cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genomic diversity of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 from environmental water sources and clinical specimens using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) from 1985 to 2007, Korea

The molecular typing of 202 Legionella pneumophila sg 1 isolates obtained from environmental water sources and clinical specimens from 1985 to 2007 was conducted using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). In this study, a total of 212 isolates were grouped into 35 different PFGE types and Type 1 was the predominant type, accounting for 28.7% in PFGE types. Type 1 and Type 8 were observed continuously from 1985 to 2007. In the analysis of the distribution of PFGE types in six geographic regions (Seoul-Incheon, Gangwon, Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, Jeolla, and Jeju), Type 1 was predominant throughout four regions except for Jeolla and Jeju, and Type 6 was observed in four regions except two regions (Gangwon and Jeju). Six clinical isolates belonged to PFGE Type 1, Type 6, Type 9, and Type 15. Type 1 among these types, was isolated from 3 patients with confirmed nosocomial infection at the hospital and Type 6, Type 9, and Type 15 were isolated 3 patients with suspected community-acquired infection. Type R, PFGE pattern of L. pneumophila sg 1 (ATCC 33152, Philadelphia-1), was not observed in the isolates evaluated in this study. Therefore, our results suggest that PFGE Type 1 was very prevalent in the environmental and clinical isolates in Korea. Type 1 was distributed continuously for many years throughout Korea.
Criterion for insertion-induced microcracking and debonding of thin films

The insertion of lithium into electric anode in a lithium-ion battery results in local volume expansion and creates compressive stress in materials. To relax the compressive stress, structural damage including microcracking and local buckling can occur. Using the theory of diffusion-induced stress and the energy principle, analytical relations between the critical concentration of solute atoms and average damage size are established for the insertion-induced cracking and buckling in an elastic film. Numerical results show that surface cracking will prevail over local buckling in accord with experimental observation. For local buckling of a given size, there exists a minimum critical concentration which is determined by the film thickness and the ratio of the Dupre constant to Young's modulus of the film.
Crisis aversion and sustainable strategic management (SSM) in emerging economies

Recent research has challenged the long-term viability of traditional competitive strategies, primarily from environmental and ecological points of view and has sought to bridge the gap between these ostensibly contradictory perspectives. This paper builds on previous work by considering the notion of sustainable strategic management (SSM) in emerging economies. Emerging countries can harbour crisis threats that impede efforts toward sustainability. Effective management of the environmental, economic and social responsibility issues is critical to the success of any SSM plan. These functional areas are at the core of any society's existence and must be monitored and managed for any sustainability efforts to be successful. Two disparate cases – Chile and Poland – are discussed to illustrate the significance and difficulty of implementing SSM efforts in emerging economies. Implications and directions for future research are presented.
Energy-dependent contraction of swollen mitochondria: activation by nigericin.

Abstract The rate, extent, and efficiency of the energy-dependent contraction of heart mitochondria swollen in Na+ or K+ nitrate are all strongly activated by nigericin, an antibiotic which is known to support cation/H+ exchange in natural and model membranes. In the absence of nigericin, the cation selectivity sequence of energy-dependent contraction (Na+>Li+>K+>choline+) is identical to that of passive swelling in acetate salts, a reaction which is presumed to be dependent on an endogenous cation/H+ exchanger. These results strongly favor an osmotic mechanism for energy-dependent contraction which depends on electrogenic H+ ejection, H+/cation exchange, and electrophoretic anion efflux.
Latest advances in predicting DILI in human subjects: focus on biomarkers

Introduction: The quest for a biomarker that would reliably identify patients at risk of developing acute drug-induced liver injury (DILI) to a specific agent or class of agents before it occurs, has been underway for years. Historical host factors for DILI, such as older age and female gender, are not considered sufficient to truly predict an individual's inherent risk of DILI. In vitro and animal-based biomarker discoveries, in many instances, have not been considered accurate enough for drug development in human subjects nor for use in clinical practice. Areas covered: In order to assess the current state of biomarkers to predict idiosyncratic human DILI, the authors utilized the PubMed literature search tool to identify research reports dealing with clinical DILI biomarkers covering the period of 2010 through to June 2012. Studies involving pharmacogenetic, proteomic and toxicogenomic analyses are preferentially reviewed. Expert opinion: Although acute DILI has been linked to specific genetic associat...
Temperature dependence of quantum dot lasers

Carrier dynamics in self-assembled quantum dots, grown by molecular beam epitaxy, have been studied. The temperature dependence of the relaxation times, measured by room temperature high frequency impedance response of quantum dot lasers and by low temperature (T=4K) differential transmission spectroscopy, strongly suggests that electron- hole scattering is the dominant scattering mechanism in quantum dots. The favorable relaxation times can be exploited to realize far infrared emission and detection based on intersubband transitions in the dots.
The role of the dynorphin–κ opioid system in the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse

Background Initial hypotheses regarding the role of the κ opioid system in drug addiction suggested that κ receptor stimulation had anti-addictive effects. However, recent research suggests that κ receptor antagonists may reverse motivational aspects of dependence. In the present review, we revisit the studies that measured the effects of κ receptor ligands on the reinforcing and rewarding effects of drugs and postulate underlying neurobiological mechanisms for these effects to elaborate a more complex view of the role of κ receptor ligands in drug addiction.
Adult presentation of a familial-associated vein of galen aneurysmal malformation: case report.

Background and importance Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations (VGAMs) arise from persistent arteriovenous shunting from primitive choroidal vessels into the median prosencephalic vein of Markowski, the embryonic precursor of the vein of Galen. VGAMs rarely present past infancy, and their natural history in adults is unknown. We report the first case of a familial-associated VGAM in an asymptomatic adult female patient. The clinical features of this case are presented alongside a systematic review of the literature on adult VGAM cases to assess the natural history, clinical management, and genetic basis of this rare neurovascular lesion. Clinical presentation A previously healthy 44-year-old woman with a family history of a VGAM in a stillborn presented with an 8-week onset of dizziness and vertigo that spontaneously resolved. Time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography identified a choroidal VGAM. No intervention was undertaken at this time because of the patient's asymptomatic status after 9 months of follow-up. Conclusion Based on our review of the literature, this is the first case report of a familial-associated VGAM in an adult patient and suggests that VGAM development can be genetically linked. Of 15 adult VGAM cases previously reported, all patients were either symptomatic or treated, thus precluding determination of VGAM natural history in adults. Patient outcomes correlated with the severity of presenting symptoms, which ranged from asymptomatic to immediately life-threatening. We hypothesize that self-selection may render VGAMs to be more benign for them to persist past childhood. Further investigation of the molecular biology underlying VGAM development is warranted.
Sulfonated syndiotactic polystyrene aerogels: properties and applications

This paper evaluates the properties of aerogels obtained from sulfonated syndiotactic polystyrene (ssPS) and polyaniline-coated ssPS and elaborates two applications of such aerogel materials. The syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) chains were sulfonated in chloroform solutions and ssPS gels at several levels of sulfonation were synthesized. The ssPS gels with high surface area were used as templates to adsorb, protonate, and polymerize aniline. The aerogels recovered after supercritical drying were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, and differential scanning calorimetry. The data revealed that enough crystalline domains remained in ssPS to offer mechanical integrity to the gel network, although the pore surface area reduced significantly at high sulfonation levels. The sulfonic acid groups in ssPS aerogel promoted fast moisture absorption. A large fraction of mesopores appeared in polyaniline-coated ssPS aerogels. The polyaniline-coated ssPS aerogel layer rendered an insulating macroporous membrane electrically conductive.
Posttransplant hyperglycemia. Increased incidence in cyclosporine-treated renal allograft recipients.

The incidence of posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) was compared in two groups of renal allograft recipients. These were all nondiabetic patients who had been transplanted between 1979 and 1987 and received either azathioprine-methylprednisolone (group 1) or cyclosporine-methylprednisolone (group 2) therapy as maintenance immunosuppression. The incidence of PTDM in group 1 was 9.1% vs. 18.6% in group 2 (P less than .05). The mean daily dose of methylprednisolone during the initial 2 months posttransplant was not greater among the PTDM patients of groups 1 or 2. Cyclosporine levels and mean daily CsA doses during the initial 2 posttransplant months were also not different among the CsA-PTDM and euglycemic CsA patients. Posttransplant diabetes mellitus occurred rapidly (less than 2 months) and required insulin therapy in the majority of cases. Increased age (greater than 40 years) was associated with a higher risk for PTDM, however, the greater incidence accompanying increased body weight only approached significance. Patient gender and donor source were not associated with significant risk for PTDM. The development of PTDM was accompanied by a significant decrease in graft survival at 3 years in the entire PTDM population and at 4 years in the CsA-PTDM subgroup. Actuarial patient survival was not adversely affected. The current study suggests that CsA may be diabetogenic when administered with methylprednisolone to renal allograft recipients. The adverse effect on allograft survival requires further investigation. These results may also have important implications for pancreatic and islet cell transplantation.
Stagnation-point combustion with radiation

The relatively simple character of diffusion flames in laminar stagnation-point flows has led to numerous theoretical and experimental studies of that system. Here, as a first step toward incorporating radiation in analyses eventually related to fire safety, a grey radiating diffusion flame, above a grey pyrolyzing solid fuel is considered. Shvab-Zeldovich variables are used in the analyses of steady, laminar, radiative, axisymmetric and Cartesian two-dimensional stagnation-point boundary layers. The velocity, temperature, and species fields are similar to analogous free convection flames. Two radiation approximations are compared for the case of a uniform absorption coefficient: (1) the exponential kernel and (2) the optically thin limit. The difference between these approximations proved insignificant; the simpler optically thin limit may be the method of choice. The results depend on eight parameters—five from non-radiating combustion; r , the mass consumption number; B, the mass transfer number; D c , a dimensionless heat of combustion; w , the fuel surface temperature; and Pr, the Prandtl number; and three radiation parameters: N 1 —a conduction/gaseous-radiation parameter; N 2 —a conduction/ambient-radiation parameter and e, the surface emissivity. For conditions typical of synthetic polymer fuels, surface emission dominates gaseous radiation to the fuel and the pyrolysis rate is slightly lower than a non-radiative analysis would predict. Excess pyrolyzate calculations for radiating systems are included.
Acetate-1-C14 metabolism and the effect of acetate on glucose and palmitate metabolism in the perfused rat heart.

Abstract The metabolism of acetate and the effect of acetate on the metabolism of glucose and palmitate were studied in the isolated perfused rat heart. Results with 1, 5 and 10 mM acetate-1-C 14 showed that oxidation, the major cellular fate, was maximal with 5 mM. In hearts perfused for 15, 30 and 60 minutes with 5 mM acetate, oxidation increased progressively. Acetate in concentrations of 2 and 5 mM, but not 0.2 mM, consistently reduced oxidation of glucose-U-C 14 , and increased net lactate production. This glucose sparing effect of acetate, similar to that with long chain fatty acids, was compatible with an action of acetate on glucose metabolism at, or below, pyruvate decarboxylation. The uptake and oxidation of palmitate-1-C 14 and its incorporation into tissue lipids were unaltered by 0.5 and 5 mM acetate, a finding consistent with more rapid activation of palmitate, as compared to acetate.
Incidence Of Lumbocutaneous Stigmata And Screening For Spinal Dysrraphism. 440

The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of lumbocutaneous stimgmata (LCS) and to outline the optimal use of sonographic screening for spinal dysrraphism (SD). The first phase was a prospective study from July 1993 to November 1996, during which 137 infants with LCS were directly referred to the radiologist to rule out SD. In the second phase of the study, 1449 consecutive births (between January 1 and November 1, 1996) were clinically inspected for LCS. Seventy infants (5.3%) were found to have LCS. The combined study population consisted of 207 infants. The size, shape, placement, distance from the anus, and associated skin findings (hairy patches, hemangiomas, nevi) were documented. A lumbosacral spine sonographic evaluation was performed on each study patient for SD. A total of 160 had simple dimples (defined as <0.5cm midline placement within 2.5cm of the anus), but were not found to have SD. The remaining 47 had a total of 56 LCS. Sixteen of these infants (11 females, 5 males) were found to have SD by ultrasound (PPV 34%). These 56 LCS were classified into four groups (as described in the table below) based on their physical findings.
Detection of circulating T cells with CD4+CD7- immunophenotype in patients with benign and malignant lymphoproliferative dermatoses.

Abstract Background: Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are malignancies of CD4 + T cells that involve the skin. CD4 + CD7 − cells may represent a malignant population in CTCL. Objective: Our purpose was to compare the percentage of CD4 + CD7 − cells and the expression of pan-T-cell antigens in blood lymphocytes from 31 patients with benign dermatoses with 35 patients who had CTCL. Methods: The patients with CTCL were classified as follows: 10 with mycosis fungoides (MF), seven with pre-Sezary syndrome (pre-SS), and 18 with Sezary syndrome (SS). Flow cytometry was used to determine the percentage of CD4 + CD7 − cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio and to detect aberrant expression of the pan-T-cell antigens CD2, CD3, and CD5. Results: We found a mean of 5.8% CD4 + CD7 − cells for the 16 normal control subjects and 9.3% for the benign cases ( p = 0.13). The patients with pre-SS and SS had a higher percentage of CD4 + CD7 − cells (22.4% and 35.5%, respectively) than patients with benign dermatoses ( p p = 0.80). The mean CD4/CD8 ratio was 3.1 for the normal control subjects compared with 7.4 for the patients with benign dermatoses ( p p p = 0.71 and 0.55, respectively). Aberrant CD2, CD3, or CD5 expression was observed in 66% of patients with SS, 29% with pre-SS, 30% with MF, but in none of the patients with a benign dermatosis. Conclusion: Small numbers of CD4 + CD7 − cells can be found by flow cytometry in patients with a benign dermatosis and in normal control subjects. This T-cell subset is expanded in pre-SS and SS but not in MF. Aberrant pan-T-cell antigen expression is commonly observed in patients with SS but not in patients with a benign dermatosis.
Mycoplasma genitalium: An Emerging Cause of Sexually Transmitted Disease in Women

Mycoplasma genitalium is an emerging sexually transmitted pathogen implicated in urethritis in men and several inflammatory reproductive tract syndromes in women including cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and infertility. This comprehensive review critically examines epidemiologic studies of M. genitalium infections in women with the goal of assessing the associations with reproductive tract disease and enhancing awareness of this emerging pathogen. Over 27,000 women from 48 published reports have been screened for M. genitalium urogenital infection in high- or low-risk populations worldwide with an overall prevalence of 7.3% and 2.0%, respectively. M. genitalium was present in the general population at rates between those of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Considering more than 20 studies of lower tract inflammation, M. genitalium has been positively associated with urethritis, vaginal discharge, and microscopic signs of cervicitis and/or mucopurulent cervical discharge in seven of 14 studies. A consistent case definition of cervicitis is lacking and will be required for comprehensive understanding of these associations. Importantly, evidence for M. genitalium PID and infertility are quite convincing and indicate that a significant proportion of upper tract inflammation may be attributed to this elusive pathogen. Collectively, M. genitalium is highly prevalent in high- and low-risk populations, and should be considered an etiologic agent of select reproductive tract disease syndromes in women.
DKDP (Potassium Dideuterium Phosphate) Light Valves

The use of potassium dideuterium phosphate (DKDP) light valves for optical data processing is discussed. The operating principles and structure of optically and electron beam addressed DKDPs are compared, and specifications for both devices given. Optically addressed DKDPs are capable of higher resolution and contrast, but both systems represent viable real time spatial light modulators adaptable to optical processing. Examples of real time data processing performed by the DKDPs include: image addition and subtraction; reduction of noise introduced by scattered light in recording media; reconstruction of computer generated and acoustic holograms; reconstruction of synthetic aperture radar data; retrieval of three-dimensional information in X-ray diagnoses; radar signal processing and display; and optical pattern recognition and correlation of images, which has applications for missile guidance systems.
Fast frequency acquisition phase-frequency detectors for Gsamples/s phase-locked loops

This paper describes two techniques for designing phase-frequency detectors (PFDs) with higher operating frequencies [periods of less than 8/spl times/ the delay of a fan-out-4 inverter (FO-4)] and faster frequency acquisition. Prototypes designed in 0.25-/spl mu/m CMOS process exhibit operating frequencies of 1.25 GHz [=1/(8/spl middot/FO-4)] and 1.5 GHz [=1/(6.7/spl middot/FO-4)] for two techniques, respectively, whereas a conventional PFD operates at <1 GHz [=1/(10/spl middot/FO-4)]. The two proposed PFDs achieve a capture range of 1.7/spl times/ and 1.4/spl times/ the conventional design, respectively.
Barriers to the adoption of organic farming by cash-crop producers in Austria

Most of Austria's organic farms are located in mountainous areas and produce mainly milk and beef, whereas a low percentage of cash-crop farms are organic. As a result, the demand for organically grown crops cannot be fully met by domestic production. This paper investigates the barriers to adoption of organic agriculture by cash-crop farmers in Austria. In a written survey, 383 conventional farmers provided information on their perception of organic farming and rated the importance of potential barriers to adoption. Technical challenges in cropping and additional labor requirements were rated as the most important barriers, followed by fear of decreased income and marketing problems. Structural and social issues, such as farm size and lack of support from family members, were less important.
Filamentous bacterial viruses: X. X-ray diffraction studies of the R4 A-protein mutant

Abstract The molecular structure of the R4 amber mutant of bacteriophage f1, measured by X-ray diffraction at 4 A resolution, is unchanged when the mutation is suppressed by the su1 suppressor rather than by the su3 suppressor.
A Low-Dimensional Principal Manifold as the "Attractor Backbone" of a Chaotic Beam System

We model an elastic beam subject to a contact load which displaces under a chaotic external forcing, motivated by application of a ship carrying either a crane, or fluids in internal tanks. This model not only has rich dynamics and relevance in its own right, it gives rise to a Partial Differential Equation (PDE) whose solutions are chaotic, with an attractor whose points lie "near" a low-dimensional curve. This form identifies a data-driven dimensionality reduction which encapsulates a Cartesian product, approximately, of a principal manifold, corresponding to spatial regularity, against a temporal complex dynamics of the intrinsic variable of the manifold. The principal manifold element serves to translate the complex information at one site to all other sites on the beam. Although points of the attractor do not lie on the principal manifold, they lie sufficiently close that we describe that manifold as a "backbone" running through the attractor, allowing the manifold to serve as a suitable space to approximate behaviors.
Model-based multi-locus estimation of decapod phylogeny and divergence times.

Phylogenetic relationships among all of the major decapod infraorders have never been estimated using molecular data, while morphological studies produce conXicting results. In the present study, the phylogenetic relationships among the decapod basal suborder Dendrobranchiata and all of the currently recognized decapod infraorders within the suborder Pleocyemata (Caridea, Stenopodidea, Achelata, Astacidea, Thalassinidea, Anomala, and Brachyura) were inferred using 16S mtDNA, 18S and 28S rRNA, and the histone H3 gene. Phylogenies were reconstructed using the model-based methods of maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods coupled with Markov Chain Monte Carlo inference. The phylogenies revealed that the seven infraorders are monophyletic, with high clade support values (bp > 70; pP > 0.95) under both methods. The two suborders also were recovered as monophyletic, but with weaker support (bp D 70; pP D 0.74). Although the nodal support values for infraordinal relationships were low (bp < 50; pP <0 .77) the Anomala and Brachyura were basal to the rest of the ‘Reptantia’ in both reconstructions and using Bayesian tree topology tests alternate morphology-based hypotheses were rejected (P < 0.01). Newly developed multi-locus Bayesian and likelihood heuristic rate-smoothing methods to estimate divergence times were compared using eight fossil and geological calibrations. Estimated times revealed that the Decapoda originated earlier than 437 MYA and that the radiation within the group occurred rapidly, with all of the major lineages present by 325 MYA. Node time estimation under both approaches is severely aVected by the number and phylogenetic distribution of the fossil calibrations chosen. For analyses incorporating fossils as Wxed ages, more consistent results were obtained by using both shallow and deep or clade-related calibration points. Divergence time estimation using fossils as lower and upper limits performed well with as few as one upper limit and a single deep fossil lower limit calibration.
Repeat Excision and Primary Anastomotic Urethroplasty for Salvage of Recurrent Bulbar Urethral Stricture

Purpose: We compared the results of initial excision and primary anastomosis urethroplasty to the excision and primary anastomosis outcomes of other challenging reoperative clinical settings, including secondary cases (prior urethroplasty of any technique other than excision and primary anastomosis) and repeat cases (prior excision and primary anastomosis).Materials and Methods: We reviewed our database of patients who underwent excision and primary anastomosis urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture at our tertiary referral center from 2007 to 2014. Patients without available data and those with a history of lichen sclerosus, radiation, pelvic fracture urethral injuries, distal strictures and/or hypospadias were excluded from analysis. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between those undergoing initial, secondary, and repeat excision and primary anastomosis urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture.Results: Among 898 urethroplasties performed during the study period we identified 30...
A Prospective Study of Life Stress, Social Support, and Adaptation in Early Adolescence

This study employed a 2-year longitudinal design to examine the relation of stressful life events and social supports to psychological distress and school performance among 166 early adolescents (mean age = 13.5 years). A prospective approach was utilized to control for initial levels of adjustment when examining the relation of Time 1 stress and support variables to Time 2 psychological distress and school performance. Both stress and support variables made significant contributions to the prediction of subsequent psychological distress. Stresses, but not supports, made a significant contribution to the prediction of subsequent school performance. Evidence for reciprocal and interactive linkages was also found, including effects of psychological distress and school performance on subsequent stresses and supports, and greater adaptive impact of school-based supportive resources under conditions of heightened risk outside of school. Implications for ecological and transactional models of development relating to the targeting and efficacy of preventive efforts are discussed.
Multivariable process control - A survey

Abstract A survey is provided of the state of the art in multivariable process control. Recent literature is organized and tabulated by topic to provide material for further study. The survey encompasses both linear and nonlinear multivariable systems, on-line estimation, adaptive control, distributed systems, and recent developments in computer-aided control system design. These developments together with recent applications provide the basis for predictions of the future evolution of the field.
Diagnosis and Medical Management of Infective Endocarditis: Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiography

The use of echocardiography in the diagnosis of vegetative endocarditis has been a keystone in the diagnosis and treatment of this important clinical syndrome. In addition, with the use of transesophageal echo this modality has now made important advances in not only diagnosis but in evaluation of global cardiac function. A considerable amount of information has been gathered on the vegetation and these data will be discussed.
Hydroelasticity of marine vessels advancing in a seaway

An important branch of hydroelasticity deals with the dynamic interactions between elastic structures and ocean waves. While the modal superposition method has been the primary approach in hydroelastic analysis of marine vessels, we present a directly coupled approach in the frequency domain with a rigorous treatment of the vessel forward speed. The formulation adopts a translating coordinate system with the free surface boundary conditions accounting for the double-body flow around the vessel and the radiation condition taking into account the Doppler shift of the scattered waves. A boundary element model, based on the Rankine source formulation, describes the potential flow and the hydrodynamic pressure on the vessel. A finite element model relates the vessel response to the hydrodynamic pressure through a kinematic and a dynamic boundary condition on the wetted hull surface. This direct coupling of the structural and hydrodynamic systems leads to an equation of motion in terms of the nodal displacement of the finite elements. The results are evaluated against predictions from a seakeeping model with forward speed and the modal superposition method at zero speed. A parametric study of a Wigley hull shows that forward speed introduces new resonance modes, which amplify the elastic response of the vessel in a seaway.
Potato Peel Extract a Nonmutagenic Antioxidant with Potential Antimicrobial Activity

Freeze-dried water extract of potato peels (pp), containing chlorogenic, caffeic, gallic, and protocatechuic acids, was tested for effectiveness as a natural antioxidant. The pp was prepared from peel waste of Russet Burbank potatoes. Safety concerns regarding the use of pp in foods were investigated. The pp was examined for mutagenic activity using the in vitro Salmonella typhimurium- Escherichia coli microsome assay and found to be nonmutagenic. Plate count of pp revealed <10 CFU/g. The antibacterial activity of the pp was species dependent. It was effective only at high concentration against gram negative and one gram positive bacteria but it was bacteriostatic.
Stokes examines NASA program management

As NASA gears up for another attempt at redesigning Space Station Freedom, some in Congress are wondering whether the space agency has learned any lessons from a number of costly past mistakes. Louis Stokes (D-Ohio), the new chairman of the House Appropriations Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee, held a hearing on March 17 to examine unanticipated cost growth in a variety of projects, including the space toilet, the advanced turbo pump for the shuttle, and the Mars Observer, as well as the space station. Stokes seemed well-suited to this oversight role, asking well-informed and probing questions rather than accusatory ones. The witnesses, NASA head Daniel Goldin and many of his top managers (most of whom were not in their present positions when the projects were initiated), analyzed past errors and offered useful measures for avoiding similar problems in the future.
Subjective rating scales and the control of encoding in incidental learning

Shaughnessy (1976) suggested that displaced rehearsals may occur in incidental learning when orienting tasks that involve subjective rating scales are used. In the present experiment, evidence supporting this hypothesis was obtained by extending the strategy Wood and Underwood (1967) developed for tracking rehearsals in intentional learning. The study list consisted of the blocked presentation of eight instances of each of five color sense-impression categories. A pronounced within-category primacy effect was found in recall when the orienting task required rating each item’s association to the appropriate color, but not when a different concept was used for rating each item. When orienting tasks are to be used to control the encoding of individual items, investigators should avoid using the same subjective rating scale for several items.
Single-cell analysis of targeted transcriptome predicts drug sensitivity of single cells within human myeloma tumors

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by significant genetic diversity at subclonal levels that have a defining role in the heterogeneity of tumor progression, clinical aggressiveness and drug sensitivity. Although genome profiling studies have demonstrated heterogeneity in subclonal architecture that may ultimately lead to relapse, a gene expression-based prediction program that can identify, distinguish and quantify drug response in sub-populations within a bulk population of myeloma cells is lacking. In this study, we performed targeted transcriptome analysis on 528 pre-treatment single cells from 11 myeloma cell lines and 418 single cells from 8 drug-naive MM patients, followed by intensive bioinformatics and statistical analysis for prediction of proteasome inhibitor sensitivity in individual cells. Using our previously reported drug response gene expression profile signature at the single-cell level, we developed an R Statistical analysis package available at https://github.com/bvnlabSCATTome, SCATTome (single-cell analysis of targeted transcriptome), that restructures the data obtained from Fluidigm single-cell quantitative real-time-PCR analysis run, filters missing data, performs scaling of filtered data, builds classification models and predicts drug response of individual cells based on targeted transcriptome using an assortment of machine learning methods. Application of SCATT should contribute to clinically relevant analysis of intratumor heterogeneity, and better inform drug choices based on subclonal cellular responses.
An Introduction to Multifractal Distribution Functions

This text (an abridged version of a forthcoming detailed paper) is addressed to both the beginner in multifractals and the seasonal professional. An alternative presentation of this subject is put forward, extending and streamlining the original approach in Mandelbrot 1974. Of central concern is the study of low-dimensional cuts of high-dimensional multifractals. The generalization from fractal sets to multifractal measures involves the passage from geometric objects characterized primarily by one number, namely a fractal dimension, to geometric objects characterized primarily by a function, which may be ρ(α), namely a limit probability distribution plotted suitably, on double logarithmic scales. In terms of the function f(α) used in the approach of Frisch-Parisi and of Halsey et al., one has ρ(α) = f(α) — max f(α), and f(α) need not be positive.
Cutaneous Reactions to Retinoids

Since their introduction in the 1980s, retinoids have been increasingly used for both the topical and systemic treatment of many disorders including, but not limited, to hyper- and parakeratotic cutaneous diseases, severe acne, keratotic genodermatoses, and chemoprevention of skin cancer. Retinoids affect epidermal cell growth and differentiation, sebaceous gland function, epidermal lipids, and display anti-inflammatory properties. Retinoids have been used both topically and systemically. Today, three generations of synthetic retinoids are available: 1. First-generation (nonaromatic): tretinoin (all-trans-RA), isotretinoin (13-cis-RA), and alitretinoin (9-cis-RA) 2. Second-generation (monoaromatic): aromatic retinoids including etretinate, acitretin 3. Third-generation (polyaromatic): tazarotene, adapalene, and bexarotene.
Conflicting Trends: Lessons from Current Evaluative Mechanisms in International and Regional Anti-Corruption Systems Regarding Conflicts of Interest

Corruption is an important topic at the domestic, regional and international level. The focus on corruption has intensified as it has become widely understood that corruption impacts on facets of law and policy ranging from finance to development to human rights to environmental concerns, as well as general concepts of good governance. Like the areas that it impacts, corruption itself is not one-dimensional. Rather, it consists of many components that – individually and collectively – undermine the legal and societal stability of states. One of the most fundamental aspects of corruption is conflicts of interest because, this article asserts, conflicts of interest lay at the heart of corrupt acts in that without the existence of a conflict the act in question would likely not qualify as corrupt. Indeed, combatting conflicts of interest, particularly in the public sphere, is a theme that runs through the understanding of anti-corruption measures at all levels of jurisdiction.This article explores the impact of conflicts of interest evaluations in international and regional systems, specifically the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption, the Group of States Against Corruption, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Asian Development Bank/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific, along with the trends that can be observed from these evaluations. It then examines the implications of these trends in terms of effectiveness and future development for the existing conflicts of interest provisions. The article also uses these trends to suggest areas in which the yet-to-be implemented evaluations procedures under the UNCAC and EU systems could be better focused to address the member state-based issues that arise in attempting to regulate conflicts of interest through international and regional treaty regimes.The goal of this article is to gain a more robust understanding of both how conflicts of interest are treated in international and regional anti-corruption treaty regimes and the trends that can be discerned from evaluations of regime member practices regarding these conflicts of interest measures. The lessons and trends from these existing mechanisms offer insights and lessons for those regimes that are in the process of implementing review mechanisms in the future.
Subcellular ionic distribution in liver and heart tissues of cold-acclimated rats.

SummaryLiver and heart tissues from cold-acclimated rats were analyzed for content and subcellular distribution of the ions calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. The data provided indirect evidence of uncoupling of liver mitochondria in the cold-acclimated state, while casting doubt upon the hypothesis that massive calcium accumulation is the primary factor in the main-tainance of non-shivering thermogenesis. The observed ionic changes in the heart suggest a protective mechanism, involving magnesium, against cold-induced cardiopathy.
Microtesla SABRE Enables 10% Nitrogen-15 Nuclear Spin Polarization

Parahydrogen is demonstrated to efficiently transfer its nuclear spin hyperpolarization to nitrogen-15 in pyridine and nicotinamide (vitamin B3 amide) by conducting “signal amplification by reversible exchange” (SABRE) at microtesla fields within a magnetic shield. Following transfer of the sample from the magnetic shield chamber to a conventional NMR spectrometer, the 15N NMR signals for these molecules are enhanced by ∼30,000- and ∼20,000-fold at 9.4 T, corresponding to ∼10% and ∼7% nuclear spin polarization, respectively. This method, dubbed “SABRE in shield enables alignment transfer to heteronuclei” or “SABRE-SHEATH”, promises to be a simple, cost-effective way to hyperpolarize heteronuclei. It may be particularly useful for in vivo applications because of longer hyperpolarization lifetimes, lack of background signal, and facile chemical-shift discrimination of different species.
Lectin binding characteristics of several entomogenous hyphomycetes: possible relationship to insect hemagglutinins

The hyphomycetous insect pathogens Nomuraea rileyi, Paecilomyces farinosus, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana were tested with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled lectins in order to determine cell surface sugars. Concanavalin A, specific for glucose and mannose residues, bound to cell surfaces (hyphal body and/or mycelium) of all fungi examined. Soybean and wheat germ agglutinins (affinities for N-acetylgalactosamine and N-acetylglucosamine, respectively) bound inconsistently to some cell surface areas. Peanut agglutinin, specific for galactose residues, bound to walls of only P. farinosus and B. bassiana. Fungal surface sugar residues may be important with respect to insect defense mechanisms against invading cells. Lectins produced by insects (e.g. Anticarsia gemmatalis and Spodoptera exigua) are known to be specifically inhibited by galactose (or higher concentrations of glucose or mannose). Fungal cells (P. farinosus, B. bassiana) which have exposed galactose residues as detected by FITC-peanut agglutinin appear to be especially efficient in removing hemagglutinin activity from A. gemmatalis and S. exigua hemolymph indicating adsorption of the hemagglutinins to fungal surfaces. Such adsorption may render the fungal cells more susceptible to phagocytosis or other insect defense mechanisms.
User Adaptability to System Delay

This double-blind, controlled, counter-balanced experiment examines the effects of system delay on users. Sixty-one participants completed 8 computerized tasks under 4 varied levels of time delay (from 500ms to 2000ms), with time and accuracy recorded. Participants rapidly adapted to system delay, committing neither errors of omission nor commission more frequently due to slowed system response. Time to finish tasks increased with system delay, but users were only slowed down by approximately as much time as was introduced by system delay itself. Implications for estimating the potential value of reduced system delay are discussed, as well as study limitations and suggestions for future work.
Constitutional Environmental Rights

Environmental constitutionalism is a relatively recent phenomenon at the confluence of constitutional law, international law, human rights, and environmental law. It embodies the recognition that the environment is a proper subject for protection in constitutional texts and for vindication by constitutional courts worldwide. This entry provides an overview of the extent to which countries have adopted constitutional protections to protect the environment either for people or for its own sake, focusing on the origins, establishment, emergence and enforceability of environmental constitutionalism around the globe.
Histoincompatibility-associated differences in the phenotypes of murine cardiac allograft infiltrating T cells.

Mechanisms of graft rejection may be governed in part by the kind and degree of histocompatibility differences between donor and recipient. Cardiac allograft rejection was studied in three murine models selected to provide disparity at different major histocompatibility complex (MHC), minor lymphocyte stimulating (Mls) and other minor histocompatibility loci. Graft survival for the A.TL to A.TH combination (M3) was significantly longer (median day of rejection 15.0 days) than both the B10.A to AKR (M2) or the C57BL/6 to C3H/HeN (M1) donor-recipient combinations (median days of rejection: 9.0 days and 9.0 days respectively; P < 0.001). The infiltration of grafts by T cells was examined by removal of grafts serially post-transplantation and culturing mechanically disrupted graft tissue with interleukin-2 (IL-2). Recovery of T cells by this method revealed highly reproducible characteristics (kinetic and phenotypic), unique to each donor-recipient combination. Cultures from M1 and M2 grafts had differing CD4/CD8 T-cell ratios at days 2 (1.8 versus 0.7, respectively) and 4 (1.6 versus 0.1, respectively) post-transplantation. The M3 model differed from M2 (at days 4, 8 and 10) and from M1 (at days 8 and 10). At these times, cultures of M3 grafts contained a significantly increased percentage of CD4 cells and significantly decreased percentage of CD8 cells (CD4/CD8 ratios 0.9-1.3) by comparison with M1 (CD4/CD8 ratios 0.02-0.04) and M2 (CD4/CD8 ratios 0.1-0.02). Long-surviving M3 grafts (greater than 30 days post-transplantation) were compared with grafts removed immediately upon cessation of graft function (days 14, 15 and 18 post-transplantation). There was a significant difference between these groups in the ratios of CD4/CD8 T-cell ratios (1.1 versus 0.4, respectively). This study suggests that the cellular rejection mechanism of a graft is a variable process driven by the individual histocompatibility antigen disparity between donor and recipient. These findings may have diagnostic and therapeutic applications in organ transplantation.
Embedding Model-Based Security Policies in Software Development

Security in software applications is frequently an afterthought. Even if developers are aware of security policies and software vulnerabilities, they possess little knowledge of how to implement security polices while developing applications. In addition, the lack of support for tools and security automation makes it more challenging to incorporate security policies. In this paper we have proposed a security policy enforcement mechanism to incorporate security policies for data fields in transactions of software application during its development phase. The objective is to facilitate developers implementing security policies easily. The extensibility of our approach gives the flexibility to accommodate different security policy schemas and to implement various security policies on sensitive data. With the simplicity of mapping data fields of business structures with security policy definitions, our approach provides the programmers, business domain experts and security experts a collaborative process to define and incorporate security policies in software.
Dry matter partitioning and photosynthetic response to biennial bearing and freeze damage in ‘Empire’ apple

Abstract Biennial cropping is typically characterized as having ‘ON’ and ‘OFF’ years in which the ‘ON’ year produces an excessive crop load and the ‘OFF’ year has a very small crop load. Frost damage during the bloom period or winter freeze damage is another means of reducing the crop load that can initiate biennial bearing in an otherwise consistent cropping system. The objectives were to determine what effect single and multiple year crop loss had on the current and subsequent year’s dry matter partitioning and photosynthesis. Dry matter partitioning and whole tree photosynthesis ( A ) were being measured in biennial bearing ‘Empire’ apple trees when 2 consecutive frosts occurred following an ‘OFF’ year. This provided an opportunity to evaluate two cycles of conventional biennial bearing and the effect of 3 years of suppressed crop load on dry matter partitioning and whole tree photosynthesis. Frost events reduced fruit dry weight to levels equivalent to the ‘OFF’ years but the ‘SUPPRESSED’ years (1 ‘OFF’ and 1 or 2 frost years) reduced partitioning to wood dry matter and leaf + fruit more than the ‘OFF’ years while increasing the fruit dry matter partitioning compared to the ‘OFF’ years despite similar fruit yield and crop load. The ‘ON’ years had the highest fruit dry weight and% dry weight partitioned to fruit and leaf + fruit. Conversely, the ‘ON’ year had the least leaf area index (LAI) and% dry weight partitioned to wood and leaf tissue. There were no differences in canopy area, however, the ‘ON’ years had a significantly reduced LAI. Radiation use efficiency RUE; Annual biomass (kg)/PAR [(MegaMoles/growing season) × canopy area (m 2 )] was linearly correlated with the% dry mass partitioned to fruit and negatively correlated with LAI. For a specified LAI, the ‘ON’ year had a greater RUE than the ‘OFF’ or ‘SUPPRESSED’ years and there were no differences between ‘OFF’ and ‘SUPPRESSED’ years. Analysis of daily photosynthesis ( A ) indicated that all three treatments were significantly different. The ‘ON’ years had the highest mean daily A (3.8 μmol/m 2 /s), ‘SUPPRESSED’ years were intermediate (3.0 μmol/m 2 /s) and the ‘OFF’ years had the lowest A (2.5 μmol/m 2 /s). It appears that in years when fruiting is suppressed more than a single year, dry matter partitioning to wood is also suppressed and a great partitioning occurs to the remaining fruit and leaf tissue. This may be a response to a continued deficit of the hormonal complex supplied by fruit as they develop.