cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Take ACTION to identify high-resolution cell types and associated transcriptional pathways

Single-cell transcriptomic data has the potential to radically redefine our view of cell type identity. Cells that were previously believed to be homogeneous are now clearly distinguishable in terms of their expression phenotype. Methods that automatically identify cell types and their properties based on expression profiles can be used to uncover processes involved in lineage differentiation as well as sub-typing. They can also be used to suggest personalized therapies based on molecular signatures associated with pathology. We develop a new method, called ACTION , for projecting cells onto the state space of functional profiles, classifying them according to their principal functions, and reconstructing cell type-specific regulatory networks. Results on sub-typing cancer cells in Melanoma patients reveal novel biomarkers along with their regulatory networks.
Impact of Using a Low Anti-Xa Target Heparin Protocol on Hemocompatibility-Related Outcomes after Implantation of a HeartMate 3 Device

Purpose To evaluate early hemocompatibility-related outcomes after implementation of a low anti-Xa target heparin protocol following implantation of the HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD). Methods We reviewed hemocompatibility-related outcomes including mediastinal bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), stroke, and pump thrombosis (PT) events in recipients of HeartMate 3 LVADs before and after implementation of a low anti-Xa target heparin protocol. The higher anti-Xa protocol targeted levels of 0.3-0.5 IU/ml using a starting dose of 18 units/kg/hr with a maximum starting dose of 1530 units/hr, and the lower anti-Xa protocol targeted levels of 0.1-0.3 IU/ml using a starting dose of 7 units/kg/hr with a maximum starting dose of 595 units/hr. Results Between 9/2018 and 8/2020, 152 patients were implanted with a HeartMate 3. Mean patient age was 57 ± 12 years, 74% were males, and 76% of patients were African American. Per our center's protocol, IV heparin was started on postoperative day 5. 106 patients were treated with the higher anti-Xa protocol and 21 patients were treated with the lower anti-Xa protocol. The patients treated with the higher anti-Xa target protocol experienced 10 (9.4%) post-operative mediastinal bleeding events requiring return to the operating room (OR) while patients on the lower anti-Xa protocol experienced none. Patients treated with the higher anti-Xa target protocol experienced 8 (7.5%) GIB events within 60 days of implant while patients on the lower anti-Xa protocol experienced no GIB. Patients treated with the higher anti-Xa protocol experienced one hemorrhagic stroke and no ischemic strokes, while patients on the lower anti-Xa protocol experienced one ischemic stroke and no hemorrhagic strokes. No PT events requiring pump exchange occurred in either group. Conclusion Implementation of a low anti-Xa target heparin protocol after HeartMate 3 LVAD implantation surgery was associated with a lower incidence of mediastinal and GI bleeding. No PT events requiring pump exchange were observed in either group. Stroke rate was low in both groups. Further research is needed to determine the safest and most effective anticoagulation protocol after HeartMate 3 implantation that lowers the incidence of early hemocompatibility-related events.
The association of infant temperament and maternal sensitivity in preterm and full‐term infants

Infants who experience sensitive caregiving are at lower risk for numerous adverse outcomes. This is especially true for infants born preterm, leading them to be more susceptible to risks associated with poorer quality caregiving. Some research suggests that preterm and full-term infants differ on temperament, which may contribute to these findings. This study aimed to investigate associations between infant temperament (negative emotionality, positive affectivity/surgency, and orienting/regulatory capacity) and maternal sensitivity among infants born preterm (M = 30.2 weeks) and full term. It was hypothesized that mothers of infants born preterm and mothers of infants with more difficult temperaments would display lower sensitivity, indicated by lower responsiveness to nondistress, lower positive regard, and higher intrusiveness. Videotaped play interactions and a measure of temperament (Infant Behavior Questionnaire) were coded for 18 preterm and 44 full-term infants at 9 months (corrected) age. Results suggest that mothers of preterm and full-term infants differed significantly in responding to their infants, but these results cannot be explained by infant temperament. Preterm status and sociodemographic risk emerged as correlates of maternal behavior, such that mothers of infants born preterm and mothers with greater sociodemographic risk displayed lower levels of maternal sensitivity.
The “banana tree at the gate”: Perceptions of production ofPiper nigrum (Piperaceae) in a seventeenth century malay state

This study is based on a remarkable seventeenth-century Malay court chronicle, in which the kingdom’s rulers issue injunctions on their death-beds against cultivating pepper (Piper nigrum Piperaceae) for the colonial trade. The rulers say that pepper cultivation will lead to expensive food stuffs, malice, government disorder, pretensions on the part of the subject peoples, and inevitably the destruction of the kingdom. The “fatal attraction” of pepper cultivation is likened, in an indigenous metaphor, to having a flourishing banana tree in front of one’s gate. Analysis of historic as well as contemporary evidence from Borneo suggests that this is a remarkably astute analysis of the relations of production in pepper cultivation, especially in the transition from small-scale household cultivation to larger-scale production with state involvement. This analysis demonstrates the potential value of historic, indigenous texts for the study of economic plants, and it also shows the value of historical depth for understanding contemporary issues.
The Three Looks

ABSTRACT The “three looks” (as described by Coulter, 2000) present a framework for understanding the dimension of spirituality within human relations, especially as those relationships occur within the helping professions. In this article, I briefly describe Dr. Coulter's “three ways of looking,” and then relate each of these “looks” to an experience of my own as a teacher of students and adults with significant disabilities.
The state of corporate governance - experience from country assessments

Corporate governance deals with the ways in which the rights of outside suppliers of equity finance to corporations are protected and receive a fair return. Good practices reduce the risk of expropriation of outsiders by insiders and thus the cost of capital for issuers. Capaul and Fremond review the experience of the preparation of 15 corporate governance country assessments across five continents. The assessments have been prepared under the umbrella of the joint World Bank/IMF initiative of the "Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes" (ROSCs). The assessments focus on the rights of shareholders, the equitable treatment of shareholders, the role of stakeholders, disclosure and transparency, and the duties of the board of listed companies, and use the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance as benchmark. The authors give an overview of the actual and potential contribution of the assessments to policy dialogue, diagnostic and strategic work, lending and nonlending operations, and technical assistance and capacity, and presents the unfinished agenda. This paper - a product of the Corporate Governance Unit, Private Sector Advisory Services Department - is part of a larger effort in the department to disseminate lessons learned in the assessment of the compliance of countries to global standards. The authors may be contacted at ofremond@worldbank.org or mcapaul@worldbank.org.
Assessment of Geriatric Information on the Drug Label for Commonly Prescribed Drugs in Older People

Older people contribute to a significant portion of all prescription drug use and expenditures in the United States. Despite this, older people are often excluded from clinical trials examining the safety and efficacy of drugs. It is unclear to what extent drugs commonly used in older people contain information about prescribing in older people on their product labeling. The objective of this study was to determine the availability of pharmacokinetic, safety, and dosing information with reference to older people on product labels or package inserts (PIs) for commonly prescribed drugs in patients aged 65 and older. The top 50 oral drugs prescribed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center were identified through a computerized search of pharmacy records. PIs for these drugs were evaluated for information on elderly patients. Information on drug use in older people was found in 41 (82%) of the PIs. Drugs marketed after 1990 were more likely to contain information on geriatric use, with pharmacokinetic information being the most common type. Approximately 50% of the PIs contained precautionary statements for older people, but most did not provide any specific problems that might be encountered in this population. Only 28 (56%) PIs had dosing information available, and of these, just eight provided specific milligram recommendations for elderly patients. This analysis provides evidence that more should be done to improve the availability of prescribing information, particularly dosing and safety, on drug labels for older people. Additional regulatory action requiring this information to be included on drug product labels may be warranted.
Sterility studies in private practice

Abstract In a study of 118 sterile matings, various etiological factors, single or combined, were discovered. Thirty-four pregnancies followed the various methods of treatment employed (28.8 per cent), of which 26 resulted in live births at term, or 22 per cent of the total number studied and treated. We wish to call particular attention to the results obtained after Rubin tests or hysterosalpingographies where other factors were ruled out, as we believe this indicates a definite therapeutic effect from these measures. We feel that hysterosalpingography is the more valuable of the two, as in most of those where success is reported, one or more previous Rubins had been done without pregnancy resulting. Some of the failures could be explained on the basis of persistently blocked tubes or aspermia of the male, but for many of the failures no adequate explanation could be given. It is felt that operative attempts to correct tubal or spermatic duct blockage have little chance of success. However, operation for the removal of uterine fibroids or ovarian tumors may relieve associated sterility. Success may be anticipated in many patients with hypothyroidism, cervical lesions, transient tubal blockage, and moderately impaired male fertility.
Modifications of a Device for Maintenance of the Rumen Microbial Population in Continuous Culture

An improved and simplified apparatus for maintaining the rumen microbial population in continuous culture was constructed. All components were easily obtained from commercial sources or were simple to construct. Mechanical difficulties were minimal, and little attention was needed on the part of the operator. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content of the cultures (100 to 150 μg/ml) varied little during 7 days of continuous culture, and protozoal concentration decreased from 105 per ml to a steady-state level of 2 × 103 per ml in 4 days. Volatile fatty acid and methane production followed the normal in vivo pattern for 7 days of continuous culture. DNA, protozoal concentrations, and fermentation patterns did not significantly change between 4 and 21 days of continuous culture.
Ion heating and containment in the NASA Lewis Bumpy Torus plasma

Experimental observations have been made during steady state operation of a torus experiment at input powers up to 150 kilowatts in deuterium and helium gas. The steady state ion heating method utilizes a modified Penning discharge operated in a bumpy torus confinement geometry. The bumpy torus plasma is acted upon by a combination of strong electric and magnetic fields. In a deuterium plasma, electron temperatures from 14 to 140 electron volts and ion kinetic temperatures from 160 to 1785 electron volts were observed. At least two distinct operating regimes exist, each of which is associated with a characteristic range of background gas pressure and electron temperature. Experimental data show that the average ion residence time in the plasma is virtually independent of magnetic field strength.
The Role of trust in salesperson-sales manager relationships

Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX) offers a way to better understand nuances of the salesperson-sales manager relationship. The study reported here employs leader-member exchange theory to evaluate how sales employees develop trust with their managers. Findings show that salespeople's perceptions of procedural justice positively influence salespeople's commitment to the organization, and thereby their satisfaction with the job. Suggestions are provided concerning how sales organizations can train managers to manage consistently and thereby build trust and commitment in salespeople.
Ink Jet Printing for Organic Electroluminescent Display

Ink-jet printing (IJP) technology is a popular technology for desktop publishing. Since some of the conducting (or conjugated) organic molecules and polymers are solution processible, IJP becomes an ideal method for printing polymer–organic light-emitting diodes with high resolution. In this article, the current status of the application of ink-jet printing technology to the organic electroluminescent displays is briefly reviewed. Subsequently, the hybrid ink-jet printing technology, which consists of an ink-jet printed layer in conjunction with another uniform spin-coated polymer layer (which serves as a buffer layer to seal the pin holes between the ink droplets) is introduced. This HIJP technology has been successfully applied to the fabrication of polymer light-emitting logos, multicolor polymer–organic light-emitting diodes, and built-in shadow masks for cathode patterning of pixelated polymer LEDs. Keywords: desktop publishing; ink-jet printing (IJP); hybrid IJP; light-emitting diodes (LED); polymer LED; logo; multicolor; shadow mask
Carbon dioxide sequestration by direct mineral carbonation: process mineralogy of feed and products

Direct mineral carbonation was investigated as a process to convert gaseous CO2 into a geologically stable final form. The process utilizes a slurry of water, with bicarbonate and salt additions, mixed with a mineral reactant, such as olivine (Mg2SiO4) or serpentine [Mg3Si2O5(OH)4]. Carbon dioxide is dissolved into this slurry, resulting in dissolution of the mineral and precipitation of magnesium carbonate (MgCO3). Optimum results were achieved using heat-pretreated serpentine feed material and a high partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2). Specific conditions include 155°C, PCO2 = 185 atm and 15% solids. Under these conditions, a 78% conversion of the silicate to the carbonate was achieved in 30 minutes. Process mineralogy was utilized to investigate the appropriate feed characteristics, identify the process products and interpret the mineral dissolution and carbonate precipitation reaction paths.
Lead Release to Drinking Water from Galvanized Steel Pipe Coatings

Abstract Problems identified with elevated lead in drinking water associated with galvanized steel pipes were recently hypothesized to result from lead accumulation on galvanized steel pipe surfaces from upstream lead service pipes. However, historical research documents that the grade of zinc typically used for galvanizing contains a minimum of 0.5% lead and can itself be a significant long-term source of lead, which may explain some recent lead contamination problems associated with galvanized steel. Surface analysis of various galvanized steel pipes and fittings installed from 1950 to 2008 demonstrated that the concentration of lead in the original zinc coating can range from nondetect to nearly 2%, dependent on the manufacturer and fitting type. Since cadmium is also present in many zinc coatings, but not in lead pipe, leaded solder, or brass, correlation of zinc concentration to both lead and cadmium concentrations in water was considered as a possible fingerprint implicating the coating on galvanize...
Cellobionic acid utilization: from Neurospora crassa to Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Background Economical production of fuels and chemicals from plant biomass requires the efficient use of sugars derived from the plant cell wall. Neurospora crassa, a model lignocellulosic degrading fungus, is capable of breaking down the complex structure of the plant cell wall. In addition to cellulases and hemicellulases, N. crassa secretes lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), which cleave cellulose by generating oxidized sugars—particularly aldonic acids. However, the strategies N. crassa employs to utilize these sugars are unknown.
Bicarbonate kinetics and predicted energy expenditure in critically ill children

BACKGROUND To determine nutrient requirements by the carbon oxidation techniques, it is necessary to know the fraction of carbon dioxide produced during the oxidative process but not excreted. This fraction has not been described in critically ill children. By measuring the dilution of (13)C infused by metabolically produced carbon dioxide, the rates of carbon dioxide appearance can be estimated. Energy expenditure can be determined by bicarbonate dilution kinetics if the energy equivalents of carbon dioxide (food quotient) from the diet ingested are known. OBJECTIVE We conducted a 6-h, primed, continuous tracer infusion of NaH(13)CO(3) in critically ill children fed parenterally or enterally or receiving only glucose and electrolytes, to determine bicarbonate fractional recovery, bicarbonate rates of appearance, and energy expenditure. DESIGN Thirty-one critically ill children aged 1 mo-20 y who were admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit at a tertiary-care center were studied. Patients were stratified by age, BMI, and severity score (PRISM III). RESULTS Fractional bicarbonate recovery was 0.69, 0.70, and 0.63, respectively, for the parenterally fed, enterally fed, and glucose-electrolytes groups, and it correlated with the severity of disease in the parenteral (P < 0.01) and glucose-electrolytes (P < 0.05) groups. Rates of appearance varied between 0.17 and 0.19 micromol . kg(-1) . h(-1) With these data and estimates of the energy equivalents of carbon dioxide (a surrogate for respiratory quotient), energy expenditure was determined. CONCLUSIONS The 2001 World Health Organization and Schofield predictive equations overestimated and underestimated, respectively, energy requirements compared with those obtained by bicarbonate dilution kinetics. Bicarbonate kinetics allows accurate determination of energy needs in critically ill children.
Dynamics of component-support impact: An elastic analysis

Abstract Flow-induced vibrations of certain reactor components can induce fretting and wear due to continuous component-support impacting, and possibly result in component failure. As a part of the effort to correlate the flow excitation to the rate of component wear, the present paper studies a simple analytical model for the further understanding of the fundamental mechanism of component-support interaction. The usual modal expansion approach was adopted. Static Hertz type of contact was assumed for the component-support impact. For the convenience of comparing the model with experimental results, the analysis was restricted to a fixed-fixed beam with a central baffle support subjected to free vibrations. For simplicity, damping effects were suppressed. Thus both the beam property and the contact action were assumed to be elastic. Numerical results of the study demonstrate a favorable correlation with the results of the experiments.
Depression in the Older Adult

Older adults who visit the primary care physician's office often exhibit depressive symptoms. The challenge for the physician and other office staff is to determine what these symptoms mean: Loneliness? Fear? Grief? A consequence of a coexisting medical condition? A DSM depressive disorder? Or something else? Addressing ambiguous symptoms that may represent a depressive disorder may be difficult in the busy office setting. The findings of one recent study suggest that it is not lack of knowledge that impedes the recognition of depression but rather the conditions under which clinical decision making occurs. The process of ruling out medical diagnoses and opening the door to consider a mental health diagnosis can be time-consuming and circuitous, especially if the clinician is not already familiar with the patient or if the clinician who is familiar with the patient perceives insufficient time to deal with the issues raised by opening the door. The fundamental challenge for the primary care clinician as aging baby boomers inundate the health care system is to restructure office practice to recognize, assess, and manage geriatric syndromes including depression. The underlying principle for successful restructuring is acknowledging that these syndromes have multiple causes requiring multifaceted interventions. Operationally, doing simple things consistently and well may have significant impact. By consistently recognizing biologic and psychosocial risk factors for depression, by taking a careful history (including the two-question screen), and by conducting a thorough physical examination, the office-based clinician will generally have a strong clinical hunch about the presence or absence of a depressive disorder and any comorbid medical and neuropsychiatric conditions. Armed with this information, additional laboratory and brain imaging studies and subsequent management strategies are straightforward.
Assessing the Relationship between Youth Sport Participation Settings and Creativity in Adulthood.

This article presents an assessment of the relative influences of time spent participating in organized sports and informal sports during childhood with respect to the development of general creativity. In this study, 99 upper-division undergraduate and graduate students completed a comprehensive childhood leisure activities questionnaire and the Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults. According to the results of the joint generalized least-squares regression analysis, hours spent in organized sport settings was negatively related to creativity as an adult; time spent in unstructured sport settings was found to be positively related to adult creativity. The findings also point to the importance of balancing participation across organized and unstructured settings. The most creative individuals in the sample were those who spent roughly half of their sport participation time in each setting, as opposed to individuals with below-average creativity, who spent upwards of 3/4 of their sport participation time in...
Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase after myocardial ischemia increases coronary flow

Abstract Background . The role of nitric oxide synthase in myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury is complex. Our hypothesis was that inducible nitric oxide synthase has a role in the regulation of coronary flow after ischemia. Methods . Four groups of isolated blood-perfused rabbit hearts underwent sequential periods of perfusion, ischemia, and reperfusion (20, 30, and 20 minutes). Two groups underwent 40 minutes of perfusion. Ischemic groups received saline vehicle, N ω -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or the highly specific inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 1400W in low or high doses during reperfusion. Two nonischemic groups were treated with saline vehicle or 1400W during the last 20 minutes of perfusion. Left ventricular developed pressure and coronary flow were measured after each perfusion period. Ventricular levels of myeloperoxidase and cyclic guanosine monophosphate were measured at the end of the second perfusion period. Results . Coronary flow was significantly increased in both 1400W groups versus L-NAME ( p p p Conclusions . Highly selective inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase results in increased coronary flow after ischemia but not after continuous perfusion. This occurs with decreased neutrophil accumulation and a trend toward increased contractility without elevation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels.
Effect of substrate preparation on the structure and chemisorption properties of Pd/MgO model catalyst

Pd/MgO model catalysts are prepared by vapor deposition of Pd particles on MgO thin films which are deposited, at different temperatures, on UHV cleaved mica. MgO films and Pd particles are characterized in situ by Auger electron spectroscopy and energy-loss spectroscopy and ex situ by transmission electron microscopy. Succesive temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of CO shows a different evolution of the morphology of the Pd particles deposited on MgO films prepared at low and high temperature. In addition, on MgO prepared at low temperature, the smallest particles show a continuous decay of CO adsorption during TPD due to contamination by support species.
Concept selection methods – a literature review from 1980 to 2008

The evaluation process of conceptual design alternatives is a critical point for companies which operate in fast-growing markets due to its influence on all subsequent phases with regard to cost, quality and performance of the end-product. While various methods exist that are able to successfully carry out this difficult and time-consuming process, many have drawbacks (e.g., inability to consider coupled decision, inability to incorporate uncertainty, etc). The growing number of articles on concept selection literature is an indication of the importance of effective design strategy and of its role in improving the competitiveness of an organisation. Accordingly, this paper surveys concept selection methods (CSMs) published between 1980 and 2008. Our overall goal is to provide designers and decision-makers with an overview of the underlying principles used in the reviewed methods along with the advantages and limitations.
Cellular dynamics of conjugation in the ciliate euplotes aediculatus. I. Cytoskeletal elements.

The fate and possible roles of the cytoskeleton in the process of conjugation in the hyptrich ciliate Euplotes aediculatus were investigated. Following the coalescence of the plasma membranes of the conjugant cells, a fusion zone or bridge of cytoplasm contributed by both partners is constructed. The sub-alveolar microtubule layers of the vegetative cell cortex remain in place to define the fusion zone boundaries after cell union. The initial fusion zone consists primarily of featureless ground cytoplasm; soon the ground plasm becomes crowded with microtubules and anastomosing smooth endoplasmic reticulum, which become displaced only late in conjugation as the migratory pronuclei are exchanged between partners. Fusion zone microtubules, functioning in some undetermined way, may be involved in the nuclear migration. Resorption of the posterior portion of each partner's buccal apparatus results in the degradation of the component cilia within acid phosphatase-positive autophagic bodies. Silver staining for light microscopy shows that the late fusion zone contracts forward from the posterior border, then constricts to separate the conjugants. In some separating pairs remnants of a microfilamentous assembly are seen at the posterior edge of the fusion zone; the full extent of this system may be masked by partial degradation due to osmium tetroxide fixation. Treatment of conjugants for 6 hours with cytochalasin B prevents separation, possibly through inhibition of the actin-like microfilament assembly in the fusion zone. The observations and experiments favor a model of cell separation following conjugation in which the fusion zone is resorbed by motile or contractile processes occurring within or around the fusion bridge itself.
Regionalization, administrative reform and democratization: Nicaragua 1979–1984

The article discusses the major events and debates that have taken place during the reform and democratization of subnational government in Nicaragua from the overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship to late 1984. Developments during this period highlight five distinct areas of reform that must be addressed as part of any process of state democratization: (a) selection and maintenance of local officials; (b) integration of popular participation; (c) definition of the range of local authority; (d) resources for local development; and (e) relation to other levels of government. These issues are addressed through a discussion focusing heavily on local government during the first 3 years, then on the experience of the newly created regional governments and decentralization beginning in mid—1982, and finally on the early—and quite divergent—experience with the development of zonal government between the municipal and regional levels. The specific resolution of these five sets of issues is part of the development of the revolutionary process in Nicaragua, and will strongly shape the political and developmental significance of the resulting local government.
The impact of ventricular shape variations on inverse electrocardiography: A feasibility study

Inverse electrocardiography (IECG) estimates cardiac electrical dynamics from body surface electrocardiographic data. As a common practice, all existing IECG problems are solved on anatomically-detailed heart and torso models derived from tomographic images of individual subjects. This practice constitutes a major obstacle to clinical translation of IECG methods, imposing high demands on the quality and processing of medical images. Because anatomical modeling is always associated with variations due to different factors such as image quality and segmentation methods, we design a novel and systematic approach to statistically quantify the impact of ventricular shape variations on the diagnostic accuracy of IECG methods. We propose a novel use of statistical shape modeling to account for the variations in subject-specific anatomical modeling, and from it to generate ventricular models with controlled variations, whose relation to the variations of IECG outputs are then statistically assessed. In this study, we test the feasibility of the proposed approach considering two existing IECG methods for epicardial potential reconstruction and transmural action potential imaging. Both phantom and real-data experiments report statistical equivalency of IECG diagnostic accuracy on ventricular models with local variations. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed approach to be generalized to establish the proper level of anatomical details needed in ventricular modeling, which has the potential to change the common practice and facilitate the clinical translation of IECG research.
An improved method for the isolation of adipocyte plasma membranes.

Abstract An improved procedure is outlined for the isolation of an adipocyte plasma membrane fraction containing much less endoplasmic reticulum contamination than plasma membranes prepared by the procedures that are currently in commen use. It is also shown that 125 I-labeled diazotized diiodosulfanilic acid can be used as a nonpermeable reagent which selectively labels two protein components in plasma membranes of intact adipocytes.
Surfactant selection with the three-parameter diagram

A procedure to select surfactants for microemulsion flooding is developed that requires only nominal phase-behavior information, acquired in experiments with pure oils and NaCl brines, provided that the field brine composition, crude oil molar volume, and crude oil hydrogen/carbon ratio are known. It is shown that, for alkylaryl sulfonates, microemulsion phase behavior correlates with ion size and charge rather than with ionic strength alone.
The variability of earnings and non-earnings information and earnings prediction

This paper examines the performance of a ‘composite’ model of earnings prediction that integrates current earnings and current price as predictors of next year's earnings. The results show that current earnings (current price) play a key role in predicting future earnings when the ratio of earnings variance to price variance is low (high). The composite model is superior to univariate time-series models in out-of-sample predictive accuracy for the overall sample, and is substantially so for the group of firms with a high ratio of earnings variance to price variance.
Tryptophan pyrrolase, tryptophan and tyrosine transaminase changes during allylisopropylacetamide-induced porphyria in the rat

Abstract Changes in liver tryptophan pyrrolase (EC 1.11.1.4) and in tyrosine and tryptophan transaminase (EC 2.6.1.5) activities after induction of experimental porphyria with allylisopropylacetamide (AIA) were studied in female rats of the Long-Evans strain. All three enzymic activities increased after a single injection of AIA (400 mg/kg) to intact animals. AIA treatment also increased tryptophan pyrrolase in adrenalectomized but not in hypophysectomized animals. Peak levels of enzyme were reached in about 8 hr after drug administration to intact animals. The magnitude of the change in intact animals was enhanced by a 16-hr fast preceding the AIA treatment. Acute administration of AIA also produced behavioral changes and increased urinary excretion of δ-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen. Behavioral, enzymic and excretory changes produced by the drug progressively diminished in magnitude with continued drug treatment.
Characterization of inhomogeneous elastic deformation with x- ray diffraction

In standard engineering practice, the stress/strain responses of polycrystalline specimens are analyzed using models based on the equations of continuum mechanics. In general, these equa-tions implicitly assume that the material is quasi-isotropic. This assumption requires a specimen whose volume exceeds a critical. “representative volume.” Domains that are smaller than the representative volume do not exhibit quasi-isotropic behavior. In such volumes, the compati-bility conditions dictated by the local material distribution can cause significant perturbations in the applied stress/strain field. Consequently, the constants linking stress to strain in small volumes may contain additional configurational terms. Due to the complex local material dis-tribution in most real samples, these configurational terms are extremely hard to calculate an-alytically. Experimental measurement of the local deformation is also nontrivial, and thus far there have been no measurements of the configurational constants in the elastic regime. An X-ray method that links the local strain perturbations in diffracting volumes to the overall ap-plied strain is described. This method is then applied to α-brass and Ni specimens. It is seen that the average reaction strains within various diffracting subsets can be significantly different from each other and that such strains can be substantial fractions of the applied strain.
In situ infrared aerosol spectroscopy for a variety of nerve agent simulants using flow-through photoacoustics

We present newly measured results of an ongoing experimental program established to measure optical cross sections in the mid- and long-wave infrared for a variety of chemically and biologically based aerosols. For this study we consider only chemically derived aerosols, and in particular, a group of chemical compounds often used as simulants for the detection of extremely toxic organophosphorus nerve agents. These materials include: diethyl methylphosphonate (DEMP), dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP). As reported in a prior study [Appl. Opt. 44, 4001 (2005)], we combine two optical techniques well suited for aerosol spectroscopy [i.e., flow-through photoacoustics and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) emission spectroscopy], to measure in situ the absolute extinction and absorption cross sections over a variety of wavelengths spanning the IR spectral region from 3 to 13 μm. Aerosol size distribution(s), particle number density, and dosimetric measurements are recorded simultaneously in order to present optical cross sections that are aerosol mass normalized, i.e., m2/gram. Photoacoustic results, conducted at a series of CO2 laser lines, compare well with measured broadband FTIR spectral extinction. Both FTIR and photoacoustic data also compare well with Mie theory calculations based on measured size distributions and previously published complex indices of refraction.
Green color degradation of blanched broccoli (Brassica oleracea) due to acid and microbial growth.

Effect of acid and microbial growth on green color degradation of blanched broccoli (Brassica oleracea) during storage at 7C was studied. When broccoli was submerged in McIlvaine's buffer at pH 3–8, color degradation accelerated as pH decreased, as expected. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to show that the color degradation was due to the conversion of chlorophyll to pheophytin only. Pheophytinization followed a first order reaction. the logarithm of the reaction rate constants were linearly correlated to the environmental pH, up to pH 7. Acids containing a benzene ring caused a faster color change than acids with a simple carbon chain due to their hydrophobicity. Microbial growth accelerated color change by producing acid and produced what appear to be holes in the surface of the broccoli, as shown by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM).
Developmental and hair-coat determinants of grooming behaviour in goats and sheep

Self-grooming is a common behaviour among many species of ungulates, as it is among several other mammalian taxonomic groups. In goats, as in rodents and small felids, self-grooming appears to reflect an underlying endogenous timing mechanism, resulting in what has been referred to as programmed grooming. We tested the prediction from the programmed grooming model that newborn and young goats, Capra hircus, would groom more frequently than similarly maintained conspecific adults. This prediction was upheld in that goat kids, from 2 weeks of age, orally groomed and scratch-groomed significantly more frequently than adult females. When the body surface-to-mass ratio of young goats, which was initially about 230% that of adults, declined to about 150%, the difference in grooming rate of the young was no longer significantly elevated over that of adults recorded at the same time of year. We also tested the predictions that oral grooming in wool sheep, Ovis aries, is inherently programmed and will occur in adults after shearing and in lambs with undeveloped fleece at levels similar to those of ancestral hair sheep and lambs. When fully fleeced adult wool sheep were shorn, they engaged in grooming in a pattern and frequency not different from that of hair sheep with a pelage representative of ancestral sheep. Wool lambs also groomed at a rate similar to that of hair lambs. Therefore, the elevated rate of programmed grooming of newborn and young ungulates appears to reflect their developmental precociousness and consequent exposure, in nature, to ectoparasites.
The long-term impact of childhood abuse on internalizing disorders among older adults: The moderating role of self-esteem

Objectives: First, to determine if childhood experiences of abuse have an impact on internalizing disorders (e.g., anxiety and depressive disorders) among older adults. Second, we wish to determine if self-esteem plays a role in explaining the relationship between abuse and internalizing disorders. Method: First, we conducted an analysis on a population sample of participants aged 50 years or older (mean age = 67 years; SD = 10.3) assessed at two time points, three years apart (Wave 1, N = 1460; Wave 2, N = 1090). We examined the relationship between reports of childhood abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) and internalizing disorders. Second, we determined the role self-esteem played in explaining the relationship. Results: We found that childhood experiences of abuse assessed at Wave 1 predicted the number of DSM-IV internalizing disorders occurring three years later. Demonstrating the specificity of self-esteem; we found self-esteem, but not emotional reliance, to moderate the relationship between a...
Histopathology of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a chronic relapsing antigen-driven disease, is associated with characteristic esophageal histopathology, including ≥15 intraepithelial eosinophils in at least one high-power field (HPF), and alterations in the epithelium and subepithelial connective tissue. Currently, the pathologic changes in EoE are characteristic but not pathognomonic: the differential diagnosis includes gastroesophageal reflux disease, proton pump inhibitor-responsive esophageal eosinophilia, EoE with significant eosinophilic inflammation in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract (eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder), etc. EoE biopsy pathology does not vary according to age, sex, or familial predisposition. Genetic analyses of EoE esophageal biopsies have identified a characteristic transcriptome that includes upregulation of several genes that relate to histopathology, such as periostin, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and desmoglein. Diagnostic pitfalls include the patchy distribution of the characteristic EoE pathology; examining multiple biopsies increases the disease detection rate. The method used to quantitate eosinophils, including the size of the HPF, influences the diagnostic yield, but excellent interobserver variability is achieved among pathologists who agree to a uniform methodology. Therapy for EoE includes diet-based approaches to eliminate offending antigens, topical steroid therapy, and novel biologic agents including monoclonal antibodies. Following appropriate therapy, biopsies may revert to normal histology, but signs and symptoms of esophageal dysfunction may persist. A potential explanation is that endoscopic biopsies obtain very small superficial fragments of tissue from an organ that has complex underlying neuromuscular components; unseen pathology in those loci may influence the clinical state of patients with normal epithelial biopsies.
Biochemical evidence that a D-loop is part of a four-stranded PNA-DNA bundle. Nickel-mediated cleavage of duplex DNA by a Gly-Gly-His bis-PNA.

A peptide nucleic acid (PNA) with improved strand-displacement capability and a site-specific DNA cleavage function is a novel reagent for probing the structure of PNA−DNA complexes in solution. By...
Two-Dimensional Combinatorial Screening of a Bacterial rRNA A-Site-like Motif Library: Defining Privileged Asymmetric Internal Loops That Bind Aminoglycosides

RNAs have diverse structures that are important for biological function. These structures include bulges and internal loops that can form tertiary contacts or serve as ligand binding sites. The mos...
Photosensitized Near Infrared Luminescence of Ytterbium(III) in Proteins and Complexes Occurs via an Internal Redox Process

(1) Horrocks, W. D., Jr. AdVan. Inorg. Biochem. 1982, 4, 201-261.(2) Sabbatini, N.; Guardigli, M.; Lehn, J.-M.Coord. Chem. ReV. 1993,123, 201-228.(3) Mathis, G. Clin. Chem. 1995, 41, 1391.(4) Crosby, G. A.; Kasha, M. Spectrochim. Acta 1958, 10, 377-382.(5) Perkins, W. G.; Crosby, G. A. J. Chem. Phys. 1965, 42, 407-414.(6) Kachura, T. F.; Sevchenko, A. N.; Solov’ev, K. N.; Tsvirko, M. P.Dokl. Phys. Chem. ,Engl. Transl. 1974 217, 783-786.(7) Gouterman, M.; Schumaker, C. D.; Srivastava, T. S.; Yonetani, T.Chem. Phys. Lett. 1976, 40, 476-461.(8) Gaiduk, M. I.; Grigoryants, V. V.; Mironov, A. F.; Rumyantseva,V. D.; Chissov, V. I.; Sukhin, G. M. J. Photochem. Photobiol. B. 1990, 7,15-20.(9) Breen, P. J.; Hild, E. K.; Horrocks, W. D., Jr. Biochemistry 1985,24, 4991-4997.(10) Breen, P. J.; Johnson, K. A.; Horrocks, W. D., Jr. Biochemistry1985, 24, 4997-5004.(11) Kretsinger, R. H.; Nockolds, C. F. J. Biol. Chem. 1973, 248, 3313-3326.(12) Swain, A. L.; Kretsinger, R. H.; Alma, E. L. J. Biol. Chem. 1989,264, 16620.(13) Dieke, G. H. Spectra and Energy LeVels of Rare Earth Ions inCrystals; Interscience Publishers: New York, 1968.(14) Horrocks, W. D., Jr.; Albin, M. Prog. Inorg. Chem. 1984, 31,1-104.(15) Horrocks, W. D., Jr.; Collier, W. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1981, 103,2856-2862.(16) Bruno, J.; Horrocks, W. D., Jr.; Zauhar, R. J. Biochemistry 1992,31, 7016-7026.Figure 1. Excitation and emission spectra of sensitized Yb
Temperature and Food Availability Differentially Affect the Production of Antimicrobial Compounds in Oral Secretions Produced by Two Species of Burying Beetle

Carrion beetles of the subfamily Nicrophorinae search and bury a carcass that they utilize for reproduction. After burial, the carcass is coated with oral secretions that delay its decomposition. Previously, oral secretions of Nicrophorus marginatus were found to show antimicrobial activity, whereas secretion of N. carolinus lacked significant activity. Here, we tested the effects of temperature, sex of the beetle, and food type on the antimicrobial properties of oral secretions of both species. Unlike previous findings, we found that oral secretions of N. carolinus had antimicrobial activity. Temperature had significant effects on the amount of secretion protein. When protein concentrations were standardized to 1 µ/ml, N. marginatus secretions had higher antimicrobial activity at cooler temperatures, while N. carolinus had higher activity at warmer ones. The sex of the beetle did not affect antimicrobial activity for either species. Beetles of both species that were fed whole rats contained more protein in their oral secretions than beetles fed with equally sized pieces of raw ground beef. After standardizing the resulting protein concentrations to 1 µg/ml, antimicrobial activity of oral secretion increased for N. carolinus after rat feeding, but not for N. marginatus. Our results highlight key ecological differences between these closely related species. In addition, they demonstrate the importance of experiments being conducted under varying environmental conditions when evaluating species for potential antimicrobial compounds.
Searching efficiency of Trichogramma nubilale.

The influence of seasonal increases in plant-leaf surface area on the searching efficiency of Trichogramma nubilale Ertle and Davis was investigated in field and laboratory studies. Parasitoids were released continuously in corn throughout the weeks of plant growth and their success in discovering European corn borer ( Ostrinia nubilalis (Hbn.)) egg masses was measured. In the laboratory, single female parasitoids were placed with a host egg mass within different sized arenas to measure the effect of an increase in area on the searching efficiency of the parasitoid. Increases in the leaf surface area or in searching arena size showed an inverse response in percent discovery by the parasitoid of O. nubilalis . Field and laboratory studies support Knipling and McGuire's (1968) theoretical model. where an Increase In searching area results in a decrease in host discovery, when the searching pattern of the parasitoid is random.