cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reaction of Amino-acid Esters with Sodium in Liquid Ammonia : Cleavage of the Proline Ring

THE reduction of esters by sodium in liquid ammonia solutions has been investigated in some detail by Kharasch et al.1. From an analysis of the products obtained, it was concluded by these authors that aliphatic esters were converted to a mixture of the corresponding alcohol, amide and acid, in addition to varying amounts of unidentified substances. There have been very few investigations of the reaction of amino-acid esters with sodium in liquid ammonia solutions. McChesney and Miller2 treated glycine ethyl ester hydrochloride with sodium in liquid ammonia and obtained some of the glycine ester and an unidentified product. Benzyl esters of amino-acids and peptides are known3 to be cleaved to form the corresponding amino-acid or peptide. With the availability of the t-butyloxycarbonyl group for masking ammo functions and the t-butyl group for protecting carboxyl groups and hydroxyl groups, it became important to know whether these groups were resistant to the reductive action of sodium in liquid ammonia. This treatment readily removes other protecting groups such as the p-toluene sulphonyl and the carbobenzoxy groups. Anderson and McGregor4 found that the t-butyloxy-carbonyl group is resistant to treatment with sodium in liquid ammonia. The effects of this reductive treatment on amino-acid and peptide t-butyl esters have been investigated. Results of the reaction of proline t-butyl ester with sodium in liquid ammonia are presented here.
Effect of synthesis conditions on the electrical resistivity of TiSe 2

Dilute impurities and growth conditions can drastically affect the transport properties of ${\mathrm{TiSe}}_{2}$, especially below the charge-density-wave transition. In this paper, we discuss the effects of cooling rate, annealing time, and annealing temperature on the transport properties of ${\mathrm{TiSe}}_{2}$: slow cooling polycrystalline ${\mathrm{TiSe}}_{2}$ postsynthesis drastically increases the low-temperature resistivity, which is in contrast to the metallic behavior of single-crystalline ${\mathrm{TiSe}}_{2}$ attributed to charge doping from the residual iodine transport agent. A logarithmic increase of resistivity upon cooling and negative magnetoresistance with a sharp cusp around zero field are observed for the first time for the polycrystalline ${\mathrm{TiSe}}_{2}$ samples, pointing to weak-localization effects due to low dimensionality. Annealing at low temperatures has a similar, but less drastic effect. Furthermore, rapid quenching of the polycrystalline samples from high temperatures freezes in disorder, leading to a decrease in the low-temperature resistivity.
Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of mandible masquerading as toothache

Background Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) is an aggressive, fast-growing form of non-Hodgkin disease, with rare manifestation in the mandible as the primary site. The absence of pathognomonic features in this localization often leads to misdiagnosis as an odontogenic process or to delayed diagnosis. We report here a case where nonodontogenic jaw pain mimicked toothache, prompting multiple dental interventions before the persistence of pain and atypical findings led to the consideration of a malignant etiology. Case Summary A 54-year-old male presented to our oral medicine service for dental clearance before radiation for mandibular lymphoma. He had presented to his dentist for evaluation of right-sided jaw pain a few months earlier. On presentation, he had no lymphadenopathy or paresthesia, and his oral evaluation was within normal limits. Radiographic examination showed a deep restoration with pulpal proximity in tooth #31, widened periodontal ligament, loss of lamina dura, and diffuse periapical rarefaction. Tooth #31 was diagnosed with pulpitis, and the patient underwent root canal treatment. After a brief period of quiescence, the jaw pain returned, and the fractured cusp of tooth #30 was bonded to address the symptoms. Despite these measures, the jaw pain persisted, and tooth #31 gradually developed extreme compressive mobility. Imaging revealed extensive alveolar bone loss, furcation involvement, and floating molars. While extracting #31, a large osseous defect was visualized. This raised suspicion of a nonodontogenic etiology for the patient's pain and prompted referral for bone biopsy. Microscopic examination of the jaw specimen showed a tumor composed of neoplastic lymphocytes with large nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and scattered mitotic figures. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for CD45, CD20, CD79 a, and BCL-6. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed a solitary lytic lesion measuring 3.5 cm in length, with intense metabolic activity in the right mandibular body. Oncologic workup confirmed primary extranodal DLBL, and the patient was started on chemotherapy. Follow-up imaging showed marked reduction in metabolic activity (3.8 compared with previous 44.4). The patient subsequently received low-dose radiotherapy for residual disease in the mandible and achieved remission. Conclusions Dental providers should consider malignancy, including lymphoma, although uncommon, in the differential diagnosis of jaw pain, particularly when thorough evaluation fails to disclose a dental etiology, routine dental interventions fail to control symptoms, or there are atypical clinical or radiographic findings.
Changing picture of energy generation in Australia and the United States

The energy portfolio is changing for both the United States and Australia. Both countries are rich in fossil fuel reserves and both depend on burning them as a large source of energy. Both export coal and natural gas. Both are moving to more renewable supply of energy, although with different drivers and different degrees of government leadership. The United States has a sizeable nuclear component to its energy generation portfolio, but Australia does not due to a legal prohibition. How each country meets its goals of reduced carbon emissions (official or unofficial goals) is not clear at this time.
[Two different routes for transferring the pedicled preputial island flap for hypospadias in children: A comparative analysis].

Objective To summarize the experience in the surgical treatment of hypospadias by analyzing the operation features and clinical effects of two different routes for transferring the pedicled preputial island flap. METHODS This retrospective study included 122 cases of hypospadias treated by transferring the pedicled preputial island flap, 80 from one side of the penis (the control group) and the other 42 through the middle orifice of the vascular pedicle (the observation group). We recorded the intra- and postoperative data and compared them between the two groups. RESULTS The operation time was significantly longer in the observation group than in the control (［164.43 ± 25.03］ vs ［134.71 ± 32.37］ min, P < 0.01), but the catheter-indwelling time was dramatically shorter in the former than in the latter group (［2.93 ± 0.97］ vs ［3.68 ± 0.73］ wk, P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the length of the reconstructed urethra between the two groups (［2.86 ± 0.71］ vs ［2.83 ± 0.82］ cm, P = 0.863). A 6- to 12-month follow-up showed a significantly lower incidence of postoperative complications in the observation than in the control group (9.52% vs 25.00%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Transferring the pedicled preputial island flap through the middle orifice of the vascular pedicle, though taking a longer time than that from one side of the penis, has the advantages of a shorter catheter-indwelling time and a lower incidence rate of postoperative complications, and therefore deserves wide clinical application.
Pathology of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in the Digestive System

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) can arise from various organs such as the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, appendix, and pancreas. Some of them are functional as defined by associated clinically evident hormonal syndromes due to inappropriate secretion of excess hormonal peptides, while others are nonfunctional. NENs of the digestive system show common morphological features; however, the behavior of the tumors can be unpredictable. Now there is a uniform classification and grading scheme that separates NENs into two major types: well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma. The former often grows slowly, and the patients can live for many years even after liver metastasis, while the latter has a much precipitous clinical course and worse outcome. NENs of certain organs also display unique clinico-pathological features, which will be covered in this chapter.
Delayed Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction in a Patient With Sickle Cell Disease and the Role of the Classical Complement Pathway: A Case Report.

A 14-year-old female patient with sickle cell disease developed a severe delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) leading to multiple transfusions and intensive care management. To better understand the extent to which the classical complement pathway was contributing to her DHTR, we utilized the complement hemolysis using human erythrocytes (CHUHE) assay and the classical complement pathway inhibitor, PIC1. Residual discarded de-identified plasma and erythrocytes from the patient obtained from routine phlebotomy was acquired. These reagents were used in the CHUHE assay in the presence of increasing concentrations of PIC1. Complement-mediated hemolysis of the patient’s erythrocytes occurred in her plasma and complement permissive buffer. Increasing concentrations of PIC1 dose-dependently inhibited hemolysis to levels found for the negative control - complement inhibitor buffer. Complement-mediated hemolysis was demonstrated by the CHUHE assay for this patient with sickle cell disease and severe DHTR. PIC1 inhibition of hemolysis suggested that the classical complement pathway was contributing to her DHTR. J Hematol. 2021;10(1):18-21 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jh553
What Makes Teacher Preparation Legitimate? An Analysis of Teacher Residency Websites

As teacher residency programs are housed in universities, charter networks, nonprofit organizations, school districts, and museums, they form a model ripe for analysis. In this study, we conduct a ...
Disparities in Telehealth Utilization Within Pediatric Gastroenterology: One Academic Center's Experience.

OBJECTIVES: While the use of telemedicine has accelerated significantly with the recent pandemic, it has also magnified disparities in access to telemedicine. This study aims to look at telemedicine utilization patterns within a large pediatric gastroenterology practice. METHODS: A retrospective study of ambulatory care visits within Yale-New Haven Hospital's pediatric gastroenterology practice during the peak expansion of the telemedicine program was conducted. Zip code-level socioeconomic data were obtained using the Distressed Communities Index. A multivariate logistic regression to evaluate disparities between the use of video versus telephone visits was computed, and unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 1273 clinic visits were included in analysis. The majority of the patients listed English as their preferred language, had private insurance, and identified as non-Hispanic White. When adjusting for co-variates, having public insurance/Medicaid was associated with decreased odds of having video over telephone visits (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.60; 95% CI 0.44-0.80). Those whose primary language was not English continued to have a statistically significant decreased odds of using video visits (Spanish aOR 0.24; 95% CI 0.13-0.44; other aOR 0.29; 95% CI 0.12-0.72). Within the adjusted multivariate logistic regression, race/ethnicity and SES were, however, no longer found to have a statistically significant decreased odds of video visits. CONCLUSIONS: The accelerated implementation of telemedicine within pediatric gastroenterology has given rise to disparities in its use. Further studies are needed to understand these disparities and develop interventions to lessen this gap in usage.
A Gaze-enabled Graph Visualization to Improve Graph Reading Tasks

Performing typical network tasks such as node scanning and path tracing can be difficult in large and dense graphs. To alleviate this problem we use eye-tracking as an interactive input to detect tasks that users intend to perform and then produce unobtrusive visual changes that support these tasks. First, we introduce a novel fovea based filtering that dims out edges with endpoints far removed from a user's view focus. Second, we highlight edges that are being traced at any given moment or have been the focus of recent attention. Third, we track recently viewed nodes and increase the saliency of their neighborhoods. All visual responses are unobtrusive and easily ignored to avoid unintentional distraction and to account for the imprecise and low-resolution nature of eye-tracking. We also introduce a novel gaze-correction approach that relies on knowledge about the network layout to reduce eye-tracking error. Finally, we present results from a controlled user study showing that our methods led to a statistically significant accuracy improvement in one of two network tasks and that our gaze-correction algorithm enables more accurate eye-tracking interaction.
A guided feeding intervention for mothers of preterm infants: Two case studies

Abstract Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine how mothers ofpreterm infants perceive the feasibility and acceptability of a guided feedingintervention. Design and Methods. In this multiple case study design, feasibility wasassessed by retention of participants through all intervention sessions.Acceptability was assessed with a semi-structured interview. Results. Participants found the intervention useful for demonstrating andexplaining behaviors that facilitate feeding, and helpful in dispelling previ-ous, erroneous understandings about infant behaviors. PracticeImplications. Theresultsareencouraging.Theinterventionwasfound to be both feasible and acceptable. The effectiveness of this interven-tion needs to be assessed in a randomized controlled trial. More than 500,000 infants are born prematurelyeach year in the United States (Martin et al., 2011).Very little research has been conducted about howparents feed these infants beyond the initial hospi-talization,yetfeedingremainsaprimaryconcernforfamilies post-discharge (Thoyre, 2007). Researchershave indicated that around 32% of infants seen forfeeding problems were born prematurely (Schadler,Suss-Burghart, Toschke, von Voss, & von Kries,2007), leading to a healthcare issue that affects thechildren, their families, and the healthcare system.Prematurely born infants, with their poor suck,hard-to-read cues, and waning energy levels, arenotoriously difﬁcult to feed (Browne & Sundseth,2011). In addition, mothers of preterm infants mayalso experience problems of mental well-being,including symptoms of depression, anxiety, andstress related to the situation or to life circumstances(Garel, Dardennes, & Blondel, 2007; Zelkowitz,Papageorgiou, Bardin, & Wang, 2009), that mayinterfere with their competence in correctly inter-preting their preterm infants’ feeding cues. If infantcues are misinterpreted, mothers may respond withpotentially maladaptive feeding strategies (e.g.,forcefully opening the infant’s mouth, jiggling, orpushing the bottle or the spoon into the infant’smouth), rather than adaptive ones (e.g., slowing thefeedingsotheinfantcancatchup).Thesedangerousfeeding strategies can result in a large amount ofﬂuid entering the mouth, increasing the risk of aspi-ration, and mechanical trauma and injury.Adaptive maternal feeding behavior is sensitiveto the infant’s behavioral cues, responsive to theinfant’s needs, and supportive of the infant’s devel-opmentally consistent participation in the feeding.Adaptive maternal feeding behaviors require amothertohaveaninternalworkingmodel(IWM)offeeding (e.g., a mental model of expectations, inten-tions,andmeaningfordynamic,affect-ladenregula-tion of feeding) that openly perceives infant cues,
Constrained co-clustering for textual documents

In this paper, we present a constrained co-clustering approach for clustering textual documents. Our approach combines the benefits of information-theoretic co-clustering and constrained clustering. We use a two-sided hidden Markov random field (HMRF) to model both the document and word constraints. We also develop an alternating expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to optimize the constrained co-clustering model. We have conducted two sets of experiments on a benchmark data set: (1) using human-provided category labels to derive document and word constraints for semi-supervised document clustering, and (2) using automatically extracted named entities to derive document constraints for unsupervised document clustering. Compared to several representative constrained clustering and co-clustering approaches, our approach is shown to be more effective for high-dimensional, sparse text data.
Blurring the Lines between Pleading Doctrines: The Enhanced Rule 8(a)(2) Plausibility Pleading Standard Converges with the Heightened Fraud Pleading Standards under Rule 9(b) and the PSLRA

This article focuses on the Supreme Court’s recent enhancement of Rule 8(a)(2)’s pleading standard to approach the heightened fraud pleading standards under Rule 9(b) and the PSLRA. The authors posit that the introduction of a tacit “probability requirement” into the basic pleading standard impedes the heightened fraud pleading standards under Rule 9(b) and the PSLRA from fulfilling the policy rationales for which they were created. By elevating the basic requirements that must be met in any federal civil case for a complaint to be legally sufficient, the Supreme Court has caused an evident convergence of pleading standards that blurs the lines between pleading doctrines. The authors assert that this convergence produces incongruity in the federal civil litigation system by at times treating plaintiffs more leniently when bringing forward fraud claims than when alleging non-fraudulent claims under Rule 8(a)(2)’s new plausibility pleading standard.
Family caregivers’ attributions about care-recipient behaviour: Does caregiver relationship satisfaction mediate the attribution-distress relationship?

Objectives. The relations of caregiver attributions about care-recipient's problem behaviour to caregiving relationship satisfaction and caregiver distress were examined. Design. This is a cross sectional study. Seventy-five family caregivers of individuals diagnosed with various disabling health conditions were recruited and interviewed. Caregiver attributions (internality, intentionality, responsibility, and controllability), caregiving relationship satisfaction, and caregiver distress variables were measured. Results. Structural equation techniques tested an a priori model of the latent constructs of caregiver attributions and caregiver relationship satisfaction to caregiver distress. Maladaptive caregiver attributions (i.e., more trait, higher intentionality, higher responsibility, and higher controllability) about care-recipients’ problem behaviours predicted lower caregiving relationship satisfaction, which in turn was predictive of higher caregiver distress. Unexpectedly, caregiver attributions were not directly related to caregiver distress. However, attributions had an indirect effect on distress through relationship satisfaction. Younger caregivers experienced higher caregiver distress. Conclusions. Caregivers’ explanations about care-recipient's problem behaviour are indicative of their satisfaction in the relationship with the care recipient, and poor caregiving relationship satisfaction is predictive of caregiver distress. Caregiver attributions and relationship quality may be considered in interventions with family caregivers.
Effects of increased disorder on the magnetic properties of quinolinium(TCNQ)2 below 20 mK

Abstract Measurements of the magnetic susceptibility (χ), ESR linewidth (ΔH 1 2 ) , and internal field (Hint) below 20 mK are reported for quinolinium (TCNQ)2 into which ∼ 50% additional disorder has been introduced by neutron irradiation. The effect of the additional disorder is to increase χ and decrease Hint. These results are compared to related experiments on one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnets with random exchange and compared to existing theoretical models.
A thermodynamic approach to the wetting and dewetting of grain boundaries

Abstract An idealized geometry is adopted in order to calculate the equilibrium configuration of a constant volume of liquid initially partially wetting a grain boundary intersecting a free surface. To minimize the excess interfacial free energy, competition exists between the liquid as it dewets creating additional solid-solid interface (on the grain boundary) and increasing both the solid-liquid and liquid-vapor contact areas on the free surface. When the surface is flat only two possible non-trivial equilibrium configurations exist: either the liquid is all on the surface or it is all on the grain boundary. The transition between these two configurations is rather abrupt. The grain boundary wetting parameter kb plays a significant role in governing the equilibrium configuration, whereas the surface wetting parameter ks plays only a minor role. When the boundary intersects a deeply grooved surface, a third configuration is possible, one in which both the surface and the grain boundary are partially wetted. The implications of the calculations include the observed stability of remnant liquid phases in liquid phase sintered ceramics and the spontaneous wetting of metal grain boundaries by molten metals, such as gallium.
Assembly of AUF1 Oligomers on U-rich RNA Targets by Sequential Dimer Association

Many labile mammalian mRNAs are targeted for rapid cytoplasmic turnover by the presence of A + U-rich elements (AREs) within their 3'-untranslated regions. These elements are selectively recognized by AUF1, a component of a multisubunit complex that may participate in the initiation of mRNA decay. In this study, we have investigated the recognition of AREs by AUF1 in vitro using oligoribonucleotide substrates. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrated that U-rich RNA targets were specifically bound by AUF1, generating two distinct RNA-protein complexes in a concentration-dependent manner. Chemical cross-linking revealed the interaction of AUF1 dimers to form tetrameric structures involving protein-protein interactions in the presence of high affinity RNA targets. From these data, a model of AUF1 association with AREs involving sequential dimer binding was developed. Using fluorescent RNA substrates, binding parameters of AUF1 dimer-ARE and tetramer-ARE equilibria were evaluated in solution by fluorescence anisotropy measurements. Using two AUF1 deletion mutants, sequences C-terminal to the RNA recognition motifs are shown to contribute to the formation of the AUF1 tetramer.ARE complex but are not obligate for RNA binding activity. Kinetic studies demonstrated rapid turnover of AUF1.ARE complexes in solution, suggesting that these interactions are very dynamic in character. Taken together, these data support a model where ARE-dependent oligomerization of AUF1 may function to nucleate the formation of a trans-acting, RNA-destabilizing complex in vivo.
Alanine protects liver from injury caused by D‐galactosamine and CCl4

Abstract The liver is the main organ involved in amino acid metabolism, and it utilizes glucogenic amino acids as substrates for glucose or adenosine triphosphate (ATP), but this process is impaired in clinical and experimental liver diseases. In this study, we administered high doses of amino acids in rats or cultured hepatocytes with experimental models of liver injury to examine whether such supplementation could attenuate liver damage. We found that the addition of alanine reduced enzyme leakage from primary cultured rat hepatocytes treated with D- galactosamine (D-gal), while other amino acids did not. A significant decrease of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage was observed when cells were cultured with >6 from mmol/L alanine. Alanine also reduced enzyme leakage from normal hepatocytes that were not treated with D -gal. In D -gal-treated rats, constant infusion of a high dose of alanine significantly reduced the plasma transaminase and total bilirubin levels when compared with infusion of an amino acid mixture. Bolus administration of alanine significantly prevented the elevation of plasma transaminase levels and histological liver damage in CCl 4 - treated rats, while fructose-1,6 bisphosphate (FDP) had little effect. Alanine might promote the restoration of damaged liver in hepatotoxicant-treated rats, because significant effect was found after the elevation in plasma transaminase levels. Alanine also prevented the decrease of cellular ATP caused by D -gal and appeared to promote ATP production in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. These results indicate that alanine reduces experimental liver damage by a direct effect on hepatocytes. (Hepatology 1996 Jul;24(1):185-91)
An empirical examination of the relation between futures spreads volatility, volume, and open interest

This study investigates the relation between petroleum futures spread variability, trading volume, and open interest in an attempt to uncover the source(s) of variability in futures spreads. The study finds that contemporaneous (lagged) volume and open interest provide significant explanation for futures spreads volatility when entered separately. The study also shows that lagged volume and lagged open interest, when entered in the conditional variance equation simultaneously, have greater effect on volatility and substantially reduce the persistence of volatility. This finding seems to support the sequential information arrival hypothesis of Copeland (1976). Finally, the findings of this study also suggest a degree of market inefficiency in petroleum futures spreads. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 22:1083–1102, 2002
Small‐Scale Features of Marine Sediments and Their Importance to the Study of Deposit Feeding

Studies on deposit feeders usually involve parallel samples of both the animal of interest and the sediment in which it is living. To most benthic ecologists, this means that a ’scoopful’ of sediment from the sample is removed to the laboratory for analysis of organic carbon and nitrogen, various measures of the mineral fraction, and other bulk properties. To the organism, features of the sediment such as total weight of ’organic carbon’ per gram dry weight of inorganic material are probably not perceivable. On the other hand, the quantity (number of mouthfuls?) of sediment needed in order to obtain sufficient amounts of digestible organic material is probably detected via metabolic feedback. If the processes governing the successful maintenance of deposit feeder populations are to be understood, bulk measures of sediment properties must be augmented by methods that will give information relatable to the scale of the organisms under study (see Cammen, this volume). This recommendation was made by Ralph Johnson in 1974, but it has scarcely been heeded. He urged benthic ecologists to devise measures of the food resource and its partitioning that were relevant to the requirements and activities of benthic animals. In order to do this, biological and chemical techniques must be developed that investigate the environment at the correct spatial scale.
Utility of collateral information in assessing substance use among psychiatric outpatients.

Abstract Purpose. This study addressed the utility of collateral informants for validating self-reported substance use by psychiatric outpatients. Methods. Participants were 92 men and women with severe and persistent Axis I disorders, attending outpatient programs at a public psychiatric facility. As part of a substance use assessment, each participant identified a collateral who would provide information about the participant's substance use in the last month. The collaterals consisted of family (35%), peers (23%), and others (40%) who were primarily mental health staff. Results. Comparisons of participant and collateral reports showed high percent agreement with significant but modest measures of association. The likelihood that collateral reports will have information value (i.e., corroborate or exceed self-reports) was greater when the topic is illicit drug use and the frequency of contact is once a week or more. In this sample, siblings were more likely to be uninformative than other types of collaterals, whereas treatment staff were comparable to other types of collaterals in the information value of their corroborative reports. Overall, the collateral reports rarely provided more information than was provided by the participants themselves. Implications. This pattern is consistent with the pattern observed in non-psychiatric samples and supports the accuracy of self-reported substance use by psychiatric outpatients.
Modeling the heat capacities of aqueous 1-1 electrolyte solutions with Pitzer's equations

The apparent molal heat capacities (φCp) of 1−1 electrolytes at 25 °C have been fitted to the Pitzer equation φCp = Cp,2° + (AJ/1.2) ln(1 + 1.2I1/2) − 2RT2[mBJMX + m2CJMX], where Cp,2° is the partial molal heat capacity of at infinite dilution and BJMX and CJMX are empirical constants related to ion−ion interactions. The values of Cp,2° of the electrolytes have been used to determine partial molal heat capacities of ions. The coefficients BJMX and CJMX have been combined with Pitzer coefficients for enthalpies and osmotic coefficients to develop equations that can be used to determine activity coefficients of these electrolytes from 10 to 70 °C and from 0.1 to 2 m to within 1%.
Understanding and Finding Mentorship: A Review for Junior Faculty

Abstract Background: Mentorship is considered central to physician success, and yet relatively few physicians report having formal mentors. Ever-increasing demands on physician time as well as multiple personal and professional responsibilities, make it challenging to find and sustain mentoring relationships. These challenges may be even greater in palliative medicine, a field with few mid-level to senior faculty and in which the supply of physicians is inadequate to meet the anticipated demand. Discussion: In this article, we describe the attributes of the “ideal” mentor and the roles mentors commonly play in a protege's career. We then discuss a framework for optimizing one's chance of fostering mentoring relationships. We conclude by discussing the evolution of and transitions in mentoring relationships, as well as how one might transition from protege to mentor.
The 3.2 Å Resolution Structure of a Receptor:CheA:CheW Signaling Complex Defines Overlapping Binding Sites and Key Residue Interactions within Bacterial Chemosensory Arrays

Bacterial chemosensory arrays are composed of extended networks of chemoreceptors (also known as methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins, MCPs), the histidine kinase CheA, and the adaptor protein CheW. Models of these arrays have been developed from cryoelectron microscopy, crystal structures of binary and ternary complexes, NMR spectroscopy, mutational, data and biochemical studies. A new 3.2 A resolution crystal structure of a Thermotoga maritima MCP protein interaction region in complex with the CheA kinase-regulatory module (P4–P5) and adaptor protein CheW provides sufficient detail to define residue contacts at the interfaces formed among the three proteins. As in a previous 4.5 A resolution structure, CheA-P5 and CheW interact through conserved hydrophobic surfaces at the ends of their β-barrels to form pseudo 6-fold symmetric rings in which the two proteins alternate around the circumference. The interface between P5 subdomain 1 and CheW subdomain 2 was anticipated from previous studies, whereas the r...
Susceptibility of Japanese Beetle, Oriental Beetle, and European Chafer (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to Halofenozide, an Insect Growth Regulator

Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, European chafer, Rhizotrogus (Amphimallon) majalis (Razoumowsky), and oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis Waterhouse, were exposed to an ecdysone agonist, halofenozide, in the egg, 1st instar, and 3rd instar at 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 ppm, respectively, in soil. Species, stage, and physiological condition of larvae affected the response to halofenozide. Japanese beetle was the most sensitive, with maximal response of 1st instars at 3 ppm. First and 2nd instars were more susceptible than were 3rd instars. Sublethal exposure of 1st-instar European chafer and 3rd-instar oriental beetle resulted in dose-dependent accelerated development and successful molts. Field trials are needed in locations where there are mixed populations of scarabs to determine whether the species differences in susceptibility to halofenozide observed in this work will translate to increased relative importance of European chafer.
Triacylglyceride composition and fatty acyl saturation profile of a psychrophilic and psychrotolerant fungal species grown at different temperatures

Abstract Pseudogymnoascus destructans is a psychrophilic fungus that infects cutaneous tissues in cave dwelling bats, and it is the causal agent for white nose syndrome (WNS) in North American (NA) bat populations. Geomyces pannorum is a related psychrotolerant keratinolytic species that is rarely a pathogen of mammals. In this study, we grew P. destructans and G. pannorum in static liquid cultures at favourable and suboptimal temperatures to: 1) determine if triacylglyceride profiles are species-specific, and 2) determine if there are differences in fatty acyl (FA) saturation levels with respect to temperature. Total lipids isolated from both fungal spp. were separated by thin-layer chromatography and determined to be primarily sterols (∼15 %), free fatty acids (FFAs) (∼45 %), and triacylglycerides (TAGs) (∼50 %), with minor amounts of mono-/diacylglycerides and sterol esters. TAG compositions were profiled by matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF). Total fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and acyl lipid unsaturation levels were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Pseudogymnoascus destructans produced higher proportions of unsaturated 18C fatty acids and TAGs than G. pannorum . Pseudogymnoascus destructans and G. pannorum produced up to a two-fold increase in 18:3 fatty acids at 5 °C than at higher temperatures. TAG proportion for P. destructans at upper and lower temperature growth limits was greater than 50 % of total dried mycelia mass. These results indicate fungal spp. alter acyl lipid unsaturation as a strategy to adapt to cold temperatures. Differences between their glycerolipid profiles also provide evidence for a different metabolic strategy to support psychrophilic growth, which may influence P. destructans ' pathogenicity to bats.
Fusion through metallic deuterium. Part II

Abstract The possibility of attaining 2 H( 2 H, n) 3 He fusion in the metallic phase of deuterium is examined further. This scheme is based on the finite valuedness of the radial distribution at zero argument for an aggregate of charged bosons in a neutralizing background. Large deuteron wavefunction overlap is theoretically implied in the stable metallic liquid phase at r s ⪅0.21.
Red-Cell Transport Defect in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis and in Their Parents

The ouabain-sensitive and the ethacrynic acid-sensitive sodium efflux from erythrocytes of patients with cystic fibrosis are both decreased. Furthermore, the ouabain-sensitive adenosine triphosphatase activity is diminished in the red blood cell ghosts of these patients. Perhaps of greater significance is the fact that ethacrynic acid-sensitive sodium efflux is clearly diminished in the erythrocytes of the asymptomatic parents of these sick children. This defect in sodium transport may be valuable for detecting the heterozygous carrier state.
Opioid Detoxification and Naltrexone Induction Strategies: Recommendations for Clinical Practice

Background: Opioid dependence is a significant public health problem associated with high risk for relapse if treatment is not ongoing. While maintenance on opioid agonists (i.e., methadone, buprenorphine) often produces favorable outcomes, detoxification followed by treatment with the μ-opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone may offer a potentially useful alternative to agonist maintenance for some patients. Method: Treatment approaches for making this transition are described here based on a literature review and solicitation of opinions from several expert clinicians and scientists regarding patient selection, level of care, and detoxification strategies. Conclusion: Among the current detoxification regimens, the available clinical and scientific data suggest that the best approach may be using an initial 2–4 mg dose of buprenorphine combined with clonidine, other ancillary medications, and progressively increasing doses of oral naltrexone over 3–5 days up to the target dose of naltrexone. However, more...
Transfusion of 2,3 DPG-enriched red blood cells to improve cardiac function.

Abstract Attempts were made to enhance oxygen availability in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass operations by transfusing red blood cells enriched in 2,3 diphosphoglycerate (2,3 DPG) to 150% of normal. In this study of 22 patients, 11 received red blood cells with high 2,3 DPG levels and 11 received red blood cells with 70% of normal 2,3 DPG levels (control). Immediately following cardiopulmonary bypass the 11 patients who received high 2,3 DPG red blood cells had a P 50 value of 31.6 mm Hg; the value in control patients was 28.3 mm Hg ( p 2 , respectively ( p p
Outcome of Gartland type II and type III supracondylar fractures treated by Blount's technique.

Background : According to some orthopedic surgeons, almost all supracondylar humerus fractures should be treated operatively by reduction and pinning. While according to others, closed reduction and immobolization should be used for Gartland type II and some type III fractures. However, the limit of this technique remains unclear. We present 74 patients with displaced extension-type supracondylar fractures treated by closed reduction and immobilization with a collar sling fixed to a cast around the wrist. The purpose of the study is to give a more precise limitation of this technique. Materials and Methods : Retrospective data acquisition of 74 patients with a Gartland type II or type III fractures treated by closed reduction and immobilization (Blount's technique) between January 2004 and December 2007 was done. The mean age was 6.3 years (range, 2-11). The mean time of follow-up was 6.5 months (range, 3-25). All open injuries and complex elbow fracture dislocations or T-condylar fractures were excluded from the study. All patients were evaluated with standardized anteroposterior and true lateral x-rays of the elbow, and Flynn criteria were used for functional assessment. Results : Gartland type II fractures had 94% good or excellent final results. Gartland type III fractures had 73% good or excellent final result. The Gartland type III outcome depended on the displacement. The fractures remained stable in 88% for the posterior displacement, and 58% for the posteromedial displacement. These displacements were mild. However, for the posterolaterally displaced fractures, only 36% were stable; 36% had a mild displacement and 27% had a major displacement. Conclusion : Pure posterior displacement is more stable than posteromedial displacement which is more stable than posterolaterally displaced fractures. This study suggests that Gartland type II and pure posterior or posteromedial displaced Gartland type III fractures can be treated by closed reduction and immobilization with success.
Liposome-mediated NGF gene transfection following neuronal injury: potential therapeutic applications

We have systematically investigated the therapeutic potential of cationic liposome-mediated neurotrophic gene transfer for treatment of CNS injury. Following determination of optimal transfection conditions, we examined the effects of dimethylaminoethane-carbamoyl-cholesterol (DC-Chol) liposome-mediated NGF cDNA transfection in injured and uninjured primary septo-hippocampal cell cultures and rat brains. In in vitro studies, we detected an increase of NGF mRNA in cultures 1 day after transfection. Subsequent ELISA and PC12 cell biological assays confirmed that cultured cells secreted soluble active NGF into the media from day 2 after gene transfection. Further experiments showed that such NGF gene transfection reduced the loss of chol- ine acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in cultures following calcium-dependent depolarization injury. In in vivo studies, following intraventricular injections of NGF cDNA complexed with DC-Chol liposomes, ELISA detected nine- to 12-fold increases of NGF in rat CSF. Further studies showed that liposome/NGF cDNA complexes could attenuate the loss of cholinergic neuronal immunostaining in the rat septum after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Since deficits in cholinergic neurotransmission are a major consequence of TBI, our studies demonstrate for the first time that DC-Chol liposome-mediated NGF gene transfection may have therapeutic potential for treatment of brain injury.
A Comparison of the X 2, −2 Log R, and Multinomial Probability Criteria for Significance Tests When Expected Frequencies are Small

Abstract The exact multinomial, and exact and χ2 probabilities for χ2 and −2 log R have been compared. The −2 log R χ 2 probabilities are on average closer to the multinomial than are the corresponding χ2 probabilities. The differences between the exact and χ2 probabilities are usually smaller for χ2 than for −2 log R. A pattern was observed among the five types of significance levels, and an explanation was proposed.
Surface plasmon resonance methods for monitoring electrostatic fields in nonlinear optical thin films

The new in situ optical technique of electrochemically modulated surface plasmon resonance is described and applied to the measurement of the electrostatic fields inside noncentrosymmetric zirconium phosphate films. In situ EM-SPR measurements on noncentrosymmetric ZP films yield a value for the change in electric field strength of 4 X 103 V/cm for a change in electrode potential of +/- 25 mV. This electric field strength value indicates that there is substantial ion penetration into the film in the electrochemical environment. Both the phase and magnitude of the surface optical response in the EM-SPR measurements are used to distinguish the molecular and metal electrode contributions to the overall optical signal. These two EM- SPR contributions are identified and separated in a quantitative fashion through a series of theoretical Fresnel calculations.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Impact of extrinsic incubation temperature and virus exposure on vector competence of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) for West Nile virus

Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say mosquitoes from a laboratory colony were exposed to artificial blood meals containing West Nile virus (WNV) and held at incubation temperatures approximating average daily temperatures that occur during Florida arboviral periods. Mosquitoes fed blood meals containing 6.2 logs plaque-forming units (pfu) WNV/mL and held at 25°C, 28°C, or 30°C for 13 days exhibited significantly different rates of infection (30%, 52%, 93%) and dissemination (33%, 22%, 81%) across temperatures. In a separate experiment, Cx. p. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were provided artificial blood meals with graded doses of WNV from 3.7 to 5.8 logs pfu/mL and maintained at 28°C for 13 days. Rates of infection increased as a function of virus dose, but neither body titers nor dissemination rates were significantly different for mosquitoes that were infected by ingesting different amounts of WNV. Our findings indicate that efficiency of WNV infection and dissemination, and thereby transmission, in Cx. p. q...
vDelay: A Tool to Measure Capture-to-Display Latency and Frame Rate

We present vDelay, a tool for measuring the capture-to-display latency (CDL) and frame-rate of real-time video applications such as video chat and conferencing. vDelay allows measuring CDL and frame-rate without modifying the source code of these applications. Further, it does not require any specialized hardware. We have used vDelay to measure the CDL and frame-rate of popular video chat applications such as Skype, Windows Live Messenger, and GMail video chat. vDelay can also be used to measure the CDL and frame-rate of these applications in the presence of bandwidth variations.
Controls and Tensions in the Soviet System.

Scholarly analysis of contemporary Soviet realities has faced increasing difficulties in recent years. Direct access to the Soviet Union is denied to all except a handful of diplomats, journalists, and business men on special missions, and even the very few who gain access find themselves largely cut off from all except carefully controlled official contacts. There is still a substantial quantitative flow of books and periodicals from the Soviet Union,' but compared with the rich and revealing documentation of the first decade of the Soviet period, the current output appears arid, formalistic, and deliberately designed to confine the circulation of data and ideas to the bare minimum required by the regime's internal communication needs. Given skill, insight, and background, there is still much to be learned from official publications and the samo-kritika (self-criticism) which they contain, but the obstacles are formidable, and the search for meaningful patterns of fact and motivation is at the best an elusive and tantalizing adventure. There remains one relatively untapped source which promises to be of paramount importance in supplementing and enriching our understanding of Soviet realities. That is the new Soviet emigration.2 It consists of about a quarter of a million former Soviet citizens who are now chiefly concentrated in western Germany and Austria, but who are beginning to scatter all over the nonSoviet world-the United States, Canada, Australia, North Africa, South America, etc. They include in their number representatives of every stratum of Soviet society-except the top ruling group. The great bulk of these "living witnesses" consists of former Soviet citizens who refused to return to their homeland at the end of the War. Some are more recent defectors from the Soviet Occupation Armies and Military Governments in Germany and Austria. They have been arriving, and are still arriving, in the western zones in not inconsiderable numbers. They provide a living reservoir of fresh data on the Soviet Union and its problems for which there is no parallel in the world today. This article is a record of an effort to draw on a small segment of the new Soviet emigration as a source of supplementary information about the Soviet system. During the summer of 1949, the author interviewed approximately 100