cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective inhibition of N‐acetylglucosamine and galactose‐specific lectins including the 14‐kDa vertebrate lectin by novel synthetic biantennary oligosaccharides

A novel series of synthetic biantennary tri-, penta- and hepta-saccharides with terminal beta-GlcNAc, beta-LacNAc and alpha NeuAc(2,6)beta LacNAc residues, respectively, [LacNAc = Gal beta (1,4)Glc-NAc] connected to a core Gal residue were evaluated for their inhibitory potencies for specific plant and animal lectins. Six isomeric trisaccharides with two beta-GlcNAc residues at the 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,6-, 3,4-, 3,6-, or 4,6-positions of the core Gal were tested for their hemagglutination inhibition activities against two GlcNAc-specific lectins, Griffonia simplicifolia II (GS II) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). The 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,6- and 3,6-trisaccharides inhibited WGA 12-50 times more strongly than GlcNAc, whereas only weak or no inhibition was observed with GS II. The 3,4- and 4,6-trisaccharides did not inhibit either of the lectins. Six biantennary isomeric pentasaccharides containing two terminal beta-LacNAc residues with branching patterns similar to the trisaccharides showed selective hemagglutination inhibition of five Gal/GalNAc-specific plant lectins and the 14-kDa Gal-specific calf spleen lectin. The plant lectins include the soybean agglutinin (SBA), ricin agglutinin-I (RCA-I), and three Erythrina lectins with similar specificities: Erythrina indica (EIL), E. corallodendron (ECorL), and E. cristagalli (ECL). The 2,3-pentasaccharide inhibited only SBA and the 14-kDa lectin, and thus was a selective inhibitor among the plant lectins. The 2,6-pentasaccharide inhibited SBA, ECL and the 14-kDa lectin, but not RCA-I or the two other Erythrina lectins. The 4,6-pentasaccharide did not inhibit any of the plant lectins, but was a specific inhibitor of the 14-kDa calf spleen lectin. Synthetic heptasaccharides analogs with 2,4-, 2,6-, 3,6- and 4,6-branching patterns and terminal alpha(2,6)NeuAc residues all showed 25-fold stronger inhibition against the alpha(2,6)sialic-acid-specific elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) bark lectin as compared to a monovalent disaccharide alpha NeuAc(2,6)beta GalOR. The lack of inhibition of alpha NeuAc(2,6)beta GalOR derivatives methylated at the C6 of the Gal residue and a sulfur-linked thiosialoside derivative demonstrates that the 2,6-anomeric linkage region is important for lectin recognition. Selective inhibition of the Gal/GalNAc-specific lectins was observed for two isomeric C6 methyl-substituted Gal derivatives of methyl beta-LacNAc which possess different preferred rotamer orientations about the C5-C6 bond of the Gal residue.
Disulfide bond generation in mammalian blood serum: detection and purification of quiescin-sulfhydryl oxidase

A sensitive new plate-reader assay has been developed showing that adult mammalian blood serum contains circulating soluble sulfhydryl oxidase activity that can introduce disulfide bonds into reduced proteins with the reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. The activity was purified 5000-fold to >90% homogeneity from bovine serum and found by mass spectrometry to be consistent with the short isoform of quiescin-sulfhydryl oxidase 1 (QSOX1). This FAD-dependent enzyme is present at comparable activity levels in fetal and adult commercial bovine sera. Thus cell culture media that are routinely supplemented with either fetal or adult bovine sera will contain this facile catalyst of protein thiol oxidation. QSOX1 is present at approximately 25 nM in pooled normal adult human serum. Examination of the unusual kinetics of QSOX1 toward cysteine and glutathione at low micromolar concentrations suggests that circulating QSOX1 is unlikely to significantly contribute to the oxidation of these monothiols in plasma. However, the ability of QSOX1 to rapidly oxidize conformationally mobile protein thiols suggests a possible contribution to the redox status of exofacial and soluble proteins in blood plasma. Recent proteomic studies showing that plasma QSOX1 can be utilized in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and acute decompensated heart failure, together with the overexpression of this secreted enzyme in a number of solid tumors, suggest that the robust QSOX assay developed here may be useful in the quantitation of enzyme levels in a wide range of biological fluids.
Thermomechanical analysis of Tg and T > Tg transitions in polystyrene

Phenomenological softening points were measured on a series of 13 anionic, nearly monodisperse, atactic polystyrenes using a DuPont 943 thermomechanical analyzer (TMA) in a penetration mode. Although TMA cannot identify the nature of the “transition” observed as such, the results obtained support the evidence for the Tg, Tll, and T′ll transition in polystyrene discussed in recent literature. Tg and Tll were found to vary with molecular weight in a systematic manner, while T′ll could only be observed at very high molecular weight. The technique appears to be quite useful in offering rapid and reproducible information on the various transitions in the liquid state of polystyrene.
Parent Involvement and Quality Day Care in Proprietary Centers.

Abstract Interrelationships among three measures of parent involvement, one of staff valuing parent-staff communication, and one of program quality being provided the children were examined in the infant/toddler and preschool classes of 16 proprietary centers. Measures of formal parent-staff communication and parent participation in the center derived from director interviews were significantly related to each other and to on-site observational measures of program quality indexing health and safety, peer-adult-child interactions, home-center coordination, and informal transition-time communication between parents and staff. These data and data regarding staff valuing parent-staff communication support the argument that directors who promote formal parent involvement are also more likely to run higher quality programs for the children and facilitate daily informal communication between parents and staff.
Revisiting the percolation phenomena in dielectric composites with conducting fillers

The composition (φ) dependence of the effective dielectric constant (eeff) on conductor-dielectric composites is widely described as eeff∝(φc−φ)−s. This relationship has been extensively used to fit experimental results for determining the percolation behavior (percolation threshold φc and power constant s). The equation was checked using experimental results from two 0–3 nanocomposite systems with uniform microstructures. It is found that the equation can be used to fit the experimental results, but the fitting constants (φc and s) do not reflect the percolation behavior: the values of both fitting constants are dependent on the frequency (f) and temperature selected. It is also found that the fitting constant φc increases with increasing frequency selected and it is believed that this arises from the critical phenomenon, eeff∝fγ−1, for composites close to the φc.
The Larval Development of Palaemonetes Cummingi Chace, 1954 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae), Reared in the Laboratory 1)

Die Larvalentwirklung der Garnele Palaemonetes cummingi Chace, aus unterirdischen Gewassern Floridas, wird beschrieben. Es gibt 3 Zoea-Stadien und 1 postlarval Stadium.
A reduction class containing formulas with one monadic predicate and one binary function symbol

A new reduction class is presented for the satisfiability problem for well-formed formulas of the first-order predicate calculus. The members of this class are closed prenex formulas of the form ∀x∀yC. The matrix C is in conjunctive normal form and has no disjuncts with more than three literals, in fact all but one conjunct is unary. Furthermore C contains but one predicate symbol, that being unary, and one function symbol which symbol is binary.
Panic disorder: a test of the separation anxiety hypothesis

Abstract The DSM-III narrative remarks suggest that childhood separation anxiety disorder and sudden object loss apparently predispose to the development of adult panic disorder, despite the paucity of empirical studies documenting such a relationship. In an attempt to test the validity of this separation anxiety hypothesis of panic disorder, 14 objective questions pertaining to childhood separation experiences were answered by 23 panic disorder patients and 28 small-animal phobics. Although the panic disorder patients scored higher on 2 of the 14 items, these differences appear to have little clinical meaning. Caution is indicated prior to continued uncritical acceptance of the separation anxiety hypothesis of panic disorder.
Endogenizing the Rise and Fall of Urban Subcenters via Discrete Programming Models

Models that represent the polycentric and dispersed nature of modern cities should be able to account for the rise and fall of subcenters. Based on a review of the programming models applied to urban analysis, five properties are suggested that an adequate model should include. It should: 1 confront the simultaneity between markets for land and transportation services; 2 accommodate the reality of cities as places where externalities and common properties abound; 3 emulate the intertemporal albeit bounded nature of planning and decisionmaking; 4 fully exploit principles of economic theory; and, 5 offer computability. We develop a discrete programming model with these five properties, comparing its capabilities with those of previous approaches.
A note on the ageing of the Politburo.

(1977). A note on the ageing of the Politburo. Soviet Studies: Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 296-305.
RAGs found "not guilty": cleared by DNA evidence.

A recent paper from the Alt laboratory shows that recombination activating genes (RAGs) are not responsible for double-strand DNA breaks associated with some chromosomal translocations in pre–T-cell lymphomas. B- and T-cell lymphomas and leukemias are frequent hosts to chromosomal translocations
Automated headspace analysis of fumigants 1,3-dichloropropene and methyl isothiocyanate on charcoal sampling tubes

Abstract Charcoal tubes are widely used for collecting organic vapor in the atmosphere, and the measurement is usually completed by analyzing an aliquot of the solvent phase following solvent extraction, typically with carbon disulfide. However, the sensitivity of this method is limited and sometimes too low for monitoring contaminants at trace levels in the environmental atmosphere. In this study, the potential of static headspace analysis techniques was explored on two common fumigants, 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-DCP) and methyl isothiocyanate (MITC), on both coconut- and petroleum-based charcoal sampling tubes, using an automated and programmable headspace sampler. Three important parameters in the headspace analysis, equilibrating temperature and time, and amount of extracting solvent, were optimized individually for each compound—charcoal tube combination to achieve maximum sensitivity of GC analysis. Higher stability was observed for both isomers of 1,3-DCP and MITC on petroleum-based charcoal, and 180 and 190°C, and 5 min were selected as the equilibrating temperatures and time, respectively. On coconut-based charcoal tubes, however, all the compounds were more sensitive to the temperature, and 160 and 140°C, and 5.0 and 3.0 min were therefore determined as the equilibrating temperatures and times for the 1,3-DCP isomers and MITC, respectively. Reducing solvent volume from 3 to 1 ml in 9-ml headspace vials improved the sensitivity and 1.0 ml benzyl alcohol was therefore selected for all the compound—charcoal tube combinations. Compared to the conventional extraction method with CS2, the optimized headspace methods were 10–35 times more sensitive, and equivalently reproducible except for MITC on coconut-based ORBO-32 tubes. Better sensitivity and precision of measurements were consistently obtained on petroleum-based charcoal tubes, and the minimum detection limits were estimated as 0.2 and 0.5 ng per tube for the (Z)- and (E)-isomers of 1,3-DCP, respectively, and 2.0 ng per tube for MITC. With the automated headspace method, sample preparation was simplified and sample throughput was greatly enhanced, and up to 200 samples could be analyzed on a 24-h basis under the optimum conditions.
Superoxide generation from nitric oxide synthases.

Besides nitric oxide (NO), NO synthases (NOS) also produce superoxide (·O2−), a primary reactive oxygen species involved in both cell injury and signaling. Neuronal NOS was first found to produce ·O2− in vitro. Subsequent studies revealed ·O2− generation as a common property of all NOS isoforms. Although NOS was originally shown to produce ·O2− under defined conditions such as substrate or cofactor depletion, recent enzymatic studies found that the reduction of oxygen to ·O2− is an obligatory step in NO synthesis. Tetrahydrobiopterin appears to play a key role in preventing ·O2− release from the NOS oxygenase domain. On the other hand, the NOS reductase domain is also capable of producing significant amounts of ·O2−. Increasing evidence demonstrates that ·O2− generation is involved in both physiological and pathological actions of NOS.
A Modified Recipe and Variations for the Briggs–Rauscher Oscillating Reaction

A modified recipe for the Briggs–Rauscher oscillating reaction is suggested. The modified recipe, [H2SO4] = 0.10 M, [KIO3] = 0.020 M, [NaIO4] = 0.00062 M, [malonic acid] = 0.050 M, [MnSO4] = 0.0067 M, [H2O2] = 1.0 M with 0.01% starch, turns blue almost immediately, then oscillations start with two “slow” (∼25 s) cycles, then settle into regular approximately 12–15 s cycles. Oscillations end with a clear solution, avoiding cleanup of solid iodine resulting from the “standard” recipe, so that only neutralization of excess acid is needed before disposal. Effects of concentration variations are presented.
Associations between dietary factors and serum lipids by apolipoprotein E polymorphism

A geographically based observational study of 852 nondiabetic Hispanic and non-Hispanic white persons in southern Colorado aged 20-74 y was conducted to determine whether diet-lipid associations were modified by the apolipoprotein E (apoE, protein; APOE, gene) polymorphism. Subjects were seen for up to three visits from 1984 to 1992. A 24-h diet recall was collected and fasting serum lipid concentrations were measured at all visits. In longitudinal-regression analyses, dietary factors were significantly associated with serum lipid concentrations in the directions expected based on the large amount of literature on this topic. The positive relation between dietary cholesterol and serum total and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol was strongest in Hispanic subjects with the APOE*2 allele (E2/ 2,3/2 genotypes) and non-Hispanic white subjects with the APOE*3 allele (E3/3 genotype), and there was no association in subjects with the APOE*4 allele (E4/3, 4/4 genotypes) in either ethnic group. No other statistically significant differences in the relations between dietary factors and serum lipid concentrations by APOE polymorphism were identified. These findings suggest that the APOE polymorphism plays only a minor role in modifying the association between dietary factors and serum lipids.
Addiction to melodrama.

Addiction films have been shaped by the internal demands of a commercial medium. Specifically, melodrama, as a genre, has defined the limits of the visual representation of addiction. Similarly, the process of intermedialization has tended to induce a metamorphosis that shapes disparate narratives with diverse goals into a generic filmic form and substantially alters the meanings of the texts. Ultimately, visual representations shape public perceptions of addiction in meaningful ways, privileging a moralistic understanding of drug addiction that makes a complex issue visually uncomplicated by reinforcing “common sense” ideas of moral failure and redemption.
Neuropsychological functioning in adolescent marijuana users: subtle deficits detectable after a month of abstinence.

In adults, studies examining the long-lasting cognitive effects of marijuana use demonstrate subtle deficits in attention, executive function, and memory. Because neuromaturation continues through adolescence, these results cannot necessarily generalize to adolescent marijuana users. The goal of this study was to examine neuropsychological functioning in abstinent marijuana using and demographically similar control adolescents. Data were collected from 65 adolescent marijuana users (n = 31, 26% females) and controls (n = 34, 26% females) 16–18 years of age. Extensive exclusionary criteria included independent psychiatric, medical, and neurologic disorders. Neuropsychological assessments were conducted after >23 days of monitored abstinence. After controlling for lifetime alcohol use and depressive symptoms, adolescent marijuana users demonstrated slower psychomotor speed (p < .05), and poorer complex attention (p < .04), story memory (p < .04), and planning and sequencing ability (p < .001) compared with controls. Post hoc analysis revealed that the number of lifetime marijuana use episodes was associated with poorer cognitive function, even after controlling for lifetime alcohol use. The general pattern of results suggested that, even after a month of monitored abstinence, adolescent marijuana users demonstrate subtle neuropsychological deficits compared with nonusers. It is possible that frequent marijuana use during adolescence may negatively influence neuromaturation and cognitive development.
Delay Test Scan Flip-Flop: DFT for High Coverage Delay Testing

Scan based delay testing is currently mostly implemented using launch-on-capture (LOC) delay tests. Launch-on-shift (LOS) tests are generally more effective, achieving higher fault coverage with significantly fewer test vectors, but require a fast scan enable, which is not supported by most designs. The paper presents low cost solution for implementing LOS tests by adding a small amount of logic (six transistors) in each flip-flop to align the slow scan enable signal to the clock edge. The new design can support full LOS and LOC testing, achieving an average TDF coverage of 92.67% in this combined mode for the ISCAS89 benchmarks. Adding a second slow global scan enable signal also allows mixed LOC/LOS tests, which can further increase coverage up to 94.86% on average for ISCAS89 benchmarks
The mechanisms of passive dissolution of titanium in a model physiological environment

The surface chemistry, oxidation, and disolution kinetics of titanium were measured to establish the mechanisms of passive dissolution in physiological environments. Titanium thin films were immersed in 8.0 mM ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid in simulated interstitial electrolyte (EDTA/SIE) and maintained at 37 degrees C, 10% O2, 5% CO2 and 7.2 pH for periods of time up to 3200 h (133 days). Two immersion schemes were employed: the integral sequentially determined the titanium released into a solution of accumulated dissolution products; and the differential continuously replenished the test solution. The solutions were analyzed for titanium by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (EAAS), and the sample surfaces were analyzed by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to determine oxide composition, stoichiometry, and thickness. Prior to immersion two types of hydroxyl (OH) groups were distinguished on the TiO2 surface. Upon immersion, the chemistry of the surface changed as a function of immersion: the presence of OH groups increased and P (nonelemental) was detected at the surface. The dissolution kinetics obeyed a two-phase logarithmic model, where the transition between phases occurred simultaneously with the adsorption of the P-containing species. The dissolution kinetics depended on surface reactions, electric field strength, and molecular diffusion. These mechanisms explain the observed dependence of dissolution kinetics on the properties of the surface oxide and solution ligands.
In Vitro Activities of Cefminox against Anaerobic Bacteria Compared with Those of Nine Other Compounds

The agar dilution MIC method was used to test the activity of cefminox, a β-lactamase-stable cephamycin, compared with those of cefoxitin, cefotetan, moxalactam, ceftizoxime, cefotiam, cefamandole, cefoperazone, clindamycin, and metronidazole against 357 anaerobes. Overall, cefminox was the most active β-lactam, with an MIC at which 50% of isolates are inhibited (MIC50) of 1.0 μg/ml and an MIC90 of 16.0 μg/ml. Other β-lactams were less active, with respective MIC50s and MIC90s of 2.0 and 64.0 μg/ml for cefoxitin, 2.0 and 128.0 μg/ml for cefotetan, 2.0 and 64.0 μg/ml for moxalactam, 4.0 and >128.0 μg/ml for ceftizoxime, 16.0 and >128.0 μg/ml for cefotiam, 8.0 and >128.0 μg/ml for cefamandole, and 4.0 and 128.0 μg/ml for cefoperazone. The clindamycin MIC50 and MIC90 were 0.5 and 8.0 μg/ml, respectively, and the metronidazole MIC50 and MIC90 were 1.0 and 4.0 μg/ml, respectively. Cefminox was especially active against Bacteroides fragilis (MIC90, 2.0 μg/ml), Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (MIC90, 4.0 μg/ml), fusobacteria (MIC90, 1.0 μg/ml), peptostreptococci (MIC90, 2.0 μg/ml), and clostridia, including Clostridium difficile (MIC90, 2.0 μg/ml). Time-kill studies performed with six representative anaerobic species revealed that at the MIC all compounds except ceftizoxime were bactericidal (99.9% killing) against all strains after 48 h. At 24 h, only cefminox and cefoxitin at 4× the MIC and cefoperazone at 8× the MIC were bactericidal against all strains. After 12 h, at the MIC all compounds except moxalactam, ceftizoxime, cefotiam, cefamandole, clindamycin, and metronidazole gave 90% killing of all strains. After 3 h, cefminox at 2× the MIC produced the most rapid effect, with 90% killing of all strains.
Timing of inhaled tobramycin affects assessment of intravenous tobramycin pharmacokinetic monitoring

Abstract Background Aerosolized tobramycin inhalation solution (TIS) may be absorbed and result in measurable serum concentrations. We assessed the significance of TIS dosing in the latter portion of the IV dosing interval on the calculation of pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and dosing. Methods Twenty adult CF patients admitted to the hospital for treatment of a pulmonary exacerbation were enrolled. PK parameters of tobramycin were calculated before and after introduction of TIS, which was given 5–9h after the IV dose. Results Nine patients had a clinically significant change in tobramycin trough concentration. Fourteen patients had a reduced calculated elimination rate constant after TIS administration, which may be misinterpreted as a decreased clearance of IV tobramycin. Conclusion Trough tobramycin concentrations were significantly influenced in some CF patients (45%), suggesting that timing of the inhaled dose should be considered when interpreting PK measures of IV tobramycin dosing.
Pediatricians Transitioning Practices, Youth With Special Health Care Needs in New York State:

Objective. To assess current practices of New York State pediatricians as they transition youth with special health care needs to adult-oriented medical care. Methods. A survey of New York State pediatricians included 6 critical steps from 2002 consensus statement, 11 essential steps adapted from recent literature, and questions targeting age of starting transition and availability of transition policy. Results. Of 181 respondents, only 11% have a transition policy. Most assist patients in transition process; identify an adult provider (92%); and create portable medical summary (57%). Only 3% start planning process at recommended age. No respondents are compliant with all 6 critical steps; subspecialists were more likely to report compliance to more than 4 steps. Conclusions. Participating pediatricians are making gains, yet effort is needed, to incorporate the essential steps into practice for transitioning youth with special health care needs. Recognition of barriers, use of electronic tools, and clarif...
Parent birds assess nest predation risk and adjust their reproductive strategies

Avian life history theory has long assumed that nest predation plays a minor role in shaping reproductive strategies. Yet, this assumption remains conspicuously untested by broad experiments that alter environmental risk of nest predation, despite the fact that nest predation is a major source of reproductive failure. Here, we examined whether parents can assess experimentally reduced nest predation risk and alter their reproductive strategies. We experimentally reduced nest predation risk and show that in safer environments parents increased investment in young through increased egg size, clutch mass, and the rate they fed nestlings. Parents also increased investment in female condition by increasing the rates that males fed incubating females at the nest, and decreasing the time that females spent incubating. These results demonstrate that birds can assess nest predation risk at large and that nest predation plays a key role in the expression of avian reproductive strategies.
Platelet count and associated morbidities in VLBW infants with pharmacologically treated patent ductus arteriosus.

AbstractObjective: Characterize the diagnosis of PDA and the distribution of pretreatment platelet count in pharmacologically managed PDA in infants ≤1500 g and assess the relationship of platelet count to serious morbidities.Study design: This is a retrospective, observational study. In 40 hospitals, data were collected on PDA, including pretreatment platelet count. Distribution of platelet count was examined. The association of platelet count and clinical outcomes of IVH, NEC and PDA closure prior to discharge were examined. Chi-square test was used to compare outcomes by platelet count groups.Results: There were 311 patients treated with medically treated PDA. Pretreatment platelet counts were categorized as 0–119 K, 120–199 K, 200–299 K, >300 K. Incidence and grade of IVH were not significantly different by platelet group. Across all groups: No IVH 62–83%, Grades 1–2 IVH 13–25%, Grades 3–4 IVH 2–13%. NEC occurred in 0–11% of all patients studied. PDA closure rate was 33–45%.Conclusion: PDA closure was...
Note on tension discharge rate as an employee health status predictor.

The article discusses a study pertaining to the validity of the tension discharge rate scale (TDR) for measuring employee health status. The scale utilizes a 7-point response format and is designed...
Factors Influencing Tumor Induction in Hamsters by Vacuolating Virus, SV40.∗

SummaryDescriptive studies of the pathogenesis of SV40 virus in the hamster model were carried out. Ninety-six per cent of animals given SV40 virus when newborn, 60% of 7 day old animals, 23% of 1 month old animals, and none of 3 month old animals developed tumors. Tumors developed earlier, on the average, in the younger animals. All tumors which did develop were highly malignant, irrespective of host age at time of inoculation. Development of SV40 tumors in hamsters was unrelated to appearance or absence of SV40 antibody although stimulation of such antibody was progressively enhanced with increase in age at time of inoculation. Tumorigenesis was also related to virus dose, 300.000 TCD50, being required to effect near 100% efficiency and 1000 TCD50 being necessary for minimal response. The subcutaneous route was most efficient for tumor induction. A few tumors followed intrapulmonary or intraperitoneal inoculation and these appeared in the subcutaneous tissue. Litter or cage mate contact transmission of ...
Magnitude estimation of warmth: intra- and intersubject variability.

Fifty-two subjects, both male and female, 18 to 62 years old, were asked to hold a metal bar maintained at different temperatures (33° to 42° C), and to estimate the magnitude of the resulting thermal sensation. On the average, the estimates were linearly related to the stimulus temperature, although most individual subjects either under- or overestimated middle-range values. Intersubject variability, which was twice as large as intrasubject variability, could not be accounted for by gender, age, or body-temperature differences.
Resistance of Bunch Bean Varieties to the Potato Leafhopper and Relationship Between Resistance and Chemical Articles Control

Twenty-eight varieties of bunch beans were evaluated for resistance to the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris). Highly significant differences occurred among varieties in damage scores and nymphal counts. Least damaged varieties were Corneli 14, C-14, Top Most, Green Cluster, Topcrop, Pearlgreen, and Tenderpod. The most damaged varieties were State, Black Valentine, Extender, Earliwax, White Half-Runner, Harvester, Tenderlong 15, and Mountaineer. Damage scores and insect counts had a highly significant positive correlation. There was a linear relationship in damage scores between varieties untreated and treated with carbaryl. The slope of the regression line (b = 0.5497) indicates treatment offered about 50% damage reduction regardless of the measure of susceptibility.
Abstract LB-A19: Ceramide-Rubusoside, an Ultrasmall Nanomicells Effectively Restores p53 Expression in the Missense Mutant Cancer Cells

Mutation of tumor suppressor p53, which exhibits oncogenic gain-of-function (GOF) and promotes tumor progression, emerges as a therapeutic target for approximately 50% of all cancer cases. However, it is still unclear whether it is possible to restore GOF of p53 mutants without heterotetramer effect, as this often eliminates the efficacy of current approaches used to restore p53 function in p53 mutant cancers. Ceramide, an active sphingolipid metabolite, has pro-apoptotic effects on cancer cells but the hydrophobicity it has limits to develop ceramide as therapeutic agents. Here, we report that the ceramide-rubusoside (Cer-RUB), an ultrasmall nanomicelles enhances the bioavailability of C6-ceramide in vivo and restores wild-type p53 expression and its function in tumor suppression. We found that Cer-RUB nanomicelles enhanced the aqueous solubility of ceramide by 2,000-folds (2 mg/ml vs. Citation Format: Yong-Yu Liu, Zhijun Liu, Sachin K. Khiste, Salman B. Hosain. Ceramide-Rubusoside, an Ultrasmall Nanomicells Effectively Restores p53 Expression in the Missense Mutant Cancer Cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr LB-A19.
Contemplation in Education

In recent years the connection between contemplation and learning has become increasingly appreciated, and contemplative practices are finding their way into many secular educational settings from kindergarten, elementary and high schools, to community colleges, universities, and professional schools. Starting from the Western philosophical tradition, I explore the relationship between contemplation and knowing with a special emphasis on cognitive and affective development. The role of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society in the post-secondary contemplative education context is described and the principles of contemplative course design are discussed. I also identify the need for a deeper theoretical understanding of contemplative pedagogy and its particular contribution to education.
Backlash analysis on the harmonic wave gear transmission under extremity environment

The harmonic wave gear transmission that works under extremity environment of lunar exploration,its meshing backlash would certainly be affected by this extremity environment,yet the magnitude of meshing backlash is also one of the important indexes that affecting the working performance of harmonic wave gear transmission.On the basis of heat transfer and heat equilibrium theories,the temperature of gear meshing area was imitated by the use of ANSYS simulation software.Based on the thought of "backlash control" the curve of backlash that varies along with the variation of(rotation angle of the non-distortion end of flexible wheel when the wave generator was fixed)was calculated,thus obtained the minimum backlash while the gear is at work.Through carrying out analysis on multiple groups of parameters the law of minimum backlash that varies along with environmental temperature was obtained.
Surface Correspondence and Discrete Harmony Triggers

Correspondence relations among segments in an output, known as surface correspondence, provide a means for enforcing (dis)agreement among segments (Hansson 2001, Rose & Walker 2004, Bennett 2013). This paper examines implications of partially overlapping harmony patterns for the formal properties of surface correspondence. A novel and unwanted typological prediction of transitive surface correspondence relations with chain-adjacent evaluation of identity is identified, dubbed the Closest Correspondent Trigger Prediction. The problem is exemplified by the interaction of two overlapping vowel harmonies in the Pasiego Montanes dialect, where a target vowel agrees with different trigger segments for different features. A revised feature-restricted evaluation of identity constraints that operate over surface correspondents is proposed, where evaluation is restricted to the subset of correspondents that share a given set of features. This move merges the previous division of labor in surface correspondence theory between constraints that promote interactions among similar segments and those that enforce identity between them. The result is a theory where surface identity constraints are the prime locus of pattern-shaping and the role for constraints that drive surface correspondence is reduced. Future directions on the status of constraints that drive surface correspondence and the treatment of locality are considered.
Comparison of Health and Health Risk Factors Between Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults and Heterosexual Adults in the United States: Results From the National Health Interview Survey.

Importance Previous studies identified disparities in health and health risk factors among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults, but prior investigations have been confined to samples not representative of the US adult population or have been limited in size or geographic scope. For the first time in its long history, the 2013 and 2014 National Health Interview Survey included a question on sexual orientation, providing health information on sexual minorities from one of the nation’s leading health surveys. Objective To compare health and health risk factors between LGB adults and heterosexual adults in the United States. Design, Setting, and Participants Data from the nationally representative 2013 and 2014 National Health Interview Survey were used to compare health outcomes among lesbian (n = 525), gay (n = 624), and bisexual (n = 515) adults who were 18 years or older and their heterosexual peers (n = 67 150) using logistic regression. Main Outcomes and Measures Self-rated health, functional status, chronic conditions, psychological distress, alcohol consumption, and cigarette use. Results The study cohort comprised 68 814 participants. Their mean (SD) age was 46.8 (11.8) years, and 51.8% (38 063 of 68 814) were female. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, gay men were more likely to report severe psychological distress (odds ratio [OR], 2.82; 95% CI, 1.55-5.14), heavy drinking (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.08-3.58), and moderate smoking (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.39-2.81) than heterosexual men; bisexual men were more likely to report severe psychological distress (OR, 4.70; 95% CI, 1.77-12.52), heavy drinking (OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.22-8.16), and heavy smoking (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.08-4.10) than heterosexual men; lesbian women were more likely to report moderate psychological distress (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.02-1.76), poor or fair health (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.24-2.95), multiple chronic conditions (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.12-2.22), heavy drinking (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.54-4.50), and heavy smoking (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.36-3.88) than heterosexual women; and bisexual women were more likely to report multiple chronic conditions (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.34-3.20), severe psychological distress (OR, 3.69; 95% CI, 2.19-6.22), heavy drinking (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.20-3.59), and moderate smoking (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.05-2.44) than heterosexual women. Conclusions and Relevance This study supports prior research finding substantial health disparities for LGB adults in the United States, potentially due to the stressors that LGB people experience as a result of interpersonal and structural discrimination. In screening for health issues, clinicians should be sensitive to the needs of sexual minority patients.
Concepts of perturbation, orbital interaction, orbital mixing and orbital occupation

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the concepts of perturbation, orbital interaction, orbital mixing, and orbital occupation work at all levels of electronic structure. These qualitative concepts provide a conceptual framework in which to rationalize experimental/theoretical observations and to generate qualitative predictions. An important role of an electronic structure theory is to provide quantitative predictions. In this role theoretical predictions require developments of efficient programs for theoretical computations. Another important role of an electronic structure theory is to provide a conceptual framework in which to think and organize. In this role, the theoretical predictions need not be quantitative but should provide a bias toward correct thinking about further experimental and theoretical studies. When combined with the ideas of symmetry and overlap, the concepts of perturbation, orbital interaction, orbital mixing, and orbital occupation have been indispensable not only in understanding structure – property relationships in various chemical compounds but also in interpreting results of electronic structure calculations. These qualitative concepts work at all levels of electronic structure descriptions from one-electron theory neglecting self-consistent-field adjustments of orbitals to theories including electron correlation and to those including relativistic effects.
Sampling, Sample Moments and Sampling Distributions

Prior to this point, our study of probability theory and its implications has essentially addressed questions of deduction, being of the type: “Given a probability space, what can we deduce about the characteristics of outcomes of an experiment?” Beginning with this chapter, we turn this question around, and focus our attention on statistical inference and questions of the form: “Given characteristics associated with the outcomes of an experiment, what can we infer about the probability space?”
POSTMODERNISM VERSUS TRUTH IN MANAGEMENT THEORY

Organizational researchers live in two worlds. The first demands and rewards speculations about how to improve performance. The second demands and rewards adherence to rigorous standards of scholarship (March & Sutton, 1997, p. 698).Those of us who study organizations and are professors of management work on the front lines, so to speak, where the beliefs we have about how to improve managerial performance get passed directly on to practitioners. The question is, What right do we have to put our beliefs in a privileged position? Beliefs, by definition, are supposed to be true. According to Webster’s (1996) a belief is a conviction about the truth of some statement and/or reality of some phenomenon, especially when based on examination of evidence. Are all of our lectures based on consensually agreed upon evidentiary standards? What are these standards and who should maintain them?
The Relationship between Microscopic and Collective Properties in Gene Regulatory Network-based Morphogenetic Systems

Gene regulatory network (GRN)-based morphogenetic systems have recently attracted an increasing attention in artificial life and morphogenetic engineering research. However, the relationship between microscopic properties of intracellular GRNs and collective properties of morphogenetic systems has not been fully explored yet. Thus, we propose a new GRN-based framework to elucidate how critical dynamics of GRNs in individual cells affect cell fates such as proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation in resulting morphogenetic systems. Our model represents an aggregation of cells, where each cell has a GRN in it. We used Kauffman's NK Boolean networks for GRNs. Specifically, we randomly assigned three cell fates to the attractors. Varying the properties of GRNs from ordered, through critical, to chaotic regimes, we observed the process that cells are aggregated. We found that the criticality of a GRN made an optimal partition of basins of attraction, which led to a maximum balance between cell fates. Based on the result, we can conclude that the criticality of a GRN is an important controller to determine the frequencies of cell fates in morphogenetic systems.
The Resurgence of the Protestant Right in the Post-Hypermasculine Developmentalism Era

Chapter 1 discusses the resurgence of the Protestant Right as a unified social and political force in the context of post-hypermasculine developmentalism that signals both the “after” and the “aftermath” of hypermasculine developmentalism. Hypermasculine developmentalism characterized not only the “miraculous” economic growth but also the explosive expansion of Korean Protestant Christianity from the 1960s until the late 1980s. The resurfaced Protestant Right has, wittingly or unwittingly, engaged hegemonic masculinity by redefining, reasserting, or reaffirming it. By linking the contested hegemonic masculinity with three notable phenomena—Father School, anti-LGBT movement, and Islamophobia—this chapter demonstrates how deeply the Protestant Right is invested in maintaining kyriarchal church and other social institutions that operate based on gender binarism and gender hierarchy in relation to other modalities of power, such as class, race, ethnicity, and sexuality.
Indian students learning to read English: an analysis using the simple view of reading

The simple view of reading hypothesises that reading comprehension is predicted by decoding and language abilities. In this study, 257 fifth-grade English-language learners (Ells) in south-central India were assessed on reading and language measures. Using a model of the simple view, we fit the data using path analysis to determine the extent to which it predicts reading comprehension. Results show that the effect of listening vocabulary on reading comprehension is mediated by listening comprehension, while the effect of word reading fluency on reading comprehension is mediated by passage reading fluency. The final path model explains 33.8% of the variance in reading comprehension. Results are discussed in relation to previous studies.
Graphene-enabled electron microscopy and correlated super-resolution microscopy of wet cells

The application of electron microscopy to hydrated biological samples has been limited by high-vacuum operating conditions. Traditional methods utilize harsh and laborious sample dehydration procedures, often leading to structural artefacts and creating difficulties for correlating results with high-resolution fluorescence microscopy. Here, we utilize graphene, a single-atom-thick carbon meshwork, as the thinnest possible impermeable and conductive membrane to protect animal cells from vacuum, thus enabling high-resolution electron microscopy of wet and untreated whole cells with exceptional ease. Our approach further allows for facile correlative super-resolution and electron microscopy of wet cells directly on the culturing substrate. In particular, individual cytoskeletal actin filaments are resolved in hydrated samples through electron microscopy and well correlated with super-resolution results.
Language for Specific Purposes Testing: A Historical Review

Language for specific purposes (LSP) has a long history in the language testing literature. An outgrowth of the communicative language movement of the 1970s, LSP testing arose out of the practical need to assess individuals’ abilities to perform specific tasks in academic and professional settings. This historical review traces the evolution of LSP testing in the language testing literature, focusing specifically on theory and research in two key areas: (a) authenticity and (b) the interaction between language knowledge and background knowledge. The review then turns to how Douglas (2000), in the most comprehensive treatment of LSP testing to date, incorporates insights from these two lines of work into his conceptualization. Throughout the review, tensions and debates emerging from the literature are discussed. The final section addresses the uncertain future of LSP in the language testing landscape.
Lower limit on the axigluon mass from Upsilon decay.

Consideration of the decay UPSILON into gluon plus axigluon, in a chiral color theory, places a lower bound on the axigluon mass of at least 9 GeV. The corresponding toponium decay will give a better mass bound on (or confirmation of) a light axigluon.
Stability analysis of a multilevel quasidiffusion method for thermal radiative transfer problems

Abstract In this paper we analyze a multilevel quasidiffusion (QD) method for solving time-dependent multigroup nonlinear radiative transfer problems which describe interaction of photons with matter. The multilevel method is formulated by means of the high-order radiative transfer equation and a set of low-order moment equations. The fully implicit scheme is used to discretize equations in time. The stability analysis is applied to the method in semi-continuous and discretized forms. To perform Fourier analysis, the system of equations of the multilevel method is linearized about an equilibrium solution. The effects of discretization with respect to different independent variables are studied. The multilevel method is shown to be stable and fast converging. We also consider a version of the method in which time evolution in the radiative transfer equation is treated by means of the α-approximation. The Fleck–Cummings test problem is used to demonstrate performance of the multilevel QD method and study its iterative stability.
Pykaldi: A Python Wrapper for Kaldi

We present PyKaldi, a free and open-source Python wrapper for the widely-used Kaldi speech recognition toolkit. PyKaldi is more than a collection of Python bindings into Kaldi libraries. It is an extensible scripting layer that allows users to work with Kaldi and OpenFst types interactively in Python. It tightly integrates Kaldi vector and matrix types with NumPy arrays. We believe Py Kaldi will significantly improve the user experience and simplify the integration of Kaldi into Python workflows. PyKaldi comes with extensive documentation and tests. It is released under the Apache License v2.0 with support for both Python 2.7 and 3.5=.
1H, 13C, and 15N resonance assignments of N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase (AmiC) N-terminal domain (NTD) from Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Gonorrhea infections are becoming more difficult to treat due to the prevalence of strains exhibiting resistance to antibiotics and new therapeutic approaches are needed. N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase (AmiC) from Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a hydrolase that functions during cell division by cleaving the bond between the N-acetylmuramyl and l-alanine moieties of peptidoglycan. Inhibiting this enzyme offers the prospect of restoring the efficacy of existing antibiotics as treatments against N. gonorrhoeae. Of its two domains, the C-terminal domain catalyses the hydrolysis reaction and the N-terminal domain (NTD) is believed to target AmiC to its peptidoglycan substrate. Here, we report the 1H, 13C, and 15N resonance assignments of a 131 amino acid NTD construct of AmiC by heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. The assignments represent the first for N. gonorrhoeae AmiC-NTD, laying the groundwork for detailed examination of its structure and dynamics, and providing a platform for new drug discovery efforts to address antimicrobial-resistant N. gonorrhoeae.