cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A low-level control interface for robot manipulators

Abstract This paper will discuss a possible low-level control interface for a robot manipulator. The first section will present background information describing the capabilities and limitations afforded by the use of interfaces and a proposed system modularization that supports interface specification. The next section presents three possible low-level robot control interfaces within this system. Each will be elaborated on by a specification of the interface information and its use, timing considerations and potential limitations. The paper concludes with a summary discussion and recommendation.
Denitrosation of the Anti-Cancer Drug 1,3-Bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea Catalyzed by Microsomal Glutathione S-Transferase and Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases

Abstract The alkylating agent BCNU [1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea] can be inactivated through denitrosation reactions catalyzed by both cytosolic and microsomal enzymes. While previous studies have identified a class μ glutathione S-transferase [rat transferase 4-4 (Yb2)] as a major catalyst of the cytosolic denitrosation reaction, the enzymatic catalysts of BCNU denitrosation in microsomal membranes have not been identified. In the present study, both NADPH and glutathione (GSH) were found to support BCNU denitrosation catalyzed by isolated rat liver microsomes. Treatment of rats with the microsomal enzyme inducers phenobarbital and dexamethasone increased NADPH-depeadent liver microsomal BCNU denitrosation up to fivefold without major effect on the GSH-dependent denitrosation activity. Although the NADPH-dependent activity was fully inhibited by antibody to NADPH-P450 reductase, purified NADPH-P450 reductase catalyzed BCNU denitrosation at rates that could only account for ∼2-3% of the microsomal activity. Other experiments, including selective inhibition of NADPH-dependent microsomal BCNU denitrosation by chemical and antibody inhibitors of cytochrome P450, competitive inhibition of P450-catalyzed cyclophosphamide and ifosphamide activation by BCNU, and reconstitution of the denitrosation reaction by purified P450 enzyme 2B1 (major phenobarbital-inducible P450 form), established an important role for cytochrome P450 in BCNU denitrosation. By contrast, GSH-dependent microsomal BCNU denitrosation was unaffected by cytochrome P450 inhibitors, but was inhibited, with varying degrees of selectivity, by the microsomal glutathione S-transferase inhibitors ethacrynic acid, bromosulfophthalein, and indomethacin. These studies establish that BCNU inactivation can be catalyzed by two independent microsomal enzyme systems and suggest that therapeutically useful improvements in BCNU antitumor activity might be achieved through differential inhibition of these enzyme systems in tumor as compared to extratumoral sites.
CELL DIVISION IN THE DINOFLAGELLATE GAMBIERDISCUS TOXICUS IS PHASED TO THE DIURNAL CYCLE AND ACCOMPANIED BY ACTIVATION OF THE CELL CYCLE REGULATORY PROTEIN, CDC2 KINASE1

The cell division cycle in several pelagic dinoflagellate species has been shown to be phased with the diurnal cycle, suggesting that their cell cycle may be regulated by a circadian clock. In this study, we examined the cell cycle of an epibenthic dinoflagellate, Gambierdiscus toxicus Adachi and Fukuyo (Dinophyceae), and found that cell division was similarly phased to the diurnal cycle. Cell division occurred during a 3-h window beginning 6 h after the onset of the dark phase. Cell cycle progression in higher eukaryotes is regulated by a cell cycle regulatory protein complex consisting of cyclin and the cyclin-dependent kinase CDC2. In this report, we identified a CDC2-like kinase in G. toxicus that displays activity in vitro against a known substrate of CDC2 kinase, histone H1. As in higher eukaryotes, CDC2 kinase was expressed constitutively in G. toxicus throughout the cell cycle, but it was activated only late in the dark phase, concurrent with the presence of mitotic cells. These results indicate that cell division in G. toxicus is regulated by molecular controls similar to those found in higher eukaryotes.
The efficiency of preoperative evaluation: a comparison of computerized and paper recording systems

Objective. We designed and implemented a preoperative evaluation record system with seven networked computers for use by physicians and other medical staff. This study compared the efficiency of the new computerized system with that of the paper system.Methods. We reviewed data from preoperative evaluations completed from November 1990 through December 1992. Data were analyzed automatically (Borland C program) for two intervals: (1) the waiting period, defined as the time the patient entered the waiting room until he or she entered the examination room; and (2) the examination period, defined as the time the patient entered the examination room until an evaluation form was printed. Data were obtained for 2,511 evaluations on paper and 8,342 by computer.Results. The average waiting period with the paper system was 56.1 ± 44.8 min; the average waiting period with the computerized system was 59.1 ± 47.0 min. The average examination period was nearly identical for both systems: 27.5 ± 23.6 min for the paper system; 28.5 ± 22.7 min for the computerized system.Conclusion. The computerized system required no more examination time than the manual system. In addition, we speculate that time is saved at other points of patient care by the legible, instantly retrievable preoperative evaluations that the computerized system produces.
Acromial apophysitis in a 13-year-old adolescent boy: a common condition in an uncommon location

Objective Traction apophysitis is a common condition in physically active and skeletally immature adolescents. This case study describes the clinical presentation and plain film imaging of traction apophysitis of the acromion process of the scapula.
Interventions to decrease the risk of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases among high-risk heterosexual adolescents☆

Abstract Sexually transmitted diseases (STD's), including HIV/AIDS, have become a major health concern for American adolescents, and professionals need to be knowledgeable about the interventions available to help teenagers decrease their risk of contracting these diseases. This paper provides an overview of the development and implementation of two theoretically and empirically grounded interventions intended for heterosexually active adolescents at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other STDs. The interventions were developed using a process of feedback and revision that allowed for the tailoring of content to the specific target population. The steps in this process are reviewed and the specific content of each intervention is outlined. The interventions provide: basic information about HIV/AIDS and other STDs, information to counter negative beliefs about condom use, models that reinforce positive beliefs, examples of adolescents negotiating condom use with potential sexual partners, and a set of four skills steps for talking to partners about using condoms. The interventions are designed to be culturally sensitive, appropriate for both males and females, and relatively short and simple to administer so they can be delivered in a variety of settings. Preliminary data regarding the usefulness, accessibility, and acceptability of the interventions to the target population are reviewed.
Determination of the subunit stoichiometry of an inwardly rectifying potassium channel

Inwardly rectifying K+ channels are distantly related to their voltage-gated counterparts and possess a structural motif of only two putative transmembrane segments in each subunit. They are formed by the assembly of an unknown number of subunits. We have examined the subunit stoichiometry of a strongly rectifying K+ channel, IRK1, by linking together the coding sequence of three or four subunits and distinguishing channels with different numbers of subunits carrying a double mutation that alters inward rectification and single-channel properties. We find that IRK1 channels, like voltage-gated K+ channels, are tetrameric channels. Interestingly, the high sensitivity to Mg2+ and polyamines, cations that produce inward rectification by blocking the channel pore from the cytoplasmic side is largely retained in a channel containing only one wild-type subunit and three subunits bearing mutations that abolish high affinity Mg2+ and polyamine block.
‘Public Trust’ and Trust in Particular Firm–Stakeholder Interactions

Trust is a well-established facet of organizational life, and one that can have a profound effect upon the performance of business organizations. In this paper, we develop a theoretical model that accounts for different aspects of trust, differential stakeholder views of trust, and how these differences impact a stakeholder's trust in a particular business. In turn, we theorize about the connection between this particularized stakeholder trust and the trust one has in business as an institution, accounting for the role of institutional influences and societal accounts (ie, ‘narratives’) about business. We discuss implications of the model and directions for future research.
The acute stress checklist for children (ASC-Kids) : Development of a child self-report measure

This project aimed to develop and validate a brief, practical self-report measure of acute stress disorder (ASD) reactions (including ASD diagnostic criteria) in children and adolescents. A draft measure was reviewed for content validity by an expert panel, piloted with youth, and revised for clarity and coverage of key constructs. The new 29-item Acute Stress Checklist for Children (ASC-Kids) was administered to 176 youth age 8 to 17 who had a recent injury or intensive care unit admission. The ASC-Kids demonstrated strong test-retest reliability and internal consistency, as well as concurrent and predictive validity with other traumatic stress measures. Results of exploratory factor analyses were consistent with current conceptualizations of acute traumatic stress reactions. The ASC-Kids is a promising measure of child acute stress reactions.
Radium in the Treatment of Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa

Abstract This paper is based upon cases treated in the sections on Laryngology, Oral and Plastic Surgery and Ophthalmology in the Mayo Clinic. It includes a discussion of conditions likely to be benefited by radium with reports of illustrative cases.
Impaired function of circulating CD34(+) CD45(-) cells in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Abstract Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is a consequence of retinal ischemia due to capillary occlusion resulting from damage to the retinal microvascular endothelium. Recent evidence suggests that high levels of bone-marrow derived circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to the pathological neovascularization of ischemic tissues and are a critical risk factor for the development of these complications. In the absence of a consensus definition of a circulating EPC and its surface markers in humans we evaluated the functional properties of CD34+ CD45− endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Higher levels of circulating CD34+ CD45− cells were observed in patients with PDR compared to controls. However, ECFCs from patients with PDR were impaired in their ability to migrate towards SDF-1 and human serum, incorporate into and form vascular tubes with human retinal endothelial cells. The results from these pilot studies suggest that ECFCs from patients with PDR are mobilized into the circulation but may be unable to migrate and repair damaged capillary endothelium. This suggests that ECFCs may be a potential therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of diabetic vascular complications.
Voluntary wheel running enhances contextual but not trace fear conditioning

Exercise improves performance on a number of hippocampus involved cognitive tasks including contextual fear conditioning, but whether exercise enhances contextual fear when the retention interval is longer than 1 day is not known. Also unknown is whether exercise improves trace conditioning, a task that requires the hippocampus to bridge the time interval between stimuli. Hence, 4-month-old male C57BL/6J mice were housed with or without running wheels. To assess whether hippocampal neurogenesis was associated with behavioral outcomes, during the initial 10 days, mice received Bromodeoxyuridine to label dividing cells. After 30 days, one group of mice was trained in a contextual fear conditioning task. Freezing to context was assessed 1, 7, or 21 days post-training. A separate group was trained on a trace procedure, in which a tone and footshock were separated by a 15, 30, or 45s interval. Freezing to the tone was measured 24h later in a novel environment, and freezing to the training context was measured 48h later. Running enhanced freezing to context when the retention interval was 1, but not 7 or 21 days. Running had no effect on trace conditioning even though runners displayed enhanced freezing to the training context 48h later. Wheel running increased survival of new neurons in the hippocampus. Collectively, findings indicate that wheel running enhances cognitive performance on some tasks but not others and that enhanced neurogenesis is not always associated with improved performance on hippocampus tasks, one example of which is trace conditioning.
Interaction of the growth hormone receptor cytoplasmic domain with the JAK2 tyrosine kinase.

An early step in GH action involves tyrosine phosphorylation of various cellular proteins. Recently, it has been shown in murine preadipocytes that GH promotes the association of its receptor (the GHR) with and the activation of the JAK2 tyrosine kinase. In this study, we confirmed the human (h) GH-induced association of JAK2 with hGHR in IM-9 cells by coimmunoprecipitation experiments using anti-hGHR serum. We further examined the interaction of JAK2 with the GHR cytoplasmic domain by two lines of investigation. For in vitro studies, we assayed by immunoblotting the ability of cell-derived JAK2 to interact with glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins containing elements of the hGHR cytoplasmic domain. A fusion protein containing the entire hGHR cytoplasmic domain (residues 271-620) specifically associated with JAK2 independent of prior stimulation of cells with hGH. This interaction was not dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation of either partner. Mutational analysis of the hGHR cytoplasmic domain compo...
Characterization of multilayer thin film structures by differential reflection spectroscopy

Calculated and experimental differential reflectograms for silicon oxide/silicon nitride/silicon oxide (ONO) structures as utilized by the electronics industry for dielectric layers are shown. The pertinent equations for the simulations of multilayer structures are presented. Experiments and calculations are in good qualitative agreements. Moreover, the differential reflectance values for both experiment and simulation display a strong dependence on the film thickness. The quantitative agreement could be improved if the optical properties of the thin dielectric layers were better known.
Degradation of [14C]isofenphos in soil in the laboratory under different soil pH's, temperatures, and moistures.

Abstract The effects of three soil pH's, three soil temperatures, and three soil moistures on [14C]isofenphos degradation were Investigated. All three factors interacted strongly and significantly affected the persistence of Isofenphos as well as the formation of the degradation products (p 25° C> 15°C (except under alkaline pH's), medium moisture 25%> 30%> 15%, and in both alkaline (pH=8) and acidic soils (pH=6) compared with neutral soil (pH=7). Isofenphos oxon formation was greatest at higher temperatures 35°C compared with 25° C and 15° C, in acidic soil> neutral soil> alkaline soil, and under high moisture (30%) compared with the 15% and 22.5% moistures. The formation of soil‐bound residues was greatest at higher temperatures 35 C> 25 C> 15°C, higher moisture 30% compared with 15% and 22.5%, and in alkaline soil compared with neutral and acidic soils.
Interactions of Adhesion Materials and Annealing Environment on Resistance and Stability of MEMS Platinum Heaters and Temperature Sensors

We evaluate the microstructural and electrical stability of Pt thin films with Ti or Ta as the adhesion layer after furnace annealing and rapid thermal annealing up to 750 °C in three different environments. Test devices were made with 100 nm of Pt with a 10-nm adhesion layer. After annealing, the resistance anomalously increased for samples annealed in ultrahigh purity N2 (UHP, 99.999%), while the resistance decreased, as expected, for samples annealed in 99.95% N2 or air. The Ta/Pt film stack shows better microstructural and electrical stability compared with Ti/Pt. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data indicate that diffusion of the Ti and Ta adhesion layers through the Pt film occurs in samples annealed in UHP N2, which is responsible for the remarkable increase of resistance. For samples annealed in air, the oxidation of Ti/Ta suppresses the diffusion process and expected grain growth occurs in the Pt, thus decreasing the resistance. Furthermore, XPS elemental mapping and atomic force microscope imaging shed light on void formation/dewetting seen under certain conditions. [2014-0241]
Policing ‘Evil’: State-sponsored Witch-hunting in the People’s Republic of Bénin

During the 1970s and 1980s, the People’s Republic of Benin pursued a nationwide modernization project to hunt down and incarcerate the country’s population of witches. State actors came to stake the core of this project on the binary opposition between retrograde witches and modern revolutionaries. However, by licensing morally ambiguous cult leaders as state-authorized witch-hunters, state actors violated the neat oppositions of their political project’s modernist ideological framework and became part of the occult world they were attempting to eradicate. This article explores the use of witchcraft discourses and witch-hunting practices to organize massive, state-sponsored programs and to define national imaginaries of progress. By examining the practices, institutions, and structures that emerged from such deployments, this article demonstrates the potentiality of witchcraft to operate as a central component of large-scale political mobilizations in the name of modernity.
Classroom acoustics for vocal health of elementary school teachers

School teachers have an elevated risk of voice problems due to vocal demands in the workplace. ANSI SI2.60-2002 provides a standard for classroom acoustics, but it focuses primarily on students and unoccupied classroom settings. This presentation explores a preliminary study of six elementary school teachers that included measurements of architectural acoustics parameters and noise-levels of their classrooms, as well as their speech levels and fundamental frequencies over the course of a school day. The measurement methods and speech trends are discussed for the various cases, demonstrating that classroom acoustics standards may benefit from greater attention to teacher vocal health.
COMPARISON OF OPTICALLY INDUCED LOCALIZED STATES IN CHALCOGENIDE GLASSES AND THEIR CRYSTALLINE COUNTERPARTS

The below-gap peaks observed in the PLE spectra for deep PL bands in the minerals orpiment and realgar are attributed to strong impurity absorption bands, possibly associated with the high concentrations of 3d transition metals (e.g. Mn and Fe) detected by ESR. It is suggested that the weak below-gap tails in the PLE spectra of chalcogenide glasses and synthetic arsenic chalcogenide crystals have the same origin, but that impurity concentrations are much lower in these materials. Optically induced ESR spectra observed in crystalline arsenic chalcogenides are ascribed to paramagnetic Cu2+ ions rather than to the optically induced paramagnetic intrinsic defects associated with major constituent atoms as observed in chalcogenide glasses.
Brain stem necrosis after preradiation high-dose methotrexate.

Both cranial radiation therapy (RT) and high-dose systemic methotrexate (MTX) are used to treat intracranial neoplasms, but both may cause neurologic damage. MTX may be less neurotoxic if given before rather than after radiotherapy. We cared for a 5-year-old girl with a pineocytoma who had progressive brain stem dysfunction 4 months after MTX therapy, followed by local radiation therapy. CT studies were consistent with radiation necrosis that was confirmed at autopsy. MTX used in conjunction with cranial irradiation can result in severe neurotoxicity, even if the drug is given first.
MR imaging of knee hyaline cartilage: Evaluation of two- and three-dimensional sequences

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of cadaveric knees was performed to determine optimal sequences for visualization of hyaline cartilage. Full-thickness cartilage lesions ranging in diameter from 1 to 5 mm and a partial-thickness cartilage lesion 15 mm in diameter were created in the femoral articular surfaces of three cadaveric knees. The knees were then imaged with a 1.5-T imager with various two-dimensional and high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) techniques. After imaging, the knee specimens were sectioned for evaluation. Measurements of cartilage thickness in fast spin-echo images correlated best with those in the gross specimen. Diffuse areas of cartilage thinning were also most accurately identified with fast spin-echo images. Small, focal cartilage defects were best delineated in 3D SPGR (spoiled GRASS [gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state]) images.
Emotional modulation of skin conductance and eyeblink responses to a startle probe

In this study, I examined emotional modulation of the eyeblink, skin conductance, and cardiac responses to an acoustic startle (103 dB[A] white noise) probe. Twenty-five female and 17 male undergraduates imagined pleasant, neutral, and fearful situations in a tone-cured imagery procedure. Both the eyeblink and skin conductance responses to startle probes were potentiated (larger magnitude, shorter latency) during fear as compared with neutral and pleasant imagery. The amount of emotional modulation in these two response systems was significantly correlated both between and within subjects. The startle probe interrupted ongoing cardiac deceleration during the imagery task, but but this interruption was not related to the emotional content of imagery.
A hybrid regularization method for inverse heat conduction problems

This paper presents a hybrid regularization method for solving inverse heat conduction problems. The method uses future temperatures and past fluxes to reduce the sensitivity to temperature noise. A straightforward comparison technique is suggested to find the optimal number of the future temperatures. Also, an eigenvalue reduction technique is used to further improve the accuracy of the inverse solution. The method provides a physical insight into the inverse problems under study. The insight indicates that the inverse algorithm is a general purpose algorithm and applicable to various numerical methods (although our development was based on FEM), and that the inverse solutions can be obtained by directly extending Stolz's equation in the least-squares error (LSE) sense. Direct extension of the present method to the inverse internal heat generation problems is made. Four numerical examples are given to validate the method. The effects of the future temperatures, the past fluxes, the eigenvalue reduction, the varying number of future temperatures and local iterations for non-linear problems are studied. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Emulsion Design to Improve the Delivery of Functional Lipophilic Components

The food industry has used emulsion science and technology for many years to create a diverse range of food products, such as milk, cream, soft drinks, nutritional beverages, dressings, mayonnaise, sauces, dips, deserts, ice cream, margarine, and butter. The majority of these food products are conventional oil-in-water (O/W) or water-in-oil (W/O) type emulsions. Recently, there has been increasing interest within the food industry in either improving or extending the functional performance of foods using novel structured emulsions. This article reviews recent developments in the creation of structured emulsions that could be used by the food and other industries, including nanoemulsions, multiple emulsions, multilayer emulsions, solid lipid particles, and filled hydrogel particles. These structured emulsions can be produced from food-grade [generally recognized as safe (GRAS)] ingredients (e.g., lipids, proteins, polysaccharides, surfactants, and minerals), using simple processing operations (e.g., mixing, homogenizing, and thermal processing). The structure, production, performance, and potential applications of each type of structured emulsion system are discussed.
The Hopes and Dreams of Honduran Women Regarding Their Daughters' Sexuality:

In Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras, 22 local women participated in two focus groups. This article was written to give voice to these native Honduran women's unique perspective on their sexuality. We used a phenomenological qualitative approach, and asked them what sexual advice mothers have for their daughters. Data gathering and analysis were conducted using the principles of consensual qualitative research. These sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. Primary themes include the participants' cultural understanding of respect, women's control of sexual discourse, the role of mothers as protectors, and women's sexual power, attachment, and desire.
Spatial analysis of the etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among 1991 Gulf War veterans

Background: Veterans of the 1991 Gulf War have an increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the etiology is unknown. Objectives: This study sought to identify geographic areas with elevated risk for the later development of ALS among military personnel who served in the first Gulf War. Methods: A unified geographic information system (GIS) was constructed to allow analysis of secondary data on troop movements in the 1991 Gulf War theatre in the Persian Gulf region including Iraq, northern Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. We fit Bayesian Poisson regression models to adjust for potential risk factors, including one relatively discrete environmental exposure, and to identify areas associated with elevated risk of ALS. Results: We found that service in particular locations of the Gulf was associated with an elevated risk for later developing ALS, both before and after adjustment for branch of service and potential of exposure to chemical warfare agents in and around Khamisiyah, Iraq. Conclusions: Specific geographic locations of troop units within the 1991 Gulf War theatre are associated with an increased risk for the subsequent development of ALS among members of those units. The identified spatial locations represent the logical starting points in the search for potential etiologic factors of ALS among Gulf War veterans. Of note, for locations where the relative odds of subsequently developing ALS are among the highest, specific risk factors, whether environmental or occupationally related, have not been identified. The results of spatial models can be used to subsequently look for risk factors that follow the spatial pattern of elevated risk.
Letter to the Editor-Educational Planning in Developing Countries-A Possible Role for Operations Research

This letter suggests education in developing nations for possible applications of operations research and allied methods.
Vegetative communities as indicators of ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) diversity

Accurately measuring biodiversity is essential for successful conservation planning. Due to biodiversity’s complexity, specific taxa are often chosen as indicators of patterns of diversity as a whole. Such taxa can include vegetation which can inform conservation decisions by demarcating land units for management strategies. For land units to be useful, they must be accurate spatial representations of the species assemblages present on the landscape. In this study, we determined whether land units classified by vegetative communities predicted the community structure of a diverse group of invertebrates—the ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Specifically, that (1) land units of the same classification contained similar carabid species assemblages and that (2) differences in species structure were correlated with variation in land unit characteristics, including canopy and ground cover, vegetation structure, tree density, leaf litter depth, and soil moisture. The study site, the Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve in Will County, Illinois is a mosaic of differing land units. Carabid beetles were sampled continuously with pitfall trapping for 1 year (excluding winter) from September 2011 to November 2011 and from March 2012 to September 2012. Land unit characteristics were measured in July 2012. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordinated the land units by their carabid species assemblages into five ecologically meaningful clusters: disturbed, marsh, prairie, restoration, and savanna. The subset of land unit characteristics with the highest rank correlation with the NMDS ordination included soil moisture, leaf litter depth, percentage of canopy cover, and percentage of grass ground cover. Land units classified by vegetative communities effectively represented carabid species assemblages.
Inhibitory Activity of Acid and Rennet Whey on Propionibacteria

Abstract Milk serum and cheese whey sterilized by filtration inhibited 22 of 56 strains of propionibacteria comprising eight species. The darkly pigmented Propionibacterium rubrum and Propionibacterium thoenii strains were unaffected by the whey filtrates. A susceptible Propionibacterium shermanii was selected for further testing. Boiling whey for ten minutes or pasteurizing milk at 82C for 16 seconds eliminated the inhibitory activity. The antibacterial substance(s) appeared to be nondialyzable and labile to treatment with Pronase, a proteolytic enzyme capable of cleaving a wide variety of proteins and peptides. The inhibitory principle(s) also was found in skimmilk obtained either by warm or cold separation. The principle(s) in whey active against propionibacteria appeared to differ from other natural inhibitors reported in milk, primarily in its ability to suppress the growth of catalase-positive organisms, and in its insensitivity to sulfhydryl compounds in the culture medium. Because of the wide ranging inhibitory activity of milk whey against several individual strains and species of propionibacteria, this phenomenon could have a direct bearing on flavor and eye development in Swiss cheese, especially where natural propionibacteria in milk is relied upon to effect these changes in the maturing cheese.
K-500 Superconducting Cyclotron Deflector High Voltage Tests

We report measurements of electrical properties of a compact electrostatic deflector and high voltage transmission line for the K-500 cyclotron. The voltage limits, sparking rates, dark current levels and the effects of conditioning are observed. The system supports the maximum required voltage and fits within the space available at the mid-plane of the superconducting magnet. Both stainless steel and titanium are suitable anode materials. A surge-limiting resistance between power supply and deflector greatly reduces spark damage to the anode surface.
A Simplified Method for Measurement of Lactic Acid and Sulfur Dioxide in Corn Wet Milling Steep Water

A rapid HPLC method for measurement of lactic acid in corn wet milling steep water was developed. This technique is also suitable for simultaneous analysis of sulfur dioxide (sulfurous acid). Lactic acid and sulfur dioxide were analyzed using a Shodex Ionpak KC-811 HPLC column with a Waters 410 refractive index detector within 11 min. In preparing steep water for laboratory batch steeps, lactic acid from 85% syrup must be diluted to 10% (w/w) and heated at 95°C for 24 h to obtain free lactic acid. Steep water solubles, developed as steep time increases, did not interfere with the analysis. Duplicated injections (64) of steep water gave an average coefficient of variation of less than 4% between duplicates for both lactic acid and sulfur dioxide. Coefficients of variation for pure sulfur dioxide and lactic acid solutions were less (2.2% and 0.2%, respectively). This HPLC method is rapid, precise, and suitable for automation.
Complete genome sequence of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale strain ORT-UMN 88

Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale strain ORT-UMN 88 is a Gram-negative, pleomorphic, rod-shaped bacterium and an etiologic agent of pneumonia and airsacculitis in poultry. It is a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes. O. rhinotracheale strain ORT-UMN 88 was isolated from the pneumonic lung of a turkey in 1995. It was the isolate first used to experimentally reproduce disease in turkeys and has since been the focus of investigations characterizing potential virulence factors of the bacterium. The genome of O. rhinotracheale strain ORT-UMN 88 consists of a circular chromosome of 2,397,867 bp with a total of 2300 protein-coding genes, nine RNA genes, and one noncoding RNA gene. A companion paper in this issue of SIGS reports the non-contiguous finished genome sequence of an additional strain of O. rhinotracheale, isolated in 2006.
The relationship between medical malpractice litigation and parent reports of patient function following neonatal brachial plexus palsy.

Background: The increasing use of patient-reported outcome measures in clinical research and care across all medical disciplines requires an understanding of the nonclinical variables that affect these measures. Participation in medical malpractice litigation, as is common following neonatal brachial plexus palsy, may be an important confounder of parent or patient-reported outcomes. Methods: This multicenter, case-control study includes patients two to eighteen years of age with neonatal brachial plexus palsy seen at three tertiary brachial plexus centers from January 1990 to December 2011. Public court records were searched for litigation details. Families with and without medical malpractice litigation were matched on age and injury severity (by Raimondi scale and Mallet classification). Parent or patient-reported outcomes, measured by the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument, were compared between litigation and non-litigation cohorts. Results: Of 334 patients from eighteen states, seventy-five (22%) were plaintiffs in medical malpractice lawsuits. When matched on patient age and injury severity, parents reported their children to have worse mobility (p = 0.04), sports or physical function (p = 0.003), and global function (p = 0.02) in the litigation cohort compared with the non-litigation cohort. Parents in active lawsuits reported their children to have greater pain (p = 0.046) compared with children of parents in closed lawsuits, when controlling for patient age and injury severity. Outcomes scores simultaneously obtained from patients and parents differed in the litigation cohort, with parents reporting their children to have worse upper-extremity function (p = 0.03) and global function (p = 0.008) than their children reported. Conclusions: Litigation is associated with worse parent reports of children’s function and pain following neonatal brachial plexus palsy, independent of age, injury severity, and the patients’ own report of their function. Litigation status should be considered a confounding variable in the use of parent-reported outcomes in neonatal brachial plexus palsy research. Parents involved in litigation may benefit from additional support.
Fusion with E2A converts the Pbx1 homeodomain protein into a constitutive transcriptional activator in human leukemias carrying the t(1;19) translocation

E2A-PBX1 is a chimeric gene formed by the t(1;19)(q23;p13.3) chromosomal translocation of pediatric pre-B-cell leukemia. The E2A-Pbx1 fusion protein contains sequences encoding the transactivation domain of E2A joined to a majority of the Pbx1 protein, which contains a novel homeodomain. Earlier, we found that expression of E2A-Pbx1 causes malignant transformation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and induces myeloid leukemia in mice. Here we demonstrate that the homeodomains encoded by PBX1, as well as by the highly related PBX2 and PBX3 genes, bind the DNA sequence ATCAATCAA. E2A-Pbx1 strongly activates transcription in vivo through this motif, while Pbx1 does not. This finding suggests that E2A-Pbx1 transforms cells by constitutively activating transcription of genes regulated by Pbx1 or by other members of the Pbx protein family.
A Developmental Perspective on Adolescent Health and Illness: An Introduction to the Special Issues

manuscripts that focused on adolescents with chronic physical conditions as well as those that focused on adolescent health-related behaviors (e.g., smoking, substance use, sexual risk-taking). In response to the call, 27 papers were submitted across both of these areas. This issue of the journal includes six articles focusing on adolescents with chronic illnesses and physical conditions and the next issue includes six articles that focus on adolescent health behaviors. This is an introduction to both issues.
Beneficial insects associated with stinging nettle, Urtica dioica Linnaeus, in central Washington State

Abstract. Beneficial insects (predators, parasitoids, pollinators) associated with stinging nettles, Urtica dioica Linnaeus (Urticaceae), were sampled at three sites in central Washington during spring-summer 2011–2013 using transparent sticky traps attached to upper portions of plants. Large numbers (200–400/trap) of beneficial insects were trapped particularly in June and early July, gradually decreasing thereafter. Phytophagous insects (aphids and leafhoppers) were trapped in much lower numbers ( 95% of predatory bugs, peaking in abundance in June or July. Predacious flies were dominated by species of Empididae and Dolichopodidae. Native ...
Theory of activated glassy relaxation, mobility gradients, surface diffusion, and vitrification in free standing thin films

We have constructed a quantitative, force level, statistical mechanical theory for how confinement in free standing thin films introduces a spatial mobility gradient of the alpha relaxation time as a function of temperature, film thickness, and location in the film. The crucial idea is that relaxation speeds up due to the reduction of both near-surface barriers associated with the loss of neighbors in the local cage and the spatial cutoff and dynamical softening near the vapor interface of the spatially longer range collective elasticity cost for large amplitude hopping. These two effects are fundamentally coupled. Quantitative predictions are made for how an apparent glass temperature depends on the film thickness and experimental probe technique, the emergence of a two-step decay and mobile layers in time domain measurements, signatures of confinement in frequency-domain dielectric loss experiments, the dependence of film-averaged relaxation times and dynamic fragility on temperature and film thickness, surface diffusion, and the relationship between kinetic experiments and pseudo-thermodynamic measurements such as ellipsometry.
Biomechanical Effects of a Horizontal Medial Meniscal Tear and Subsequent Leaflet Resection

Background:Horizontal, degenerative tears of the medial meniscus and subsequent meniscectomy can compromise the biomechanical function of the meniscus in load transmission and weightbearing, leading to the development of radiographic and symptomatic tibiofemoral arthritis.Hypothesis:Resection of both leaflets of a horizontal medial meniscal tear will increase peak contact pressures and decrease contact areas in comparison with resection of only the inferior leaflet.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:Twelve fresh-frozen human cadaveric knees had tibiofemoral peak contact pressures and contact areas under an 1800-N axial load measured by Tekscan in the control state. A horizontal tear was created in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, and the knees were retested. The knees were tested a third time after resection of the inferior leaflet (single leaflet) and a final time after resection of the superior leaflet (both leaflets). The Friedman test was used to test for group differences in p...
Comfort Care vs Palliative Care: Is There a Difference in Neonates?

The integration of palliative care principles in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) remains challenging. This article describes different models of providing neonatal palliative care and explores management of pain and other symptoms, end-of-life care, prenatal palliative care, discharges to hospice, communication strategies, and care of the medically complex infant as key areas where palliative care can help decrease pain and improve quality of life for the NICU population with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Review: feed withdrawal and non feed withdrawal moult

Moulting is a natural phenomenon in birds. Temperature variation and photoperiodic changes induce circadian and circannual rhythms, manifested by changes in the neural and endocrine systems, ultima...
Effect of morphology of ZnO nanowire arrays on interfacial shear strength in carbon fiber composites

ZnO nanowire arrays have been grown on carbon fiber to enhance the interface strength of a polymer matrix composite without degrading the base fiber and in-plane strength of the composite. The morphology of the nanowire array is controlled during growth to create nanowires with different aspect ratios to elucidate the structure-property relations of the interphase. Nanowires are shown to double the composite interfacial shear strength at an intermediate nanowire length, indicating that an optimal point exists and the interface can be engineered to maximize the interfacial enhancement. Furthermore, the observed effect of the morphology on interface strength indicates that the bond between the ZnO nanowire array and the carbon fiber is quite strong, more than twice as strong as the interaction between the matrix and control fiber.
Faculty Consulting Practices

Deals with a study on the consulting practices of Academy of Management faculty members in 1959. Attitudes of administrators toward faculty consulting; Pricing of faculty consulting; Overview of co...
Technical Services Report: Re-purposing Authority Data in Preparation for RDA. A Report of the ALCTS/LITA Authority Control Interest Group Program, American Library Association Annual Conference, Anaheim, June 2012

Janis Young, Library of Congress Policy and Standards Division (PSD), gave a report on PSD's activities; Gary Strawn, Authorities Librarian, Northwestern University Libraries, discussed his work co...
Macromolecule and Particle Dynamics in Confined Media

Dynamic properties play an important role in designing functional polymer nanocomposites, impacting molecular transport and phase separation kinetics. When nanoparticle (NP) size is comparable to polymer chain size, segmental relaxations may be influenced by changes in chain conformations and packing at the polymer/NP interface. Following the reptation model, these changes can perturb the longest relaxation time, in particular, the center-of-mass (COM) dynamics of polymer chains in entangled melts. This Perspective focuses on unsolved issues in polymer COM diffusion and local dynamics and segmental motions in the presence of NPs. The article introduces the effect of NP size, shape, surface modification, and enthalpic interactions on polymer diffusion and further relates dynamic studies in PNCs to macromolecular transport in bio-related systems and nanopores. Studies of local dynamics also provide insights into how entanglement density, monomeric friction, and chain conformation are influenced by NPs and h...
Current and Future Trends in Marketing and Their Implications for the Discipline

This essay offers views on some current and future trends in marketing. The content is based on recent literature and on what is happening in the business world. Four major topics are described: globalization, technology, personalization, and integration. How these forces are influencing three areas in marketing, marketing management, marketing research, and marketing theory, is discussed. A major argument is that the effects of globalization, technology, and personalization are not independent, but that they interact to influence the way marketing will be practiced and taught in coming decades. The essay concludes that the impacts of these changes increase the speed and scope of marketing decision making as well as the amount of information used. It argues that academic marketers should incorporate knowledge of these trends into their teaching and research.
Improved iris segmentation based on local texture statistics

High performance human identification using iris biometrics requires the development of automated algorithms for robust segmentation of the iris region given an ocular image. Many studies have shown that iris segmentation is one of the most crucial element of iris recognition systems. While many iris segmentation techniques have been proposed, most of these methods try to leverage gradient information in the ocular images to segment the iris, rendering them unsuitable for scenarios with very poor quality images. In this paper, we present an iris segmentation algorithm, which unlike the traditional edge-based approaches, is based on the local statistics of the texture region in the iris and as such is more suited for segmenting poor quality iris images. Our segmentation algorithm builds upon and adapts the seminal work on Active Contours without Edges [6] for iris segmentation. We demonstrate the performance of our algorithm on the ICE [2] and FOCS [1] databases.
Re)evaluating the Implications of the Autoregressive Latent Trajectory Model Through Likelihood Ratio Tests of Its Initial Conditions.

ABSTRACTThe autoregressive latent trajectory (ALT) model synthesizes the autoregressive model and the latent growth curve model. The ALT model is flexible enough to produce a variety of discrepant model-implied change trajectories. While some researchers consider this a virtue, others have cautioned that this may confound interpretations of the model's parameters. In this article, we show that some—but not all—of these interpretational difficulties may be clarified mathematically and tested explicitly via likelihood ratio tests (LRTs) imposed on the initial conditions of the model. We show analytically the nested relations among three variants of the ALT model and the constraints needed to establish equivalences. A Monte Carlo simulation study indicated that LRTs, particularly when used in combination with information criterion measures, can allow researchers to test targeted hypotheses about the functional forms of the change process under study. We further demonstrate when and how such tests may justifi...