cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface-Induced Heterogeneity Analysis of an Alkanethiol Monolayer on Microcrystalline Copper Surface Using Sum Frequency Generation Imaging Microscopy

An octadecanethiol (ODT) self-assembled monolayer on microcrystalline copper is investigated by sum frequency generation (SFG) imaging microscopy and electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD). The strong SFG signal contrast across the domain boundary indicates the existence of grain structures on copper surface, which is further verified by EBSD measurements. The nonresonant contribution of SFG response shows anisotropy with respect to the in-plane rotation of the sample relative to the surface normal and varies in each crystal domain area. The resonant contribution of the monolayer, such as the amplitude ratio of CH3-sym/CH3-asym, is azimuthally nearly isotropic. Since the zzz tensor component of nonlinear susceptibility dominates, the resonant part of SFG spectra on the metal surface does not show any anisotropy. Further, a strong correlation between the local metal structures with the top monolayer packing behaviors is identified based on the statistical distribution analysis. Using the methyl group a...
Un système permettant de monter en série ou en parallèle par commutation deux colonnes de chromatographie en phase gazeuse

On decrit un systeme de commutation de colonnes appelle systeme de double colonne en serie/parallele. Le dispositif permet d'effectuer pendant une analyse, la commutation de deux colonnes chromatographiques du montage en serie ou montage en parallele. Pour ce systeme, deux circuits de gaz independants, deux detecteurs, ainsi qu'une vanne a 4 voies sont necessaires. Dans le montage en parallele, les chromatogrammes se deroulent simultanement comme dans le fonctionnement en double circuit. Ce systeme permet de separer, sur une deuxieme colonne, des composes qui ne sont pas separes sur la premiere, sans pour autant interrompe, le chromatogramme de la premiere colonne. Des possibilites d'application sont discutees, particulierement en ce qui concerne la combinaison de colonnes de partage avec des colonnes d'adsorption. Une analyses de gaz naturel sert comme exemple pour l'application pratique de ce systeme de commutation.
A Simple Method for Presenting Thermodynamic Partial Derivatives to Undergraduates

A method for teaching Maxwell relations and other transformations of partial derivatives which appear frequently in thermodynamics is presented. It has been found to be successful in the presentati...
Phenotypic Discordance in Siblings with Identical Compound Heterozygous PARK2 Mutations

PARK2 mutations are the most common cause of early-onset Parkinson’s disease. No genotype-phenotype correlation exists, and phenotypic variability is quite common. We report two siblings with confirmed identical compound heterozygous mutations in the PARK2 gene manifesting strikingly different phenotypes. The older brother demonstrated marked parkinsonism by his mid-20’s, whereas the younger brother developed exercise-induced dystonia in his mid-30’s with no subsequent clinical progression, highlighting the clinical heterogeneity of the disease and implying the role of other genetic and/or environmental factors in disease progression. The younger sibling, despite his mild symptoms, had a clearly abnormal dopamine transporter (DaT)-SPECT scan. To our knowledge, this is the first such reported case of an abnormal DaT-SPECT scan in a patient with biallelic PARK2 mutations who does not meet the clinical criteria for Parkinson’s disease.
A Question-Based Approach to Teaching Photosynthesis, Carbohydrate Partitioning, and Energy Flow

Abstract To help high school students develop a deeper understanding of energy and matter flow in biological systems, a key goal of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), we have designed a series of inquiry-driven modules that experimentally explore photosynthesis in the context of carbohydrate partitioning. Carbohydrate partitioning refers to the distribution of photosynthesis products from source organs, such as leaves, to growing or storage tissues. These cost- and timeeffective modules help students develop a more integrated understanding of how energy flows from light into leaves before moving outward to other parts of the plant and ultimately into other organisms. Our approach of teaching carbohydrate partitioning along with photosynthesis greatly expands the number of NGSS core ideas and cross-cutting concepts in an integrated manner, empowers students to see how photosynthesis and carbohydrate partitioning are central to their existence, and provides a rich platform for experimentally addr...
Transcatheter versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients with Moderate to Severe Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Analysis

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and aortic stenosis (AS) have poor prognosis after both transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (S...
“Feminazis,” “libtards,” “snowflakes,” and “racists”: Trolling and the Spiral of Silence effect in women, LGBTQIA communities, and disability populations before and after the 2016 election

Using a Qualtrics survey of 338 Twitter and Facebook users, the authors explore the effect that the 2016 U.S. presidential election had on people’s political posts both before and after the election and whether or not people actually experienced harassment and threats during the election cycle. If trolling causes people—particularly women, LGBTQIA community members, and people who identify with a disability—to censor themselves because they feel their opinion is in the minority or that they will be attacked for speaking, then it would follow that trolling is changing our digital public sphere, which is affecting our political conversations.
Vertical or Horizontal? Diagnosing and Treating Cats Who Urinate Outside the Box

Feline elimination problems are commonly presented to general practitioners and behavioral medicine specialists. The correct diagnosis is often missed by veterinarians owing to individual variation and multifactorial cases. Three diagnostic umbrellas need to be considered: medical problems, toileting behavior outside of the litter box, and urine marking. The treatment plan for most cases, regardless of etiology, involves optimum litter box management, fulfilling cats' environmental needs, stress reduction, behavior therapy techniques, and trigger removal. Medical management with psychoactive medication might be necessary in cases where chronic stress, fear, and anxiety play a role in the feline patient's symptomatology.
Fast Image Reconstruction in Forward-Looking GPR Using Dual $\ell _1$ Regularization

In the forward-looking ground-penetrating radar (GPR) imaging scenario, detection and classification performance is limited due to inherent constraints placed on the sensor configuration as well as limitations associated with the conventional image formation process. Image reconstruction using sparsity inducing regularization has been demonstrated as a promising technique to overcome these limitations but at a significant computational cost. In this paper, we present a dual $\ell _1$ regularization technique, which is consistent with the expectation that objects are sparsely populated but extended with respect to the pixel grid. Furthermore, we propose a series of preprocessing steps, which produce a greatly reduced data size and computational cost. Demonstrations of the proposed approach are provided using experimental data and results are given in terms of signal to background ratio, image resolution, and relative computation time.
Resonance photoemission at the 2p excitation threshold of Ni{001}

Resonance enhancement of the 3d photoemission intensity in angle-integrated electron-distribution curves from Ni{001} is observed when the photon energy is varied in the vicinity of the Ni 2p absorption threshold. Explanation of the effect involves a Fano-like interference between continuum excitation from the 3d band and discrete excitation from the 2p level to form a core exciton, coupled to each other via the decay of the exciton and the ejection of a 3d electron into the continuum. The binding energy of the core exciton is about 3.5 eV below the absorption threshold. Differences between the 2p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3d and the well-known 3p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3d resonance effect are discussed.
“Let’s Not be Laughed at Anymore: Donald Trump and Japan from the 1980s to the Present”

This article explores the central role of Japan’s rise to global economic prominence in the evolution of Donald J. Trump’s worldview. It traces how the transformation of the relationship between the United States and Japan during the 1980s informed Trump’s ideas about trade and protectionism, globalization, the international economy, and executive power. Trump, it argues, was a product of U.S .-Japanese relationship; while he began his public career as a prominent critic of Japan, claiming that the country exploited American trade and defense policy, his career in real estate heavily relied on Japanese finance. This contradictory approach continues to shape his understanding of Japan. As president, Trump repeatedly condemns Japan as predatory and protectionist, but also seeks expanded Japanese investment in the United States to revitalize the U.S . economy. Equally important, Trump has expanded criticisms originating with Japan to countries like China and Mexico, international agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the World Trade Organization. By tracing Trump’s rhetorical, financial, and diplomatic encounters with Japan over the past thirty years, this article uncovers the sources of Trump’s contradictory attitudes towards trade, globalization, and cross-border investment and his understandings of strong leadership and executive power.
Enzymatic assay of D-mannose from urine

Aim: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are increasingly antibiotic resistant, and alternate or adjunct therapies are urgently needed. Several studies suggest that D-mannose ingestion and a hypothesiz...
Neuroimmune signaling in alcohol use disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a widespread disease with limited treatment options. Targeting the neuroimmune system is a new avenue for developing or repurposing effective pharmacotherapies. Alcohol modulates innate immune signaling in different cell types in the brain by altering gene expression and the molecular pathways that regulate neuroinflammation. Chronic alcohol abuse may cause an imbalance in neuroimmune function, resulting in prolonged perturbations in brain function. Likewise, manipulating the neuroimmune system may change alcohol-related behaviors. Psychiatric disorders that are comorbid with AUD, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and other substance use disorders, may also have underlying neuroimmune mechanisms; current evidence suggests that convergent immune pathways may be involved in AUD and in these comorbid disorders. In this review, we provide an overview of major neuroimmune cell-types and pathways involved in mediating alcohol behaviors, discuss potential mechanisms of alcohol-induced neuroimmune activation, and present recent clinical evidence for candidate immune-related drugs to treat AUD.
Solving a 1-D inverse medium scattering problem using a new multi-frequency globally strictly convex objective functional

We propose a new approach to constructing globally strictly convex objective functional in a 1-D inverse medium scattering problem using multi-frequency backscattering data. The global convexity of the proposed objective functional is proved using a Carleman estimate. Due to its convexity, no good first guess is required in minimizing this objective functional. We also prove the global convergence of the gradient projection algorithm and derive an error estimate for the reconstructed coefficient. Numerical results show reasonable reconstruction accuracy for simulated data.
Strain-Dependent Kinetics in the Cis-to-Trans Isomerization of Azobenzene in Bulk Elastomers.

The cis-to-trans isomerization of azobenzene is accelerated in a bulk PDMS elastomer under uniaxial tension. The kinetics are cleanly described by a single-exponential first-order process (k = 2.7 ...
High-frequency ultrasound imaging of targeted, acoustically activated high-contrast Perfluorocarbon Nanodroplets (Conference Presentation)

Current molecular imaging modalities face barriers to clinical implementation, providing a need for an improved clinical molecular imaging approach. We hypothesize that EGFR-targeted perfluorocarbon nanodroplets can label metastatic cells; they can then be activated (i.e., converted to a microbubble) and imaged using ultrasound in order to provide a molecular contrast agent that can inform treatment. Pulse sequences were developed for the Verasonics Vantage 128 system to activate and image dodecafluoropentane and dodecafluorohexane nanodroplets. Dodecafluoropentane nanodroplets provided 28-dB enhancement when imaged with pulse-inversion US in a tissue-mimicking environment, while dodecafluorohexane nanodroplets showed activation and subsequent recondensation, allowing for super-resolution imaging.
Chapter 3 – Auxiliary Equipment

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the various auxiliary equipment that are important to the function of oil field activities. This equipment is used in drilling, well completion, production, and related operations. Further, the discussion concentrates on the basic operation characteristics and specifications required by a user. The prime mover is the unit that first converts an energy source into a mechanical force. Typical prime movers are internal combustion motors, gas turbines, water turbines, steam engines, and electrical motors. The discussion in the chapter is limited to the prime movers that are most used in modern well drilling and production operations. The internal combustion engines that are considered in the chapter are piston-type engines. The combustion process in such engines is assumed to be constant volume, constant pressure, or a combination of both. Piston-type internal combustion engines are made up of a series of pistons that can move in enclosed chambers called cylinders.
Framework for selecting and benchmarking mobile devices in psychophysiological research

Commercially available consumer electronics in (smartwatches and wearable biosensors) are increasingly enabling acquisition of peripheral physiological and physical activity data inside and outside of laboratory settings. However, there is scant literature available for selecting and assessing the suitability of these novel devices for scientific use. To overcome this limitation, the current paper offers a framework to aid researchers in choosing and evaluating wearable technologies for use in empirical research. Our seven-step framework includes: (1) identifying signals of interest; (2) characterizing intended use cases; (3) identifying study-specific pragmatic needs; (4) selecting devices for evaluation; (5) establishing an assessment procedure; (6) performing qualitative and quantitative analyses on resulting data; and, if desired, (7) conducting power analyses to determine sample size needed to more rigorously compare performance across devices. We illustrate the application of the framework by comparing electrodermal, cardiovascular, and accelerometry data from a variety of commercial wireless sensors (Affectiva Q, Empatica E3, Empatica E4, Actiwave Cardio, Shimmer) relative to a well-validated, wired MindWare laboratory system. Our evaluations are performed in two studies (N = 10, N = 11) involving psychometrically sound, standardized tasks that include physical activity and affect induction. After applying our framework to this data, we conclude that only some commercially available consumer devices for physiological measurement are capable of wirelessly measuring peripheral physiological and physical activity data of sufficient quality for scientific use cases. Thus, the framework appears to be beneficial at suggesting steps for conducting more systematic, transparent, and rigorous evaluations of mobile physiological devices prior to deployment in studies.
Modern treatment of tibial shaft fractures: Is there a role today for closed treatment?

ABSTRACT Purpose The decision to attempt closed treatment on tibial shaft fractures can be challenging. At our institution, we attempt treatment of nearly all closed, isolated tibial shaft fractures. The purpose of this study was to report the results of 10 years of experience to develop a tool to identify patients for whom non-operative treatment of tibial shaft fractures may be a viable option Method This was a retrospective review of patients with tibial shaft fracture seen at a level 1 trauma center over 10 years. Patients with closed, isolated injuries underwent sedation, closed reduction, long-leg casting, and outpatient follow-up. Patients were converted to surgery for inability to obtain or maintain acceptable alignment or patient intolerance. Radiographic characteristics and patient demographics were extracted. Logistic regression analysis was used to develop a model to predict which patient and injury characteristics determined success of nonoperative treatment. Results 334 patients were identified with isolated, closed tibial shaft fractures, who were reduced and treated in a long leg cast. 234 patients (70%) converted to surgical treatment due to inability to maintain alignment, patient intolerance, and nonunion. In a regression model, coronal/sagittal translation, sagittal angulation, fracture morphology, and smoking status were shown to be significant predictors of success of nonoperative treatment (p Conclusion Non-operative treatment of tibial shaft fractures is feasible, although there is a relatively high conversion rate to operative treatment. However, it is possible to use injury characteristics to identify a cohort of patients with a higher chance of success with closed treatment, which is potentially useful in a resource-constrained setting or for patients who wish to avoid surgery. Level of Evidence Prognostic Level 3
438 The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced endometrial cancer

Objective To review the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval cytoreductive surgery in patients presenting with advanced, unresectable endometrial cancer at two large cancer centers. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, patients with advanced endometrial cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2008 – 2015 were identified from an institutional database. Clinical and surgical variables were analyzed and time to recurrence and death was calculated and compared between surgical groups. Results Thirty-three patients were identified (mean age 64.8 (range 42–86 years)). Overall, 28% of patients had endometrioid histology, 48% serous, 4% clear cell, 4% carcinosarcoma, 12% mixed and 4% other. Ineligibility for primary surgery was due to unresectable disease (85%), comorbidities (6%) and unknown reasons (9%). All patients received NACT with 91% of patients receiving carboplatin and paclitaxel. On reimaging, 12% of patients had progressed, 76% had a partial response and 3% had a complete response to chemotherapy. 76% of patients underwent interval surgery, with cytoreduction to no visible residual disease achieved in 52%. Overall, 91% of patients recurred and 85% died during follow-up. Patients undergoing surgery after chemotherapy had significantly longer progression-free survival (11.53 vs. 4.99 months, p=0.0096) and overall survival (24.13 vs. 7.04 months, p=0.0042) when compared to patients who did not have surgery. Conclusions Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a feasible treatment option to allow for interval cytoreductive surgery in patients with advanced endometrial cancer not amenable to primary debulking. Patients who undergo surgery after chemotherapy have significantly improved progression free and overall survival.
Financial Remedies for Personal Property Damage in Water Main Breaks

AbstractAmerica’s infrastructure failure in water main breaks has led to personal property damage; in recent years, thousands of homes and businesses have been damaged by flood waters, and property...
Automatic Arduino Controlled Agribot For Multi-Purpose Cultivation

Agribot is a robot and mainly designed for agricultural purposes. The agribot can be able to do all forming techniques.It is an autonomous proto type robot that will help farmers in the farmland.This is an arduino controlled robot that will be able to plough, sow and water the farmland. And it can be water the farmland with the help of the moisture sensor through identifies how much amount water required to the soil.It can be do the farming techniques with the help of the supply of single switch. The robot will perform farming using the analogy of ultrasonic detection in order to change its position from one farming strip to another within the few sec. This can be gives the buzzer signals to the farmers when the water level is empty in tank. The robot Thus, will contribute greatly in developing the farming strategies and reduce farmers cost of cultivation and will also increase their profit margins.
Diabetes and the risk of hospitalisation for infection: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study

The aim of this work was to assess the association between diabetes and risk for infection-related hospitalisation and mortality. We conducted a prospective cohort analysis of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Diabetes was defined as a fasting glucose ≥7 mmol/l or non-fasting glucose ≥11.1 mmol/l, self-report of a diagnosis of diabetes by a physician, or current diabetes medication use. Hospitalisation for infection was ascertained from hospital discharge records. Participants were followed from 1987–1989 to 2019. We included 12,379 participants (mean age 54.5 years; 24.7% Black race; 54.3% female sex). During a median follow-up of 23.8 years, there were 4229 new hospitalisations for infection. After adjusting for potential confounders, people with (vs without) diabetes at baseline had a higher risk for hospitalisation for infection (HR 1.67 [95% CI 1.52, 1.83]). Results were generally consistent across infection type but the association was especially pronounced for foot infection (HR 5.99 [95% CI 4.38, 8.19]). Diabetes was more strongly associated with hospitalisation for infection in younger participants and Black people. Overall infection mortality was low (362 deaths due to infection) but the adjusted risk was increased for people with diabetes (HR 1.72 [95% CI 1.28, 2.31]). Diabetes confers significant risk for infection-related hospitalisation. Enhancing prevention and early treatment of infection in those with diabetes is needed to reduce infection-related morbidity and mortality.
Comtist ‘Vicar’ and ‘Accuser of the Nation’, 1857–1866

By the 1860s, Richard Congreve had metamorphosed into a polymath of multifarious vocations. He published anti-imperialist tracts, began studying medicine, and translated the religious utterances of Auguste Comte. He assumed the unsavoury role of sociologist ‘super-historian’ by writing through the lens of Comte’s Positivist philosophy of history. Meanwhile, Congreve also led sweeping attempts to forge an international trade union movement. He and his coterie of elusive disciples aimed to build a band of working-class followers who believed their historical destiny was to realise Comte’s utopia. Along these lines, they united in publishing the first composite scheme for an ideal British foreign and domestic policy. This chapter argues that such vocations were rooted in Congreve’s self-appointed role as ‘vicar’ of the utopian socialist Church of Humanity.
Improved Techniques for Side-Channel Analysis

Over the last several years, side-channel analysis has emerged as a major threat to securing sensitive information in hardware and systems. The list of side-channels that have been (re)discovered include timing [8] micro-architectural anomalies [1, 5, 12, 13], power consumption [9], electromagnetic emanations [2, 7, 14], optical [10, 11] and acoustic leakage [4]. These side-channels have been used to break implementations of all major cryptographic algorithms (such as DES, AES, RSA, Diffie-Hellman, Elliptic curves, COMP128, etc.) both in software and in hardware as well as for extracting information directly from peripherals. Concurrently a variety of side-channel analysis techniques have been developed to perform these attacks. These techniques include simple power/EM analysis (SPA/SEMA), differential power/EM analysis (DPA/DEMA), higher-order DPA/DEMA, inferential power analysis (IPA), partitioning attacks, collision attacks, hidden Markov model, etc. In fact, side-channel analysis is so powerful that most attacks succeed, in practice, using only a fraction of the information present within the side-channel(s)! Typically, these techniques do not analyze the characteristics of the noise present within the side-channel signals, but try to remove it by averaging over a large number of samples. Related leakages that occur at different times in a side-channel trace are not combined to extract more information, and leakages from multiple sidechannels are rarely combined. Therefore, if such techniques fail to break an implementation using a small number of side-channel signals, it cannot be assumed that the implementation is immune to side-channel attacks involving a limited number of side-channel traces. This question is particularly important to vendors, since there are several system-level side-channel countermeasures [9] based on nonlinear key updates that rely on the assumption that an adversary cannot extract the key from a single (or few) side-channel trace(s). This question is also pertinent to
The demonstration of anti-Rh agglutinins—An accurate and rapid slide test

I T IS now generally appreciated that at least two types of medical difficulties result from the development of antibodies against the RH factor in the sera of Rh-negative individuals : intragroup hemolytic transfusion reactions following the use of Rh-positive blood cells and erythroblastosis fetalis or hemolytic anemia of the newborn in the offspring of sensitized women. In both types of cases, the laboratory demonstration of anti-Rh a.gglutinins is desirable. In tests upon the blood of recipients of transfusions, detection of such agglutinins may anticipate the possibility of a hrmolytic response or resolve the otherwise inexplicable occurrence of such a reaction. The ident,ification of anti-Rh agglutinins in the blood sera. of women may anticipate or substantiate development of crythroblastosis fetalis in the infant. Clinical and laboratory experience has shown that present methods of demonstrating anti-ah agglutinins in the sera of sensitized individuals are inadequate and the results often misleading. The two methods in common use are both dependent on the assumption that a serum containing these abnormal agglutinins when mixed in a test tube with a 2 per cent suspension of R,h-positive red cells and incubated for an hour at 37” C. will agglutinate such cells. This is the basis for the “modified compatibility test “I which has been advised and employed when Rh typing of the recipient and the donor cannot be done or when only Rh-positive blood is available for transfusion of an Rh-negative individual. It is expected that failure of agglutination of donor’s cells by recipient’s serum after this lengthy incubation in a test tube indicat,es that the contemplated transfusion is safe. This method, while effectual in some instances, may give a misleading negative result. in 50 per cent or more of the cases tested, thus failing to disclose the probability of in vivo agglutination of Rh-positive cells by the recipient’s serum and giving the physician a false assurance of safety. This has been proved clinically in a large number of cases studied in the Blood Grouping Ilaboratory. One such case may serve as an illustrat,ion :
The Texas Experimental Tokamak (Text) Facility User's Facility

The Texas Experimental Tokamak is a medium-scale tokamak operated as a national user facility. Now in operation, it provides a plasma with a 1-m major radius, 28-cm minor radius, and 400-kA nominal plasma current at up to 3-T toroidal field for pulse lengths of 300 to 500 ms. The facility includes all standard tokamak diagnostics and an integrated data system that makes all data available after each shot, as often as once every 2 min. The design is generally conventional and conservative, the vacuum vessel provides numerous large-aperture radial and vertical ports for complete views of the plasma. 5 refs.
Relationship of Connected and Separate Knowing to Parental Style and Birth Order

A total of 249 primarily middle-class, Caucasian college students (141 females, 108 males) completed the Knowing Styles Inventory (KSI) (Knight, Elfenbein, & Messina, 1995) to measure Connected and Separate Knowing and the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) (Buri, 1991), used to measure different parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive parenting). Authoritative parenting style of the mother was positively associated with Connected Knowing, while authoritative parenting style of the father was negatively related to Separate Knowing for both the female and male participants of the study. For the female participants only, permissive parenting style of the father was positively related to Separate Knowing. It was also found that first-born college students scored significantly higher on Separate Knowing than later-born students. The results suggest that family experiences may be precursors to the epistemologies of college students.
Reproducibility of transcranial magnetic stimulation metrics in the study of proximal upper limb muscles

Objective: Reproducibility of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) metrics is essential in accurately tracking recovery and disease. However, majority of evidence pertains to reproducibility of metrics for distal upper limb muscles. We investigate for the first time, reliability of corticospinal physiology for a large proximal muscle – the biceps brachii and relate how varying statistical analyses can influence interpretations. Methods: 14 young right-handed healthy participants completed two sessions assessing resting motor threshold (RMT), motor evoked potentials (MEPs), motor map and intra-cortical inhibition (ICI) from the left biceps brachii. Analyses included paired t-tests, Pearson’s, intra-class (ICC) and concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) and Bland–Altman plots. Results: Unlike paired t-tests, ICC, CCC and Pearson’s were >0.6 indicating good reliability for RMTs, MEP intensities and locations of map; however values were <0.3 for MEP responses and ICI. Conclusions: Corticospinal physiology, defining excitability and output in terms of intensity of the TMS device, and spatial loci are the most reliable metrics for the biceps. MEPs and variables based on MEPs are less reliable since biceps receives fewer cortico-motor-neuronal projections. Statistical tests of agreement and associations are more powerful reliability indices than inferential tests. Significance: Reliable metrics of proximal muscles when translated to a larger number of participants would serve to sensitively track and prognosticate function in neurological disorders such as stroke where proximal recovery precedes distal.
Acinetobacter sp. HM746599 isolated from leatherback turtle blood.

A newly described bacterial isolate, Acinetobacter sp. HM746599, has been obtained from leatherback sea turtle hatchling blood. The implication is that the hatchling was infected during development in the egg, which is substantiated by other studies to be reported by us in the future. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the bacterium (GenBank accession number: HM746599) showed the greatest similarity to the identified species, Acinetobacter beijerinckii (97.6-99.78%) and Acinetobacter venetianus (99.78%). Acinetobacter sp. HM746599 are gram-negative, rod-shaped coccobacilli and are hemolytic/cytotoxic to human and sea turtle red blood cells (RBCs). Hemolysis is not the result of any detectable soluble toxin. Acinetobacter beijerinckii and A. venetianus hemolyze sheep RBCs while Acinetobacter sp. HM746599 does not, and unlike A. venetianus, the growth of Acinetobacter sp. HM746599 and A. beijerinckii is not supported by l-arginine. Many Acinetobacter species, especially hemolytic ones, are pathogenic to immunologically compromised humans and it is possible that, in addition to sea turtles, this bacterium might also be a danger to susceptible humans who handle infected hatchlings. The bacteria are available from CCUG (Culture Collection, University Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden) and from NRRL (Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection, Peoria, IL).
Ultrastructure of a Temperature-Sensitive Rod− Mutant of Bacillus subtilis

Mutant 168ts-200B, resulting from nitrosoguanidine treatment of Bacillus subtilis 168 ( trp − C2), exhibits a rod-to-sphere morphogenetic interconversion when the incubation temperature is 30 or 45 C, respectively. Ultrathin sections of rods grown at 30 C, after glutaraldehyde-osmium uranium-lead fixation and staining, show trilaminar cell walls with a well-developed underlying periplasm as in wild-type cells. However, the outer wall layer is irregular, and abnormal protrusions of wall material occur at the cross-walls. In contrast, cells growing at 45 C become rounded and are intersected randomly by irregular cross-walls which fail to split normally, resulting in large spherical masses. In these, the outer and inner wall layers and periplasm are lost, and the wall consists only of irregularly thickened and loosely organized middle layer. Wall ultrastructure is reversible in either direction as cell shape changes during temperature shifts. Mesosomes are rare and atypical at either temperature. It thus appears that cell wall ultrastructure is altered by the conditional (temperature-sensitive) mutation, and that loss of normal wall and submural organization is correlated with changes in cell size and shape as well as with inability to complete cell division. Preliminary studies after transformation of the mutant locus to another strain and growth at 45 C showed an increase in mucopeptide, loss of wall teichoic acid, failure of phage adsorption, and identical ultrastructural changes. The site of expression of the basic defect—be it in wall, submural region, or membrane—is undetermined. Images
A randomized, community-based trial of the effects of improved, centrally processed complementary foods on growth and micronutrient status of Ghanaian infants from 6 to 12 mo of age

Koko a fermented maize porridge used as the primary complementary food in Ghana has been implicated in the high prevalence of child malnutrition. Weanimix a cereal-legume blend developed by the United Nations Childrens Fund and the Ghanaian government has been promoted as an alternative. We evaluated the effect of feeding Weanimix and 3 other locally formulated centrally processed complementary foods on the nutritional status of 208 breast-fed infants. Infants were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 foods from 6 to 12 mo of age: Weanimix (W) Weanimix plus vitamins and minerals (WM) Weanimix plus fish powder (WF) and koko plus fish powder (KF). Dietary and anthropometric data were collected regularly. Blood was collected at 6 and 12 mo of age to assess iron zinc vitamin A and riboflavin status. Before and after the intervention cross-sectional data on the anthropometric status of infants not included in the intervention (NI; n = 464) were collected. There were no significant differences between intervention groups in weight or length gain or in hemoglobin hematocrit transferrin saturation plasma zinc or erythrocyte riboflavin values between 6 and 12 mo of age. From 9 to 12 mo of age z scores were lower in NI infants than in the combined intervention groups [at 12 mo: -1.71 ± 0.90 compared with -1.19 ± 0.93 for weight and -1.27 ± 1.02 compared with -0.63 ± 0.84 for length (P < 0.001 for both) respectively]. The percentage of infants with low ferritin values increased significantly between 6 and 12 mo of age in groups W WF and KF but not in group WM. Change in plasma retinol between 6 and 12 mo of age was significantly greater in group WM than in the other 3 groups combined (0.14 ± 0.3 compared with -0.04 ± 0.3 µmol/L P = 0.003). All 4 foods improved growth relative to the NI group. Infants fed WM had better iron stores and vitamin A status than those fed nonfortified foods. (authors)
Do mobilization kinetics differ among hematological malignancies (Hm) When priming and collection methods are optimized

Abstract We have previously found that the absolute peripheral blood (PB) CD34 measurement generated using IMAGN 2000 (50 μl sample size, 45 min turn-around) and the STELLer® CD34 assay correlated with the CD34+/kg cell dose. Further, an algorithm based on the A.M. PB CD34 value accurately predicted the time (2, 4, 6 hrs) interval required to obtain an optimal (5 × 106 CD34/kg) PBSC product. It is unknown whether PBSC kinetics differ among the HM and could affect the prediction of collection parameters. 40 patients [indolent lymphoma (IND) = 19, sensitive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease (SEN) = 11, multiple myeloma (MM) = 10] were enrolled on a critical pathway for PBSC mobilization which included priming with cyclophosphamide (CY, 2.5 g/m2) and G-CSF (10 mcg/kg). IND patients also received Rituxamab (375 mg/m2) 72 hrs prior to CY. The day/collection duration of apheresis were prospectively determined using the algorithm. Analysis of the entire 2, 4 or 6 hours cohort showed no difference in collection time and diagnosis, Med. day > 500 grans was 9, 11, 10; plat > 50 k: 11, 14, 18 days, for the 3 intervals, respectively. Engraftment was not influenced by diagnosis. We conclude that PB CD34 measurements can accurately dictate collection conditions irrespective of the specific HM while the inability to mobilize may be multifactorial.
Characterization of the Molecular Basis of the Drosophila Mutations in Carboxypeptidase D EFFECT ON ENZYME ACTIVITY AND EXPRESSION

Carboxypeptidase D (CPD) functions in the processing of proteins and peptides in the secretory pathway. Drosophila CPD is encoded by the silver gene (svr), which is differentially spliced to produce long transmembrane protein forms with three metallocarboxypeptidase (CP)-like domains and short soluble forms with a single CP domain. Many svr mutants have been reported, but the precise molecular defects have not been previously determined. In the present study, three mutant lines were characterized. svr PG33 mutants do not survive past the early larval stage. These mutants have a P-element insertion within exon 1B upstream of the initiation ATG, which greatly reduces mRNA levels of all forms of CPD. Both svr 1 and svr poi mutants are viable, with a silvery body color and pointed wings. The wing shape is generally similar between these two mutants, although svr poi mutants have smaller wings. The svr 1 gene has a three-nucleotide deletion in exon 6, removing a leucine in a region of the protein predicted to function as a folding domain for the second CP-like domain. svr poi has a 1072-bp duplication of the gene that introduces a stop codon into the open reading frame, causing the truncation of the protein in the middle of the second CP-like domain. Both deletions eliminate enzyme activity of the second CP-like domain and appear to cause the misfolding of the protein. This greatly reduces the levels of the long forms of CPD protein but do not affect the levels of the short forms. Taken together, these findings suggest that lethal and viable svr alleles differ in which protein forms are affected. Flies that retain the short form are viable, whereas flies that are missing all forms of CPD do not survive past the early larval stages.
Racial bias in baseball card collecting revisited

Abstract Although research examining the role of racial bias in the secondary sports card market has been an emerging area of inquiry, empirical knowledge on the question: “Does the race of the player on a sports card affect the value of the card?” remains inconclusive. This paper revisits one of the first studies on this topic. Data were derived for 66 Black, White, and Latino members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame who were elected by a vote of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Data for each player's race, career performance statistics, rookie card price, and card availability were obtained from secondary sources. Findings indicate that card availability and, to a lesser extent, player performance is the most important factor affecting the value of a player's card, while importantly, a player's race is not a significant contributor to card value. Suggestions for future research are outlined.
Molecular modelling of the structure of the copolyester prepared from p-hydroxybenzoic acid, biphenol and terephthalic acid

Abstract The X-ray data for melt-spun fibres of the 33/33/33 copolyester prepared from p-hydroxybenzoic acid, biphenyl and terephthalic acid are characteristic of a completely random microstructure. Nevertheless, these copolymers adopt three-dimensionally ordered structures in the solid state, in which the chains are packed on hexagonal or orthorhombic polymorphic lattices. We have used molecular mechanics modelling to optimize the packing of random sequences in the higher-density orthorhombic form. The models consisted of 48 non-identical chains of nine monomers each. The random sequences were restricted to three monomers of each type, so that they had approximately the same length, making it possible to apply a periodic boundary condition. The initial model had the extended chains in register, i.e. their central ester oxygens were in a plane perpendicular to the chain axis direction. This structure had high potential energy due to overlap between the non-identical sequences. Energy minimization eliminated these bad contacts, at a cost of only ∼1.8 kcal mol−1 per monomer, by relatively small changes in the torsion angles at the phenylenester linkage bonds. These small arrays also predict Bragg maxima on the equator and layer lines that match those observed. We conclude that non-identical chains can be packed in a stereochemically acceptable manner according to the geometry defined by the X-ray data.
Gγ13 Interacts with PDZ Domain-containing Proteins

The G protein γ13 subunit (Gγ13) is expressed in taste and retinal and neuronal tissues and plays a key role in taste transduction. We identified PSD95, Veli-2, and other PDZ domain-containing proteins as binding partners for Gγ13 by yeast two-hybrid and pull-down assays. In two-hybrid assays, Gγ13 interacted specifically with the third PDZ domain of PSD95, the sole PDZ domain of Veli-2, and the third PDZ domain of SAP97, a PSD95-related protein. Gγ13 did not interact with the other PDZ domains of PSD95. Coexpression of Gγ13 with its Gβ1 partner did not interfere with these two-hybrid interactions. The physical interaction of Gγ13 with PSD95 in the cellular milieu was confirmed in pull-down assays following heterologous expression in HEK293 cells. The interaction of Gγ13 with the PDZ domain of PSD95 was via the C-terminal CAAX tail of Gγ13 (where AA indicates the aliphatic amino acid); alanine substitution of the CTAL sequence at the C terminus of Gγ13 abolished its interactions with PSD95 in two-hybrid and pull-down assays. Veli-2 and SAP97 were identified in taste tissue and in Gγ13-expressing taste cells. Coimmunoprecipitation of Gγ13 and PSD95 from brain and of Gγ13 and SAP97 from taste tissue indicates that Gγ13 interacts with these proteins endogenously. This is the first demonstration that PDZ domain proteins interact with heterotrimeric G proteins via the CAAX tail of Gγ subunits. The interaction of Gγ13 with PDZ domain-containing proteins may provide a means to target particular Gβγ subunits to specific subcellular locations and/or macromolecular complexes involved in signaling pathways.
298 STIMULATION OF ENDOGENOUS OCT4 IN BOVINE FETAL FIBROBLASTS WITH SYNTHETIC mRNA TRANSFECTION

Induced pluripotent cells have been produced with viral vectors and other transgenic approaches that modify the genome of the host cell. Transfection with mRNA encoding transcription factors eliminates genomic modification and has been successful with human cells. The objective of this study was to deliver synthetic mRNA to bovine fetal fibroblasts in a manner consistent with induced pluripotency. Plasmids encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) and human OCT4 were used as templates for in vitro transcription of mRNA (ivtRNA) and used to transfect bovine fetal fibroblasts. Expression of GFP was measured by flow cytometry and cell viability by seeding a constant cell number and determining final cell count. Differences between treatments were tested by ANOVA at P ≤ 0.05. In the first experiment, ivtRNA concentrations of 140, 280, and 560 ng/well of a 24-well plate were used and cell number and fluorescence determined after 24 h. Transfected treatments had significantly fewer cells and greater fluorescence than controls. Cells transfected with 280 ng/well ivtRNA had the highest fluorescence. Cells were then transfected with 280 ng/well of ivtRNA and total cells and fluorescence determined after 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 h. Cell number was significantly lower than controls for all time points but similar between time points. Fluorescence was greater than controls for all time points and peaked at 24 to 36 h. There was no difference in fluorescence between 24 and 36 h, but these time points were significantly greater than all other time points. From these data, we determined that sustained expression could be maintained with transfection every other day. Cells were transfected every other day with ivtRNA encoding GFP and fluorescence measured every 3 days. Fluorescence was greater than controls for all time points but did not increase with repeated transfection. After 6 transfections, there were no viable cells left. In the final experiment, cells were transfected every other day for 12 days with 140, 280, or 560 ng/well ivtRNA encoding human Oct4. After 12 days, RNA was isolated and bovine OCT4 transcripts measured by RT-PCR. Primers and PCR conditions were designed so that bovine OCT4 transcripts were amplified but human OCT4 ivtRNA was not. The bovine poly-adenylate polymerase (PAP) transcript was also amplified. After gel electrophoresis of RT-PCR products, band intensities were determined and a ratio of OCT4/PAP calculated. This ratio was 0.7 for controls and 1.2 for the 140 ng/well ivtRNA treatment. No bovine OCT4 expression was detected in the higher ivtRNA treatments because of poor cell viability. From these experiments, we conclude that ivtRNA can be transfected into and expressed by bovine fetal fibroblasts. Repeated transfections with ivtRNA encoding human OCT4 induced expression of the endogenous bovine OCT4 but cell viability was reduced. Further experiments utilising ivtRNA with modified bases are planned to reduce the cell toxicity of ivtRNA.