cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Potential Role of the Gut Microbiota in Kidney Transplantation

Through use of high-throughput sequencing technologies, numerous studies have revealed the multifaceted role of the gut microbiota in host immunity and infection, resulting in wide-ranging implications for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases (1). The gut microbiota’s potential to influence host immunity may be of particular importance in solid organ transplant recipients, given this population’s risk for allograft rejection and increased susceptibility to infections. In this perspective article, we present recent work on the effect of the gut microbiota in kidney transplant recipients, with a focus on infectious complications and immunosuppressive drug metabolism. The Human Microbiome Project characterized the microbiota of 242 healthy human volunteers and found the gut microbiota was dominated by the phylum Bacteroidetes (2). This is distinctly different from kidney transplant recipients, as evidenced by several studies. Fricke et al. (3) evaluated the gut microbiota using rectal swabs in 61 kidney transplant recipients and reported a high proportion of the phylum Firmicutes rather than Bacteroidetes. Similarly, Lee et al. (4) evaluated the gut microbiota using fecal specimens in 26 kidney transplant recipients and found gut dominance by Firmicutes in this cohort. Lee et al. further noticed the gut abundance of Proteobacteria, a phylum that includes Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli , increased in the first couple of weeks after transplantation. Swarte et al. (5) studied the gut microbiota in kidney transplant recipients several years after transplantation compared with that of healthy controls and observed they had a significantly lower microbial diversity in the gut compared with healthy controls. However, none of these studies compared the kidney transplant cohort to a nontransplant, ESKD cohort, so it is unclear whether this gut microbiota signature is unique to transplant recipients, or if it is pervasive in patients with ESKD as well. Nevertheless, the studies do find an altered species …
Just a big misunderstanding? Bias and Bayesian affective polarization

I present a model of affective polarization—growth in hostility over time between two parties—via quasi‐Bayesian inference. In the model, two agents repeatedly choose actions. Each choice is based on a balance of concerns for private interests and the social good. More weight is put on private interests when an agent's character is intrinsically more self‐serving and when the other agent is believed to be more self‐serving. Each agent Bayesian updates about the other's character, and dislikes the other more when she is perceived as more self‐serving. I characterize the effects on growth in dislike of three biases: a prior bias against the other agent's character, the false consensus bias, and limited strategic thinking. Prior bias against the other's character remains constant or declines over time, and actions do not diverge. The other two biases cause actions to become more extreme over time and repeatedly be “worse” than expected, causing mutual growth in dislike, that is, affective polarization. The magnitude of dislike can become arbitrarily large—even when both players are arbitrarily “good” (unselfish). The results imply that seemingly irrelevant cognitive biases can be an important cause of the devolution of relationships, in politics and beyond, and that subtlety and unawareness of bias can be key factors driving the degree of polarization.
Supervised Learning for Predictive Pore Size Classification of Regenerated Cellulose Membranes Based on Atomic Force Microscopy Measurements.

Nanoporous dialysis membranes made of regenerated cellulose are used as molecular weight cutoff standards in bioseparations. In this study, mesoporous standards with Stokes’ radii (50 kDa/2.7 nm, 100 kDa/3.4 nm and 1000 kDa/7.3 nm) and overlapping skewed distributions were characterized using AFM, with the specific aim of generating pore size classifiers for biomimetic membranes using supervised learning. Gamma transformation was used prior to conducting discriminant analysis in terms of the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) and classification accuracy (Acc). Monte Carlo simulations were run to generate datasets (n = 10) on which logistic regression was conducted using a constant ratio of 80:20 (measurement:algorithm training), followed by algorithm validation by WEKA. The proposed algorithm can classify the 1000 kDa vs. 100 kDa (AUC > 0.8) correctly, but discrimination is weak for the 100 kDa vs. 50 kDa (AUC < 0.7), the latter being attributed to the instrument accuracy errors below 5 nm. As indicated by the results of the cross-validation study, a test size equivalent to 70% (AUCtapping = 0.8341 ± 0.0519, Acctapping = 76.8% ± 5.9%) and 80% (AUCfluid = 0.7614 ± 0.0314, Acctfluid = 76.2% ± 1.0%) of the training sets for the tapping and fluid modes are needed for correct classification, resulting in predicted reduction of scan times.
Magnetoconductance Oscillations Linear in ΔB In Semiconductor Surface Superlattices

In the past decade, a number of experiments performed in thin metal and semiconductor films have demonstrated the possibility of observing quantum interference of electrons within condensed matter. Particularly convincing demonstrations have come from experiments in multiply-connected structures, for which the Aharonov-Bohm effect can be observed in magnetoresistance measurements of doubly-connected, one-dimensional rings whose characteristic lengths are shorter than the inelastic mean free path, or the diffusion length, of the electrons in metals (Webb et al., 1985; Chandrasekhar et al., 1985; Washburn and Webb, 1985) and semiconductors (Timp et al., 1987a; Ford et al., 1988; Ishibashi et al., 1987b; Mankiewich et al., 1988). Here, oscillations in the magnetoresistance are observed that arise from phase interference among topologically inequivalent paths (e.g. around opposite arms of a ring). The large majority of experiments demonstrating these effects have involved topologies with one or a relatively small number of individual rings (Umbach et al., 1986).
Representation transfer via elaboration

Introduction A key component of any reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm is the underlying representation used by the agent for learning (e.g. the parameterization of its function approximator). Transfer learning tasks typically look at speeding up a target task after learning in a source task. This paper considers a different, but related, question: is it possible, and desirable, for agents to transfer from a source representation to a target representation? Elaboration, presented below, is a representation transfer (RT) algorithm that may allow an agent to learn faster than learning with a single representation. One motivation for such flexibility is learning speed: changing representations partway through learning may allow agents to achieve better performance in less time. SOAR (Laird, Newell, & Rosenbloom 1987) can use multiple descriptions of planning problems and search problems, generated by a human user, for just this reason. Other work (Sherstov & Stone 2005) suggests that gradually reducing the generalization of a function approximator may improve the speed of learning. In this paper we suggest that it is advantageous to modify the internal representation while learning in some RL tasks, relative to using a fixed representation, so that higher performance is achieved more quickly.
A source map for dust jets observed in the coma of comet P/Halley

In this paper, the large-scale enhancements of about 50 s duration in the flux of submicron dust particles from Comet P/Halley recorded by the Dust Counter and Mass Analyzer carried aboard the two Vega spaceprobes are traced back to their source departure points on the nucleus. Evidence is presented that such enhancements which correspond to regions of enhanced particle density in the coma with spatial widths of about 4000 km, are superimposed upon a background flux distribution which is well described by a simple fountain model. Thus, dust production on the sunlit hemisphere of the nucleus is characterized by discrete jet sources superimposed upon relatively low-level isotropic emission. The jet sources at the nucleus responsible for the major enhancements in recorded particle impact rates are narrow and discrete, with each jet accelerating about 10 to the -13th g particles to a narrow range of terminal velocities which decrease with increasing particle mass.
Deforestation in the Himalayas: the cause of increased flooding in Bangladesh and northern India?

Abstract This article challenges the conventional wisdom that post-1950 population growth, leading to extensive deforestation of the Himalayas, is the cause of catastrophic flooding of Bangladesh and northern India. It is argued that, until the subsistence mountain farmer can be regarded as part of the solution(s) to difficulties facing the Himalayan region, rather than branded as a major part of the problem, development policy will be seriously hindered in its goal of achieving beneficial and sustainable change.
Responding to Twombly and Iqbal: Where Do We Go from Here?

As reflected in the title of their article, Inventing Tests, Destabilizing Systems, Professors Clermont and Yeazell contend that the Supreme Court in Twombly and Iqbal invented a “new and foggy test” for judging the sufficiency of a complaint and “have destabilized the entire system of litigation.” As they see it, the Court’s approach is “thoroughly new,” and the Court “effectively creat[ed] a civil procedure hitherto foreign to our fundamental procedural principles.” Elsewhere, I have offered a more-optimistic take on these cases, emphasizing the connections these decisions have with prior law and suggesting ways in which they can be tamed. See Taming Twombly - Even After Iqbal, 158 U. Pa. L. Rev. 473 (2010). Rather than rehash those arguments here, I instead take up Professors Clermont and Yeazell’s challenging question, “Where Do We Go from Here?” and address several of the proposals made to respond to Twombly and Iqbal by statute or rule amendment. I also offer my own proposal, which focuses on the core issue at stake in debates about Twombly and Iqbal: should a plaintiff be able to obtain discovery in an effort to uncover evidence without which he or she cannot prevail? My proposal has something to offer plaintiffs, defendants, and the judicial system. I believe it represents an improvement over the current law and better than other proposed legislative and rulemaking responses to Twombly and Iqbal. Surely it could be improved by the perspectives of others in the academy, on the bench, or at the bar. Nevertheless, in deciding where we go from here, stumbling in the right direction is better than standing still or trying to go backwards.
Effects of Phenethyl Alcohol on Phospholipid Metabolism in Escherichia coli

Abstract The incorporation of labeled precursors into the deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid (RNA), proteins, and phospholipids of Escherichia coli cultured in the presence of phenethyl alcohol (PEA) was determined. PEA inhibited the uptake of labeled uracil to the same extent in cells exhibiting relaxed and stringent control of RNA synthesis. This indicates that PEA does not primarily affect amino acid synthesis or activation. Uptake of labeled acetate into the phospholipid fraction was more sensitive to inhibition by low concentrations of PEA than was the uptake of labeled precursors into the macromolecules. Thymine starvation or the addition of nalidixic acid (10 μg/ml) had no effect on acetate incorporation. Chloramphenicol (25 μg/ml) was a much less effective inhibitor of acetate incorporation than was PEA. The distribution of labeled acetate incorporated into phospholipids was markedly affected by the presence of PEA. The uptake of acetate into phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol was inhibited, whereas the uptake of acetate into the cardiolipin fraction was unaffected. Since acetate incorporation into phospholipid was quite sensitive to PEA, we suggest that the PEA-sensitive component required for the initiation of replication may be a phospholipid(s).
Use of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Testing in Newborns to Identify Iodine Deficiency

Iodine deficiency has traditionally been associated with goiter and cretinism. More recently, iodine deficiency has been recognized as the leading worldwide cause of preventable intellectual impairment. Intellectual and neurologic deficits occur because of a lack of thyroid hormone during critical phases of brain development. More sensitive biologic tests may be useful in determining the true extent of iodine deficiency in populations. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels among urban newborns from countries with known iodine deficiency problems were determined using a sensitive whole-blood spot assay. Results found prevalences of high TSH (> 5 mU/L whole blood units using a sensitive monoclonal assay) ranging from 32-80% compared with a prevalence of 3% usually found in iodine-replete areas. These findings suggest that developing brains of newborns are at risk from the detrimental effects of iodine deficiency in these urban areas. The results presented suggest the need for effective intervention programs in urban areas as well.
Perfluorocarbon facilitated O2 transport in a hepatic hollow fiber bioreactor

A mathematical model describing O2 transport in a hepatic hollow fiber (HF) bioreactor supplemented with perfluorocarbons (PFCs) in the circulating cell culture media was developed to explore the potential of PFCs in properly oxygenating a bioartificial liver assist device (BLAD). The 2-dimensional model is based on the geometry of a commercial HF bioreactor operated under steady-state conditions. The O2 transport model considers fluid motion of a homogeneous mixture of cell culture media and PFCs, and mass transport of dissolved O2 in a single HF. Each HF consists of three distinct regions: (1) the lumen (conducts the homogeneous mixture of cell culture media and PFCs), (2) the membrane (physically separates the lumen from the extracapillary space (ECS), and (3) the ECS (hepatic cells reside in this compartment). In a single HF, dissolved O2 is predominantly transported in the lumen via convection in the axial direction and via diffusion in the radial direction through the membrane and ECS. The resulting transport equations are solved using the finite element method. The calculated O2 transfer flux showed that supplementation of the cell culture media with PFCs can significantly enhance O2 transport to the ECS of the HF when compared with a control with no PFC supplementation. Moreover, the O2 distribution and subsequent analysis of ECS zonation demonstrate that limited in vivo-like O2 gradients can be recapitulated with proper selection of the operational settings of the HF bioreactor. Taken together, this model can also be used to optimize the operating conditions for future BLAD development that aim to fully recapitulate the liver's varied functions. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009
Théorie mathématique d'un réfrigérateur à effet Peltier et d'un générateur thermo-électrique

L'equation d2ζ/dη2+ α dζ/dη—γζ+β= 0 ou α, β et γ sont les rapports entre quatre facteurs de puissance calorifique, a ete deduite des principes fondamentaux de la thermodynamique et des transferts de chaleur. Elle tient compte aussi bien de la chaleur echangee directement avec le milieu que de celle mise en jeu par les effets Peltier, Fourier, Thomson et Joule. On a calcule des solutions particulieres donnant la distribution des temperatures dans les branches des thermocouples. De l'equation fondamentale donnee par l'une des solutions, on en a deduit plusieurs autres, utiles pour le calcul des refrigerateurs a effet Peltier et des generateurs thermoelectriques, et la prevision de leurs possibilites.
ππ scattering amplitudes within the sub-threshold triangle

Abstract The on-shell ππ scattering amplitudes within and on the boundary of the subthreshold triangle (0 ≤ s ≤ Σ , 0 ≤ t ≤ Σ , 0 ≤ u ≤ Σ ≡ 4 μ 2 ) are investigated. Interior Dispersion Relations, when combined with experimental ππ phase shifts, inelasticities, and scattering lengths, provide an almost perfect tool for this study. The general results obtained are in striking agreement with the chiral model of Weinberg.
SCIENTIFIC REALISM: OLD AND NEW PROBLEMS

Scientific realism is a doctrine that was both in and out of fashion several times during the twentieth century. I begin by noting three presuppositions of a succinct characterization of scientific realism offered initially by the foremost critic in the latter part of the century, Bas van Fraassen. The first presupposition is that there is a fundamental distinction to be made between what is "empirical" and what is "theoretical". The second presupposition is that a genuine scientific realism is committed to their being "a literally true story of what the world is like". The third presupposition is that there are methods for justifying a belief in the empirical adequacy of a theory which do not also suffice to justify beliefs in its literal truth. Each of these presuppositions raises a number of problems, some of which are quite old and others rather newer. In each case, I briefly review some of the old problems and then elaborate the newer problems.
Divinylmercury as a Precursor in the Metalorganic Molecular Beam Epitaxy of Hg Containing II-VI Materials

We have used x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption, and epitaxial growth experiments to study the feasibility of using divinylmercury (DVHg) as a precursor for metalorganic molecular beam epitaxial (MOMBE) growth of Hg-containing II-VI materials. The surface chemistry associated with the interaction of DVHg and Te was investigated using polycrystalline Te (poly-Te) films as the substrates for DVHg adsorption. nDVHg dissociatively adsorbed on a poly-Te surface at temperatures as low as -118°C. However, the DVHg dissociation probability was temperature dependent and substantially less than unity when extrapolated to typical Hg 1−x Cd x Te growth temperatures of 150–200°C. Preliminary results from MOMBE growth experiments showed that successful MOMBE growth of HgTe on CdTe//ZnTe//GaAs using DVHg and thermally precracked diethyltellurium was only possible when the DVHg was also thermally precracked. Simultaneous exposure of atomic H and DVHg to a poly-Te surface significantly enhanced the dissociative adsorption of DVHg, indicating that the presence of atomic H in the growth environment may be an effective alternative to precracking DVHg for MOMBE growth.
CheapAML: A Simple, Atmospheric Boundary Layer Model for Use in Ocean-Only Model Calculations

AbstractA model of the marine atmospheric boundary layer is developed for ocean-only modeling in order to better represent air–sea exchanges. This model computes the evolution of the atmospheric boundary layer temperature and humidity using a prescribed wind field. These quantities react to the underlying ocean through turbulent and radiative fluxes. With two examples, the authors illustrate that this formulation is accurate for regional and global modeling purposes and that turbulent fluxes are well reproduced in test cases when compared to reanalysis products. The model builds upon and is an extension of Seager et al.
Measurement of air emboli during central venous access: do "protective" sheaths or insertion techniques matter?

PURPOSE Clinically significant air emboli during placement of central venous catheters are rare yet potentially fatal events. An in vitro model was developed to measure the volume of air emboli during catheter placement under a variety of experimental conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS The volume of air emboli during catheter insertion with use of a standard sheath was measured using “open,” “finger-pinch,” and “hemostat” techniques. Corresponding experiments were performed with newly designed protective sheaths. Additional experiments evaluated the air emboli related to specific steps of catheter insertion, a sheathless insertion technique, and two commonly used dialysis catheters. RESULTS Under physiologic conditions, the volumes of air emboli were 9.1 mL ± 3.6, 8.6 mL ± 3.9, and 10.0 mL ± 4.1 for dialysis catheter insertions with open, finger-pinch, and hemostat techniques, respectively. In the open and closed positions, the sliding-valve protective sheath yielded 5.8 mL ± 2.3 and 4.4 mL ± 2.3 of air emboli, respectively, and the slide-clamp protective sheath yielded 5.6 mL ± 2.0 and 5.4 mL ± 2.1 of air emboli, respectively. The standard sheath demonstrated air emboli volumes of 14.4 mL ± 12.8, 17.3 mL ± 3.9, and 32.3 mL ± 10.9 during cumulative steps of catheter insertion. The sliding-valve and slide-clamp protective sheaths yielded air emboli measuring 4.4 mL ± 2.0, 10.9 mL ± 5.2, and 8.6 mL ± 1.5, and 4.4 mL ± 1.8, 10.9 mL ± 1.4, and 9.4 mL ± 4.0, respectively. The sheathless insertion technique resulted in air emboli measuring 12.2 mL ± 5.4. Split-tip and step-tip catheters resulted in air emboli volumes of 16.1 mL ± 4.5 and 15.3 mL ± 7.6, respectively, in the open position and 11.3 mL ± 3.1 and 12.9 mL ± 5.0, respectively, in the closed position. CONCLUSIONS The newly designed protective sheaths result in smaller volumes of air emboli compared with standard sheaths in most situations evaluated. There was no significant difference in the volume of air emboli with use of protective clinical maneuvers. In some cases, the volume of the air emboli continued to increase during catheter insertion and sheath removal. There was no statistically significant difference between the use of protective sheaths and the use of the sheathless insertion technique.
Detecting changes during pregnancy with Raman spectroscopy

Preterm labor is the second leading cause of neonatal mortality and leads to a myriad of complications like delayed development and cerebral palsy. Currently, there is no way to accurately predict preterm labor, making its prevention and treatment virtually impossible. While there are some at-risk patients, over half of all preterm births do not fall into any high-risk category. This study seeks to predict and prevent preterm labor by using Raman spectroscopy to detect changes in the cervix during pregnancy. Since Raman spectroscopy has been used to detect cancers in vivo in organs like the cervix and skin, it follows that spectra will change over the course of pregnancy. Previous studies have shown that fluorescence decreased during pregnancy and increased during post-partum exams to pre-pregnancy levels. We believe significant changes will occur in the Raman spectra obtained during the course of pregnancy. In this study, Raman spectra from the cervix of pregnant mice and women will be acquired. Specific changes that occur due to cervical softening or changes in hormonal levels will be observed to understand the likelihood that a female mouse or a woman will enter labor.
Antifibrinolytic agents reduce tissue plasminogen activator-mediated neuronal toxicity in vitro

INTRODUCTION Serine proteases and their inhibitors play an important role in physiological homeostasis including neuronal activity, hemostasis, and wound healing. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is involved in normal neuronal plasticity and memory formation but can also be neurotoxic. We hypothesized that the serine protease inhibitor aprotinin confers neuronal protection by inhibiting tPA activity. METHODS Using cultured rat dopaminergic neuroblasts (N27 line), tPA-induced cytotoxicity was quantitated by an MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay and flow cytometry using propidium iodide DNA staining. The anti-apoptotic effects of aprotinin and other protease inhibitors were also evaluated using these systems. RESULTS Treatment of cultured neuroblasts with tPA (10-20 microg/ml) caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability (71.3+/-2.4 at 10 microg/ml down to 52.7+/-2.5% at 20 microg/m tPA, 24-h treatment), which was potentiated in the absence of serum in the culture medium (59.5+/-6.3% at 10 microg/ml down to 47.9+/-4.7% at 20 microg/ml). Aprotinin was effective in ameliorating cell death when administered 30 min before tPA exposure as shown by increased cell viability (91.8+/-0.6% at tPA at 20 microg/ml), but this protection was significantly reduced when aprotinin was administered after tPA. The efficacy of aprotinin as a neuroprotectant was equivalent or superior to other direct tPA antagonist peptides Glu-Gly-Arg-chlormethylketone (EGRck) and Phe-Pro-Arg-chlormethylketone (FPRck) in this setting. CONCLUSION These data suggest that one of the mechanisms of neuroprotection afforded by aprotinin may be inhibition of tPA-mediated neurotoxicity.
Dynamic specification of coarticulated vowels spoken in sentence context

According to a dynamic specification account, coarticulated vowels are identified on the basis of time‐varying acoustic information, rather than solely on the basis of ‘‘target’’ information contained within a single spectral cross section of an acoustic syllable. Three experiments utilizing digitally segmented portions of consonant–vowel–consonant (CVC) syllables spoken rapidly in a carrier sentence were designed to examine the relative contribution of (1) target information available in vocalic nuclei, (2) intrinsic duration information specified by syllable length, and (3) dynamic spectral information defined over syllable onsets and offsets. In experiments 1 and 2, vowels produced in three consonantal contexts by an adult male were examined. Results showed that vowels in silent‐center (SC) syllables (in which vocalic nuclei were attentuated to silence leaving initial and final transitional portions in their original temporal relationship) were perceived relatively accurately, although not as well as unmodified syllables (experiment 1); random versus blocked presentation of consonantal contexts did not affect performance. Error rates were slightly greater for vowels in SC syllables in which intrinsic duration differences were neutralized by equating the duration of silent intervals between initial and final transitional portions. However, performance was significantly better than when only initial transitions or final transitions were presented alone (experiment 2). Experiment 3 employed CVC stimuli produced by another adult male, and included six consonantal contexts. Both SC syllables and excised syllable nuclei with appropriate intrinsic durations were identified no less accurately than unmodified controls. Neutralizing duration differences in SC syllables increased identification errors only slightly, while truncating excised syllable nuclei yielded a greater increase in errors. These results demonstrate that time‐varying information is necessary for accurate identification of coarticulated vowels. Two hypotheses about the nature of the dynamic information specified over syllable onsets and offsets are discussed.
Serological identification of group D streptococci using commercial antisera

Abstract Three commercial group D streptococcal antisera were tested for the serological identification of 100 group D enterococci; 20 Streptococcus bovis ; 5 isolated from each of the following streptococcal groups: A, B, C and G; and 3 isolates from serological group F. Antisera from Difco Laboratories, BBL, and Wellcome Reagents Limited were used in the classic capillary tube precipitin test on extracts prepared using the Rantz and Randall procedure. No false positive precipitin reactions were observed. Of the enterococcal isolates, all 100 reacted with the Wellcome, 99 reacted with the BBL, and 96 reacted with the Difco group D antisera. However, of the 20 S. bovis isolates, only 2 reacted with the BBL, and 1 reacted with both the Difco and the Wellcome antisera. Each antiserum was then used to prepare staphylococcal coagglutination (CoA) reagents and each isolate was subsequently tested. A simple extraction procedure was performed by suspending colonies of an isolate in a loopful of salin on a microscope slide and gently heating the slide directly in the flame of a Bunsen burner. All 100 enterococci and all 20 S. bovis gave positive results with the BBL and the Wellcome CoA reagents. Using the Difco reagent, 2 S. bovis isolates failed to produce postitive results. No false positive results were observed with the non-Group D isolates. Our results indicate that the CoA technique using commercial group D antisera may provide faster and sometimes more sensitive serological identification than the classic capillary tube precipitin test.
Revisiting corporate reputation and firm performance link

Purpose – Corporate reputation is regarded as an intangible asset which differentiates a firm from others and attracts customers to repurchase and willingly pay a premium price for products. However, despite the perceptive association between reputation and financial performance, empirical studies report inconclusive results. The purpose of this study is to investigate this link more comprehensively using four different reputation attributes and firm characteristics in the context of high‐ vs low‐tech companies.Design/methodology/approach – This study operationalizes the corporate reputation as the four measures of Fortune's “America's Most Admired Companies” of 2008 and matched the companies with financial performance and firm characteristics measures from COMPUSTAT Research Insight for the period between 2001 and 2005. A total of 230 firms (108 in high‐tech vs 122 in low‐tech) over the same period were selected and stepwise multiple regression analysis probed the relationship between the corporate reput...
Photonitration of phenols by tetranitromethane under visible light

Recent laboratory studies with bacteriorhodopsin (bR) have uncovered a different type of TNM-nitration reaction of phenols. Nitration of a tyrosine residue of bR by TNM has been found to be light dependent (lambda greater than or equal to 530 nm) at pH 5.5. This observation prompted a study of model systems. This report discusses the possible synthetic utility that bR may have in the nitration of labile systems and the mechanistic information that they provide.
Another balanced controller reduction algorithm

The problem of controller reduction has been addressed by a number of authors [1–4] using the concept of balanced coordinates originally proposed by Moore [5]. This note establishes a more direct link between the Riccati balancing methods in [2–4] and Moore's work and proposes yet another candidate method as a logical extension of [2–4].
Outcomes of liver transplantation for cryptogenic cirrhosis: a single-center study of 71 patients

Abstract Cryptogenic cirrhosis (CC) is emerging as an important indication for orthotoptic liver transplantation (OLT) in the United States. Our aim was to identify risk factors associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients with CC and to evaluate outcomes following OLT. Patients and methods A chart review was performed on patients transplanted for CC at the University of Nebraska Medical Center between October 1993 and May 2003. Results Seventy-one patients were identified (37 were men and 34 women). Average age was 53.5 years. Mean cholesterol and triglyceride levels increased from 174.8 to 222.3 mg/dL ( P P P Conclusions Cryptogenic liver disease is an important cause of decompensated cirrhosis; NASH appears to be an intermediate stage in the development of this disease in a subset of patients. Short-term and 5-year survival rates in this series appear comparable to other liver transplant recipients, supporting liver transplantation as an acceptable treatment for CC.
Mayer Expansions and the Hamilton- Jacobi Equation. II. Fermions, Dimensional Reduction Formulas

We obtain estimates on effective actions for fermionic field theories by studying the flow of a continuous renormalization group transformation. For bosonic theories and statistical mechanics, we establish some new formulas for Mayer coefficients which are consequences of dimensional reduction.
The inelastic neutron scattering spectrum of nicotinic acid and its assignment by solid-state density functional theory

Abstract The 25 K inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectrum of nicotinic acid has been measured and assigned by solid-state density functional theory (DFT). Vibrational mode energies involving the carboxylic acid proton are found to be significantly altered due to intermolecular hydrogen-bonding. There is good overall agreement between experiment and simulation in all regions of the spectrum, with identified deviations considered in detail by spectral region: phonon (25–300 cm −1 ), molecular (300–1600 cm −1 ), and high-frequency (>2000 cm −1 ). The relative energies, geometries, and vibrational spectra associated with hypothesized tautomerization in the solid-state have also been investigated.
Ultrafast transient absorption studies of single metal and semiconductor nanowires

Single particle transient absorption experiments have been used to study metallic and semiconducting nanowires. For the metal wires the major result is the observation of modulations in the transient absorption traces due to coherently excited breathing modes. The vibrational periods depend on the dimensions of the nanowire, and the decay times are sensitive to the environment. The nanowires in our experiments are spin coated from a polymer solution onto a glass substrate, and experience a range of different environments. This causes large variations in the quality factor of the breathing mode for different wires. Semiconducting nanowires of CdTe and CdSe were also examined. The CdTe wires show fast picosecond time scale dynamics, which are assigned to charge carrier trapping at surface states of the wires. In contrast, CdSe nanowires show no dynamics on the time scale of our measurements. For the CdTe nanowires the charge carrier trapping times vary from wire-to-wire, and also vary with position in a single wire. This is attributed to differences in surface chemistry. Overall these experiments illustrate the important of single particle techniques for studying nanomaterials, especially for elucidating how differences in local environment and structure affect dynamics.
H2xMnxSn3-xS6 (x = 0.11-0.25) : A Novel Reusable Sorbent for Highly Specific Mercury Capture Under Extreme pH Conditions

The H{sub 2x}Mn{sub x}Sn{sub 3-x}S{sub 6} (x = 0.11-0.25) is a new solid acid with a layered hydrogen metal sulfide (LHMS). It derives from K{sub 2x}Mn{sub x}Sn{sub 3-x}S{sub 6}(x=0.5-0.95) (KMS-1) upon treating it with highly acidic solutions. We demonstrate that LHMS-1 has enormous affinity for the very soft metal ions such as Hg{sup 2+} and Ag{sup +} which occurs via a rapid ion exchange process. The tremendous affinity of LHMS-1 for Hg{sup 2+} is reflected in very high distribution coefficient K{sub d}{sup Hg} values (>10{sup 6} mL g{sup -1}). The large affinity and selectivity of LHMS-1 for Hg{sup 2+} persists in a very wide pH range (from less than zero to nine) and even in the presence of highly concentrated HCl and HNO{sub 3} acids. LHMS-1 is significantly more selective for Hg{sup 2+} and Ag{sup +} than for the less soft cations Pb{sup 2+} and Cd{sup 2+}. The Hg{sup 2+} ions are immobilized in octahedral sites between the sulfide layers of the materials via Hg-S bonds as suggested by pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. LHMS-1 could decrease trace concentrations of Hg{sup 2+} (e.g. <100 ppb) to well below the acceptable limits for the drinking water in less than two min. Hg-laden LHMS-1 shows a remarkable hydrothermal stability and resistance in 6 M HCl solutions. LHMS-1 could be regenerated by treating Hg-loaded samples with 12 M HCl and re-used without loss of its initial exchange capacity. (Abstract Copyright [2009], Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
The effect of phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors on programmed nuclear degradation in Tetrahymena and fate of surviving nuclei

The effect of phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors on programmed nuclear degradation in Tetrahymena and fate of surviving nuclei
Incarceration, education and transition from delinquency

Abstract Purpose Much of what is known regarding the transition away from crime is limited to young adulthood and specific life events and samples of non-serious offenders comprised mainly of white males. Methods The current study assesses the potential links between educational achievement, post-release schooling, and re-arrest for a cohort of 4,147 incarcerated youths drawn from 115 Florida juvenile institutions and followed for two years post-release. Results Incarcerated youths with higher levels of educational achievement are more likely to return to school after release, and those youths who returned to and attended school regularly were less likely to be rearrested within 12 and 24 months. Moreover, among youths who were rearrested, those youth who attended school regularly following release were arrested for significantly less serious offenses compared to youths who did not attend school or attended less regularly. Conclusions The study concludes with discussion of the importance of educational achievement as an important turning point for juvenile offenders as they transition into young adulthood.
Traditional method of making sorghum molasses

A time-honored but increasingly less common method of making a molasses from sweet sorghum,Sorghum bicolor, on a Tennessee farm is described. The thin, greenish juice extracted from the stalks is skillfully boiled and attended with specially designed equipment, resulting in a desirable sweet, golden product.
SU‐D‐103‐04: KERMA Ratios (Rk) in Adult Head Volume Mode CT Scans

Purpose: To measure the ratio of in‐phantom KERMA to isocenter KERMA (KERMA Ratio, Rk) for adult head CT scans acquired on a 320 slice MDCT scanner operated in volume mode. Methods: An adult anthropomorphic phantom (Rando) was modified to accept OSL dosimeters. Ten slices of the phantom (head and neck) had approximately 80 dosimeters placed. The phantom was scanned in volume mode (16 cm nominal beam width) on a 320 slice MDCT scanner at 120 and 80 kV tube potentials. Scans were also acquired in scout mode for subtraction of the scout KERMA. 24 OSLs were scanned in‐air to measure the isocenter KERMA. The isocenter KERMA was scaled to the mAs used for the phantom scans and the Rk value for each dosimeter in the phantom was calculated. Results: At 120 kVp, the mean, median, and range of the Rk values for locations in the primary beam were 0.48, 0.49, and 0.41 to 0.57, respectively. At 80 kV, the equivalent values were 0.29, 0.29, and 0.20 to 0.39, respectively. For locations outside the primary beam at 120 kV, the values were 0.05, 0.03, and 0.01 to 0.17, respectively, and at 80 kV the values were 0.04, 0.02, and 0.01 to 0.19, respectively. Previously published organ locations were used to calculate the Rk values for the brain, orbits, oral mucosa, and thyroid. At 120 kV, the RK values for these organs were 0.49, 0.5, 0.06, and 0.02, respectively. At 80 kV, the organ Rk values were 0.30, 0.39, 0.05, and 0.02, respectively. Conclusion: Rk values provide a convenient means of estimating organ dose, only requiring knowledge of the technique used and the scanner isocenter output. Head CT Rk values for a 320 slice MDCT scanner using volume mode are similar to previously published values for 16 and 8 slice MDCT scanners.
246 INDUCTION OF MEIOTIC ARREST IN IMMATURE FELINE OOCYTES WITH ROSCOVITINE AND DIBUTYRYL CYCLIC-AMP

Successful application of some assisted reproduction technologies in feline species requires the use of competent, meiotically mature ova, which can be difficult to obtain in sufficient quantities. Meiotic arrest of immature feline oocytes would allow the accumulation of oocytes over time to maximize laboratory resources. Two meiosis inhibitors commonly used in other species, roscovitine (ROS) and dbcAMP, were evaluated for the ability to maintain a germinal vesicle (GV) in immature feline oocytes after 24 h of in vitro culture. Feline ovaries were obtained from routine ovariohysterectomies and oocytes with homogenous cytoplasm and at least 2 layers of cumulus cells were selected. All oocytes were cultured in a basic medium modified from Gomez et al. (2000 Reprod. Fertil. Dev.) consisting of TCM-199 with Earle’s salts, 0.3% fraction V bovine serum albumin, 2.0 mm L-glutamine, 1.12 mm L-cysteine, 2.2 mm calcium lactate, 0.36 mm sodium pyruvate, 100 μm cysteamine, 10 ng μL–1 epidermal growth factor, 1 μg mL–1 estradiol, and 50 μg mL–1 gentamicin, with or without meiotic inhibitor. After 24 h of culture, cumulus cells were removed; oocytes were fixed, permeabilized, and stained with 5 μg mL–1 of Hoechst 33342; and chromatin configuration was assessed under ultraviolet fluorescence. In 4 replicates of Experiment 1, oocytes were cultured with either 25 nm ROS, 1 mm dbcAMP, both ROS and dbcAMP (Both), or without inhibitor (Control). A greater proportion of oocytes retained the GV when cultured with Both compared with ROS, dbcAMP, or Control (90.6, 67.8, 25.0, and 14.8%, respectively; chi-square P < 0.05), and ROS alone was superior to dbcAMP or Control. Culture of oocytes in the base medium plus 0.5 IU mL–1 eCG and 1.0 IU mL–1 hCG after arrest showed that pretreatment with Both did not decrease their ability to resume meiosis (87.9 v. 87.0%, respectively). Given the low percentage of oocytes with a retained GV in the presence of 1.0 mm dbcAMP, Experiment 2 evaluated the concentration of dbcAMP required to inhibit meiosis. Oocytes were cultured over 4 replicates in the base media containing 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 10.0 mm dbcAMP. After 24 h of culture, a greater number of oocytes were arrested at the GV stage when cultured in 10 mM dbcAMP (39.8%) than in 0, 0.1, 1.0, and 2.0 mM dbcAMP (22.0, 20.4, 25.8, and 26.3%, respectively; Fisher’s exact test P < 0.05), but there was no difference from those cultured in 0.5 mm dbcAMP (28.1%). For many species, 1.0 mm dbcAMP is commonly used to inhibit meiosis successfully for 24 h. However, dbcAMP alone did not effectively arrest meiosis, but when combined with ROS, it tended to improve meiotic arrest. Experiment 2 indicates that at least 10.0 mm dbcAMP is required to show a significant effect of meiotic inhibition in feline oocytes. Under these culture conditions, dbcAMP at levels up to 10 mm were not effective at inducing meiotic arrest. Interestingly, ROS and dbcAMP may act synergistically to successfully induce a reversible inhibition of meiosis in a high percentage of feline oocytes.
Neutral amino acid transport by plasma membrane vesicles of the rabbit choroid plexus.

Abstract Uptakes of neutral l -amino acids into rabbit choroid plexus apical membrane vesicles were studied using l -[ 14 C]amino acids. Apical membrane vesicles were prepared using Ca 2+ precipitation and uptakes of 14 C-labeled substrates were measured by a rapid mixing and filtration procedure. Na-dependent, concentrative uptake was observed for proline, histidine and methylaminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB). Phenylalanine and d -glucose uptakes showed no significant Na dependence. Proline uptake was a saturable function of the proline concentration with J max 3.5 nmol/(mg min) and K t 0.3 mM. Competition experiments in the presence of Na indicated that proline and MeAIB are mutually competetive. Proline uptake was also inhibited 25% by phenylalanine, but MeAIB uptake was relatively unaffected. Neither proline nor MeAIB transport was significantly inhibited by glycine. We conclude that proline uptake across rabbit choroid plexus apical membrane vesicles is via an Na-dependent pathway which is shared by MeAIB and, to a minor extent, by phenylalanine, but from which glycine is excluded. Histidine uptake was inhibited by glycine, GABA, phenylalanine, proline and MeAIB. This suggests that histidine may utilize a different pathway in addition to that shared with proline and MeAIB. These transporters should play an active role in the regulation of amino acids in the CSF.
Factor dimensions across different measures of sex role ideology

The development of sex role ideology is an important part of the maturation process. Numerous means have been used to measure sex role ideology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dimensionality of the construct of sex role ideology. Participants, 180 undergraduate volunteers, completed four multiitem measures of sex role ideology, a social desirability scale, and three single-item questions previously used to assess sex role ideology. Scale internal consistency estimates, correlation coefficients, and a factor analysis were computed. Results of the study suggested that the construct of sex role ideology is unidimensional.
TEACHER EDUCATION IN CALL. Philip Hubbard and Mike Levy (Eds.)

TEACHER EDUCATION IN CALL. Philip Hubbard and Mike Levy (Eds.). Amsterdam: Benjamins, 2006. Pp. xxiii + 113. $24.50 paper.Hubbard and Levy have compiled this expansive edited volume on teacher education in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) as part of Spada and Hulstjin's “Language Learning and Teaching” series. This volume, which compiles theoretical and practical solutions as well as data-driven arguments for the inclusion of CALL in teacher training curricula, is not for teachers who want to learn about CALL; it is aimed at professionals who provide, or want to provide, CALL training to language teachers.
All-trans-retinoic acid induces manganese superoxide dismutase in human neuroblastoma through NF-κB

Retinoids are signaling molecules that are involved in proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis during development. Retinoids exert their effects, in part, by binding to nuclear receptors, thereby altering gene expression. Clinical use of retinoids in the treatment of neuroblastoma is of interest due to their success in management of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Using the SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cell line we investigated the effect of the differentiation agent, all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) expression, an enzyme previously shown to enhance differentiation in vitro. Manganese superoxide dismutase mRNA, protein and activity levels increased in a time dependent manner upon treatment with ATRA. Nuclear levels of the NFκB proteins, p50 and p65, increased within 24 h of ATRA administration. This increase paralleled the degradation of the cytoplasmic inhibitor, IκB-β. Furthermore an increase in DNA binding activity to a NFκB element occurred within a 342 base pair enhancer (I2E) of the SOD2 gene with 10 μM ATRA treatment. Reporter analysis showed that ATRA-mediated I2E dependent luciferase expression was attenuated upon mutation of the NFκB element, suggesting a contribution of this transcription factor in retinoid-mediated upregulation of MnSOD. This study identifies SOD2 to be a retinoid responsive gene and demonstrates activation of the NFκB pathway in response to ATRA treatment of SK-N-SH cells. These results suggest signaling events involving NFκB and SOD2 may contribute to the effects of retinoids used in cancer therapy.
Discrete-time multivariable MRAC schemes with output sensor uncertainty compensation

This paper studies model reference adaptive control (MRAC) of discrete-time multi-input multi-output systems in the presence of output sensor uncertainties. Two multivariable MRAC schemes are developed, one for systems with known dynamics and one for systems with unknown dynamics, both with an adaptive compensation design for dealing with parametrizable sensor uncertainties when reliable output measurements are not available for feedback. Complete system and control parametrizations are derived for adaptive compensation designs; in particular, for the unknown dynamics case, a new control parametrization is employed to reach a desirable linear model for adaptation. Stability and convergence analysis is given. Simulation results on a discretized MIMO aircraft lateral model are presented to show that adaptive sensor compensation can significantly improve system tracking performance, for parametrizable sensor uncertainties.