cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gauging consumers’ responses to CSR activities: Does increased awareness make cents?

Abstract This study assessed the impact of knowledge of a company's corporate social responsibility efforts on both attitude and purchase intent. Until now, research studies have assumed knowledge was created via message exposure without measuring it. Results indicate that participants exposed to information about a company's CSR activities are more knowledgeable about those activities and that increased knowledge positively impacts attitudes and purchase intentions.
Norms for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised for Navajo Indians:

The purpose of this project was to develop norms for Navajo Indian students for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC—R). A stratified random sample of 539 Navajo students distributed in cells of 4 months of age were selected from eight county schools in McKinley County, New Mexico. Sixteen percent of the Navajo school population from first through eighth grade was tested. The norms help to separate cultural and language differences from learning difficulties.
Geriatric trauma patients-are they receiving trauma center care?

Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate whether severely injured geriatric patients were as likely to be treated at designated trauma centers (TCs) within the statewide trauma system. The secondary objective was to compare the demographic and injury characteristics of severely injured older and young patients who received care in TCs with the characteristics of those patients cared for in non-TCs. Methods: The authors reviewed files for all acute injury discharges in Pennsylvania for 1997. Injury diagnoses were mapped to Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) scores using ICDMAP software; the Injury Severity Score (ISS) was computed. The frequency of hospital discharges for injury from TC and non-TC hospitals in both the older (E) (≥65 years) and younger (Y) ( 15; 5,855 were Y and 3,125 were E. Forty-seven percent of the Y patients received TC care compared with only 36.6% of the E patients (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that age was a strongly negative predictor for TC care when injury severity was controlled. Conclusions: Seriously injured older patients were less likely to receive care in a trauma center than younger patients.
Studies of murine leukemia viruses. I. Detection of Moloney and Rauscher leukemia viruses by indirect immunofluorescence.

SummarySpecific cytoplasmic fluorescence resulted when RLV- or MLV-infected cells were treated with their respective antiviral sera in the indirect immunofluorescence test. The fluorescence was especially intense in the cytoplasm of megakaryocytes, where abundant virus particles were seen by electron microscopy. No antigenic cross reactivity of RLV and MLV could be demonstrated by this test. Inoculation of mouse fetal cell monolayers with RLV or MLV led to the appearance of immunofluorescent cells, which increased in percentage with increasing length of incubation time. Electron microscopy of the infected cells demonstrated that the initial appearance of virus at cell membranes was related to the appearance of fluorescence and that increasing numbers of virus-forming cells and concentrations of virus particles between and within cells were associated with the increasing percentage of fluorescent cells. The indirect immunofluorescence method is useful for detection of MLV and RLV and may be applicable to t...
The shoemaker legacy to the Australian impact record

‘Gene always wanted to use his rock hammer to study impact craters on the Moon. When he realised that wasn't possible, he chose Australia.’ The Australian continent offers one of the the best place...
Runway performance and reward magnitude

The training, extinction, and retraining performance of three groups of rats with large rewards (11 45-mg), small (45-mg) rewards, and small (45-mg) rewards with intertrial feedings (10 45-mg) was investigated in a runway. The results were in accord with the generalization that asymptotic performance is directly related to the magnitude of reward and differed from results recently reported by McCain.
Tools for visual and numerical data entry

While developing a two-dimensional sequence stratigraphy simulation to be used by geologists, our research group found tools such as portable graphics libraries and cross-platform compilers useful for supporting the simulation. The resources for developing the interface aspect of our work were inadequate, however. We have created several tools which aided the development of data entry mechanisms for large sets of numerical data. A major concern in designing our tool set was to enable our graphically oriented users to work in a natural manner, while still retaining the ability to achieve the precision required for an accurate simulation. Our Plotter mechanism allows users to view and edit curve data using the mouse on an X Window terminal. The DataSheet we developed provides a means for precise data entry from the keyboard. The Calculator works with ranges of values in the DataSheet to make large-scale changes. Although these tools were designed with a specific purpose in mind, they are more general and could be used for other applications.
The value of supraclavicular area treatment in radiotherapeutic management of lung cancer.

Records of 295 patients treated for carcinoma of the lung have been reviewed. 64 patients (21.7%) had a supraclavicular involvement at initial presentation, local control was achieved in that region in 26 out of 27 (96%) patients who received a minimum dose of 5,000 rads in 25 treatments. „Local control” applies to complete disappearance of disease in that area with no subsequent recurrence at any time or until death of the patient. One patient had persistent disease despite a dose of 7,000 rads in 35 treatments. Elective supraclavicular irradiation was given to 79 patients, one of whom subsequently developed clinically detectable disease there. One hundred fifty-three patients did not receive elective supraclavicular irradiation, and 21 (14%) subsequently developed supraclavicular disease, a statistically significant difference. Patients considered at higher risk for supraclavicular metastasis were selected for elective supraclavicular irradiation. Therefore, the markedly lower rate of involvement in the treated patients can be attributed to the irradiation given that group. Overall, supraclavicular nodes were present in 24.8%, 30.2%, 34.1%, and 31.5% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and undifferentiated small and large cell carcinoma, respectively. Seventy-six of 85 patients (89.4%) with supraclavicular involvement had hilar and/or mediastinal involvement at initial presentation. No significant difference in survival was observed between patients receiving supraclavicular, irradiation and those not receiving treatment to that area. Of 64 patients with initial supraclavicular involvement, there were 14, 9, and 5 survivors at 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively, with four patients surviving beyond 36 months.
“Volume” of power: A new conceptualization of the power construct

Power is a fundamental, possibly universal, phenomenon in human interaction. This paper, after providing essential conceptual background and tracing the theoretical underpinnings of social power, expands upon the Dahl (1957) framework to show how the concept of power can be understood in terms of a “volume” specified by its three constituent dimensions. Among the intended contributions and issues addressed are (a) attention to the possibility of “manipulative power” achieved through control of a power target's environment, (b) a graphic approach to clarifying the nature of power as a potentiality, and (c) the distinction between power and exercised power. Although the thrust of the presentation is conceptual, some measurement overtones are also suggested.
Neuronal Regeneration in C. elegans Requires Subcellular Calcium Release by Ryanodine Receptor Channels and Can Be Enhanced by Optogenetic Stimulation

Regulated calcium signals play conserved instructive roles in neuronal repair, but how localized calcium stores are differentially mobilized, or might be directly manipulated, to stimulate regeneration within native contexts is poorly understood. We find here that localized calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum via ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels is critical in stimulating initial regeneration following traumatic cellular damage in vivo. Using laser axotomy of single neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans, we find that mutation of unc-68/RyR greatly impedes both outgrowth and guidance of the regenerating neuron. Performing extended in vivo calcium imaging, we measure subcellular calcium signals within the immediate vicinity of the regenerating axon end that are sustained for hours following axotomy and completely eliminated within unc-68/RyR mutants. Finally, using a novel optogenetic approach to periodically photo-stimulate the axotomized neuron, we can enhance its regeneration. The enhanced outgrowth depends on both amplitude and temporal pattern of excitation and can be blocked by disruption of UNC-68/RyR. This demonstrates the exciting potential of emerging optogenetic technology to beneficially manipulate cell physiology in the context of neuronal regeneration and indicates a link to the underlying cellular calcium signal. Taken as a whole, our findings define a specific localized calcium signal mediated by RyR channel activity that stimulates regenerative outgrowth, which may be dynamically manipulated for beneficial neurotherapeutic effects.
DETERMINANTS OF SURVIVAL AND FECUNDITY THROUGH A POPULATION BOTTLENECK IN PRONGHORN (ANTILOCAPRA AMERICANA)

The long-term viability of small, isolated populations has been questioned in light of stochasticity and bottlenecks. Following a drought in northwestern Montana in 2003, the pronghorn (Antilocapra americana )o f the National Bison Range experienced a demographic bottleneck. We used information theoretic approaches to examine the influence of sex, age, genetic variation, summer lactation, mate-search effort by females, and mating effort by males on subsequent winter survival and spring fecundity. Survival of males was influenced by age, whereas survival of females was influenced by prior energy expenditure and genetic variation, implicating inbreeding depression as the mechanism. Fecundity of females also was influenced by prior energy expenditure and genetic variation, with heterosis as the apparent mechanism. Our results agree with those of other studies that have emphasized the need to maintain genetic variation and limit inbreeding in small, isolated populations, and to account for stochasticity in population viability assessments and long-term management planning.
Craft Apprentice Courses at Fords

This article is largely based on Mr Attwood's report in the current issue of ‘The Vocational Aspect of Secondary and Further Education’, to which has been added some information on practical work and training arrangements
Interactions of slope and canopy of herbage of three herbage species on transport of faecal indicator bacteria by rain splash

Abstract The movement of faecal pathogens from land to surfaceand ground-water are of great interest because of thepublic and livestock health implications. Knowledge ofcanopy structure and how it might be managed to helpmitigate nutrient and pathogen movement in pasture isneeded to create management practices that balancelivestock production with environmental beneﬁts.An experiment was conducted using a rainfall-simulat-ing device to test whether canopy structure of speciescommon to pastures in Appalachia, USA could bemanaged to inﬂuence dispersion of faecal pathogens.Seven pots (30-cm diameter) of white clover, orchard-grass and perennial ryegrass were lined up on horizon-tal and sloping surfaces under a rainfall simulator. Thecentre pot was inoculated at the soil surface with4 · 10 10 faecal coliform bacteria (FC) just before rainfallsimulation started. The species were maintained undershort, moderate and tall canopy management treat-ments. White clover exhibited the greatest rates oflateral and vertical dispersion of FC into the canopy,especially in the short canopy management treatmentfollowing 30 min of rainfall (about 40 mm). Lowconcentrations of faecal coliform bacteria also dispersedinto the canopies of the grass species but the differencesin concentration of FC between the grass species werenot different. When the proportion of white clover in apasture is high, the canopy should be relatively taller toreduce the likelihood of infection associated with faecalcoliform-contaminated herbage.Keywords: rain splash, pathogen dispersal, manure,canopy structure, canopy management, slope
Prescription drug overdoses: a review.

Abstract Problem Overdoses involving prescription drugs in the United States have reached epidemic proportions over the past 20 years. Methods This review categorizes and summarizes literature on the topic dating from the first published reports through 2011 using a traditional epidemiologic model of host, agent, and environment. Results Host factors include male sex, middle age, non-Hispanic white race, low income, and mental health problems. Agent risk factors include use of opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines, high prescribed dosage for opioid analgesics, multiple prescriptions, and multiple prescribers. Environmental factors include rural residence and high community prescribing rates. Discussion The epidemiology of prescription drug overdoses differs from the epidemiology of illicit drug overdoses. Incomplete understanding of prescription overdoses impedes prevention efforts. Summary This epidemic demands additional attention from injury professionals.
The Universal Modular Platform

A new and patented design for offshore wellhead platforms has been developed to meet a fast track requirement for increased offshore production, from field locations not yet identified. The new design uses modular construction to allow for radical changes in the water depth of the final location and assembly line efficiency in fabrication. By utilizing high strength steels and structural support from the well conductors the new design accomidates all planned production requirements on a support structure significantly lighter and less expensive than the conventional design it replaces. Twenty two platforms based on the new design were ready for installation within 18 months of the project start. Installation of the new platforms began in 1992 for drilling support and 1993 for production support. The new design has become the Company standard for all future production platforms. Large savings in construction costs have been realized through its light weight, flexibility in both positioning and water depth, and its modular construction.
Cervical cancer screening in older women: new evidence and knowledge gaps.

Anne Rositch and colleagues discuss the study by Peter Sasieni and colleagues on cervical cancer screening in older women and describe the further information needed to help inform decisions about whether to extend screening programs beyond 65 years for women with adequate negative screening. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary
Can Investors Profit from the Prophets? Consensus Analyst Recommendations and Stock Returns

In this paper we document that an investment strategy based on the consensus (average) analyst recommendations of security analysts earns positive returns. For the period 1986-1996, a portfolio of stocks most highly recommended by analysts earned an annualized geometric mean return of 18.8 percent, while a portfolio of stocks least favorably recommended earned only 5.78 percent. (In comparison, an investment in a value-weighted market index earned an annualized geometric mean return of 14.5 percent.) Alternatively stated, purchasing stocks most highly recommended yielded a return of 102 basis points per month. The magnitude of this return is surprisingly large, and is far greater than the size effect (negative 16 basis points) and book-to-market effect (17 basis points) for the same period. Even after controlling for these two effects, as well as for price momentum, we show that the strategy of purchasing stocks most highly recommended and selling short those least favorably recommended yielded a return of 75 basis points per month. These results are robust to partitions by time period and overall market direction, and are most pronounced for small and medium-sized firms. The abnormal returns also persist when we allow a lapse of up to 15 days before acting on the investment recommendations. There is no extant theory of asset pricing that explains these results.
Isolated Sympathetic Failure With Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy

A 16-year-old boy had a gradual onset of post-exercise myalgia with progressive fatigue and dizziness. He had bradycardia (37 beats/minute) with low supine and normal standing norepinephrine levels (56 and 311 pg/mL, respectively). He had absent sympathetically mediated vasoconstrictor responses during Valsalva maneuver testing. Circulating ganglionic acetylcholine receptor antibodies were identified. Response was gradual to treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin combined with aggressive symptomatic interventions (permanent pacemaker implantation and treatment with pyridostigmine, midodrine, and modafinil). After the intravenous immunoglobulin treatment, his autoantibody levels decreased and the autonomic abnormalities resolved. After a reconditioning exercise program and eventually undetectable antibody titers, he achieved complete recovery. The patient continued to do well after his pacemaker was removed and his medications were discontinued. Thus, severe isolated sympathetic nervous system failure can occur in adolescents with autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy, and multifaceted treatment can be effective.
A microfludic aptasensor with integrated sample preconcentration, isocratic elution and mass spectrometric detection

We present a microfluidic biosensor suitable for selective detection of analytes with integrated analyte preconcentration, isocratic elution and mass spectrometric detection. The device uses an aptamer (i.e., oligonucleotide that binds specifically to an analyte via affinity coupling) immobilized on microbeads to achieve highly selective analyte capture and concentration. Here, we demonstrate specific extraction and concentration of arginine vasopressin (a peptide hormone) by a vasopressin specific atpamer. In addition, the aptasensor is capable of isocratic elution and microbead regeneration via thermally-induced reversibility of the aptamer-analyte binding mechanism, which renders the aptamer functionalized microbeads functional for repeated use. Furthermore, a microvalve directs the analyte onto an analysis plate for label-free detection by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS).
A Survey of Dietary and Exercise Habits and Perceived Barriers to Following a Healthy Lifestyle in a College Population

The authors assessed the diet and exercise habits and perceived barriers to following a healthy lifestyle of 471 college students. Sixty percent of the participants were female and 31% had BMIs > 25. Breakfast was the most commonly missed meal and 63% of students snacked one to two times per day. Fifty-eight percent of participants ate vegetables and 64% ate whole or canned fruit less than once per day. Men consumed more soda and alcohol and used higher fat dairy, ate more meat, and ate fewer vegetables and fruits than women. Over half of the subjects rated their diet as poor or fair with “lack of time” listed as the number one barrier to eating well. Men exercised more frequently and at greater intensity than women and were more confident with their body image. The most common barrier to exercise was “lack of time.” The results of this study have implications for the design of general and specific diet and physical activity interventions among college students.
Preliminary paleomagnetic results from the Triassic Prida Formation (Lower Star Peak Group), west-central Nevada, and implications for latitudinal displacement

Paleomagnetic data were obtained from two oppositely dipping carbonate sections of the Triassic Prida Formation, lower Star Peak Group, in the Humboldt Range of west-central Nevada. Progressive demagnetization of the rocks indicated that the remanent magnetization consists of three or fewer vector components. A characteristic component, with the highest unblocking temperatures, was most effectively isolated by low temperature (200–300°C) thermal followed by progressive alternating field demagnetization. The sections yield in situ mean directions that differ significantly, but that have similar inclinations (Star Canyon: D=311, I=+34, α95=5, k=22, N=38 samples; Fossil Hill: D=281, I=+33, α95=2°, k=2814, N=3 section means, 154 samples). The directions diverge upon simple structural correction, from which we infer that at least one and probably both of the sections were remagnetized, probably in latest Middle to Late Jurassic time. These data cannot be used to indicate significant southward translation of Golconda allochthon rocks, as inferred from magnetizations in underlying volcanic rocks. The translation interpretation may require revision if magnetizations in the volcanic rocks are also secondary.
Bacterial Production of Iron Sulfides

Iron sulfide production by bacteria can be classified as extracellular or intracellular. Extracellular iron sulfide production is mediated by anaerobic, dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria which produce sulfide as a product of their respiration. Released sulfide reacts with iron (and other metals) in the extracellular environment producing a variety of iron sulfide minerals including “amorphous iron sulfide”, mackinawite, greigite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, and pyrite. The type of minerals formed is dependent upon pH, Eh, and other physical and chemical factors. Extracellular production of these minerals are examples of biologically-induced mineralization in which mineral formation occurs from chemical and/or physical changes in the surrounding environment by the organism.
Do statins play a role in the early management of the acute coronary syndrome

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is associated with a poor prognosis and, despite the availability of a number of treatment strategies, the incidence of subsequent serious complications following an acute event remains high. Although large, long-term clinical trials have established the benefits of statin therapy in the prevention of cardiovascular events and mortality, patients with recent ACS were excluded from these studies. Data from observational studies and a randomized controlled trial support the routine use of statins in ACS and highlight the association between early initiation and reductions in recurrent coronary events and mortality. Preclinical and clinical evidence also indicates that, in addition to their lipid-lowering effects, statins may reduce inflammation, improve endothelial function and increase plaque stability. Ongoing clinical trials with highly efficacious statins are expected to provide valuable information about the most appropriate agent and dose to improve the treatment of patients with ACS.
MolBioLib: a C++11 framework for rapid development and deployment of bioinformatics tasks.

Summary: We developed MolBioLib to address the need for adaptable next-generation sequencing analysis tools. The result is a compact, portable and extensively tested Cþþ11 software framework and set of applications tailored to the demands of next-generation sequencing data and applicable to many other applications. MolBioLib is designed to work with common file formats and data types used both in genomic analysis and general data analysis. A central relational-database-like Table class is a flexible and powerful object to intuitively represent and work with a wide variety of tabular datasets, ranging from alignment data to annotations. MolBioLib has been used to identify causative single-nucleotide polymorphisms in whole genome sequencing, detect balanced chromosomal rearrangements and compute enrichment of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) on microtubules, typically requiring applications of under 200 lines of code. MolBioLib includes programs to perform a wide variety of analysis tasks, such as computing read coverage, annotating genomic intervals and novel peak calling with a wavelet algorithm. Although MolBioLib was designed primarily for bioinformatics purposes, much of its functionality is applicable to a wide range of problems. Complete documentation and an extensive automated test suite are provided. Availability: MolBioLib is available for download at: http://sourceforge .net/projects/molbiolib
The Psychophysical Relationship between Bitter Taste and Burning Sensation: Evidence of Qualitative Similarity

Although it has long been studied as a pure sensory irritant, the ability of capsaicin to evoke, mask, and desensitize bitter taste suggests that burning sensations and bitter taste might be closely related perceptually. The current study investigated the psychophysical relationship between bitterness and burning using 2 different approaches. In Experiment 1, spatial discrimination of 4 taste stimuli was measured in the presence or absence of capsaicin. The subjects’ task was to report which of 3 swabs, spaced 1 cm apart and presented to the tongue tip, contained a taste stimulus when 1) water was presented on the other 2 swabs or 2) when 10 lM capsaicin was presented on all 3 swabs. The presence of capsaicin did not change performance on the 3 alternative forced-choice (3-AFC) task for sweet, sour, and salty stimuli, while the localization error for 1.8 mM quinine sulfate (QSO4) increased significantly. In Experiment 2, the perceptual similarity/dissimilarity of taste stimuli and capsaicin was measured directly using pairs of stimuli applied to opposite sides of the tongue tip on swabs separated by 2 cm. Multidimensional scaling analyses showed that capsaicin fell nearer to QSO4 than to any other taste stimulus. Cluster analysis corroborated this finding: capsaicin was closely linked with QSO4 and the capsaicin-QSO4 group was separated from the other taste stimuli. The latter result indicated that bitterness was more similar to burning than to the other tastes. These findings imply that despite being mediated by different sensory modalities, bitterness and burn are qualitatively similar. We speculate that this similarity reflects a common function of these 2 sensations as sensory signals of potentially harmful stimuli.
Allosteric regulation of a reactive squaraine rotaxane endoperoxide

Squaraine rotaxane endoperoxides are known to undergo a cycloreversion reaction that is sensitive to the cross-component strain within the interlocked molecules. Two new squaraine rotaxane endoperoxides are described with structures containing metal cation chelation sites that are distal to the reaction centre. Fluorescence and absorption titration studies in CH3CN prove that the metal cations bind to the chelation sites. In one case, the binding of dinuclear metal cations such as Zn(II) increases the rate of cycloreversion by a factor of 4, whereas in the second case, metal cation binding decreases the rate by a factor of 2.
Biomécanique de la rupture des membranes fœtales. Les membranes fœtales sont plus résistantes avant terme qu’à terme

Resume Le but de cette etude etait de determiner les caracteristiques biomecaniques des membranes fœtales humaines (FM) durant la gestation. Ces proprietes, notamment la force et le travail, produisant la rupture ont ete determinees pour 115 d’entre elles de 23–41 semaines de gestation. Les domaines de FM a proximite immediate des zones les plus et les moins resistantes testees ont ete echantillonnes pour l’analyse histomorphometrique. Les donnees cliniques sur les patientes dont les FM ont ete examinees ont egalement ete recueillies. Les FM de moins de 28 semaines de gestation sont associees a une incidence plus elevee de decollement placentaire et de chorioamniotite. Sur le plan topographique, les FM a tous les stades de gestation ont des caracteristiques biomecaniques heterogenes distinctes des zones fragiles quant a leur resistance. La plupart des membranes de preterme a une plus forte resistance. La force et le travail de rupture des FM diminuent avec l’âge gestationnel. Cette diminution est spectaculaire a plus de 38 semaines de gestation. La couche amnio-choriale est plus mince dans les zones fragiles par rapport aux zones resistantes. Les FM de preterme sont plus resistantes mais elles sont aussi tres heterogenes. L’augmentation progressive de la fragilite des FM avec la gestation atteint un maximum a 38 semaines. Les zones de faiblesses sont plus minces que les parties les plus resistantes. On ne peut affirmer que la difference d’epaisseur soit suffisante pour expliquer des differences de resistance des MF.
Coronary Artery Calcium Area by Electron-Beam Computed Tomography and Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque Area A Histopathologic Correlative Study

Background Coronary calcium identified by electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) correlates poorly with luminal atherosclerotic narrowing, but calcium, an intimate part of coronary plaque, may be more directly related to atheromatous plaque area. Methods and Results Thirty-eight coronary arteries from 13 autopsy hearts were dissected, straightened, and scanned with EBCT in 3-mm contiguous increments. Coronary calcium area was defined as one or more pixels with a density >130 Hounsfield units (0.18 mm 2 /pixel). Each artery was divided into corresponding 3-mm segments, representative histological sections were stained, and atherosclerotic plaque area per segment (mm 2 ) was quantified. Coronary artery calcium and coronary artery plaque areas were correlated for the hearts as a whole, for individual coronary arteries, and for individual coronary artery segments. The sums of histological plaque areas versus the sums of calcium areas were highly correlated for each heart and for each coronary artery. However, coronary plaque area was on the order of five times greater than calcium area. Furthermore, minimal diffuse segmental coronary plaque could be present despite the absence of coronary calcium detectable by EBCT. Conclusions This histopathologic study confirms an intimate relation between whole heart, coronary artery, and segmental coronary atherosclerotic plaque area and EBCT coronary calcium area but suggests that there is a threshold value for plaque area below which coronary calcium is either absent or not detectable by this methodology.
Conserved molecular signatures in gp120 are associated with the genetic bottleneck during simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), SIV-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV), and HIV type 1 (HIV-1) transmission.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission typically results from infection by a single transmitted/founder (T/F) variant. Are T/F variants chosen uniformly at random from the donor pool, or are they selected based on advantageous traits facilitating transmission? Finding evidence for selection during transmission is of particular interest, because it would indicate that phenotypic and/or genetic properties of the viruses might be harnessed as potential vaccine targets or immunotherapies. Here, we systematically evaluated the differences between the Env proteins of simian immunodeficiency virus/simian HIV (SIV/SHIV) stock and T/F variants in search of “signature” sites of transmission. We also surveyed residue preferences in HIV at the SIV/SHIV signature sites. Four sites of gp120 showed significant selection, and an additional two sites showed a similar trend. Therefore, the six sites clearly differentiate T/F viruses from the majority of circulating variants in the stocks. The selection of SIV/SHIV could be inferred reasonably across both vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects, with infections resulting from vaginal, rectal, and intravenous routes of transmission and regardless of viral dosage. The evidence for selection in SIV and SHIV T/F variants is strong and plentiful, and in HIV the evidence is suggestive though commensurate with the availability of suitable data for analysis. Two of the signature residues are completely conserved across the SIV, SHIV, and HIV variants we examined. Five of the signature residues map to the C1 region of gp120 and one to the signal peptide. Our data raise the possibility that C1, while governing the association between gp120 and gp41, modulates transmission efficiency, replicative fitness, and/or host cell tropism at the level of virus-cell attachment and entry. IMPORTANCE The present study finds significant evidence of selection on gp120 molecules of SIV/SHIV T/F viruses. The data provide ancillary evidence suggesting the same sites are under selection in HIV. Our findings suggest that the signature residues are involved in increasing the transmissibility of infecting viruses; therefore, they are potential targets for developing a vaccine or other protective measures. A recent study identified the same T/F signature motif but interpreted it as an effect of neutralization resistance. Here, we show that the T/F motif has broader functional significance beyond neutralization sensitivity, because it is present in nonimmune subjects. Also, a vaccine regimen popular in animal trials might have increased the transmission of variants with otherwise low transmission fitness. Our observations might explain why many animal vaccine trials have not faithfully predicted outcomes in human vaccine trials and suggest that current practices in vaccine design need to be reexamined accordingly.
Delta-tubulin and epsilon-tubulin: two new human centrosomal tubulins reveal new aspects of centrosome structure and function.

δ-Tubulin and ɛ-tubulin: two new human centrosomal tubulins reveal new aspects of centrosome structure and function
A CD19-Dependent Signaling Pathway Regulates Autoimmunity in Lyn-Deficient Mice

CD19 and the Src family protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are important regulators of intrinsic signaling thresholds in B cells. Regulation is achieved by cross-talk between Src family PTKs and CD19; Lyn is essential for CD19 phosphorylation, while CD19 establishes an Src family PTK activation loop that amplifies kinase activity. However, CD19-deficient (CD19(-/-)) B cells are hyporesponsive to transmembrane signals, while Lyn-deficient (Lyn(-/-)) B cells exhibit a hyper-responsive phenotype resulting in autoimmunity. To identify the outcome of interactions between CD19 and Src family PTKs in vivo, B cell function was examined in mice deficient for CD19 and Lyn (CD19/Lyn(-/-)). Remarkably, CD19 deficiency suppressed the hyper-responsive phenotype of Lyn(-/-) B cells and autoimmunity characterized by serum autoantibodies and immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis in Lyn(-/-) mice. Consistent with Lyn and CD19 each regulating conventional B cell development, B1 cell development was markedly reduced by Lyn deficiency, with further reductions in the absence of CD19 expression. Tyrosine phosphorylation of Fyn and other cellular proteins induced following B cell Ag receptor ligation was dramatically reduced in CD19/Lyn(-/-) B cells relative to Lyn(-/-) B cells, while Syk phosphorylation was normal. In addition, the enhanced intracellular Ca(2+) responses following B cell Ag receptor ligation that typify Lyn deficiency were delayed by the loss of CD19 expression. BCR-induced proliferation and humoral immune responses were also markedly inhibited by CD19/Lyn deficiency. These findings demonstrate that while the CD19/Lyn amplification loop is a major regulator of signal transduction thresholds in B lymphocytes, CD19 regulation of other Src family PTKs also influences B cell function and the development of autoimmunity.
Drained‐Weight Labeling for Meat and Poultry: An Economic Analysis of a Regulatory Proposal

In December 1977, the Department of Agriculture proposed controversial new drained-weight labeling regulations for meat and poultry products. Consumer groups for the proposal and producer groups against it made strongly worded, but largely unsupported statements about its impact. This paper attempts to clarify the basic issues. It examines the impact of drained-weight labeling on product price and the effect on producers and consumers, assuming both a static and a dynamic setting.
Signature Characteristics in Contact Calls of the White-Nosed Coati

‘‘Chirp’’ calls of adult white-nosed coatis ( Nasua narica) were measured and compared to determine form and function of these frequently emitted vocalizations. Behavioral contexts during vocalizations were documented, and chirp calls were tape recorded and analyzed using a digital spectrograph. Also, a bat detector was used to determine whether ultrasonic frequencies were emitted in chirps. Duration of the chirp calls was 0.146‐0.202 s. Spectrogram analyses revealed that the lowest frequencies of the chirps averaged 4.66‐11.83 kHz and that the highest frequencies averaged 1417.66 kHz. Ultrasonic frequencies (30‐ 55 kHz) also were detected in chirp calls. Chirps differed among individuals regarding the differential frequency between the 1st and 2nd resonance bars (P # 0.01). Chirps seem to function as contact calls for this social mammal because they were emitted only while coatis were moving. The short duration and high frequency of the calls may allow for contact with nearby group members while minimizing auditory detection by predators. Unique features of each coati’s chirp also may allow individual recognition.
The Effect of Sample Temperature Gradients on DSC Thermograms at the Glass Transition Temperature

Differential scanning calorimetry is currently being applied with increasing frequency to relatively heavy, and thus thick, samples of a variety of thermally insulating materials.1 Rationale for such applications are, for example, to reduce noise in measurements of small specific heat changes at the glass transition or to reduce, during measurement, the effects of ongoing processes such as the evaporation of plasticizer. As is shown below, however, surprisingly large temperature gradients typically occur in samples of this kind and, although these gradients do not usually affect the determination of specific heat by differential scanning calorimetry, at the glass transition these large gradients do, in fact, mask the true specific heat variation with temperature.
Probing elastic properties of soft materials with AFM: Data analysis for different tip geometries

Abstract It has become increasingly common to use atomic force microscopy measurements to probe mechanical properties at the nano-micro level. The data obtained from these measurements, however, must be subjected to specific models for deconvolution of the effect of the probe's tip size and shape. While analytical models have been developed to assist in this endeavor, a thorough understanding of the limits of these models is essential to fit data accurately. In this report, we explore the relationship between three different analytical tip shape models for the AFM tip (spherical, parabolic, and conical indenters) and present an analysis of mechanical testing on selected materials. Along with this, we present a simple numerical method for computing the contact radius for true spherical contact. The role of tip size (large vs small radius) on the limitations of data analysis and the benefits and drawbacks inherent to different tip sizes is discussed. Our analysis demonstrates the ability to accurately apply multiple models to a given data set, while also showing the limitations of simple analytical models to accurately describe tip-sample interactions outside of certain indentation regimes.
An in vitro Biomechanical Comparison of Human Dermis to a Silicone Biosimulant Material

A major quality of life concern for designers of prosthetics is the look and feel of the limb. Even up close, the limb should look and feel natural. This means covering the underlying mechanical components with a “cosmesis”. This cosmesis should match the skin tone of the patient and the material from which it is constructed should have similar mechanical properties to human skin. The objective of this study was to compare a candidate biosimulant material to cadaveric skin. Skin specimens were harvested from three donors furnished by the Maryland State Anatomy Board. In daily use, the cosmesis material would often be compressed against the hard backing of the case. Thus, to compare the two materials, indentors with eight different tip geometries were driven into samples supported by a flat metal plate. 1.5” square samples were compressed to 40% of their initial thickness at a rate of 0.1 mm/sec using a servohydraulic test machine. Force versus deflection curves were automatically reduced to stiffness and elastic modulus values for each trial using a custom MATLAB algorithm.
Parameterization for in-silico modeling of ion channel interactions with drugs

Since the first Hodgkin and Huxley ion channel model was described in the 1950s, there has been an explosion in mathematical models to describe ion channel function. As experimental data has become richer, models have concomitantly been improved to better represent ion channel kinetic processes, although these improvements have generally resulted in more model complexity and an increase in the number of parameters necessary to populate the models. Models have also been developed to explicitly model drug interactions with ion channels. Recent models of drug-channel interactions account for the discrete kinetics of drug interaction with distinct ion channel state conformations, as it has become clear that such interactions underlie complex emergent kinetics such as use-dependent block. Here, we describe an approach for developing a model for ion channel drug interactions. The method describes the process of extracting rate constants from experimental electrophysiological function data to use as initial conditions for the model parameters. We then describe implementation of a parameter optimization method to refine the model rate constants describing ion channel drug kinetics. The algorithm takes advantage of readily available parallel computing tools to speed up the optimization. Finally, we describe some potential applications of the platform including the potential for gaining fundamental mechanistic insights into ion channel function and applications to in silico drug screening and development.
Teachers’ Motives for Career Choice

(1968). Teachers’ Motives for Career Choice. The Journal of Experimental Education: Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 73-77.
Acoustical Detection of Oriental Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Larvae in Papaya

Ultrasensitive sound detection equipment was evaluated for identifying larvae of the oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae), in papaya ( Carica papaya L.). In each of the eight laboratory tests, 25 fruit were artificially infested at a rate of 20 eggs per fruit; another 25 fruit were used as controls. After larval eclosion, each fruit was examined daily for 2 min using a computer program developed to recognize larval feeding. Accuracy in detecting infested fruit approached 100% 5 d after fruit infestation. The system correctly identified control fruit ca. 85% of the time until the sixth day, when tissue deterioration also produced signals. Factors causing false positives and problems with implementing the system in the laboratory are discussed.
Resistance to Extinction as a Function of the Number of Small and Large Rewarded Runway Trials

4 groups of 10 rats were trained in a runway for 0, 5, 10, or 15 small rewarded (2 pellets) trials prior to being shifted to large reward (24 pellets) for the remainder of 45 trials. Acquisition performance was slower for small than for large reward during the early trials but the groups were not different by the end of acquisition. Resistance to extinction was an increasing linear function of the number of small rewarded trials.
Complement and Complement Regulatory Proteins in Diabetes

In this chapter we have summarized the body of evidence that supports a role for the complement system and complement regulatory proteins in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, with specific emphasis on the novel phenomenon of glycation-inactivation of CD59. Progress in this area has been remarkable considering that (1) ethical and practical issues preclude conducting in-depth mechanistic studies in humans, especially for chronic conditions such as the complications of diabetes that take years to develop and (2) non-clinical research is hampered due to the absence of animal models of diabetes that fully recapitulates diabetic vascular disease in the intensity and distribution seen in humans.
Study of the Relationship between Infant Asthmaand Mycoplasma Pneumonia Infection

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between infant asthma and mycoplasma Pneumonia (MP) infection by analyzing the eqidemiologic condition of infant asthma. METHOD: MP-IgM was determined by ELISA method in 75 cases with infant asthma, 45 cases with upper respiratory infection, and 35 healthy children as control. RESULT: The MP-IgM positive rate in 75 cases infant asthma was 25.3%, which is significantly higher than that of two other groups. CONCLUSION: The mycoplasma infection rate is rather higher in the infant asthma children so that we must pay more attention in making the treatment plan.
Kinetics of inhibition of canine gastric secretion by vasopressin.

The kinetics of inhibition of acid secretion by vasopressin were studied in gastric fistula dogs. Inhibition was dose-dependent with a threshold of 10 mU per kg in each dog. Dose-response curves with the inhibitor dose held constant showed that inhibition was of the competitive type: maximal response was unaltered but the dose required to elicit half the maximal response increased 2-fold. Kinetics of this type are postulated to arise from interference in the reaction of stimulant and receptor but can be mimicked in vivo by mechanisms restricting the delivery of the stimulant to the target cells. In each case, however, the mechanisms were consistent with either the vasoactive or water-conserving properties of vasopressin.
Enhancing the TDT Tracking Evaluation.

Abstract Topic Detection and Tracking (TDT) is a DARPA-sponsored initiative concerned with finding groups of stories on the same topic (tdt, 1998). The goal is to build systems that can segment, detect, and track incoming news stories (possibly from multiple continuous feeds) with respect to pre-defined topics. While the detection task detects the first story on a particular topic, the tracking task determines, for each story, which topic it is relevant to. This paper will discuss the algorithm currently used for evaluating systems for the tracking task, present some of its limitation, and propose a new algorithm that enhances the current evaluation.
A study on the thermodynamic consistency of the Park–Paulino–Roesler (PPR) cohesive fracture model

Abstract Although the Park–Paulino–Roesler (PPR) potential-based cohesive zone fracture model was not derived based on a thermodynamics consistency principle, we investigate the thermodynamic consistency of the PPR model under conditions of loading, unloading and reloading. First, we present a general anisotropic Helmholtz free energy function. Then, we reformulate the PPR model into the anisotropic Helmholtz form, and investigate its consistency and the various unloading/reloading relations which have been proposed for use with the model. By recasting the PPR model into the Helmholtz form, we illustrate that the PPR cohesive potential, while not designed with thermodynamic consistency in mind, is thermodynamically consistent under the pure loading conditions for which it was designed (as expected). We also demonstrate that the unloading/reloading relations, which are commonly used with the PPR model, are not thermodynamically consistent; however, through our investigation, we develop a new coupled unloading/reloading relation, which maintains the thermodynamic consistency of the PPR cohesive model. The considerations addressed in this paper are aimed at achieving a better understanding of the PPR model and other models of similar nature.