cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbial density, composition, and diversity in organically and conventionally managed rhizosphere soil in relation to suppression of corky root of tomatoes

Abstract Actinomycetes, bacteria and fungi were isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy tomato plants grown in soil samples from three organic and three conventional farms. Total numbers of actinomycetes and fluorescent pseudomonads, proportions of cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic actinomycetes, starch hydrolysing bacteria, and chtinolytic fungi, and the diversity of actinomycetes (Shannon-Weaver index) were higher in organically than conventionally managed rhizosphere soil. However, starch hydrolysing actinomycetes and fungi were more numerous in soil from conventional than from organic farms. Functional groups of actinomycetes and bacteria but not of fungi were more similar among samples with the same soil management than between different soil management types. There were significant positive correlations of total numbers of actinomycetes and fluorescent pseudomonads, proportions of cellulolytic actinomycetes and chitinolytic fungi, and actinomycete diversity with suppression of corky root of tomato. Thus, the greatest differences between organically and conventionally managed soils were encountered in actinomycete populations.
The Recognition and Treatment of Rabies: A Case Report and Discussion

Although rabies is rare in the United States, infection with the virus must be considered and treated soon after viral transmission; failure to diagnose and to intervene will usually result in disease progression and death. Typically transmitted often through an unrecognized bite of an infected animal (e.g., dog or bat), the clinical course is characterized by 5 phases (the incubation period, the prodrome, an acute neurologic phase, coma, and death). We present the case of a man with rapidly progressive and seemingly disparate somatic symptoms (including muscles aches, difficulty swallowing, and apprehension) and discuss the differential diagnosis, the evaluation, and the treatment approaches.
Thiyl radicals abstract hydrogen atoms from carbohydrates: reactivity and selectivity.

Abstract Fee radical damage of DNA is a well-known process affecting biological tissue under conditions of oxidative stress. Though carbohydrate-derived radicals are generally “repaired” by hydrogen transfer from thiols, the reverse possibility, namely hydrogen abstraction by thiyl radicals from carbohydrates, exists. The biological relevance of this process has been discussed controversially, especially because of the lack of rate constants. Therefore, we have measured rate constants for the hydrogen transfer reaction between thiyl radicals from cysteine and selected carbohydrates, 2-deoxy-D-ribose (dRib), 2-deoxy-D-glucose (dGls), α-D-glucose (Gls), and inositol (Ino). Rate constants are on the order of 104 M−1s−1, with the highest average value for dRib, (2.7 ± 1.0) × 104 M−1s−1, and the lowest average value for dGls, (1.6 ± 0.2) × 104 M−1s−1, based on two ways of kinetic analysis, standard competition kinetics and stochastic simulation of the experimental results, respectively. In general, thiyl radicals attack preferentially the C1-H bond of the carbohydrates, to an extent of ca. 72% in dRib and 90% in dGls. Kinetic measurements were possible through a specifically designed competition system measuring the reaction of thiyl radicals with either the C-H bonds of the carbohydrates or the Cα-H bond of cysteine under conditions where the extent of other competitive reactions of the thiyl radicals were minimized.
Newton's early computational method for dynamics

On December 13, 1679Newton sent a letter toHooke on orbital motion for central forces, which contains a drawing showing an orbit for a constant value of the force. This letter is of great importance, because it reveals the state ofNewton's development of dynamics at that time. Since the first publication of this letter in 1929,Newton's method of constructing this orbit has remained a puzzle particularly because he apparently made a considerable error in the angle between successive apogees of this orbit. In fact, it is shown here thatNewton's implicitcomputation of this orbit is quite good, and that the error in the angle is due mainly toan error of drawing in joining two segments of the oribit, whichNewton related by areflection symmetry. In addition, in the letterNewton describes quite correctly the geometrical nature of orbits under the action of central forces (accelerations) which increase with decreasing distance from the center. An iterative computational method to evaluate orbits for central forces is described, which is based onNewton's mathematical development of the concept of curvature started in 1664. This method accounts very well for the orbit obtained byNewton for a constant central force, and it gives convergent results even for forces which diverge at the center, which are discussed correctly inNewton's letterwithout usingKepler's law of areas.Newton found the relation of this law to general central forces only after his correspondence withHooke. The curvature method leads to an equation of motion whichNewton could have solvedanalytically to find that motion on a conic section with a radial force directed towards a focus implies an inverse square force, and that motion on a logarithmic spiral implies an inverse cube force.
Effect of HCV/HIV coinfection versus HCV monoinfection in kidney transplant recipients

Keywords: clinical research/practice; kidney transplantation/nephrology; infection and infectious agents; viral: hepatitis C; infection and infectious agents; viral: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Some Applications of Coulometry to Industrial Hygiene Analysis

Abstract Two applications of the coulometric technique to routine industrial hygiene analysis are described. The cell and electrodes used for the determination of ozone and ammonia are simple. The methods are rapid and have reasonable accuracy. The interference of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide at the pH of the ozone titration are diminished. The ammonia determination provides a general technique for determining nitrogen-containing materials of industrial hygiene interest as well as ammonia itself.
Status of traditional food preservation methods for selected ghanaian foods

Abstract The effect of processing on nutrient quality becomes paramount in countries as Ghana where nutrient deficiency diseases are prevalent. Several foods (herring, trigger, tilapia, and cassava) were assayed for several nutrients before and after.processing. In most instances proximate nutrients and some vitamins and minerals increased due to loss of moisture. Consumption of the dried product increases total nutrient intake for pregnant women and children who are nutritionally at risk.
AN INEXPENSIVE TRANSDUCER FOR REMOTE DETERMINATION OF ARTERIAL BLOOD PRESSURE

A low-cost transducer for monitoring arterial blood pressure by remote auscultation is described. It employs a miniature earphone attached to the diaphragm of a conventional stethoscope. The Korotkov sounds picked up by the diaphragm are converted to electrical signals by the earphone. These are amplified and monitored over a loudspeaker or headphones.
The anti‐La response of a single MRL/Mp‐lpr/lpr mouse: Specificity for DNA and VH gene usage

Autoantibodies to ribonucleoproteins (RNP) occur prominently in human systemic lupus erythematosus and murine lupus models. In previous studies we demonstrated a relationship in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice between antibodies to Sm, an RNP autoantigen, and antibodies to DNA. Thus, many anti-Sm monoclonals bound DNA and expressed the same V region genes as anti-DNA. In addition, many had multiple VHCDR3 Arg residues suggestive of selection by DNA, and some had somatic mutations suggesting selection for mutant B cells by DNA. To determine whether autoantibodies to other RNP antigens are also associated with the anti-DNA response, we have analyzed the response to the La RNP. Six anti-La B cell hybridomas were generated from a single MRL/lpr mouse. Southern blot analysis of Ig V gene rearrangements and V gene sequences indicated two clonally related pairs, suggesting an oligoclonal response. Antibodies from all six hybridomas bound single-stranded DNA, while antibodies from five hybridomas bound double-stranded DNA. Two hybridomas expressed a VH7183 gene which is used by members of two previously reported anti-DNA clones and two anti-Sm/DNA clones of MRL/lpr origin. These data demonstrate an association between the anti-La and anti-DNA responses in MRL/lpr mice, suggesting that cross-reactive anti-RNP and anti-DNA responses are a general feature of autoimmunity in this lupus model.
Freezing and Storage of Nematodes in Liquid Nitrogen

Free-living nematodes of the genera Aphelenchoides, Panagrellus, Turbatrix, and Caenorhabditis were successfully frozen in heat-sealed glass ampoules using dimethyl sulfoxide as a protectant. After 6 months storage in liquid nitrogen refrigerator (below -160°C), living nematodes were recovered after thawing. The nematodes were slowly cooled to -22±1° and immediately transferred to liquid nitrogen at -196°.
The role of Gr-1(+) cells and tumour necrosis factor-α signalling during Clostridium difficile colitis in mice.

The host response to Clostridium difficile infection in antibiotic-treated mice is characterized by robust recruitment of Gr-1(+) cells, increased expression of inflammatory cytokines including tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the development of severe epithelial damage. To investigate the role of Gr-1(+) cells and TNF-α during C. difficile colitis, we treated infected mice with monoclonal antibodies against Gr-1 or TNF-α. Mice were challenged with vegetative cells of C. difficile strain VPI 10463 following treatment with the third-generation cephalosporin ceftriaxone. Ceftriaxone treatment alone was associated with significant changes in cytokine expression within the colonic mucosa but not overt inflammatory histopathological changes. In comparison, C. difficile infection following ceftriaxone treatment was associated with increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines including Cxcl1, Cxcl2, Il1b, Il17f and Tnfa, as well as robust recruitment of Ly6C(Mid) Gr-1(High) neutrophils and Ly6C(High) Gr-1(Mid) monocytes and the development of severe colonic histopathology. Anti-Gr-1 antibody treatment resulted in effective depletion of both Ly6C(Mid) Gr-1(High) neutrophils and Ly6C(High) Gr-1(Mid) monocytes: however, we observed no protection from the development of severe pathology or reduction in expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines Il1b, Il6, Il33 and Tnfa following anti-Gr-1 treatment. By contrast, anti-TNF-α treatment did not affect Gr-1(+) cell recruitment, but was associated with increased expression of Il6 and Il1b. Additionally, Ffar2, Ffar3, Tslp, Tff and Ang4 expression was significantly reduced in anti-TNF-α-treated animals, in association with marked intestinal histopathology. These studies raise the possibility that TNF-α may play a role in restraining inflammation and protecting the epithelium during C. difficile infection.
High fat/refined carbohydrate diet enhances the susceptibility to spatial learning deficits in rats exposed to intermittent hypoxia.

Abstract Background. Intermittent hypoxia during sleep (IH), as occurs in sleep disordered breathing (SDB), induces spatial learning deficits associated with regulation of transcription factors associated with learning and memory in the hippocampal CA1 region in rats. high fat refined carbohydrate diet (HF/RC) can induce similar deficits and associated changes in signaling pathways under normoxic conditions. Methods. Sprague–Dawley adult male rats were fed either with (HF/RC) or low fat/complex carbohydrate diet (LF/CC) starting at post-natal day 30 for 90 days, and were then exposed for 14 days during light phase (12 h/day) to either normoxia (RA) or IH (21% and 10% O 2 alternations every 90 s). Place-training reference memory task deficits were assessed in the Morris water maze. Total and ser-133 phosphorylated CREB were assessed in different brain regions by Western blotting and immunostaining in rats exposed to normoxia or IH and to LF/CC or HF/RC. Results. Substantial decreases in CREB phosphorylation occurred in CA1 but not in motor cortex following either IH, HF/RC, and HF/RC + IH. Place-training reference memory task deficits were observed in rats exposed to IH and to HF/RC, and to a much greater extent in rats exposed to HF/RC + IH. Conclusions. Nutritional factors alter recruitment of transcription factors, possibly via oxidative-related pathways, and modulate the vulnerability of the CA1 region of the hippocampus to the episodic hypoxia that characterizes SDB, thereby enhancing neurocognitive susceptibility in SDB patients.
Genomic RNAi screening in Drosophila S2 cells: what have we learned about host-pathogen interactions?

The detente between pathogen and host has been of keen interest to researchers in spite of being exceedingly difficult to probe. Recently, new RNA interference (RNAi) technologies, in particular in Drosophila tissue culture cells, have made it possible to interrogate the genetics of host organisms rapidly, with nearly complete genomic coverage and high fidelity. Therefore, it is not surprising that the applications of RNAi to the study of host-pathogen interactions were among the first to be published and have already revealed many new insights into the hosts' role in infection. This review will highlight the application of RNAi screening to pathogen-host interactions in Drosophila cells and will reveal some of the lessons learned from this approach.
Fabrication and characterization of n-type cadmium telluride nanowires for thin-film solar cell applications

Thin films of n-type cadmium telluride nanowires were produced by electro-deposition into the pores of alumina membranes and were studied for their morphology, chemical composition, crystallite orientation and spectral transmission characteristics. Electrodes were deposited to form ITO/CdTe nanowire/Graphite Schottky diodes and ITO/CdTe nanowire/Indium conducting contact devices and their electrical characteristics were studied. Nanowires of 50 nm diameter and 200 nm lengths, embedded in a matrix of alumina, were obtained. CdTe crystallites in the nanowires were of cubic phase with a preferential orientation. Film resistivity in the direction normal to the film was 2.4∗103 ω-cm. Spectral transmission measurements revealed that for wavelengths below 450 nm, a 200 nm thick CdTe nanowire film had higher transmission than a polycrystalline CdS film of same thickness.
VT125 graphics hardcopy on an epson MX-80 serial printer for RT-11 and TSX-Plus

A collection of computer programs is presented that allows the user of a DEC VT125 graphics terminal to generate hardcopy of REGIS graphics on an inexpensive Epson MX-80 serial matrix printer. These programs allow easy production of hardcopy graphics without the user’s having to purchase more expensive devices.
Reconstructing visual landscapes

Abstract The following paper reiterates the importance of studying past visibility patterns within the context of landscape archaeology. In spite of the many difficulties and criticisms revolving around this topic, efforts aimed at reconstructing these patterns and exploring their possible roles are considered to be central to the reconstruction of social landscapes. This paper extends previous GIS work done on inter-visibility by making reference to the concept of ‘co-visibility’, by exploring the way in which visibility of any monument or set of monuments is shared with that of other monuments. A subset of round barrows from the Yorkshire Wolds (northern England) is used to illustrate this work. The study also underlines the need to address the variability which is often present in archaeological data, variability, in this case, of visibility patterns associated with the barrows due to our lack of precise chronological information.
An explanation for the 3.5 power law of viscosity of concentrated polymer solutions

Abstract It is demonstrated that the viscosity of a concentrated polymer solution depends on the molecular weight ( M ) and the concentrations (ϱ) as ϱ 4 M 3 · 5 . This result is derived by treating the long-range interaction introduced by the reptation of chains.
Experimental verification of models for induction heating of continuous-carbon-fiber composites

Heating of continuous-carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) by the application of an alternating magnetic field has been shown to be due to dielectric losses in the polymer. Models that predict thermal generation in these composites are input to a finite element heat transfer analysis, providing the predicted transient thermal profile in the plane of the laminate. The validity of the global thermal generation model is established through an experimental test matrix in which various specimen configurations are evaluated and compared with theoretical predictions of transient surface temperatures.
Second Life: Hype or Hyperlearning?

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to place Second Life within a learning theory framework.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology of this article is to interpret and evaluate the characteristics of a virtual world for its learning potential.Findings – This article finds that Second Life is not simply the latest online fad, but part of a continuum of instructional technology tools that corresponds to twentieth and twenty‐first century developments in educational theory.Originality/value – Second Life has just started in the past year and a half to be used for educational activities, with just a handful of US higher education courses. Numerous issues are now being discussed in the media and education list‐serves about the value of Second Life as a learning tool.
A healthy indulgence? Wine consumers and the health benefits of wine

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US. Moderate red wine consumption has been linked to a reduction in the risk of death by heart disease and heart attack by 30–50%. With about 600,000 people dying from heart disease in the US each year, red wine has become increasingly popular among health conscious consumers. Wine is often touted for its potential health benefits, but to what extent is “health” a factor when consumers make their consumption decisions for alcoholic beverages? This study aims to further understand how consumers make their beverage choices and to understand the role wine health benefit knowledge plays in the willingness of consumers to purchase wine. The results suggest that consumers value the relationship between food/beverage intake and their health status. Consumers with few health issues were the ones more likely to indicate that they consume wine for health reasons, suggesting a potential market among consumers with known health issues. In addition, consumers who attributed the most health benefits to wine were the ones most likely to drink more wine and pay more for wine if it were health enhanced.
Abstract 5110: The role triptolide in sensitizing lung tumor cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Cisplatin is an anticancer drug used in treatment for many types of cancer, including lung cancer. The quick development of tumor cell drug resistance, however, greatly hindered the effectiveness of cisplatin in cancer treatment. Exploring new strategies that can sensitize tumor cells to cisplatin treatment, therefore, is essential for improving the effectiveness of cisplatin in cancer treatment. Triptolide is a bioactive ingredient isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been used to treat immune-related disorders. Recent studies revealed that Triptolide possesses potent antitumor properties through CDK7-depedent RNA polymerase II (Pol II) degradation and global transcription inhibition by binding to the XPB subunit of general transcription factor TFIIH and inhibiting its ATPase activity. We have studied the possibility of using Triptolide to sensitize lung tumor cell to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Using both HTB182 and CRL5985 lung tumor cells, our caspase 3 activation studies demonstrated that the presence of low-level Triptolide greatly sensitized these lung tumor cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Our western blots results indicated that the presence of low-level Triptolide increased the cisplatin-induced expression of PUMA but reduced expression of Bcl-XL in these lung tumor cells. Our immune-blotting studies revealed that the RNA Pol II level was not significantly affected by the presence of low-level Triptolide. Our real time PCR studies results indicated that expression levels of several tested genes also were not affected by the presence of Triptolide. These results suggest that the presence of low levels of triptolide sensitizes the lung cancer cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis through binding to XPB of the TFIIH and inhibiting the DNA repair activity for cisplatin DNA damage, resulting in increased apoptosis of the lung tumor cells. Therefore, the presence of low levels of triptolide sensitizes lung tumor cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Citation Format: Gan Wang, Xiaoxin Susan Xu, Yi Zhang. The role triptolide in sensitizing lung tumor cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5110. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5110
Monitoring hydrate formation and dissociation in sandstone and bulk with magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been shown to be a very effective tool for monitoring the formation and dissociation of hydrates because of the large intensity contrast between the images of the liquid components and the solid hydrate. Tetrahydrofuran/water hydrate was used because the two liquid components are miscible and form hydrate at ambient pressure. These properties made this feasibility study proceed much faster than using methane/water, which requires high pressure to form the hydrate. The formation and dissociation was monitored first in a THF/water-saturated Berea sandstone plug and second in the bulk. In both cases it appeared that nucleation was needed to begin the formation process, i.e., the presence of surfaces in the sandstone and shaking of the bulk solution. Dissociation appeared to be dominated by the rate of thermal energy transfer. The dissociation temperature of hydrate formed in the sandstone plug was not significantly different from the dissociation temperature in bulk.
Spectrum of SCN8A-Related Epilepsy

Investigators from the EuroEPINOMICS European research consortium studied 17 patients with epileptic encephalopathy due to SCN8A mutations and reported the specific genetic and phenotypic features.
Space Station - An integrated approach to operational logistics support

Development of an efficient and cost effective operational logistics system for the Space Station will require logistics planning early in the program's design and development phase. This paper will focus on Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) Program techniques and their application to the Space Station program design, production and deployment phases to assure the development of an effective and cost efficient operational logistics system. The paper will provide the methodology and time-phased programmatic steps required to establish a Space Station ILS Program that will provide an operational logistics system based on planned Space Station program logistics support.
The 13C NMR spectra of tallysomycin and its zinc(II) complex

Using the carbon assignments of bleomycin A2 as well as those of a series of model compounds, the 13C NMR assignments of the antitumor antibiotic tallysomycin (TLM) have been made. With the aid of the carbon assignments the metal binding properties of the new antibiotic toward Zn(II) have been investigated.
Induced reciprocal translocation in transgenic mice near sites of transgene integration.

Transgenic mice (JCP0 #18), heterozygous for an insertion of approximately 50 copies of the rat peripheral myelin (P0) protein cDNA, displayed a pattern of reduced litter size that suggested a chromosome rearrangement. Chromosome banding studies of fetal cells disclosed the presence of an apparently balanced translocation between a Chromosome (Chr) 1 and 14 with breakpoints at bands 1H3 and 14C3. In situ hybridization of biotin-labeled P0 rat cDNA probe to chromosome spreads and detection of specific signal with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated avidin revealed a strong signal on the 114 translocation chromosome at the site of the breakpoint. A weaker signal was present near the breakpoint on the 141 derivative chromosome. These results suggest an etiologic relationship between the insertion of the transgene and the origin of the translocation. To further elucidate possible mechanisms, we first mapped the endogenous P0 gene (gene symbol Mpp). As previously reported (You et al., Genomics 9: 751, 1991), we found that Mpp is located on Chr 1 in the region of the translocation breakpoint in JCP0 mice. Subsequently, we have carried out pulsed-field gel and standard Southern analyses with P0 gene probes, but found no evidence for a direct involvement of the endogenous P0 gene in the process that generated the balanced reciprocal translocation. Thus, we favor the hypothesis that, during repair of DNA strand breakage—possibly induced by the microinjection procedure—the transgene copies were ligated to broken ends of Chrs 1 and 14. According to convention, this translocation is designated T(1;14) 1Po. Homozygotes are phenotypically normal and breed well; they will be useful for genetic and physical mapping of Chrs 1 and 14.
In Vitro Activity of Rosamicin Against Neisseria and Haemophilus, Including Penicillinase-Producing Strains

Rosamicin was significantly more active against Haemophilus and Neisseria than are many antibiotics currently used to treat or prevent infection caused by these organisms. This enhanced activity was also observed against penicillinase-producing strains.
Hybrid system identification via sparse polynomial optimization

In this paper, the problem of identifying discrete time affine hybrid systems with measurement noise is considered. Given a finite collection of measurements and a bound on the noise, the objective is to identify a hybrid system with the smallest number of sub-systems that is compatible with the a priori information. While this problem has been addressed in the literature if the input/output data is noise-free or corrupted by process noise, it remains open for the case of measurement noise. To handle this case, we propose a new approach based on recasting the problem into a polynomial optimization form and exploiting its inherent sparse structure to obtain computationally tractable problems. Combining these ideas with a randomized Hit and Run type approach leads to further computational complexity reduction, allowing for solving realistically sized problems. Numerical examples are provided, illustrating the effectiveness of the algorithm and its potential to handle large size problems.
Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Dispersion Studies on Bentonite Clay Suspensions

Abstract Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion measurements are reported on aqueous suspensions of bentonite clays which demonstrate that the water-proton spin-lattice relaxation rates are dominated by magnetic interactions with paramagnetic centers entrapped in the mineral matrix. The water-proton spin-lattice relaxation rates are linear in the concentration of the clay mineral. The relaxivity may be increased by the addition of paramagnetic metal ions to the suspension and the shape of the relaxation dispersion profile demonstrates that the mineral behaves as a sequestering agent in that there is no free metal detectable. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rate is consistent with the electron-nuclear coupling being modulated by translational motions of the water molecules; however, the shape of the relaxation dispersion profile does not fit the usual models for nuclear-spin relaxation caused by translational diffusion in a solution containing a paramagnetic cosolute.
Using smart triggers for improved user performance in 802.11 wireless networks

The handoff algorithms in the current generation of 802.11 networks are primarily reactive in nature, because they wait until the link quality degrades substantially to trigger a handoff. They further rely on instantaneous signal strength measurements when choosing the best AP. This approach leads to handoff delays on the order of 1-2 seconds that are unacceptable for delay sensitive applications such as VoIP. We propose a fundamentally new approach to handoffs that is based on continuous monitoring of wireless links. In our approach, a client measures the beacon strengths of all the APs operating on the current, and the overlapping channels, and makes its handoff decisions based on the long-term, and short-term trends in these signals. We show through experiments in a campus wireless network that our proposed algorithms result in more than 50% reduction in average handoff delays, while having the potential to improve overall user performance. Our algorithms have been implemented in today's hardware, and unlike other proposed roaming algorithms in the literature, need no infrastructure support.
Fabrication of micro-gas chromatograph columns for fast chromatography

Gas chromatography (GC) is one of the most widespread techniques used in laboratories as a way to separate and analyze complex mixtures of volatile and semi-volatile compounds. The main advantage of miniaturization of these systems is the increased performance due to the reduced time for analysis and reduced fabrication cost of the complex pneumatic flow system. In this paper advanced design ideas and fabrication processes to facilitate integration of the sample concentrator and the column will be presented. Using the LIGA process, 0.5- and 2-m-long, 50-μm-wide, and up to 600-μm-high aspect ratio metal GC separation columns with on-chip integrated sample injection and detection were fabricated. Initial experiments of coating these high aspect ratio columns show promising results when compared to simple tubular columns.
Goal Programming for Estimating Initial Influx of Insect Pests

Abstract A method is presented to estimate the initial number of insect pests entering a field by using a goal programming routine coupled with an insect population dynamics simulation model. In this method, the observed insect population levels during the season are used as goals and the coupled routine and simulation model are used to estimate the initial emergence pattern. Enhancements to the method are described including weighting certain goals and allowing goals to be represented by ranges. An algorithm is presented by which entomological expertise can be utilized in an interactive mode.
Brief interventions for substance use in adolescents: still promising, still unproven

See related research article by Haller and colleagues on page [E263][1] and at [www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.131301][2] Spurred by an imperative to reduce the enormous and preventable morbidity and mortality associated with substance use in adolescents, a policy-level mandate now exists in
Structural basis of p38α regulation by hematopoietic tyrosine phosphatase

MAP kinases regulate essential cellular events, including cell growth, differentiation and inflammation. The solution structure of a complete MAPK-MAPK-regulatory protein complex, p38α-HePTP, was determined, enabling a comprehensive investigation of the molecular basis of specificity and fidelity in MAPK regulation. Structure determination was achieved by combining NMR spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering data with a new ensemble calculation-refinement procedure. We identified 25 residues outside of the HePTP kinase interaction motif necessary for p38α recognition. The complex adopts an extended conformation in solution and rarely samples the conformation necessary for kinase deactivation. Complex formation also does not affect the N-terminal lobe, the activation loop of p38α or the catalytic domain of HePTP. Together, these results show how the downstream tyrosine phosphatase HePTP regulates p38α and provide for fundamentally new insights into MAPK regulation and specificity.
ProteinHistorian: Tools for the Comparative Analysis of Eukaryote Protein Origin

The evolutionary history of a protein reflects the functional history of its ancestors. Recent phylogenetic studies identified distinct evolutionary signatures that characterize proteins involved in cancer, Mendelian disease, and different ontogenic stages. Despite the potential to yield insight into the cellular functions and interactions of proteins, such comparative phylogenetic analyses are rarely performed, because they require custom algorithms. We developed ProteinHistorian to make tools for performing analyses of protein origins widely available. Given a list of proteins of interest, ProteinHistorian estimates the phylogenetic age of each protein, quantifies enrichment for proteins of specific ages, and compares variation in protein age with other protein attributes. ProteinHistorian allows flexibility in the definition of protein age by including several algorithms for estimating ages from different databases of evolutionary relationships. We illustrate the use of ProteinHistorian with three example analyses. First, we demonstrate that proteins with high expression in human, compared to chimpanzee and rhesus macaque, are significantly younger than those with human-specific low expression. Next, we show that human proteins with annotated regulatory functions are significantly younger than proteins with catalytic functions. Finally, we compare protein length and age in many eukaryotic species and, as expected from previous studies, find a positive, though often weak, correlation between protein age and length. ProteinHistorian is available through a web server with an intuitive interface and as a set of command line tools; this allows biologists and bioinformaticians alike to integrate these approaches into their analysis pipelines. ProteinHistorian's modular, extensible design facilitates the integration of new datasets and algorithms. The ProteinHistorian web server, source code, and pre-computed ages for 32 eukaryotic genomes are freely available under the GNU public license at http://lighthouse.ucsf.edu/ProteinHistorian/.
Anorgasmia with gabapentin may be common in older patients.

Abstract Background Gabapentin is commonly used to treat neuropathic pain, seizures, and bipolar disease in older and elderly patients. It is preferred for its well-tolerated side effect profile. Anorgasmia with gabapentin use is reported, with most cases in young patients. Case summary This report describes 4 older patients who experienced anorgasmia while taking gabapentin. Of 15 patients initiated on gabapentin in 18 months, 3 male patients aged 73, 76, and 78 years experienced dose-dependent anorgasmia. A fourth case, a 59-year-old female patient, was noted in another clinic. Orgasm returned when gabapentin was reduced or stopped. Although this is not a blinded study, anorgasmia in 3 of 15 patients newly initiated on gabapentin (3 of 11 in those aged >50 years) seems to represent a much higher incidence than the originally reported Conclusion Gabapentin-associated anorgasmia may be more common in older patients and appears to be dose dependent.
Effect of Dexamethasone-Loaded Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Microsphere/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Hydrogel Composite Coatings on the Basic Characteristics of Implantable Glucose Sensors:

Background:Hydrogels alone and in combination with microsphere drug delivery systems are being considered as biocompatible coatings for implantable glucose biosensors to prevent/minimize the foreign body response. Previously, our group has demonstrated that continuous release of dexamethasone from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microsphere/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel composites can successfully prevent foreign body response at the implantation site. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of this composite coating on sensor functionality.Methods:The PLGA microsphere/PVA hydrogel coatings were prepared and applied to glucose biosensors. The swelling properties of the composite coatings and their diffusivity to glucose were evaluated as a function of microsphere loading. Sensor linearity, response time, and sensitivity were also evaluated as a function of coating composition.Results:The PLGA microsphere/PVA hydrogel composite coating did not compromise sensor linearity (sensor...
A Generative Approach to the Development of Hidden-Figure Items.

Abstract : This report explores an approach to item development and psychometric modeling which explicity incorporates knowledge about the mental models used by examinees in the solution of items into a psychometric model that characterize performances on a test, as well as incorporating that knowledge into the item development process. The paper focuses on the hidden figure item type. Although there is an extensive literature on the correlates of performance for this type of item little is known about the mental models that may explain performance on the item. The approach taken in this paper is to search for a complexity dimension that accounts for the difficulty of hidden figures. Although several complexity dimensions can be postulated we chose one inspired by artificial intelligence research on vision. A computer-based system was developed to analyze as well as generate items based on this framework. To empirically determine the validity of the chosen framework two experiments were conducted. The results suggest that this approach to psychometric modeling is viable. The practical and theoretical implications of the research are discussed. Keywords: Spatial ability; Item response theory; Cognitive psychology; Computerized testing. (Author)
The Roles of Integrins and Extracellular Matrix Proteins in the Insulin-like Growth Factor I-stimulated Chemotaxis of Human Breast Cancer Cells

The effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on the migration of two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-231, were examined using a modified Boyden chamber. 10 ng/ml was the optimal IGF-I concentration for stimulation of migration. The majority of IGF-I-stimulated migration in both cell types was due to chemotaxis. MCF-7 cells failed to migrate on membranes coated with gelatin or fibronectin and migrated only in small numbers on laminin. In contrast, when vitronectin- or type IV collagen-coated membranes were used, the MCF-7 cells migrated in large numbers specifically in response to IGF-I but not to 10% fetal calf serum, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, or platelet derived growth factor-BB. An IGF-I receptor-blocking antibody inhibited IGF-I-stimulated migration in both cell types. In addition, a blocking antibody to the αvβ5 integrin (a vitronectin receptor) inhibited migration of MCF-7 cells in response to IGF-I through vitronectin but not through type IV collagen. Similarly, blocking antibodies specific for α2 and β1 integrins significantly inhibited migration of both cell types through type IV collagen-coated membranes but not through vitronectin-coated membranes. We conclude that: 1) IGF-I stimulates migration of these two cell types through the IGF-I receptor; 2) interaction of vitronectin with the αvβ5 integrin or collagen with the α2β1 integrin is necessary for the complete IGF-I response in MCF-7 cells, and 3) because migration represents an in vitro model for metastatic spread, integrins, extracellular matrix proteins, and IGF-I may play coordinated roles in the metastasis of breast cancer in vivo.
A compensatory double mutation of the alanine-86 to leucine mutant located in the hinge region of the iron-sulfur protein of the yeast cytochrome bc1 complex

Mutations in the hinge region connecting the membrane anchor to the extra-membranous head-group of the iron-sulfur protein can impede proper assembly and function of the cytochrome bc(1) complex. Mutating the conserved alanines, residues 86, 90, and 92, located in the hinge region resulted in a 30-50% decrease in enzymatic activity without loss of the iron-sulfur protein [J. Bioenerg. Biomembr. 31 (1999) 215]. The lowered enzymatic activity in the A86L mutant was shown to result from steric interference between the side chains of Leu-86 and Leu-89 [Biochemistry 40 (2001) 327]. The compensatory double mutant A86L/L89A restored activity to wild type levels and relieved the steric hindrance; however, the L89A mutant did not assemble properly into the bc(1) complex. Molecular modeling studies of these mutants compared to the wild type have suggested that the hydrophobic residues located in the hinge region are critical to the motion of the head group of the iron-sulfur protein during catalysis.
Luminescence Characteristics of N-Polar GaN and InGaN Films Grown by Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition

Nitrogen- and Ga-polar GaN and InGaN/GaN multiple quantum-well (MQW) films were prepared via metal organic chemical vapor deposition and evaluated via photoluminescence at reduced temperatures in order to compare their optical characteristics. While N- and Ga-polar GaN films grown at standard high temperatures were comparable in terms of photoluminescence at tested temperatures, the N-polar InGaN MQW quality was inferior to their Ga-polar counterparts, confirmed with greater enhancement in luminescence intensity from 300 to 10 K and unobservable phonon replicas at 10 K for the N-polar InGaN MQW due to the broad emission peak. Additionally performed electroluminescence studies on N-polar light-emitting diode samples indicated that the poor luminescence of the N-polar samples was not related to electric field effects. Influence of residual impurities (C and O) was strongly suggested via secondary ion mass spectroscopy, leading us to conclude that the poor luminescence properties of the N-polar InGaN MQWs were predominantly caused by the elevated residual impurity concentrations in the N-polar (In,Ga)N layers grown at low temperatures.
Assessment of national practice for palliative radiation therapy for bone metastases suggests marked underutilization of single-fraction regimens in the United States.

Purpose To characterize temporal trends in the application of various bone metastasis fractionations within the United States during the past decade, using the National Cancer Data Base; the primary aim was to determine whether clinical practice in the United States has changed over time to reflect the published randomized evidence and the growing movement for value-based treatment decisions. Patients and Methods The National Cancer Data Base was used to identify patients treated to osseous metastases from breast, prostate, and lung cancer. Utilization of single-fraction versus multiple-fraction radiation therapy was compared according to demographic, disease-related, and health care system details. Results We included 24,992 patients treated during the period 2005-2011 for bone metastases. Among patients treated to non-spinal/vertebral sites (n=9011), 4.7% received 8 Gy in 1 fraction, whereas 95.3% received multiple-fraction treatment. Over time the proportion of patients receiving a single fraction of 8 Gy increased (from 3.4% in 2005 to 7.5% in 2011). Numerous independent predictors of single-fraction treatment were identified, including older age, farther travel distance for treatment, academic treatment facility, and non-private health insurance ( P Conclusions Single-fraction palliative radiation therapy regimens are significantly underutilized in current practice in the United States. Further efforts are needed to address this issue, such that evidence-based and cost-conscious care becomes more commonplace.
Addressing Methodological and Ethical Challenges of Qualitative Health Research on Persons With Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Qualitative studies of persons with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may affect clinical practice and social policy. However, methodological and ethical challenges may present during studies of persons with these specific mental illnesses. The purpose of this paper is to increase transparency about how researchers addressed these challenges during a recent grounded theory study about engagement in primary care. As the researchers addressed the challenges, they increased understanding about persons with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They also gained insight about the challenges of studying persons with these specific mental illnesses and about the rigor and credibility of qualitative methods.
Wages Regulation and Children's Maintenance in Australia

I. Introductory. The established Australian systems: wages-boards and arbitration courts. — Justice Higgins's decision of 1907 the foundation for subsequent awards, 648. — Inadequacy of his data, 649. — Wage changes after 1914, 650. — II. New South Wales Maintenance of Children Bill of 1919, 652. — Proposes central fund and payments therefrom to mothers on a tapering sliding scale, 654. — Estimated Cost, 661. — The government's defeat leads to failure of the bill, 664. — Labor Ministry's bill of 1921, also not enacted, 664. — III. Report of the Australian Basic Wage Commission of 1919, 665. — Searching Inquiry on Cost of Living, 666. — Report in 1920, stating a basic family wage of £5 16s, 670. — The Report a bombshell; memoranda by Knibbs and Piddington, 671. — No action, except minor changes in wages of public employees, 677. — Piddington's pamphlet of 1921, 677. — Attititude of unionists, 679. — IV. More recent developments. Arbitration courts find they have no power to apply the Commsision's basic wage, 681. — Unionists and Labor Party drifting toward the maintenance-of-children principle, 683.
Influence of dose and duration of isoflurane anesthesia on the auditory brainstem response in the rat.

AbstractObjective: Isoflurane anesthesia can have significant effects on processing of sounds at the peripheral and central levels, manifesting in changes in auditory-evoked potentials. The current study tested whether duration of isoflurane anesthesia changes thresholds, amplitudes, and latencies of the auditory brainstem response (ABR). Design: The study tested ABRs in a rat animal model under isoflurane anesthesia. Study variables were duration of isoflurane anesthesia, stimulus frequency, stimulus level, and the dose of isoflurane. Rats were anesthetized with 1.5% or 2% isoflurane. ABRs were collected from 90 to 5 dB SPL at 5–40 kHz. Three full ABR series were collected over a 105-minute period. Thresholds were assigned, and ABR wave amplitudes and latencies were measured at each stimulus frequency and level. Study sample: Ten Sprague-Dawley rats were tested in a repeated measures design. Results: Statistical analyses revealed no significant effects of dose or duration on threshold, but a series of si...