cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opioid Use in the United States

Our paper focuses on studying drivers of individual drug user relapse as well as broader systematic drug use patterns across states in the United States of America. For this study, two datasets were used; the first is a subset of the survey results from Dr. Miriam Boeri’s co-authored study, “Older Drug Users: A Life Course Study of Turning Points in Drug Use [in a large Southeastern Metropolitan Area], 2009-2010”. The dataset included variables such as the gender, race, education level, the age at which the respondents moved away from their guardian’s home, and the age at which the respondent filled the survey. With this dataset, a logistic regression analysis is preformed to identify factors that may be associated with drug relapse. We found that the only “somewhat important” factor, as compared to all the factors studied, seemed to be “the current age of the respondent when they interviewed.”The second dataset is composed of variables such as the state-wise population density, GDP, median household income, opioid prescription rate, death rate due to overuse of opioids, alcohol consumption rate, death rate due to alcohol overuse, death rate due to drug overuse, suicide death rate, and education attainment level across the United States.
The equilibrium phase diagram of the pentaerythritol-pentaglycerine-2-amino-2methyl-1,3, propanediol (PE-PG-AMPL) system

Abstract Polyalcohols and amines have been considered as potential thermal energy storage materials, owing to their energetic solid-solid phase transitions. In this paper, we present equilibrium phase diagram of Pentaerythritol (PE)–Pentaglycerine (PG)– 2-amino-2methyl-1,3, propanediol (AMPL) ternary system that has been thermodynamically assessed using the CALPHAD method. A special class of, so called, “Plastic Crystals” have tetrahederally configured molecules with O–H⋯O or N–H⋯O layered or chained bonds in the low temperature phase, and store latent heat of transformation during solid-solid phase change in orientationally disordered crystals at higher temperatures. For example, in polyalcohols, there are O–H⋯O bond rotations around the C–C bonds that are responsible for storing large amounts of solid state phase change energy. Several binary equilibrium phase diagrams of polyalcohols, amines and combination thereof have been calculated and experimentally validated. We only know of three ternary phase diagram of these plastic crystals reported, to the best of knowledge. In the thermodynamic calculations of the PE-PG-AMPL system, we used the binary phase diagram experimental data for the optimization and calculation of excess energies. The binary systems have been optimized using regular and sub-regular solution models. The binaries as well as the ternary system have been calculated from room temperature to the liquid phase. The solution phases are modeled as substitutional solutions, in which the excess Gibbs energies are expressed by the Redlich–Kister–Muggianu polynomial. There is a very good agreement between previously reported experimental data and the calculated phase diagrams.
Smartphone Applications for Assessing Ankle Range of Motion in Clinical Practice

Background:Measuring ankle range of motion (ROM) following injury or intervention is necessary for monitoring recovery as well as for calculating permanent impairment ratings in workers’ compensati...
Unintended Consequences of Nevada’s Ninety-Percent Prevailing Wage Rule:

In 2015, the State of Nevada reduced prevailing wage rates on education-related construction to 90 percent of the applicable rate for other state-funded construction. The examination of projects bu...
A method for determining absolute ultrasonic velocities and elastic properties of experimental shear zones

Abstract Laboratory experiments are a vital tool for assessing elastic properties of rock and determining the underlying geomechanical processes that inform large scale, predictive models. In some cases, relative values of elastic properties are sufficient, but absolute values are necessary when comparing between locations and to address upscaling from lab to field settings. However, determining absolute values of ultrasonic velocity and elastic parameters in laboratory experiments is often complex and hampered by apparatus design. Moreover, measuring the evolution of elastic properties with shear deformation has proven especially difficult. Here, we describe a method that allows measurements of P- and S-wave velocity as a function of shear deformation under stresses of 10's of MPa. The approach includes rigorous calibration experiments and accounts for the evolution of impedance contrasts at sample interfaces as a function of strain. We describe our method by applying it to sheared layers that represent simulated fault zones composed of clay-quartz mixtures and fault rocks recovered from drilling. P-wave arrival times range from 10 to 20 μs and wave speeds are 2–4 km/s during shear of layers a few mm in thickness subject to normal stress of 25 MPa and shear strains >30. Travel time data for apparatus calibration are fit with rational functions and root mean square error is used to assess uncertainty. Wave speed varies systematically with shear stress and increases with shear strain due to comminution, compaction, internal strain localization and shear fabric development.
PlasmidHawk: Alignment-based Lab-of-Origin Prediction of Synthetic Plasmids

With advances in synthetic biology and genome engineering comes a heightened awareness of potential misuse related to biosafety concerns. A recent study employed machine learning to identify the lab-of-origin of DNA sequences to help mitigate some of these concerns. Despite their promising results, this deep learning based approach had limited accuracy, is computationally expensive to train, and wasn9t able to provide the precise features that were used in its predictions. To address these shortcomings, we have developed PlasmidHawk for lab-of-origin prediction. Compared to a machine learning approach, PlasmidHawk has higher prediction accuracy; PlasmidHawk can successfully predict unknown sequences9 depositing labs 63% of the time and 80% of the time the correct lab is in the top 10 candidates. In addition, PlasmidHawk can precisely single out the signature sub-sequences that are responsible for the lab-of-origin detection. In summary, PlasmidHawk represents a novel, explainable, accurate tool for lab-of-origin prediction of synthetic plasmid sequences. PlasmidHawk is available at https://gitlab.com/treangenlab/plasmidhawk.git .
Analysis of bacterial etiology of the outpatients with infectious diarrhea in the Children′s Hospital Capital Institute of Pediatrics

Objective To analyze the bacterial etiology and drug resistance of pathogens from the outpatients with acute infectious diarrhea in the Children′s Hospital Capital Institute of Pediatrics. Methods The children with acute infectious diarrhea in the outpatient department of our hospital were randomly enrolled in the period of August 2017 to July 2018. Enteric pathogenic bacteria were cultured and isolated from the fresh stool specimens. The serum of Salmonella spp were identified while five types of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli were detected by PCR method. Antibiotic susceptibility of Salmonella spp and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli were tested by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method.Chi-square or Fisher exact test was done for statistical analysis. Results Of the 356 stool specimens, 103 strains of 6 pathogenic bacterial species were detected. The positive rate was 27.8% (99/356), and 2 strains were detected in four stool samples. The isolation rate of Salmonella spp, which was the highest in this study, was 10.7% (38/356). The isolation rate of Staphylococcus aureus, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 8.4% (30/356), 5.6% (20/356) and 3.7% (13/356), respectively. No Shigella spp strain was isolated. Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium were the dominant serotype for 38 Salmonella spp stains with the isolation rate of 63.2% (24/38). Each 10 Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and 10 Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli isolates were detected among the diarrheagenic Escherichia coli. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia colistrain was not found in this study. The resistant rates of Salmonella spp to ampicillin and ceftriaxone were 52.6% (20/38) and 13.2% (5/38), while the diarrheagenic Escherichia coli were 11/20 and 1/20, respectively. Three diarrheagenic Escherichia coli isolates produced extended spectrum beta-lactamase. Conclusions Salmonella spp was the major bacterial pathogen among the outpatients with infectious diarrhea in the hospital. The study indicated that the infection ratios of Staphylococcus aureus, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa increased. Shigella spp was no long the main pathogenic agent. The resistant rates of Salmonella spp and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli to ampicillin were high, but low resistant rates to ceftriaxone were found among these two kinds of bacteria. The third-generation cephalosporins should be the first choice for the treatment of childhood bacterial diarrhea. Key words: Diarrhea; Salmonella; Escherichia coli; Drug resistance,Bacterial; Child
Biomechanical Analysis of Conventional Partially Threaded Screws Versus Headless Compression Screws in Proximal Fifth Metatarsal (Jones) Fracture Fixation.

Background. Intramedullary screw fixation of Jones fractures using partially threaded screws is a common method of fixation for these injuries, but refracture continues to be a problem. Various oth...
Effect of counselor self-disclosure of religious similarity on client perception of empathy within the therapeutic relationship: An analogue study

This analogue study was intended to investigate the impact of a specific counselor intervention, self-disclosure, on therapeutic empathy and working alliance by exposing 189 participants from a large Midwestern university to one of four randomly assigned conditions featuring a sex-matched, simulated counseling interaction. Participants’ video-stimuli ratings were analyzed by a series of planned comparisons and ANCOVAs. Planned comparisons revealed that Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) ratings were significantly higher for the mean of the combined self-disclosure treatment groups than for the non-disclosure control and that mean WAI ratings for the matched religious selfdisclosure condition were significantly higher than for the control. When analyzed via ANCOVA, partialling out significant covariates, the mean of the combined treatment groups was significantly higher than that of the control for each dependent measure (WAI, Accurate Empathy Scale, and Empathic Understanding Scale). The findings indicated that counselor self-disclosure can have a positive impact on the therapeutic relationship. Implications for research, training, and counseling are discussed.
Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine: A report of two cases

Abstract Background Spinal calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) is uncommon, and often resembles more common spine pathologies causing pain and neural compression. Here, we present two unusual cases of CPPD of the cervical and thoracolumbar spines. Case description Case 1: A 71-year old female smoker presented with a large epidural mass causing rapidly progressive cervical myelopathy with weakness in the upper and lower extremities. Case 2: A 66-year-old morbidly obese male presented with chronic back pain for several years associated with progressively worsening radicular pain in his left lower extremity. Outcome The first case is an example of tumoral CPPD involving the facet joint and expanding into the epidural space. The second case was an example of CPPD involving a thoracolumbar facet cyst, resulting in unilateral radiculopathy. Both patients were treated surgically and had significant improvement in symptoms post-operatively. Conclusions CPPD in the spine is an uncommon diagnosis but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with back pain and associated neurological symptoms. Accurate diagnosis of spinal CPPD is important in that it will guide postoperative management with anti-inflammatory medications and reduce risk of recurrence.
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation reduces pain and fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot trial.

Objectives Musculoskeletal pain and fatigue are common features in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway is a physiological mechanism diminishing inflammation, engaged by stimulating the vagus nerve. We evaluated the effects of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in patients with SLE and with musculoskeletal pain. Methods 18 patients with SLE and with musculoskeletal pain ≥4 on a 10 cm Visual Analogue Scale were randomised (2:1) in this double-blind study to receive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) or sham stimulation (SS) for 4 consecutive days. Evaluations at baseline, day 5 and day 12 included patient assessments of pain, disease activity (PtGA) and fatigue. Tender and swollen joint counts and the Physician Global Assessment (PGA) were completed by a physician blinded to the patient’s therapy. Potential biomarkers were evaluated. Results taVNS and SS were well tolerated. Subjects receiving taVNS had a significant decrease in pain and fatigue compared with SS and were more likely (OR=25, p=0.02) to experience a clinically significant reduction in pain. PtGA, joint counts and PGA also improved. Pain reduction and improvement of fatigue correlated with the cumulative current received. In general, responses were maintained through day 12. Plasma levels of substance P were significantly reduced at day 5 compared with baseline following taVNS but other neuropeptides, serum and whole blood-stimulated inflammatory mediators, and kynurenine metabolites showed no significant change at days 5 or 12 compared with baseline. Conclusion taVNS resulted in significantly reduced pain, fatigue and joint scores in SLE. Additional studies evaluating this intervention and its mechanisms are warranted.
Double bubbles in the 3-torus

13 pages, 4 figures. Prepared on behalf of the participants in the Clay Mathematics Institute Summer School on the Global Theory of Minimal Surfaces, held at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley, California, Summer 2001
Rural-urban migration at high urbanization levels

Abstract This study assesses the empirical relevance of the Harris-Todaro model at high levels of urbanization – a feature that characterizes an increasing number of developing countries, which were largely rural when the model was created 50 years ago. Using data from Brazil, the paper compares observed and model-based predictions of the equilibrium urban employment rate of 449 cities and the rural regions that are the historic sources of their migrant populations. Little support is found in the data for the most basic version of the model. However, extensions that incorporate labor informality and housing markets have much better empirical traction. Harris-Todaro equilibrium relationships are relatively stronger among workers with primary but no high school education, and those relationships are more frequently found under certain conditions: when cities are relatively larger; and when the associated rural areas are closer to the magnet city and populated to a greater degree by young adults, who are most likely to migrate.
Longitudinal Immune Profiling Reveals Unique Myeloid and T-cell Phenotypes Associated with Spontaneous Immunoediting in a Prostate Tumor Model.

The theory of cancer immunoediting, which describes the dynamic interactions between tumors and host immune cells that shape the character of each compartment, is foundational for understanding cancer immunotherapy. Few models exist that facilitate in-depth study of each of the three canonical phases of immunoediting: elimination, equilibrium, and escape. Here, we utilized NPK-C1, a transplantable prostate tumor model that we found recapitulated the three phases of immunoediting spontaneously in immunocompetent animals. Given that a significant portion of NPK-C1 tumors reliably progressed to the escape phase, we were able to delineate cell types and mechanisms differentially prevalent in equilibrium versus escape phases. Using high-dimensional flow cytometry, we found that activated CD4+ effector T cells were enriched in regressing tumors, highlighting a role for CD4+ T cells in antitumor immunity. CD8+ T cells were also important for NPK-C1 control; specifically, central memory-like cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), as a whole, were counterintuitively enriched in regressing tumors; however, high-dimensional analysis revealed their significant phenotypic diversity, with a number of Treg subpopulations enriched in progressing tumors. In the myeloid compartment, we found that iNOS+ DC-like cells are enriched in regressing tumors, whereas CD103+ DCs were associated with late-stage tumor progression. In total, these analyses of the NPK-C1 model provide novel insights into the roles of lymphoid and myeloid populations throughout the cancer immunoediting process and highlight a role for multi-dimensional, flow-based analyses to more deeply understand immune cell dynamics in the tumor microenvironment.
Combination therapy with avelumab (Ave) and cabozantinib (Cabo) in patients (pts) with newly diagnosed metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC).

334Background: Immune therapy combinations are now standard first-line therapy for pts with mccRCC. Cabo modulates key components of the immune system such as decreasing regulatory T-cells and incr...
Wheeled Mobility Use on Accessible Fixed-Route Transit: A Field Study in Environmental Docility.

Multiple field studies provide qualitative accounts of usability barriers experienced by users of wheeled mobility devices on public transit. This study aimed to examine these usability barriers from the theoretical perspective of Environmental Docility by quantifying the relationship between functional capabilities of wheeled mobility device users and ingress–egress performance on accessible fixed-route transit vehicles in an urban setting. Twenty-eight wheeled mobility users each completed three trips on a predetermined route through the local public transit system. Ingress and egress times, user-reported usability ratings and open-ended comments were analyzed. Regression analyses indicated significant interactions between age and minimum parallel-park length on ingress and egress times. Specifically, lower functional capability reflected in older age and less maneuvering ability predicted decreased performance (longer ingress–egress times), indicating less adaptability to environmental demands and agreement with the Environmental Docility Hypothesis. Usability ratings and comments revealed difficulty with negotiating access ramps and turning maneuvers in the vehicle interior and in proximity to other passengers. Despite compliance with accessibility standards, current design of transit vehicles present substantial usability barriers for wheeled mobility users. Environmental Docility provides a theoretical basis to identifying modifiable factors related to person and environment for improving usability of public transit for people aging and/or with mobility impairments.
Help From a Friend: Helicopter Parenting Predicts Empathy and Bystander Intervention:

Harassment toward others happens in many contexts with a myriad of negative impacts on victims, witnesses, and society. Although preventing harassment of others is ideal, it is also important to co...
What does it mean to be wild? Assessing human influence on the environments of nonhuman primate specimens in museum collections.

Objectives Natural history collections are often thought to represent environments in a pristine natural state-free from human intervention-the so-called "wild." In this study, we aim to assess the level of human influence represented by natural history collections of wild-collected primates over 120 years at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). Materials and Methods Our sample consisted of 875 catarrhine primate specimens in NMNH collections, representing 13 genera collected in 39 countries from 1882 to 2004. Using archival and accession information we determined the approximate locations from which specimens were collected. We then plotted location coordinates onto publicly available anthrome maps created by Ellis et al. (Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2010, 19, 589), which delineate terrestrial biomes of human population density and land use worldwide since the 1700s. Results We found that among primates collected from their native ranges, 92% were from an environment that had some level of human impact, suggesting that the majority of presumed wild-collected primate specimens lived in an environment influenced by humans during their lifetimes. Discussion The degree to which human-modified environments may have impacted the lives of primates currently held in museum collections has been historically ignored, implicating unforeseen consequences for collection-based research. While unique effects related to commensalism with humans remain understudied, effects currently attributed to natural phenomena may, in fact, be related to anthropogenic pressures on unmanaged populations of primates.
Usefulness of two clinical chorioamnionitis definitions in predicting neonatal infectious outcomes: a systematic review.

Objective To assess the usefulness of two definitions of acute clinical chorioamnionitis (ACCA) in predicting risk of neonatal infectious outcomes (NIO) and mortality, the first definition requiring maternal fever alone (Fever), and the second requiring ≥ 1 Gibbs criterion besides fever (Fever + 1). Study Design PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from January 1, 1979 to April 9, 2013. Twelve studies were reviewed (of 316 articles identified): three studies with term patients, four with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) patients, and five mixed studies with mixed gestational ages and/or membrane status (intact and/or ruptured). Results Both definitions demonstrated an increased NIO risk for ACCA versus non-ACCA patients, with an odds ratio increase for the Fever + 1 definition that was about twofold larger than the Fever definition. Conclusion As the Fever definition demonstrated increased NIO risk for ACCA versus non-ACCA patients, the Fever alone ACCA definition should be used to trigger future clinical treatment in many clinical situations.
Site-Directed Mutagenesis

Site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) is a highly versatile, widely used technique that enables detailed probing of protein structure–function relationships both in vitro and in the context of whole organisms. In addition, SDM can be employed to engineer new and optimized catalytic activities and improved biophysical properties into proteins. These engineered proteins can be used to provide enhanced research reagents, enzymes for industrial application, and bio-therapeutics for medicine, as well as being integrated into living systems to increase the utility of the bio-engineered organism. Due to the power of SDM to study complex biological systems and improve protein function for biotechnology applications, use of this technology has been accelerating over the last several decades, and this trend is likely to continue well into the future.
Linear discrete operators on the disk algebra

Let A be the disk algebra. In this paper we address the following question: Under what conditions on the points Zk,, E D do there exist operators Ln : A -W A such that Mn Lnf = f f (Zk,n)lk,n, fL 1k,n E A, k=1 and Lnf -+ f, n -* no, for every f E A? Here the convergence is understood in the sense of sup norm in A. Our first result shows that if Zk,n satisfy Carleson condition, then there exists a function f E A such that Lnf 74 f, n -4 oc. This is a non-trivial generalization of results of Somorjai (1980) and Partington (1997). It also provides a partial converse to a result of Totik (1984). The second result of this paper shows that if Ln are required to be projections, then for any choice of Zk,, the operators Ln do not converge to the identity operator. This theorem generalizes the famous theorem of Faber and implies that the disk algebra does not have an interpolating basis.
Electron capture in collisions of excited Na*(3p) atoms with He+ ions at 0.1-7 keV/u: Effects of alignment of the initial Na*(3p) orbital.

Electron-capture and deexcitation processes in collisions of excited ${\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}$(3p) atoms with ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ ions are studied in the energy range 0.1--7 keV/u by using the molecular-orbital-expansion method within the semiclassical framework. The integral alignment (${\mathit{A}}_{20}$), alignment angle (\ensuremath{\gamma}), and orientation (O) parameters of excited He(2 $^{1}$P,2 $^{3}$P) orbitals resulting from electron capture are also determined. Furthermore, the effects of the initial alignment of the ${\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}$(3${\mathit{p}}_{\mathit{m}}$) orbital on the cross sections, O, and \ensuremath{\gamma} parameters are investigated. The present results show that the ratio of theoretical cross sections for electron capture by the ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ ion in collisions with the ${\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}$(3p) atom and the ground state Na(3s) atom, respectively, is nearly equal to unity in the energy range studied here. The results also show that the O and \ensuremath{\gamma} parameters are significantly different for the singlet and triplet manifolds, implying that different collision dynamics for He(2p) formation govern in each manifold. These parameters can be effectively controlled by adjusting the initial alignment of the ${\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}$(3p) orbitals.
Pharmacology, toxicology and efficacy of cyclic RGD targeted nanoparticles with covalently attached doxorubicin

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004 4585 We report studies into the therapeutic activity, pharmacokinetics (PK) and biodistribution of cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid- (RGD-) doxorubicin-nanoparticles (NPs) in tumor-bearing mice. The nanoparticle had a crosslinked carbohydrate (inulin) core, cyclic RGD-peptide covalently attached to the nanoparticles via a linker consisting of PEG-400 and doxorubicin attached to the core matrix via an amide bond. The toxicity profile of intravenously (IV) injected NPs was significantly lower (three fold) than doxorubicin and Doxil (doxorubicin-loaded stealth liposomes), and was independent of dosing protocol (three times (tiw) and once (q1w) a week). The maximum tolerate dose (MTD) of Doxil administered q1w was 36 mg doxorubicin/kg, while NP was >120 mg/kg. When given tiw, doxorubicin had a MTD of (32 mg/kg) and doxorubicin from NP had a MTD > 90 mg/kg. In contrast to Doxil or doxorubicin, the greatest therapeutic activity (prolonged survival and slowed growth of the metastatic breast cancer, clone-66) was observed with a dose dense protocol of NPs for the treatment of orthrotopic Cl-66 tumors (3-5 mm in diameter at the initiation of therapy). PK and biodistribution studies administered NPs containing 12.5 mg/kg of doxorubicin to CL-66 tumor-bearing mice by IV bolus. The plasma concentration vs. time profile for total drug in plasma fit a bi-exponential model and had an elimination half-life (Tb) of 4.4 h. Biodistribution studies indicated that doxorubicin levels in the heart, lung and kidney decreased in parallel with the plasma levels; while the levels in the liver, spleen and tumor accumulated over time. The total doxorubicin content in the liver and spleen were high, (55.7 and 3.5 % respectively, of the administered dose at 48 hrs) suggesting reticulo-endothelial system binding/phagocytosis. The initial distribution (15 min) of NPs to the kidney suggested that no drug accumulation occurred and a high level of unconjugated doxorubicin was found, reflecting renal excretion. One of our goals for NPs is a reduction in cardiotoxicity, which was achieved with the finding of Cmax doxorubicin level in the heart at 15 min of 25.1+8.8 μg/g tissue (0.83% of dose administered). In contrast, NP levels accumulated in the tumor peaked at 24 hours, reaching 2.1 % of the administered dose and maintained a relatively high dose, which decreased to 1.5% of total dose administered at 5 days. Interestingly, a metabolite was observed in the tumor samples and not in the liver, blood, or other tissue, which may be attributed to decreased pH or an altered metabolism in the tumor. In summary, NPs have significantly reduced toxicity with the retention of therapeutic activity requiring a dose dense protocol for activity.
Social Organization: A Study of the Larger Mind

This classic text has set a standard for American sociol-ogy. Cooley provides analysis without empiricism, applying psychological insight to his study of the individual and collective self. First published in 1909, this work attempts to motivate man and society to be more responsible to each other. "The style of his book is clear and attractive, the text abounding in happy quotation."--"Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science"
PSCORE: Publication Record Measurement with an Application to New Zealand Business Faculty

This paper offers a robust but simple scoring method (PSCORE) to measure the quality and quantity of research output by faculty members. This method will enable administrators and tenure and promotion committees to set benchmark qualitative and quantitative research goals and measure progress through time. Using a merit process list obtained from a research university with high research activity as defined by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, we will illustrate the method by computing and ranking published business faculty at the University of Otago in New Zealand.
TolA: Structure, Location and Role in the Uptake of Colicins

Colicins are bacterial protein toxins which are antagonistic to Escherichia col. and other related species. Their mode of action varies, ranging from the ability to form ion sensitive channels in bacteria to endonucleolytic cleavage of DNA and RNA or the lysis of susceptible bacteria. Genetic analysis has shown that the mechanism by which the colicins are able to reach their target of action involves a minimum of two steps. The toxin first must recognize a specific outer membrane receptor. Bacteria which lack a functional receptor cannot bind the colicin and have been called resistant. Other mutant bacteria have been isolated which are not affected by the colicin molecules but have a functional receptor to which the colicin can bind normally.Presumably these mutants, which have been defined as tolerant, are defective in a second step required for the toxin to be translocated to its site of action.
The role of the nucleosome acidic patch in modulating higher order chromatin structure

Higher order folding of chromatin fibre is mediated by interactions of the histone H4 N-terminal tail domains with neighbouring nucleosomes. Mechanistically, the H4 tails of one nucleosome bind to the acidic patch region on the surface of adjacent nucleosomes, causing fibre compaction. The functionality of the chromatin fibre can be modified by proteins that interact with the nucleosome. The co-structures of five different proteins with the nucleosome (LANA, IL-33, RCC1, Sir3 and HMGN2) recently have been examined by experimental and computational studies. Interestingly, each of these proteins displays steric, ionic and hydrogen bond complementarity with the acidic patch, and therefore will compete with each other for binding to the nucleosome. We first review the molecular details of each interface, focusing on the key non-covalent interactions that stabilize the protein–acidic patch interactions. We then propose a model in which binding of proteins to the nucleosome disrupts interaction of the H4 tail domains with the acidic patch, preventing the intrinsic chromatin folding pathway and leading to assembly of alternative higher order chromatin structures with unique biological functions.
Short-term ingestion of Ginkgo biloba extract does not alter whole body insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic, pre-diabetic or type 2 diabetic subjects--a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study.

Summary Background & Aims Ingestion of Ginkgo biloba Extract (EGb 761) may increase pancreatic β-cell function in both healthy subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) as well as patients with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Since hyperinsulinemia is a hallmark of T2DM, it is important to verify that increased insulin production is not due to increased insulin resistance. Method NGT subjects ( n = 10 ; age, 44.2±13.9 years old), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) ( n = 8 ; age 51.3±6.6 years old) and T2DM subjects ( n = 8 , 51.6±15.2 years old) completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. After ingesting either EGb 761 (120 mg/day as a single dose) or placebo during each 3-month arm, a 2-step euglycemic insulin clamp was performed. Results At the low insulin infusion rate (10 mU/m2/min) the glucose metabolic rates (M values) were 3.5±1.5 vs. 3.0±0.5 mg/kg ( P = 0.16 ), 3.0±0.4 vs. 2.8±0.8 mg/kg ( P = 0.19 ) and 2.6±0.7 vs. 2.4±0.5 mg/kg ( P = 0.09 ) for the placebo and EGb 761 cycles, in the NGT, IGT and T2DM subjects, respectively. At the high insulin infusion rate (40 mU/m2/min) the M values were 7.3±2.3 vs. 8.1±2.5 mg/kg ( P = 0.07 ), 6.2±1.6 vs. 6.5±2.1 mg/kg ( P = 0.32 ) and 3.6±1.6 vs. 3.5±1.0 mg/kg ( P = 0.34 ) for placebo vs. EGb 761 cycles, in the NGT, IGT and T2DM subjects, respectively. Conclusion The ingestion of 120 mg of EGb 761 as a single for 3 months did not produce insulin resistance in the non-diabetic or pre-diabetic subjects or exacerbate the disease in the T2DM subjects.
Subfunction partitioning, the teleost radiation and the annotation of the human genome

Half of all vertebrate species are teleost fish. What accounts for this explosion of biodiversity? Recent evidence and advances in evolutionary theory suggest that genomic features could have played a significant role in the teleost radiation. This review examines evidence for an ancient whole-genome duplication (tetraploidization) event that probably occurred just before the teleost radiation. The partitioning of ancestral subfunctions between gene copies arising from this duplication could have contributed to the genetic isolation of populations, to lineage-specific diversification of developmental programs, and ultimately to phenotypic variation among teleost fish. Beyond its importance for understanding mechanisms that generate biodiversity, the partitioning of subfunctions between teleost co-orthologs of human genes can facilitate the identification of tissue-specific conserved noncoding regions and can simplify the analysis of ancestral gene functions obscured by pleiotropy or haploinsufficiency. Applying these principles on a genomic scale can accelerate the functional annotation of the human genome and understanding of the roles of human genes in health and disease.
Dual regulation of diacylglycerol kinase (DGK)-θ: polybasic proteins promote activation by phospholipids and increase substrate affinity.

Diacylglycerol kinases are important mediators of lipid signaling cascades, and insight into their regulation is of increasing interest. Using purified DGK-θ, we show that this isoform is subject to dual regulation and that the previously characterized stimulation by acidic phospholipids is dependent on the presence of a positively charged protein or peptide. Polybasic cofactors lowered the Km for diacylglycerol at the membrane surface (Km(surf)), and worked synergistically with acidic phospholipids to increase activity 10- to 30-fold, suggesting that the purified enzyme is autoinhibited. Vesicle pulldown studies showed that acidic phospholipids recruit polybasic cofactors to the vesicle surface but have little effect on the membrane association of DGK-θ, suggesting that a triad of enzyme, acidic lipid and basic protein are necessary for interfacial activity. Importantly, these data demonstrate that the interfacial association and catalytic activity of DGK-θ are independently regulated. Finally, we show that DGK-θ directly interacts with, and is activated by, basic proteins such as histone H1 and Tau with nm affinity, consistent with a potential role for a polybasic protein or protein domain in the activation of this enzyme.
Utilizing narrative inquiry to evaluate a nursing doctorate program professional residency

Because the University of Colorado (CU) School of Nursing Nursing Doctorate (ND) Program initiated an innovative nursing educational reform, emerging program evaluation challenges were addressed to ensure successful implementation and program quality. The study's purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of the ND professional clinical residency (fourth and final year) from the students' perspectives. Therefore, this evaluation was exploratory and inductive to focus on the primary questions: "How does one become an ND nurse during the residency?" (process) and "What is an ND nurse?" (outcome). Additionally, an explanation of how interactive processes affected residency experiences was addressed. The narrative inquiry framework made available a special access to the human experiences of time, order, and change during the residency process. Ten students in the first CU ND Program residency participated. Narrative data for qualitative analysis were obtained from students' monthly written vignettes and verbal sharing of their clinical experiences during conferences. Vignette formats directed students to describe significant residency experiences and share reflections on the events. One finding suggested that students' formative progression through the residency occurred in four phases similar to cognitive development theories. Additional findings confirmed students' growth toward and summative attainment of ND outcome behaviors, including holistic clinical proficiency, client advocacy, and promotion of professional growth for colleagues.
Increased Cardiac Myocyte Progenitors in Failing Human Hearts

Background— Increasing evidence, derived mainly from animal models, supports the existence of endogenous cardiac renewal and repair mechanisms in adult mammalian hearts that could contribute to normal homeostasis and the responses to pathological insults. Methods and Results— Translating these results, we isolated small c-kit+ cells from 36 of 37 human hearts using primary cell isolation techniques and magnetic cell sorting techniques. The abundance of these cardiac progenitor cells was increased nearly 4-fold in patients with heart failure requiring transplantation compared with nonfailing controls. Polychromatic flow cytometry of primary cell isolates (<30 μm) without antecedent c-kit enrichment confirmed the increased abundance of c-kit+ cells in failing hearts and demonstrated frequent coexpression of CD45 in these cells. Immunocytochemical characterization of freshly isolated, c-kit–enriched human cardiac progenitor cells confirmed frequent coexpression of c-kit and CD45. Primary cardiac progenitor c...
Occupational aspirations of 545 female high school seniors

Abstract A study of the relationship between ethnic group membership and occupational aspiration was made among 545 graduates from an all-girl public high school. It was found that ethnic group membership is a factor in the determination of occupational aspiration. The relationship of academic achievement to occupational aspiration was also noted.
Modeling Change in Student Attitude Toward and Beliefs About Mathematics

Abstract The authors used data from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth to investigate variables related to change in students' attitude toward and beliefs about mathematics in middle school and high school. Using hierarchical linear modeling techniques, the authors modeled variation in students' rate of change with variables associated with student characteristics, instructional experiences, and environment. They also identified variables that differentially affect change at different levels of secondary school (i.e., middle school vs. high school) and for different affective dimensions (i.e., attitude toward mathematics, beliefs about the social importance of mathematics, and beliefs about the nature of mathematics). Results showed a substantial negative change in students' attitudes toward and beliefs about the social importance of mathematics throughout secondary school. However, students' notions of the nature of mathematics did not change throughout secondary school. The authors identified vari...
Type specimens of Orchidaceae conserved at the Komarov Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia (LE)

An inventory of the type specimens of Orchidaceae in the general herbarium at the Komarov Botanical Institute (LE), St. Petersburg, Russia, is presented. The history of the collections and their significance are discussed. Taxonomic findings are presented. One new species,Epidendrum hagsateri Christenson, and one new combination,Masdevallia maculata Kl. & Karst. f.flava (Hort. ex Stein) Christenson, are proposed.
Analysis Of A Novel Monolithic GaAs MIS Phase Shifter

Analysis of a novel monolithic GaAs MIS phase shifter is presented. A quasi-TEM transmission line model, valid for the slow-wave regime, is used to predict operation of the device as an electronically controllable phase shifter. Device parameters such as phase shift, characteristic impedance, and insertion loss are computed.
Urinary Kallikrein Excretion in Hypertensive Man Relationships to Sodium intake and Sodium-Retaining Steroids

Urinary kallikrein excretion was measured by a radiochemical esterolytic assay in patients with essential hypertension or primary aldosteronism. Patients with essential hypertension excreted significantly less (P < 0.001) kallikrein than did normal subjects when they were allowed an ad libitum sodium intake or given 259 mEq sodium/day. When sodium intake was changed from ad libitum to 9 mEq/day, kallikrein excretion increased in the majority of patients with essential hypertension, but it remained significantly less (P < 0.001) than that in normal subjects; however, aldosterone excretion was similar in both groups. Fludrocortisone, 0.5 mg/day for 10 days, increased kallikrein excretion in three patients with essential hypertension. In patients with primary aldosteronism, mean kallikrein excretion was sevenfold higher (P < 0.001) than that in patients with essential hypertension; kallikrein excretion remained unchanged when dietary sodium was altered, but it was decreased by treatment with spironolactone. ...
Flow-injection chemiluminescent method for an enzyme-labelled DNA probe

Abstract A flow-injection chemiluminescent (CL) method was investigated for the determination of hydrogen peroxide generated from an enzyme-labelled DNA probe. Biotinylated DNA probes were immobilized onto a membrane and labelled with biotinylated glucose oxidase by a streptavidin bridge and placed in a microtitre well. The glucose oxidase-labelled sample was incubated in a solution of glucose and the enzymatically produced hydrogen peroxide was determined using flow injection with a peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence reaction. The peroxide generated is related to the amount of the labelled DNA probe. The important factors for increasing the sensitivity of the CL measurement are to maximize the production of hydrogen peroxide and to reduce the non-specific binding of the enzyme label on the membrane. This CL-flow-injection measurement using biotinylated glucose oxidase-labelled DNA probes was applied to a DNA dot-blot hybridization assay and compared with a visual colorimetric method using 5-bromo-4-chloroindolyl phosphate and nitro blue tetrazolium as a chromogenic substrate for detection of an alkaline phosphatase label. The CL method was quantitative over the range 100 pg-100 ng of target DNA with a precision (r.s.d.) of 4–11%. In comparison, the colorimetric method was useful for the range 10 pg-1 ng.
Sea Level: Earth’s Dominant Elevation—Implications for Duration and Magnitudes of Sea Level Variations

AbstractHigh-resolution digital elevation models of Earth’s solid-fluid interface reveal that Earth’s bimodal elevation distribution is characterized by a dominant mode at or very close to present-day sea level. It is hypothesized that sea level is Earth’s dominant modal elevation because it is the only elevation where two opposing first-order surface processes—erosion and deposition—act to increase the area of a single elevation. The observation that sea level is the dominant elevation implies that (1) the time needed for the modal elevation to adjust is very short and/or (2) long-term (∼106–107 yr) mean sea level has not varied significantly from its present height. The mass of material that defines the sea level modal elevation is quite small, whether integrated over 1 or 100 m of thickness, and could be transported in <104 yr. This would suggest that the shoreline, at no matter what height relative to the present 0-m elevation, was probably always Earth’s dominant elevation. However, Eurasia, North Am...
Colloid characterization by sedimentation field-flow fractionation: correction for particle-wall interaction.

The effect of particle−wall interaction on retention ratios in sedimentation field-flow fractionation (FFF) is shown to be describable in terms of a semiempirical parameter δw having units of length. A method of experimentally determining the value of this parameter for a given system is presented. It requires the determination of retention ratios for a set of particle standards over a range of field strengths. The value of δw is simply obtained from the slope of a certain straight line plot of the retention data. Once determined, this parameter may be incorporated into the procedure for the determination of particle diameters from measured retention times to take account of the effects of particle−wall interaction. In principle, δw is independent of field strength and is the same for different FFF instruments providing they employ the same carrier liquid and channel wall material. Therefore, δw values have the potential to be universal system constants transferable from one instrument to another.
Sexual Offender Recidivism Revisited: A Meta-Analysis of Recent Treatment Studies.

Meta-analyses were performed on 12 studies of treatment with sexual offenders (N = 1,313). A small, but robust, overall effect size was found for treatment versus comparison conditions (r = .12). The overall recidivism rate for treated sexual offenders was .19 versus .27 for untreated sexual offenders. Treatment effect sizes across studies, however, were heterogeneous. Effect sizes were larger in studies that had higher base rates of recidivism, had follow-up periods longer than 5 years, included outpatients, and involved cognitive-behavioral or hormonal treatments. Cognitive-behavioral (p < .0005) and hormonal treatments (p < .00005) were significantly more effective than behavioral treatments but were not significantly different from each other.
Inhibitors of lysosomal enzymes: accumulation of lipofuscin-like dense bodies in the brain

Injections of leupeptin (a thiol proteinase inhibitor) or chloroquine (a general lysosomal enzyme inhibitor) into the brains of young rats induced the formation of lysosome-associated granular aggregates (dense bodies) which closely resembled the ceroid-lipofuscin that accumulates in certain disease states and during aging. The dense material increased in a dose- and time-dependent fashion and was differentially distributed across brain regions and cell types. These observations provide clues to the origins of ceroid-lipofuscin and suggest means for studying the consequences of its accumulation.