cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Individualism–collectivism and the role of goal orientation in organizational training

This research examines how individualism-collectivism and goal orientation impact training effectiveness through study of an internationally diverse sample of engineers who were undergoing technical training. In light of contemporary views of individualism-collectivism, we argue that collectivism will moderate the influence of learning and performance goal orientations on training by shaping the impact of one’s perceived social context on existing performance concerns and goals. Using a sample from a large multinational corporation, we examined the effects of individualism-collectivism and goal orientation on training transfer intentions, motivation to learn, and test performance. Mixed support for our hypotheses was found. Collectivists were found to exhibit higher levels of training transfer intentions and motivation to learn. However, when collectivism was combined with a performance goal orientation, its effects on training outcomes were diminished. Applications for organizations and future extensions of the present research are discussed.
Early Identification of the Gifted and Talented

Given the recognized importance of early identification of and educational intervention for the gifted and talented, the present study examined the predictive validity of the STAR (Screening Test for Academic Readiness) as well as decision-making accuracy that could be expected if the STAR were used as one screening tool in the identification process. For a sample of 74 students referred for assessment, 28 of whom were ultimately placed in gifted and talented programs and 46 of whom failed to qualify for special educational placement, the results of the regression analysis indicated that prekindergarten STAR scores significantly predicted WISC-R Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ scores obtained several years later. From a decision-making standpoint, the results indicated that a 72% accuracy rate would have resulted had later placement of students been based upon prekindergarten STAR scores alone.
Comparing Ordinary Kriging and Regression Kriging for Soil Properties in Contrasting Landscapes

Abstract The accuracy between ordinary kriging and regression kriging was compared based on the combined consideration of sample size, spatial structure, and auxiliary variables (terrain indices and electromagnetic induction surveys) for a variety of soil properties in two contrasting landscapes (agricultural vs. forested). When spatial structure could not be well captured by point-based observations (e.g., when the ratio of sample spacing over correlation range was > 0.5), or when a strong relationship existed between target soil properties and auxiliary variables (e.g., their R2 was > 0.6), regression kriging (RK) was more accurate for interpolating soil properties in both landscapes studied. Otherwise, ordinary kriging (OK) was better. Soil depth and wetness condition did not appear to affect the selection of kriging for soil moisture interpolation, because they did not significantly change the ratio of sample spacing over correlation range and the relationship with the auxiliary variables. Because of a smaller ratio of elevation change over total study area (E/A = 1.2) and multiple parent materials in the agricultural land, OK was generally more accurate in that landscape. In contrast, a larger E/A ratio of 6.8 and a single parent material led to RK being preferable in the steep-sloped forested catchment. The results from this study can be useful for selecting kriging for various soil properties and landscapes.
Comparison of varicella-zoster virus ORF47 protein kinase and casein kinase II and their substrates

ORF47, a serine/threonine protein kinase encoded by varicella-zoster virus (VZV), has often been compared to the ubiquitous cellular kinase, casein kinase II (CKII). However, no direct comparison of the two protein kinases has been carried out. Herein, we show that the ORF47 kinase was resistant to heparin, while CKII activity is profoundly inhibited by the acidic molecule in vitro. ORF47 required the presence of polyamines (aliphatic, positively-charged molecules) for in vitro activity. When polyamines were depleted from MeWo cells prior to VZV infection by pretreatment with D,L-alpha-difluoromethylornithine, VZV replication was reduced by 80%. Finally, the substrate specificity of the ORF47 kinase was defined using an in vitro assay. The ORF47 kinase phosphorylated maltose-binding protein, the mouse IgG2A heavy chain, the rabbit IgG heavy chain, casein, VZV ORF62, and VZV ORF63. The ORF47 kinase failed to phosphorylate an ORF62 truncation mutant, glutathione-S-transferase, or VZV gB. In contrast, CKII weakly phosphorylated VZV gB in vitro. By analyzing the sequences of these substrates, the minimal ORF47 consensus sequence was deduced to be the following motif: S/T-X-D/E-D/E, with a marked preference for additional acidic amino acids in the -1 and +1 position.
Validation of spectral wave model predictions using satellite altimeter data

Operational forecasts of significant wave height and period produced by the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) were compared to wave height measurements obtained by the Topography Experiment (TOPEX) altimeter data. Comparisons were made between the satellite measurements and the forecast wave heights for forecast periods of 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours. The Spectral Wave Prediction System (SWAPS) operated by NAVOCEANO consists of a coupled system which includes a third-generation spectral wave model (WAM), shallow-water wave transformation models, and a harbor response model. This paper evaluates the forecast performance of only the WAM component of SWAPS implemented at a resolution of 28 km. The areas evaluated include the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and the Arabian Gulf. The overall performance of the model is shown to be satisfactory for Navy operations.
Systems of Domination after Slavery: The Control of Land and Labor in the British West Indies after 1838

Four years after their “emancipation” in 1838, the former slaves of British Guiana protested against their conditions and their unfair treatment by the planters who sought to bind them to labor on the estates. When the planters introduced certain rules and regulations, which were intended to regulate the quality and quantity of work, and to reduce labor costs by lowering wages and abolishing customary allowances of free medical attention, housing, and provision grounds, the workers complained to the stipendiary magistrates and stopped work.
Stability of Linear Time-Invariant Systems

The stability of a single-input, single-output, singleloop, linear, time-invariant system is related to the properties of its open-loop gain. The impulse response of the open-loop system may be of the form g(t) = r + g_{a}(t) + \sum_{i=0}^{\infty} g_{i} \delta (t - t_{i}) where r is a nonnegative constant, g_{a} is integrable on [0, \infty) , and \sum_{i=0}^{\infty} |g_{i}| \infty . If the Nyquist diagram of the open-loop gain does not go through nor encircle the critical point, then the closed-loop system is inputoutput stable, in the several meanings explained in the paper.
Design of a personalized health record application to support food and exercise counseling for overweight and obese children

This paper describes the design and implementation of an interactive activity and food logging website for use by patients (obese children and teens) and their counselors at the Children's Fitness Clinic at the University of Virginia. The system, GetFit, was designed to address patient retention problems, incomplete paper logs, lack of communication between patients and counselors between sessions, and the patients' overall apathy towards participation. We used a systematic approach to develop GetFit. This lifecycle consisted of problem analysis, system design, construction, testing, and maintenance. Throughout the design process, there was an emphasis on usability testing and open communication with clients (CFC patients and counselors) in order to meet their needs.
SUPERVISED VISITATION A Profile of Providers

Surveys with 94 administrators of supervised visitation programs, 51 family court judges, and 40 administrators of child protective services agencies provide a national picture of supervised visitation services, their utility, and areas of unmet need. Although the programs are perceived to fill an important need, they struggle to survive financially, particularly those that handle family court cases. In addition, because many programs operate without adequate access to the assessment and treatment services that some families need, judges frequently want visitation supervisors to assist them in determining suitable custody and visitation arrangements, a role that supervised visitation programs do not feel is appropriate. Many different types of entities provide effective supervised visitation services; many different service formats work. Architects of new programs should fashion services that use local resources to maximum advantage.
Effect of the Pheromone-Responsive Gα and Phosphatase Proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the Subcellular Localization of the Fus3 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase

The mating-specific G(alpha) protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Gpa1, stimulates adaptation to pheromone by a mechanism independent of G(beta gamma) sequestration. Genetic evidence suggests that Gpa1 targets the Fus3 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and it has recently been shown that the two proteins interact in cells responding to pheromone. To test the possibility that Gpa1 downregulates the mating signal by affecting the localization of Fus3, we created a Fus3-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein. In vegetative cells, Fus3-GFP was found in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Pheromone stimulated a measurable increase in the ratio of nuclear to cytoplasmic Fus3-GFP. In contrast, the relative level of nuclear Fus3-GFP decreased as cells recovered from pheromone arrest and did not increase when cells adapted to chronic stimulus were challenged again. Accumulation of Fus3-GFP in the nuclei of stimulated cells was also inhibited by overexpression of either wild-type Gpa1, the E364K hyperadaptive mutant form of Gpa1, or the Msg5 dually specific phosphatase. The effects of Gpa1 and Msg5 on Fus3 are partially interdependent. In a genetic screen for adaptive defective mutants, a nonsense allele of the nucleocytoplasmic transport receptor, Kap104, was identified. Truncation of the Kap104 cargo-binding domain blocked the effect of both Gpa1(E364K) and Msg5 on Fus3-GFP localization. Based on these results, we propose that Gpa1 and Msg5 work in concert to downregulate the mating signal and that they do so by inhibiting the pheromone-induced increase of Fus3 in the nucleus. Kap104 is required for the G(alpha)/phosphatase-mediated effect on Fus3 localization.
An alternative derivation of Orlov's synthesis formula for non-uniform lines

Orlov's synthesis formula is a Fourier-type relationship between the distribution function of a non-uniform line and the input and output reflection coefficients. It is shown that Orlov's result can be derived by treating the analysis of a non-uniform line as a one-dimensional scattering problem. The transmission-line equations are first transformed into an integral equation by employing the appropriate Green's function. The approximate solution of this equation obtained by truncating the Fredholm series leads to Orlov's formula.
Expansion of the National Salt Reduction Initiative A Mathematical Model of Benefits and Risks of Population-Level Sodium Reduction

Background. The National Salt Reduction Initiative, in which food producers agree to lower sodium to levels deemed feasible for different foods, is expected to significantly reduce sodium intake if expanded to a large sector of food manufacturers. Objective. Given recent data on the relationship between sodium intake, hypertension, and associated cardiovascular disease at a population level, we sought to examine risks and benefits of the program. Design. To estimate the impact of further expanding the initiative on hypertension, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke incidence, and related mortality, given food consumption patterns across the United States, we developed and validated a stochastic microsimulation model of hypertension, MI, and stroke morbidity and mortality, using data from food producers on sodium reduction among foods, linked to 24-hour dietary recalls, blood pressure, and cardiovascular histories from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results. Expansion of the initiat...
Interaction of nuclear proteins with a positive cis-acting element of rat embryonic myosin heavy-chain promoter: identification of a new transcriptional factor

A DNA fragment of the rat embryonic myosin heavy-chain promoter (MHCemb) has been found to specifically bind a nuclear factor (NFe) present in extracts prepared from mouse C2 myoblasts, myotubes, and HeLa cells. The nucleotide sequence of the binding site (BSe) has been identified as 5'-GTGTCAGTCA-3' and was located between -93 and -84. Transient expression studies on MHCemb promoter deletion constructs in C2 myoblasts and C2 myotubes suggested that NFe is a transcriptional factor. Deletion of the NFe-binding site resulted in four- to sixfold and twofold reduction of promoter activity in C2 myotubes and C2 myoblasts, respectively. Furthermore, point mutations at the BSe not only abolished the NFe-binding activity of the MHCemb promoter but also resulted in reduction of the promoter activity to levels similar to those of the deletion constructs in C2 myotubes, myoblasts, and Hela cells (four- to sixfold). Although BSe and the binding site of the recently identified transcriptional factors AP-1 and ATF share significant homology, the results from competition binding assays indicated that NFe is different from both AP-1 and ATF.
Intrahousehold Time Allocation: The Case of Grocery Shopping

This paper analyzes the intrahousehold allocation of human resources to grocery shopping in a traditional male-female household. A constrained utility maximization model is developed from which testable hypotheses relating to the choice of a household's grocery shopper are derived. The determinants which influence the choice of a shopper (either male, female, or both) are examined via a qualitative choice model. Results indicate that the choice of a shopper is explicable on economic grounds. Relative costs of shopping in terms of the foregone value of time and the efficiency of a shopper in searching for a lower price were found to be important determinants in the shopper selection process.
Evaluation of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and particle concentration fluorescence immunoassay (PCFIA) methods for the screening, quantitation and pharmacokinetic study of furosemide in horses

Abstract Equine plasma and urine samples were analyzed by using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and particle concentration fluorescence assay (PCFIA). Although ELISA and PCFIA were rapid, simple and sensitive for the screening of furosemide, they did not give reproducible quantitative results. The HPLC method, which required relatively longer analysis time, provided simple and reproducible quantitative analysis of furosemide in plasma and urine. The performance of the three methods was compared for the quantitation of furosemide in plasma obtained from thoroughbred mares dosed intravenously with furosemide (500 μg/kg ( n = 7) and 1.0 mg/kg ( n = 5)). Although the plasma furosemide profiles determined by ELISA, PCFIA and HPLC were similar, ELISA and PCFIA methods exhibited considerable variation in values. At high furosemide concentrations, the PCFIA method gave better quantitative values than ELISA. However, at trace furosemide concentrations the PCFIA method gave false positive values which were not confirmed by HPLC or ELISA. The pharmacokinetic values obtained from the HPLC data and the pharmacokinetic values obtained previously from the gas chromatographic data [4,7] were comparable. The data obtained by ELISA and PCFIA were not suitable for the pharmacokinetic calculations.
Rank-related partner choice in the fission–fusion society of the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

When social partners vary in their relative value, individuals should theoretically initiate partnerships with conspecifics of the highest value. Here, we tested this prediction in a wild population of spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). Crocuta live in complex, fission–fusion societies structured by dominance hierarchies in which individuals vary greatly in their value as social companions. Because patterns of association among Crocuta reflect social preferences, we calculated association indices (AIs) to examine how social rank influences intrasexual partner choice among unrelated adults of both sexes. The highest-ranking individuals were generally most gregarious in both sexes. Females associated most often with dominant and adjacent-ranking females. Females joined subgroups based on the presence of particular conspecifics such that subordinates joined focal females at higher rates than did dominants. Dominants benefit from associations with subordinates by enjoying priority of access to resources obtained and defended by multiple group members, but the benefits of these associations to subordinates are unknown. To investigate this, we tested three hypotheses suggesting how subordinates might benefit from rank-related partner choice among unrelated females. We found that subordinates who initiated group formation benefited by gaining social and feeding tolerance from dominants. However, rates at which dominants provided coalitionary support to subordinates did not vary with AIs. Overall, our data resemble those documenting patterns of association among cercopithecine primates. We consider our results in light of optimal reproductive skew theory, Seyfarth’s rank attractiveness model, and biological market theory. Our data are more consistent with the predictions of Seyfarth’s model and of biological market theory than with those of skew theory.
ELEVATED TRYPTASE, NERVE GROWTH FACTOR, NEUROTROPHIN-3 AND GLIAL CELL LINE-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR LEVELS IN THE URINE OF INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS AND BLADDER CANCER PATIENTS

AbstractPurpose: The 2 prominent features of interstitial cystitis are pain and increased numbers of mast cells in the bladder. In this pilot study we determined the concentration of soluble mediators associated with activation of sensory neurons and/or mast cells that were present in the urine.Materials and Methods: The study groups included 4 interstitial cystitis patients, 7 kidney donors with no history of bladder disease as negative controls, 6 bladder cancer patients and 7 patients with urinary tract infection as reference controls. Urine samples were assayed for different soluble mediators using immunoassays for tryptase (a marker for mast cell activation), neurotrophic factors (markers of neuronal plasticity) and chemokines (markers of inflammatory cell activity). Results were normalized based on creatinine concentration.Results: There was a marked increase in the average amounts of tryptase and 3 neurotrophic factors in patient urine. Interestingly, the mediator profile in the urine of bladder ca...
Repression of protein synthesis and mTOR signaling in rat liver mediated by the AMPK activator aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleoside.

The studies described herein were designed to investigate the effects of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribonucleoside (AICAR), an activator of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), on the...
Acute renal toxicity after ingestion of Lava light liquid

A 65-year-old man with a history of alcohol abuse and seizure disorder presented to the emergency department with altered mental status, increased anion gap acidosis, phenytoin toxicity, and acute kidney failure. The patient had ingested the liquid contents of a Lava light, which contained chlorinated paraffin, polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 200), kerosene, and micro-crystalline wax. Gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry of the patient's blood produced results consistent with the same analysis of the Lava light contents. After 3 days of declining mental status and worsening kidney function, the patient required hemodialysis. After a prolonged hospitalization, the patient was discharged home with residual renal insufficiency. Although multifactorial, the associated renal toxicity was most probably related to the low molecular weight polyethylene glycol content of the lamp's liquid contents.
Stalking in the Context of Domestic Violence

This article examines the effect of criminal justice intervention in domestic violence on stalking in that relationship. Almost two hundred female victims of misdemeanor domestic violence in three jurisdictions were interviewed three times after their cases had closed. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a subsample of 21 victims who had experience with stalking. Specific court outcomes in domestic violence cases and whether or not the victim cooperated with the prosecution do not impact whether or not a domestic violence victim experiences subsequent stalking. Women who experienced stalking in addition to domestic violence were more likely to use the system in the future than women who just experienced domestic violence. The qualitative interviews revealed additional findings regarding victims' opinions of the criminal justice response to stalking in the context of domestic violence.
FPL and sweep VEP to tritan stimuli in young human infants

Young infants can distinguish red from green without brightness cues which shows that neural pathways processing color information (the 'red-green' color-opponent pathway) are functional early in life. There is some doubt over whether the 'blue-yellow' pathway is functional in young infants. Here, we show that infants behave like tritanopic adults until 2-3 months post-term age. By 3-4 months, infants distinguish tritan stimuli, and therefore, the 'blue-yellow' pathway must be functional by that age. Our sweep visual evoked potentials to identical stimuli, however, are not significantly above noise levels, in disagreement with the behavioral responses. We discuss several possible explanations for the discrepancy.
IDENTITY AND AMOUNTS OF FLUORIDE CRYSTALS PRESENT IN ENAMELS

A group of enamels containing fluorspar, cryolite, and sodium silicofluoride, added in various proportions, was prepared under carefully controlled conditions, including smelting in an electric resistor furnace. The only mill additions were clay and water; no opacifier was used. X-ray diffraction patterns were made of all the fired enamels. Recrystallized cryolite (Na3AlF6), fluorite (CaF2), and villiaumite (NaF) were found in the fired enamels. Cryolite, the most important opacifier used in the enamels studied, was found to recrystallize whenever enough cryolite or sodium silicofluoride was added in the raw batch. The accuracy of the X-ray method was found to be ±1/2% for villiaumite or fluorite and ± 1% for cryolite. A calculation of the unaccounted-for fluorine showed it to be fairly constant at about 2.8%.
Rapid Mutation of Endogenous Zebrafish Genes Using Zinc Finger Nucleases Made by Oligomerized Pool ENgineering (OPEN)

Background Customized zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) form the basis of a broadly applicable tool for highly efficient genome modification. ZFNs are artificial restriction endonucleases consisting of a non-specific nuclease domain fused to a zinc finger array which can be engineered to recognize specific DNA sequences of interest. Recent proof-of-principle experiments have shown that targeted knockout mutations can be efficiently generated in endogenous zebrafish genes via non-homologous end-joining-mediated repair of ZFN-induced DNA double-stranded breaks. The Zinc Finger Consortium, a group of academic laboratories committed to the development of engineered zinc finger technology, recently described the first rapid, highly effective, and publicly available method for engineering zinc finger arrays. The Consortium has previously used this new method (known as OPEN for Oligomerized Pool ENgineering) to generate high quality ZFN pairs that function in human and plant cells.
Constipation in Long-Term Care

Constipation is more common in older adults and accounts for increased physician office visits and hospital admissions. There is lack of agreement on the definition of constipation regarding what patients perceive as constipation and what physicians traditionally see as constipation. Constipation is related to multiple factors, and when left untreated or not properly treated, results in complications, such as impaction, even perforation and death. Laxative use increases with age and at times multiple agents are used to relieve symptoms of constipation. Currently the most commonly used laxative is stool softener but it lacks efficacy. From the review of literature, osmotic laxatives are effective in older adults and well tolerated. Psyllium, a bulk laxative, is also effective in the treatment of constipation, while there is limited evidence for stimulants, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, and other bulk laxatives such as calcium polycarbophil and methylcellulose. A new drug, lubiprostone, is a type 2-chloride channel activator and is shown to be effective, safe, and well tolerated in older adults treated for chronic constipation in studies up to a year. It appears to be particularly useful in persons who have recurrent fecal impaction and in those with severe chronic constipation. There is a need for a large-scale trial examining an appropriate cost-effective approach to the management of constipation in the nursing home.
Blue Minerals: Exploring Cause & Effect

From its vast expanses of cerulean waters to its azure heavens above, our world is dominated by blue, so it is no wonder that the color blue is favored by many across cultures and throughout the ag...
Rapid Assessment Process

g0005 bogus empowerment Letting people think they have control over outcomes and the power to act on their own judgments when they actually do not have this control or power; can be the unintended consequence of hyperbole about the democratic nature of a situation. g0010 ethnography A descriptive study of an intact cultural or social group or an individual or individuals within the group, based primarily on participant observation and open-ended interviews; based on learning from people as opposed to studying people. g0015 iterative process A process in which replications of a cycle produce results that approximate the desired result more and more closely. For rapid assessment, the process describes the cycle of data analysis and data collection, designed to produce a preliminary understanding of a situation from an insider’s perspective. g0020 participants Persons interviewed as part of the rapid assessment process. The term can be used interchangeably with ‘‘informants’’ or ‘‘respondents’’ when these terms are not modified with the words ‘‘individual’’ or ‘‘key.’’ The term ‘‘subjects’’ is generally avoided. g0025 rapid appraisal, rapid rural assessment, rapid rural appraisal (RRA), participatory rural appraisal (PRA) Different types of rapid qualitative research based on small multidisciplinary teams using semistructured interviews and direct observations to collect information in processes that can be completed in less than 6 weeks. As usually implemented, these approaches lack the methodological rigor of rapid assessment. g0030 rapid assessment process (RAP), rapid assessment Intensive, team-based qualitative inquiry using triangulation, iterative data analysis, and additional data collection to quickly develop a preliminary understanding of a situation from the insider’s perspective. g0035 triangulation A term from navigation and physical surveying that describes an operation for determining a position by use of bearings from two known fixed points. Triangulation is used as a metaphor by social scientists for the use of data from different sources, the use of several different researchers, the use of multiple perspectives to interpret a single set of data, and the use of multiple methods to study a single problem.
Early Fracture of a Vitamin-E-Infused, Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene Liner After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Case Report.

Case: A vitamin-E-infused, highly cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (HXLPE) acetabular liner fractured without trauma less than twelve months after its implantation in a seventy-one-year-old woman. Conclusion: The remelting process utilized in the production of many commercially available HXLPE acetabular liners causes an immediate reduction in the fracture toughness of the material; however, it provides the benefit of oxidative stability, which prevents the loss of beneficial mechanical properties over time. Vitamin-E-infused HXLPE avoids the immediate decrease in fracture toughness by avoiding the remelting process. The case of our patient demonstrates that this material still can experience catastrophic failure despite acceptable component positioning.
High-order adaptive finite element-singly implicit Runge-Kutta methods for parabolic differential equations

We describe an adaptive mesh refinement finite element method-of-lines procedure for solving one-dimensional parabolic partial differential equations. Solutions are calculated using Galerkin's method with a piecewise hierarchical polynomial basis in space and singly implicit Runge-Kutta (SIRK) methods in time. A modified SIRK formulation eliminates a linear systems solution that is required by the traditional SIRK formulation and leads to a new reduced-order interpolation formula. Stability and temporal error estimation techniques allow acceptance of approximate solutions at intermediate stages, yielding increased efficiency when solving partial differential equations. A priori energy estimates of the local discretization error are obtained for a nonlinear scalar problem. A posteriori estimates of local spatial discretization errors, obtained by order variation, are used with the a priori error estimates to control the adaptive mesh refinement strategy. Computational results suggest convergence of the a posteriori error estimate to the exact discretization error and verify the utility of the adaptive technique.
Evidence for the pentose cycle in Nocardia corallina.

SummaryCell-free extracts of Nocardia corallina were shown to contain glucose 6-phosphate and gluconate 6-phosphate de-hydrogenases which were NADP specific as well as enzymes for the conversion of ribose 5-phosphate into ketopentose, heptulose, and hexose. The results were interpreted as evidence for the major steps of the pentose pathway in N. corallina. Cells from various stages of the growth cycle differed in glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase specific activity which suggests that changes in pentose cycle activity may be correlated with differences in fat metabolism and the life cycle previously reported for this organism.
Abstract 1635: Effect of dietary fish oil on rat colonic prostaglandin (PG) E2metabolism

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL PGE2, an eicosanoid generated from arachidonic acid (AA) by the cyclooxygenase function of prostaglandin H synthases (PGHS)-1 and 2, has been linked to the risk of many cancers including colorectal carcinogenesis. Targeting colonic PGE2 homeostasis by utilizing nutritional products such as fish oil may reduce endogenous PGE2 that, in turn, may decrease subsequent inflammatory events that lead to carcinogenesis. Rats were fed high fat fish oil diets contained different ratios of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and n-6 fatty acid. The colon was horizontally divided into three equal length transections, first (proximal end), second (transverse) and third (distal end). Enzymes involved in PGE2 metabolism (15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) and PGE synthase (mPGES)) were measured using quantitative PCR and semi-quantitative Western Blotting. GC-MS analysis was performed to detect fatty acid levels in serum and colon. LC-MS/MS analysis was used to examine eicosanoid levels. Our results showed that the colonic epithelial mucosa contained less PGE2 per mg of protein than did the whole colon. Colonic PGE2 and several eicosanoids including 13-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid(13HODE), 5-Hydroxyeico-satetraenoic acid (5 HETE), 15-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15 HETE) and 12-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12 HETE) were distributed differentially in different part of the colon. Dietary fish oil intake increased tissue levels of EPA in the colon. PGHS-2 gene was affected the most by dietary fish oil among all the genes tested in normal colon. Fish oil dose-dependently decreased PGHS-2 mRNA expression in all three colon sections. mRNA expression of 15-PGDH was higher in the third colonic section than the first two sections; however it was not altered by dietary fish oil. In conclusion, different parts of the colon have different eicosanoid profiles. The decreases in PGE2 in normal colon observed with fish oil feeding do not appear to be related to expression of PGHS-1, mPGES and 15-PGDH but are most closely correlated with PGHS-2 despite that PGHS-2 levels are already low in the normal colon. These data support the concept of anatomic variability in colonic carcinogenesis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1635. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1635
Public purchasing: who’s minding the store?

The public sector purchasing function continues to face growing pressures to reform current purchasing processes. Yet, little is known about the abilities of purchasing professionals to adapt to this rapidly changing environment. This article identifies the critical job duties and work responsibilities of government purchasing buyers and officers in an attempt to determine if they currently posses the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully adapt to increased pressures for reform.
Food allergy: a commentary.

In the absence of means for rigorous identification of the immunologic mechanisms, uncritical claims of relations of foods to symptoms can be expected, and unsupported “systems” of diagnosis and treatment will flourish.
Spatiotemporal trajectories of reactivation of somatosensory cortex by direct and secondary pathways after dorsal column lesions in squirrel monkeys

Abstract After lesions of the somatosensory dorsal column (DC) pathway, the cortical hand representation can become unresponsive to tactile stimuli, but considerable responsiveness returns over weeks of post-lesion recovery. The reactivation suggests that preserved subthreshold sensory inputs become potentiated and axon sprouting occurs over time to mediate recovery. Here, we studied the recovery process in 3 squirrel monkeys, using high-resolution cerebral blood volume-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (CBV-fMRI) mapping of contralateral somatosensory cortex responsiveness to stimulation of distal finger pads with low and high level electrocutaneous stimulation (ES) before and 2, 4, and 6 weeks after a mid-cervical level contralateral DC lesion. Both low and high intensity ES of digits revealed the expected somatotopy of the area 3b hand representation in pre-lesion monkeys, while in areas 1 and 3a, high intensity stimulation was more effective in activating somatotopic patterns. Six weeks post-lesion, and irrespective of the severity of loss of direct DC inputs (98%, 79%, 40%), somatosensory cortical area 3b of all three animals showed near complete recovery in terms of somatotopy and responsiveness to low and high intensity ES. However there was significant variability in the patterns and amplitudes of reactivation of individual digit territories within and between animals, reflecting differences in the degree of permanent and/or transient silencing of primary DC and secondary inputs 2 weeks post-lesion, and their spatio-temporal trajectories of recovery between 2 and 6 weeks. Similar variations in the silencing and recovery of somatotopy and responsiveness to high intensity ES in areas 3a and 1 are consistent with individual differences in damage to and recovery of DC and spinocuneate pathways, and possibly the potentiation of spinothalamic pathways. Thus, cortical deactivation and subsequent reactivation depends not only on the degree of DC lesion, but also on the severity and duration of loss of secondary as well as primary inputs revealed by low and high intensity ES.
6 inch High efficiency back contact crystalline Si solar cell applying heterojunction and thinfilm technology

We have developed a 6 inch heterojunction interdigitated back contact (HJBC) solar crystalline Si cell by applying our heterojunction technology and thinfilm technology. To form rear junction and front side passivation, we applied our heterojunction technology that allows efficiency of 24.5% with top/rear contact heterojunction solar cell. To secure this high quality passivation during the HJBC solar cell fabrication process, we have developed deposition technology of insulator layer originally used in thinfilm silicon solar cells. Furthermore, new structure has been designed to drastically suppress the rear electrode resistance. By adapting all these technologies, our HJBC solar cell has reached conversion efficiency of 24.91% independently confirmed at AIST (V OC =737 mV, I SC =10.07 A, FF=80.2 %, P MAX =5.95 W) under 1 sun illumination by total area measurement (239.0 cm2).
Mimicking the tumor microenvironment to regulate macrophage phenotype and assessing chemotherapeutic efficacy in embedded cancer cell/macrophage spheroid models.

Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) are critical stromal components intimately involved with the progression, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. To address the need for an in vitro system that mimics the clinical observations of TAM localizations and subsequent functional performance, a cancer cell/macrophage spheroid model is described. The central component of the model is a triple negative breast cancer spheroid embedded in a three-dimensional collagen gel. Macrophages are incorporated in two different ways. The first is a heterospheroid, a spheroid containing both tumor cells and macrophages. The heterospheroid mimics the population of TAMs infiltrated into the tumor mass, thus being exposed to hypoxia and metabolic gradients. In the second model, macrophages are diffusely seeded in the collagen surrounding the spheroid, thus modeling TAMs in the cancer stroma. The inclusion of macrophages as a heterospheroid changes the metabolic profile, indicative of synergistic growth. In contrast, macrophages diffusely seeded in the collagen bear the same profile regardless of the presence of a tumor cell spheroid. The macrophages in the heterospheroid secrete EGF, a cytokine critical to tumor/macrophage co-migration, and an EGF inhibitor decreases the metabolic activity of the heterospheroid, which is not observed in the other systems. The increased secretion of IL-10 indicates that the heterospheroid macrophages follow an M2/TAM differentiation pathway. Lastly, the heterospheroid exhibits resistance to paclitaxel. In summary, the collagen embedded heterospheroid model promotes TAM-like characteristics, and will be of utility in cancer biology and drug discovery.
Predicting Riboswitch Regulation on a Genomic Scale

Riboswitches are vital components of many genomes. Covariance model searches for the characteristic architectures of riboswitch aptamer domains can be used to predict new examples of these structured RNAs. Since riboswitches generally function as cis-regulatory elements, examining the genomic contexts of these hits is critical for evaluating their biological relevance. With these two sources of comparative support, it is possible to identify riboswitches accurately from sequence information alone. Annotating riboswitches on a genomic scale enables more precise functions to be assigned to the proteins that they regulate, better defines their conserved aptamer structures by identifying diverged variants, and provides insight into how the genetic regulation of fundamental metabolic processes varies among species.
Problem behaviour and psychosocial functioning in young children with Williams syndrome: parent and teacher perspectives.

BACKGROUND: There is sparse literature about problem behaviour in young children with Williams syndrome (WS) and little consideration of the perspectives of multiple respondents. METHODS: Problem behaviour of 35 children with WS ages 2 to 6 was examined based on both parent and teacher report using the Achenbach preschool forms. RESULTS: The most prominent areas of difficulty based on both parent and teacher report were attention problems, pervasive developmental problems and emotion reactivity difficulties. Some rater differences were observed; most notably, teachers reported more externalising behaviour problems including more aggressive behaviour, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity problems and Oppositional Defiant problems than did parents. Few relations to intellectual functioning, age or gender were observed. DISCUSSION: Some aspects of problem behaviour evident in older children (e.g. attention problems, social problems) are also apparent for young children with WS, while other areas are less prominent (e.g. anxiety). The implications of the findings for understanding the behavioural phenotype associated with WS are discussed.© 2017 MENCAP and International Association of the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Language: en
No Longer Welcome: Migration Policy and Challenges for Social Work

The implications of the new regime of harsher migration and refugee policies are explored and viewed in historical context. Fear of terrorism is cited as the reason for current proposals for exclus...
Statistical Literacy, Reasoning, and Learning

Over the past few years much attention has been paid to statistical literacy, reasoning, and thinking. These terms are often used interchangeably and used differently by different people (see, for ...
Estimating occupancy and abundance using aerial images with imperfect detection

Summary 1.Species distribution and abundance are critical population characteristics for efficient management, conservation, and ecological insight. Point process models are a powerful tool for modeling distribution and abundance, and can incorporate many data types, including count data, presence-absence data, and presence-only data. Aerial photographic images are a natural tool for collecting data to fit point process models, but aerial images do not always capture all animals that are present at a site. Methods for estimating detection probability for aerial surveys usually include collecting auxiliary data to estimate the proportion of time animals are available to be detected. 2.We developed an approach for fitting point process models using an N-mixture model framework to estimate detection probability for aerial occupancy and abundance surveys. Our method uses multiple aerial images taken of animals at the same spatial location to provide temporal replication of sample sites. The intersection of the images provide multiple counts of individuals at different times. We examined this approach using both simulated and real data of sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Glacier Bay National Park, southeastern Alaska. 3.Using our proposed methods, we estimated detection probability of sea otters to be 0.76, the same as visual aerial surveys that have been used in the past. Further, simulations demonstrated that our approach is a promising tool for estimating occupancy, abundance, and detection probability from aerial photographic surveys. 4.Our methods can be readily extended to data collected using unmanned aerial vehicles, as technology and regulations permit. The generality of our methods for other aerial surveys depends on how well surveys can be designed to meet the assumptions of N-mixture models. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Study of environmental survivability and stability of Folded MEMS IMU

This paper presents a study on the structural rigidity of an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) implemented using the Folded MEMS approach. For such folded structures, environmental survivability and stability is a natural concern. We investigated IMUs of 35 mm3 (small) and 130 mm3 (medium) in volume, in the shape of a cube and a pyramid, and considered the reinforcement methods, including epoxy, eutectic solder, and silicon welding. Experimental characterization of a medium cube with eutectic reinforcement showed the maximum tilt of 0.2 mrad on the cube's sidewalls under temperature variation 25°C–90°C and the tilt of 0.2mrad under 10Hz to 20kHz vibration. An IMU error model was implemented, with the target sensors performance of tactical-grade, using in-run bias stability and scale factor (SF) stability for gyroscope (1°/hr, 100ppm) and for accelerometer (100µg, 100ppm), and a pre-defined trajectory with 122s flight time. The 0.2 mrad misalignment for the medium eutectic-soldered cube corresponded to a Circular Error Probable (CEP) rate of 1.25 nmi/hr, and a typical tactical grade IMU corresponded to CEP rate ≤1nmi/hr. We also concluded that the 35mm3 eutectic-bonding reinforced cubes will survive the mechanical shock under 10,000g, while silicon welding reinforced cubes of 35 mm3 would survive the shocks of 20,000g.
Analysis of stress factors associated with KHV reactivation and pathological effects from KHV reactivation.

Abstract Koi herpesvirus (KHV) is a highly pathogenic virus of common carp and koi. KHV becomes latent in recovered koi or exposed koi without symptoms, and the latent infection can reactivate under stress conditions. KHV reactivation from latency often occurs when water temperature rapidly rises above 17 °C. Dissolved O 2 is lower at ≥17 °C than at non-stress temperatures ≤15 °C. To determine whether reduced dissolved O 2 level has a role in KHV reactivation during temperature stress, KHV reactivation was investigated in KHV latently infected koi (KHV + koi) under stress temperatures by maintaining dissolved O 2 consistent with the O 2 level at 15 °C. There was no significant difference in the amount of reactivated virus between KHV + koi maintained with and without O 2 supplementation during temperature stress. Both handling and sampling were found to be stressful to koi and can contribute to KHV reactivation from latency. There was an increase in KHV genome within white blood cells (WBC) during KHV reactivation, which is about 3–4 fold higher than the amount of KHV genome detectable in WBC during the latency stage. At day 15 post-temperature stress (PTS), inflammation and necrosis were observed in multiple tissues, especially in the gills, eye, intestine, skin and kidney. KHV DNA was also detectable in multiple tissues on days 6, 9 and 15 PTS. Following day 3 PTS, the plasma cortisol levels were higher than that observed in koi before temperature stress, suggesting that KHV reactivation is associated with physiological stress in KHV + koi.
Benefits of a scaled differential calculation method for use in a Fabry-Perot based optical cavity biosensor

To lower the overall cost of an optical cavity biosensor, while still taking advantages of highly sensitive Fabry-Perot based optical cavity structures, we have proposed the use of two low cost, off-the-shelf laser diodes and employ a scaled differential calculation method instead of monitoring the intensity changes of a single laser diode. This paper describes three of the benefits of using the scaled differential calculation: enhanced responsivity, power equalization, and an increased fabrication tolerance. Over the same change in sensing layer thickness, the scaled differential value changes three times as much as a single laser. If the starting value of an efficiency curve changes, it will drastically change the results of a single laser measurement. Changes in the starting value of the efficiency do not affect the scaled differential calculation. With the use of the scaled differential calculation, there is a large fabrication tolerance, allowing for cheaper production.