cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Public health risks associated with chronic, low-level domoic acid exposure: A review of the evidence

Domoic acid (DA), the causative agent for the human syndrome Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP), is a potent, naturally occurring neurotoxin produced by common marine algae. DA accumulates in seafood, and humans and wildlife alike can subsequently be exposed when consuming DA-contaminated shellfish or finfish. While strong regulatory limits protect people from the acute effects associated with ASP, DA is an increasingly significant public health concern, particularly for coastal dwelling populations, and there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that there are significant health consequences following repeated exposures to levels of the toxin below current safety guidelines. However, gaps in scientific knowledge make it difficult to precisely determine the risks of contemporary low-level exposure scenarios. The present review characterizes the toxicokinetics and neurotoxicology of DA, discussing results from clinical and preclinical studies after both adult and developmental DA exposure. The review also highlights crucial areas for future DA research and makes the case that DA safety limits need to be reassessed to best protect public health from deleterious effects of this widespread marine toxin.
Evaluation of Complications and Weight Outcomes in Pediatric Cerebral Palsy Patients With Gastrostomy Tubes.

BackgroundFeeding difficulties are common in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The goal of this study was to examine pediatric CP patients undergoing gastrostomy tube (G tube) placement and assess...
A Behavioral Analysis of Incivility in the Virtual Workplace

Despite the growing use of virtual communication technology and flexible work sites allowing for remote teamwork, little research has been done to systematically review workplace incivility within ...
Environmental quality and fish community ecology in an agricultural mountain stream system of Taiwan

13 INTRODUCTION 15 STUDY AREA AND STREAMS 17 MATERIALS AND METHODS 23 Physical Habitat Analyses 23 Sampling Design 23 Sampling Methods 24 Water Quality Analyses 25 Algae Sampling 26 Fish Sampling 27 Statistical Analyses 28 RESULTS 30 Water Flow Characteristics 30 Water Quality Characteristics 35 Water Quality Intercorrelations 48
Differences in risk and protective factors between crossover and non-crossover youth in juvenile justice

Abstract Risk and protective factors embedded in the domains of individual, family, peer, school, and community have been reported to be significantly associated with the risk of offending and re-offending for youth in juvenile justice. However, few studies have examined risk and protective factors for youth with a history of child welfare system involvement in juvenile justice (i.e., crossover youth). Using administrative records from a large urban county and Cox Proportional Hazards Regression analyses, the current study examined differences in risk and protective factors between crossover and non-crossover youth. It also examined male and female comparisons in risk and protective factors between crossover and non-crossover youth. Moreover, this study investigated the relationship between risk and protective factors with the risk of recidivism for crossover youth compared to non-crossover youth in juvenile justice. Results revealed that crossover youth engaged in delinquency at an earlier age and were more likely to recidivate than non-crossover youth. Additionally, crossover youth had higher risk and lower protective factors than non-crossover youth. Female crossover youth engaged in delinquency at a later age compared to male crossover youth. Female crossover youth showed equivalent levels of offending and re-offending rates when compared to male non-crossover youth. The domains for substance use, education, and peers were found to be significant in estimating the risk of recidivism for crossover youth, whereas the domain for education was found to be significant for non-crossover youth. Implications for working with crossover and non-crossover youth are discussed.
Optical MIMO transmission with multipulse PPM

Fading due to atmospheric turbulence is a primary problem in free-space-optical links, and to address this, we consider the use of (noncoherent) optical arrays, analogous to the use of antenna array technology for microwave systems. Specifically, we envision M separate lasers, assumed to be intensity-modulated only, together with N photodetectors, assumed to be ideal noncoherent (direct detection) receivers. The sources and detectors are physically situated so that the fading experienced between source-detector pairs is statistically independent, and thus diversity benefits can accrue from the MIMO channel. Whereas classic single pulse PPM is known to be efficient from an average power perspective, the required peak power from the lasers must become arbitrarily large in this process. This motivates study of multipulse modulation.
Amino acid sequence of protein B23 phosphorylation site.

A major phosphopeptide labeled in vivo, was identified in nucleolar protein B23 (Mr/pI = 37,000/5.1) after tryptic digestion. This peptide was purified by high performance liquid chromatography using reverse-phase (C8 and C18) columns. The phosphopeptide contains 20 amino acids including 1 phosphoserine, 7 glutamic acids, and 4 aspartic acids. The amino acid sequence is: His-Leu-Val-Ala-Val-Glu-Glu-Asp-Ala-Glu-Ser(P)-Glu-Asp-Glu-Asp- Glu-Glu-Asp-Val-Lys. This amino acid sequence is similar to that of nucleolar phosphoprotein C23 (8 consecutive amino acids were identical), and to the regulatory subunit (RII) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (7 consecutive amino acids were identical, which is phosphorylated by casein kinase II (Carmichael, D.F., Geahlen, R.L., Allen, S.M., and Krebs, E.G. (1982) J. Biol. Chem 257, 10440-10445). The regions near these phosphorylation sites are enriched with glutamic and aspartic acids, suggesting that this acidic amino acid cluster may be essential for kinase recognition.
NNESTs’ Professional Identity in the Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Classrooms

This study examines NNESTs’ professional identities as classroom teachers by analyzing NNESTS’ perceptions of their strengths and challenges. The study contributes to NNESTs forming their professional identity by recognizing, developing, and contesting authoritative discourse. A basic qualitative research design is employed to analyze the interview data. Participants are five NNESTs who teach in American classrooms. Three focused themes are identified; linguistic competence, cross-cultural competence, and pedagogical competence. NNEST superiority fallacy is added as the fourth theme. Additionally, the study briefly compares strengths and challenges of U.S. versus foreign graduates. NNESTs’ strengths and challenges are reported in line with other NNEST researchers: dual-language acquisition and cross-cultural experience, grammar knowledge, linguistic theories, and coping strategies as strengths, poor command of English language, lack of sociocultural strategies, and lack of confidence as weaknesses. New findings include NNESTs’ confidence as effective teachers with accent, intellectual competence in theories, and stronger credentials. This study asserts that the NNESTs’ multilingual and multicultural backgrounds can become valuable assets with less linguistic prejudice, and the need for a policy that provides the benchmark to measure their credentials rather than depending on biased assumptions. Suggestions to shape NNESTs’ professional identity are provided
Self-sustained hysteretic motional oscillations of a single atom pumped by a laser standing wave

Summary form only given. Self-sustained oscillations/oscillators (SSO), man-made or naturally occurring, are some of the most universal phenomena. The common feature of all SSO is the so called positive feedback, which overcomes the damping by properly controlling the energy supply (pumping) from the outside source during the cycle of oscillations. Usually, the zero steady-state point of the system is unstable, and the oscillations grow up till they reach a stable limit cycle. The common quality of the resulting SSO is their well defined amplitude (the so called classical squeezing) at the expense of undetermined phase of oscillations. All the "mechanical motion" SSO known so far, were based on macro-systems, while it would be of great importance to develop a microscopic SS-oscillator based on a single particle (atom or ion), which would enable us to control the SSO mode from classical to quantum limits. The effect proposed is based on the interaction of a standing laser wave with an atom moving in along the laser beam propagation. If the laser beam is red-shifted with respect to the resonant absorption line of the atom at rest, the moving atom will experience deaccelerating force induced by a standing wave due to combinations of Doppler shifts in counterpropagating waves; this effect is at the core of laser cooling of atoms. On the other hand, if the laser wave is blue-shifted, the atom will undergo acceleration (positive feedback) in the laser field due to the Doppler-shift, which can be used for excitation of atomic SSO.
Temporalis fascia transplant for vocal fold scar and sulcus vocalis

Objectives/Hypothesis To evaluate vocal outcomes in 10 patients 1 year after autologous transplantation of temporalis fascia into Reinke's space (ATFV) for vocal fold scar and sulcus vocalis. Study Design Retrospective, clinical case series. Methods Subjective and objective evaluation was performed 12 months after surgery using laryngovideostroboscopy (LVS) in all patients, the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) in seven patients, GRBAS (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain) scale in nine patients, and noise-to-harmonics ratio (NHR), phonatory range (PR) and maximum phonation time (MPT) in six patients. Results LVS improved in all but one patient. A significant decrease was noted in the GRBAS subscales grade, roughness, asthenia, and strain (P < .05). Breathiness was almost significant, with a P value of .052. There was an average decrease in the VHI-10 of 8.14 (P = .032). NHR, MPT, and PR did not statistically improve. Conclusions ATFV for vocal fold scar and sulcus vocalis results in significant subjective vocal improvement that persists at least 1 year after surgery. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 124:1653–1658, 2014
Higher-Order Boundary Condition Perturbation Theory for the Diffusion Approximation

A perturbation method is developed for estimating the change in the solution of a reactive system to any order for a perturbation in the boundary condition in diffusion theory. The method derived gives formalisms for the eigenvalue, normalized flux, and homogenized parameters. Five examples are provided to verify the method as well as analyze the errors associated with it. The first example is very simple and solves the state of the system up to eighth order and gives a simple numerical analysis of a large perturbation. The next example gives an analytical solution up to second order. A two-region example is also given, which is partially numerical and partially analytical. An albedo test example shows that the higher-order terms all appear to be present in the formalism. The final example presents a simplified one-dimensional boiling water reactor core analyzed up to third order numerically. Applications of this method, error propagation, and future work are also discussed.
DFT calculations of thermochemical and structural parameters of tetracyanohydrazine and related tetrasubstituted hydrazines

Abstract G3(MP2)//B3LYP calculations on the unknown tetracyanohydrazine are reported and compared with the results for the known hydrazine, tetramethylhydrazine, tetrafluorohydrazine, and dinitrogen tetroxide. Contrary to previous calculations, tetracyanohydrazine is predicted to have a positive dissociation enthalpy. The energetic and geometric properties of this series of compounds, which vary widely, are analyzed qualitatively using an internally consistent mix of the Weinhold ‘natural-bond-order’ scheme, extended Huckel theory, and classical electrostatics. The interplay of these factors produces a striking variation in the properties of the hydrazines and demonstrate that these hydrazines are not just another series of analogous compounds.
Apparatus for Automatic End Point Determination in Thermometric Titrations

An apparatus suitable for automatic end point determination in thermometric titrations is described and evaluated. The apparatus is capable of detecting end points for a fairly wide variety of titration curve (enthalpogram) shapes and appears to be satisfactory for routine analyses, such as those involved in control procedures.
Interpretation of cyclic deformation on the basis of strain avalanches

Abstract The recent observation of strain avalanches, which occur repeatedly during cyclic deformation of single crystals of copper at all stages of fatigue life, has cast an entirely new light on the mechanisms of cyclic deformation. We review here (1) the behavior of slip bands and persistent slip bands (PSBs) at stresses below that of the plateau in the cyclic stress-strain curve and at the plateau stress, (2) the relationship of deformation behavior in neutron-irradiated and fatigued crystals, (3) the strain rate sensitivity of fatigued f.c.c. crystals and (4) the behavior of PSBs previously introduced at the plateau stress and subsequently operated at lower stresses. We reinterpret this behavior in terms of strain avalanches.
Requirements of non-haem iron and haem iron in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Both non-haem iron (iron salt) and haem iron (cytochrome c) are components of the Caenorhabditis elegans Maintenance Medium (CeMM). However, the quantitative requirements of non-haem iron and its relationship with haem iron were unknown. A basal medium was prepared with both non-haem iron and haem iron eliminated from the CeMM. After being pre-cultured in this basal medium, C. elegans were inoculated into a 3 × 5 factorial design of experimental media, consisting of five levels of non-haem iron (0, 0.0672, 0.336, 8.40 and 210 μg ml–1) and three levels of cytochrome c (0, 50.0 and 500 μg ml–1). The population growth of C. elegans in various experimental media was counted at day 28, and the iron uptake (ng (1000 nematodes)–1) and percentage iron absorption (total iron in nematode tissue/total iron in original media) of the nematodes were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). At 0 μg ml–1 iron and 0 μg ml–1 cytochrome c, the population growth (2530±220 nematodes ml–1) was very poor. At 0 μg ml –1 cytochrome c, as iron level increased to 8.40 μg ml–1, the nematode population increased to 5980±530 nematodes ml–1. At 0 μg ml–1 iron, as cytochrome c level increased from 0 to 500 μg ml–1, the population growth was greatly increased from 2530±220 nematodes ml–1 to 45 900±3600 nematodes ml–1. Under the experimental conditions, the highest population growth (258 000±9000 nematodes ml–1) was achieved at 8.40 μg ml–1 iron and 500 μg ml–1 cytochrome c, suggesting an additive requirement of non-haem and haem iron. As the concentration of iron further increased from 8.40 to 210 μg ml–1, significant declines in nematode population were observed, indicating iron toxicity. Based on the Atomic Absorption analysis, the iron uptake by C. elegans increased when either non-haem or haem iron concentration increased in the media. At 0 μg ml–1 cytochrome c, the percentage iron absorption decreased from 7.39 to 0.118% with the increase of iron concentration (0-210 μg ml–1) in the media. This observation was in accordance with the 'mucosal block' theory. At 50.0 and 500 μg ml–1 cytochrome c, the percentage iron absorption greatly increased, and percentage iron absorption reached a maximum of 85.9% when media contained 0.336 μg ml–1 iron and 50.0 μg ml–1 cytochrome c, indicating an optimal percentage iron absorption in C. elegans.
An Fgf8 mutant allelic series generated by Cre- and Flp-mediated recombination.

We describe a strategy for generating an allelic series of mutations at a given locus that requires the production of only one targetted mouse line. The ‘allelogenic’ mouse line we produced carries a hypomorphic allele of Fgf8, which can be converted to a null allele by mating to ere transgenic animals. The hypomorphic allele can also be reverted to wild-type by mating the allelogenic mice to flp transgenic animals, thereby generating a mouse line suitable for Cre-induced tissue-specific knockout experiments. Analysis of embryos carrying different combinations of these alleles revealed requirements for Fgf8 gene function during gastrulation, as well as cardiac, craniofacial, forebrain, midbrain and cerebellar development.
TU-A-220-04: Development of Ultrasound Method to Evaluate Neck Fibrosis Post Head and Neck Cancer Radiotherapy

Purpose: Neck fibrosis is a common side effect of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Currently, physicians use physical examination such as palpation to evaluate its severity. No imaging tool is available in the clinic to visualize and evaluate such injury. The purpose of the study is to develop a reliable ultrasound technology to image and quantify radiation‐induced neck fibrosis. Methods: Eleven post‐radiation patients and ten healthy volunteers were enrolled under an IRB approved study. All patients received radiotherapy for their head and neck cancers 12 to 18 months prior to the study. Each participant was scanned using a clinical ultrasoundscanner with a 14‐MHz linear array transducer. On each side of neck region (4 by 4 cm mid‐section), 5 parallel consecutive transverse scans and 5 parallel coronal scans were acquired. Our ultrasound method analyzes the radio‐frequency signals and computes three ultrasound parameters to quantify the physical conditions of the neck tissues.Skin thickness was used to measure skin fibrosis; while spectral intercept and midband fit were used to measure subcutaneous fibrosis. In addition, a comparative study of the transverse and coronal scans was performed. Results: Significant differences were observed between the normal and irradiated necks in both transverse and coronal scans. Skin thickness value was 2.03±0.03 mm for the normal neck and 2.67±0.04 mm for the irradiated neck. For the underlying tissue, there were significant changes for the irradiated neck in the spectral intercept (p <0.05) and midband fit (p<0.05). Overall, transverse scans showed more consistency when compared with coronal scans. Conclusions: In the effort to develop a noninvasive imaging technique for evaluating radiation‐induced neck fibrosis, we developed quantitative ultrasound methods combining ultrasonic imaging and ultrasoundtissue characterization. This study demonstrated its clinical feasibility; future study is warranted for larger clinical trials. This research was supported in part by National Cancer Institute Grant CA114313 and Susan Komen for the Cure foundation.
Fecundity and longevity of houseflies after space flight.

After 7 days of space flight house flies,Musca domestica, exhibited similar longevity, but a reduction in reproductive output as compared to earthbound controls. This reduction was not observed in later generations. These data suggest that space flight directly alters the rate of ovarian development, but that this effect is not genetically transmitted.
Utility of a CPT in Diagnosing ADHD among a Representative Sample of High-Risk Children: A Cautionary Study

Continuous performance tests (CPTs) are widely used in the assessment and study of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although CPTs have reliably found differences between children with ADHD and normal controls, discriminating between children with ADHD and children with subclinical levels of behavioral or cognitive problems is a more clinically relevant and difficult endeavor. Additionally, most studies use convenience samples from clinical care settings that may not represent the ADHD population as a whole. The current study assessed the utility of a clinically used CPT, the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA), in distinguishing between children with ADHD and children with subclinical levels of attention/behavior problems. Participants constituted a representative sample of elementary school students at high risk for ADHD, including 116 children with ADHD and 51 subclinical controls. Results found no significant differences between the ADHD and subclinical group on CPT variables, and CPT...
LEVTREND: A FORTRAN program for analyzing and displaying the results of repeated measures across multiple factors

LEVTREND is a FORTRAN program written to analyze and display in a ready-for-publication form the results of a N + 1 factor (either as levels or as groups) by N repeated-measures design. It uses a variable formatting technique that allows the user to either develop his own input data layout or use a free-form input format. Input. The number of factors (levels or groups), the number of subjects in each factor, and the number of repeated measures are read in from a parameter card. The second input card is the data input format. The data are then read from data cards using the format described in the data format card. Output. The output is displayed in two tables. Table 1 displays the marginal means and standard deviations for each level and repeated measure, as well as those for each I by J cell. Table 2 displays the analysis of variance summary table of the multiple-factor by repeated-measures design in a form that follows the American Psychological Association (1974) standards. Capacity. LEVTREND is set up to handle up to 200 subjects dispersed among N + 1 groups, with each subject having up to 40 repeated measures. The program's capabilities may be enlarged by user alterations of the appropriate dimension statements. A minimum of 20K words of memory is needed to load the program. Compiling time is less than .0006 h. Load and execution time varies depending on the amount of data. Computer. LEVTREND may be used with a Honeywell 66/60, Honeywell 635, or any IBM computer that supports a WATFN compiler. Table 1
On the interpretation and prediction of X-ray scattering profiles of biomolecules in solution

If solution scattering curves can be accurately predicted from structural models, measurements can provide useful tests of predictions of secondary and tertiary structure. We have developed a computational technique for the prediction and interpretation of x-ray scattering profiles of biomolecules in solution. The method employs a Monte Carlo procedure for the generation of length distribution functions and provides predictions to moderate resolution (∼5 A). In addition to facilitating the assignment and interpretation of features in a solution scattering profile, the method also allows the elucidation of the role of protein motion in shaping the final scattering curve. The effect of protein motion on a scattering profile is investigated by generating scattering curves from several consecutive 0.147 ps atomic coordinate frames from a molecular dynamics simulation of the motion of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) [McCammon, J. A. & Karplus, M. (1980) Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem.31, 29–45]. The theoretical approach is applied to chicken egg white lysozyme and BPTI, and the overall features in the resulting theoretical scattering profiles match well with the experimental solution scattering curves recorded on film. It is apparent from this study that the scattering profile prediction technique in conjunction with other experimental methods may have value in testing ideas of conformational change based on crystallographic studies; investigations of this type would include a comparison of predicted scattering curves generated from a variety of crystallographic models with an actual scattering profile of the biomolecule in solution.
Cortical sensory loss in a patient with posterior cortical atrophy: A case report

Patients with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) who present with initial symptoms of higher visual function deficits eventually develop alexia, aphasia, and components of Balint's syndrome or Gerstmann's syndrome. Recently, pathological findings were reported for these patients that are generally suggestive of Alzheimer's disease even though Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) was presumed as an alternative cause of some autopsy-diagnosed PCA cases. Here, we report a case with a four-year progression of cognitive and higher visual function deterioration, and with features not described in previously reported PCA cases (i.e., a distinct sensory complaint and early frontal lobe involvement). To summarize, this case belongs to perceptual-motor syndrome of asymmetric cortical degeneration and the underlying neuropathology is more suggestive of Alzheimer's disease than of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Forward to the future? The democratic peace after the Cold War

This paper helps resolve the ongoing debate concerning whether the democratic peace is limited to the Cold War period. Some critics have attributed the democratic peace to a set of common interests among democracies that uniquely existed during the Cold War. This study is the first direct test of this proposition. I use a new measure of Cold War preferences to test if the effect of joint democracy is rendered statistically insignificant either during or after the Cold War as critics contend. I also test, as some democratic peace proponents have suggested, whether the pacifying effect of democracy is strengthened in the post-Cold War era. Evidence from period-specific logit analyses suggests that joint democracy promotes peace independently of Cold War security interests. Indeed, the democratic peace exists in the post-Cold War era.
Expression of the Arabidopsis Xrn4p 5'-3' exoribonuclease facilitates degradation of tombusvirus RNA and promotes rapid emergence of viral variants in plants.

Rapid RNAvirus evolution is a major problem due to the devastating diseases caused by human, animal and plant-pathogenic RNAviruses. A previous genome-wide screen for host factors affecting recombination in Tomato bushy stunt tombusvirus (TBSV), a small monopartite plant virus, identified Xrn1p 5′–3′ exoribonuclease of yeast, a model host, whose absence led to increased appearance of recombinants [Serviene, E., Shapka, N., Cheng, C.P., Panavas, T., Phuangrat, B., Baker, J., Nagy, P.D., (2005). Genome-wide screen identifies host genes affecting viral RNA recombination. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 102 (30), 10545–10550]. In this paper, we tested if over-expression of Xrn1p in yeast or expression of the analogous Xrn4p cytoplasmic 5′–3′ exoribonuclease, which has similar function in RNA degradation in Arabidopsis as Xrn1p in yeast, in Nicotiana benthamiana could affect the accumulation of tombusvirus RNA. We show that over-expression of Xrn1p led to almost complete degradation of TBSV RNA replicons in yeast, suggesting that Xrn1p is involved in TBSV degradation. Infection of N. benthamiana expressing AtXrn4p with Cucumber necrosis tombusvirus (CNV) led to enhanced viral RNA degradation, suggesting that the yeast and the plant cytoplasmic 5′–3′ exoribonuclease play similar roles. We also observed rapid emergence of novel CNV genomic RNA variants formed via deletions of 5′ terminal sequences in N. benthamiana expressing AtXrn4p. Three of the newly emerging 5′ truncated CNV variants were infectious in N. benthamiana protoplasts, whereas one CNV variant caused novel symptoms and moved systemically in N. benthamiana plants. Altogether, this paper establishes that a single plant gene can contribute to the emergence of novel viral variants. © 2007 Published by Elsevier Inc.
Circular Dichroism and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Analysis of Immunogenic Gluten Peptides and Their Analogs

Abstract Celiac Sprue, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an inheritable human disease of the small intestine that is triggered by the dietary intake of gluten. Recently, several Pro- and Gln-rich peptide sequences (most notably PQPQLPY and analogs) have been identified from gluten with potent immunogenic activity toward CD4+ T cells from small intestinal biopsies of Celiac Sprue patients. These peptides have three unusual properties. First, they are relatively stable toward further proteolysis by gastric, pancreatic, and intestinal enzymes. Second, they are recognized and deamidated by human tissue transglutaminase (tTGase) with high selectivity. Third, tTGase-catalyzed deamidation enhances their affinity for HLA-DQ2, the disease-specific class II major histocompatibility complex heterodimer. In an attempt to seek a mechanistic explanation for these properties, we undertook secondary structural studies on PQPQLPY and its analogs. Circular dichroism studies on a series of monomeric and dimeric analogs revealed a strong polyproline II helical propensity in a subset of them. Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis confirmed a polyproline II conformation of PQPQLPY, and was also used to elucidate the secondary structure of the most helical variant, (d-P)QPQLPY. Remarkably, a strong correlation was observed between polyproline II content of naturally occurring gluten peptides and the specificity of human tTGase toward these substrates. Analogs with up to two d-amino acid residues retained both polyproline II helical content and transglutaminase affinity. Since the Michaelis constant (K m) is the principal determinant of tTGase specificity for naturally occurring gluten peptides and their analogs, our results suggest that the tTGase binding site may have a preference for polyproline II helical substrates. If so, these insights could be exploited for the design of selective small molecule inhibitors of this pharmacologically important enzyme.
Late Quaternary geomorphology and soils in Crater Flat, Yucca Mountain area, southern Nevada

Crater Flat is an alluvium-filled structural basin on the west side of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, which is under consideration for a high-level nuclear waste repository. North-trending, late Quaternary faults offset alluvium in Crater Flat both along the canyons of the western flanks of Yucca Mountain and out on the piedmont slope. We believe the initial lack of young offsets at Yucca Mountain was in part due to unrecognized late Quaternary stratigraphy. We hypothesize that alluviation in the Yucca Mountain region was more active during the late Quaternary than previously thought. Several techniques were tried to test this hypothesis. Results are compared with previous soils and surface-exposure dating studies, and correlated to stratigraphy of other late Quaternary units in the southern Nevada, Death Valley, and Mojave Desert areas, and provide new stratigraphic data relevant to understanding climatic-alluvial processes in the Basin and Range Province during the late Quaternary. 76 refs., 7 figs., 6 tabs.
New Modalities for Evaluation and Surveillance of Complex Renal Cysts

Purpose: The increased use of abdominal imaging has led to more frequent detection of incidental renal cysts. Since the inception of the Bosniak classification system, management of Bosniak I, III and IV cysts has been clearly defined, while evaluation and management of Bosniak II and IIF cysts have remained a clinical dilemma. Discussions of new imaging modalities are becoming increasingly prevalent in the radiological literature. In this context we performed a comprehensive review of the recent literature on complex renal cysts focusing on new imaging modalities, surveillance strategies and biopsy.Materials and Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature review of articles published from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2013 via MEDLINE®, EMBASE and the Cochrane Collection using a predetermined search strategy. All studies included were performed in humans older than 18 years, were written in English and had an abstract available for review. We grouped studies into 1 of 5 categories, ie compute...
Preparative HPLC. Part 1: A comparison of three types of equipment for the purification of steroids

Two commercial preparative liquid chromatographs have been evaluated for gram-scale purification of steroid esters. The Jobin-Yvon and Waters chromatographs both allow fast separations. Neither system has a high intrinsic column efficiency, but the resolving power of the Waters system can be increased by the use of recycle. A laboratory-assembled preparative liquid chromatograph is described which is economical both in construction and operation, versatile, and considerably more efficient than the two commercial alternatives for single runs on up to a gram scale.
Elicitor- and wound-induced oxidative cross-linking of a proline-rich plant cell wall protein: a novel, rapid defense response.

Abstract Treatment of bean or soybean cells with fungal elicitor or glutathione causes a rapid insolubilization of pre-existing (hydroxy)proline-rich structural proteins in the cell wall. This insolubilization, which involves H 2 O 2 -mediated oxidative cross-linking, is initiated within 2 min and is complete within 10 min under optimal conditions, and hence, precedes the expression of transcription-dependent defenses. Cross-linking is also under developmental control during hypocotyl growth and in tissues subject to mechanical stress such as the stem-petiole junction. Stimulus-dependent oxidative cross-linking of wall structural proteins is a novel site of cellular regulation with potentially important functions in cell maturation and toughening of cell walls in the initial stages of plant defense.
Dipole-dipole interaction in optical cavities

At the most fundamental level of quantum electrodynamics, there is no such thing as two-body interactions between atoms. The potentials that describe these interactions are effective potentials resulting from a series of approximations whose validity depends on the precise situation at hand. Considering a one-dimensional geometry for simplicity, we discuss under which conditions the familiar form of the near-resonant dipole-dipole interaction is valid, paying particular attention to the effects of interatomic propagation of light, and to what extent it can be modified in the tailored electromagnetic environments provided by optical resonators. We find that once the atoms have established that they are inside a resonator, the dipole-dipole potential may or may not remain a useful concept, depending upon the strength of the atom-field interaction. In the weak-coupling regime, one finds a two-body dipole-dipole interaction that can be enhanced or inhibited by varying the atom-field detuning. In the strong-coupling regime, by contrast, the two-body dipole-dipole potential ceases to be meaningful.
Case-matching methodology as an adjunct to trauma performance improvement for evaluating lengths of stay and complications.

Objective : To apply case-matching methodology to a statewide trauma registry to identify for peer review one trauma center's patients with unexpected survival deaths, complications or prolonged length of stay in hospital (H-LOS) or in Intensive Care Unit (ICU-LOS). Methods: Matching patients were defined by mechanism of injury, age, physiology and intubation status on emergency department admission, preexisting conditions, and the pattern and severity of anatomic injury. Matches for one trauma center's 1997 patients (TCP) were sought from other centers' patients (SWP) submitted to the statewide registry from October 1, 1993, though December 31, 1997. A minimum of 20 SWP matches was required for creating a matching group. TCP were compared with matching SWP for survival, H-LOS, and ICU-LOS and the occurrence of complications. Unexpected survivors and deaths identified by matching (by using the standard 50% cutpoint) were also evaluated by TRISS and the American College of Surgeon's Committee on Trauma. A patient whose complications occurred in less than 10% of matching patients or whose H-LOS or ICU-LOS exceeded the 90th percentile of its matching SWP were also designated for peer review. Results; The potential matching pool included 69,660 SWP. At least one SWP match was found for 565 (92.9%) of the 608 TCPs. The average, median, and maximum number of matches were 917.6, 235, and 6,504 patients, respectively. The 451 patients with 20 or more SWP matches were further studied. Case matching and TRISS agreed on the identification of five unexpected deaths; the American College of Surgeon's Committee on Trauma agreed on four of five. Peer review included, however, that none of the deaths were clinically unexpected. Case matching identified 14 TCP with 29 complications; only 4 of those patients had undergone concurrent peer review. Retrospective review revealed two preventable and potentially seven preventable complications. There were 35 TCP patients with prolonged H-LOS and 24 with prolonged ICU-LOS. Peer review of those cases identified that complications and problems related to discharge planning contributed to the prolonged ICU-LOS (20.8% and 25.0%) and the H-LOS (20.% and 48.6%), respectively. Conclusion: Peer review of patients identified by case-matching methodology uncovered opportunities for system improvement that were missed by the concurrent performance improvement process. This method may also allow identification of anticipated H-LOS and ICU-LOS to promote earlier discharge.
Two improved media for isolating and enumerating enterococci in certain frozen foods.

SUMMARY A direct plating method was employed in a comparison of two newly modified selective media, Tween-carbonate (TC) and thallous acetate-citrate (TAC) agars, and 4 other selective media, M-enterococcus (ME) thallous acetate (TA), KF-streptococcus (KF) and citrate-azide (CA) agars, for enumerating enterococci in some frozen foods. Pure cultures of enterococci yielded comparable counts on TC, TAC, TA, KF and CA agars. When frozen food samples were plated, enterococcal counts on TA agar were generally higher than counts obtained on TAC, ME, TA or KF agars; TC and TAC agars were more selective than the other media tested. The TC agar at pH 6 inhibited enterococcal growth in the absence of bicarbonate. TC and TAC agars were the most suitable for isolating the interococci both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Challenging Stereotypes of Foster Children: A Study of Relational Resilience

This article challenges stereotypes of troubled foster children by examining their relational resilience despite psychopathological risks. The purpose of this project was to determine whether depression, placement stability, and caregiver type, controlling for race/ethnicity and gender, predicted relational resilience in long-term foster care children. Using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, a sample of 150 foster children was taken. Poisson regression analysis determined a statistically significant relationship between caregiver type and race/ethnicity with relational resilience. Foster children whose primary caregivers were grandmothers, as well as Native and Asian American children, demonstrated more relational resilience.
A heuristic derivation of the Einstein equations

relate the curvature of the space-time manifold M* to the distribution of matter. In these equations R~j is the Ricci tensor of M 4, R=g~JRij=R~ is the scalar curvature, T~i is the stress-energy-momentum tensor, T=T~ ~ is the trace of Tij, x is the gravitational constant, and we have chosen units so that c, the speed of light, is 1. There have been a number of attempts at heuristic derivations of these equations, starting of course with EINSTEIN. An especially simple and geometric one is given in WHEELER'S paper [6]. WHEELER'S derivation is admittedly not completely satisfactory, except perhaps in the case of empty space (T~j= 0) in which case the equations reduce to R~=0. WHEELER has expressed the desire for a heuristic derivation that will lead to the full equations, including the important terms 89 R or 89 If such a derivation is given, then the divergence condition T~j = 0 is automatically satisfied, and these equations can then be interpreted as giving the equations of motion. In EINSTEIN'S original derivation he did not obtain the full equations; he later added the term 89 in order to achieve the divergence condition. In this note I propose to give a heuristic derivation of the full equations in the simplest physically realistic situation possible, namely a small ball of fluid sitting in an otherwise empty universe. In this derivation, no use will be made of the famous "geodesic hypothesis". There is much contact here with the 60 years of existing literature of general relativity; the starting point will be a paper of LEVI-CIVITA written in the year 1917. My object has been to follow the most direct route from Newtonian gravitation and special relativity to general relativity. Of course I will be guided by many things that came to light only after EINSTEIN discovered his remarkable equations.
Blood-bound carbon disulfide: an indicator of carbon disulfide exposure, and its accumulation in repeatedly exposed rats

Carbon disulfide is present in exposed subjects in free and bound or acid-labile forms. Sensitivities of the blood acid-labile CS2 (AL CS2) concentration and the modified iodine-azide test (IAT) were compared as indicators of CS2 exposure. Rats were exposed to 15 (approximately 5 ppm), 30, 60, or 120 mg/m3 of CS2. Exposure to 15 or 30 mg/m3 of CS2 could not be detected by the modified IAT. However, a linear relationship between blood CS2 (free or AL CS2) concentrations and these exposure levels was observed. Free CS2 is eliminated rapidly, while AL CS2 is eliminated very slowly from the exposed subjects. Repetitive daily exposures (8 hr/day) to 120 mg/m3 of CS2 were carried out in rats. Blood AL CS2 concentrations in exposed rats increased with each successive exposure while the free CS2 level remained relatively constant. By the sixth or seventh daily exposure the blood AL CS2 concentration was about 2.5 times that of the first 8-hr exposure and about 3 times the level of free CS2. These results indicated an appreciable accumulation of CS2 in subjects repeatedly exposed to low concentrations of the solvent. Rats were also exposed to CS2 8 hr/day for 5 days. After a 2-day nonexposure period (Days 6 and 7), the animals were reexposed on Day 8. The blood AL CS2 concentration in animals exposed on Day 8 was substantially higher than in those that received a single 8-hr exposure (Day 1), despite the hiatus on Days 6 and 7. These results indicated that blood AL CS2 was not totally eliminated during the 2-day nonexposure period. In in vitro experiments, the binding profile of CS2 to human blood was remarkably similar to that of rats exposed to CS2 by inhalation.
Parent Satisfaction with a Home Care Program Encouraging Early Discharge from the NICU 1120

The NICU environment is very stressful and costly. To address specifically these problems, we have instituted since September 1995 an aggressive program of early discharge from our NICU. Nurses from the neonatal intensive care unit visit the babies after discharge for a variable period of time. We have previously reported on the shortened length of stay and the decreased readmission rate with the program. To address the issue of patient satisfaction, a survey was mailed to all the families whose infants were sent home under the integrated neonatal home care program. A follow-up contact was made either by phone or during a visit to the neonatal clinic.
SU‐E‐T‐283: Deforming Planning CT Images to CBCT Images Using MIMVista

Purpose: The overarching goal of this project is to be able to use daily CBCTimages to calculate the dose delivery for a single treatment. To calculate the dose, planning CTimages can be deformed to match the patient anatomy at the time of delivery as shown in the daily CBCT. Our current research is looking into methods to deform the planning CT to best match the CBCT using the commercial software MIMVista. Methods: The OBI (on‐board imager) of a Varian Linac at Karmanos Cancer Institute was used to get a set of daily CBCTimages for a prostate patient. The images were processed in MatLab on a voxel‐by‐voxel basis to enhance areas of low signal and to convert HU for the CBCT to HU for the planning CT. Efforts were also made to decrease signal saturation in the bone through high pixel value masking. The planning CTimages were deformed to the new CBCTimages using MIMVista software. Results: Converting the HUs from CBCT to planning CT values followed by applying different scaling factors gave some success in improving the deformation of the images using MIMVista. However, the resulting deformation is clearly not yet accurate enough to be applied clinically. Deformation was performed by aligning bony anatomy, therefore bony anatomy deformed significantly better than tissue. Regions of low signal, variable bladder filling, and bowel gas pockets present difficulties that still need to be resolved. Conclusions: While the CBCTimage adjustments we have made have improved MIMVista's ability to deform planning CTimages to CBCTimages, work still needs to be done to reduce the noise in the CBCTimages so that the planning CTimages will be able to be deformed accurately.
Presynaptic and postsynaptic relations of μ-opioid receptors to γ-aminobutyric acid-immunoreactive and medullary-projecting periaqueductal gray neurons

The ventrolateral portion of the periaqueductal gray (PAG) is one brain region in which ligands of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) produce analgesia. In the PAG, MOR ligands are thought to act primarily on inhibitory [e.g., gamma-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic)] neurons to disinhibit PAG output rather than directly on medullary-projecting PAG neurons. In this study, the ultrastructural localization of MOR immunolabeling was examined with respect to either GABAergic PAG neurons or PAG projection neurons that were labeled retrogradely from the rostral ventromedial medulla. Immunoreactivity for MOR and GABA often coexisted within dendrites. Dual-labeled profiles accounted for subpopulations of dendrites containing immunoreactivity for either MOR (65 of 145 dendrites; 45%) or GABA (65 of 183 dendrites; 35%). In addition, nearly half of PAG neuronal profiles (148 of 344 profiles) that were labeled retrogradely from the ventromedial medulla contained MOR immunoreactivity. MOR was distributed equally among retrogradely labeled neuronal profiles in the lateral and ventrolateral columns of the caudal PAG. With respect to the presynaptic distribution of MOR, approximately half of MOR-immunolabeled axon terminals (35 of 69 terminals) also contained GABA. Some MOR and GABA dual-immunolabeled axon terminals contacted unlabeled dendrites (11 of 35 terminals), whereas others contacted GABA-immunoreactive dendrites (15 of 35 terminals). Furthermore, axon terminals synapsing on medullary-projecting PAG neurons sometimes contained immunoreactivity for MOR. These data support the model that MOR ligands can act by inhibiting GABAergic neurons, but they also provide evidence that MOR ligands may act directly on PAG output neurons. In addition, MOR at presynaptic sites could affect both GABAergic neurons and output neurons. Thus, the disinhibitory model represents only partially the potential mechanisms by which MOR ligands can modulate output of the PAG.
Moving Museum Experiences

AbstractAs Howard Gardner persuasively argued, movement, or kinesthetics, can be a powerful educational tool and one to which some learners are particularly attuned. Museums, however, are typically places that discourage movement (don't run, don't jump, watch out for the artifacts). This makes incorporating kinesthetic learning challenging. This article provides one model for overcoming the challenge in a disciplined manner that engages, but protects the artifacts. Museum Movement Techniques (MMT) integrates visual and movement thinking strategies to strengthen the understanding of museum objects.1 The article provides the rationale for using movement as tool for engagement and examples of applications by trained MMT educators.