cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synergistic Effect of Polysaccharide Gums and Antimicrobial Agents on Susceptibility and Protein Expression of Select Pathogenic Microorganisms in Milk

The quest for the use of natural ingredients as preservatives and antimicrobial agents is rising. Polysaccharide gums are usually used as emulsifying agents and as preservatives. The objective of this study was to investigate the combined effect of five different polysaccharide gums and antimicrobial agents on growth, susceptibility and protein expression of select pathogenic microorganisms in milk. Antimicrobial susceptibility and protein concentration were determined by disc diffusion and Pierce BCA assay, respectively. The proteome pattern and the number of protein spots were determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The results showed that xanthan (6.68±0.02 Log CFU/mL) caused the most growth inhibition of Salmonella enterica, compared to the control. Inclusion of pectin led to a significant (P<0.0001) 2-log reduction of Salmonella enterica during a 2-day refrigerated storage (4 oC). The highest inhibition zones (20.50±0.70) was observed in E. coli O157:H7 exposed to carrageenan-maltodextrin-cefixime. The proteome pattern was impacted by the gums with protein band of size 30kDa being the most prominent band. The highest number of protein spots (35) were obtained in locust bean treated samples. These findings indicated that tested gums affected microbial protein expression and were effective in inhibitory activity against tested pathogens specifically Escherichia coli O157:H7, thus gums hold great promise as some antimicrobial agents. Further characterization of protein targets is warranted.
Connecting Spiritual Formation and Adult Learning Theory: An Examination of Common Principles:

In the realm of Christian education, the topic of adult spiritual formation has been broadly considered from the philosophical, theological, and practical viewpoints in order to aid spiritual forma...
Who protects participants in non-inferiority trials when the outcome is death?:

A non-inferiority design accepts the possibility of some efficacy loss, as part of a “successful”, statistically significant result. That loss may be excessive when the non-inferiority threshold is...
Rewiring the DMCA’s history: 20th-century new media and the expanding imaginary for infringement

This article analyzes the Digital Millennium Copyright Act as a refinement of governmental techniques developed for technologies such as piano rolls, reprography, DAT, and VCRs. The technological h...
Foreign-Trained Dentists in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities

The aim of the present study is to review the licensing process and challenges faced by foreign-trained dentists in United States (U.S.), and how incorporating foreign-trained dentists in the dental workforce in the U.S. impacts the population’s dental care. Foreign-trained dentists must complete additional training in a Commission of Dental Accreditation recognized program offered by a U.S. dental school in order to be eligible for licensing. Foreign-trained dentists interested in seeking employment in the U.S. face numerous challenges, including stringent admission processes, high tuition costs, immigration barriers and cultural differences. Opening the U.S. dental profession to foreign-trained dentists provides several advantages, such as increasing the diversity of dentists in the U.S., expanding access to underrepresented communities, and enhancing the expertise of the profession. Foreign-trained dentists are an important resource for a U.S. government seeking to build the human capital base and make the most of global trade opportunities through a “brain gain”. Increasing the diversity in the dental profession to match the general U.S. population might improve access to dental care for minorities and poor Americans, reducing disparities in dental care.
Technical Aspects of Screen-Film Mammography

In mammography, it is most important to consistently produce high-contrast, high-resolution images at the lowest radiation dose possible. During the past 20 years, there have been many significant technologic improvements in mammographic x-ray equipment and in screen-film recording systems (Haus 1990, 1991, 1994). Twenty years ago, many x-ray units were used that were not dedicated for mammography. These x-ray units had tungsten target tubes which were originally designed for general-purpose medical imaging procedures, such as chest radiography. Some of these units had compression devices that were homemade; therefore, breast compression was less than optimal by today’s standards. Many of these units had very large focal spots and/or short focal spot-to-breast surface distances which could result in significant geometric blur (unsharpness). Direct exposure (industrial type) x-ray films were being used, which often required long exposure times (causing blur due to motion) and which resulted in high radiation exposure.
A canonicalizing model for building programming tutors

It is difficult to build intelligent tutoring systems in the domain of programming due to the complexity and variety of possible answers. To simplify this process, we have constructed a language-independent canonicalized model for programming solutions. This model allows for much greater overlap across different students than a basic text model, which enables more self-sustaining hint generation methods in programming tutors.
Not water, but formalin, dissolves urate crystals in tophaceous tissue samples.

Objective To examine the relative solubility of urate crystals in water, formalin, and ethanol. Methods Weighed aliquots of synthetic crystals were incubated in each solvent for 72 h at 4 degrees C and were then examined by polarized microscopy. Results urate crystals were insoluble in alcohol, sparingly soluble in water, and markedly soluble in formalin. Conclusion The marked solubility of urate in formalin is consistent with formation of urate:formaldehyde addition products.
Liver transplantation during infancy: No increased rate of neurological complications

pLT is a highly standardized therapy for children with end-stage liver disease and liver-based metabolic diseases. However, NCs after transplantation occur and especially younger children are considered as more vulnerable and susceptible to NCs. Up to now, detailed data particularly for the very young age group do not exist. We therefore retrospectively studied NCs in children after pLT under age of 24 months. Forty children aged between 19 days and 22 months were evaluated according to type of NC and potential risk factors. NCs occurred in 8/40 patients (20%). All experienced new-onset seizures and in 1/6 surviving patients, seizures evolved into epilepsy. Other NCs were intracerebral abscess (1/8 patients) and subdural hemorrhage (1/8 patients). The overall 3-year mortality rate was 10% (4/40 patients). Significant risk factors for NCs and therefore seizures were HAT (P = 0.020), total surgery time (P = 0.009), retransplantation (P < 0.001), period of catecholamine therapy (P = 0.024), period of mechanical ventilation (P = 0.014), and period of sedation (P = 0.010). Our study is the first to provide detailed information on NCs after pLT in children under 24 months of age. The incidence of NCs in this particular group of very young patients was not increased compared to previously published data of children of all ages. Main NC was new-onset seizure. In the surviving infants, prognosis of seizure was excellent and the risk of developing epilepsy was low. Even more, the occurrence of NCs did not significantly affect mortality or survival in this particular age group.
Why does Amazon precipitation decrease when tropical forests respond to increasing CO2

Earth system models predict a zonal dipole of precipitation change over tropical South America, with decreases over the Amazon and increases over the Andes. Much of this has been attributed to the physiological response of the rainforest to elevated CO2, which describes a basin-wide reduction in stomatal conductance and transpiration. While robust in Earth system model experiments, details of the underlying atmospheric mechanism—specifically how it evolves in the context of land-atmosphere interaction and the diurnal cycle—are unresolved. We investigate this using idealized model simulations and find that within 24 hours of a CO2 increase, changes occur over the Amazon that engender synoptic timescale feedbacks. Decreased evapotranspiration from the rainforest throttles near-surface moisture, inducing a drier, warmer, and deeper boundary layer. Above this, enhanced turbulent diffusivity increases vapor in the lower free troposphere. Together, these processes reduce convective activity and cause immediate decreases in Amazon rainfall. Over the synoptic timescale, these changes leave behind lower tropospheric moisture, which is advected westward by the background jet and increases Andean precipitation. This produces a dipole of precipitation change consistent across global and regional models as well as parameterized and resolved convection, though details are sensitive to model topography and boundary layer formulation. The mechanism reported here stresses the importance of fast timescale processes affecting stability over a period of hours that can influence longer-term vegetation-climate interactions. These results help clarify the Amazons physiological response to rising CO2 and provide insight into possible causes of historical model biases and end-of-century uncertainty in this region.
A Major Role for the Lateral Habenula in Depressive Illness: Physiologic and Molecular Mechanisms

Emerging preclinical and clinical evidence indicate that the lateral habenula plays a major role in the pathophysiology of depressive illness. Aberrant increases in neuronal activity in the lateral habenula, an anti-reward center, signals down-regulation of brainstem dopaminergic and serotonergic firing, leading to anhedonia, helplessness, excessive focus on negative experiences, and, hence, depressive symptomatology. The lateral habenula has distinctive regulatory adaptive role to stress regulation in part due to its bidirectional connectivity with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In addition, studies show that increased lateral habenula activity affects components of sleep regulation including slow wave activity and rapid eye movement (REM), both disrupted in depressive illness. Lack of perceived reward experienced during the adverse outcomes also precipitates lateral habenula firing, while outcomes that meet or exceed expectations decrease lateral habenula firing and, in turn, increase midbrain dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmission. The ability to update expectations of the environment based on rewards and aversive stimuli reflects a potentially important survival mechanism relevant to the capacity to adapt to changing circumstances. What if one lives in a continuously aversive and invalidating environment or under the conditions of chronic stress? If there is a propensity of the habenula to release many burst discharges over time, an individual could habitually come to perceive the world as perpetually disappointing. Conceivably, the lateral habenula could learn to expect an adverse outcome systematically and communicate it more easily. Thus, if the lateral habenula fires more frequently, it may lead to a state of continuous disappointment and hopelessness, akin to depression. Furthermore, postmortem studies reveal that the size of the lateral habenula and total number of neurons are decreased in patients who had depressive illness. Novel research in the field shows that ketamine induces rapid and sustained antidepressant effect. Intriguingly, recent preclinical animal models show that ketamine abolishes N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-dependent lateral habenula bursting activity, leading to rapid resolution of depressive symptoms.
A fast, space-efficient average-case algorithm for the 'Greedy' Triangulation of a point set, and a proof that the Greedy Triangulation is not approximately optimal

The paper addresses the problem of how to find the Greedy Triangulation (GT) efficiently in the average case. It is noted that the problem is open whether there exists an efficient approximation algorithm to the Optimum Triangulation. It is first shown how in the worst case, the GT may be obtained in time O(n to the 3) and space O(n). Attention is then given to how the algorithm may be slightly modified to produce a time O(n to the 2), space O(n) solution in the average case. Finally, it is mentioned that Gilbert has found a worst case solution using totally different techniques that require space O(n to the 2) and time O(n to the 2 log n).
CHEATPROOF SOCIAL DECISION MECHANISMS

Economists have long sought methods whereby efficient collective decisions can be made. When a group is confronted with the problem of choosing one policy from several alternatives, some decision‐making mechanism must be employed. Whether the mechanism is choice by democratic vote, the whim of the reigning dictator, coin tossing, or some other, the choice is made by the application of some decision‐making mechanism.
A New Approach To Mental Health Care, Imported From Abroad

Can a transformative care strategy, tested and proven in Trieste, Italy, work in Los Angeles, California?
Experimental and modeling investigation of binary liquid mixtures

Binary mixtures of liquids may be encountered in industrial or remote sensing scenarios and present challenges to positive identification compared to neat single-component liquids. Our investigation examines whether one can predict the optical properties of the mixture, i.e. its complex index of refraction, by assuming a linear superposition of the real and imaginary components of the index of refraction in proportion to the ratio of each constituent. To investigate this hypothesis various liquid mixtures were created using mass ratios. The mixtures were then characterized as to their complex index of refraction and used in numerical modeling calculations of thin liquid mixture films on surfaces and compared with composed mixtures using linear n and k synthetic mixtures where the n and k components of the complex index of refraction were combined in similar ratios. The comparison of modeling and experimental results is presented with recommendations for further investigation.
DIAGNOSTIC COLOR DIFFERENTIATION PLATES FOR HEREDITARY RESPIRATION DEFICIENCY IN YEAST

Nagai, Susumu (National Women's University, Nara, Japan). Diagnostic color differentiation plates for hereditary respiration deficiency in yeast. J. Bacteriol. 86:299-302. 1963.-Color differentiation between normal yeasts and their respiration-deficient mutants was improved by growing yeast colonies on nutrient agar plates containing several selected dyes and their mixtures. Magdala red (5 to 8 mg/liter) was good for single-color plates, giving deep-red sheen to the mutant colonies in contrast to the normal ones which tinted light red. A mixture of eosin (8 to 15 mg/liter, either Y or B) with trypan blue (15 to 20 mg/liter) was excellent in color and convenient to prepare, giving brilliant purple sheen to the mutant colonies contrasted to the normal ones which tinted grayish violet. These color plates were good over a broad range of Saccharomyces species, although the colony shades and suitable dye concentrations varied depending on the species and strains.
Accretion Processes in Star Formation: Binaries, clusters, and the IMF

Virtually all stars are born with neighbors. Most stellar systems are multiple, and many if not most stars are born in groups, with a subset in clusters of substantial numbers of stars. An understanding of multiplicity is therefore an important part of theories of star formation. The complex structure within molecular clouds, and in particular the asymmetries present in protostellar cores, may be essential to understanding the process of forming binaries. Whether the disks formed during protostellar collapse are capable of spawning multiple stellar companions rather than simply accreting onto the central object is an open question, perhaps requiring strong departures from axisymmetry in the infalling material. Observationally, we detect multiple protostellar systems which appear to lie within disks or toroids in Class I sources, indicating that stellar fragmentation occurs before infall to the disk is complete. The early evolution of binary and multiple stellar systems is likely to be complex. The growth in mass of fragments formed early on will depend upon complicated accretion processes in disks and infalling envelopes. If more than two fragments are formed, the system can become dynamically unstable, resulting in dispersal or ejection of some members. Whether many or even any stars are initially formed as single objects, or instead were ejected from multiple systems, is currently unclear. Probably most young stars are born in clusters or groups. Currently most stars in the solar neigborhood are born in modest-sized groups of order 10–100 members in regions of order a pc in size.
The use of best management practices to respond to externalities from developing shale gas resources

The public is concerned that activities accompanying hydraulic fracturing in the development of shale gas resources are unnecessarily adversely affecting them and the environment and is petitioning elected representatives to take actions to reduce risks. The health risks associated with fracturing chemicals and air pollutants are relatively unknown and constitute the impetus for public concern. An evaluation of state legal and regulatory provisions regarding best management practices discloses that states are not adopting timely regulations to protect people and the environment from activities accompanying hydraulic fracturing. Simultaneously, regulatory policy concerning negative externalities suggests that governments underinvest in the protection of human health and environmental quality. Governments have choices in protecting people from dangers that accompany shale gas development. Due to the risks of injuries and unpaid damages from shale gas development, governmental policies need to evolve to acco...
Temperature-sensitive hepatitis A virus mutants with deletions downstream of the first pyrimidine-rich tract of the 5' nontranslated RNA are impaired in RNA synthesis.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) mutants containing large deletions within the first pyrimidine-rich tract (pY1; nucleotides [nt] 99 to 138) of the 5' nontranslated RNA (5'NTR) replicate well in cultured cells, while those with pY1 deletions which extend in a 3' direction to include nt 140 to 144 (CUUGU) have a temperature-sensitive (ts) replication phenotype (D.R. Shaffer, E.A. Brown, and S.M. Lemon, J. Virol. 68:5568-5578, 1994). To characterize this replication defect, the ts mutant delta 131-144 was grown under one-step conditions at the nonpermissive temperature (37 degrees C). A shift to the permissive temperature (31 degrees C) for the first 18 h of the viral replication cycle did not enhance virus yields, indicating that temperature sensitivity is not due to a defect in viral entry or uncoating. Similarly, absence of increased yield with a late shift to 31 degrees C between 54 and 72 h suggested that the ts defect does not involve viral assembly. Although monocistronic RNA transcripts containing the delta 99-144 deletion directed translation 22 to 58% less efficiently than the standard 5'NTR in transfected BS-C-1 cells, this difference was present at both 31 and 37 degrees C. In addition, there were no temperature-dependent differences in the abilities of bicistronic transcripts containing either ts or non-ts 5'NTR sequences within the intercistronic space to direct translation of a downstream reporter gene. Thus, ts mutations do not confer a demonstrable temperature-related defect in cap-independent translation. In contrast, an RNase protection assay showed that synthesis of viral plus-strand RNA was markedly delayed in BS-C-1 cells infected with ts virus at 37 degrees C. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence surrounding the deletion in a non-ts revertant derived from delta 116-144 virus revealed that a single U-to-G transversion at nt 114 (CUUUU-->CUUGU) had restored the sequence normally present between nt 140 and 144. These results indicate that ts mutants of HAV with deletions extending downstream from the pY1 domain to nt 140 to 144 are defective in RNA synthesis and that the single-stranded RNA segment containing nt 140 to 144 plays a critical role in replication of HAV RNA.
Heterogeneous response to PTH in aging rats: evidence for skeletal PTH resistance.

Plasma immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (irPTH) levels increase and renal responsiveness to pharmacological doses of PTH decreases with advancing age. This study tested whether 1) decreased irPTH clearance contributes to the elevated NH2-terminal irPTH levels seen in aged rats and 2) aged rats respond to physiological levels of rat PTH. Conscious adult (7-mo-old) and aged (25-mo-old) male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused for 2 h with rat PTH-(1-34) to achieve steady-state levels in plasma (110-120 pg/ml). Basal irPTH levels were 77% higher (P less than 0.01), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] levels were 46% lower (P less than 0.05) in the aged rats. Renal function was not significantly different in these two groups. The metabolic clearance rate of irPTH was rapid and not different in adult and aged rats (99 +/- 8 vs. 111 +/- 7 ml.min-1.kg-1, respectively). After the PTH infusion, plasma ionized and total calcium and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels increased significantly in adult rats, whereas no changes were observed in aged rats. In contrast, a similar significant hypophosphatemic response (23-25% decrease) was seen in both age groups, but the hypophosphatemia was maintained for longer in aged rats. Thus the elevated plasma irPTH levels in aged rats are caused solely by increased secretion. Finally, there is a heterogeneity in the responses to PTH infusion in aged rats, suggesting that the aged rat skeleton, like the kidney, is PTH resistant.
Who Should Not Undergo Short Stay Hip and Knee Arthroplasty? Risk Factors Associated With Major Medical Complications Following Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty.

We retrospectively reviewed 1012 consecutive patients undergoing elective primary hip and knee arthroplasties to identify risk factors associated with postoperative complications. A total of 70 complications (6.9%) requiring additional physician interventions occurred following surgery and 59 (84%) occurred past 24 hours postoperatively. Independent multivariate risk factors for developing late (>24 hours) complications included COPD (adjusted OR 4.16), CHF (adjusted OR 9.71), CAD (adjusted OR 2.80), and cirrhosis (adjusted OR 8.43). These results suggest that most major medical complications requiring additional physician interventions occur greater than 24 hours following primary THA/TKA. Patients with history of COPD, CHF, CAD, and cirrhosis should not undergo short stay or outpatient TJA.
A CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF DEMENTIA OF THE ALZHEIMER TYPE

A case-control study to assess factors of possible etiologic significance to dementia of the Alzheimer type was conducted with 78 male cases diagnosed in 1979-1982 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota and age-race-sex-matched hospital and neighborhood controls (14 of 16 autopsied cases were histopathologically confirmed). Information was obtained on variables relevant to vital, genetic, and immunologic hypotheses, and on possible occupational and environmental exposures, drug use, psychologic stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The only major difference between patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and controls was a significantly greater occurrence of antecedent head trauma in the patients (odds ratio = 4.50). This finding is consistent with the literature on posttraumatic dementia but its importance is presently unclear.
Global existence of solutions for perturbed differential equations

In this paper we consider sufficient conditions for the continuability of solutions for perturbed differential equations. We obtain also some results for the global existence of solutions for differential inclusions and for stochastic differential equations of McShane and Ito type. We give an application to the global inversion of local diffeomorphisms.
Scale dependence of nuclear gluon structure

Abstract QCD-evolution of the parton distributions in nuclei is studied by using distributions at an initial scale Q0 = 2 GeV which conserve baryon charge and momentum. Two different ansatze for shadowing of gluons are considered. The main conclusion in both cases is that shadowing of gluons vanishes much more rapidly with increasing scales Q than shadowing of quarks and antiquarks. We also find that antishadowing of gluons for x ⋧ 0.1 is likely to be limited to ⋦ 20%. As an application, we compute the average inclusive one-jet cross sections in pA and AA collisions at s = 200 and 6500 GeV for A = 196 .
GELATIN, CALCIUM and PHOSPHORUS CONTENTS of CHICKEN BROTH FROM BROILER DEBONING BY‐PRODUCTS

Effects of raw material type and cooking time on total nitrogen, gelatin, calcium, and phosphorus of chicken broth were studied. Raw materials used were hand-deboned breast frames, mechanically-deboned bone residue, and whole carcasses. Cooking times were 1, 2, and 3 h. The highest values for total nitrogen and gelatin were recorded for chicken broth cooked for 3 h. Highest (P 0.05) in the total nitrogen content between broth from the breast frame and the whole carcass when cooked for 3 h. No differences (P > 0.05) in broth calcium content among various material types or cooking times were observed. The 3 h cooking time showed the highest phosphorus content for broth from the whole carcass and the breast frame.
An Integrated Bayesian Nonparametric Approach for Stochastic and Variability Orders in ROC Curve Estimation: An Application to Endometriosis Diagnosis

In estimating ROC curves of multiple tests, some a priori constraints may exist, either between the healthy and diseased populations within a test or between tests within a population. In this article, we proposed an integrated modeling approach for ROC curves that jointly accounts for stochastic and variability orders. The stochastic order constrains the distributional centers of the diseased and healthy populations within a test, while the variability order constrains the distributional spreads of the tests within each of the populations. Under a Bayesian nonparametric framework, we used features of the Dirichlet process mixture to incorporate these order constraints in a natural way. We applied the proposed approach to data from the Physician Reliability Study that investigated the accuracy of diagnosing endometriosis using different clinical information. To address the issue of no gold standard in the real data, we used a sensitivity analysis approach that exploited diagnosis from a panel of experts. ...
Progressive portopulmonary hypertension after liver transplantation treated with epoprostenol

Portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN) is an uncommon complication of advanced liver disease. Epoprostenol has been effective in the treatment of PPHTN and has been used as a bridge to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The role of OLT in the reversal of PPHTN is unclear. We report a case of severe PPHTN (mean pulmonary artery pressure of 45 mm Hg) that progressed after OLT. Acute dosing with epoprostenol improved the pulmonary vascular resistance by 55% and the cardiac index by 134%. Hemodynamic and symptomatic improvements were maintained after 18 months of long-term treatment with epoprostenol. This is the first reported case of a successful favorable outcome after treatment for progressive PPHTN after OLT. Our case report complements previous reports by highlighting the potential effective use of epoprostenol as a definitive treatment for PPHTN.
Internal magnetic field structure and parallel electric field profile evolution during the sawtooth cycle in MST

Temporal dynamics of the magnetic field, parallel current density, parallel electric field and safety factor profiles in the core of a high-temperature reversed-field pinch plasma are experimentally resolved. Measurements are realized using a high-speed polarimeter–interferometer diagnostic which is employed to simultaneously determine the electron density, toroidal current density and poloidal magnetic field profiles. Combined with external magnetic measurements, these data allow determination of the equilibrium profile dynamics during individual sawtooth magnetic relaxation events. At the sawtooth crash, the E∥ profile has a large positive peak on-axis, and a negative peak of slightly smaller value near the reversal surface demonstrating the need for a dynamo to sustain the plasma equilibrium.
Effect of N-alkyl substituents on the DNA binding properties of meso-tetrakis (4-N-alkylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrins and their nickel derivatives.

Abstract Resonance Raman, NMR, and visible spectroscopies, as well as viscosity and equilibrium dialysis studies were used to assess the effect of the N-alkyl substituent of meso-tetrakis(4-N-alkylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin cations on DNA binding. The DNAs studied include the native DNA, calf thymus DNA (CT DNA), the synthetic polynucleotides [poly(dGdC)]2 and [poly(dAdT)]2, and the oligonucleotide d(TATACGTATA)2. Both the porphyrins and the metalloporphyrins containing Ni(II) were examined with the N-alkyl = propyl (TPrpyP(4) and NiTPrpyP(4)) and 2-hydroxyethyl (TEtOHpyP(4) and NiTEtOHpyP(4)). The results were compared to those from the parent porphyrins with the N-methyl substituent (TMpyP(4) and NiTMpyP(4)). For almost all the comparisons made, the new porphyrin cations gave results very similar to those for the TMpyP(4) species. The resonance Raman study indicated that for the three DNA polymers all the Ni species were in the four-coordinate form when bound to all three polymers. It is suggested that both TPrpyP(4) and TEtOHpyP(4) bind to GC regions of DNA in the same intercalative manner as TMpyP(4) with the N-alkyl substituent extended into the solvent. For AT regions of DNA, the binding of TPrpyP(4) and TEtOHpyP(4) is nonintercalative, as found previously for TMpyP(4). The NiTPrpy(4) and NiTEtOHpyP(4) cations bind to these polymers in a similar manner to the apo-porphyrins. The similar Raman spectral changes for the three Ni porphyrins upon addition of [poly(dAdT)]2 suggest that partial intercalation is not occurring because models indicate that it would be difficult to accommodate the bulkier N-alkyl substituents.
Identification of the cyclin D1b mRNA variant in mouse

Cyclin D1 plays a key regulatory role during the G1 phase of the cell cycle and its gene is amplified and over-expressed in many cancers. The cyclin D1b mRNA variant was established in human cells and recent functional analyses revealed that its protein product harbors unique activities in human cancer cells. By performing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) experiments, we identified the cyclin D1b mRNA variant in mouse. Similar to its human counterpart, the mouse cyclin D1b transcript consists of exon 1, 2, 3, 4 and part of intron 4, and contains a long open reading frame (ORF). The predicted peptide from this ORF is 34-amino acid longer than the human cyclin D1b. The expression of this mouse mRNA variant was investigated. It appears to be expressed ubiquitously and differentially in various mouse cell lines and tissues and its level might be proportional to that of the canonical endogenous cyclin D1a mRNA.
Mechanical behavior of zirconium diboride–silicon carbide–boron carbide ceramics up to 2200 °C

Abstract The mechanical properties of hot pressed zirconium diboride–silicon carbide–boron carbide (ZrB2–SiC–B4C) ceramics were characterized from room temperature up to 2200 °C in an argon atmosphere. The average ZrB2 grain size was 3.0 μm. The SiC particles segregated into clusters, and the largest clusters were >30 μm in diameter. The room temperature flexural strength was 700 MPa, decreasing to 540 MPa at 1800 °C and to 260 MPa at 2200 °C. The strength was controlled by the SiC cluster size up to 1800 °C. At higher temperatures, strength was controlled by formation of liquid phases, and precipitation of large BN and B–O–C–N inclusions. The mechanical behavior of these materials changes at ∼1800 °C, meaning that extrapolation of properties from lower temperatures is not accurate. Mechanical behavior in the ultra-high temperature regime was dominated by impurities and changes in microstructure. Therefore, the use of higher purity materials could lead to significant improvements in ultra-high temperature strength.
EFFECTIVENESS OF CATEGORY AND LINE SCALES TO CHARACTERIZE CONSUMER PERCEPTION OF FRUITY FERMENTED FLAVOR IN PEANUTS

Fruity fermented (FF) flavor is a common off-flavor in peanuts resulting from high-temperature curing. The 9-point hedonic scale is the most widely used scale to determine consumer acceptance; however, research has indicated that line scales may provide equal reliability and greater sensitivity. The objectives of this study were to characterize consumer perception of FF flavor in peanuts and to compare the effectiveness of the two scale types. Consumers (n = 208) evaluated control (no FF), low-intensity (1.0) FF and high-intensity (3.0) FF peanut pastes for the strength/intensity of roasted peanut flavor (RPF), sweet taste (ST), fresh peanut flavor (FPF) and overall liking (OV) using randomly assigned ballots. Sensitivity in defining consumer perception of off-flavor in peanuts was greater with use of line scales than with the hedonic scale. The line scale indicated that FF flavor in peanuts, even at low intensity, negatively impacted OV and further identified significantly lower RPF and FPF perception by consumers. The hedonic scale identified only a difference in FPF and was not sensitive enough to show a difference in OV.
Attracting Teen Surfers to Science Web Sites

Attracting teens to science Web sites can be difficult because teens spend less time online than other groups and because teens most frequently use the Internet for social and entertainment gratifications. Two studies sought to increase understanding about how to attract teens to science Web sites. The first study was a content analysis of state-of-the-art science Web sites and popular non-science teen Web sites. The second study used teen focus groups to gain insights about their Internet use and about how they use the Web to find science information. Implications from both studies for improving Web-mediated science communication to a teenage audience are discussed.
Automatic text decomposition using text segments and text themes

With the widespread use of full-text information retrieval, passage-retrieval techniques are becoming increasingly popular. Larger texts can then be replaced by important text excerpts, thereby simplifying the retrieval task and improving retrieval effectiveness. Passage-level evidence about the use of words in local contexts is also useful for resolving language ambiguities and improving retrieval output. Two main text decomposition strategies are introduced in this study, including a chronological decomposition into {\em text segments}, and semantic decomposition into {\em text themes}. The interaction between text segments and text themes is then used to characterize text structure, and to formulate specifications for information retrieval, text traversal, and text summarization.
Capsule commentary on Weeks et al., "Provider perceptions of the electronic health record incentive programs: a survey of eligible professionals who have and have not attested to meaningful use".

When Apple released the iPhone 6, customers lined up days in advance. Talking GPS systems are a must-have in new cars. Facebook took only five years to explode from college fad to phenomenon serving more than half of the U.S. population.1 Microsoft Office, online-only journals, Twitter, Instagram: Americans love technology. So why don’t doctors love a program that pays them to use technology? In this month’s JGIM, Weeks et. al report high levels of skepticism that the meaningful use program (MU) will accomplish goals such as reducing care disparities or improving accuracy of patient information.2 Respondents were concerned about both the reporting requirements and their electronic health records (EHRs), described in open-ended remarks as costly and “cumbersome.” Most MU-active providers cited extrinsic motivations for pursuing MU (mandates, incentives, penalties), not intrinsic ones (improved patient care). “I want to remain employed!” one said. Fifty years ago, sociologist Everett Rogers wondered why some new technologies spread spontaneously while others did not. His “diffusion of innovation” theory3 listed predictors on which EHRs still do not always score well. Proficiency requires weeks of training, suggesting lack of simplicity. Providers cannot test-drive EHRs in their own offices before committing (trialability). MU challenges compatibility because, instead of fitting in unobtrusively with social norms about work, it changes workflow and reallocates responsibilities, with the explicit goal of changing medical practice. Many physicians are not convinced that EHRs and MU meet Rogers’ criterion of relative advantage over a well-functioning paper record system. With MU, more U.S. physicians than ever now use EHRs,4 but those who are reluctant adopters are unlikely to become enthusiastic ones until improvements to EHRs maximize benefits to physicians. User interfaces must be more intuitive, data capture must be streamlined, and workflow integration must be smoother. It must be simpler to aggregate, analyze, and visualize patient data and best evidence for insights at the point of care. These innovations would minimize the record-keeping burden while maximizing immediate payoffs for physicians, including “patient-centered cognitive support”5 for better decision-making and better care. The mark of success will be the line around the block to greet the latest EHR version upgrade.
Algebraic and topological reflexivity properties of lp(X) spaces

Abstract We show that the isometry group of l p ( X ) , for a separable Banach space X, is algebraically reflexive if and only if the isometry group of X is algebraically reflexive. We also show that the topological reflexivity of the isometry group of X does not imply that of l p ( X ) . Moreover, we give a generalization of these results for a class of substitution spaces P X { B n } .
Weather-Talk, Cynicism, and Agriculture

For the agriculturist, weather-talk performs two significant rhetorical acts that display cynicism toward nature: first, a faith in technology; and second, a conviction in the cultural myths associated with stewardship toward nature. This study explores these two themes by discussing the results of ethnographic interviews conducted with farmers. Whereas Aldo Leopold (1949) articulated a need for a moral relationship with nature, this study illustrates that contemporary weather-talk amends stewardship with rhetorical cynicism. The stewardship ethic embodied by agriculture is transcended into a cynicism whereby nature is distrusted and elusive.
A space with two non-equivalent non-positively curved triangulations

Abstract We give an example of a compact space with two non-equivalent piecewise flat non-positively curved geodesically complete triangulations that agree on each stratum.
Physical activity in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: quantification and evaluation.

Objective. To measure daily physical activity in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and in healthy controls, and to identify variables that may influence physical activity in JRA patients. Methods. Twenty-three prepubertal children, ages 5-11 years, with mild to moderate JRA and no prior exposure to systemic glucocorticosteroids, were compared to 23 healthy children of similar age. Physical activity was measured for 3 days (minimum of one weekend day) using 3 standardized methods simultaneously. Total body movement was assessed by the Caltrac accelerometer and the University of Cincinnati Motion Sensor (UCMS). The Caltrac measured movement in the vertical plane; the UCMS measured movement of 10° or more from the horizontal plane. The type and intensity of daily physical activity was measured by the 3-day activity record, which also recorded the number of hours of daily sleep. Participation and duration of involvement in organized sports was ascertained by questionnaire. Results. The mean physical activity was significantly lower in JRA patients than in controls for the activity diary (P = 0.05). However, daily body movement measured by the Caltrac and UCMS were similar for both groups. Differences were seen in the number of hours of sleep per day (P = 0.02) and participation in strenuous activities (P < 0.01). JRA patients had significantly less participation in organized sports (P = 0.01). Conclusion. There was less daily physical activity by this group of JRA patients than for healthy age-and sex-matched control subjects.
Evaluation of adjuvant estramustine phosphate, cyclophosphamide, and observation only for node-positive patients following radical prostatectomy and definitive irradiation

In 1978 the National Prostate Cancer Project launched two protocols evaluating adjuvant therapy following surgery (Protocol 900) or irradiation (Protocol 1,000) for clinically localized prostate cancer. All patients underwent staging pelvic lymphadenectomy. Following definitive treatment, patients were randomized to either cyclophosphamide 1 gram/m2-IV every 3 weeks for 2 years, estramustine phosphate 600 mg/m2-po daily for up to 2 years, or to observation only. Patient accession closed in 1985 and includes 184 to Protocol 900 (170 evaluable) and 253 to Protocol 1,000 (233 evaluable). Lymph node involvement was identified in 198 patients (49% of total), 29% in Protocol 900, 63% in Protocol 1,000. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with nodal involvement in Protocol 1,000 receiving estramustine phosphate adjuvant was longer (37.3 mo) compared to cyclophosphamide (30.9 mo) and to no treatment (20.9 mo). Median PFS for patients with limited nodal disease in Protocol 1,000 was longer (39.9 mo), regardless of adjuvant, compared to extensive nodal disease (20.7 mo). However for patients with extensive nodal involvement, those receiving adjuvant estramustine phosphate experienced a significantly longer median PFS (32.8 mo) compared to adjuvant cyclophosphamide (22.7 mo) and no adjuvant (12.9 mo). We conclude that adjuvant estramustine phosphate is of benefit in prostate cancer patients with extensive pelvic node involvement receiving irradiation as definitive treatment.
Effects of magnesium on central arterial compliance in preeclampsia.

Objective The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of MgSO 4 infusion on central arterial compliance, using radial artery applanation tonometry in women with preeclampsia. Study design Seventy women with preeclampsia were prospectively recruited. Radial pulse waveforms were obtained and the aortic waveforms constructed. The arterial compliance surrogates, augmentation pressure (AP) and augmentation index (AIx-75), were derived from the aortic waveform and then compared: prior to MgSO 4 (t1), 1 hour after MgSO 4 bolus (t2), 4 hours after MgSO 4 infusion (t3), and 24 hours after MgSO 4 cessation (t4). Statistical analysis was performed using differences of least squared means with Tukey Kramer adjustments. Results The AP and AIx-75 at t2-t4 were significantly lower compared with t1, with the greatest decrease in arterial stiffness at t3 ( P Conclusion In preeclampsia, MgSO 4 improved central arterial compliance. This effect was most exaggerated after 4 hours of infusion and remained 24 hours following MgSO 4 completion, suggesting either a sustained arterial compliance effect or resolution of the vasoconstrictive effect of preeclampsia.
Fetal supraventricular tachycardia treated with flecainide acetate.

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Dosimetric effects of air pockets around high-dose rate brachytherapy vaginal cylinders.

Purpose Most physicians use a single-channel vaginal cylinder for postoperative endometrial cancer brachytherapy. Recent published data have identified air pockets between the vaginal cylinders and the vaginal mucosa. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the incidence, size, and dosimetric effects of these air pockets. Methods and Materials 25 patients receiving postoperative vaginal cuff brachytherapy with a high–dose rate vaginal cylinders were enrolled in this prospective data collection study. Patients were treated with 6 fractions of 200 to 400 cGy per fraction prescribed at 5 mm depth. Computed tomography simulation for brachytherapy treatment planning was performed for each fraction. The quantity, volume, and dosimetric impact of the air pockets surrounding the cylinder were quantified. Results In 25 patients, a total of 90 air pockets were present in 150 procedures (60%). Five patients had no air pockets present during any of their treatments. The average number of air pockets per patient was 3.6, with the average total air pocket volume being 0.34 cm 3 (range, 0.01–1.32 cm 3 ). The average dose reduction to the vaginal mucosa at the air pocket was 27% (range, 9–58%). Ten patients had no air pockets on their first fraction but air pockets occurred in subsequent fractions. Conclusion Air pockets between high–dose rate vaginal cylinder applicators and the vaginal mucosa are present in the majority of fractions of therapy, and their presence varies from patient to patient and fraction to fraction. The existence of air pockets results in reduced radiation dose to the vaginal mucosa.