cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative determination of thallium binding to ferric hexacyanoferrate : Prussian blue

Ferric hexacyanoferrate, (Fe(4)(III)[Fe(II)(CN)(6)](3)), also known as insoluble Prussian blue (PB), is the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of Radiogardase which is the first approved drug product (DP) for treatment of thallium and radiocesium poisoning. The aim of this study is (1) to determine the in vitro thallium binding capacity and binding rates of insoluble PB; and (2) to evaluate the effect of physiological pH conditions, PB particle size and storage conditions on the binding to PB. Experimental pH levels from 1.0 to 7.5 were used to cover the range of pH levels that PB may encounter when traveling through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in humans. Measurements of thallium binding were made between 1 and 24h, to cover gastric and intestinal tract residence time. PB was found to have a binding capacity of approximately 1400 mg/g at pH 7.5. When the pH decreased, the binding decreased as well. The results indicated that the hydration state of PB influences the thallium binding process. It was also found that there exits a direct correlation between the moisture loss in PB and the thallium binding rate constant. The PB with 17 mol of water had a binding rate constant of 0.52, which was reduced to 0.32 when PB was dehydrated to 2.5 mol of water. Significant differences were observed in both binding capacity and binding rate constant among PB fractions with different particle size ranges. PB fraction with particle size of 220-1000 microm had a binding rate constant of 0.43, which increased to 0.64 when the particle size was reduced to 32-90 microm. Batch-to-batch variation in thallium binding was also observed among the APIs and the DPs and this was related to particle size and hydration state. These findings can be utilized to evaluate and predict drug product quality under certain manufacturing and dry storage conditions.
Reversal of Aminopterin Inhibition in the Chick Embryo with the Leuconostoc citrovorum Factor.

SummaryConcentrates of the Leuconostoc citrovorum factor (CF) and of “folinic acid” partially counteract the inhibitory action of aminopterin for the chick embryo. Folic acid and formylfolic acid were ineffective or only slightly effective under the same conditions. The magnitude of the effects obtained with CF were similar to those obtained previously with mixtures of thymidine and hypoxanthine desoxyriboside 1). The viewpoint is developed that conversion of folic acid to CF is a necessary preliminary to the catalytic action of the former compound, that synthesis of thymidine and one or more of the purine desoxyribosides are among the synthetic reactions for which CF or folic acid) is required, and that these synthetic reactions are those inhibited in the chick embryo by small amounts of aminopterin. The great variation that exists in the ability of CF to counteract aminopterin inhibition in various organisms is pointed out.
A boundary element method for two dimensional linear elastic fracture analysis

A boundary element method is developed for the analysis of fractures in two-dimensional solids. The solids are assumed to be linearly elastic and isotropic, and both bounded and unbounded domains are treated. The development of the boundary integral equations exploits (as usual) Somigliana's identity, but a special manipulation is carried out to ‘regularize’ certain integrals associated with the crack line. The resulting integral equations consist of the conventional ordinary boundary terms and two additional terms which can be identified as a distribution of concentrated forces and a distribution of dislocations along each crack line. The strategy for establishing the integral equations is first outlined in terms of real variables, after which complex variable techniques are adopted for the detailed development. In the numerical implementation of the formulation, the ordinary boundary integrals are treated with standard boundary element techniques, while a novel numerical procedure is developed to treat the crack line integrals. The resulting numerical procedure is used to solve several sample problems for both embedded and surface-breaking cracks, and it is shown that the technique is both accurate and efficient. The utility of the method for simulating curvilinear crack propagation is also demonstrated.
(Na+ + K+)-ATPase: on the number of the ATP sites of the functional unit.

Questions concerning the number of the ATP sites of the functional unit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (i.e., the sodium pump) have been at the center of the controversies on the mechanisms of the catalytic and transport functions of the enzyme. When the available data pertaining to the number of these sites are examined without any assumptions regarding the reaction mechanism, it is evident that although some relevant observations may be explained either by a single site or by multiple ATP sites, the remaining data dictate the existence of multiple sites on the functional unit. Also, while from much of the data it is clear that the multiple sites of the unit enzyme represent the interacting catalytic sites of an oligomer, it is not possible to rule out the existence of a distinct regulatory site for ATP in addition to the interacting catalytic sites. Regardless of the ultimate fate of the regulatory site, any realistic approach to the resolution of the kinetic mechanism of the sodium pump should include the consideration of the established site-site interactions of the oligomer.
Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer to the Navicular Bone: Case Report

This case of oligometastatic prostate cancer to the foot highlights the importance of: 1) metastasis remaining high in the differential for unexplained malady, in the setting of a primary cancer, despite an atypical presentation, and 2) comparing sequential imaging studies to baseline images, especially when remote, because subtle findings can declare themselves over time.
Drop Motion Simulation on a Surface Due to a Wettability Gradient

This study is concerned with the numerical simulation of a drop moving on a surface due to a wettability gradient. The wettability gradient is introduced by varying the static contact angle along the surface. The unsteady laminar Navier-Stokes equation is solved in each phase using a fixed Eulerian unstructured grid. The Volume of Fluid Model (VOF) is used to account for tracking the gas/liquid interface. A water drop was placed on a solid surface with a linear contact angle distribution, and the simulation results for the drop velocity were compared with the analytical results of Brochard (1989).Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Conditioned activation of fetal behavior

Previous demonstrations of prenatal learning have relied upon experimental protocols involving training at one gestational age and testing at a later age, potentially confounding effects of experience and retention with developmental changes in the fetus's behavioral repertoire. In this study, a single-session paradigm, which involved the pairing of a neutral chemosensory stimulus (sucrose CS) with a second stimulus that activates behavior (lemon US), was used to assess the learning capacity of the rat fetus. Four CS-US pairings were effective in promoting behavioral activity in 20-day-old rat fetuses when they were reexposed to the sucrose CS alone. The functional expression of conditioned behavioral activation on day 20 of gestation occurs at a time when CNS structures, many of which are involved in sensory processing and learning in older animals, are still undergoing rapid differentiation in the rat fetus.
Method of extraction and resolubilisation of pigments from Chlorociboria aeruginosa and Scytalidium cuboideum, two prolific spalting fungi

Twelve solvents were tested for their ability to extract the pigments of Chlorociboria aeruginosa and Scytalidium cuboideum, two fungi used primarily for the spalting of decorative wood. Solvents were assessed on the basis of the saturation of pigment produced, their ability to diffuse through filter paper, and whether they reacted with the extracted pigments. Solvents that performed well in extraction testing were then tested to determine whether they could also dissolve the extracted pigment once dried. Of the solvents tested, only dichloromethane was capable of quick, non-reactive extraction with filter paper diffusion, as well as being able fully to redissolve dried pigment extracted from C. aeruginosa. The results of this study show dichloromethane to be an ideal solvent for extracting and applying fungal pigments that offers new possibilities for spalting in which fungi do not need to be grown directly on a substrate in order to produce pigmented wood.
Sequence analysis of cDNA encoding follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone β-subunits in the Mastomys (Praomys coucha)

To examine the molecular basis of efficient superovulation in the Mastomys (Praomys coucha), the cDNA sequences of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) beta-subunits were determined and compared with those of other mammals. FSHbeta and LHbeta cDNAs were 1606 and 513 bp long, respectively, from the 5'-ends to the putative polyA sites. The deduced sequences of the FSHbeta and LHbeta precursor proteins were 130 and 141 amino acids in length, respectively. The amino acid sequences of both mastomys hormone subunits showed overall similarity to those of other rodents. In particular, the N-terminus of the FSHbeta precursor protein is of the MM-type, like those of mice and rats, which suggests that the MM-type is characteristic of the subfamily Murinae. As we reported earlier for the Mongolian gerbil, the use of hCG for superovulation of mastomys might need to be re-evaluated, due to the low homology between hCG and rodent LH sequences.
Abstract 411: Absence of leukotriene B4 receptor-1 promotes colon tumorigenesis in the ApcMin/+ mice by modulating gut microbiota

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Leukotriene B4, a potent lipid mediator of inflammation acts through the G-protein coupled receptor, BLT1. The BLT1-/- mice displayed substantial protection in inflammatory disease models of arthritis, asthma and atherosclerosis. To examine the role of BLT1 in progression of cancers known to be promoted by inflammation, we crossed the BLT1-/- mice onto mice with a heterozygous mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli (ApcMin/+) gene. The BLT1-/-ApcMin/+ mice demonstrated an increase in the rate of spontaneous intestinal tumor development and accelerated mortality. Unlike ApcMin/+ mice that develop mostly small intestinal tumors the BLT1-/-ApcMin/+ mice developed large colonic adenomas. Tumors from the BLT1-/-ApcMin/+ mice showed increased rates of proliferation, decrease in apoptosis and an increase in the expression of tumor promoting inflammatory markers such as TNF-α and CXCL1 and COX2 when compared to tumors from the ApcMin/+ mice. Microarray analysis of transcriptome showed that the paradoxical increase in inflammation in tumors from the BLT1-/-ApcMin/+ mice is coincidental with defective host response to infections. The expression of angiogenins, a class of antibacterial proteins was significantly reduced in tumors from BLT1-/-ApcMin/+ mice. Further, analysis of gut flora (by 16S ribosomal DNA sequences) identified major differences in microbiome colonizing the BLT1-/-ApcMin/+ and ApcMin/+ mice. BLT1-/-ApcMin/+ mice rederived and raised under germ-free conditions are completely protected from colon cancer development. To examine the role of Toll-like receptor mediated signaling events involved in tumor promotion in the absence of BLT1, we developed BLT1/MyD88 double deficient mice. The BLT1-/-MyD88-/- mice were highly susceptible to lethal neonatal infections indicating the cooperative interactions between TLR and leukotriene pathways in host response. These BLT1-/-MyD88-/- mice could be rescued by treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. The MyD88-/-ApcMin/+ mice are highly protected from intestinal cancers. The BLT1-/-MyD88-/-ApcMin/+ mice are also highly protected indicating that BLT1-mediated host defense acts upstream of MyD88-mediated tumor promoting inflammation. While both BLT1 and MyD88 are important in host defense only the MyD88 but not BLT1 activated pathways are required to initiate tumor promoting inflammation. These results identify novel roles for gut microbiota in promoting colon cancer and for BLT1 in preventing the colon cancer development by shaping the gut microbiome. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 411. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-411
Intermittent explosive disorder: epidemiology, diagnosis and management.

Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is characterised by discrete episodes of aggressive impulses that result in serious assaultive acts towards people or destruction of property. IED causes severe impairments in daily function. The diagnosis of IED should be made only after a thorough medical work-up. A structured or semi-structured diagnostic interview is helpful to ensure that comorbid and pre-existing conditions are considered. There is a lack of controlled trials of agents for the treatment of patients with IED, but there is evidence that mood stabilisers, antipsychotics, β-blockers, α2-agonists, phenytoin and antidepressants may be useful. Behavioural interventions may be valuable as part of the overall treatment of IED
Effects of climatic variation and reproductive trade‐offs vary by measure of reproductive effort in greater sage‐grouse

Research on long-lived iteroparous species has shown that reproductive success may increase with age, until the onset of senescence, and that prior reproductive success may influence current reproductive success. Such complex reproductive dynamics can complicate conservation strategies, especially for harvested species. Further complicating the matter is the fact that most studies of reproductive costs are only able to evaluate a single measure of reproductive effort. We systematically evaluated the effects of climatic variation and reproductive trade-offs on multiple reproductive vital rates for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse), a relatively long-lived galliforme of conservation concern throughout western North America. Based on over a decade of field observations, we hypothesized that reproduction is influenced by previous reproductive success. We monitored hen reproductive activity from 1998 to 2010, and used generalized linear mixed models to assess effects of climate and p...
Probabilistic properties of the exponential distribution

Abstract The exponential distribution is popular for modeling the lifetimes of components and systems. Probabilistic properties of the exponential distribution are scattered throughout textbooks and journal articles. This paper contains proofs of twelve properties of the exponential distribution that are useful for characterizing the distribution and statistical inference.
Hypothalamic Pituitary Gonadal Axis: Stress-Induced Gonadal Compromise

(1998). Hypothalamic Pituitary Gonadal Axis: Stress-Induced Gonadal Compromise. Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain: Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 61-62.
Combination therapy with naproxen and aspirin in rheumatoid arthritis

Thirty-six patients with rheumatoid arthritis were studied to determine the effectiveness and safety of combined therapy with naproxen and aspirin. An 8-week double-blind crossover trial was performed in which naproxen and placebo were administered on a background of constant-dose aspirin. Combination therapy was demonstrated to be more effective than aspirin alone. Tolerance of the two regimens was comparable.
The STEREO IMPACT Suprathermal Electron (STE) Instrument

The Suprathermal Electron (STE) instrument, part of the IMPACT investigation on both spacecraft of NASA’s STEREO mission, is designed to measure electrons from ∼2 to ∼100 keV. This is the primary energy range for impulsive electron/3He-rich energetic particle events that are the most frequently occurring transient particle emissions from the Sun, for the electrons that generate solar type III radio emission, for the shock accelerated electrons that produce type II radio emission, and for the superhalo electrons (whose origin is unknown) that are present in the interplanetary medium even during the quietest times. These electrons are ideal for tracing heliospheric magnetic field lines back to their source regions on the Sun and for determining field line lengths, thus probing the structure of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) and of the ambient inner heliosphere. STE utilizes arrays of small, passively cooled thin window silicon semiconductor detectors, coupled to state-of-the-art pulse-reset front-end electronics, to detect electrons down to ∼2 keV with about 2 orders of magnitude increase in sensitivity over previous sensors at energies below ∼20 keV. STE provides energy resolution of ΔE/E∼10–25% and the angular resolution of ∼20° over two oppositely directed ∼80°×80° fields of view centered on the nominal Parker spiral field direction.
A new method for the containment of (a + Be) neutron sources

The use of pyrex or quartz for encapsulation of neutron sources based on the Be( alpha ,n) reaction is discussed. The purpose of using these substances is that they are permeable to He and that heating could drive out excess He. It is shown that, even without heating, the rate of He effusion is about equal to the rate of buildup. ( T.F.H.)
Nitric Oxide Modulation of the Allograft Responsein Vivo

Our previous work detailing the antiproliferative effects of nitric oxide (NO) in various assays of lymphocyte function in vitro led us to examine whether this immunosuppressive effect was also operative in vivo. The efficacy of administration of the NO synthesis inhibitor, aminoguanidine (AG), by various routes was examined. Oral administration as a 1% solution in the drinking water effectively lowered serum NO-2 + NO-3 levels. The effect of AG administration on cytolytic T-lymphocyte (CTL) development in vivo using the sponge matrix allograft model in both rats and mice was examined. Perhaps due to the small amount of NO produced at the graft site, AG administration did not affect CTL activity recovered from the grafts. In a nonlethal model of GvHD, oral administration of AG resulted in a decrease in destruction of host cells that was not associated with any differences in donor antihost CTL activity recovered from the spleens of these mice. Additionally, the proliferative response of T lymphocytes recovered from the spleens of AG-treated GvHD mice was greatly enhanced compared to the response of GvHD mice that did not receive AG. These results indicate that inhibition of NO does not potentiate CTL generation in vivo, which is in contrast to the results that we have seen in vitro. However, NO seems to induce bystander tissue injury in the GvHD process that may account for some host tissue destruction as well as the decreased T-lymphocyte proliferative responses characteristic of the GvHD disease process.
Effect of estradiol administration on splanchnic perfusion after trauma-hemorrhage and sepsis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review focuses on the latest mechanistic understanding of the effects of estradiol on the splanchnic circulation and the possibility of estradiol treatment as an adjunct for the treatment of trauma-hemorrhage and sepsis. RECENT FINDINGS Systemic hypotension induced by shock accompanies marked alterations in blood flow to various organs. Decreased splanchnic perfusion is frequently observed after insults, such as severe hemorrhage or sepsis, which leads to the destruction of the intestinal mucosal barrier and hepatic dysfunction. Studies suggest that estradiol acts as a facilitator of the intestinal blood flow via the increased production of nitric oxide, decreased production of vasoconstrictors, attenuated neutrophil adhesion, and decreased formation of oxygen free radicals. SUMMARY Trauma-hemorrhage results in decreased circulating blood volume. In contrast, sepsis is an inflammatory state mainly mediated by bacterial products. However, these divergent insults show similar pathophysiologic alterations in terms of the splanchnic circulation. Because estradiol effectively protects the organs from circulatory failure after various adverse circulatory conditions, many studies are being performed to clarify the molecular mechanism of estradiol action with regard to tissue circulation. Estradiol improves the macro- and microcirculation of the splanchnic organs by multiple mechanisms. Nonetheless, it remains unclear which mechanism plays the most important role in the treatment of trauma-hemorrhage and sepsis. Additional studies are required to elucidate the precise mechanism of estradiol action and to determine the usefulness of estradiol treatment for severe hemorrhage and sepsis in patients.
A study of the effects of internal organ motion on dose escalation in conformal prostate treatments.

Abstract Background and purpose : To assess the effect of internal organ motion on the dose distributions and biological indices for the target and non-target organs for three different conformal prostate treatment techniques. Materials and methods : We examined three types of treatment plans in 20 patients: (1) a six field plan, with a prescribed dose of 75.6 Gy; (2) the same six field plan to 72 Gy followed by a boost to 81 Gy; and (3) a five field plan with intensity modulated beams delivering 81 Gy. Treatment plans were designed using an initial CT data set (planning) and applied to three subsequent CT scans (treatment). The treatment CT contours were used to represent patient specific organ displacement; in addition, the dose distribution was convolved with a Gaussian distribution to model random setup error. Dose–volume histograms were calculated using an organ deformation model in which the movement between scans of individual points interior to the organs was tracked and the dose accumulated. The tumor control probability (TCP) for the prostate and proximal half of seminal vesicles (clinical target volume, CTV), normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for the rectum and the percent volume of bladder wall receiving at least 75 Gy were calculated. Results : The patient averaged increase in the planned TCP between plan types 2 and 1 and types 3 and 1 was 9.8% (range 4.9–12.5%) for both, whereas the corresponding increases in treatment TCP were 9.0% (1.3–16%) and 8.1% (−1.3–13.8%). In all patients, plans 2 and 3 (81 Gy) exhibited equal or higher treatment TCP than plan 1 (75.6 Gy). The maximum treatment NTCP for rectum never exceeded the planning constraint and percent volume of bladder wall receiving at least 75 Gy was similar in the planning and treatment scans for all three plans. Conclusion : For plans that deliver a uniform prescribed dose to the planning target volume (PTV) (plan 1), current margins are adequate. In plans that further escalate the dose to part of the PTV (plans 2 and 3), in a fraction of the cases the CTV dose increase is less than planned, yet in all cases the TCP values are higher relative to the uniform dose PTV (plan 1). Doses to critical organs remain within the planning criteria.
Schools' racial mix, students' optimism, and the black-white and latino-white achievement gaps

This article examines how schools' racial and ethnic mix of students and teachers influences black, white, and Latino students' occupational expectations, educational aspirations, and concrete attitudes. Findings from multilevel-model analyses of data from the National Education Longitudinal Study show that Latinos' and blacks' beliefs are more optimistic and more pro-school in segregated-minority schools, especially when these schools also employ many minority teachers. Further analyses indicate that the positive effects of segregated-minority schools on blacks' and Latinos' beliefs reduce the black-white and Latino-white gaps in achievement. These findings suggest that teachers and administrators in segregated-white schools need to address how they lower minority students' beliefs and that segregated-minority schools can be improved by hiring many minority teachers.
Opposing Activities of DRM and MES-4 Tune Gene Expression and X-Chromosome Repression in Caenorhabditis elegans Germ Cells

During animal development, gene transcription is tuned to tissue-appropriate levels. Here we uncover antagonistic regulation of transcript levels in the germline of Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodites. The histone methyltransferase MES-4 (Maternal Effect Sterile-4) marks genes expressed in the germline with methylated lysine on histone H3 (H3K36me) and promotes their transcription; MES-4 also represses genes normally expressed in somatic cells and genes on the X chromosome. The DRM transcription factor complex, named for its Dp/E2F, Retinoblastoma-like, and MuvB subunits, affects germline gene expression and prevents excessive repression of X-chromosome genes. Using genome-scale analyses of germline tissue, we show that common germline-expressed genes are activated by MES-4 and repressed by DRM, and that MES-4 and DRM co-bind many germline-expressed genes. Reciprocally, MES-4 represses and DRM activates a set of autosomal soma-expressed genes and overall X-chromosome gene expression. Mutations in mes-4 and the DRM subunit lin-54 oppositely skew the transcript levels of their common targets and cause sterility. A double mutant restores target gene transcript levels closer to wild type, and the concomitant loss of lin-54 suppresses the severe germline proliferation defect observed in mes-4 single mutants. Together, "yin-yang" regulation by MES-4 and DRM ensures transcript levels appropriate for germ-cell function, elicits robust but not excessive dampening of X-chromosome-wide transcription, and may poise genes for future expression changes. Our study reveals that conserved transcriptional regulators implicated in development and cancer counteract each other to fine-tune transcript dosage.
Continuous passive oxygen insufflation results in a similar outcome to positive pressure ventilation in a swine model of out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation.

Summary Background The deleterious effects of positive pressure ventilation may be prevented by substituting passive oxygen insufflation during advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Methods We compared 24-h neurologically normal survival among three different ventilation scenarios for ACLS in a realistic swine model of out-of-hospital prolonged ventricular fibrillation (VF) cardiac arrest. No bystander CPR was provided during the first 8min of untreated VF before the simulated arrival of an emergency medical system (EMS). Thirty-six swine were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups. Group I (standard ventilation) was mechanically ventilated at 10 respirations per minute (RPM) at a tidal volume (TV) of 10ml/kg with 100% oxygen. Group II (hyperventilation) was ventilated at 35RPM at a TV of 20ml/kg with 100% oxygen. In Group III (insufflation) animals, a nasal cannula was placed in the oropharynx to administer oxygen continuously at 10l/min. Results There was no significant difference in the 24h neurologically normal survival among groups (standard: 2/12, hyperventilation: 2/12, insufflation: 4/12; p =.53). Conclusions Passive insufflation may be an acceptable alternative to the currently recommended positive pressure ventilation during resuscitation efforts for out-of-hospital VF cardiac arrest. Potential advantages of this technique include: (1) easier to teach, (2) easier to administer, (3) prevention of the adverse effects of positive pressure ventilation and (4) allows EMS personnel to concentrate upon other critically important duties.
Pynamic: the Python Dynamic Benchmark

Python is widely used in scientific computing to facilitate application development and to support features such as computational steering. Making full use of some of Python's popular features, which improve programmer productivity, leads to applications that access extremely high numbers of dynamically linked libraries (DLLs). As a result, some important Python-based applications severely stress a system's dynamic linking and loading capabilities and also cause significant difficulties for most development environment tools, such as debuggers. Furthermore, using the Python paradigm for large scale MPI-based applications can create significant file IO and further stress tools and operating systems. In this paper, we present Pynamic, the first benchmark program to support configurable emulation of a wide-range of the DLL usage of Python-based applications for large scale systems. Pynamic has already accurately reproduced system software and tool issues encountered by important large Python-based scientific applications on our supercomputers. Pynamic provided insight for our system software and tool vendors, and our application developers, into the impact of several design decisions. As we describe the Pynamic benchmark, we will highlight some of the issues discovered in our large scale system software and tools using Pynamic.
Engineering a genetic transformation system for Colletotrichum acutatum, the causal fungus of lime anthracnose and postbloom fruit drop of citrus

Postbloom fruit drop (PFD) of citrus is caused by Colletotrichum acutatum. PFD isolates infect flower petals, induce abscission of small fruit and can cause severe yield loss on most citrus cultivars. Isolates from Key lime anthracnose (KLA) cause that disease on the Mexican lime, but also cause PFD on sweet orange. Both PFD and KLA isolates exhibited resistance to the common selection agents including hygromycin, bialaphos, benomyl and geneticin/G418. A genetic transformation system was developed for C. acutatum to confer resistance to sulfonylurea (chlorimuron ethyl) by expressing an acetolactate synthase gene (sur) cassette from Magnaporthe grisea. The protocol was tested on 11 different KLA and PFD isolates. The transformation frequencies were highly variable among isolates and among experiments (0–17.9 per μg circular DNA using 107 protoplasts). Southern blot analysis of transformants indicated that the plasmid vector was randomly integrated in multiple copies into the genome of C. acutatum. Addition of restriction enzymes or use of a vector with homologous sequences did not change the transformation frequencies, but tended to reduce the number integrated. Over 97% of the transformants retained the sulfonylurea resistance phenotype under non-selective conditions. Of 300 transformants tested, three were unable to cause necrotic lesions on detached Key lime leaves. The transformation method opens up opportunities for the genetic manipulation of C. acutatum.
IFN-γ Acts on the Airway Epithelium To Inhibit Local and Systemic Pathology in Allergic Airway Disease

Inhibiting allergic airway inflammation is the goal of therapy in persistent asthma. Administration of medication via the airways delivers drug directly to the site of inflammation and avoids systemic side effects but often fails to modulate systemic features of asthma. We have shown that Th1 cells, through production of IFN-γ, inhibit many Th2-induced effector functions that promote disease. Using a newly generated mouse that expresses IFN-γR only on airway epithelial cells, we show that the airway epithelium controls a range of pathological responses in asthma. IFN-γ acting only through the airway epithelium inhibits mucus, chitinases, and eosinophilia, independent of Th2 cell activation. IFN-γ signaling through the airway epithelium inhibits eosinophil generation in the bone marrow, indicating that signals on the airway mucosal surface can regulate distant functions to inhibit disease. IFN-γ actions through the airway epithelium will limit airway obstruction and inflammation and may be therapeutic in refractory asthma.
Age-related differences in Na+-dependent Ca2+ accumulation in rabbit hearts exposed to hypoxia and acidification

In this study, we test the hypothesis that in newborn hearts (as in adults) hypoxia and acidification stimulate increased Na+ uptake, in part via pH-regulatory Na+/H+ exchange. Resulting increases ...
Irreproducible experimental results: causes, (mis)interpretations, and consequences.

> [T]he work of science has nothing whatever to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics. Science, on the contrary, requires only one investigator who happens to be right, which means that he or she has results that are verifiable by reference to the real world. In science consensus is irrelevant. What is relevant is reproducible results. > > —Michael Crichton, from “Aliens Cause Global Warming,” a lecture given at California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, January 17, 20031 > Trust everybody, but cut the cards. > > —Finley Peter Dunne, 19th century American journalist2 Experimental reproducibility is the coin of the scientific realm. The extent to which measurements or observations agree when performed by different individuals defines this important tenet of the scientific method. The formal essence of experimental reproducibility was born of the philosophy of logical positivism or logical empiricism, which purports to gain knowledge of the world through the use of formal logic linked to observation.3 A key principle of logical positivism is verificationism, which holds that every truth is verifiable by experience. In this rational context, truth is defined by reproducible experience, and unbiased scientific observation and determinism are its underpinnings. From a more practical perspective, reproducibility is a means by which to reduce the tentative nature of an initial scientific observation. The implicit assumptions of tests of reproducibility are that, if an initial observation is found to be reproducible, then it must be true; and if an initial observation is found not to be reproducible, then it must be false. Although the logic of these concepts is unimpeachable, we should not conflate scientific truth and reproducibility. As Jonah Lehrer pointed out recently, “Just because an idea is true doesn't mean it can be proved. And just because an idea can be proved doesn't mean it's true. When the experiments are done, we still have to choose what to believe.”4 The assumption that objectively true scientific observations must be reproducible is implicit, yet direct tests …
Sensitivity of Mouse Bioassay in Clinical Wound Botulism

Background California has an ongoing epidemic of wound botulism (WB) among injection drug users (IDUs). We retrospectively studied a cohort of patients with WB and determined the sensitivity of the mouse bioassay-the gold standard laboratory test for confirmation of botulism-in verifying WB. Methods We defined a clinical case of WB as an acute, bilateral, descending, flaccid paralysis starting with 1 cranial nerve palsies in an IDU with no other explainable diagnosis. We calculated the sensitivity of the mouse bioassay as the proportion of clinical WB cases that had positive serum toxin test results by mouse bioassay. We compared serum toxin-positive with serum toxin-negative patients. Results Of 73 patients with WB, 50 tested serum toxin positive, yielding a sensitivity of 68%. Serum toxin-positive patients did not differ significantly from serum toxin-negative patients with respect to demographic characteristics or injection drug use practices or in days from patient symptom onset to collection of specimens for testing. Patients did not differ significantly by clinical characteristics, except that serum toxin-positive patients were more likely than serum toxin-negative patients to have required mechanical ventilation during their hospital courses (74% vs. 43%; P = .01). Conclusions In this study, the mouse bioassay failed to detect botulinum toxin in the serum samples of nearly one-third of IDUs with characteristic WB. Such patients should be considered to have probable WB. Physicians should be aware of the test's limitations and base their final diagnosis of suspected WB on clinical criteria when the mouse bioassay produces negative results.
Olefin terpolymerizations. I. 1,4‐hexadiene

Ethylene (E), propylene (P), and 1,4-hexadiene (HD) were terpolymerized with rac-1,2-ethylenebis (1-η5-indenyl) zirconium(IV) dichloride and methylaluminoxane (Et[Ind]2ZrCl2/MAO), and compared with the copolymerizations of E/P, E/HD, P/HD, and terpolymerization using ethylidene norbornene (ENB) as the termonomer. HD lowers the polymerization activity, the effect is more pronounced for P/HD and E/P/HD using large amount of P, than for E/HD and E/P/HD using feed low in P. The polymer molecular weight is most strongly affected by the temperature of polymerization (Tp), whereas the E/P ratio in the feed has virtually no effect. The reactivity ratios rE and rP are 3.0 and 0.3, respectively, at 20°C but rP becomes larger than rE at TP = 70°C. 1H-NMR spectra showed occurrence of cycloaddition in the homopolymerization of HD; on the other hand, HD is incorporated in the terpolymer only by linear 1,2-addition. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Verbal and nonverbal cues in the perception of lying.

Two experiments examined strategies observers use to see through self-presentations. In the first, five male actor subjects lied or told the truth in simulated job interviews. Forty-one observers were moderately accurate in judging the actors' truthfulness. Actors were consistently good or poor liars, but judges were not consistently good or poor. When actors lied, they gave less plausible, shorter answers with longer latencies. Observers seemed to use the plausibility and latency, as well as an answer's vagueness and consistency and an actor's smiling, postural shifting, and grooming, to determine whether he was lying. The second study experimentally manipulated the content of an answer and a nonverbal cue. Observers were more likely to judge a female job applicant as lying when her answers were self-serving. A long hesitation before an answer made observers more suspicious of an already self-serving answer and more certain of the truth of an already forthright one.
COMPETITION–COLONIZATION TRADE-OFFS IN A GUILD OF AFRICAN ACACIA-ANTS

In systems where disturbance creates colonization opportunities, competition–colonization trade-offs can lead to coexistence between competitors sharing a single, limiting resource. In upland East Africa, four species of obligate acacia-ants compete for possession of Acacia drepanolobium host trees but still coexist at fine spatial scales. Previous experiments revealed a hierarchy of competitive dominance among mature ant colonies in battles over occupied trees (Crematogaster sjostedti > C. mimosae > C. nigriceps > Tetraponera penzigi), and the pattern of ant species turnover on single host trees over time is consistent with this hierarchy. Here we present evidence that competition–colonization trade-offs are likely to facilitate coexistence within this guild. The population of host trees is highly dynamic. Although most suitable host trees are occupied by ants, mature A. drepanolobium trees may be vacated after fire, extensive damage, or drought. Smaller host trees with limited nesting space become available when they recruit into the population as saplings or coppices. These unoccupied trees may be colonized by expansion of nearby, mature colonies as well as by foundress queens attempting to initiate new colonies. We identified competition–colonization trade-offs between two stages of colony development: competitive colony expansion onto nearby trees, and competition among foundress queens for nest-initiation sites. All three Crematogaster species readily occupy nearby, empty trees by colony expansion. In contrast, T. penzigi colonizes empty trees almost exclusively by dispersive foundress queens. Colonies of C. sjostedti are competitively dominant over those of all other species, but foundress queens of this species rarely attempt to start independent colonies. Foundress queens of the secondary competitive dominant (C. mimosae) are restricted mostly to low-quality, small saplings. In contrast, competitively subordinate colonies of T. penzigi and C. nigriceps produce foundress queens that disproportionately colonize empty mature trees, the highest quality host plants that are available. Competition between foundress queens is intense. Queens are significantly hyper-dispersed among potential nest-initiation sites, indicating that the presence of resident foundresses deters subsequent colonization attempts, and competitive dominance among foundresses who fight during colony founding is the reverse of that seen among mature colonies. Coexistence within this guild may therefore be promoted by ontogenetic reversals in relative competitive ability between early and late stages of colony development, a pattern that is consistent with the niche hypothesis for competition–colonization trade-offs.
Physical examination prior to initiating hormonal contraception: a systematic review.

Abstract Background Provision of contraception is often linked with physical examination, including clinical breast examination (CBE) and pelvic examination. This review was conducted to evaluate the evidence regarding outcomes among women with and without physical examination prior to initiating hormonal contraceptives. Study Design The PubMed database was searched from database inception through March 2012 for all peer-reviewed articles in any language concerning CBE and pelvic examination prior to initiating hormonal contraceptives. The quality of each study was assessed using the United States Preventive Services Task Force grading system. Results The search did not identify any evidence regarding outcomes among women screened versus not screened with CBE prior to initiation of hormonal contraceptives. The search identified two case–control studies of fair quality which compared women who did or did not undergo pelvic examination prior to initiating oral contraceptives (OCs) or depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). No differences in risk factors for cervical neoplasia, incidence of sexually transmitted infections, incidence of abnormal Pap smears or incidence of abnormal wet mount findings were observed. Conclusions Although women with breast cancer should not use hormonal contraceptives, there is little utility in screening prior to initiation, due to the low incidence of breast cancer and uncertain value of CBE among women of reproductive age. Two fair quality studies demonstrated no differences between women who did or did not undergo pelvic examination prior to initiating OCs or DMPA with respect to risk factors or clinical outcomes. In addition, pelvic examination is not likely to detect any conditions for which hormonal contraceptives would be unsafe.
Augmenting Natural Convection in a Vertical Flow Path Through Transverse Vibrations of an Adiabatic Wall

Natural-convection enhancement methods may provide more efficient and effective, low-cost, reliable alternative cooling options for certain operating conditions. In this work, the introduction of locally applied oscillations is explored as a means of improving natural-convection cooling. A simple geometric system consisting of a vertically oriented flow path with one uniformly heated wall and one transversely oscillating, insulated wall is utilized. A finite-volume SIMPLER-based technique is developed to study the system in a transformed “fixed” domain. Analysis over a range of oscillation frequencies and displacements, flow channel length-to-width ratios, and heat rates allows for the examination of the characteristics of the resulting velocity and temperature fields under various operating conditions. The combination of the oscillations, the natural convection, the fluid inertia, and other flow drivers produced up to a 340% increase in the local heat transfer coefficient.
Top-down teaching enables task-relevant classification with competitive learning

A method of augmenting the basic competitive learning algorithm with a top-down teaching signal which allows task relevant information to guide the development of synaptic connections is described. This teaching signal removes the restriction inherent in unsupervised learning and allows high-level structuring of the representation while maintaining the speed and biological plausibility of a local Hebbian-style learning algorithm. The function of the teaching input is illustrated geometrically, and examples of the use of this algorithm in small problems are presented. This work supports the hypothesis that cortical back-projections are important for the organization of sensory traces during learning. >
What Matters To R&D Workers

Surprisingly little empirical information is available to help laboratory managers attract and retain productive R&D workers. Most employee attitude surveys do not focus on the specific attributes ...
Global modeling and international performance

The modern international system began to coalesce around five centuries ago. Technological, demographic, political, economic, and organizational factors account for this occurrence (Levy; 1983; Chirot, 1985; Modelski, 1987). Its constituent entities interact via the mechanisms of both trade and warfare. The research questions, which I will investigate for this paper, are: 1) Does the international system “learn”. Specifically, does it constitute a complex adaptive, “learning” system. I will utilize real world warfare frequency data (Levy, 1983) to evaluate this proposition. 2) What type of international system (realist/neo-realist type system or liberal/neoliberal/idealist) most nearly corresponds to selected observed performance characteristics of the international system. I will utilize variants of my computer model in which either military power alone determines the outcome of interactions between nations (realism-type paradigm), or, military power and trade determine outcomes for international interactions (liberalism-type paradigm). I evaluate the performance of these two classes of systemic variant. By definition, performance (T) is equal to outputs (Y) divided by inputs (X). Throughout this essay my general indicator for performance shall be adaptation. These two variants in essence represent between-group conflict only, versus a combination of between group-conflict and between-group co-operation.