cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Parenting Stress: Evidence from a Statewide Sample of New Mothers

Parenting stress can have long-term effects on parents and children, but little research has been done on racial and ethnic differences. We examine parenting stress among White, Black, American Indian, and Hispanic mothers with infants younger than 9 months old. We use birth certificate data and baseline survey data from the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment. The study selected its sample from the birth certificates of all infants born in Oklahoma during a certain time period and oversampled three minority groups using stratified random sampling (N = 2,626). The dependent variable is a parenting stress scale created using four questions about mothers’ feelings and perceptions of parenting responsibilities. We employ ordinary least squares regressions and Blinder–Oaxaca decompositions. On average, mean parenting stress scores among Whites (2.80) and American Indians (2.92) are significantly lower than among Blacks (3.17) and Hispanics (3.44). Regressions indicate that—across all four groups—parenting stress is positively associated with maternal depression and negatively associated with social supports. Decomposition results show that different levels of social supports explain 14 to 30 % of the group differences between Whites and the three minority groups. Different levels of depression score explain a significant portion of the disparity between Whites and Blacks (19 %). If the proportion of native-born mothers among Hispanics were as high as that among Whites, about one-third of the gap in parenting stress would disappear. Findings call for interventions to reduce depression and strengthen social supports for new mothers, especially among racial and ethnic minorities.
Four perspectives on the competence and self-esteem of emotionally disturbed children beginning day treatment.

Competence and self-esteem ratings of 34 children beginning day treatment were compared with ratings by their parents, psychotherapists, and teachers. Children's scores were the highest and teachers' were the lowest. Adult raters' scores showed a strong trend or a significant difference on almost all subscales. There were no differences between adult rater pairs. The adults' views present a close approximation of the children's reality; the children's views represent a defense of this reality. The results are discussed in terms of the amount of communication among rater groups, the role each adult rater has with the child, and the implications regarding treatment.
Susceptibility of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) to the Ponzo illusion

Four rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) showed susceptibility to the Ponzo illusion. This is a unique result, since the Ponzo employs extraneous inducing components and monkeys must be trained to ignore these components.
Developmental biology and human evolution

The Evolutionary or Modern Evolutionary Synthesis (here identified as the Synthesis) has been portrayed as providing the foundation for uniting a supposed disarray of biological disciplines through the lens of Darwinism fused with population genetics. Rarely acknowledged is that the Synthesis’s success was also largely due to its architects’ effectiveness in submerging British and German attempts at a synthesis by uniting the biological sciences through shared evolutionary concerns. Dobzhansky and Mayr imposed their bias toward population genetics, population (as supposedly opposed to typological) thinking, and Morgan’s conception of specific genes for specific features (here abbreviated as genes for ) on human evolutionary studies. Dobzhansky declared that culture buffered humans from the whims of selection. Mayr argued that as variable as humans are now, their extinct relatives were even more variable; thus the human fossil did not present taxic diversity and all known fossils could be assembled into a gradually changing lineage of time-successive species. When Washburn centralized these biases in the new physical anthropology the fate of paleoanthropology as a non-contributor to evolutionary theory was sealed. Molecular anthropology followed suit in embracing Zuckerkandl and Pauling’s assumption that molecular change was gradual and perhaps more importantly continual. Lost in translation was and still is an appreciation of organismal development. Here I will summarize the history of these ideas and their alternatives in order to demonstrate assumptions that still need to be addressed before human evolutionary studies can more fully participate in what is a paradigm shift-in-the-making in evolutionary biology.
Chromatographic and spectrometric studies of trimethylsilylated purines and pyrimidines.

Abstract The trimethylsilyl derivatives of eight purines and pyrimidines were prepared using N,O -bis (trimethylsilyl) acetamide. These volatile derivatives were quantitatively resolved on a 3% SE-30 column. Thin-layer chromatography of silylated mixtures was carried out on silica gel GF using a dioxane/ n -hexane solvent system. The TMS derivatives were isolated from the reaction mixtures by preparative gas chromatography. UV, IR, and NMR spectra of the purified concentrates confirmed the derivatization of the parent compounds. This chromatographic and spectrometric information could be helpful in the identification of these compounds and in determining the structure of closely related compounds isolated from biological samples.
Acute and chronic cocaine differentially alter the subcellular distribution of AMPA GluR1 subunits in region-specific neurons within the mouse ventral tegmental area

Cocaine administration increases AMPA GluR1 expression and receptor-mediated activation of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Functionality is determined, however, by surface availability of these receptors in transmitter- and VTA-region-specific neurons, which may also be affected by cocaine. To test this hypothesis, we used electron microscopic immunolabeling of AMPA GluR1 subunits and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the enzyme needed for dopamine synthesis, in the cortical-associated parabrachial (PB) and in the limbic-associated paranigral (PN) VTA of adult male C57BL/6 mice receiving either a single injection (acute) or repeated escalating-doses for 14 days (chronic) of cocaine. Acute cocaine resulted in opposing VTA-region-specific changes in TH-containing dopaminergic dendrites. TH-labeled dendrites within the PB VTA showed increased cytoplasmic GluR1 immunogold particle density consistent with decreased AMPA receptor-mediated glutamatergic transmission. Conversely, TH-labeled dendrites within the PN VTA showed greater surface expression of GluR1 with increases in both synaptic and plasmalemmal GluR1 immunogold density after a single injection of cocaine. These changes diminished in both VTA subregions after chronic cocaine administration. In contrast, non-TH-containing, presumably GABAergic dendrites showed VTA-region-specific changes only after repeated cocaine administration such that synaptic GluR1 decreased in the PB, but increased in the PN VTA. Taken together, these findings provide ultrastructural evidence suggesting that chronic cocaine not only reverses the respective depression and facilitation of mesocortical (PB) and mesolimbic (PN) dopaminergic neurons elicited by acute cocaine, but also differentially affects synaptic availability of these receptors in non-dopaminergic neurons of each region. These adaptations may contribute to increased cocaine seeking/relapse and decreased reward that is reported with chronic cocaine use.
Comparison of wheat flours grown at different locations for their antioxidant properties

Abstract Flour extracts from three winter wheat varieties (‘Trego’, ‘Akron’ and ‘Platte’) grown at five testing locations were evaluated for their free radical scavenging abilities against the stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical (DPPH ) and 2,2 ′ -azino-di[3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonate] radical cation (ABTS + ), and for Fe 2+ chelating capacities and total phenolic contents. All flour samples showed significant DPPH scavenging activities and chelating capacities, and contained significant levels of phenolic compounds, but no flour contained detectable amount of ABTS + scavengers. Both variety and growing location may have significant influence on the DPPH radical scavenging and chelating properties, as well as the phenolic contents of the flour samples. Pearson Correlation tests did not detect any significant correlation between a single antioxidant property of each wheat variety and a selected environmental factor, including total solar radiation, daily average solar radiation, or the hours exceeding 32 °C. The results from this study indicate the potential to produce a wheat flour rich in natural antioxidant for improving human nutrition by optimizing the growing conditions of a selected variety.
Tradeoffs in improved screening of lasso problems

Recently, methods of screening the lasso problem have been developed that use the target vector x to quickly identify a subset of columns of the dictionary that will receive zero weight in the solution. Current classes of screening tests are based on bounding the dual lasso solution within a sphere or the intersection of a sphere and a half space. Stronger tests are possible but are more complex and incur a higher computational cost. To investigate this, we determine the optimal screening test when the dual lasso solution is bounded within the intersection of a sphere and two half spaces, and empirically investigate the trade-off that this test makes between screening power and computational efficiency. We also compare its performance both in terms of rejection power and efficiency to existing test classes. The new test always has better rejection, and for an interesting range of regularization parameters, offers better computational efficiency.
Nonlinear bending of beams using the finite element method

Abstract In this paper a finite element formulation for determining the finite deflection of thin bars is presented. The nonlinear stiffness equations are generated after simple approximate expressions involving the nodal parameters are used to replace the nonlinear terms in the energy functional. The procedure used results in a simplified set of nonlinear algebraic equations which are more amenable to solution than the equations usually presented. The applicability and accuracy of the method together with an evaluation of three incremental solution techniques, a step by step method, a one step Newton-Raphson procedure, and a variable interpolation technique is demonstrated by solving a cantilever beam with a point load acting on the end. Curves showing the sensitivity to increment size and to the number of elements are also presented. The results indicate that the formulation is accurate and inexpensive in terms of computational effort.
Characterization of the Dimerization Domain in the FNR Transcription Factor

The global anaerobic regulator FNR from Escherichia coli is a dimeric Fe-S protein that is inactivated by O(2) through disruption of its [4Fe-4S] cluster and conversion to a monomeric form. As a first step in elucidating the molecular interactions that control FNR dimerization, we have performed alanine-scanning mutagenesis of a potential dimerization domain. Replacement of many hydrophobic residues (Met-143, Met-144, Leu-146, Met-147, Ile-151, Met-157, and Ile-158) and two charged residues (Arg-140 and Arg-145) with Ala decreased FNR activity in vivo. Size exclusion chromatography and Fe-S cluster analysis of three representative mutant proteins, FNR-M147A, FNR-I151A, and FNR-I158A, showed that the Ala substitutions produced specific defects in dimerization. Because hydrophobic side chains are known to stabilize subunit-subunit interactions between alpha-helices, we propose that Met-147, Ile-151, and Ile-158 lie on the same face of an alpha-helix that constitutes a dimerization interface. This alignment would also position Arg-140, Met-144, and Asp-154 on the same helical face. In support of the unusual positioning of a negatively charged residue at the dimer interface, we found that replacing Asp-154 with Ala repaired the defects caused by Ala substitutions of other residues located on the same helical face. These data also suggest that Asp-154 has an inhibitory effect on dimerization, which may be a key element in the control of FNR dimerization by O(2) availability.
Effects of Film Thickness on The Work of Fracture Between Adhesives and Glass

Abstract In this investigation, the fracture energy of joints consisting of soda lime glass sandwiched around either an acrylate or poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) was studied. This was accomplished for various adhesive thicknesses with the use of a tapered double cantilever beam specimen loaded in mode I. For adhesive thicknesses varying between 0.03 mm and 0.80 mm, the fracture energies ranged from 15 to 95 Pam for the glassy acrylate joints and from 375 to 1060 Pam for the more rubbery PVB joints. While the fracture energy was relatively independent of thickness for the acrylate joints, there was an increasing trend in toughness for the PVB joints. The fracture energy of the acrylate joints was modeled with a process zone model with reasonable results while the fracture energy of the PVB joints was modeled with constraints on the plastic zone. Scanning electron microscopy and measured bulk adhesive properties provided necessary input into the models.
Acceptance sampling design by computer - optimality concerns

Abstract There is a great deal of literature dealing with the use of the computer in designing acceptance sampling plans. The general approach is to use some approximation technique to generate minimum sample size plans whose OC curves will approximate the desired Producer's Risk and Consumer's Risk levels. Since only rarely will a single such approximation satisfy both (1-α) and β requirements some means, either averaging or selection, is used to select a plan. Plans so determined are acceptable but often not optimal, and planes with significantly smaller sample size may exist which are very close to optimal. This paper reports the development and use of a computer program which may be used to design single sampling plans using either the binomial or Poisson distribution. The program also finds alternate plans with smaller sample size, and gives a measure of the proximity of such alternate plan to optimality. Some rudimentary artificial intelligence techniques are employed in the search and selection of optimal plans and the near-optimal alternative plans. An extended version of the program also supports experimentation with a variety of criteria of optimality for the selection of candidate plans from those generated. The main program is written for use under MS/PC-DOS in both Turbo Pascal and Turbo C. The extended version uses only Pascal.
Effects of high atmospheric CO2 concentration on root hydraulic conductivity of conifers depend on species identity and inorganic nitrogen source

We examined root hydraulic conductivity (L(p)) responses of one-year-old seedlings of four conifers to the combined effects of elevated CO2 and inorganic nitrogen (N) sources. We found marked interspecific differences in L(p) responses to high CO2 ranging from a 37% increase in P. abies to a 27% decrease in P. menziesii, but these effects depended on N source. The results indicate that CO2 effects on root water transport may be coupled to leaf area responses under nitrate (NO(3)(-)), but not ammonium (NH(4)(+)) dominated soils. To our knowledge, this is the first study that highlights the role of inorganic N source and species identity as critical factors that determine plant hydraulic responses to rising atmospheric CO2 levels. The results have important implications for understanding root biology in a changing climate and for models designed to predict feedbacks between rising atmospheric CO2, N deposition, and ecohydrology.
Whether and when an AIDS vaccine

The level of scientific understanding required to develop a successful AIDS vaccine is still lacking, although the elements needed to pursue a practical and productive vaccine development program can be defined.
Item and relational information: A case for context independent retrieval

The probability of recognizing a member of a word pair tested with the pair intact was shown to equal the probability of recognizing a single word plus the probability of recalling an unrecognized word. A reanalysis of earlier results ( Humphreys, Memory and Cognition , 1976 , 4 , 221–232) showed that the probability of failing to recognize both words in an intact study pair was not less than the probability of failing to recognize the two words in a rearranged pair. A second experiment confirmed this finding. These results support the hypothesis that two types of information (item and relational) underlie these recognition judgments. They also support assumptions about the retrieval processes being independent of context.
Bilateral Pneumothorax Following Air Bag Deployment

Air bags have been shown to decrease mortality from automobile accidents. Herein is a unique case of bilateral pneumothorax following deployment and rupture of an air bag with no other associated chest trauma. One may posit that rupture of the air bag allowed high-pressure gases to be expelled into the patient's lungs resulting in explosive barotrauma.
Data-sharing models

This chapter develops a typology of various data-sharing models. Defining issues in the identification of data-sharing models include organizational purpose and structure, the regularity of the report production schedule, and individual institutional participation criteria.
A linear relationship between the ex-vivo sodium mediated expression of two sodium regulatory pathways as a surrogate marker of salt sensitivity of blood pressure in exfoliated human renal proximal tubule cells: The virtual renal biopsy

Background Salt sensitivity (SS) of blood pressure (BP) affects 25% of adults, shares comorbidity with hypertension, and has no convenient diagnostic test. We tested the hypothesis that urine-derived exfoliated renal proximal tubule cells (RPTCs) could diagnose the degree of an individual's SS of BP.
Developing a framework for plant-wide control investment strategy

Abstract A framework for plant-wide control investment strategy is presented. Citing the need for an ideal investment strategy, and where we are today on this topic, the functional needs for the plant-wide control are presented. The framework comprises issues ranging from strategic responsiveness to dynamic planning, to linking the control strategy, to manufacturing and corporate strategy. While discussing the personal incentives and criteria for success, the latent barriers to such investments (as well as how to overcome them) and the roles of various levels of personnel are suggested in the light of some successful situations. Also discussed are benefits that are not commonly considered, the understanding and incorporation of which in ROI calculations would make these investments very attractive to pursue.
Ocean Model Response to Temperature Data Assimilation and Varying Surface Wind Stress: Intercomparisons and Implications for Climate Forecast

Abstract Two 11-yr Pacific Ocean simulations using an ocean general circulation model are compared with corresponding ocean analyses and with in situ observations from moorings and island tide gauges. The ocean simulations were forced by combining the climatological wind stress of Hellerman and Rosenstein with wind stress anomalies obtained from (a) The Florida State University surface wind analysis and (b) a two-member ensemble from an atmospheric model simulation. The ocean analyses were obtained by assimilating observed surface and subsurface temperatures into an ocean GCM, forced with the same wind stress anomaly fields used in the simulations. The difference in thermocline depth between simulation and analysis using the same wind stress forcing is large in the off-equatorial regions near the North Equatorial Counter Current trough and in the South Pacific, suggesting that the mean climatological stress fields may be in error. The simulation results using the atmospheric GCM stress anomalies failed to...
Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Developing at a Relatively Advanced Age

A56-year-old asymptomatic man was identified in 1984 with an abnormal 12-lead ECG during a routine examination for a recreational pilot license. An ECG 2 years earlier was normal (Figure 1⇓). Extensive work-up in 1984, including stress testing and coronary arteriography, showed no significant abnormality. In addition, an echocardiogram was within normal limits (Figure 2⇓ …
Dissociation of circadian rhythms for food and water consumption in mice.

Abstract Under constant light, a circadian rhythm in food consumption persisted in animals deprived of water, and a circadian rhythm in water consumption persisted in the absence of food. This observation demonstrates that each of these circadian rhythms can be driven by a biological clock mechanism independently of the other. Even though absolute levels of food and water consumption under constant light were heavily interdependent, the rhythmicity of each behavior did not change significantly in the absence of the other behavior. This result shows separate control of absolute level of performance and timing of these circadian behaviors.
Enhancement of Solubility of Drug Salts by Hydrophilic Counterions: Properties of Organic Salts of an Antimalarial Drug

Judicious choice of the salt form of a drug can greatly affect the aqueous solubility and formulation of the compound. The objective of this work was to demonstrate the effect of various counteranions on the aqueous solubility of the antimalarial agent alpha-(2-piperidyl)-3, 6-bis(trifluoromethyl)-9-phenanthrenemethanol. Several organic salts of this drug were studied. The methods of synthesis, the apparent aqueous solubilities, and in vitro dissolution tests for these salts are reported. The lactate salt was 200 times as soluble as the hydrochloride salt. This enhanced solubility suggests that parenteral administration of this drug may now be feasible.
Thromboembolic events in patients treated with definitive chemotherapy and radiation therapy for invasive cervical cancer

Abstract Objectives Determine the incidence of and risk factors for thromboembolic events (TE) in patients treated with definitive chemoradiation for cervical cancer at our institution. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients with a diagnosis of invasive carcinoma of the cervix (FIGO Stage IB–IVA) treated with definitive chemoradiation at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) from July 2002 to December 2003. Forty-eight patients met these criteria. All but one patient received 45 Gy to the pelvis followed by brachytherapy, IMRT, or conformal boost. One patient received 39.6 Gy to the pelvis. Cisplatin chemotherapy, 40 mg/m squared, was given weekly for 6 weeks. Data were collected for FIGO stage, age, body mass index (BMI), and smoking history. TE were confirmed by Doppler ultrasound or pulmonary imaging. Log-rank tests were used to examine the association between time to TE and the variables FIGO stage and smoking status. The association between time to TE and the continuous variables age and BMI was examined with Cox proportional hazards regression. All tests were two-sided and carried out to the 5% level of significance using the SAS statistical software package. Results Minimum follow-up was 8 months. Eight patients (16.7%) developed a TE. The associations were not statistically significant for stage ( P = 0.72), smoking status ( P = 0.72), age ( P = 0.63) or BMI ( P = 0.86). Risk factors were similar in both groups. Data review suggests that the entire group had risk factors for TE. Conclusions We noted a high incidence of TE (16.7%) in patients treated at UIHC with chemoradiation for invasive cervical cancer. We did not find a statistical association between age, stage, smoking history, or BMI and risk of TE in this group. Patients with and without TE had multiple risk factors for TE.
Family structure and parental involvement in the intergenerational parallelism of school adversity

Abstract A theoretically informed model in which the effects of negative junior high school experiences of mothers on the junior high school experiences of their children were examined. The model was estimated with the LISREL VIII program using panel data from 1,144 mother–adolescent child pairs. Mothers were first tested in 1971 when they were 7th graders, and both mothers and their children were subsequently interviewed in the 1990s. Results reveal the existence of a significant relationship between mothers' negative junior high school experiences and those of their children, which is partially mediated by family structure, mothers' educational attainment, and level of mothers' involvement in their children's school activities and interest in their progress at school.
The Pittsburgh Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Registry: Seasonal Incidence

A total community (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania) Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus registry was examined for evidence of seasonality at onset of the disease. No significant seasonal trend was found if all cases aged < 20 years at onset (n = 901) were considered. However, a significant pattern emerged for the age groups 5–9 years and 10–14 years. Furthermore, sex differences were apparent in that males but not females demonstrated a seasonal pattern (fewer cases in the summer months).
Texture analysis using lacunarity and average local variance

Texture and spatial pattern are important attributes of images and their potential as features in image classification, for example to discriminate between normal and abnormal status in medical images, has long been recognized. In order to be clinically useful, a texture metric should be robust to changes in image acquisition and digitization. We compared four multi-scale texture metrics accessible in the spatial domain (lacunarity, average local variance (ALV), and two novel variations) in terms of ease of interpretation, sensitivity and computational cost. We analyzed a variety of patterns and textures, using simple synthetic images, standard texture images, and three-dimensional point distributions. ALV is invariant to brightness, but depends on image contrast; it detects the size of a pattern element as a large peak in the plot. Lacunarity shows the periodicity within an image. Normalizing lacunarity removes its dependence on image density, but not on image brightness and contrast, so that comparisons should always be made using histogram equalized images. We extended the treatment to grayscale images directly, which is not equivalent to a weighted sum of the normalized lacunarity of the bit-plane images. Different sampling schemes were introduced and compared in terms of resolution and computational tractability. The plots can be used directly as a texture signature, and parametric features can be extracted from monotonic lacunarity plots for classification purposes.
Percutaneous irreversible electroporation for the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases with a proposal for a new response evaluation system.

Abstract Purpose To describe an initial experience with irreversible electroporation (IRE) in patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CLM). Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing IRE for the management of CLM was performed. Procedures were done percutaneously under general anesthesia. Patients were then followed for adverse events, tumor response, and survival. Results Between March 2010 and February 2013, 29 patients underwent percutaneous ablation of 58 tumors in 36 IRE sessions. Most patients (89%) had an absolute or relative contraindication to thermal ablation. The median age was 62 years, and the median time from diagnosis to IRE was 28 months. The median number of lesions treated per patient was two, and the median tumor size was 2.7 cm. Patients had received previous chemotherapy regimens (range, 1–5 per patient). A new Metabolic Imaging And Marker Integration response evaluation criteria was used for response assessment, and was a predictor of progression-free and overall survival. The 2-year progression-free survival rate was 18% (95% confidence interval, 0%–35%), and the 2-year overall survival rate was 62% (95% confidence interval, 37%–87%). Complications included arrhythmias (n = 1) and postprocedure pain (n = 1). Both patients recovered without sequelae. Conclusions Percutaneous IRE of CLM is feasible and safe. A new response evaluation system for colorectal cancer appears to be prognostic.
Reflections on the art and science of perianesthesia nursing.

The 21 words that form the basis for this article were selected becausethey convey the art and science of perianesthesia nursing practice, place perianesthesia nursing in both a national and global context, and facilitate reflection about this specialty practice. Reflection can lead to affirmation or change and perhaps even a design for the future.
Characterization and localization to chromosome 7 of ψhGABPα, a human processed pseudogene related to the ets transcription factor, hGABPα

Abstract GABP is a heteromeric transcription factor complex which consists of the ets related protein, GABPα, and the Notch-related protein, GABPβ. We isolated a human genomic DNA fragment which is highly homologous and colinear with human GABPα cDNA, but which lacks introns. This processed pseudogene, ψhGABPα , is expressed as RNA in U937 human myeloid cells, but a mutation at the site that corresponds to the ATG start methionine codon prevents its translation into protein. The pseudogene was localized to chromosome 7 using a somatic cell hybrid mapping panel and it is not syntenic with authentic GABPα , which was localized to chromosome 21. We have identified ψhGABPα , a novel, GABPα -related processed pseudogene which is expressed as a RNA transcript in human myeloid cells.
Glutamine : role in gut protection in critical illness

Purpose of reviewRecent literature has focused on the role of the gut and increased gut permeability as a driver of systemic inflammation in critical illness. Thus, the therapeutic potential for an agent to prevent gut barrier compromise and attenuate gut-derived inflammatory response is significant
Notes on the interpretation of nanorheology experiments

We discuss the resolution of shear force measurement in determining the effective shear viscosity of molecularly-thin films. Recent findings for the shear of confined OMCTS (octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane) are presented.
ExoR is genetically coupled to the ExoS–ChvI two-component system and located in the periplasm of Sinorhizobium meliloti

Sinorhizobium meliloti enters into a symbiotic relationship with legume host plants, providing fixed nitrogen in exchange for carbon and amino acids. In S. meliloti, exoR and the exoS-chvI two-component system regulate the biosynthesis of succinoglycan, an exopolysaccharide important for host invasion. It was previously reported that a loss-of-function mutation in exoR and a gain-of-function mutation in exoS cause overproduction of succinoglycan and loss of motility, indicating that ExoR negatively regulates and ExoS-ChvI positively regulates downstream genes. However, a relationship between exoR and exoS-chvI has never been clearly established. By identification and detailed characterization of suppressor strains, we provide genetic evidence that exoR and exoS-chvI control many similar phenotypes. These include succinoglycan production, symbiosis, motility, and previously uncharacterized prototrophy and biofilm formation, all of which are co-ordinately restored by suppressors. We further demonstrate that ExoR is located in the periplasm, suggesting that it functions to regulate downstream genes in a novel manner. In pathogenic bacteria closely related to S. meliloti, exoS-chvI homologues are required for virulence and the regulation of cell envelope composition. Our data suggest that periplasmically localized ExoR and ExoS-ChvI function together in a unique and critical regulatory system associated with both free-living and symbiotic states of S. meliloti.
The clinical significance of antigen receptor gene rearrangements in lymphoid neoplasia

Lymphoid neoplasms include Hodgkin disease, nonHodgkin lymphomas, various forms of lymphocytic leukemias, and multiple myeloma. Excluding Hodgkin disease, most of these neoplasms represent lymphoproliferative disorders derived from lymphocytes, their precursors, and their descendants. Diagnosis of these disorders is often difficult compared with other cancers and cancer-like conditions. Cytologically malignant lymphocytes may resemble activated reactive lymphocytes or normal resting ones. In addition, reactive lymphocytes may be admixed with the neoplastic population and obscure its presence. Even in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, when circulating blasts and a "packed' marrow simplify the primary diagnosis, identification of early postchemotherapeutic relapses in bone marrow, peripheral blood, or other sites frequently is a difficult diagnostic problem. Immunologic analyses of cellular antigens have contributed significantly to an improved diagnosis of lymphoid neoplasms. These tests indicate patterns of antigenic expression by lymphocytes in biopsy specimens that correlate with the presence of a neoplasm or a reactive process in the specimen. The most widely used analysis of this sort is the detection of cellular kappa or lambda immunoglobulin light chains. An individual lymphocyte expresses an immunoglobulin consisting of two identical heavy chain subunits and two identical light chain subunits, which may be of either the kappa or lambda type. Detection of cellular immunoglobulin restricted to one or the other light chain type
Risk aversion and rent-seeking: An extension and some experimental evidence

Theoretical investigations indicate that the risk attitudes of individuals will effect the amount of rent that can be assumed to be dissipated by rent-seeking activities. Following this line of investigation we extend Hillman and Katz's work to a small numbers case and demonstrate that the degree to which a monopoly rent is dissipated is dependent upon the structure of the risk attitudes of two risk averse individuals.
A microstitching interferometer for evaluating the surface profile of precisely figured x-ray K-B mirrors

Fabrication and evaluation of elliptical X-ray mirrors, such as Kirkpatrick-Baez (K-B) mirrors produced by the profile-coating technique, requires accurate surface figure measurements over a wide range of spatial frequencies. Microstitching interferometry has proven to fulfill this requirement for length scales from a few μm up to the full mirror length. At the Advanced Photon Source, a state-of-the-art microroughness microscope interferometer that incorporates advanced microstitching capability has been used to obtain measurements of profile-coated elliptical K-B mirrors. The stitched surface height data provide previously unattainable resolution and reproducibility, which has facilitated the fabrication of ultrasmooth (< 1 nm rms residual height) profile-coated mirrors, whose hard X-ray focusing performance is expected to approach the diffraction limit. This paper describes the system capabilities and limitations. Results of measurements obtained with it will be discussed and compared with those obtained with the Long Trace Profiler.
The Effects of Space Weathering at UV Wavelengths: S-Class Asteroids

We present evidence that space weathering manifests itself at near-UV wavelengths as a bluing of the spectrum, in contrast with the spectral reddening that has been seen at visible-near-IR wavelengths. Furthermore, the effects of space weathering at UV wavelengths tend to appear with less weathering than do the longer wavelength effects, suggesting that the UV wavelength range is a more sensitive indicator of weathering, and thus age. We report results from analysis of existing near-UV (approx.220-350 nm) measurements of S-type asteroids from the International Ultraviolet Explorer and the Hubble Space Telescope and comparisons with laboratory measurements of meteorites to support this hypothesis. Composite spectra of S asteroids are produced by combining UV spacecraft data with ground-based longer wavelength data. At visible-near-IR wavelengths, S-type asteroids are generally spectrally redder (and darker) than ordinary chondrite meteorites, whereas the opposite is generally true at near-UV wavelengths. Similarly, laboratory measurements of lunar samples show that lunar soils (presumably more weathered) are spectrally redder at longer wavelengths, and spectrally bluer at near-UV wavelengths, than less weathered crushed lunar rocks. The UV spectral bluing may be a result of the addition of nanophase iron to the regolith through the weathering process. The UV bluing is most prominent in the 300-400 nm range, where the strong UV absorption edge is degraded with weathering.
The interaction of oxygen with the Mo(100) surface

Abstract The adsorption of oxygen on Mo{100} surfaces at low pressures ( −8 Torr) is studied in detail at 300 and 1100 K and less thorough at some other temperatures, using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), low energy electron diffraction (LEED), work function change (Δθ) measurements, electron stimulated desorption (ESD) and thermal desorption (TD). Confirming in part previous results, it is found that the system behaves quite differently from the system O/W {100}: reconstruction occurs already at 300 K and is followed by re-reconstruction with increasing coverage, the coverage dependence of the sticking coefficient is different from O on W{100} as are the ordered structures, the ESD ion energies and other properties of the adsorbate. An attempt is made to obtain a picture of the adsorption process consistent with the results of all techniques used here and those of other authors.
Raman spectroscopy of infrared multiphoton excited molecules

This paper presents an overview of data obtained on the intramolecular vibrational energy distribution in infrared multiphoton excited CF2HCl, CF2Cl2, SF6 and CH3CHF2. All but CF2HCl show collisionless changes in the intensity of the spontaneous Raman signals after excitation, indicating that the excitation alters the population in the Raman active modes. A comparison of the spectrally integrated intensities of the Raman signals yields information on the distribution of vibrational energy over the modes of the molecule. The results for CF2Cl2 show a nonthermal distribution of energy after the excitation.
Solvation of copper ions by acetone. structures and sequential binding energies of Cu+(acetone)x, x = 1-4 from collision-induced dissociation and theoretical studies.

Collision-induced dissociation of Cu+(acetone)x, x = 1–4, with Xe is studied as a function of kinetic energy using guided ion beam mass spectrometry. In all cases, the primary and lowest energy dissociation channel observed is endothermic loss of one acetone molecule. The primary cross section thresholds are interpreted to yield 0 and 298 K bond energies after accounting for the effects of multiple ion-neutral collisions, internal energy of the complexes, and dissociation lifetimes. Density functional calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory are used to determine the structures of these complexes and provide molecular constants necessary for the thermodynamic analysis of the experimental data. Theoretical bond dissociation energies are determined from single point calculations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p) and MP2(full)/6-311+G(2d,2p) levels, using the B3LYP/6-31G* optimized geometries. The experimental bond energies determined here are in good agreement with previous experimental measurements made in a high-pressure mass spectrometer for the sum of the first and second bond energy (i.e., Cu+(acetone)2 → Cu+ + 2 acetone) when these results are properly anchored. The agreement between theory and experiment is reasonable in all cases, but varies both with the size of the cluster and the level of theory employed. B3LYP does an excellent job for the x = 1 and 3 clusters, but is systematically low for the x = 2 and 4 clusters such that the overall trends in sequential binding energies are not parallel. In contrast, all MP2 values are somewhat low, but the overall trends parallel the measured values for all clusters. The trends in the measured Cu+(acetone)x binding energies are explained in terms of 4s-3d σ hybridization effects and ligand-ligand repulsion in the clusters.
A new early Miocene species of Paleoparadoxia (Mammalia: Desmostylia) from California

ABSTRACT Paleoparadoxia weltoni, a new species in the order Desmostylia, is based on the anterior portion of a skeleton. The specimen is from the earliest Miocene (early Saucesian benthonic foraminiferal stage; Arikareean land mammal age correlative) Skooner Gulch Formation exposed near Point Arena, California, and is the geochronologically oldest definite record of this genus. The new species is very similar to Paleoparadoxia tabatai from slightly younger early Miocene deposits in Japan, but has smaller teeth and distally-expanded incisors. Paleoparadoxia weltoni is distinguished from all other desmostylians by its lack of an m3 hypoconulid and its well-developed p4 paraconid. A phylogenetic analysis of desmostylians tentatively corroborates the monophyly of Paleoparadoxia and strongly supports a clade comprising Paleoparadoxia, Cornwallius, and Desmostylus.
Hypersensitivity vasculitis occurring in a patient receiving immunotherapy

Although it is generally accepted that IT is not associated with significant long-term adverse effects, the question of IC disease caused by allergy injections is unresolved. Some authors have suggested that significant levels of ICs can occur during IT,‘, ’ whereas other authors have provided evidence to the contrary. 3. 4 The common practice of stopping IT after 5 years takes into account the remote possibility of development of IC disease.
Cytochemical studies on the behaviour of some oxidative enzymes in cerebellum of rats chronically poisoned with carbon tetrachloride.

The subject of these studies was the cerebellum of rats chronically poisoned with carbon tetrachloride. The succinic dehydrogenase and NADH2-tetrazolium reductase were investigated. The authors observed the decrease of activity of both investigated enzymes. Basing on the obtained results the authors suppose that CCl4, administrated chronically, acts directly on the mitochondria in the nerve cells of cortex of cerebellum, destroying them. The final interpretation of the obtained results would be possible after further investigations.
Assessing an academic pharmacy position: guidelines for evaluating an institution and roles for new faculty

Abstract The decision to join an academic community engaged in pharmacy education and research requires careful consideration of many issues. Unfortunately, these issues and the processes by which one might evaluate them may be foreign to the prospective faculty member. In today's market, there are a wide variety of academic institutions from which to choose, including those that are part of an academic health sciences center, private school or university, liberal arts college, or for-profit or not-for-profit school. Each institution will have a different mission and vision, programmatic focus, and structure. Thus, careful evaluation of an academic position and the roles for potential new faculty in that institution is of paramount importance. Areas that should be assessed by faculty candidates include institutional culture and focus, organizational structure and reporting responsibilities, role of faculty governance and voting abilities, and opportunities for career enhancement and professional growth. Through careful evaluation of various components of the institution and roles for faculty within the school/college within the institution, faculty candidates may be able to more accurately judge what they consider to be a good match for long-term enjoyment and success as part of the pharmacy academy.
Transthoracic esophagectomy with radical mediastinal and abdominal lymph node dissection and cervical esophagogastrostomy for esophageal carcinoma

Abstract Background . Several techniques for esophageal resection have been reported. This study examines the morbidity, mortality, and early survival of patients after transthoracic esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma using current staging techniques and neoadjuvant therapy. The technique includes right thoracotomy, laparotomy, and cervical esophagogastrostomy (total thoracic esophagectomy) with radical mediastinal and abdominal lymph node dissection. Methods . Three hundred forty-two patients had surgery for esophageal carcinoma between 1989 and 2000 at our institution. Two hundred fifty consecutive patients had esophagectomy using this technique. Kaplan-Meier curves and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by postsurgical pathologic stage. Results . Median age was 62.7 years (31 to 86 years). Fifty-nine were female. Eighty-one percent (202) had induction chemotherapy (all patients with clinical T3/4 or N1). Early postoperative complications included recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (14% [35]), chylothorax (9%, [22]), and leak (8%, [19]). Median length of stay was 13 days (5 to 330 days). In-hospital or 30-day mortality was 3.6% (9). Overall survival at 3 years was 44%; median survival was 25 months, and 3-year survival by posttreatment pathologic stage was: stage 0 (complete response) (n = 60), 56%; stage I (n = 32), 65%; stage IIA (n = 67), 41%; stage IIB (n = 30), 46%; and stage III (n = 49), 17%. Mean follow-up was 24 months (SEM 1.6, 0 to 138 months). Five patients with tumor in situ, 6 patients with stage IV disease, and 1 patient who could not be staged (12 pts) were excluded from survival and multivariate calculations. In univariate and different models of multivariate analysis, age more than 65 years, posttreatment T3, and nodal involvement were predictive of poor survival. For univariate analysis, p = 0.002, p = 0.004, p = 0.02, respectively; for multivariate analysis, p = 0.001, p = 0.003, p = 0.02, respectively. Conclusions . Total thoracic esophagectomy with node dissection for esophageal cancer appears to have acceptable morbidity and mortality with encouraging survival results in the setting of neoadjuvant therapy. Patients who show complete response after induction chemoradiotherapy appear to have improved long-term survival.