cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel molecular beacon DNA probes for protein-nucleic acid interaction studies

We report a novel approach to study protein-nucleic acid interactions by using molecular beacons (MBs). Molecular beacons are hairpin-shaped DNA oligonucleotide probes labeled with a fluorophore and a quencher, and can report the presence of target DNA/RNA sequences. MBs can also report the existence of single-stranded DNA binding proteins (SSB) through non-sequence specific binding. The interaction between SSB and MB has resulted in significant fluorescence restoration of the MB. The fluorescence enhancement brought by SSB and by complementary DNA is very comparable. The molar ratio of the binding between SSB and the molecular beacon is 1:1 with a binding constant of 2 X 107 M-1. Using the MB-SSB binding, we are able to determine SSB at 2 X 10-10 M with a conventional spectrometer. We have also applied MB DNA probes for the analysis of an enzyme lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and for the investigation of its binding properties with ssDNA. The biding process between MB and different isoenzymes of LDH has been studied. We also show that there are significant differences in MB binding affinity to different proteins, which will enable selective binding studies of a variety of proteins. This new approach is potentially useful for protein-DNA/RNA interaction studies that require high sensitivity, speed and convenience. The results also open the possibility of using easily obtainable, custom designed, modified DNA molecules for studies of drug interactions and targeting. Our results demonstrate that MB can be effectively used for sensitive protein quantitation and for efficient protein-DNA interaction studies. MB has the signal transduction mechanism built within the molecule, and can thus be used for quick protein assay development and for real-time measurements.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Monoclonal Antibody-Based Assay for Alt a1, a Major Alternaria Allergen

Background Allergenic materials from Alternaria are significant causes of human disease. One 31-kD glycoprotein, designated Alt a1, has been described previously as being a significant allergen. Objectives The purpose of this study is to characterize purified Alt a1 and to provide a method for measuring it in laboratory and environmental samples. Methods Monoclonal antibodies directed to the purified allergen were produced and used to construct a double monoclonal assay for Alt a1. The purified allergen detected by this assay was tested for IgE bindig in vitro and in vivo. Results Purified allergen detected by this assay was shown to bind IgE from patients sensitive to Alternaria and gave a positive skin test in 15 of 16 patients skin test reactive to commercial Alternaria extracts. The assay is sensitive to Alt a1 concentrations as low as 0.2 micrograms/mL and is very specific for the allergen. The three commercial Alternaria extracts assayed contained measurable quantities of the allergen varying from 12 to 84 micrograms/mL. Conclusions Alt a1 is a significant Alternaria allergen. The ability to measure this allergen may assist in standardizing Alternaria extracts and lead to an understanding of the significance of exposure to this allergen.
Does country‐of‐origin matter to Generation Y?

Purpose – This study aims to examine how members of American Generation Y cohort feel about the USA and the USA's major trading partners. In addition, the study's purpose is to find out whether product's country‐of‐origin (COO) plays a role when members of Generation Y evaluate products.Design/methodology/approach – Undergraduate university students are used as sample in this study. Experiment with 18 conditions is utilized to collect that data. Linear regression is used to test the hypothesis.Findings – Results show that animosity toward the country negatively influences COO image and that person's level of cosmopolitanism and ethnocentrism contribute to person's perception of (in)equality when evaluating COO images. Findings also indicate COO significantly influences product judgment and this relationship is moderated by quality of information about the product (positive, negative, or lack of information) and involvement with the product (involved or not involved).Originality/value – Results from this s...
Comparison of treatment plans involving intensity-modulated radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Abstract Purpose: To compare intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment plans with conventional treatment plans for a case of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods and Materials: The study case was planned using two types of IMRT techniques, as well as a three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy technique (3D-CRT), and a traditional treatment method using bilateral opposing fields. These four plans were compared with respect to dose conformality, dose–volume histogram (DVH), dose to the sensitive normal tissue structures, and ease of treatment delivery. Results: The planned dose distributions were more conformal to the tumor target volume in the IMRT plans than those in the conventional plans. With similar dose coverage of the clinical target volume (CTV), defined as delivery of minimum of 60 Gy to ≥ 95% of CTV, the IMRT plans achieved better sensitive normal tissue structure sparing, while concomitantly delivering a minimum dose of 68 Gy to ≥ 95% of the gross tumor volume (GTV) at a higher dose per fraction. Conclusions: Compared to conventional techniques, IMRT techniques provide improved tumor target coverage with significantly better sparing of sensitive normal tissue structures in the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. With improvement of the delivery efficiency, IMRT should provide the optimal treatment for all nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Further studies are needed to establish the true clinical advantage of this new modality.
Cloning and Bacterial Expression of a Sesquiterpene Cyclase from Hyoscyamus muticus and Its Molecular Comparison to Related Terpene Cyclases (

Genomic and cDNA clones for vetispiradiene synthase, a sesquiterpene cyclase found in Hyoscyamus muticus, were isolated using a combination of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions and conventional cloning procedures. RNA blot hybridization demonstrated an induction of mRNA consistent with the induction of cyclase enzyme activity in elicitor-treated cells, DNA blot hybridization indicated a gene family of 6 to 8 members, and bacterial expression of 3 cDNA clones indicated that each coded for a vetispiradiene synthase enzyme activity catalyzing the synthesis of a single reaction product. Intron-exon organization of the vetispiradiene synthase gene was identical with that previously described for 5-epi-aristolochene synthase (tobacco sesquiterpene cyclase) and casbene synthase (castor bean diterpene cyclase), and the vetispiradiene synthase amino acid sequence was 77% identical with and 81% similar to the tobacco sesquiterpene cyclase. Regions of the vetispiradiene synthase sequence centered around amino acids 60, 100, and 370 were conspicuously different relative to the tobacco sesquiterpene cyclase. The sequence similarity between the tobacco and H. muticus enzymes is suggested to be reflective of the conservation of several partial reactions common to both enzymes, and the differences may be reflective of a partial reaction unique to each enzyme.
Subcutaneous insulin order sets and protocols: Effective design and implementation strategies

6 Yale Diabetes Center, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut. I npatient glycemic control and hypoglycemia are issues with well deserved increased attention in recent years. Prominent guidelines and technical reviews have been published, and a recent, randomized controlled trial demonstrated the superiority of basal bolus insulin regimens compared to sliding-scale regimens. Effective glycemic control for inpatients has remained elusive in most medical centers. Recent reports detail clinical inertia and the continued widespread use of sliding-scale subcutaneous insulin regimens, as opposed to the anticipatory, physiologic ‘‘basal-nutrition-correction dose’’ insulin regimens endorsed by these reviews. Inpatient glycemic control faces a number of barriers, including fears of inducing hypoglycemia, uneven knowledge and training among staff, and competing institutional and patient priorities. These barriers occur in the background of an inherently complex inpatient environment that poses unique challenges in maintaining safe glycemic control. Patients frequently move across a variety of care teams and geographic locations during a single inpatient stay, giving rise to multiple opportunities for failed communication, incomplete handoffs, and inconsistent treatment. In addition, insulin requirements may change dramatically due to variations in the stress of illness, exposure tomedications that effect glucose levels, and varied forms of nutritional intake with frequent interruption. Although insulin is recognized as one of the medications most likely to be associated with adverse events in the hospital, many hospitals do not have protocols or order sets in place to standardize its use. A ‘‘Call to Action’’ consensus conference, hosted by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA), brought together many thought leaders and organizations, including representation from the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM), to address these barriers and to outline components necessary for successful implementation of a program to improve inpatient glycemic control in the face of these difficulties. Institutional insulin management protocols and standardized insulin order sets (supported by appropriate educational efforts) were identified as key interventions. It may be tempting to quickly deploy a generic insulin order set in an effort to improve care. This often results in mediocre results, due to inadequate incorporation of standardization and guidance into the order set and other documentation tools, and uneven use of the order set. The SHM Glycemic Control Task Force (GCTF) recommends the following steps for developing and implementing successful No honoraria were paid to any authors for time and expertise spent on the writing of this article.
Morphological Correlates of a Combat Performance Trait in the Forked Fungus Beetle, Bolitotherus cornutus

Combat traits are thought to have arisen due to intense male-male competition for access to females. While large and elaborate weapons used in attacking other males have often been the focus of sexual selection studies, defensive traits (both morphological and performance) have received less attention. However, if defensive traits help males restrict access to females, their role in the process of sexual selection could also be important. Here we examine the morphological correlates of grip strength, a defensive combat trait involved in mate guarding, in the tenebrionid beetle Bolitotherus cornutus. We found that grip strength was repeatable and differed between the sexes. However, these differences in performance were largely explained by body size and a non-additive interaction between size and leg length that differed between males and females. Our results suggest that leg size and body size interact as part of an integrated suite of defensive combat traits.
The Economic Effects of the 1971 Florida Red Tide and the Damage it Presages for Future Occurrences

Abstract A conservative estimate places the economic damage at $20,000,000 from the effects of the 1971 Red Tide on the seven afflicted counties which border the west coast of Florida. A future Red Tide of equal severity could cause up to 40% more economic damage. One of greater severity could easily triple the damage.
Hodgkin's disease associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

We report on the rare association of Hodgkin's disease with systemic lupus erythematosus. Two years after the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, the patient developed upper abdominal pain, jaundice, splenomegaly, and fever of unknown origin. He had a rapidly fatal clinical course, despite being treated for systemic lupus erythematosus, cholecystitis, and possible sepsis. Autopsy revealed Hodgkin's disease, lymphocyte-depletion type, involving lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and bone marrow. The awareness of the association of Hodgkin's disease with systemic lupus erythematosus and its modes of presentation will help in the early diagnosis and management of such patients.
Children With Specific Language Impairments Perceive Speech Most Categorically When Tokens Are Natural and Meaningful

Purpose To examine perceptual deficits as a potential underlying cause of specific language impairments (SLI). Method Twenty-one children with SLI (8;7–11;11 [years;months]) and 21 age-matched controls participated in categorical perception tasks using four series of syllables for which perceived syllable-initial voicing varied. Series were either words or abstract nonword syllables and either synthesized or high-quality edited natural utterances. Children identified and discriminated (a) digitally edited tokens of naturally spoken “bowl”–“pole”, (b) synthesized renditions of “bowl”–“pole”, (c) natural “ba”–“pa”, and (d) synthetic “ba”–“pa”. Results Identification crossover locations were the same for both groups of children, but there was modestly less accuracy on unambiguous endpoints for children with SLI. Planned comparisons revealed these effects to be limited to synthesized speech. Children with SLI showed overall reduced discrimination, but these effects were limited to abstract nonword syllables. ...
Phase II study of weekly intravenous oxaliplatin combined with oral daily capecitabine and radiotherapy with biologic correlates in neoadjuvant treatment of rectal adenocarcinoma.

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of a combination of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and radiotherapy (RT) in the neoadjuvant treatment of Stage II and III rectal cancers. Methods Capecitabine was given at 725 mg/m 2 orally twice daily Monday through Friday concurrently with RT. Oxaliplatin was given intravenously at 50 mg/m 2 once weekly five times starting the first day of RT. The radiation dose was 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions (1.8 Gy/fraction), five fractions weekly. Endorectal tumor biopsies were obtained before treatment and on the third day of treatment to explore the effects of treatment on thymidine phosphorylase, thymidylate synthase, excision repair cross-complementing rodent repair deficiency complementation group 1 (ERCC1), and apoptosis. Results A total of 25 patients were enrolled in this study; 6 patients (24%) had a complete pathologic response. T-downstaging occurred in 52% of patients, and N-downstaging occurred in 53%. Grade 3 diarrhea was the most common Grade 3-4 toxicity, occurring in 20% of patients. Only 2 patients experienced disease recurrence, with a median of 20 months of follow-up. Thymidylate synthase, thymidine phosphorylase, ERCC1, and apoptosis did not vary significantly between the pretreatment and Day 3 tumor biopsies, nor did they predict for T-downstaging or a complete pathologic response. Conclusion Capecitabine at 725 mg/m 2 orally twice daily, oxaliplatin 50 mg/m 2 /wk, and RT at 50.4 Gy is an effective neoadjuvant combination for Stage II and III rectal cancer and results in a greater rate of complete pathologic responses than historically shown in fluoropyrimidine plus RT controls.
The contributions of interpersonal conflict to chronic pain in the presence or absence of organic pathology.

This study investigated the influences of social support and interpersonal conflict on chronic pain in patients with arthritis or with myofascial disorders. Measures of social support, conflict, and pain were drawn from subscales of the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, the Family Environment Scale, and the Interpersonal Relationship Inventory. Patients with myofascial disorders reported significantly worse pain (sensory and affective), higher depression scores, more interpersonal conflict, and less support from others than patients with arthritis, but did not differ from them on personality traits. Also, the contributions of conflict to pain were found to depend on the nature of the chronic disorder and on the source of the conflict, i.e., significant other, family, or social network members. For patients with arthritis, less intense pain (sensory and affective) was associated with higher family conflict. Less intense sensory pain in arthritis was also associated with more punishing responses from the significant other to pain. For patients with myofascial disorders, more intense affective pain was associated with higher social network conflict. Social support did not significantly contribute to pain for either group. Thus, chronic painful disorders may differ on the influences that social relationships have on pain. The implications of these differences for treatment are discussed.
Cholesterol and Violence: Is There a Connection?

Purpose: To determine whether the seeming relation between low or lowered cholesterol levels and violence is consistent with causality according to Hill's criteria and whether construct validity is...
Establishment of a model to examine the early events involved in the development of virus-induced demyelinating lesions

The ability to study the immediate, early events in the de- myelinating process has been difficult on account of the lack of model systems that address this phase of lesion development. The vast majority of animal models used to study multiple sclerosis (MS) focuses on the later events of myelin destruction. To address this deficiency, we have modified the currently used Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV)-induced model of demyelination to precisely identify the area where virus-induced demyelination first occurs. Following surgical ex- posure of the spinal cord, we directly injected TMEV into the spinal cord of female SJL/J mice. Characterization of the events in the spinal cord in the days following injection of virus support the use of this model to dissect the pathways triggered in the host in the early phases of demyeli- nation. A complete understanding of the genesis of the sclerotic plaque may provide insights into enhanced treatment for patients with central nervous system (CNS) demyelination.
Monte Carlo dynamics below the Au-GaAs interface for ballistic-electron-emission microscopy

Monte Carlo simulations of hot electron transport in the {Gamma}, {ital L}, and {ital X} valleys of GaAs were performed to study the transport dynamics for ballistic-electron-emission microscopy (BEEM) of mesoscopic objects beneath the Au-GaAs interface. For the starting electron flux distribution at the interface, the distribution for the strong scattering limit of Smith-Lee-Narayanamurti theory [D. L. Smith, E. Y. Lee, and V. Narayanamurti, Phys. Rev. Lett. {bold 80}, 2433 (1998)] was used. For the subsequent electron transport within GaAs, phonon and intervalley scatterings were simulated. With increasing object depth beneath the Au-GaAs interface, the simulations predict (1) significant cooling of hot electrons, on the order of {approximately}3 meV/nm at 1.5 V, and (2) significant redistribution of electrons among the conduction valleys. These effects should be taken into account for proper interpretation of BEEM experiments, especially for large biases and deep objects. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
A modified method for the measurement of dopamine β-hydroxylase

Abstract A modification of the conventional dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) (EC 1.14.2.1) assay is accomplished by the inclusion of adenosylhomocysteinase (EC 3.3.1.1.) and adenosine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.4.) into the phenylethanolamine N -methyltransferase (PNMT) (EC 2.1.1.) medium used to estimate octopamine. S-adenosylhomocysteine, (SAH), the second product of PNMT formed during the methylation of octopamine, is found to inhibit PNMT. The addition of adenosylhomocysteinase and adenosine deaminase removes SAH from the medium and increases the accuracy of DBH assay system.
Second-order space-time transfer matrix of the two-stage electrostatic mirror

Abstract A complete second-order space-time description of ion movement in a two-stage electric field mirror is derived. The elements of the resulting transfer matrix account for ion coordinates and angles both in the deflection plane and the plane normal to it, as well as the ion energy and flight time. Formulas are given to compute the resolving power of energy focusing time-of-flight mass spectrometers with single-stage and two-stage mirrors.
Measuring images: differences, quality, and appearance

One goal of image quality modeling is to predict human judgments of quality between image pairs, without needing knowledge of the image origins. This concept can be thought of as device-independent image quality modeling. The first step towards this goal is the creation of a model capable of predicting perceived magnitude differences between image pairs. A modular color image difference framework has recently been introduced with this goal in mind. This framework extends traditional CIE color difference formulae to include modules of spatial vision and adaptation, sharpness detection, contrast detection, and spatial localization. The output of the image difference framework is an error map, which corresponds to spatially localized color differences. This paper reviews the modular framework, and introduces several new techniques for reducing the multi-dimensional error map into a single metric. In addition to predicting overall image differences, the strength of the modular framework is its ability to predict the distinct mechanisms that cause the differences. These mechanisms can be thought of as attributes of image appearance. We examine the individual mechanisms of image appearance, such as local contrast, and compare them with overall perceived differences. Through this process, it is possible to determine the perceptual weights of multi-dimensional image differences. This represents the first stage in the development of an image appearance model designed for image difference and image quality modeling.
Model link and knot mapping in quantum electrodynamics

A heuristic mapping onto links and knots of Feynman diagrams in quantum electrodynamics at infinitesimal distances is investigated. This model map is formulated by treating the asymptotic photon propagator as composite electron and positron propagators, and exploiting Feynman's picture of positrons as electrons moving backward in time. The mapping is applied to the calculation in Feynman gauge of the divergent part of the inverse charge renormalization constant to sixth order in the bare charge of the electron as an illustration of Kreimer's classification of the divergent part of Feynman diagrams in terms of transcendental numbers and knots. In particular, I elucidate the mapping of a vacuum polarization graph with two crossed photo propagators onto the trefoil knot.
Reduced Osteoclastogenesis and RANKL Expression in Marrow from Women Taking Alendronate

Alendronate (AL) is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures. Little is known about the effects of AL administration on osteoclast differentiation from human marrow progenitor cells. We used marrow discarded during orthopedic surgery to test the hypothesis that cultures of bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMCs) from subjects receiving AL (+AL) may differ from control subjects with respect to in vitro osteoclast differentiation and regulatory factors. The number of osteoclasts generated in BMC cultures from control subjects was 4.7-fold greater than that from +AL subjects (P = 0.015). RANKL expression in +AL BMCs was 57% of that in controls (P = 0.001), and OPG expression in +AL BMCs was greater than in controls (153%, P = 0.01). The mean RANKL/OPG ratio in BMCs was 0.65 ± 0.35 for +AL specimens and 1.28 ± 0.53 for controls (P = 0.031). In addition, we assessed the direct effect of AL on expression of RANKL and OPG in marrow stromal cells isolated from nine control women. Treatment with AL downregulated RANKL expression and upregulated OPG expression, with an average 50% decrease in RANKL/OPG ratio at 10(-7) M (P = 0.004). These results show that osteoclast differentiation is dysregulated in marrow isolated from +AL subjects. Furthermore, AL may inhibit human osteoclastogenesis by affecting the key regulatory genes in marrow cells.
Theory-building case studies of counselling and psychotherapy

In addition to their potential for healing, psychotherapy and counselling offer extraordinary opportunities to observe human experience and behaviour. I suggest practitioners have expertise in and daily access to the phenomena that theories of counselling and psychotherapy seek to explain. Practitioners’ clinical experience can be accumulated and shared through theory-building case study research. This article summarizes the logic of theory-building case studies and offers practical suggestions for conducting case study research.
ROLE OF ELECTRON MICROSCOPY IN TRANSPLANT RENAL PATHOLOGY

The crucial role that electron microscopy plays in diagnostic renal pathology is undisputed. By allowing recognition of findings not identifiable by light microscopic evaluation, electron microscopy has contributed significantly to the understanding of renal diseases and has proven to be of unquestionable value in many diagnostic situations. However, the percentage of cases in which electron microscopic examination adds important information that is either key for establishing or confirming a diagnosis or provides valuable data that influence patient's management remains controversial. This figure depends on the renal biopsy service that is surveyed, but it is reported that on the average ultrastructural evaluation is of value in approximately 30 to 45% of the cases. Correct interpretation of a renal biopsy depends on the ability to correlate light, immunofluorescence, and ultrastructural findings. In contrast, the role of electron microscopy in the examination of renal transplant specimens remains controversial. Many centers do not use routine electron microscopy to examine these specimens and insist that there are only a few specific indications that require ultrastructural evaluation. There is general agreement among renal pathologists that electron microscopy is of importance in the evaluation of renal specimens from patients with proteinuria to distinguish between transplant glomerulopathy, recurrent or de novo glomerulonephritis in order to correctly manage these patients and predict survival of the graft. The other possible indications are much more controversial. This paper summarizes and critically reviews the literature available on this subject and defines recommendations based on the information available at the current time.
In silico models for cellular and molecular immunology: successes, promises and challenges.

Although most immunologists do not routinely combine experiments with theoretical and mathematical modeling, new insights can be gained from this interdisciplinary approach. But what makes a good theoretical model?
Atomic layer controlled growth of Si3N4 films using sequential surface reactions

Abstract Si 3 N 4 thin films were deposited with atomic layer control on Si(100) substrates using sequential surface chemical reactions. The Si 3 N 4 film growth was accomplished by separating the binary reaction 3SiCl 4 +4NH 3 →Si 3 N 4 +12HCl into two half-reactions. Successive application of the SiCl 4 and NH 3 half-reactions in an ABAB… sequence produced Si 3 N 4 deposition at substrate temperatures between 500 and 900 K and SiCl 4 and NH 3 reactant pressures of 1–10 Torr. Transmission Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies indicated that the SiC 4 and NH 3 half-reactions were complete and self-limiting at substrate temperatures ≥700 K. In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry monitored the Si 3 N 4 film growth versus substrate temperature and reactant exposure time. The maximum Si 3 N 4 deposition rate per AB cycle was 2.45 A per AB cycle at 700 K for reactant exposures >10 10 L. The Si 3 N 4 deposition rate decreased slightly in the temperature range 700–900 K. Rutherford backscattering measurements revealed an Si/N ratio of 1:1.35 as expected for stoichiometric Si 3 N 4 deposition. The surface topography of the Si 3 N 4 films measured with atomic force microscopy (AFM) was nearly identical to the initial Si(100) substrate indicating extremely smooth and conformal Si 3 N 4 deposition.
Chronic toxicity evaluation of wastewater treatment plant effluents with bioluminescent bacteria: A comparison with invertebrates and fish

The use of bioluminescent bacteria in chronic toxicity testing is a potentially useful yet unexplored tool in whole effluent biomonitoring. The purpose of this study was to determine the chronic toxicity of 14 different wastewater treatment plant effluents to Chronic Microtox® bacteria (Vibrio fischeri), a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia), and a minnow (Pimephales promelas). The invertebrate and fish have been utilized extensively for the evaluation of effluents and in establishing water quality criteria. The results of this study suggest that the 22-h Microtox Chronic Toxicity Test may correlate well with the most sensitive chronic no-observed-effect concentration value of the three-brood C. dubia test.
Measurements of Tooth Wear Among Australian Aborigines: I. Serial Loss of the Enamel Crown

The dental casts made from Aboriginal children during the course of a longitudinal growth study in Central Australia provided material for analyzing tooth wear under known environmental conditions. The wear facets produced on the occlusal surfaces were clearly preserved on the dental stone casts and recorded the progress of enamel attrition from ages 6 to 18. These casts were photographed and traced by electronic planimetric methods that automatically recorded the location and size of wear facets on the first and second permanent molars. These areas of worn tooth surface were compared to the total tooth surface. The worn surface was regressed on age to calculate wear rates of each tooth. Discriminant analyses were also performed to determine the significance of dental attrition differences between the sexes at each age group. The total wear on each tooth was highly correlated with age as expected but females wore their teeth at a significantly higher rate than males. The mandibular molars wore more rapidly than maxillary teeth in both sexes. The discriminant analysis successfully grouped 91% of the cases according to age and sex. Pattern of wear, the location, and size of wear facets also differed between age groups and sex. The questions of why there is a difference between male and female wear or why there is greater wear on one arch or arch region have no ready answers. The differing rates and pattern of dental wear do suggest that arch shape and growth rates may be the answer though it has yet to be tested. However, the occlusal surface wear is useful for age estimation in a population and provides a record of shifting masticatory forces during growth.
Temporal Dependences of Optical Nonlinearities of Nematic Liquid Crystals and the Unusual Polarization Dependence of Self Diffraction in 4-4′-Bis(Heptyloxy) Azoxybenzene

Abstract We present a quantitative analysis of the temporal dependences of optical nonlinearities of nematic liquid crystals induced by laser of pulse duration from nanosecond to milliseconds (or longer). The nonlinear mechanisms we have considered include thermal, density and reorientational effects. This analysis provides a useful guideline for using such nonlinear optical responses in practical devices. We also report the preliminary observation of an unusual polarization dependence in a particular nematic liquid crystal.
Preliminary stratigraphical studies of the East Rudolf basin, kenya.

The investigation of the Plio-Pleistocene sediments in the East Rudolf area was continued in the summer of 1970. This article places the important hominid sites in their geological context.
Subjective well-being amongst community-dwelling elders: what determines satisfaction with life? Findings from the Dublin Healthy Aging Study

Background Life satisfaction is a subjective expression of well-being and successful aging. Subjective well-being is a major determinant of health outcomes in older people. The aim of this study was to determine which factors predicted well-being in older people living in the community as measured by their satisfaction with life. Methods The relationship between life satisfaction, as measured by the Life Satisfaction Index (LSI-A) and physical, cognitive and demographic variables was examined in 466 older people living in the community using a stepwise regression model. Results Depression, loneliness, neuroticism, extraversion, recent participation in physical activity, age and self-reported exhaustion, were the independent predictors of life satisfaction in our elderly cohort. Conclusion Subjective well-being, as measured by the Life Satisfaction Scale, is predicted by depression, loneliness, personality traits, recent participation in physical activity and self-reported exhaustion. The mental and emotional status of older individuals, as well as their engagement in physical activity, are as important as physical functionality when it comes to life satisfaction as a measure of well-being and successful aging. These areas represent key targets for intervention.
Selective inhibition of Escherichia coli protein synthesis and growth by nonionic oligonucleotides complementary to the 3' end of 16S rRNA

A series of nonionic oligonucleotide analogues, the deoxyribooligonucleoside methylphosphonates, were synthesized. The base sequences of these compounds, d(ApGpGp), d(ApGpGp)(2), and d[(ApGpGp)(2)T], are complementary to the Shine-Dalgarno sequence (-A-C-C-U-C-C-U-) found at the 3' end of bacterial 16S rRNA. These nonionic oligonucleotide analogues were tested for their ability to inhibit the in vitro translation of mRNAs in cell-free systems of Escherichia coli and rabbit reticulocyte. In the E. coli system, both d(ApGpGp)(2) and d[(ApGpGp)(2)T] effectively inhibited MS-2 RNA-directed protein synthesis but they had much less effect on either poly(U)- or poly(A)-directed polypeptide synthesis. In the reticulocyte system, these compounds had no significant effect on the translation of globin mRNA. The observation that d[(ApGpGp)(2)[(3)H]T)] binds to 70S ribosomes (association constant, 2.0 x 10(4) M(-1), 37 degrees C) together with the specificity of the inhibitory action of these compounds on protein synthesis strongly suggests that inhibition of translation is a consequence of analogue binding to Shine-Dalgarno sequence of 16S rRNA. The oligonucleoside methylphosphonates inhibited both protein synthesis (without concurrent inhibition of RNA synthesis) and colony formation by E. coli ML 308-225 (a permeable mutant) whose cell wall contains negligible quantities of lipopolysaccharide but had no effect on wild-type E. coli B. Our preliminary results on the uptake of oligodeoxyribonucleoside methylphosphonates by E. coli B show that these cells are not permeable to oligomers longer than 4 nucleotidyl units. Although oligodeoxyribonucleoside methylphosphonates are taken up by mammalian cells in culture, this series of analogues had negligible inhibitory effects on colony formation by transformed human cells. This study indicates that this class of nonionic oligonucleotide analogues can be used to probe and regulate the function and structure of nucleic acids of defined sequence within living cells.
Use of analytic network process in vendor selection decisions

Purpose – To provide a good insight into the use of analytic network process (ANP) that is a multiple criteria decision‐making methodology in evaluating supplier selection problems.Design/methodology/approach – Supplier selection problems are multi‐objective problems which have many qualitative and quantitative concerns. In this study, an ANP model is proposed in evaluating supplier selection process as a framework to help managers.Findings – It is shown that ANP can be used as a decision analysis tool to solve multi‐criteria supplier selection problems that contain interdependencies.Research limitations/implications – ANP is a complex methodology and requires more comparisons than the traditional AHP and it increases the effort.Originality/value – Provides an effective framework to guide managers for evaluating suppliers.
100 Effects of chelated iron on gametogenesis in kelp gametophytes

Gametogenesis in several species of kelp gametophytes was investigated in relation to the supply of chelated iron (Fe-EDTA) in the culture medium. Spores of Laminaria setchellii, Egregia menziesii, Alaria marginata, Dictyoneurum californicum, and Macrocystis pyrifera were grown in Provasoli's Enriched Seawater with and without added Fe-EDTA. All species showed a decrease in gametogenesis without added Fe-EDTA. Gametophytes of E. menziesii showed predominant gametogenesis even without supplied iron, resulting in all cells being converted to gametes so that vegetative growth did not continue. Vegetative gametophytes were obtained in the other species. M. pyrifera did not show any gametogenesis without added Fe-EDTA. L. setchellii, A. marginata and D. californicum were intermediate in their response. In addition, Fe-EDTA supply was delayed by 1, 2 and 3 weeks with spores of M. pyrifera, resulting in an intermediate degree of gametogenesis which decreased as the delay grew longer. Fe-EDTA supply was also investigated using isolated female gametophytes of two strains of M. pyrifera and one of Macrocystis integrifolia. None of the three strains produced gametes without the addition of Fe-EDTA. Gametophytes of M. integrifolia required the least amount of added Fe-EDTA to achieve gametogenesis while gametophytes of M. pyrifera required higher amounts, with the two strains showing different responses. Thus, by varying the supply of chelated iron, it is possible to control vegetative growth or gametogenesis in most of these kelp species. In addition, different species and individuals show varied responses to added chelated iron.
Mapping Burned Areas in a Mediterranean Environment Using Soft Integration of Spectral Indices from High-Resolution Satellite Images

Abstract This article presents a new method for burned area mapping using high-resolution satellite images in the Mediterranean ecosystem. In such a complex environment, high-resolution satellite images represent an appropriate data source for identifying fire-affected areas, and single postfire data are often the only available source of information. The method proposed here integrates several spectral indices into a fuzzy synthetic indicator of likelihood of burn. The indices are interpreted through fuzzy membership functions that have been derived with a partially data-driven approach exploiting training data and expert knowledge. The final map of fire-affected areas is produced by applying a region growing algorithm on the basis of seed pixels selected on a conservative threshold of the synthetic fuzzy score. The algorithm has been developed and tested on a set of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) scenes acquired over Southern Italy. Validation showed that the accu...
The role of gender stereotypes in the social acceptability of the expression of intimacy

Abstract This study explores the proposition that similar to the way that it is more acceptable for women than men to express traits that suggest vulnerability, such as loneliness or depression, it is also more acceptable for women to express emotional intimacy. Participants view an interaction between two men, two women, or a man and a woman, and evaluate the interpersonal attraction of the person expressing emotional intimacy. In Study 1, men gave the most negative evaluations to the man being intimate. In Study 2, thematic analysis of interview content suggests that participants hold gender stereotypes about intimacy and also that men frequently risk social rejection and may be perceived as gay when they engage in intimate expression, particularly when with other men. Overall, findings suggest that gender and related stereotypes have an observable role in the perceptions of an individual who is expressing intimacy.
Stochastic nonlinear fatigue crack growth predictions for simple specimens subject to representative ship structural loading sequences

Abstract Recent work by the authors investigated an extension of the finite element analysis of plasticity-induced crack closure to non-stationary, ship structural loading sequences by taking advantage of their inherent time-dependent nature in which the larger loading cycles tend to be clustered together. In doing so, first-order load interactions are presumed to arise from the random occurrence and severity of physical storms encountered by ships and offshore structures throughout their service lives. This material hysteresis is captured through a time-dependent crack “opening” level ( K op ) which is based on the evolution of a rate-independent, incremental plasticity model simulating combined nonlinear kinematic and isotropic hardening. The result is a mechanistic rather than phenomenological numerical model requiring only experimentally measured fatigue crack growth rates under constant amplitude, cyclic loading (e.g., ASTM E647-13) and a full material constitutive model defined through experimental push–pull tests for the same material. This approach permits a consideration of material behaviors which are physically relevant to structural steels, yet necessarily omitted in the similar application of a strip-yield model. The present paper generalizes the model originally proposed by the authors to now consider arbitrary storm model loading sequences taken from high-fidelity, time-domain seakeeping codes. To predict the fatigue fracture induced by variable amplitude stress records with upwards of 5 × 10 6 time-dependent cycles, a consistent modeling reduction is applied based on the Ordered Overall Range (OOR) or racetrack counting method. The resultant crack growth behavior is demonstrated to converge remarkably well for sufficiently small refined mesh sizes. Using this model, and by considering different arrangements of the same stress record, the importance of nonlinearities (i.e., those associated with ship response as well as material hysteresis) are emphasized.
Adrenal insufficiency in Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome

We describe three unrelated patients with adrenal insufficiency and RSH or Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS), a disorder due to deficient synthesis of cholesterol. These patients presented with hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and decreased aldosterone-to-renin ratio, which is a sensitive measure of the renin-aldosterone axis. All patients had profound serum total cholesterol deficiency (14-31 mg/dl) and marked elevation of 7-dehydrocholesterol (10-45 mg/ dl). Two patients were newborn infants with 46, XY karyotypes and complete failure to masculinize; one of these patients also had cortisol deficiency. Both patients died within 10 days of birth of cardiopulmonary complications while on adrenal replacement therapy. The third patient diagnosed with SLOS at birth presented at age 7months with fever and diarrhea and was noted to have profound hyponatremia. This patient is maintaining normal serum electrolytes on mineralocorticoid replacement. We conclude that adrenal insufficiency may be a previously undetected and treatable manifestation in SLOS. We hypothesize that deficiency of cholesterol, an adrenal hormone precursor, may lead to insufficient synthesis of adrenal steroid hormones.
Hepatic Extraction of Exogenous Insulin and Glucagon in the Dog

Insulin and glucagon were infused simultaneously into anesthetized mongrel dogs in order to assess whether exogenous hormone administration would affect the hepatic extraction of insulin (E1) and/or glucagon (EGG). During an equilibration period and a subsequent control period, saline was infused into the portal circulation via the caudal pancreaticoduodenal artery. Blood samples for insulin, glucagon, and glucose were obtained frequently during the 30-min control period from the portal vein, left common hepatic vein, and femoral artery. Plasma flows were measured in the portal vein and hepatic artery. Then the saline infusion was replaced by insulin (0.035 U/min) and glucagon (0.32 μg/min) which were infused together over a period of 50 min. This caused an 8-fold increase in the portal vein insulin concentration and a 15-fold increase in the corresponding glucagon concentration. E1 decreased significantly during the infusion from a control value of 63 ± 5% to a nadir of 18 ± 8% (P < 0.001). It returned t...
Infrared spectroscopic investigations of pulmonary surfactant. Surface film transitions at the air-water interface and bulk phase thermotropism

The molecular structure of the phospholipid component of intact pulmonary surfactant isolated from bovine lung lavage has been examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Two different physical states of the surfactant were examined by means of different infrared spectroscopic sampling techniques. Transmission infrared experiments were used to study the surfactant in the bulk phase. In these experiments, the thermotropic behavior of the bulk surfactant was monitored by temperature-induced variations in the phospholipid acyl chain CH2 stretching frequencies. A broad phase transition (confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry) was noted with an onset temperature near 15 degrees C and a completion temperature near 42 degrees C. In addition to the bulk transmission experiments, external reflection infrared spectroscopy was used to examine surfactant films in situ at the air-water interface. As surface pressure was increased from 0 to 43 dyn/cm, a gradual and continuous decrease in the CH2 stretching frequency was noted for the surfactant. Thus, under surface pressures which correspond to large lung volumes in vivo, the surfactant acyl chains exist mostly in the ordered (trans) configuration. The frequency shift in the CH2 stretching mode is consistent with a continuous ordering of the acyl chains upon compression over the pressure range 0-43 dyn/cm, and implies that a weakly cooperative phase transition occurs in the hydrocarbon region of the surface film. The surface film transition is especially noted in the pressure-area curve of the surfactant and approximates in two dimensions the broad thermotropic phase transition of the bulk phase surfactant. Substantial differences were observed between the response to surface pressure changes of intact surfactant compared with the main surfactant phospholipid, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn--glycero-3-phosphocholine. The changes in response are attributed to the presence of additional surfactant components. The current work demonstrates the ability of infrared spectroscopy to obtain structural information on the surfactant in physical states that directly relate to those in vivo.