cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid determination of ions by combined solid-phase extraction--diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

We introduce colorimetric solid-phase extraction (C-SPE) for the rapid determination of selected ions. This new technique links the exhaustive concentration of an analyte by SPE onto a membrane disk surface for quantitative measurement with a hand-held diffuse reflectance spectrometer. The concentration/measurement procedure is complete in approximately 1 min and can be performed almost anywhere. This method has been used to monitor iodine and iodide in spacecraft water in the 0.1-5.0 ppm range and silver(I) in the range of 5.0-1000 microg/l. Applications to the trace analysis of copper(II), nickel(II), iron(III) and chromium(VI) are described. Studies on the mechanism of extraction showed that impregnation of the disk with a surfactant as well as a complexing reagent results in uptake of additional water, which markedly improves the extraction efficiency.
Thermal diffusion in the F2-region of the ionosphere

Thermal diffusion effects on F 2 region ion densities, deriving diffusion coefficients for partially ionized atomic oxygen plasma
Muon bonding versus muonium formation: Muon-Spin-Relaxation in α-Al 2 O 3

Results of Muon-Spin-Relaxation (μSR) experiments on well-defined single crystals of corundum (α-Al2O3) are reported. Major issue in this study is the controversy of muon bonding or muonium formation in insulators. Transverse, zero-field and longitudinal field measurements were performed as a function of temperature or applied field. The obtained results indicate that muon-oxygen bonding occurs in α-Al2O3, having (at least) two (μO) states as found earlier for α-Fe2O3. The occurrence of a 10% missing fraction suggests Mu states, although Mu was not observed in our measurements. These results and their implications are discussed in light of other experimental μSR studies on insulating oxides and the above-mentioned controversy.
Regulation of the mRNAs encoding proteins of the BMP signaling pathway during the maternal stages of Xenopus development.

Abstract Activation of the Xenopus bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway is coincident with the onset of zygotic transcription but requires maternal signaling proteins. The mechanisms controlling the translation of mRNAs that encode proteins of the BMP pathway were investigated by using polysome association as an assay for translational activity. Our results indicate that five different mRNAs encoding proteins of the BMP pathway were translationally regulated during Xenopus development. These mRNAs were either not associated or inefficiently associated with polysomes in oocytes, and each was recruited to polysomes at a different developmental stage. The Smad1 and ALK-2 mRNAs were recruited to polysomes during oocyte maturation, whereas the BMP-7 and XSTK9 mRNAs were recruited during the early stages of embryogenesis. The ALK-3 mRNA was not efficiently associated with polysomes during any maternal stage of development and was efficiently recruited to polysomes only after the onset of zygotic transcription. In general, for all stages except oocytes, polysome recruitment was associated with the presence of a 3′ poly(A) tail. However, there was not an obvious correlation between the absolute length of poly(A) and the efficiency of polysome recruitment, indicating that the relationship between poly(A) tail length and translation during early frog embryogenesis is complex. We further focused on the BMP-7 mRNA and demonstrated that sequence elements within the 3′UTR were necessary for recruitment of the BMP-7 mRNA to polysomes and sufficient to direct the addition of poly(A) and activate translation of a reporter during embryogenesis. Interestingly, the BMP-7 mRNA lacks the previously defined eCPE sequences proposed to direct poly(A) addition and translational activation during embryogenesis. The implications of our findings for translational regulation of maternal mRNAs during embryogenesis and for the activation of the BMP pathway are discussed.
Referral reasons for learning disabled students

Referral information for 269 LD students in grades one through five was examined. Referral reasons were classified according to three major types: (a) academic, (b) behavior, and (c) academic and behavior. These major referral types also were analyzed according to particular concern (e.g., reading deficits, attentional problems, etc.). The results indicated that the majority of students were referred for either academic (42%) or both academic and behavioral (41%) reasons; referrals initiated solely for behavior problems accounted for only 17% of the total. The grade level analysis revealed that academic concerns were less likely to be noted in the first and fifth grades, and that the number of referrals diminished as grade level advanced (51% of the sample was diagnosed by second grade). Referral statements within each major referral type tended to be general, as opposed to specifying particular concerns to be explored in the evaluation. Preservice and in-service training recommendations are given.
A branch and bound approach to speed up the sphere decoder

In many communications applications, maximum-likelihood decoding reduces to solving an integer least-squares problem which is NP hard in the worst-case. However, as has recently been shown, over a wide range of dimensions and SNRs, the sphere decoder can be used to find the exact solution with an expected complexity that is roughly cubic in the dimension of the problem. However, the computational complexity becomes prohibitive if the SNR is too low and/or if the dimension of the problem is too large. We target these two regimes and attempt to find faster algorithms by pruning the search tree beyond what is done in the standard sphere decoder. The search tree is pruned by computing lower bounds on the possible optimal solution as we proceed down the tree. We observe a trade-off between the computational complexity required to compute the lower bound and the size of the pruned tree: the more effort spent computing a tight lower bound, the more branches that can be eliminated in the tree. Thus, even though it is possible to prune the search tree (and hence the number of points visited) by several orders of magnitude, this may be offset by the computations required to perform the pruning. All of which suggests the need for computationally-efficient tight lower bounds. We present three different lower bounds (based on spherical-relaxation, polytope-relaxation and duality), simulate their performances and discuss their relative merits.
Changes in reproduction of Varroa destructor after honey bee queens were exchanged between resistant and susceptible colonies

This study examines changes in reproduction and mortality of Varroa destructorwhen queens from stocks of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) that differ in susceptibility to the mites were exchanged between colonies. Queens were selected for suppression of mite reproduction (SMRD). In two experiments uniform colonies of bees were established; half the colonies were given queens selected for SMRD, and half were given unselected queens. Queens were exchanged after 7 (exper- iment 1) and 13 weeks (experiment 2). The percentage of mites that had no progeny was determined for each colony at 5 times (2 before and 3 after exchanging queens). Mites that had no progeny included live and dead mites. Results showed (1) that reproduction of mites is suppressed by adding a queen selected for SMRD, and (2) that a mite population recovers its reproduction when a SMRD queen is replaced by an unselected queen. Selection of the SMRD trait can be reduced to counting only live mites that laid no eggs and dead mites. Apis mellifera / Varroa destructor / resistance to pests / suppression of mite reproduction (SMRD)
Site-directed transposon integration in human cells

The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon is a promising gene transfer vector that integrates nonspecifically into host cell genomes. Herein, we attempt to direct transposon integration into predetermined DNA sites by coupling a site-specific DNA-binding domain (DBD) to the SB transposase. We engineered fusion proteins comprised of a hyperactive SB transposase (HSB5) joined via a variable-length linker to either end of the polydactyl zinc-finger protein E2C, which binds a unique sequence on human chromosome 17. Although DBD linkage to the C-terminus of SB abolished activity in a human cell transposition assay, the N-terminal addition of the E2C or Gal4 DBD did not. Molecular analyses indicated that these DBD-SB fusion proteins retained DNA-binding specificity for their respective substrate molecules and were capable of mediating bona fide transposition reactions. We also characterized transposon integrations in the presence of the E2C-SB fusion protein to determine its potential to target predefined DNA sites. Our results indicate that fusion protein-mediated tethering can effectively redirect transposon insertion site selection in human cells, but suggest that stable docking of integration complexes may also partially interfere with the cut-and-paste mechanism. These findings illustrate the feasibility of directed transposon integration and highlight potential means for future development.
Inhibition by cyanide of serum alkaline phosphatase in normal man, obstructive jaundice and skeletal disorders.

SummaryCyanide markedly inhibits the serum alkaline phosphatase of normal human subjects and the increased levels of patients with obstructive jaundice and skeletal diseases; no essenital differences were observed in these 3 categories. The evidence is consistent with the view that in all 3 categories the largest proportion of serum alkaline phosphatase is of osseous origin since bone phosphatase is inhibited by cyanide (Cloetens phosphatase II) and liver phosphatases are, for the most part, cyanide-insensitive (Cloe-tens? phosphatase I). The data indicate that the rise in serum alkaline phosphatase in obstructive jaundice cannot be of hepatic origin but they are compatible with retention of serum alkaline phosphatase due to obstruction of the excretory biliary channels.
Molecular heterogeneity of calcium channel β-subunits in canine and human heart: evidence for differential subcellular localization

Multiple Ca2+ channel β-subunit (Cavβ) isoforms are known to differentially regulate the functional properties and membrane trafficking of high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels, but the precise isof...
CTLA-4 Differentially Regulates T Cell Responses to Endogenous Tissue Protein Versus Exogenous Immunogen

CTLA-4 is critical to the regulation of CD4 T cell homeostasis in vivo. However, whether CTLA-4 regulates responses to both self and foreign proteins is not clear. We have directly compared the role of CTLA-4 in controlling T cell responses to the same protein presented as an endogenous tissue Ag vs a foreign immunizing Ag. We show that CTLA-4 only modestly reduces responses to Ag administered with adjuvant, but dramatically inhibits responses to the same Ag expressed transgenically as a tissue self protein. The critical consequence of CTLA-4 engagement is to inhibit T cell accumulation in the local lymph node draining the Ag-bearing tissue, and failure of this control leads to the onset of autoimmune tissue destruction. Thus, CTLA-4 may preferentially dampen pathologic immune responses to self proteins while permitting protective immunity to foreign agents.
Globalization and the Religious Production of Space

This forum asks, essentially, "How shall we think about and talk about studying religion and place?"' This might seem to be a concrete and straightforward topic-one might think of Muslims and Mecca, or Mormons and Utah, or Rastas and Ethiopia. One might think, a bit more symbolically, of Moses and Mt. Sinai, the Cuban-Yoruba deity Yemaja and the ocean, the Virgin of Guadalupe and the nation of Mexico. The easy way to think of these terms is to say that religions "have" territories, and make "sacred" spaces. The association of place with religion tends to be positive; there are agreed-upon sacred places, which are by definition morally good to religious insiders and often regarded so by respectful outsiders. Such simple ideas must be examined critically, obviously, since the scholar more properly must ask, "What insight can be derived from relating theory about religion to theory about place," or better yet, "from theorizing religion and place together?" There is much that needs clarifying, and the definitions of our terms are contested. The study of religion and place taken together has happened differently in various fields, including human geography, religious studies, sociology, and anthropology, not to mention theology. There is historically, in these fields, a tension between firstand second-order levels of thought, between insider language and academic language. What is religion? Is it that which is held sacred, is it an inner and private feeling? Is it a socially constructed order, using superhuman beings to make meaning out of chaos? What is place? Is place physical space, or is it location occupied and made meaningful? And what is the purpose of studying these concepts together? Is it to better adjudicate legal rights between groups and their sacred spaces? Is it to understand and act in a "clash of civilizations" (Huntington 1993) informed directly by religion? I will suggest that studying religion and place has (at least) two main uses. First, to point to the ways that power works through the various levels, realms, and conceptions of space, in and through religious processes, especially amidst the religious conflict and violence of the contemporary, globalizing world. Second, studying religion and place makes plain and occasions the rethinking of the (Western) modernist bias in much study of religion, and of space.
The genetics of intervertebral disc degeneration. Familial predisposition and heritability estimation.

Abstract Objectives To review current knowledge on heritability of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). IDD can contribute to the development of low back pain and acute lumbar radiculopathy. Dramatic change in the current view of risk factors for IDD from one where age and mechanical factors were paramount to the current theory that genetic risk factors are predominant, we thought that it is important to review the studies of the genetic influences on IDD beginning from familial aggregation and heritability estimation and finishing with specific studies of genes associated with IDD. Methods A literature-based narrative review of English language medical literature. Results and conclusions Prior research has demonstrated the existence of familial predisposition to IDD with generally high heritabilities that range from 34% to 61% in different spine locations. Segregation analysis shows that the mode of inheritance is complex with multiple factors and multiple genes likely involved in intergenerational transmission.
Computing discrete shape operators on general meshes

Discrete curvature and shape operators, which capture complete information about directional curvatures at a point, are essential in a variety of applications: simulation of deformable two-dimensional objects, variational modeling and geometric data processing. In many of these applications, objects are represented by meshes. Currently, a spectrum of approaches for formulating curvature operators for meshes exists, ranging from highly accurate but computationally expensive methods used in engineering applications to efficient but less accurate techniques popular in simulation for computer graphics. We propose a simple and efficient formulation for the shape operator for variational problems on general meshes, using degrees of freedom associated with normals. On the one hand, it is similar in its simplicity to some of the discrete curvature operators commonly used in graphics; on the other hand, it passes a number of important convergence tests and produces consistent results for different types of meshes and mesh refinement.
Homologous recombination and the pattern of nucleotide substitution in Ehrlichia ruminantium.

Patterns of nucleotide substitution at orthologous loci were examined between three genomes of Ehrlichia ruminantium, the causative agent of heartwater disease of ruminants. The most recent common ancestor of two genomes (Erwe and Erwo) belonging to the Welgevonden strain was estimatedtohaveoccurred26,500–57,000yearsago,whilethemostrecentcommonancestorofthesetwogenomesandtheErgagenome(Gardelstrain) was estimated to have occurred 2.1–4.7 million years ago. The search for genes showing extremely high values of the number of synonymous substitutions per site was used to identify genes involved in past homologous recombination. The most striking case involved themap1 gene, encoding majorantigenicprotein-1;evidencefor homologous recombinationisconsistentwithpreviousphylogeneticanalysis ofmap1alleles.Atthisandcertain other loci, homologous recombination may have contributed to the evolution of host–pathogen interactions. In addition, comparison of the patterns of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution provided evidence for positive selection favoring a high level of amino acid change between the Welgevonden and Gardel strains at a locus of unknown function (designated Erum4340 in the Erwo genome).
Direct and indirect roles of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 as an upstream regulator in the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase cascade: relevance to neurotoxic insults in Alzheimer's disease.

Significant increase in JNK, c-Jun, and Cdk5 activities are reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Inhibition of c-Jun prevents neuronal cell death in in vivo AD models, highlighting it as a major J...
Type III group B streptococcal polysaccharide induces antibodies that cross-react with Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14

Covalent linkage of a bacterial polysaccharide to a protein greatly enhances the carbohydrate's immunogenicity and its binding to solid surfaces in immunoassays. These findings have spurred the development of glycoconjugate vaccines to prevent serious bacterial infections as well as the use of glycoconjugates as coating antigens in bioassays. We evaluated sera from women immunized with unconjugated group B streptococcal (GBS) type III (GBS III) polysaccharide (IIIPS) or with IIIPS covalently linked to tetanus toxoid to assess specificity, sensitivity, and parallelism in dilution curves in two GBS III enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). One assay used IIIPS mixed with methylated human serum albumin (IIIPS + mHSA) as the coating antigen, and the other used IIIPS covalently linked to HSA (III-HSA). Each coating antigen was associated with a highly specific GBS III bioassay. The sensitivity was higher in the III-HSA ELISA, in which conjugated IIIPS is bound to the plates. Parallelism in titration curves was observed in the III-HSA but not in the IIIPS + mHSA ELISA. The excellent correlation between the concentrations of GBS IIIPS-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the opsonophagocytic activity of these antibodies indicated that the III-HSA assay can predict functionality of vaccine-induced IgG against GBS III disease. The structure of the repeating unit of the capsular polysaccharide of GBS III differs from that of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14 (Pn14 PS) only by the presence on GBS III of a sialic acid residue at the end of the side chain. The majority of healthy adults responding to GBS III vaccines with a fourfold or greater increase in GBS III-specific IgG antibodies developed antibodies cross-reacting with Pn14 PS (i.e., desialylated GBS IIIPS). The proportion of GBS vaccine responders who developed IgG to the desialylated IIIPS did not depend on whether IIIPS was given in the unconjugated or conjugated form. When present, these vaccine-induced cross-reacting antibodies conferred in vitro antibody-mediated opsonophagocytosis and killing of both GBS III and Pn14, two pathogens that cause invasive disease in young infants.
Directed regiochemical control in the ring expansion reactions of a substituted trans-decalone

Abstract A derivative of the Wieland-Miescher ketone can selectively be converted into either regioisomeric ring-expanded lactam. The synthesis of the diastereomeric N-α-methylbenzyl oxaziridine derivatives determines the regiochemistry of the product lactam and additionally allows the separation of a racemic substrate into regio- and enantioisomeric lactams.
BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC FOOD REFUSAL IN HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

In this study, we examined the eating behavior of four handicapped children, none of whom exhibited self-feeding skills. All children had a history of food refusal and were nutritionally at risk; one child received all nourishment by way of gastrostomy tube. Baseline data taken during mealtimes indicated that all children accepted very little food, expelled food frequently, and engaged in a number of disruptive behaviors. Treatments consisted of one or more of the following contingent events: social praise, access to preferred foods, brief periods of toy play, and forced feeding. Results of multiple-baseline and reversal designs showed marked behavioral improvement for each child and increases in the amount of food consumed. Further improvements were noted at follow-up, which ranged from 7 to 30 months posttreatment.
Genetic evidence that the avian retrovirus DNA endonuclease domain of pol is necessary for viral integration.

Abstract We used in vitro mutagenesis in the 3' region of the avian retrovirus polymerase (pol) gene to genetically define the role of the DNA endonuclease domain. In-frame insertional mutations, which were dispersed throughout the 5' region of pp32, produced a series of five replication-deficient mutants. In contrast, a single point mutant (Ala----Pro) located 48 amino acids from the NH2 terminus of pp32 exhibited a delayed replication phenotype. Molecular analysis of this mutant demonstrated that upon infection it was capable of synthesizing both linear and circular species of unintegrated viral DNA. The levels of unintegrated viral DNA present in cells infected with the mutant virus were several times greater than wild-type levels. Quantitation of the amount of integrated viral genomes demonstrated that the mutant virus integrated viral DNA one-fifth as efficiently as wild-type virus. This single point mutation in the NH2 terminus of pp32 prevented efficient integration of viral DNA, with no apparent effect on viral DNA synthesis per se. Thus, the DNA endonuclease domain has been genetically defined as necessary for avian retrovirus integration.
An introduction to disk drive modeling

Although disk storage densities are improving impressively (60% to 130% compounded annually), performance improvements have been occurring at only about 7% to 10% compounded annually over the last decade. As a result, disk system performance is fast becoming a dominant factor in overall svstem behavior. Naturally, researchers want to improve overall I/O performance, of which a large component is the performance of the disk drive itself. This research often involves using analytical or simulation models to compare alternative approaches, and the quality of these models determines the quality of the conclusions: indeed, the wrong modeling assumptions can lead to erroneous conclusions. Nevertheless, little work has been done to develop or describe accurate disk drive models. This may explain the commonplace use of simple, relatively inaccurate models. We believe there is much room for improvement. This article demonstrates and describes a calibrated, high-quality disk drive model in which the overall error factor is 14 times smaller than that of a simple first-order model. We describe the various disk drive performance components separately, then show how their inclusion improves the simulation model. This enables an informed trade-off between effort and accuracy. In addition, we provide detailed characteristics for two disk drives, as well as a brief description of a simulation environment that uses the disk drive model. >
Surface-directed DNA condensation in the absence of soluble multivalent cations

Multivalent cations are known to condense DNA into higher ordered structures, including toroids and rods. Here we report that solid supports treated with monovalent or multivalent cationic silanes, followed by removal of soluble molecules, can condense DNA. The mechanism of this surface-directed condensation depends on surface-mobile silanes, which are apparently recruited to the condensation site. The yield and species of DNA aggregates can be controlled by selecting the type of functional groups on surfaces, DNA and salt concentrations. For plasmid DNA, the toroidal form can represent >70% of adsorbed structures.
Business organization and the myth of the market economy: Business organization and economic theory

Historians and economists Oliver Williamson's misuse of Alfred Chandler's historical research makes it worthwhile to repeat Joseph Schumpeter's position, quoted at the beginning of Chapter 4, on the importance of historical perspective for economic analysis: “Nobody can hope to understand the economic phenomena of any, including the present epoch, who has not an adequate command of historical facts and an adequate amount of historical sense or what may be described as historical experience. ” What a historian like Alfred Chandler possesses that an economist like Oliver Williamson lacks is an understanding of the process of historical change. Without an “adequate command of historical facts and an adequate amount of historical sense ,” it is impossible to comprehend the dynamics of capitalist development. But, it might be argued, progress in the social sciences requires an intellectual division of labor. Williamson is an economist, not a historian. It is fair to say, moreover, that, in conceptualizing such phenomena as bounded rationality and opportunism and recognizing the importance (if not the substance) of asset specificity, Williamson has taken his version of economics well beyond the conceptual bounds of prevailing orthodoxy. No doubt it is this attempt to create a conceptual framework for analyzing the choice of organizational form that won Chandler's praise of Williamson's book. As Chandler put it in another context, his own scholarly approach seeks to determine “how the historian can take what he needs from the concepts of the other disciplines without in any sense being captured by them.”
Red Algal Genomics: A Synopsis

The red algae (or Rhodophyta) are an ancient and diversified group of photoautotrophic organisms. A 1,200-million-year-old fossil has been assigned to Bangiomorpha pubescens, a Bangia-like fossil suggesting sexual differentiation (Butterfield, 2000). Most rhodophytes inhabit marine environments (98%), but many well-known taxa are from freshwater habitats and acidic hot springs. Red algae have also been reported from tropical rainforests as members of the subaerial community (Gurgel and Lopez-Bautista, 2007). Their sizes range from unicellular microscopic forms to macroalgal species that are several feet in length. In aquatic environments, they are found as members of the planktonic and benthonic communities. Rhodophytan life cycles are highly contrasting. They include simple life cycles characterized by binary cell division and complex triphasic, haplo-diplobiontic life cycles, with one haploid (gametophytic) and two diploid (tetrasporophytic and carposporophytic) generations. The latter life cycle can be either isomorphic or heteromorphic. This is dependent on whether or not gametophytes and tetrasporophytes are morphologically similar or dissimilar, respectively. Rhodophyta share many biochemical and ultrastructural features with other algal groups. However, they are often characterized by a unique set of features such as the absolute lack of flagella and centrioles, presence of phycobilisomes and unstacked thylakoids in the chloroplast, absence of parenchyma, and presence of pit-connections between cells. Rhodophyta are characteristically red in color, but other shades of green, brown, and purple are common. Photosynthetic pigments include chlorophyll a, which is accompanied by accessory pigments or phycobiliproteins. These phycobiliproteins are responsible for the alga’s red coloration. They include water-soluble pigments such as phycoerythrin (red), phycocyanin (blue), and allophycocyanin (blue-greenish) (Grossman et al., 1993). These red and blue pigments are associated into phycobilisomes, a light-harvesting complex, on the surface of thylakoids. In this report, a summary is presented of genomic studies targeting this algal group, the Rhodophyta, with suggestions for future research in phylogenomics.
Pobrecitos los Niños: The emotional impact of anti-immigration policies on Latino children

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of Latino immigrant parents on the emotional impact of anti-immigration policies on their children in the state of Arizona. Fifty four Latino immigrant parents participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. Interviews were completed between September 2013 and February 2014, a critical time period following passage and initial stages of the implementation of SB1070 and other anti-immigration policies. Informed by grounded theory, a constant comparative approach was used between and within transcripts while completing initial and focused coding. Findings indicate parents observed a range of behavioral changes in their children following the passage of anti-immigration legislation. The emotional impact experienced by Latino children is summarized in the following themes; concern and sense of responsibility, fear and hypervigilance, sadness and crying, and depression. Parents reported their children expressed constant fear and concern over the looming threat of deportation or family separation. Children exhibited a sense of responsibility for improving their families' circumstances. Parents expressed their children displayed hypervigilance, constant sadness and crying. In some instances the changes in children's behavior were so severe that parents considered their children to be depressed and in need of clinical intervention. Practitioners in immigrant dense communities need to be aware of the challenges immigrant families encounter and the impact of immigration policies on the emotional development of Latino children.
Extended 7,7,8,8-Tetracyano-p-quinodimethane-Based Acceptors: How Molecular Shape and Packing Impact Electron Accepting Behavior

Structural analysis of π-extended 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane (TCNQ)-based molecules reveal molecular and packing features which may help better understand the weak electron accepting features for these molecules compared with TCNQ, in solution (cyclic voltammetry measurements), while showing varying trends in thin solid films (photoinduced electron transfer measurements). On the basis of the current findings, we propose that unsymmetrical compounds in this series hold promise as good candidates for use in solar cell applications as their molecular features allow for better solid-state packing, a property likely conducive for better charge transport. Electron acceptor/donor pairs of compatible molecular shapes rather than the usually sought planar shapes may offer a route worth pursuing.
Response of Eggs of Heterocypris Incongruens (Ostracoda) to Experimental Stress

ABSTRACT The effects of freezing, drying, high temperatures, or various combinations of these on the eggs of the fresh-water ostracode Heterocypris incongruens were studied. In addition, the fate of 2,662 eggs of known parentage and time of laying was followed for 125 days. The results of the environmental experiments show that the eggs remain viable after drying at both 22°C and 40°C, and after being frozen wet or dry at -18°C. Eggs maintained wet at 40°C did not hatch. The result of the known parentage experiment showed that H. incongruens produces two types of eggs; one type develops and hatches within 10 days of laying, and another remains dormant for varying periods of time after being produced. Both types of eggs may be produced by the same individual, although some individuals may produce only dormant eggs. No female produced only rapidly developing eggs. There is no discernible pattern in the production of the two egg types, and the production of dormant eggs does not depend on recognizable changes in environmental factors. Furthermore, neither the age of the parent nor the number of eggs produced by her affects the type of egg laid. Eighty-five percent of the eggs produced are dormant with only a few capable of hatching whenever conditions arc suitable for growth. For an animal living in temporary ponds and seeps this means that some eggs are always in effect monitoring the environment for suitable hatching conditions. If these conditions occur and do not persist long enough for the hatchlings to reach maturity, other eggs will still be viable and available for hatching when favorable conditions return again.
210 INTERLEUKIN-10 GENE POLYMORPHISMS MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH ERYTHROPOIETIN RESISTANCE IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS

Background Inhibition of erythropoiesis, possibly due to cytokine overproduction, is an important cause of erythropoietin (EPO) resistance in 20-25% of dialysis patients. EPO resistance increases the dose required to maintain hemoglobin (Hb) levels between 11 and 12 g/dL and adds to Medicare cost. We have shown previously that low plasma levels of an anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), are associated with a proinflammatory state in dialysis patients (Ram, ASN 2003). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a low-producer IL-10 gene polymorphism (G to A at position -1082), which increases production of proinflammatory cytokines, predisposes patients to require higher EPO dose. Methods Thirty dialysis patients were genotyped for the IL-10 polymorphism by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. We grouped patients based on EPO requirement of > or Results Allele frequencies for IL-10 (G allele 0.633, A allele 0.367) were similar to those reported previously. Eleven of 30 (37%) patients required higher EPO dose. (Table) Conclusion The low-producer IL-10 genotype is associated with high EPO requirement and the high-producer genotype is associated with low EPO requirement. The low-producer IL-10 genotype may predispose patients to EPO resistance.
Are engagement quality reviews really objective

We investigate auditor objectivity as it relates to engagement quality reviews by examining whether engagement quality reviewers (EQRs) exhibit lower levels of objectivity when they have administrative, economic, or social ties with the audit engagement partner. Motivated reasoning theory suggests that EQRs with ties to the engagement partner will reach less conservative conclusions and be more willing to accept an engagement partner's decision relative to reviewers who have no connections with the engagement partner. We conduct an experiment where EQRs must review a decision by an engagement partner related to a contingent liability. Results suggest that engagement quality reviews are an effective mechanism for reducing the effects of engagement partner biases to accept client-favored accounting choices. Participants with ties to the engagement partner (i.e., from the same office) and without ties (i.e., from the national office) both challenged the decision of the engagement partner and recommended disclosure of a contingent liability, which client management opposed. We also find an interaction of ties with the engagement partner and the probability of the contingent liability. National office EQRs were less likely to decide that disclosure was necessary than were local office partners when the probability of the contingent liability was low. With regard to the need to recognize a liability, EQRs with and without ties to the engagement partner concurred with the decision of the engagement partner.
Versatile supercontinuum generation in parabolic multimode optical fibers

We theoretically demonstrate that the pump's spatial profile can provide a degree of freedom in tailoring at will the nonlinear dynamics and the ensuing spectral content of supercontinuum generation in highly multimoded optical fibers.
Balance of Power and Societal Impacts

Would the Cognitive Things make employee more productive? Would it displace any jobs or require new set of skills? Who is the beneficiary of these productivity gains? How do we protect the customer privacy and security? Would Cognitive Things accelerate organizational alignment and improve policy management for organizations and regulators? Would there be changes in traditional family or societal roles?
Vertrauensbasierte Führung als Grundlage nachhaltiger Innovationsleistung und organisationaler Flexibilität

Ruckblickend auf uber 40 Jahre Erfahrung in der Innovationsberatung unterscheide ich eine Folge von Entwicklungsstufen des Innovationsmanagements, die jeweils vom Wandel des Markt- und Wettbewerbsumfelds bedingt waren. Aus diesem Ruckblick leite ich ab, dass der gravierende Wandel im aktuellen Umfeld, der sich heute im Zuge der Digitalisierung vollzieht, auch wieder neuartige Anforderungen an das Innovationsmanagement stellt, die die Innovationsberatung treffsicher erkennen und befriedigen muss.
Barriers to forgiveness

Society generally encourages individuals to forgive their transgressors because forgiveness can yield many psychological, physiological, and social benefits (Exline & Baumeister, 2000). Nevertheless, victims face barriers to forgiving others, and other people face obstacles that prevent them from encouraging victims to forgive. We aim to provide insight into the various barriers that deter forgiveness by examining the role of the various parties involved—victims, transgressors, and uninvolved third parties—in creating barriers to forgiveness. We contend that beliefs held by these various parties significantly reduce the likelihood that victims will forgive their transgressors. By identifying how these beliefs impede forgiveness, we can begin to understand more fully why convincing victims to forgive is often a challenge. In our discussion, we also suggest ways by which victims, transgressors, and third parties can overcome these barriers to forgiveness.
Probe Partition between Liquid-Disordered (LD) and Liquid-Ordered (Lo) Phases and Investigation of Nanodomain Sizes

If the plasma membrane has coexistence of liquid-disordered (Ld) and liquid-ordered (Lo) phases, then proteins can be sorted between these phases. This partition of molecules in Ld and Lo phases can be examined with fluorescent probes in model lipid mixtures that have coexisting domains. Here, we measured the partition coefficient, Kp, of Bodipy-PC and tryptophan octadecyl ester (TOE) between Ld and Lo phases for three-component lipid mixtures that exhibits macroscopic phase separation, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC)/ 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC)/ Cholesterol (Chol) and brain sphingomyelin (bSM) /DOPC/Chol, and for mixtures that exhibit nanoscopic phase separation, DSPC/ 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)/Chol and bSM/POPC/Chol.
Perceived Importance of Marijuana to the College Experience Scale (PIMCES): Initial Development and Validation.

Objective:Internalization of college substance use culture refers to the degree to which an individual perceives the use of that substance to be an integral part of the college experience. Although there is a growing literature characterizing this construct for alcohol, the present study describes the development and validation of a new measure to assess the internalization of the college marijuana use culture, the Perceived Importance of Marijuana to the College Experience Scale (PIMCES).Method:We recruited a large, diverse sample (N = 8,141) of college students from 11 participating universities. We examined the psychometric properties of the PIMCES and evaluated its concurrent validity by examining its associations with marijuana-related outcomes.Results:A single-factor, eight-item PIMCES demonstrated good model fit and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .89) and was correlated with marijuana user status, frequency of marijuana use, marijuana consequences, and injunctive norms.Conclusions:Overal...
Drug Use Is Associated With Purulent Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in a Large Urban Jail: 2011-2015.

Background Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are a common problem in jails in the United States. This study aimed to identify factors associated with purulent SSTIs in the New York City jail system. Methods We conducted a case-control study of purulent SSTIs at the New York City jail. Cases were matched to controls by visit date to the jail's urgent care clinic. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted using conditional logistic regression. Results From April 2011 to April 2015, 1010 cases of SSTIs were identified and matched to 1010 controls. In multivariable analyses, report upon entry to jail of current injection drug use (odds ratio [OR], 2.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.77-4.31), current snorting of drugs (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.12-2.00), current heroin use (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.08-2.17), current cocaine use (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.18-2.65), and antibiotic use within the previous 6 months (OR, 4.05; 95% CI, 2.98-5.49) were significantly associated with SSTI diagnosis. Conclusions Skin and soft tissue infections were strongly associated with a history of drug use at jail entry. Targeting intravenous drug use may be a preventive strategy for SSTIs in this population. Strategies such as harm reduction programs may be investigated.
What is the structure of Genealogy of Morality II

AbstractIn this paper, I sketch out a new interpretation of the Second Essay of On the Genealogy of Morality by showing that its seemingly meandering character conceals a highly cogent structure. In contrast to the prevalent scholarly trend, I argue that the ideal of sovereignty Nietzsche introduces in the essay’s opening sections plays an integral and crucial role in his account of the emergence of the feeling of moral guilt. In contrast to another common trend in the scholarship, I also argue that Nietzsche’s account is very different from the account Freud proposes in Civilization and Its Discontents, with which it is often compared. Specifically, I show that guilt is not, for Nietzsche, a form of fear, nor simply the product of raw aggression turned inward when it can no longer be vented outward.
The Current Role of Robotic Technology in Spine Surgery

Robotic technology is widely used in manufacturing, industry and some surgical applications, such as urological or joint replacement surgery. Its role in spine surgery is currently in (1) optimizing accuracy of instrumentation placement, most notably pedicle screws, and, (2) diminishing radiation exposure during surgical procedures. Pedicle screw placement can be achieved through a variety of techniques (freehand, fluoroscopy assisted, computer assisted, and robotically guided). Comparing the accuracy rates of these various techniques can be challenging as there is heterogeneity among the skill of surgeons using these methods. However, the literature suggests that the accuracy of robotic guidance of screw placement is at least comparable to other known techniques and some reports have suggested higher accuracy rates when using robotic technology. Though robotic technology in spine surgery is currently still in its nascency, there is great potential for other surgical applications including active automated instrumentation.
Cadherins in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) revisited: P-cadherin is the highly dominant cadherin expressed in human and mouse RPE in vivo

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) supports the health and function of retinal photoreceptors and is essential for normal vision. RPE cells are post-mitotic, terminally differentiated, and polarized epithelial cells. In pathological conditions, however, they lose their epithelial integrity, become dysfunctional, even dedifferentiate, and ultimately die. The integrity of epithelial cells is maintained, in part, by adherens junctions, which are composed of cadherin homodimers and p120-, β-, and α-catenins linking to actin filaments. While E-cadherin is the major cadherin for forming the epithelial phenotype in most epithelial cell types, it has been reported that cadherin expression in RPE cells is different from other epithelial cells based on results with cultured RPE cells. In this study, we revisited the expression of cadherins in the RPE to clarify their relative contribution by measuring the absolute quantity of cDNAs produced from mRNAs of three classical cadherins (E-, N-, and P-cadherins) in the RPE in vivo. We found that P-cadherin (CDH3) is highly dominant in both mouse and human RPE in situ. The degree of dominance of P-cadherin is surprisingly large, with mouse Cdh3 and human CDH3 accounting for 82-85% and 92-93% of the total of the three cadherin mRNAs, respectively. We confirmed the expression of P-cadherin protein at the cell-cell border of mouse RPE in situ by immunofluorescence. Furthermore, we found that oxidative stress induces dissociation of P-cadherin and β-catenin from the cell membrane and subsequent translocation of β-catenin into the nucleus, resulting in activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This is the first report of absolute comparison of the expression of three cadherins in the RPE, and the results suggest that the physiological role of P-cadherin in the RPE needs to be reevaluated.
Extracellular vesicles: the growth as diagnostics and therapeutics; a survey

This article aims to document the growth in extracellular vesicle (EV) research. Here, we report the growth in EV-related studies, patents, and grants as well as emerging companies with major intent on exosomes. Four different databases were utilized for electronic searches of published literature: two general databases - Scopus/Elsevier and Web of Science (WoS), as well as two specialized US government databases - the USA Patent and Trademark Office and National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the Department of Health and Human Services. The applied combination of key words was carefully chosen to cover the most commonly used terms in titles of publications, patents and grants dealing with conceptual areas of EVs. Within the time frame from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2016, limited to articles published in English, we identified output using search strategies based upon Scopus/Elsevier and WoS, patent filings and NIH Federal Reports of funded grants. Consistently, USA and UK universities are the most frequent among the top 15 affiliations/organizations of the authors of the identified records. There is clear evidence of upward streaming of EV-related publications. By documenting the growth of the EV field, we hope to encourage a roster of independent authorities skilled to provide peer review of manuscripts, evaluation of grant applications, support of foundation initiatives and corporate long-term planning. It is important to encourage EV research to further identify biomarkers in diseases and allow for the development of adequate diagnostic tools that could distinguish disease subpopulations and enable personalized treatment of patients.
Laparoscopic Sigmoidectomy/Left Colectomy

While laparoscopic sigmoidectomy/left colectomy is a relatively common procedure, it may still present several challenges to the abdominal surgeon. By understanding the anatomy and utilizing a reproducible method composed of specific steps, you can minimize the inherent difficulty and potential pitfalls associated with this procedure. In this chapter, I will describe a technique of minimally invasive sigmoidectomy/left colectomy, highlight potential challenges you may encounter, and outline strategies to deal with them.