in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. In 1940, Hampton and Castleman first described a pleural-based area of increased opacity associated with pulmonary embolism,
Recovery of biomass following shifting cultivation in dry tropical forests of the yucatan

Land-use change in the tropics is creating secondary forest at an unprece- dented rate. In the tropical Americas, mature dry tropical forest is rapidly being converted to secondary forest during the fallow period of shifting cultivation. This study addresses changes in forest biomass during forest recovery following shifting cultivation of maize (corn) in the Southern Yucatan Peninsular Region (SYPR), Mexico. We sampled stems .1 cm diameter at breast height at 36 study sites in three regions located along a precipitation gradient of 900-1400 mm/yr. Using allometric equations developed in the tropical Americas, we estimated total aboveground (TAG) biomass of trees, palms, and lianas. Biomass differed little between regions when considering forests of a given age. Over the entire area, forest biomass increased rapidly during succession, from 20.9 Mg/ha in 2-5-yr-old forests to 136.4 Mg/ha in mature forests (logged in the past half century, but not cultivated). Within 12-25 yr, biomass reached half of mature forest levels, and we estimate recovery to pre- cultivation levels in 55-95 yr. Recovery to a pre-logged state may take 65-120 yr. In mature forests, the contribution of stems 1-4.9 cm dbh was consequential, comprising 15% of TAG biomass. Trends in both TAG biomass and basal area were driven by the contribution of trees, although in a few sites, the importance of palms and lianas to forest structure and biomass was considerable. Our results suggest that forest biomass in secondary dry tropical forests of the SYPR is profoundly influenced by forest age, and less so by annual precip- itation, while variability in forest structure depends more on differences in water availability and recent human disturbance.
Research and Practice Roles for Counseling Psychologists in Health Care Settings

This article reviews applications of counseling psychology to problems of physical health. Three areas of application are considered, chosen to illustrate ways in which traditional emphases of counseling psychology-counseling and psychoeducational models of direct service, counseling skills training, and consultation -can be used to prevent or remediate problems of physical health and illness. In addition to describing these applications, special issues of psychological practice in health care settings are considered, with particular emphasis on stresses on ethics and service delivery guidelines, decision-making criteria within medical settings, and multidisciplinary conflicts.
Evaluation of Measurement Uncertainties Caused by Common and Cross Modes in Differential Measurements Using Baluns

Two-port vector network analyzers can be used for measuring differential circuits by integrating baluns. However, due to the imperfection of the baluns, measurement uncertainties occur even under the most accurate calibration conditions. These uncertainties are caused by the common and cross modes of the baluns and the device-under-test. This paper proposes a new algorithm, which evaluates these measurement uncertainties, by using a few sets of assumptions that can approximately correspond to the worst conditions in which the common and cross modes maximally affect the measurements. The proposed algorithm can be used in post measurement processes by which the users can be informed of their measurements' uncertainties.
LCZ696: too good to be true?

This editorial refers to ‘A putative placebo analysis of the effects of LCZ696 on clinical outcomes in heart failure’, by J. McMurray et al ., on page doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehu455 This issue of the European Heart Journal contains a major statement by the PARADIGM-HF Investigators,1 who present an ‘putative placebo’ analysis for LCZ696, a new medicine that yielded a remarkable reduction in total mortality and heart failure events in patients with significant heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF). (NB: I serve as a consultant on Novartis's cardiovascular–metabolic advisory group, and have observed the development of this molecule from its inception through the present trial. This bias should be considered when reading this commentary.) The previously published PARADIGM-HF Trial2 (NCT01035255) compared LCZ696 with enalapril, one of the most commonly used angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is), and reported an impressive reduction in death and heart failure events. However, because PARADIGM-HF used an active comparator, the authors asked a logical question: ‘What would the result have been if LCZ696 were compared with placebo?’ In order to perform this ‘putative placebo’ analysis, the authors used historical controls from previous trials comparing enalapril with placebo. Unsurprisingly, their estimate finds that LCZ696 is far superior to putative placebo for the outcomes of death and major cardiovascular events. The PARADIGM-HF trial itself and the putative placebo analysis employed cutting-edge methods and were conducted by highly credible investigators. Thus, the question is not whether the effect is real; instead, as the clinical community absorbs this welcome news, we should consider the extent to which the size of the effect can be believed and what it means for the future of clinical therapeutics for heart …
The Influence of Host Tree Species on the Distribution of Epiphytic Bromeliads in Experimental Monospecific Plantations, La Selva, Costa Rica

Abstract Epiphytes perform critical functions in primary tropical forests, but their ecological roles have only rarely been studied in secondary forests or in forest plantations. We assessed the composition and distribution of epiphytic bromeliad communities in four- and eight-year-old replicated experimental monospecific tree plantations (3 species) at the La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. The bromeliad communities of these stands are dominated by two species, Guzmania monostachya (L.) Rusby ex. Mez and Vriesea gladioliflora (H. Wendl.) Antoine. We identified bromeliads on over 700 trees and estimated their biomass and leaf area. Mean bromeliad biomass ranged from 2 to 8 g/tree in the four-year-old plots and from 20 to 94 g/tree in the eight-year-old plots. The mean bromeliad leaf area ranged between 104 and 704 cm2/tree and from 1600 to 8500 cm2/tree in the four- and eight-year-old plots, respectively. Although bromeliads accounted for less than 2 percent of the total foliar biomass and leaf area...
Selective Removal of Dental Composite using a Rapidly Scanned Carbon Dioxide Laser

Dental restorative materials are color matched to the tooth and are difficult to remove by mechanical means without excessive removal or damage to peripheral enamel and dentin. Lasers are ideally suited for selective ablation to minimize healthy tissue loss when replacing existing restorations, sealants or removing composite adhesives such as residual composite left after debonding orthodontic brackets. In this study a carbon dioxide laser operating at high laser pulse repetition rates integrated with a galvanometer based scanner was used to selectively remove composite from tooth surfaces. A diode array spectrometer was used to measure the plume emission after each laser pulse and determine if the ablated material was tooth mineral or composite. The composite was placed on tooth buccal and occlusal surfaces and the carbon dioxide laser was scanned across the surface to selectively remove the composite without excessive damage to the underlying sound enamel. The residual composite and the damage to the underlying enamel was evaluated using optical microscopy. The laser was able to rapidly remove the composites rapidly from both surfaces with minimal damage to the underlying sound enamel.
Novel technique for visualizing primordial germ cells in sturgeons (Acipenser ruthenus, A. gueldenstaedtii, A. baerii, and Huso huso).

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the origin of all germ cells in developing embryos. In the sturgeon embryo, PGCs develop from the vegetal hemisphere, which mainly acts as an extraembryonic source of nutrition. Current methods for studying sturgeon PGCs require either killing the fish or using costly and time-consuming histological procedures. Here, we demonstrate that visualization of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus>) PGCs in vivo is feasible by simply labeling the vegetal hemisphere with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran. We injected FITC-dextrans, with molecular weights varying between 10 000 and 2 000 000, into the vegetal pole of 1- to 4-cell stage embryos. At the neurula to tail-bud developmental stages, FITC-positive PGC-like cells appeared ventrally around the developing tail bud in the experimental group that received a high-molecular-weight FITC-dextran. The highest average number of FITC-positive PGC-like cells was observed in embryos injected with FITC-dextran having a molecular weight of 500 000 (FD-500). The pattern of migration of the labeled cells was identical to that of PGCs, clearly indicating that the FITC-positive PGC-like cells were PGCs. Labeled vegetal cells, except for the PGCs, were digested and excreted before the embryos starting feeding. FITC-labeled PGCs were observed in the developing gonads of fish for at least 3 mo after injection. We also found that FD-500 could be used to visualize PGCs in other sturgeon species. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to demonstrate in any animal species that PGCs can be visualized in vivo for a long period by the injection of a simple reagent.
Introduction: Redistributing the Artistic and Pedagogical Sensible

In this introduction we argue that there is an urgent need to think together the shared crisis found in arts education and in teaching more broadly conceptualized. In both cases, there is a consistent attack against the aesthetic dimensions of experience. We then outline how individual chapters in this collection can help us to appreciate the political, economic, social, and philosophical overlaps between the teachings of the arts and the art of teaching.
Contribution of 20-HETE to the vasodilator actions of nitric oxide in renal arteries

The present study examined the contribution of elevations in cGMP versus inhibition of cytochromeP-4504A enzymes and the production of the vasoconstrictor 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) ...
Synthesis of Poly- and the First Perfluoroalkyl-N(SO2F)2 Derivatives: Improved Methods for the Preparation of XN(SO2F)2 (X = H, Cl) and Single-Crystal Diffraction Studies of HN(SO2Cl)2, HN(SO2F)2, and CF3CH2N(SO2F)2†

The preparation of HN(SO2F)2 was achieved conveniently by fluorination of HN(SO2Cl)2 with SbF3. Reactions of Hg[N(SO2F)2]2 with fluoroalkyl iodides RI (R = i-C3F7CH2CH2 and CF3CH2) gave i-C3F7CH2CH2N(SO2F)2 (1) and CF3CH2N(SO2F)2 (2). The chlorination of Hg[N(SO2F)2]2 provided a high-yield method of synthesizing the well-known ClN(SO2F)2. N-alkylation of ClN(SO2F)2 with fluorinated ethenes CF2CHal2 (CHal2 = CF2, CFCl, and CCl2) resulted in the formation of CF2ClCF2N(SO2F)2 (3), CF2ClCFClN(SO2F)2 (4a, major), CFCl2CF2N(SO2F)2 (4b, minor), and CCl3CF2N(SO2F)2 (5). The synthesis of the first perfluoroalkyl-N(SO2F)2 derivatives CF3N(SO2F)2 (6), C2F5N(SO2F)2 (7), n-C3F7N(SO2F)2 (8), and n-C4F9N(SO2F)2 (9) was accomplished with moderate-to-good yields by reacting ClN(SO2F)2 with iodoperfluoroalkanes RFI (RF = CF3, C2F5, n-C3F7, and n-C4F9). Similarly, ClN(SO2F)2 reacted with CF3CH2I to give 2. Photolysis of ClN(SO2F)2 with iodoperfluoroalkanes RFI (RF = n-C3F7, and n-C4F9) gave 8 and 9 in low yields. HN(SO2F)2 ...
Phosphatidylserine, a Lipid Present at the Outer Membrane Leaflet of Cancer Cells, Hinders the Insertion of pHLIP, a Potential Cancer Cell Marker

The pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) has shown the ability to insert into membranes when acidic conditions are present. pHLIP can be found in three different states: a random coil in pH 8 solution devoid of lipids (state I), a surface bound form when lipids are present (state II), and a transmembrane helix in acidic conditions (state III). From this ability of insertion based on pH, pHLIP has been shown to effectively target diseases in which the extracellular pH of the tissue has become acidic. Cancer is an example of such a disease, and it has been shown that pHLIP can target cancerous cells. One concern with this targeting is that some cancerous cells are known to display phosphatidylserine (PS) in the outer leaflet of the their plasma membranes, as opposed to normal cells. However, little is known about how pHLIP's tumor targeting is influenced by this increased PS content. Here, we study how pHLIP properties are influenced by the presence of PS by using phosphatidylcholine (PC) large unilamellar vesicles (LUV's) that contain PS. Circular dichroism data shows that the characteristic three states are maintained in the presence of PS. Our results show that pHLIP has higher affinity to PC than to PS. We also found that when LUV's contain PS, the insertion pKa decreases compared to LUV's only containing PC with a midpoint at 0.9±0.4 percent. This decrease in insertion pKa might limit pHLIP's targeting of mildly acidic tumors. We added sodium chloride to screen any electrostatic repulsion; however, no change in the pKa was observed. This suggests that the effect of PS on the binding and insertion of pHLIP is not merely due to electrostatic repulsion.
‘Think of others’ in knowledge management: making culture work for you

Knowledge management has an important role to play in both organizational and national cultures. In order to have a paradigm shift from a knowledge hoarding to a more knowledge-sharing culture, knowledge management should be used as part of the human capital strategy for the organization. The impact of culture on knowledge management has been studied widely, but little has been written on how knowledge management can affect organizational culture. This paper provides a thought-piece on addressing this overlooked area.
Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Skin in a Young Adult

Neuroendocrine (Merkel cell) carcinoma of the skin is usually a tumor found in elderly individuals. Microscopically, the tumor is a small cell carcinoma that involves primarily the dermis. The dominant ultrastructural features are the presence of short cell processes containing small, dense-core, membrane-bound granules. The tumor is often locally aggressive, has the potential to metastasize to lymph nodes, and eventually causes death. The authors report a case of such a neoplasm that affected a 24-year-old man with congenital ectodermal dysplasia. It was associated with a concurrent basal cell carcinoma.
Advertising Strategies of Global Cosmetic Competitors

This study will attempt to provide background information and insight into the following question: Should global consumer goods companies targeting women standardize their marketing programs worldwide or adapt them to local/regional markets? There has been much research in the general area of standardization versus adaptation. Levitt (1983) and others concluded that markets have become so homogenized that MNCs can market the same services and products worldwide by utilizing standardized marketing programs. The opposing school of thought, proffered by Boddewyn, Soehl and Picard (1986), among others, states that long-standing economic, cultural and political differences among countries require marketing programs to be adapted to specific market conditions.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and e Antigen in Pleural Effusion: A Case Report

Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were demonstrated in pleural fluid obtained from a 40-year-old dialysis patient who had HBSAg and HBeAg in her serum. The titers of HBsAg and HBeAg were similar in serum and pleural fluid. Examination of the pleural fluid by electron microscopy revealed the presence of intact hepatitis B virus particles. These findings underline the potential hepatitis B virus infectivity of other body fluids besides blood, especially for medical and laboratory personnel.
Mesoscale Structure of the Arizona Monsoon Using Remotely Sensed Data

Some preliminary results using satellite data to describe mesoscale disturbances in the Arizona Monsoon are presented. In particular, we consider the structure of the monsoon boundary, which is essentially a front-like feature separating the Atlantic and Pacific subtropical highs. In addition, we show some preliminary evidence of disturbances that develop along this boundary from the shear present in that boundary. It is believed that the circulation associated with this boundary, and the disturbances that develop along it, as well as disturbances of other origins may be responsible for much of the summer precipitation in Arizona.
Use of TUNEL to Measure Retinal Ganglion Cell Apoptosis

During development of the retina, a number of different cell types are produced in excess and then undergo programmed cell death (Young, 1984). Retinal ganglion cells, which are the tertiary neurons whose axons make up the optic nerve and provide connectivity between the eye and higher centers in the brain, are among those cells which die by programmed cell death (Rakic and Riley, 1983; Insausti et al., 1984; Provis and Penfold, 1988). The number of retinal ganglion cells that are born in the mammalian retina is approximately twice the number that survive. According to the neurotrophic hypothesis, the cells that die do so because they fail to receive the appropriate neurotrophic signal from their target tissue, in this case from the lateral geniculate nucleus (Cowan et al., 1984; Barde, 1989). This mechanism is thought to help ensure that inappropriate connections are not maintained and that the final steady-state number of innervating neurons is appropriately matched to the number of target cells, Consistent with the neurotrophic hypothesis, retinal ganglion cells express neurotrophin receptors and respond to exogenous trophic factors. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical experiments have shown that the receptor for the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), trkB, is expressed by rat ganglion cells (Jelsma et al., 1993). In addition, BDNF has been reported to promote
Substituent Effects on the Properties of Borafluorenes

A series of substituted 9-borafluorenes were studied both experimentally and computationally in order to assess substituent effects on the optical and electronic properties and the stability of 9-borafluorenes. The previously unknown 9-substituted-9-borafluorenes MesFBF (MesF = 2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl), TipBF(OMe)2 (Tip = 2,4,6-tris(triisopropyl)phenyl, (OMe)2= methoxy at the borafluorene 3 and 6 positions), and iPr2NBF (iPr2N = diisopropylamino) were synthesized and structurally characterized. The previously reported TipBF, ClBF (9-chloro-9-borafluorene) and tBuOBF (9-(tert-butoxy)-9-borafluorene) were also included in this study. All of the aryl borafluorenes (TipBF, TipBF(OMe)2, MesFBF), and tBuOBF are moderately air-stable. Both iPr2NBF and ClBF degrade rapidly in air. Cyclic voltammogram measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that (a) borafluorenes have higher electron affinities relative to comparable boranes and (b) substituents have a strong influence on the...
Perceived Neighborhood Safety Better Predicts Risk of Mortality for Whites than Blacks.

The current study had two aims: (1) to investigate whether single-item measures of subjective evaluation of neighborhood (i.e., perceived neighborhood safety and quality) predict long-term risk of mortality and (2) to test whether these associations depend on race and gender. The data came from the Americans’ Changing Lives Study (ACL), 1986–2011, a nationally representative longitudinal cohort of 3361 Black and White adults in the USA. The main predictors of interest were perceived neighborhood safety and perceived neighborhood quality, as measured in 1986 using single items and treated as dichotomous variables. Mortality due to all internal and external causes was the main outcome. Confounders included baseline age, socioeconomic status (education, income), health behaviors (smoking, drinking, and exercise), and health (chronic medical conditions, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms). Race and gender were focal effect modifiers. Cox proportional hazard models were ran in the pooled sample and stratified by race and gender. In the pooled sample, low perceived neighborhood safety and quality predicted increased risk of mortality due to all causes as well as internal causes, net of all covariates. Significant interaction was found between race and perceived neighborhood safety on all-cause mortality, indicating a stronger association for Whites compared to Blacks. Race did not interact with perceived neighborhood quality on mortality. Gender also did not interact with perceived neighborhood safety or quality on mortality. Perceived neighborhood safety and quality were not associated with mortality due to external causes. Findings suggest that single items are appropriate for the measurement of perceived neighborhood safety and quality. Our results also suggest that perceived neighborhood safety better predicts increased risk of mortality over the course of 25 years among Whites than Blacks.
Second Guessing: Designer Classification of Problem Definition Fragments

Engineering designers progressively develop their own understanding of ill-defined problems through a process of abstraction, decomposition, completion, enhancement, classification and conflict resolution. We have developed a computational aid to support problem formulation in which designers input problem definition fragments into different categories as free form text. We used natural language processing to determine if designers had misplaced problem fragments in inappropriate categories. In this paper, we present our work on how this problem can be addressed by looking for keywords in design descriptions and extracting knowledge from text ontologies using these keywords. We collected data from a group of students who used the Problem Formulator testbed to express their understanding of the given design problem. For each of the six categories in the Problem Formulator ontology, we identified classes using existing ontologies and tools that closely define them. In our method, we first parsed the user inputs to extract the keywords depending on the category in which they were entered. We then associated these keywords to the previously identified classes and categorized them into the correct category.
Translating Uphill Cycling into a Head-Wind and Vice Versa.

Forces acting upon a biker, can be expressed in terms of power (in Watts). Such forces are for example (but not limited to) air-drag, rolling friction and changes in potential energy (due to gravity, when riding up a hill). Here I will specifically compare power related to air drag, with that related to cycling up a hill. This allows me to define the Incline-Equivalent Wind Velocity. The Incline-Equivalent Wind Velocity translates a slope of a mountain into a wind speed, such that overcoming both forces require the same power. Therefore, the Incline-Equivalent Wind Velocity can be interpreted as the velocity with which the wind has to push a rider such that the rider does not roll down a slope of a certain angle, and the net movement is zero. This can be used to recalculate mountain profiles into Incline-Equivalent Wind Velocity profiles and can express the effect of drafting in terms of a reduction in wind speed and incline, rather than power.