cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The national animal health monitoring system in Michigan. III. Cost estimates of selected dairy cattle diseases

Abstract A study was conducted to estimate costs of major dairy cattle diseases. Sixty (n=60) of the 6012 dairy herds in Michigan were stratified and selected randomly for participation in the National Animal Health Monitoring System in Michigan. Government and university veterinarians visited each herd once a month for a total period of 12 months. At each visit data on diseases, production, management, finance, treatments, preventive activities, animal events, and any other relevant events were collected. Monthly and annual cost estimates of disease treatments were computed in each herd and stratum. Similarly, monthly and annual estimated preventive costs were estimated. Results were expressed as cost per head and given separately for cows, young stock, and calves. In cows, the most expensive seven disease entities (from most to least) were: (1) clinical mastitis; (2) breeding problems; (3) gastrointestinal problems; (4) birth problems; (5) multiple system problems; (6) lameness; (7) metabolic/nutritional diseases. In terms of estimated annual preventive cost, however, the ranking of the seven disease entities were (from highest to lowest): (1) mastitis; (2) breeding problems; (3) lameness; (4) birth problems; (5) multiple system problems; (6) gastrointestinal disease; (7) metabolic/nutritional problems. In young stock, the most costly diseases were the multiple system problems, breeding problems, respiratory disease, birth problems, gastrointestinal disease, and lameness. In calves, the most costly disease problems were gastrointestinal problems, respiratory diseases, multiple system problems, birth problems, metabolic diseases, and lameness. Methodological issues, as they relate to data collection and estimation of costs as well as suggestions for improving the accuracy of these estimates, are discussed.
Percutaneous ureterocystostomy and ureteroneocystostomy.

Percutaneous ureterocystostomy or ureteroneocystostomy is advocated as a simple, minimally invasive alternative to the extensive surgical procedures typically used in the repair of a severed distal ureter. A steerable sheath is introduced via a percutaneous nephrostomy and is advanced into the distal ureter. Reentry into the bladder is effected by a perforating guidewire (transseptal stylet). This technique was attempted in 21 patients. It was effective in 12 of 13 patients whose ureters had been severed during vaginal hysterectomy and in four of five patients who had dehiscence of an anastomosis of the ureter to a bladder pouch (uretero-Boari anastomosis). The procedure, however, failed in all three patients who had dehisced surgical ureteroneocystostomies. This experience suggests that percutaneous ureteroneocystostomy is a feasible alternative to surgery. An adequate residual length of the pelvic ureter and preservation of its vascular supply are the major factors predisposing to the success of this te...
Stimulated muscle force assessment of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in humans.

The aim of this study was to configure a force assessment device and determine potential testing protocols for quantitative evaluation of human neck muscles. The study design consisted of non-randomized control trials, with repeated measures; data from 12 normal subjects were obtained. Several apparatuses were designed, constructed and tested, i.e. single or short trains of supramaximal stimuli were used to activate sternocleidomastoid muscles in a seated position with strain gauges (6.2% variability with double-pulse stimulations) or in a supine position with load cells (5.2% variability with similar activation). Using a final configuration, maximum elicited peak forces were 1742 ± 323 g for single-pulse and 3976 ± 484 g for double-pulse stimulations (n = 12). There were no significant differences in maximum recorded peak torques between sessions per individual. Yet, detectable muscle activities were simultaneously recorded in the contralateral sternocleidomastoid muscles. This non-invasive, quantitative...
Capturing uncertainty by modeling local transposon insertion frequencies improves discrimination of essential genes

Transposon mutagenesis experiments enable the identification of essential genes in bacteria. Deep-sequencing of mutant libraries provides a large amount of high-resolution data on essentiality. Statistical methods developed to analyze this data have traditionally assumed that the probability of observing a transposon insertion is the same across the genome. This assumption, however, is inconsistent with the observed insertion frequencies from transposon mutant libraries of M. tuberculosis . We propose a modified Binomial model of essentiality that can characterize the insertion probability of individual genes in which we allow local variation in the background insertion frequency in different non-essential regions of the genome. Using the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, samples of the posterior insertion probabilities were obtained for each gene, and the probability of each gene being essential is estimated. We compared our predictions to those of previous methods and show that, by taking into consideration local insertion frequencies, our method is capable of making more conservative predictions that better match what is experimentally known about essential and non-essential genes.
X-ray optical multilayers: Microstructure limits on reflectivity at ultra-short periods

Abstract Multilayer X-ray mirrors of W and B4C with period from 50 A down to 5 A, of interest as linear polarizers for soft X-rays, have been studied by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Over this region soft X-ray reflectivity falls from 80% to 4% of the theoretical value. Hard X-ray reflectivity also falls dramatically, but the multilayers still show reflectivity for periods as small as d=4.7 A. The interface width (representing both roughness and interdiffusion) decreases from 7.5 A to 2.5 A, but exceeds the thickness of the individual layers for the smallest periods. HRTEM shows disruption of layer continuity at d=10 A and a loss of visible composition modulation at d=8 A, while the reflectivity begins to fall sharply near d=15 A. This is consistent with incomplete or discontinuous W layers below about d=15 A, and compares reasonably with other experimental and theoretical data on growth of very thin metal films.
Implementing the TEA algorithm on sensors

Sensors are tiny computers with limited computational capability and physical resources. The implementation of secure protocols for sensor network is a big challenge. In order to provide high security for sensor networks, it is very important to choose a small, efficient and effiective encryption algorithm as a security primitive. The TEA (Tiny Encryption Algorithm) is an efficient algorithm that requires little memory and resources. These features make the TEA a good candidate for security mechanism for sensors.In this paper we describe an implementation of the TEA algorithm on the platform of sensor networks (Berkeley Motes). In our experiment, the data packets obtained from photo and temperature sensors are encrypted on the sensor node using the TEA algorithm. After that, they are sent to the base station by radio. The base station will receive the data packets and forward them to attached PC, where the data packets are decrypted and displayed. We also propose a particular approach to efficiently evaluate the performance of the TEA in terms of execution time on sensor nodes.
Inferences for Genotyping Error Rate in Ancestry Identification From Simple Sequence Repeat Marker Profiles

Genotyping errors can cause difficulties in a variety of scientific analyses including enetic mapping of diseases, ancestry identification, and gene environment interaction etection. This work develops maximum likelihood approaches to estimating genotyping rror rates in the context of calculating ancestry probabilities from simple sequence epeat (SSR) marker profiles. The likelihood function is based on the probabilities for bserved alleles at each marker locus given ancestral genetic profiles. Simulations are sed to demonstrate and evaluate the likelihood approach to inferences. Simulation results ndicate that the quality of inferences is impacted by the relationship (parents or randparents) of the closest ancestors. We apply the methods to a data set of maize SR marker profiles provided by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. where the results ndicate a low error rate.
Effects of estrogen dose and smoking on lipid and lipoprotein levels in postmenopausal women

Abstract The joint effects of conjugated estrogen use, age, body mass index, and smoking on plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels were assessed in 585 women who used oral estrogen and 1093 women who did not who participated in the Walnut Creek Contraceptive Drug Study. Whether administered daily or cyclically, conjugated estrogen was associated with reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The adjusted mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was 132 mg/dl for women who used conjugated estrogen in a dose ≥ 1.25 mg/day; the adjusted corresponding mean concentration was 147 mg/dl for postmenopausal women who did not use estrogen. A dose-response pattern was demonstrated between conjugated estrogen and low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. A maximum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level reduction was reached at a dose of 1.25 mg, suggesting a saturation phenomenon. Stepwise dose-response increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were also found with estrogen therapy, with a maximum increase of 8 to 10 mg/dl observed with the 1.25 mg dose. Estrogen-related rises in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and decreases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were offset by 2 to 3 mg/dl in women who smoked. It may be concluded, therefore, that among postmenopausal women, low-risk lipoprotein profiles as assessed by low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are found in nonsmokers whose postmenopausal hormone therapy includes the equivalent of a conjugated estrogen dose of 1.25 mg.
Reduced neural synchronization of gamma-band MEG oscillations in first-degree relatives of children with autism

Gamma-band oscillations recorded from human electrophysiological recordings, which may be associated with perceptual binding and neuronal connectivity, have been shown to be altered in people with autism. Transient auditory gamma-band responses, however, have not yet been investigated in autism or in the first-degree relatives of persons with the autism. We measured transient evoked and induced magnetic gamma-band power and inter-trial phase-locking consistency in the magnetoencephalographic recordings of 16 parents of children with autism, 11 adults with autism and 16 control participants. Source space projection was used to separate left and right hemisphere transient gamma-band measures of power and phase-locking. Induced gamma-power at 40 Hz was significantly higher in the parent and autism groups than in controls, while evoked gamma-band power was reduced compared to controls. The phase-locking factor, a measure of phase consistency of neuronal responses with external stimuli, was significantly lower in the subjects with autism and the autism parent group, potentially explaining the difference between the evoked and induced power results. These findings, especially in first degree relatives, suggest that gamma-band phase consistency and changes in induced versus induced power may be potentially useful endophenotypes for autism, particularly given emerging molecular mechanisms concerning the generation of gamma-band signals.
Ethylene accumulation in southeastern coastal plain soils: Soil characteristics and oxidative‐reductive involvekent 1

Abstract Two laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the extent of ethylene production in southeastern Coastal Plain soils; the influence of soil characteristics on ethylene accumulation; and the impact of oxidative, reductive, and oxidative‐reductive interactive conditions upon ethylene formation. Soils from 21 sites over 9 selected soil series typical of the Coastal Plain physiographic region were air dried, sieved, incubated at 25°C with 50 mb matric potential or saturated soil water contents, and analyzed for ethylene accumulation. Soil nitrate, organic matter, and pH vs. ethylene accumulation were statistically evaluated by a quadratic surface response curve; a R2 of 0.77 was obtained. In the second study, an oxidative‐reductive interactive vat system was used to investigate the involvement of oxidative, reductive, and oxidative‐reductive conditions. Ethylene was found to accumulate under both oxidative and reductive conditions; however, the mixing of oxidative and reductive solutions did not...
The Use of Algorithms in Assessing and Managing Persistent Pain in Older Adults

As the population of the U. S. ages, nurses will care for increasing numbers of older adults, most of whom suffer from at least one chronic illness. Persistent pain associated with many chronic illnesses is of concern because of its detrimental effects on functioning and quality of life. Nurses play a primary role in ensuring that persistent pain is effectively managed and optimal functioning maintained. Successful pain management depends on comprehensive assessment skills, in-depth knowledge of evidence-based pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment strategies appropriate for older adults, continuous re-assessment, and sound decision making. Algorithms developed from evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are tools that can support and enhance nurses’ efforts to assess and manage persistent pain experienced by older adults. This paper introduces the reader to the use of algorithms to guide pain assessment and management and illustrates their use in a case study.
Spindle Pole Mechanics Studied in Mitotic Asters: Dynamic Distribution of Spindle Forces through Compliant Linkages

During cell division, chromosomes must faithfully segregate to maintain genome integrity, and this dynamic mechanical process is driven by the macromolecular machinery of the mitotic spindle. However, little is known about spindle mechanics. For example, spindle microtubules are organized by numerous cross-linking proteins yet the mechanical properties of those cross-links remain unexplored. To examine the mechanical properties of microtubule cross-links we applied optical trapping to mitotic asters that form in mammalian mitotic extracts. These asters are foci of microtubules, motors, and microtubule-associated proteins that reflect many of the functional properties of spindle poles and represent centrosome-independent spindle-pole analogs. We observed bidirectional motor-driven microtubule movements, showing that microtubule linkages within asters are remarkably compliant (mean stiffness 0.025 pN/nm) and mediated by only a handful of cross-links. Depleting the motor Eg5 reduced this stiffness, indicating that Eg5 contributes to the mechanical properties of microtubule asters in a manner consistent with its localization to spindle poles in cells. We propose that compliant linkages among microtubules provide a mechanical architecture capable of accommodating microtubule movements and distributing force among microtubules without loss of pole integrity—a mechanical paradigm that may be important throughout the spindle.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ON LOWER TAIL PROBABILITIES FOR GAUSSIAN PROCESSES

This paper surveys briefly some recent developments on lower tail probabilities for real valued Gaussian processes. Connections and applications to various problems are discussed. A new and simplified argument is given and it is of independent interest.
A Response to the Conversations on Effective Teaching in Physical Education

In this response to articles on effective teaching in physical education that have been published in Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, I thank the authors of these articles for the thoughtfulness of their comments and the respondents for their comments on my own article. I elaborate on my position and discuss a number of issues raised by these authors. My central thesis is that meeting the state standards for physical education is not only the best way to advocate for our field, but it is a moral imperative-moral because children and youth deserve a quality physical education and this should not be left to chance, and imperative because, as the authors of the articles on this topic have argued, this is a critical time to be counted as a subject matter. I conclude by thanking the editor in chief for providing the forum to discuss these important issues.
Human 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1alpha-hydroxylase: cloning, mutations, and gene expression.

The rate-limiting, hormonally regulated step in the bioactivation of vitamin D is the 1α-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which occurs in the kidney and other tissues and is catalyzed by the mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzyme, P450c1α. After many years of effort, the cDNA and gene encoding this enzyme were cloned from mouse, rat, and human tissue in late 1997. The human gene encoding the 1α-hydroxylase is 5 kb in length, located on chromosome 12, and comprises nine exons and eight introns; its intron/exon organization is very similar to that of the other four mitochondrial P450 enzymes cloned to date. Mutations in P450c1α cause 1α-hydroxylase deficiency, also known as vitamin D- dependent rickets type 1, a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by rickets and impaired growth due to failure of renal synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D. To date, 31 patients have been studied and 20 distinct mutations in the gene identified, including 13 mis-sense mutations, none of which encode a protein with significant enzyme activity. Recent studies in animals demonstrate that regulation of P450c1α gene expression by parathyroid hormone (PTH), low calcium diet, low phosphorus diet, and 1,25(OH)2D occurs at the level of its mRNA. Transcriptional activity of the mouse and human P450c1α gene promoters can be stimulated by PTH, cAMP, and forskolin and suppressed by 1,25(OH)2D.
The effect of salt regimens on the development of (Na+K+)-dependent ATPase activity during the growth of salt glands of ducklings.

1. 1. A Mg2+-activated, ouabain-sensitive (Na+-K+)-ATPase and a ouabain-insensitive Mg2+-ATPase were characterized in salt gland homogenates of the domestic duck. 2. 2. 3 days after hatching, experimental birds were given 1% aqueous NaCl to drink for 12 h and fresh water for the remainder of each day. Control ducklings were maintained exclusively on fresh tap water. In homogenates of salt glands from experimental birds the specific activity of ATPase reached maximal levels in 9 days. (Na+-K+)-ATPase increased by a factor 4.1 and Mg2+-ATPase increased by a factor of 1.8. There was no increase in ATPase activity in homogenates from control birds. 3. 3. Homogenates of glands from birds drinking only fresh water, after being maintained on the salt-water regimen for 22 days, exhibited a logarithmic decrease in (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity and in 9 days reached the level of activity recorded for control birds maintained only on fresh water. The Mg2+-ATPase activity decreased rather slowly for the first 5 days on fresh water, and then dropped rapidly during the last 4 days of the experiment. 4. 4. The increase in ATPase levels in the salt glands of birds on the salt-water regimen is not cation-specific: both KCl and MgCl2 regimens are capable of increasing this level, although neither is as effective as NaCl. 5. 5. Differential rates of increase and decrease of (Na+-K+)-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activity resulting from various salt diets suggest that these activities may not be a consequence of bimodal functioning of the same enzyme.
Endoscopic Transvesical Extramural Ureterolithotomy

Summary— The technique of endoscopic transvesical extramural ureterolithotomy for calculi impacted in the lower ureter is described. Ten patients are presented in whom calculi could not be extracted using conventional methods; 9 of the 10 calculi were successfully removed using this approach with no long-term complications.
HDAC1 Acetylation Is Linked to Progressive Modulation of Steroid Receptor-Induced Gene Transcription

Although histone deacetylases (HDACs) are generally viewed as corepressors, we show that HDAC1 serves as a coactivator for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Furthermore, a subfraction of cellular HDAC1 is acetylated after association with the GR, and this acetylation event correlates with a decrease in promoter activity. HDAC1 in repressed chromatin is highly acetylated, while the deacetylase found on transcriptionally active chromatin manifests a low level of acetylation. Acetylation of purified HDAC1 inactivates its deacetylase activity, and mutation of the critical acetylation sites abrogates HDAC1 function in vivo. We propose that hormone activation of the receptor leads to progressive acetylation of HDAC1 in vivo, which in turn inhibits the deacetylase activity of the enzyme and prevents a deacetylation event that is required for promoter activation. These findings indicate that HDAC1 is required for the induction of some genes by the GR, and this activator function is dynamically modulated by acetylation.
Development of user-friendly markers for the pvr1 and Bs3 disease resistance genes in pepper

Viruses and Xanthomonas spp., the causal agent of bacterial spot, are serious threats to pepper (Capsicum spp.) production in the USA. For decades, pepper growers have relied on host plant resistance as a first line of defense against these pathogens, and pepper breeders have deployed, cloned, and characterized a growing number of resistance genes. Molecular markers within or linked to these genes have facilitated rapid screening of breeding populations for resistance alleles relative to methods requiring pathogen inoculation. We have developed user-friendly markers in coding regions for the cloned pvr1 and Bs3 resistance genes using the Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) genotyping system in order to increase the robustness and throughput by which these loci are screened. The KASP markers are inexpensive, fast to process, and easily scored.
Response of tissue‐equivalent ionization chamber to l5‐MeV neutrons

The calibration (in rad/nC) of an air-filled tissue-equivalent ionization chamber for neutrons of l5-MeV average energy was determined by measuring absolute fluences and calculating the kerma per unit fluence. The neutron calibration determined from the ..gamma..-ray calibration and application of the Bragg--Gray relation was found to be 4% higher than that based on the fluence measurement. Additional data were taken to obtain calibration factors with tissue-equivalent gas; the same difference betwen the two methods was observed.
Discrimination of gamma-hydroxybutyrate and ethanol administered separately and as a mixture in rats

The physiological effects of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) are complex and not yet clearly defined. GHB has been labeled as a recreational drug and is reported to be frequently coabused with ethanol (ETH). Other studies have yielded discrepant results as to the interaction between GHB and ETH. Thus, the present study investigated extensively the discriminative stimulus of GHB and ETH and a mixture of the two compounds. Thirty male Long-Evans rats were divided into three groups and trained to discriminate doses of either 300 mg/kg GHB, 1000 mg/kg ETH, or a mixture (MIX: 150 mg/kg GHB+500 mg/kg ETH) from vehicle on a two-lever fixed-ratio (FR) 10 schedule of food reinforcement. Dose-response curves were attained in each group with its respective training drugs. GHB and ETH did not cross-generalize in the ETH- and GHB-trained rats, respectively. However, when the effects of the MIX were tested in the GHB- and ETH-trained rats, a greater than additive response was observed. Testing also revealed that the MIX-trained rats did not perceive a novel stimulus but a near-equal contribution from GHB and ETH. This study provides evidence of a complex relationship between GHB and ETH and opposes previous work reporting cross-generalization between GHB and ETH.
Oral and pharyngeal cancer control and early detection

Sixty-four standardized continuing education courses were given for dentists throughout the ten public health districts of the USA to determine if certain behaviors regarding oral and pharyngeal cancer (OPC) control could be modified. Questionnaires were obtained at baseline and at 6 months along with matched control groups. One thousand eight hundred two general dentists participated at baseline and 988 at a 6-month questionnaire follow-up. Analysis of the data indicated that continuing education courses had a positive influence on participants’ oral cancer attitudes, knowledge, and behavior that potentially could make a difference on prevention, early detection, and ultimately OPC control.
How similar are poxviruses

In his article “Unnoticed amendment bans synthesis of smallpox virus” (News of the Week, 11 Mar., p. [1540][1]), M. Enserink refers to the October 2004 Act to reform the intelligence community of the United States, which outlawed, inter alia, “knowing production, engineering, synthesis,
Magnetic coupling between Sm 3+ and the canted spin in an antiferromagnetic SmFeO 3 single crystal

The perovskite SmFeO3 exhibits type-G AF ordering at TN 670 K and an easy axis rotation transition at TSR 480 K. Owing to the peculiar site anisotropy of rare-earth Sm3+, the moment on Sm3+ is oriented antiparallel to the canted spin from the Fe3+ sublattice along the a axis at T < TSR. Development of the magnetic moment on Sm3+ as temperature decreases makes it possible to balance the two magnetic moments at Tcomp. Application of a moderate external magnetic field along the a axis can trigger an abrupt reversal of the moment on Sm3+ and the canted spin relative to the external field at a temperature around Tcomp. We report here a study of the field-induced magnetic-moment reversal in a single crystal SmFeO3 by measuring the magnetization and specific heat with the external field along different crystallographic axes.
The effect of alpha-tocopherol administration on pregnanediol excretion.

VITAMIN E (alpha-tocopherol) has been widely used clinically in the treatment of disorders of reproduction since shortly after its discovery by Evans and Bishop (1) in 1922. It has been clearly demonstrated by animal experimentation that a vitamin E deficiency is associated with sterility in the male and resorption of embryos in the female rat. Any rationale for vitamin E therapy in related disorders of the human, however, has been lacking. The concept of a human diet deficient in vitamin E is difficult to accept and until recently no reliable, simple method was available for determining the vitamin E status of an individual. Winkler (2, 3) and Winkler and Bach (4) have reported that the administration of vitamin E increases the ovarian and pituitary function in women. The increased function has been demonstrated by measuring the cyclic pregnanediol, estrogen and F.S.H. excretion of subjects before and during alpha-tocopherol administration. Stohler and Kaiser (5) in 1941 presented some experimental evide...
Genetic Dissection of Femur Breaking Strength in a Large Population (MRL/MpJ×SJL/J) of F2 Mice: Single QTL Effects, Epistasis, and Pleiotropy

Abstract Bone breaking strength is an ultimate measurement of the risk of fracture. For a practical reason, bone mineral density (BMD) has been commonly used for predicting the risk instead. To identify genetic loci influencing femur-breaking strength (FBS), which was measured by three-point bending using an Instron DynaMight Low-Force Testing System, the whole-genome scan was carried out using 119 polymorphic markers in 633 (MRL×SJL) F2 female mice. We identified six significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting bone breaking strength on chromosomes 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, and 17, which together explained 23% of F2 variance. Of those, the QTL on chromosomes 2, 8, and 10 seem to be unique to bone breaking strength, whereas the remaining three QTL are concordant with femur BMD QTL. Genetic analysis suggests that, of these six FBS QTL, three influence BMD, two influence bone quality, and one influences bone size. We detected multiple significant epistatic interactions for FBS, which accounts for half (14.6%) of F2 variance compared with significant single QTL effects. We found evidence that pleiotropic effect might represent a common genetic mechanism to coordinately regulate bone-related phenotypes. Pleiotropic analysis also suggests that our current threshold level for significant QTL may be too high to detect biologically significant QTL with small effect. Together with epistatic interactions, these undetected small QTL could explain 30% of genetic variance that remains unaccounted for in this study (heritability estimate for FBS is 68%). Our findings in single QTL effects, epistasis, and pleiotropy demonstrate that partially overlapped but distinct combinations of genetic loci in MRL/MpJ and SJL/J inbred strains of mice regulate bone strength and bone density. Identification of the genes unique to FBS may have an impact on prediction of osteoporosis in human.
Protein-protein interactions with subunits of human nuclear RNase P.

A yeast two-hybrid system was used to analyze interactions among the protein subunits of human nuclear RNase P themselves and with other interacting partners encoded in a HeLa cell cDNA library. Subunits hpop1, Rpp21, Rpp29, Rpp30, Rpp38, and Rpp40 are involved in extensive, but weak, protein–protein interactions in the holoenzyme complex. Rpp14, Rpp20, and Rpp30 were found to have strong interactions with proteins encoded in the cDNA library. The small heat shock protein 27, which interacts with Rpp20 in the two-hybrid assay, binds to Rpp20 during affinity chromatography and can be found to be associated with, and enhances the activity of, highly purified RNase P. RNase P activity in HeLa cell nuclei also increases under the stress of heat shock.
Small Employers and the Health Insurance Market

Abstract: In 1993 half of all small businesses (fewer than fifty workers) sponsored a health plan for their employees, up from 41 percent in 1989. While not as deep, the benefits offered by small f...
Behavioral treatment of trichotillomania: An evaluative review

Trichotillomania, chronic hairpulling resulting in alopecia, is predominantly a disorder exhibited by children and young adults. This paper presents a brief review of prevalence, assessment methods, and etiological considerations combined with a more complete review of behavioral treatment approaches for trichotillomania. Behavioral approaches appear to be effective for persons with chronic hairpulling but further experimental evaluation of treatment methods is needed. Recommendations for future research on the treatment of trichotillomania are made.
Sequence morphodynamics at an emergent barrier island, middle Atlantic coast of North America

Abstract The southern Delmarva Peninsula is located along the middle Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States. The axial highland of the peninsula formed in four stages of Pleistocene spit progradation. The landward shoreline of the peninsula is on the Chesapeake Bay. The seaside shoreline of the peninsula is on the Atlantic Ocean. The coast of the peninsula is composed of five landscape sections described as a headland, a left-hand spit, a right-hand spit, a wave-dominated barrier island, and tide-dominated barrier islands. Fisherman Island is a barrier island located at the southern end of the southern Delmarva Peninsula. The landscape features on Fisherman Island do not illustrate a direct linkage to (1) the sediment dispersion from the Delaware headland or (2) the influence of local antecedent topography. The island has a bipolar progradational history that is normal to the axis of the southerly sediment dispersion pattern from the Delmarva headlands. During the late Holocene, sea-level rise flooded the low-elevation land at the distal end of the southern Delmarva Peninsula. The submerged area formed a shallow platform in the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. Two sediment dispersion tracts affected the development of this area. On the ocean side of the peninsula, sediment moved southward along the lower shoreface to the Chesapeake Bay entrance. On the west side of the peninsula, southerly moving bay currents also dispersed sediment to the entrance of the bay. The two tracts converged on the northern side of the bay entrance forming a broad sand shoal. Wave diffraction and refraction around the margins of the shoal “swept” sediment into linear sand bars that migrated back toward the peninsula. By the middle of the 19th century, the fusion of sand bars on the shoal surface produced a permanent nucleus for island development. Wave refraction caused wave crests to “wrap around” the island core producing separate easterly and westerly components of shore aggradation. The westerly aggradational history is recorded in closely spaced sets of beach ridges. The easterly aggradational history is recorded in broadly spaced hammocks.
Identification of a gene module associated with BMD through the integration of network analysis and genome‐wide association data

Bone mineral density (BMD) is influenced by a complex network of gene interactions; therefore, elucidating the relationships between genes and how those genes, in turn, influence BMD is critical for developing a comprehensive understanding of osteoporosis. To investigate the role of transcriptional networks in the regulation of BMD, we performed a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) using microarray expression data on monocytes from young individuals with low or high BMD. WGCNA groups genes into modules based on patterns of gene coexpression. and our analysis identified 11 gene modules. We observed that the overall expression of one module (referred to as module 9) was significantly higher in the low-BMD group (p = .03). Module 9 was highly enriched for genes belonging to the immune system-related gene ontology (GO) category "response to virus" (p = 7.6 × 10(-11)). Using publically available genome-wide association study data, we independently validated the importance of module 9 by demonstrating that highly connected module 9 hubs were more likely, relative to less highly connected genes, to be genetically associated with BMD. This study highlights the advantages of systems-level analyses to uncover coexpression modules associated with bone mass and suggests that particular monocyte expression patterns may mediate differences in BMD.
Steady-state analysis of high temperature fuel cells

Abstract A mathematical model is presented to describe the steady state behavior of high temperature solid electrolyte fuel cells. The resulting equations are solved for the case of anodic oxidation of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Similar to chemical reactors, fuel cells are found to exhibit steady-state multiplicity over a wide range of parameters. The paper discusses the relative importance of the pertinent design and operating parameters in order to maintain ignited steady states corresponding to high current densities and nearly complete fuel conversion.
Piezoresistive sensing of bistable micro mechanism state

The objective of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of on-chip sensing of bistable mechanism state using the piezoresistive properties of polysilicon, thus eliminating the need for electrical contacts. Changes in position are detected by observing changes in resistance across the mechanism. Sensing the state of bistable mechanisms is critical for various applications, including high-acceleration sensing arrays and alternative forms of nonvolatile memory. A fully compliant bistable micro mechanism was designed, fabricated and tested to demonstrate the feasibility of this sensing technique. Testing results from two fabrication processes, SUMMiT IV and MUMPs, are presented. The SUMMiT mechanism was then integrated into various Wheatstone bridge configurations to investigate their potential advantages and to demonstrate various design layouts. Repeatable and detectable results were found with independent mechanisms and with those integrated into Wheatstone bridges.
Effects of SQ 14,225, an orally active inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme on blood pressure, heart rate and plasma renin activity of conscious normotensive dogs

Oral administration of SQ 14,225 (0.03--3 mg/kg) to conscious normotensive dogs caused inhibition of the pressor response to intravenously administered angiotensin I (AI), the duration of which was dose-dependent. All doses of 0.1 mg/kg or greater caused 85--95% inhibition 30 min after administration whereas 0.03 mg/kg produced only a 25% inhibition. Pressor responses to angiotensin II (AII) were not similarly inhibited. Blood pressure was moderately reduced in a dose-related manner and followed the same pattern as inhibition of the AI pressor responses. The maximum change occurred after 1.0 mg/kg with only a more rapid onset occurring after the 3.0 mg/kg dose. Heart rate was not appreciably changed. SQ 14,225 also increased plasma renin activity (PRA), the levels and duration of which were dose-related. These data indicate that SQ 14,225 is an orally effective, potent inhibitor of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) in dogs. It appears that in mongrel dogs, ACE inhibition results in a slight to moderate reduction in blood pressure and an increase in PRA.
A calculation procedure for three-dimensional steady recirculating flows using multigrid methods

Abstract An efficient finite difference calculation procedure for three-dimensional recirculating flows is presented. The algorithm is based on a coupled solution of the three-dimensional momentum and continuity equations in primitive variables by the multigrid technique. A symmetrical coupled Gauss-Seidel technique is used for iterations and is observed to provide good rates of smoothing. Calculations have been made of the fluid motion in a three-dimensional cubic cavity with a moving top wall. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated by performing calculations at different Reynolds numbers with finite difference grids as large as 66 × 66 × 66 nodes. The CPU times and storage requirements for these calculations are observed to be very modest. The algorithm has the potential to be the basis for an efficient general-purpose calculation procedure for practical fluid flows.
Nanometer propagation of millisecond motions in V-type allostery.

Imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase (IGPS) is a V-type allosteric enzyme, which is catalytically inactive for glutamine hydrolysis until the allosteric effector, N'-[(5'-phosphoribulosyl)formimino]-5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-ribonucleotide (PRFAR) binds 30 A away. In the apo state, NMR relaxation dispersion experiments indicate the absence of millisecond (ms) timescale motions. Binding of the PRFAR to form the active ternary complex is endothermic with a large positive entropy change. In addition, there is a protein wide enhancement of conformational motions in the ternary complex, which connect the two active sites. NMR chemical shift changes and acrylamide quenching experiments suggest that little in the way of structural changes accompany these motions. The data indicate that enzyme activation in the ternary complex is primarily due to an enhancement of ms motions that allows formation of a population of enzymatically active conformers.
Heavy atom effects on anthracene-rigid-rod excited states anchored to metal oxide nanoparticles

Abstract Two new organic rigid-rod linker compounds, dimethyl 5-(1-anthracenylethynyl)isophthalate and dimethyl 5-(4-(1-anthracenynyl)phenylethynyl)-isophthalate, were used to couple anthracene to the surface of TiO 2 (anatase) and ZrO 2 nanoparticle thin films. These anthracene-rigid-rod molecules have high extinction coefficients and absorbance spectra that are red-shifted relative to 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid (9-AC). The rigid-rod linkers afford high surface coverages, ∼10 −8 mol/cm 2 , on the nanostructured films in acetonitrile. Excimer-like emission on ZrO 2 nanoparticles suggests that the rigid-rods do not spatially isolate the anthracene chromophores effectively. On TiO 2 fluorescence was observed for both anthracene-rigid-rods while it was not detected for 9-AC consistent with quantitative electron injection into the semiconductor. Organoiodides and thallium cations (Tl + ) were found to be heavy atom quenchers of the anthracene fluorescence in acetonitrile with a concentration dependence that followed the Stern–Volmer model. Fluorescence on ZrO 2 was quenched less efficiently by the organoiodides while Tl + cations exhibited enhanced quenching that followed the Stern–Volmer model at low Tl + concentrations and saturated at higher concentrations, behavior attributed to surface adsorption.
Biphasic Generation of Diacylglycerol by Angiotensin and Phorbol Ester in Bovine Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

Abstract Stimulation of angiotensin receptors in bovine adrenal medullary cells with Sar1-angiotensin II increased diacylglycerol levels in a biphasic fashion. An initial peak occured at 3 min and an increase was observed again at 60 min and even at 18 hrs. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate produced a similar pattern of increase in diacylglycerol levels. Both the angiotensin analog and the phorbol ester also increased the release of [3H]choline into the culture medium from prelabelled cells. The long-term diacylglycerol production could be derived from phosphatidylcholine rather than from the phosphoinositides. The latter may be the source of the angiotensin stimulated initial production of diacylglycerol and activation of PKC. Activated PKC then turns on the continuous production of DAG which maintains PKC in an active state for long periods of time in the presence of the peptide.
A structure for management decision making

An examination by the authors of the complexity of business decision making led to the conclusion that an organized information gathering and analysis mechanism is necessary to cope with this complexity. In this paper a proposed structure of the decision-making process is presented in the context of an R&D organization engaged in many different technical programs and projects. The foundation of this structure is an effective management team. On this foundation rest the main supports of the structure, which include a model representing the R&D process, a technological forecasting scheme to provide an indication of future direction, the project proposing and planning activities to provide the technical information needed for decision making, a set of quantitized judgments to which analytic tools can be applied, an algorithm for optimum resource allocation, and finally, a hybrid decision-making technique. An experiment has been performed with this method and the result, through not reported here, was very encouraging.
Electroencephalographic studies of patients with peptic ulcer and functional gastric disorders.

Abstract 1. 1. A group of 60 cases, consisting of 50 patients with peptic ulcer and 10 patients with functional gastric disorder, was studied. 2. 2. Electroencephalograms showed an 8 per cent occurrence of 6 and 14/sec. positive spikes and psychomotor variant discharges. An additional 3 per cent had non-paroxysmal fast (F2 and F3) activity. 3. 3. The association of the abnormal electroencephalographic findings with disturbances of the autonomic nervous system was emphasized. 4. 4. The general concensus of clinical and pathological evidence supports the conclusion that gastro-intestinal symptoms and a syndrome suggesting peptic ulcer or even a true peptic ulcer may develop on the basis of disturbances in viscero-regulative areas of the brain. The electroencephalographic findings in this admittedly small series of cases add further weight to the sum of this evidence for the pattern of paroxysmal electroencephalographic abnormality most frequently encountered is one which correlates with experimental and clinical evidence of thalamic and hypothalamic disorder. The only other paroxysmal abnormality encountered in the present group is one which is very rare in epilepsy and the clinical correlates have not yet been determined.
Cognitive Strategies and Candidate Evaluations

Decades of voting behavior studies have found party affiliation, issue stands and ideology, and candidate image to be major factors influencing voter evaluations of candidates. The relative importa...
Reliability of Scores on the Manifestation of Symptomatology Scale A Study With Adolescent Students in an Alternative School Setting

The Manifestation of Symptomatology Scale (MOSS) is a norm-referenced, self-report instrument designed to assess characteristics of psychopathology among children and adolescents from 11 to 18 years of age. Although the MOSS has been used in several research studies within juvenile justice or disciplinary education contexts, the psychometric properties have not been examined beyond preliminary information provided in the test manual. The current research uses the scores of 172 adolescents attending a juvenile justice alternative education program to assess internal consistency of scores. Alpha coefficients were generally consistent with those reported in the MOSS manual although several differences reached statistical significance, and significant gender and ethnicity differences in alpha coefficients were observed for the Sexual Abuse scale. Low item–total correlations also were observed for many scales. Implications related to internal consistency and use of the MOSS with different groups are discussed.
Leptonic B decays at BABAR

The authors present results on searches for the rare B decays B{sup 0} {yields} {ell}{sup +}{ell}{sup -} ({ell} = e or {mu}) and B{sup +} {yields} K{sup +} {nu}{bar {nu}} in {Upsilon}(4S) decays. The data used in these analyses were collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e{sup +}e{sup -} storage ring during the years 2000 and 2001. The B{sup 0} {yields} {ell}{sup +}{ell}{sup -} search was performed using an integrated luminosity of 54.4 fb{sup -1} accumulated at the {Upsilon}(4S) resonance (about 60 million B{bar B} pairs) while the B{sup +} {yields} K{sup +} {nu}{bar {nu}} search was performed with 50.7 fb{sup -1} (about 56 million B{bar B} pairs). Both analyses use an additional 6.4 fb{sup -1} of data accumulated about 40 MeV below resonance. They see no evidence for a signal in either the B {yields} {ell}{sup +}{ell}{sup -} or B {yields} K{sup +}{nu}{bar {nu}} decay modes and set the following upper limits at the 90% CL: {Beta}(B{sup 0} {yields} e{sup +}e{sup -}) < 3.3 x 10{sup -7}, {Beta}(B{sup 0} {yields} {mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -}) < 2.0 x 10{sup -7}, {Beta}(B{sup 0} {yields} e{sup {+-}}{mu}{sup {-+}}) < 2.1 x 10{sup 7}, and {Beta}(B{sup +} {yields} K{sup +} {nu}{bar {nu}})more » < 9.4 x 10{sup -5}.« less
Exposure assessment of chemicals from packaging materials in foods: a review

It is recognised that chemicals from packaging and other food-contact materials can migrate into the food itself and thus be ingested by the consumer. The monitoring of this migration has become an integral part of ensuring food safety. This article reviews the current knowledge on the food safety hazards associated with packaging materials together with the methodologies used in the assessment of consumer exposure to these hazards. Special attention is given to the most promising approaches for exposure assessment and to the technical and other barriers which need addressing.