cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hybridization buffer systems impact the quality of filter array data

Introduction: cDNA microarray technology has greatly facilitated mechanistic studies in pharmacology and toxicology. A clean hybridization with minimal background is critical for successful microarray analysis and is highly desired. However, clean hybridization alone is not enough; verification is needed. Methods: Total RNA was isolated from the livers of acetaminophen-intoxicated mice and was subjected to cDNA microarray analyses using ExpressHyb, ULTRArrayHyb or MicroHyb on nylon membranes. Real-time RT-PCR analyses were performed for verification. Results: We have demonstrated in this paper that hybridization systems can significantly impact the quality of array data. MicroHyb produced very clean hybridizations, but some results could not be confirmed by real-time RT-PCR and in accord with biological responses. The hybridization images from ExpressHyb were not always clean, but were reliable. The sensitivity of ULTRArrayHyb was moderate. Conclusion: This study has indicated the importance of selecting hybridization buffers in membrane arrays and recommended real-time RT-PCR for follow-up analysis. Gene expression changes should also be correlated with biological significance.
Chemical warfare agents

Abstract There is an increased risk that civilian populations will be targets of domestic terrorism. Release of chemical warfare agents in these populations can cause a large number of casualties, with children being disproportionately affected. Chemical agents pose a significant risk to unprepared medical providers. Emergency medical personnel must be able to diagnose and manage victims of toxic exposures. This article reviews key aspects of chemical warfare agents and the management of pediatric casualties from these agents.
Chloroplast Ultrastructure in Mutant Strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardi Lacking Components of the Photosynthetic Apparatus

The fine structure of the chloroplast of wild-type and 9 photosynthetic mutant strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardi is described. The chloroplast phenotypes of the mutant strains are clearly distinct from the wild type in all but 2 cases. Moreover, strains with similar photosynthetic disabilities have structurally similar chloroplasts. These differences are apparently not the result of altered chlorophyll content, nor of photosynthetic inactivity. It is therefore proposed that the structural alterations are in some way related to the mutant strains' inability to synthesize active components of the photosynthetic electron transport chain.
Two Classroom Simulations in Financial Risk Management and Insurance

: Few classroom experiences provide as much educational value as a simulation exercise. A properly structured simulation provides students with the motivation to learn, the opportunity to explore strategies in an environment conducive to experimentation, and the immediate instructional benefit of watching their decisions affect the outcome of the collective simulation experience. This article describes the procedure and relative success of two classroom simulations for students in introductory and intermediate risk management and insurance courses. The first simulation replicates the risk management function of futures contracts through the use of hypothetical traders in the corn market with different risk management needs. The corn futures trading simulation achieves several goals for an introductory course in risk management and insurance: (1) students learn the importance of capital market risk management mechanisms; (2) students understand the transfer of risk among hedgers and speculators; and (3) students receive exposure to the concept that risk management is both possible and necessary for both speculative and pure risks. The second simulation mimics the operation of the market for homeowners insurance. By dividing students into consumer groups and insurer groups, participants experience the effect of chance events and insurance purchase decisions on their wealth. Small groups of upper-level students act as insurers, and must price, package, and sell their product with a limited amount of surplus. Introductory students serve as consumers with limited resources who must survey the market and decide what product to buy and from whom. The competitive element and relatively unregulated market provide students with the incentive to innovate in a market for a common type of insurance and also demonstrates the need for some amount of insurance regulation. These simulations supply a simple way to enhance students' understanding of important basic concepts in a format that provides a welcome break from the traditional lecture format.
Musculoskeletal Complications of Neuromuscular Disease in Children

A wide variety of neuromuscular diseases affect children, including central nervous system disorders such as cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury; motor neuron disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy; peripheral nerve disorders such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease; neuromuscular junction disorders such as congenital myasthenia gravis; and muscle fiber disorders such as Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. Although the origins and clinical syndromes vary significantly, outcomes related to musculoskeletal complications are often shared. The most frequently encountered musculoskeletal complications of neuromuscular disorders in children are scoliosis, bony rotational deformities, and hip dysplasia. Management is often challenging to those who work with children who have neuromuscular disorders.
Steering a course to new adventures --- SCAD Hong Kong

Every ship has a 'home port.' Regardless of where it may travel, which oceans it may cross, or at which ports it may dock, the central location or 'point of registry' is displayed proudly on its hull. As with every ship leaving port on a new adventure, the captain navigates the seas successfully armed with a plotted course, a dedicated and experienced crew, and a plan to expect the unexpected. The captain relies on the partnerships formed on the seas, and the professional yet adventurous spirit of those along for the ride.In early 2009, the Savannah College of Art and Design announced their newest path to adventure. An opportunity unlike any they had navigated in the past 30 years of their existence. Tasked to be the first United States university to open a dedicated location in Hong Kong and the only university in Hong Kong focused exclusively on art and design, SCAD will provide a full course offering in nine majors by fall 2010. Directed by their known standards of providing consistent, high level service and technology, managing the technology related purchases, training and support from their home port in Savannah was uncharted waters. Review how SCAD utilized their proven plans, which consists of a policy of centralized procurement for IT purchases with a pre-approval request process, strong industry partnerships, their college-wide technology policy, centralized staff and faculty training, and one-stop technology support center to keep the flow and growth moving
Stacked Page Oriented Holographic Memory

While page oriented holographic memories are extremely valuable, they can take a great amount of lateral space. We show here how to stack a number of holograms in such a way that we can select one layer to be "active." As a result, the lateral area needed to store a given number of holograms is reduced by L, the
Agricultural Wage Rates Under Forced and Free Labour: Pre-1944 and Post-1954 Guatemala

From 1871 to 1944 liberal trade and foreign investment policies were combined with illiberal labour coercion to create a classic export economy based on coffee plantations. The substantial reallocation of labour from the subsistence-oriented peasant economy to the coffee sector is associated with a sustained reduction in the agricultural wage rate. Throughout the forced labour period the wage was below a subsistence level, made possible by rural workers’ access to land for their own subsistence production. The post-1954 free labour period is associated with a once-and-for-all doubling of the real wage to a subsistence level, consistent with the emergence in this period of a sizeable landless rural labour force. In the free labour era, the commercial agricultural sector has grown in ‘classical’ fashion, drawing on labour at a virtually constant, subsistence wage.
Distribution of simple zeros of polynomials

1. I n t r o d u c t i o n a n d m a i n r e s u l t s It is well known that if Pn(x)=xn+... is a monic polynomial of degree n, then its supremum norm on [-1, 1] is at least as large as 21-n: 1 IIPnll[-~,~]/> 2n-----r' and here the equality sign holds only for the Chebyshev polynomials Tn(x) = 21-n cos(n arccos x). It is also known that if {Pn} is a sequence of monic polynomials with the property p , 1/n __ 1 l i m n i i l _ l l ] ~, n , } CCI
Forensic implications: adolescent sexting and cyberbullying.

Adolescence is marked by establishing a sense of identity, core values, a sense of one’s relationship to the outside world and heightened peer relationships. In addition, there is also risk taking, impulsivity, self exploration and dramatic increase in sexuality. The dramatic increase in the use of cell phones and the Internet has additional social implications of sexting and cyberbullying. Sexting refers to the practice of sending sexually explicit material including language or images to another person’s cell phone. Cyberbullying refers to the use of this technology to socially exclude, threaten, insult or shame another person. Studies of cell phone use in the 21st century report well over 50 % of adolescents use them and that text messaging is the communication mode of choice. Studies also show a significant percentage of adolescents send and receive sex messaging, both text and images. This paper will review this expanding literature. Various motivations for sexting will also be reviewed. This new technology presents many dangers for adolescents. The legal implications are extensive and psychiatrists may play an important role in evaluation of some of these adolescents in the legal context. This paper will also make suggestions on future remedies and preventative actions.
C−N Bond Formation on Addition of Aryl Carbanions to the Electrophilic Nitrido Ligand in TpOs(N)Cl2

The osmium(VI) nitrido complex TpOs(N)Cl2 (1) has been prepared from K[Os(N)O3] and KTp in aqueous ethanolic HCl. It reacts rapidly with PhMgCl and related reagents with transfer of a phenyl group to the nitrido ligand. This forms Os(IV) metalla-analido complexes, which are readily protonated to give the analido complex TpOs(NHPh)Cl2 (4). The nitrido-phenyl derivatives TpOs(N)PhCl and TpOs(N)Ph2 react more slowly with PhMgCl and are not competent intermediates for the reaction of 1 with PhMgCl. Reactions of 1 with alkyl- and arylboranes similarly result in transfer of one organic group to nitrogen, leading to isolable borylamido complexes such as TpOs[N(Ph)(BPh2)]Cl2 (11). This is an unprecedented insertion of a nitrido ligand into a boron−carbon bond. Hydrolysis of 11 gives 4. Mechanistic studies suggest that both the Grignard and borane reactions proceed by initial weak coordination of Mg or B to the nitrido ligand, followed by migration of the carbanion to nitrogen. The hydrocarbyl group does not go to...
Aging Impairs Myogenic Adaptation to Pulsatile Pressure in Mouse Cerebral Arteries

Stability of myogenic tone in middle cerebral arteries (MCA) is essential for adequate control over penetration of pressure waves into the distal portion of the cerebral microcirculation. Because the increased pulse pressure observed in advanced aging is associated with cerebromicrovascular injury, the effect of aging on myogenic response of mouse MCAs was determined. Aging did not affect the myogenic constriction in response to static increases in pressure, whereas it significantly impaired pulsatile pressure-induced myogenic tone. Impaired myogenic adaptation of MCAs to pulsatile pressure may allow high pressure to penetrate the distal portion of the cerebral microcirculation, contributing to microvascular damage.
Early life stressors and genetic influences on the development of bipolar disorder: the roles of childhood abuse and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Abstract Objectives Although there is increasing research exploring the psychosocial influences and biological underpinnings of bipolar disorder, relatively few studies have specifically examined the interplay between these factors in the development of this illness. Social–biological models within a developmental psychopathology perspective are necessary to advance our understanding of the processes involved in the onset and course of bipolar disorder. This article presents a review of the empirical literature linking childhood abuse to bipolar disorder, the research to date on the possible role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the development of this disorder, followed by a discussion of how childhood abuse may interact with BDNF. Methods A literature search was conducted using Psycinfo to identify relevant articles on childhood abuse, BDNF, and bipolar disorder. Results The extant research implicates both childhood abuse and BDNF in the etiology of bipolar disorder. Specifically, there is growing evidence associating early abuse to the development of bipolar disorder. Similarly, the BDNF Val66 allele has been linked with increased susceptibility to bipolar disorder. Based on existing research, a genetic diathesis-transactional stress model is proposed incorporating childhood abuse and the BDNF gene in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder. Conclusions Although there is some support for this model, the relatively modest amount of relevant literature highlights the need for further research. An integrative theoretical framework including both social and biological processes in bipolar disorder is important for the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies for this disorder.
A flow velocity zeugmatographic interlace for NMR imaging in humans

We describe a flow sensitizing zeugmatographic phase-modulation interlace for NMR-imaging which is exactly analogous to Lauterbur's spatial-location-sensitizing magnetic field gradients. The method may be implemented by minor modification of any NMR-imaging scanner without interfering with its conventional operation, and enables up to 6-D imaging of the joint (spatial-flow) density of spins delta (r,v). In a special simplification, specific-flow-density, mean value of v(r), and flow-current-specific-flow-density, rho 0(r)v, derive directly from "real' and "imaginary" parts of the image reconstruction.
Effects of water hardness and humic acid on zinc toxicity to Daphnia magna Straus

Abstract The effects of water hardness and humic acid (HA) on the acute and chronic toxicity of zinc to Daphnia magna were evaluated. Increases in either water hardness or HA concentration resulted in proportional decreases in both acute (3-day) and chronic (50-day) zinc toxicity. The effect of either of these variables (hardness or HA) was independent of the other in acute tests. In chronic tests, HA reduced the toxic effect of zinc on reproduction more in soft water than in hard water. In addition to reducing the chronic toxicity of zinc, our data suggest that an increase in water hardness also changes the mode of chronic toxic action of zinc. As previously shown for other metals, this study indicates that a reliance on only reproductive and survival endpoints in short-duration chronic tests may lead to an underestimation of the chronic toxicity of zinc.
SOCIAL INFLUENCE AS STIMULUS CONTROL

Many of the phenomena studied as examples of "social influence" in social psychology qualify as stimulus control by conspecifics from a behavior-analytic standpoint. Research on conformity, obedience, and social facilitation demonstrates that these constructs involve stimulus control. Recognizing social influence as stimulus control is advantageous because it is parsimonious, creates new avenues of research, and could potentially broaden the application of behavior analysis. To support this second point, we conducted a questionnaire-based study to demonstrate that the fundamental attribution error, a social-psychological phenomenon outside the typical definition of "social influence," is also influenced by the presence of conspecifics, as predicted from a behavior-analytic viewpoint. This prediction was supported, suggesting that recognizing social influence as stimulus control may prove fruitful.
Influence of trade policies on price integration in the world beef market

Abstract The article develops three hypotheses about how policy interventions in major trading nations influence price integration in the world beef market. Simple correlation coefficients, tests for significant differences between coefficients, and Granger causality tests are used to test the hypotheses. First, segmentation between prices in Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)-free and FMD-endemic countries is found, but it is much less than previously assumed. Second, European Community policies that closed the E.C. import market have isolated prices in the E.C. from other markets. These policies also led to greater integration among prices in FMD-free and FMD-endemic market segments by forcing exporters from both segments to compete directly in new import markets. Third, the U.S.A. is found to be the price leader in world beef markets, due not only to market size, but also to U.S. policies that allow transmission of price information from the U.S. market to the world market but not vice versa.
Are Articles in “Top” Management Journals Necessarily of Higher Quality?

This study investigates the appropriateness of using publication of an article in a top (specifically, top five) management journal as a proxy for its quality. Social Science Citation Index citatio...
Detection and identification of animal and food pathogens using time-resolved fluorescence

fluorescence immunoassays using dissociation enhanced lanthanide fluorescence have been developed fordetection and identification of animal and food pathogens including Clostridium botulinum toxins A and B, Staphylococcusenterotoxm B (SEB), Bacillus anthracis, E. coil 0157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria and Campylobacter. Both double antibody
Messenger RNA from diverse classes of alfalfa leghemoglobin genes show a similar pattern of spatial expression in symbiotic root nodules

The spatial expression of specific classes of leghemoglobin mRNA corresponding to divergent classes of alfalfa leghemoglobin (Lb) isomers was analyzed by in situ hybridization of oligonucleotide probes to root nodule cryosections. The aim of this study was to determine whether structural changes in the nodule may contribute to the shift in Lb protein isomer expression observed during root nodule development. The co-localization of the diverse Lb mRNAs suggests that this is unlikely to be the case.
Imaging science in the 1990s

Imaging Science is rapidly emerging from its roots within the traditional disciplines largely as a result of recent advances in computer science and technology that have given rise to computer-based imaging devices (e. g. microscopes telescopes and medical imaging devices that produce digitized images) all of which can be understood in terms of a common set of principles and concepts. Specifically the development of very powerful high-resolution workstations high-speed networks mass data storage and software for dynamic interactive 3-D display and automated image analysis will have an increasingly profound impact on virtually every aspect of life and culture including scientific research and engineering health care and education as well as manufacturing commerce and industry. Advances in Imaging Science will be accelerated by the establishment of new synergistic relationships among " imaging scientists" who currently function in relative isolation within universities national laboratories and numerous industries. The UofC/ANL Center for Imaging Science has been established to foster such relationships. The State of illinois is in an ideal position to play a leadership role in the emergence of this important new discipline which is destined to have an increasing impact on the world economy. 1.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Annihilators in rings with involution

In this paper we examine the annihilators of algebraic expressions in the symmetric, or skew-symmetric, elements of a ringR with involution. LetL be the set of elements ofR each of which is annihilated on the right by some power of each symmetric element. IfR contains no nonzero nil left ideal thenL=0. The subset ofL annihilated by a fixed power of each symmetric element is always a nil left ideal ofR of bounded index. WhenR is an algebra over a fieldF, letA be the left ideal of elements annihilated on the right by some polynomial in each symmetric element. If eitherF is uncountable or the degrees of the polynomials are bounded, thenA generates an algebraic ideal ofR. Similar results are obtained by using skew-symmetric elements instead of symmetric elements.
Employee absence incentives in the welfare state: Toward explaining cross-national differences

Abstract The model developed in this article, which investigates the economic incentives created by the institutions through which capitalist welfare states administer sickness absence benefits, implies that absence rates are increased by a sickness benefit subsidy to the firm, that increases with reduced liability of the firm for the sickness benefits received by its employees and the with generosity of sickness benefit payments. Cross-national comparisons show that aggregate absence rates tend to be highest in countries that prefer to award social benefits largely independently of the recipient's value as a labor commodity. The model is extended to show that such social values strengthen absence incentives in two ways: through a sickness absence subsidy effect that provides larger subsidies for firms, and through a social support effect according to which the employee's utility of time absent from work is increased.
A Personal Affair: Moral Obligation and the New Common Law of Sentencing

Sentencing has a tortured history in the federal system. The Sixth Amendment, due process, and separation-of-powers problems with the current sentencing regime have been extensively documented. But this Article deals with a different problem. This Article deals with the moral failure of the federal sentencing regime. This Article contend that the current system of federal sentencing fails to treat defendants as human beings and, as such, fails to fulfill its moral obligation to impose just sentences. As a response, this Article proposes a new paradigm for federal sentencing. This Article outlines a federal sentencing regime based on guided, principled judicial discretion, which I refer to as "the new common law of sentencing." The primary argument is based on the moral obligation that society and the criminal-justice system have in the context of sentencing. Our criminal-justice system has an obligation to impose just sentences. Any given sentence cannot be just, however, unless it takes the individuality of the defendant into account in a way that is impossible under the mechanical system currently in place. This Article proposes a new paradigm for sentencing based on guided judicial discretion. This new model, which is referred to as the "new common law of sentencing," is an attempt to return to the judicial-discretion model of sentencing while alleviating the problems that plagued the pre-1984 sentencing system. In effect, it argues for a return to the literal text of the Sentencing Reform Act and a rejection of the presumptions in favor of the Sentencing Guidelines.
Critical Role of TLR4 in Human Metapneumovirus Mediated Innate Immune Responses and Disease Pathogenesis

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is one of the main causes of acute respiratory tract infections in children, elderly and immunocompromised patients. The mammalian Toll-like receptors (TLR) were identified as critical regulators of innate immunity to a variety of microbes, including viruses. We have recently shown that hMPV-induced cytokine, chemokine and type I interferon secretion in dendritic cells occurs via TLR4, however, its role in hMPV-induced disease is unknown. In this study, wild-type(WT) and TLR4-deficient mice (TLR4−/−) were infected with hMPV and examined for clinical disease parameters, such as body weight loss and airway obstruction, viral clearance, lung inflammation, dendritic cell maturation, T-cell proliferation and antibody production. Our results demonstrate that absence of TLR4 in hMPV-infected mice significantly reduced the inflammatory response as well as disease severity, shown by reduced body weight loss and airway obstruction and hyperresponsiveness (AHR), compared to WT mice. Levels of cytokines and chemokines were also significantly lower in the TLR4−/− mice. Accordingly, recruitment of inflammatory cells in the BAL, lungs, as well as in lymph nodes, was significantly reduced in the TLR4−/− mice, however, viral replication and clearance, as well as T-cell proliferation and neutralizing antibody production, were not affected. Our findings indicate that TLR4 is important for the activation of the innate immune response to hMPV, however it does play a role in disease pathogenesis, as lack of TLR4 expression is associated with reduced clinical manifestations of hMPV disease, without affecting viral protection.
Chemical classification of iron meteorites: XI. Multi-element studies of 38 new irons and the high abundance of ungrouped irons from Antarctica

Concentrations of 14 elements in the metal of 38 iron meteorites and a pallasite are reported. Three samples are paired with previously classified irons, raising the number of well-classified, independent iron meteorites to 598. Several of the new irons are from Antarctica. Of 24 independent irons from Antarctica, eight are ungrouped, a much higher fraction than that among all classified irons. The difference is probably related to the fact that the median mass of Antarctic irons is about two orders of magnitude smaller than that of non-Antarctic irons. Smaller meteoroids may tend to sample a larger number of asteroidal source regions, perhaps because small meteoroids tend to have higher ejection velocities or because they have random-walked a greater increment of orbital semimajor axis away from that of the parent body.
Receptor- and nucleotide exchange-independent mechanisms for promoting G protein subunit dissociation.

Abstract Mechanisms for heterotrimeric G protein activation that do not rely on G protein coupled receptor activation are becoming increasingly apparent. We recently identified βγ subunit-binding peptides that we proposed bound to a “hot spot” on βγ subunits, stimulating G protein dissociation without stimulating nucleotide exchange and activating G protein signaling in intact cells. AGS3, a member of the activators of G protein signaling family of proteins, also activates G protein signaling in a nucleotide exchange-independent manner, and AGS3 homologues are involved in asymmetric cell division during development. Here we demonstrate that a consensus G protein regulatory (GPR) peptide from AGS3 and related proteins is sufficient to induce G protein subunit dissociation and that both the GPR and hot spot-binding peptides promote dissociation to extents comparable with a known G protein activator, AMF. Peptides derived from adenylyl cyclase 2 and GRK2 prevented formation of the heterotrimeric complex but did not alter the rate of α subunit dissociation from βγ subunits. These data indicate that these nucleotide exchange-independent G protein activator peptides do not simply compete for α interactions with βγ subunits, but actively promote subunit dissociation. Thus, we propose two novel mechanisms for nucleotide exchange independent activation of G protein signaling, one that involves conformational changes in the α subunit and one that involves conformational changes in the βγ subunits.
SPONTANEOUS R-PARITY BREAKING AND LEFT-RIGHT SYMMETRY

We propose a simple renormalizable left–right theory where R-parity is spontaneously broken and neutrino masses are generated through the Type I seesaw mechanism and R-parity violation. In this theory R-parity and the gauge symmetry are broken by the sneutrino vacuum expectation values and there is no Majoron problem. The SU(2)R and R-parity violation scales are determined by the SUSY breaking scale making the model very predictive. We discuss the spectrum and possible tests of the theory through the neutralinos, charginos, Z′ and WR± decays at the Large Hadron Collider.
Perceived importance of ethics and ethical decisions in marketing.

Abstract This study investigates the influences of perceptions regarding the importance of ethics and social responsibility on ethical intentions of marketing professionals. It also investigates the effects of perceived ethical problems and gender on ethical intentions. The results, based on a survey of practitioner members of the American Marketing Association, revealed that a marketing professional’s perception regarding the importance of ethics and social responsibility seems to influence his or her ethical intention in a positive way. The survey results also indicate a positive relationship between ethical perception and ethical intention. The results reveal some gender differences in ethical intentions of marketing professionals.
A New Light Source for EUV Lithography

A new type of X-ray laser could give hope to the semiconductor industry as it struggles to continue its march toward miniaturization. This next-generation chip-making tool was developed at the National Science Foundation's Engineering Research Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology, located at Colorado State University, in Fort Collins.The laser operates at wavelengths of 18.9 and 13.9 nanometers, the latter fine enough for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, which will be needed to manufacture the generation of chips that are to become available around 2011.
Bikini and Enewetak marshallese: Their atolls and nuclear weapons testing

Abstract Following the end of World War H, the U.S. Government decided to commence nuclear weapons testing and consequently searched for a suitable test site. Bikini and Enewetak Atolls in the Marshall Islands were selected for various reasons discussed in this manuscript. Sixty‐six nuclear devices of various types were detonated from 1945 through mid‐1958 at these atolls. During this period and for an extended period thereafter, extensive endeavors to rehabilitate these atolls occurred. In addition to physical rehabilitation, scientists were involved in basic investigations on the cycling of radionuclides and the effects of ionizing radiation on the atoll environment. Further, a limited number of observations were made on the cultural impacts of removal and possible return of the Bikini and Enewetak Marshallese to their home atolls. The extensive but obscure literature as well as unfamiliarity by many people of the health aspects of ionizing radiation and fundamentals of radiation ecology encouraged the ...
Race, Ethnicity, Ancestry, and Pharmacogenetics

Pharmacogenetics is the study of how genetic variation influences the response to drugs. The concepts of race, ethnicity, and ancestry have long had a strong influence on pharmacogenetic discovery and on our understanding of population-level differences in drug response. The primary goal of pharmacogenetics, however, is to identify the individual genetic determinants of drug activity so that therapy can be tailored to the individual patient. This article describes the relationship between the concepts of race, ethnicity, and ancestry and how these concepts have been applied to pharmacogenetics, and it provides examples of the benefits and pitfalls associated with the use of racial or ethnic labels in genetic studies. The future of pharmacogenetics, including the study of rare genetic variation and what this means for racial or ethnic disparities in pharmacogenetic discovery, is also discussed.
On the observability of isotropic seismic sources: The July 31, 1970 Colombian earthquake

Abstract Theoretical calculations are made to study the observability of isotropic components of seismic sources. In particular we consider the 1970 deep Colombian earthquake, for which a precursory isotropic component was previously reported by Gilbert and Dziewonski. We compare an ultra-long period vertical record at Pasadena of the 1970 event to synthetic seismograms calculated both for Gilbert and Dziewonski's source model and for the pure double-couple source of Furumoto and Fukao, and obtain better overall agreement for the latter. The amplitude of the long-period synthetic for the isotropic source is about 5–15 times smaller than the synthetic for the deviatoric source, suggesting that the data may be relatively insensitive to the presence of a small isotropic source. When this possibility was tested, the overall agreement was found to be almost completely insensitive to the presence of even a reasonably large isotropic component. However, the isotropic source was derived from multi-station moment tensor inversion, rather than from single-station studies. A numerical experiment on the effect of lateral heterogeneity of eigenfrequencies and of Q on the inversion for the moment tensor shows that even relatively small amounts of heterogeneity can produce spurious isotropic sources from moment tensor inversion.
Simulation optimization: towards a framework for black-box simulation optimization

Optimization using simulation has increased in popularity in recent years as more and more simulation packages now offer optimization features. At the same time, academic research in this area has grown, but more work is needed to bring results from the academic community to solve practical problems. This paper describes an effort in this direction. We present a framework that can be used to effectively solve large combinatorial-type simulation optimization problems in an automated or semi-automated manner.
Moving Forward With the Past: History and Identity in Marie-Célie Agnant's La Dot de Sara

Francophone writers and theorists have long worked to establish a cultural identity true to their collective past and free of Western authority and influence. They reflect in their works the need to find their own voice and validate their own perspective in the face of a history fraught with colonial influence and domination. MarieCelie Agnant, a Francophone writer of Haitian descent living in Montreal, addresses this search for history and identity through the lens of Haitian immigrant characters in her works, namely La Dot de Sara (1995), Le Livre d’Emma (2001), and Un alligator nomme Rosa (2007). Agnant’s works treat the questions of identity and belonging through the experiences of her characters who are exiled from their native roots. Past histories must be recovered, transmitted and often translated repeatedly in order to maintain a connection to one’s cultural identity and history. This re-visioning of their past history and identity, however, often conflicts with the daily lives of her characters, interfering with their adjustment to their new host culture and preventing them from fully participating in contemporary society. The quandary of preserving a connection to the past while participating in modern society reveals itself most poignantly in La Dot de Sara. This article is available in Studies in 20th & 21st Century Literature: http://newprairiepress.org/sttcl/vol36/iss1/6 Moving Forward With the Past: History and Identity in Marie-Celie Agnant’s La Dot de Sara
TGF-β1 RNA interference in mouse primary dura cell culture: Downstream effects on TGF receptors, FGF-2, and FGF-R1 mRNA levels

BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 have both been shown to have significant roles in the regulation of murine calvarial suture fusion. Methods to decrease gene expression of these cytokines and their respective receptors have been established, but because of side effects, clinical applications are limited. In this study, the authors examined the effect of TGF-beta1-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) on the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of TGF-beta1, its TGF-betaR1 and TGF-betaR2 receptors, and FGF-2 and its R1 receptor in murine dura cells. METHODS A primary dura cell line was established from CD-1 mice. Transfection efficiency using Lipofectamine was determined using BLOCKiT. Dura cells were transfected with serial concentrations of TGF-beta1 siRNA to determine the optimal dose. In subsequent experiments, cells were transfected with 16 nM TGF-beta1 siRNA and harvested on posttransfection days 4, 7, 10, and 14 for RNA isolation and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Optimal inhibition of TGF-beta1 mRNA expression was achieved at 16 nM siRNA. On posttransfection day 4, TGF-beta1 mRNA levels were significantly decreased but returned to baseline by day 14. TGF-betaR1 mRNA expression remained unaffected by transfection throughout the time course. However, TGF-betaR2, FGF-2, and FGF-R1 demonstrated significant inhibition of mRNA expression on posttransfection day 4. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that TGF-beta1 siRNA has the potential to alter the murine dura cytokines responsible for suture fusion in vitro. Manipulating underlying cranial suture biology with siRNA technology may ultimately allow control over suture fusion. This intervention may ultimately function as an effective adjunct to surgical intervention for craniosynostosis.
On the propagation of the nervous impulse down medullated and unmedullated fibers.

Propagation of nervous impulse down medullated and unmedullated fibers, obtaining expression involving ionic conductances
A detailed investigation of the mechanical properties of polybenzoxazole fibers within soft body armor

Using the modified-single fiber test developed by Holmes and colleagues (J Appl Polym 2008), a detailed analysis of fibers extracted from soft body armor comprised of polybenzoxazole (PBO) fibers was performed. The data indicate that hydrolytic degradation of these ballistic fibers is accompanied by degradation associated with folding (or fatigue-induced degradation) and an undefined degradation mechanism associated with vest use that appears to target the horizontal yarns of the alternating 0°/90° woven layers. These additional failure mechanisms have the potential to create localized regions in the PBO soft body armor which are significantly lower than the homogeneous degradation expected from uniform hydrolysis. Results also indicate that the absence of ballistic penetrations in the initial study conducted at the National Institute of Standards and Technology may be associated with using the properties of the fibers from the back panel of a compromised vest as representative of the properties in the front panel that was penetrated. Analysis of a field return vest showed the front panel to be significantly more degraded than the back panel.
Teaching in a distance education program.

New practitioners are drawn into academia for various reasons. Many new practitioners are asked to teach didactic pharmacy classes in an adjunct capacity due to the shortage of full-time faculty, especially pharmacy practice faculty.[1][1] The expanding use of technology and the systematic use of
Electron Microscopy: Enhancement of Specimen Contrast by Injection of Atoms

Injections of biological specimens and substrates with cesium were made with a small accelerator in the energy range of 20 to 1000 electron volts. Subsequent electron microscopic examination demonstrated that the contrast and appearance of the specimen depend on its structure and on the energy of injection. Substrate noise is decreased over conventional contrasting techniques. The same accelerator provides controlled etching of the specimen.
A comparison of phenoldisulfonic acid, nondispersive infrared, and Saltzman methods for the determination of oxides of nitrogen in automotive exhaust.

The Saltzman Phenoldisulfonic Acid and Nondispersive Infrared methods have been compared for the determination of oxides of nitrogen in automobile exhaust. The main purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the Nondispersive Infrared method could be used as a possible replacement for the Saltzman method. Results show that the Nondispersive Infrared analyzer can be used to measure NOx in exhaust gases with advantages over both the Saltzman and Phenoldisulfonic Acid methods. These advantages include simplicity, speed, less complicated analytical technique, and the fact that it is better adapted to be carried out by technicians at the test site.
Solvent effect on the products of γ-irradiation of hydroxyimides and hydroxybenzotriazole

Abstract Hydroxyphthalimide, hydroxysuccinimide, and hydroxybenzotriazole were irradiated in methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, and acetonitrile. All the hydroxy compounds, R-NOH, changed to R-NH in acetonitrile, though hydroxyphthalimide in methanol and hydroxysuccinimide in the alcohol solutions were not decomposed. The decomposition of R-NOH is caused by electron attachment. It seems that the strong hydrogen bonding between the solvent alcohol and the solute prevent the electron attachment to hydroxysuccinimide. The molecular structure of the hydroxy compounds will affect the extent of the hydrogen bonding.
Mispairing of the 8,9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl)-9-hydroxy-aflatoxin B1 adduct with deoxyadenosine results in extrusion of the mismatched dA toward the major groove.

The G → T transversion is the dominant mutation induced by the cationic trans-8,9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl)-9-hydroxy-aflatoxin B1 adduct. The structure of d(ACATCAFBGATCT)·d(AGATAGATGT), in which the cationic adduct was mismatched with deoxyadenosine, was refined using molecular dynamics calculations restrained by NOE data and dihedral restraints obtained from NMR spectroscopy. Restrained molecular dynamics calculations refined structures with pairwise rmsd <1 A and a sixth root R1x factor between the refined structure and NOE data of 10.5 × 10-2. The mismatched duplex existed in a single conformation at neutral pH. The aflatoxin moiety intercalated above the 5‘ face of the modified AFBG. The mismatched dA was in the anti conformation about the glycosyl bond. It extruded toward the major groove and did not participate in hydrogen bonding with AFBG. The structure was compared with that of d(ACATCGATCT)·d(AGATAGATGT) containing the corresponding unmodified G·A mismatch and with d(ACATCAFBGATCT)·d(AGATCGATGT) c...
Training cooperation in the Prisoner's Dilemma ☆

Abstract Female S s' choices in two types of mixed-motive game situations were used to select S s who had predominantly Own Gain and S s who had predominantly Relative Gain goals. On the basis of simple reward notions, it was predicted that the former but not the latter would change from competitive to cooperative responding in decomposed Prisoner's Dilemma game situations when interacting with a conditionally cooperative other. Corresponding yoked controls were not expected to become cooperative. The availability of social comparison with an outcome which was smaller than the mutually cooperative outcome but larger than the mutually competitive out-come was expected to lead Own Gain S s to more rapid learning of cooperation but not to affect the responses of corresponding yoked controls or of Relative Gain S s. A 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 factorial design was used in which the factors were goal orientation (Own Gain vs Relative Gain), strategy of the other (conditionally cooperative vs yoked control), the availability vs unavailability of the social comparison, and trials. The results strongly supported each of the expectations. The results were discussed in terms of how the operation of the reward mechanism would be affected by the operation of some other social psychological processes.
Mechanism of inducible nitric oxide synthase exclusion from mycobacterial phagosomes.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is sensitive to nitric oxide generated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Consequently, to ensure its survival in macrophages, M. tuberculosis inhibits iNOS recruitment to its phagosome by an unknown mechanism. Here we report the mechanism underlying this process, whereby mycobacteria affect the scaffolding protein EBP50, which normally binds to iNOS and links it to the actin cytoskeleton. Phagosomes harboring live mycobacteria showed reduced capacity to retain EBP50, consistent with lower iNOS recruitment. EBP50 was found on purified phagosomes, and its expression increased upon macrophage activation, paralleling expression changes seen with iNOS. Overexpression of EBP50 increased while EBP50 knockdown decreased iNOS recruitment to phagosomes. Knockdown of EBP50 enhanced mycobacterial survival in activated macrophages. We tested another actin organizer, coronin-1, implicated in mycobacterium-macrophage interaction for contribution to iNOS exclusion. A knockdown of coronin-1 resulted in increased iNOS recruitment to model latex bead phagosomes but did not increase iNOS recruitment to phagosomes with live mycobacteria and did not affect mycobacterial survival. Our findings are consistent with a model for the block in iNOS association with mycobacterial phagosomes as a mechanism dependent primarly on reduced EBP50 recruitment.
Stereo Motion Transparency Processing Implements an Ecological Smoothness Constraint

Transparent motion stimuli allow us to investigate how visual motion is processed in the presence of multiple sources of information. We used stereo random-dot kinematograms to determine how motion processing is affected by the difference in direction and depth of two overlapping motion components. Observers judged whether a noise dot display contained one or two directions of motion. For all disparity differences, performance did not change among angles greater than 60°, but the ability to detect transparent motion fell dramatically as the direction difference decreased below 60°. When a disparity difference was added between the two motion components, detection became easier. We compared these results to an ideal-observer model limited by stimulus uncertainty and low-level sources of internal noise. The resulting measure of efficiency—the ratio of human to model performance—reflects changes in how motion stimuli are being processed. A decrease of both the direction and disparity differences had the effe...
Fasciola tragelaphi sp.nov. from the sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekei Rothschild, with a note on the prepharyngeal pouch in the genus Fasciola L.

Fasciola tragelaphi sp.nov. from the bile ducts of a Tragelaphus spekei shot in the Chobe swamps of Rhodesia differs from other species of the genus in its very large size (10.2–12.0 cm long in fixed and mounted specimens), in the shape of its body and in the distribution and arrangement of the reproductive organs. The testes lie almost entirely in the posterior half of the body, well away from the female genitalia, which lie mostly in the anterior third of the worm. The ovary is always bilateral, and the coiled uterus runs in a straight line between the caeca to the genital atrium. A prepharyngeal pouch found in this species is compared with that found in other members of the genus Fasciola and in related genera.We gratefully acknowledge the help given during the preparation of this paper by the staff of the Bureau, particularly Mr G. Dimmock for technical assistance. We would also like to thank Mr S. Prudhoe for reading the manuscript and offering useful advice, Mr B. Bracegirdle for producing the photograph of the whole worm reproduced in the Plate, fig. 1 and to Bechuanaland Hunters Ltd., particularly I. M. Henderson, for obtaining further specimens for examination.