cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms of Action of Rifaximin in Gastrointestinal Diseases

Emerging preclinical and clinic evidence described herein suggests that the mechanism of action of rifaximin is not restricted to direct antibacterial effects within the gastrointestinal tract. Data from this study were derived from general and clinical trial-specific PubMed searches of English-language articles on rifaximin available through December 3, 2014. Search terms included rifaximin alone and in combination (using the Boolean operation "AND") with travelers' diarrhea, hepatic encephalopathy, liver cirrhosis, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and Crohn's disease. Rifaximin appears to reduce bacterial virulence and pathogenicity by inhibiting bacterial translocation across the gastrointestinal epithelial lining. Rifaximin was shown to decrease bacterial adherence to epithelial cells and subsequent internalization in a bacteria- and cell type-specific manner, without an alteration in bacterial counts, but with a down-regulation in epithelial proinflammatory cytokine expression. Rifaximin also appears to modulate gut-immune signaling. In animal models of inflammatory bowel disease, rifaximin produced therapeutic effects by activating the pregnane X receptor and thereby reducing levels of the proinflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor κB. Therefore, for a given disease state, rifaximin may act through several mechanisms of action to exert its therapeutic effects. Clinically, rifaximin 600 mg/d significantly reduced symptoms of travelers' diarrhea (eg, time to last unformed stool vs placebo [32.0 hours vs 65.5 hours, respectively; P=.001]). For the prevention of hepatic encephalopathy recurrence, data indicate that treating 4 patients with rifaximin 1100 mg/d for 6 months would prevent 1 episode of hepatic encephalopathy. For diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, a significantly greater percentage (40.7%) of patients treated with rifaximin 1650 mg/d for 2 weeks experienced adequate global irritable bowel syndrome symptom relief vs placebo (31.7%; P<.001). Rifaximin may be best described as a gut microenvironment modulator with cytoprotection properties, and further studies are needed to determine whether these putative mechanisms of action play a direct role in clinical outcomes.
SiC Dopant Incorporation Control Using Site‐Competition CVD

The use of site-competition epitaxy, which is based on intentional variation of the Si/C ratio during epitaxy, has now been reproduced in numerous national and international laboratories. Presented in this paper is a summary of the site-competition technique as a comparison of controlled doping on C-face 6H-SiC(0001-) versus Si-face 6H-SiC(0001) substrates for phosphorous (P), aluminum (Al), boron (B), and nitrogen (N). Also reported herein is the detection of hydrogen in boron-doped CVD SiC epilayers and hydrogen-passivation of the boron-acceptors. Results from low temperature photoluminescence (LTPL) spectroscopy indicate that the hydrogen content increased as the C–V measured net hole concentration increased. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis revealed that the boron and the hydrogen incorporation both increased as the Si/C ratio was sequentially decreased within the CVD reactor during epilayer growth. Boron-doped epilayers that were annealed at 1700 °C in argon no longer exhibited hydrogen-related LTPL lines, and subsequent SIMS analysis confirmed the outdiffusion of hydrogen from the boron-doped SiC epilayers. The C–V measured net hole concentration for the B-doped epitaxial layers increased more than threefold as a result of the 1700 °C anneal, which is consistent with hydrogen passivation of the boron-acceptors. For N-doped epitaxy, N incorporation into C-sites is favored on the Si-face whereas N incorporation into the Si-site is apparently the preferred lattice site on the C-face. Both P and N exhibit preferred incorporation on the C-face while Al and B incorporation is more efficient on the Si-face.
Dissection of a Truth Regime: The Narrowing Effects on the Public Good of Neoliberal Discourse in the Virginia Performance-Based Funding Policy.

A major role of all public higher education institutions is to foster the public good. In democratic societies, the public good emphasizes the more collective activities and benefits and how resources are accessible to all in a society. Institutions of higher education create new knowledge, promote cultural tolerance, increase civic activity, and have lasting intergenerational effects among other things which all serve to enhance the collective activities of a polity. Since public higher education institutions promote the public good, and since public higher education institutions are governed by policy, educational policy becomes a crucial determiner of the public good. Moreover, policies are constructed with language or discourse. Thus, the discourse of policy, which has the power to structure the actions, speech, and thoughts of those affected by the policy, has a direct impact on the public good. In light of this importance, this paper critically examines the discourse of educational policy.
Development of EGFR-Targeted Polymer Blend Nanocarriers for Combination Paclitaxel/Lonidamine Delivery to Treat Multi-Drug Resistance in Human Breast and Ovarian Tumor Cells

Multi-drug resistant (MDR) cancer is a significant clinical obstacle and is often implicated in cases of recurrent, nonresponsive disease. Targeted nanoparticles were made by synthesizing a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)/poly(ethylene glycol)/epidermal growth factor receptor targeting peptide (PLGA/PEG/EGFR-peptide) construct for incorporation in poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) nanoparticles. MDR was induced in a panel of nine human breast and ovarian cancer cell lines using hypoxia. EGFR-targeted polymer blend nanoparticles were shown to actively target EGFR overexpressing cell lines, especially upon induction of hypoxia. The nanoparticles were capable of sustained drug release. Combination therapy with lonidamine and paclitaxel significantly improved the therapeutic index of both drugs. Treatment with a nanoparticle dose of 1 μM paclitaxel/10 μM lonidamine resulted in less than 10% cell viability for all hypoxic/MDR cell lines and less than 5% cell viability for all normoxic cell lines. Comparatively, treatment with 1 μM paclitaxel alone was the approximate IC₅₀ value of the MDR cells while treatment with lonidamine alone had very little effect. The PLGA/PEG/EGFR-peptide delivery system actively targets a MDR cell by exploiting the expression of EGFR. This system treats MDR by inhibiting the Warburg effect and promoting mitochondrial binding of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins (lonidamine), while hyperstabilizing microtubules (paclitaxel). This nanocarrier system actively targets a MDR associated phenotype (EGFR receptor overexpression), further enhancing the therapeutic index of both drugs and potentiating the use of lonidamine/paclitaxel combination therapy in the treatment of MDR cancer.
Optimum Sensing Bandwidth for Energy-Efficient Cognitive Radio Communications

Cognitive radio may discover more idle (unoccupied) spectrum by spending more power for spectrum sensing, while the transmission power can be reduced by using more spectrum (bandwidth). We analyze the tradeoff between the sensing power and transmission power in achieving a given throughput in cognitive radio networks and examine the optimum sensing bandwidth that maximizes the energy efficiency, defined as the number of bits that can be successfully delivered per unit of energy (bits per Joule). Maximizing the energy efficiency enables economical green wireless networks and reduces CO2 emission. The effect of the sensing time, the number of cognitive radios, and the primary user spectrum occupancy rate on the optimum sensing bandwidth is examined in cooperative spectrum sensing.
Faraday rotation measure variations in the Cygnus region and the spectrum of interstellar plasma turbulence

Linear polarization observations were made of eight double-lobed radio galaxies viewed through the galactic plane in the Cygnus region. These observations have been used to determine intra- and intersource rotation measure differences; in some cases, unambiguous rotation measures have been extracted. The rotation measures are dominated by foreground magnetoionic material. The differences in rotation measure between pairs of sources correlate with angular separation for separations from 10 arcsec to 1.5 deg. These rotation measure fluctuations are consistent with a model in which the electron density varies on roughly 0.1-200 pc scales. The amplitudes of these variations are, in turn, consistent with those electron density variations that cause diffractive interstellar scattering on scales less than 10 to the 11th cm.
Exploiting points-to maps for de-/serialization code generation

Serialization code generators for C++ have restrictions on the implementation of dynamic arrays and void/function pointers. If the target program is not implemented with these restrictions, developers have to manually change the source code to facilitate serialization code generation. Unfortunately, such changes hamper the benefits of code generation, and they are not localized. This paper presents the de-/serialization code generator Ser++ that does not restrict the implementation of these pointer types and, hence, eliminates the need to adapt the source code for serialization code generation.Ser++ can be considered an aspect weaver that i) traces the pointers, ii) identifies the statements in which properties regarding the serialization of pointer attributes can be extracted and, finally, iii) weaves the code to store these properties at runtime. It generates the de-/serialization functions in such a way that they serialize the pointer attributes according to the stored values of the properties. We have successfully used Ser++ to generate de-/serialization methods for a computer architecture and a power-flow simulator, without any modifications to the existing source code.
Followership behaviors and barriers to wealth creation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to further research in the leader-follower relationship by focussing on followership. Given the need to increase organizational collaboration and cooperation, this research identifies the nature of follower buy-in behaviors and characteristics and develops a continuum of increasing follower compliance to stewardship with the organization. Design/methodology/approach – This research integrates the insights of highly regarded researchers into a continuum of follower compliance to stewardship and proposes 12 propositions of leaders and followers that address the importance of creating an environment for improved collaboration and cooperation which ultimately leads to increased organizational competitiveness and profitability. Findings – A continuum of increasing follower buy-in is proposed with the first four zones drawn from past literature (indifference, acceptance, trust, and commitment) and a fifth zone, follower stewardship, being introduced in the paper. The autho...
SU-E-T-604: Decreasing Subcutaneous Skin Dose in Breast Radiotherapy Using TomoDirect (TD)

Purpose: TD is a newly introduced modality by TomoTherapy (Tomotherapy Inc., Madision, WI) allowing users to plan and deliver a series overlapping radiation fan beams at static beam angles with a moving couch. We observed undesired breast skindosing in whole breast treatment plans with TD. The purpose of this work was to develop a method using a treatment planning subcutaneous avoidance structure (SAS) to lower this subcutaneous skindose (SCSD) in whole breast TD treatment planning. Methods: As a 3DCRT modality, TD only allows PTV coverage to be specified. We placed SAS, circles of approximately 3 mm in diameter, at the subcutaneous region of the breast as a pseudo‐target with slightly lower prescription dose than the BreastPTV. Five left‐sided early breast cancer patients were selected for this study. BreastPTV was defined as breast tissue limited 5mm from the skinsurface. Two skinstructures were contoured, a 5mm and a 2.5mm strip extending from patient surface towards the BreastPTV. Plans with and without SAS were generated for the 5 patients and an anthropomorphic phantom with 6 tangent‐like beams. SAS was optimized to limit the dose to 45 Gy for a Breast TV prescription dose of 50Gy. Dose volume histograms were compared. Subcutaneous dose, with and without SAS, were measured using both Gafchromic EBT2 film and thermoluminescencedosimetry(TLD). Results: With similar BreastPTV coverage and normal tissue sparing, plans without SAS had a V45 in the subcutaneous region of 80–90% whereas plans with SAS had a V45 of 70– 80%, 10% decrease in the 5mm skin strip. For the 2.5 mm skin strip, decreasing in V45 was about 20% in plans with SAS. The results were confirmed with film and TLD measurements, which demonstrated an 8% decrease in a plan with SAS. Conclusions: The SAS planning technique can lower SCSD without compromising PTV coverage using TomoDirect.
Remifentanil: a review of its use in electroconvulsive therapy.

Objective The primary objectives were to review studies that used remifentanil in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and to determine whether remifentanil has potential advantages over other anesthetics. Materials and methods The author reviewed 12 original studies obtained through a MEDLINE database search that examined remifentanil as an anesthetic in patients receiving ECT. Results Remifentanil was associated with longer seizure durations when used as the sole anesthetic or as an adjunct when the primary anesthetic dose was lowered. Individual studies reported higher postictal suppression index and lower initial seizure thresholds and less rise in seizure thresholds with remifentanil. Data on hemodynamic effects were mixed but suggested favorable effects with remifentanil when seizure duration was not prolonged. Conclusions Studies support the use of remifentanil in ECT, particularly in patients with brief seizures, high seizure thresholds, and postictal hemodynamic instability. Broad variability in study design, selection and dosing of anesthetics, electrode placement, and limited examination of potentially relevant variables such as age, sex, concomitant medications; and stimulus parameters attenuate the certainty of these results. Advantages in safety and efficacy over other anesthetics remain undetermined. Further study of remifentanil in ECT is warranted, given the methodological limitations and exclusion of important outcomes in the current literature.
Investigating the control design of the disturbance reduction system for the LISA mission

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission will consist of a three spacecraft formation acting as a large interferometer. The spacecraft formation will measure the distortion of space caused by passing gravitational waves. Each spacecraft will contain two shielded proof masses that define the optical arms of the interferometer. To mitigate the effects of external disturbances, the LISA Disturbance Reduction System will control the spacecraft to fly drag-free trajectories with reference to their respective proof masses. This paper investigates control design issues associated with the LISA Disturbance Reduction System (DRS). In particular, this paper presents a two degrees-of-freedom (DOF) model representing a spacecraft with a single proof mass. With this model, key control design issues are identified. A Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller design is then presented to illustrate the feasibility of the DRS control concept. A three DOF model is used to explore the DRS implications of a spacecraft with two proof masses.
Mean Field Theory for the Biaxial Nematic Phase and The NN'AC Critical Point

Abstract The Chen-Lubensky model for the Nac critical point is modified to include a bond-angle order parameter describing the biaxial nematic (N′) phase. When reasonable assumptions are made about fluctuation effects at the NN AC point, an N′ phase always occurs leading to an NN′AC tetracritical point as predicted by Grinstein and Toner. The x-ray scattering intensity is found to consist of two off-axis diffuse spots near the NN′AC point and to evolve continuously toward a ring with a cosh modulation as the point where the N, N′, and C phases meet is approached. Powder averages of the x-ray intensity in the N′ phase will be difficult to distinguish from the intensity predicted by the Chen-Lubensky model throughout most of the N′ phase.
Amine-catalyzed epimerization of γ-hydroxybutenolides

Abstract The amine-catalyzed epimerization of chiral γ-hydroxybutenolides leads to a fast exchange on the NMR time scale.
Patient and Analyst in Crises: A Mutual Transformation Reflected in a Clinical Narrative and St. Exupery’s “The Little Prince”

In this article I will describe and illustrate how personal crises of patient and analyst, in contrast to the more commonly recognized detrimental effect, can actually facilitate a mutually transformative process. While I was in the throes of my own personal crisis, a very challenging patient arrived for treatment. How that analysis evolved over the course of 12 years to become a mutually transformative and creative process for both the patient and myself is the focus of this article. To augment delineation of this process, I will use St. Exupery’s The Little Prince as a literary depiction of what I believe to be the essential healing elements involved, poignantly illustrated with excerpts from the book.
Esophageal solid bolus transit: studies using concurrent videofluoroscopy and manometry.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess the efficacy and mechanism of solid bolus transit through the esophagus. METHODS: Eight healthy volunteers were studied with concurrent manometry and videofluoroscopy while swallowing 5 ml liquid barium, a 5–6 mm diameter bread ball, and 4 g chewed bread in both a supine and upright posture. As many as four successive swallows were performed until clearance was achieved. RESULTS: The esophageal clearance of liquid barium was 100% with the first swallow. Clearance of the unchewed bread ball occurred with the first swallow in only 6.7% of trials in the upright posture and 5.9% in the supine posture. After four swallows, clearance was 100% and 52.9% in the upright and supine postures, respectively. Chewed bread was more readily cleared than unchewed bread, with 100% clearance after two swallows in the upright posture and 91% clearance after four swallows in the supine posture. The most common locus of bread stasis was at the aortic arch and carina. The bread boluses were noted to move more effectively when localized in the head as opposed to the tail of the bolus composite. Nonocclusive contractions often occurred at the bolus tail despite the increased peristaltic amplitude seen with the chewed bread. Failed peristalsis, a frequent cause for solid clearance failure, was observed during 30% of all bread swallows. This usually occurred distal to the stopping point of the bolus, suggesting it to be the result rather than the cause of impaired transit. CONCLUSIONS: Although infrequently perceived by these normal subjects and in contradistinction to liquid clearance, bread is rarely cleared from the esophagus with a single swallow. Mastication and an upright posture facilitate the esophageal transport of solids. Bolus composition and impaired bolus transit alter the amplitude and conductance of peristalsis. Manometric data pertaining to liquid clearance through the esophagus do not readily apply to bread.
Characterization of the human mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA synthetase

Human mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA synthetase (human mtMetRS) has been identified from the human EST database. The cDNA encodes a 593 amino acid protein with an 18 amino acid mitochondrial import signal sequence. Sequence analysis indicates that this protein contains the consensus motifs characteristic of a class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase but lacks the Zn2+ binding motif and C-terminal dimerization region found in MetRSs from various organisms. The mature form of human mtMetRS has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Gel filtration experiments indicate that this protein functions as a monomer with an apparent molecular mass of 67 kDa. The kinetic parameters for activation of methionine have been determined for the purified enzyme. The KM and kcat for aminoacylation of E. coli initiator tRNAfMet are reported. The kinetics of aminoacylation of an in vitro transcript of human mitochondrial tRNAMet (mtRNAMet) have been determined. To address the effects of the modification of mtRNA on recognition ...
Generation of an Escherichia coli lysA targeted deletion mutant by double cross-over recombination for potential use in a bacterial growth-based lysine assay

Aims: To generate a stable Escherichia coli lysine auxotroph for the lysine bioavailability assay. Methods and Results: An E. coli lysine auxotrophic strain was constructed by deleting the entire lysA gene and replacing it with a gene that confers resistance to ampicillin (bla). The linear DNA contained 50 bp homologous sequence of upstream of lysA in one end and 50 bp of downstream of lysA in the other end. Conclusions, Significance and Impact of the Study: The ΔlysA::bla strain exhibited a linear response to lysine supplementation and can be used for quantifying lysine.
Implied Volatility in Options Markets and Conditional Heteroscedasticity in Stock Markets

This study examines whether or not the volatility of stock index returns forecasted by a GARCH-M specification is consistent with the implied volatility observed in options markets. Recent data for the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index and Standard & Poor's 500 Index and their options are employed. The patterns of the term structure of implied volatility are compared with those of volatility estimates obtained from the GARCH process. The results indicate that the GARCH process appears to partially explain the variation of implied volatilities and the term structure of implied volatilities.
Salivary inhibition of HIV-1 infectivity: functional properties and distribution in men, women, and children

As first reported in The Journal in May 1988, human salivary gland secretions inhibit infection of human lymphocytes by the human immunodeficiency virus—HIV-1. Inside this issue, the authors of that report have expanded their study to a greater number of individuals. The results indicate that saliva has a significant role in the oral defense against transmission of HIV-1. Human salivary gland secretions inhibit infection of human lymphocytes by the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), the causative agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This activity was found in saliva collected directly from the orifice of the major salivary gland ducts and the whole saliva of healthy male volunteers. In the current report, the observations on salivary secretions are expanded to a greater number of individuals, including healthy women and children, and men infected with HIV-1.
The sustainability of return on assets among sectors in the food economy

Using return on assets as a proxy for profitability, this study evaluates the sustainability of profits in the food economy with respect to industry, corporate, and business‐specific effects for low‐ and high‐performing firms. The food economy is broken into its four major sectors: food processing, wholesale grocery, retail supermarket, and restaurant. Industry incremental effects are not significantly different between low and high performers except in processing. On average, high performance has been more sustainable than low performance. Corporate and segment sustainability rates were larger for high performers as compared to low performers. Within the retail industry, there is no significant difference between sustainability rates of high and low performers. High performers in the retail industry had significantly greater industry, business‐segment, and total‐sum sustainability rates than the other three sectors, suggesting the retail sector has important characteristics that merit further research.
An analysis of streamflow hydrology in the Kuparuk river basin, Arctic Alaska : A nested watershed approach

Abstract A hydrologic monitoring program was implemented in a nest of watersheds within the Kuparuk River basin in northern Alaska as part of an interdisciplinary effort to quantify the flux of mass and energy from a large arctic area. Described here are characteristics of annual hydrographs and individual storm hydrographs of four basins draining areas of 0.026 km2, 2.2 km2, 142 km2, and 8140 km2; an assessment of the influence that permafrost has on those characteristics; and comparisons to rivers in regions without permafrost. Snowmelt runoff dominated the annual runoff in each basin. A typical storm hydrograph in the Kuparuk River basin had a fast initial response time, long time lags between the hyetograph and hydrograph centroids, an extended recession, and a high runoff/precipitation ratio due to the diminished storage caused by permafrost. The seemingly contradictory results of fast response times and extended recessions can be explained by the presence of a large saturated area occupied by hillslope water tracks. This saturated area provides a partial-source area for fast runoff generation that bypasses the storage capacity of organic soils and tundra vegetation.
Genetic variability in a temperate intertidal Phoronid, Phoronopsis viridis

The Phoronida are a coelomate phylum consisting of only two genera and about 12–15 described species. Phoronids probably represent the common ancestral stock of all lophophorates, and may be the most primitive living deuterostomes. Using the techniques of starch gel electrophoresis, we have studied genetic variation at 39 loci in 120 individuals of Phoronopsis viridis collected in Bodega Harbor, Bodega Bay, California. Allelic variation was found at 27 (69.2%) loci. If a locus is considered polymorphic when the frequency of the most common allele is no greater than 0.99, the proportion of polymorphic loci in the total sample is 48.7%. The average number of alleles per locus is 2.23. The expected frequency of heterozygous loci per individual on the assumption of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is 9.4%. There is evidence of inbreeding; the mean value of F, Wright's fixation index, is 0.21±0.02. Genetic variability in P. viridis is intermediate among marine invertebrates. The tropical clam, Tridacna maxima, has on the average 20.2% heterozygous loci per individual. At the other extreme, a brachiopod from Antarctica, Liothyrella notorcadensis, has an average of 3.9% heterozygous loci per individual. Among marine invertebrates, there seems to be a gradient of decreasing genetic variability from low to high latitudes, which may reflect their different adaptive strategies.
Planning the duration of accrual and follow-up for clinical trials

In clinical trials, the duration of accrual and follow-up are chosen to ensure an adequate power to detect a specified difference at a given level of significance, but appropriate choices for durations of accrual and follow-up are not unique. Methods of determining appropriate combinations for the accrual and follow-up periods are given and the unique cost effective choice of accrual and follow-up periods is presented. The accrual period can be substantially decreased by including a short follow-up period. The unique cost effective duration of follow-up depends on the ratio of the cost of accruing patients to the cost of following patients for end point determination.
Nanoscale In Situ Characterization of Li‐ion Battery Electrochemistry Via Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy

Scanning ion conductance microscopy imaging of battery electrodes, using the geometry shown in the figure, is a tool for in situ nanoscale mapping of surface topography and local ion current. Images of silicon and tin electrodes show that the combination of topography and ion current provides insight into the local electrochemical phenomena that govern the operation of lithium ion batteries.
Timing Variation Adaptive Pipeline Design: Using Probabilistic Activity Completion Sensing with Backup Error Resilience

Modern microprocessor pipelines experience timing uncertainties due to manufacturing process variations, thermal variations, supply voltage droop and data-dependent path delays. This leads to power and/or performance inefficiencies in current timing guard banding methods especially when pipeline stages are operating well under their critical path timing constraints due to the temporal characteristics of input data. In this paper, we propose a novel adaptive pipeline design that automatically adjusts to timing variations, thus reducing/eliminating the need for design guard banding. Each pipeline stage is equipped with an activity completion sensor that determines switching activity completion in the respective pipeline stage with a very high probability of correctness. The switching activity completion detection is used to trigger handoff of data from one pipeline stage to another. The pipeline is equipped with low overhead back-up error resilient circuits to handle incorrect (but infrequent) completion sensing and continue forward progress. Such a scheme enables time lending between pipeline stages, thus allowing correct pipeline computations at a lower voltage/higher clock frequency as compared to fully synchronous designs. Simulations and layout generated results from extracted net lists of pipelined arithmetic designs show 32.52% improvement in throughput at same supply voltage or 18% lesser power for the same throughput over conventional fully synchronous design incorporating worst-case safety margins.
Effect of Washing with or without Antioxidants on Quality Retention of Mackerel Fillets during Refrigerated and Frozen Storage

Unwashed fillets from stage I rigor mackerel deteriorated extensively compared to unwashed fillets from stage III mackerel; this was likely related to the greater amount of blood contaminating the fillet surface of the fresher fish. Washing improved the quality of fillets from rigor fish but not stage III fish, which was attributed to the greater amount of blood removal from the fresher fish by washing. Having antioxidants in the washing solution doubled the shelf life of fillets compared to water-washed fillets. Filleting in an antioxidant solution slightly but significantly improved quality compared to cutting in air and rinsing with antioxidant solution 1 min after filleting with frozen but not refrigerated samples. Improvements with antioxidants were seen with fillets from stage I but not stage III mackerel. The pro-oxidative activity in extracts prepared from fillet surface tissue using linoleic acid as substrate was stimulated by lipid hydroperoxides. The heme proteins present in tissue extracts had...
Effects of manipulating incentive visibility during the baiting phase of delayed-response problems☆

Abstract Rhesus monkeys were given 960 delayed response (DR) problems. The incentive was either visible or not visible during the baiting phase of each problem, and a 0-, 5-, 10-, or 20-sec intraproblem delay was imposed. Performance was substantially better when the incentive could be seen during the baiting phase. When the incentive was visible during baiting, at all stages of training performance decreased as a function of increased chance levels after short delays, and the rate of improvement with training was comparable after each of the four intraproblem delays. When the incentive was not visible during the baiting phase, an inverse relationship between performance and delay duration became evident only during the later stages of training. On the initial problems performance was at chance levels, and although improvement with training was evident, the rate of this improvement was inversely related to delay duration. The findings were interpreted in terms of Fletcher's orienting response analysis of DR performance.
Line Profile of H Lyman-Beta Emission from Dissociative Excitation of H2

A high-resolution ultraviolet spectrometer was employed for a measurement of the H Lyman-Beta(H L(sub Beta)) emission Doppler line profile at 1025.7 A from dissociative excitation of H2 by electron impact. Analysis of the deconvolved line profile reveals the existence of a narrow central peak, less than 30 mA full width at half maximum (FWHM), and a broad pedestal base about 260 mA FWHM. Analysis of the red wing of the line profile is complicated by a group of Wemer and Lyman rotational lines 160-220 mA from the line center. Analysis of the blue wing of the line profile gives the kinetic-energy distribution. There are two main kinetic-energy components to the H(3p) distribution: (1) a slow distribution with a peak value near 0 eV from singly excited states, and (2) a fast distribution with a peak contribution near 7 eV from doubly excited states. Using two different techniques, the absolute cross section of H L(sub Beta)p is found to be 3.2+/-.8 x 10(exp -19)sq cm at 100-eV electron impact energy. The experimental cross-section and line-profile results can be compared to previous studies of H(alpha) (6563.7 A) for principal quantum number n=3 and L(sub alpha)(1215.7 A) for n=2.
Penetration of Seven Common Flexible Packaging Materials by Larvae and Adults of Eleven Species of Stored-Product Insects

The ability of larvae to penetrate flexible packaging materials was determined for large and small larvae of 11 species of stored-product insects. These insects were confined individually, with or without food, in small pouches made of cellophane, polyethylene, paper, polyvinylchloride, aluminum foil, polyester, or polypropylene. Larvae of Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauvel), Cathartus quadricollis (Guerin-Meneville), and Cryptolestes pusillus (Schonherr) made no penetrations. Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) larvae were very weak penetrators. Only Tenebroides mauritanicus (L.) and Trogoderma variabile Ballion larvae penetrated all 7 materials. Larvae of the 5 other species, Dermestes maculatus De Geer, Lasioderma serricorne (F.), Ephestia cautella (Walker), Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton), and Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), penetrated 5 of the 7 materials. Foil, polyester, and polypropylene were generally the most resistant to penetration. Larvae of all species generally showed a much greater propensity to penetrate when confined without food. Many penetrations occurred within 24 h and most occurred within 1 wk. Some larvae that did not penetrate and subsequently transformed into adults made more penetrations as adults than as larvae. The locations of the penetrations in the vertically positioned pouches were predominantly in the bottom 1/2 of the pouches and in a zone 0–1 cm from the folds.
The relative contributions of equity and subordinated debt signals as predictors of bank distress during the financial crisis

Abstract Bank supervisors utilize early warning signals to predict which banks are likely to become distressed. Previous research has found that market discipline signals do not significantly improve out-of-sample forecasts relative to accounting-based signals. Most of that evidence, however, comes from periods in the 1990s when the U.S. economy and banking system were healthy, potentially neutralizing an advantage of market signals to incorporate new information quickly. For the period between the fourth quarters of 2006 and 2012, we assess the accuracy of two market signals – expected default frequency (EDF) and subordinated note and debenture (SND) yield spreads – relative to accounting-based signals in forecasting which publicly traded BHCs would become distressed. In 2008, EDF signals were relatively more accurate, but they did not lead to economically significant reductions in missed distress events relative to other signals. Supervisors would have been better off devoting slack resources to monitor BHCs with high commercial real estate concentrations. As the crisis subsided, a failure probability model developed from bank failures in the 1980s and early 1990s was consistently the most accurate signal. For the two dozen BHCs with actively traded SNDs, yield spreads over Treasuries were extremely poor predictors of distress because the spreads were distorted by too-big-to-fail subsidies. The Tier 1 leverage ratio was the most accurate distress signal for these large BHCs. In sum, the evidence to justify systematic reliance on market signals by supervisory agencies to forecast bank distress remains weak.
Social flexibility and anxious attachment

Social flexibility was predicted to correlate with anxious/ambivalent attachment among individuals reminded of attachment-related uncertainties. In the experiment reported here, subjects wrote about positive versus negative relationship events and then responded to a series of interpersonal conflict situations. Correlations between their responses and previously obtained attachment style scores provide supportive evidence for the predictions. The results suggest that anxious/ambivalent attachment may limit social flexibility by interfering with information processing in complex social situations. Results are discussed in terms of models of test anxiety.
Coarse-Grained and Atomistic MD Simulations of RNA and DNA Folding

Although the main features of the protein folding problem are coming into clearer focus, the microscopic viewpoint of nucleic acid folding mechanisms is only just beginning to be addressed. Experiments, theory, and simulations are pointing to complex thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms. As is the case for proteins, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations continue to be indispensable tools for providing a molecular basis for nucleic acid folding mechanisms. In this review, we provide an overview of biomolecular folding mechanisms focusing on nucleic acids. We outline the important interactions that are likely to be the main determinants of nucleic acid folding energy landscapes. We discuss recent MD simulation studies of empirical force field and Go-type MD simulations of RNA and DNA folding mechanisms to outline recent successes and the theoretical and computational challenges that lie ahead.
Coordination of DNA replication and histone modification by the Rik1-Dos2 complex

Histone modification marks have an important role in many chromatin processes. During DNA replication, both heterochromatin and euchromatin are disrupted ahead of the replication fork and are then reassembled into their original epigenetic states behind the fork. How histone marks are accurately inherited from generation to generation is still poorly understood. In fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated histone methylation is cell cycle regulated. Centromeric repeats are transiently transcribed in the S phase of the cell cycle and are processed into short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) by the complexes RITS (RNA-induced initiation of transcriptional gene silencing) and RDRC (RNA-directed RNA polymerase complex). The small RNAs together with silencing factors-including Dos1 (also known as Clr8 and Raf1), Dos2 (also known as Clr7 and Raf2), Rik1 and Lid2-promote heterochromatic methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9) by a histone methyltransferase, Clr4 (refs 8-13). The methylation of H3K9 provides a binding site for Swi6, a structural and functional homologue of metazoan heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1). Here we characterize a silencing complex in fission yeast that contains Dos2, Rik1, Mms19 and Cdc20 (the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase-e). This complex regulates RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) activity in heterochromatin and is required for DNA replication and heterochromatin assembly. Our findings provide a molecular link between DNA replication and histone methylation, shedding light on how epigenetic marks are transmitted during each cell cycle.
A simple one-pot synthesis of Jacobson–Katsuki type chiral Mn(III)–salen catalyst immobilized in silica by sol–gel process and applications in asymmetric epoxidation of alkenes

Abstract Salen ligand synthesized from ( 1R , 2R )-(-)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane and 2-hydroxy-3(3-triethoxysilyl-propyl)-benzaldehyde has been used as manganese chelate for the immobilization of the catalytic site. Sol–gel hydrolysis and polycondensation of this chelate with ten equivalents of tetraethyl orthosilicate produced the heterogeneous catalyst. This catalyst is active in enantioselective epoxidations of alkenes in 61–76% yield and 54–86% e.e., using sodium hypochlorite as the primary oxidant. Additionally the immobilized catalyst shows an improvement in the enantioselectivity when compared to the homogeneous Mn(III)–salen analog.
Resetting of the sympathetic baroreflex is associated with the onset of hypertension during chronic intermittent hypoxia

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is a model of arterial hypoxemia that accompanies sleep apnea and increases resting arterial pressure (AP). We examined the effects of 7 days of exposure to CIH on arterial baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and heart rate (HR) in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats (15±2 weeks old) were exposed to CIH (9% oxygen for 3 min every 10 min, 8 h per day) for 7 days (n=16) while control rats (n=18) were maintained in normoxia. Baroreflex regulation of RSNA and HR were estimated in Inactin anesthetized and artificially ventilated rats during infusions of phenylephrine and nitroprusside to manipulate AP. After exposure to CIH, resting mean AP was higher in CIH than that in control group (115±7 vs. 105±7, P<0.001). Resting HR did not differ between the two groups. Exposure to CIH shifted the AP-RSNA relationship rightward (approximately 10 mm Hg, P<0.01). CIH did not alter maximum gain of the baroreflex control of RSNA (-2.6±0.6 vs. -2.5±0.6 arbitrary units (a.u.)/mm Hg) and HR (-1.8±0.6 vs. -1.8±0.7 bpm/mm Hg, CIH vs. control). In addition, cardiac spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity in conscious rats (n=8) also did not change during exposure to CIH. These results indicate that resetting of the sympathetic baroreflex control, rather than an impairment of its sensitivity, is associated with an onset of hypertension induced by CIH.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA AND ANALGESIA

The epidural administration of various anesthetic and analgesic drugs gained increasing popularity following the discovery of opioid receptors in the spinal cord capable of producing potent analgesia, as reported by Yaksh and Rudy in 1976. 69a The ability to produce neuraxial anesthesia and analgesia without dural puncture provides an attractive option to spinal anesthesia. With respect to infection risk and potential neurotoxicity of anesthetic and analgesic drug delivery, the epidural space is far more forgiving than the subarachnoid space. The popularity of epidural anesthesia and analgesia continues despite some shifts in the practice preferences for a variety of clinical situations. Several clinical developments in equipment, techniques, and drugs for epidural anesthesia and analgesia have been recently reported.
Non-universal elasticity exponent for three-dimensional continuum percolation systems

Abstract The measured Young's moduli of three real continuum systems (sintered glass beams, sintered Al2O3 ceramics, and gel-derived porous silica) with the volume fraction p occupied by solid phase are analyzed in terms of percolation theory. The elasticity critical exponents for the three systems, measured in the range 0.058 ⩽ (p−p c ) ⩽ 0.35 , are about 1–3, less than recent theory and numercial simulation values for lattice and continuum elastic models. The differences show that a non-universal elasticity exponent can be obtained in real continuum percolation systems.
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL STEM PARAMETERS OF SOYBEAN RESISTANCE TO AGROMYZID BEANFLIES

Selected physiological and anatomical stem parameters were compared between soybean varieties which are resistant vs susceptible to agromyzid beanflies. Shorter stem inter-nodes in beanfly-resistant varieties during plant-growth stages earlier than V6 apparently are correlated with an earlier differentiation of sclerenchyma (i.e., gelatinous fibers) in these soybean stems. Both the production of secondary xylem, which specifically reduces the diameter of the pith cavity, and the differentiation and development of lignified xylem fibers are associated with overall physical hindrance effects which seem to contribute significantly to soybean resistance to the beanfly species, Melanagromyza sojae, which feeds exclusively in the pith. Comparatively early differentiation of the primary and secondary phloem fibers and of the periderm, and thinner cortex jointly seem to be especially responsible for soybeans being resistant to the beanfly species, Ophiomyia centrosematis and O. phaseoli, which feed in the cortex. Observed species-specific host-plant relations of beanflies strongly support the interpretation that these insects have a long history of coevolution with Glycine spp. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Physiologische und anatomische Stengelparameter fur Sojabohnenresistenz gegen Agromyziden-Bohnenfliegen Bei vier resistenten und zwei empfindlichen Sojabohnensorten gegen Agromyziden-Bohnenfliegen wurden ausgewahlte physiologische und anatomische Stengelparameter verglichen. Bei bohnenfliegenre-sistenten Sorten deuteten kurzere Stengelinternodien wahrend den Wachstumsphasen vor V6 auf eine verhaltnismassig fruhe Differentiation der Sklerenchyme (dh der gelatinosen Fasern im primaren und im sekundaren Phloem und im Xylem) in diesen Sojabohnenstengeln hin. Die Resistenz der Sojabohnenstengel gegen die Bohnenfliegenart, Melanagromyza soja, die ausschliesslich am Mark frisst, scheint wesentlich von einer Kombination von Gewebeeigenschaften bestimmt zu sein. Dabei handelt es sich urn eine Nahrstoff-Substratreduktion, bedingt durch einen kleineren Anteil an Parenchymgewebe im Mark, und um eine grossere mechanische Hinderung, verursacht durch eine relativ kleine, von verholzten Xylemfasern umgebene Markhohle. Die Resistenz gegen die Bohnenfliegen Ophiomyia centrosematis und P. phaseoli, die in der Rinde leben, scheint vor allem bedingt zu sein durch die verhaltnismassig fruhe Differentiation der primaren und sekundaren Phloemfasern und durch die dunnere Rinde in resistenten Sorten. De verhaltnismassig fruhe Differentiation des Periderm in den basalen Teilen des Stengels und/oder in den Wurzeln scheint zudem beizutragen zur Resistenz gegen die Larven von C. centrosematidis, die sich im spaten 2. und wahrend des ganzen 3. Stadiums in der Rinde des basalen Stengels und der Wurzeln der Sojabohnensamlinge ernahren. Die Untersuchungen stutzen stark die Interpretation, dass die Agromyziden-Bohnenfliegen eine lange Zeit der Koevolution mit Glycine-Arten hinter sich haben.
ROLES OF THE RELA+ GENE AND OF 4‐THIOURIDINE IN NEAR‐ULTRAVIOLET (334 nm) RADIATION INHIBITION OF INDUCED SYNTHESIS OF TRYPTOPHANASE IN ESCHERICHIA COLI B/r

Near-ultraviolet radiation (near UV; 300-380 nm) is known to inhibit the induced synthesis of tryptophanase by tryptophan in Escherichia coli, showing an action spectrum similar to that for near-UV-induced growth delay. The present work shows that a relA mutant of E. coli B/r exhibits 50% as much monochromatic near-UV (334 nm) inhibition of tryptophanase induction as the wild type, and tht a mutant lacking 4-thiouridine, an unusual nucleoside in tRNA, exhibits greater than 10% as much inhibition of tryptophanase induction. These findings indicate that 4-thiouridine is almost the sole chromophore for this effect in E. coli B/r, but that only 50% of the effect operates by a mechanism utilizing the relA(+) gene product; growth delay appears not to be primarily involved.