cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Marriage and mortality in bladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND Being married confers significant benefits in survival for patients with a variety of chronic conditions including breast and prostate carcinoma. The authors attempted to determine whether marital status is associated with survival in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder carcinoma. METHODS The authors identified 7262 subjects from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results public-use database who underwent radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. They performed survival analyses using Kaplan–Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models. The authors created multivariate models to evaluate the independent association between marital status and survival, controlling for pathologic stage, lymph node status, age, race/ethnicity, and gender. RESULTS Married subjects were older and more often male, white, and had earlier disease stage at diagnosis. Married subjects had significantly better survival than did single or widowed subjects (P < 0.001), and married subjects revealed a trend toward better survival than separated/divorced subjects (P = 0.20). Multivariate modeling revealed that compared with single subjects, those who were married had better survival, independent of age at the time of diagnosis, gender, race/ethnicity, disease stage, and lymph node status (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Marriage was associated with improved survival in patients with bladder carcinoma, independent of other factors known to influence mortality in this population. Although the mechanisms underlying this survival advantage are unknown, possibilities include differences in cancer screening, risk behaviors, and access to medical care. The interaction between psychosocial factors and the body's immune function may further explain the differential survival in this cohort. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
In-plane vibration of continuous curved beams

Abstract An analytical technique is developed for determination of the frequencies of continuous curved beams. A detailed analysis is carried out for periodically-supported beams. It is shown that in an infinite periodic beam, alternate passing bands and stopping bands exist, and in a finite periodic beam, all natural frequencies are in the passing bands. Simple formulae are derived for determining the frequencies of periodically-supported rings and continuous beams with the two extreme ends hinged-hinged, hinged-fixed, and fixed-fixed.
Mutual Evaluations of Communication Competence in Superior-Subordinate Relationships: Sex Role Incongruency and Pro-male Bias

(1990). Mutual Evaluations of Communication Competence in Superior-Subordinate Relationships: Sex Role Incongruency and Pro-male Bias. Women's Studies in Communication: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 39-56.
Challenges and opportunities of group therapy for adolescent substance abuse: A critical review

Group intervention has been the most commonly employed treatment modality for adolescents with substance use disorders (SUD). Evidence has been accumulating in support for the efficacy of diverse forms of group therapy that have been utilized with adolescents. It has been argued however, that aggregation of youths who display problem behavior into group interventions may, under some conditions, produce iatrogenic effects on all participants. This assertion known also as "deviancy training" and its presumed effect on treatment outcomes has created a barrier to progress regardless of the fact that it has not been tested or empirically supported in heterogeneous groups of adolescents treated for SUD. It is imperative to optimize group intervention while considering how to prevent, reduce and control, potentially iatrogenic effects associated with the aggregation of antisocial youths in heterogeneous groups. The main objective of this review is to address the challenges and opportunities regarding group treatment of adolescent SUD.
Perceptions of social support, receipt of supportive behaviors, and locus of control as moderators of the effects of chronic stress.

Although the cross-sectional methodology of the present study limits causal inference, the results concerning the buffering effects of received social support for those who have perceptions of internal locus of control corroborates previous research and thus suggests that causal interpretations offered may have some validity.
A source apportionment of U.S. fine particulate matter air pollution

Using daily fine particulate matter (PM2.5) composition data from the 2000-2005 U.S. EPA Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) for over 200 sites, we applied multivariate methods to identify and quantify the major fine particulate matter (PM2.5) source components in the U.S. Novel aspects of this work were: (1) the application of factor analysis (FA) to multi-city daily data, drawing upon both spatial and temporal variations of chemical species; and, (2) the exclusion of secondary components (sulfates, nitrates and organic carbon) from the source identification FA to more clearly discern and apportion the PM2.5 mass to primary emission source categories. For the quantification of source-related mass, we considered two approaches based upon the FA results: 1) using single key tracers for sources identified by FA in a mass regression; and, 2) applying Absolute Principal Component Analysis (APCA). In each case, we followed a two-stage mass regression approach, in which secondary components were first apportioned among the identified sources, and then mass was apportioned to the sources and to other secondary mass not explained by the individual sources. The major U.S. PM2.5 source categories identified via FA (and their key elements) were: Metals Industry (Pb, Zn); Crustal/Soil Particles (Ca, Si); Motor Vehicle Traffic (EC, NO2); Steel Industry (Fe, Mn); Coal Combustion (As, Se); Oil Combustion (V, Ni); Salt Particles (Na, Cl) and Biomass Burning (K). Nationwide spatial plots of the source-related PM2.5 impacts were confirmatory of the factor interpretations: ubiquitous sources, such as Traffic and Soil, were found to be spread across the nation, more unique sources (such as Steel and Metals Processing) being highest in select industrialized cities, Biomass Burning was highest in the U.S. Northwest, while Residual Oil combustion was highest in cities in the Northeastern U.S. and in cities with major seaports. The sum of these source contributions and the secondary PM2.5 components agreed well with the U.S. PM2.5 observed during the study period (mean=14.3 ug/m3; R2= 0.91). Apportionment regression analyses using single-element tracers for each source category gave results consistent with the APCA estimates. Comparisons of nearby sites indicated that the PM2.5 mass and the secondary aerosols were most homogenous spatially, while traffic PM2.5 and its tracer, EC, were among the most spatially representative of the source-related components. Comparison of apportionment results to a previous analysis of the 1979-1982 IP Network revealed similar and correlated major U.S. source category factors, albeit at lower levels than in the earlier period, suggesting a consistency in the U.S. spatial patterns of these source-related exposures over time, as well. These results indicate that applying source apportionment methods to the nationwide CSN can be an informative avenue for identifying and quantifying source components for the subsequent estimation of source-specific health effects, potentially contributing to more efficient regulation of PM2.5.
A note on the mathematical theory of vibrations of walls of blood vessels.

Periodic vibrations of the walls of a distensible elastic tube through which a fluid is flowing are studied by the method used by Lord Rayleigh in his theory of vibrations of jets. The results are found to conform with those obtaine previously by a more general but approximate method.
Reported Goals for Knowledge to Be Learned in Responsible Conduct of Research Courses

Education in responsible conduct of research (RCR) has been a required part of training for students on U. S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) training grants for over 15 years. However, there is little evidence of commonly accepted goals for RCR instruction, making it difficult to assess effectiveness. As part of a larger study examining RCR instructors' goals for RCR education, this report focuses on those reported goals categorized as knowledge. To identify RCR instructors, e-mail requests were sent to the 116 recipients of NIH training grants awarded in 2000. Of 67 verified RCR instructors, 50 (75% response rate) from 37 different institutions were successfully interviewed. Despite a shared sense of the basics to be taught in RCR courses, these instructors were diverse in their views and understanding of goals for RCR education. This diversity suggests a challenge to be overcome not only for improving the effectiveness of RCR education, but also for attempts to assess that effectiveness.
Strongly projective algebras and invertible algebras

(1988). Strongly projective algebras and invertible algebras. Communications in Algebra: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 493-501.
A Review of Whey Processing, Products and Components: Effects on Weanling Pig Performance

Abstract Grinstead, G.S., Goodband, R.D., Nelssen, J.L, Tokach, M.D. and Dritz, S.S. 2000. A review of whey processing, products and components: effects on weanling pig performance. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 17: 133–150. Research has established that diets containing milk products will improve growth performance of weanling pigs. To meet this need, spray-dried whey is frequently added to diets for weanling pigs. The production of high quality dried whey is a process by which most of the fat and protein in fluid milk is removed and the remaining fraction is then spray dried to produce whey powder. Recent changes in fluid milk processing and the demand for different milk products have led to the development of specialized products that are available for use in swine diets. When liquid whey is forced by relatively low pressure through a series of porous membranes, the components are separated based on size and shape. This separation scheme can concentrate whey proteins to produce products with 34 to 80% CP. Alter...
Behavior of Antarctic Krill, Euphausia superba: Chemoreception, Feeding, Schooling, and Molting

Krill do not feed by passive, continuous filtration but use area-intensive searching and various rapid feeding behaviors to exploit local high food concentrations. Chemicals alone at low concentrations, not particles, trigger feeding. Krill form dense schools that move rapidly and migrate primarily horizontally. Abrupt disruption of a school can trigger mass molting, and molts may act as decoys.
The utility of near-infrared spectroscopy in the regression of low-frequency physiological noise from functional magnetic resonance imaging data

Abstract Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) signals have been shown to correlate with resting-state BOLD-fMRI data across the whole brain volume, particularly at frequencies below 0.1 Hz. While the physiological origins of this correlation remain unclear, its existence may have a practical application in minimizing the background physiological noise present in BOLD-fMRI recordings. We performed simultaneous, resting-state fMRI and 28-channel NIRS in seven adult subjects in order to assess the utility of NIRS signals in the regression of physiological noise from fMRI data. We calculated the variance of the residual error in a general linear model of the baseline fMRI signal, and the reduction of this variance achieved by including NIRS signals in the model. In addition, we introduced a sequence of simulated hemodynamic response functions (HRFs) into the resting-state fMRI data of each subject in order to quantify the effectiveness of NIRS signals in optimizing the recovery of that HRF. For comparison, these calculations were also performed using a pulse and respiration RETROICOR model. Our results show that the use of 10 or more NIRS channels can reduce variance in the residual error by as much as 36% on average across the whole cortex. However the same number of low-pass filtered white noise regressors is shown to produce a reduction of 19%. The RETROICOR model obtained a variance reduction of 6.4%. Our HRF simulation showed that the mean-squared error (MSE) between the recovered and true HRFs is reduced by 21% on average when 10 NIRS channels are applied and by introducing an optimized time lag between the NIRS and fMRI time series, a single NIRS channel can provide an average MSE reduction of 14%. The RETROICOR model did not provide a significant change in MSE. By each of the metrics calculated, NIRS recording is shown to be of significant benefit to the regression of low-frequency physiological noise from fMRI data.
Realism without truth: a review of Giere's science without laws and scientific perspectivism.

An increasingly popular view among philosophers of science is that of science as action—as the collective activity of scientists working in socially-coordinated communities. Scientists are seen not as dispassionate pursuers of Truth, but as active participants in a social enterprise, and science is viewed on a continuum with other human activities. When taken to an extreme, the science-as-social-process view can be taken to imply that science is no different from any other human activity, and therefore can make no privileged claims about its knowledge of the world. Such extreme views are normally contrasted with equally extreme views of classical science, as uncovering Universal Truth. In Science Without Laws and Scientific Perspectivism, Giere outlines an approach to understanding science that finds a middle ground between these extremes. He acknowledges that science occurs in a social and historical context, and that scientific models are constructions designed and created to serve human ends. At the same time, however, scientific models correspond to parts of the world in ways that can legitimately be termed objective. Giere's position, perspectival realism, shares important common ground with Skinner's writings on science, some of which are explored in this review. Perhaps most fundamentally, Giere shares with Skinner the view that science itself is amenable to scientific inquiry: scientific principles can and should be brought to bear on the process of science. The two approaches offer different but complementary perspectives on the nature of science, both of which are needed in a comprehensive understanding of science.
Postprocedural microembolic events following carotid surgery and carotid angioplasty and stenting.

Objective The relative safety of percutaneous carotid interventions remains controversial. Few studies have used diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) to evaluate the safety of these interventions. We compared the incidence and distribution of cerebral microembolic events after carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) with distal protection to standard open carotid endarterectomy (CEA) using DW-MRI. Methods From November 2004 through August 2006, 69 carotid interventions (27 CAS, and 42 CEA) were performed in 68 males at a single institution. Pre- and postprocedure DW-MRI exams were obtained on each patient undergoing CAS and the 20 most recent CEA operations. These 46 patients (47 procedures as one patient underwent bilateral CEAs in a staged fashion) constitute our study sample, and the hospital records of these patients (27 CAS and 20 CEA) were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence and location of acute, postprocedural microemboli were determined using DW-MRIs and assessed independently by two neuroradiologists without knowledge of the subjects' specific procedure. Results Nineteen CAS patients (70%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 42%-81%) demonstrated evidence of postoperative, acute, cerebral microemboli by DW-MRI vs none of the CEA patients (0%, 95% CI: 0%-17%) ( P P =.04) Conclusions Although our early experience suggests that CAS may be performed safely (no permanent neurologic deficits following 27 consecutive procedures), cerebral microembolic events occurred in over two-thirds of the procedures despite the uniform use of distal protection. Open carotid surgery in this series seems to offer a lower risk of periprocedural microembolic events detected by DW-MRI.
Solution Conformations of Unmodified and A37N6-dimethylallyl Modified Anticodon Stem-loops of Escherichia coli tRNAPhe

Abstract The modification of RNA nucleotide bases, a fundamental process in all cells, alters the chemical and physical properties of RNA molecules and broadly impacts the physiological properties of cells. tRNA molecules are by far the most diverse-modified RNA species within cells, containing as a group >80% of the known 96 chemically unique nucleic acid modifications. The greatest varieties of modifications are located on residue 37 and play a role in ensuring fidelity and efficiency of protein synthesis. The enzyme dimethylallyl (Δ2-isopentenyl) diphosphate:tRNA transferase catalyzes the addition of a dimethylallyl group to the exocyclic amine nitrogen (N6) of A37 in several tRNA species. Using a 17 residue oligoribonucleotide corresponding to the anticodon arm of Escherichia coli tRNAPhe, we have investigated the structural and dynamic changes introduced by the dimethylallyl group. The unmodified RNA molecule adopts stem-loop conformation composed of seven base-pairs and a compact three nucleotide loop. This conformation is distinctly different from the U-turn motif that characterizes the anticodon arm in the X-ray crystal structure of the fully modified yeast tRNAPhe. The adoption of the tri-nucleotide loop by the purine-rich unmodified tRNAPhe anticodon arm suggests that other anticodon sequences, especially those containing pyrimidine bases, also may favor a tri-loop conformation. Introduction of the dimethylallyl modification increases the mobility of nucleotides of the loop region but does not dramatically alter the RNA conformation. The dimethylallyl modification may enhance ribosome binding through multiple mechanisms including destabilization of the closed anticodon loop and stabilization of the codon–anticodon helix.
SU-E-T-48: Automated Quality Assurance for XML Controlled Linacs

Purpose: To automate routine imaging QA procedures so that complying with TG 142 and TG 179 can be efficient and reliable. Methods: Two QA tests for a True Beam Linac were automatized. A Winston Lutz test as described by Lutz et al1 using the Winston Lutz test kit from BrainLab, Germany and a CBCT Image Quality test as described in TG 179 using the EMMA phantom, Siemens Medical Physics, Germany were performed in our True Beam. For each QA procedure tested, a 3 step paradigm was used. First, the data was automatically acquired using True Beam Developer Mode and XML scripting. Second, the data acquired in the first step was automatically processed using in-home grown Matlab GUIs. Third, Machine Learning algorithms were used to automatically classify the processed data and reports generated. Results: The Winston Luzt test could be performed by an experienced medical physicist in 29.0 ± 8.0 min. The same test, if automated using our paradigm, could be performed in 3.0 ± 0.1 min. In the same lieu, time could be substantially saved for image quality tests. In this case, the amount of time saved will depend on the phantoms used and the initial localization method. Additionally, machine learning algorithms could automatically identify the roots of the problems if any and possibly help reduce machine down time. Conclusion: Modern linear accelerators are equipped with advanced 2D and 3D imaging that are used for patient alignment substantially improving IGRT protocols. However, this extra complexity exponentially increases the number of QA tests needed. Using the new paradigm described above, not only bare minimum but best practice QA programs could be implemented with the same manpower. This work is supported by Varian, Palo Alto, CA
Enhancement of the value of hip questionnaires by telephone follow-up evaluation

Abstract Errors, omissions, false understanding, and contradictory answers can compromise the use of questionnaires to generate follow-up data. To assess the utility of and effort involved in adding routinely a telephone interview to clarify the questionnaire, a study of total hip arthroplasty patients was carried out. Thirty-six patients with 37 primary and 13 revision total hip arthroplasties filled out a standardized questionnaire (which asks a number of demographic questions as well as questions that allow calculation of the Medical Outcome Studies [MOS] 36-Item Short-form Health Survey [SF-36], Western Ontario MacMaster Arthritis Center [WOMAC] osteoarthritis index, and Harris hip score) prior to returning for routine follow-up evaluation a minimum of 1 year after surgery. Two hundred thirty-two of a possible 4,350 responses (5.3%) were missing, contradictory, or answered with two or more answers on the questionnaire. Only eight such defects occurred following the telephone interview by a skilled orthopaedic surgeon, representing a significant reduction in these defects ( P
Unconventional serotonergic excitation in Aplysia.

EXCITATORY potentials of long duration have been observed in vertebrate1–3 and invertebrate4,5 neurones. In Aplysia, Gerschenfeld and Paupardin-Tritsch4 have found that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) can produce two kinds of long excitatory responses (A′ and α) with different ionic mechanisms. The A′ response was described as an increase in sodium conductance. The response became smaller as the cell was depolarised, and was extrapolated to a reversal potential of 0 mV. In contrast, the α response was attributed to a decrease in potassium conductance, since it had a reversal potential near −80 mV and became larger as the cell was depolarised. Krnjevic et al.3 and Weight and Votava1 have hypothesised a similar mechanism for the long excitatory potentials which they observed in cat cortical neurones and frog sympathetic ganglia, respectively. Using the voltage clamp technique we observed a prolonged excitatory response to 5-HT, the characteristics of which are unlike either of those described previously. At hyperpolarised levels it resembles the A′ response, becoming smaller with depolarisation, but at depolarised potentials the amplitude of the response dramatically increases.
Tin granites of Seward Peninsula, Alaska

Seven granite plutons, spatially and genetically related to tin metalization, are exposed in a 170-km-long belt across northwestern Seward Peninsula, Alaska. These plutons are cupolas and epizonal composite stocks that consist of several textural varieties of biotite granite, including medium- to coarse-grained seriate biotite granite, porphyritic biotite granite with an aplitic groundmass, and fine- to medium-grained equigranular biotite granite. The common accessory minerals are fluorite, allanite, apatite, and zircon. Other accessory minerals that are locally present include tourmaline, sphene, opaque oxide minerals, and late-forming (deuteric) muscovite and chlorite. The granites range in major-element contents as follows: SiO 2 , 72.5% to 76.6%; A1 2 O 3 , 12.7% to 14.3%; Na 2 O, 2.9% to 4.0%; K 2 O, 3.9% to 5.6%; and CaO, 0.6% to 1.2%. The sum of FeO + Fe 2 O 3 + MgO ranges from 0.3% to 2.4%; and the K 2 O to Na 2 O ratio from 1.1 to 1.8. The 0.1% to 0.9% F and 0.01% to 0.2% Cl reflect the over-all volatile-rich nature of the granites. The granites contain average or below-average concentrations of Co, Sc, Cr, and Zn, and generally above-average to distinctly high concentrations of Th, U, Hf, and Ta. The large cations emphasize the evolved nature of the granites; the Rb/Sr ratio is as high as 90 in some samples. Initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios range from 0.708 to as high as 0.720. The three Rb-Sr isochrons defined by the data agree with K-Ar age determinations and show that the stocks were emplaced during the Late Cretaceous, between about 70 and 80 m.y. ago. The field, petrologic, and geochemical data indicate that the plutons had a multistage origin that involved large-scale melting of sialic crust, emplacement of magmas derived from batholithic fractionation at depth, and subsequent evolution of these magmas to generate small volumes of more highly evolved residual magmas. Although evolution of the granite complexes was largely governed by crystal-melt fractionation, some minor-element variations in the highly evolved granites cannot be explained by this process. For example, the distribution of rubidium and the light rare-earths appears to have been influenced by volatile depletion at the final stages of crystallization. The field data, petrologic data, and variation trends, such as distinct shifts toward higher albite contents in the residual granites, suggest that the coexistence of a volatile phase was important in their evolution. These results require that models seeking to explain compositional gradients in high-level granite (rhyolite) systems fully consider the role of a coexisting volatile phase.
Wavelet-domain test for long-range dependence in the presence of a trend

We propose a test to distinguish a weakly-dependent time series with a trend component, from a long-memory process, possibly with a trend. The test uses a generalized likelihood ratio statistic based on wavelet domain likelihoods. The trend is assumed to be a polynomial whose order does not exceed a known value. The test is robust to trends which are piecewise polynomials. We study the empirical size and power by means of simulations and find that they are good and do not depend on specific choices of wavelet functions and models for the wavelet coefficients. The test is applied to annual minima of the Nile River and confirms the presence of long-range dependence in this time series.
Disturbance Compensating Model Predictive Control With Application to Ship Heading Control

To address the constraint violation and feasibility issues of model predictive control (MPC) for ship heading control in wave fields, a novel disturbance compensating MPC (DC-MPC) algorithm has been proposed to satisfy the state constraints in the presence of environmental disturbances. The capability of the novel DC-MPC algorithm is first analyzed. Then, the proposed DC-MPC algorithm is applied to solve the ship heading control problem, and its performance is compared with a modified MPC controller, which considers the estimated disturbance in the optimization directly. The simulation results show good performance of the proposed controller in terms of reducing heading error and satisfying yaw velocity and actuator saturation constraints. The DC-MPC algorithm has the potential to be applied to other motion control problems with environmental disturbances, such as flight, automobile, and robotics control.
Structural insights into single-stranded DNA binding and cleavage by F factor TraI.

Abstract Conjugative plasmid transfer between bacteria disseminates antibiotic resistance and diversifies prokaryotic genomes. Relaxases, proteins essential for conjugation, cleave one plasmid strand sequence specifically prior to transfer. Cleavage occurs through a Mg 2+ -dependent transesterification involving a tyrosyl hydroxyl and a DNA phosphate. The structure of the F plasmid TraI relaxase domain, described here, is a five-strand β sheet flanked by α helices. The protein resembles replication initiator protein AAV-5 Rep but is circularly permuted, yielding a different topology. The β sheet forms a binding cleft lined with neutral, nonaromatic residues, unlike most single-stranded DNA binding proteins which use aromatic and charged residues. The cleft contains depressions, suggesting base recognition occurs in a knob-into-hole fashion. Unlike most nucleases, three histidines but no acidic residues coordinate a Mg 2+ located near the catalytic tyrosine. The full positive charge on the Mg 2+ and the architecture of the active site suggest multiple roles for Mg 2+ in DNA cleavage.
Determining the Number of Iterations Appropriate for Ensemble Gene Selection on Microarray Data

Ensemble gene (feature) selection is a promising new strategy with many benefits including more stable gene lists and improved classification results. The ensemble portion is achieved through multiple runs of feature selection which are then aggregated into a single result. The critical question is how many iterations of feature selection are appropriate. Too few iterations can make classification performance suffer. However, too many iterations will cause issues regarding computational costs. The goal is to choose the correct number of iterations to maximize classification performance without expending too much computational power. Our paper is an in-depth study on the effect of the number of iterations of feature selection on classification performance. Our work employs eleven DNA microarray datasets, on which we apply various ensemble methods, feature selection techniques, classifiers, and feature subset sizes. The results show that using 10 iterations of feature ranking during ensemble feature selection is not sufficient to optimize classification results and that a larger number of iterations is required (20 or 50). However, there is very little distinction between 20 iterations and 50 iterations, as both produce very similar classification results. Our recommendation is to use 20 iterations because while 20 iterations and 50 iterations perform similarly, 20 iterations has a much smaller computation time. To our knowledge there has not been a previous study as expansive as this one on the effects of the number of iterations of feature selection on ensemble feature selection.
Microscopic Origin of Gating Current Fluctuations in a Potassium Channel Voltage Sensor

Voltage-dependent ion channels open and close in response to changes in membrane electrical potential due to the motion of their voltage-sensing domains (VSDs). VSD charge displacements within the membrane electric field are observed in electrophysiology experiments as gating currents preceding ionic conduction. The elementary charge motions that give rise to the gating current cannot be observed directly, but appear as discrete current pulses that generate fluctuations in gating current measurements. Here we report direct observation of gating-charge displacements in an atomistic molecular dynamics simulation of the isolated VSD from the KvAP channel in a hydrated lipid bilayer on the timescale (10-μs) expected for elementary gating charge transitions. The results reveal that gating-charge displacements are associated with the water-catalyzed rearrangement of salt bridges between the S4 arginines and a set of conserved acidic side chains on the S1–S3 transmembrane segments in the hydrated interior of the VSD.
Using Oral History Techniques in A NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS) Education and Outreach Project: Preserving Local Fisheries Knowledge, Linking Generations, and Improving Environmental Literacy

Oral historical interviews are a core activity in a successful outreach and education project piloted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in two Maine high schools between 2003 and 2005. Through interviews with local fishermen and others in fishing-related industries, Local Fisheries Knowledge (LFK) Pilot Project students have explored the connections between fisheries, the marine environment, their communities, and their own lives, while documenting and preserving the knowledge and experiences of local residents for future generations. This article describes the pilot project's use of oral history methods, and discusses the project's role in three agency interest areas: (1) public outreach, (2) education, and (3) documenting fishing communities' lifeways and local fisheries knowledge.
Thermal regeneration of powdered activated carbon (pac) and pac-biological sludge mixtures

Abstract A temperature-programmed graphite microfurnace apparatus with mechanical stirring is described for the thermal regeneration of powdered activated carbon (PAC) alone or PAC-biological sludge mixtures from the PAC enhancement of the activated sludge process. Three PACs with widely differing BET areas were evaluated to determine the effects of regeneration on their physical and chemical properties. PAC weight % recoveries were in the range of 60–80%, and the recovery of wastewater (filtered mixed liquor) adsorption capacity regularly exceeded 100% for all carbons. In one case, 222% recovery was achieved. Regeneration always reduced BET area but the effects on I 2 number, pore size distribution and particle size were mixed. Compared to the regeneration of PAC alone, the presence of 40–50% biological sludge was clearly detrimental to the regeneration process. Nevertheless, essentially complete regeneration could be achieved with biomass present by adding a 20-min 400°C, N 2 -purge-gas charring step to the usual 20-min, 825°C, H 2 O-N 2 -CO 2 purge-gas reactivation step. Unfortunately, charring the biomass produced a regenerated material containing 27–34% inerts including carbonaceous char and mineral ash. This black inert material was quite insoluble in dilute HCl and had no useful adsorption capacity. The controlled application of H 2 O or trace amounts of O 2 during charring is suggested for the minimization of detrimental char but further research is needed.
Antifungal chemical compounds identified using a C. elegans pathogenicity assay.

There is an urgent need for the development of new antifungal agents. A facile in vivo model that evaluates libraries of chemical compounds could solve some of the main obstacles in current antifungal discovery. We show that Candida albicans, as well as other Candida species, are ingested by Caenorhabditis elegans and establish a persistent lethal infection in the C. elegans intestinal track. Importantly, key components of Candida pathogenesis in mammals, such as filament formation, are also involved in nematode killing. We devised a Candida-mediated C. elegans assay that allows high-throughput in vivo screening of chemical libraries for antifungal activities, while synchronously screening against toxic compounds. The assay is performed in liquid media using standard 96-well plate technology and allows the study of C. albicans in non-planktonic form. A screen of 1,266 compounds with known pharmaceutical activities identified 15 (∼1.2%) that prolonged survival of C. albicans-infected nematodes and inhibited in vivo filamentation of C. albicans. Two compounds identified in the screen, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, a major active component of honeybee propolis, and the fluoroquinolone agent enoxacin exhibited antifungal activity in a murine model of candidiasis. The whole-animal C. elegans assay may help to study the molecular basis of C. albicans pathogenesis and identify antifungal compounds that most likely would not be identified by in vitro screens that target fungal growth. Compounds identified in the screen that affect the virulence of Candida in vivo can potentially be used as “probe compounds” and may have antifungal activity against other fungi.
Low-Dose Irradiation of Cut Iceberg Lettuce in Modified Atmosphere Packaging

Irradiation at a mean dosage of 0.19 kGy of commercially prepared fresh-cut lettuce resulted in a product that had, 8 days after irradiation, microbial population of 290 cfu/g and yeast population ...
Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 1. an important consideration in the clinical differential diagnosis of prepubertal periodontitis. A case report and review of the literature

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 1 (LAD-1) is a rare, inherited immunodeficiency that affects 1 in 1 million people yearly and usually presents with recurrent, indolent bacterial infections of the skin, mouth, and respiratory tract and impaired pus formation and wound healing. Features of this disease result from mutations in the region of the CD18 gene, which is encoded on chromosome 21q22.3. This gene codes for the common subunit of the leukocyte integrins LFA-1, Mac 1, and p150,95. Failure to produce a functional subunit results in the defective expression of all 3 leukocyte integrins, and the leukocytes of LAD have subnormal adhesion properties. We present a case of the moderate-to-severe form of LAD in a 3-year-old girl who initially presented with generalized swelling and erythema of the gingiva, with slight tooth mobility and a nonhealing labial ulceration. Her medical history was significant for recurrent urinary tract infections. Periodontal pathogens, including Capnocytophaga, Eikenella corrodens, and Candida albicans, were cultured. The patient had a significantly elevated white blood cell count and absolute neutrophil count. The diagnosis of LAD was confirmed with flow cytometry, which revealed significantly decreased subunits. Twenty-four months after the diagnosis was made and after a series of granulocyte transfusions and bone marrow transplantations, she expired as the result of respiratory failure.
The Host Range and Interference Properties of Two Closely Related Feline Leukemia Variants Suggest That They Use Distinct Receptors

Abstract The proviral clones 61E and 61C represent two closely related variants of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) that exhibit significant differences in their biological and pathogenic properties. The major pathogenic determinant has been mapped to the extracellular envelope glycoprotein (Env-SU), but the mechanism by which envelope differences influence pathogenesis is not well understood. Moreover, it is unclear whether these viruses infect the same target cells and/or enter cells using the same receptor. In the present study, we exploited a recently developed single cycle infection assay to examine the host range and interference properties of 61E and 61C FeLVs and found that these two FeLV variants differ significantly in their host ranges and receptor usages. FeLV-61C was found to be an ecotropic virus; the entry of viruses bearing a 61C envelope protein (Env-SU) into cell lines was limited to feline T-cells and feline fibroblasts. In contrast, the host range of 61E includes, in addition to all feline cells examined, some canine, murine, and human cell lines. Feline fibroblast and feline T-cells that expressed 61E envelope were resistant to infection with a virus bearing a 61E Env-SU, whereas these same cells were susceptible to infection by an otherwise similar virus pseudotyped with the 61C Env-SU. This pattern of interference was observed in cells expressing 61E envelope alone, in the absence of other FeLV gene products, demonstrating that interference was mediated specifically by Env-SU. Fibroblast cells chronically infected with a 61C virus were partially resistant to infection with a virus having a 61C Env-SU, but were not resistant to infection by a virus having a 61E Env-SU. On the basis of the current understanding of virus–receptor interactions, the lack of interference between 61E and 61C under conditions where there is significant homologous interference, combined with the differences in their host cell range, leads us to conclude that 61E and 61C use two distinct primary cellular receptors for entry.
Electron transport carriers in plant mitochondria.

THE extent of reduction of the electron transport carriers in tightly coupled higher plant mitochondria has been measured during various mitochondrial steady state conditions. The mitochondria used for the experiments reported here were extracted from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum, var. Katadin) and from the hypocotyls of aetiolated black valentine bean seedlings (Phaseolus vulgaris). The method of mitochondrial preparation, described previously1, produces uniform suspensions of mitochondria which are remarkably free of contaminating sub-cellular structures2. These mitochondria oxidize, with tight adenosine diphosphate (ADP) control, succinate, malate and externally added reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NADH). The electron transport carriers of the higher plant mitochondria include pyridine nucleotides (PN), flavoproteins (FP), three b cytochromes (b556, b560, b565), two c cytochromes (c550, c552), and cytochrome oxidase (cytochromes a + a3) (ref. 3).
Stream solute transport incorporating hyporheic zone processes

The behavior of solute transport in pool and riffle, or meandering types of streams, is greatly influenced by surface/subsurface flow and solute transport interactions. It is important to model these processes accurately in rivers and streams to improve downstream water quality. Two decades ago, Bencala and Walters (1983) [Bencala, K.E., Walters, R.A., 1983, Simulation of solute transport in a mountain pool-and-riffle stream - a transient storage model. Water Resources Research 19(3), 718-724] introduced the transient storage model to represent the movement of solute from main streams into stagnant zones and back to the main stream. This model includes the effect of both surface storage, in which water is stationary relative to the main channel and the hyporheic zone, to which water moves from the main channel, flows through and returns to the main channel. However, their simplified approach lumped the surface storage and hyporheic zones together in a single storage zone. In this study, we take a step towards a mechanistic model to explain the physics of water exchange between the surface water and the porous media by developing an improved mathematical model. For this purpose, we include the advection and dispersion processes into the transient storage zone, and we consider the hyporheic zone as a transient porous media from surface water to ground water. We use this improved model to solve a test problem in order to demonstrate its capabilities. Finally, we simulate the Uvas Creek experiment and compare our results to the observations described in Bencala and Walters (1983) [Bencala, K.E., Walters, R.A., 1983, Simulation of solute transport in a mountain pool-and-riffle stream - a transient storage model. Water Resources Research 19(3), 718-724] and to results of the existing transient storage model obtained by using OTIS.
Surfactant Spreading on a Thin Film Is Sensitive to Film Thickness: Implications for In Vivo Pulmonary Systems Versus In Vitro Scenarios

The role of pulmonary surfactant is critical to the mechanics of the lung. Pulmonary surfactant forms a monolayer film at the air-liquid interface of a thin film of fluid lining the alveoli. Without surfactant, the air-liquid surface tension would be too high and the lungs would collapse during exhalation, as is the case with premature babies who develop respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) because they lack a sufficient amount of pulmonary surfactant [1]. Because an increase in surfactant surface concentration correlates with a decrease in surface tension, the surface tension gradients resulting when a monolayer of surfactant is deposited on a thin fluid film cause the surfactant to spread. This self-spreading phenomenon is of interest for applications such as surfactant replacement therapy in infants suffering from RDS and for drug delivery [1,2].Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The oral apparatus of Tetrahymena pyriformis, Strain WH‐6. IV. Observations on the organization of microtubules and filaments in the isolated oral apparatus and the differential effect of potassium chloride on the stability of oral apparatus microtubules

This report is an ultrastructural analysis of the organization of the isolated oral apparatus of Tetrahymena pyriformis, strain WH-6, syngen 1. Attention has been focused on the organization of microtubules and filaments in oral apparatus membranelles. Oral apparatus membranellar basal bodies were characterized with respect to structural differentiations at the distal and proximal ends. The distal region of membranellar basal bodies contains the basal plate, accessory microtubules and filaments. The proximal end contains a dense material from which emanate accessory microtubules and filaments. There are at least two possibly three different arrangements of accessory structures at the proximal end of membranellar basal bodies. All membranellar basal bodies appear to have a dense material at the proximal end from which filaments emanate. Some of these basal bodies have accessory microtubules and filaments emanating from this dense material. A possible third arrangement is represented by basal bodies which have lateral projections, from the proximal end, of accessory microtubules and filaments which constitute cross or peripheral connectives. There are at least three examples of direct associations between oral apparatus microtubules and filaments: (1) filaments which form links between basal body triplet microtubules, (2) filaments which link the material of the basal plate to internal basal body microtubules, (3) filaments which link together microtubule bundles from membranellar connectives. KCl extraction of the isolated oral apparatus resulted in the selective solubilization of oral apparatus basal bodies, remnants of ciliary axonemes and fused basal plates. Based on their response to KCl extraction two distinct sets of morphologically similar micro tubules can be identified: (a) microtubules which constitute the internal structure of basal bodies and ciliary axonemes, (b) microtubules which constitute the fiber connectives between basal bodies.
Use of neurolipofuscin to determine age structure and growth rates of Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus in Florida, United States

Abstract We histologically determined lipofuscin content in eyestalk neural tissue to estimate the age and growth of Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) in Florida, United States. Neurolipofuscin was measured from size‐stratified samples of 145 lobsters from the Florida Keys and 119 lobsters from the Dry Tortugas, the two main fishing areas in Florida. Modal analysis of the neurolipofuscin concentration frequency histograms suggested a relatively constant neurolipofuscin accumulation rate of 0.27% by volume (%VF) per year, which corresponded with the annual accumulation rate of 0.29%VF previously measured in the laboratory. Verification of the similarity of neurolipofuscin accumulation rates for lobsters in the field with previous laboratory studies indicates that neurolipofuscin concentration is suitable for estimating population parameters for P. argus. Neurolipofuscin‐based age estimates of lobster populations from the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas, developed from Monte Carlo simulations of size‐...
Top management team conflict and entrepreneurial strategy making in China

How does top management team (TMT) conflict influence entrepreneurial strategy making of new ventures? With a sample of new ventures in China’s technology industries, this study examines the conditions under which TMT cognitive conflict and affective conflict are associated with entrepreneurial strategy making. We found that cognitive conflict among TMT members had a positive relationship with entrepreneurial strategy making. Further, the positive relationship between cognitive conflict and entrepreneurial strategy making was moderated by dysfunctional competition and team deftness.
Freshwater molluscs as indicators of bioavailability and toxicity of metals in surface-water systems.

During the past several decades, studies from a variety of locations have demonstrated widespread occurrence of metals in surface waters at concentrations significantly higher than background levels. Elevated concentrations are not limited to certain water types or polluted areas; they appear in all types of systems and in all geographic areas. It is clear that metals enter the aquatic systems from diverse sources, both point and nonpoint, and they can be readily transported from one system to another. Transport routes include atmospheric, terrestrial, subterranean, aquatic, and biological pathways (Elder 1988; Salomons and Forstner 1984).