cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploiting OHC Data with Tensor Decomposition for Off-Label Drug Use Detection

Off-label drug use is an important healthcare topic as it is quite common and sometimes inevitable in medical practice. Though gaining information about off-label drug uses could benefit a lot of healthcare stakeholders such as patients, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies, there is no such data repository of such information available. There is a desire for a systematic approach to detect off-label drug uses. Other than using data sources such as EHR and clinical notes that are provided by healthcare providers, we exploited social media data especially online health community (OHC) data to detect the off-label drug uses, with consideration of the increasing social media users and the large volume of valuable and timely user-generated contents. We adopted tensor decomposition technique, CP decomposition in this work, to deal with the sparsity and missing data problem in social media data. On the basis of tensor decomposition results, we used two approaches to identify off-label drug use candidates: (1) one is via ranking the CP decomposition resulting components, (2) the other one is applying a heterogeneous network mining method, proposed in our previous work [9], on the reconstructed dataset by CP decomposition. The first approach identified a number of significant off-label use candidates, for which we were able to conduct case studies and found medical explanations for 7 out of 12 identified off-label use candidates. The second approach achieved better performance than the previous method [9] by improving the F1-score by 3%. It demonstrated the effectiveness of performing tensor decomposition on social media data for detecting off-label drug use.
The Effect of Cations on Uranyl Transport and Fluorescence in Mesoporous Silica Gel

The fluorescence intensity and transport kinetics of uranyl into mesoporous silica gel was measured in the presence of six naturally occurring cations. It was shown that the presence of the cations can reduce the fluorescence intensity of the uranyl through collision quenching and through competition for the silica gel surface sites. Stern-Volmer quenching coefficients were obtained by measuring the uranyl fluorescence as a function of cation concentration. The cations compete with uranyl to occupy silica gel surface sites and cause a decrease in uranyl fluorescence intensity and a reduction in the uranyl saturation time constant. Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was used to measure the weight percentage of uranium and the cations in the silica gel samples and these results correlated well with the results of the saturation time constant measurements. The results of this study show that, at high concentrations, the presence of cations in water can influence the fluorescence intensity and transport kinetics of uranyl into mesoporous silica gel.
Directing Cell Fate Through Biomaterial Microenvironments

Biomaterials offer discrete advantages over standard ECM systems, like matrigel, in the context of both fundamental stem cell biology and control of stem cell fate/phenotype. In particular, one can specifically design features into the 3D microenvironment with high levels of control. The fundamental limitation to date is that we currently lack the design rules for eliciting specific cellular and/or multicellular behaviors that may lead to true regenerative medicine. As the matrix biology and stem cell biology fields mature, biomaterial scientists continually look to these fields for inspiration and understanding of what features should be considered in the design of the “optimal” material for their specific application. In this chapter, we outline the basic emerging biological concepts leading toward a first set of design rules; those include physical or mechanical signals, chemical and/or biochemical signals, spatial orientation and positioning of signals, and finally, time-resolved display of signals. We highlight current biological findings that support these design rules (physical, chemical, and x, y, z, and t) and outline current efforts to develop biomaterial systems that enable both the decoupling or integration of these design criteria for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
Applause and Evanescence: An Arts-based Story of Creating and Performing a Choreopoem with Students in an Urban High School

I combine memoir and essay, affect and argument, in theorizing and narrating the creation and performance of a choreopoem with four Latino and African American students and their drama teacher (Luis) in an urban high school. Drawing on the work of literary and arts-based educational theorists, the verses of African American poets, and a performance project with four adolescents, I first consider the role of feeling as necessary to revealing the sense of connectedness across lives that the literary arts make possible. As a writer, researcher, and teacher committed to embracing artful and emotionally evocative affective discourse, I draw on inquiry and writing-based practices adapted from “narrative ethnography” and “A/r/tography.” As an aesthetic “practice of living enquiry that combines life-writing with life-creating,” A/r/tography conceives arts-based inquiry as entailing aesthetic sensibility, one that is open to curiosity while trusting uncertainty. In this paper, I invite readers to wonder about the literary arts, and the possibility they might offer imaginative routes and visceral itineraries into the emotional worlds of others (e.g. Weinstein, 2003). In doing so, my intent was to embrace artful and affective discourse that might reveal intimate aspects of my writing life, offer occasions for readers to explore the possibilities associated with a literary arts’ experience, invite interpretation of the nature of my engagement with four high school drama students and their teacher, and provoke some essence of immersion, friendship, and solidarity with others in the aesthetic act of creating and engaging in a literary, drama-based project with young people.
A Conserved PP2A Regulatory Subunit Enforces Proportional Relationships Between Cell Size and Growth Rate

Cell size is proportional to growth rate. Thus, cells growing rapidly in rich nutrients can be nearly twice the size of cells growing slowly in poor nutrients. This proportional relationship appears to hold across all orders of life, yet the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In budding yeast, most growth occurs during mitosis, and the proportional relationship between cell size and growth rate is therefore enforced primarily by modulating growth in mitosis. When growth is slow, the duration of mitosis is increased to allow more time for growth, yet the amount of growth required to complete mitosis is reduced, which leads to the birth of small daughter cells. Previous studies have found that Rts1, a member of the conserved B56 family of protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunits, works in a TORC2 signaling network that influences cell size and growth rate. However, it was unclear whether Rts1 influences cell growth and size in mitosis. Here, we show that Rts1 is required for the proportional relationship between cell size and growth rate during mitosis. Moreover, nutrients and Rts1 influence the duration and extent of growth in mitosis via Wee1 and Pds1/securin, two conserved regulators of mitotic progression. Together, the data are consistent with a model in which global signals that set growth rate also set the critical amount of growth required for cell cycle progression, which would provide a simple mechanistic explanation for the proportional relationship between cell size and growth rate.
Onset, Trajectory, and Pattern of Feeding Difficulties in Toddlers Later Diagnosed with Autism.

Objective To examine the emergence and trajectory of feeding difficulties in young children who are later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods The Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) was administered to a sample of 93 toddlers with an older sibling with ASD-the high-risk group-and 62 toddlers with no known familial ASD-the low-risk group-as part of a larger infant sibling study. The BPFAS was completed by parents at 15, 18, 24, and 36 months of age. At 36 months, participants underwent a diagnostic assessment and were classified into 1 of the following 4 outcome groups: ASD, nontypical development, high-risk typically developing, and low-risk typically developing. The BPFAS was scored for total frequency of feeding difficulties and autism-specific factor scores previously described in the literature. Results The frequency of feeding difficulties increased significantly more rapidly in the ASD group between 15 and 36 months of age, and by 36 months, they exhibited a significantly higher total frequency score than all other groups. Analysis of the factor scores revealed a similar pattern for the food acceptance and mealtime behavior domains but no significant differences in the medical/oral motor domain. Conclusion Feeding difficulties develop significantly more rapidly in children with ASD, with longitudinal monitoring revealing the steeper trajectory earlier than can be detected with cross-sectional analysis. Children with ASD are at risk of health and social consequences of poor feeding behavior that may potentially be minimized if addressed early and appropriately.
Assessment of antiplatelet therapy response in pediatric patients following cardiac surgery by microfluidic assay

Abstract Introduction Anti-platelet therapies, like aspirin, are routinely used following many surgical repairs for congenital heart disease to prevent life-threatening thrombotic complications. Optimal dosing is not well studied and determination of real-time dose response to prophylactic aspirin is not routinely performed due to blood volume requirements and poor predictive value of existing platelet function assays (PFAs). Our objective was to study platelet function and thrombosis in post-operative cardiac patients under physiologic shear conditions using a novel collagen-coated microfluidic thrombosis assay (MTA) compared to a standard whole blood aggregometry (WBA) assay before and after clinically and experimentally administered aspirin therapy. Methods We recruited congenital heart surgical patients with post-operative indications for aspirin therapy at the Children's Hospital of Michigan. Samples of 1.8 mL blood were drawn within 24 h of initiating aspirin (D0) and 24 to 48 h after initiating aspirin (D1). Blood samples were split for use in the MTA and the WBA. The MTA sample was run through collagen coated microfluidic channels at shear stress of 10 dyne/cm2 and pulse frequency of 1.67 Hz to simulate physiologic flow conditions. Each sample was run under untreated conditions (reflects the study subject's endogenous platelet function, D0, D1) and following exogenous aspirin administration (reflects maximum theoretical platelet response to aspirin, +eASA). The kinetics of thrombus formation was assessed as area percent of signal intensity (total fluorescent intensity, TFI) of thrombosis at 6 &10 min and as area under curve (AUC) for MTA and as AUC and impedance at 6 min for WBA. Results Results from MTA and WBA on pre- and post-aspirin blood samples collected from 18 subjects, with and without exogenously added aspirin, were analyzed in this study. Fold changes for AUC were calculated for each test and were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank test; this showed no statistically significant difference. Three of the patients were found to have no response to endogenous or exogenous aspirin. Conclusions We observed that measured platelet function is variable and potential sources of variability could be sample source, timing of sample from bypass, platelet count, transfusions and others. Standard aspirin doses might not be adequate for patients who are at high risk of thrombosis. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of employing microfluidic thrombosis assay to assess real time clinical platelet function in the cardiac ICU setting. Microfluidic assays provide real time assessment of platelet function under physiologic flow conditions and might be helpful with optimizing aspirin doses. Further studies on larger cohorts are required to validate this possibility.
Phenome-wide association analysis suggests the APOL1 linked disease spectrum primarily drives kidney-specific pathways

The relationship between commonly occurring genetic variants (G1 and G2) in the APOL1 gene in African Americans and different disease traits, such as kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and pre-eclampsia, remains the subject of controversy. Here we took a genotype-first approach, a phenome-wide association study, to define the spectrum of phenotypes associated with APOL1 high-risk variants in 1,837 African American participants of Penn Medicine Biobank and 4,742 African American participants of Vanderbilt BioVU. In the Penn Medicine Biobank, outpatient creatinine measurement-based estimated glomerular filtration rate and multivariable regression models were used to evaluate the association between high-risk APOL1 status and renal outcomes. In meta-analysis of both cohorts, the strongest phenome-wide association study associations were for the high-risk APOL1 variants and diagnoses codes were highly significant for "kidney dialysis" (odds ratio 3.75) and "end stage kidney disease" (odds ratio 3.42). A number of phenotypes were associated with APOL1 high-risk genotypes in an analysis adjusted only for demographic variables. However, no associations were detected with non-renal phenotypes after controlling for chronic/end stage kidney disease status. Using calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate -based phenotype analysis in the Penn Medicine Biobank, APOL1 high-risk status was associated with prevalent chronic/end stage kidney disease /kidney transplant (odds ratio 2.27, 95% confidence interval 1.67-3.08). In high-risk participants, the estimated glomerular filtration rate was 15.4 mL/min/1.73m2; significantly lower than in low-risk participants. Thus, although APOL1 high-risk variants are associated with a range of phenotypes, the risks for other associated phenotypes appear much lower and in our dataset are driven by a primary effect on renal disease.
MCUb Induction Protects the Heart From Postischemic Remodeling.

Rationale: Mitochondrial Ca2+ loading augments oxidative metabolism to match functional demands during times of increased work or injury. However, mitochondrial Ca2+ overload also directly causes m...
Tcf21+ mesenchymal cells contribute to testis somatic cell development, homeostasis, and regeneration

Testicular development and function relies on interactions between somatic cells and the germline, but similar to other organs, regenerative capacity decline in aging and disease. Whether the adult testis maintains a reserve progenitor population with repair or regenerative capacity remains uncertain. Here, we characterized a recently identified mouse testis interstitial population expressing the transcription factor Tcf21. We found that Tcf21+ cells are bipotential somatic progenitors present in fetal testis and ovary, maintain adult testis homeostasis during aging, and act as reserve somatic progenitors following injury. In vitro, Tcf21+ cells are multipotent mesenchymal progenitors which form multiple somatic lineages including Leydig and myoid cells. Additionally, Tcf21+ cells resemble resident fibroblast populations reported in other organs having roles in tissue homeostasis, fibrosis, and regeneration. Our findings reveal that the testis, like other organs, maintains multipotent mesenchymal progenitors that can be leveraged in development of future therapies for hypoandrogenism and/or infertility. HighlightsO_LIMultipotent Tcf21+ MPs can differentiate into somatic testis cell types C_LIO_LITcf21+ cells contribute to testis and ovary somatic cells during gonadal development C_LIO_LITcf21+ cells replenish somatic cells of the aging testis and in response to tissue injury C_LIO_LITestis Tcf21 cells resemble resident fibroblast populations in multiple organs C_LI
So Goes the Nation: The Constitution, the Compact, and What the American West Can Tell Us about How We'll Choose the President in 2020 and Beyond

The Electoral College has resulted in the loser of the national popular vote winning the presidency five times in our history, including twice in the past two decades. It is by far the most popular subject of constitutional amendment proposals. But, because the U.S. Constitution is extremely difficult to amend, many of those who are frustrated with the way we choose the president have been persuaded to pursue reform without resorting to the amendment process. Specifically, reformers have rallied around the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a plan that seeks to elect the presidential candidate receiving the most votes nationwide by leveraging states’ power over the Electoral College. This essay describes the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact movement in a historical context, comparing it to an earlier reform: the selection of U.S. senators. It then discusses three potential challenges facing the National Popular Voter Interstate Compact: two recent court decisions on the Electoral College, a mounting campaign to have states withdraw their support for the plan, and an attack from conservative commentators that the plan is unconstitutional.
Farewell to the Step 2 Clinical Skills Exam: New Opportunities, Obligations, and Next Steps.

The unexpected discontinuation of the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) exam in January 2021 carries both risks and opportunities for medical education in the United States. Step 2 CS had far reaching effects on medical school curricula and school-based clinical skills assessments. Absent the need to prepare students for this high-stakes exam, will the rigor of foundational clinical skills instruction and assessment remain a priority at medical schools? In this article, the authors consider the potential losses and gains from the elimination of Step 2 CS and explore opportunities to expand local summative assessments beyond the narrow bounds of Step 2 CS. The responsibility for implementing a rigorous and credible summative assessment of clinical skills that are critical for patient safety as medical students transition to residency now lies squarely with medical schools. Robust human simulation (standardized patient) programs, including regional and virtual simulation consortia, can provide infrastructure and expertise for innovative and creative local assessments to meet this need. Novel applications of human simulation and traditional formative assessment methods, such as workplace-based assessments and virtual patients, can contribute to defensible summative decisions about medical students' clinical skills. The need to establish validity evidence for decisions based on these novel assessment methods comprises a timely and relevant focus for medical education research.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Origins and Outcomes.

Inhibiting PD-L1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Pharmacologic inhibition of both the immune-checkpoint molecule PD-L1 and vascular endothelial growth factor improves survival among persons with hepato...
Psychologists on the March: The Mirror of Practice: Toward a Reflexive Science

In September 1939, just after the war in Europe broke out, Gordon Allport delivered his presidential address at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, held at Stanford and Berkeley, California. Reflecting on the historical symbolism of meeting for the first time on the shores of the Pacific, he noted that events across the Atlantic had placed “the burden of scientific progress in psychology” on the profession. Faced “with the responsibility for the preservation and eventual rehabilitation of world psychology,” the Harvard professor asked, “Are we American psychologists equipped for the versatile leadership demanded by our comprehensive discipline?” He proposed to answer his rhetorical question through an analysis of “the psychologist's frame of reference” as it was reflected in the pages of the psychological literature over the preceding fifty years. Among the trends he observed was a rapid rise in the use of statistics, to the point that nearly half of the published literature relied on them. There was also a noteworthy increase in the use of animals as subjects and a concomitant growth in the proportion of methodological studies of all kinds. His data suggested “the development of a notable schism between the psychology constructed in a laboratory and the psychology constructed on the field of life.” In a footnote, Allport went on to call attention to the unwitting hypocrisy of some academic purists when they criticized applied psychology: “Outside the laboratory he lives a cultured and varied life of a free agent and useful citizen.
Mechanisms Involved In Co- and Posttranslational Protein Transport

The secretion and membrane insertion of proteins is a universal process occurring in living beings from bacteria to man. In prokaryotes, secretory proteins are transported directly across the plasma membrane or are inserted into it; in eukaryotes, they are initially translocated in an analogous process across the ER membrane, but are thereafter transported in vesicles to the plasma membrane. In all organisms, the translocation of proteins across and their integration into the membrane are initiated by hydrophobic signal sequences which are interchangeable; prokaryotic signal sequences can perform in eukaryotes and vice versa.
Spemann seen through a lens.

In 1924 the results of perhaps the most publicized and seminal experiment in embryology were published, those of the “organizer” grafts performed by Hans Spemann and his graduate student Hilde Mangold (1). Not only did these investigations result in a Nobel Prize for Spemann, but more important, they fostered a heightened interest in the phenomenon of embryonic induction and led to establishment of a prolific school of research into the nature of the organizer (2). Despite its notoriety, the organizer experiment was not the first instance of induction to be experimentally demonstrated, nor did it come to serve as the classic textbook paradigm for general embryonic induction. In both respects this position is reserved for induction of the lens.
Building user and expert models by long-term observation of application usage

We describe a new kind of user model and a new kind of expert model and show how these models can be used to individualize the selection of instructional topics. The new user model is based on observing the individual’s behavior in a natural environment over a long period of time, while the new expert model is based on pooling the knowledge of numerous individuals. Individualized instructional topics are selected by comparing an individual’s knowledge to the pooled knowledge of her peers.
DIFFUSION IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION

Diffusion is a widespread phenomenon, responsible for brownian motion and for mixing particles in a fluid. Now an experiment has shown that it can cause startlingly large fluctuations in the process of mixing two fluids. The fluctuations will be larger still in a low-gravity environment, so experiments in free fall may find some manifestations of diffusive motion to be profoundly changed.
MoteAODV – an AODV implementation for TinyOS 2.0

Reliable, inexpensive, on-the-fly networks can be established using mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) technology. Such networks can be used in a wide variety of scenarios ranging from connecting powerful computers to connecting so-called “smart dust” devices. However, the core of MANET technology, the routing protocols, were never designed for the extremely low power devices that are desired for today's applications. In this paper, we propose a new implementation of the Ad-hoc On-Demand Distance Vector routing protocol (AODV), named MoteAODV, that addresses this shortcoming. In addition, we also introduce an implementation, MoteAODV+AES, which allows for the addressing of security concerns in routing protocols on such limited devices. We also provide performance benchmarks and a comprehensive security analysis of our proposed solutions.
Telomere Capping--One Strand Fits All

How do different organisms protect the ends of their chromosomes (telomeres) from being degraded? Although at first sight it seems that organisms as diverse as ciliates, yeast, and mammalian cells have chosen different modes of telomere protection, it now transpires, as De Lange explains in her Perspective, that they all have one thing in common: a single-stranded DNA binding protein that forms a protective cap over the end of the telomere (Baumann and Cech).
Estado, movimentos sociais e reformas na América Latina: uma reflexão sobre a crise contemporânea

Este artigo discute os sistemas de protecao social na America Latina e as perspectivas para reformas sociais na regiao, tomando como referencia os padroes existentes de relacionamento entre a sociedade e o Estado. Duas abordagens presentes na literatura sobre o tema sao analisadas e questionadas: a primeira diz respeito a adocao de tipologias referidas as diferentes modalidades de Welfare State na classificacao dos distintos sistemas de protecao social na regiao; a segunda refere-se a identificacao de uma suposta crise do Welfare State no cenario internacional, que se expressaria necessariamente, nos sistemas latino-americanos de protecao social, por uma extensao da concepcao economica neoliberal a esse campo. Fundamentada em discussao conceituai e em referencias empiricas, a autora questiona ambas as abordagens e conclui tentando mostrar que a complexa realidade latino-americana exige tratamento teorico e metodologico compativel com o cenario de heterogeneidade estrutural dominante na regiao.
Sequences required for enhancer blocking activity of scs are located within two nuclease-hypersensitive regions

The Drosophila 87A7 heat shock locus is bordered, on the proximal and distal sides, by two special chromatin structures, scs and scs'. Each structure is characterized by two sets of nuclease-hypersensitive sites, located within moderately G/C-rich DNA, flanking an A/T-rich nuclease-resistant region. scs and scs' have been shown to insulate a white reporter gene from position effects and to prevent enhancer-promoter interactions. These and other properties suggest scs and scs' might function as chromatin domain boundaries. To identify the DNA sequences which are essential for the insulating activity of scs we used an enhancer blocking assay based on the white gene. Sequences capable of suppressing activation of white by its upstream enhancer elements reside within a 900 bp DNA fragment corresponding to the scs chromatin structure. Within this region, DNA fragments associated with the two nuclease-hypersensitive regions are essential for full enhancer blocking activity, while the central A/T-rich region is dispensable. Deletions which remove part of the hypersensitive regions result in intermediate levels of white activity. Insulating activity can, however, be reconstituted by multimerizing DNA fragments from either hypersensitive region. Our results suggest that the scs boundary is assembled from a discrete number of functionally redundant DNA sequences located within both hypersensitive regions and that boundaries act by decreasing the frequency of enhancer-promoter interactions. We also show that certain types of position effects, like those involved in dosage compensation, are not efficiently blocked by scs.
Hierarchical Bayes Models: A Practitioners Guide

Hierarchical Bayes models free researchers from computational constraints and allow for the development of more realistic models of buyer behavior and decision making. Moreover, this freedom enables exploration of marketing problems that have proven elusive over the years, such as models for advertising ROI, sales force effectiveness, and similarly complex problems that often involve simultaneity. The promise of Bayesian statistical methods lies in the ability to deal with these complex problems, but the very complexity of the problems creates a significant challenge to both researchers and practitioners. We illustrate the promise of HB models and provide an introduction to their computation.
Three‐Dimensional Second‐Harmonic Generation Imaging of Fibrillar Collagen in Biological Tissues

Multiphoton-induced second-harmonic generation (SHG) has developed into a very powerful approach for in depth visualization of some biological structures with high specificity. In this unit, we describe the basic principles of three-dimensional SHG microscopy. In addition, we illustrate how SHG imaging can be utilized to assess collagen fibrils in biological tissues. Some technical considerations are also addressed. Curr. Protoc. Cytom. 61:6.33.1-6.33.11. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: multiphoton microscopy; second-harmonic generation; laser scanning microscopy; collagen; extracellular matrix; articular cartilage
How to Recover a Qubit That Has Fallen into a Black Hole

We demonstrate an algorithm for the retrieval of a qubit, encoded in spin angular momentum, that has been dropped into a no-firewall black hole. Retrieval is achieved analogously to quantum teleportation by collecting Hawking radiation and performing measurements on the black hole. Importantly, these methods require only the ability to perform measurements from outside the event horizon.
Studies on the mechanism of inhibition of hepatic cAMP accumulation by vasopressin

Vasopressin elicited a dose-dependent inhibition of glucagon-induced cAMP accumulation in isolated hepatocytes. This response was not diminished by incubation of cells with the calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine or chlorpromazine and was only slightly reduced in Ca2+-depleted hepatocytes. Half-maximal inhibition of cAMP accumulation occurred at 8 × 10-11 M vasopressin, a dose which does not increase cytosolic Ca2+ in hepatocytes. Direct activation of adenylate cyclase by forskolin was significantly inhibited by vasopressin in Ca2+-depleted cells. It is concluded that inhibition of hormone-induced cAMP accumulation by vasopressin in liver is not dependent on cellular Ca2+ mobilisation but may involve direct inhibition of adenylate cyclase.
Species Richness and Diversity of Resident and Migratory Landbirds in Remnant Forest Patches and Residential Areas in the Florida Keys, USA

Conservation of migratory birds necessitates protecting suitable stopover habitat along migratory routes as well as destination habitats, especially near large geographic barriers such as the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Keys (Keys) are an important stopover and breeding destination for migratory landbirds. We documented 47 migratory and 21 resident landbird species via point counts during March–May 2004 and 2005. As a group, species richness, species diversity, and the effective number of species of migratory landbirds, including several species of conservation concern, was significantly and positively associated with percent cover of tropical hardwood hammock, a threatened upland forest type. The collective resident landbird community in the Keys was negatively associated with native hammock cover, although species diversity of the resident community was positively associated with the proximity of native hammock and several resident species, including species of conservation concern, were commonly or predominantly associated with native hammock. Consequently, conservation of native hammock habitat in the Keys is an important conservation priority for migratory birds and several resident species of conservation concern.
Illegal immigration: a supply side analysis.

Abstract This paper analyzes the supply-side determinants of illegal immigration using a three-sector general equilibrium model of the source country. Agricultural liberalization raises illegal immigration while liberalization of the high tech sector reduces it. In contrast, capital mobility in the source country renders trade policy ineffective for controlling illegal immigration. Paradoxically, increased enforcement (by the host country) may raise source country unskilled wages, although illegal immigration falls. Finally, under capital mobility, a rise in the source country restrictions on capital inflow raises the level of illegal immigration and reduces the effectiveness of border enforcement efforts by the host country.
Bioslurry treatment of a soil contaminated with low concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons

The objective of this study was to investigate the degradation patterns of petroleum hydrocarbons during bioremediation of soils containing low levels of contaminants. The study was conducted in pilot-scale bioslurry reactors (70 l) under aerobic conditions. The reactors were equipped with a process-gas-recirculation system to ensure complete containment and eventually complete degradation of all contaminants. The concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes (BTEX-compounds) and of naphthalene, anthracene, and phenanthrene were found to decrease rapidly. But, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) containing >3 aromatic rings did not show significant biodegradation. Addition of rapidly metabolizing substrates such as sodium acetate and/or phenanthrene did not enhance the degradation of PAHs containing >3 aromatic rings. However, the augmented phenanthrene was rapidly metabolized.
Cloning and expression of the trehalose-phosphate phosphatase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: comparison to the enzyme from Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Abstract Two open reading frames in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome, Rv3372 and Rv2006 , have about 25% sequence identity at the amino acid level to the trehalose-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) purified from Mycobacterium smegmatis. However, the protein produced from the cloned Rv3372 gene has a molecular weight of about 45 kDa whereas the trehalose-P phosphatase purified from M. smegmatis has a molecular weight of about 27 kDa. We expressed the Rv3372 protein in Escherichia coli and show here that it is a trehalose-P phosphatase with very similar properties to the M. smegmatis TPP, i.e., complete specificity for trehalose-phosphate as the substrate, an almost absolute requirement for Mg 2+ , and a pH optimum of 7–7.5. On the other hand, in contrast to the M. smegmatis enzyme, the Rv3372 protein was much less stable to heat and much less sensitive to inhibition by diumycin and moenomycin. In fact, both of these antibiotics stimulate enzyme activity at low concentrations and only inhibit the activity at higher antibiotic concentrations. Antibody prepared against the 27 kDa TPP does not cross react with the 45 kDa TPP nor does antibody against the 45 kDa TPP cross react with the 27 kDa TPP. Nevertheless, studies of secondary structure by circular dichroism indicate that the two enzymes are quite similar in structure. The product of the other gene, Rv2006 , is a 159 kDa protein with no detectable phosphatase activity. Thus, its function is currently unknown.
The Source of the Volatile Acidity Produced in Milk by the Citric Acid Fermenting Streptococci

Summary Lactic acid increased the volatile acidity produced in milk cultures of the citric acid fermenting streptococci, but similar increases were secured with tartaric, phosphoric and sulphuric acid and, accordingly, it appears that lactic acid is not a source of the volatile acidity produced by these organisms. The influence of the various acids presumably involves the establishment of a hydrogen ion concentration that is very favorable for the production of volatile acid in milk by these organisms and may include the freeing of citric acid from its salts. The effect of acids in increasing the volatile acidity produced in milk varied greatly with different cultures and was greatest with cultures that produced comparatively small amounts of titrable acidity and least with cultures that produced comparatively large amounts of titrable acidity. Added citric acid gave such large increases in the volatile acid production of the organisms in milk cultures that it is evidently a source of volatile acid. The importance of citric acid as a source of volatile acid with the citric acid fermenting streptococci was also shown by striking increases in the volatile acid production when citric acid was added to a modified beef infusion bouillon or to milk which had been fermented to remove the citric acid and then distilled to drive off the volatile acids; with the bouillon glycollic, lactic, beta-hydroxypropionic, succinic, malic and tartaric acids failed to give an increase in volatile acid while with the fermented milk lactic acid failed to give an increase.
Spectroscopic Evaluation of Models for Polyelectrolyte Chain Conformation in Dilute Solution

Conformational changes of the weak polyelectrolyte poly(acrylic acid) are monitored by polarized Raman spectroscopy as a function of molecular weight and concentration when the polymer is ionized under salt-free conditions. Persistence lengths are obtained by interpreting the depolarization ratio for CH stretching in terms of the relative number of gauche and trans conformers and then inserting these conformer statistics into a simplified rotational isomeric state model. The results show that in semidilute solution, chains extend beyond persistence lengths predicted by wormlike chain models that employ the full Poisson-Boltzmann equation, irrespective of molecular weight. In dilute solution, on the other hand, the data agree best with models that adopt the Debye-Huckel approximation. Manning condensation is not followed in either concentration regime for the molecular weights studied inasmuch as the persistence length increases at ionizations above the condensation threshold. The concentration dependent intrinsic persistence length found may be attributed to the amount of cooperativity exhibited by hydrogen bonding.
Universal stability of hydromagnetic flows

The non-linear stability of hydromagnetic flows is investigated by applying energy methods. A universal stability estimate, namely a stability limit for motions subject to arbitrary non-linear disturbances, is obtained for bounded or periodic domains. Our analysis is restricted to fluids possessing constant density and electrical conductivity and we do not take into account temperature or Hall effects. This result establishes the existence of an open region of certain stability near the origin of the and Pm are the Reynolds number, magnetic Reynolds number and magnetic Prandtl number, respectively). The universal stability limit can then be improved by suitably defining a maximum problem using variational techniques, and obtaining the relevant Euler–Lagrange equations. The tentative solution to this problem gives a stability limit which enlarges the universal stability region. Our results are then compared with linear and experimental ones, with special emphasis given to the role played by the magnetic field.
Two series of copper(II) complexes derived from various 2-urethanylpyridine N-oxides (2-ethoxycarbonylaminopyridine N-oxides)

Abstract A series of new aromatic N -oxide ligands have been prepared by converting the 2-amino group of 2-aminopyridine N -oxide, 2-aminopicoline N -oxides and 2-amino-4,6-lutidine N -oxide into a urethane. Two series of copper(II) complexes have been prepared and characterized by their infrared, electronic and ESR spectra along with other physicochemical methods. One series has the stoichiometry [Cu(UOH) 4 ](ClO 4 ) 2 and involves monodentate coordination via the N -oxide oxygen and the other series is prepared from copper(II) acetate and has the stoichiometry [Cu(UO) 2 ]. In this latter series coordination occurs via the N -oxide oxygen and the deprotonated amino function.
Effect of methylprednisolone on small vein responses to hemorrhage and norepinephrine.

To determine the effects of methylprednisolone (MPSS) on vascular smooth muscle (VSM) responses to adrenergic activation, transmembrane potentials (Em) of rat small mesenteric veins were measured in situ during severe hemorrhage and in vitro during exposure to norepinephrine. Pharmacological doses of MPSS prevented the Em changes associated with hemorrhage in nontreated rats and reduced the depolarization to norepinephrine in vitro. These results suggest that corticosteroids alter the electrophysiological responses of VSM to catecholamines.
The separation of DPN-linked and TPN-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase activities of mammalian liver

The mechanism of isocitrate oxidation by liver mitochondria has been studied by several investigators, in particular to determine whether substrate dehydrogenation occurs by way of the TPN-linked or the DPN-linked isocitrate dehydrogenases (for review see Plaut (1963)). Initial studies of DPN-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase from animal tissues demonstrated the activity in extracts of acetone powders of mitochondria from heart, pigeon breast muscle and kidney. The TPNand DPN-linked dehydrogenases were separated in the cases of heart, pigeon breast muscle (Plaut and Sung, 1954), and human placenta (Sung and Hsu, 1957). However, the reduction of DPN by isocitrate was very slow with preparations from liver mitochondria although relatively high activity for the corresponding TPN-linked enzyme was found. These experiments thus did not prove the occurrence of the DPN enzyme in liver. The finding that DPN-linked enzyme from heart is activated by ADP (Chen and Plaut, 1963) prompted reinvestigation of the levels of this enzyme in various tissues including liver (Goebell and Klingenberg, 1964; Stein et al., 1967). However, the measurement of the DPN enzyme at 340 rnp in the presence
Radical Uncertainty: Scenario Planning for Futures

The use of scenario planning in urban and regional planning practice has grown in the last decade as one way to face uncertainty. However, in adapting scenario planning from its origins in the business sector, planners have eliminated two key components: (1) the use of multiple scenarios, and (2) the inclusion of diverse organizations, people, and interests through deep deliberations. We argue that this shift limits the ability of planners to plan for multiple plausible futures that are shaped by an increasing number of diverse actors. In this paper, we use case-study research to examine how uncertainty was considered in four scenario-planning processes. We analyzed and compared the cases based on analytical categories related to multiple futures and diversity. We found that the processes that used multiple, structurally distinct scenarios explored a wider range of topics and issues shaping places. All four relied heavily on professional stakeholders as the scenario developers, limiting public input. Only...
Atropine, Diazepam, and Physostigmine: Thermoregulatory Effects in the Heat-Stressed Rat

Abstract We have previously reported that administration of atropine (A) to unrestrained, sedentary, heat-stressed rats resulted in a dose-dependent increase in heating rate (rate of rise of core temperature, °C/min). Additionally, we have demonstrated that the decrements in treadmill endurance and increments in heating rate of physostigmine (PH)-treated running rats can both be restored to control levels by pretreating the animals with A and diazepam (D). Our objective in the present work was to determine if the administration of D+PH to A-treated unrestrained, sedentary, heat-stressed rats (N=16/group, 510–530 g) could improve their thermal tolerance. The following drugs were administered singly (at 10 min intervals) via lateral tail vein: vehicle-control (C), A (200 ug/kg), D (500 ug/kg), and PH (200 ug/kg). After drug administration, the rats were heat-stressed (Tamb=41.5°C) until a core temperature of 42.6°C was attained when they were removed to a 26°C chamber. The heating rates (°C/min) and tolerance times (min) of the respective groups were: C−0.02, 235; A− 0.08, 58; A+D− 0.06, 94; and A+D+PH− 0.04, 143. Administration of D with A significantly decreased heating rate, and D+PH more than doubled the thermal tolerance of A-treated rats. Thus, the combination of A+D+PH not only restores PH-induced performance and thermoregulatory decrements of rats exercised in a moderate environment, but also reduces A-induced heat intolerance.
The role of echocardiography in transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Aortic stenosis is a common valve disease with increasing prevalence in the elderly. The presence of comorbidities in this population can make surgical aortic valve replacement challenging; therefore, transcatheter aortic valve implantation is increasingly being offered as a management option for these patients. Imaging with echocardiography has an important role through all aspects of the procedure from initial imaging and patient selection, guidance of the procedure and assessment of complications.
Risk Factor Analysis in a Contemporary Cystectomy Cohort Using Standardized Reporting Methodology and Adverse Event Criteria

Purpose: Adverse event reporting is poorly classified and nonstandardized in the urological literature. We report adverse event data and associated risk factors using standardized reporting methods and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3.0 to minimize interpretation bias and allow reliable comparisons with other populations.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive radical cystectomies done for urothelial bladder carcinoma at our institution between January 2004 and September 2006. Adverse events within 90 days postoperatively were recorded. We explored the association of important risk factors with the overall complication rate and specific complications.Results: A total of 283 patients were included in the study. Complete 90-day followup data were available on 90% of patients. Median age was 70 years (IQR 62–75). Median body mass index was 26.8 kg/m2 (IQR 24.4–31.0). At least 1 adverse event was observed in 152 patients (54.0%) and a grade 3–4 adverse event was...
Changes in the word associations of fourth- and fifth-grade children from 1916 to 1961

Three sets of word association norms collected from children in grades four and five were examined to determine the changes in word association responses of children over the time period from 1916 to 1961 and to determine the effects of oral and written presentation of the stimuli. The responses of 1000 children obtained by Woodrow and Lowell using oral presentation, of 1000 children obtained by the present authors using written presentation, and of 200 children obtained by the present authors using oral presentation formed the basis of the comparisons. Popular responses, diversity of responses, number of idiosyncratic responses, contrast responses and paradigmatic responses have increased over the time span from 1916 to 1961. Frequency of superordinate responses appears not to have changed over time but differences reported earlier by the present authors seem to be attributable to differences in method of administration. Oral presentation of stimuli results in a greater frequency of contrast responses and a reduction in frequency of superordinate responses. It was concluded that, among the variables associated with the time interval between 1916 and 1961, test-taking practice and increased linguistic sophistication of children has been primarily responsible for the changes in word associations observed.
On axisymmetric vibration of shallow spherical shells with fixed circular cutout

Abstract A general solution of the third-order partial differential equations of a thin isotropic shallow spherical shell with a fixed circular cutout subject to axisymmetric free vibration is presented in this paper. The frequency equation in terms of Bessel functions as well as modified Bessel functions is solved for the fundamental vibrational frequency and mode shape. Solutions for different size cutouts are obtained and compared to a corresponding finite element model. The relationship between the vibrational frequency and mode shape and the size of the fixed cutout is discussed.