cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Embodied energy and economic value in the United States economy: 1963, 1967 and 1972

Abstract An economy can be said to operate on an energy theory of value if economic value can be shown to be proportional to an appropriate energy indicator. We have investigated this hypothesis for an 87 sector breakdown of the U.S. economy for the years 1963, 1967 and 1972. Input-output (I-O) models of the economy, modified to include households and government as endogenous sectors, were used to calculate each sector's direct plus indirect (embodied) energy consumption based on various estimates of the distribution of direct energy inputs to the sectors. Dollar value of sector output is highly correlated with this energy indicator (though not with direct energy consumption or with embodied energy calculated excluding labor and government energy costs). We also test explicitly the criticism that this result is merely a mathematical artifact of incorporating household and government sectors, thus making the system more ‘closed’. Application of these tests to a 4-sector example implies that the mathematical artifact argument is not valid (except for a specific, limited case). Application of the tests to the full 87 sector model also indicates that the mathematical artifact argument is not valid. We conclude that embodied energy, calculated in the way we suggest, is a good predictor of economic value, at least for the relatively large aggregates of marketed goods and services that appear in I-O tables.
Adaptations of electronic health records to activate physicians’ knowledge: how can patient centered care be improved through technology?

The United States of America is known for the rising costs of its healthcare and declining quality of care. While the push towards the integration of the healthcare information infrastructure is seen to be an important step towards addressing problem of the rising costs of healthcare and falling quality of care, the integration of EHR (Electronic Health Records), the central component of this infrastructure, remains a challenge. It appears that physicians are at the center of this bottleneck. The literature suggests that the reasons for the limited use relate to policy, financial and usability considerations, but it does not provide an understanding of reasons for physicians’ limited interaction and adaptation of EHR. In this paper, we argue that in order to be able to use the technology to provide better healthcare, physicians need to be able to activate their knowledge through it. We investigate process of adaptations that physicians go through when trying to use electronic health records. Our findings indicate that physician’s knowledge identities need to align with the functionalities made available through the technology. We draw upon the framework of knowledge activation in order to understand how physicians use their knowledge to provide better healthcare. Following an analysis of qualitative data, collected in a case study at a hospital using interviews, this research shows how physician’s adaptations of EHR activate their knowledge for the purpose of improving healthcare provision. The key contribution of this research is in discovering the ways in which physicians’ adaptation of technology can enable knowledge activation.
NON‐NESTED TESTS ON THE WEIGHT STRUCTURE IN SPATIAL AUTOREGRESSIVE MODELS: SOME MONTE CARLO RESULTS*

. This paper presents some further results with respect to hypothesis tests for the appropriate structure of dependence in mixed regressive/spatial-autoregressive relations. Three tests on non-nested hypotheses are considered, which are based on the use of augmented regressions, and their small sample performance is compared in a number of Monte Carlo simulation experiments.
TissueWiki Mobile : An integrative protein expression image browser for pathological knowledge sharing and annotation on a mobile device

Doctors need fast and convenient access to medical data. This motivates the use of mobile devices for knowledge retrieval and sharing. We have developed TissueWikiMobile on the Apple iPhone and iPad to seamlessly access TissueWiki, an enormous repository of medical histology images. TissueWiki is a three terabyte database of antibody information and histology images from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA). Using TissueWikiMobile, users are capable of extracting knowledge from protein expression, adding annotations to highlight regions of interest on images, and sharing their professional insight. By providing an intuitive human computer interface, users can efficiently operate TissueWikiMobile to access important biomedical data without losing mobility. TissueWikiMobile furnishes the health community a ubiquitous way to collaborate and share their expert opinions not only on the performance of various antibodies stains but also on histology image annotation.
Defender: A High-Yielding, Processing Potato Cultivar with Foliar and Tuber Resistance to Late Blight

The potato cultivar Defender is high-yielding, white-skinned, and notable for having foliar and tuber resistance to late blight infection caused byPhytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary. It was released in 2004 by the USDA-ARS and the agricultural experiment stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Defender is suitable for processing into french fries and other frozen potato products directly from the field or from storage. Defender also may be used for fresh markets in regions such as California, where cultivars with long tubers and white skin are traditionally grown. Resistances to late blight and other potato diseases make Defender an ideal candidate for organic potato production. Defender consistently produced greater total and U.S. No. 1 yields than ‘Russet Burbank’ in Idaho trials. In early harvest trials conducted in the western U.S., average total yields of Defender were 17% and 23% greater than yields for ‘Ranger Russet’ and ‘Shepody’, respectively. In full-season trials conducted in the western U.S., Defender averaged 10% and 15% higher yields than Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank, respectively. Specific gravity of Defender is consistently high, with values comparable to those of Ranger Russet; tuber ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) levels are also high. In addition to late blight, Defender also is resistant to tuber early blight (Alternaria solani, (Ellis & G. Martin), L.R. Jones & Grout), potato virus X, and net necrosis; it has moderate levels of resistance to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae, Kleb), pink rot, foliar early blight, corky ringspot, and Erwinia soft rot. Defender is susceptible to scab (common and powdery) and potato leafroll virus; it has moderate susceptibility to dry rot (Fusarium spp.) and potato virus Y. Susceptibilities to internal necrosis, tuber greening, and blackspot bruise also have been noted, but may be minimized through cultural and harvest practices.
Two-point fermion correlation functions at finite density

The general form of two-point fermion correlation functions at finite density is examined. Examples of particular interest are correlation functions of nucleonic interpolating fields, used in QCD sum-rule studies, and nucleon propagators in hadronic field theories. The constraints of Lorentz covariance, parity, and time-reversal on the form of the correlators are derived by focusing on spectral functions. Discrepancies with other treatments in the literature are discussed.
Seasonal influenza vaccination at school: a randomized controlled trial.

Background Influenza vaccination coverage for U.S. school-aged children is below the 80% national goal. Primary care practices may not have the capacity to vaccinate all children during influenza vaccination season. No real-world models of school-located seasonal influenza (SLV-I) programs have been tested. Purpose Determine the feasibility, sustainability, and impact of an SLV-I program providing influenza vaccination to elementary school children during the school day. Design In this pragmatic randomized controlled trial of SLV-I during two vaccination seasons, schools were randomly assigned to SLV-I versus standard of care. Seasonal influenza vaccine receipt, as recorded in the state immunization information system (IIS), was measured. Setting/participants Intervention and control schools were located in a single western New York county. Participation (intervention or control) included the sole urban school district and suburban districts (five in Year 1, four in Year 2). Intervention After gathering parental consent and insurance information, live attenuated and inactivated seasonal influenza vaccines were offered in elementary schools during the school day. Main outcome measures Data on receipt of ≥1 seasonal influenza vaccination in Year 1 (2009–2010) and Year 2 (2010–2011) were collected on all student grades K through 5 at intervention and control schools from the IIS in the Spring of 2010 and 2011, respectively. Additionally, coverage achieved through SLV-I was compared to coverage of children vaccinated elsewhere. Preliminary data analysis for Year 1 occurred in Spring 2010; final quantitative analysis for both years was completed in late Fall 2012. Results Results are shown for 2009–2010 and 2010–2011, respectively: Children enrolled in suburban SLV-I versus control schools had vaccination coverage of 47% vs 36%, and 52% vs 36% ( p p p p Conclusions Delivering influenza vaccine during school is a promising approach to improving pediatric influenza vaccination coverage. Trial Registry ClinicalTrials.govNCT01224301
Hardy-Sobolev spaces and algebras of holomorphic functions on the unit ball in ℂ n

For 0 n and , then is a p-Banach algebra under a suitable p-norm on . By examples it is shown that the results are best possible.
Effects of the burrowing mayfly, Hexagenia, on nitrogen and sulfur fractions in lake sediment microcosms

Effects of the burrowing mayfly, Hexagenia, on nitrogen and sulfur fractions of sediment, and overlying water were determined. Laboratory microcosms were used to reproduce the benthic environment. The activities of Hexagenia increased sediment Eh (1.98 ± 0.486 (22) mV · day −1), and decreased pH in sediment (−0.007 ± 0.001 (22) day −1) and overlying water(-0.024 ± 0.004 (10) day−1). In the control, Eh decreased and pH did not change. The presence of Hexagenia also markedly increased ammonia in sediment (5.46 ± 0.14 (22) ppm N · day−1) and overlying water (0.792 ± 0.154 (10) ppm N · day−1), while the control did not change. In addition, the sulfate fraction of sediment (0.177 ± 0.006 (17)% dry mass) and water (50.0 ± 4.9 (5) mg · I−1) in microcosms with Hexagenia was greater than that of the control (0.151 ± 0.005 (16)% dry mass; 14.7 ± 1.71 (3) mg · 1−1) at the termination of the experiment. Hexagenia may also stimulate the mineralization of carbon-bonded sulfur. The general role of Hexagenia in altering sediment chemistry is discussed.
The expression of the Escherichia coli uvrA gene in human cells.

Cells cultured from xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients are defective in excision repair of damaged DNA specifically at the incision step. In Escherichia coli this step is mediated by the UvrA, UvrB and UvrC gene products. Our goal is to express each of these genes in XP cells, singly or in combination, and to determine the most suitable conditions for generating faithful E. coli protein copies in functional concentrations and properly localized for the eventual repair of damaged chromosomal DNA or DNA which is introduced exogenously. The E. coli gpt gene in pSV2gpt is used as a selection marker for uvr gene transfection into XP cells. The uvr genes were cloned into composite pBR322, SV40 and gpt vectors in which each E. coli gene is flanked by individual SV40 regulatory elements. SV40-transformed XP-A cells were transfected with pSV2uvrASV2gpt, gpt+ colonies were selected, and cell lines esttablished. Several times were examined in detail. Cell lines 714 and 1511 contain uvrA together with flanking SV40 regulatory elements integrated intact in genomic DNA and express UvrA protein as well as a 95 000-dalton UvrA-related protein. The expression of uvrA was found to be 50–100-fold lower than the expression of gpt. Attempts were made to assay the mammalian UvrA protein for functionality, but endogenous activities interfered with assays for each of the UvrA protein's three activities. The peptide maps derived from partial proteolysis of the “mammalian” UvrA protein are identical to the E. coli UvrA protein. The sub-cellular location of UvrA protein in uvrA+ XP cells was investigated by fractionation of cell extracts in which an indirect immunofluorescence method revealed its location as being largely extra-nuclear. Two uvrA+ cell lines were examined for their UV_resistant phenotye and not unexpectedly were found not to be reverted to a state of repair proficiency.
On the Role of Endogenous Calmodulin in Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Skeletal Muscle

In skeletal muscle, calmodulin (CaM) regulates excitation-contraction coupling, primarily via modulation of ryanodine receptors. Here we aimed to further our understanding of the role of endogenous CaM in excitation-contraction coupling. Since systemic ablation of CaM in mice is difficult to achieve due to CaM's multiple functions, in vivo gene transfer via electroporation mediated transfection method was used to deliver plasmid coding for both cerulean and short-hairpin (sh)RNA targeting CaM (shRNA-CaM) to study the effect of CaM knockdown in adult mouse flexor digitorum brevis skeletal muscle. CaM protein expression levels were significantly reduced in shRNA-CaM fibers, which exhibited no evident morphological changes when compared to the shRNA-control fibers. After confirming the reduction of endogenous CaM expression, we used high-speed confocal microscopy and rhod2-based Ca2+ imaging to assess the consequence of CaM knowdown on action potential (AP)-evoked Ca2+ signals. Isolated single muscle fibers expressing shRNA-CaM exhibited decreased mean peak amplitude and slowed decaying phase of AP-induced Ca2+ transient when compared to the shRNA-controls, indicating compromised Ca2+ release and Ca2+ uptake. We also used a model for myoplasmic Ca2+ binding and transport processes to calculate AP-evoked sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release flux, which demonstrated decreased Ca2+ release flux and indicated suppressed Ca2+ uptake in shRNA-CaM fibers. Decreased Ca2+ release could reflect decreased coupling between Cav1.1 and ryanodine receptor, a reduction in expression of one or both proteins or a decreased store content, whereas a slowed decaying phase is consistent with compromised Ca2+ uptake. Our study shows the importance of endogenous CaM in the maintenance of excitation-contraction coupling in adult skeletal muscle and could provide new avenues to further explore the potential role of both CaM-dependent and CaM-independent pathways in skeletal muscle contractility and plasticity. Supported by NIH-NIAMS Grant R37-AR055099.
Fatigue crack growth mechanisms in HSLA-80 steels

Fatigue mechanisms of large and small cracks in Cu-bearing HSLA-80 steels were studied at ambient temperature. Fatigue striations were measured for both large and small fatigue cracks by SEM fractography, while dislocation structures adjacent to the fatigue surfaces were characterized by TEM. The results of the fatigue striation and dislocation structure characterization are compared with crack growth data to assess the fatigue mechanisms in HSLA-80 steels and the cause for the lack of a threshold in the small cracks. Comparisons revealed that both large and small cracks propagated via an intermittent growth mechanism. The growth kinetics of small cracks were consistent with the extrapolation of the power-law regime of the large crack data to stress ranges below the large-crack threshold. The absence of a growth threshold in small cracks was discussed in conjunction with the large-crack threshold.
A comparative study of techniques for the examination of biofilms by scanning electron microscopy

Abstract The nature of the biofilm adhering to pumice in an anaerobic filter treating molasses effluent has been studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Samples were prepared for SEM using a variety of techniques, some of which are shown to produce artefacts interpreted by other authors to reflect the state of the biofilm. The formation of fibrillar structures is such an artefact of the sample preparation. Samples prepared using the Sputter-Cryo technique showed the pumice to be covered by a slime which prevents visualisation of the bacteria. This slime could be disrupted by preparative SEM techniques involving fixation and drying to produce a fibrillar network through which the bacterial consortium could be seen. Most of the slime and many bacteria were removed from the pumice during critical point drying. It is concluded that the Sputter-Cryo technique preserves the integrity of the biofilm while other methods can be utilised for visualisation of the bacteria.
Relationship between Perceived Problem-Solving and Career Maturity: Implications for Minority and Disadvantaged Premedical Students

This study examined the relationship between career maturity of minority and disadvantaged premedical students and their self-appraised problem-solving. 83 students enrolled in a special program took the Medical Career Development Inventory and the Problem-solving Inventory one week apart. Pearson product-moment correlations and a stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated a significant relationship between scores for the students' appraisal of their problem-solving and their career maturity. Implications for intervention strategies for the present population are discussed.
Nanosponge-Mediated Drug Delivery Lowers Intraocular Pressure.

PURPOSE We examined the efficacy of an extended-release drug delivery system, nanosponge (NS) encapsulated compounds, administered intravitreally to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in mice. METHODS Bilateral ocular hypertension was induced in mice by injecting microbeads into the anterior chamber. Hypertensive mice received NS loaded with ocular hypotensive drugs via intravitreal injection and IOP was monitored. Retinal deposition and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) uptake of Neuro-DiO were examined following intravitreal injection of Neuro-DiO-NS using confocal microscopy. RESULTS Brimonidine-loaded NS lowered IOP 12% to 30% for up to 6 days (P < 0.02), whereas travoprost-NS lowered IOP 19% to 29% for up to 4 days (P < 0.02) compared to saline injection. Three bimatoprost NS were tested: a 400-nm NS and two 700-nm NS with amorphous (A-NS) or amorphous/crystalline (AC-NS) crosslinkers. A single injection of 400 nm NS lowered IOP 24% to 33% for up to 17 days compared to saline, while A-NS and AC-NS lowered IOP 22% to 32% and 18% to 26%, respectively, for up to 32 days (P < 0.046). Over time retinal deposition of Neuro-DiO increased from 19% to 71%; Neuro-DiO released from NS was internalized by RGCs. CONCLUSIONS A single injection of NS can effectively deliver ocular hypotensive drugs in a linear and continuous manner for up to 32 days. Also, NS may be effective at targeting RGCs, the neurons that degenerate in glaucoma. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE Patient compliance is a major issue in glaucoma. The use of NS to deliver a controlled, sustained release of therapeutics could drastically reduce the number of patients that progress to vision loss in this disease.
Equivalence constants for certain matrix norms

We obtain optimal equivalence constants for certain families of matrix norms. Our results generalize inequalities of Goldberg [Linear and Multilinear Algebra 21 (1987) 173].
Carbon dioxide removal in acetate hemodialysis: Effects on acid base balance

Carbon dioxide removal in acetate hemodialysis: Effects on acid base balance. Studies were performed in patients on maintenance acetate hemodialysis to assess the quantity and processes involved in the removal of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) during the treatment. For this purpose the CO 2 losses from whole blood were evaluated in vivo using a mass balance technique. The data demonstrated that the CO 2 recovered in the dialysate exceeded the amount calculated to have left the blood in the same period. This observation suggested that CO 2 may be generated by the blood cells as they go through the dialyzer. In vitro studies confirmed this observation and established that the uremic blood cells can generate CO 2 when exposed to a low Pco 2 and/or HCO 3 . The net effect of this CO 2 generation may be hydrogen ion gain by the patient. The contribution of ultrafiltration to the losses of CO 2 depends on the volume of ultrafiltrate and the plasma HCO 3 concentration. The dialysance of total CO 2 was found to be equal to that of urea nitrogen. Treatments with high urea dialysance may interfere with the acute and chronic correction of the acid base balance of these patients. The data presented suggest that multiple factors related to the removal of CO 2 during acetate dialysis may be responsible in part for the low plasma bicarbonate observed in patients on chronic maintenance hemodialysis. Epuration du carbonique en hemodialyse avec acetate: Effets sur la balance acido-basique. Des etudes ont ete effectuees chez des malades en hemodialyse periodique avec acetate pour preciser la quantite et les mecanismes mis en jeu dans l'epuration du carbonique (CO 2 ) pendant le traitement. Pour cela, les pertes en CO 2 du sang total ont ete evaluees in-vivo en utilisant une technique de balance massique. Les donnees ont demontre que le CO 2 recupere dans le dialysat depassait la quantite calculee ayant quitte le sang pendant la meme periode. Cette observation a suggere que du CO 2 pourrait etre genere par les cellules sanguines lorsqu'elles passent a travers le dialyseur. Les etudes in-vitro ont confirme cette observation et ont etabli que les cellules sanguines uremiques peuvent generer du CO 2 lorsqu'elles sont exposees a une faible Pco 2 ou/et HCO 3 . L'effet net de cette generation de CO 2 pourrait etre un gain d'ions hydrogenes par le malade. La contribution de l'ultrafiltration aux pertes de CO 2 depend du volume d'ultrafiltrat et de la concentration plasmatique d'HCO 3 . La dialysance du CO 2 total a ete trouvee egale a celle de l'azote ureique. Des traitements avec une forte dialysance de l'uree pourraient interferer avec la correction aigue et chronique de la balance acido-basique chez ces malades. Les donnees presentees suggerent que de multiples facteurs relies a l'epuration du CO 2 pendant la dialyse avec acetate pourraient etre responsables en partie des faibles bicarbonates plasmatiques observees chez les malades en hemodialyse periodique chronique.
GRACE: A Visual Comparison Framework for Integrated Spatial and Non-Spatial Geriatric Data

We present the design of a novel framework for the visual integration, comparison, and exploration of correlations in spatial and non-spatial geriatric research data. These data are in general high-dimensional and span both the spatial, volumetric domain - through magnetic resonance imaging volumes - and the non-spatial domain, through variables such as age, gender, or walking speed. The visual analysis framework blends medical imaging, mathematical analysis and interactive visualization techniques, and includes the adaptation of Sparse Partial Least Squares and iterated Tikhonov Regularization algorithms to quantify potential neurologymobility connections. A linked-view design geared specifically at interactive visual comparison integrates spatial and abstract visual representations to enable the users to effectively generate and refine hypotheses in a large, multidimensional, and fragmented space. In addition to the domain analysis and design description, we demonstrate the usefulness of this approach on two case studies. Last, we report the lessons learned through the iterative design and evaluation of our approach, in particular those relevant to the design of comparative visualization of spatial and non-spatial data.
Macromolecular crystallization with microfluidic free-interface diffusion.

Fluidigm Corp. released the Topaz™ 1.96 and 4.96 crystallization chips in the fall of 2004. Topaz 1.96 and 4.96 are the latest evolution of Fluidigm’s microfluidics crystallization technologies that enable ultra-low-volume rapid screening for macromolecular crystallization. Topaz 1.96 and 4.96 are similar to each other but represent a major redesign of the Topaz system and have substantially improved ease of automation and ease of use, improved efficiency and even further reduced the amount of material needed. With the release of the new Topaz system, Fluidigm continues to set the standard in low-volume crystallization screening, which is having an increasing impact in the field of structural genomics and more generally in structural biology. It is likely that further optimization and increased utility of the Topaz crystallization system will emerge. It is also probable that further innovation and the emergence of competing technologies will be seen.
Guiding the morphogenesis of dissociated newborn mouse retinal cells and hES cell-derived retinal cells by soft lithography-patterned microchannel PLGA scaffolds.

Abstract Embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived photoreceptors are a promising cell source for enhanced in vitro models of retinal degenerative diseases, but the more differentiated characteristics of retinal cells do not typically develop in dissociated cell cultures. Therefore, we have reconstructed organized retinal tissue by seeding dissociated cells into an array of aligned units that more faithfully mimics the retina. We solvent-processed poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) into a microchannel scaffold format to achieve this geometric constraint. We compared the effect of PLGA concentration on channel morphology and, along with other culture conditions, on the infiltration of dissociated newborn mouse retinal cells into the channels. Culturing scaffolds at the gas–liquid interface with low serum media increased infiltrated rod photoreceptor viability 18-fold over submerged, high serum cultures when evaluated after seven days. Rod photoreceptors and Muller glia aligned processes parallel to the microchannel walls. Otx2+ and Pax6+ subpopulations recapitulated lamination behavior. Further, we constructed scaffold/retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) co-cultures and observed rods extending rhodopsin-positive processes toward RPE cells, mimicking normal rod polarization and morphology. Finally, human embryonic stem cell-derived photoreceptors exhibited infiltration and morphological characteristics similar to mouse retinal cells inside the scaffolds. These findings constitute an important advance in generating tissue-level retinal models from dissociated cells for use as drug screening platforms and in regenerative medicine.
Protein metabolic roles in treatment of obesity.

Purpose of review To understand the potential benefits of increased dietary protein during weight loss and the importance of distribution of high-quality protein at each meal. Recent findings Popular weight loss diets emphasize use of protein as a substitute for carbohydrates or fat to reduce insulin and minimize hunger and food cravings. These diets produce short-term weight loss, but long-term benefits remain obscured by failure to differentiate between outcomes of subject compliance and diet effectiveness. New molecular mechanisms have defined the benefits of protein as a meal threshold for the branched-chain amino acid leucine, which has been characterized as a unique signal regulator of muscle protein synthesis. Leucine consumed at 2.5 g triggers a postmeal anabolic response that protects metabolic active tissues during weight loss and increases loss of body fat. Summary Balanced daily distribution of protein with increased intake at breakfast and lunch protects metabolically active tissues including skeletal muscle during weight loss.
Radioactive Seed Localization Compared to Wire Localization in Breast-Conserving Surgery: Initial 6-Month Experience

Background Wire localization (WL) of nonpalpable breast cancers on the day of surgery is uncomfortable for patients and impacts operating room efficiency. Radioactive seed localization (RSL) before the day of surgery avoids these disadvantages. In this study we compare outcomes of our initial 6-month experience with RSL to those with WL in the preceding 6 months.
Studies in partially resolved bacteriophage-host systems. VII. Diamines, dyes, empty phage heads, and protoplast-infecting agent.

Abstract The photodynamic inactivation of bacteriophage T 2 and oX-174 in the presence of proflavine has been investigated. The reaction has been shown to be photochemical in nature and has been interpreted in terms of the formation of a reversible complex between the DNA of the phage and the dye. The approximate dissociation constants for these complexes have been estimated at 3·10 −6 M for T2 and 3·10 −7 M oX-174. This binding is competitively reversed in the presence of aliphatic diamines with no particular specificity f chain length. The approximate dissociation constant for cadaverine is 3.5·10 −3 M for the DNA of either phage. Some preliminary observations concerning the structural requirements of other photodynamically active dyes are presented: methylene blue and acridine organge, which as bifunctional amines bear a close resemblance to proflavine, are active; 9-aminoacridine and riboflavin, both of which are otherwise photochemically effective, lack the necessary structuralbifunctionality and are inert as photodynamic sensitizers. A brief survey has also been made of the ability of proflavine to inactivate both bacteriophages in the dark. This effect resembles photodynamic inactivation with respect to the concentration dependence and the amount of dye required to achieve half-maximal saturation. Dark inactivation is prevented competitively by aliphatic diamines; no chain-length specificityis observed with oX-174, but T2 is maximally protected by cadaverine. In this reaction the amine serves in a function presumably analogous to that responsible for the protection against thermal inactivation of π, the protoplast-infecting agent derived from T2, and for the shift in melting temperature of isolated T2 DNA.
Metformin during pregnancy reduces insulin, insulin resistance, insulin secretion, weight, testosterone and development of gestational diabetes: prospective longitudinal assessment of women with polycystic ovary syndrome from preconception throughout pregnancy

BACKGROUND: In a prospective observational study of 42 pregnancies in 39 Caucasian women (age 30 6 4 years) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), we examined effects of metformin on maternal insulin, insulin resistance (IR), insulin secretion (IS), weight gain, development of gestational diabetes (GD), testosterone and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity. We assessed the hypothesis that diet‐metformin (MET) lessens the physiological gestational increase in IR and reduces gestational weight gain, thus reducing GD. METHODS: Preconception, in an out-patient clinical research centre, MET 1.5 (eight pregnancies) to 2.55 g/day (34 pregnancies) was started. Women with body mass index 25 kg/m 2 were given a 2000 or 1500 calorie/day, high-protein (26% of calories), lowcarbohydrate (44%) diet. Calorie restrictions were dropped after conception. RESULTS: On MET, GD developed in three out of 42 pregnancies (7.1%). Median entry weight (94.5 kg) fell to 82.7 on MET at the last preconception visit (P = 0.0001), fell further to 81.6 during the first trimester, was 83.6 in the second trimester, and 89.1 kg in the third trimester. Median weight gain during pregnancy was 3.5 kg. The median percentage reduction in serum insulin was 40% on MET at the last preconception visit; insulin did not increase in the first or second trimesters (P > 0.05), and rose 10% in the third trimester. The median percentage reduction in HOMA IR was 46% on MET at the last preconception visit; IR did not increase (P > 0.05) in the first, second or third trimesters. HOMA insulin secretion fell 45% on MET at the last preconception visit, did not increase in the first trimester, rose 24% in the second trimester, and rose 109% in the third trimester. Testosterone fell 30% on MET at the last preconception visit (P = 0.01) and then rose 74, 61 and 95% during trimesters 1, 2 and 3; median testosterone during the third trimester did not differ from pre-treatment levels. CONCLUSIONS: By reducing preconception weight, insulin, IR, insulin secretion and testosterone, and by maintaining these insulin-sensitizing effects throughout pregnancy, MET‐ diet reduces the likelihood of developing GD, and prevents androgen excess for the fetus.
Students Fail to Transfer Knowledge of Chromosome Structure to Topics Pertaining to Cell Division

Cellular processes that rely on knowledge of molecular behavior are difficult for students to comprehend. For example, thorough understanding of meiosis requires students to integrate several complex concepts related to chromosome structure and function. Using a grounded theory approach, we have unified classroom observations, assessment data, and in-depth interviews under the theory of knowledge transfer to explain student difficulties with concepts related to chromosomal behavior. In this paper, we show that students typically understand basic chromosome structure but do not activate cognitive resources that would allow them to explain macromolecular phenomena (e.g., homologous pairing during meiosis). To improve understanding of topics related to genetic information flow, we suggest that instructors use pedagogies and activities that prime students for making connections between chromosome structure and cellular processes.
Biology, behavior, and environmental enrichment for the captive African clawed frog (Xenopus spp)

Abstract Xenopus are a hardy, long-lived, aquatic amphibian species which readily adapt to a captive environment. This characteristic makes Xenopus ideal for the laboratory, where they are used extensively in basic and biomedical research. Though husbandry practices for Xenopus have not been standardized, there is burgeoning evidence that environmental enrichment can limit fighting, cannibalism, and can optimize the general health, fecundity, and the welfare of captive Xenopus . Here we review the habitat, sensory biology, and the relevant features of normal Xenopus behavior and with those unique features in mind, propose strategies for effective environmental enrichment.
Monitoring of drop optical fibers in 32-branched PON using 1.65 µm pulse-OCDR

We newly propose 1.65µm pulse-OCDR with 2.6cm high spatial resolution, which can monitor reflections from FBGs in drop section of 15km-feeder 32-branch PON without overlaps of peaks.
Quantifying the Integration of Quorum-Sensing Signals with Single-Cell Resolution

Cell-to-cell communication in bacteria is a process known as quorum sensing that relies on the production, detection, and response to the extracellular accumulation of signaling molecules called autoinducers. Often, bacteria use multiple autoinducers to obtain information about the vicinal cell density. However, how cells integrate and interpret the information contained within multiple autoinducers remains a mystery. Using single-cell fluorescence microscopy, we quantified the signaling responses to and analyzed the integration of multiple autoinducers by the model quorum-sensing bacterium Vibrio harveyi. Our results revealed that signals from two distinct autoinducers, AI-1 and AI-2, are combined strictly additively in a shared phosphorelay pathway, with each autoinducer contributing nearly equally to the total response. We found a coherent response across the population with little cell-to-cell variation, indicating that the entire population of cells can reliably distinguish several distinct conditions of external autoinducer concentration. We speculate that the use of multiple autoinducers allows a growing population of cells to synchronize gene expression during a series of distinct developmental stages.
Intraosseous Infusion: An Instructional Program for Healthcare Providers, Revised Edition (CD-ROM)

Silver Spring, MD: Emergency Medical Services Corporation for Children (EMS-C) National Resource Center, 2005, available free of chargeIntraosseous infusion was first described by Drinker andcollea...
Mental Health Needs of Disaster Volunteers: A Plea for Awareness

TOPIC. Meeting the mental health needs of disaster response volunteers. Voluntary disaster response organizations deployed volunteers across the country following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. PURPOSE. Disaster response volunteers may experience mental health needs, particularly following extended or multiple deployments. This article attempts to heighten the awareness of psychiatric mental health nurses regarding mental health needs of disaster volunteers. SOURCE. As noted in the reference list. CONCLUSIONS. It is essential to find ways to provide support for disaster volunteers experiencing stress and mental health needs, particularly for those who are not connected with an established disaster mental services program. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses who are active in their communities are in a unique position to meet the mental health needs of volunteers who would otherwise not seek mental health assistance. Language: en
Preferential Adsorption of Human Neutrophil Myeloperoxidase Isoform III by Oral Bacteria

Neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) adsorbs to bacteria as a pre-requisite for killing by the MPO/hydrogen-peroxide/chloride system. Three chromatographically distinct isoforms of MPO (MPO I, MPO II, and MPO III) have been isolated from human neutrophils. The purpose of this study was to determine whether oral bacteria-including Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Capnocytophaga sputigena, Haemophilus aphrophilus, and Eikenella corrodens-differentially adsorb the three major isoforms of MPO from a mixture of MPO I, II, and III, and to assess the effect of pH and normal human serum (NHS) on MPO adsorption. MPO III adsorbed preferentially (i) at high bacterial concentrations, (ii) in the pH range of 6.0-8.0, and (iii) in the presence and absence of NHS. These results support the role of MPO III in the killing of oral bacteria.
A study of detonation evolution and structure for a model of compressible two-phase reactive flow

A two-phase model of heterogeneous explosives, due to Baer and Nunziato, is examined computationally by a new numerical approach that is a modification of the standard Godunov scheme. The approach generates well-resolved and accurate solutions economically, and treats rationally the nozzling terms that render the otherwise hyperbolic model incapable of a conservative representation. A broad range of the parameter space is investigated and two possible structures of steady, planar detonations are identified, along with subregions of the parameter space where they exist. The transient processes subsequent to impact by a low-speed piston are studied in detail, for a variety of cases, to describe the transition from a compaction wave to one or the other of the two steady detonation waves. The findings are compared with existing computational results.
Migration within the U.S., 1800–1960: Some New Estimates

The pioneers' trek across the land has long been taken as a central element in American social history. But that redistribution of resources has been no less vital in fueling the advance of productivity, in supporting the varying pattern of final outputs. Because migration both caused, and was a consequence of, these massive changes there has long been an interest in measuring the scope and detail of population redistribution. Beginning with the Census of 1850, the Bureau of the Census has provided estimates of lifetime migration (cross classifying state of birth by state of residence). However it was not until the Census of 1940 that it began to provide data on shorter term moves. Yet any close study of how migration responded to variations in opportunity differentials, to changes in the business cycle, to major shifts in government policy demands data on shorter term population flows. Hence the major contribution made recently when Simon Kuznets and Dorothy Thomas conducted a large scale survey of population redistribution, following upon pioneering work by Horace Hamilton, Carter Goodrich and others. One of its first and most spectacular products was a massive set of estimates on flows for 1870-1950, estimates made under the direction of Everett Lee.' Presumably it was the gross inadequacy of the data prior to 1870 for making estimates by the Census survival method that prevented the project from extending its work to earlier decades. Given the substantial scale of that inquiry and the high quality of its work we must presume that the use of the Census survival method for earlier years is foreclosed. Since, however, even that method had only been adopted because no better approach had been developed, it would appear that there is little hope for really reliable estimates for earlier decades. We suggest below, however, a much different, and much simpler approach to estimation. Tests of this method yield results for 1870-1950 sufficiently close to those given
Thyroid hormone receptor mediates transcriptional activation and repression of different promoters in vitro.

The thyroid hormone receptor (TR) has the dual ability to activate or repress transcription of specific genes. A cell-free transcription system was used to study the effects of TR on transcription by positively (TREpMLP) and negatively (TSHa) regulated promoters. Receptor-deficient HeLa cell extracts were complemented with baculovirus-produced TR. TR stimulated transcription from the TREpMLP promoter by 3-fold, and trans-activation did not require hormone. Transcriptional stimulation by TR required the presence of the TRE sequence and was diminished by the addition of competitor TRE binding sites. Baculovirus-produced TR repressed transcription in vitro from the TSHCI promoter by 30-50%, also in a hormone-independent manner. Transcription from a control adenovirus 2 major late promoter was unaffected by added TR. Receptor-specific antisera and competition with TRE binding sites impaired TR-mediated repression of the TSHcv promoter. Unlike transcriptional stimulation, which was optimal when TR and HeLa extracts were added concomitantly, transcriptional repression by the TR was most effective when the receptor was preincubated with the u-promoter, suggesting that receptor binding to the promoter may block access of other proteins to cause transcriptional repression. These results indicate that baculovirus-expressed TR mediates transcriptional activation and repression in a promoter-specific manner in vitro. This system provides a valuable model for examining transcriptional control by the TR. (Molecular Endocrinology 6: 615 625,1992)
Nutritional and feeding value of crude glycerin for poultry. 2. Evaluation of feeding crude glycerin to broilers

SUMMARY Government support and subsidies have led to rapid growth of the biofuels industry in the United States. Crude glycerin is the primary by-product of biodiesel production and may be used as an alternative source of energy in poultry diets. However, methanol contamination and large variations in nutrient concentrations may limit its use in poultry diets. Four studies were conducted to determine the maximum crude glycerin concentration and the effects on broiler performance of varying methanol concentrations in crude glycerin products. A crude glycerin concentration of 5% depressed the BW gain and feed intake of broilers by 2.5% when crude glycerin was used as a supplemental energy source in a diet restricted in energy. However, in a commercial-energy-level diet with up to 5% crude glycerin, the glycerin did not negatively affect BW gain or feed intake. The addition of up to 7.5% crude glycerin in the energy-restrictive or commercial-energy-level diet did not affect FE at any period measured. No effect on broiler performance was observed with the addition of up to 10% of a crude glycerin product that contained 1.79% methanol from 0 to 14 d of age. In addition, no effect on performance was observed with the addition to the diet of 10% crude glycerin that contained 3.10% methanol, whereas the addition of 10% of a different crude glycerin product with a much lower methanol concentration (<0.01% methanol) significantly depressed BW gain but did not affect feed intake or G:F. However, in a fourth experiment, no negative effects on performance were observed with the addition of up to 10% crude glycerin to the broiler diets for products containing <0.01 and 2.24% methanol. In summary, broiler performance was not affected by the addition of up to 5% glycerin regardless of the methanol concentration.
The Gender of Constitutional Jurisprudence

The Gender of Constitutional Jurisprudence. Edited by Beverly Baines and Ruth Rubio-Marin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2005. 342 pp. $34.99. Paperback.Beverly Baines and Ruth Rubio-Marin have gathered together a group of lawyers, mostly law faculty, with expertise in constitutional law, women's rights, civil and human rights, and gender equality. The result is an edited collection on constitutional sex equality litigation, with chapters covering a wide array of issues, including reproductive rights, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, family law, pornography, social welfare policy, and voting rights. By using gender as a “focal point” (p. 1) of constitutional jurisprudence, the authors assess the success of a feminist constitutional agenda.
Design and characterization of a multi-articulated robotic bat wing

There are many challenges to measuring power input and force output from a flapping vertebrate. Animals can vary a multitude of kinematic parameters simultaneously, and methods for measuring power and force are either not possible in a flying vertebrate or are very time and equipment intensive. To circumvent these challenges, we constructed a robotic, multi-articulated bat wing that allows us to measure power input and force output simultaneously, across a range of kinematic parameters. The robot is modeled after the lesser dog-faced fruit bat, Cynopterus brachyotis, and contains seven joints powered by three servo motors. Collectively, this joint and motor arrangement allows the robot to vary wingbeat frequency, wingbeat amplitude, stroke plane, downstroke ratio, and wing folding. We describe the design, construction, programing, instrumentation, characterization, and analysis of the robot. We show that the kinematics, inputs, and outputs demonstrate good repeatability both within and among trials. Finally, we describe lessons about the structure of living bats learned from trying to mimic their flight in a robotic wing.