cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The evolutionary significance of the long variable arm in transfer RNA

The charging of amino acids by their cognate transfer RNA (tRNAs) is central to modern translation and links evolution of the genetic code with chronologies that describe the use of amino acids in an emergent protein world. Although it is commonly accepted that only few of the canonical amino acids were initially coded and charged by tRNA, the composition of this early group of amino acids has been controversial. To uncover evolutionary patterns embedded in the structure of these molecules, we conducted phylogenetic analyses of 42 structural characters scored from the cloverleaf secondary structures of 571 tRNAs from organisms belonging to the three domains of life, viruses, and bacteriophages. Results show that class II tRNA molecules containing a long variable arm, including tRNASec, tRNASer, tRNATyr, and tRNALeu, were ancestral compared to those lacking this structural feature. This suggests that selenocysteine (Sec), serine (Ser), tyrosine (Tyr), and leucine (Leu) were among the first amino acids to be charged by their cognate tRNAs and that they may represent the first group of amino acids with functional specificities linked to modern biochemistry. Results also suggest that the stop codon UGA, which also codes for Sec, may be the oldest codon to have a modern functional role in the history of the genetic code. Finally, the charging of amino acids by cognate tRNAs appear to have occurred once the canonical cloverleaf structure was fully realized in evolution and before amino acid specificities and organismal domains of life diversified. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2009 This article was submitted as an invited paper resulting from the “Understanding Complex Systems” conference held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, May 2007
Characterization and partial purification of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-dependent IGF binding protein-4-specific protease from human fibroblast conditioned media.

Abstract Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are one of the most potent stimulators of cell growth. IGFs are modulated by six high affinity binding proteins (IGFBPs) which are, in turn, regulated through post-translational modifications such as proteolysis. In the conditioned media of human fibroblasts, IGFBP-4 is cleaved by an apparently novel IGFBP-4-specific protease that requires IGF for functional activity. We have used several biochemical manipulations, including size exclusion chromatography, native gel electrophoresis, chaotropic salt precipitation, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, isoelectric focusing, lectin affinity chromatography, and metal chelating affinity chromatography to both characterize and partially purify the IGF-dependent IGFBP-4 protease. Our results indicate that this protease is a highly glycosylated, Zn+2binding metalloprotease with a native molecular weight greater than 200 kDa.
Vanadium-catalyzed C(sp3)–H fluorination reactions

Vanadium(III) oxide catalyzes the direct fluorination of C(sp3)–H groups with Selectfluor. This reaction is operationally simple. The catalyst and the reaction by-product can be removed easily by filtration. Using this method, a fluorine atom can be introduced to the tertiary position of 1,4-cineole and L-menthone selectively.
Implicit solvent simulations of DNA and DNA-protein complexes: Agreement with explicit solvent vs experiment

Molecular dynamics simulations of biomolecules with implicit solvent reduce the computational cost and complexity of such simulations so that longer time scales and larger system sizes can be reached. While implicit solvent simulations of proteins have become well established, the success of implicit solvent in the simulation of nucleic acids has not been fully established to date. Results obtained in this study demonstrate that stable and efficient simulations of DNA and a protein-DNA complex can be achieved with an implicit solvent model based on continuum dielectric electrostatics. Differences in conformational sampling of DNA with two sets of atomic radii that are used to define the dielectric interface between the solute and the continuum dielectric model of the solvent are investigated. Results suggest that depending on the choice of atomic radii agreement is either closer to experimental data or to explicit solvent simulations. Furthermore, partial conformational transitions toward A-DNA conformations when salt is added within the implicit solvent framework are observed.
Effect of ketorolac tromethamine on atracurium-induced neuromuscular blockade in anesthetized dogs.

Objective—The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ketorolac tromethamine or placebo on the neuromuscular blockade induced by an infusion of atracurium in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs. Design—Randomized, controlled trial. Animals—Six healthy, adult mixed-breed dogs (five female, one male) weighing 24.8 ± 2.8 kg. Methods—Dogs were studied on two occasions with a minimum of 7 days between studies. Dogs were induced with 5% isoflurane in oxygen and maintained with 1.6 ± minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) end-tidal isoflurane. Neuromuscular blockade was assessed using the train of-four response. Once 50% depression of the first twitch (T1) was achieved, the atracurium infusion rate was held constant for 30 minutes. Then ketorolac, 0.5 mg/kg, or the same volume of placebo (0.9% sodium chloride solution) was administered intravenously and the atracurium infusion maintained for an additional 60 minutes. Before and at 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after ketorolac or placebo, the percent depression of T1 and the fourth twitch to the first twitch (T4/T1) ratio were recorded. The atracurium infusion was discontinued and the time for T1 to recover from 50% to 75% of its original value was recorded. At 75% T1, edrophonium, 0.5 mg/kg intravenously, was administered to antagonize the residual blockade. Results—There was no significant difference in T1%, T4/T1 ratio, or recovery time after ketorolac administration compared with placebo. Conclusions—Ketorolac, 0.5 mg/kg intravenously, has no significant effect on either atracuriuminduced neuromuscular blockade or recovery time for T1 in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs. Clinical Relevance—The concurrent use of atracurium should not be a contraindication for the administration of ketorolac for intraoperative or postoperative analgesia.
Temperature measurements in high thermal gradients: II. Analysis of conduction effects

Measurement errors associated with thermal conduction along a temperature probe in regions of high thermal gradients are examined. An analysis of a conducting probe inserted into an insulating catheter for the purpose of temperature mapping gives a means for estimating the effects of thermal smearing on the measured distribution. A comparison is made between the theory and an experimental test case (flow cell-thermal step gradient). Also, an iterative algorithm is developed to correct thermally smeared temperature distributions in order to reconstruct the desired unsmeared distributions. The algorithm is checked for self consistency in the flow cell experiment and is applied to in vivo data obtained during interstitial microwave heating in normal dog brain. Data from flow cell measurements are used to make relative comparisons of the probe conduction artifact for several different temperature probes (2 thermocouple needle probes, a thermistor needle probe and an optical probe) and assorted teflon catheters (16, 18 and 20 ga).
Time optimal rendezvous of three linear systems

The minimum-time rendezvous problem of three linear controlled systems is studied, and the existence and necessary conditions for a solution are derived.
The effect of floor type in farrowing pens on pig injury. II. Leg and teat damage of sows

Abstract Leg and teat damage were scored at farrowing and at weaning for 383 lactating sows in farrowing pens with different floor types. Both leg and teat damage were rare on all three straw-bedded, solid cement surfacings: sand/cement screed, fibrocem screed and latex screed. Sows on fully-perforated floors had a high incidence of leg abrasions and cut teats. On floors where only the rear third was perforated, leg damage, but not teat damage, was lower than on fully-perforated floors. On both fully and partly-perforated floors the incidence of leg and teat damage was higher on plastic-covered woven wire than on punched metal. The most common site for leg abrasions was on the hind foot but about 10% of sows on plastic-covered woven wire also had abrasions on the hock and lower hind leg. Abrasions of the forelimb were rare except on fully-perforated floors. Teat damage generally involved the fifth, sixth or seventh teat pairs. The incidence of leg and teat damage appeared unrelated to sow parity. The results reflect the slippery nature of the perforated floors.
Distribution of GABA-like immunoreactivity in the song system of the zebra finch.

Abstract GABA-like immunoreactivity (GABA-LIR) was mapped in the male and female zebra finch song system using a polyclonal antibody to GABA. GABA-LIR was found throughout the song system in neurons and neuropil of the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA), the higher vocal center (HVC), Area X, the magnocellular nucleus of the neostriatum (MAN), and the dorsomedial portion of the nucleus intercollicularis (DM of ICo). Puncta present in the lateral division of MAN (1MAN) may be local interneurons since the only known afferents of 1MAN are from the dorsolateral nucleus of the anterior thalamus (DLM), which did not appear to have any cell bodies with GABA-LIR. Distinct and dense puncta with GABA-LIR were present in DLM, and may be projections from Area X/lobus parolfactorius (LPO). Dramatic sex differences in GABA-LIR distribution were found. Females did not appear to have any GABA-LIR above background in either RA of HVC. Females also did not appear to have a distinct Area X, although they did have many small, lightly staining cell bodies in the corresponding LPO. The distribution of GABA-LIR and sex differences in its distribution suggests that GABAergic neurons may play a role in the acquisition and/or production of song in the zebra finch.
Investigation of Transient CFD Methods Applied to a Transonic Compressor Stage

Understanding unsteady flow phenomena in compressor stages often requires the use of time-accurate CFD simulations. Due to the inherent differences in blade pitch between adjacent blade rows, the flow conditions at any given instant in adjacent blade rows differ. Simplified computation of the stage represented by a single blade in each row and simple periodic boundary conditions is therefore not possible. Depending on the blade counts, it may be necessary to model the entire annulus of the stage; however, this requires considerable computational time and memory resources. Several methods for modeling the transient flow in turbomachinery stages which require a minimal number of blade passages per row, and therefore reduced computational demands, have been presented in the literature. Recently, some of these methods have become available in commercial CFD solvers. This paper provides a brief description of the methods used, and how they are applied to a transonic compressor stage. The methods are evaluated and compared in terms of computational efficiency and storage requirements, and comparison is made to steady stage simulations. Comparisons to overall performance data and two-dimensional LDV measurements are used to assess the predictive capabilities of the methods. Computed flow features are examined, and compared with reported measurements.© 2011 ASME
Solving tridiagonal systems on ensemble architectures

The concurrent solution of tridiagonal systems on linear and 2-dimensional arrays, complete binary trees, shuffle-exchange and perfect shuffle networks, and boolean cubes by elimination methods are devised and analyzed. The methods can be obtained by symmetric permutations of some rows and columns, and amounts to cyclic reduction or a combination of Gaussian elimination and cyclic reduction (GECR). The ensembles have only local storage and no global control. Synchronization is accomplished via message passing to neighboring processors.The parallel arithmetic complexity of GECR for N equations on a K processor ensemble is $O({ N / K } + \log _2 K)$, and the communication complexity is $O(K)$ for the linear array, $O(\sqrt K )$ for the 2-dimensional mesh, and $O(\log _2 K)$ for the networks of diameter $O(\log _2 K)$. The maximum speed-up for the linear array is attained at $K \approx {({ N / \alpha })}^{1/2} $ and for the 2-d mesh at $K \approx ({N / 2\alpha })^{2/3} $, where $\alpha $ (the time to communicate one floating-point number)/(the time for a floating-point arithmetic operation). For the binary tree the maximum speed-up is attained at $K = N$, and for the perfect shuffle and boolean k-cube networks, $K = N/(1 + \alpha )$ yields the maximum speed-up. The minimum time complexity is of order $O(N^{1/2} )$ for the linear array, of order $O(N^{1/3} )$ for the mesh, and of order $O(\log _2 N)$ for the binary tree, the shuffle-exchange, the perfect shuffle and the boolean k-cube.The relative decrease in computational complexity due to a truncation of the reduction process in a highly concurrent system is much greater than on a uniprocessor. The reduction in the arithmetic complexity is proportional to the number of steps avoided, if the number of processing elements equals the number of equations. So also is the reduction in the communication complexity for ensembles configured as binary trees, shuffle-exchange and perfect shuffle networks, and boolean cubes.Partitioning the ensemble into subsets of processors is shown to be more efficient for the solution of multiple independent problems than pipelining the solutions over the entire ensemble. A balanced cyclic reduction algorithm is presented for the case where each system is spread uniformly over the processing elements, and its complexity is compared with Gaussian elimination.
Liquid Crystal Elastomers with Mechanical Properties of a Muscle

Free-standing anisotropic side chain liquid crystalline elastomer films have been prepared using mesogens with laterally affixed polymerizable side chains. We present data on two networks: one containing the monomer of 4‘-acryloyloxybutyl 2,5-(4‘-butyloxybenzoyloxy)benzoate and another from a 50/50 mol % mixture of the above with 4‘-acryloyloxybutyl 2,5-di(4‘-pentylcyclohexyloyloxy)benzoate. The cross-linking was achieved using 10 mol % of 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate. The calculated cross-linking density, as determined from the Young's modulus, was in the 10 -5 mol/cm3 range. Thermoelastic responses show strain changes through the nematic−isotropic phase transition to be 30−45%. The order parameters of the oriented films were determined from the dichroic ratio of IR absorption at 3343 cm-1 to the in-plane aromatic stretching overtone of the LC mesogen core. The variation of the order parameter with temperature scales similar to the strain changes at constant stress. Isostrain studies, conducted through the...
A correlated electron microscopic and microradiographic study of human enamel

Abstract The origin of radiolucent line and honeycomb patterns seen in microradiographs from hypocalcified human enamel (amelogenesis imperfecta) was investigated using a combined microradiographic and elect ron microscopic approach. The technique involved the preparation of suitable ground sections and of corresponding microradiographs. Subsequently, enamel pieces displaying the desired X-ray absorption images were sectioned with a diamond knife for electron microscopy in such a way that the microstructural organization in the pathway of incident X-rays was depicted in the thin sections. It was found that the radiolucent zones were not related to the interrod regions as had been suggested in connection with previous observations of similar line patterns. Judging from the size and packing of the crystals, both rod and interrod regions appeared mineralized to the same degree, but even if mineralization differences had existed, the geometry of the interrod regions relative to the direction of the X-rays excluded their participation in forming the radiolucent line patterns. The rod sheaths, on the other hand, were virtually devoid of mineral matter and were aligned in such a way that they formed pathways of lower mineral content parallel to the X-rays in all enamel volumes which displayed radiolucent patterns microradiographically. Even though the width of a single rod sheath (1000–2000A) was well below that of the radiolucent zones (1–2μ), the width of the sheath pathways, when projected onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of incident X-rays, approached the latter figure due to the curvature and lateral deviations of the rod sheaths. On the basis of these observations, it is concluded that the radiolucent line pattern in the microradiographs of the hypocalcified human enamel represent summation images of the rod sheath spaces. This conclusion is discussed in the light of previous microradiographic and electron microscopic studies on normal developing and mature human enamel and it is suggested that even in normal enamel the line patterns are summation images of the rod sheaths.
Enhancing the development impact of remittances: a study ofdirect payment and savings facilities for Filipino workers in Qatar

Abstract International remittances are playing an increasingly important role in the economies of developing countries. Aside from being an important source of foreign exchange for many recipient countries, recent research has shown that households that receive remittances are more likely to leave poverty status, to send their children to school and to invest in small enterprises, health, education and housing. While remittances bring numerous benefits to households in developing countries, little is known about the extent to which remittance flows are reduced by the fact that migrants have limited ability to monitor and control how remittances are spent by beneficiaries. This research aims to investigate whether the introduction of new, innovative financial services can enhance the ability of migrants to save, monitor and control how their remittances are utilized. In partnership with a financial institution in the Philippines, we have designed two new financial products that will be offered randomly via a field experiment, to a sample of Filipino migrants in Qatar enrolled in this study. The first financial product is a commitment savings account that has the potential to raise household savings for clients with self-control concerns. The second financial product is a direct (bill) payment facility that allows a migrant to pay vendors in the Philippines directly. The offer of financial services to the migrant is to enable them to either save more of their remittances (using the commitment savings account) and/or make payments directly to vendors in the Philippines (with the direct payment facility), as opposed to having their families back home arrange payments. All subjects in Qatar and their origin households in the Philippines will be administered a baseline survey covering employment, income and expenses, level of remittances, financial services used and desired and savings. A follow-up survey will be administered later to the migrant and their households in order to determine the use of the new products and its impact on the level and use of remittances or more generally household expenditures.
Long-term effects of nutrient and CO2 enrichment on the temperate coral Astrangia poculata (Ellis and Solander, 1786)

Abstract Zooxanthellate colonies of the scleractinian coral Astrangia poculata were grown under combinations of ambient and elevated nutrients (5 µM NO3−, 0.3 µM PO4− 3, and 2 nM Fe+ 2) and CO2 (∼ 780 ppmv) treatments for a period of 6 months. Coral calcification rates, estimated from buoyant weights, were not significantly affected by moderately elevated nutrients at ambient CO2 and were negatively affected by elevated CO2 at ambient nutrient levels. However, calcification by corals reared under elevated nutrients combined with elevated CO2 was not significantly different from that of corals reared under ambient conditions, suggesting that CO2 enrichment can lead to nutrient limitation in zooxanthellate corals. A conceptual model is proposed to explain how nutrients and CO2 interact to control zooxanthellate coral calcification. Nutrient limited corals are unable to utilize an increase in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) as nutrients are already limiting growth, thus the effect of elevated CO2 on saturation state drives the calcification response. Under nutrient replete conditions, corals may have the ability to utilize more DIC, thus the calcification response to CO2 becomes the product of a negative effect on saturation state and a positive effect on gross carbon fixation, depending upon which dominates, the calcification response can be either positive or negative. This may help explain how the range of coral responses found in different studies of ocean acidification can be obtained.
Impact of Human Activity on Regional Forest Composition and Dynamics in Central New England

Historical and ecological data from north-central Massachusetts suggest that widespread and intensive human disturbance after European settlement led to a shift in forest composition and obscured regional patterns of species abundance. A paleoecological approach was required to place recent forest dynamics in a long-term context. Pollen and charcoal data from 11 small lakes in north-central Massachusetts were used to reconstruct local vegetation dynamics and fire histories across the region over the past 1000 years. The sites are located across an environmental gradient. Paleoecological data indicate that prior to European settlement, there was regional variation in forest composition corresponding to differences in climate, substrate, and fire regime. Oak, chestnut, and hickory were abundant at low elevations, whereas hemlock, beech, sugar maple, and yellow birch were common at high elevations. Fire appears to have been more frequent and/or intense at lower elevations, maintaining high abundances of oak, and archaeological data suggest Native American populations were greater in these areas. A change in forest composition at higher elevations, around 550 years before present, may be related to the Little Ice Age (a period of variable climate), fire, and/or activity by Native Americans, and led to regional convergence in forest composition. After European settlement, forest composition changed markedly in response to human disturbance and there was a sharp increase in rates of vegetation change. Regional patterns were obscured further, leading to homogenization of broad-scale forest composition. There is no indication from the pollen data that forests are returning to pre-European settlement forest composition, and rates of vegetation change remain high, reflecting continuing disturbance on the landscape, despite regional reforestation.
Proteinase inhibitor II gene in transgenic poplar: Chemical and biological assays

Abstract Transgenic poplar lines were developed to investigate the role of a proteinase inhibitor in pest resistance of woody plants. Using an Agrobacterium binary vector system, the clone ‘Hansen’ ( Populus alba L. × P. grandidentata Michx.) was transformed with chimeric genes containing the coding region of potato proteinase inhibitor II ( PIN 2) linked to either a bacterial nopaline synthase ( nos ) or a cauliflower mosaic virus (35 S ) promoter. All transferred DNA also contained a selectable marker in the form of a nos promoter linked to a neomycin phosphotransferase II ( NPT II ) structural gene. The presence of the transferred PIN 2 and NPT II sequences in poplar was confirmed for nine transgenic lines using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Expression of PIN 2 in leaves of transgenic poplar was demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and western blots. Two unique polypeptides from transgenic poplar, of ca 8 kDa and ca 12 kDa, indicate that PIN 2 was translated appropriately. Resistance to the imported willow leaf beetle was tested in laboratory bioassays. The untransformed clone ‘Hansen’ and 11 transgenic lines were submitted to freshly hatched larvae to determine effects on pupal weight, larval development time and leaf area consumed. A significant difference from the untransformed clone in leaf area consumed was detected in one transgenic line, Tr665. Trends were indicated for several other transgenic lines for the other parameters.
Attribution of gender to a gender-unspecified individual: An evaluation of the people = male hypothesis

J. Silveira [(1980), “Generic Masculine Words and Thinking,” Women's Studies International Quarterly, Vol. 3, pp. 165–178] suggested that most individuals adopt a “people = male” bias evidenced by gender-unspecified individuals being attributed male gender. We evaluated whether subject gender, subject status on the Bem Sex Role Inventory [BSRI; S. L. Bem (1974), “The Measurement of Psychological Androgyny,” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 42, pp. 155–162], or situational context would affect the likelihood of subjects attributing male gender to a gender-unspecified individual. College students of primarily European-American descent (82 females and 85 males) read one of three dialogue scripts. Following memory distraction tasks, subjects attributed gender to the target character. Across scripts, there was a strong people = male bias, as subjects were more likely to attribute male, rather than female, gender to the target character. Neither subject gender or BSRI classification affected this bias. Situational context in the scripts had a marginally significant effect.
Exergy-Based Environmental Design of a Computer Room Air Conditioning Unit

The growing environmental footprint of data centers suggests the need for comprehensive models that enable designers and operators to optimize deployment configurations. In this paper, we discuss an exergy-based approach to the environmental design of one component of a data center, the computer room air conditioning (CRAC) unit. Previous work has examined the lifetime exergy consumption of the server technology portion of a data center. In this work we construct a lifetime exergy model for a direct expansion CRAC unit which when combined with the computer server model provides a more complete picture of the environmental impact of a data center. The lifetime model includes the material and energy consumption of the raw materials, transportation, manufacturing processes, operation and disposal. The application of the model is then explored under a variety of design configurations and utilization scenarios. Key parameters that affect the environmental footprint of the CRAC unit (as predicted by the lifetime exergy model) are identified. Case studies are performed to illustrate how variations in these key parameters can lead to significant differences in the lifetime exergy consumption of the CRAC unit. The paper concludes by recommending strategies to reduce the lifetime exergy consumption.© 2009 ASME
ROLLBACK IN POSTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT-RETAINING TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY : A RADIOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

Abstract A clinical and radiographic study of 49 posterior cruciate ligament—retaining total knee arthroplasties in 38 patients (11 bilateral, 27 unilateral), using prostheses of the same design, was undertaken to quantify the amount of in vivo rollback (ie, the anteroposterior translation of the tibia with respect to the femur during flexion). The mean difference in the distances between the contact points of the knees in full extension and in 90° flexion (ie, the rollback distance) was a posterior translation of the contact point of −0.2 mm (−12.7 to +7.6 mm; SD, 4.7 mm) relative to the prosthetic tibial tray, corresponding to an average translation of 0% of the prosthetic tibial tray depth, and −0.2 mm (−12.5 to +9.1 mm; SD, 4.8 mm) relative to the tibia itself, corresponding to an average translation of 0% of the true tibial surface depth. The differences between the rollback values obtained from the 90° and full-extension radiographs relative to the prosthetic tibial tray ( P = .63) and the true tibia ( P = .89) were not statistically significant. Intraobserver ( P = .27−.50) and interobserver ( P = .13−.72) reliability tests showed that the differences between radiographic measurements taken by the same observer at two different points in time and by two different observers were not statistically significant. No correlations were found between the degree of translation of the tibiofemoral contact point relative to the prosthetic tibial tray and the posterior tilt of the tibial tray ( R 2 = .12), the preoperative tibiofemoral angle ( R 2 = .34), and the postoperative tibiofemoral angle ( R 2 = .027). No correlations were found between the degree of translation of the tibiofemoral contact point relative to the true tibia and the posterior tilt of the tibial tray ( R 2 = .16), the preoperative tibiofemoral angle ( R 2 = .14), and the postoperative tibiofemoral angle ( R 2 = .034). In conclusion, this study indicated no demonstrable rollback occurring in the posterior cruciate ligament—retaining total knee arthroplasty used in this study.
Platelet Nano-Forces are Similar on Fibronectin and Fibrinogen Ligands

We present a new biomechanical approach to measure nanoscale platelet contractile forces, which play an important role in the regulation of hemostasis and thrombosis. Previous studies have indicated that platelets generate contractile forces through actin-myosin interactions that lead to clot retraction and stability. If platelets are unable to generate forces, then the clots they form are loosely-bound and may detach to cause an embolism. Likewise, a higher propensity toward contractility by platelets may cause excessive clot formation in arteries and block blood flow.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
From counting and pouring to caring: The empathic developmental process of community pharmacists

Abstract Background Pharmacists are the most accessible health care provider. As such, they often interact with patients who, for a variety of reasons, are in some form of emotional distress. Pharmacists who can communicate empathically are able to build good patient rapport, which often translates into improved patient outcomes. Objectives The objective of this study was to better understand the process of how experienced community pharmacists developed into highly empathic pharmacists. This study was not intended to measure empathic abilities of pharmacists as an outcome. Methods Using a grounded theory qualitative methodology, a purposeful sample of 20 highly empathic experienced community pharmacists was selected using explicit selection criteria. A semistructured interview was conducted with each pharmacist selected. Interview data were analyzed first through open coding, then with qualitative data analysis software. Results Two significant themes emerged from the data. Theme 1 focused on the social learning component of empathy development such as observation and imitation of others; and theme 2 centered on the role of the consistent use of self-reflective practices when pharmacists interact with a patient in distress. Conclusions The data suggest that empathic development in pharmacists is a function of social learning and reflection in action. This interplay appears to facilitate empathic responding to patients who are experiencing physical or emotional distress.
Age-related differences in the preweanling rat’s reactivity to footshock

Unconditioned reactivity to footshock in 5-, 7-, 9-, 11-, and 13-day-old rats was assessed by measuring locomotor activity elicited by inescapable shock. Five-day-old rats differed in activity from all ages except the 7-day-olds. The 7-day-olds were less active than the 13-day-olds, and the 9-13-day-olds failed to differ from one another. These findings suggest that an age difference in reactivity to footshock was probably not a determining factor in reported age-related differences in the shock-escape behavior of infant rats.
Biliary Atresia : Current Management and Outcome

Between 1986 and 1994, 42 patients with BA were treated at the Kobe Children's Hospital. These patients underwent a wider excision of the hilar fibrous remnant with Roux-Y reconstruction (with or without intussuscepted valve) without stoma. Corticosteroids were used postoperatively when the stool was acholic or unsteadily cholic. The daily dose was reduced from 20 mg/day by half down. The patients were divided into two groups; in Group I (n=17, before October 1990), a single course of corticosteroid therapy was employed. In Group II (n=25, from November 1990 on), this regimen was repeated whenever the stool appeared less cholic. The bile flow improved significantly (excellent in 29% and 60%, and poor in 71% and 32% in Groups I and II, respectively.) Corticosteroids were used in 15 Group I patients with good response in 10 and in 21 Group II patients, 15 of whom had multiple courses. Sixteen of the 21 Group II patients had a good response. The incidence of the cholangitis was not significantly different between the 19 patients with valve and the 23 patients without valve. A 5 year survival significantly improved from 70% in Group I to 96% in Group II. In both groups, the survival rate significantly increased, when compared with the survival rate figured out with an assumption of OLT survivors as dead. On the same assumption, the survival rate of Group II is significantly more than that of the Group II. These suggest a positive contribution of liver transplantation and an aggressive corticosteroid therapy on better survival of Group II.
Determination of target mass from ISS data in the presence of inelastic losses

Abstract Ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS) is often used to identify the masses of surface atoms through measurement of scattered-ion energies. Mass analysis is straightforward when the scattering events can be described by binary elastic collision kinematics. However, inelastic and multiple scattering effects can alter the final energy of the detected particles, complicating the analysis. Here we present a method that uses ISS data collected at two or more observation angles to identify both the mass of the scattering center and any inelastic energy loss. Use of this technique can also allow detection and quantification of certain systematic errors, such as uncertainties in the initial beam energy, detected ion energy and scattering angle. While ion scattering is stressed here, the presented technique works equally well for the analysis of direct recoil ion energies. An example using He + ISS data recorded on an Al–Ag alloy illustrates the abilities of this method.
Effects of ethidium, quinacrine and hycanthone on survival and mutagenesis of UV-irradiated Hcr+ and Hcr- strains of E. Coli B/r.

Summary Ethidium, quinacrine or hycanthone when incorporated in the post-irradiation plating medium have all been found to decrease survival and increase str r mutation frequencies in a UV-irradiated E. coli B/r strain. The enhancement of mutational yield was shown, for quinacrine, to apply also to UV-induced trp - → Trp + reversions. Since these three compounds do not enhance mutational yields, and have at best only a weak antimutagenic action, in an Hcr - strain, it seems probable that ethidium, quinacrine and hycanthone are primarily inhibitors of excision repair.
Best practices in board governance: Evidence from South Carolina

In June 2003, a large-scale survey was conducted among South Carolina nonprofit agencies to gather information on a range of board governance issues. Some of the survey questions dealt with how each agency's board contributes to the organization. More than 80 percent of the responding agencies were registered as 501(c)(3), with the largest number of respondents in the human services category. Statistical analysis reveals where actual roles differ from “best practices” as prescribed in the literature. Discussion then focuses on how these trends in governance affect management and operations. In particular, we look at best practice regarding the separation of board and staff duties.
The Frustrations of Geopolitics and the Pleasures of War: Behind Enemy Lines and American Geopolitical Culture

This paper considers the film Behind Enemy Lines, made before 11th September 2001 but rush released soon after, as a cultural and commercial product which provides insights into American geopolitical culture. It argues that the movie's storyline is an articulation of a Jacksonian tradition in American geopolitical culture involving a drama of remasculinization. It also argues that the film is a mythic rendition of morally ambiguous American military engagement with the Bosnian war. Finally, it examines the film as an expression of the structure of feeling of post-9/11 American militarism. That structure of feeling is characterized by impatience with the pragmatics of multilateral diplomacy, and strong desire for the pleasures of the unilateral action and morally righteous violence.
Species differences in sensitivity of nucleoside transport in erythrocytes and cultured cells to inhibition by nitrobenzylthioinosine, dipyridamole, dilazep and lidoflazine

Differences in sensitivity of uridine transport in erythrocytes and cultured cells to inhibition by dipyridamole, dilazep and lidoflazine were largely species-specific; uridine transport in human cells, and probably in pig and rabbit cells, was 2–3- and 10-times more sensitive to inhibition by dipyridamole (IC50 approx. 50 nM) and about 10- and 20-times more sensitive to dilazep inhibition (IC50 approx. 5 nM) than transport in mouse and rat cells, respectively. Uridine transport in human erythrocytes and HeLa cells was strongly inhibited by lidoflazine (IC50 10–140 nM), whereas that in both mouse and rat cells was highly resistant (IC50 > 10 μM). Superimposed on species-specific differences were some cell type specific differences in sensitivity of nucleoside transport to these inhibitors. Uridine transport in Walker 256 rat carcinoma cells was more resistant to dipyridamole and dilazep than that of other rat cells. Transport in human Hep-2 cells was more resistant to lidoflazine (IC50 2000 nM) than that of human erythrocytes and HeLa cells, whereas it showed similar sensitivity to dilazep and dipyridamole. Uridine transport in Chinese hamster cells was also more resistant to dilazep than that of baby hamster kidney cells. In addition HeLa cells and clones thereof expressed uridine transporters (about 50% each) with difference of about 1000-fold in sensitivity to inhibition by dilazep (IC50 approx. 5 nM and 5 μM, respectively)
Effective Health Communication in Native Populations in North America

Effective communication for Native Americans living in North America and Hawaii includes taking time in conversation and providing information indirectly through story-telling, example, and metaphor. It also includes listening and using humor to build relationships through communication. Modern medical community members communicate by moving quickly in a time efficient manner to learn symptoms, make diagnoses, and relay health information to assist as many patients as possible. Native Americans may not understand the response they receive from the modern medical community and may not trust or follow the recommended treatment. Examining effective communication for Native Americans and those who treat them is essential as Native Americans are at greater risk for life-threatening illness than other minority groups in North America and Hawaii. This article examines effective communication for Native American health care, the existing problems, and the potential impact of these problems. Measures to improve co...
Single daily dose ceftriaxone therapy in epiglottitis

Ceftriaxone as a single daily intravenous dose for 5 days was used to treat seven patients with proven Haemophilus influenzae epiglottitis. All children responded favourably. The serum levels achieved exceeded the MIC by up to 1500 times at the trough level during and for up to 24 h after the completion of the treatment. Side effects were mild and transient and did not disrupt the continuity of the treatment. Ceftriaxone potentially offers a number of clinical and economic advantages in the management of epiglottitis.
Nitrification Modeling in Pilot-Scale Chloraminated Drinking Water Distribution Systems

A suspended growth nitrification model was developed to describe nitrification dynamics in terms of chloramine, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and nitrifying bacteria concentrations in pilot-scale chloraminated drinking water systems. The model provided a semimechanistic base to study the regrowth and persistence of nitrifiers in chloraminated distribution systems. Results showed that the developed suspended growth model, without a biofilm nitrification component, was able to simulate and predict nitrification episodes in the pilot-scale systems. In the restricted low nutrient drinking water environment, growth kinetic parameters for nitrifiers were estimated to be significantly lower than ranges reported in the literature. The maximum specific growth rate and ammonia half-saturation constant for ammonia oxidizing bacteria were estimated to be 0.46 day−1 and 0.023 mg NH3 –N∕L , respectively. In addition, an estimated reaction rate of 70±32 L∕(mg HPC⋅day) between chloramines and soluble microbial products sugg...
Multiphoton microscopy system with a compact fiber-based femtosecond-pulse laser and handheld probe

We report on the development of a compact multiphoton microscopy (MPM) system that integrates a compact and robust fiber laser with a miniature probe. The all normal dispersion fiber femtosecond laser has a central wavelength of 1.06 μm, pulse width of 125 fs and average power of more than 1 W. A double cladding photonic crystal fiber was used to deliver the excitation beam and to collect the two-photon signal. The hand-held probe included galvanometer-based mirror scanners, relay lenses and a focusing lens. The packaged probe had a diameter of 16 mm. Second harmonic generation (SHG) images and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) images of biological tissues were demonstrated using the system.
The relation of economic factors to perceived stress in mobile families

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between objective and subjective measures of economic well-being, amount of and satisfaction with control, and perceived stress level of subjects, who have relocated with their families within the past year. Both males and females indicate more stress if their financial condition is worse following the move than before, if their employment status is not satisfying, and when they have little control over their lives and are not satisfied with their level of control. Stress is negatively related to satisfaction with the specific aspects of economic situation studied for both males and females with limited exception.
Emergency Department Management of the Immunosuppressed Host

Children with immunosuppression are a high-risk but relatively infrequent presentation to the emergency department. Clinicians need to systematically and efficiently assess these children, especially when they present with fever or potential infectious complaints. Although most are not imminently septic, as the risk of bacteremia leading to sepsis is high, a standardized approach is important to be timely to cover serious pathogens. This case-based review will discuss underlying immune deficiencies in children one might see in the emergency department setting, review the approach to evaluation and acute management, and discuss key issues to minimize morbidity or mortality.
Extraction of IrIr adatom interaction strengths on Ir(100) from field ion microscopy of iridium cluster structures

Abstract The interaction energetics of iridium atoms self-adsorbed on Ir(100) are inferred from field ion microscopy observations which show that for 5 or fewer adatoms the most stable cluster configuration is a linear chain oriented in a 〈110〉 surface direction, while for 6 or more adatoms certain two-dimensional islands are the most stable. The critical number of adatoms beyond which island growth is preferred, together with the observed stable island configurations for 6 and 7 atoms, imply relatively tight bounds on possible lattice gas interaction parameters once reasonable assumptions are made regarding their falloff with adatom separation. The third near-neighbor interaction must be attractive and non-negligible, indicating that relatively long-range interactions between the Ir adatoms are present. In addition, configurations involving second near-neighbor interactions must be repulsive if the observed cluster configurations are to be explained.
Optimal Serotype Compositions for Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination under Serotype Replacement

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccination has proved highly effective in eliminating vaccine-type pneumococcal carriage and disease. However, the potential adverse effects of serotype replacement remain a major concern when implementing routine childhood pneumococcal conjugate vaccination programmes. Applying a concise predictive model, we present a ready-to-use quantitative tool to investigate the implications of serotype replacement on the net effectiveness of vaccination against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and to guide in the selection of optimal vaccine serotype compositions. We utilise pre-vaccination data on pneumococcal carriage and IPD and assume partial or complete elimination of vaccine-type carriage, its replacement by non-vaccine-type carriage, and stable case-to-carrier ratios (probability of IPD per carriage episode). The model predicts that the post-vaccination IPD incidences in Finland for currently available vaccine serotype compositions can eventually decrease among the target age group of children <5 years of age by 75%. However, due to replacement through herd effects, the decrease among the older population is predicted to be much less (20–40%). We introduce a sequential algorithm for the search of optimal serotype compositions and assess the robustness of inferences to uncertainties in data and assumptions about carriage and IPD. The optimal serotype composition depends on the age group of interest and some serotypes may be highly beneficial vaccine types in one age category (e.g. 6B in children), while being disadvantageous in another. The net effectiveness will be improved only if the added serotype has a higher case-to-carrier ratio than the average case-to-carrier ratio of the current non-vaccine types and the degree of improvement in effectiveness depends on the carriage incidence of the serotype. The serotype compositions of currently available pneumococcal vaccines are not optimal and the effectiveness of vaccination in the population at large could be improved by including new serotypes in the vaccine (e.g. 22 and 9N).