cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is Environmental Epigenetics Relevant to Endocrine Disease

Endocrine disrupting chemicals that are structurally similar to steroid or amine hormones have the potential to mimic endocrine endpoints at the receptor level. Endocrine disrupting chemicals may dysregulate hormone-mediated gene expression through changes in signal transduction and through epigenetic changes. However, epigenetic-induced alteration in gene expression may occur outside of receptor-mediated effects and has emerged as an alternative way in which environmental compounds may exert endocrine effects. We discuss general implications of DNA methylation, histone modification, micro RNAs, and other more recently recognized epigenetic modifications for endocrinology, and we discuss potential for transgenerational inheritance of epigenetic marks. We also review concepts related to environmental epigenetics and relevance for endocrinology through three broad examples, (1) effect of prenatal and early-life under- and overnutrition on future metabolic disease, (2) effect of lifetime environmental exposures such as ionizing radiation on endocrine cancer risk, and (3) potential for compounds previously classified as endocrine disrupting to additionally or alternatively exert effects through epigenetic mechanisms. The field of environmental epigenetics is still nascent, and additional studies are needed to confirm and reinforce data derived from animal models and preliminary human studies. Current evidence suggests that environmental exposures may significantly impact expression of endocrine-related genes and thereby affect clinical endocrine outcomes.
RNA processing and the evolution of eukaryotes

In eukaryotes, RNA processing events, including alternative splicing and RNA editing, can generate many different messages from a single gene. As a consequence, the RNA pool, which we refer to here as the 'ribotype', has a different information content from the genotype and can vary as circumstances change. The outcome of a single RNA processing event often regulates the outcome of another, giving rise to networks that affect the composition and expression of a particular ribotype. Successful ribotypes are determined by natural selection, and can be incorporated into the genome over time by reverse transcription. Eukaryotic evolution is therefore influenced by the alternate ways in which RNAs are processed and the continual interplay between RNA and DNA.
Taqiyya as Polemic, Law and Knowledge: Following an Islamic Legal Term through the Worlds of Islamic Scholars, Ethnographers, Polemicists and Military Men

Taqiyya is an Islamic juridical term whose shifting meaning relates to when a Muslim is allowed, under Sharia law, to lie. A concept whose meaning has varied significantly among Islamic sects, scholars, countries, and political regimes, it nevertheless is one of the key terms used by recent anti-Muslim polemicists such as Robert Spencer or Daniel Pipes, and has been used by US Prosecutors to explain terrorist behavior. This paper seeks to summarize the complex uses of the term and show how a specific concept in a legal system can be used and interpreted by both adherents of that system and enemies in a wide variety of ways, taking on different meanings while referring to effectively the same set of practices. The term is debated in a scholarly way in the scholarly literature, as an ethnographic term, and finally, as an operational concept used as a tactic in a war and demanding countertactics tailored to it. The paper will discuss the social purpose of having such ambiguous concepts available within one's society, and the idea that making the ambiguous specific can be a valuable weapon in polemical attack.
Legume and isoflavone intake and prostate cancer risk: The Multiethnic Cohort Study

Findings from studies of legume, soy and isoflavone intake and prostate cancer risk are as yet inconclusive, although soy has received considerable attention due to its high phytoestrogen content. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship of these dietary exposures to prostate cancer risk in the Multiethnic Cohort Study in Hawaii and Los Angeles. The analyses included 82,483 men who completed a detailed quantitative food frequency questionnaire in 1993–1996. A total of 4,404 prostate cancer cases including 1,278 nonlocalized or high-grade cases were recorded during the average follow-up period of 8 years. Multivariate relative risks (RR) and 95% of confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models with age as the time metric. Among men with the highest intake of legumes, the risk reduction was 11% for total prostate cancer (RR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.80–0.99, p for trend = 0.007) and 26% for nonlocalized or high-grade cancer (RR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.61–0.90, p for trend = 0.007) compared to men with the lowest intake. Similar risk reductions were observed for soy products and for legumes excluding soy products in separate analyses. We found no significant risk reduction associated with intake of total or specific isoflavones for either total prostate cancer or for nonlocalized or high-grade cancer. The findings of our study suggest that legume intake is associated with a moderate reduction in prostate cancer risk and that the isoflavones in soy products are probably not responsible for this effect. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Chapter 27. Plasticity of excitatory synaptic transmission in the spinal cord dorsal horn

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the recent information derived from experiments done in vitro using spinal slice preparation and acutely isolated spinal dorsal horn (DH) neurons of young rats. The emphasis is placed on modulation of synaptic and excitatory amino acids (EAAs) responses of DH neurons by κ-opioid receptor-preferring ligands and their potential role in long-term changes in synaptic transmission related to pain. To understand how opioids produce these changes, the cellular mechanisms of opioid actions have to be known. There is increasing evidence for involvement of opioids in long lasting activity-dependent changes in the efficacy of synaptic transmission in the brain and spinal cord. Studies of long-term potentiation (LTP) implicate opioid peptides in the induction of LTP in the hippocampus. In contrast, two reports suggest that dynorphin may reduce LTP in the hippocampus in a naloxone-reversible manner, at least in part, by a presynaptic action. Understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying the κ1-agonist actions has implications both for the understanding of somatosensory processing in the spinal DH and for the development of novel analgesic strategies to prevent post-injury pain hypersensitivity.
Utilizing the topology of configuration space in real-time multiple manipulator path planning

This paper provides a set of algorithms which allow qualitative information regarding the connectivity of configuration space to be quickly established. A mechanism is presented which utilizes these results to determine the effects of the motions of one manipulator on the configuration space of the other. These algorithms are then used as a basis for a simple planner which is capable of rapidly computing collision-free paths for multiple SCARA manipulators operating within overlapping workspaces. >
Serum transferrin receptor concentrations in women with mild malnutrition.

We determined the influence of undernutrition on blood soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentrations, an indicator of iron deficiency, in 99 Zairean women (aged 16-45 y) without inflammation. They were recruited during a survey on iron deficiency in rural Bas-Zaire. sTfR was measured by enzyme immunoassay, and indicators of nutritional status [albumin, transthyretin (or prealbumin), and retinol binding protein] were measured by radial immunodiffusion. Undernutrition was diagnosed if the concentration of any one of the indicators was below normal: albumin 8 mg/L (which are suggestive of iron-deficiency erythropoiesis) compared with iron-deficient women with no (72.7%) or one (66.7%) protein value below normal, anemic women (46-60%) and iron-sufficient women (18.2-36.8%). Results suggest that sTfR can be used as an indicator of iron deficiency in field studies without in-depth assessment of nutritional status. However, the effect of severe malnutrition on this index requires further investigation.
Hesitation Phenomena in Children's Speech

Forty-eight children told two stories in each of two situations: to an audience of four adults, or to a microphone while no one was listening. Various fluency and hesitation variables were scored from the tapes. Subjects are consistent in their fluency and hesitations. A factor analysis of the speech measures yielded four factors. Deliberate hesitations are predictable, for boys, from the personality characteristic, exhibitionism. Stressful hesitations are responsive to whether the child was speaking in public or in private.
Information Technology and the Cultural Reproduction of Social Order: A Research Paradigm

This paper introduces the critical social theory of French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. The objective of Bourdieu’s theoretical framework is to uncover the buried organizational structures and mechanisms that are used to ensure the reproduction of social order. This theoretical framework will be used in a research program that examines the structural processes by which information technology may be constrained from emancipating humankind, and may actually be disempowering and abandoning significant numbers of societal members.
Chemical aerosol detection and identification using Raman scattering

Early warning of the presence of chemical agent aerosols is an important component in the defense against such agents. A Raman spectrometer has been constructed for the purpose of detecting and identifying chemical aerosols. We report the detection and identification of a low-concentration chemical aerosol in atmospheric air using 532-nm continuous wave laser Raman scattering. We have demonstrated the Raman scattering detection and identification of an aerosol of isovanillin of mass concentration of 1.8 ng/cm3 with a signal-to-noise ratio of about 19 in 30 s for the 1116-cm−1 mode with a Raman cross section of 3.3 × 10−28 cm2 using 8-W double-pass laser power. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of H2O on the Ionic conductivity of sodium beta-alumina

Abstract The effect of water molecules on the ionic conductivity of sodium betaalumina single crystals was investigated. Water molecules intercalated in the conducting plane lower than the conductivity by as much as a factor of two.
Stability tests on known and misfolded structures with discrete and all atom molecular dynamics simulations

The brevity of molecular dynamics simulations often limits their utility in developing and evaluating structural models of proteins. The duration of simulations can be increased greatly using discrete molecular dynamics (DMD). However, the trade off is that coarse graining, implicit solvent, and other time-saving procedures reduce the accuracy of DMD simulations. Here we address some of these issues by comparing results of DMD and conventional all atom MD simulations on proteins of known structure and misfolded proteins. DMD simulations were performed at a range of temperatures to identify a 'physiological' temperature for DMD that mimicked molecular motions of conventional MD simulations at 310K. We also compared results obtained with a new implicit solvent model developed here based on Miyazawa-Jernigan interaction pair potential to those obtained with a previously used model based on Kyte-Doolittle hydropathy scale. We compared DMD and all atom molecular dynamics with explicit water by simulating both correctly and incorrectly folded structures, and monomeric and dimeric α β-barrel structures to analyze the ability of these procedures to distinguish between good and bad models. Deviations from the correct structures were substantially greater with DMD, as would be expected from coarse-graining and longer simulation time. Deviations were smallest for β-strands and greatest for coiled loops. Structures of the incorrectly folded models were very poorly preserved during the DMD simulations; but both methods were able to distinguish between the correct and the incorrect structures based on differences in the magnitudes of the root mean squared deviation (RMSD) from the starting conformation.
MALIC DEHYDROGENASE IN THE TWO-SPOTTED SPIDER MITE, TETRANYCHUS TELARIUS (L.)

The presence of NAD-speciric malic dehydrogenase was demonstrated in the two-spotted spider mite. The Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) of the enzyme for malate was found to be 1.25 × 10−3 M and for o...
The rise of venture capital and biotechnology in the US and Europe

Biotechnology-based businesses have historically looked to venture capitalists for funding. Our recent survey shows that, unlike the public marketplace, where investors' appetite for biotechnology has waxed and waned the last few years, venture capitalists are staying the course.
Some numerical investigations on empirical strain energy functions in the large axi-symmetric extensions of rubber membranes

Ein numerisches Verfahren zur Behandlung von axial-symmetrischen Membranproblemen bei endlichen elastischen Formanderungen wird auf die Verwolbung einer kreisformigen elastischen Membran angewendet. Die zur Losung notwendige numerische Integration der Gleichgewichtsbedingungen erfolgt bei den gewahlten Beispielen mit Hilfe einer fur die Berechnung mit Handrechenmaschine gebrauchlichen Differenzmethode. Gestutzt auf mehrere experimentelle und theoretische Arbeiten werden zur Untersuchung der Losung des Membranproblems verschiedene Formen der FormanderungsenergieW bei grossen Deformationen betrachtet (10<I 2<1000). Eine Verallgemeinerung der logarithmischen Form furW vonGent undThomas erweist sich als ungeeignet fur die betrachtete Ordnung der Deformation. Durch Anpassung der Parameter in der Drei-Parameter-Gestalt der Formanderungsenergie vonCarmichael undHoldaway wird eine gute Ubereinstimmung mit dem Experiment erhalten. Fur diese Losungen besitzt ϖW/ϖI 1 einen konstanten Wert bei der Deformation, was eine fruhere Feststellung vonRivlin undSaunders fur Werten vonI 2 bis 1000 bestatigt. Das Versagen der logarithmischen Form vonW ist auf die starke Abnahme von ϖW/ϖI 2 im Bereich grosser Dehnungen zuruckzufuhren.
Increased serum growth hormone and somatic growth in adult hamsters with hippocampal transections.

Somatic, endocrine, and behavioral correlates of growth and levels of voluntary running activity were measured in adult hamsters with hippocampal transections (HIPPO cuts) or in controls with transect
Flux quantization for semions on a torus.

Small systems of particles which obey fractional statistics with statistics parameter \ensuremath{\alpha}=1/2, i.e., semions, on a lattice are studied by numerical diagonalization. The change in ground-state energy due to flux enclosure is calculated for various sizes of square lattices with periodic boundary conditions. Partial use is made of the translational symmetry properties of anyons on lattices with toroidal geometry. Using finite-size scaling, it is argued that the system exhibits true flux quantization, a signature of superfluidity, at rational fillings of the lattice less than 1/2. In agreement with previous work, no evidence of superfluidity is observed at lattice filling \ensuremath{\nu}=1/2. However, in contrast to previous numerical studies, the results for \ensuremath{\nu}g1/2 are noticeably different than those for \ensuremath{\nu}1/2. In particular, the signature of flux quantization generally is weaker for \ensuremath{\nu}g1/2 and, in fact, is absent for some densities. These results are discussed in the context of a mean-field treatment of anyons on a lattice.
Better Physician-Patient Relationships Are Associated with Higher Reported Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Patients with HIV Infection

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence to support the widely accepted assertion that better physician-patient relationships result in higher rates of adherence with recommended therapies. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether and which aspects of a better physician-patient relationship are associated with higher rates of adherence with antiretroviral therapies for persons with HIV infection. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING: Twenty-two outpatient HIV practices in a metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred fifty-four patients with HIV infection taking antiretroviral medications. MEASUREMENTS: We measured adherence using a 4-item self-report scale (α=0.75). We measured core aspects of physician-patient relationships using 6 previously tested scales (general communication, HIV-specific information, participatory decision making, overall satisfaction, willingness to recommend physician, and physician trust; α>0.70 for all) and 1 new scale, adherence dialogue (α=0.92). For adherence dialogue, patients rated their physician at understanding and solving problems with antiretroviral therapy regimens. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 42 years, 15% were female, 73% were white, and 57% reported gay or bisexual sexual contact as their primary HIV risk factor. In multivariable models that accounted for the clustering of patients within physicians’ practices, 6 of the 7 physician-patient relationship quality variables were significantly (P<.05) associated with adherence. In all 7 models worse adherence was independently associated (P<.05) with lower age, not believing in the importance of antiretroviral therapy, and worse mental health. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that multiple, mutable dimensions of the physician-patient relationship were associated with medication adherence in persons with HIV infection, suggesting that physician-patient relationship quality is a potentially important point of intervention to improve patients’ medication adherence. In addition, our data suggest that it is critical to investigate and incorporate patients’ belief systems about antiretroviral therapy into adherence discussions, and to identify and treat mental disorders.
An APL program for calculating pairwise and nonpairwise a posteriori tests on means

When using experimental designs with more than three treatments, an investigator is often confronted with the problem of locating mean differences following rejection of the overall null hypothesis. That is, if no specific hypotheses have been proposed in advance that are amenable to analysis by a priori procedures (e.g., orthogonal comparisons using either the t or F ratio), it becomes necessary to use "data snooping" procedures a posteriori (Hays, 1973; Kirk, 1968; Lindquist, 1956; Winer, 1971). Conceptual and procedural differences between a priori and a posteriori multiple comparisons arise, in part, out of concern with error rate. That is, "Should the probability of committing a Type I error be set at a for each individual comparison or should the probability of an error equal a or less for some larger conceptual unit such as the collection of comparisons?" (Kirk, 1968, p.78). Conceptually, the problem is one of decision-a decision on the "conceptual unit for error rate" (e.g., individual comparison, hypothesis, family of comparisons, or the experiment). Confusion arises because, as the number of comparisons increases, so does the probability of making a false positive (Type I error) (Kirk, 1968; Ryan, 1962). Procedurally, the problem is one "of regulating and apportioning the Type I error rate" (Winer, 1971, p. 199). "For planned orthogonal comparisons, contemporary practice in the behavioral sciences favors setting the Type I error probability at a for each comparison. For planned and unplanned nonorthogonal comparisons it is suggested
An inverse cavity problem for Maxwellʼs equations

Abstract Consider the scattering of a time-harmonic electromagnetic plane wave by an open cavity embedded in a perfect electrically conducting infinite ground plane, where the electromagnetic wave propagation is governed by the Maxwell equations. The upper half-space is filled with a lossless homogeneous medium above the flat ground surface; while the interior of the cavity is assumed to be filled with a lossy homogeneous medium accounting for the energy absorption. The inverse problem is to determine the cavity structure or the shape of the cavity from the tangential trace of the electric field measured on the aperture of the cavity. In this paper, results on a global uniqueness and a local stability are established for the inverse problem. A crucial step in the proof of the stability is to obtain the existence and characterization of the domain derivative of the electric field with respect to the shape of the cavity.
Measurement of 63Ni and 59Ni by accelerator mass spectrometry using characteristic projectile X-rays

The long-lived isotopes of nickel ({sup 59}Ni, {sup 63}Ni) have current and potential use in a number of applications including cosmic radiation studies, biomedical tracing, characterization of low-level radioactive wastes, and neutron dosimetry. Methods are being developed at LLNL for the routine detection of these isotopes by AMS. One intended application is in Hiroshima dosimetry. The reaction {sup 63}Cu(n,p){sup 63}Ni has been identified as one of a small number of reactions which might be used for the direct determination of the fast neutron fluence emitted by the Hiroshima bomb. AMS measurement of {sup 63}Ni(t{sub 1/2} = 100 y) requires the chemical removal of {sup 63}Cu, which is a stable isobar of {sup 63}Ni. Following the electrochemical separation of Ni from gram-sized copper samples, the Cu concentration is further lowered to < 2 x 10{sup -8} (Cu/Ni) using the reaction of Ni with carbon monoxide to form the gas Ni(CO){sub 4}. The Ni(CO){sub 4} is thermally decomposed directly in sample holders for measurement by AMS. After analysis in the AMS spectrometer, the ions are identified using characteristic projectile x-rays, allowing further rejection of remaining {sup 63}Cu. In a demonstration experiment, {sup 63}Ni was measured in Cu wires (2-20 g) which had been exposed to neutrons from a {sup 252}Cf source. We successfully measured {sup 63}Ni at levels necessary for the measurement of Cu samples exposed near the Hiroshima hypocenter. For the demonstration samples, the Cu content was chemically reduced by a factor of 10{sup 12} with quantitative retention of {sup 63}Ni. Detection sensitivity (3{sigma}) was {approximately}20 fg {sup 63}Ni in 1 mg Ni carrier ({sup 63}Ni/Ni {approx} 2 x 10{sup -11}). Significant improvements in sensitivity are expected with planned incremental changes in the methods. Preliminary results indicate that a similar sensitivity is achievable for {sup 59}Ni (t{sub 1/2} = 10{sup 5} y).
The relationship between stem and branch wood specific gravity and the ability of each measure to predict leaf area.

A few trait axes that represent differential biomass allocation may summarize plant life-history strategies. Here we examine one of these axes described by wood specifi c gravity. Wood specifi c gravity represents the location of a species on a continuum of the rate of growth vs. the likelihood of mechanical failure, ranging from rapid volumetric growth/increased probability of mechanical failure to slow volumetric growth/decreased probability of mechanical failure. Wood specifi c gravity has been quantifi ed primarily using three separate methods: a section from terminal branch, a section from the main stem or from a trunk wood core. What is unclear is how comparable these methods are and whether one or the other is a better predictor of other important plant traits such as leaf area. Here we measured stem and branch wood specifi c gravities from individual trees and shrubs in a tropical rain forest, quantifi ed their relationship and determined their ability to predict leaf area. Stem and branch measures were highly correlated with each measure having a weak correlation with leaf area in trees and strong correlation with leaf area in shrubs. These results indicate that various methodologies for measuring wood specifi c gravity are comparable, and thus less destructive methods than are currently used are available to determine values for this important trait.
Automatic Cartridge Case Inspection and Process Control Monitor

Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories has developed an advanced cartridge case measurement/eject system (CCMES) which automatically inspects and rejects cases at up to 1200 per minute. The system consists of a mechanical handler, measurement instruments, and a dedicated computer. System operation is monitored and controlled while the product is being measured. Five case dimensions are measured by an electro-optical system using, diode arrays to measure a case image at unity magnification. By scan averaging, measurement standard deviations as small as 2.5 microns are obtained at a throughput of 1200 cases per minute. Measurements made with the system fall within the uncertainties of hand-gauged values for the same cases. Four zones on each case are examined for surface flaws, such as dents and scratches, by detecting light scattered from the surface. The system can detect these surface flaws at inspection rates of 1200 cases per minute. Using electro-optic methods, two additional measuring stations detect vent hole presence and gross size deviations to prevent mechanical jams. A third station employs an eddy current technique to detect splits and folds in critical regions of the cartridge. The overall system has passed quality assurance tests administered by the sponsor and will soon be installed at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.
When the patient causes the problem: the effect of patient responsibility on the nurse-patient relationship

A positive connection to the patient as a person within a nurse-patient relationship provides the context for ethical treatment. The relationship characterized by caring concern for the patient is also a clinically effective resource. Ethical analysis shows that a nurse's caring and other health care resources should not be allocated based on the degree to which the patient is responsible for the clinical condition. Interviews were conducted with 51 nursing students and nurses about their feelings toward hypothetical patients. The theme of 'patient responsibility for causing the clinical problem affecting the nurse-patient relationship' was identified and responses were categorized according to how the theme was illustrated. The categorization of the responses was validated by two nurse experts. When asked to briefly compare reactions to the vignettes 25 (49%) of the participants connected their feelings towards the patient with their perception of the patient's responsibility.
Time Dilation in the Peak-to-Peak Timescales of Gamma-Ray Bursts

We present strong evidence of time stretching in the peak-to-peak timescales in the light curves of BATSE gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Extensive tests are performed on artificially dilated bursts to verify that the procedure for extracting the peak-to-peak timescales correctly recovers the stretching of the bursts. The resulting robust algorithm is then applied to the 4B GRB database. We derive a stretching factor of 1.92 ± 0.13 between the brightest burst group (P > 7.7 photons cm-2 s-1) and the dimmest burst group (P=1.0-1.4 photons cm-2 s-1), with several independent peak-to-peak timescale definitions, and they agree within the uncertainties. Such an agreement strongly supports the interpretation of the observed time stretching as the time dilation caused by cosmological expansion rather than by physical selection effects. We fitted the result to cosmological models with Λ=0, Ω0 from 0.2 to 1.0, and constrained the standard candle luminosity to be L0=(7.0 ± 2.0 ± 2.7) × 1056 photons s-1. Our luminosity value is fully consistent with the value from the combined PVO and BATSE log N-log P curve with the BATSE bright bursts at low redshifts of zbright=0.11 ± 0.02 ± 0.025. This luminosity fit is definitely inconsistent with the larger distance scale implied from associating burst density with star formation rates.
STRUCTURE and CONFORMATION OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS and RELATED COMPOUNDS. 2. NICKEL (II) METHYL PYROPHEOPHORBIDE a–A SEVERELY ISTORTED CHLOROPHYLL DERIVATIVE*

The crystal structure of Ni(II) methyl pryopheophorbide a (3) (CMH34N4Ni03, Mu= 605.4) was determined by x-ray diffraction methods in order to determine the influence of the nickel-ion on the ring conformation. The crystals were blue octahedrons and crystallized in the tetragonal space group P4121,2 with a= 14.727(4) A, c = 26.666(12) A, V= 5781(3) A3Z= 8, D= 1.391 mg/m3. (Mo Kα) = 0.71069 Aμ= 0.713 mm−1, F(000) = 2544, 130 K. The final R value was 0.064 for 4096 observed reflections, wR = 0.065. The molecule is severely distorted and shows a saddle-shaped ring conformation, the β-pyrrole atoms being displaced up to 0.6 A out of the plane of the nitrogens. The severe deformation restricts the use of Ni-derivatives in spectroscopic model studies on chlorophylls and provides an example for the conformational flexibility of the phorbin macrocycle.
Mineral Uptake in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum

A method for growing Fusarium oxysporum, a mycelial fungus, and a technique for its use in mineral uptake studies have been described. Some general characteristics of the uptake process were determined. The fungus, grown for 54 hours, was found to take up as much K as 15 to 20 meq/100 g dry weight in 2 to 4 hours from a solution of 5 meq/l KCl. Approximately 3 to 5 meq of this uptake was readily removed by a CaCl2 rinse. The uptake was only slightly sensitive to pH over the range of 4 to 9. Below pH 4 uptake dropped rapidly. The age of the culture appeared to be the dominant factor in determining the rate of uptake. In contrast to other fungi, the presence of glucose during uptake was detrimental to K uptake. Conditions unfavorable for metabolic activity as low temperature, anaerobiosis, or the presence of DNP markedly reduced the uptake rate. Although the fungus took up Na from single salt solutions nearly as well as K, the latter ion was much preferred in mixtures of the two ions. The organism showed no significant metabolic uptake of Ca or Cl. During uptake from KCl solutions, the organic acid content increased. The increase, chiefly in succinic acid and to a lesser extent in acetic and citric acids, amounted to about half the K uptake. The remainder of the K taken up was correlated with a roughly equivalent efflux of cellular Mg.
Development and validation of an assessment of adult educators' reading instructional knowledge

The purpose of this paper is to describe briefly the development and utility of the Assessment of Reading Instructional Knowledge-Adults (ARIK-A), the only nationally normed (n = 468) measure of adult reading instructional knowledge, created to facilitate professional development of adult educators. Developmental data reveal reliabilities ranging from 0.73 to 0.85 for five ARIK-A scales (alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and assessment) and 0.91 for the composite score; factor analytic data and expert review provide support for construct validity as well. Information on how to use the ARIK-A to determine mastery and relative standing is presented. With two alternate forms, the ARIK-A is a promising and needed tool for adult education practitioners within continuing education and professional development contexts.
Structures of β-Amino Ester Enolates: New Strategies Using the Method of Continuous Variation

The solution structures of four enolates derived from beta-amino esters are investigated using (6)Li NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with the method of continuous variation (method of Job). Ensembles of homo- and heteroaggregated enolates are generated by mixing enantiomers of a single enolate (R/S mixtures), opposite antipodes of two different enolates (R/S' mixtures), and the same antipodes of two different enolates (R/R' mixtures). The numbers of observable aggregates and their dependence on the mole fraction of the two enolates confirm the hexamer assignments. Inherent symmetries observable in the (6)Li NMR spectra show the stereochemistry of chelation about the hexagonal drum.
The third place from truth: Plato's paradoxical attack on writing

This paper examines Eric Havelock's view of Plato's works as a turning point in the transition from a predominantly oral society to a predominantly written culture. There is a paradox between the influence of written abstraction on Plato's thought and the Platonic attack upon writing in the Phaedrus. Havelock's consideration of the influence of written technology upon Plato's thought is outlined and is contrasted with the view of writing expressed by Socrates in the Phaedrus and elsewhere. The essential paradox in associating Plato with the written tradition is that Plato criticizes the written word in the Phaedrus for the same faults attributed to the poets in the Republic. The dimensions of the paradox are considered along five lines. First, it is clear that writing and abstract thought are related in Havelock's view, and yet Plato attacks writing for being “the third place from truth.”; Secondly, memory is associated with the oral tradition which Plato attacks so strongly in the Republic, and yet memor...
Organizational buying behavior: Toward an integrative framework

Abstract This article analyzes and summarizes the 25 years of research on organizational buying behavior that followed the seminal works of Robinson, Faris, and Wind (1967), Webster and Wind (1972), and Sheth (1973). Based on a review of 165 articles, the authors present an integrated model of organizational buying behavior that both combines the propositions of the original three works and incorporates several new constructs that have emerged over the past 25 years. In addition, the authors identify some of the important findings associated with the past research in organizational buying behavior. Each article citation in the Reference Appendix includes a list of the organizational buying behavior constructs examined within the article.
Homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations of the glycine receptor ligand binding domain

We present a homology based model of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of the homopentameric alpha1 glycine receptor (GlyR). The model is based on multiple sequence alignment with other members of the nicotinicoid ligand gated ion channel superfamily and two homologous acetylcholine binding proteins (AChBP) from the freshwater (Lymnaea stagnalis) and saltwater (Aplysia californica) snails with known high resolution structure. Using two template proteins with known structure to model three dimensional structure of a target protein is especially advantageous for sequences with low homology as in the case presented in this paper. The final model was cross-validated by critical evaluation of experimental and published mutagenesis, functional and other biochemical studies. In addition, a complex structure with strychnine antagonist in the putative binding site is proposed based on docking simulation using Autodock program. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with simulated annealing protocol are reported on the proposed LBD of GlyR, which is stable in 5 ns simulation in water, as well as for a deformed LBD structure modeled on the corresponding domain determined in low-resolution cryomicroscopy structure of the alpha subunit of the full-length acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Our simulations demonstrate that the beta-sandwich central core of the protein monomer is fairly rigid in the simulations and resistant to deformations in water.
Pigment vs cholesterol cholelithiasis: Clinical and epidemiological aspects

This prospective study demonstrated that among 92 consecutive patients who underwent cholecystectomy for gallstones at an urban university hospital, 27% had pigment stones and 73% had cholesterol stones. Age, sex, and weight, but not race, were significant determinants of stone type. The mean hemoglobin, direct and total serum bilirubin, and fasting glucose concentrations were similar for each group. The presence of alcoholism, diabetes, thyroid disease, or heterozygous hemoglobinopathy did not influence stone type. The average patient with pigment stones is a lean man or woman 63 years old; in contrast, the composite patient with cholesterol stones is a modestly overweight woman 43 years old.
Cation ionophores A23187 and valinomycin enhance protein-mediated transfer of rat liver microsomal phosphatidylinositol to liposomes.

A standard reaction mixture has been established in which partially purified rat liver phosphatidylinositol exchange proteins sustain a maximal rate of phosphatidylinositol transfer from rat liver microsomes to liposomes. Determination of the transfer kinetics confirms the findings of Brophy et al. (Biochem J. 174:413–420, 1918) that under such conditions a maximum 70–80% of the homogenously radiolabeled, microsomal phosphatidylinositol is exchanged with biphasic kinetics. The phosphatidylinositol exchange proteins thus indicate the presence of three microsomal phosphatidylinositol pools: One pool is not subject to protein-mediated exchange; the other two pools are both exchangeable but are exchanged with significantly different half-lives. Both the divalent cation ionophore, A23187, and the monovalent cation ionophore, valinomycin, significantly enhance phosphatidylinositol transfer in the standard reaction mixture at concentrations 1 to 2 orders of magnitude greater than those sufficient for the ionophores to facilitate cation transport across membranes. The stimulatory effect of each ionophore, however, is not a function of the ionophore/microsome mass ratio in the reaction miture. Although both ionophores increase the relative amount of exchangeable phosphatidylinositol, neither ionophore results in all of the exchangeable phosphatidylinositol being transferred with singlestate kinetics. The evidence demonstrates that A23187 and valinomycin are the first substances found to markedly enhance the reactivity of a microsomal phospholipid class with phospholipid exchange proteins.
Thermal analysis of the crotch absorber in APS

A crotch absorber design for use in the Advanced Photon source (APS) has been proposed and analyzed. the absorber is placed downstream of sectors S2 and S4 in the curved storage ring chamber and will be subjected to a peak power of 120 W/mm{sup 2} per 100mA synchrotron radiation. A beryllium ring is brazed on the GlidCop cooling cylinder in order to diffuse the concentrated bending magnet heating. One concentric water channel and two annular return water channels are arranged in the GlidCop cylinder to enhance the cooling. A Bodner-Partom thermoviscoplastic constitutive equation and a modified Manson-Coffin fatigue relation are proposed to simulate the cyclic thermal loading, as well as to predict the thermal fatigue life of the crotch absorber. Results of temperature and stress using finite element computations are displayed and series of e-beam welder tests and microstructure measurements are reported.
Library of congress acquisitions policies: Synopsis covering developing countries

Abstract With the central role of the Library of Congress in acquiring Third World materials not only for itself but also for cooperating libraries, the article summarizes the applicable Acquisitions Policy Statements of the Library defining selection policies for developing countries. These include no. 30 specifically on developing countries, nos. 6-A, 6-B, and 6-C on government publications at the national, regional and urban levels, no. 8 on translations, 22-A on agriculture and 22-B on medicine.
β2 subunit containing acetylcholine receptors mediate nicotine withdrawal deficits in the acquisition of contextual fear conditioning

Acute nicotine enhances contextual fear conditioning, whereas withdrawal from chronic nicotine produces impairments. However, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) that are involved in nicotine withdrawal deficits in contextual fear conditioning are unknown. The present study used genetic and pharmacological techniques to investigate the nAChR subtype(s) involved in the effects of nicotine withdrawal on contextual fear conditioning. β2 or α7 nAChR subunit knockout (KO) and corresponding wild-type (WT) mice were withdrawn from 12 days of chronic nicotine treatment (6.3 mg/kg/day), and trained with 2 conditioned stimulus (CS; 85 dB white noise) – unconditioned stimulus (US; 0.57mA footshock) pairings on day 13. On day 14, mice were tested for contextual and cued freezing. β2 KO mice did not show nicotine withdrawal-related deficits in contextual fear conditioning, in contrast to WT mice and α7 KO mice. A follow-up study investigated if nicotine withdrawal disrupts acquisition or recall of contextual fear conditioning. The high affinity nAChR antagonist dihydro-beta-erythroidine (DHβE; 3 mg/kg) was administered prior to training or testing to precipitate withdrawal in chronic nicotine-treated C57BL/6 mice. Deficits in contextual fear conditioning were observed in chronic nicotine-treated mice when DHβE was administered prior to training, but not when administered at testing. These results indicate that β2-containing nAChRs, such as the α4β2 receptor, mediate nicotine withdrawal deficits in contextual fear conditioning. In addition, nicotine withdrawal selectively affects acquisition but not recall or expression of the learned response.
Evaluation of appearance transfer and persistence in central face transplantation: a computer simulation analysis.

Summary Background Partial facial allotransplantation is an emerging option in reconstruction of central facial defects, providing function and aesthetic appearance. Ethical debate partly stems from uncertainty surrounding identity aspects of the procedure. There is no objective evidence regarding the effect of donors' transplanted facial structures on appearance change of the recipients and its influence on facial recognition of donors and recipients. Methods Full-face frontal view color photographs of 100 volunteers were taken at a distance of 150cm with a digital camera (Nikon/DX80). Photographs were taken in front of a blue background, and with a neutral facial expression. Using image-editing software (Adobe-Photoshop-CS3), central facial transplantation was performed between participants. Twenty observers performed a familiar ‘facial recognition task', to identify 40 post-transplant composite faces presented individually on the screen at a viewing distance of 60cm, with an exposure time of 5s. Each composite face comprised of a familiar and an unfamiliar face to the observers. Trials were done with and without external facial features (head contour, hair and ears). Two variables were defined: ‘Appearance Transfer' refers to transfer of donor's appearance to the recipient. ‘Appearance Persistence' deals with the extent of recipient's appearance change post-transplantation. A t -test was run to determine if the rates of Appearance Transfer differed from Appearance Persistence. Results Average Appearance Transfer rate (2.6%) was significantly lower than Appearance Persistence rate (66%) ( P P Conclusion This study may be helpful in the informed consent process of prospective recipients. It is beneficial for education of donors families and is expected to positively affect their decision to consent for facial tissue donation.
Beneficiary price sensitivity in the Medicare prescription drug plan market.

The Medicare stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) came into existence in 2006 as part of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. It is the most popular plan type among Medicare drug plans and large numbers of plans are available to all beneficiaries. In this article we present the first analysis of beneficiary price sensitivity in the PDP market. Our estimate of elasticity of enrollment with respect to premium, −1.45, is larger in magnitude than has been found in the Medicare HMO market. This high degree of beneficiary price sensitivity for PDPs is consistent with relatively low product differentiation, low fixed costs of entry in the PDP market, and the fact that, in contrast to changing HMOs, beneficiaries can select a PDP without disrupting doctor–patient relationships. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analytical Solutions to Compartmental Indoor Air Quality Models with Application to Environmental Tobacco Smoke Concentrations Measured in a House

This paper derives the analytical solutions to multi-compartment indoor air quality models for predicting indoor air pollutant concentrations in the home and evaluates the solutions using experimental measurements in the rooms of a single-story residence. The model uses Laplace transform methods to solve the mass balance equations for two interconnected compartments, obtaining analytical solutions that can be applied without a computer. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) sources such as the cigarette typically emit pollutants for relatively short times (7-11 min) and are represented mathematically by a "rectangular" source emission time function, or approximated by a short-duration source called an "impulse" time function. Other time-varying indoor sources also can be represented by Laplace transforms. The two-compartment model is more complicated than the single-compartment model and has more parameters, including the cigarette or combustion source emission rate as a function of time, room volumes, compartmental air change rates, and interzonal air flow factors expressed as dimensionless ratios. This paper provides analytical solutions for the impulse, step (Heaviside), and rectangular source emission time functions. It evaluates the indoor model in an unoccupied two-bedroom home using cigars and cigarettes as sources with continuous measurements of carbon monoxide (CO), respirable suspended particles (RSP), and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PPAH). Fine particle mass concentrations (RSP or PM3.5) are measured using real-time monitors. In our experiments, simultaneous measurements of concentrations at three heights in a bedroom confirm an important assumption of the model-spatial uniformity of mixing. The parameter values of the two-compartment model were obtained using a "grid search" optimization method, and the predicted solutions agreed well with the measured concentration time series in the rooms of the home. The door and window positions in each room had considerable effect on the pollutant concentrations observed in the home. Because of the small volumes and low air change rates of most homes, indoor pollutant concentrations from smoking activity in a home can be very high and can persist at measurable levels indoors for many hours.
Perfectly invertible, fast, and complete wavelet transform for finite-length sequences: the discrete periodic wavelet transform

The discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is adapted to functions on the discrete circle to create a discrete periodic wavelet transform (DPWT) for bounded periodic sequences. This extension also offers a solution to the problem of non-invertibility that arises in the application of the DWT to finite length sequences and provides the proper theoretical setting for the completion of some previous incomplete solutions to the invertibility problem. It is proven that the same filter coefficients used with the DWT to create orthonormal wavelets on compact support in l(infinity ) (Z) may be incorporated through the DPWT to create an orthonormal basis of discrete periodic wavelets. By exploiting transform symmetry and periodicity we arrive at easily implementable and fast synthesis and analysis algorithms.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.