cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation using donation after cardiac death donors: A brief report

Although the use of donation after cardiac death (DCD) donor organs has been shown to be a viable option for liver and kidney transplant recipients, outcomes after simultaneous liver and kidney (SLK) transplantation using DCD donors are less clear. We performed a retrospective analysis of 37 adult, primary SLK transplants performed at our center between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2008. Thirty-two patients received donation after brain death (DBD) organs, and 5 patients received DCD organs. SLK recipients in the 2 groups were similar with respect to age, gender, race, body mass index, donor race, and donor body mass index. The calculated Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores and pretransplant glomerular filtration rates were similar between the groups. DCD donors were younger and had shorter liver cold ischemia times. The median DCD donor warm ischemia time was 19.0 minutes (6.0-25.0 minutes). The recipient surgical times and hospital lengths of stay were comparable between the groups. Delayed graft function was more frequent in DCD renal allografts (80% versus 31%, P = 0.06). The 1-year graft survival rates for liver allografts (100% for the DCD group versus 94% for the DBD group) and kidney allografts (100% for the DCD group versus 94% for the DBD group) were similar. In conclusion, patients undergoing DCD SLK transplantation have comparable 1-year patient and graft survival rates and acceptable perioperative morbidity in comparison with DBD SLK transplant recipients. Although long-term outcomes remain unknown, the utilization of DCD organs for SLK transplantation should be considered a valid approach to safely expanding the donor organ pool.
Modeling and experimental studies of large amplitude waves on vertically falling films

Abstract Experimental data on the amplitude of large waves on vertically falling films are presented over a wide range of fluid properties and flow rates. Attempts are made to correlate the amplitude of these naturally excited and saturated waves to the Weber (We) and Kapitza numbers (Ka), the two dimensionless groups characterizing the film. For viscous fluids (with 2 Ka 200 ), the wave amplitude increases with the reciprocal of the Weber number and saturates at values around 3 ( h max / h N ∼ 3 ) while the dependence on Ka is found to be weak. For less viscous fluids ( 200 Ka 3890 ), the waves are found to be much more dynamic with amplitudes saturating at much higher values of around 10. The film roughness, or more precisely, the standard deviation (r.m.s) of the film thickness is also found to be correlated with the reciprocal of the Weber number. Scaling arguments are used to explain the initial increase in wave amplitudes. A two-equation h–q model is used to study the spatio-temporal dynamics of waves on long domains with periodic inlet forcing. The model is used to examine the amplitude–celerity relation for three families of solitary waves: the slow moving γ 1 family, the fast moving γ 2 family and the very fast moving ‘tsunami ( Γ 2 ) family’ having Nusselt film as the substrate. It is found that the film profile at short distances depends on the forcing amplitude and frequency but once the wave amplitude exceeds a critical value, the amplitude–celerity relationship is linear for all solitary waves that exist on the film and is independent of the forcing frequency or amplitude. It is also found that for a fixed set of fluid properties and flow rate (We and Ka), the Γ 2 wave has the largest amplitude and wavelength. Local bifurcation and computational results are used to explain the experimentally observed wave amplitudes on naturally excited films.
Molecular cloning of a novel myeloid granule protein

Granulocytes are recognized by the presence of granules, including primary (azurophilic) and secondary types. Each granule ype contains distinct and characteristic families of enzymes. We have secreened a murine bone marrow cDNA library to obtain a series of sequences corresponding to mRNAs which are both myeloid-specific and appear to be expressed only in immature bone marrow cells. A 1, 160 bp sequence (B9) has been isolated which shows restricted expression in murine bone marrow, with the highest levels in cultures enriched for promyelocytes. Translation yields a single open reading frame of 167 amino acids and a calculated MW of 19.33 kd. A single potential N-glycosylation site is present. Evaluatin of the amino terminal sequence shows 2 polar amino acids flanking a hydrophobic region, suggesting a signal sequence and possibility of post-translational modification. An extensive search of the protein data base reveals 30% identity over 90 amino acids with porcine cathelin, a cystain-like systeine proteinase inhibitor. This sequence identity includes conservation of the 4 cysteine residues noted in all members of the cystain superfamily. In an attempt to further characterize this novel sequence, a polyclonal antiserum was prepared by immunization with a 20 amino acid synthetic peptide corresponding to a unique portion of the carboxy terminus. Immunoelectron microscopy localized B9 to neutrophilic granules. We have identified a novel myeloid-specific granule protein related to porcine cathelin, but showing important structural differences. This may represent this first isolated member of a new cystatin family. More importantly, the small size of the B9 gene and its tight pattern of early expression make B9 an excellent reporter molecule for the study of new factors important in myeloid differentiation. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Amplified biosensing of alcohol based on biocatalytic accumulation of the mediator

A novel strategy for enhancing the sensitivity of alcohol-dehydrogenase amperometric biosensors, based on biocatalytic accumulation of the mediator, is described. By performing the biochemical/chemical step under open-circuit conditions, it is possible to accumulate the reduced form of the Meldola blue mediator, prior to the chronoamperometric quantitation of the enriched layer. Such temporal separation of the recognition and transduction events offers a 35-fold sensitivity enhancement (following a 5-min accumulation). Factors influencing the response are explored and applicability to various wine samples is illustrated. The new amplification strategy can be extended to biosensors based on other nicotinamide-cofactor dependent dehydrogenases.
Incidence of infusion-site reactions associated with peripheral intravenous administration of fosaprepitant.

Purpose Fosaprepitant is known to cause infusion-site reactions. However, there is limited data regarding these reactions including the effect of peripheral intravenous administration or other potential factors on their incidence. This single-institution retrospective study was undertaken to investigate the incidence of infusion-site reactions with single-dose intravenous (IV) fosaprepitant when given through a peripheral line prior to administration of chemotherapy. Risk factors for the development of infusion-site reactions with fosaprepitant were also explored.
Coordination of Lanthanide Nitrates with N,N,N‘,N‘-Tetramethylsuccinamide

Two compound classes have been identified from the reaction of trivalent lanthanide nitrates with tetramethylsuccinamide (TMSA). The nature of these Ln-TMSA compounds has been examined in the solid phase by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction and in solution by infrared spectroscopy. Isostructural, 10-coordinate compounds with a 2:1 TMSA:Ln stoichiometry were found for the lanthanides La and Ce. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the Ln-TMSA nitrate compounds, Ln = La and Ce, reveals a polymeric structure with each metal center containing one chelating bidentate succinamide and two bridging bidentate succinamides. For the remaining lanthanides Pr, Nd, Gd, Yb, and Lu, a series of isostructural, 9-coordinate compounds containing a 3:2 TMSA:Ln ratio were formed. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the Ln-TMSA products, Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, and Yb, reveals these compounds to be dimeric, with each metal center containing one chelating bidentate succinamide and two bridging bidentate succinamides. The solution stoichiometries were examined in acetonitrile-water mixtures and support the stoichiometries observed in the solid-state structures. Cerium nitrate appears to be a special (and transitional) lanthanide in its reaction with TMSA. Although infrared and TGA analyses indicate a 2:1 ligand-to-metal product, crystals for both the 2:1 and 3:2 compounds were isolated. No evidence for such multiple forms was found with any of the other lanthanides.
Ideals contracted from a Noetherian extension ring

Abstract Let R be a commutative ring with identity such that for each ideal A of R, there exists a Noetherian unitary extension ring T(A) of R such that A is contracted from T(A). We investigate the structure of R. The context in which this topic has usually been considered is where R is an integal domain and T(A) is an overring of R. Under these hypotheses we show that R is Neotherian if R is one-dimensional. In the general case, R is strongly Laskerian, has Noetherian spectrum, and satisfies certain chain conditions for quotient ideals, but R need not be Noetherian.
Faster Access to Drugs for Serious or Life-Threatening Illnesses through use of the Accelerated Approval Regulation in the United States

The Food and Drug Administration issued a final regulation on accelerated approval for human drugs, antibiotics, and biologics on December 11, 1992. This regulation provided a formal regulatory mechanism for a sponsor to seek accelerated approval by submitting a New Drug Application for a drug intended to treat a serious or life-threatening illness. In order to qualify for accelerated approval, a drug must seek an indication for an illness having either a surrogate endpoint which is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit or a reliable clinical endpoint other than survival or irreversible morbidity. This important and much needed regulation has been used to achieve accelerated approval of several antiretroviral and oncology drugs, as well as several other drugs and biologics. Since this regulation has been in place for almost five years, the purpose of this paper is to summarize all of the drugs that have utilized this regulatory mechanism to attain approval in the United States. From 1992 through the end of July 1997, a total of 20 drugs have received accelerated approval. This summary of these drugs shows that this regulation has been a successful means of providing more rapid regulatory review and approval for drugs intended to treat a serious or life-threatening illness. Regulatory affairs professionals should be familiar with the precedents for approval of drugs under this regulation, both to enable them to follow well-trodden paths and to consider extending the experience to drugs for other indications under appropriate circumstances.
Automatic Sliding Window Operation Optimization for FPGA-Based

FPGA-based computing boards are frequently used as hardware accelerators for image processing algorithms based on sliding window operations (SWOs). SWOs are both computationally intensive and data intensive and benefit from hardware acceleration with FPGAs, especially for delay sensitive applications. The current design process requires that, for each specific application using SWOs with different size of window, image, etc.; a detail design must be completed before a realistic estimate of the achievable speedup can be obtained. We present an automated tool, Sliding Window Operation OPtimization (SWOOP), that generates the estimate of speedup for a high performance design before detailed implementation is complete. The achievable speedup is determined by the area of the FPGA, or, more often, the memory bandwidth to the processing elements. The memory bandwidth to each processing element is a combination of bandwidth to the FPGA and the efficient use of on-chip RAM as a data cache. SWOOP uses analytic techniques to automatically determine the number of parallel processing elements to implement on the FPGA, the assignment of input and output data to on-board memory, and the organization of data in on-chip memory to most effectively keep the processing elements busy. The result is a block layout of the final design, its memory architecture, and a measure of the achievable speedup. The results, compared to manual designs, show that the estimates obtained using SWOOP are very accurate.
A petrologic, thermodynamic and experimental study of brachinites: Partial melt residues of an R chondrite-like precursor

Abstract The primitive achondrites provide a window into the initial melting of asteroids in the early solar system. The brachinites are olivine-dominated meteorites with a recrystallized texture that we and others interpret as evidence of partial melting and melt removal on the brachinite parent body. We present a petrologic, thermodynamic and experimental study of the brachinites to evaluate the conditions under which they formed and test our hypothesis that the precursor material to the brachinites was FeO-rich compared to the precursors of other primitive achondrites. Petrologic analysis of six brachinites (Brachina, Allan Hills (ALH) 84025, Hughes 026, Elephant Moraine (EET) 99402, Northwest Africa (NWA) 3151, and NWA 4969) and one brachinite-like achondrite (NWA 5400) shows that they are meteorites with recrystallized texture that are enriched in olivine (⩾80 vol.%) and depleted in other minerals with respect to a chondritic mineralogy. Silicates in the brachinites are FeO-rich (Fa 32–36 ). Brachinite-like achondrite Northwest Africa 5400 is similar in mineralogy and texture to the brachinites but with a slightly lower FeO-content (Fa 30 ). Thermodynamic calculations yield equilibration temperatures above the Fe,Ni–FeS cotectic temperature (∼950 °C) for all meteorites studied here and temperatures above the silicate eutectic (∼1050 °C) for all but two. Brachina formed at an f O 2 of ∼IW, and the other brachinites and NWA 5400 formed at ∼IW − 1. All the meteorites show great evidence of formation by partial melting having approximately chondritic to depleted chondritic mineralogies, equilibrated mineral compositions, and recrystallized textures, and having reached temperatures above that required for melt generation. In an attempt to simulate the formation of the brachinite meteorites, we performed one-atmosphere, gas-mixing partial melting experiments of R4 chondrite LaPaz Ice Field 03639. Experiments at 1250 °C and an oxygen fugacity of IW − 1 produce residual phases that are within the mineralogy and mineral compositions of the brachinites. These experiments provide further evidence for the formation of brachinites as a result of partial melting of a chondritic precursor similar in mineralogy and mineral compositions to the R chondrites.
A 2D metal-nonmetal transition in potassium-ammonia liquid monolayers in graphite

Abstract The x-dependence of the a- and c-axis relative resistances and of the near-normal reflectance of the metal-ammonia ternary graphite intercalation compound K(NH 3 ) x C 24 has been studied in the range 0 ≦ x ≦ 4.38. For x ≳ 4 the a-axis relative resistance and the reflectance both exhibit unusual features which we associate with a two-dimensional Mott type metal-nonmetal transition in the intercalated K-NH 3 liquid monolayers.
The obscuring of class in memoirs of parents of children with disabilities

Many memoirs written by the parents of children with disabilities have been published in America, especially in recent years. Although they often tell tales of struggle and heartache, they are also often tales of parents and children who manage to overcome adversity. While these stories no doubt often give many new parents of children with disabilities hope, they also obscure the fact that members of different classes have different access to various coping strategies for the extra challenges of raising a child with a disability. This paper examines nine memoirs and how the authors were able to use resources available to members of the middle and upper class (finances, time, and social connections) to more easily accomplish modern ideals of disability in America: de‐institutionalization and inclusion. The coping strategies of the lower class are absent from the discussion. Finally, the paper argues that it is ill‐advised to place such a heavy burden on families in accommodating persons with disabilities.
Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and the Permeability Transition in Excitotoxicity

Acute neuronal injury caused by activation of glutamate receptors in neurons, or excitotoxicity, can be triggered by the activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and the entry of large amounts of Ca2+. Recent studies have suggested that mitochondria have a critical role in the excitotoxicity injury mechanism. Mitochondria accumulate large amounts of Ca2+ following glutamate stimulation, and also generate reactive oxygen species. Moreover, the prevention of mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation protects neurons from injury. The target for the actions of Ca2+ in the mitochondrial matrix has not yet been established. The permeability transition pore has the characteristics of a mechanism that is well suited to mediate neuronal injury. However, evidence for activation of the permeability transition pore in intact neurons is rather indirect, and these data suffer from some ambiguities that make it difficult to conclude that permeability transition is a critical contributor to mitochondrially mediated neuronal injury.
Depressive Symptoms and Subclinical Markers of Cardiovascular Disease in Adolescents

Abstract Purpose To examine the association between depressive symptoms and subclinical markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD), specifically arterial stiffness, as indexed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), and carotid artery intima media thickening (IMT), in a sample of healthy adolescents, and to explore adolescent hostility as a potential moderator of depression on subclinical markers of CVD. Methods One hundred fifty-seven (n = 157) black and white adolescents between the ages of 16–21 completed a follow-up study of psychosocial stress and cardiovascular risk factors that included measures of PWV and carotid IMT. Psychosocial measures included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (divided into tertiles), and the Cook–Medley Hostility Inventory subscales. Linear regression models controlled for sociodemographic variables, health behaviors, blood pressure, body mass index, and heart rate. Results Results show that more severe depressive symptoms were associated with higher levels of PWV (B = .17, R 2 = .30, ΔR 2 = .03, confidence interval=2.2–47.0, p = .03) but not with higher IMT. Adolescent depression remained a significant predictor of PWV when controlling for adolescent hostility; hostility did not moderate the relationship between adolescent depression and PWV. Conclusion Depression may be important in the development of arterial stiffness in adolescence. Further research is needed to delineate the relationship in adolescence and young adulthood between depressive symptoms and the pathogenesis of CVD.
Nonparametric Bayesian inference for multivariate density functions using Feller priors

Multivariate density estimation plays an important role in investigating the mechanism of high-dimensional data. This article describes a nonparametric Bayesian approach to the estimation of multivariate densities. A general procedure is proposed for constructing Feller priors for multivariate densities and their theoretical properties as nonparametric priors are established. A blocked Gibbs sampling algorithm is devised to sample from the posterior of the multivariate density. A simulation study is conducted to evaluate the performance of the procedure.
Helmholtz, Riemann, and the Sirens: Sound, Color, and the “Problem of Space”

Emerging from music and the visual arts, questions about hearing and seeing deeply affected Hermann Helmholtz’s and Bernhard Riemann’s contributions to what became called the “problem of space [Raumproblem],” which in turn influenced Albert Einstein’s approach to general relativity. Helmholtz’s physiological investigations measured the time dependence of nerve conduction and mapped the three-dimensional manifold of color sensation. His concurrent studies on hearing illuminated musical evidence through experiments with mechanical sirens that connect audible with visible phenomena, especially how the concept of frequency unifies motion, velocity, and pitch. Riemann’s critique of Helmholtz’s work on hearing led Helmholtz to respond and study Riemann’s then-unpublished lecture on the foundations of geometry. During 1862–1870, Helmholtz applied his findings on the manifolds of hearing and seeing to the Raumproblem by supporting the quadratic distance relation Riemann had assumed as his fundamental hypothesis about geometrical space. Helmholtz also drew a “close analogy … in all essential relations between the musical scale and space.” These intersecting studies of hearing and seeing thus led to reconsideration and generalization of the very concept of “space,” which Einstein shaped into the general manifold of relativistic space-time.
Genetic Correlation between Type and Production in Jersey Cattle

Summary The correlation between transmitting ability for type and transmitting ability for production was estimated as 0.18 from 2,786 daughter-dam pairs in the Jersey breed. The data came from 226 herds which had been on HIR test for at least 4 of the 5 yr. 1943 to 1947, inclusive. Additively genetic variation constituted about 18 per cent of the intra-herd and intra-year variance in single records of fat production and 14 per cent of the intra-herd differences in official type ratings. Selection on the basis of type alone should therefore automatically bring about some genetic improvement in production. However, selection on type alone would require about 6 to 10 generations to obtain the improvement that selection on the basis of production would obtain in only one generation. Postponing selection until the daughter has at least one record of production will increase the genetic gain by 25 to 70 per cent, depending on the relative economic values of type and production. The fraction of the intra-herd variance in average production (average of two records per cow) that could be attributed to yearly changes in the general environment of that herd was only 4.1 per cent. Such yearly changes are only minor obstacles to accuracy in selections. The yearly effects on production were largely eliminated by using the average of all records available on the cows studied. Two selection indexes were developed for type and production from the estimates of the necessary parameters observed in this study. One of these gives type one-third as much attention as production, while the other gives both characters equal attention. Only information from the phenotypes of the cow and her dam were considered in constructing the indexes. Several of the combinations of information on the cow and her dam were found to yield progress about half as fast ( R IA is about 0.5) as if the exact Mendelian genotype of the cow were known.
The relationship of work-in-process inventories, manufacturing lead times and waiting line analysis

Abstract In this paper the relationship between work-in-process inventories, lead times and queues that build up in typical manufacturing setups like flow lines and job shops is described. It is shown how queuing theory (waiting line analysis) can play an important role in understanding these aspects of manufacturing. A brief review of some of the significant research in the area is also made.
Heavy-fermion-spin-glass behavior in Sn(1−x)UxPt3

SnPt 3 has the AuCu 3 structure, which is the cubic stacking of the DO19 structure (UPt 3 ). In order to investigate »UPt 3 « in this related structure, U was doped onto the Sn sites in SnPt 3 ; samples retained the AuCu 3 structure for up to 40 at% U. Results of specific-heat and susceptibility measurements are presented and are consistent with spin glass behavior. Interestingly, the enhanced Sommerfeld coefficient in this system (γ 250 mJ U-mol −1 K −2 ) signals simultaneous formation of a highly correlated electron state. Hence Sn (1−x) U x Pt 3 indicates again the nearness of the heavy fermion ground state to magnetism. Reasons for why SnPt 3 as a host lattice engenders such behavior, while isostructural (Y, Lu, In)Pt 3 do not, are discussed
Single-wall carbon nanotubes with adsorbed antibodies detect live breast cancer cells

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific to cell surface antigens overexpressed on cancer cells adsorbed to single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) devices can bind to their antigens in a drop of buffer, resulting in a slight drop in conductance. Here we report detection of live breast cancer cells with a mAb-SWCNT device. We adsorbed mAb specific to insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) onto interconnected SWCNT networks placed between lithographically patterned electrodes. Application of human BT474 breast cancer cells increased the conductance of the IGF1R-specific mAb-SWCNT devices by 3.0±0.1-fold, relative to nanotube devices with non specific mAb. Human MCF7 breast cancer cells, with greater IGF1R expression, increased the conductance by 8.0±0.2-fold, but R-cells lacking IGF1R did not. Receptor-specific mAb acted as specific nanoswitches that completed a circuit between the SWCNT and the cell surface receptors, elevating the device conductance. Such devices might detect circulating breast cancer cells in blood samples.
Photopic spectral sensitivity determined electroretinographically for the pigeon eye.

Abstract Two techniques were successful in producing photopic ERG responses in the pigeon. One method used a conventional flicker vane to deliver flashes of monochromatic light to the eye at a rate of 35 Hz. The second used a pattern of alternating light and dim bars whose displacements with respect to each other yielded an electrical response, while the overall luminous flux and stray light remained constant. Both of these techniques have been used with the human eye to isolate the photopic component of the ERG. Spectral sensitivity data were obtained in two pigeons with both types of stimulus. The two methods produced similar spectral sensitivity curves having broad maxima through the wavelength range from 570 to 600 nm. The flicker data showed lower variability, with some evidence that sensitivity seemed to reach its maximum in a range that lay a few nanometers lower than that derived from the alternating bar data. Overall, however, the functions agree well with the behavioral data of Blough and the ganglion cell spike data of Granit. Thus, the present findings suggest that the spectral sensitivity indicated by those more complex measures is determined early enough to hold also for ERG responses from the retina's inner nuclear layer.
ConfMatch: automating electron-density map interpretation by matching conformations

Building a protein model from the initial three-dimensional electron-density distribution (density map) is an important task in X-ray crystallography. This problem is computationally challenging because proteins are extremely flexible. The algorithm ConfMatch is a global real-space fitting procedure in torsion-angle space. It solves this `map-interpretation' problem by matching a detailed conformation of the molecule to the density map (conformational matching). This `best-match' structure is defined as one which maximizes the sum of the density at atom positions. ConfMatch is a practical systematic algorithm based on a branch-and-bound search. The most important idea of ConfMatch is an efficient method for computing accurate bounds. ConfMatch relaxes the conformational matching problem, a problem which can only be solved in exponential time, into one which can be solved in polynomial time. The solution to the relaxed problem is a guaranteed upper bound for the conformational matching problem. In most empirical cases, these bounds are accurate enough to prune the search space dramatically, enabling ConfMatch to solve structures with more than 100 free dihedral angles. Experiments have shown that ConfMatch may be able to automate the interpretation of density maps of small proteins.
Stan: A Probabilistic Programming Language for Bayesian Inference and Optimization.

Stan is a free and open-source C++ program that performs Bayesian inference or optimization for arbitrary user-specified models and can be called from the command line, R, Python, Matlab, or Julia and has great promise for fitting large and complex statistical models in many areas of application. We discuss Stan from users’ and developers’ perspectives and illustrate with a simple but nontrivial nonlinear regression example.
A cost model for determining the optimal number of software test cases

A probabilistic model is presented that demonstrates the optimal number of software test cases required in situations where the following can be estimated as independent parameters: (1) the cost per test; (2) the cost per error if undetected until field implementation; (3) the number of software executions over its lifetime; (4) the number of possible different executions; and (5) the number of faults embedded in the software. A formula is derived by the use of calculus and is solved by approximation techniques. Tables of the optimal number of tests over a range of parameter values are presented to illustrate the results. The model serves as a basis for further research efforts to improve the accuracy of input variable estimation. >
A Pilot Clinical Trial of Varenicline for Smoking Cessation in Black Smokers

Introduction: Varenicline, a first-line non-nicotine medication, has not been evaluated in Black smokers, and limited attention has been paid to pharmacotherapy adherence in smoking cessation trials. This pilot study estimated quit rates for Black smokers treated with varenicline and tested a behavioral intervention to aid varenicline adherence.
Interaction of E. coli outer-membrane protein A with sugars on the receptors of the brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Esherichia coli, the most common gram-negative bacteria, can penetrate the brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) during the neonatal period to cause meningitis with significant morbidity and mortality. Experimental studies have shown that outer-membrane protein A (OmpA) of E. coli plays a key role in the initial steps of the invasion process by binding to specific sugar moi- eties present on the glycoproteins of BMEC. These experiments also show that polymers of chitobiose (GlcNAc1-4GlcNAc) block the invasion, while epitopes substituted with the L-fucosyl group do not. We used HierDock computational technique that consists of a hierarchy of coarse grain docking method with molecular dynamics (MD) to predict the binding sites and energies of interactions of GlcNAc1-4GlcNAc and other sugars with OmpA. The results suggest two important binding sites for the interaction of carbohydrate epitopes of BMEC glycoproteins to OmpA. We identify one site as the binding pocket for chitobiose (GlcNAc1-4GlcNAc) in OmpA, while the second region (including loops 1 and 2) may be important for recognition of specific sugars. We find that the site involving loops 1 and 2 has relative binding energies that correlate well with experimental observations. This theoretical study elucidates the interaction sites of chitobiose with OmpA and the binding site predictions made in this article are testable either by mutation studies or invasion assays. These results can be further extended in suggesting possible peptide antagonists and drug design for therapeutic strategies. Proteins 2003;50:213-221. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Corporate Governance Roles of Information Quality and Corporate Takeovers

We examine the corporate governance roles of firms' information quality and the takeover market in disciplining management. Increasing the information quality improves the takeover efficiency, but highly efficient takeover market also discourages the manager from working hard. We find that perfect information quality is not optimal for either the current shareholders' expected payoff maximization or the expected firm value maximization. The current shareholders' choice of information quality is different from the information quality level that maximizes the expected firm value, as the current shareholders only obtain a share of the value enhancement from a successful takeover, and moreover, the current shareholders also obtain an overbidding premium when the acquirer overbids for a low value firm. We also analyze the impact of antitakeover laws on firms' endogenous information quality as well as on the current shareholders' welfare and the firm value. We find that the expected firm value may increase after the adoption of antitakeover laws when the current shareholders are able to adjust their choice of information quality. This happens when the current shareholders increase the information quality in response to antitakeover laws.
Sources of stress and coping strategies of US soccer officials

Stress from officiating has been found to have a profound impact on official's mental health, attentional focus, performance, satisfaction with their profession and dropout intentions. Although some studies have been conducted regarding the frequency and intensity of the major sources of stress experienced by sport officials, no research has attempted to determine how sport officials cope or attempt to cope with these stressors. Through a national soccer official organization, questionnaire packets were administered to over 200 officials. Questionnaire packets included sources of stress and ways of coping questionnaires. The top sources of stress experienced by the officials included ‘conflict between officiating and family demands,’ ‘making a controversial call’ and ‘conflict between officiating and work demands.’ The top acute coping strategies utilized by the officials included ‘thought hard about steps to manage’ and ‘asked fellow officials what they did’ (problem-focused strategies). Other results indicated the importance of officials' learning and implementing numerous stress management interventions, including time management, restructuring unproductive thoughts, physiological relaxation techniques, communication training and mental skill training techniques such as imagery, relaxation breathing and self talk. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
δ18O of water vapour, evapotranspiration and the sites of leaf water evaporation in a soybean canopy

Stable isotopes in water have the potential to diagnose changes in the earth's hydrological budget in response to climate change and land use change. However, there have been few measurements in the vapour phase. Here, we present high-frequency measurements of oxygen isotopic compositions of water vapour (δv) and evapotranspiration (δET) above a soybean canopy using the tunable diode laser (TDL) technique for the entire 2006 growing season in Minnesota, USA. We observed a large variability in surface δv from the daily to the seasonal timescales, largely explained by Rayleigh processes, but also influenced by vertical atmospheric mixing, local evapotranspiration (ET) and dew formation. We used δET measurements to calculate the isotopic composition at the sites of evaporative enrichment in leaves (δL,e) and compared that with the commonly used steady-state prediction (δL,s). There was generally a good agreement averaged over the season, but larger differences on individual days. We also found that vertical variability in relative humidity and temperature associated with canopy structure must be addressed in canopy-scale leaf water models. Finally, we explored this data set for direct evidence of the Peclet effect.
Exploring Perceptions Toward Education in 3-D Virtual Environments: An Introduction to “Second Life”

ABSTRACT If educational institutions want to effectively prepare the 21st century community that works with colleagues globally and across time zones, they need to start teaching the students using the next-generation technology tools. One of the tools available today is “Second Life.” It is a computer-based simulated virtual environment that allows users to interact in real time. The tool has also gained attention from educators worldwide as a medium to offer all or some of their course activities to students in Second Life. This study explores students' perceptions of using Second Life as an instructional tool in teaching online or blended tourism and hospitality courses in the future. Multiple regressions are used to test the technology acceptance model (TAM) for measuring the research objective. Findings suggest that the students have high and positive perceptions of using virtual environments such as second life as teaching tools for future tourism and hospitality courses.
Heal Your Mind, Rewire Your Brain: Applying the Exciting New Science of Brain Synchrony for Creativity, Peace and Presence, by Patt Lind-Kyle

The brain and mind create the essence of our being. Not too long ago we were taught that once the brain was damaged, it couldn't be repaired. There has been a surge in mind-training research applie...
The co-ordination of bimanual rapid aiming movements following stroke:

Objective: To determine the role of anticipatory and movement control processes for the coordination of bimanual target aiming in individuals post stroke.Subjects: Thirty adults with chronic stroke and 30 individuals without stroke history.Design: A two-group (stroke, control) by two-aiming type (unimanual, bimanual) by two-limb (paretic, nonparetic; left, right for controls) design with repeated measures on the last two factors.Outcome measures: Kinematic analyses of performance and psychometric measures of reaction time, movement time, peak resultant velocity, time to and after peak resultant velocity and interlimb timing for movement initiation and target impact.Results: Compared with unimanual aiming, the nonparetic limb exhibited a prolonged movement time in the bimanual condition; the locus for prolongation was primarily in the deceleration phase. This adaptive response allowed for a nearly simultaneous (both limbs) target impact in 81% of trials. Compared with the unimanual condition, the nonpareti...
Early diagnosis of phosphorus deficiency in sugarbeets

Abstract A procedure based on blade area changes was used for predicting the P status of young, field‐grown sugarbeet plants. Plants from two field P‐fertilizer experiments were removed and transferred to nutrient solutions with and without added P. Measurement of changes in blade area and total leaf length of selected leaves from seedlings transplanted to culture solution with and without P provided an index of the P status of field‐grown plants. Disadvantages of the technique are that: 5 to 10 days are needed to establish that a P deficiency exists, and the method is difficult to adapt for routine work. Nevertheless, the procedure may be useful in research studies.
APC/CTNNB1 (β‐catenin) pathway alterations in human prostate cancers

Genetic alterations serve as beacons for the involvement of specific pathways in tumorigenesis. It was previously shown that 5% of prostate tumors harbor CTNNB1 mutations, suggesting that this tumor type may involve a deregulated APC/CTNNB1 pathway. To explore this possibility further, we searched for mutations in genes implicated in this pathway in 22 samples that included cell lines, xenografts, and primary tumors. We identified seven alterations: two in CTNNB1, three in APC, and two in hTRCP1 (also known as BTRC) which controls the degradation of CTNNB1. Alterations in the CTNNB1 regulatory domain, APC, and hTRCP1 were mutually exclusive, consistent with their equivalent effects on CTNNB1 stability. These results suggest that CTNNB1 signaling plays a critical role in the development of a significant fraction of prostate cancers. Moreover, they provide the first evidence that hTRCP1 plays a role in human neoplasia. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Marital quality moderates genetic and environmental influences on the internalizing spectrum.

Poor marital quality is a reliable correlate of internalizing problems, but the etiology of this association has yet to be examined. Marital distress may exert its influence by acting as a stressor that enables the expression of latent genetic risk for internalizing psychopathology. The authors examined this question using 379 twin pairs, assessed for marital quality, symptoms of major depression (MD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic attacks (PA), and neuroticism (N). A phenotypic factor analysis confirmed that one factor best accounted for the variance shared between MD, GAD, PA, and N. After accounting for genetic influences on the general Internalizing factor, there were residual genetic influences on N but no specific genetic influences on any other individual internalizing syndrome. The authors found overlap between the genetic influences on marital quality and the internalizing spectrum. Finally, biometrical moderation models revealed that genetic effects on the Internalizing factor increased as the marital quality deteriorated (marital quality high: h 2 0.05; marital quality low: h 2 0.29), suggesting that those with a genetic predisposition to internalizing syndromes may be more likely to express this predisposition in the context of a dissatisfying marriage.
PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF THE NEW WORLD QUAIL (ODONTOPHORIDAE): EIGHT NUCLEAR LOCI AND THREE MITOCHONDRIAL REGIONS CONTRADICT MORPHOLOGY AND THE SIBLEY-AHLQUIST TAPESTRY

Abstract The evolutionary relationship between the New World quail (Odontophoridae) and other groups of Galliformes has been an area of debate. In particular, the relationship between the New World quail and guineafowl (Numidinae) has been difficult to resolve. We analyzed >8 kb of DNA sequence data from 16 taxa that represent all major lineages of Galliformes to resolve the phylogenetic position of New World quail. A combined data set of eight nuclear loci and three mitochondrial regions analyzed with maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods provide congruent and strong support for New World quail being basal members of a phasianid clade that excludes guineafowl. By contrast, the three mitochondrial regions exhibit modest incongruence with each other. This is reflected in the combined mitochondrial analyses that weakly support the Sibley-Ahlquist topology that placed the New World quail basal in relation to guineafowl and led to the placement of New World quail in its own family, siste...
A role for dipeptidyl peptidase IV in suppressing the malignant phenotype of melanocytic cells.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) is a cell surface peptidase expressed by normal melanocytes, epithelial cells, and other cells. Malignant cells, including melanomas and carcinomas, frequently lose or alter DPPIV cell surface expression. Loss of DPPIV expression occurs during melanoma progression at a stage where transformed melanocytes become independent of exogenous growth factors for survival. Tetracycline-inducible expression vectors were constructed to express DPPIV in human melanoma cells. Reexpressing DPPIV in melanoma cells at or below levels expressed by normal melanocytes induced a profound change in phenotype that was characteristic of normal melanocytes. DPPIV expression led to a loss of tumorigenicity, anchorage-independent growth, a reversal in a block in differentiation, and an acquired dependence on exogenous growth factors for cell survival. Suppression of tumorigenicity and reversal of a block in differentiation were dependent on serine protease activity, assessed using mutant DPPIV molecules containing serine→alanine substitutions. Surprisingly, dependence on exogenous growth factors was not dependent on serine protease activity. Reexpression of either wild-type or mutant DPPIV rescued expression of a second putative cell surface serine peptidase, fibroblast activation protein α, which can form a heterodimer with DPPIV. This observation suggests that rescue of fibroblast activation protein α may play a role in regulating growth of melanocytic cells. These results support the view that downregulation of DPPIV is an important early event in the pathogenesis of melanoma.
Risk Perception: An Empirical Study of the Relationship Between Worldview and the Risk Construct

This study empirically assesses the performance of Holtgrave and Weber's Simplified Conjoint Expected Risk (SCER) model for financial and health stimuli in 3 groups of "worldview holders"-12 hierarchists, 10 individualists, and 16 egalitarians-as described by cultural theory. The SCER model performed well, however, distinctive patterns of model variable selection appeared within each group. Interestingly, the pattern of variable selection paralleled cultural theory's descriptions of each worldview. Differences in the mean perceived risk of activities also tended to correspond to predictions made by cultural theory. Results suggest two mechanisms to explain differences in perceived risk among worldviews: (i) same model variables are evaluated, but given different weight; (ii) different variables are evaluated. Identifying the relevant mechanism for a given situation may enhance the effectiveness of risk communication. Language: en
Immunological studies of thrombopoietin.

SummaryImmunological studies of the thrombopoietic stimulating factor (TSF) have been described. The experiments indicated that the thrombopoietic activity of TSF, as assayed in the immunothrombocythemic mouse, was neutralized in vitro by addition of serum obtained from a rabbit previously immunized with a TSF-rich preparation. The anti-TSF serum had no effect on platelets; however, a depression in thrombopoiesis was observed after injection of anti-TSF serum into normal mice. It is concluded that the injections into normal mice of an antibody developed against the TSF, interrupts normal thrombopoiesis by reducing endogenous TSF levels.
Energetics of Chiral Imprinting of Cu(100) by Lysine

Temperature-programmed desorption experiments have been used to probe the adsorption energetics of d- and l-lysine on the chiral Cu(3,1,17)R&S and achiral Cu(100) surfaces. Previous literature has ...
Lethal effects of aqueous formulations containing fatty amines or acids against eggs and larvae of Aedes aegypti.

Various aqueous ovicidal formulations, some of which pose minimum hazards for higher organisms, are described for use against Aedes aegypti (L.). These ovicides appear to attack mainly layers of the eggshell which resist water permeability, an attack which causes the egg to dehydrate and collapse under ambient conditions. Humidity effects were studied before and after treatment. Basic and acidic formulations containing both nonpolar and polar compounds were found effective against either dry or moist eggs exposed to ambient conditions after treatment. The basic mixture contained a nonpolar long-chain aliphatic amine such as octylamine emulsified in an aqueous solution of a polar compound such as ethanolamine or urea, and the acidic mixture contained a nonpolar fatty acid such as octanoic acid in aqueous polar mer-capto acid. Nonpolar compounds alone in water were ovicidal under special conditions. An emulsion of fatty acid in water was effective against eggs exposed to high humidity before or after treatment, and aqueous fatty amines were ovicidal for eggs exposed to high humidity after treatment. Fatty amines, ranging widely in chain length and polarity, were evaluated against both larvae and eggs, Relative larvicidal activities correlated roughly with ovicidal activities, The least larvicidal of these amines, 6-amino-l-hexanol, used at 0,6% in water with 0.1 % decyl alcohol and 6% urea, provided a good ovicide, Of all the ovicides tested, it is presumably the least hazardous to higher organisms.