cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potato Plants Grown from Minitubers are Delayed in Maturity and Lower in Yield, but are not at a Higher Risk of Potato virus Y Infection than Plants Grown from Conventional Seed

Potato virus Y (PVY) is the most important virus in North American seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. Planting virus-free minitubers in place of field-grown seed, which usually has a low PVY incidence, reduces initial PVY inoculum in the field. However, plants grown from minitubers are smaller and emerge later than those grown from conventional seed, which could make them more likely to become infected with PVY. We tested the effects of seed type of three potato cultivars (Dark Red Norland, Goldrush, and Red La Soda) on PVY incidence, tuber yield, and flowering time. The incidence of PVY in plants grown from minitubers did not differ from that of plants grown from conventional seed. Minituber-grown plants produced lower tuber yields than plants grown from conventional seed. Plants from minitubers also emerged and flowered later, but this did not increase their incidence of PVY. Cultivar-specific differences were observed in tuber yield and flowering times, suggesting that this variation may influence PVY incidence more than seed type.
The role of proton beam therapy in central neurocytoma: A single-institution experience

Abstract Purpose Central neurocytomas (CNs) are rare World Health Organization grade II tumors managed with surgery and radiation therapy. We report our experience in managing CN with proton beam therapy (PBT) when radiation therapy was used. Methods and materials We identified 61 patients with pathologically diagnosed CN treated at our institution between 1996 and 2016, of which 24 met inclusion criteria. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics are reported in context of progression-free survival and treatment-related adverse events. Results Of 24 patients identified, median age at diagnosis was 21 years (range, 14-60). Median maximal tumor diameter was 4.5 cm (range, 1.4-6.8). Eighteen (75%) patients underwent upfront surgery alone. Sixteen (67%) patients received adjuvant or salvage PBT at a median dose of 54 Gy (relative biological effectiveness). Median follow-up was 56 months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 61 months. Eleven patients had disease progression with median time to progression of 22 months. Of the 5 patients with gross total resection, 4 experienced local recurrence and had MIB-1 >4% (range, 4.5-30). There was improved PFS with addition of PBT to definitive surgery (log-rank, P = .06); there was no disease progression to date. In patients who experienced disease recurrence/progression, MIB-1 Conclusion In our cohort, CN with elevated MIB-1 index were at increased risk for disease progression. However, adjuvant radiation therapy appears to effectively prevent failure. PBT toxicities appear to be comparable to if not less than published photon experiences.
Altered lower extremity joint mechanics occur during the star excursion balance test and single leg hop after ACL-reconstruction in a collegiate athlete.

The effects of ACL-reconstruction on lower extremity joint mechanics during performance of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and Single Leg Hop (SLH) are limited. The purpose of this study was...
The Cost of Saving Electricity Through Energy Efficiency Programs Funded by Utility Customers: 2009–2015

Author(s): Hoffman, Ian M; Goldman, Charles A; Murphy, Sean; Frick, Natalie A; Leventis, Greg; Schwartz, Lisa C | Abstract: The average cost to utilities to save a kilowatt-hour (kWh) in the United States is 2.5 cents, according to the most comprehensive assessment to date of the cost performance of energy efficiency programs funded by electricity customers. These costs are similar to those documented earlier.Cost-effective efficiency programs help ensure electricity system reliability at the most affordable cost as part of utility planning and implementation activities for resource adequacy.Building on prior studies, Berkeley Lab analyzed the cost performance of 8,790 electricity efficiency programs between 2009 and 2015 for 116 investor-owned utilities and other program administrators in 41 states. The Berkeley Lab database includes programs representing about three-quarters of total spending on electricity efficiency programs in the United States.n
Frameworks for CIS Research and Development

Before one could start investigating various aspects and issues of CIS, or developing solutions to address them, it is important to have ways to think about them. Several frameworks are found in the relevant literature, which form the basis for the current chapter. It starts with the most common and probably the longest established framework with time and space as the primary dimensions, and moves to more complex and comprehensive frameworks of group activities. Next, it extends space–time framework with the additional dimension of users. Then it discusses the issues of control, communication, and awareness in CIS environments. Finally, the chapter introduces a more comprehensive model of group activities with twelve different dimensions.
Auswertungen der Erfahrungen aus diversen Umstellungen von Teilbereichen eines computer-gestützten Informationssystems mit IDS/IDK

Die standig wachsende Flut von qualitativen und quantitativen Aufgaben stellt die Kommunalverwaltungen vor organisatorische und personelle Probleme, die nur durch neue Arbeitsmethoden verbunden mit neuen Arbeitsmitteln, bewaltigt werden konnen.
DPN-Linked Isocitrate Dehydrogenase of Animal Tissues*

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the occurrence of the enzymes in microorganisms, plants, and animals as well as their distribution in animal tissues. The DPN-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase activity was first detected and separated from the corresponding TPN-linked enzyme in yeast. Intramitochondrial isocitrate oxidation is controlled by factors relating to the energy-linked electron transport system. The DPN-linked enzyme occurs in a number of other microorganisms, such as, Aspergillus niger, Neurospora crassa, Acetobacter suboxidans, Blastocladiella emersomi, and Thiobacillus thiooxidans. In contrast to the corresponding TPN enzyme, the DPN isocitrate dehydrogenases from heart and yeast do not catalyze the decarboxylation or reduction by reduced pyridine nucleotide of oxalosuccinate. In the presence of the heart enzyme, the hydrogen atom from the α -position of threo -D S -isocitrate is transferred to the α side of the nicotinamide ring of DPN. In the presence of relatively low concentrations of isocitrate and without ADP, the enzyme is maximally active in the rather narrow range of pH 6.5–6.9.
Should Ki67 immunohistochemistry be performed on all lesions in multifocal small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours

Aims Well-differentiated small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours (SI-NETs) are often multifocal, and this has been suggested to impart worse disease-free survival. Practice guidelines have not been established for World Health Organisation (WHO) grading of multiple primary lesions. Methods and results We identified 68 patients with ileal/jejunal SI-NET for a combined total of 207 primary lesions. Each case was evaluated for patient age and sex; size of all tumours; presence of lymph node metastases, mesenteric tumour deposits or distant metastases; and disease-specific outcome. Ki67 staining was performed on all 207 primary lesions. The relationship between multifocality and clinicopathological factors was compared using Fisher's exact test. Outcome was tested using Cox proportional hazard regression. Forty-two patients had unifocal disease, and 26 had multifocal disease (median five lesions, range = 2-32). Most tumours were WHO grade 1 (201 of 207, 97%). Of the five patients with grades 2/3 tumours, three patients had unifocal disease, one patient had two subcentimetre grade 2 lesions (including the largest) and eight subcentimetre grade 1 lesions, and one patient had one 1.6-cm grade 3 lesion and one subcentimetre grade 1 lesion. There was a positive correlation between tumour size and Ki67 index (coefficient 0.28; 95% confidence interval 0.05-0.52, P = 0.017). There was no significant association between multifocality and nodal metastases, mesenteric tumour deposits, distant metastases or disease-specific survival. Conclusions In patients with multifocal SI-NET, unless a particular lesion has a high mitotic rate, only staining the largest lesion for Ki67 should serve to grade almost all cases accurately. Multifocality does not appear to significantly impact patient survival.
Early Pleistocene obliquity-scale pCO2 variability at ~1.5 million years ago.

In the early Pleistocene, global temperature cycles predominantly varied with ~41‐kyr (obliquity‐scale) periodicity. Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations likely played a role in these climate cycles; marine sediments provide an indirect geochemical means to estimate early Pleistocene CO2. Here we present a boron isotope‐based record of continuous high‐resolution surface ocean pH and inferred atmospheric CO2 changes. Our results show that, within a window of time in the early Pleistocene (1.38–1.54 Ma), pCO2 varied with obliquity, confirming that, analogous to late Pleistocene conditions, the carbon cycle and climate covaried at ~1.5 Ma. Pairing the reconstructed early Pleistocene pCO2 amplitude (92 ± 13 μatm) with a comparably smaller global surface temperature glacial/interglacial amplitude (3.0 ± 0.5 K) yields a surface temperature change to CO2 radiative forcing ratio of S[CO2]~0.75 (±0.5) °C(sup -1)·W(sup -1)·m(sup -2), as compared to the late Pleistocene S[CO2] value of ~1.75 (±0.6) °C(sup -1)·W(sup -1)·m(sup -2). This direct comparison of pCO2 and temperature implicitly incorporates the large ice sheet forcing as an internal feedback and is not directly applicable to future warming. We evaluate this result with a simple climate model and show that the presumably thinner, though extensive, northern hemisphere ice sheets would increase surface temperature sensitivity to radiative forcing. Thus, the mechanism to dampen actual temperature variability in the early Pleistocene more likely lies with Southern Ocean circulation dynamics or antiphase hemispheric forcing. We also compile this new carbon dioxide record with published Plio‐Pleistocene δ(sup 11)B records using consistent boundary conditions and explore potential reasons for the discrepancy between Pliocene pCO2 based on different planktic foraminifera.
Azacrown ethers containing oximic and Schiff base sidearms - potential heteronuclear metal ion receptors

Abstract A simple synthetic pathway for the preparation of oxime- and Schiff base-containing aza- and diazacrown ethers is reported. N-Methoxymethyl-substituted aza-15-crown-5 and aza-18-crown-6 as well as N,N′-bis(methoxymethyl)-substituted diaza-18-crown-6 were treated with 5-bromosalicylaldehyde to produce the N-(2′-hydroxy-3′-carbonyl-5′-bromobenzyl)-substituted aza-15-crown-5 (8), aza-18-crown-6 (9) and N,N′-bis(2′-hydroxy-3′-carbonyl-5′-bromobenzyl)-substituted diaza-18-crown-6 (10) compounds. Compounds 8 and 10 were treated with hydroxylamine to give oxime-substituted ligands 12 and 13. A series of bis-Schiff base-containing diaza-18-crown-6 ligands were prepared by reacting 10 with 2-hydroxyaniline (to form 14), 5-nitro-2-hydroxyaniline (15), 2-aminopyridine (16), 2-hydrazinopyridine (17) and N-aminomorpholine (18). Compounds 12–18 are potential complexing agents for simultaneous binding of soft transition and hard alkali or alkaline earth metal ions in one molecule. These new oxime- and Schiff base-containing ligands interacted strongly with Na+ and K+ in methanol. The interaction of the aromatic portions of 9, 10, and 12–15 with transition metal ions was shown by the UV spectra of the metal ion complexes in 50% aqueous DMF. The X-ray structure of 10 is reported.
Successful use of fondaparinux in the setting of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis confirmed by serotonin-release assay and Factor V Leiden.

What is known and objective The off-label use of fondaparinux in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis (HITT) has historically been controversial. We present a case of successful fondaparinux use to treat HITT confirmed by the serotonin-release assay in the setting of other significant clotting and bleeding risk factors. Case summary We report a 19-year-old male with a history of Factor V Leiden and recent neurosurgery treated with fondaparinux after developing HITT confirmed by the serotonin-release assay (SRA). The patient achieved full platelet recovery on fondaparinux and was successfully transitioned to warfarin therapy without further thrombotic nor bleeding complications. What is new and conclusion This case demonstrates a clear example of success of fondaparinux use to treat SRA-confirmed HITT in the setting of complicating factors and adds to the existing literature supporting the use of fondaparinux for HIT.
Interactions between Radiation and Benzo(a)pyrene in an in vitro Model for Malignant Transformation

Malignant transformation, confirmed by reinjection of transformed cells into syngeneic mice, has been induced by both BaP and X-irradiation in a C3H mouse embryo cell line (10T-1/2). A synergistic effect was found when both agents were given sequentially; maximum synergism occurred when 15 to 20 hours elapsed between treatments. Both survival and transformation frequency per surviving cell were enhanced by maintaining cells in conditions of growth inhibition for 4 hours after radiation, suggesting that repair processes may be involved in the transformation process. Such an in vitro transformation system, particularly involving plateau phase cultures, appears to be valuable adjunct to the study of interactions between chemical carcinogens and radiation that may occur in critical cell populations in the lung.
Quantifying the relative importance of competition, predation, and environmental variation for species coexistence

1 Abstract Coexistence theory and food web theory are two cornerstones of the longstanding effort to understand how species coexist. Although competition and predation are known to act simultaneously in communities, theory and empirical study of the two processes continue to be developed independently. Here, we integrate modern coexistence theory and food web theory to simultaneously quantify the relative importance of predation, competition, and environmental fluctuations for species coexistence. We first examine coexistence in a classic multi-trophic model, adding complexity to the food web using a novel machine learning approach. We then apply our framework to a parameterized rocky intertidal food web model, partitioning empirical coexistence dynamics. We find that both environmental fluctuation and variation in predation contribute substantially to species coexistence. Unexpectedly, covariation in these two forces tends to destabilize coexistence, leading to new insights about the role of bottom-up versus top-down forces in both theory and the rocky intertidal ecosystem.
Blood levels of endocrine-disrupting metals and prevalent breast cancer among US women.

A growing body of evidence has pointed to a role of environmental chemical exposures in breast cancer etiology. This study was to examine the association between exposure to the endocrine-disrupting metals, including cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg), and breast cancer in US women. A nationally representative subsample of 9260 women aged ≥ 20 years in the 2003–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was analyzed for the association of blood levels of these metals with prevalent breast cancer using multivariate logistic regression models. Of the study participants, 284 women (weighted prevalence, 2.8%) were self-reported being diagnosed with breast cancer during 2003–2012. Breast cancer women showed significantly elevated blood levels of Cd and Pb, but not Hg. After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that women in all of the higher quartiles of blood lead levels (BLLs) had significantly increased odds ratio of prevalent breast cancer compared with those in the lowest quartile. However, a significant association with prevalent breast cancer was not seen with blood levels of either Cd or Hg. Our study demonstrates a potential relationship between lead exposure, measured as BLLs, and female breast cancer. Additional epidemiologic and mechanistic studies would further explore these interactions and elucidate the potential role of lead exposure in breast cancer etiology.
Emerging Adults’ Perceptions of Male Circumcision in the United States: Facts, Fictions, and Future Plans

Societal perspectives on male circumcision and its implications are not well understood. In this exploratory qualitative study, participants (N = 34, 7 male, 27 female) enrolled in a human sexualit...
Counterfactual Logic and the Necessity of Mathematics

This paper is concerned with counterfactual logic and its implications for the modal status of mathematical claims. It is most directly a response to an ambitious program by Yli-Vakkuri and Hawthorne (2018), who seek to establish that mathematics is committed to its own necessity. I demonstrate that their assumptions collapse the counterfactual conditional into the material conditional. This collapse entails the success of counterfactual strengthening (the inference from ‘If A were true, then C would be true’ to ‘If A and B were true, then C would be true’), which is controversial within counterfactual logic, and which has counterexamples within pure and applied mathematics. I close by discussing the dispensability of counterfactual conditionals within the language of mathematics.
Relationship between mercury and selenium concentrations in tissues from stranded odontocetes in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Abstract Odontocetes are apex predators that, despite accumulating mercury (Hg) to high concentrations in their tissues, show few signs of Hg toxicity. One method of Hg detoxification in odontocetes includes the sequestering of Hg in toxicologically inert mercury selenide (HgSe) compounds. To explore the tissue-specific accumulation of Hg and Se and the potential protective role of Se against Hg toxicity, we measured the concentrations of total mercury (THg) and selenium (Se) in multiple tissues from 11 species of odontocetes that stranded along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast [Florida (FL) and Louisiana (LA)]. Tissues were collected primarily from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus; n = 93); however, individuals from species in the following 8 genera were also sampled: Feresa (n = 1), Globicephala (n = 1), Grampus (n = 2), Kogia (n = 5), Mesoplodon (n = 1), Peponocephala (n = 4), Stenella (n = 9), and Steno (n = 1). In all species, mean THg concentrations were greatest in the liver and lowest in the blubber, lung, or skin. In contrast, in most species, mean Se concentrations were greatest in the liver, lung, or skin, and lowest in the blubber. For all species combined, Se:Hg molar ratios decreased with increasing THg concentration in the blubber, kidney, liver, lung, and skin following an exponential decay relationship. In bottlenose dolphins, THg concentrations in the kidney, liver, and lung were significantly greater in FL dolphins compared to LA dolphins. On average, in bottlenose dolphins, Se:Hg molar ratios were approximately 1:1 in the liver and >1:1 in blubber, kidney, lung, and skin, suggesting that Se likely protects against Hg toxicity. However, more research is necessary to understand the variation in Hg accumulation within and among species and to assess how Hg, in combination with other environmental stressors, influences odontocete population health.
Causal Inference in Pharmacoepidemiology

The causal inference framework can be employed to quantify causal effects in both randomized and non-randomized settings. Often in pharmacoepidemiology research, study designs lack randomized interventions that allow for causal inference. Yet, there are important and meaningful causal questions to address for non-randomized interventions. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the causal inference paradigm, review current methodology, and discuss applications of these concepts to strengthen and improve pharmacoepidemiologic studies. Specifically, we introduce marginal structural models fit using inverse probability weights and discuss additional advanced topics, including survival analyses, time-varying exposure, and instrumental variables. We conclude the chapter with references to relevant software packages.
Screening and Assessment for Depression and Anxiety Disorders

Depression and anxiety are prevalent behavioral health disorders that can cause significant distress. They are the two most common behavioral disorders in the world and they are often comorbid with each other, substance use disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and a range of physical health conditions. These disorders are very responsive to psychotherapeutic interventions, wellness strategies, and medications. Despite this, most people with these disorders go untreated, indicating the need for better detection in community settings. Implementing universal screening and assessment procedures in routine behavioral health and primary care settings represents the most important way to increase access to effective treatment for these conditions. In this chapter, I will review the signs and symptoms of major depressive disorder, adjustment disorders, and several anxiety-based disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. I will then review specific tools, practices, and procedures for screening, assessment, and differential diagnosis of these disorders. A case vignette will be used to illustrate symptoms and highlight assessment practices.
Abstract 17020: Nationwide Analysis to Determine Mechanical Circulatory Support Device Use in Mechanical Complications of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: Without timely reperfusion therapy, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can lead to mechanical complications (MC) such as papillary muscle rupture (PMR), ventricular septal rupture (VSR...
Spinal endoscopy

Soft tissue pathology is often overlooked as a potential cause of some types of back pain. Endoscopy can be useful in diagnosing and treating such pain because it allows direct viewing of the contents of the spinal canal in real color and actual activity, as compared to results with “dstatic” techniques like CT and magnetic resonance imaging. Preliminary reports on the use of the fiberoptic epiduroscope, the instrument developed for this procedure, are encouraging, although the exact mechanism of pain relief is not fully understood. The future of spinal endoscopy will depend on a greater understanding of neurobiomechanics and chemical change relationships to the affected areas of the body.
Experimental determination of convective heat transfer coefficient during controlled frying of potato discs

Abstract The convective heat transfer coefficient was measured experimentally using a controlled one-dimensional (1-D) frying methodology. Hollow Teflon disc was used as a sample holder. Thermostable silicon glue was used to seal the sample in the Teflon disc. This insulated the edges of the potato disc from the frying oil thus restricting oil penetration from only the exposed top and bottom surfaces. This rendered this set of frying experiments a 1-D frying process. The peak heat transfer coefficient values were determined to be 3617, 4517 and 7307 W/m 2 °C at frying temperatures of 150, 170 and 190 °C, respectively. The heat transfer coefficient reached its peak value towards the end of frying at all temperatures.
How to Bootstrap Trust among Devices in Wireless Environments via EAP-STLS

Wireless networks are becoming the de-facto standard for home communications. Computers, phones, and appliances access broadband internet connections via a common Access Point AP directly connected to the ISP network or via phone lines. As we introduce more and more smart devices in our homes, the security and authentication of our "personal devices" is paramount. Regrettably, because of the difficulties in managing user credentials, the vast majority of home environments are secured via Pre-Shared Keys PSKs. This leads to the usage of long-lived weak passwords for network authentication and data encryption. In this paper we analyze the different possibilities offered by current standards and describe a new authentication mechanism, Simple TLSi¾?EAP-TTLS/EAP-STLS, that allows to bootstrap trust among devices via strong credentials PK certificates. Our work specifically targets the security of home wireless environments where security is often forfeited in favor of practicality.
Military Tribunals and the Separation of Powers

The President's November 11, 2001 order authorizing the establishment of military tribunals to try non-citizens accused of terrorism was issued without specific statutory authorization and it divested the federal courts of jurisdiction to try these individuals in cases where it is invoked. The article asks whether the order itself is authorized by the Constitution and further whether the provision in the order prohibiting inquiry into tribunal judgments by federal courts is a suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in violation of Article I. The article concludes that the President was authorized to issue the order, but that his attempt to insulate its judgments from habeas corpus is unconstitutional. The article reviews the history of the writ of habeas corpus from the Civil War through the Korean War, with special emphasis on the Milligan case and the Quirin case and suggests that those two cases are difficult to reconcile, but that both stand for the proposition that the Great Writ cannot be suspended. Having said that, the World War II cases seem to limit the reach of habeas to this country and thus trials held overseas or at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base would seem out of reach of the Writ. But even if the Writ does reach these places, Quirin approved suspension of a wide range of constitutional rights in military tribunals held in this country with at least one of the defendants being a U.S. citizen. The article concludes that while the Writ cannot be suspended, granting the writ will have little effect because Quirin effectively insulated these tribunals from the Constitution. The article also surveys the extra-territorial effect of the Constitution and the citizen-non-citizen distinction for Constitutional purposes.
Indirect Evaluation of Surface Stress in the Boundary Element Method

Evaluation of stress ‘on the surface’ is a difficult step in the boundary element method for elasticity because it requires evaluation of hypersingular integrals. We describe an indirect method that avoids the hypersingular integral by integrating over a far surface not including the singular point or its local geometry. The derivation makes no demands for smoothness of the local surface, hence can be applied on curved surfaces and at edges. As with other derivations of hypersingular integrals, it requires continuous displacement gradients in the neighborhood of the singular point.
Surgical experience with large animals: Important adjunct to residency training in urology☆

Abstract The procedure-oriented protocol in an animal surgical laboratory has proved to be an extremely helpful adjunct to a urologic training program. This approach gives residents a clear and honest understanding of the important role that protocols play in mapping out sound research undertakings. These training protocols serve as important tools, both in encouraging new residents and in assisting more advanced residents. We are enthusiastic about the initial success of this program and look forward to its improved and expanded utilization.
Adsorption isotherms on high-performance liquid chromatographic sorbents. : II. Proteins on cation exchangers with silica support

Adsorption isotherms of proteins were measured by frontal chromatography in a miniaturized chromatographic system with short, narrow-bore columns. The adsorbents were microparticulate, macroporous siliceous cation exchangers, used in the high-performance liquid chromatography of proteins, and the range of mobile phase compositions was similar to that used in elution chromatography for their separation. Adsorption of protein on the wetted stainless-steel parts of the system was reduced by coating the metal surface with a hydrophilic polymer layer. The adsorption isotherms of proteins were concave down and, in most cases, well represented by the Langmuir model. However, the data could also be fitted with reasonable accuracy to the isotherm equation by Jovanovic. Although the siliceous cation exchangers were of different provenance, the isotherms of the proteins were similar. Isotherms measured by the shake-flask method were found to be identical with those obtained by frontal chromatography.
Yeast STE14 methyltransferase, expressed as TrpE-STE14 fusion protein in Escherichia coli, for in vitro carboxylmethylation of prenylated polypeptides.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the preparation and assay of E. coli extracts containing C-terminal prenylcysteine methyltransferase activity. The uses for the recombinant enzyme, including (1) methylation of a soluble species of the mammalian substrate G25K and (2) use of TrpE-STE14 methyltransferase in a coupled assay to identify proteolytic activities capable of removing the aaX residues from a CaaX-containing substrate are described. The studies comparing the functional and physical properties of unmethylated versus methylated versions of the same polypeptide are important to clarify the contribution of methylation to protein function and localization. C-Terminal prenylcysteine methyltransferase activity is detected in vitro in the membrane fraction of cellular extracts from both S. cerevisiae and mammalian cells. The activity is membrane-associated, S -adenosylmethionine- dependent, and can utilize either prenylated polypeptides or the simple modified amino acid N -acetyl -S -trans, trans-farnesyl- L -cysteine (AFC) as a substrate. In S. cerevisiae , the C-terminal prenylcysteine methyltransferase is encoded by the STE14 gene. STE14 is identified in a screen for sterile mutants that failed to mate owing to a defect in a-factor production.
Flux qubit completes the hat trick

Superconducting circuits containing Josephson junctions have previously been shown to exist in superpositions of quantum states of electric charge and of superconducting phase. This superposition manifests itself in so-called Rabi oscillations between the two energy levels produced by the superposition. In his Perspective, Clarke highlights the report of Chiorescu et al. , who demonstrate that a superconducting ring containing three Josephson junctions also exhibits Rabi oscillations, and thus exists in a superposition of magnetic flux states. The experiments are elegant demonstrations of quantum coherence in superconducting circuits, and are potentially of interest as "quantum bits" in a future quantum computer.
Fibroblast Growth Factors and Early Hemopoietic Cell Development

The role of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) in the regulation of the human hematopoiesis is controversial. Older publications suggest that FGFs play an important role in regulating the proliferation of human hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells. Such studies should be interpreted with caution because they were typically carried out in the presence of serum which not only contains significant amounts of FGFs, but other cytokines as well. The development of greatly improved techniques for isolating purified populations of primitive hematopoietic cells, for culturing such cells in serum free conditions, and for analyzing the molecular consequences of exposing these cells to FGF cytokines allow the conclusions of these earlier studies to be tested more rigorously. Our investigations, and those of others, suggest that FGFs may not play an important direct role in regulating the development of human hematopoietic stem cells. These data, and our view of their implications, are discussed in this review.
Worker Participation and Social Dialogue at the Work Place Level in the United States

This paper discusses the right of private sector employees to influence management decisions that may affect their working conditions. It explores the ability of workers represented by labor organizations to deal with their employers through the collective bargaining process, and through contractual grievance-arbitration procedures with respect to issues arising under current agreements. It notes the decline of unions over the past fifty years, with union membership declining from 35% in the late 1950s to under 7% today. In the absence of formal union representation, employees have no formal right to affect management decisions, even though over 85% of surveyed employees have indicated that they would like to have a collective voice at work. Although many firms have established employee participation committees, these are primarily designed to enhance worker productivity and service quality. Most of these institutions are controlled by the employers in a way that makes them technically illegal under Section 8(a)(2) of the NLRA. Few have been established to provide employees with any significant control over their employment terms.
Globalization and the Rise of East Asia: Lessons from the Past, Prospects for the Future

Discussions of the impact of globalization on the powers of nation-states generally assume, first, that globalization is so novel a process that its dynamics and likely outcome(s) are hard or impos...
Psychopathology and Employment in a V.A. Psychiatric Out-Patient Clinic Population

"Jfs crazy to work." This view of psychopathology is most frequently propounded by professionals on the day following return from vacation. It is a view much opposed by occupational therapists and guidance counselors. However, fresh support for the notion that there is a relationship between psychopathology and ernploymenc comes from a smdy in a psychiatric out-patient clinic in an inner-city V.A hospital where the monetary rewards for working are minimized by the prevalence of V.A. or welfare pensions. In this study the charts of 65 male patients who had completed the Millon-Illinois Self-report Inventory, Form C (Millon, 1975) on intake were examined for dara obtained from the patients about employment status. The inventory contains 20 scales giving measures of eight personality patterns, three pathological syndromes, and nine symptom disorders (Millon, 1969). High scores on these scales are associated with greater psychopathology or a tendency toward psychopathology. Scores above 75 and those below on the scales were compared through chi squares with the patient status of currently employed, unemployed for 1 mo. to 2 yr.. and unemployed over 2 yr. With respect to the asocial (X' = 6.52), hypochondriacal (x' = 8.81 ), neurotic depression (X' = 7.01 ), and anxiety scales (x' = 9.91 ), significance was at the .05 level, and the expected values were larger than 5.0 except for one cell of one table which was 4.5. Although not achieving significance, there was a tendency coward the relationship of high scores for employed patients on the negativistic scale (Xa = 5.51). The results for chis sample of patients suggest the desirability of more widespread examination of the relationship between psychopathology and employment. Do a higher percentage of psychopathological persons enter the work force or is it the job which contributes to pathology? What are the differences in the experience of "employment" for the mental health of the lower, middle, and upper classes? How would a patient's rating of job satisfaction be related to measures of a patient's psychopathology? Is there value in a differential study of the relationship of employment to specific types of psychopathology or symptoms? The inventory or its successor, the Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory (Millon, 1977), appear to be useful instruments for such study. Such research could provide data which might effect interesting changes in the views not only of psychologists but also of politicians, economists, businessmen, and clergy.
The influence of obesity on the outcome of treatment of lumbar disc herniation: analysis of the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT).

Background: Questions remain as to the effect that obesity has on patients managed for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation. The purpose of this study was to determine if obesity affects outcomes following the treatment of symptomatic lumbar disc herniation. Methods: An as-treated analysis was performed on patients enrolled in the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. A comparison was made between patients with a body mass index of <30 kg/m2 (nonobese) (n = 854) and those with a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2 (obese) (n = 336). Baseline patient demographic and clinical characteristics were documented. Primary and secondary outcomes were measured at baseline and at regular follow-up time intervals up to four years. The difference in improvement from baseline between operative and nonoperative treatment was determined at each follow-up period for both groups. Results: At the time of the four-year follow-up evaluation, improvements over baseline in primary outcome measures were significantly less for obese patients as compared with nonobese patients in both the operative treatment group (Short Form-36 physical function, 37.3 compared with 47.7 points [p < 0.001], Short Form-36 bodily pain, 44.2 compared with 50.0 points [p = 0.005], and Oswestry Disability Index, −33.7 compared with −40.1 points [p < 0.001]) and the nonoperative treatment group (Short Form-36 physical function, 23.1 compared with 32.0 points [p < 0.001] and Oswestry Disability Index, −21.4 compared with −26.1 points [p < 0.001]). The one exception was that the change from baseline in terms of the Short Form-36 bodily pain score was statistically similar for obese and nonobese patients in the nonoperative treatment group (30.9 compared with 33.4 points [p = 0.39]). At the time of the four-year follow-up evaluation, when compared with nonobese patients who had been managed operatively, obese patients who had been managed operatively had significantly less improvement in the Sciatica Bothersomeness Index and the Low Back Pain Bothersomeness Index, but had no significant difference in patient satisfaction or self-rated improvement. In the present study, 77.5% of obese patients and 86.9% of nonobese patients who had been managed operatively were working a full or part-time job. No significant differences were observed in the secondary outcome measures between obese and nonobese patients who had been managed nonoperatively. The benefit of surgery over nonoperative treatment was not affected by body mass index. Conclusions: Obese patients realized less clinical benefit from both operative and nonoperative treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Surgery provided similar benefit over nonoperative treatment in obese and nonobese patients. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
X-ray Absorption Spectromicroscopy Study of UV-Photoinduced Surface Modification and Anisotropy in Polyimide Films

X-ray absorption spectromicroscopy with an X-ray photoelectron emission microscope (X-PEEM) was applied to study the modification of polyimide films by linear polarized deep ultraviolet (LPDUV) light, using LPDUV-patterned (0.4-1 J/cm 2 ) CBDA-ODA samples as a test system. Stacks of successive X-PEEM images were collected in the total electron yield acquisition mode over the photon energy ranges containing the relevant C, N, and O K-edges. The LPDUV-induced patterns could be clearly distinguished in the images acquired at the excitation energies of characteristic absorption resonances. The analysis of these images and the derived NEXAFS microspectra suggests that the LPDUV irradiation causes an anisotropic decomposition of the PI backbone with the cleavage of the cyclobutane ring to form a maleimide structure as the main decomposition channel. Whereas the UV-induced anisotropy was not directly perceptible in the X-PEEM images acquired at the excitation energies of characteristic absorption resonances, it could be clearly seen and evaluated in the corresponding microspectra. In particular, the dichroic ratio of the π(C=O*) resonance of imide was found to be 6%, in good agreement with previous spectroscopic results.
Prototypical Biological Signals

In this paper we present a mechanism to construct prototypes of biological activity by robustly aggregating multiple noise-corrupted and time-warped observations of patient data. This allows for a compact representation of clinical activity while improving the quality of information. Our prototype construction relies on morphology-based sequence-alignment to relate activity across a set of observations and hierarchical aggregation techniques to merge information across signals in an efficient bottom-up manner. The resulting prototype represents an averaged representation of the original observations along both the time and amplitude axes. When applied to synthetic ECG, the use of prototypes was able to reconstruct the original signal with an error of less than 6% from data corrupted with unit signal-to-noise ratio and time-warping corresponding to rate variations of 5 beats per minute. In a different experiment on a set of acoustic cardiac recordings, the use of prototypes was also able to highlight differences in patients with and without mitral regurgitation.
Patterns of speciation inferred from mitochondrial DNA in North American Chthamalus (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha: Chthamaloidea).

Chthamalus is a cosmopolitan genus of high intertidal barnacles that are difficult to distinguish morphologically. This study focuses on a single subgeneric group of Chthamalus that is found on the coasts of North and Central America to determine the age and pattern of speciation among these species. Two comparisons of genetic divergence are made across the Panamanian Isthmus, allowing estimates of the substitution rate to be made for two mitochondrial genes coding for COI and 16S rRNA in these barnacles. These data suggest that the little morphological diversification that there has been in Chthamalus occurred early in the history of the genus, and subsequent radiations were probably induced by transient periods of population separation during late Miocene to Recent climatic changes.
DIETARY MANAGEMENT IN RENAL FAILURE

Abstract With the new hope that dialysis and transplantation has offered patients with renal failure, there is a need now, more than ever before, for the proper medical management of these patients. An essential part of this therapy is dietary control. The rationale behind the dietary management of patients with renal failure is discussed together with practical guidelines for the management of these patients.
High-Yield Expression of Heterologous [FeFe] Hydrogenases in Escherichia coli

Background The realization of hydrogenase-based technologies for renewable H2 production is presently limited by the need for scalable and high-yielding methods to supply active hydrogenases and their required maturases. Principal Findings In this report, we describe an improved Escherichia coli-based expression system capable of producing 8–30 mg of purified, active [FeFe] hydrogenase per liter of culture, volumetric yields at least 10-fold greater than previously reported. Specifically, we overcame two problems associated with other in vivo production methods: low protein yields and ineffective hydrogenase maturation. The addition of glucose to the growth medium enhances anaerobic metabolism and growth during hydrogenase expression, which substantially increases total yields. Also, we combine iron and cysteine supplementation with the use of an E. coli strain upregulated for iron-sulfur cluster protein accumulation. These measures dramatically improve in vivo hydrogenase activation. Two hydrogenases, HydA1 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and HydA (CpI) from Clostridium pasteurianum, were produced with this improved system and subsequently purified. Biophysical characterization and FTIR spectroscopic analysis of these enzymes indicate that they harbor the H-cluster and catalyze H2 evolution with rates comparable to those of enzymes isolated from their respective native organisms. Significance The production system we describe will facilitate basic hydrogenase investigations as well as the development of new technologies that utilize these prolific H2-producing enzymes. These methods can also be extended for producing and studying a variety of oxygen-sensitive iron-sulfur proteins as well as other proteins requiring anoxic environments.
Separate cis-acting elements determine the expression of mouse Dbx gene in multiple spatial domains of the central nervous system

Abstract Dbx, a divergent homeoɡ gene, is expressed in a regionally restricted pattern in the developing mouse central nervous system (CNS). In order to understand its spatial regulation, we have isolated a cis-regulatory region using a reporter gene analytical approach in transgenic mice. A 5.7 kb DNA fragment that contains the transcriptional start site of the Dbx gene is sufficient to direct the expression of the transgene to various domains of the CNS in a temporally regulated fashion. The transgene expression can be detected between 9.5 and 15.5 days post coitum in embryos in the fore-, mid- and hindbrain and spinal cord in regions where the endogenous gene is expressed. Additionally, transgene expression can also be detected in the oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III). The expression of the transgene closely resembles that of the Dbx gene with minor, but interesting differences. These results suggest that major cis-acting elements reside within a 5.7 kb DNA fragment located 5ȃ of the Dbx gene. Further deletion analysis shows that at least two independently regulated elements are present within this DNA fragment: an element that directs expression to the brain and spinal cord and a second element that directs expression to the oculomotor nerve.
Restricted dynamics of molecular hydrogen confined in activated carbon nanopores

Abstract Quasi-elastic neutron scattering was used for characterization of dynamics of molecular hydrogen confined in narrow nanopores of two activated carbon materials: a carbon derived from polyfurfuryl alcohol and an ultramicroporous carbon. Fast, but incomplete ortho–para conversion was observed at 10 K, suggesting that scattering originates from the fraction of unconverted ortho isomer which is rotation-hindered because of confinement in nanopores. Hydrogen molecules entrapped in narrow nanopores (
A quantitative electron microscopic study of synapse formation in dispersed cell cultures of rat cerebellum stained either by Os-UL or by E-PTA.

Abstract Synapse formation was followed in dispersed cell cultures of rat cerebellums stained either by osmium-uranyl-lead (Os-UL) or by ethanolic phosphotungstic acid (E-PTA). The numerical densities of synapses stained by Os-UL were always significantly higher than those stained by E-PTA (from 3 to 35 days in vitro). This difference suggests that some portion of the populations of both immature and mature synapses was not stained by E-PTA. The width of the synaptic cleft (28.4 nm) in synapses stained by E-PTA was only 9 nm more than that of the cleft in synapses stained by Os-UL (19.4 nm), suggesting that some portion of one or both of the synaptic membranes is stained by E-PTA. Analysis of data from 7 other staining procedures utilizing both ethanolic and aqueous solutions demonstrated that the differences in cleft width described above appear to be due to the various affinities of the stains for different portions of synaptic membranes, and do not represent differences due to shrinkage artifact. In examining the parameters of synaptic structure during development of the cultures, a statistically significant increase in both the height and width of the presynaptic dense projections was found. Changes in synaptic morphology during synaptogenesis in this culture system were similar to those reported for the cerebellar cortex in vivo.