cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased Rate of Enzymatic Proteolysis of Thyroid Iodoprotein Prefrozen in a Methimazole Solution

Thyroid iodoprotein frozen in a solution of methimazole (MMI) was more readily hydrolyzed by a dilute solution of pancreatin after subsequent thawing than when frozen in the absence of MMI. This phenomenon was observed in labeled iodoprotein from intact iodine-replete rats and intact and hypophysectomized iodine-deficient rats. Addition of MMI without freezing did not alter the rate of proteolysis. Concentrations of MMI of 0.005M or less were ineffective. An increased rate of proteolysis in the MMI-prefrozen iodoprotein was not due to release of cofactors or proteolytic enzymes from the frozen tissue. Mercaptoethanol, an agent known to disrupt disulfide bonds, increased the rate of proteolysis of iodoprotein when added to the solution at room temperature. There was no potentiation of the mercaptoethanol effect by freezing, nor was there an additive effect on the rate of proteolysis by combining mercaptoethanol pretreatment and freezing in MMI There was a decrease of approximately 25% in the yield of label...
UBE2T Is the E2 in the Fanconi Anemia Pathway and Undergoes Negative Autoregulation

The Fanconi anemia pathway is required for the efficient repair of damaged DNA. A key step in this pathway is the monoubiquitination of the FANCD2 protein by the ubiquitin ligase (E3) composed of Fanconi anemia core complex proteins. Here, we show that UBE2T is the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) essential for this pathway. UBE2T binds to FANCL, the ubiquitin ligase subunit of the Fanconi anemia core complex, and is required for the monoubiquitination of FANCD2 in vivo. DNA damage in UBE2T-depleted cells leads to the formation of abnormal chromosomes that are a hallmark of Fanconi anemia. In addition, we show that UBE2T undergoes automonoubiquitination in vivo. This monoubiquitination is stimulated by the presence of the FANCL protein and inactivates UBE2T. Therefore, UBE2T is the E2 in the Fanconi anemia pathway and has a self-inactivation mechanism that could be important for negative regulation of the Fanconi anemia pathway.
SU-F-500-02: Early Prediction of Brain Metastases Response to Radiation Therapy by Combination of Changes in Tumor Vascular and Cellularity Properties

Purpose: To investigate the impact of combining image‐based measurements related to alterations of vascular and cellularity properties of brain metastases for early prediction of tumor response to radiation therapy (RT). Methods: 24 patients undergoing treatment for metastases had perfusion (DCE) and diffusion MRI scans. Tumor subvolumes with high regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and high Gd‐DTAP transfer constant (Ktrans) were extracted. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histograms of the tumor volume were categorized into low, normal and high ADC subvolumes. Changes in different tumor subvolumes and their combination from pre‐RT to week 2 after start of radiation were evaluated in differentiation of responsive, stable and progressive tumors for patients treated by either whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT, 28 lesions) alone or combined with Bortezomib as a radiation sensitizer (39 lesions). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis compared a combined perfusion/diffusion prediction model with changes in gross tumor volume (GTV) within the same time interval. Results: For lesions treated with WBRT alone, a decrease in both high cellularity and edema subvolumes were associated with response. A decrease in the tumor subvolumes with high cellularity and vascularity was associated with response in lesions treated with RT combined with Bortezomib. In ROC analysis, areas under curve (AUCs) of 0.96 (WBRT alone) and 0.96 (WBRT + Bortezomib) were seen in prediction of non‐responsive lesions when changes in different subvolumes were combined. Also, GTV changes could predict the non‐responsive lesions treated with WBRT alone (AUC = 0.91) but failed to predict the response in lesions treated with WBRT combined with Bortezomib (AUC = 0.57). Conclusion: Combining the changes in tumor cellularity and vascularity could be used for early prediction of brain metastases response to RT and perform better than the GTV changes, suggesting that physiological changes could occur earlier than the morphological changes. (Support: NIH RO1NS064973) NIH grant ROl NS064973
Rigorous Methodology for the Design and Upgrade of Sensor Networks Using Cutsets

Traditional sensor network design for data-reconciliation-based monitoring systems consists of optimally placing sensors to satisfy predefined precision goals as well as residual precision and gross error robustness constraints to achieve minimum sensor network cost. One existing formulation of the cost optimal sensor network design is mixed integer nonlinear [Bagajewicz, M. AlChE J. 1997, 9, 2300.] which is solved using a tree search algorithm with some bounding properties. Although the tree search method guarantees global optimality, it fails to perform computationally well for medium size problems and fails altogether in large ones. Similar problems are found when using a MILP formulation [Bagajewicz, M.; Cabrera, E. AIChE J. 2001, 48, 2271.]. Other MINLP convex formulations [Chmielewski, D.; et al. Cost Optimal Retrofit of Sensor Networks with Loss Estimation Accuracy. Presented at the AIChE Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX, November, 1999. Chmielewski, D.; et al. AIChE J. 2002, 48, 1001.] have not been tested in large problems. Thus, the field has resorted to the use of genetic algorithms [Sen, S.; et al. Comput. Chem. Eng. 1998, 22, 385. Carnero, M.; et al. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2001, 40, 5578. Carnero, M.; et al. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2005, 44, 358.]. In this paper, we present an alternative sensor network design algorithm based on graph theory that guarantees global optimality and is faster than the existing tree searching approaches. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm, which is good for medium size problems, is illustrated.
Rhapidosomes: 2'-O-Methylated Ribonucleoproteins

Methylation of the RNA component from seven flexibacterial rhapidosomes varied in extent, distribution along the RNA chain, and distribution between nucleotides. Flexibacterial soluble and ribosomal RNA had normal (low) methylation.
Collective dipole oscillations in small sodium clusters

Photoabsorption cross sections of small neutral sodium clusters composed of N=2--40 sodium atoms are measured by longitudinal--beam-depletion spectroscopy at several wavelengths of visible light. Absorption occurs via coupling of photons to collective oscillations of the valence electrons. The cross section is strongly size and wavelength dependent. Good agreement is found with predictions based on an extended Clemenger-Nilsson shell model and the experimental static polarizabilities.
Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) Conjugation Impedes Transcriptional Silencing by the Polycomb Group Repressor Sex Comb on Midleg

The Drosophila protein Sex Comb on Midleg (Scm) is a member of the Polycomb group (PcG), a set of transcriptional repressors that maintain silencing of homeotic genes during development. Recent findings have identified PcG proteins both as targets for modification by the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) protein and as catalytic components of the SUMO conjugation pathway. We have found that the SUMO-conjugating enzyme Ubc9 binds to Scm and that this interaction, which requires the Scm C-terminal sterile α motif (SAM) domain, is crucial for the efficient sumoylation of Scm. Scm is associated with the major Polycomb response element (PRE) of the homeotic gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx), and efficient PRE recruitment requires an intact Scm SAM domain. Global reduction of sumoylation augments binding of Scm to the PRE. This is likely to be a direct effect of Scm sumoylation because mutations in the SUMO acceptor sites in Scm enhance its recruitment to the PRE, whereas translational fusion of SUMO to the Scm N terminus interferes with this recruitment. In the metathorax, Ubx expression promotes haltere formation and suppresses wing development. When SUMO levels are reduced, we observe decreased expression of Ubx and partial haltere-to-wing transformation phenotypes. These observations suggest that SUMO negatively regulates Scm function by impeding its recruitment to the Ubx major PRE.
Maternal age at first birth and adolescent education in Brazil.

BACKGROUND Brazil has witnessed dramatic changes in its fertility patterns in recent decades. The decline to below-replacement fertility has been accompanied by increases in the proportion of children born to young mothers. Yet we know little about the well-being of children born to young mothers in Brazil. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS Using data from the 2006 Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saude and a quasi-natural experimental approach, this study examines the implications of maternal age at first birth for the education of Brazilian adolescents. RESULTS We find that being born to a young mother is associated with educational disadvantages in adolescence, but that these disadvantages are attenuated once we account for mothers' selection into early childbearing. We also find that, in southern Brazil, adolescents born to young mothers have poorer educational outcomes compared with their peers born to older mothers, but that in northern Brazil no such disparities exist. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent educational disadvantages associated with being born to a young mother are not an artifact of selectivity, at least in southern Brazil. Regional variation in the effect of maternal age at first birth on adolescent education suggests the important role of the extended family and the father's presence as mechanisms through which disadvantages operate.
Enabling content-based publish/subscribe services in cooperative P2P networks

P2P is a popular networking paradigm in today's internet. As such, many research and development efforts are geared toward services that can be useful to the users of P2P networks. This paper is focused on the content-based publish/subscribe service and our problem is to devise an efficient mechanism that enables this service in any given P2P network of cooperative nodes. Most techniques require some overlay structure added on top of the network. We propose an efficient solution called PUB-2-SUB which works with any unstructured network topology. In addition, multiple independent publish/subscribe applications can run simultaneously on a single instance of PUB-2-SUB. The proposed technique is based on two key components: the virtualization component and the indexing component. The virtualization component assigns to each node a unique binary string virtual address and, accordingly, a unique zone partitioned from the universe of binary strings. The indexing component hashes queries and publications to binary strings and, based on their overlapping with the node zones, chooses subscription and notification paths appropriately and deterministically. PUB-2-SUB works best for P2P-based cooperative networks such as data grid networks and institutional collaborative networks. Our theoretical findings are complemented by a simulation-based evaluation.
Examining the Effects of Intrauterine and Postnatal Exposure to Tobacco Smoke on Childhood Cognitive and Behavioral Development

(2011). Examining the Effects of Intrauterine and Postnatal Exposure to Tobacco Smoke on Childhood Cognitive and Behavioral Development. International Journal of Mental Health: Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 39-64.
Similarity in calcium channel activity of annexin V and matrix vesicles in planar lipid bilayers

Matrix vesicles (MVs), structures that accumulate Ca2+ during the initiation of mineral formation in growing bone, are rich in annexin V. When MVs are fused with planar phospholipid bilayers, a multiconductance Ca2+ channel is formed, with activity essentially identical to that observed when annexin V is delivered to the bilayer with phosphatidylserine liposomes. Ca2+ currents through this channel, from either MV or annexin V liposomes, are blocked by Zn2+, as is Ca2+ uptake by MV incubated in synthetic cartilage lymph. Blockage by Zn2+ was most effective when applied to the side containing the MV or liposomes. ATP and GTP differentially modulated the activity of this channel: ATP increased the amplitude of the current and the number of conductance states; GTP dramatically reduced the number of events and conductance states, leading to well-defined Ca2+ channel activity from either MV or the annexin V liposomes. In the distinctive effects of ATP, GTP, and Zn2+ on the Ca2+ channel activity observed in both the MV and the liposome systems, the common factor was the presence of annexin V. From this we conclude that Ca2+ entry into MV results from the presence of annexin V in these membrane-enclosed structures.
Using an Evaluation Hotline to Promote Stakeholder Involvement

This article addresses the design and application of a hotline to promote broader community-wide participation in a public school evaluation. Evaluations of community resources such as public schools present evaluators with challenges from the perspective of promoting stakeholder involvement. Although many evaluation stakeholders are readily identifiable, there are potentially many unknown and hard-to-reach community leaders and residents who may want to participate in the evaluation. An evaluation hotline offers a mechanism for potentially identifying and reaching some of these interested community stakeholders and enabling their participation. This article introduces an evaluation hotline design and implementation, along with perceived hotline strengths and weaknesses observed in its use.
Bcl-XL and Calyculin A Prevent Translocation of Bax to Mitochondria during Apoptosis

Abstract During many forms of apoptosis, Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein of the Bcl-2 family, translocates from the cytosol to the mitochondria and induces cytochrome c release, followed by caspase activation and DNA degradation. Both Bcl-X L and the protein phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A have been shown to prevent apoptosis, and here we investigated their impact on Bax translocation. ML-1 cells incubated with either anisomycin or staurosporine exhibited Bax translocation, cytochrome c release, caspase 8 activation, and Bid cleavage; only the latter two events were caspase-dependent, confirming that they are consequences in this apoptotic pathway. Both Bcl-X L and calyculin A prevented Bax translocation and cytochrome c release. Bcl-X L is generally thought to heterodimerize with Bax to prevent cytochrome c release and yet they remain in different cellular compartments, suggesting that their heterodimerization at the mitochondria is not the primary mechanism of Bcl-X L -mediated protection. Using chemical cross-linking agents, Bax appeared to exist as a monomer in undamaged cells. Upon induction of apoptosis, Bax formed homo-oligomers in the mitochondrial fraction with no evidence for cross-linking to Bcl-2 or Bcl-X L . Considering that both Bcl-X L and calyculin A inhibit Bax translocation, we propose that Bcl-X L may regulate Bax translocation through modulation of protein phosphatase or kinase signaling.
Static compression of metals Mo, Pb, and Pt to 272 GPa: Comparison with shock data

Several metals, Mo, Pb, and Pt, have been compressed in a diamond anvil cell to 272 GPa and studied by energy-dispersive x-ray diffraction using a synchrotron source. The bcc phase of Mo was found to be stable to 272 GPa at 300 K, and the phase transition reported in shock compression at 210 GPa and 4100 K was not observed. This implies either a large hysteresis and/or significant vibrational and electronic contributions to the entropy change at the transition. The measured static equation of state of Pb to 272 GPa employing Pt and Mo as pressure standards shows stiffening as compared with shock data, and the reasons for this difference are discussed.
A Micromechanics Model for the Electrical Conductivity of Nanotube-Polymer Nanocomposites

The introduction of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into nonconducting polymers has been observed to yield orders of magnitude increases in conductivity at very low concentrations of CNTs. These low percolation concentrations have been attributed to both the formation of conductive networks of CNTs within the polymer and to a nanoscale effect associated with the ability of electrons to transfer from one CNT to another known as electron hopping. In the present work, a micromechanics model is developed to assess the impact of the effects of electron hopping and the formation of conductive networks on the electrical conductivity of CNT-polymer nanocomposites. The micromechanics model uses the composite cylinders model as a nanoscale representative volume element where the effects of electron hopping are introduced in the form of a continuum interphase layer, resulting in a distinct percolation concentration associated with electron hopping. Changes in the aspect ratio of the nanoscale representative volume element are used to reflect the changes in nanocomposite conductivity associated with the formation of conductive networks due to the formation of nanotube bundles. The model results are compared with experimental data in the literature for both single- and multi-walled CNT nanocomposites where it is observed that the model developed is able to qualitatively explain the relative impact of electron hopping and nanotube bundling on the nanocomposite conductivity and percolation concentrations.
Performance evaluation of a highly efficient photorefractive polymer

The performance of photorefractive polymers has improved considerably over the last few years, leading to the recent observation of 86% diffraction efficiency and a net two-beam coupling gain of more than 200 cm-1 in a poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-based polymer doped with the azo dye 2,5-dimethyl-4-(p-nitrophenylazo)anisole. This performance by far surpasses the other organic PR materials reported to date. We report experimental results that evaluate the suitability of this polymer composite for dynamic holography and other applications.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Small molecule inhibitors of the HIV-1 virulence factor, Nef.

Although antiretroviral therapy has revolutionized the clinical management of AIDS, life-long treatment is required because these drugs do not eradicate HIV-infected cells. Chronic antiretroviral therapy may not protect AIDS patients from cognitive impairment, raising important quality of life issues. Because of the rise of HIV strains resistant to current drugs and uncertain vaccine prospects, an urgent need exists for the discovery and development of new therapeutic approaches. This review is focused on one such approach, which involves targeting HIV-1 Nef, a viral accessory protein essential for AIDS pathogenesis.
Gamma rays from bino-like dark matter in the MSSM

We consider regions of the parameter space of the minimal supersymmetric standard model with bino-like neutralino dark matter in which a large fraction of the total dark matter annihilation cross section in the present era arises from annihilation to final states with monoenergetic photons. The region of interest is characterized by light sleptons and heavy squarks. We find that it is possible for the branching fraction to final states with monoenergetic photons to be comparable to that for continuum photons, but in those cases the total cross section will be so small that it is unlikely to be observable. For models where dark matter annihilation may be observable in the present era, the branching fraction to final states with monoenergetic photons is $\mathcal{O}(1%--10%)$.
Inefficient Vibrational Cooling of C60 in a Supersonic Expansion

High-resolution gas-phase infrared spectroscopy of buckminsterfullerene (C 60) was attempted near 8.5 μm using cavity ring-down spectroscopy. Solid C 60 was heated in a high-temperature ( ~950 K) oven and cooled using an argon supersonic expansion generated from a 12.7 mm × 150 μm slit. The expected <path id="x1D446" d="M457 488l-30 -3q-17 148 -131 148q-53 0 -84.5 -34.5t-31.5 -82.5q0 -42 25.5 -72t74.5 -62l33 -22q63 -42 95 -85t32 -102q0 -84 -67 -137t-163 -53q-58 0 -113 22t-70 43l-4 152l27 4q4 -32 15 -62.5t31 -59.5t53.5 -47t76.5 -18q56 0 92 35t36 96q0 39 -25 70t-78 68 l-31 22q-32 23 -53.5 41.5t-45 57t-23.5 77.5q0 82 58 132.5t156 50.5q46 0 101 -17l18.5 -6t17 -6t8.5 -3q-4 -55 0 -147z" /> <path id="x1D441" d="M857 650l-6 -28q-44 -4 -61.5 -16.5t-29.5 -48.5q-11 -32 -37 -166l-78 -399h-29l-351 537h-4l-56 -276q-24 -120 -24 -164q0 -35 17.5 -46t75.5 -15l-6 -28h-245l7 28q41 2 62 14t31 44q10 30 41 171l53 245q8 44 6.5 60.5t-14.5 33.5q-10 15 -27 19.5t-64 6.5l6 28h153 l350 -516h5l48 257q25 131 25 171q0 34 -17.5 45t-77.5 15l7 28h240z" /> ratio is ~140 for vibrationally cold C 60, but no absorption signal has been observed, presumably due to a lack of vibrational cooling of C 60 in the expansion. Measurements of D 2O at 875 K are presented as a test of instrument alignment at high temperature and show that efficient rotational cooling of D 2O occurs in the hot oven ( <path id="x1D447" d="M649 676l-22 -187l-33 -2q3 56 -12 94q-8 20 -31.5 26.5t-86.5 6.5h-74l-90 -491q-4 -23 -6 -36.5t1 -25t7 -16.5t18 -9t27 -5t41 -3l-6 -28h-286l4 28q68 5 84 18.5t28 76.5l94 491h-55q-74 0 -100.5 -6t-41.5 -23q-24 -29 -54 -98l-32 1q32 98 53 188h22q7 -18 15 -22 t37 -4h417q23 0 33.5 5t25.5 21h23z" /> = 20 K in the expansion), though vibrational cooling does not occur. The attempted C 60 spectroscopy is compared to previous work which showed efficient vibrational cooling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Possible alternative experiments for observing a cold, gas-phase spectrum of C 60 are also considered.
Isolation and characterization of rhodanese intermediates during thermal inactivation and their implications for the mechanism of protein aggregation

The initial steps of heat-induced inactivation and aggregation of the enzyme rhodanese have been studied and found to involve the early formation of modified but catalytically active conformations. These intermediates readily form active dimers or small oligomers, as evident from there being only a small increase in light scattering and an increase in fluorescence energy homotransfer from rhodanese labeled with fluorescein. These species are probably not the domain-unfolded form, as they show activity and increased protection of hydrophobic surfaces. Cross-linking with glutaraldehyde and fractionation by gel filtration show the predominant formation of dimer during heat incubation. Comparison between the rates of aggregate formation at 50 °C after preincubation at 25 or 40 °C gives evidence of product−precursor relationships, and it shows that these dimeric or small oligomeric species are the basis of the irreversible aggregation. The thermally induced species is recognized by and binds to the chaperonin ...
Intracranial Supraclinoid ICA Dissection Causing Cerebral Infarction and Subsequent Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background Intracranial arterial dissection usually leads to cerebral infarction or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). It is rare to see both complications in one clinical scenario.
DG3: A RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUG-INDUCED GASTROINTESTINAL COMPLICATIONS AMONG ADULTS IN A MANAGED CARE HEALTH PLAN

OBJECTIVE: To obtain a profile of adult patients at risk for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) induced gastrointestinal (GI) complications in a large managed care health plan in the Southwest United States. METHODS: Patients with NSAID prescription claims between July 1996 and June 1997 were identified from a health plan claims database. Patients with claims associated with ICD-9 and CPT codes indicating serious GI complications were then identified. The ICD-9 codes used were those associated with GI ulcers (531.x, 532.x, 533.x, and 534). A total of 19 CPT codes for GI procedures indicative of a GI complication were used. A forward stepwise logistic regression analysis, using the likelihood-ratio (LR) test, was performed to identify predictors of GI complications. Predictors included in the model were individual NSAIDs and the following potential risk factors: age, gender, previous GI drug usage, previous steroid usage, and total days supply of NSAIDs during the study period. RESULTS: A sample of 15,772 patients with prescription claims for NSAIDs was identified. Of these patients, 213 (1.4%) had an ICD-9 or CPT code suggestive of serious GI complications secondary to a NSAID. The logistic regression results indicated that women (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.48–0.87) were less likely to develop GI complications. However, patients with previous GI drug usage (OR = 5.97, 95% CI = 4.51–7.90), those who used ketorolac (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.10–3.67) and those who used oxaprozin (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.10–3.00) were more likely to develop GI complications. CONCLUSION: Users of ketorolac and oxaprozin, as well as those with previous GI drug usage were at a higher risk, while women were at a lower risk of GI complications in this managed care population.
Selenophosphate: Biological Roles and Studies on Mechanism of Biosynthesis

Selenophosphate, H3SePO3, is the activated selenium donor compound required for the biosynthesis of selenocysteyl-tRNAsec, the precursor of specific selenocysteine residues in bacterial and mammalian selenoproteins, and for the formation of 2-selenouridine from 2-thiouridine in the anticodons of various bacterial tRNAs (1-4).
Party and government dominance of parliament in Queensland

(1980). Party and government dominance of parliament in Queensland. Politics: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 110-123.
EPR measurements of the phosphorescent state of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole

Abstract The spin dipolar interaction and the hyperfine structure of the phosphorescent state of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole have been measured in a naphthalene host crystal at 77 K. Preliminary transient study indicates the short in-plane spin substate is the active component in the triplet population.
Critical brain circuits at the intersection between stress and learning

The effects of stressful life experience on learning are pervasive and vary greatly both within and between individuals. It is therefore unlikely that any one mechanism will underlie these complicated processes. Nonetheless, without identifying the necessary and sufficient circuitry, no complete mechanism or set of mechanisms can be identified. In this review, we provide two anatomical frameworks through which stressful life experience can influence processes related to learning and memory. In the first, stressful experience releases stress hormones, primarily from the adrenals, which directly impact brain areas engaged in learning. In the second, stressful experience indirectly alters the circuits used in learning via intermediary brain regions. Importantly, these intermediary brain regions are not integral to the stress response or learning itself, but rather link the consequences of a stressful experience with circuits used to learn associations. As reviewed, the existing literature provides support for both frameworks, with somewhat more support for the first but sufficient evidence for the latter which involves intermediary structures. Once we determine the circumstances that engage each framework and identify which one is most predominant, we can begin to focus our efforts on describing the neuronal and hormonal mechanisms that operate within these circuits to influence cognitive processes after stressful life experience.
The effect of reporting internal control weakness on predicting future performance using discretionary accruals

We investigate whether firms reporting internal control weaknesses (ICW) over financial reporting under Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act, on average, have accruals that exhibit lower future performance (earnings and cash flow) predictive properties compared to firms without ICWs. We also investigate whether firms that remediate ICWs have accruals with greater ability to predict future performance compared to firms with no ICW remediation. We find that firms with weak internal control result in accruals with lower performance predictability. We also find that firms that remedy ICW generate accruals with higher performance predictability compared to firms that do not remedy ICW. Our findings emphasise that the internal control environment is an important factor in providing higher quality accruals, which in turn has substantial implications on firm valuation. Our findings also emphasise the benefit of a highly contentious portion of SOX, namely Section 404.
Infection and rejection risk after cardiac transplantation with induction vs. no induction: a multi-institutional study.

Data from Cardiac Transplant Research Database (CTRD) were analyzed from 1999 to 2006 to examine the effects of different induction strategies at the time of cardiac transplantation. A total of 2090 primary heart transplants were categorized by induction with interleukin-2 receptor blocker (IL-2RB), antithymocyte globulin (ATG), or no induction (NI). Probabilities for rejection and infection were estimated with parametric time-related models. Using these models, hazard was calculated for two theoretical patient profiles, one at lower risk for rejection and higher risk of infection (Profile 1) and higher risk for rejection and lower risk of infection (Profile 2). Of the 2090 transplants, 49.8% (1095) did not receive induction, 27.3% (599) received IL-2RB, and 18.0% (396) received ATG. Profile 1 patients had lower hazard for rejection with IL-2RB compared to ATG and NI (p < 0.01), but at the cost of increased risk of infection (5.0 vs. 1.8 vs. 1.6, respectively, at four wk, p < 0.01). Profile 2 patients experienced a fivefold decreased hazard for rejection when treated with IL-2RB compared with ATG and NI (p < 0.01). In patients at high risk of infection, IL-2RB reduced risk of rejection but at the expense of increased hazard for infection.
Reconstruction Mechanism and Surface-State Dispersion for Si(111)-(2×1)

Pseudopotential total-energy calculations show that the ..pi..-bonded chain reconstruction of the Si(111)-(2 x 1) surface can be reached from the ideally bonded surface without increasing the total energy by more than 0.03 eV/(surface atom). Hence, the chain surface can be formed easily in the cleavage process. The minimum-energy chain geometry is determined, and the corresponding surface-state dispersion is in remarkable agreement with recent angle-resolved photoemission experiments.
Cholecystokinin inhibits endocannabinoid-sensitive hippocampal IPSPs and stimulates others.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is the most abundant neuropeptide in the central nervous system. In the hippocampal CA1 region, CCK is co-localized with GABA in a subset of interneurons that synapse on pyramidal cell somata and apical dendrites. CCK-containing interneurons also uniquely express a high level of the cannabinoid receptor, CB1, and mediate the retrograde signaling process called DSI. Reported effects of CCK on inhibitory post-synaptic potentials (IPSPs) in hippocampus are inconsistent, and include both increases and decreases in activity. Hippocampal interneurons are very heterogeneous, and these results could be reconciled if CCK affected different interneurons in different ways. To test this prediction, we used sharp microelectrode recordings from pyramidal cells with ionotropic glutamate receptors blocked, and investigated the effects of CCK on pharmacologically distinct groups of IPSPs during long-term recordings. We find that CCK, acting via the CCK2 receptor, increases some IPSPs and decreases others, and most significantly, that the affected IPSPs can be classified into two groups by their pharmacological properties. IPSPs that are increased by carbachol (CCh-sIPSPs), are depressed by CCK, ω-conotoxin GVIA, and endocannabinoids. IPSPs that are enhanced by CCK (CCK-sIPSPs) are blocked by ω-agatoxin IVA, and are unaffected by carbachol or endocannabinoids. Interestingly, a CCK2 antagonist enhances CCh-sIPSPs, suggesting normally they may be partially suppressed by endogenous CCK. In summary, our data are compatible with the hypothesis that CCK has opposite actions on sIPSPs that originate from functionally distinct interneurons.
The impacts of presentation visuals on persuasion

Today's microcomputer applications enable users to create and display elaborate presentation visuals that include color, clip art, and special effects such as animation and dynamic transitions. Does this impact the persuasiveness of a presentation? To explore this question, we performed two experimental studies to investigate the effect of use versus non-use, as well as the persuasive impact of visuals with different characteristics. The study provides practical guidelines for creating and using modern presentation graphics.
From the bar to the bed via mobile phone: A first test of the role of problematic alcohol use, sexting, and impulsivity-related traits in sexual hookups

Computer-mediated sexting behaviors, problematic alcohol use, and sexual hookups are prevalent among college populations. While relationships between sexting and alcohol, and sexting and sex have been established, the potential role of sexting as a mediator between alcohol use and hookups is unknown. The study provides the first test of a causal, temporal model in which (1) sexting mediates the relationship between problematic alcohol use and sexual hookups; and (2) impulsivity-related traits and alcohol-related expectancies predict problematic alcohol use and sexting. Results: In a college sample, (N=611; M(SD)age=21.4 (4.18); 77.3% female), a causal path model using structural equation modeling indicated that: (1) Problematic alcohol use (b=.05, p<.001) and sexting (b=.14, p<.05) were related to sexual hookups; (2) sensation seeking and negative urgency were related to problematic alcohol use (b=.96, p<.001, b=.60, p<.05) and sexting (b=.11, p<.05, b=.12, p<.001); and (3) problematic alcohol use was indirectly related to hookups through sexting (b=.01, p<.01). Conclusion: Findings provide initial support for sexting as a partial mediator between problematic alcohol use and sexual hookups, and for the role of impulsivity-related traits and alcohol expectancies as distal predictors in this process. Findings highlight sexting as one example of the intersection between computer-mediated and human interaction.
Transfer Patient Imaging: Current Status, Review of the Literature, and the Harborview Experience

Patients transferred for higher levels of care often arrive with medical imaging from the outside facility, with or without accompanying radiology reports. The handling of pretransfer studies by receiving radiologists introduces several concerns regarding resource utilization, medicolegal risk, and technical quality control. The authors review the current status of transfer patient imaging, with an emphasis on the role of the receiving emergency radiologist. Practice solutions developed at the authors' level I trauma center are described.
The Consequences of Fairness for a Small Professional Services Firm

This paper distinguishes among client perceptions of outcome, procedural and interactional justice in professional services. We surveyed clients of a small accounting firm and focused specifically on fairness perceptions in income tax services. We predicted that procedural and interactional fairness would be more influential than distributive fairness on evaluations of the service. The results suggest that interactional fairness, the interpersonal treatment in the delivery of the service, is the most significant predictor of client perceptions of service quality, loyalty, and trust. Implications for managers of small businesses as well as sole practitioners that offer professional services are discussed.
High Field 1H NMR Studies of Sol-Gel Kinetics

High resolution 1 H NMR spectroscopy at high magnetic fields is employed to study the reaction kinetics of the Si(OCH 3 ) 4 :CH 3 OH:H 2 O sol-gel system. Both the overall extent of reaction as a function of time and the equilibrium distribution of species are measured. In acid catalyzed solution, condensation is the rate limiting step while in base catalyzed solution, hydrolysis becomes rate limiting. A kinetic model in which the rate of hydrolysis is assumed to be independent of the adjacent functional groups is presented. This model correctly predicts the distribution of product species during the initial stages of the sol-gel reaction.
ANCIENT MAYA CAUSEWAYS AND SITE ORGANIZATION AT CARACOL, BELIZE

Statements concerning the function of intrasite Maya causeways often focus on inferred ritual purposes or on symbolic kinship alliances rather than on the more practical roles that such roads may have served. Data collected on an extensive intrasite causeway system at Caracol, Belize, demonstrate that the primary role of its sacbes lay in facilitating the administrative control of people, goods, and services. An estimated 75 km of roads not only served intrasite communication and transport; they also affected the political and economic integration of this huge center.
Pancreatic and Islet Replacement Therapy For Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

The only known cure for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is transplantation of functioning islet cells, either alone or via transplantation of the entire pancreas in sufficient mass to restore normal carbohydrate metabolism. Such therapy may also ameliorate or eliminate certain long-term consequences of diabetes. More than 3,000 patients have received pancreas transplants at 150 centers worldwide since 1966. Urinary drainage of pancreatic exocrine secretions has dramatically improved long-term survival, especially when a kidney was transplanted at the same time. Metabolic control then resumes normal function for up to six years, in some cases preventing or reversing long-term complications of diabetes. While nephropathy and neuropathy can be prevented and even somewhat reversed, retinopathy and neuropathy resist improvement. The large number of islets that must be harvested makes islet cell transplantation difficult to achieve, although the process has been accomplished in humans with limited success.
Responses of northern red oak seedlings to lime and deer exclosure fencing in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, two hypotheses compete to explain the chronic oak (Quercus spp.) regeneration problem: excessive deer browsing and soil cation depletion. We tested these hypotheses by evaluating the effect of forest liming and deer exclosure fencing on northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedling growth and nutrition in five oak shelterwood stands in Pennsylvania over 6 years. In each stand, four planting plots were located inside a 2.4 m high woven wire fence and another four were established outside the fence. About 225 northern red oak acorns were planted in each plot in spring 2004. Dolomitic limestone was applied to randomly selected plots at rates of 0, 4.5, 9.0, and 13.5 Mg·ha–1 during May 2004. There were no statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) growth responses to lime applications. The only significant growth responses resulted from the fence versus no-fence treatment. A significant (P < 0.003) fence × year interaction for seedling height and root collar diameter indicates differential impacts o...
SWARM-eTOSSIM: A Simulator for Distributed Energy-Constrained Tiny Devices

This paper presents a versatile heterogeneous sensor network simulator library that incorporates an online power model for real-time resource management research projects. The library integrates a well-known multi-agent simulator library Swarm, a popular sensor operating system, TinyOS, and a sensor network simulator tool called TOSSIM. The motivation of designing our library is to address difficulties in studying large-scale wireless sensor networks with energy constraints. The library supports the non-linear energy model used in PowerTOSSIMz, but unlike PowerTOSSIMz, which only supports an offline post-processing battery simulation, our library provides an online energy model. Furthermore, the integration with Swarm enables rich features of the Swarm libraries such as run-time probes, pre-defined simulation environments, data collection and analysis tools, powerful random number generators, and graphical user interfaces. We also enhanced TOSSIM so that heterogeneous TinyOS applications can be executed on simulated sensor nodes. Furthermore, the same source codes that run on the simulator can be deployed on actual hardware sensor nodes supporting an easier hardware/software co-design. The resulting simulator library, SWARM-eTOSSIM, provides versatile visualization tools for diagnostic analysis and a development environment for heterogeneous applications with consideration of real-time energy constraints.
Serial salivary estriol to detect an increased risk of preterm birth.

Objective: To evaluate serial measurements of salivary estriol (E3) to detect increased risk of spontaneous preterm labor and preterm birth. Methods: A masked, prospective, multicenter trial of 956 women with singleton pregnancies was completed at eight United States medical centers. Saliva was collected weekly, beginning at the 22nd week of gestation until birth, and tested for unconjugated E3 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Women were separated into high-risk and low-risk groups using the Creasy scoring system. Results: A single, positive (at or above 2.1 ng/mL) salivary E3 test predicted an increased risk of spontaneous preterm labor and delivery in the total population (relative risk [RR] 4.0, P < .005), in the low-risk population (RR 4.0, P ≤ .05), and in the high-risk population (RR 3.4, P = .05). Two consecutive positive tests significantly increased the RR in all study groups, with a dramatic improvement in test specificity and positive predictive value but only a modest decrease in sensitivity. In women who presented with symptomatic preterm labor, salivary E3 identified 61% of those who delivered within 2 weeks, using a threshold of 1.4 ng/mL. Conclusion: Elevated salivary E3 is associated with increased risk of preterm birth in asymptomatic women and symptomatic women who present for evaluation of preterm labor.
Attachment Type for Adolescents in Residential Treatment Centers

Summary.—The styles of attachment in two groups of adolescents with different characteristics and life experiences are examined. Participants were 81 adolescents residing inside residential treatment centers (M age = 15.5 yr., SD = 1.1; 48% boys, 52% girls) and 81 adolescents living with their own families (M age = 15.6 yr., SD = 1.3; 49% boys, 51% girls). The Italian adaptation of the Separation Anxiety Test was used to measure attachment style. Only the data obtained from the “Self” perspective indicated a significant difference between the two groups, showing higher percentages of Secure attachment among adolescents living with their families. When replies were referred to the “Self,” the risk of assessing Insecure attachment in the Residential group was about 2 times higher than in the Family group (OR = 2.28).
Factors contributing to delay in diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome and impact on clinical outcome

Introduction Heterogeneity of presenting symptoms makes the initial clinical diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) challenging. Methods Observational retrospective study from 2 teaching hospitals (Parkland Memorial Hospital and University of Texas Southwestern University Hospital) between 2008 and 2013. Results Sixty-nine GBS patients were identified. GBS was suspected on initial emergency department visit in only 49%. During first hospital encounter, 58% were evaluated by a neurologist. Neuropathic pain and presence of intact deep tendon reflexes were associated with delayed GBS diagnosis (P < 0.05). There was significantly better clinical outcome among patients who were evaluated by a neurologist during the initial visit (P < 0.005). Among these patients there was also significant difference in discharge destination; 71.2% of patients evaluated by a neurologist were discharged home (P < 0.01). Patients in whom GBS was not suspected at the time of initial Neurology evaluation were more likely to require intubation and to have residual weakness at the time of discharge (P < 0.05). Conclusions Atypical clinical signs and symptoms may lead to delayed diagnosis of GBS. Early neurological evaluation is associated with improved clinical diagnosis and discharge disposition. Muscle Nerve 53: 384–387, 2016
Karyotypic progression in human tumors

Karyotypic progression may be viewed in at least two ways. One approach seeks evidence for increasing and progressive deviation from the normal chromosome pattern in tumors. The clearest examples, found in some leukemias, are those in which successive karyotypic changes are superimposed on an already aberrant cell population. Evidence of chromosomal progression within solid tumors is far less frequent, possibly because the tumors themselves are at a relatively late stage in their evolution. An alternative approach, therefore, attempts to correlate the extent of karyotypic deviation with other aspects of tumor progression. Recent data, based on classical cytogenetic analyses and flow cytometry, are presented to determine relationships between karyotype and specific origin and morphology of tumors. The predominant theme which emerges, not surprisingly, is that the more deviant chromosome patterns are associated with other measures of increased biologic malignancy. What is surprising is the degree to which these properties are expressed in primary tumors and the relative lack of evidence for further karyotypic evolution with recurrence or metastasis. Examples of genetic instability, evolution through polyploidy, gene amplification, and selection for specific chromosomal rearrangement are found in populations of premalignant and malignant human cells. There is increasing recognition of the importance of tumor-specific chromosome aberrations in the stepwise progression from the normal to the fully neoplastic cell.
Two-beam cross coupling from mutually incoherent lasers

The cross coupling of two mutually incoherent sources in photorefractive materials is described. It is shown that when there are two mutually incoherent pump beams that are not counterpropagating, the respective outputs are cones of light whose parameters depend on the interaction angle of both pump beams. The phase-matching equations are solved, and the cones are analytically represented. Additionally, the coupled-wave equations are solved to give the intensity of light along the coordinates of the cones. These cones are experimentally observed as ellipses on a screen. Preliminary experiments are reported in which the intensities of the cones are measured and compared with theory. How this applies to other cases of mutually incoherent two-beam cross coupling is discussed.
Brain structural changes in obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Objectives: Determine whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subjects show indications of axonal injury.