cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytokine- and calcium ionophore A23187-mediated arachidonic acid metabolism in neutrophils.

Abstract Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism is implicated as an intracellular and/or intercellular second messenger system for the transmission of cytokine-initiated signals that affect neutrophils and mediate systemic toxicity. The purpose of the present study is to ascertain if cytokines that are known to affect neutrophil function in vivo and in vitro directly stimulate neutrophil AA metabolism in vitro. The recombinant human cytokines multi-colony stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin 6 and the calcium ionophore A23187 were incubated with purified 14 C-AA radiolabeled human peripheral blood neutrophils and the effects were assayed by one- and two-dimensional thin layer lipid chromatography. None of the cytokines appeared to induce the release of cell-incorporated AA or to increase the level of radiolabeled phosphatidic acid. TNF induces severe systemic toxicity that is inhibited by cyclooxygenase inhibitors, which suggests a role for AA metabolites in the pathophysiologic effects of TNF; we have confirmed that TNF and endotoxin act synergistically to induce indomethacin-inhibitable fatal shock in rats. However, when in 3 H-AA radiolabeled human neutrophils were incubated with TNF in kinetic, cold-chase, and TNF preincubation experiments, TNF was not found to increase AA metabolism, although changes in the intracellular neutral lipid content were noted. GM-CSF, which has been reported by previous investigators to directly induce the release of AA, did not release neutrophil-associated 3 H-AA. In conclusion, the direct release of AA from membrane-associated phospholipids does not appear to be a major second messenger pathway for cytokine-initiated activation of neutrophils. The therapeutic effects of indomethacin in TNF and endotoxin-associated fatal shock would not appear to be related to any inhibitory effects on cytokine-mediated AA metabolism in neutrophils.
Defensive Mobilization in Specific Phobia: Fear Specificity, Negative Affectivity, and Diagnostic Prominence

Background Understanding of exaggerated responsivity in specific phobia—its physiology and neural mediators—has advanced considerably. However, despite strong phenotypic evidence that prominence of specific phobia relative to co-occurring conditions (i.e., principal versus nonprincipal disorder) is associated with dramatic differences in subjective distress, there is yet no consideration of such comorbidity issues on objective defensive reactivity. Methods A community sample of specific phobia ( n = 74 principal; n = 86 nonprincipal) and control ( n = 76) participants imagined threatening and neutral events while acoustic startle probes were presented and eyeblinks (orbicularis occuli) recorded. Changes in heart rate, skin conductance level, and facial expressivity were also measured. Results Principal specific phobia patients far exceeded control participants in startle reflex and autonomic reactivity during idiographic fear imagery. Distinguishing between single and multiple phobias within principal phobia and comparing these with nonprincipal phobia revealed a continuum of decreasing defensive mobilization: single patients were strongly reactive, multiple patients were intermediate, and nonprincipal patients were attenuated—the inverse of measures of pervasive anxiety and dysphoria (i.e., negative affectivity). Further, as more disorders supplanted specific phobia from principal disorder, overall defensive mobilization was systematically more impaired. Conclusions The exaggerated responsivity characteristic of specific phobia is limited to those patients for whom circumscribed fear is the most impairing condition and coincident with little additional affective psychopathology. As specific phobia is superseded in severity by broad and chronic negative affectivity, defensive reactivity progressively diminishes. Focal fears may still be clinically significant but not reflected in objective defensive mobilization.
An Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience in a Student-Staffed Medication Therapy Management Call Center

Objective. To describe the implementation of an advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) in medication therapy management (MTM) designed to contribute to student pharmacists’ confidence and abi...
Connexins and cyclooxygenase-2 crosstalk in the expression of radiation-induced bystander effects

Connexins and cyclooxygenase-2 crosstalk in the expression of radiation-induced bystander effects
Information-theoretic sensor subset selection: Application to signal-based fault isolation in diesel engines

In this paper a stepwise information-theoretic feature selector is designed and implemented to reduce the dimension of a data set without losing pertinent information. The effectiveness of the proposed feature selector is demonstrated by selecting features from forty three variables monitored on a set of heavy duty diesel engines and then using this feature space for classification of faults in these engines. Using a cross-validation technique, the effects of various classification methods (linear regression, quadratic discriminants, probabilistic neural networks, and support vector machines) and feature selection methods (regression subset selection, RV-based selection by simulated annealing, and information-theoretic selection) are compared based on the percentage misclassification. The information-theoretic feature selector combined with the probabilistic neural network achieved an average classification accuracy of 90%, which was the best performance of any combination of classifiers and feature selectors under consideration.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The magnetic field and spin dependence of quasi-particle mass enhancements in CeB6

The field and spin dependence of the quasi-particle mass enhancements are examined in the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic states close to a quantum critical point. The down-spin quasi-particles are found to have heavier masses than the up-spin quasi-particles. It is also found that the spin dependence of the quasi-particles. It is also found that the spin dependence of the quasi-particle mass enhancements is through a factor of the inverse (spin dependent) Fermi wave vector. The mass enhancements drop to the spin independent value of unity at sufficiently high fields, where the magnetization starts to saturate and spin-flip scattering is suppressed. The results are compared with experimental results on CeB6.
Abstract 4476: Targeted delivery of curcumin to improve therapeutic outcome in breast cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Conventional chemotherapeutics offered to treat breast cancer (BrCa) are not selectively targeted. Due to this fact, they are toxic to the normal cells. It is imperative to identify new anti-cancer agents and/or methods to selectively target BrCa cells without affecting normal cells. In this regard, Curcumin, a plant polyphenol, has shown very promising results. Despite the proven anti-tumor effects of curcumin, clinical use of this compound is restricted due to its poor bioavailability. To surmount these problems, we developed nanoparticles, loaded with curcumin, using a planetary-balled milling (PBM) technique with particles tagged with folate for selective targeting to BrCa cells, which express high affinity folate receptors. Multispectral imaging, using an Amnis ImageStream system, was used to measure the response of curcumin-loaded PBM nanoparticles, and free curcumin on various BrCa cell lines. Curcumin-loaded folic acid-coated PBM nanoparticles selectively targeted and were taken-up by BrCa cells and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, our results indicate that targeted delivery of curcumin using PBM nanoparticles was 60 % more effective in killing BrCa cells at concentrations lower than the IC50 of free curcumin. Citation Format: Rajesh Singh, James W. Lillard. Targeted delivery of curcumin to improve therapeutic outcome in breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4476. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4476
An ochre mutation in the vitamin D receptor gene causes hereditary 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-resistant rickets in three families

Abstract Hereditary 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-resistant rickets is a rare autosomal-recessive disease resulting from target-organ resistance to the action of the active hormonal form of vitamin D. Four affected children from three related families with the classical syndrome of hereditary 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-resistant rickets and the absence of detectable binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in cultured fibroblasts or lymphoblasts were examined for genetic abnormalities in the VDR gene. Genomic DNA from Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblasts of eight family members was isolated and amplified by polymerase chain reaction techniques. Amplified fragments containing the eight structural exons encoding the VDR protein were sequenced. The DNA from all affected children exhibited a single C----A base substitution within exon 7 at nucleotide 970 that resulted in the conversion of the normal codon for tyrosine (TAC) into a premature termination codon (TAA) at amino acid 292. This mutation causes a truncation of the VDR protein thereby deleting a large portion of the steroid hormone binding domain (amino acids 292-424). Although the affected children were all homozygotic for the mutation, the four parents tested all exhibited both wild-type and mutant alleles, indicating a heterozygous state. The functional consequences of this mutation were confirmed after expression of the recreated mutant VDR cDNA in mammalian cells. Recreated mutant receptor exhibited no specific 1,25-[3H]dihydroxyvitamin D3 binding and failed to activate a cotransfected VDR promoter-reporter gene construct. Thus these findings identify an ochre mutation in a human steroid hormone receptor in patients with hereditary 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-resistant rickets.
GenAMap: Visualization strategies for structured association mapping

Association mapping studies promise to link DNA mutations to gene expression data, possibly leading to innovative treatments for diseases. One challenge in large-scale association mapping studies is exploring the results of the computational analysis to find relevant and interesting associations. Although many association mapping studies find associations from a genome-wide collection of genomic data to hundreds or thousands of traits, current visualization software only allow these associations to be explored one trait at a time. The inability to explore the association of a genomic location to multiple traits hides the inherent interaction between traits in the analysis. Additionally, researchers must rely on collections of in-house scripts and multiple tools to perform an analysis, adding time and effort to find interesting associations. In this paper, we present a novel visual analytics system called GenAMap. GenAMap replaces the time-consuming analysis of large-scale association mapping studies with exploratory visualization tools that give geneticists an overview of the data and lead them to relevant information. We present the results of a preliminary evaluation that validated our basic approach.
A view of RNase P

Major progress in the study of RNase P has resulted from crystallography of bacterial catalytic subunits and the discovery of catalytic activity in eukaryotes. Several new substrates have also been identified, primarily in bacteria but also in yeast. Our current world should be called the “RNA–protein world” rather than the “protein world”.
The Advanced Photon Source looks to the future

The Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory is in its 12th year since producing first light. With an eye on the next 10 years, facility management have developed plans that address priorities for new and/or improved beamlines over the next 5-10 years with a strong evolution toward a greater number of dedicated beamlines. In addition, options, including an energy-recovery linac, are being evaluated for a planned upgrade of the APS.
The time course of attention in a simple auditory detection task

What is the time course of human attention in a simple auditory detection task? To investigate this question, we determined the detectability of a 20-msec, 1000-Hz tone presented at expected and unexpected times. Twelve listeners who expected the tone to occur at a specific time after a 300-msec narrowband noise rarely detected signals presented 150–375 msec before or 100–200 msec after that expected time. The shape of this temporal-attention window depended on the expected presentation time of the tone and the temporal markers available in the trials. Further, though expecting the signal to occur in silence, listeners often detected signals presented at unexpected times during the noise. Combined with previous data, these results further clarify the listening strategy humans use when trying to detect an expected sound: Humans seem to listen specifically for that sound, while ignoring the background in which it is presented, around the time when the sound is expected to occur.
Preoperative prediction of Gleason grade in radical prostatectomy specimens: the influence of different Gleason grades from multiple positive biopsy sites

The Gleason score of prostate adenocarcinomas is an important preoperative predictor of cancer behavior, and is used to help guide treatment. In the setting of more than two positive biopsy sites, pathologists usually grade the tumor at each site separately, and the Gleason score may differ from each positive site. This study seeks to determine if the highest Gleason score in all biopsy sites, or the Gleason score in the site with the highest tumor volume on the needle biopsy is the best predictor of final Gleason score in the radical prostatectomy specimens. Various preoperative biopsy findings were analyzed. All 151 patients had at least two positive biopsy sites and underwent radical prostatectomy. Primary and secondary Gleason pattern grades were assigned for each positive biopsy site. The tumor volume in the needle biopsy site was defined by the percentage of areas of biopsy cores involved by cancer. The radical prostatectomy specimens were completely embedded and processed in the whole-mount method. The Gleason score from both the biopsy site with the highest Gleason score and the biopsy site with the highest tumor volume on the needle biopsy correlated equally well with final Gleason score at radical prostatectomy (Spearman correlation coefficient =0.54 for both, P<0.001). The Gleason score from both the biopsy site with the highest Gleason score and the biopsy site with the highest tumor volume on the needle biopsy also correlated with primary Gleason pattern grade at radical prostatectomy (Spearman correlation coefficient =0.53 for both, P<0.001). Secondary Gleason pattern grade from the biopsy site with the highest tumor volume on the needle biopsy correlated with secondary Gleason pattern grade at radical prostatectomy slightly better than those from the biopsy site with the highest Gleason score (Spearman correlation coefficient, 0.32 vs 0.24; both P<0.001). Our data indicate that the highest Gleason score from all sites and the Gleason score from the site with the highest tumor volume on the needle biopsy are equally and significantly predictive of final Gleason score on radical prostatectomy. Both methods of prediction are significantly predictive of primary and secondary Gleason pattern grade on radical prostatectomy. We recommend that the highest Gleason score from all positive biopsy sites should be used when assigning an initial score using needle biopsies.
Continuous chemical vapour deposition of tin oxide

Abstract We studied the deposition of tin oxide by continuous chemical vapour deposition. We found that the deposition was sensitive to the gas flow conditions and the design of the deposition device.
From ''Home'' to ''Camp'': Theorizing the Space of Safety

In this article, I discuss how the space of the classroom is a contested object that is constituted by historical, cultural, political, social, psychological, and discursive practices (Lefebvre in The production of space, Blackwell, Oxford, UK, 1991). I then employ Deleuze and Guattari’s notion of “assemblage” to characterize the ways in which educational spaces cohere “content and affect” quoted in Puar (Terrorist assemblages: Homonationalism in queer times, Duke University Press, Durham, 2007, 193) into discursive figures of the heteronormative and racialized national “family.” Finally, I argue that in order to advance contemporary theorizing on safe space we might consider shifting the metaphor of the classroom (and/or schooling) as a situation of home (in loco parentis) to that of a metaphor of camp. As a discursive practice, “camp” is like “home” in that it has multiple associations of past histories. However, the advantage of the metaphor of classroom as camp allows for a more capacious range of past histories of association, from recreation to temporary inhabitation to forced relocation, thus foregrounding the innate political implications of theorizing space. Moreover, the metaphor of camp implies transience (whether real or imaginary) while keeping in mind the partial and situated nature of particular places and spaces. Foregrounding the transient component/feature of safe space allows us to make visible and explore the possibilities and limitations of conceptualizing relations of power as circuitous, contested and performative through competing claims to particular places as objects of safety.
A note on America’s 1920–21 depression as an argument for austerity

This note argues that recent interest in the 1920–21 depression in the USA as a historical precedent for austerity is inappropriate. Most of the austerity measures preceded the depression, which had already begun receding by the time Warren Harding implemented the relatively modest spending and tax cuts that are cited by modern proponents of austerity. The evidence suggests that the 1920–21 depression was the result of a variety of supply constraints, rather than a deficiency of effective demand, and is therefore a poor test of the efficacy of Keynesian fiscal policy.
Structure activity relationship of lidocaine type local anesthetics.

Abstract The structure activity relationship of nine compounds were studied and compared to lidocaine. The extent of local anesthetic activity was ascertained by the tail pinch method in mice, and by the isolated frog sciatic nerve method. The effective and lethal dose in 50% of the animals was also determined. Three of the nine compounds appeared to possess significant local anesthetic activity in the in vivo studies and thus were selected for further investigation in vitro . The in vivo studies also indicated that two of the three were more toxic than lidocaine. The in vitro results demonstrated that methyl substitution at positions 2,3 and 5 on the benzene ring produced a compound of slightly more anesthetic potency in an acid medium. At pH 7.8 all three compounds approached the potency of lidocaine. These data indicate that methyl substitution at other than the ortho position of the benzene ring generally results in compounds of lesser local anesthetic activity while tending to increase the toxicity.
Electrochromism and electrochemical characterization of soluble poly[3-alkylhetero(arylene)s]

Abstract Soluble conducting poly[3-alkyhetero(arylene)s] have been prepared electrochemically from 3-alkylheteroarylene monomers. Optical conditions for the electrochemical polymerization were in acetonitrile and tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (Bu 4 NPF 6 ) as the solvent and the electrolyte, respectively. Two oxidation potential values ( E ox ) were exhibited in the ranges 0.75–1.12 V and 1.86–2.02 V versus Ag/AgCl, respectively. On the other hand, the polymer oxidation potentials ( E pox ) in monomer-free solution were 1.34–1.42 V versus Ag/AgCl. The electrochemical data of these compounds are compared with those of poly(3-methylthiophene), polythiophene and their derivatives prepared under the same polymerization conditions. The conductivities of the electrochemically grown films were measured using thefour-probe technique before and after exposure to doping agents. The values for the conductivities (σ) of the “as-grown” films were in the order of ≈ 10 −2 –10 ω −1 cm −1 . The infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of these polymers indicated that the bonding of the monomer units are mainly 2,5 linkages. Solubility tests of these polymers are also given. Thin films formed under constant current density of 1 mA cm −2 (galvanostatically) or cast by evaporation of the solvent on optically transparent electrodes (OTE) displayed electrochromic properties. The film colors are dark blue and brick red in the oxidized (doped) and in the neutral (undoped) states, respectively. The formal potential ( E 0 ′) and n values of the polymer films are reported. The E 0 ′ values of the films in the monomer-free solution were 0.73–0.96 V versus Ag/AgCl. These values were compared to the ( E prmpox ) values from the cyclic voltammetric technique for the same polymer films. The fluorescence spectra of the polymer solutions in different solvents showed an intense broad emission bond at ≈ 410–660 nm.
A Phylogenetic Analysis of Vertebrate and Invertebrate Notch-Related Genes

Abstract Members of the Notch gene family are thought to mediate inductive cell-cell interactions during develop ment of a wide variety of vertebrates and invertebrates. These genes encode transmembrane proteins that appear to act as receptors and contain three repeated sequence motifs. Two of these motifs (an epidermal growth factor like sequence and a cdc10/SW16/ankyrin sequence) have been found in a large number of unrelated proteins, while the third motif (a lin-12/Notch/glp-1 sequence) is unique to proteins of the Notch family. We present a phylogenetic analysis of 17 Notch-related genes from eight species that has implications as to the origins and relative functions of these genes in different species. Several independent gene duplications have occurred and at least one such duplication in the vertebrate lineage preceded the avian/mammalian divergence. Significantly, the overall organization of individual members of each internally repeated motif ap pears to have been conserved among species, suggesting that each repeat plays a unique role in protein function. Yet, where sequence divergence does occur among genes in vertebrate, dipteran, and nematode lineages, it may signify functional differences for specific regions in Notch-related proteins.
Mechanism of inhibition of spinach β-cystathionase by rhizobitoxine

Abstract Inactivation of spinach β-cystathionase by rhizobitoxine is an example of an active-site-directed irreversible inhibition, and may be represented by the following mechanism: E P + R ⇌E PR →E PR I E P , the holoenzyme form of β-cystathionase (P, pyridoxal phosphate); R, rhizobitoxine; E PR , a dissociable enzyme-rhizobitoxine complex; E PR I , inactivated enzyme. This proposed mechanism is based on the following observations: 1. 1. The inactivation is progressive and ultimately complete as would be expected for an irreversible process. Irreversibility of the inactivation wa demonstrated directed by gel filtration. 2. 2. The rate of inactivation is first order with respect to active enzyme. 3. 3. A plot of the pseudo first-order rate constant as a function of rhizobitoxine concentration shows saturation kinetics, consistent with the formation of a dissociable complex E PR . The equilibrium constant (K i ) for the dissociation of E PR is 8.0 · 10 −5 M ; the rate of the inactivation at infinite rhizobitoxine concentration is equivalent to a minimum half-time of inactivation (T 1 2 ) of 0.2 min. 4. 4. The rate of dissociation of E PR is rapid relative to the rate of inactivation. 5. 5. The substrates cystathionine and djenkolate, as well as the competitive inhibitor β-cyanoalanine, protect the enzyme from inactivation by rhizobitoxine. The kinetics of this protection are consistent with a competition between these amino acids and rhizobitoxine for the active enzyme. 6. 6. The rhizobitoxine-inactivated enzyme can be reactivated specifically by incubation with pyridoxal phosphate, suggesting that the irreversible step in inactivation involves formation of a bond between rhizobitoxine and pyridoxal phosphate.
Transduction of chromosomal genes and episomes in Escherichia coli.

Abstract The relationship between transfer of bacterial markers and stable transduction in Escherichia coli K12 by phage P1 is studied. For the gene regions examined, transfer frequencies of the order of 10 −5 to 10 −4 per normal P1 phage are found, whereas stable transductants are detected only at 10 to 100 times lower frequencies. The fertility factor F and prophage λ, both known to be episomes, are transferred at similar rates. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of the transducing lysate increases the frequency of stable transductants for chromosomal genes, but does not increase the detected rate of transfer of the episomes. The UV survival of the episomes decreases exponentially: the survival of λ prophage corresponds to the UV survival of free λ; F shows a UV sensitivity comparable with those of phage genomes. The detection techniques used reveal functions of transferred episomes without requiring their integration into the chromosomal structure of the recipient cell: a transferred F factor converts the acceptor into a male, itself capable of converting the whole F − culture; and a transferred prophage λ gives transfer induction, except in rare cases of stable integration leading to lysogeny.
Paper chromatography of lipides

Procedures for qualitative and quantitative paper chromatography of lipides have been described in detail, together with some practical applications.
ANTIMICROBIAL TESTING, MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION, AND SURFACE POTENTIAL MAPPING OF SILVER-POLY-(METHYL METHACRYLATE) NANOCOMPOSITE FILMS MADE THROUGH MATRIX-ASSISTED PULSED LASER DEPOSITION AGAINST S. AUREUS

Silver-poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposite thin films were deposited on silicon substrates by means of matrix-assisted pulsed laser deposition. Atomic force microscopy revealed that the surface morphologies of the silver-poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposite thin films were dependent on the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation processing parameters. Films produced using 4% (by weight of solvent) silver nanoparticles exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity of the thin films was dependent on the silver concentration, the microenvironment created by the polymer–silver interaction, and the surface potential.
Phagocytosis of latex beads by Acanthamoeba. II. Electron microscopic study of the initial events.

Electron microscopic studies confirm and extend the conclusions derived previously from a quantitative biochemical study of the phagocytosis of polystyrene and polyvinyltoluene latex beads by Acanthamoeba (1). Latex beads 1.305, 1.90, and 2.68 µ in diameter are ingested individually, with each bead tightly surrounded by a membrane derived from the plasma membrane. Latex beads 0.557, 0.264, 0.126, and 0.088 µ in diameter are accumulated at the surface of the ameba and then phagocytosed, with many beads tightly packed within one membrane-bounded vesicle.
Extracellular leucine-rich repeat proteins are required to organize the apical extracellular matrix and maintain epithelial junction integrity in C. elegans

Epithelial cells are linked by apicolateral junctions that are essential for tissue integrity. Epithelial cells also secrete a specialized apical extracellular matrix (ECM) that serves as a protective barrier. Some components of the apical ECM, such as mucins, can influence epithelial junction remodeling and disassembly during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the molecular composition and biological roles of the apical ECM are not well understood. We identified a set of extracellular leucine-rich repeat only (eLRRon) proteins in C. elegans (LET-4 and EGG-6) that are expressed on the apical surfaces of epidermal cells and some tubular epithelia, including the excretory duct and pore. A previously characterized paralog, SYM-1, is also expressed in epidermal cells and secreted into the apical ECM. Related mammalian eLRRon proteins, such as decorin or LRRTM1-3, influence stromal ECM or synaptic junction organization, respectively. Mutants lacking one or more of the C. elegans epithelial eLRRon proteins show multiple defects in apical ECM organization, consistent with these proteins contributing to the embryonic sheath and cuticular ECM. Furthermore, epithelial junctions initially form in the correct locations, but then rupture at the time of cuticle secretion and remodeling of cell-matrix interactions. This work identifies epithelial eLRRon proteins as important components and organizers of the pre-cuticular and cuticular apical ECM, and adds to the small but growing body of evidence linking the apical ECM to epithelial junction stability. We propose that eLRRon-dependent apical ECM organization contributes to cell-cell adhesion and may modulate epithelial junction dynamics in both normal and disease situations.
Studies on the etiology of exanthema subitum (roseola infantum)

Summary 1. The first experiment described has persuasively demonstrated the infectious nature of exanthema subitum, by means of a transmission experiment from a human donor to a susceptible subject. 2. Subsequent experiments utilizing monkeys have demonstrated the presence of a fever-producing agent in the serum of human beings on the third day of the febrile period of exanthema subitum illness, as well as in the throat washings of a susceptible recipient. It also was shown to be present in the serum of previously infected monkeys. This fever-producing agent has not been shown to be present in the blood of human patients during the first day of the febrile period. 3. The challenge experiments have shown that blood taken on the third day of the febrile period of exanthema subitum was still able to produce a febrile disease in control monkeys, but failed to do so in monkeys previously experiencing a febrile inoculation disease. 4. Egg passage material has, to date, failed to produce febrile reactions in four monkeys tested.
Perceived patient safety culture in a critical care transport program.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to examine the association among selected safety culture dimensions and safety outcomes in the context of a critical care transport (CCT) program. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional correlational design used the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture to validate perceived safety culture among personnel (n = 76) in a large Midwestern CCT program. Results Findings revealed significant associations between 1) teamwork and frequency of error reporting ( r = .428, P r = .745, P r = −.681, P r = .521, P r = .779, P r = −.756, P r = .575, P r = .588, P r = −.627, P Conclusion The study supports other literature showing significant associations among safety culture dimensions and safety outcomes and provides a framework for future research on safety culture in CCT programs.
Authenticity and career decision-making self-efficacy in lesbian, gay, and bisexual college students.

Theories in career development have discussed the importance of career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE); however, there has been little development in this area for the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) community. Research has shown that LGB individuals may experience disruptions in career development if psychological energy is diverted to developing sexual identity. The present study sought to determine if authenticity, a strength-based characteristic, predicted CDMSE among LGB individuals. Survey results from 95 LGB-identified individuals indicated that components of authenticity, specifically unbiased processing and awareness, accounted for a significant amount of variance in CDMSE. Implications for social service professionals are discussed.
Micromechanical investigation of ductile failure in Al 5083-H116 via 3D unit cell modeling

Abstract Ductile failure is governed by the evolution of micro-voids within a material. The micro-voids, which commonly initiate at second phase particles within metal alloys, grow and interact with each other until failure occurs. The evolution of the micro-voids, and therefore ductile failure, depends on many parameters (e.g., stress state, temperature, strain rate, void and particle volume fraction, etc.). In this study, the stress state dependence of the ductile failure of Al 5083-H116 is investigated by means of 3-D Finite Element (FE) periodic cell models. The cell models require only two pieces of information as inputs: (1) the initial particle volume fraction of the alloy and (2) the constitutive behavior of the matrix material. Based on this information, cell models are subjected to a given stress state, defined by the stress triaxiality and the Lode parameter. For each stress state, the cells are loaded in many loading orientations until failure. Material failure is assumed to occur in the weakest orientation, and so the orientation in which failure occurs first is considered as the critical orientation. The result is a description of material failure that is derived from basic principles and requires no fitting parameters. Subsequently, the results of the simulations are used to construct a homogenized material model, which is used in a component-scale FE model. The component-scale FE model is compared to experiments and is shown to over predict ductility. By excluding smaller nucleation events and load path non-proportionality, it is concluded that accuracy could be gained by including more information about the true microstructure in the model; emphasizing that its incorporation into micromechanical models is critical to developing quantitatively accurate physics-based ductile failure models.
A yeast two-hybrid, systems based approach for the identification of novel pharmaceutical entities

The yeast two-hybrid system enables investigation of protein-protein interactions and provides a powerful functional expression cloning system by combining molecular engineering, reporter genes and yeast genetics. The concept of a two-hybrid interaction system was first published in 1989. Since then the basic premise of the yeast two-hybrid system has undergone modifications, variations and extensions. These adaptations enable the application of yeast two-hybrid methods to a variety of diverse scientific questions, well beyond that described for the system ten years ago. The scientific and patent literature initially described the use of two-hybrid systems to study specific protein-protein interactions, then progressed to modifications and adaptations on two-hybrid methods, and leads to descriptions on the extended utility and expansion of yeast two-hybrid techniques with which to address complex biological questions. Improvements and modifications in vectors, reporter gene cassettes and yeast strains, wh...
Neutrino-mixing-generated lepton asymmetry and the primordial 4 He abundance

It has been proposed that an asymmetry in the electron neutrino sector may be generated by resonant active-sterile neutrino transformations during big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). We calculate the change in the primordial ${}^{4}\mathrm{He}$ yield Y resulting from this asymmetry, taking into account both the time evolution of the ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}$ and ${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}$ distribution function and the spectral distortions in these. We calculate this change in two schemes: (1) a lepton asymmetry directly generated by ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}$ mixing with a lighter right-handed sterile neutrino ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{s},$ and (2) a lepton asymmetry generated by a ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{s}$ or ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{s}$ transformation which is subsequently partially converted to an asymmetry in the ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}{\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}$ sector by a matter-enhanced active-active neutrino transformation. In the first scheme, we find that the percentage change in Y is between $\ensuremath{-}1%$ and $9%$ (with the sign depending on the sign of the asymmetry), bounded by the Majorana mass limit ${m}_{{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}}\ensuremath{\lesssim}1 \mathrm{eV}.$ In the second scheme, the maximal percentage reduction in Y is $2%,$ if the lepton number asymmetry in neutrinos is positive; otherwise, the percentage increase in Y is $\ensuremath{\lesssim}5%$ for ${m}_{{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}},{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{m}_{{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{s}}^{2}\ensuremath{\lesssim}{10}^{4} \mathrm{eV}.$ We conclude that the change in the primordial ${}^{4}\mathrm{He}$ yield induced by a neutrino-mixing-generated lepton number asymmetry can be substantial in the upward direction, but limited in the downward direction.
Afferent mechanisms of sodium retention in cirrhosis and hepatorenal syndrome.

Cirrhosis induces extra-cellular fluid volume expansion, which when the disease is advanced can be severe and poorly responsive to therapy. Prevention and/or effective therapy for cirrhotic edema requires understanding the stimulus that initiates and maintains sodium retention. Despite much study, this stimulus remains unknown. Work over the last several years has shown that signals originating in the liver can influence a variety of systemic functions, including extra-cellular fluid volume control. We review work on the afferent mechanisms triggering sodium retention in cirrhosis and suggest that the data are most consistent with the existence of a sensor in the hepatic circulation that contributes to normal extra-cellular fluid volume control (that is, a ‘volume' sensor) and that in cirrhosis, the sensor is pathologically activated by the hepatic circulatory abnormalities caused by the disease. Detailed analysis of the hepatic circulation in normal conditions and cirrhosis is needed.
Quantitative assessment of liver fat with magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy

Hepatic steatosis is characterized by abnormal and excessive accumulation of lipids within hepatocytes. It is an important feature of diffuse liver disease, and the histological hallmark of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Other conditions associated with steatosis include alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, HIV and genetic lipodystrophies, cystic fibrosis liver disease, and hepatotoxicity from various therapeutic agents. Liver biopsy, the current clinical gold standard for assessment of liver fat, is invasive and has sampling errors, and is not optimal for screening, monitoring, clinical decision making, or well-suited for many types of research studies. Non-invasive methods that accurately and objectively quantify liver fat are needed. Ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) can be used to assess liver fat but have limited accuracy as well as other limitations. Magnetic resonance (MR) techniques can decompose the liver signal into its fat and water signal components and therefore assess liver fat more directly than CT or US. Most magnetic resonance (MR) techniques measure the signal fat-fraction (the fraction of the liver MR signal attributable to liver fat), which may be confounded by numerous technical and biological factors and may not reliably reflect fat content. By addressing the factors that confound the signal fat-fraction, advanced MR techniques measure the proton density fat-fraction (the fraction of the liver proton density attributable to liver fat), which is a fundamental tissue property and a direct measure of liver fat content. These advanced techniques show promise for accurate fat quantification and are likely to be commercially available soon.
Clinical applications of assessments of myocardial substrate utilization with positron emission tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) permits sequential, noninvasive assessment of myocardial perfusion and metabolism. Based on the pattern of substrate use, clinical studies have utilized PET to define the location and extent of myocardial infarction, to identify areas of jeopardized but viable myocardium, and to assess the metabolic response of the myocardium to pharmacological therapy as well as to interventions such as coronary thrombolysis and coronary artery bypass surgery. The ability to noninvasively assess specific metabolic pathways should facilitate our understanding of normal myocardial metabolism, its perturbations with cardiac disease, and thereby improve the diagnosis and treatment of the biochemical processes underlying cardiac dysfunction.
The Feminist Competition/Cooperation Dichotomy

Feminist literature sometimes posits that competition and cooperation are opposites. This dichotomy is important in that it is often invoked in order to explain why mainstream economics has focused on market activity to the exclusion of non-market activity, and why this fascination or focus is sexist. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the competition/cooperation dichotomy is false. Once the dichotomy is dissolved, those activities which are seen as competitive (masculine) and those which are seen as cooperative (feminine) are no longer mutually exclusive but are, in fact, dependent upon one another. It is shown that the outcome of competition (more and better knowledge) enhances, and in some cases makes possible, cooperation. “The function of battle is destruction; of competition, construction.” Ludwig von Mises
Techniques for early diagnosis and management of cervicofacial necrotising fasciitis

Background: Cervicofacial necrotising fasciitis carries high rates of morbidity and mortality, and is not often initially suspected due to its rarity and misleadingly innocuous presentation. We propose an algorithm for the timely diagnosis and management of cervicofacial necrotising fasciitis. Methods: Retrospective review of seven patients ultimately diagnosed with cervicofacial necrotising fasciitis. Results: In these seven patients, common presenting symptoms included sore throat, fever and neck pain. On initial examination and imaging, only three had obvious findings. One patient's diagnosis was facilitated via a bedside cut-down procedure. Six patients underwent surgical debridement. Four required tracheotomy, and five wounds closed via secondary intention. There were two deaths. Conclusion: The severity of cervical necrotising fasciitis and its rapid spread necessitate early diagnosis and timely surgical management. The presentation often appears benign. A high index of clinical suspicion should be maintained in cases of neck cellulitis with nonspecific clinical findings, especially in diabetic or otherwise immunocompromised patients. A normal computed tomography scan does not rule out necrotising fasciitis. A cut-down procedure may be critical to early diagnosis in some cases.
Increasing PCR fragment stability and protein yields in a cell-free system with genetically modified Escherichia coli extracts.

Escherichia coli cell-free protein synthesis is a highly productive system that can be applied to high throughput expression from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products in 96-well
Process Differences between Male and Female Therapists in a First Family Interview.

This paper reports a study of 63 initial interviews of structural-strategic therapy with families with child-focused problems. These interviews were analyzed to determine differences in the process of therapy between male and female therapists. We tested specifically for differences in joining and executive skills between male and female therapists. Transcripts made from audiotapes of the interviews were coded with the Therapeutic Interaction Coding System (TICS). Thirtyseven cases completed therapy, and 26 dropped out of therapy against therapists' advice. There were no significant differences in male and female therapists' case completion rates. The overall level of supportive statements was not significantly different between males and females. Family members made more structuring or directive statements toward male therapists, but stated more disagreement with other family members when their therapist was female. Male therapists made more explanation statements than female therapists in response to family members' structuring or disagreement statements. In addition, we tested for differences in activity level and found that male therapists made more statements overall than did female therapists.
An improved method for cloning portions of the repeat regions of herpes simplex virus type 1

Abstract The use of a low copy number plasmid to enhance greatly the ability to clone herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) DNA is described. Certain regions of the HSV-1 DNA have been extremely difficult to clone. Particular difficulties have often been encountered in the long and short viral repeats. Attempts to clone certain HSV-1 sequences using common plasmids produced plasmids containing inserts of unusual size and/or plasmids smaller than the original plasmid. The reason for these cloning difficulties is unclear. However, the difficulties may be related to the high overall GC content of the HSV-1 genome, the even higher GC content of the repeats, small direct and inverted repeats within the viral repeats, or uncharacterized secondary DNA structure. We show that the use of the low copy number plasmid pEV-vrf3 greatly enhanced our ability to clone and subclone ‘difficult’ HSV-1 restriction fragments, including restriction fragments that we were unable to clone using other plasmids.
"Johnson-Sea-Link Submersibles&#769; Role in the CHALLENGER Recovery"

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution's two manned submersibles, JOHNSON-SEA-LINK I & II were pressed into service to assist in locating, identifying, documenting and ultimately recovering many key pieces of the ill-fated space shuttle CHALLENGER The JOHNSON-SEA-LINKs, previously known for pioneering efforts in marine science research, proved to be valuable assets in the search and recovery operation. Their capabilities became evident from the onset when J-S-L II documented and mapped a large area of right solid rocket booster debris at a depth of 1285'.
The roaming atom: straying from the reaction path in formaldehyde decomposition

We present a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of formaldehyde (H2CO) dissociation to H2 and CO at energies just above the threshold for competing H elimination. High-resolution state-resolved imaging measurements of the CO velocity distributions reveal two dissociation pathways. The first proceeds through a well-established transition state to produce rotationally excited CO and vibrationally cold H2. The second dissociation pathway yields rotationally cold CO in conjunction with highly vibrationally excited H2. Quasi-classical trajectory calculations performed on a global potential energy surface for H2CO suggest that this second channel represents an intramolecular hydrogen abstraction mechanism: One hydrogen atom explores large regions of the potential energy surface before bonding with the second H atom, bypassing the saddle point entirely.