cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Supported Liquid Membrane Separation of Aluminum from Copper Leaching Liquors

The Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, investigated the separation of aluminum from copper dump leaching liquors using a supported liquid membrane. Aluminum was selectively transport...
So, What’s New?

See related article, pages 1557-1564. Does reduced medication access after a stroke increase the risk of recurrent stroke and subsequent disability? How many recurrent strokes in the population are attributable to poor control of risk factors, such as lack of treatment of elevated blood pressure (BP), high cholesterol, diabetes or the use of antiplatelet agents, etc? The article by Levine et al1 notes that ≈9% or an estimated 76 000 stroke survivors in the US were unable to afford their necessary medications. The characteristics of such individuals are, as would be expected from previous studies, lower income, lack of insurance, multiple diseases requiring high cost of treatments, lack of usual source of care and lack of disposable income to pay for the drugs. The critical question is if we could enhance adherence, would it have any effect on outcomes? The current report by Levine et al did not measure whether the lack of funds to pay for the drug therapy had any impact on the control of risk factors or whether it had any effect on the clinical outcomes of poststroke patients. However, other studies have clearly documented that adherence to drug therapies is an important component of reducing risk of disease. Most likely, levels of risk factors and adherence to therapies are the 2 critical variables that determine risk of both incident stroke and recurrent stroke.2–7 In 2001, Qureshi reported in 1252 survivors of myocardial infarction and stroke from the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III that only 53% of hypertensives were controlled. Blood glucose in diabetics was controlled in only about 50% and cholesterol was poorly controlled in 46%. About 18% of individuals were also still smoking cigarettes.8 In January 2002, Dr Claude Lenfant, then Director of the National Heart, Lung, …
Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Specific Cell-Mediated Immune Responses after Vaccination with a Purified Fusion Protein Subunit Vaccine

Vaccination with a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion protein subunit vaccine (PFP-2) was done to determine if this vaccine induced evidence of cell-mediated immunity to RSV and if cell-mediated immunity prevented RSV reinfection. Healthy children 12-18 months old received 50 micrograms of PFP-2 or a saline control. Lymphocyte transformation (LTF) responses were determined before and 1 and 6 months after vaccination. PFP-2 induced positive LTF responses in 5 (83%) of 6 subjects whose prevaccination samples lacked evidence of cell-mediated immunity. Positive LTF responses in prevaccination samples were not boosted but were more persistent in vaccinees than in controls. Positive LTF responses were not associated with protection against subsequent infection. Immunization with PFP-2 induces correlates of cell-mediated immunity, but this immunity does not appear to be a critical component of protection.
Superoxide dismutase and peroxidase are coordinately regulated in differentiated and transformed tissues of Nicotiana tabacum

We used a series of normal and Agrobacterium-transformed, bacteria-free tobacco tissue cultures which differ in their levels of histodifferentiation to test the relationship of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase to oncogenic transformation and differentiation. When compared with normal callus, tumor callus contained reduced levels of both superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, and a reduced number of isozymes of both enzymes. Teratomas characterized by limited but abnormal differentiation showed increases in superoxide-dismutase activity and isozymes, but levels of peroxidase activity lower than those found in normal callus despite an increase in the number of peroxidase isozymes. A similar disparity between low peroxidase activity and high isozyme number in the shoot suggests that there are increased levels of peroxidase inhibitors or of molecules which interfere with the spectrophotometric assay for peroxidase in more differentiated tissues. As judged by the number of isozymes of both superoxide dismutase and peroxidase in each tissue, the following conclusions are warranted: first, tobacco copper/zinc superoxide dismutases and peroxidases are encoded in several duplicated loci which are regulated independently. Second, transformation is associated with a decrease in both the specific activity and isozyme number of superoxide dismutase. Third, the partial release from the total inhibition of expression of differentiated function exhibited by teratoma is associated with an increase in both the activity and isozyme number of superoxide dismutase. Finally, the expression of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase isozymes appears to be coordinated during differentiation in a manner that is consistent with their role in an integrated mechanism for the removal of reduced oxygen species.
Overview of TPC Benchmark E: The Next Generation of OLTP Benchmarks

Set to replace the aging TPC-C, the TPC Benchmark E is the next generation OLTP benchmark, which more accurately models client database usage. TPC-E addresses the shortcomings of TPC-C. It has a much more complex workload, requires the use of RAID-protected storage, generates much less I/O, and is much cheaper and easier to set up, run, and audit. After a period of overlap, it is expected that TPC-E will become the de facto OLTP benchmark.
Counting of resonance structures for large benzenoid polynuclear hydrocarbons

A method is presented for counting the number of resonance structures for large benzenoid polynuclear hydrocarbons. Structure counts for even systems are made and compared with those of the odd systems resulting from the removal of one of the π centers from various points in the even structure. A computer program for performing the calculations is also given.
Childhood Infections, Antibiotics, and Resistance: What Are Parents Saying Now?

Parental misconceptions and even "demand" for unnecessary antibiotics were previously viewed as contributors to overuse of these agents. We conducted focus groups to explore the knowledge and attitudes surrounding common infections and antibiotic use in the current era of more judicious prescribing. Among diverse groups of parents, we found widespread use of home remedies and considerable concern regarding antibiotic resistance. Parents generally expressed the desire to use antibiotics only when necessary. There was appreciation of inherent error in the diagnosis of common infections, with most trust placed in providers with whom parents had long-standing relationships. While some parents had experience with "watchful waiting" for otitis media, there was little enthusiasm for this approach. While there may still be room for further education, it appears that parents have become more informed and sophisticated regarding appropriate uses of antibiotics. This has likely contributed to the declines seen in their use nationally.
Bradykinin-induced proinflammatory signaling mechanisms.

Intravital microscopic techniques were used to examine the mechanisms underlying bradykinin-induced leukocyte/endothelial cell adhesive interactions (LECA) and venular protein leakage (VPL) in sing...
Novel ocean energy permanent magnet linear generator buoy

This paper describes the research, design, construction and prototype testing process of a novel ocean energy direct drive permanent magnet linear generator buoy. The buoy employs the vertical component of the motion of ocean waves to power a linear generator. The generator consists of a permanent magnet field system (mounted on the central translator shaft) and an armature, in which the power is generated (mounted on the buoy). The translator shaft is anchored to the sea floor, and the buoy/floater moves armature coils relative to the permanent magnet translator to induce voltages. The electrical and mechanical structures of the buoy generator are provided, along with performance characteristics, including voltage, current and developed power.
A Fast Multiple Longest Common Subsequence (MLCS) Algorithm

Finding the longest common subsequence (LCS) of multiple strings is an NP-hard problem, with many applications in the areas of bioinformatics and computational genomics. Although significant efforts have been made to address the problem and its special cases, the increasing complexity and size of biological data require more efficient methods applicable to an arbitrary number of strings. In this paper, we present a new algorithm for the general case of multiple LCS (or MLCS) problem, i.e., finding an LCS of any number of strings, and its parallel realization. The algorithm is based on the dominant point approach and employs a fast divide-and-conquer technique to compute the dominant points. When applied to a case of three strings, our algorithm demonstrates the same performance as the fastest existing MLCS algorithm designed for that specific case. When applied to more than three strings, our algorithm is significantly faster than the best existing sequential methods, reaching up to 2-3 orders of magnitude faster speed on large-size problems. Finally, we present an efficient parallel implementation of the algorithm. Evaluating the parallel algorithm on a benchmark set of both random and biological sequences reveals a near-linear speedup with respect to the sequential algorithm.
The Effect of Noncellulosic Material on the Actinic Degradation of Cotton Fabric: Part II: Copper Oxinate and Nickel Oxinate

A study has been made of the effects of copper oxinate and nickel oxinate on the actinic degradation of cotton fabric. Both compounds were found to be protective at all concentrations studied, and their behavior is considered to relate to the fact that they are stable metal chelates and not ionic salts, which are known to accelerate the degradation of cotton. Furthermore, both compounds were found to absorb light in the high-energy ultraviolet region. The results are discussed in terms of structure and degree of ultra violet absorption of the compounds.
On uniqueness and existence of viscosity solutions of fully nonlinear second‐order elliptic PDE's

We prove several comparison and existence theorems for viscosity solutions of fully nonlinear degenerate elliptic equations. One of them extends some recent uniqueness results by Jensen. Some establish the uniqueness of solutions for second-order Isaacs' equations and hence include the uniqueness results for Bellman equations by P.-L. Lions. Our comparison results apply even for discontinuous solutions and so Perron's method readily yields the existence of continuous solutions.
The Length of Legislative Sessions and the Growth of Government

This article suggests a simple and straightforward explanation for government growth based on the length of time that Congress meets in session. The basic hypothesis is that the more time spent in session, the longer and/or more complex the number of bills enacted into law. Because each bill enacted is likely to entail some spending clauses, the bills enacted in longer sessions are likely to involve larger government spending than those passed in shorter sessions. Using data for both houses of Congress for the period 1947-1982, this article provides evidence in support of the hypothesis that government growth can be partially explained by the length of time that Congress takes in session.
Ray Tracing Animated Scenes using Motion Decomposition

Though ray tracing has recently become interactive, its high precomputation time for building spatial indices usually limits its applications to walkthroughs of static scenes. This is a major limitation, as most applications demand support for dynamically animated models. In this paper, we present a new approach to ray trace a special but important class of dynamic scenes, namely models whose connectivity does not change over time and for which all possible poses are known in advance. We support these kinds of models by introducing two new concepts: motion decomposition, and fuzzy kd-trees. We analyze the animation and break the model down into submeshes with similar motion. For each of these submeshes and for every time step, we calculate a best affine transformation through a least square approach. Any residual motion is then captured in a single "fuzzy kd-tree" for the entire animation. Together, these techniques allow for ray tracing animations without rebuilding the spatial index structures for the submeshes, resulting in interactive frame rates of 5 to 15 fps even on a single CPU. Categories and Subject Descriptors (according to ACM CCS): I.3.7 [Computer Graphics]: Ray tracing I.3.6 [Methodology and Techniques]: Graphics data structures and data types
SURFACE-EXPRESSED ENOLASE CONTRIBUTES TO THE PATHOGENESIS OF CLINICAL ISOLATE SSU OF AEROMONAS HYDROPHILA

In this study, we demonstrated that the surface-expressed enolase from diarrheal isolate SSU of Aeromonas hydrophila bound to human plasminogen and facilitated the latter's tissue-type plasminogen activator-mediated activation to plasmin. The bacterial surface-bound plasmin was more resistant to the action of its specific physiological inhibitor, the antiprotease α2-antiplasmin. We found that immunization of mice with purified recombinant enolase significantly protected the animals against a lethal challenge dose of wild-type (WT) A. hydrophila. Minimal histological changes were noted in organs from mice immunized with enolase and then challenged with WT bacteria compared to severe pathological changes found in the infected and nonimmunized group of animals. This correlated with the smaller bacterial load of WT bacteria in the livers and spleens of enolase-immunized mice than that found in the nonimmunized controls. We also showed that the enolase gene could potentially be important for the viability of A. hydrophila SSU as we could delete the chromosomal copy of the enolase gene only when another copy of the targeted gene was supplied in trans. By site-directed mutagenesis, we altered five lysine residues located at positions 343, 394, 420, 427, and 430 of enolase in A. hydrophila SSU; the mutated forms of enolase were hyperexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the proteins were purified. Our results indicated that lysine residues at positions 420 and 427 of enolase were crucial in plasminogen-binding activity. We also identified a stretch of amino acid residues (252FYDAEKKEY260) in the A. hydrophila SSU enolase involved in plasminogen binding. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the direct involvement of surface-expressed enolase in the pathogenesis of A. hydrophila SSU infections and of any gram-negative bacteria in general.
Unusual Courtship Behaviors by Male American Woodcock

Abstract Male Scolopax minor (American Woodcock ) occasionally perform courtship behaviors outside of the primary breeding period. The costs and benefits of such behaviors are not known. We observed a Woodcock perform an aerial courtship display in Minnesota on 8 November 2010, a juvenile male emit peent vocalizations in Virginia on 12 December 1991, and a solitary individual emit a cackle vocalization in Georgia on 28 December 1994. These behaviors may have been aberrations that are selected against and therefore uncommon, influenced by environmental conditions, or performed to improve the quality of male courtship behaviors. Research and monitoring are needed to ascertain which if any of these explanations is correct.
Multiagent chemopreventive agent combinations.

Cancer chemoprevention is a new discipline whose foundation rests upon epidemiologic evidence suggesting that dietary components such as beta-carotene, vitamin E, calcium and selenium may be inhibitors of carcinogenesis. Over the last decade, as molecular and biochemical mechanisms of the carcinogenesis process have been elucidated, the rationale of combining chemopreventive agents to target multiple pathways has strengthened. The process of identifying potential synergistic combinations of chemoprevention agents should be based upon a systematic process of preclinical development in vitro followed by testing in animal models of carcinogenesis. Surrogates of anticarcinogenesis effects might include biochemical, molecular and pathologic assessment of tissue from animal carcinogenesis models. If evidence of chemopreventive effect is found in animal models, systematic studies in humans are indicated. These studies should include a careful Phase I trial to describe optimal chemoprevention doses for all agents being tested in combination followed by Phase II trials to assess efficacy upon carcinogenesis biological and pathological surrogates. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 34:121-124, 2000. r 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fraunhofer diffraction to determine the twin angle in single-crystal BaTiO3.

We present a new method for determining the electrically induced twin angle α of a (100) bulk single crystal of barium titanate (BaTiO3) using a nondestructive optical technique based on Fraunhofer diffraction. The technique required two steps that were performed simultaneously. First, we analyzed the diffracted light intensity captured with a line camera. Second, we measured the size of the diffracting element by analyzing images of the crystal’s surface taken with a CCD camera. The value obtained for the twin angle is 0.67° ± 0.05°, which compares favorably with the theoretical value of 0.63°.
Third International Conference on Biology, Prevention and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Malignancies

R. Mayer (USA), summarizing the data presented during the three-day conference, stressed the importance of the development of new cytotoxic drugs and -- particularly -- biological therapies as forms of treatment for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. He also acknowledged the increasing application of molecular biology to gastrointestinal cancer through the identification of genetically-defined high-risk patients who merit costly screening techniques and the increased use of molecular 'markers' to serve as prognostic indicators and criteria for stratification in future clinical trials. Dr Mayer cautioned against allowing long-term frustration over poor surgical outcomes in patients with T3-4 esophageal cancer and enthusiasm derived from uncontrolled (i.e., phase II) trials to lead to the premature acceptance of preoperative chemoradiation therapy as standard treatment for such patients in the absence of properly controlled, adequately powered randomized studies. Dr Mayer reinforced the progress that has been made in the adjuvant treatment of colon cancer and noted the increasing number of new randomized studies that have been proposed to further enhance the likelihood for cure, particularly in patients with stage III disease. Dr Mayer concluded by presenting a series of hypothetical agenda items for the Fourth International Conference on Biology, Prevention, and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Malignancies to be held in the new millennium which he hoped would demonstrate the incorporation of biological agents into clinical trials, would document more concerted efforts to study the biology and improve the treatment for pancreatic cancer, and would begin to consider the use of 'risk-adapted' management strategies into clinical trials, based on such preclinical biological markers as intratumoral thymidylate synthase levels, apoptotic indices, allelic deletions, and the like.
Molecular Simulation of Protein-PEG Interaction

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is a water-soluble polymer that exhibits properties such as protein resistance, low toxicity, and nonimmunogenicity.1–5 These properties have been attributed to its segmental flexibility and its polar, but uncharged, chemical composition. This segmental flexibility produces a high degree of steric exclusion and entropy at PEG-water interfaces which in turn leads to protein resistance. Its exclusion property also enables the precipitation of proteins without denaturation.6–9
Inuit and Whalers on Baffin Island Through German Eyes: Wilhelm Weike's Arctic Journal and Letters (1883–1884)

Wilhelm Weike's journals provide a unique perspective on early European anthropological research on Baffin Island. Employed by Franz Boaz, who would later become a noted anthropologist at Columbia ...
KCNE3 acts by promoting voltage sensor activation in KCNQ1

KCNE β-subunits assemble with and modulate the properties of voltage-gated K(+) channels. In the colon, stomach, and kidney, KCNE3 coassembles with the α-subunit KCNQ1 to form K(+) channels important for K(+) and Cl(-) secretion that appear to be voltage-independent. How KCNE3 subunits turn voltage-gated KCNQ1 channels into apparent voltage-independent KCNQ1/KCNE3 channels is not completely understood. Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain the effect of KCNE3 on KCNQ1 channels. Here, we use voltage clamp fluorometry to determine how KCNE3 affects the voltage sensor S4 and the gate of KCNQ1. We find that S4 moves in KCNQ1/KCNE3 channels, and that inward S4 movement closes the channel gate. However, KCNE3 shifts the voltage dependence of S4 movement to extreme hyperpolarized potentials, such that in the physiological voltage range, the channel is constitutively conducting. By separating S4 movement and gate opening, either by a mutation or PIP2 depletion, we show that KCNE3 directly affects the S4 movement in KCNQ1. Two negatively charged residues of KCNE3 (D54 and D55) are found essential for the effect of KCNE3 on KCNQ1 channels, mainly exerting their effects by an electrostatic interaction with R228 in S4. Our results suggest that KCNE3 primarily affects the voltage-sensing domain and only indirectly affects the gate.
Regional and Temporal Trends in Wildfire Suppression Expenditures

This chapter explores regional and temporal patterns of wildfire suppression expenditures. A key question addressed is whether expenditure differences across time or between regions are explained by differences in fire characteristics, differences in management responses to fire, or unobserved factors. Three analyses are conducted: A time-series analysis of aggregate expenditures at the regional level to discern year-over-year trends due to random processes; an analysis of trends in cost-performance metrics based on the Stratified Cost Index model; and, a micro-level regression model that examines the determinants of suppression expenditures over time and between regions. In the latter case, introducing year- and region-specific interactions with fire characteristics in expenditure regressions can indicate whether observations of higher (or lower) expenditures in certain years and regions can be attributed to variation in fire characteristics or to unobserved differences between years and regions. Taken together, these analyses highlight the complex relationships between expenditures, fire characteristics, climate and weather, and human factors in determining suppression expenditures.
Policy Should Incorporate the Cost of Error and Uncertainty in Estimates of Fuel Carbon Intensity

Implementation of many policies intended to reduce fuels’ contribution to global warming require an estimate of the global warming intensity (GWI) of various fuels. Determining the climate effect of a direct substitution of fuels is not the same as determining the official value of each fuel’s GWI used to implement the policy. Choosing the second, which depends in part on estimates of the first and their intrinsic uncertainty, is a decision that should reflect the shape of the probability distribution of the first and of the cost of error (the difference between the chosen value and the ‘real’ value. Decision analysis helps clarify the difference between these GWI’s, how they relate to each other, and how standard engineering practice like a safety factor applies to the regulator’s decision.
Self-starting femtosecond diode pumped Cr:LiSGAF laser

A self-starting modelocked and diode-pumped Cr:LiSGAF laser with a saturable mirror produces 100-fs pulses with up to 80 mW average power.
Hypoelliptic Heat Kernels on Nilpotent Lie Groups

The starting point of our analysis is an old idea of writing an eigenfunction expansion for a heat kernel considered in the case of a hypoelliptic heat kernel on a nilpotent Lie group G. One of the ingredients of this approach is the generalized Fourier transform. The formula one gets using this approach is explicit as long as we can find all unitary irreducible representations of G. In the current paper we consider an n-step nilpotent Lie group Gn as an illustration of this technique. First we apply Kirillov’s orbit method to describe these representations for Gn. This allows us to write the corresponding hypoelliptic heat kernel using an integral formula over a Euclidean space. As an application, we describe a short-time behavior of the hypoelliptic heat kernel in our case.
UV Raman Scattering Measurements of a Mach 2 Reacting Flow over a Piloted Cavity

UV Raman scattering measurements were made in a Mach 2 supersonic air flow over a cavity piloted with ethylene fuel (C2H4). The wall cavity simulated the pilot region of a scramjet combustor. In the UV Raman system, a 248 nm KrF excimer laser beam (400 mJ/pulse, 20 ns pulse length) was used to excite the Raman scattering in the combustion zone. Raman scattered light in the 254-278 nm spectral region allows measurement of the following molecular species: CO2 (257 nm), O2 (258 nm), N2 (263 nm), C2H4 (268 nm), H2O (273 nm) and H2 (277nm). To avoid damaging the fused-silica windows on the combustion test section: 1) the laser pulse was stretched from 20 ns to 150 ns using two optical delay cavities, 2) a long focal length lens (5 meters) focused the KrF beam to a relatively large diameter (1 mm diameter) and 3) the laser energy was decreased to 100 mJ/pulse. Under these conditions, the high power pulsed laser beam passed through the side fused-silica windows without inflicting damage. Raman scattered light was collected from the top fused-silica window and was focused into a 0.32 meter spectrometer that dispersed the Raman spectrum onto an intensified CCD camera. Multiple Raman spectra are obtained along an 8 mm line to yield spatially resolved measurements of chemical composition. By translating the optical table, Raman scattering spectra were obtained in a number of locations in the Mach 2 reacting flow over a piloted cavity. Raman measurements in ethylene-fuel rich zones were contaminated by laser-induced fluorescence interference from fuel derived species (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Additional problems included laser-induced fluorescence from the fused-silica windows and UV flame emission. The Raman scattering images are being analyzed to obtain information about fuel/air mixing and reaction under supersonic conditions. Efforts will be made to improve the UV Raman system for application to scramjet flows based on this first set of measurements.
Shadow Enhancers Mediate Dynamic Shifts of Gap Gene Expression in the Drosophila Embryo

Summary Drosophila patterning genes often contain pairs of primary and shadow enhancers that possess overlapping activities [1–5]. It has been suggested that this regulatory "redundancy" helps ensure reliable activation of gene expression under stressful conditions such as increases in temperature [4, 5]. There is also evidence that shadow enhancers help produce sharp on/off boundaries of gene expression in response to small changes in the levels of regulatory factors, such as the maternal Bicoid gradient [6, 7]. Here, we use live-imaging methods to visualize the temporal dynamics of the gap genes Kruppel and knirps , which are essential for the patterning of the thorax and abdomen, respectively [8, 9]. Previous analyses of fixed embryos suggested anterior shifts of the Kruppel and knirps expression patterns [10]. Here, we use computational visualization methods to reveal the precise temporal dynamics of these shifts and further suggest that shadow enhancers are crucial for this process. We discuss potential mechanisms for enhancer dominance, whereby one enhancer represses the other to foster temporal dynamics.
Results analysis of pollution condition in food in Dxing District in 2008

Objective:To understand the pollution condition of Salmonella,O157:H7,Staphylococcus,Listeria monocytogenes,Campylobacteria,Vibrio parahaemolyticus in food in Daxing district,define the potential harm which from these germs to people′s life,provide the foundation for pathogenic bacterea test,prevention early warming and whole control ability.Methods:According to the handbook of food contamination net of Beijing.Resules:We collected 200 pieces of samples including raw milk,cooked meat,raw meat,raw vegetables,aquatic products,18 pathogenic bacteria were checked out,which including 1 Salmonella,9 Listeria monocytogenes,7 SA,1 Vibrio parahaemolyticus,the total testing rate is 9.0%.Conclusion:Some pathogenic bateria had polluted the food in Daxing district,especially in raw milk,raw meat and the condition is more serious.There is still some pollution in aquatic product and cooked meat.
Gut Content Analysis of a Phloem-Feeding Insect, Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae).

Potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), is a key pest of potato (Solanum tuberosum L., Solanales: Solanaceae) and a vector of "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum," the pathogen associated with zebra chip disease. In addition to its presence on cultivated crops, the psyllid regularly occurs on numerous uncultivated annual and perennial species within the Solanaceae. A better understanding of landscape-level ecology of B. cockerelli would substantially improve our ability to predict which potato fields are most likely to be colonized by infected psyllids. We developed three PCR-based methods of gut content analysis to identify what plant species B. cockerelli had previously fed upon. These methods included-1) sequencing PCR amplicons of regions of plant-derived internal transcribed spacer (ITS) or the chloroplast trnL gene from psyllids, 2) high-resolution melting analysis of ITS or trnL real-time PCR products, and 3) restriction enzyme digestion of trnL PCR product. Each method was used to test whether we could identify psyllids that had been reared continuously on potato versus psyllids reared continuously on the perennial nightshade, Solanum dulcamara. All three methods of gut content analysis correctly identified psyllids from potato and psyllids from S. dulcamara Our study is the first to demonstrate that plant DNA can be detected in a phloem-feeding insect. Gut content analysis, in combination with other landscape ecology approaches, could help elucidate patterns in landscape-level movements and host plant associations of B. cockerelli.
Fidelity of deoxyribonucleic acid polymerases from normal and leukaemic human cells in polydeoxynucleotide replication.

Although the relative incorporation of incorrect nucleotide (dCTP or dGTP) into poly(dA-dT)·poly(dA-dT) by partially purified 3–4S DNA polymerase from normal or leukaemic human cells was four to five times higher than that by the 6–7S DNA polymerase, no significant differences in the infidelity of these polymerases between normal and leukaemic cells were noted.
A qualitative exploration of favorite patients in primary care

Abstract Objective To ascertain whether physicians have favorite patients, their experiences with such patients, and how such relationships may influence patients and physicians. Methods Semi-structured key informant interviews with 25 primary care internists practicing in several clinic settings at a large academic medical center. Results The term ‘favorite patient’ raised concerns regarding boundaries and favoritism. Nevertheless, most participants (22/25) reported having favorite patients. For many physicians, favorite patients were not necessarily the most compliant patients, or those most similar to them. Instead, favorite patients were often very sick patients and/or those who have known their physicians for a long time. Many of these relationships were defined by experiences that strengthened the patient-physician bond. Participants felt that the favorite patient bond had a positive effect on patients and physicians (“it improves my day”). Physicians also discussed their challenging patients unprompted. Participants voiced that being cognizant of having favorite and challenging patients help to prevent favoring the care of certain patients over others. Conclusions & practice implications Primary care physicians value patient relationships and benefit from deep bonds. A better understanding of how favorite patients affect primary care physicians could help inform and improve relationships with all patients.
Pharmacist participation in health policy development.

“Health in All Policies,” described nearly 40 years ago by the World Health Organization, can be characterized as an approach to public policy development that takes into account the health and health-system implications of policies, seeks synergies, and minimizes harmful health impacts in order
Nitric Oxide-Mediated Chemical Signaling during Systemic Acquired Resistance

Abstract Reactive nitrogen (nitric oxide, NO) and oxygen species are important free radicals that play a vital role in a number of physiological responses, including plant defence. More recently they have been shown to play an important role in systemic acquired resistance (SAR), which is induced in response to primary infection and confers broad-spectrum disease resistance to secondary infections. NO functions upstream of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other SAR signals (azelaic acid (AzA) and glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P)) and is regulated by galactolipid digalactosyl diacylglycerol as well as fatty acid (oleic acid). Oleic acid and other C18 unsaturated fatty acids containing a double bond at carbon 9 also serve as a precursor to AzA, which functions upstream of G3P. The NO–ROS branch of SAR pathway functions in parallel to salicylic acid, and these branches likely undergo crosstalk to regulate the optimal induction of signals. This review summarizes the recent advances in the role of free radicals in SAR and discusses its relationship to other SAR inducers.
Challenging the U.S.-Led War on Drugs: Argentina in Comparative Perspective

Challenging the U.S.-Led War on Drugs explores the cases that have resisted the U.S. pressure to adopt a militarized approach to fight against drug trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through a sweeping narrative history from the recovery of democracy in 1983 to the present, Cutrona applies international relations and comparative politics theories to understand Argentina’s different trajectory vis-a-vis the rest of the region. The author demonstrates that in broad questions of vulnerability to U.S. pressure, external factors often play a secondary role in explaining either balancing/resistance or bandwagoning/acceptance of the U.S. security agenda in the Americas. Emphasizing the role of domestic-level politics, Cutrona identifies the subordination of the military to civilian oversight, the transition outcome, the system of check and balances, and the role of civil society actors such as social movements, epistemic communities, and norm entrepreneurs as Argentina’s most relevant sources explaining defection from Washington’s main dictates to combat drug trafficking.
Animal Models of Intracranial Aneurysms

We established a new mouse model of intracranial aneurysms that yields large aneurysms within a relatively short time frame. Aneurysms are induced by a combination of pharmacological hypertension and a single injection of elastase into the cerebrospinal fluid. The model gives us a unique opportunity to study and understand the mechanisms for not only aneurysm formation but also the rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Using this model, we can study the effects of various pharmacological agents on aneurysmal rupture in mice and translate our findings toward the clinical setting.
Prawnik i kardynał Francesco Zabarella i jego rola w procesie powstawania dekretu Haec sancta

Im Artikel wird die Rolle Zabarellas im Entstehungsprozess des Dekrets Haec sancta untersucht, das in einer Kurzfassung am 30. Marz und in einer Langfassung am 6. April 1415 in Konstanz dekretiert wurde. Wahrend Zabarella die erste Version vor den versammelten Konzilsvatern verlas, weigerte er sich, diese Aufgabe im Falle der finalen Fassung zu ubernehmen – und gab der Forschung damit Anlass zu einer breit gefuhrten Debatte uber seine Motive. Mittels des Vergleichs der zentralen Aussagen der beiden Textversionen von Haec sancta mit der juristischen Doktrin Zabarellas, wie er sie in den Jahren von 1402 bis 1408 in seinem Traktat De schismate niedergeschrieben hat, wird die Vereinbarkeit der Kurzfassung und die Diskrepanz der Langfassung mit der Rechtsauffassung des Kanonisten aufgezeigt. Hiervon ausgehend wird seine Weigerung erklart, Haec sancta in der finalen Form zu verlesen. Gleichwohl kann aufgezeigt werden, dass Zabarella das Dekret auch in seiner finalen Fassung mitzutragen bereit war, wenngleich in distanzierter Weise, wie die Analyse seines Verhaltens in der betreffenden Konzilssitzung am 6. April zeigt.
Self-Management and Yoga for Older Adults with Chronic Stroke: A Mixed-Methods Study of Physical Fitness and Physical Activity

Objective: This study investigated changes in physical fitness and physical activity among older patients with chronic stroke (stroke ≥ 6 months previous) after participation in a yoga infused self...
PTP1B, Distinctively Expressed in GCB-Like and ABC-Like DLBCL, Is a New Regulator of IL-4-STAT6 Intracellular Signaling.

Gene expression profiling studies sub-classified diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) into two clinically distinct types: Germinal Center B cell (GCB)-like and Activated B-cell (ABC)-like tumors, characterized by long and short survival, respectively. We have recently reported distinct responsiveness of GCB-like and ABC-like DLBCL cell lines to IL-4 stimulation. In ABC-like lymphoma cells, STAT6 signaling is ameliorated due to enhanced STAT6 dephosphorylation resulting in non-inducibility of IL-4 target genes in these tumors. (Lu et al: Blood 2005;105:2924). Furthermore, we have demonstrated that IL-4 may increase doxorubicin and complement-mediated rituxmab cellular cytotoxicity in GCB-like cell-lines, but protects the ABC-like DLBCL. At least some of the observed differences were attributed to the differential expression of TC-PTP - a new STAT6 nuclear protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) (Lu et al MCB 2007;27:2166). PTP1B, another PTP highly expressed in ABC-like DLBCL, exhibits a 71% amino acid identity in the catalytic domain with TC-PTP. In contrast to TC-PTP that is mainly located in nuclei, PTP1B localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum. Herein, we demonstrate that PTP1B may serve as a physiological cytoplasmic PTP of phosphorylated STAT6. Over-expression of PTP1B leads to STAT6 dephosphorylation while PTP1B knock down augment STAT6 phosphorylation. We demonstrate interactions between endogenous PTP1B and STAT6 and delineate the STAT6 and PTP1B protein domains responsible for the interaction: the catalytic domain of PTP1B and the C terminal transactivation domain of STAT6. Furthermore, we demonstrate that PTP1B may also dephosphorylate JAK1 and JAK3. However, by using the PTK inhibitor, staurosporine, we show that the PTP1B effect on STAT6 is direct. We confirm a potential regulatory role of PTP1B on IL-4-STAT6 signaling in a cellular context by demonstrating that over-expression of PTP1B ameliorates IL-4-induced STAT6 reporter luciferase activity and IL-4 induced expression of its target genes. Furthermore, we delineate a new negative regulatory loop of IL-4-JAK-STAT6 signaling. We demonstrate that IL-4 induces PTP1B mRNA and enhances PTP1B protein stability. The effects of IL-4 on PTP1B mRNA are STAT6 independent and are mediated by PIK3 intracellular pathway. These observations further highlight the complexity of the intracellular regulation of cytokine-STAT signaling and may have important implications for both neoplastic and inflammatory processes. In summary, our findings identify STAT6 as a new target of PTP1B and suggest that distinct PTP expression profiles may contribute to different biological characteristics of GCB-like and ABC-like DLBCL.
Patient and therapist perspectives during the psychotherapy termination process: The role of participation and exploration.

Objective: This study was the first to examine psychotherapy termination from both therapists’ and patients’ perspectives by using standardized psychotherapy process measures. Our aim was to examine whether patient participation and therapist exploration during the termination phase of treatment are related to how good and productive the session was. Method: The sample consisted of 30 outpatient adults who had completed the Vanderbilt Psychotherapy Process Scale–Short form (VPPS-S; Smith, Hilsenroth, Baity, & Knowles, 2003) and the Session Evaluation Questionnaire (SEQ; Stiles, 1980) during a termination-phase session. These ratings were examined from mutually agreed upon terminations with largely successful outcomes. Results: Higher ratings of patient participation, as rated by both the therapist and patient, were significantly related to patient ratings of how good and productive the session was. Mixed findings were shown for therapist exploration. Conclusions: We provide clinical examples and suggestio...
Fundamental Interactions as Sources of the Evolution of Technology

The study suggests that the long-run evolution of any technologies depend on the interaction with other technologies. This proposed interpretation of the evolution of technology is explained with the concept of technological parasitism, in broad analogy with the evolutionary ecology. Technological parasitism is a mutual symbiotic relationship between technologies, where one or more parasitic technologies can function only in connection with a host or master technology, generating interaction that leads to the coevolution of innovations over time. In general, many technologies are associated to other technologies to form a complex system of components that interact in a non-simple way. Parasitic technologies have, in average, the properties of high degree of specialization. A prima facie evidence of the theoretical framework of the technological parasitism is provided with the interaction between some innovations in mobile technology, such as mobile apps, headphones and Bluetooth (parasitic technologies) and mobile devices (smartphones and/or tablet computers, host-technology). Overall, then the technological parasitism seems to be a useful theoretical framework to explain, whenever possible, the coevolution of innovation in human societies. A main prediction of this theory is that the long-run behavior and evolution of any technology is not independent of the other technologies. This new theoretical framework can be a ground work for development of more sophisticated concepts to explain the technological and economic change in society.
Optimizing age-of-information and energy efficiency tradeoff for mobile pushing notifications

We study the optimum scheduling of a pushing-based information delivery system, where information is sent from a server to mobile users by using server-initiated pushing actions. Information arrives at the server at random. The server adopts a “hold-then-serve” strategy, where new information is temporarily stored in queue for a later one-time transmission. Based on the current queue status, at any given time instant the server needs to decide whether to push all information in the queue to the mobile user or keep waiting. A shorter waiting time can ensure the timeliness or “freshness” of the information, which can be measured by using age-of-information (AoI). On the other hand, frequent pushing actions will frequently wake up the client thus increase the power consumption of mobile devices. The objective of this paper is to identify the scheduling rule that can optimize the tradeoff between the AoI and energy efficiency measured by energy consumption per bit. With the help of stopping theories, we develop optimum stopping rules that can minimize a weighted combination of AoI and energy efficiency, with the tradeoff between the two metrics determined by the weight coefficient in the cost function. Specifically, if the AoI scales linearly with time, it is proved that the one-step look ahead stopping rule is optimum. The corresponding statistical properties of the random stopping time for push actions are analytically identified, and they are used to obtain the operation parameters of the optimum stopping rule.
Salmonella and Fecal Indicator Bacteria Survival in Soils Amended with Poultry Manure

Minimizing the risks associated with manure-borne pathogenic microorganisms requires an understanding of microbial survival under realistic field conditions. The objective of this 3-year study was to assess the fate of Salmonella (SALM) and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), E. coli (EC) and enterococci (ENT), in glacial till-derived soils, after application of poultry manure (PM) to cornfields under chisel-plowed (CP) or no-till (NT) management. From 2010 to 2012, soil samples were obtained each spring at 0–15- and 15–30-cm depths, to determine whether over-wintering of target bacteria had occurred. Sampling was followed by application of PM at low (PM1) and high (PM2) rates, based on nitrogen application goals. In 2012, soil samples were collected 21, 42, and 158 days after manure application (DAM), to assess the effects of time, application rates, and tillage on frequency of detection and concentrations of target bacteria. Despite dry conditions, all three target organisms were detected 158 DAM in 2012, and detection of these organisms in spring soil samples from manured plots in 2011 and 2012, nearly a full year after PM application, suggests that these organisms can persist in the soil environment long after application. The highest SALM concentration (790 cfu/g dry weight) and detection rate (25%) was found in PM2 plots 42 DAM. SALM were detected more frequently in CP plots (20%) compared to NT plots (5%). In contrast, tillage practices had no apparent effect on EC or ENT survival, as indicated by both soil, and decay rates estimated from tile-water bacteria concentrations. Decay rate constants (μ) ranged from 0.044 to 0.065 day−1 for EC and 0.010 to 0.054 day−1 for ENT.
Natural History of Ground-Glass Lesions Among Patients With Previous Lung Cancer.

Background Among patients with previous lung cancer, the malignant potential of subsequent ground-glass opacities (GGOs) on computed tomography remains unknown, with a lack of consensus regarding surveillance and intervention. This study sought to describe the natural history of GGO in patients with a history of lung cancer. Methods A retrospective review was performed of 210 patients with a history of lung cancer and ensuing computed tomography evidence of pure or mixed GGOs between 2007 and 2013. Computed tomography reports were reviewed to determine the fate of the GGOs, by classifying all lesions as stable, resolved, or progressive over the course of the study. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify predictors of GGO progression and resolution. Results The mean follow-up time was 13 months. During this period, 55 (26%) patients' GGOs were stable, 131 (62%) resolved, and 24 (11%) progressed. Of the 24 GGOs that progressed, three were subsequently diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. Patients of black race (odds ratio [OR], 0.26) and other races besides white (OR, 0.89) had smaller odds of GGO resolution ( p = 0.033), whereas patients with previous lung squamous cell carcinoma (OR, 5.16) or small cell carcinoma (OR, 5.36) were more likely to experience GGO resolution ( p p = 0.011). Conclusions Among patients with a history of lung cancer, prior adenocarcinoma emerged as a predictor of GGO progression, whereas a history of squamous cell carcinoma or small cell carcinoma and white race were identified as predictors of GGO resolution.