cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ON-COLUMN REDUCTION OF CATECHOLAMINE QUINONES IN STAINLESS STEEL COLUMNS DURING LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

Abstract The chromatographic behavior of quinones derived from the oxidation of dopamine and N-acetyldopamine has been studied using liquid chromatography (LC) with both a diode array detector and an electrochemical detector that has parallel dual working electrodes. When stainless steel columns are used, an anodic peak for the oxidation of the catecholamine is observed at the same retention time as a cathodic peak for the reduction of the catecholamine quinone. In addition, the anodic peak exhibits a tail that extends to a second anodic peak for the catecholamine. The latter peak occurs at the normal retention time of the catecholamine. The origin of this phenomenon has been studied and metallic iron in the stainless steel components of the LC system has been found to reduce the quinones to their corresponding catecholamines. The simultaneous appearance of a cathodic peak for the reduction of catecholamine quinone and an anodic peak for the oxidation of the corresponding catecholamine occurs when metallic iron in the exit frit reduces some of the quinones as the latter exits the column. This phenomenon is designated as the "concurrent anodic-cathodic response." It is also observed for quinones of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropenoic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and probably occurs with o- or p-quinones of other dihydroxyphenyl compounds. The use of nonferrous components in LC systems is recommended to eliminate possible on-column reduction of quinones.
Letter to the Editor concerning ''CT Morphology and Morphometry of the normal adult coccyx'' (by Woon JT et al. (2013); Eur Spine J 22(4):863-870)

We applaud your journal and the authors Woon et al. [1] on the recent publication describing the coccygeal morphology and morphometry of computerized tomography (CT) scans of 112 adults without coccydynia. This article gives the most educational, detailed, and organized discussion we have ever seen on the topic of coccygeal CT findings in patients without coccyx pain. Clearly, this article will be an extremely useful reference for clinicians and radiologists evaluating CT images in patients who actually do have tailbone pain. However, the findings reported in these non-coccydynia patients should not lead clinicians/readers to erroneously assume that similar imaging findings are necessarily clinically irrelevant when seen in symptomatic (coccydynia) patients. For example, a distal coccygeal bone spur (spicule) which may merely be an incidental finding in a non-symptomatic patient might be a substantial source of suffering in a patient who does indeed have coccydynia. A careful history and careful, detailed palpation on physical examination is necessary before discrediting such imaging findings as being merely normal variants.
Informed consent in dentistry

An examination of legal developments provides dentists with practice suggestions to help them understand allegations of informed consent.
Regulating External Reporting in the Municipal Bond Market: The Relevance of Nonfinancial Information in Evaluating Hospital Financial Performance

This paper is motivated by a concern that the health care sector of the municipal bond market lacks adequate financial performance disclosures. This lack of sufficient disclosure has been blamed for the inability of some hospitals to raise much‐needed funding through bond issues and may also adversely affect interest costs. There have been frequent calls for both increased disclosure and increased regulation of such disclosure to protect the interests of investors and creditors within this market sector. However, such calls presume that financial accounting information—and therefore the regulation of accounting disclosures—is the policy arena of interest. We demonstrate that, even with respect to narrowly focused financial interests, nonfinancial sources of information are also relevant. This is suggestive of the notion that the economic features of health care may be such that nonfinancial aspects of health care delivery may be important to the financial performance of hospitals.
Polarization analysis based on grating conical diffraction

The intrinsic multiple-beam-splitting and polarization-altering properties of a diffraction grating are combined with linear photodetectors to achieve a simple and versatile photopolarimeter for the simultaneous and nearly instantaneous measurement of the four Stokes parameters of light in an arbitrary state of partial elliptical polarization. For spectroscopic applications the dispersive property of the grating is also employed with photodetector arrays to obtain Stokes parameter spectra.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Airborne differential absorption lidar and its evolution to space

Airborne laser systems have been used for making remote measurements of ozone, water vapor, and aerosols in studies of many important atmospheric processes. Recent ozone and aerosol investigations have been conducted in the troposphere over western Pacific and in the stratosphere in the tropics and Arctic, and water vapor, aerosols, and cloud investigations have been conducted over land and water during daytime and nighttime conditions. Studies are also being conducted of future spaceborne laser systems for global investigations of ozone, water vapor, aerosols, and clouds.
Oro-pharyngeal biopsy: a new technique for gastroeternologists to evaluate patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Oro-pharyngeal biopsy: a new technique for gastroeternologists to evaluate patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Cognitive‐Behavioral Treatment of School Phobia

ABSTRACT Objective To conduct a controlled group outcome investigation of the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral treatment for school phobia. Method Fifty-six children with school phobia were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of cognitive-behavioral therapy or an attention-placebo control condition. Pre- and posttreatment school attendance, self-reported anxiety and depression, and diagnostic status were compared. Results Both the experimental and control treatments were equally effective at returning children to school. Both treatments also were effective in reducing children's anxiety and depressive symptoms. Follow-up revealed no differences between groups when the children reentered school the next school year. Conclusions Overall, results suggest that psychosocial treatments are effective at returning school-phobic children to school and that the highly structured cognitive-behavioral approach may not be superior to more traditional educational and supportive treatment methods. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc, Psychiatry , 1998, 37(4):404–411.
The nature of c-class asteroids from 3-μm spectrophotometry

Abstract We present narrowband spectrophotometry between 2.3 and 3.5 μm for 14 main-belt C asteroids greater than 100 km in diameter. Absorption features at 3 μm due to water of hydration are present in the spectra of 9 of the asteroids, with intensities ranging from 6 to 23%. The other 5 asteroids have no 3-μm absorption greater than 2% in intensity. The strength of the “water” feature in the spectra correlates positively with the strength of the UV absorption feature shortward of 0.4 μm, and negatively with the slope of the continuum between 1.2 and 2.2 μm. These correlations are the same as those seen in laboratory spectra of carbonaceous chondrites, whose silicate compositions range from hydrated phyllosilicates to anhydrous olivine. We find no correlation between composition and semimajor axis for C asteroids as a class. The present C-asteroid population may be fragments of larger parent bodies with anhydrous C3-like cores and hydrated C11- or C2M-like mantles.
The role of the work itself: an empirical examination of intrinsic motivation's influence on IT workers attitudes and intentions

This study examines intrinsic motivation's influence on information technology (IT) attitudes and intensions. Intrinsic motivation is modeled as mediating the influence of motivators (i.e., intrinsic job characteristics) and hygiene factors (i.e., pay and supervisory satisfaction) on workplace attitudes (i.e., job satisfaction and affective commitment). In turn, workplace attitudes mediate the influence of intrinsic motivation on turnover intention. The model was tested using data collected from public sector IT workers in the Southeastern United States. Although intrinsic motivation did not fully mediate the influence of motivators and hygiene factors, findings suggest that intrinsic motivation positively influences workplace attitudes and has a mediated influence on turnover intent. Implications for research and practice are offered.
Visualization of the nonlinear optical space-charge region of bulk thermally poled fused-silica glass.

We etched thermally poled fused-silica coverslips in 49% HF for 30??s transverse to the poling direction to reveal structural details of the nonlinear region. A peaked ridge below the anode surface, corresponding to a slower etch rate than that of the bulk SiO2, was located ?5 µm below the anode surface for a poling time of 30??s. The ridge moved deeper into the glass logarithmically with poling time. This trend is qualitatively consistent with a recent model for the formation of the space-charge region that includes injection of hydrogen ions at the anode surface.
The synthesis of phosphonic acid and phosphate analogues of glycerol-3-phosphate and related metabolites

Abstract A convenient route is described for the preparation of the isosteric phosphonic acid analogue of glycerol-3-phosphate, 3,4-dihydroxybutyl-1-phosphonic acid, in both enantiomeric forms and the racemic modification, starting with readily available materials. The (S)-enantiomer, that of absolute configuration corresponding to that of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate, has been found to be a growth inhibitor of several bacteria at low concentration. The synthetic route described is of particular value as it facilitates the preparation of a series of phosphonic adds and phosphates of related structure, in their enantiomeric forms, which are also of interest for metabolic regulation. These include the 3,4-epoxybutyl-1-phosphonate and a phosphate analogue of glycerol-3-phosphate with the related homodiglyceride. Investigations are continuing in the evaluation of the biological activity of the materials synthesized. A method is also described for the synthesis of the carbon-14 labelled 3-carboxy-3-hydroxybutyl-1-phosphonic acid, an analogue of phosphoglyceric acid known to serve as a substitute for the natural material in several biochemical processes.
Effects of Commonly Used Insecticides on the Potato Tuberworm and Its Associated Parasites and Predators in Potatoes

Larvae and adults of Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) in potato foliage were effectively controlled by commercial applications of azinphosmethyl and a combination of methomyl and methamidophos, but eggs and pupae were not significantly affected. Azinphosmethyl, methomyl, and methamidophos provided adequate control of foliar larval populations, but larval parasitism was markedly reduced in treated plots. Predator populations and predation of potato tuberworm eggs and pupae were high in untreated potato plantings and were greatly reduced by scheduled applications of azinphosmethyl. After azinphosmethyl applications, adult populations of potato tuberworm resurged rapidly, but more time was necessary for larval resurgence.
Location of the cutaneous trunci motor nucleus in the dog

Using the methods of muscle injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and application of HRP to the proximal stump of the cut lateral thoracic nerve (LTN), the motor nucleus of the cutaneous trunci muscle (CTM) has been located predominantly in C8 and T1 spinal cord segments in the ventral and ventrolateral nuclei of Rexed's Lamina IX. Cells of the nucleus are somatotopically arranged rostro-caudally to correspond to the rostro-caudal segmentation. There was a higher average number of HRP-filled cells per section and greater rostro-caudal extent of the nucleus for the cut nerve technique than for the muscle injection technique. Evidence is presented that the CTM is an appendicular muscle in spite of its obvious axial position on the trunk.
Embryonic and larval hemoglobins during the early development of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

The main hemoglobin (Hb) found in Shumway (embryonic) stage 25 bullfrogs is that which we have designated Td-4. The other major tadpole Hbs (Td-1, 2, and 3) predominate during Taylor and Kollros (larval) stages I-XVIII. We propose that Td-4 is an embryonic Hb, whereas Td-1, 2, and 3 are larval (fetal-like) Hbs. Embryonic Hb Td-4 continues to be synthesized during the larval stages. During the larval period, the average peripheral blood Hb profile changes very little with morphological stage or general growth. However, there is great heterogeneity in the embryonic:larval Hb ratio among individual tadpoles of a given stage or weight, apparently due to differential Hb and red cell production by the two active erythropoietic sites, mesonephric kidneys (Td-4), and liver (Td-1, 2, 3).
MK-771-induced electromyographic (EMG) activity in the rat: comparison with thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and antagonism by neurotensin.

Abstract Administered by either intravenous (i.v.) or intracisternal (i.cis.) injections, MK-771 and TRH induced a dose-related increase in EMG activity recorded from the flexor ulnaris muscle in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. By the i.v. route, MK-771 was 6 times more potent than TRH and with i.cis. administration MK-771 was some 30 times more active than TRH. At equieffective doses of the two peptides, MK-771 exhibited a greater (approximately 3 fold) duration of action than TRH. In unanesthetized, spinally transected rats MK-771 was also more potent than TRH in eliciting EMG activity recorded from the biceps femoris muscle. Substance P, administered by the i.cis. route failed to induce EMG activity. Intracisternally administered neurotensin, which did not affect EMG activity by itself, antagonized the actions of MK-771 while somatostatin was inactive in this regard. Neurotensin did not affect the EMG activity induced by physostigmine. While these studies do not delineate the mechanism whereby TRH and MK-771 induce EMG activity, it appears reasonable to suggest that TRH and related peptides, such as MK-771, may have some influence in functional disorders of human muscle.
Intraparietal regions play a material general role in working memory: Evidence supporting an internal attentional role

Determining the role of intraparietal sulcus (IPS) regions in working memory (WM) remains a topic of considerable interest and lack of clarity. One group of hypotheses, the internal attention view, proposes that the IPS plays a material general role in maintaining information in WM. An alternative viewpoint, the pure storage account, proposes that the IPS in each hemisphere maintains material specific (e.g., left – phonological; right – visuospatial) information. Yet, adjudication between competing theoretical perspectives is complicated by divergent findings from different methodologies and their use of different paradigms, perhaps most notably between functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG). For example, fMRI studies typically use full field stimulus presentations and report bilateral IPS activation, whereas EEG studies direct attention to a single hemifield and report a contralateral bias in both hemispheres. Here, we addressed this question by applying a regions-of-interest fMRI approach to elucidate IPS contributions to WM. Importantly, we manipulated stimulus type (verbal, visuospatial) and the cued hemifield to assess the degree to which IPS activations reflect stimulus specific or stimulus general processing consistent with the pure storage or internal attention hypotheses. These data revealed significant contralateral bias along regions IPS0-5 regardless of stimulus type. Also present was a weaker stimulus-based bias apparent in stronger left lateralized activations for verbal stimuli and stronger right lateralized activations for visuospatial stimuli. However, there was no consistent stimulus-based lateralization of activity. Thus, despite the observation of stimulus-based modulation of spatial lateralization this pattern was bilateral. As such, although it is quantitatively underspecified, our results are overall more consistent with an internal attention view that the IPS plays a material general role in refreshing the contents of WM.
Designing Appropriate Curriculum for Special Education Students in Urban Schools

The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, our nation’s federal special education law, states that students with disabilities are to be provided specially designed instruction. Specially desi...
Comment on a paper by Yamada and Suzuki

Etude de la susceptibilite magnetique d'un antiferromagnetique d'Ising isotrope sur un reseau carre dans la region critique
Mode of lead addition and its effects on phase formation and microstructure development in composite conductors

An extensive examination has been made of silver-sheathed (Bi-2223) composite conductors produced by the two-powder processing method, wherein single-phase (Bi-2212) is combined with a mix of Pb-Ca-Cu-O phases to give an overall stoichiometry of . The principal variable is the proportioning of lead between the Bi-2212 phase and the Pb-Ca-Cu-O phases. X-ray diffraction measurements and scanning electron microscopy analyses have revealed that the length of the induction period prior to the onset of Bi-2223 formation decreases monotonically as the initial lead fraction in the Bi-2212 is increased up to a value of 0.3. The observed decrease in critical current density of fully processed composites with decreasing lead fraction in the Bi-2212 phase appears to be more closely related to the quantity of unconverted Bi-2212 than to the quantity of residual alkaline earth cuprate secondary phases. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the frequency of Bi-2212 intergrowths declines with increasing lead fraction in the starting Bi-2212 component.
U-Tube Assembly Heat Exchanger Performance Analysis Using Cyclic Iteration

This article outlines a technique to predict the performance of the convection passes of pulverized coal boilers, where the heat exchangers are typically comprised of assemblies of U-tube elements. Therein a heat exchanger comprised of n U-tubes per assembly is modeled as 2n rows in the product gas flow direction, and the portions of the straight tubes making up each assembly are considered to be distinct passes in crossflow. It is assumed that in each pass the tube-side fluid is unmixed and the gas-side fluid is mixed, and likewise the gas-side fluid is mixed between passes. The model employs a straightforward approach to predict the performance of a single pass as a building block to predict the performance of the overall assembly.
Arrays of compact Pairs

The properties of direct limits ofCech homology groups for a non cofinal collection of compact pairs are explicitly stated with a view towards applications. The usual axioms including full excision are satisfied under obvious restrictions. Some of theMorse rank and span concepts are taken up in terms of these limit groups with the slight change of homology classes rather then cycles. A simple demonstration using the intuitive notions of the various cap types is presented for two basic exact sequences recently given byDeheuvel.
The welfare implications of Becker's discrimination coefficient☆

Abstract This note examines critically two welfare theorems proved by Gary Becker in his “Economics of Discrimination.” Becker demonstrated that discrimination diminishes the welfare of a discriminating group. He also derived a necessary condition for a group which is the victim of discrimination to be made relatively worse off. These results are shown to depend critically on the assumption that disciminators incur psychic costs which nondiscriminators do not. When the same market equilibrium results from psychic benefits, “discriminators” are shown to gain from having a taste for favoritism and the group discriminated against is shown always to be made worse off.
LDPC code design for OOK modulated Poisson optical channels

The Poisson channel is a popular direct-detection model in optical communication. In this paper, we study efficient data communication over the on-off keyed (OOK) modulated Poisson channel. We first analyze the channel capacity, and based on the analysis we study the application of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes on such channels. The asymmetric density evolution (ADE) method is used to determine the decoding threshold of an LDPC ensemble, and it is demonstrated that optimized LDPC ensembles have near-capacity performance, for various code rates. We also point out that the robustness of LDPC codes for the Poisson channel, i.e. a certain optimized LDPC ensemble remain (essentially) optimal over a wide range of channel conditions, making LDPC codes an attractive forward correcting coding (FEC) scheme for optical communication.
Improving quicksort performance with a codeword data structure

The problem is discussed of how the use of a new data structure, the codeword structure, can help improve the performance of quicksort when the records to be sorted are long and the keys are alphanumeric sequences of bytes. The codeword is a compact representation of a key with respect to some codeword generator. It consists of a byte for a character count of equal bytes, a byte for the first nonequal byte, and a pointer to the record. It is shown how the ordering of keys is preserved by an adequate choice of the code generator and how this can be applied to the quicksort algorithm. An analysis of the potential saving son various architectures and actual measurements shows the improvements that can be attained by using codewords rather than pointers. Architecturally independent parameters, such as the number of bytes to be compared, the number of swaps, architecture-dependent parameters such as caches and their write policies, and compiler optimizations such as in-line expansion and register allocation are considered. >
Elevated body mass index increases early complications of surgical treatment of pelvic ring injuries.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and postoperative complications and to determine the incidence of reoperation after surgical treatment of pelvic ring injuries. Setting: Three Level I trauma centers. Patients/Participants: A retrospective review of 184 consecutive surgically treated pelvic ring injuries (Orthopaedic Trauma Association 61) was performed. Two patients died in the initial postoperative period, and the remaining 182 patients were followed for a minimum of 3 months. Main Outcome Measurements: Complications that were evaluated included wound infection and dehiscence, loss of reduction, iatrogenic nerve injury, deep venous thrombosis, pneumonia, and the development of decubitus ulcers. Body mass index was calculated for each patient, and a BMI greater than 30 kg/m 2 considered to be obese as defined by the National Institutes of Health. Results: There were 132 males and 50 females with an average age of 36.4 years (range, 14-83 years). There were 48 (26%) patients with a BMI over 30 kg/m 2 . Complications occurred in 46 of 182 patients (25.3%) with 26 occurring in the 48 patients with BMI greater than 30 kg/m 2 (54.2% complication rate) and 20 occurring in the 134 patients with BMI less than 30 kg/m 2 (14.9% complication rate). Complications included 20 infections (four superficial wound dehiscence and 16 deep), 23 losses of reduction, five deep vein thromboses, three pulmonary embolus, three pneumonia, two decubitus ulcers, and three iatrogenic nerve injuries. Reoperation was required in 29 of 182 (15.9%) patients with 16 (8.8%) irrigation and debridement, and 17 (9.3%) refixation procedures. All wound complications occurred after open exposures. Open exposures were performed for the anterior pelvic ring in 143 of 182 (78.6%) patients, the posterior pelvic ring in 64 of 182 (35.2%) patients, and percutaneous treatment of the posterior pelvic ring was performed in 80 of 182 (44.0%) patients. Logistic regression modeling analyzing BMI as a continuous variable found a relationship between increasing BMI and complication rate (P < 0.0001) and need for reoperation (P = 0.0013). Odds ratios analysis revealed that obese patients (BMI greater than 30 kg/m 2 ) were 6.87 (95% confidence interval, 3.25-14.49) times more likely to have a complication and 4.68 (95% confidence interval, 2.03-10.76) times more likely to undergo reoperation than patients with BMI less than 30 kg/m 2 . Conclusions: Body mass index correlates with an increased rate of complications and reoperation after operative treatment of pelvic ring injuries.
Conformational Effect on Energy Transfer in Single Polythiophene Chains

Herein we describe the use of regioregular (rr-) and regiorandom (rra-) P3HT as models to study energy transfer in ordered and disordered single conjugated polymer chains. Single molecule fluorescence spectra and excitation/emission polarization measurements were compared with a Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) model simulation. An increase in the mean single chain polarization anisotropy from excitation to emission was observed for both rr- and rra-P3HT. The peak emission wavelengths of rr-P3HT were at substantially lower energies than those of rra-P3HT. A simulation based on FRET in single polymer chain conformations successfully reproduced the experimental observations. These studies showed that ordered conformations facilitated efficient energy transfer to a small number of low-energy sites compared to disordered conformations. As a result, the histograms of spectral peak wavelengths for ordered conformations were centered at much lower energies than those obtained for disordered conformations...
The psychological tradeoffs of self-control: A multi-method investigation

Abstract A recent measure of self-control seeks to tap individual differences in the ability to override impulse and emotion ( Tangney, Baumeister, & Boone, 2004 ). The importance of this individual difference variable is potentially very large in domains such as emotion, psychopathology, academic success, and interpersonal functioning. The present study (N = 52) seeks to extend our knowledge of this individual difference variable and seeks to do so in relation to a hot/cool analysis of the construct. On the “hot” side, the study examined relations between self-control and daily affective experience, and did so in a relatively implicit manner. On the “cool” side, the study examined relations between self-control and personality consistency, and did so using multiple methods. Supporting hypotheses, findings indicated that individuals high in self-control reported less affect in their daily lives, were more consistent in their traits, and were viewed as less spontaneous and extraverted by informants. Thus, there seems to be a hot/cool tradeoff in that self-control promotes consistency, but at the expense of affect and spontaneity.
Nonlinear optical imaging and spectral-lifetime computational analysis of endogenous and exogenous fluorophores in breast cancer

Multiphoton laser scanning microscopy MPLSM utilizing techniques such as multiphoton excita- tion MPE, second harmonic generation SHG, and mul- tiphoton fluorescence lifetime imaging and spectral life- time imaging FLIM and SLIM, respectively are greatly expanding the degree of information obtainable with op- tical imaging in biomedical research. The application of these nonlinear optical approaches to the study of breast cancer holds particular promise. These noninvasive, mul- tidimensional techniques are well suited to image exog- enous fluorophores that allow relevant questions regard- ing protein localization and signaling to be addressed both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, MPLSM imaging of en- dogenous signals from collagen and fluorophores such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide NADH or flavin ad- enine dinucleotide FAD, address important questions re- garding the tumor-stromal interaction and the physiologic state of the cell. We demonstrate the utility of multimodal MPE/SHG/FLIM for imaging both exogenous and/or en- dogenous fluorophores in mammary tumors or relevant 3-D systems. Using SLIM, we present a method for imag- ing and differentiating signals from multiple fluorophores that can have overlapping spectra via SLIM Plotter—a computational tool for visualizing and analyzing large spectral-lifetime data sets. © 2008 Society of Photo-Optical Instru-
Next-generation sequencing technologies: breaking the sound barrier of human genetics

Demand for new technologies that deliver fast, inexpensive and accurate genome information has never been greater. This challenge has catalysed the rapid development of advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS). The generation of large volumes of sequence data and the speed of data acquisition are the primary advantages over previous, more standard methods. In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration granted marketing authorisation for the first high-throughput NG sequencer, Illumina's MiSeqDx, which allowed the development and use of a large number of new genome-based tests. Here, we present a review of template preparation, nucleic acid sequencing and imaging, genome assembly and alignment approaches as well as recent advances in current and near-term commercially available NGS instruments. We also outline the broad range of applications for NGS technologies and provide guidelines for platform selection to best address biological questions of interest. DNA sequencing has revolutionised biological and medical research, and is poised to have a similar impact on the practice of medicine. This tool is but one of an increasing arsenal of developing tools that enhance our capabilities to identify, quantify and functionally characterise the components of biological networks that keep us healthy or make us sick. Despite advances in other 'omic' technologies, DNA sequencing and analysis, in many respects, have played the leading role to date. The new technologies provide a bridge between genotype and phenotype, both in man and model organisms, and have revolutionised how risk of developing a complex human disease may be assessed. The generation of large DNA sequence data sets is producing a wealth of medically relevant information on a large number of individuals and populations that will potentially form the basis of truly individualised medical care in the future.
Logic of meanings and situated cognition

Abstract Inspired by the views of Piaget & Garcia (1991) that logico-mathematical knowledge has its foundations in a logic of meanings, this paper aims at a better understanding of how knowledge develops in everyday contexts, by taking into account situational aspects, individual reasoning processes, and logico-mathematical understanding. We first provide a re-analysis of data on the understanding of proportionality developed outside of school, in buying and selling activities. The set of studies we discuss shows how procedures to solve proportionality problems in specific contexts later develop as general and flexible approaches to solve problems in different contexts. Then, in an interview with an adult with restricted schooling, we show how understanding of graphical representation is achieved through the attribution of meanings to a graph on the basis of personal wishes, opinions, and knowledge about the situation and by a continuous search for logical coherence.
Molecular analysis of human forearm superficial skin bacterial biota

The microbial ecology of human skin is complex, but little is known about its species composition. We examined the diversity of the skin biota from the superficial volar left and right forearms in six healthy subjects using broad-range small subunit rRNA genes (16S rDNA) PCR-based sequencing of randomly selected clones. For the initial 1,221 clones analyzed, 182 species-level operational taxonomic units (SLOTUs) belonging to eight phyla were identified, estimated as 74.0% [95% confidence interval (C.I.), approximately 64.8-77.9%] of the SLOTUs in this ecosystem; 48.0 +/- 12.2 SLOTUs were found in each subject. Three phyla (Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria) accounted for 94.6% of the clones. Most (85.3%) of the bacterial sequences corresponded to known and cultivated species, but 98 (8.0%) clones, comprising 30 phylotypes, had <97% similarity to prior database sequences. Only 6 (6.6%) of the 91 genera and 4 (2.2%) of the 182 SLOTUs, respectively, were found in all six subjects. Analysis of 817 clones obtained 8-10 months later from four subjects showed additional phyla (numbering 2), genera (numbering 28), and SLOTUs (numbering 65). Only four (3.4%) of the 119 genera (Propionibacteria, Corynebacteria, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus) were observed in each subject tested twice, but these genera represented 54.4% of all clones. These results show that the bacterial biota in normal superficial skin is highly diverse, with few well conserved and well represented genera, but otherwise low-level interpersonal consensus.
Cournot outcomes under Bertrand–Edgeworth competition with demand uncertainty

Abstract We provide new results for two-stage games in which firms make capacity investments when demand is uncertain, then, when demand is realized, compete in prices. We consider games with demand rationing schemes ranging from efficient to proportional rationing. In all cases, there is a subgame perfect equilibrium outcome coinciding with the outcome of the Cournot game with demand uncertainty if and only if (i) the fluctuation in absolute market size is small relative to the cost of capacity, or (ii) uncertainty is such that with high probability the market demand is very large and with the remaining probability the market demand is extremely small. Otherwise, equilibria involve mixed strategies. Further, we show under efficient rationing that condition (i) is sufficient for the unique equilibrium outcome to be an equilibrium outcome of the Cournot game with demand uncertainty.
Energetic Charged Particle Transport and Energization in Dynamic Two-dimensional Turbulence

Quasi-linear theory has been used extensively to study the interaction of energetic particles with MHD fluctuations in the solar wind. However, in recent years there has developed a view that solar wind MHD turbulence can be modeled approximately as a dominating incompressible two-dimensional turbulence component combined with a minor one-dimensional parallel-propagating Alfven wave component (a one-dimensional slab component in the static limit). Here a quasi-linear theory is developed to investigate the effect of dynamical two-dimensional MHD turbulence in the solar wind on low-energy charged particle pitch-angle scattering and momentum diffusion. Stochastic acceleration by transverse two-dimensional turbulence electric field fluctuations is also considered, yielding finite momentum diffusion coefficients. We find significant effects by energy-containing-scale, dynamic two-dimensional turbulence on low-energy particles in the vicinity of 1 keV energies, and overall dominance of parallel-propagating Alfven waves at higher energies.
Overexpression of neurofilament H disrupts normal cell structure and function

Studying exogenously expressed tagged proteins in live cells has become a standard technique for evaluating protein distribution and function. Typically, expression levels of experimentally introduced proteins are not regulated, and high levels are often preferred to facilitate detection. However, overexpression of many proteins leads to mislocalization and pathologies. Therefore, for normative studies, moderate levels of expression may be more suitable. To understand better the dynamics of intermediate filament formation, transport, and stability in a healthy, living cell, we inserted neurofilament heavy chain (NFH)-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion constructs in adenoviral vectors with tetracycline (tet)-regulated promoters. This system allows for turning on or off the synthesis of NFH-GFP at a selected time, for a defined period, in a dose-dependent manner. We used this inducible system for live cell imaging of changes in filament structure and cell shape, motility, and transport associated with increasing NFH-GFP expression. Cells with low to intermediate levels of NFH-GFP were structurally and functionally similar to neighboring, nonexpressing cells. In contrast, overexpression led to pathological alterations in both filament organization and cell function.
Empirically assessing the impact of mobile crisis capacity on state hospital admissions

The literature on emergency psychiatric services contains numerous claims to the effect that mobile crisis capacity reduced hospitalization by resolving emergencies in the community. To date these claims have not been substantiated by empirical analysis. This study, using 1986 data from Massachusetts, compares first and total admission rates of catchment areas with mobile capacity to those without such services, controlling for differences in community resources and demand for hospitalization. This analysis showed no effect of mobile capacity on admission rates. These findings are not interpreted as evidence of the ineffectiveness of mobile services, but are seen as indicative of the need for further empirical investigation of these services.
Use of IQ-Adjusted Norms to Predict Progressive Cognitive Decline in Highly Intelligent Older Individuals

Identifying high-functioning older individuals in preclinical phases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may require more sensitive methods than the standard approach. The authors explored the utility of adjusting for premorbid intelligence to predict progressive cognitive decline or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in 42 highly intelligent older individuals. When scores were adjusted for baseline IQ, 9 participants had executive impairments, 11 had memory impairments, and 22 scored in the normal range. None were impaired according to standard age norms. Three and a half years later, 9 participants with IQ-adjusted memory impairment declined in naming, visuospatial functioning, and memory; 6 converted to MCI. Three participants with normal memory declined. Implications for using IQ-adjusted norms to predict preclinical AD are discussed.
Mechanisms of CAS Substrate Domain Tyrosine Phosphorylation by FAK and Src

Tyrosine phosphorylation of CAS (Crk-associated substrate, p130(Cas)) has been implicated as a key signaling step in integrin control of normal cellular behaviors, including motility, proliferation, and survival. Aberrant CAS tyrosine phosphorylation may contribute to cell transformation by certain oncoproteins, including v-Crk and v-Src, and to tumor growth and metastasis. The CAS substrate domain (SD) contains 15 Tyr-X-X-Pro motifs, which are thought to represent the major tyrosine phosphorylation sites and to function by recruiting downstream signaling effectors, including c-Crk and Nck. CAS makes multiple interactions, direct and indirect, with the tyrosine kinases Src and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and as a result of this complexity, several plausible models have been proposed for the mechanism of CAS-SD phosphorylation. The objective of this study was to provide experimental tests of these models in order to determine the most likely mechanism(s) of CAS-SD tyrosine phosphorylation by FAK and Src. In vitro kinase assays indicated that FAK has a very poor capacity to phosphorylate CAS-SD, relative to Src. However, FAK expression along with Src was found to be important for achieving high levels of CAS tyrosine phosphorylation in COS-7 cells, as well as recovery of CAS-associated Src activity toward the SD. Structure-functional studies for both FAK and CAS further indicated that FAK plays a major role in regulating CAS-SD phosphorylation by acting as a docking or scaffolding protein to recruit Src to phosphorylate CAS, while a secondary FAK-independent mechanism involves Src directly bound to the CAS Src-binding domain (SBD). Our results do not support models in which FAK either phosphorylates CAS-SD directly or phosphorylates CAS-SBD to promote Src binding to this site.
Conservative management of a myxoid endometrial stromal sarcoma in a 16-year-old nulliparous woman.

Abstract Background. Sarcomas comprise less than 1% of all gynecological cancers and 2% to 5% of all uterine malignancies, of which endometrial stromal sarcoma accounts for approximately 15%. Surgery is fundamental in sarcoma management and a total hysterectomy is performed in the majority of cases. Case. Presented is a case of low-grade myxoid endometrial stromal sarcoma in a nulliparous adolescent female managed by local resection and uterine reconstruction. Conclusion. In selected cases, the initial management of a localized and well defined low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma could potentially be conservative (uterine-sparing) surgical resection.
The Effect of Chromium Propionate on Growth Performance and Carcass Traits in Broilers

SUMMARY Chromium has been considered by many nutritionists as an essential nutrient for animals and humans. Research on the use of Cr from organic sources in poultry is limited. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary addition of 0, 200, 400, or 800 ppb Cr as chromium propionate on growth performance and carcass traits in 0- to 42- or 0- to 49-d-old broilers. The results of these experiments indicate that Cr as chromium propionate improved feed efficiency in the later phases of growth and decreased mortality in one experiment but not another. Also, chromium propionate supplementation had no effect on carcass traits.
A revised infrageneric classification for Brickellia (Asteraceae, Eupatorieae)

A recent molecular phylogenetic study of the predominantly Mexican Brickellia resolved issues regarding its generic circumscription, but a new infrageneric classification remains to be formalized. We propose to recognize as sections nine clades identified as monophyletic based on molecular data. Three of these clades have been previously recognized as distinct genera, Barroetea , Kuhnia , and Phanerostylis , and require names at the sectional level. The remaining six sections have names available from previous taxonomic work, but two of them require validation at the sectional level, and all have a different species composition compared to previous studies.
Generation of pulse bursts at 212.8 nm by intracavity modulation of an Nd:YAG laser

Bursts of 1064 nm pulses at a repetition rate of 120 kHz were generated by placing a resonant, acoustooptic birefringence modulator inside the cavity of a flash-pumped Nd:YAG laser. The resulting pulse trains were converted to 532, 266, and 213 nm by a three-step nonlinear generation process in crystals that permit 90° phase matching for these wavelengths. An average power of 2.6 mW at 213 nm was achieved. This method of pulse generation develops much lower peak powers than are obtained with ordinary Q -switching at the same average power, and is therefore useful in applications which require that the power be focused on a small sample without damage. Construction of the 120 kHz modulator and details of the nonlinear experiments are presented. The phase matching temperature for sum frequency generation of 212.8 nm in KDP was found to be -35°C, which is 50°C warmer than the value predicted from refractive index data in the literature.
Halogenated phenolic contaminants inhibit the in vitro activity of the thyroid-regulating deiodinases in human liver.

Halogenated contaminants, particularly brominated flame retardants, disrupt circulating levels of thyroid hormones (THs), potentially affecting growth and development. Disruption may be mediated by impacts on deiodinase (DI) activity, which regulate the levels of active hormones available to bind to nuclear receptors. The goal of this study was to develop a mass spectrometry–based method for measuring the activity of DIs in human liver microsomes and to examine the effect of halogenated phenolic contaminants on DI activity. Thyroxine (T4) and reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) deiodination kinetics were measured by incubating pooled human liver microsomes with T4 or rT3 and monitoring the production of T3, rT3, 3,3′-diiodothyronine, and 3-monoiodothyronine by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Using this method, we examined the effects of several halogenated contaminants, including 2,2′,4,4′,5-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 99), several hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-BDEs), tribromophenol, tetrabromobisphenol A, and triclosan, on DI activity. The Michaelis constants (KM) of rT3 and T4 deiodination were determined to be 3.2 ± 0.7 and 17.3 ± 2.3μM. The Vmax was 160 ± 5.8 and 2.8 ± 0.10 pmol/min.mg protein, respectively. All studied contaminants inhibited DI activity in a dose-response manner, with the exception of BDE 99 and two OH-BDEs. 5′-Hydroxy 2,2′,4,4′,5-pentabromodiphenyl ether was found to be the most potent inhibitor of DI activity, and phenolic structures containing iodine were generally more potent inhibitors of DI activity relative to brominated, chlorinated, and fluorinated analogues. This study suggests that some halogenated phenolics, including current use compounds such as plastic monomers, flame retardants, and their metabolites, may disrupt TH homeostasis through the inhibition of DI activity in vivo.
Passive Wireless MEMS Microphones for Biomedical Applications

This paper introduces passive wireless telemetry based operation for high frequency acoustic sensors. The focus is on the development, fabrication, and evaluation of wireless, battery-less SAW-IDT MEMS microphones for biomedical applications. Due to the absence of batteries, the developed sensors are small and as a result of the batch manufacturing strategy are inexpensive which enables their utilization as disposable sensors. A pulse modulated surface acoustic wave interdigital transducer (SAW-IDT) based sensing strategy has been formulated. The sensing strategy relies on detecting the ac component of the acoustic pressure signal only and does not require calibration. The proposed sensing strategy has been successfully implemented on an in-house fabricated SAW-IDT sensor and a variable capacitor which mimics the impedance change of a capacitive microphone. Wireless telemetry distances of up to 5 centimeters have been achieved. A silicon MEMS microphone which will be used with the SAW-IDT device is being microfabricated and tested. The complete passive wireless sensor package will include the MEMS microphone wire-bonded on the SAW substrate and interrogated through an on-board antenna. This work on acoustic sensors breaks new ground by introducing high frequency (i.e., audio frequencies) sensor measurement utilizing SAW-IDT sensors. The developed sensors can be used for wireless monitoring of body sounds in a number of different applications, including monitoring breathing sounds in apnea patients, monitoring chest sounds after cardiac surgery, and for feedback sensing in compression (HFCC) vests used for respiratory ventilation. Another promising application is monitoring chest sounds in neonatal care units where the miniature sensors will minimize discomfort for the newborns.
Two Worlds in One Backpack

This chapter describes how the author became an academic political educator and community organizer, with both worlds always working with, against, and for each other.