cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diaphorase catalyzed biotransformation of RDX via N-denitration mechanism

Abstract Previously, we hypothesized that hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) can be biotransformed by anaerobic sludge via three different routes: (1) direct ring cleavage via α-hydroxylation of a-CH2 group, (2) reduction of one of the –NO2 groups to –NO, (3) N-denitration prior to ring cleavage. The present study describes biotransformation of RDX via route 3 by a diaphorase (EC 1.8.1.4) from Clostridium kluyveri using NADH as electron donor. The removal of RDX was accompanied by the formation and accumulation of nitrite ion (NO2−), formaldehyde (HCHO), ammonium (NH4+), and nitrous oxide (N2O). None of the RDX-nitroso products were detected. The ring cleavage product methylenedinitramine was detected as the transient intermediate. Product stoichiometry showed that each reacted RDX molecule produced one nitrite ion and the product distribution gave a carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mass balance of 91 and 92%, respectively, supporting the occurrence of a mono-denitration step prior to the ring cleavage and decomposition. Severe oxygen mediated inhibition (92% inhibition) of RDX biotransformation and superoxide dismutase-sensitive cytochrome c reduction indicated the potential involvement of an anion radical RDX − prior to denitration. A comparative study between native- and apo-enzymes showed the possible involvement of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) in catalyzing the transfer of a redox equivalent (e/H+) from NADH to RDX to produce RDX − responsible for secondary decomposition.
Fourier transform IR spectroscopy of collagen and gelatin solutions: deconvolution of the amide I band for conformational studies.

The ir spectra of lathyritic rat skin collagen and calf skin gelatin solutions at a variety of temperatures were obtained using Fourier transform ir spectroscopy and a 9-reflection, 2-pass ZnSe prism sample cell. The spectra were then deconvolved (based on Kauppinnen's method) and the behavior of the amide I band at ∼ 1650 cm−1 observed in detail. Throughout the temperature range studied (4–50°C), three component absorption peaks within the amide I band (at 1633, 1643, and 1660 cm−1) are common to the spectra irrespective of the degree of triple helix content of the sample. Changes in the relative intensities of these component peaks are, however, conformationally dependent. During denaturation of the triple helix, the dominant 1660-cm−1 component in the native collagen spectrum diminishes and the 1633-cm−1 peak becomes relatively intensified. The inherently strong basicity of the carbonyl group of the proline residues together with the frequent occurrence of this imino acid in the X position of the Gly-X-Y triplet of collagen largely accounts for the −30-cm−1 shift of the amide I band during denaturation. Temperature and conformationally dependent changes in the fine structure of the amide I band from dilute solutions of collagen can be monitored in a reproducible and quantitative fashion.
Developing Skills in Providing Outreach Programs Construction and Use of the POSE (Performance of Outreach Skills Evaluation) Rubric

Rubrics, commonly used in classroom assessment, can be beneficial in assessing the performance of counseling outreach and presentation skills. A rubric to assess how well graduate students in counseling learned and demonstrated outreach presentation skills was developed. The development of the rubric is described, along with results of the evaluation of the rubric. Suggestions for a variety of uses of rubrics in the college counseling center context, as well as in counselor education, are presented.
Telephone-linked care for physical activity: a qualitative evaluation of the use patterns of an information technology program for patients

Automated health behavior interventions that involve discretionary use by patients or consumers over extended periods of time are becoming more common and it is generally assumed that adherence to the recommended schedule is related to the impact of the system on users. Yet reasons for use or non-use of such systems have not been carefully explored. An understanding of factors that influence people to use, not use, or underutilize these automated behavioral change and self-care management systems can help in designing systems that are more effective and acceptable to users. Using qualitative research methods, this study explored the experiences of 45 users of a multiple-contact health promotion application with the goal of understanding the major factors that affect patterns of use (frequency of and duration of contact). The in-depth exploration of users' perceptions and views made possible by the qualitative research methods revealed a number of important themes. Reported reasons for underutilization or non-use were found to be both user-related and system-related. User-related reasons encompassed personal and individual events that prevented or impeded system utilization. System-related reasons included those that related to the medium itself as well as the content of the application. The qualitative methods employed in this study created a forum through which users' feedback could be fully explored and then synthesized to assist in the improvement of this and other automated health behavior interventions.
Condensation of hard rods under gravity: exact results in one dimension.

We present exact results for the density profile of a one dimensional array of N hard rods of diameter D and mass m under gravity g. For a strictly one dimensional system, the liquid-solid transition occurs at zero temperature, because the close-packed density ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{c}$ is 1. However, if we relax this condition slightly such that ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{c}=1\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta},$ we find a series of critical temperatures ${T}_{c}^{(i)}=mgD(N+1\ensuremath{-}i)/{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}$ with ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}=1/\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{-}1,$ at which the ith particle undergoes the liquid-solid transition. The functional form of the onset temperature, ${T}_{c}^{(1)}=mgDN/{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0},$ is consistent with the previous result [Physica A 271, 192 (1999)] obtained by the Enskog equation. We also show that the increase in the center of mass is linear in T before the transition, but it becomes quadratic in T after the transition because of the formation of solid near the bottom.
Lithocholic acid down-regulation of NF-κB activity through vitamin D receptor in colonic cancer cells

Lithocholic acid (LCA), a secondary bile acid, is a vitamin D receptor (VDR) ligand. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)), the hormonal form of vitamin D, is involved in the anti-inflammatory action through VDR. Therefore, we hypothesize that LCA acts like 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) to drive anti-inflammatory signals. In present study, we used human colonic cancer cells to assess the role of LCA in regulation of the pro-inflammatory NF-kappaB pathway. We found that LCA treatment increased VDR levels, mimicking the effect of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). LCA pretreatment inhibited the IL-1beta-induced IkappaBalpha degradation and decreased the NF-kappaB p65 phosphorylation. We also measured the production of IL-8, a well-known NF-kappaB target gene, as a read-out of the biological effect of LCA expression on NF-kappaB pathway. LCA significantly decreased IL-8 secretion induced by IL-1beta. These LCA-induced effects were very similar to those of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3.) Thus, LCA recapitulated the effects of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) on IL-1beta stimulated cells. Mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells lacking VDR have intrinsically high NF-kappaB activity. LCA pretreatment was not able to prevent TNFalpha-induced IkappaBalpha degradation in MEF VDR (-/-), whereas LCA stabilized IkappaBalpha in MEF VDR (+/-) cells. Collectively, our data indicated that LCA activated the VDR to block inflammatory signals in colon cells.
Model protocells photochemically reduce carbonate to organic carbon

Synthetic cell-sized organic microstructures effect the long-wavelength UV photosynthesis of organic products from carbonate. Formaldehyde is the most abundant photoproduct and water is the major proton donor for this reduced form of carbon. The apparent quantum yield is ∼10−5 carbon atoms per incident UV 254-nm photon. We show here that these results for model phase-bounded systems are consistent with the postulate that metabolism of progenitors to the earliest living cells could have been, at least in part, photosynthetic.
Space-time formulation for the dynamic image potential: Application to photo-assisted field emission

Abstract The space-time expression for the nonlocal image potential of a charged particle near a metal surface is derived using path integral methods. The image potential is assumed to arise from the particle-surface-plasmon interaction. In the case of a field emission configuration we find that an electron tunneling through a potential barrier experiences an image potential whose magnitude is less than the classical value of e2/4z. If an electron passes over the barrier (due to photo absorption) it feels an image potential whose magnitude is greater than e2/4z. The theory exhibits no evidence of the experimentally observed oscillations in the photocurrent as a function of the applied electric field.
Small InAsN and InN clusters: electronic properties and nitrogen stability belt

Electronic properties of several small non-stoichiometric InAsN and InN clusters derived from the symmetry elements of the zincblende InAs and wurtzite InN bulk lattices have been studied by the first-principle, many-body field theoretical methods. Clusters’ nucleation conditions reflected those in quantum confinement and “vacuum”. Electronic properties of such clusters can be tuned both by the use of quantum confinement and doping, which provide for symmetry breaking and realization of excitations optically forbidden in tetrahedral and hexagonal symmetry clusters. Doping with nitrogen enhances stability and allows tailoring the optical transition energy of the clusters from ultraviolet to infrared. The obtained results closely correlate with available experimental data.
The Relationship Between Adolescent Physical Abuse and Criminal Offending: Support for an Enduring and Generalized Cycle of Violence

Prospective investigations have demonstrated support for the cycle of violence theory. However, few studies have examined whether or not abuse occurring during adolescence increases the prevalence and frequency of criminal involvement, or explored the long-term consequences of such victimization. In addition, there has been little investigation of whether or not the effects of abuse vary depending on characteristics of the victim, such as sex, race/ethnicity, age, family structure or income. Using data from the National Youth Survey, this study demonstrates that adolescent physical abuse has immediate and enduring effects on the prevalence and frequency of a variety of self-reported offenses, including violent and non-violent crimes, drug use and intimate partner violence. Furthermore, the study reveals that while victimization increases the prevalence of offending for victims of varying backgrounds, the frequency of offending is moderated by family income, area of residence, and family structure. Implications for prevention are discussed.
Career satisfaction in adolescent medicine: A survey of physicians trained over a 20-year period

Abstract National data are available on the career undertakings of those trained in adolescent medicine, but longitudinal data on actual career and job satisfaction is lacking. Forty-five physicians trained in adolescent medicine from 1965 to 1985 at a large urban teaching hospital were surveyed using the Jewitt/Greenberg Career Satisfaction Questionnaire. Thirty two (71%) responded. Twenty-one (66%) were primarily in practice, eight (25%) were in academic medicine, and three (9%) were involved in administration. Five (16%) had careers in adolescent and/or young adult health care. Thirty-one (97%) claimed to at least "like" their career, and 29 (91%) felt "satisfied." Only three (9%) desired to change their career, but 11 others (34%) stated they would if they could have an equal opportunity in a new career. Four individuals (13%) would not have chosen medicine if given another chance, and 12 (30%) would not have chosen pediatrics. Greatest satisfaction was derived from patient care activities (62%), the actual work site and job (50%), and finances (40%). Dissatisfaction resulted from too little money (34%), inadequate time (25%), administrative problems (22%), and patient-related problems (22%). A large majority (72%) desired to be acknowledged as specialists. This review of graduates from a single program provides a unique perspective on the ultimate careers of trainees. A similar review of other programs may help facilitate teaching and correct programatic deficiencies. This review also suggests that careful thought should be given to a way of properly acknowledging, as specialists, those trained in adolescent medicine.
The bone scan in tarsal coalition: A case report

Tarsal coalition is abnormal fusion of two or more tarsal bones. The union may be fibrous, cartilaginous, or osseous and can be congenital or acquired in response to infection, articular disorders, trauma, or surgery. We report a case of fibrous talocalcaneal coalition in a 15-year-old boy in whom bone scintigraphy employing pinhole lateral views confirmed the clinical diagnosis when plain radiographs showed minimal changes and computed tomography was equivocal. The diagnosis of symptomatic tarsal coalition is important in that it is a common remediable cause of peroneal spastic flat foot, a frequently encountered condition. Scintigraphy provides important information about the presence and localization of this condition.
Oxidation-responsive Eu2+/3+-liposomal contrast agent for dual-mode magnetic resonance imaging

An oxidation-responsive contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging was synthesized using Eu2+ and liposomes. Positive contrast enhancement was observed with Eu2+, and chemical exchange saturation transfer was observed before and after oxidation of Eu2+. Orthogonal detection modes render the concentration of Eu inconsequential to molecular information provided through imaging.
Assessing endothelial function as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The vascular endothelium plays a key role in the prevention of atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction is an antecedent of clinical cardiovascular disease and can be viewed as the final pathway between coronary risk factors and the development of atherosclerosis. The development of a noninvasive method of assessing endothelial health (ie, measurement of flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery) has enabled investigators to evaluate the effects of dietary patterns on vascular function. Emerging evidence indicates that dietary fats may acutely impair endothelial function, but this effect is dependent on the type of fat and on the other nutrients consumed. Although inconclusive, studies in cohorts of modest size suggest that antioxidants, L-arginine, and folic acid may modulate endothelial function. Additional research is needed to define the impact of complex, long-term dietary patterns on the vascular endothelium.
Petrology and geochemistry of ca. 2100–1000 a.B.P. magmas of Augustine volcano, Alaska, based on analysis of prehistoric pumiceous tephra

Abstract Geochemical and textural features of whole-rock samples, phenocrysts, matrix glasses, and silicate melt inclusions from five prehistoric pumiceous tephra units of Augustine volcano, Alaska, were investigated to interpret processes of magma storage and evolution. The bulk-rock compositions of the tephra (designated G, erupted ca. 2100 a.B.P.; I ca. 1700 a.B.P.; H ca. 1400 a.B.P.; and C1 and C2 ca. 1000 a.B.P.) are silicic andesite; they contain rhyolitic matrix glasses and silicate melt inclusions with 74–79 wt.% SiO2. The rocks are comprised of microlite-bearing matrix glass and phenocrysts of plagioclase, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, magnesio–hornblende, titanomagnetite, and ilmenite ± Al-rich amphibole with minor to trace apatite and rare sulfides and quartz. The felsic melt inclusions in plagioclase, pyroxenes, and amphibole are variably enriched in volatile components and contain 1.6–8.0 wt.% H2O, 2100–5400 ppm Cl, Prehistoric Augustine magmas represented by these silicic andesites evolved via fractional crystallization, magma mingling and mixing, and/or chemical contamination due to magma–volcanic rock interaction. The occurrence of fractional crystallization is supported by the abundance of normally zoned phenocrysts, the presence of felsic matrix glass and melt inclusions within andesitic rock samples, trace-element data, and by geochemical modeling. The modeling constrains the influence of crystal fractionation on melt differentiation and is consistent with the evolution of the melt phase from felsic andesite to rhyodacite compositions. Magma mixing, mingling, and/or contamination by magma–volcanic rock interaction are indicated by abundant reversely zoned phenocrysts, rare mixed pumice-bearing rock samples, and abundant resorption–growth features in plagioclase.
Structural Basis for Flip-Flop Action of Thiamin Pyrophosphate-dependent Enzymes Revealed by Human Pyruvate Dehydrogenase

Thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP), the biologically active form of vitamin BI, is a cofactor of enzymes catalyzing reactions involving the cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond adjacent to an oxo group. TPP-dependent enzymes show a common mechanism of TPP activation by: (1) forming the ionic N-H...O(sup -) hydrogen bonding between the N1' atom of the aminopirymidine ring of the coenzyme and intrinsic gamma-carboxylate group of glutamate and (2) imposing an "active" V-conformation that brings the N4' atom of the aminopirymidine to the distance required for the intramolecular C-H.. .N hydrogen bonding with the thiazolium C2 atom. Within these two hydrogen bonds that rapidly exchange protons, protonation of the N1' atom is strictly coordinated with the deprotonation of the 4' -amino group and eventually abstraction of the proton from C2. The human pyruvate dehydrogenase Elp, component of human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, catalyzes the irreversible decarboxylation of the pyruvate followed by the reductive acetylation of the lipoyl group of dihydrolipoyl acyltransferase. Elp is alpha(sub 2)beta(sub2)-heterotetrameric with a molecular mass of I54 kDa, which has two catalytic sites, each providing TPP and magnesium ion as cofactors and each formed on the interface between the PP and PYR domains. The dynamic nonequivalence of two otherwise chemically equivalent catalytic sites has been observed and the flip-flop mechanism was suggested, according to which two active sites affect each other and in which different steps of the catalytic reaction are performed in each of the sites at any given moment. Based on specific futures of human pyruvate dehydrogenase including rigid and flexible connections between domains that bind the cofactor we propose a mechanistic model for the flip-flop action of this enzyme. We postulate that the dynamic protein environment drives the exchange of tautomers in the 4' -aminopyrimidine ring of the cofactor through a concerted shuttl-like motion of tightly connected domains. The dynamic exchange of those tautomers, in turns, is required during the reactions of pyruvate decarboxylation and reductive acetylation of lipoamide. Thus the shuttle-like motion of the domains is coordinated with the reactions of decarboxylation and acetylation, which are carried out in each of the cofactor sites resulting in a flip-flop action of the enzyme. The structure-derived mechanism of action of human pyruvate dehydrogenase may be likely common for other TPP-dependent enzymes.
Statewide Strategic Forest Resource Planning Programs: Evaluation Based on Context, Process, Outputs, and Performance.

Strategcc planning of forest resources is an increasingly common government activity in the United States. Lacking clearly defined products of planning programs and experiencing limited conceptual foundations for analysis, attempts to evaluate the costs and benefits of strategic planning becomes a very difficult exercise. Statewide forest resource planning programs imple mented by state governments were evaluated in 1986. Chent-based perspectives were sought with regard to the context within which planning was undertaken, the nature of planning process used, the outputs/benefits of planning, and the overall performance of planning programs.
Intellectual, Ideological, and Political Obstacles to the Advancement of Organizational Science

This article contends that scientific inquiry is the proper vehicle for examining organizational dynamics and promoting organizational effectiveness. However there are two sets of obstacles that hinder the development of a science of organizations. One set involves the influence of academic ideologies such as behaviorism, humanistic psychology, and postmodernist deconstruction. The other set reflects the reluctance of organizations to alter their practices based on the results of empirical research. We conclude the article with an example of a successful organizational intervention that exemplifies the main themes of the article.
Evidence of Tunable On−Off Sorption Behaviors of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Role of Ion Exchanger Support

Metal oxide particlesnamely, oxides of Fe(III), Zr(IV), Ti(IV), and Al(III)are environmentally benign and exhibit amphoteric sorption behaviors around neutral pH; i.e., they can selectively bind both transition-metal cations (e.g., Cu2+) and anionic ligands (e.g., arsenate or HAsO42-). Because sorption sites reside predominantly on the surface, the metal oxides offer very high sorption capacity at nanoscale sizes on a mass basis, because of the high surface area-to-volume ratio. However, these nanoparticles are almost impermeable in fixed-bed columnar configuration or any flow-through system. The primary objective of this short communication is to present convincing experimental evidence to demonstrate that, by appropriately dispersing hydrated iron oxide (HFO) nanoparticles within a polymeric cation or anion exchanger, its amphoteric sorption capacity can be tailored to remove either metal cations or anionic ligands. Such hybrid cation and anion exchangers are also amenable to efficient regeneration. Thu...
Cardiac sarcoid: a clinician's review on how to approach the patient with cardiac sarcoid.

Cardiac sarcoid is an infiltrative, granulomatous disease of the myocardium. It is more prevalent entity than once believed, especially subclinical disease. It affects heart mechanics causing ventricular failure, and disrupts the cardiac electrical system leading to third degree heart block, malignant ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. This makes early diagnosis and treatment of this devastating disease essential. Based on reviewed literature this paper proposes step-wise diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms for patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidoisis who do or do not have prior history of systemic sarcoidosis. Clin. Cardiol. 2012 DOI: 10.1002/clc.21982 The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose. Special thanks to Dr. Maziar Zafari for his help with the editing process.
A comparison of keV atom bombardment mass spectra of peptides obtained with a two-sector mass spectrometer with those from a four-sector tandem mass spectrometer

Abstract The information content of the conventional fast (keV) atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectra of six peptides, substance P, des-Arg1substance P. Fibrinopeptide A, des-Arg16fibrinopeptide A, oxidized somatostatin, and reduced somatostatin, ranging in molecular weight from 1190.6 to 1638.7 is compared with that of the corresponding spectra measured by a high-performance (four-sector) tandem mass spectrometer after collision-induced decomposition (CID). The CID spectra exhibit distinct peaks corresponding to extended series of sequence characteristic ions free of the chemical background and contribution of the matrix which makes the weak fragment ion signals in conventional FAB mass spectra so difficult to interpret. The presence of arginine, a strongly basic amino acid, in either the N-terminal or C-terminal position is reflected in the dominance of characteristic N-terminal and C-terminal fragment ions. The resolving power of the first of the two mass spectrometers is clearly sufficient to permit the recording of separate CID spectra of oxidized and reduced somatostatin in a mixture.
Long-term anticoagulant therapy for idiopathic pulmonary embolism in the elderly: a decision analysis.

Background Elderly patients with idiopathic pulmonary embolism (PE) are at high risk for recurrent venous thromboembolic disease and might benefit from long-term anticoagulant therapy. But they are also at higher risk for bleeding complications. Because there have been no clinical trials addressing PE treatment in elderly patients, the balance of therapeutic benefits and risks is unclear. Methods We constructed a decision-analytic model to forecast the effects of long-term warfarin therapy for idiopathic PE. We focused on 65- and 80-year-old outpatients, with or without a propensity for falls, who previously had completed 6 to 12 months of anticoagulant therapy without experiencing a major bleed. The model incorporated age-appropriate thromboembolic recurrence rates after PE, major bleeding risks of warfarin use, and the contribution of falls to major bleeding episodes in anticoagulated elderly patients. We used probabilistic sensitivity analysis to model outcomes over ranges of potential thromboembolic and bleeding risks. Results In our baseline analysis, long-term warfarin was superior to conventional duration therapy. Depending on the patient subgroup (stratified by age and fall risk), it increased life expectancy by 0.16 to 0.56 years and event-free life expectancy by 0.32 to 0.51 years. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated that long-term warfarin therapy was likely to increase life expectancy when compared with conventional-duration therapy (76 to 93% likelihood across all groups). Conclusions Extended anticoagulant therapy for idiopathic PE may be beneficial in a subgroup of elderly patients who tolerate the initial 6 to 12 months of therapy without bleeding complications. In this population, advanced age and fall risk were not contraindications to long-term anticoagulation.
Numerical mountain pass periodic solutions of a nonlinear spring equation

Abstract In this paper, we show how the introduction of a nonlinear term in the classic spring model can produce dramatic results. We compute a large amplitude solution which is drastically different from the known linear, small amplitude solution. A dual variational formulation is given, recasting the problem as one in which saddle points correspond to solutions of the differential equation. Our computations are based on the numerical mountain pass algorithm developed by Choi and McKenna which was inspired by the theorems of Ambrosetti, Rabinowitz and Ekeland.
Impact of seawinds scatterometer data on ocean surface analysis and weather prediction

Scatterometer observations of the ocean surface wind speed and direction improve the depiction and prediction of storms at sea. These data are especially valuable where observations are otherwise sparse-mostly in the Southern Hemisphere and tropics, but also on occasion in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. The Sea Winds scatterometer on the QuikScat satellite was launched in June 1999 and it represents a dramatic departure in design from the other scatterometer instruments launched during the past decade (ERS-1,2 and NSCAT). This paper will be limited to results from the SeaWinds scatterometer on Quikscat. This presentation shows the influence of QuikScat data in data assimilation systems both from the NASA Data Assimilation Office (GEOS-3) and from NCEP (GDAS). The strategy for assessing the impact of SeaWinds in NWP was largely described and parallels the approach used for the geophysical validation of NSCAT data.
GENETIC DISSECTION OF INTERMALE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN BALB/cJ AND A/J MICE

Aggressive behaviors are disabling, treatment refractory, and sometimes lethal symptoms of several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, currently available treatments for patients are inadequate, and the underlying genetics and neurobiology of aggression is only beginning to be elucidated. Inbred mouse strains are useful for identifying genomic regions, and ultimately the relevant gene variants (alleles) in these regions, that affect mammalian aggressive behaviors, which, in turn, may help to identify neurobiological pathways that mediate aggression. The BALB/cJ inbred mouse strain exhibits relatively high levels of intermale aggressive behaviors and shows multiple brain and behavioral phenotypes relevant to neuropsychiatric syndromes associated with aggression. The A/J strain shows very low levels of aggression. We hypothesized that a cross between BALB/cJ and A/J inbred strains would reveal genomic loci that influence the tendency to initiate intermale aggressive behavior. To identify such loci, we conducted a genomewide scan in an F2 population of 660 male mice bred from BALB/cJ and A/J inbred mouse strains. Three significant loci on chromosomes 5, 10 and 15 that influence aggression were identified. The chromosome 5 and 15 loci are completely novel, and the chromosome 10 locus overlaps an aggression locus mapped in our previous study that used NZB/B1NJ and A/J as progenitor strains. Haplotype analysis of BALB/cJ, NZB/B1NJ and A/J strains showed three positional candidate genes in the chromosome 10 locus. Future studies involving fine genetic mapping of these loci as well as additional candidate gene analysis may lead to an improved biological understanding of mammalian aggressive behaviors.
Assessing the Accuracy of Polls and Surveys

Direct measurements of public opinion about national affairs appear with increasing frequency in all of the mass media. While such survey results are often with statements as to expected error margins, discrepancies between multiple surveys in the news at the same time on what seem to be the same topics may convince casual consumers that such error margins must be considerably understated. A brief review of the several sources of variability and fixed bias in such surveys provides a clearer frame of reference for the evaluation of such data.
Surface Platinum Electrooxidation in the Presence of Oxygen

Understanding the influences of Pt surface oxides is crucial for elucidating the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells, particularly with an eye toward the design of next-generation Pt-based electrocatalysts with improved activity. Although gaseous O2 is always present during the ORR, the majority of previous Pt surface oxide studies were conducted in the absence of O2 due to experimental limitations. In this study, multiple in situ techniques were applied to study the ORR on platinum in the presence of O2. The thin channel flow Pt electrode and the electrochemical quartz microbalance (EQCM) techniques on Pt polycrystalline electrodes suggest that the influence of O2 in the electrolyte on mass change and charge transfer is negligible. The oxide formation followed a logarithm-growth behavior initiating as early as 0.2 s after potential steps. This suggests that no slow conversion of oxide species (e.g., between OHads and Oads) takes place. Despite the negligible effect of O2 on the measured oxide c...
Comprehensive analysis of the transcriptional response of human decidual cells to lipopolysaccharide stimulation.

Abstract Decidual cells are central to innate immunity at the maternal/fetal interface. We sought to characterize the response of decidual cells to stimulation and then removal of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) using a whole genome approach. Decidual cells were isolated from term unlabored cesarean sections. Cells were stimulated with LPS and RNA isolated both pre-stimulation and 2 and 24h post-stimulation. Media were changed and RNA extracted 48h later. Gene expression was measured using Agilent 44K whole genome microarrays. Data were visualized and interpreted using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software and selected ( n =5) target gene expression was verified with quantitative real-time PCR. Genes related to immune function were up-regulated at 2 and 24h after LPS exposure and then generally returned to baseline or were at least substantially reduced after LPS removal. Pathway analysis also revealed that genes involved in lipid metabolism (specifically cholesterol and steroid biosynthesis), iron metabolism, and the plasminogen system were coordinately altered following exposure to LPS. Our novel, preliminary findings provide insight into possible mechanisms via which the host inflammatory response could contribute to preterm birth and warrant further investigation in preterm samples.
Appropriating Others' Stories: Some Questions about the Ethics of Writing Fiction

Observant une certaine negligence pour l'ethique de l'ecriture de fiction face a l'ethique journalistique et aux autres domaines de l'ethique professionnelle, l'A. souleve la question de la responsabilite des ecrivains envers leur materiau vivant, c'est-a-dire envers la vie meme des personnes qu'ils utilisent comme personnages. Entre trahison et exploitation, l'A. evalue le sens de ces emprunts a la lumiere des valeurs de la litterature et de la morale.
A perspective on the Restructured Clinical (RC) Scale Project.

The articles in this issue by Nichols (2006/this issue) and Rogers, Sewell, Harrison, and Jordan (2006/this issue) provide evaluations and critiques of the Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales developed by Tellegen et al. (2003) to reduce the high intercorrelations typically found among MMPI–2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) Basic scales and to correspondingly improve the discriminate validity of these scales. This manuscript provides another perspective that acknowledges that it would be premature to discontinue the use of the standard MMPI–2 basic scales until more research has been accumulated on the RC Scales. However, it is also proposed that the RC Scales are an innovative and important contribution that holds substantial potential for addressing a number of significant limitations in the MMPI–2 and thereby improving the assessment of psychopathology with this instrument.
Demonstration of highly efficient waveguiding in a photonic crystal slab at the 1.5-µm wavelength

Highly efficient transmission of 1.5 {micro}m light in a two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal slab waveguide is experimentally demonstrated. The light wave is shown to be guided along a triple-line defect formed within a 2D crystal and vertically by a strong index-guiding mechanism. At certain wavelength ranges, a complete transmission is observed, suggesting a lossless guiding along this photonic 1D conduction channel.
Limestone Influences on Physical and Chemical Features of a Mountain Stream

Influences of limestone on physical and chemical characteristics of Abrams Creek in Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, were investigated from February to July 1977. Infiltration of stream water into subsurface permeable limestone conduits caused reduced and intermittent surface flow within the middle reach of the Cove. At the downstream (west) edge of the Cove, inflowing waters characteristically warmed the stream in winter and cooled it in summer and increased stream conductivity, total hardness, and pH. Management activities in the Cove did not appear to appreciably affect the chemistry of the aquatic system downstream relative to the large effects of limestone substrate.
Institutional and Hydrologic Water Availability in Texas

The Water Availability Modeling (WAM) System created and maintained by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and its partner agencies and contractors consists of the generalized Water Rights Analysis Package (WRAP) developed at Texas A & M University, which may be applied anywhere in the world, and WRAP input datasets for the 23 river basins of Texas. WRAP is designed for assessing river/reservoir system reliabilities in meeting water supply, hydroelectric power, environmental flow, flood control, and reservoir storage needs. The Texas WAM System supports regional and statewide planning, administration of water allocation systems, and other water resources management endeavors. Activities of numerous water management entities operating 3,435 reservoirs and other facilities in accordance with treaties between the United States and Mexico, five interstate compacts, two water right permit systems with 6,000 active permits, and other institutional arrangements are simulated. The modeling system contributes greatly to water management in Texas and continues to be expanded to address additional water management issues. The Texas experience in implementing the WAM System illustrates key aspects of evaluating water availability from institutional as well as hydrologic perspectives.
Proteomic analysis of mammalian sperm cells identifies new components of the centrosome

Centrioles are evolutionarily conserved microtubule-based structures at the core of the animal centrosome that are essential for nucleating the axoneme of cilia. We hypothesized that centriole proteins have been under-represented in proteomic studies of the centrosome, because of the larger amount of pericentriolar material making up the centrosome. In this study, we have overcome this problem by determining the centriolar proteome of mammalian sperm cells, which have a pair of centrioles but little pericentriolar material. Mass spectrometry of sperm centrioles identifies known components of centrioles and many previously uncharacterized candidate centriole proteins. Assessment of localization of a subset of these candidates in cultured cells identified CCDC113, CCDC96, C4orf47, CCDC38, C7orf31, CCDC146, CCDC81 and CCDC116 as centrosome-associated proteins. We examined the highly conserved protein CCDC113 further and found that it is a component of centriolar satellites, is in a complex with the satellite proteins HAP1 and PCM1, and functions in primary cilium formation.
Improvement over time in recall of media information: An exploratory study

An experiment was conducted in which 46 subjects were exposed to newspaper and television stones and then tested to determine how many facts they recalled. Next subjects were instructed to “think” about the stories for two days. They were then retested to determine whether they recalled more facts than two days earlier. The results indicated that recall increased with the intervening thinking time. This effect, improvement in recall with repeated testing, is known as hypermnesia.
Challenges facing the neurological study of religious behavior, belief, and experience

The neurological study of religious behavior, belief, and experience faces many challenges related to research conception, experimental design, and interpretation of results. Some of these problems are common to other types of neurological study of behavioral and cognitive phenomena. Others are distinctive to the specifically religious domain of behavior, belief, and experience. This paper discusses eight of these problems and three key strategic principles for mitigating them. It then proposes an eight-step framework for research into the neurology of religious behavior, belief, and experience that implements the three strategic principles and addresses all eight of the problems.
Do changes in fraction of inspired oxygen affect pulmonary artery acceleration time

Abstract Pulmonary artery (PA) pressure is difficult, but important, to estimate by noninvasive methods. Accordingly, numerous noninvasive methods have been used. Perhaps the most accurate noninvasive method is determination of tricuspid regurgitation velocity gradient, which estimates instantaneous difference between right atrial and ventricular systolic pressure. In the absence of pulmonary stenosis and with addition of right atrial pressure, the result can be used to approximate PA pressure. 1 Reliable recording of tricuspid regurgitation in some individuals, however, has proven difficult. Accordingly, many centers have used the inverse relations between PA pressure and PA acceleration time to predict PA pressure. 2 PA acceleration time is derived from Doppler PA velocities. Although PA acceleration time has been used to estimate PA pressure, full characterization of the measurement has yet to be determined. PA acceleration time has been reported to vary over a small range in adults (75 to 170 ms) 2 and a smaller range in children (51 to 140 ms). 3 Ranges are not truly continuous because the Doppler waveform is obtained by intermittent Fourier analysis, a method that depends on a time history of the waveform, especially for low velocities such as those inscribed at the very beginning of systole. Finally, information is unavailable to suggest whether PA acceleration time is variable for a given individual as the result of small changes in PA pressure. Alveolar oxygen partial pressure alteration inversely affects PA pressure and vascular resistance. 4 Accordingly, increased fraction of inspired oxygen should decrease PA pressure and resistance and lengthen the PA acceleration time. Conversely, lowering inspiratory oxygen percentage below room air should increase PA pressure and resistance and shorten PA acceleration time. The hypothesis for this study is that PA acceleration time is variable for a given individual and that changes in fraction of inspired oxygen cause inverse changes in PA acceleration time.
Impact of Diffusion Barriers to Small Cytotoxic Molecules on the Efficacy of Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer

Molecular-focused cancer therapies, e.g., molecularly targeted therapy and immunotherapy, so far demonstrate only limited efficacy in cancer patients. We hypothesize that underestimating the role of biophysical factors that impact the delivery of drugs or cytotoxic cells to the target sites (for associated preferential cytotoxicity or cell signaling modulation) may be responsible for the poor clinical outcome. Therefore, instead of focusing exclusively on the investigation of molecular mechanisms in cancer cells, convection-diffusion of cytotoxic molecules and migration of cancer-killing cells within tumor tissue should be taken into account to improve therapeutic effectiveness. To test this hypothesis, we have developed a mathematical model of the interstitial diffusion and uptake of small cytotoxic molecules secreted by T-cells, which is capable of predicting breast cancer growth inhibition as measured both in vitro and in vivo. Our analysis shows that diffusion barriers of cytotoxic molecules conspire with γδ T-cell scarcity in tissue to limit the inhibitory effects of γδ T-cells on cancer cells. This may increase the necessary ratios of γδ T-cells to cancer cells within tissue to unrealistic values for having an intended therapeutic effect, and decrease the effectiveness of the immunotherapeutic treatment.
China's little emperors: Medical consequences of China's one-child policy

Although the debates continue with regard to the behavioral impacts of China’s one-child policy there does not appear to be any uncertainty about the fact that China’s one-child policy contributes to the rising prevalence of childhood obesity in China with its multiple undesirable sequelae. The one-child policy in China has produced a generation of “little emperors” who are obese. [excerpt]
Apoptosis and its role in the myelodysplastic syndromes: implications for disease natural history and treatment

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is an active cellular process which regulates cell population size by decreasing cell survival. In this review the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of apoptosis in hemopoietic and non-hemopoietic cells are described, with specific focus on these issues in the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a myeloid clonal hemopathy. Apoptosis-regulating genes exist as families whose protein products are either anti-apoptotic or pro-apoptotic. Numerous stimuli can serve as initiators of the cell death pathway, including essentially all chemotherapeutic drugs, irradiation, certain inhibitory cytokines and deprivation of relevant growth factors. Morphological evidence of increased apoptosis in marrow hemopoietic cells has been demonstrated in patients with MDS. The reviewed data provide support for the hypothesis that early in MDS, increased apoptosis is associated with ineffective progenitor and maturing hemopoietic cell survival, and occurs concomitant with cytopenias/ineffective hemopoiesis; conversely, the progression of MDS toward AML occurs in concert with decreased apoptosis and an increased degree of neoplastic cell survival, leading to subsequent expansion of the abnormal precursor cells. These processes are associated with alterations in the balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic oncoprotein expression within the hemopoietic precursors, which may be modified by cytokine treatment. Investigations evaluating apoptotic events in MDS have improved our understanding of the biology of hemopoietic cell survival as related to pathogenetic features of this disease. By modifying levels of apoptosis, such studies provide a framework for future potentially beneficial therapeutic approaches to treat patients with MDS.
Breasts, bottles and babies: Historical changes in infant feeding practices in a Micronesian village

The mothers of 375 children born in a Micronesian village during the past 50 years were interviewed about their infant feeding practices. It was found that in the period 1945–1975, use of commercial formula increased steadily, breastfeeding declined, age at weaning from breast decreased, and consumption of milk by one to two year olds increased. These trends accelerated in the 1970s. The use of powdered or evaporated milk for infant feeding was introduced into Truk prior to 1940. Educational level and employment history of the mother were significantly associated with bottlefeeding. The mothers most commonly reported convenience as their reason for bottlefeeding. Historical factors which appear to have influenced the course of infant feeding practices in the village as a whole are discussed.
Effect of fertilization and irrigation upon NPK composition of corn leaves, on corn yields, and available k in soil

Abstract Corn (Zea mays L.) was grown for three consecutive years on Congaree loam to measure the effects of rates of N, P, and K fertilization and irrigation on the nutrient concentration of leaves, the level of available K in the soil, and on the yield of corn. Plant nutrients consisting of 0, 56, 140, 224, and 280 kg N/ha; 0, 15, 37.5, 60, and 75 kg P/ha, and 0, 28, 70, 112, and 140 kg K/ha were applied in a central composite rotatable design in each of the three years. All plant residue was removed each year when the corn was harvested, and the plots remained fallow during the winter months. One half of the experiment was irrigated when there was a 50% depletion of available soil moisture in the 0‐ to 46‐cm soil depth. Leaf composition was affected by fertilization and irrigation. A rapid decrease in available soil K in the 0‐ to 15‐cm depth was evident the first year with all rates of added K. The decline in available soil K was unaffected by irrigation and levels of applied N and P. There were consi...