cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatocyte Stress Increases Expression of Yes-Associated Protein and Transcriptional Coactivator With PDZ-Binding Motif in Hepatocytes to Promote Parenchymal Inflammation and Fibrosis.

Background and aims Activated hepatocytes are hypothesized to be a major source of signals that drive cirrhosis, but the biochemical pathways that convert hepatocytes into such a state are unclear. We examined the role of the Hippo pathway transcriptional coactivators Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in hepatocytes to facilitate cell-cell interactions that stimulate liver inflammation and fibrosis. Approach and results Using a variety of genetic, metabolic, and liver injury models in mice, we manipulated Hippo signaling in hepatocytes and examined its effects in nonparenchymal cells to promote liver inflammation and fibrosis. YAP-expressing hepatocytes rapidly and potently activate the expression of proteins that promote fibrosis (collagen type I alpha 1 chain, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, platelet-derived growth factor c, transforming growth factor β2) and inflammation (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1β). They stimulate expansion of myofibroblasts and immune cells, followed by aggressive liver fibrosis. In contrast, hepatocyte-specific YAP and YAP/TAZ knockouts exhibit limited myofibroblast expansion, less inflammation, and decreased fibrosis after CCl4 injury despite a similar degree of necrosis as controls. We identified cellular communication network factor 1 (CYR61) as a chemokine that is up-regulated by hepatocytes during liver injury but is expressed at significantly lower levels in mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of YAP or TAZ. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments with CYR61 in vivo point to it being a key chemokine controlling liver fibrosis and inflammation in the context of YAP/TAZ. There is a direct correlation between levels of YAP/TAZ and CYR61 in liver tissues of patients with high-grade nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Conclusions Liver injury in mice and humans increases levels of YAP/TAZ/CYR61 in hepatocytes, thus attracting macrophages to the liver to promote inflammation and fibrosis.
Interorganizational network findings from a nationwide cardiovascular disease prevention initiative.

Abstract Objectives To use network analysis in order to evaluate the effectiveness of interorganizational networks in implementing policy, systems, and environmental interventions for cardiovascular disease prevention throughout the United States. Methods Evaluators conducted an interorganizational network (ION) survey to examine information sharing and joint planning within organizational relationships in 15 community-based cardiovascular disease prevention partnership networks. Density and betweenness centrality scores at the node- and network-level were calculated for each partnership network using UCINET© network analysis software. Common data patterns were then extracted using a multiple case study format. Results Network density scores ranged from 0.50 to 1.00 (M = 0.84, SD = 0.14) for information sharing and 0.43–1.00 (M = 0.77, SD = 0.15) for joint planning. Centralization indices ranged from 0.00 to 0.11 (M = 0.04, SD = 0.03), and 0.00-0.17 (M = 0.06, SD = 0.05), respectively. Overall, 73.33 % of communities were successful in meeting their partnership goals. Conclusions When planning and implementing interorganizational networks, high betweenness centrality and more hierarchically structured networks were identified as the most salient partnership characteristics to programmatic success. The network findings were triangulated with previously published qualitative data to provide context. These findings provide valuable insight on how national networks can be designed and leveraged to implement systematic community health projects.
WASTE REDUCTION FROM THE IN-FLIGHT SERVICES OF AIRLINES IN THAILAND

ABSTRACT The objective of this research is to study the situation of waste, type of waste, guidelines in reducing the amount of waste and to study the results of waste reduction generated from the inflight services of airlines in Thailand. This is a qualitative research. The model group consisted of airline administrators and flight attendants of various airlines in Thailand. The data collected is done by document analysis and in-depth interviews. Analyzed the results using content analysis techniques. It is found that 1) The waste from the in-flight services has the tendency of increasing according to the distance traveled and from the servicing competition among the airlines 2) The type of waste from the in-flight services, could be categorized in 3 groups: Waste from food and beverages, waste from facilitation services and waste caused by the working process of the airlines 3) The guidelines to reduce the amount of waste from the above mentioned 3 groups of waste, could be reduced in 3 ways: Modifying the behavior, modifying the use of the materials, and modifying working processes or services 4) The results of reducing the waste from the in-flight services of the airlines in 2018, overall, it has been found to have a 10% reduction of the waste in general. It is expected and estimated that the reduction of waste from the in-flight services of airlines would reach 50% by the year 2022. However, there is no clear guideline of having zero-waste airline just as yet. Key words: Waste from the inflight services, waste reduction of the airline, Zero Waste Airline
Complement evasion mechanisms of the systemic pathogens Yersiniae and Salmonellae.

Pathogens that colonize deep tissues and spread systemically encounter the innate host resistance mechanism of complement-mediated lysis and complement opsonization leading to engulfment and degradation by phagocytic cells. Yersinia and Salmonella species have developed numerous strategies to block the antimicrobial effects of complement. These include recruitment of complement regulatory proteins factor H, C4BP, and vitronectin (Vn) as well as interference in late maturation events such as assembly of C9 into the membrane attack complex that leads to bacterial lysis. This review will discuss the contributions of various surface structures (proteins, lipopolysaccharide, and capsules) to evasion of complement-mediated immune clearance of the systemic pathogens Yersiniae and Salmonellae. Bacterial proteins required for recruitment of complement regulatory proteins will be described, including the details of their interaction with host regulatory proteins, where known. The potential role of the surface proteases Pla (Yersinia pestis) and PgtE (Salmonella species) on the activity of complement regulatory proteins will also be addressed. Finally, the implications of complement inactivation on host cell interactions and host cell targeting for type 3 secretion will be discussed.
What Is Genocide

This volume offers an answer to a question that has been debated within academia since the adoption of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. 1 More recently, the same question has arisen within the field of genocide studies. Martin Shaw, a professor of International Relations and Politics at the University of Sussex, fashions an answer, but it is not a likeable response. He has no real answer. Instead Shaw walks the reader through a series of definitions, opinions, and arguments that are systematically rejected in his search for an answer. Shaw compares these arguments against the backdrop of the earlier concept of genocide initially introduced by Raphael Lemkin 2 and the definition given in the Genocide Convention.
Scalable Signature-Based Molecular Diagnostics Through On-chip Biomarker Profiling Coupled with Machine Learning

Molecular diagnostics have traditionally relied on discrete biological substances as diagnostic markers. In recent years however, advances in on-chip biomarker screening technologies and data analytics have enabled signature-based diagnostics. Such diagnostics aim to utilize unique combinations of multiple biomarkers or diagnostic 'fingerprints' rather than discrete analyte measurements. This approach has shown to improve both diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic specificity. In this review, signature-based diagnostics enabled by microfluidic and micro-/nano- technologies will be reviewed with a focus on device design and data analysis pipelines and methodologies. With increasing amounts of data available from microfluidic biomarker screening, isolation, and detection platforms, advanced data handling and analytics approaches can be employed. Thus, current data analysis approaches including machine learning and recent advances with image processing, along with potential future directions will be explored. Lastly, the needs and gaps in current literature will be elucidated to inform future efforts towards development of molecular diagnostics and biomarker screening technologies.
Study Of The Elements Of Facade Of Colonial Buildings, Case Study: Palm Oil Research Centre (PPKS) And Agency Of Sumatera Plantation Companies (BKS - PPS)

Dutch plantation expansion in the city of Medan left many historical buildings. The plantation building is a historical legacy that must be preserved. G.H Mulder was one of the architects of the time, with his work on the Palm Oil Research Center (PPKS) and the Sumatra Plantation Cooperation Agency (BKS-PPS). The facade is an inseparable element of the architectural product, which is the first element that we capture visually. This research studied and analyzed the elements of colonial architecture that form the facade of The Plantation Development of the Oil Palm Research Center (PPKS) and the building of the Sumatra Plantation Cooperation Agency (BKS-PPS). The research method used in this study is a qualitative method with variables such as walls, columns, doors, windows, vents, roofs, balcony, and ground floor zones. The study founded that the two estate buildings had the characteristics of the transitional colonial architectural period, accompanied by a grouping of similarities in the elements of the two facade. Despite having the same function, architect, and construction period, the two buildings still have differences in the characteristics in facade elements and the visual quality.
Is smartphone usage predicting fear of missing out and loneliness in a sample from the generation z

Despite being an extremely connected society, new phenomena are stemming from this new tech-era, such as Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and loneliness. In this project, data was collected from around 1...
A survey and performance evaluation of deep learning methods for small object detection

Abstract In computer vision, significant advances have been made on object detection with the rapid development of deep convolutional neural networks (CNN). This paper provides a comprehensive review of recently developed deep learning methods for small object detection. We summarize challenges and solutions of small object detection, and present major deep learning techniques, including fusing feature maps, adding context information, balancing foreground-background examples, and creating sufficient positive examples. We discuss related techniques developed in four research areas, including generic object detection, face detection, object detection in aerial imagery, and segmentation. In addition, this paper compares the performances of several leading deep learning methods for small object detection, including YOLOv3, Faster R-CNN, and SSD, based on three large benchmark datasets of small objects. Our experimental results show that while the detection accuracy on small objects by these deep learning methods was low, less than 0.4, Faster R-CNN performed the best, while YOLOv3 was a close second.
Ready or Not Here We E-Come: Remaining Persuasive Amidst the Shift Towards Electronic Filing

Lawyers are taught to be kind to their audiences in their legal writing form and function. With the advent of e-filing rules around the country, it is time for lawyers to fully embrace adaptations needed to make the e-reading experience comfortable for screen reading. When a document is read on a screen, there are no physical pages, but only paragraphs to scroll through. The entire look and experience of a document changes because of the scrolling versus page-turning. This article explores the mandatory or permissive status of e-filing in the federal and state jurisdictions. Second, the article reviews the differences between reading in print and onscreen, and highlights those areas where legal writing forms will necessarily require technical and visual adaptation for readers’ maximum comprehension and thus for the authors’ persuasion and advocacy.
Residual physical modeling and semi-supervised source localization

Source localization in reverberant environments remains an open challenge which ML techniques have shown promise in addressing. Real-world acoustic environments contain irregular boundaries, scattering, and diffracting elements (e.g., furniture and uneven surfaces) which are impractical to model using acoustic propagation software. We develop a hybrid approach to acoustic source localization which utilizes both analytical, signal processing-based localization, and machine learning (ML) to provide a data-driven source localization model. In this approach, the output of an analytical source localization model (e.g., SRP-PHAT or MUSIC) is augmented by a neural network (NN) system. This augmented system consists of a variational autoencoder and localization network, which is designed to correct the analytic estimate. The networks are trained via semi-supervised learning, on both labeled and unlabeled inputs. The NNs in this approach parameterize stochastic functions, which facilitate a statistically principled learning approach via variational inference (VI). The stochasticity also helps quantify source location uncertainty under the VI approximate posterior. For simulated and real acoustic data, the hybrid approach generalizes better and is more efficient than ML or analytic approaches alone.
Anti-obesity and pro-diabetic effects of hemochromatosis

Objective Levels of tissue iron contribute to determining diabetes risk, but little is known about the effects of higher iron levels on weight, and on the interaction of weight and iron overload on diabetes risk. Therefore, the effect of iron on body mass index and diabetes in individuals with iron overload from hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), compared to non-HH siblings and historical controls was examined. Methods Chart reviews were performed on a cohort of adults (age ≥40, N = 101) with the common C282Y/C282Y HFE genotype, compared to wild type siblings (N = 32) and comparable NHANES cohorts, with respect to body mass index and diabetes status. Results Males with HH have lower body mass index (BMI) than control siblings. Females had a trend toward decreased BMI that was not significant, possibly related to decreased degrees of iron overload. In both males and females, increased rates of diabetes were seen, especially in the overweight or obese. Conclusions High tissue iron levels may be both pro- and anti-diabetic. The prevalence of obesity and diabetes in HH is likely dependent upon the degree of iron overload, caloric intake, and other genetic and environmental factors, contributing to the observed heterogeneity in the frequency of disease-related morbidities in HH.
A revised evolutionary history of armadillos (Dasypus) in North America based on ancient mitochondrial DNA

The large, beautiful armadillo, Dasypus bellus, first appeared in North America about 2.5 million years ago, and was extinct across its southeastern US range by 11 thousand years ago (ka). Within the last 150 years, the much smaller nine-banded armadillo, D. novemcinctus, has expanded rapidly out of Mexico and colonized much of the former range of the beautiful armadillo. The high degree of morphological similarity between these two species has led to speculation that they might be a single, highly adaptable species with phenotypical responses and geographical range fluctuations resulting from environmental changes. If this is correct, then the biology and tolerance limits for D. novemcinctus could be directly applied to the Pleistocene species, D. bellus. To investigate this, we isolated ancient mitochondrial DNA from late Pleistocene-age specimens of Dasypus from Missouri and Florida. We identified two genetically distinct mitochondrial lineages, which most likely correspond to D. bellus (Missouri) and D. novemcinctus (Florida). Surprisingly, both lineages were isolated from large specimens that were identified previously as D. bellus. Our results suggest that D. novemcinctus, which is currently classified as an invasive species, was already present in central Florida around 10 ka, significantly earlier than previously believed.
Interaction Strategies For Positioning An Object

Understanding the strategies humans use in interactive tasks will be useful in the design and control of prosthetic and robotic devices. We studied a simple interactive task in which the subject held a handle at a target position against a constant perturbing force. Even though only the applied force, and not the subject’s arm stiffness, was constrained, we found that the subjects consistently chose a particular stiffness which appeared to be independent of the force for low values, but increased for higher values. Studies of the dependence of this stiffness on the inertial and stiffness properties of the manipulated object are planned.
A comparative analysis of data generated using two different target preparation methods for hybridization to high-density oligonucleotide microarrays

To generate specific transcript profiles, one must isolate homogenous cell populations using techniques that often yield small amounts of RNA, requiring researchers to employ RNA amplification methods. The data generated by using these methods must be extensively evaluated to determine any technique dependent distortion of the expression profiles. High-density oligonucleotide microarrays were used to perform experiments for comparing data generated by using two protocols, an in vitro transcription (IVT) protocol that requires 5 μg of total RNA and a double in vitro transcription (dIVT) protocol that requires 200 ng of total RNA for target preparation from RNA samples extracted from a normal and a cancer cell line. In both cell lines, about 10% more genes were detected with IVT than with dIVT. Genes were filtered to exclude those that were undetected on all arrays. Hierarchical clustering using the 9,482 genes that passed the filter showed that the variation attributable to biological differences between samples was greater than that introduced by differences in the protocols. We analyzed the behavior of these genes separately for each protocol by using a statistical model to estimate the posterior probability of various levels of fold change. At each level, more differentially expressed genes were detected with IVT than with dIVT. When we checked for genes that had a posterior probability greater than 99% of fold change greater than 2, in data generated by IVT but not dIVT, more than 60% of these genes had posterior probabilities greater than 90% in data generated by dIVT. Both protocols identified the same functional gene categories to be differentially expressed. Differential expression of selected genes was confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR. Using nanogram quantities on total RNA, the usage of dIVT protocol identified differentially expressed genes and functional categories consistent with those detected by the IVT protocol. There was a loss in sensitivity of about 10% when detecting differentially expressed genes using the dIVT protocol. However, the lower amount of RNA required for this protocol, as compared to the IVT protocol, renders this methodology a highly desirable one for biological systems where sample amounts are limiting.
Synthesis of plus strands of retroviral DNA in cells infected with avian sarcoma virus and mouse mammary tumor virus.

Abstract The vast majority of plus strands synthesized in quail cells acutely infected with avian sarcoma virus were subgenomic in size, generally less than 3 kilobases (kb). A series of discrete species could be identified after agarose gel electrophoresis by annealing with various complementary DNAs, indicating specificity in the initiation and termination of plus strands. The first plus strand to appear (within 2 h postinfection) was similar in length to the long redundancy at the ends of linear DNA (0.35 kb), and it annealed with complementary DNAs specific for the 3' and 5' termini of viral RNA (Varmus et al., J. Mol. Biol. 120:50-82, 1978). Several subgenomic plus-strand fragments (0.94, 1.38, 2.3, and 3.4 kb) annealed with these reagents. At least the 0.94- and 1.38-kb strands were located at the same end of linear DNA as the 0.35-kb strand, indicating that multiple specific sites for initiation were employed to generate strands which overlapped on the structural map. We were unable to detect RNA liked to plus strands isolated as early as 2.5 h postinfection; thus, the primers must be short (fewer than 50 to 100 nucleotides), rapidly removed, or not composed of RNA. To determine whether multiple priming events are a general property of retroviral DNA synthesis in vivo, we also examined plus strands of mouse mammary tumor virus DNA in chronically infected rat cells after induction of RNA and subsequent DNA synthesis with dexamethasone. In this case, multiple, discrete subgenomic DNA plus strands were not found when the same methods applied to avian sarcoma virus DNA were used; instead, the plus strands present in the linear DNA of mouse mammary tumor virus fell mainly into two classes: (i) strands of ca. 1.3 kb which appeared early in synthesis and were similar in size and genetic content to the terminally repeated sequence in linear DNA; and (ii) plus strands of the same length as linear DNA. A heterogeneous population of other strands diminished with time, was not found in completed molecules, and was probably composed of strands undergoing elongation. These two retroviruses thus appear to differ with respect to both the number of priming sites used for the synthesis of plus strands and the abundance of full-length plus strands. On the other hand the major subgenomic plus strand of mouse mammary tumor virus DNA (1.3 kb) is probably the functional homolog of a major subgenomic plus strand of avian sarcoma virus DNA (0.35 kb). The significance of this plus strand species is discussed in the context of current models which hold that it is used as a template for the completion of the minus strand, thereby generating the long terminal redundancy.
A Multicomponent Conceptualization of Authenticity: Theory and Research

And if by chance I wake at night and I ask you who I am, oh take me to the slaughterhouse I will wait there with the lamb. —Leonard Cohen Whatever satisfies the soul is truth. —Walt Whitman I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence. —Frederick Douglass In this chapter, we present research and theory pertaining to our multicomponent perspective on authentic functioning. We begin with a historical account of various philosophical perspectives on authentic functioning and briefly review several past and contemporary psychological perspectives on authenticity. We then define and discuss our multicomponent conceptualization of authenticity and describe each of its components and their relationships to other constructs in the psychology literature. Next, we present an individual differences measure we have developed to assess dispositional authenticity and each of its components, and we report findings attesting to the adequacy of its psychometric properties. In addition, we present findings from a variety of studies we have conducted to examine how authenticity relates to diverse aspects of healthy psychological and interpersonal functioning. These studies pertain to a wide range of phenomena, including the following: verbal defensiveness, mindfulness, coping styles, self‐concept structure, social‐role functioning, goal pursuits, general well‐being, romantic relationships, parenting styles, and self‐esteem. Following this, we discuss potential downsides or costs for authentic functioning and describe some future directions for research on authenticity.
Geriatric shoulder pain.

Shoulder pain in the geriatric patient is a common musculoskeletal complaint. Some community studies 1,2 have suggested that painful disorders of the shoulder girdle are present in at least 25% of elderly people. The peak incidence of symptom­ atic shoulder disorders, other than those caused by arthritis or trauma, occurs between the ages of 50 and 60. 3 When left untreated, shoulder pain can impair arm function and lead to permanent disability. The purpose of this article is to discuss the common shoulder problems encountered in the elderly population and to provide a basis for ac­ curate diagnosis and proper treatment. The func­ tional anatomy and physical examination of the shoulder complex are described in detail else­ where in this issue.
New York Super-AIDS Case: Physician as Public Health Officer.

Public health officials have a responsibility to alert the public to prospective dangers without unduly restricting individual freedom or adding to the stigmatization of certain illnesses. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Identification of Bordetella spp. in respiratory specimens from individuals with cystic fibrosis

Bordetella spp. are not normally included when considering the opportunistic bacterial species that are typically involved in respiratory tract infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). By using a combination of bacterial genotyping and 16S rDNA sequencing, Bordetella spp. were identified in cultures obtained from 43 individuals with CF. Most (n = 23) patients were infected with Bordetella bronchiseptica/parapertussis; five were infected with Bordetella hinzii, four with Bordetella petrii, three with Bordetella avium, and eight with unidentified Bordetella spp. Consideration should be given to the presence of these organisms in the evaluation of CF sputum cultures.
Phylogenetic Co-Occurrence of ExoR, ExoS, and ChvI, Components of the RSI Bacterial Invasion Switch, Suggests a Key Adaptive Mechanism Regulating the Transition between Free-Living and Host-Invading Phases in Rhizobiales.

Both bacterial symbionts and pathogens rely on their host-sensing mechanisms to activate the biosynthetic pathways necessary for their invasion into host cells. The Gram-negative bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti relies on its RSI (ExoR-ExoS-ChvI) Invasion Switch to turn on the production of succinoglycan, an exopolysaccharide required for its host invasion. Recent whole-genome sequencing efforts have uncovered putative components of RSI-like invasion switches in many other symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. To explore the possibility of the existence of a common invasion switch, we have conducted a phylogenomic survey of orthologous ExoR, ExoS, and ChvI tripartite sets in more than ninety proteobacterial genomes. Our analyses suggest that functional orthologs of the RSI invasion switch co-exist in Rhizobiales, an order characterized by numerous invasive species, but not in the order’s close relatives. Phylogenomic analyses and reconstruction of orthologous sets of the three proteins in Alphaproteobacteria confirm Rhizobiales-specific gene synteny and congruent RSI evolutionary histories. Evolutionary analyses further revealed site-specific substitutions correlated specifically to either animal-bacteria or plant-bacteria associations. Lineage restricted conservation of any one specialized gene is in itself an indication of species adaptation. However, the orthologous phylogenetic co-occurrence of all interacting partners within this single signaling pathway strongly suggests that the development of the RSI switch was a key adaptive mechanism. The RSI invasion switch, originally found in S. meliloti, is a characteristic of the Rhizobiales, and potentially a conserved crucial activation step that may be targeted to control host invasion by pathogenic bacterial species.
Putting Regional Climate Prediction in Reach

Developing the capability to project how climate change will affect a particular region--any region--on Earth is a high-performance computing problem with enormous economic and health impacts. Techniques to resolve regional-scale features in global climate models are being developed and validated on leadership computing systems. In time, these regional-scale-resolving global climate models will arm local and state decision makers with the information needed to prepare for both short- and long-term impacts of climate change.
Serum bactericidal activity from intravenous ciprofloxacin and azlocillin given alone and in combination to healthy subjects

Abstract Ciprofloxacin plus azlocillin have been shown to exhibit in vitro synergy versus a variety of organisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This study examined this interaction in vivo , testing serum bactericidal activity (SBA) in six healthy male subjects after intravenous administration of ciprofloxacin 4 mg/kg (C), azlocillin 60 mg/kg (A), and the two simultaneously (CA). Eight different organisms were tested: four isolates of P. aeruginosa with varying susceptibilities to C and A, and one isolate each of Escherichia coli (EC), Staphylococcus aureus (SA) Serratia marcescens (SM), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), all of which were susceptible to both drugs. Blood samples were collected at the end of 30-min infusions and at 4 and 8 hr. Reciprocal titers were plotted versus time and area under the bactericidal titer curve (AUBC) calculated to assess antibacterial interactions. Results indicated that P. aeruginosa -1 (PA-1), EC, and KP were synergistically killed by CA. AUBC for PA-1 were C=36, A=11, CA=144, p p = 0.05. AUBC for KP were C=327, A=97, CA=584, p = 005. Additive effects were demonstrated versus all of the other organisms except Serratia marcescens , where an indifferent effect was observed. Ciprofloxacin plus azlocillin may be a useful combination of the treatment of selected Gram-negative bacillary infections.
Controlling European corn borer in vegetables with a parasitic wasp

Thomas P. Kuhar (Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech), Michael P. Hoffmann (Department of Entomology, Cornell University), and Mark G. Wright (Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii) summarize current reasearch with Trichogramma ostriniae for control of European corn borer in vegetable crops.
Effects of pyrethroid structure on rates of hydrolysis and oxidation by mouse liver microsomal enzymes

Abstract Studies on the metabolism rates of 44 pyrethroids and 24 model compounds in mouse liver microsomal systems serve to divide the substrates into three groups based on their ease of hydrolysis and oxidation. Primary alcohol esters of trans-substituted cyclopropanecarboxylic acids are most rapidly metabolized with hydrolysis generally serving as the major component of the total metabolism rate. Although hydrolyzed slowly or not at detectable rates, the primary alcohol cis-substituted cyclopropanecarboxylates, tetramethylcyclopropanecarboxylates, and p-chlorophenyl-α-isopropylacetates are rapidly oxidized. The highly insecticidal α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl esters are least susceptible to metabolic attack due to both reduced esterase rates attributable to α substitution in the alcohol moiety and reduced oxidase rates for which no adequate explanation is currently available. Other structural modifications in the acid and alcohol moieties are less important in determining the metabolism rates. The substrate specificities of the microsomal esterases and oxidases are compared with in vivo pyrethroid structure-biodegradability relationships.
REINVESTIGATION OF THE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF DEHYDRATED SODIUM ZEOLITE X

The structure of a single crystal of dehydrated zeolite Na−X selected from a batch grown by Petranovskii in Russia, of composition Na92Si100Al92O384 per unit cell, was determined by X-ray diffraction methods in the cubic space group Fd3; a = 25.077(4) A at 21 °C. R1 = 0.054 for the 320 reflections for which Fo > 4σ(Fo); wR2 based on F2 and all data is 0.140. Na+ ions are found at four crystallographic sites. Sites I‘ and II are fully occupied with 32 Na+ ions each. The remaining 28 Na+ ions partially occupy two 12-ring (site III‘) positions with 10(4) near an O−Al−O sequence and 18(4) near an O−Si−O sequence. These results differ from those of the two previous investigations of dehydrated Na−X, which, in turn, disagree substantially with each other. The near energy equivalence of two (or more) III‘ sites, the presence of an impurity cation in one determination, and a consideration of the differing qualities of the diffraction data are sufficient to reconcile all results. The substitution of four silicon ...
Testing the importance of the distribution of worker sizes to colony performance in the ant species Formica obscuripes Forel

We examined the relationship between colony performance and the distribution of worker sizes within colonies in the ant species, Formica obscuripes. We manipulated the distribution of worker sizes within colonies and found that experimental colonies whose distributions mimicked the natural distributions retained a larger percentage of colony biomass over three weeks when fed on honeydew, relative to colonies composed of only large or only small workers. In natural colonies most of the variation in worker sizes was found within, as opposed, to between colonies, suggesting that homeostatic mechanisms within colonies regulated the distribution of worker sizes. While there were no disjunctions in the distribution of worker sizes within colonies, the distribution tended to be bimodal. This study demonstrates that the distribution of worker sizes within colonies is important even for ant species that lack discrete worker castes.
An isoelectric focusing study in herpes simplex virus encephalitis

To establish an early reliable diagnostic test for herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 encephalitis (HSVE), we used isoelectric focusing (IEF) and an IEF-overlay technique with radiolabeled HSV glycoprotein B (gB) to study 7 serum and 12 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 12 patients with presumed or biopsy-proved HSVE. Blood-brain barrier damage and increased intra-blood-brain barrier IgG synthesis were detected in 5 of the 7 patients with HSVE. CSF oligoclonal bands were found in 6 of 11 patients. Using an IEF-overlay technique, we detected anti-gB antibody in all serum (7 of 7) and in 10 of 12 CSF samples. Anti-gB antibody was found in 4 of 6 CSF specimens obtained within the first week of disease (days 3 to 5) and in all samples collected later in the disease. The pH range of anti-gB antibody activity was broad (4.5 to 9.5), indicating a heterogeneous immune response to HSV. A hematogenous origin of the CSF antibody was suggested because anti-gB antibody appeared in serum before matched CSF and because both serum and matched CSF had a similar antibody IEF pattern. Local production of anti-gB antibody was suggested in some cases because of a greater prominence of anti-gB antibody in CSF than in matched sera and because CSF oligoclonal bands had anti-gB antibody activity. In contrast, only one of 6 CSF samples from patients with multiple sclerosis had gB antibody activity; in this case, anti-gB antibody activity did not correspond in isoelectric point location to oligoclonal bands.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Small-cell carcinoma of prostate

Small-cell carcinoma of the prostate is rare, but lethal. We report on 2 cases and review another 6 cases reported in the English literature. Microscopically the tumor may be pure small-cell carcinoma like that seen in the lung or may have a mixed pattern of adenocarcinoma with small-cell carcinoma. This tumor most probably arises from the basal or reserve cells of the prostatic acini. The totipotential basal cells have dual capacity for differentiation into adenocarcinoma and small-cell carcinoma.
Wigner transform and the eikonal approximation for nonlocal potentials

The same approximation scheme which leads to the Thomas-Fermi theory in bound state problems is applied to scattering by a nonlocal potential. Based on the Wigner transform of the evolution operator, it gives in a very simple way the eikonal approximation for the scattering amplitude. As an application a generalized Fermi gas model for inclusive scattering from nuclei is derived.
Chromatography of twentysix sesquiterpene lactones fromCentaurea bella

InCentaurea bella Trautv. two types of guaianolides occur the first with an ester group at C2 characteristic for this plant, and the second at C8 characteristic for other plants fromCentaurea L. Mobile phases have been investigated for the separation of these compounds by column and thin-layer chromatography. Colours of spots of guaianolides developed after spraying with concentrated sulphuric acid are correlated with substitution.
Adsorption of CO on Si(100)-(2 × 1) at room temperature

Experimental studies using several different surface analytical techniques have shown that carbon monoxide (CO) adsorbs on the Si(100)-(2 × 1) surface at room temperature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that CO coverage increases with dose size. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) shows molecularly adsorbed CO at the surface. Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) shows first-order kinetics, with activation energy (Ed) estimated to be 0.48 eV. Low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) shows that adsorption of CO disrupts the Si dimers on the Si(100)-(2 × 1) surface. XPS, UPS and TPD all show that CO has a higher sticking probability when exposed to hot filaments in the UHV chamber during dosing. These results suggest the existence of an activation barrier to adsorption of CO on Si(100)-(2 × 1).
Encoding specificity and contextual similarity

Taxonomic category headings were varied in a 2 by 2 factorial design at input and output in the processing and recall of concrete nouns in two experiments with college undergraduates. Experiment 1 showed that cuing at recall was beneficial regardless of whether cues were present during processing, but was maximally effective if cues were present at both stages. Experiment 2 examined whether the effectiveness of recall cues was due to their reinstating the encoding context at recall. The results supported neither a generation-recognition model of recall nor a strict interpretation of the encoding specificity principle. It is suggested that situationally specific mini-theories be formulated to account for cued recall phenomena.
Estimating the vocabulary size of the disadvantaged reader

Assessing the vocabulary range of the audience for an engineering document is not an easy task and is even more difficult when the audience includes disadvantages readers. This report supports the hypothesis that the less often a word appears in print, the less likely it is to be known by a reader. A test was given to 277 hearing students ranging in age from 9 through 14 and to 438 hearing-impaired students ranging in age from 10 to 19, including the special case of college freshmen. Results showed that prelingually deaf students trailed far behind their hearing peers; e.g. hearing subjects knew 63% of the words up to the 24000th word, while hearing-impaired subjects knew only 62% of the words up to the 2000th word.
Effects ofHymenaea courbaril leaf resin on the generalist herbivoreSpodoptera exigua (beet armyworm)

The hypothesis that leaf resin ofHymenaea courbaril (Leguminosae) functions as a defence against herbivory was tested in a series of experiments with the generalist herbivore, beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua Hubn). Pure leaf resin obtained by steam distillation was incorporated into an artificial diet at 0.0%, 0.16%, 0.50%, and 1.60% (dry weight) in one experiment and 0.0%, 1.0%, and 3.2% (dry weight) in a second experiment;S. exigua larvae were reared on these diets. In four palatability experiments the amount of leaf area eaten was compared between pairs of different leaf material. Mortality due to viral infection of larvae in the first feeding experiment showed a dose-response to leaf resin concentration. In the second experiment larvae showed a dose-response in the reduction of pupal weight and delay of time to pupation. These are interpreted as a dose-related stress onS. exigua which occurs with increased resin concentration in the diet. In the palatability tests,S. exigua strongly preferred untreated to resintreated bean leaf disks, bean disks toH. courbaril immature leaf disks,H. courbaril immature leaf toH. courbaril mature leaf, and bean leaf disks toH. courbaril newly emerged leaf disks. From these results, we conclude thatH. courbaril leaf resins possess toxic and feeding-deterrent properties which make them effective as an herbivore defense.
New method for the kinematic analysis of joints

It is very difficult to study the biomechanics of individuals tarsal joints in living people because the usual method for in vivo analysis, tracking skin markers related to deeper joints, works poorly in this region. Other available methods for analyzing individual joints are too invasive for practical use. We have developed a method which utilizes 3D reconstructions of bones from magnetic resonance image data. The foot is moved in a controlled manner in a jig which mimics normal pronation and supination, with data gathered at 10 degree intervals across the range of motion. At each position of the foot a 3D reconstruction of each bone is made, and the motions which occur as the bone goes from one position of the foot to the next are determined. From this information, animations are created and the position data are analyzed. We have studied twenty clinically normal individuals, plus several people being treated for various pathologies. Kinematic information on the peritalar joints include such factors as the nature of their rotations and the relative amount of pronation- supination occurring at the subtalar and transverse tarsal joints.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Technology Adoption Model for Broadband Internet Adoption in India

Since 1980, corporations have spent nearly 50% of their revenue on technology, yet 50% of these new systems fail. The field of technology acceptance modeling posits that user acceptance is a root cause of these failures. Technology acceptance studies endeavor to determine the factors that lead users to adopt or reject a technology, but existing models have multiple weaknesses that impact their effectiveness and applicability. This study used enterprise system engineering principles to analyze and improve existing technology acceptance models, and proposed a new model that could be applied to disadvantaged user populations. The study analyzed information technology survey results from 338 firms across India and used the revised technology acceptance model to identify factors that were correlated to broadband internet use. The study found that relative advantage, process support infrastructure, relative cost, technology accessibility, and relevant knowledge were significantly correlated to broadband interne...
Is alcohol assessment therapeutic? Pretreatment change in drinking among alcohol-dependent women.

Objective: Participants in alcohol treatment outcome studies typically undergo extensive assessment protocols to determine eligibility and provide descriptive and predictive data before beginning therapy. Changes in alcohol consumption as a result of reactivity to assessment have generally not been studied; most researchers collapse data across the pretreatment period and compare them with within-treatment and posttreatment periods. Previously we found a reduction in drinking days from 90 days prebaseline to 3 months postbaseline, with no significant additional reduction during the second 3 months of treatment, in a clinical trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for alcohol-dependent women. The current study examined the points at which these participants stopped or reduced their drinking during the pretreatment assessment period. Method: As part of a randomized clinical trial of 6 months of individual or couples CBT for 102 alcoholic women, study participants were assessed briefly via a telephone s...
Characterization of the two alcohol dehydrogenases of Zymomonas mobilis.

Abstract The two alcohol dehydrogenases of Zymomonas mobilis , a fermentative bacterium, have been characterized kinetically and physiologically, and a preliminary biochemical characterization has been made. The two isozymes are separable electrophoretically and have been purified separately by affinity chromatography. One, a tetramer, has a subunit molecular weight of 34,700, very close to that of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase. It is the more cathodally migrating of the two isozymes on electrophoresis at pH 8.6, and has been designated ZADH-I. The second, a dimer, has a slightly smaller subunit size (31,100), and has been designated ZADH-II. Both contain approximately one zinc atom per subunit, but have very different amino acid compositions. The two isozymes have clearly different apparent Michaelis constants and show different kinetics. The kinetics of ZADH-I are similar to those of ADH-II of yeast. ZADH-I is more stable during purification than ZADH-II, can oxidize a wider range of alcohols, and has a pH optimum of 9.5, more similar to that of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase. Strains of Z. mobilis cultured in low-sucrose media lose the ZADH-II irreversibly, suggesting that the gene may be on a plasmid. The fermentative ability of Z. mobilis , based as it is on the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, is clearly different from that of yeast. Under all conditions tested, Z. mobilis produced more acetaldehyde than did laboratory strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . At high sugar concentrations it grew poorly and produced little ethanol while yeast grew and fermented readily. As with yeast, the ratio of NAD to NADH in the cell cannot be perturbed by changes in medium composition when both isozymes are present. Allyl alcohol resistant mutants of this bacterium show reduced alcohol dehydrogenase activity and alcohol production and increased acetaldehyde excretion.
Traumatic Focal Posterior Tibialis Muscle Denervation

The purpose of this case presentation is to demonstrate posterior tibialis muscle (PTM) denervation as a cause of traumatic plantarflexion inversion weakness. In a 42-year-old woman, severe pain, swelling, and ecchymosis over the medial aspect of her left ankle developed after she twisted it while playing tennis. Plantarflexion inversion weakness developed (grade 3/5). The strength of all other muscle groups of the lower extremity was normal. Her pin and light touch sensation were normal in the left lower extremity. Deep tendon reflexes were equal and active at both knees and ankles. A magnetic resonance image of the left leg, ankle, and foot performed 1 month after injury demonstrated an intact posterior tibialis tendon behind the medial malleolus and edema-like increased signal intensity in the PTM on the T1-weighted image consistent with denervation. On electromyographic testing, there were continuous fibrillation and positive sharp wave potentials in every site tested in the PTM without any voluntary ...
HPLC Determination of Sulfadiazine Residues in Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with Confirmation by Liquid Chromatography with Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry

High-performance liquid chromatography and postcolumn derivatization with fluorescamine were used to determine sulfadiazine (SDZ) residues in muscle and skin from salmon dosed with Tribrissen. Dete...
The degrees of plane curves with prescribed log canonical threshold

Abstract We obtain a bound on the degree of curves with fixed log canonical threshold at very general points on P 2 .