cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural predictors of child care quality in child care homes

Abstract Child care homes are the most common type of child care in the U.S. for very young children who receive regular non-parental care. Compared to center-based care, much less is known about relations between structural and process quality within this type of care. Further, professional associations have developed guidelines based on number and ages of the children in the child care home, but these have been empirically examined. We asked two questions in secondary analyses of two large studies of over 300 child care homes. First, we identified the structural dimensions that best predicted global quality. Regression analyses replicated previously reported finding that caregiver training, but not ratio, was the structural characteristic that most consistently predicted observed global quality. Next, we compared observed quality of care in child care homes as a function of the professional association’s guidelines regarding group size weighted by age of the children. No reliable association between quality of care and ratio guidelines obtained. These findings suggest that parents and policy makers should rely more heavily on characteristics such as caregiver training or education than on group size or child:adult ratios as they make decisions about child care homes, at least among settings in which group sizes are small to moderate.
Recent advances in planetary magnetism

During the past decade, significant advances in the in situ measurements of planetary magnetic fields have been made. The U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. have conducted spacecraft investigations of all the planets, from innermost Mercury out to Jupiter. Unexpectedly, Mercury was found to possess a global magnetic field but neither the Moon nor Venus do. The results at Mars are incomplete but if a global field exists, it is clearly quite weak. The main magnetic field of Jupiter has been measured directly for the first time and confirms, as well as augments appreciably, the past 2 decades of ground-based radio astronomical studies which provided indirect evidence of the field. Progress in developing analytically complete models of the dynamo process suggests a possible common origin for Mercury, earth and Jupiter.
Deoxyribonucleic acid excision repair in chromatin after ultraviolet irradiation of human fibroblasts in culture.

We have exposed confluent normal human fibroblasts to ultraviolet (UV) fluences of 5, 14, or 40 J/m/sup 2/ and monitored the specific activity of post-uv repair synthesis in chromatin with (/sup 3/H)thymidine pulses. We have shown that under conditions where no semiconservative deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis is detectable, the specific activity of repair label one-fifth that in bulk DNA at all three uv fluences. On the other hand, the distribution of thymine-containing pyrimidine dimers in bulk and nuclease-resistant regions measured either immediately after irradiation or at later times showed no significant differences; preferential labeling of linker (nuclease-sensitive) DNA during repair synthesis is thus apparently not due to a predominance of uv-induced photoproducts in linker relative to core particle DNA in the nucleosoome. Pulse and pulse-chase experiments at 14 or 40 J/m/sup 2/ with normal human or repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) cells showed that at most 30% of repair label in all these cells shifts from nuclease-sensitive (linker) DNA to nuclease-resistant (core particle) DNA.
Unfolding of mRNA secondary structure by the bacterial translation initiation complex.

Summary Translation initiation is a key step for regulating the level of numerous proteins within the cell. In bacteria, the 30S initiation complex directly binds to the translation initiation region (TIR) of the mRNA. How the ribosomal 30S subunit assembles on highly structured TIR is not known. Using fluorescence-based experiments, we assayed 12 different mRNAs that form secondary structures with various stabilities and contain Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequences of different strengths. A strong correlation was observed between the stability of the mRNA structure and the association and dissociation rate constants. Interestingly, in the presence of initiation factors and initiator tRNA, the association kinetics of structured mRNAs showed two distinct phases. The second phase was found to be important for unfolding structured mRNAs to form a stable 30S initiation complex. We show that unfolding of structured mRNAs requires a SD sequence, the start codon, fMet-tRNA fMet , and the GTP bound form of initiation factor 2 bound to the 30S subunit.
Analysis of bolted–bonded composite single-lap joints under combined in-plane and transverse loading

A semi-analytical solution method is developed for stress analysis of single-lap hybrid (bolted/bonded) joints of composite laminates under in-plane as well as lateral loading. The laminate and bolt displacements are based on the Mindlin and Timoshenko beam theories, respectively. For the adhesive, the displacement field is expressed in terms of those of laminates by using the shear-lag model. The derivation of the governing equations of equilibrium of the joint is based on the virtual work principle, where the kinematics of each laminate are approximated by local and global functions and the bolt kinematics is assumed in terms of cubic Hermitian polynomials. The capability of the present approach is justified by validation and demonstration problems, including the analysis of bolted and bonded joints and hybrid joints with and without considering a disbond between the adhesive and laminates.
The analysis of genomic structures in the L1 family of cell adhesion molecules provides no evidence for exon shuffling events after the separation of arthropod and chordate lineages

Members of the L1 family of neural cell adhesion molecules consist of multiple extracellular immunoglobulin and fibronectin type III domains that mediate the adhesive properties of this group of transmembrane proteins. In vertebrate genomes, these protein domains are separated by introns, and it has been suggested that L1-type genes might have been subject to exon-shuffling events during evolution. However, comparison of the human L1-CAM and the chicken neurofascin gene with the genomic structure of their Drosophila homologue, neuroglian, indicates that no major rearrangement of protein domains has taken place subsequent to the split of the arthropod and chordate phyla. The Drosophila neuroglian gene appears to have lost most of the introns that have been conserved in the human L1-CAM and the chicken neurofascin gene. Nevertheless, exon shuffling or the generation of new exons by mutational changes might have been responsible for the generation of additional, alternatively spliced exons in L1-type genes.
High-Pressure Ion-Thermal Properties of Metals from AB Initio Interatomic Potentials

It has recently become possible for the first time to calculate ab initio two-ion and three-ion interatomic potentials in d-electron transition metals. The nature of these potentials for the 3d series metals is discussed. In the case of copper, where three-ion contributions may be neglected, application is made to the ion-thermal component of the equation of state and to the calculation of melting on the shock Hugoniot.
Radiation necrosis of the brain. Neuroradiological considerations with computed tomography

In cases with radiation necrosis of the brain, conventional neuroradiological examinations usually demonstrate only an avascular mass lesion impossible to differentiate from intracerebral tumor or hemorrhage. Computed tomography, performed in addition to angiography in three cases, consistently demonstrated the radiation necrosis as a low density area exhibiting enhancement following infusion of contrast medium. The importance of recognizing radiation necrosis as a differential diagnosis to brain neoplasm is emphasized.
Asset Allocation and the Performance of Real Estate Mutual Funds

We examine the performance of real estate mutual funds during January 1991–December 1997. As a group, the sampled funds outperformed the Wilshire Real Estate Securities Index on a risk-adjusted basis by more than 5 percentage points annually. We attempt to explain these surprising findings by examining the fund's asset allocations across stocks, bonds and real estate property types using Sharpe's (1992) effective-mix test. We find that all of the superior performance is attributable to fund managers' decisions to overweight outperforming property types (apartments and health care) relative to the Wilshire Real Estate Securities Index weights. Performance of the funds matches a multiple-property-type benchmark that takes account of the fund's exposure to each property type. Therefore, real estate funds demonstrated superior allocation across property types, but neither superior nor inferior selection within property type, during 1991–1997. Our findings emphasize the importance of asset allocation for real estate mutual-fund performance.
Results of a Search for Cold Flows of Dark Matter Axions

Theoretical arguments predict that the distribution of cold dark matter in spiral galaxies has peaks in velocity space associated with nonthermalized flows of dark matter particles. We searched for the corresponding peaks in the spectrum of microwave photons from axion to photon conversion in a cavity detector for dark matter axions. We found none and place limits on the density of any local flow of axions as a function of the flow velocity dispersion over the axion mass range 1.98 to 2.17 {mu}eV.
Modulation of mTOR Effector Phosphoproteins in Blood Basophils from Allergic Patients

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway contributes to various immunoinflammatory processes. Yet, its potential involvement in basophil responses in allergy remains unclear. In this pilot study, we quantified two key mTOR effector phosphoproteins, the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (peIF4E) and S6 ribosomal protein (pS6rp), in blood basophils from nut allergy patients (NA, N = 16) and healthy controls (HC, N = 13). Without stimulation in vitro, basophil peIF4E levels were higher in NA than HC subjects (P = 0.014). Stimulation with nut (offending) but not chicken / rice (non-offending) extract increased basophil peIF4E and pS6rp levels (+32%, P = 0.018, and +98%, P = 0.0026, respectively) in NA but not HC subjects, concomitant with increased surface levels of CD203c and CD63, both known to reflect basophil activation. Pre-treatment with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin decreased pS6rp and CD203c responses in nut extract-stimulated basophils in NA subjects. Thus, basophil responses to offending allergens are associated with modulation of mTOR effector phosphoproteins.
A prospective, randomized, split-face, controlled trial of salicylic acid peels in the treatment of melasma in Latin American women.

Background Melasma, a common disorder of hyperpigmentation, is often resistant to therapy. Although salicylic acid peels have been reported to be useful for patients with recalcitrant melasma, controlled trials are lacking. Objective We sought to determine the efficacy of salicylic acid peels when added to hydroquinone in the treatment of melasma. Methods Twenty Latin American women with moderate to severe bilateral melasma were treated with a series of 20% to 30% salicylic acid peels every 2 weeks for a total of 4 peels on one side of the face along with 4% hydroquinone cream to both sides of the face twice daily. The primary efficacy variable was reduction in pigmentation of the peeled side compared with the unpeeled side using narrowband reflectance spectrophotometry. Results Eighteen patients completed the study. Although both sides had significant reduction in pigment intensity, there was no difference between the peeled and unpeeled side with all outcome measures. Limitations Patients were limited to Latin American women and only 4 peels were performed. Conclusion A series of four 20% to 30% salicylic acid peels are not effective in the treatment of melasma when added to twice-daily 4% hydroquinone cream.
LONG TERM CARVEDILOL IN CHILDREN WITH DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

Medical treatment in pediatric patient with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is not as well standardized as in the adult population in relation to medications and dosages; use of carvedilol remains controversial. We reviewed our experience over the past 14 years in treating children with DCM. We
Triticum turgidum L. 6A and 6B recombinant substitution lines: extended linkage maps and characterization of residual background alien genetic variation

Triticum turgidum L. var ‘durum’ cv ‘Langdon’-T. t. var ‘dicoccoides’ chromosome 6A and 6B recombinant substitution lines (RSLs) and a F2 population derived from a ‘Langdon’-T. t. var ‘dicoccoides’ disomic chromosome 6A substitution line×‘Langdon’ cross were analyzed with the objective of markedly increasing the number of markers assigned to and the resolution of previously constructed 6A and 6B linkage maps. Fifty-seven markers were added to the 6A RSL-population map, which now consists of 73 markers that span 111 cM, and 40 markers were added to the 6B RSL-population map, which now consists of 56 markers that span 123 cM. With the exception of 2 6B loci, all of the loci on the two RSL-population maps were ordered at a LOD score ≥3.0. Thirty-seven orthologous markers were mapped in the two chromosomes and colinearity between them is strongly indicated. The 6A RSL-population map and the F2-population map are highly similar, indicating that the former population, which consists of 66 lines, can be reliably used for mapping, as was previously demonstrated for the 6B RSL population. In the absence of selection and genetic drift, the lines in a RSL population, except at loci in the substituted/recombined chromosome, should be near-isogenic. An unexpected finding was that at least 26 and possibly 29 of the RFLPs detected in the RSL populations (18% of the markers analyzed) are not located in the substituted/recombined chromosomes. Linkage analysis of the markers disclosed that at least 19 of them are located in six or seven segments that span approximately 10 cM and 17 cM of the genetic lengths of 6B and 6A, respectively, in the 6A and 6B RSL populations, respectively, a finding that suggests that 40 or more alien segments spanning 8–15% of the genetic length of the 13 unsubstituted chromosomes are present in both of the RSL populations. Alien alleles are fixed in many RSLs for most of the markers, in most cases at a frequency consistent with theoretical expectations. Highly distorted segregation favoring the alien allele was detected for all of the markers in 2 of the segments, however. Nine of the markers were among those mapped in the substituted/recombined chromosomes; the linkage data obtained for the other 10 was sufficient to assign them to approximate map positions.
Attitudes versus performance in providing gynecologic care to adolescents by pediatricians

This study ascertained current pediatric attitudes verses performance in caring for adolescent females in private practices in a suburban area. Sixty-seven randomly selected pediatricians were given a confidential questionnaire; 90% responded. Areas assessed were attitudes and practice about sexual history, breast examination, teaching self-breast examination, and vaginal examination. Comparisons were made between the different age groups and between male and female pediatricians. Ninety-two percent of pediatricians felt it was important to take a sexual history by age 16 years, while only 73% actually did. More female than male pediatricians thought it was important to take a sexual history and actually did so. Seventy-five percent stated that a breast examination should be routine, and most performed the examination. However only 60% taught self-breast examination despite the fact that 93% believed it was important. An internal vaginal examination as part of a routine physical was performed by only 7%. For specific gynecologic problems most asked to see the patient but most did not do an internal examination. The most likely indication for a pelvic examination was a vaginal discharge, but only 28% of the pediatricians would examine their patient for this complaint. Of the pediatricians who do the examination, 41% were not sure they had received the proper training. These data suggest that despite the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations that pediatricians continue the care of patients until age 21 years, there does not appear to be optimal care provided to female adolescent patients.
A Newton–based boundary element method for nonlinear convective diffusion problems

Abstract A Newton-based boundary element method for the solution of nonlinear convective diffusion problems is presented. The problems are formulated through the use of the exponential transformation. The numerical procedures for the boundary element implementation of the formulation are discussed, and the treatment of nonlinear boundary conditions using the Newton-Raphson method is described in detail. The coefficient matrices resulting from the boundary element implementation are so partitioned as to facilitate the construction and efficient computation of the Jacobian matrix. Three numerical examples are provided. The results agree well with the analytical solutions whenever available. The method is free from numerical oscillations even for high Peclet numbers. The Newton-based iterative scheme, when integrated with the BEM, provides an efficient algorithm for the solution of nonlinear convective diffusion problems and is superior to the successive substitution approximation.
Einstein's Quest for Unity

Jeroen Van Dongen, Einstein's Unification. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. x + 213 pp. £50.00. ISBN 978-0-521-88346-7. Reviewed By Robert Deltete, Department of Philosophy, Seattle Uni...
Intraneural perineurioma in a child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of an intraneural perineurioma in a child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Intraneural perineurioma, previously known as localized hypertrophic neuropathy, is a rare benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising from perineurium. This report adds a new entity in the spectrum of tumor formation in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.
Energy requirement for long-term body weight maintenance in older women

Abstract The total dietary energy requirement of healthy, free-living older women was examined by determining the total energy intake (TEl) required for long-term body weight maintenance in nine women aged (mean ± SD) 67 ± 9 years (range, 56 to 78). For 14 weeks, each woman consumed defined amounts of foods and beverages prepared at a General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) to provide 0.8 g protein · kg −1 · d −1 and a nonprotein energy ratio of 40% fat to 60% carbohydrate. Adjustments to TEl were made to keep body weight within ±0.5 kg of each woman's starting body weight. All women were asked to maintain their habitual level of daily activity, and the energy cost of physical activity was estimated using the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS). Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured with each woman in the postabsorptive state just after awakening, using an indirect calorimeter at baseline and week 14. The energy requirement expressed as the ratio of TEl to REE was 1.82 ± 0.15 a value 21% higher ( P P
Auctions with Noncompetitive Sales

Abstract We present a model of multiunit auctions in which some of the units may be sold before the auction (i.e., “noncompetitively”) at a price to be established by the auction. All potential buyers have similar information and costs. But, at equilibrium, some buy noncompetitively while the remainder bid in the auction, and the seller benefits from allowing noncompetitive sales.Journal of Economic LiteratureClassification Number: D44.
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced decrease in the fluidity of rat liver membranes.

1. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCCD)-induced lipid peroxidation has previously been demonstrated by assessing the hepatic content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as well as the NADPH-dependent microsomal formation of TBARS as well as the NADPH-dependent microsomal formation of TBARS using malondialdehyde as the standard. 2. Changes in membrane fluidity as a result of lipid peroxidation may occur. Therefore the dose- and time-dependent effects of TCDD on lipid peroxidation in mitochondrial, microsomal, and plasma membranes, and changes in membrane fluidity in these subcellular fractions, were examined. Animals were treated with either 50 or 100 micrograms TCDD/kg orally, and killed 3, 6, or 9 days post-treatment. 3. Time-dependent increases occurred in TBARS content and formation following TCDD administration for all three membranes. Similar results were observed after 50 and 100 micrograms TCDD/kg. 4. Following TCDD administration, fluorescence polarization measurements as determined by the fluorescence polarization (r) and anisotropy parameter (a.p.) values demonstrated significant decreases in membrane fluidity in all membrane fractions, indicative of membrane structural alterations. 5. Excellent inverse correlations between lipid peroxidation and membrane fluidity were observed. Thus, decreased membrane fluidity and increased membrane damage may contribute to the toxic manifestations of TCDD as a consequence of an oxidative stress.
Ages of calcium-rich achondrites—I. Eucrites

The noble gases He, Ne and Ar were measured in 26 eucrites and 2 howardites, and in separated mineral fractions of 6 eucrites. The feldspar has lost nearly all its cosmogenic He3, as shown previously by Megrue (1966). Radiation ages were therefore calculated by a new method, using the He3Ar38 ratio to infer the feldspar content and hence the correction for He3 diffusion losses. Bulk samples as small as 50 mg can thus be reliably dated. Earlier measurements from the literature were recalculated in this manner. The resulting age distribution resembles that of chondrites, ranging from ≤0.1 m.y. to 62 m.y. Two distinct clusters were found at 5 and 11 m.y.; two others may be present at ~18 and ~30 m.y. Two howardites are present in the first 2 clusters. Apparently eucrites and howardites are produced in the same impacts, and hence originated from within a few kilometers of each other. K-Ar ages of eucrites lie between 2.4 and 4.4 AE; U-He ages tend to be systematically shorter, with more than one-third lying below 1 AE. The three eucrites with shortest U-He ages ( <0.2 AE) show pronounced shock effects. Presumably the short ages are due to a recent collision that heated the parent body of these meteorites. This would seem to imply that all eucrites and howardites originated in a single body. The two shergottites have virtually identical radiation ages (2.5 m.y.) and K-Ar ages (0.5–0.6 AE). Perhaps they were involved in the postulated 0.52 AE collision that fragmented the parent body of the hypersthene chondrites and produced the majority of iron meteorites now falling on Earth. Howardites and eucrites differ strikingly in the proportion of gas-rich meteorites. Not a single one of the 30 eucrites and shergottites investigated to date contains light primordial gases, while 3 out of 6 howardites do. Most of the properties of eucrites are equally consistent with a lunar or an asteroidal origin. Two factors favoring an asteroidal origin are the existence of unbrecciated eucrites and of mesosiderites with eucritic silicate inclusions.
A novel pathway for receptor-mediated post-translational activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is a major source of nitric oxide during inflammation whose activity is thought to be controlled primarily at the expression level. The B1 kinin receptor (B1R) post-translationally activates iNOS beyond its basal activity via extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)-mediated phosphorylation of Ser745. Here we identified the signalling pathway causing iNOS activation in cytokine-treated endothelial cells or HEK293 cells transfected with iNOS and B1R. To allow kinetic measurements of nitric oxide release, we used a sensitive porphyrinic microsensor (response time = 10 msec.; 1 nM detection limit). B1Rs signalled through Gαi coupling as ERK and iNOS activation were inhibited by pertussis toxin. Furthermore, transfection of constitutively active mutant Gαi Q204L but not Gαq Q209L resulted in high basal iNOS-derived nitric oxide. G-βγ subunits were also necessary as transfection with the β-adrenergic receptor kinase C-terminus inhibited the response. B1R-dependent iNOS activation was also inhibited by Src family kinase inhibitor PP2 and trans-fection with dominant negative Src. Other ERK-MAP kinase members were involved as the response was inhibited by dominant negative H-Ras, Raf kinase inhibitor, ERK activation inhibitor and MEK inhibitor PD98059. In contrast, PI3 kinase inhibitor LY94002, calcium chelator 1,2-bis-(o-Aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid, tetraacetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM), protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C and protein kinase C activator PMA had no effect. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor enalaprilat also directly activated B1Rs to generate high output nitric oxide via the same pathway. These studies reveal a new mechanism for generating receptor-regulated high output nitric oxide in inflamed endothelium that may play an important role in the development of vascular inflammation.
The pathway to noxious cyanobacteria blooms in lakes : the food web as the final turn

1. Cyanobacteria blooms have long been the focus of limnological research as they often represent the ‘end member’ of limnological deterioration under various human impacts. Research over the past several decades has greatly illuminated the ecological factors promoting cyanobacteria blooms but controversy and confusion surround the successful integration of this diverse body of work. 2. In this opinion article I attempt to integrate well-known aspects of cyanobacteria bloom ecology (such as the roles of nutrient loading, N:P ratio, and mixing conditions) with more recent developments that highlight the importance of feedbacks within the food web in regulating cyanobacteria blooms. Food-web feedbacks involving stoichiometric mechanisms appear to be particularly important, as accumulating data indicate that the food web influences cyanobacteria not just by regulating the rate of grazing mortality. Rather, trophic interactions may also regulate cyanobacteria dynamics by altering the consumer-driven nutrient recycling regime in a way that shifts the competitive advantage away from cyanobacteria. 3. Viewed in this way, cyanobacteria blooms can be seen as probabilistic events that are the end result of a series of key mechanisms involving nutrient loading, physical mixing conditions, and trophic interactions. To successfully manage lake water quality we should take advantage of each node of contingency leading to undesirable blooms. In doing so we will also have a more coherent scientific message to communicate with those directly involved with the socioeconomic politics of water quality decision making.
NON-NUCLEAR MULTIQUARK STATES: DIBARYONS AND PENTAQUARKS FROM A SUCCESSFUL NUCLEAR QUARK MODEL

A model for nuclei described directly in terms of quarks has been developed in both relativistic and non-relativistic forms. It describes nuclear binding energy and structure for small nuclei (A=3,4) systematically correctly, including the EMC effect. With one free parameter each for strange and for nonstrange states, it also well describes low energy baryon-nucleon scattering, phase shifts and potentials. It predicts low mass, narrow dibaryon and pentaquark states. To be consistent with reported states, new physics may be required that is not included in any quark model to date.
Cold-active halophilic bacteria from the ice-sealed Lake Vida, Antarctica.

Lake Vida is a large, permanently ice-covered lake in the Victoria Valley of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica and is unique among Dry Valley lakes because it is ice-sealed, with an ice-cover of nearly 19 m. Enrichment cultures of melt-water from Lake Vida 15.9 m ice yielded five pure cultures of aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria. Of these, one strain grew at −8°C and the four others at −4°C. All isolates were either halotolerant or halophilic, with two strains capable of growth at 15% NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the Lake Vida isolates to be Gammaproteobacteria, related to species of Psychrobacter and Marinobacter. This is the first report of pure cultures of bacteria from Lake Vida, and the isolates displayed a phenotype consistent with life in a cold hypersaline environment.
Future directions in neutrality research: symmetry and transparency

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the neutrality literature and suggests areas ripe for future research. Design/methodology/approach – The authors reviewed journal articles on the topic of neutrality in mediation, which included theoretical viewpoints and empirical research on practicing mediators’ understanding of neutrality. Findings – The review of literature revealed that party perspectives are largely missing from current neutrality literature. Two potential concepts emerged from the authors' review of literature that could potentially influence parties’ attributions of mediator neutrality: symmetry and transparency. Symmetry refers to the equal treatment of parties, whereas transparency refers to providing an explanation of past or future behavior. Research on whether symmetry and transparency are key influences on party assessment of mediator neutrality could make a significant contribution to the field. Research limitations/implications – The authors call ...
An RNA Destabilizing Element in the First Intron of the Human N-myc Oncogene Functions Independently of the N-myc Promoter. † 677

Normal expression of the N-myc gene is restricted to fetal epithelial tissues and adult pre-B cells. The gene is amplified and overexpressed in a subset of neuroblastomas. Elucidation of the normal mechanisms of N-myc gene regulation may lead to more directed therapies for this tumor. Using N-myc promoter-reporter transfections, we and others noted that the 5′ portion of the promoter is active in many cell types, including those lacking endogenous N-myc expression. In addition, nuclear run-on analyses using single-stranded targets demonstrate transcription across the entire N-myc gene even in cell types which do not express endogenous N-myc, suggesting that post-transcriptional mechanisms regulate expression. We localized a 116 bp element within intron 1 which is sufficient to direct expression to only those cell types in which the endogenous N-myc gene is active. This intron element alone can decrease expression from a heterologous promoter (pSV40) in N-myc non-expressing cell types to 1-10% of that in N-myc expressing cells. This element functions to decrease expression only when placed within the transcriptional unit, but not when located upstream from the transcription start site. Surprisingly, this intron element decreases reporter activity in N-myc non-expressing cells equally well regardless of its orientation. This intron element destabilizes luciferase transcripts derived from transfected reporter plasmids in N-myc non-expressing U937 cells (T1/2 = 2.9 ± 0.5 hrs. for pN-myc intron-luciferase vs. 16.7 ± 3 hrs. for pN-myc luciferase). Taken together, these data indicate that a major control mechanism restricting human N-myc expression to specific tissues is posttranscriptional, and that an element within the first intron acts to decrease expression by destabilizing unprocessed RNA.
Extracted Sweet Sorghum Substrates as a Source of Fermentable Sugars Scientific Note

Simple sugars of variously prepared sweet sorghum culms were extracted to different extents depending upon water temperature, extraction time, and size of the culm substrate. Sonication of succulent culms (≤15 mm split sections) suspended in water followed by centrifugation extracted 88% of the available sugars. However, hot water extraction of freeze-dried and milled sorghum quantitatively extracted the simple sugars, which were 2/3 sucrose and 1/3 glucose and fructose. Following the sugar removal, the residue was extracted with a 12% NaOH solution to leave a cellulosic residue that was nearly quantitatively converted (98%) to glucose by enzymatic hydrolysis. Ninety percent of the pentosans in the culms were extracted by the alkali treatment, and then 91% of these pentosans were precipitated from the alkaline extract with acidified ethanol.
Synthesis and characterization of new fluorene-based singlet oxygen sensitizers.

The synthesis, photophysical characterization, and determination of singlet oxygen quantum yields (ΦΔ) for a class of fluorene derivatives with potential application in two-photon photodynamic therapy (PDT) is reported. It has been demonstrated that these compounds possess the ability to generate singlet oxygen (1O2) upon excitation. A photochemical method, using 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) as 1O2 chemical quencher, was employed to determine the singlet oxygen quantum yields (ΦΔ) of the fluorene-based photosensitizers in ethanol. ΦΔ values ranged from 0.35 to 0.75. These derivatives may have potential application as two-photon photosensitizers when pumped via two-photon excitation in the near-IR spectral region.
Chief executives’ self-regulation and strategic orientation: A theoretical model

Summary A long-standing issue in strategy research is the relationship between executive individual characteristics, strategic decisions, and resulting outcomes. I refocus upper echelons theory on executives’ psychological processes represented by their self-regulation (promotion vs. prevention). Through a set of propositions, I connect executives’ self-regulation with strategic processes and outcomes, and discuss the benefit of incorporating promotion and prevention modes of regulation in research focusing on executives.
SELECTED SKELETAL ALTERATIONS TO IMPROVE TENDERNESS OF BEEF ROUND MUSCLES

Bone (shaft ofischium, 4th/5th sacral vertebrae) and connective tissues at the round/loin junction of one randomly selected side of each of five beef carcasses (no roll, typical of US Select, 322±24 kg) were cut 45 min postmortem (Tender-cutTM), while companion sides served as the controls. Carcasses were suspended conventionally and chilled for 24 h. Vastus lateralis (VL), Rectus femoris (RF), and Vastus medialis (VM) muscles were removed to determine the effect of this treatment on sarcomere length, shear force, fragmentation index, collagen solubility, thawing loss, and cooking loss. The TendercutTMtreatment resulted in longer (P 0.05). No difference (P > 0.05) were determined between the control and tendercutTMsteaks in collagen solubility, thawing loss, cooking loss, percentage fat and moisture content.
Minimally Invasive Iliac Crest Bone Graft Harvesting: A Design and Business Method Overview

ethylenedioxythiophene commonly known as PEDOT. These coatings enable intimate, long-term electrical and biological connections between implantable electrodes and the target tissue, offering the conductivity and stability of metals with the ease of processing and biological functionality of polymers. In this paper, we compare the in vitro electrical performance of three types of implantable electrostimulation devices: active fixation pacing leads, cochlear electrodes, and spinal cord stimulators with and without the BT DOT coatings. Significant decreases in impedance and polarization were observed along with significant increased charge storage capacity. The results suggest that such coatings may enable future medical device design improvements such as smaller device profiles and extended battery life.
Economic analysis of a herpes zoster vaccination program in 19 affiliated supermarket pharmacies

Abstract Objectives To examine the economic impact of providing herpes zoster vaccine (ZOS) in 19 affiliated supermarket pharmacies in a midwestern metropolitan area from the perspective of the pharmacy and to identify factors associated with greater rates of vaccine delivery and profitability. Setting 19 affiliated supermarket pharmacies in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Practice description Immunizations with ZOS were expanded from 2 pharmacies to all 19 affiliated pharmacies. Various methods to promote the vaccine were used, including personal selling, store signage, and circular ads. Practice innovation In addition to a broad perspective pharmacoeconomic model, a localized perspective model is proposed to determine profitability for the service. Factors associated with greater success in vaccine delivery and profitability were identified. Main outcomes measure Net financial gains or losses were calculated for each vaccine administered for each of the 19 pharmacies and for the entire supermarket chain. Results 662 vaccines were given during the study period, accounting for 6.7% of all eligible patients. The profit per vaccine averaged $9.60 (5.7%) and $28.37 (18.9%) using the broad and localized perspective models, respectively. Conclusion Success of the ZOS program was demonstrated using both models. Certain factors correlated with greater profits when using the localized perspective model.
PARALLEL ALGORITHMS FOR MAXIMUM SUBSEQUENCE AND MAXIMUM SUBARRAY

Given a sequence Q of n numbers (positive and negative), the maximum subsequence of Q is the contiguous subsequence that has the maximum sum among all contiguous subsequences of Q. Given a two-dimensional array A of n × n numbers (positive and negative), the maximum subarray of A is the contiguous subarray that has the maximum sum among all contiguous subarrays of A. We present two O(log n)-time parallel algorithms — one for finding the maximum subsequence sum of a given sequence, and the other for finding the maximum subarray sum of a given array. The former is optimal on an EREW PRAM. The latter is optimal on a CREW PRAM, in the sense that the time-processor product matches the current sequential upperbound of O(n3).
Historical Aspects of Packaging Fluid Milk in the United States

Abstract During the past century fluid milk has been packaged in glass, waxed and plasticized paper, blow molded polyethylene, plastic sachets, and rigid polycarbonate containers. Materials to package milk aseptically are discussed. Various packaging concerns including sanitation, mechanical testing, toxicology and migration, temperature, humidity, light, plastic reuse containers, cost, and ecology are also highlighted in this overview of milk packaging.
Noise-induced bursting in stochastic models of single cells and electrically coupled ensembles

Bursting is a common form of electrical activity in individual neurons and neuronal networks characterized by alternating phases of spiking and quiescence. Many physiological and cognitive functions of the nervous system rely on the rhythms generated by bursting oscillations. In particular, bursting plays a prominent role in central pattern generators controlling various types of rhythmic behaviors such as respiration, heartbeat, and locomotion to name a few. In many cases, bursting results from the slow modulation by ionic currents with slow gating or slowly changing calcium concentration. Therefore, slow-fast systems of differential equations provide a natural framework for studying dynamical mechanisms of bursting [1]. The slow-fast analysis of bursting reveals the relation between the structure of the differential equation model (more precisely, the bifurcation structure of the fast subsystem) and the qualitative features of the bursting patterns that it produces. This relation can be used to explain dynamical mechanisms underlying bursting in variety of deterministic conductance-based models [1,2].
Phase Change Memories have taken the field

Phase Change Memories (PCM) have been developed since few years and now they are in volume production, thus demonstrating the maturity of the technology. State of the art access time of 85ns, read throughput 266MB/s and write throughput 9MB/s combined with data retention, single bit alterability, execution in place and good cycling performance enables traditional NVM utilizations but also already opened applications in LPDDR field. In the following the technology status will be reviewed and future applications and development lines will be drawn.
An assessment of sources and pathways of human exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the United States

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are ubiquitous in the indoor environment, owing to their use in consumer products ranging from electronics to mattresses, furniture, and carpets. People are exposed to PBDEs through inhalation of indoor air and ingestion, and dermal absorption of dust particles present in the air. In this study, concentrations of PBDEs were determined in indoor air and house dust collected from homes in Albany, New York, USA. Based on the measured concentrations of PBDEs in indoor air and dust, we estimated daily exposure dose (DED) of PBDEs. In addition, we used previously published PBDE concentrations reported for breast milk from Massachusetts, USA [Johnson-Restrepo, B., Addink, R., Wong, C., Arcaro, K., Kannan, K., 2007. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and organochlorine pesticides in human breast milk from Massachusetts. USA. J. Environ. Monitor. 9, 1205-1212] and foodstuffs collected from Texas and Florida, USA [Schecter, A., Papke, O., Harris, T.R., Tung, K.C., Musumba, A., Olson, J., Birnbaum, L., 2006. Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) levels in an expanded market basket survey of U.S. food and estimated PBDE dietary intake by age and sex. Environ. Health Perspect. 114, 1515-1520, Johnson-Restrepo, B., Kannan, K., Addink, R., Adams, D.H., 2005b. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in a marine foodweb of coastal Florida. Environ. Sci. Technol. 39, 8243-8250], in an estimation of dietary exposure to PBDEs. The exposure assessment was performed for five age groups: infants (<1yr), toddlers (1-5yr), children (6-11yr), teenagers (12-19yr), and adults (20yr). The dust ingestion and air inhalation factors that we used were the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) exposure factors, while the daily food intake rates (g/day) were derived from the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) food intake surveys. The total DED of PBDEs was calculated by summation of the exposures from diet, indoor air, and house dust. The average estimated DED of PBDEs was the highest for breastfed infants (86.4ng/kg-bw/day), contributed primarily (91%) from the consumption of breast milk. The average DED of PBDEs for toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults was respectively, 13.3, 5.3, 3.5, and 2.9ng/kg-bw/day. Ingestion and dermal absorption of house dust are the major pathways of PBDE exposure in toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults accounting for, on average, 56-77% of the total PBDE intake.
Design of Amino Acid Aldehydes as Transition-state Analogue Inhibitors of Arginase

Arginase is a binuclear manganese metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of l-arginine to form l-ornithine and urea. Chiral L-amino acids bearing aldehyde side chains have been synthesized in which the electrophilic aldehyde C=O bond is isosteric with the C=N bond of L-arginine. This substitution is intended to facilitate nucleophilic attack by the metal-bridging hydroxide ion upon binding to the arginase active site. Syntheses of the amino acid aldehydes have been accomplished by reduction, oxidation, and Wittig-type reaction with a commercially available derivative of L-glutamic acid. Amino acid aldehydes exhibit inhibition in the micromolar range, and the X-ray crystal structure of arginase I complexed with one of these inhibitors, (S)-2-amino-7-oxoheptanoic acid, has been determined at 2.2 A resolution. In the enzyme-inhibitor complex, the inhibitor aldehyde moiety is hydrated to form the gem-diol: one hydroxyl group bridges the Mn(2+)(2) cluster and donates a hydrogen bond to D128, and the second hydroxyl group donates a hydrogen bond to E277. The binding mode of the neutral gem-diol may mimic the binding of the neutral tetrahedral intermediate and its flanking transition states in arginase catalysis.
High performance liquid chromatography for facile analytical separation of the enantiomers of chiral organometallic complexes

Abstract The applicability of chiral HPLC for the rapid analysis of the enantiopurity of organoiridium and -molybdenum complexes is demonstrated. Halogen-substituted metal complexes showed the best separation and the longest elution times. Separation of enantiomers of planar chiral zirconium and titanium complexes was also attempted although unsuccessfully. Preparative-scale columns were shown to be useful for the separation of racemic material into synthetically useful amounts of pure enantiomers.
The effectiveness of exchange-rate changes

This article addresses the question of whether exchange rates are a useful policy instrument. The very question will raise tempers: the suggestion that the real exchange rate is a policy variable is firmly rejected by any student in the 'new classical' tradi tion, and even by a broader group who are reluctant to declare a broad policy role for the nominal quantity of money or the nominal exchange rate. Either can, of course, be manipulated. But whether there is scope to change in this manner the real quantity of money or the real exchange rate is quite another matter.
Metabolic effects of intermittent hypoxia in mice: steady versus high-frequency applied hypoxia daily during the rest period

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is a frequent occurrence in sleep and respiratory disorders. Both human and murine studies show that IH may be implicated in metabolic dysfunction. Although the effects of nocturnal low-frequency intermittent hypoxia (IHL) have not been extensively examined, it would appear that IHL and high-frequency intermittent hypoxia (IHH) may elicit distinct metabolic adaptations. To this effect, C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to IHH (cycles of 90 s 6.4% O2 and 90 s 21% O2 during daylight), IHL (8% O2 during daylight hours), or control (CTL) for 5 wk. At the end of exposures, some of the mice were subjected to a glucose tolerance test (GTT; after intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg glucose/g body wt), and others were subjected to an insulin tolerance test (ITT; 0.25 units Humulin/kg body wt), with plasma leptin and insulin levels being measured in fasting conditions. Skeletal muscles were harvested for GLUT4 and proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-α (PGC1-α) expression. Both IHH and IHL displayed reduced body weight increases compared with CTL. CTL mice had higher basal glycemic levels, but GTT kinetics revealed marked differences between IHL and IHH, with IHL manifesting the lowest insulin sensitivity compared with either IHH or CTL, and such findings were further confirmed by ITT. No differences emerged in PGC1-α expression across the three experimental groups. However, while cytosolic GLUT4 protein expression remained similar in IHL, IHH, and CTL, significant decreases in GLUT4 membrane fraction occurred in hypoxia and were most pronounced in IHL-exposed mice. Thus IHH and IHL elicit differential glucose homeostatic responses despite similar cumulative hypoxic profiles.