cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production and analysis of a Bacillus subtilis biofilm comprised of vegetative cells and spores using a modified colony biofilm model

Abstract Bacillus subtilis is a spore-forming soil bacterium that is capable of producing robust biofilms. Sporulation can occur in B. subtilis biofilms and it is possible that the spores embedded in the protective matrix could present a significant challenge to disinfecting agents or processes. This article describes a method for the growth and quantification of a reproducible B. subtilis ATCC 35021 biofilm comprised of vegetative cells and spores using a modified colony biofilm model. In this method, membranes were inoculated and incubated for a total of 8 days to promote biofilm formation and subsequent sporulation within the biofilm. Representative samples were taken over the course of the incubation period to evaluate the biofilms using enumerative, microscopic, and spectrometric methods. At various time points, the total numbers of cells and spores were quantified. A Congo red agar (CRA) method was utilized to detect the TasA matrix protein , a primary component of the B. subtilis biofilm matrix. The presence of TasA was also confirmed using mass spectrometry . The biofilm morphologies were correlated to the enumeration data with a variety of correlative imaging techniques : confocal microscopy , scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At the end of the incubation period, the biofilm contained >7 logs total colony forming units with spores comprising approximately 10% of the biofilm. The biofilm generated using this method allows researchers to use a new, more robust challenge for efficacy testing of chemical and physical antimicrobial treatments such as antibiotics, disinfectants, or heat.
4.5 – Balance and Control of Movement

This chapter describes how recruitment of which motor neurons with what frequency is the basis of neural control of movement. The lower motor neurons are arranged topologically within the cord, according to myotome and topologically arranged in the ventral horn. The spinal reflexes form a base upon which the motor cortex triggers movement. The somatotopic organization of the motor cortex is described. How motor tasks are initiated, refined and executed is described in terms of the premotor cortex, supplementary motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, and sensory association area. Lesions of these produce apraxia or neglect syndromes. The role of the basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, putamen, internal globus pallidus and external globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra) is discussed, in particular with regard to Parkinsonism. The role of the cerebellum is described. How rotational acceleration and gravity is assessed by hair cells in the ampullary crests of the semicircular canals of the inner ear and in the utricle and saccule is described.
Gender-Typing of Children’s Toys: Causes, Consequences, and Correlates

Gender differences in children’s toy interests and play behaviors are large and may lead to gender differentiation of physical, cognitive, and social development among children. In this Special Issue, we gather together cutting-edge research on the factors that affect gender differences in children’s toy interests, how subtle gender-related messages affect children’s performance and behaviors, and how adults create these gender-related messages and affect children’s interests. We illustrate themes found in the current literature, but also comment on issues that need to be addressed by future research. We also identify points of intervention in which stereotypes about toys and gender differentiated play behaviors and toy interests can be reduced in an effort to promote greater diversity of children’s play.
The Couples Therapy Companion: A Cognitive Behavior Workbook

In this chapter, we will discuss how we use REBT to treat couples—whether they be in love but experiencing conflict, have drifted apart and wish to rekindle their connection, or are at a crisis point where the survival of the relationship is at stake.
Abstract 148: Differences Between Participants and Nonparticipants in a Survey of Community Patients with Heart Failure

Background: Patient reported measures are fundamental to patient centered research and are often collected by questionnaires. Low participation can compromise the validity of the results; transpare...
Surgical Therapies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

For early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with limited tumor spread, practice guidelines recommend surgical therapies, i.e., resection and/or transplantation, which yield substantial survival benefit to the patients. Impaired liver function due to underlying chronic liver disease is a major limiting factor for hepatic resection. Several methods such as portal vein embolization and ALPPS procedure have been developed to increase hepatic functional reserve and expand applicability of resection. Recent advance in robotic engineering technology has allowed to develop minimally invasive laparoscopic resection tailored for each patient’s tumor characteristics. Adjuvant therapy to prevent postsurgical HCC recurrence is an unmet need. Precise prediction of individual recurrence risk by clinical parameters and/or biomarkers will enable personalized preventive intervention designed toward specific molecular targets. Liver transplantation offers survival benefit comparable to resection for carefully selected patients who meet eligibility criteria based on the extent of tumor spread (Milan criteria). Several attempts have been made to expand the indication for transplantation based on refined individual prognostic prediction (UCSF and Metroticket criteria). These evolving techniques and approaches will enable personalized surgical care of the patients for improved clinical outcomes.
The Reliability and Accuracy of Palpation, Radiography, and Sonography for the Detection of Keel Bone Damage

Palpation is the most popular method of measuring keel bone damage on live birds, although it has been criticized for being subjective and inaccurate. The goals of this study were to examine intra- and inter-rater reliability when trained with feedback of accuracy, as well as determine the accuracy of portable radiography and sonography. Four evaluators palpated 50 103-week old Lohmann LSL-lite hens immediately following euthanasia. Of those birds, 34 were then radiographed, sonographed, and all 50 were re-palpated. Lastly, the keels were dissected and scored. The presence of deviations (DEV), fractures (FR), and tip fractures (TFR) was scored for each method. Reliability of palpation was analyzed using Cronbach's Alpha (intra) and Fleiss' Kappa (inter) tests. Radiography and Sonography scores were further compared with dissection scores to determine sensitivity and specificity. Initial inter-observer reliability was 0.39 DEV, 0.53 FR, and 0.12 TFR, with similar scores for the second round of palpation. Scores for intra-observer reliability ranged from 0.58-0.79 DEV, 0.66-0.90 FR, and 0.37-0.87 TFR. A high prevalence of TFR, but low assessor agreement, warrants the development of specialized training for the palpation of this area. Both radiography and sonography showed relatively high sensitivity for FR and TFR, but low for DEV. On the other hand, specificity was generally high across all damage types. Even with feedback, palpation reliability was poor. However, portable radiography and sonography show promise for detecting keel fractures.
HIV-Negative Cryptococcal Meningoencephalitis Results in a Persistent Frontal-Subcortical Syndrome.

Twenty-seven previously healthy (of 36 consecutive eligible patients), HIV-negative cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM) patients underwent comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation during the late post-treatment period (1.3–4 years post diagnosis), assessing attention, language, learning, memory, visuospatial, executive function, information processing, psychomotor functioning, as well as mood symptoms. Seven of eight domains (all except attention) showed increased percentages of CM patients scoring in the less than 16th percentile range compared to standardized normative test averages, adjusted for education level and age. Comparison with a matched archival dataset of mild cognitive impairment/Alzheimer’s disease patients showed that CM patients exhibited relative deficits in psychomotor and executive function with fewer deficits in memory and learning, consistent with a frontal-subcortical syndrome. MRI evaluation at the time of testing demonstrated an association of lower neuropsychological functioning with ventriculomegaly. These studies suggest that CM should be included in the list of treatable causes of dementia in neurological work ups. Future studies are needed to identify diagnostic and treatment regimens that may enhance neurological function after therapy.
88 – Equations Solvable for y

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses first-order ordinary differential equations that can be explicitly solved for y. These equations are of the form y = f(x, y'). Equations of the form y = f(x, y') can be solved by finding a second equation involving x, y and y', and then eliminating the y' term between the two equations. The chapter considers an equation of the form y = f(x, dy/dx). Then p = dy/dx is defined so that y = f(x, dy/dx) may be written as y = f(x, p). The equation is then differentiated with respect to x, to obtain dy/dx = Φ(x, p, dp/dx) or p = Φ(x, p, dp/dx) for some function Φ. Now the ordinary differential equation p = Φ(x, p, dp/dx), for p = p(x), may sometimes be integrated to obtain F(x,p;C) = 0.
Place Matters: Small Business Financial Health in Urban Communities

While many researchers have observed overall heterogeneity in the small business sector, existing data sources provide limited information about community-level differences in small business financial outcomes. In this report, we use de-identified transaction data from business deposit accounts to identify small business financial outcomes in ZIP codes across 25 U.S. metropolitan areas. While the majority of small businesses were profitable, many had limited cash liquidity. Moreover, community-level differences in small business profitability and cash liquidity were persistent from 2013 to 2017. We also found that small business cash liquidity and profitability were correlated with other community-level indicators. Small businesses held more cash and were more profitable in communities with higher home values, higher shares of college-graduates, and smaller shares of non-White residents. Finally, we found that larger high-tech and other professional services firms were less prevalent in communities where small businesses had limited profitability or cash liquidity. These community-level differences suggest that place-based small business economic development programs may contribute to broad-based economic growth, that policies that address household financial wealth and education might also benefit small businesses, that programs could be targeted to the needs of small businesses most prevalent in majority Black and Hispanic communities, and that both high-tech and lower-tech firms can serve as anchor institutions in supporting community economic development.
Christmas Thoughts about Business Education

Ebenezer Scrooge lived to be redeemed. And so we might hope it will be for a business education today that conveys many useful values and practices, but no good. I argue that business education today leaves students unprepared for a life in business because it has no moral center and thus has no basis to judge the good of business values and practices. In a word, business education lacks an idea of the supreme good of man - a summum bonum. With the help of Charles Dickens, I consider the lessons of Christmas to suggest how business education can be redeemed in the good. In the end I find that these are the lessons of the social teachings of the Church.
Endometrial Gap Junction Expression - Early Indicators of Endometriosis and Integral to Invasiveness

Endometriosis is an invasive disease, and a leading cause of pain, infertility and disability among women, with an incidence 10 fold that of cancer. A more complete understanding of disease pathogenesis is essential for the development of non-surgical diagnostic assays and non-hormonal therapeutics. Avoidance of immune clearance and implantation of endometrial tissue on peritoneal surfaces are features of endometriosis lesion formation that overlap with cancer metastasis. Connexins, and the gap junctions they form, have been implicated in cancer progression, and may be associated endometriosis pathophysiology. Single cell transcriptomic profiling of endometrial epithelial and stromal cells from women with endometriosis reveals a striking and progressive shift in expression of connexins and related regulatory and junctional genes. We demonstrate that gap junction coupling between endometrial cells and the peritoneal mesothelium is dramatically induced, specifically in endometriosis patients, and is required for invasion by inducing breakdown of the mesothelial barrier function.
Restoration of Afferent Arteriolar Autoregulatory Behavior in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rat Kidneys

Renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) leads to renal microvascular dysfunction manifested by impaired afferent arteriolar autoregulatory efficiency. Acute administration of scavengers of reactive oxygen ...
“MLK 50: Where Do We Go From Here?

As the nation pauses to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, it is imperative that we study the epic civil rights history of Memphis which preceded this dreadful event, especially in the legal academy. Therapeutic Jurisprudence (TJ), with its focus on laws, legal processes, and legal actors, and the extent to which they can be therapeutic or antitherapeutic, is a fitting academic vantage point. The TJ repertoire of principles and techniques and the “genius loci,” a spirit of time and place which comes from the field of historic preservation, are teaching rubrics with which to assist law students to reflect upon the tightrope which Dr. King walked in 1968 Memphis and to prepare them for modern day civil rights challenges. Dr. King’s soul remains in Memphis. According to law professor John Nivala, “[T]he places where we work and live have a spirit which enlivens our present by reminding us of our past and anticipating our future.” The places where law students walk and study have a past and future too, none more venerable than the Downtown Memphis Corridor, where civil rights battles were fought and won, and where Dr. King died.
Cilia take the egg on a magic carpet ride.

A critical step in fertilization of eutherian mammals is the “pickup” of oocytes (eggs) by the oviduct (fallopian tube) from the surface of the ovary. In the ovary, each oocyte matures within a follicle, in which it is surrounded by supportive granulosa cells. As the time of ovulation nears, the granulosa cells close to the oocyte transform into cumulus cells, which begin secreting a hydrated elastic extracellular matrix (1). At ovulation, the oocyte plus its cumulus cells and their matrix—the cumulus–oocyte complex (COC)—is released from the ovary and must be pulled into the oviduct, vaulting over a gap between the surface of the ovary and the open end of the oviduct, the infundibulum. Failure of COC pickup can lead to failure of sperm to fertilize the oocyte or, worse, to ectopic implantation of an embryo outside of the uterus. In PNAS, Yuan et al. (2) demonstrate that the carpet of tiny motile cilia that coats the lining of the infundibulum is crucial to successful oocyte pickup and transport into the oviduct. Yuan et al. (2) created a strain of female mice whose oviducts were largely devoid of cilia. They did this by simultaneously knocking out two clusters of microRNAs (miRs) that, together, are necessary to generate cilia on the epithelial cells of the oviduct; tissue/time-targeted knockout narrowed down the effects of the miRs to the adult oviduct epithelium. Knockout females were infertile, even though they produced normal amounts of oocytes and reproductive hormones. Their infertility resulted, instead, from a failure of oocyte pickup: Yuan et al. (2) observed that oocytes did not enter the oviducts of the knockout mice but instead accumulated in the bursal cavity outside of the oviduct after they had been released from the ovary. Although some knockout female mice retained a reduced number of motile cilia … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: sss7{at}cornell.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Dust in Protoplanetary Environments

The majority of ordinary matter in the universe (99.99%) is in a plasma state with a considerable fraction of this including dust. During planet formation within circumstellar disks, the manner in which this dust (which can be charged) coagulates is a critical step in the process, particularly in the growth of solids from the sub-millimeter to meter scales. Dust coatings, known as fine-grained rims (FGRs), have been observed on these bodies and hypothesized to form from the accretion of nebular dust onto chondrules. FGRs are therefore a key element in the formation of the chondrite parent bodies and provide insight into their collisional history. However, the mechanical evolution of FGRs remains poorly understood.
Another case of postabortal clostridium perfringens infection

Abstract A case of Clostridium welchii infection following abortion, treated with large doses of antitoxin and penicillin, has been reported.
Understanding parameter sensitivity and its management implications in watershed-scale water quality modeling

[1] Because of uncertainty and variability in input parameter values, watershed-scale water quality modeling can result in significant output uncertainty. Quantifying this uncertainty is very important for policy makers and stakeholders who rely on the output of these models for watershed management. Given the large number of parameters in these complex models, a preliminary sensitivity analysis is needed before the uncertainty analysis. A few sensitivity studies have been conducted for watershed models, but efficiently selecting critical parameters for the uncertainty analysis remains an issue. This study aimed to (1) develop a framework for systematically conducting a preliminary sensitivity analysis for complex watershed models using generalized sensitivity analysis (GSA) as a global technique and (2) evaluate the relevance of incorporating management concerns in the preliminary sensitivity analysis and its impact on parameter selection. Although the proposed approach is valid for any complex watershed model, for this study the Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework (WARMF) model was implemented using data from the Santa Clara River in southern California. To simulate hydrology, sediment, and pesticide transport, 121 parameters are needed for a single catchment/reach combination; an efficient selection method is paramount for an uncertainty analysis. The results show that GSA can be implemented efficiently, yielding insights into model and parameter behavior. The sensitivity analysis must consider management concerns early on in the process to identify parameters and parameter values that can influence management decisions. The number of parameters that must be considered in a subsequent uncertainty analysis was significantly reduced. This study also provides guidance for future research on parameter sensitivity and uncertainty in complex watershed models.
The Adult Form of Pulmonary Hamartoma: A Reappraisal

Abstract Pulmonary hamartoma is often an incidental, asymptomatic finding on routine chest roentgenogram. It has been considered a congenital malformation since the original description by Albrecht in 1908 and has been classified into two types, a small, fibrocartilaginous mass in adults, and a cystic lobar mass in infants. The adult type is an unusual finding in patients under the age of 20 years, and a review of the experience at one large hospital shows a preponderance in the fifth and sixth decades of life, as has been found in other reported series. Although many investigators consider the so-called adult pulmonary hamartoma to be a late-appearing developmental anomaly or malformation, its histogenetic and behavioral characteristics are more similar to those of a benign acquired tumor. These factors suggest that it should be reclassified as such.
COMPARING NEIGHBORHOOD‐FOCUSED ACTIVISM AND VOLUNTEERISM: PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL‐BEING AND SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS

Does participating in neighborhood-focused activism confer different benefits than volunteering? The engagement of community members in neighborhood civic life has been identified as an important component of safe and healthy communities. Research on community engagement has encompassed voluntary associations, volunteering, as well as participation in neighborhood activism. A diverse set of research suggests that there are psychological and social benefits to community engagement, but also suggests that there are differences between forms of participation. In order to understand these differences, I examine the relationship of both volunteerism and neighborhood activism to psychosocial outcomes using survey data from a neighborhood-based sample of Chicago residents (n=3105). Findings suggest that activism is different-activists have higher neighborhood and personal mastery than those who only volunteer. Participation in neighborhood activism is also associated with an increased likelihood of contact with local officials and social ties in the neighborhood.
Dynamical Evolution of a Model Planetary Nebula

The gas-dynamical equations for conservation of mass, momentum and energy, the ionization equation, and the equation of transfer for the ionizing radiation have been solved in a manner which approximates conditions in planetary nebulae. The ionized and neutral gas are assumed to heat and cool according to a linearized rate propor-tional to $$ \frac{3}{2}k(T-{T_{eq}}),where{T_{eq}}({H_{II}})={10^4}{}^\circ Kand{T_{eq}}({H_I})=500{}^\circ K. $$
An analysis of the atropine test for placental transfer in 28 normal gravidas

Abstract The reaction of the fetal heart to maternally injected atropine from the fifth month of pregnancy on, is remarkably similar to that of the adult heart. When the reaction is clear-cut, there is an increase in rate and a decrease in the variability of the instantaneous rate. The reaction time is not influenced by the duration of pregnancy. Using several differently contrived end points to delineate the fetal reaction time, records from 26 of 28 normal gravidas could be read. Although the computer derived plots were readable in no greater percentage of cases than the analog tracings, they were far more definitive and easier to interpret. Analysis of the records of gravidas whose fetuses showed no readable response indicates that the trouble may lie in the concentration and speed of administration of the test dose of atropine.
Model for a strongly correlated insulator: FeSi

Prompted by suggestions that FeSi may be a strongly correlated insulator, somewhat analogous to the Kondo insulators, we study the properties of a two-band Hubbard model Hamiltonian in the infinite-dimensional limit. By a calculation of the one-particle self-energy using self-consistent second-order perturbation theory we are able to calculate the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility and of angle-resolved photoemission spectra. The results are in fair agreement with experimental data on FeSi.
Design optimization of an energy harvesting RF-DC conversion circuit operating at 2.45GHz

In this paper, the optimization process of an RF-DC conversion circuit for energy harvesting from 2.45 GHz indoor Wi-Fi signals is discussed. The estimated power from a Wi-Fi router is about 0dBm, and it is expected to turn on an off-the-shelf-low-temperature sensor which has input impedance of 10kOhm. In this research, a series type RF-DC conversion circuit with a Schottky diode, SMS7630 from Skyworks is adopted. To specify the potential maximum RF-DC conversion efficiency, the input power, the load and matching circuit are optimized. As a proof-of-concept, the circuit is investigated and optimized with the relationship between the input power of 9dBm and load resistance of 10kOhm. As a result, the highest conversion efficiency of 72.7% and the maximum output voltage of 1.53V are achieved.
Prostaglandin activity and sulcular flow in carrageenan‐injected gingiva of the dog

Intragingival injection of one percent carrageenan solution in anesthetized dogs caused an increase in prostaglandin-like activity in the injected gingiva and a two phase increase in sulcular flow. The first phase was not inhibited by either the prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor indomethacin or the antihistamine pyrilamine. The second phase of increased flow, which was temporally correlated with increased gingival prostaglandin-like activity, was inhibited by indomethacin, but not by pyrilamine. These results suggest that the increase in gingival sulcular flow in this model of inflammation may be, at least in part, related to increased prostaglandin concentrations.
A global finite-element shallow-water model supporting continuous and discontinuous elements

Abstract. This paper presents a novel nodal finite-element method for either continuous and discontinuous elements, as applied to the 2-D shallow-water equations on the cubed sphere. The cornerstone of this method is the construction of a robust derivative operator that can be applied to compute discrete derivatives even over a discontinuous function space. A key advantage of the robust derivative is that it can be applied to partial differential equations in either a conservative or a non-conservative form. However, it is also shown that discontinuous penalization is required to recover the correct order of accuracy for discontinuous elements. Two versions with discontinuous elements are examined, using either the g1 and g2 flux correction function for distribution of boundary fluxes and penalty across nodal points. Scalar and vector hyperviscosity (HV) operators valid for both continuous and discontinuous elements are also derived for stabilization and removal of grid-scale noise. This method is validated using four standard shallow-water test cases, including geostrophically balanced flow, a mountain-induced Rossby wave train, the Rossby–Haurwitz wave and a barotropic instability. The results show that although the discontinuous basis requires a smaller time step size than that required for continuous elements, the method exhibits better stability and accuracy properties in the absence of hyperviscosity.
SU-E-T-631: Commissioning and Comprehensive Evaluation of the ArcCHECK Cylindrical Diode Array for VMAT QA

Purpose: Commissioning and comprehensive evaluation of ArcCHECK phantom for dosimetry of VMAT QA, using 6MV photon beam with and without the flattening filter. Methods: ArcCHECK was evaluated for response dependency on linac dose rate, instantaneous dose rate, radiation field size, beam angle and couch insertion. Scatter dose characterization, consistency and symmetry of response, dosimetric accuracy of fixed aperture arcs and clinical VMAT plans were investigated. Measurements were done using TrueBeam™ STx accelerator (Console version 1.6) with a 6 MV beam with and without flattening filter. Reference dose-grids were calculated using Eclipse TPS Analytical Anisotropic Algorithm (AAA version 10.0.39). Planned doses were calculated using symmetric 2mm 3D dose grids with 4 degree angular resolution defaulted to each control point. Gamma evaluations were performed in absolute dose mode, with default normalization to maximum dose in the curved plane and a low dose threshold of 10% to restrict the analysis to clinically relevant areas. Global and local gamma indices at 3mm/3% and 2mm/2% level were computed using SNC software (version 6.0). Results: Results of gamma analysis demonstrated an overall agreement between ArcCHECK measured and TPS calculated reference doses. Field size dependency was within 0.5% of the reference. Dose-rate based dependency was well within 1% of the TPS reference and the angular dependency was ±3% of the reference, as tested for BEV angles. At the level of 3%/3mm, narrow and wide open arcs as well as clinical VMAT cases demonstrated high level of dosimetry accuracy in global gamma passing rates for both 6X and 6F beams. At the level of 2%/2mm two VMAT cases involving the narrow heavily modulated arcs demonstrated lower passing rates. Conclusion: ArcCHECK phantom with latest software and hardware upgrades is suitable for VMAT QA. For higher sensitivity of 2%/2mm gamma analysis, we intend to use it as one of the VMAT QA evaluation metrics.
Romantic Experience and Psychosocial Adjustment in Middle Adolescence

Concurrent and longitudinal relations between the amount of romantic experience and psychosocial adjustment were examined in a 1-year study of a community based sample of 200 tenth graders. Adolescents, parents, and friends completed measures of psychosocial adjustment. The amount of romantic experience was associated with higher reports of social acceptance, friendship competence, and romantic competence; at the same time, romantic experience also was associated with greater substance use, more delinquent behavior, and more frequent genital sexual behavior. The amount of romantic experience predicted increased substance use and genital sexual behavior over a 1-year period, whereas social acceptance predicted increased romantic experience. These relations with romantic experience were significant even when genital sexual behavior and social acceptance were taken into account, underscoring the unique contribution of romantic experiences.
Actinide tetracyanoplatinates: synthesis and structural characterization with uncharacteristic Th–NC coordination and thorium fluorescence

Here, we report the synthesis of three novel actinide tetracyanoplatinates (AnTCP, where An = Th, UO2 unit and TCP = [Pt(CN)4]2−) along with their unique fluorescence properties and structural characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction.
Discrete Welding on Riemann Surfaces

The process of conformal welding had been investigated for nearly 50 years. In recent years welding has drawn increased interest with applications ranging from image recognition to string theory. We describe a discrete form of conformal welding for Riemann surfaces using circle packings and show how it can be used to approximate a continuous welding.
Chiloscyllium plagiosum low-density lipoprotein receptor: Evolutionary conservation of five different functional domains

All five functional domains of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor were assembled in their modern form more than 450 million years ago, as revealed from the cloning and sequencing of an LDL receptor cDNA fromChiloscyllium plagiosum (banded cat shark). The shark LDL receptor has the same overall architecture as the mammalian and amphibian counterparts. Each of the seven cysteine-rich repeats in the ligand binding domain resembles its counterpart in the human LDL receptor more than it does the other repeats in the shark receptor as suggested by the presence of unique “signature” sequences, indicating that these repeats had already acquired their independent structures by the time of shark development. Furthermore, amino acid sequences of the entire ligand binding domain of shark LDL receptor show 35% identity over a stretch of 294 residues with aLymnaea stagnalis G-protein-linked receptor (LSGLR). The region of homology between these unrelated proteins includes conservation of most of the unique characteristics of the cysteine-rich repeats of LDL receptor at the expected positions in LSGLR. The results presented are consistent with the hypothesis that all seven repeats in the ligand binding domain of LDL receptor may have been lifted directly from an ancestral gene instead of being evolutionary duplications of a single repeat recruited by the primitive LDL receptor from another gene.
Enamel hypoplasia in the deciduous teeth of early Miocene catarrhines: evidence of perinatal physiological stress.

Abstract Enamel hypoplasia (EH) is a deficiency in enamel thickness due to physiological insults that compromise ameloblast function during the secretory phase of amelogenesis. The prevalence of EH in the deciduous teeth of nonhuman primates is largely unknown. One exception is the recent discovery of EH in the deciduous teeth of extant great apes which exhibit significant differences in prevalence between genera (Lukacs, 1999 a, 2000 a, Am. J. phys. Anthrop.110, 351–363). EH in deciduous teeth of other primates, living and fossil, remain undocumented. This communication describes a “plane form'’ type of EH known as localized hypoplasia of primary canines (LHPC) (Skinner, 1986 a,Am. J. phys. Anthrop.69 , 59–69) in early Miocene catarrhines from Kenya. Specimens were examined macroscopically, with a 10× hand lens and with a variable power (10–30×) binocular microscope. Federation Dentaire International (FDI)/Defects of Dental Enamel (DDE) standards were employed in recognition and recording of enamel defects (Federation Dentaire International, 1982, Int. Dent. J.32, 159–167; Clarkson, 1989, Adv. Dental Res.3, 104–109). Size, shape and location of defects were measured and recorded on an outline drawing of the tooth crown. The Kenya National Museum study sample includes six genera of early Miocene catarrhines (n=66 specimens, with n=80 teeth). Seven deciduous teeth were afflicted with EH, yielding an overall prevalence of 8·75%. Two taxa, Kalepithecus (n=1 deciduous canine) and Proconsul (n=3 deciduous canines), were affected with LHPC. Expression of LHPC in fossil catarrhines is consistent with the expression of EH observed in skeletal samples of extant great apes. This report establishes an ∼17–23 Ma antiquity for EH among early catarrhines and suggests that the neonatal stage of ontogenetic development was sufficiently stressful physiologically to produce disruption in amelogenesis. These physiological stresses impacted neonates of fossil taxa with a wide range of adult body sizes, from large-bodied Proconsul major (∼75 kg) to one of the smaller-bodied catarrhines, Kalepithecus (∼5 kg).
Stakeholder Theory, Meet Communications Theory: Media Systems Dependency and Community Infrastructure Theory, with an Application to California’s Cannabis/Marijuana Industry

The object of this article is to demonstrate how stakeholder theory can be enlarged and enhanced by two communications theories, media systems dependency (MSD) and community infrastructure theory (CIT). The stakeholder perspective is often represented by a diagram in which a firm is centrally positioned, surrounded by stakeholders. However, relationships between stakeholders are given relatively little attention, the various groups theoretically encompassed by the term “community” remain relatively undefined, and other marginalized stakeholders often go unrecognized. MSD and CIT can enable us to conceptualize the stakeholder model more clearly, to develop research projects that more adequately capture the dynamic quality of stakeholder relationships, to tailor management strategies to particular stakeholder characteristics, and to understand corporate social responsibility messages. As an example, stakeholder theory, combined with MSD and CIT, is applied to California’s cannabis/marijuana industry.
Financial sensitivity of alternative forestation incentives in Ecuador

Abstract Financial net present value ( NPV ) was computed for three lowland and three highland plantation species in Ecuador. The estimates of NPV were subjected to systematic sensitivity tests for each of four elements in the plantation cash flow: land costs; establishment costs; management costs; and harvest income. Sensitivity was measured in terms of NPV elasticities over two regions, six species, two site qualities, and three discount rates. The results indicated large variability in the elasticities from one case to another. This illustrates the difficulty of identifying a single form of plantation subsidy that will be universally effective.
Diatomic molecules with large angular momentum in the Born–Oppenheimer approximation

The standard Born–Oppenheimer approximation for a diatomic molecule yields an expansion in powers of for the bound state associated with a given electron energy level, a fixed vibrational quantum number n and a fixed nuclear angular momentum quantum number l. The expansion parameter is the fourth root of the ratio of the electron mass divided by the mean nuclear mass. In this paper, we present an explicit approximation whose errors are uniformly bounded by C5 whenever the nuclear angular momentum quantum number satisfies l < κ−3/2. We apply our approximation to the H+2 and HD+ ions and compare the results with published rotational–vibrational energies.
Exploring the impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on trends in exclusive breastfeeding

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) seeks to support breastfeeding initiation in maternity services. This study uses country-level data to examine the relationship between BFHI programming and trends in exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in 14 developing countries. Demographic and Health Surveys and UNICEF BFHI Reports provided EBF and BFHI data. Because country programs were initiated in different years, data points were realigned to the year that the first Baby-Friendly hospital was certified in that country. Pre-and post-implementation time periods were analyzed using fixed effects models to account for grouping of data by country, and compared to assess differences in trends. Statistically significant upward trends in EBF under two months and under six months, as assessed by whether fitted trends had slopes significantly different from 0, were observed only during the period following BFHI implementation, and not before. BFHI implementation was associated with average annual increases of 1.54 percentage points in the rate of EBF of infants under two months (p < 0.001) and 1.11-percentage points in the rate of EBF of infants under six months (p < 0.001); however, these rates were not statistically different from pre-BFHI trends. BFHI implementation was associated with a statistically significant annual increase in rates of EBF in the countries under study; however, small sample sizes may have contributed to the fact that results do not demonstrate a significant difference from pre-BFHI trends. Further research is needed to consider trends according to the percentages of Baby-Friendly facilities, percent of all births occurring in these facilities, and continued compliance with the program.
New In Vivo Evidence for Narcotic Agonistic Property of Leucine-Enkephalin

Administration of leucine-enkephalin or morphine to mice rendered dependent on morphine by pellet implantation inhibited the naloxone-precipitated abstinence syndrome. The withdrawal jumping response was inhibited by morphine or leucine-enkephalin; however, both failed to inhibit withdrawal defecation and rearing behavior. On a molar basis, leucine-enkephalin was half as potent as morphine in inhibiting the abstinence syndrome. New in vivo pharmacological evidence for narcotic agonist-like activity of leucine-enkephalin is provided.
Modeling the Impact of Cross-Pollination and Low Toxin Expression in Corn Kernels on Adaptation of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to Transgenic Insecticidal Corn

ABSTRACT We used a mathematical model with processes reflecting larval mortality resulting from feeding on cross-pollinated ears or Bt ears of corn to analyze the risk of evolution of Cry-toxin resistance in Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner). In the simulations, evolution of resistance was delayed equally well by both seed mixtures and blocks with the same proportion of refuge. Our results showed that Bt-pollen drift has little impact on the evolution of Bt resistance in O. nubilalis. However, low-toxin expression in ears of transgenic corn can reduce the durability of transgenic corn expressing single toxin, whereas durability of pyramided corn hybrids is not significantly reduced. The toxinsurvival rate of heterozygous larvae in Bt-corn ears expressing one or two proteins has more impact on evolution of Bt resistance in O. nubilalis than the parameters related to larval movement to Bt ears or the toxin-survival rate of the homozygous susceptible larvae in Bt ears. Bt resistance evolves slower when toxin morta...
State and federal compliance with the Synar Amendment: federal fiscal year 1998.

Background The Synar Amendment requires states and territories to enact a law prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors and to enforce that law in a manner that could reasonably be expected to decrease the availability of tobacco to minors. Objective To determine if the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and applicant states and territories are complying with the Synar Amendment. Data Sources Block grant applications from 59 states and territories describing activities during the federal fiscal year 1998. Measures Whether applicants had enacted a tobacco sales law without loopholes, conducted enforcement inspections, penalized violators, and conducted a valid statewide survey with violation rates below the permissible threshold, and whether DHHS actions were consistent with the statutory requirements of the Synar Amendment. Results Three applicants had laws containing loopholes, 6 failed to conduct enforcement inspections, 7 failed to prosecute violators, 2 failed to conduct a valid survey, and 10 failed to demonstrate compliance with violation rate goals. Fifteen applicants failed 1 or more criteria and 8 were ultimately penalized by DHHS. No measurable progress in reducing violation rates was reported by 30 states, with 16 reporting an increase during the previous year. Twenty-four applicants were granted delays. Conclusions States that demonstrated remarkable progress were balanced by states with worsening performance; as a whole there was no significant national progress toward reducing the availability of tobacco to youths. This failure can be attributed to inadequate resources devoted to enforcement and reliance on merchant education in lieu of bona fide law enforcement.
THE EARLY EVOLUTION OF THE SUN

Sequence of models which confirms nayashis prediction that the early contracting sun should be highly luminous and fully convective
NMR assignments of the yellow fever virus envelope protein domain III

Nearly complete backbone and sidechain resonance assignments have been obtained for the third domain, residues S288-K398, of the envelope protein from the Asibi strain of yellow fever virus using double- and triple-resonance spectroscopy.
Asset Ownership and Microloan Repayment: Examining Data from Bangladesh

Employing data for 34,255 loans made by the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) to 12,455 repeat borrowers during the 2002–6 period, this article examines the relationship between borrowers' asset holdings and microloan repayment. Estimating a series of binomial probit specifications, it finds a positive relationship between land ownership and loan repayment; however, taken collectively, ownership of non-land assets diminishes the likelihood of repayment. Influences of specific assets on repayment probabilities vary across asset types: ownership of land, corrugated tin houses, vans and rickshaws increases the likelihood of repayment, while ownership of sewing machines, televisions, radios and bicycles corresponds with a decreased repayment probability.
Mother of Bliss: Anandamayi Ma (1896-1982)

This book examines the life of =Anandamayi Ma, one of the most renowned Hindu holy women of modern times. Lisa Hallstrom paints a vivid portrait of this extraordinary woman, her ideas, and her continuing influence. In the process, the author sheds new light on important themes of Hindu religious life, including the centrality of the guru, the influence of living saints, and the apparent paradox of the worship of the divine feminine and the status of Hindu women.
Electron Energy Spectrum from Ar+-Ar and H+-Ar Collisions

Absolute differential cross sections have been measured for the ejection of electrons of various energies at 160\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} by argon ions and protons striking argon gas as a target. The observed energy spectrum consists of a number of "lines" or peaks superimposed on a continuous spectrum. The fine-structure regions occur below 20 eV and from about 120 to 220 eV for both projectiles. A number of lines are identified with auto-ionization transitions from neutral states and with Auger transitions from one- and two-vacancy states. With argon ions each peak has a "Doppler"-shifted counterpart due to electrons emitted from the moving particles. The data are compared with the Fano-Lichten electron-promotion model and with the statistical theories of Russek and of Everhart and Kessel.
Using Bayesian analysis to quantify uncertainties in the H + O2 → OH + O reaction

Abstract A stochastic Bayesian approach is applied to investigate the uncertainty in the rate coefficient of H + O 2 → OH + O ( k 1 ) using the latest shock-tube experimental data. We simultaneously calibrate all random variables using a recently developed stochastic simulation algorithm which allows for efficient sampling in the high-dimensional parameter space. We introduce the idea of “irreducible” uncertainty when considering other parameters in the system. Nine stochastic models are constructed depending on the choice of uncertainties, hydrogen concentration, gas temperature, pressure, and rate coefficients of other reactions. The sensitivity analysis of uncertainty in k 1 on these uncertainty parameters is performed. It is shown that the introduction of “irreducible” uncertainty does not always increase the uncertainty of k 1 . In addition, we observe the high sensitivity of uncertainty in k 1 to the uncertainty in the measured time-shift. Our results show the strong temperature dependence of the uncertainty in the rate coefficient.
Sources of compensation in hadronic calorimeters

Abstract Monte Carlo simulations are presented using the CALOR code system to study the design of a large hybrid hadron calorimeter system employing a warm liquid active medium (tetramethylsilane, Si(CH3)4) and uranium plates in addition to a conventional Fe/plastic system. In the system described here, the uranium provides partial compensation by suppressing the electromagnetic cascade produced by incident electrons due to sampling inefficiencies. The results of the simulations also indicate that significant compensation is achieved (given small enough saturation) due to low energy recoil protons produced in collisions with low energy (1–20 MeV) cascade and fission neutrons in the active medium. Both compensation mechanisms are important to help balance the response of a calorimeter to incident electrons and hadrons, that is, to achieve a ratio of pulse heights ( e h ≈ 1 ) which will lead to th best energy resolution.
Polyamideimide-alumina nanocomposites for high-temperatures

Metal oxide nanoparticles have been shown to improve the dielectric breakdown strength of insulating polymers. Polyamideimide is a material of practical use for high temperature insulation, and nanoparticle fillers show promise in improving the high temperature stability and dielectric breakdown strength. This work demonstrates the effect of 40–50 nm alumina nanoparticles on the improvement in AC breakdown strength of polyamideimide at elevated temperature and characterizes related electrical properties to gain insight into the mechanisms leading to this improvement. Breakdown tests were performed at temperatures up to 300 °C. The buildup and movement of space charge as a function of filler loading was measured at room temperature using pulsed electroacoustic analysis. Dielectric spectroscopy was used to measure the permittivity at temperatures up to 300 °C. In addition to improving the dielectric breakdown strength, alumina nanoparticles also improved the resistance to thermal degradation, which should allow operation of the composites at temperatures above the operating temperature of the base resin.