cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The interface of the 'evil' non-Indigenous imagination: from 20th century ‘silencing’ to 21st century ‘diminishing’ of Indigenous perspectives

This paper is positioned in an analysis of the interface of non-Indigenous (NI) people with Indigenous people. Education is predominantly owned by NI culture and dominated by often unrecognised NI perspectives; some of these perspectives have limited engagement with the implications of the past for the present and foster an ‘evil imagining’ focusing on diminishing the impact of oppression and dispossession on Indigenous people, considering history in shallow and ‘safe’ ways. While acknowledging the important work of bringing Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum the paper argues the NI imagining of colonisation is evil for its limited ethical engagement with breaking the ‘Great Australian Silence’ (Stanner, 1968). A popular children’s novel Walking the Boundaries (French, 1993/2006) with so-called ‘Indigenous themes’ (a label used for NI writers who include Indigenous people in their texts) is analysed for what this reveals about the non-Indigenous imagining, vision and lack of vision of restorative justice/ post-colonialism. It reflects on how sovereignty and dispossession are ‘understood’ and diminished. The paper reflects on the broader implications of this ‘diminishing’ for pedagogy and pre-service teacher education. It argues the capacity to see and deconstruct the dominant NI imagination is critical to adequate pre-service teacher preparation.
Media and development in the wake of conglomeration

The Right to Tell serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the relationship between the relative independence of mass media, on the one hand, and international developme...
Combined effects of atrazine and chlorpyrifos on susceptibility of the tiger salamander to Ambystoma tigrinum virus.

Several hypotheses have been examined as potential causes of global amphibian declines, including emerging infectious diseases and environmental contaminants. Although these factors are typically studied separately, animals are generally exposed to both stressors simultaneously. We examined the effects of the herbicide atrazine and the insecticide chlorpyrifos on the susceptibility of tiger salamander larvae, Ambystoma tigrinum, to a viral pathogen, Ambystoma tigrinum virus (ATV). Environmentally relevant concentrations of atrazine (0, 20, 200 μg/L) and chlorpyrifos (0, 2, 20, 200 μg/L) were used along with ATV in a fully factorial experimental design whereby individually housed, 4-week-old larvae were exposed for 2 weeks. Atrazine alone was not lethal to larvae, and chlorpyrifos alone was lethal only at the highest concentration. When combined with ATV, chlorpyrifos increased susceptibility to viral infection and resulted in increased larval mortality. A significant interactive effect between atrazine and ATV was detected. Atrazine treatments slightly decreased survival in virus-exposed treatments, yet slightly increased survival in the virus-free treatments. These findings corroborate earlier research on the impacts of atrazine, in particular, on disease susceptibility, but exhibit greater effects (i.e., reduced survival) when younger larvae were examined. This study is the first of its kind to demonstrate decreases in amphibian survival with the combination of pesticide and a viral disease. Further examination of these multiple stressors can provide key insights into potential significance of environmental cofactors, such as pesticides, in disease dynamics.
Estimation of Phase Shifts in Structured Illumination for High Resolution Imaging

The application of structured illumination for enhanced resolution requires accurate knowledge of phase shifts in the sinusoidal illumination. This work proposes a method to estimate random, unknown phase shifts and subsequent image reconstruction.
A new NMR technique for measuring the ground state populations of formate esters: Polar aprotic solvents favor the s-cis (E)-isomer of t-butyl formate

Abstract A new NMR technique for measuring the conformational population of t -butyl formate in a rapidly equilibrating mixture ( 3 J CH averaging) has been developed and used to show that polar aim)tic solvents favor the E -isomer.
The Potential Role of Breast‐Feeding and Other Factors in Helping to Reduce Early Childhood Caries

Objectives: Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in US children. Early childhood caries (ECC) is particularly virulent and can interfere with a child's ability to eat, grow, speak, and communicate. Studies on whether breast-feeding or bottle-feeding are more likely to reduce ECC have proven inconclusive. Methods: The study population included 175 children, aged 1 to 5, receiving dental care at the Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Participation included a dental exam, chart data abstraction, and a personal interview with the mother. Results: Too few exclusively breast-fed children prevented the adequate study of breast-feeding. However, children exclusively bottle-fed for at least 1.5 years had more decayed or filled tooth surfaces than children breast-fed part of that time but well short of a year. No bottle at night nor juice at irregular times, the mother's brushing of her child's teeth, and adequate dental care in the mother seemed to reduce ECC. Conclusions: Our results suggest measures that might reduce ECC risk. Medical providers must discuss oral health with new mothers and educate them on the important role they play in keeping their babies' teeth healthy.
A Nondestructive, Reproducible Method of Measuring Joint Reaction Force at the Distal Radioulnar Joint

Purpose To develop a nondestructive method of measuring distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) joint reaction force (JRF) that preserves all periarticular soft tissues and more accurately reflects in vivo conditions. Methods Eight fresh-frozen human cadaveric limbs were obtained. A threaded Steinmann pin was placed in the middle of the lateral side of the distal radius transverse to the DRUJ. A second pin was placed into the middle of the medial side of the distal ulna colinear to the distal radial pin. Specimens were mounted onto a tensile testing machine using a custom fixture. A uniaxial distracting force was applied across the DRUJ while force and displacement were simultaneously measured. Force-displacement curves were generated and a best-fit polynomial was solved to determine JRF. Results All force-displacement curves demonstrated an initial high slope where relatively large forces were required to distract the joint. This ended with an inflection point followed by a linear area with a low slope, where small increases in force generated larger amounts of distraction. Each sample was measured 3 times and there was high reproducibility between repeated measurements. The average baseline DRUJ JRF was 7.5 N (n = 8). Conclusions This study describes a reproducible method of measuring DRUJ reaction forces that preserves all periarticular stabilizing structures. This technique of JRF measurement may also be suited for applications in the small joints of the wrist and hand. Clinical relevance Changes in JRF can alter native joint mechanics and lead to pathology. Reliable methods of measuring these forces are important for determining how pathology and surgical interventions affect joint biomechanics.
Perioperative adjunctive treatment in the management of operable gastric cancer

Outcome in the management of clinically resectable gastric carcinoma has been disappointing, at least in Western populations, despite increasingly radical surgery and extensive experience with adjunctive perioperative treatment with innumerable single and combined modality regimens. The United States Intergroup Study, a prospective, randomized, controlled trial of adjuvant chemoradiation, demonstrated significant improvement in disease-free and overall survival. Consequently, this regimen of postoperative fluoruracil plus leucovorin and locoregional radiation has been incorporated into current clinical practice. In hopes of further improving cure rates, many other regimens are under investigation, including the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy alone, combined neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy, and adjuvant therapy alone. In these clinical trials, therapeutic agents are prescribed alone or in multimodal regimens and include systemic chemotherapy, intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy with or without hyperthermia, intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), and postoperative external beam irradiation. Several molecular markers have been identified, which seem to predict that a given tumor may be effective or resistant to a drug, raising the possibility of customized chemotherapy regimens. Preclinical studies suggest potential efficacy of angiogenesis inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and antisense agents.
Generating thermal stable variants of protein domains through phage display

Often in protein design research, one desires to generate thermally stable variants of a protein or domain. One route to identifying mutations that yield domains that remain folded and active at a higher temperature is through the use of directed evolution. A library of protein domain variants can be generated by mutagenic PCR, expressed on the surface of bacteriophage M13, and subjected to heat, such that the unfolded forms of the domain, showing reduced or no binding activity, are lost during subsequent affinity selection, whereas variants that still retain binding to their target are selected and enriched with each subsequent round of affinity selection. This approach takes advantage of the fact that bacteriophage M13 particles are heat stable and resistant to many proteases and protein denaturants. We present the application of this general approach to generating thermally stable variants of a eukaryotic peptide-binding domain. The benefits of producing such variants are that they typically express at high levels in Escherichia coli (30-60 mg/L shake flask) and remain soluble in solution at higher concentrations for longer periods of time than the wild-type form of the domain. The process of library generation and screening generally requires about one month of effort, and yields variants with >10 °C increase in thermal stability, as measured in a simple fluorescence-based thermal shift assay. It is anticipated that thermally stable variants will serve as excellent scaffolds for generating affinity reagents to a variety of targets of interest.
On alternative strategies for doing research in the management and social sciences

The author delineates a number of taxonomic approaches to classifying knowledge for research into management and social sciences and points out the need for yet higher order contributions, namely those which embed that which is known in more generalized theoretical frameworks. He also discusses research strategies that do not necessarily contribute to the objective of consolidating knowledge. Lastly, he comments on some of the pitfalls of each research strategy and the relative ease or difficulty in overcoming such pitfalls depending on the strategy chosen. >
Developmental differences in visual and auditory processing of complex sentences

Children aged 8 through 11 (N = 250) were given a word-by-word sentence task in both the visual and auditory modes. The sentences included an object relative clause, a subject relative clause, or a conjoined verb phrase. Each sentence was followed by a true-false question, testing the subject of either the first or second verb. Participants were also given two memory span measures: digit span and reading span. High digit span children slowed down more at the transition from the main to the relative clause than did the low digit span children. The findings suggest the presence of a U-shaped learning pattern for on-line processing of restrictive relative clauses. Off-line accuracy scores showed different patterns for good comprehenders and poor comprehenders. Poor comprehenders answered the second verb questions at levels that were consistently below chance. Their answers were based on an incorrect local attachment strategy that treated the second noun as the subject of the second verb. For example, they often answered yes to the question "The girl chases the policeman" after the object relative sentence "The boy that the girl sees chases the policeman." Interestingly, low memory span poor comprehenders used the local attachment strategy less consistently than high memory span poor comprehenders, and all poor comprehenders used this strategy less consistently for harder than for easier sentences.
Factors affecting corticosteroid concentrations in yellow-bellied marmots.

Abstract 1. 1. Bound and total corticosteroid concentrations of yellow-bellied marmots ( Marmota flavi-ventris ) were lowest in May after emergence from hibernation and peaked in August prior to immergence. 2. 2. Total corticosteroids were affected by age but not by sex or reproductive status. 3. 3. There was no consistent relationship between measures of population density and concentrations of corticosteroids; when a significant relationship occurred, only 22–34% of the variation was explained. 4. 4. Social status and social behavior were the major factors affecting corticosteroid concentrations.
Facilitating Self-Regulated Learning Skills and Achievement With a Strategic Content Learning Approach

Whether out of financial concerns for student retention or altruistic goals involving facilitating successful learning, efforts are being made to ensure college student success beyond chance independent study skills. Students often lack effective self-regulatory skills and study strategies necessary for success in college. With guidance through specific task-related learner activities, these skills may be enhanced. The current study investigated how student performance in an introductory psychology course at a midwestern community college might be impacted by a structured, content-learning approach engaging students in specific academic study skills activities. Results indicated that the intervention group performed significantly better across all three exam events and achieved higher semester course grades. Performance on the learning packet itself was positively correlated with exam performance.
System for the Measurement of Velocity of Microscopic Particles in Liquids

A system for the measurement of velocity of particles suspended in liquids was developed, based on the on-line computation of the time to maximum cross correlation between the optical signatures made by particles, as their image traverses two adjacent photo-detectors aligned in the direction of flow. Cross correlation computation is performed with a commercially available computer, and the time to maximum cross correlation is detected by digital pulse circuitry. The system is particularly suited for measurements of blood flow in vivo and in vitro. Frequency response is linear to 1 Hz where the phase lag is 30°.
Load Supplying Capability of Generation-Transmission Networks

This paper describes an extension of the power transfer capacity calculation to the calculation of maximum power system loading. This loading capability is a function of the generation and transmission capacity of the power system. The dc power flow equations provide a basis for the development of constraint equations necessary in the linear programming optimization of the generation-transmission system. An example is provided to illustrate the concepts of the load supplying capability of the power system, and the application to assessment of network adequacy and long range planning is discussed.
Electromagnetic pulses generated by meteoroid impacts on spacecraft

[1] Meteoroid impacts on spacecraft are known to cause mechanical damage, but their electrical effect on spacecraft systems are not well characterized. Several reported spacecraft anomalies are suggestive of an electrical failure associated with meteoroid impact. We present a theory to explain plasma production and subsequent electric fields occurring when a meteoroid strikes a spacecraft, ionizing itself and part of the spacecraft. This plasma, with a charge separation commensurate with different specie mobilities, can produce a strong electromagnetic pulse (EMP) at broad frequency spectra, potentially causing catastrophic damage if the impact is relatively near an area with low shielding or an open umbilical. Anomalies such as gyrostability loss can be caused by an EMP without any detectable momentum transfer due to small (<1 μg) particle mass. Subsequent plasma oscillations can also emit significant power and may be responsible for many reported satellite anomalies. The presented theory discusses both a dust-free plasma expansion with coherent electron oscillation and a dusty plasma expansion with macroscopic charge separation.
Technology Insight: renal proteomics—at the crossroads between promise and problems

Knowledge of the human genome has fertilized research in the embryonic field of proteomics. The aim of this Review is to examine the recent application of emerging proteomic technologies to diagnosis of renal disease. We discuss the roles, efficacy and diagnostic potential of different proteomic approaches, focusing on current difficulties and potential solutions. Our rudimentary knowledge of the healthy human urine proteome is described, as are studies that have sought to use the urinary proteome as a tool for diagnosis of renal disease. Vignettes of renal proteome are also presented. The integral role of bioinformatics, and the need for standardized sample preservation and reporting of results, are discussed.
Acute lipotoxicity regulates severity of biliary acute pancreatitis without affecting its initiation.

Obese patients have worse outcomes during acute pancreatitis (AP). Previous animal models of AP have found worse outcomes in obese rodents who may have a baseline proinflammatory state. Our aim was to study the role of acute lipolytic generation of fatty acids on local severity and systemic complications of AP. Human postpancreatitis necrotic collections were analyzed for unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and saturated fatty acids. A model of biliary AP was designed to replicate the human variables by intraductal injection of the triglyceride glyceryl trilinoleate alone or with the chemically distinct lipase inhibitors orlistat or cetilistat. Parameters of AP etiology and outcomes of local and systemic severity were measured. Patients with postpancreatitis necrotic collections were obese, and 13 of 15 had biliary AP. Postpancreatitis necrotic collections were enriched in UFAs. Intraductal glyceryl trilinoleate with or without the lipase inhibitors resulted in oil red O–positive areas, resembling intrapancreatic fat. Both lipase inhibitors reduced the glyceryl trilinoleate–induced increase in serum lipase, UFAs, pancreatic necrosis, serum inflammatory markers, systemic injury, and mortality but not serum alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, or amylase. We conclude that UFAs are enriched in human necrotic collections and acute UFA generation via lipolysis worsens pancreatic necrosis, systemic inflammation, and injury associated with severe AP. Inhibition of lipolysis reduces UFA generation and improves these outcomes of AP without interfering with its induction.
Interchromophore orientation scaffolding by m-terphenyl oxacyclophanes

Modular oxacyclophanes featuring m-terphenyl units scaffold inter-π-system interaction in face-to-face stacked or orthogonal orientations, leading to distinct photophysical properties.
Teacher Burnout--Solutions for the 1980s. A Review of the Literature.

In recent years, popular, professional, and scholarly journals and periodicals have carried a significant number of articles concerning the teacher burnout phenomenon. This phenomenon is described as “physical, emotional, and attitudinal exhaustion” and results in a significant decrease in teacher job satisfaction and performance. It is caused by high levels of stress related to inordinate time demands, inadequate relationships, large class sizes, lack of resources, isolation, fear of violence, role ambiguity, limited promotional opportunities, lack of support, etc. In addition to resulting in a number of emotional and physical illnesses, burnout manifests itself in increased job turnover and absenteeism, reduced job satisfaction, mental and physical withdrawal and detachment, increased inter- and intraindividual conflict, and a general reduction in individual and ultimately school performance. Some solutions which hold considerable promise for reducing this phenomenon are improved teacher status; rewarding ambition, commitment, motivation, and performance; job enrichment or redesign; preservice stress preparation; teacher conditioning; improved supervision and support; implementing quality circles; joint student-parent-teacher problem solving; and participatory team leadership.
Electronic structure of Si(111) surfaces

Abstract We report on new angle-resolved photoemission studies of Si(111) 2 × 1 and 7 × 7 surfaces. The emission from the 2 × 1 surface shows much structure. For normal emission the energy positions are insensitive to the photon energy in the range 19–27 eV. The emission has been interpreted as a probe of the surface density of states, SDOS, including both surface states, resonances and bulk-like states. The SDOS was also calculated as a function of parallel momentum k ∥ for a model of the Si(111) 2 × 1 surface obtained from energy minimization considerations. We identify emission from the dangling bond band, which has a positive dispersion of 0.6 eV, and also emission from surface resonances which have some character of the compressed and stretched back bonds. There are also other predicted surface resonances that correspond to experimental peaks which have not been identified in previous work. Except for the dangling bond band, the surface resonances are limited in k ∥ space, so that it is not possible to follow these resonance bands over all angles. Maximum intensity for the normal emission from the dangling bond is obtained at 23 eV, while the emission from the lowest s-like states monotonically increases towards 30 eV photon energy. When annealing the cleaved 2 × 1 surface to the 7 × 7 reconstructed surface, the spectra broaden significantly. The intensity of the dangling bond decreases and we see a very small metallic edge.
Strategic Procurement Of Fish By The Pumé: A South American "Fishing Culture"

Information is presented on fishing effort, efficiency, techniques, and catch composition for Pume men, women, and children along with a conceptual model of fishing as a food procurement strategy. The Pume are a native lowland South American group living in the topical savanna region of southwestern Venezuela characterized by seasonal flooding. Results are discussed in relation to the Pume environmental and social situation, and briefly compared with results from other lowland South American groups.
The role of splenic colony-forming units in autoimmune disease.

Abstract Stem cell activity in murine lupus was investigated by analyzing endogenous splenic colony-forming units in sublethally irradiated inbred, congenic, and consomic mice as well as F1 crosses. Splenic colony-forming units (CFU-s) were elevated (>100) in young NZB mice as compared with nonautoimmune-prone mice ( lpr lpr and gld gld mice, elevated levels of CFU-s were in association with disease manifestations. F1 crosses of inbred lpr lpr mice often showed an excess of CFU-s in females when compared with male littermates. The autoimmunity accelerating factor on the Y chromosome of BXSB mice led to high numbers of CFU-s relative to female littermates. The xid gene, which does not alter stem cell activity but, instead, interferes with terminal lymphocyte maturation, had no effect on CFU-s in congenic mice. These studies demonstrate that there is a strong association between increased numbers of CFU-s and the development of generalized autoimmunity; increased stem cell division may be important for the development of murine lupus.
Capacity for Timber Management in Small and Medium Forest Enterprises: A Case Study from the Peruvian Amazon

With the implementation of a new legal framework for more responsible forest management in Peru, private small-medium forest enterprises (SMFEs) have become the most important social actors engaged in commercial forestry in the Peruvian Amazon. Despite the role of SMFEs in contributing to employment and local economic growth, there is little information with respect to their economic performance and capacities. This is a hindrance to efforts aimed at better characterizing this important sector and its influence on the development and conservation of tropical forests. For this study, 29 private SMFEs were surveyed to inventory their capital assets in order to evaluate their capacities to carry out timber management. Results indicate that SMFEs vary greatly in terms of their produced and natural capital assets, and consequently in their forest management capabilities as well. While most SMFEs lack adequate capacity for sustainable forest management, those that had more valuable timber resources and physical infrastructure attained forest certification. SMFE capacities depend greatly on external mechanisms to ensure consistent technical and financial assistance.
Determination of surface areas of carbon blacks by soap adsorption

A method is presented for the determination of the surface area of carbon blacks by adsorption of laurate or myristate soaps from aqueous solution. It involves conductometric titration of the blacks in aqueous dispersion with the respective soaps. Comparison of results obtained by this method on eleven samples of various blacks with nitrogen adsorption data indicates that up to a nitrogen area of 50 m.2/g. the two methods yield identical results if areas of 23.2 and 35.2 A2 are employed for the laurate and myristate molecules, respectively. However, for the finer blacks the two methods yield divergent surface areas, with those by nitrogen being the larger. These differences are ascribed to surface irregularities present in the higher area blacks, which can be expressed as a surface roughness factor, f, defined as the ratio of the area of a black as determined by nitrogen adsorption to that given by the soap titration. These roughness factors have a value of unity for the smaller area blacks, and increase for the finer blacks to values above two. Since a nitrogen molecule is small and can be accommodated in spaces inaccessible to larger molecules, nitrogen areas appear to be too large for correlation with rubber reinforcement. On the other hand, the areas given by larger molecules, such as soap, should be much nearer to those involved in the interaction of carbon black and rubber.
Quality of life and psychosocial factors in African Americans with hypertensive chronic kidney disease

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is poorly understood in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) prior to end-stage renal disease. The association between psychosocial measures and HRQOL has not been fully explored in CKD, especially in African Americans. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of HRQOL and its association with sociodemographic and psychosocial factors in African Americans with hypertensive CKD. There were 639 participants in the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension Cohort Study. The Short Form-36 was used to measure HRQOL. The Diener Satisfaction with Life Scale measured life satisfaction, the Beck Depression Inventory-II assessed depression, the Coping Skills Inventory-Short Form measured coping, and the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-16 was used to measure social support. The mean participant age was 60 years at enrollment, and men comprised 61% of participants. Forty-two percent reported a household income less than $15,000/year. Higher levels of social support, coping skills, and life satisfaction were associated with higher HRQOL, whereas unemployment and depression were associated with lower HRQOL (P < 0.05). A significant positive association between higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was observed with the Physical Health Composite (PHC) score (P = 0.004) but not in the Mental Health Composite (MHC) score (P = 0.24). Unemployment was associated with lower HRQOL, and lower eGFR was associated with lower PHC. African Americans with hypertensive CKD with better social support and coping skills had higher HRQOL. This study demonstrates an association between CKD and low HRQOL, and it highlights the need for longitudinal studies to examine this association in the future.
Systematic mutagenesis of the DNA binding sites for SoxS in the Escherichia coli zwf and fpr promoters: identifying nucleotides required for DNA binding and transcription activation

SoxS is the direct transcriptional activator of at least 15 genes of the Escherichia coli superoxide regulon. SoxS is small (107 amino acids), binds DNA as a monomer and recognizes a highly degenerate DNA binding site, termed 'soxbox'. Like other members of the AraC/XylS family, SoxS has two putative helix-turn-helix (HTH) DNA-binding motifs, and it has been proposed that each HTH motif recognizes a highly conserved recognition element of the soxbox. To determine which nucleotides are important for SoxS binding, we conducted a systematic mutagenesis of the DNA binding sites for SoxS in the zwf and fpr promoters and determined the effect of the soxbox mutations on SoxS DNA binding and transcription activation in vivo by measuring beta-galactosidase activity in strains with fusions to lacZ. We found that the sequences GCAC and CAAA, termed recognition elements 1 and 2 (RE 1 and RE 2), respectively, are critical for SoxS binding, as mutations within these elements severely hinder or eliminate SoxS-dependent transcription activation; substitutions within RE 2 (CAAA), however, are tolerated better than changes within RE 1 (GCAC). Although substitutions at the seven positions separating the two REs had only a modest effect on SoxS binding, AT basepairs were favoured within this 'spacer' region, presumably because, by facilitating DNA bending, they help bring the two recognition elements into proper juxtaposition. We also found that the 'invariant A' present at position 1 of 14/15 functional soxboxes identified thus far is important for SoxS binding, as a change to any other nucleotide at this position reduced SoxS-dependent transcription by approximately 50%. In addition, positions surrounding the REs seem to show a context effect, in that certain substitutions there have little or no effect when the RE has the optimal binding sequence, but produce a pronounced effect when the RE has a suboptimal sequence. We propose that these nucleotides play an important role in effecting differential expression from the various promoters. Lastly, we used gel retardation assays to show that alterations in transcription activation in vivo are caused by effects on DNA binding. Based on this exhaustive mutagenesis, we propose the following optimal sequence for SoxS binding: AnVGCACWWWnKRHCAAAHn (n = A, C, G, T; V = A, C, G; W = A, T; K = G, T; R = A, G; H = A, C, T).
Specificity of Human Thymine DNA Glycosylase Depends on N-Glycosidic Bond Stability

Initiating the DNA base excision repair pathway, DNA glycosylases find and hydrolytically excise damaged bases from DNA. While some DNA glycosylases exhibit narrow specificity, others remove multiple forms of damage. Human thymine DNA glycosylase (hTDG) cleaves thymine from mutagenic G.T mispairs, recognizes many additional lesions, and has a strong preference for nucleobases paired with guanine rather than adenine. Yet, hTDG avoids cytosine, despite the million-fold excess of normal G.C pairs over G.T mispairs. The mechanism of this remarkable and essential specificity has remained obscure. Here, we examine the possibility that hTDG specificity depends on the stability of the scissile base-sugar bond by determining the maximal activity (k(max)) against a series of nucleobases with varying leaving-group ability. We find that hTDG removes 5-fluorouracil 78-fold faster than uracil, and 5-chlorouracil, 572-fold faster than thymine, differences that can be attributed predominantly to leaving-group ability. Moreover, hTDG readily excises cytosine analogues with improved leaving ability, including 5-fluorocytosine, 5-bromocytosine, and 5-hydroxycytosine, indicating that cytosine has access to the active site. A plot of log(k(max)) versus leaving-group pK(a) reveals a Bronsted-type linear free energy relationship with a large negative slope of beta(lg) = -1.6 +/- 0.2, consistent with a highly dissociative reaction mechanism. Further, we find that the hydrophobic active site of hTDG contributes to its specificity by enhancing the inherent differences in substrate reactivity. Thus, hTDG specificity depends on N-glycosidic bond stability, and the discrimination against cytosine is due largely to its very poor leaving ability rather than its exclusion from the active site.
SEQUENTIAL EVALUATION OF BEHAVIORAL TREATMENTS AND METHYLPHENIDATE DOSAGE FOR CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

We used a sequential approach to evaluate the relative and combined effects of different types of behavioral treatments, as well as dosage of methylphenidate (MPH), on the disruptive behavior of 3 students who had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Results showed that individualized behavioral treatments produced decreases in disruptive behavior equivalent to MPH for all 3 participants and demonstrated the need to evaluate behavioral treatments and medication dosage on an individual basis.
Case report: Multisystem failure following intravenous iopamidol

A case of life-threatening adverse effects following intravenous administration of a non-ionic contrast medium is reported. The patient, a 68-year-old diabetic hypertensive male with dyspnoea and cough had an abnormal chest radiography, revealing congestive heart failure and an enlarged right hilum. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest was performed using 100 cm 3 of intravenous iopamidol. Within half an hour the patient developed abdominal cramping, vomiting, and diarrhoea, followed by hypotension, tachycardia, fever to 40°C, and delirium. His course was complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation, rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, respiratory arrest, and atrial fibrillation. There was no evidence of infection, neoplastic disease, or myocardial infarction. Over the next month the patient slowly recovered. One other case report implicates a contrast agent with a similar syndrome. The features of this case fulfil the criteria for a probable adverse drug reaction of a type and severity rarely encountered.
Low temperature anomaly in Sc0.995Gd0.005H1.9

Abstract Gd 3+ electron spin resonance linewidths and X-ray powder patterns have been determined from liquid nitrogen to room temperature on a hydrite of nominal composition Sc 0.995 Gd 0.005 H 1.9 . These measurements reveal anomalous behavior below 140 K suggesting a phase transition.
A relational algebra for propositional logic

Abstract We apply the established relational theory of stored data to the management of propositions in two-valued logic. Since the truth table for a propositional formula is a virtual relation, we can establish a correspondence between the relational algebra, as applied to the management of stored data, and the same algebra, as applied to the management of logical formulas. In doing so, we present a single comprehensive framework for the management of these two types of information.
Hydrodynamic study in a slurry-bubble-column reactor

Abstract Local gas holdup, bubble diameter and bubble rise velocity in the nitrogen/Drakeol-10 oil system were measured at both laboratory (ambient temperature and pressure) and industrially relevant (high temperature and pressure) conditions using a dual conductivity probe in a slurry-bubble-column reactor. It was found that a constant superficial velocity, the Sauter mean bubble diameter decreases with increasing pressure and temperature. The bubble rise velocity significantly decreases as the pressure increases. Large bubbles rise faster than smaller bubbles. Akita and Yoshida's correlation [1] was utilized to compute the bubble size. Predicted values agree with the experimental data at high temperature.
The effects of differential prenatal and postnatal social environments on sexual maturation of young prairie deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii)

Abstract We compared the influence of different social environments on sexual maturation of young prairie deermice. Between 12 and 48 hr after parturition, one-half of a litter from a population was exchanged with one-half of a litter from a bisexual pair. In each situation the remaining half-litter served as controls for the exchange procedure. The testes and vesicular weights of population-reared males were significantly larger than those of males reared by bisexual pairs, irrespective of prenatal environment. Generally, population-reared females also had larger reproductive organs than those reared by bisexual pairs, although these differences were not statistically significant. There were no significant differences in the adrenal weights of males or females, but females reared by bisexual pairs had larger absolute and relative adrenals than females reared in populations.
Spatial self-organization in geomorphology: from periodic bedforms and patterned ground to scale-invariant topography

A rich diversity of spatial order can be discerned in landforms and small-scale features of landscapes, with spatial order ranging in scale from 107 m to 10−2 m, and in geometry from pronounced two-dimensional periodicity to three-dimensional scale-invariance. Ripples of wind-blown sand with their strikingly uniform spacing, and mountainous topography with its fractal characteristics illustrate the range of geomorphic self-organization. Patterns on the land surface are often very distinct, easily observed and readily studied because of their accessibility, and yet the systematic quantitative study of geomorphic self-organization is only in its infancy. It offers difficult challenges but also exceptional opportunities particularly for those versed in modern techniques used in studies of self-organization. In this overview, diverse examples of spontaneous organization in geomorphic systems and recent pertinent studies are described, starting with spatial structures that are generally most distinct and best understood. They include: (1) periodic structures that form on various substrates as water or air transports, erodes and deposits sediments-ripples and dunes, meanders and bar/pool topography of rivers, and rhythmic shoreline features; (2) polygonal patterns that result either from the growth cracks in such contrasting media as freezing lava and frozen ground, or from freeze/thaw alternations in soils; (3) large-scale periodic structures dictated by the deformation of magma or of the Earth's crust-linear arrays of evenly spaced volcanoes and sequences of alternating valleys and mountain ranges; and (4) scale-invariant structures revealed in drainage networks and topography.
Targeting the gut barrier: identification of a homing peptide sequence for delivery into the injured intestinal epithelial cell.

Background Severe injury results in intestinal barrier dysfunction that may be responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. We postulated that mining a peptide library that was displayed on phage would identify peptide sequences that bind and internalize into the gut epithelium following injury. Methods We utilized a severe full thickness burn in mice as a model of severe injury. Candidate peptides were identified by screening 10 12 phage displaying unique peptide sequences. In vivo assessment was performed by injecting targeted phage into the lumen of a segment of distal ileum following burn injury, then analyzed for uptake of peptide sequence using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, and confocal microscopy of the peptide bound to quantum dots (Qdots). Results Phage screening identified the peptide sequence T18 (LTHPQDSPPASA) as an optimal candidate for in vivo testing. PCR of intestinal cells following injury showed a higher level of T18 sequence when compared to untargeted phage. Confocal microscopy of the peptide sequence bound to Qdots showed internalization into gut mucosa following injury. Conclusion We have identified a peptide sequence that targets the injured intestinal epithelium and may allow for the development of targeted therapies to attenuate inflammation, or other pathologic conditions of the small bowel.
Opium, cocaine and marijuana in American history

DAVID F. MUSTO is professor of psychiatry at the Child Study Center and professor of the history of medicine at Yale University. He earned his medical degree at the University of Washington and received his master's In the history of science and medicine from Yale. Mus to began studying the history of drug and alcohol use in the U.S. when he worked at the National Institute of Mental Health in the 1960s. He has served as a consultant for several national organizations, including the Presidential Commission on the HIV epidemic. From 1981 until 1990, Musto was a member of the Smithsonian Institution's National Council.
Preparation and characterization of thin film surface coatings for biological environments

An approach to the problem of selecting synthetic materials for use in biological media is presented. Firstly, a surface energetic criterion of biocompatibility of foreign surfaces is suggested. This criterion, which is based on an analysis of the surface interactions between a typical biological fluid (i.e. blood) and synthetic surfaces, is founded on the premise that a sufficiently low (but not very low) solid-biological fluid interfacial free energy of the order of 1-3 dyne/cm, is necessary in order to fulfil the dual requirements of maintaining a low thermodynamic driving force for the adsorption of fluid components on the solid surface as well as a mechanically stable solid-fluid interface. In the second part of this investigation, an experimental approach involving the radio frequency (rf) sputter deposition of thin solid films of tightly adhering polymeric compounds on materials with the desired bulk characteristics, is shown to be a promising method of tailoring the surface properties of many types of synthetic materials for use in biological environments. The preparation and surface characterization of thin, solid films of oxidized fluorocarbon coatings (from a Teflon FEP target) by rf sputtering is illustrated. The deposited polymer films were characterized for their surface morphology, thickness, elemental surface chemical composition and their wetting properties in a biological environment, by the techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ellipsometry, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and contact angle measurements, respectively. Based on the ESCA and contact angle results, it emerges that the surfaces of such polymeric coatings possess sufficient mobility to considerably alter their structures between different environments (such as air and water) and thereby present different wetting characters to these environments. The contact angle procedure developed in this investigation permitted the estimation of the relevant wetting properties of such mobile surfaces in an aqueous environment (which is the environment encountered in most biological fluids). In the final part of this investigation, the possibility of effecting a drastic reduction in the solid-water interfacial free energy of the sputtered polymer surfaces by physical and or chemical modification of their surfaces and thereby improving their biocompatibility is illustrated.
A genetic and molecular analysis of DNA repair in Drosophila.

SUMMARY Overview Mutant isolation and characterization Mutant sources Mutagen-sensitive mutants ( mus ) Meiotic mutants ( mei ) Mutations producing gene and chromosome instability Genetic and cytological analyses Mutant influences on meiosis Mutant influences on mutation Identification of defects in DNA repair Photorepair Excision repair Postreplication repair Additional repair processes Molecular cloning of DNA repair genes Cloning strategy Mutation induction by transposon tagging Progress report Enzymology related to DNA repair
High-Speed X-Ray Imaging of Diesel Injector Needle Motion

Phase-enhanced x-ray imaging has been used to examine the geometry and dynamics of four diesel injector nozzles. The technique uses a high-speed camera, which allows the dynamics of individual injection events to be observed in real time and compared. Moreover, data has been obtained for the nozzles from two different viewing angles, allowing for the full three-dimensional motions of the needle to be examined. This technique allows the needle motion to be determined in situ at the needle seat and requires no modifications to the injector hardware, unlike conventional techniques. Measurements of the nozzle geometry have allowed the average nozzle diameter, degree of convergence or divergence, and the degree of rounding at the nozzle inlet to be examined. Measurements of the needle lift have shown that the lift behavior of all four nozzles consists of a linear increase in needle lift with respect to time until the needle reaches full lift and a linear decrease as the needle closes. For all four nozzles, the needle position oscillates at full lift with a period of 170–180 μs. The full-lift position of the needle changes as the rail pressure increases, perhaps reflecting compression of the injector components. Significant lateral motions were seen in the two single-hole nozzles, with the needle motion perpendicular to the injector axis resembling a circular motion for one nozzle and linear oscillation for the other nozzle. The two VCO multihole nozzles show much less lateral motion, with no strong oscillations visible.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
New geographies of Chinese medicine.

L'auteur tente de demontrer dans quelle mesure les diverses origines et composantes ethniques et les differences regionales ont influence l'evolution de la medecine en Chine et dresse un tableau de la connaissance medicale, en se placant dans un contexte historique et anthropologiste.
The first memory drum.

For most of the 20th century, the memory drum was the standard American apparatus for memory research. The first memory drum dates from 1887 in the work of G. E. Muller and Frederich Schumann, and an illustration of their device appeared 16 years later. This device apparently was invented to resolve the difficulties created by Ebbinghaus's method. The memory drum was a kymograph used to control the display of learning materials. Cattell used something similar for his dissertation with Wundt, though not for verbal material. From Muller's writings, images of this device and kymographs contemporary to Muller's innovation, characteristics, aspects, and difficulties of the development of this drum are presented in the context of its use to resolve the difficulties created by Ebbinghaus's method. An improved device was offered by instrument makers Diederichs in Gottingen and Zimmermann in Leipzig, both in 1894. Surprisingly, from 1903 Zimmermann offered only the original, unimproved device, mistakenly portraying it as appropriate for paired-associate learning procedures.