cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retrofitting the battlements: tight junction remodeling as a novel antimicrobial approach.

Epithelial cell layers, pathogens & infection Imagine that you are tasked with defending a castle from an invading army. You have two general options: you can attack the invaders directly or you can redefine your castle’s walls. It would probably be wise to exercise both options, and yet modern medicine’s approach to microbial pathogens has generally utilized only the first, a varied yet mono lithic drive to kill the microbes coming over or through the walls. Prescribers of antimicrobial agents know quite well that this approach can exert a high toll on your own troops. In addition, the enemy is quite good at adapting its defense and tactics to changes you make to your armory, as demonstrated by the current epidemic of antibiotic-resistant organisms. In this article, we wish to bring attention to recently gained knowledge
Cell migration in the adult rat and rabbit lens.

The location of dividing epithelial cells and the subsequent migration of these cells into the lens substance of the adult rat and rabbit were determined using intracameral [3H]thymidine and autoradiographic techniques. The germinative zone of the lens, located just anterior to the lens equator, was an average of five cells wide. One of these cells migrated posteriorly each day and became a new lens cortex fiber in an average of 6 and 8 weeks for the rat and rabbit, respectively. Each new cortex fiber migrated inward forming a lens fiber without a nucleus in an average of 6 and 10 weeks for the rat and rabbit, respectively.
The momentum distribution of liquid hydrogen in vycor.

Deep inelastic neutron scattering (DINS) measurements of molecular hydrogen adsorbed in porous vycor glass at 18 K have been carried out for pore fillings ranging from sub-monolayer coverage to nearly full pore. DINS provides direct information on the momentum distribution of hydrogen in the vycor that, due to the light mass of the hydrogen molecule, is determined by the local environment of the molecule. The observed scattering is consistent with the impulse approximation (IA) using a model in which the hydrogen molecules behave as free rotors that are decoupled from the translational motion. The translational kinetic energy is 95 K for monolayer coverage, reflecting the binding of the molecules to the surface, and decreases, as the pore filling is increased, to 73 K for the nearly full pore case.
Characterization of the disruptions of prepulse inhibition and habituation of startle induced by α-ethyltryptamine

Alpha-ethyltryptamine (AET), a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and potent monoamine releasing agent, has been sold illicitly as a substitute for the entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA), and is the first example of an indolealkylamine analog demonstrated to substitute in MDMA-trained animals. Previous studies have demonstrated that MDMA and AET have similar effects on unconditioned motor behavior in rats. Furthermore, the locomotor-activating effects of both MDMA and AET are blocked by pretreatment with fluoxetine, a selective serotonin (5-HT) uptake inhibitor, suggesting that the two compounds may share a presynaptic mechanism of action. This study examined the effects of AET using measures of startle plasticity, specifically prepulse inhibition (PPI), and habituation. PPI, a measure of sensorimotor gating, is reduced in rats treated with hallucinogens, 5-HT releasers, and dopamine agonists. In contrast, startle habituation is reduced in rats treated with hallucinogens and 5-HT releasers. AET (1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) decreased PPI of acoustic startle and reduced the habituation of tactile startle. To determine whether AET produces these effects via pre- or postsynaptic actions, fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) was used as a pretreatment. By itself, fluoxetine did not disrupt PPI, but did reduce startle habituation. Fluoxetine pretreatment prevented the AET-induced disruption of PPI and reduced the AET-induced disruption of startle habituation. Combined with previous findings, these results confirm that AET produces behavioral effects that mimic those of other indirect 5-HT agonists and that the effects of AET on startle plasticity are due to the release of presynaptic 5-HT.
Clothing Deprivation/Satisfaction: A Methodological Note:

Analysis of the conceptualization of clothing deprivation and clothing satisfaction supported by data from 161 male skateboarders between the ages of 12 and 19 years indicated that the two constructs may be interchangeable.
Formation of a thiamine artifact during chromatography: a single column procedure for the separation of thiamine and the thiamine mono-, di-, and triphosphate esters.

Chromatography of a preparation of [14C]thiamine pyrophosphate (thiamine-PP) on Dowex 1X8 in the formate form produced an unexpected peak, X-1, which was eluted just prior to the thiamine-PP peak. An ammonium formate, pH 4.5, gradient was the eluant. Rechromatography of either peak X-1 or thiamine-PP produced the same two peaks. The radioactive specific activity per micromole labile phosphate was the same for the two peaks. Peak X-1 appears to be a thiamine compound formed in the presence of formate solutions. This procedural artifact was circumvented by the substitution of acetate for formate. By varying the pH as well as the ionic strength a single column procedure has been developed that separates thiamine and the three phosphate esters quantitatively in micromolar amounts.
Naturalness, supersymmetry and implications for LHC and dark matter

Abstract It is shown that the Hyperbolic Branch of the radiative electroweak symmetry breaking contains in it three regions: the Focal Point, Focal Curves, and Focal Surfaces. Further, the Focal Point is shown to lie on the boundary of a Focal Curve. These focal regions allow for a small μ while scalar masses can become large and may lie in the several TeV region. It is shown that for the mSUGRA model the current LHC-7 constraint depletes the Focal Point region while regions on Focal Curves and Focal Surfaces remain largely intact. The LHC implications for models which lie on Focal Curves are briefly discussed as well as the implications of dark matter constraints for the Focal Point, Focal Curves and Focal Surfaces are discussed.
Using graphics to support the teaching of fundamental object-oriented principles in CS1

Teaching object-oriented programming in CS1 is hard. Keeping the attention of CS1 students is perhaps even harder. In our experience the former can be done successfully with very satisfying results by focusing on the fundamental principles of object-orientation, such as inheritance, polymorphism and encapsulation. The latter can be done by having students create graphical event-driven programs. Care must be taken, however, since teaching graphics can easily distract students and certainly takes time away from the fundamentals being taught. We use Java as a vehicle for OO instruction, but rather than expose CS1 students to the intricacies of Swing we employ an elegant and small graphics package called NGP. NGP allows students to create event-driven graphical programs using only inheritance and method overriding. We describe how we use NGP to enhance rather than detract from our teaching of fundamental OO principles.
Precision of Single vs Bilateral Hip Bone Mineral Density Scans

Abstract This study was performed to determine and compare the precision of single and bilateral hip bone mineral density (BMD) measurements and to determine the precision of spinal and total body measurements by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Precision (group root-mean-square average coefficient of variation) was determined in 6 subjects scanned six times each at the spine, both hips, and total body, with repositioning after each scan. Mean percentage coefficients of variance (%CVs) in BMD for single and bilateral hip scans were, respectively: 0.65% and 0.67% for the total hip, 1.16% and 1.03% for the trochanter, and 1.66% and 1.31% for the femoral neck, respectively. Mean %CV was 1.04% for spine BMD (L2–L4), 0.67% for total body BMD, 1.12% for total body bone mineral content (BMC), 0.94% for total body fat tissue, and 0.77% for total body nonfat soft tissue. We conclude that precision overall is excellent and that femoral neck precision can be improved with bilateral compared with the traditional single hip scans.
Ultrasensitive biosensing on the zepto-molar level

Detection of analytes on the zepto-molar (10(-21) M) level has been achieved using a field-effect bio-detector. By applying a gating voltage to enzymes immobilized on the working electrode of the detector, amplification of the biocatalytic current was observed. The amplification is attributed to the modification of the tunnel barrier between the enzyme and the electrode by the gating voltage-induced electric field which exists at the solution-electrode interface. The detection was demonstrated with the glucose oxidase (GOx)-glucose and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)-ethanol biocatalytic systems. Glucose at zepto-molar level was detected with zepto-molar detection resolution. Equivalently, 30 glucose molecules present in the sample were detected and the detection system responded distinctively to the incremental change in the number of glucose molecules in unit of 30 molecules. The enzyme's biospecificity was also preserved in the presence of the applied field. We present possible processes that could give rise to the electrical charges required to produce the observed current level.
Modeling decision-making biases

Human decision-making can be affected by cognitive biases, and outside observers can often detect biased decision-making in others. Accordingly, intelligent agents endowed with the computational equivalent of the human mind should be able to detect biased reasoning and help people to improve their decision-making in practical applications. We are modeling bias-detection functionalities in OntoAgent, a cognitively-inspired agent environment that supports the modeling of intelligent agents with a wide range of sophisticated functionalities, including semantically-oriented language processing, decision-making, learning and collaborating with people. Within OntoAgent, different aspects of agent functionality are described using microtheories that are realized as formal computational models. This paper presents the OntoAgent model that supports the automatic detection of decision-making biases, using clinical medicine as a sample application area. It shows how an intelligent agent serving as a clinician’s assistant can follow the doctor–patient interaction and warn the doctor if it appears that his own or the patient’s decisions might be unwittingly affected by biased reasoning.
An analysis of risk management tools utilized by Illinois farmers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships among choice of risk management tools, perceived effectiveness of risk management tools, self-reported risk attitude, and farm and farmer characteristics. Design/methodology/approach – A mail survey was used to collect information about utilization of risk management tools, perceived effectiveness of risk management tools, and factors that could influence choice of risk management tools by Illinois farmers. Cluster analysis, one-way ANOVA, χ2 tests of independence, and multinomial logistic regression were utilized to detect possible relationships among choice of risk management tools, perceived effectiveness of risk management tools, self-reported risk attitude, and farm and farmer characteristics. Findings – Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that age and gross farm income (GFI) were the strongest predictors of the risk management tool utilization group to which an individual would be assigned. The number of risk manag...
Self-Similar Cosmological Model: Technical Details, Predictions, Unresolved Issues, and Implications

This second paper of a two-part review of the self-similar cosmological model includes a derivation of the self-similar scale transformation equations, discussions of various details of the model, and a survey of the definitive predictions by which the model can be unambiguously tested in the near future. Unresolved issues and problems are identified and discussed. The review concludes with an examination of the theoretical implications of discrete cosmological selfsimilarity.
Morphological Basis of the Feeding Mechanics in the Shingle- Back Lizard Trachydosaurus rugosus (Scincidae, Reptilia)

This report details certain morphological aspects of the feeding system of the lizard Trachydosaurus rugosus, an opportunistic omnivore, as a first step toward a functional characterization of its masticatory system. The skull is relatively solid and internally well braced; its anterodorsal elements are tightly tied to the integument and covering osteoderms. There is potential for intracranial kinesis and streptostyly. At small gapes, mandibular movements seem to be restricted to relatively simple, hingelike actions by a series of mechanical stops. The dentition features a progression of smaller to larger teeth posteriorly along the tooth row. The jaw adductor musculature is massive; other jaw muscles are relatively simple. The external adductor mass is particularly noteworthy in that it is subdivided into four mechanical units by a complex internal tendon tract (the coronoid aponeurosis). The internal adductor is composed of two separate gross muscles, pseudotemporalis (PST) and pterygoideus (PT). Each of these is subdivided into two main units by aponeurotic sheets, the PST by parts of the coronoid aponeurosis and the PT by a separate series. The form of the aponeurotic system in Trachydosaurus confounds the separation and identification of the adductor muscles and their component parts along the lines of traditional nomenclature, and underscores the need for separating criteria based on homology from those reflecting morphological and possibly functional divisions.
Velocity and temperature profiles of unstable liquid-liquid dispersions in vertical turbulent flow

Abstract The momentum and heat-transfer characteristics of an unstable liquid-liquid dispersion made up of a kerosene-like petroleum solvent and water and containing up to 50 per cent dispersed phase were studied. Properties of the two fluids comprising the dispersions were similar. Velocity and temperature profiles, friction factors and heat transfer coefficients were obtained for dispersions of various concentrations in turbulent flow in a vertical tube. From an analysis of the velocity profile data it was concluded that the dispersions could be treated as Newtonian fluids. The effective viscosity of the dispersions was determined assuming the usual single-phase turbulent core velocity distribution equation to be applicable. A fluidity-concentration curve is given which may be used to predict vertical turbulent-flow friction factors for the dispersions studied. The temperature profiles indicated that the dispersions behaved like a liquid having a Prandtl equal to that of the continuous phase, with its properties evaluated at the film temperature (average of bulk and wall temperatures). Heat transfer coefficients correlated with the usual j -factor equation if the Prandtl number is that of the continuous phase at the film temperature and the Reynolds number is based on the effective dispersion viscosity. The results are applicable to dispersions made up of liquids of similar properties and may not apply when the liquids have widely different physical properties.
Science education and moral education

Both science and ethics are embedded in cultural tradi- tions where truths are shared through education; both need com- petent critics educated within such traditions. Education in both ought to be directed although moral education demands levels of responsible agency that science education does not. Evolutionary science often carries an implicit or explicit understanding of who and what humans are, one which may not be coherent with the implicit or explicit human self-understanding in moral education. The latter in turn may not be coherent with classical human self-understandings. Moral education may enlighten and elevate the human nature that has evolved biologically.
Effect of R&D expenditures and funding strategies on the market value of biotech firms

Abstract Market value of biotech firms is important to investors and venture capitalists who keep this industry alive and dynamic. It is a particularly valuable index of investors' estimate of current and future success of the firms in this industry because other conventional indices of performance and success are inappropriate. Our hypothesis is that market value in this industry can be explained in terms of funding strategies and R&D expenditures. Using all sixty publicly-held biotech firms, that are included in a national directory for such firms engaged in the research of biotech products for human use, we estimate multiple regression models that explain most of the variance in market value using funding strategies and R&D expenditures (R-squared = 0.93). Our models also demonstrated that small biotech firms (
Quantification of diffusion distance within the spongy myocardium of hearts from antarctic fishes

We developed a stereological method for quantifying diffusion distance within spongy myocardium. Using this method we compared the hearts of three species of Antarctic fishes that vary in expression of oxygen-binding proteins. We examined hearts from Gobionotothen gibberifrons, a red-blooded species whose ventricle has myoglobin (Mb), and hearts of two species of icefish that lack hemoglobin (Hb) and vary in expression of cardiac Mb; Chionodraco rastrospinosus expresses Mb, Chaenocephalus aceratus does not. Average diffusion distance within ventricular tissue is greater in red-blooded Antarctic teleosts (9.82 + or - 1.37 microm) compared with icefish (C. rastrospinosus, 6.20 microm + or - 0.86; C. aceratus, 6.23 + or - 0.41 microm). Average diffusion distance to a mitochondrion parallels this trend because mitochondria are uniformly distributed within cardiac muscle. Results show that loss of Hb is correlated with increased trabeculation of heart ventricle. Loss of Mb however, is not correlated with an increase in trabeculation of ventricular tissue, despite significant differences in cellular ultrastructure compared with species that express the protein.
Minimal residual smoothing in multi-level iterative method

A minimal residual smoothing (MRS) technique is employed to accelerate the convergence of the multi-level iterative method by smoothing the residuals of the original iterative sequence. The sequence with smoothed residuals is re-introduced into the multi-level iterative process. The new sequence generated by this acceleration procedure converges much faster than both the sequence generated by the original multi-level method and the sequence generated by MRS technique. The cost of this acceleration scheme is independent of the original operator and in many cases is negligible. The emphasis of this paper is on the practical implementation of MRS acceleration techniques in the multi-level method. The discussions are focused on the two-level method because the acceleration scheme is only applied on the finest level of the multi-level method. Numerical experiments using the proposed MRS acceleration scheme to accelerate both the two-level and multi-level methods are conducted to show the efficiency and the cost-effectiveness of this acceleration scheme.
Lateral connections between heart muscle cells as revealed by conventional and high voltage transmission electron microscopy.

The lateral surfaces of heart muscle cells are interconnected by a varied and extensive network of structures that exist in addition to intercalated discs. Ultrastructural images of this network are vastly improved over those from epoxy-embedded material, particularly for low density components, through the application of a method for removing the embedding matrix from thin or thick sections that are then stereoscopically analyzed with standard or high voltage transmission electron microscopy. The connections include cables, 3–20 nm in diameter, multi-strand cables, 10–40 nm-granules, meshlike mats, and sheets, all extensively interwoven. It is suggested that intercellular connections of varying strength and distribution aid in the integration of mechanical performance of the large population of myocytes during the contractile cycle of the heart.
Concentration and intervals of hydrogen dioxide applications to control Puccinia hemerocallidis on daylily

Abstract Hydrogen dioxide (H 2 O 2 ) is a disinfestant used to kill fungal spores, such as urediniospores of Puccinia hemerocallidis , on plant and production surfaces. Excised sections of daylily leaves with sporulating rust pustules were sprayed with concentrations between 19 and 270 g active ingredient (a.i.) H 2 O 2 l −1 . Treated spores were rubbed onto the surface of PDA, and germination of >100 spores per replication per treatment was determined 24 h later. An exponential decay model was fitted to the data and a lethal dose (LD) of 57 and 114 g a.i. H 2 O 2 l −1 solution was predicted to cause 90 and 99% urediniospore mortality, respectively. In an irrigation pad study, one label concentration (2.7 g a.i. H 2 O 2 l −1 ) and approximate LD 90 and LD 99 concentrations (54 and 108 g a.i. H 2 O 2 l −1 ) were sprayed 1 or 2 times per week on healthy daylily plants exposed to naturally dispersing inoculum. Disease incidence and severity decreased with increasing concentration and number of applications of H 2 O 2 per week. H 2 O 2 , at 108 g a.i. l −1 applied once per week, provided control equal to a fungicide treatment (azoxystrobin and chlorothalonil plus thiophanate-methyl rotation), but was also significantly phytotoxic. In a greenhouse study, two concentrations (2.0 and 2.7 g a.i. H 2 O 2 l −1 ) registered for application on plants and one concentration (3.4 g a.i. H 2 O 2 l −1 ) registered for application on production surfaces were sprayed 2, 3, and 5 times per week on healthy daylily plants exposed to naturally dispersed inoculum. In greenhouse experiment I where the maximum mean incidence was 59%, 2.7 and 3.4 g a.i. H 2 O 2 l −1 applied 2–5 times per week provided control equal to the fungicide treatment. In greenhouse experiment II where the maximum mean incidence was 89%, 5 applications of H 2 O 2 at 2.0–3.4 g a.i. H 2 O 2 l −1 provided control that was better than the water treatment but not as good as the fungicide treatment. Higher label concentrations (2.7 g a.i. H 2 O 2 l −1 ) and multiple applications per week (≥5) can provide disease control equal to a fungicide when disease pressure is low, but may not be effective when disease pressure is high.
Regulation of Syndecan-4 Phosphorylation in Vivo

Recent studies suggest that some of the heparan sulfate-carrying proteoglycans may directly participate in signaling via their cytoplasmic tail. The present investigation addresses the potential involvement of syndecan-4, a widely expressed transmembrane proteoglycan, in this process. We found that the cytoplasmic tail of syndecan-4 is phosphorylated on a single serine residue (Ser183) in growth-arrested NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, with a stoichiometry of 0.3 mol Pi/mol syndecan-4. Treatment of the cells with a protein kinase C (PKC)-activating phorbol ester lead to a 2.5-fold increase in Ser183 phosphorylation. This increase was inhibited by a generic PKC inhibitor but not by an inhibitor specific to the calcium-dependent conventional PKCs, suggesting that the cytoplasmic tail of syndecan-4 is phosphorylated by a calcium-independent novel PKC isozyme. Application of 10–30 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) produced a 2–3-fold reduction in the phosphorylation of syndecan-4. Because treatment with the phosphatase inhibitor calyculin prevented the bFGF-induced decrease in syndecan-4 phosphorylation, the effect of bFGF appears to be mediated by a protein serine/threonine phosphatase type 1 or 2A. We conclude that the cytoplasmic tail of syndecan-4 is subject to in vivo phosphorylation on Ser183, which is regulated by the activities of a novel PKC isozyme and a bFGF-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase.
Airway laser procedures in children and the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Practice Advisory: a survey among pediatric anesthesiologists.

Abstract Background and objectives Recognizing the risk of fire during laser procedures involving the airway, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) developed recommendations designed to promote safe practice and reduce burn injuries. The aim of this study was to identify how reported anesthetic management of airway laser endoscopies in pediatric patients aligns with the ASA Practice Advisory (ASA-PA). Methods An online survey was created in an iterative process, pilot-tested, and distributed using the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia's (SPA) membership email list. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Responses from 322 respondents were included, 296 (92%) of whom participated in pediatric laser airway procedures. Fifty-nine respondents (20%) reported the use of an inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO 2 ) of 90% or greater during laser activation in patients with a native airway, and 101 (34%) reported not waiting after the reduction of the FiO 2 and laser activation in the airway. Sixty-four (36%) of respondents reporting the use of a non-laser-safe tube during laser airway cases did so due to a lack of availability of a laser specific tube or size limitations. Six respondents (2%) reported an airway fire during a laser procedure in a child under their care. Conclusions Our results indicate that, in general, pediatric anesthesiologists do not adhere to the ASA-PA in several important aspects. Possible explanations might be knowledge deficiencies about the Practice Advisory or a perceived limited clinical applicability in the pediatric setting. Regardless, airway fires during laser airway surgeries in this population do occur, emphasizing the need for safe practice standards for both anesthesiologists and surgeons.
Response of single antennal neurons of female cabbage loopers to behaviorally active attractants

The response to biologically significant odor signals in insects is dependent on a well-developed olfactory system. For most moths, successful mate location depends ultimately on a coupling between female-emitted sex pheromone components and male antennal receptor cells [I]. The reception and processing of pheromones by male moth sensory pathways have been better elucidated than host-plant odor reception by female insects Among the possible reasons for this discrepancy is the fact that female behavioral responses have not been intensively investigated, and there appear to be many possible active combinations of components from these complex mixtures [2, 31. A better understanding of the relationship between host-plant odors and their effects on the peripheral olfactory receptors of females is necessary inasmuch as volatile chemicals emitted by plants are often crucial in enabling female insects to locate suit-
Planning for Workforce Succession Among National Park Service Advanced-Level Natural Resource Program Managers: A Gap Analysis

Most natural resource management agencies will suffer a loss of the skills, knowledge, and institutional memory embodied in their most experienced employees as advanced-level managers retire. Knowledge of job deficiencies of employees scheduled to move into positions of pending retirees is essential for training and workforce succession management. This article provides guidance about workforce succession by analyzing perceived training competency/needs of National Park Service resource management professionals. A gap analysis was used to analyze perceived differences in preparation for and importance of specific competencies for advanced-level job classifications (GS-12 grades and above). Results indicated that Program Managers (n = 117) reported “large gaps” or deficiencies in training for 18 out of 34 competencies measured. There were also significant differences (p ≤ .05) between the perceived gaps of three age cohorts, with the cohort group most likely to succeed retirees the most deficient. Five tra...
Two-tier diagnosing in psychiatry.

Abstract This article addresses the question: what is the most productive way to systemize abnormal behavior in order to study its biological roots? Though nosplogy still occupies the premier position in biological psychiatry, it is, in and by itself, a treacherous beacon. Syndromal organization of psychopathology is likewise seriously flawed. A functional organization of psychopathology is considered the most appropriate framework for biological research and a plea is made for a two-tier diagnostic system of psychiatric disorders. Tier one comprises the nosological diagnosis, and tier two a detailed depiction of the component psychological dysfunctions. Such a two-tier diagnostic system would bring psychopathology onto a true scientific footing.
The Machine Speaks Falsely

How can one determine if an experimental apparatus is giving an incorrect result, if it is speaking falsely? An interesting example of this occurred in the experimental investigation, in the early twentieth century, of the energy spectrum of electrons emitted in β decay. Meitner and her collaborators (1911), using photographic detection, found that all the electrons emitted by a single radioactive element were monoenergetic. Chadwick (1914), on the other hand, using either an ionization chamber or a Geiger counter, found a continuous energy spectrum. Meitner et al. proposed various mechanisms whereby initially monoenergetic electrons might lose energy. These were shown to be unsatisfactory, although the possibility of an unknown mechanism for energy loss remained. In 1927 Ellis and Wooster, using a total-absorption calorimeter, which eliminated all of these possibilities, demonstrated that the energy spectrum was indeed continuous. It had taken fifteen years to show that the photographic detection had spoken falsely.
Effect of support on the preferential oxidation of CO over cobalt catalysts

Cobalt catalysts supported on metal oxides (ZrO2, CeO2, SiO2, Al2O3, and TiO2) were prepared to investigate the effects of the support for the preferential oxidation (PROX) of CO in excess H2. Transient studies (TP-rxn) as well as steady-state activity measurements were performed to examine and quantify activity over a broad temperature window. Metal dispersion and CO uptake capacity measurements were obtained for the materials, which showed that Co/ZrO2 had higher cobalt dispersion and more sites for CO adsorption than the other materials, and also had the highest rate of CO conversion during the PROX reaction.
Diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectosigmoid—CT scan, a new diagnostic modality, and surgical management using sphincter-saving procedures: Report of three cases

Diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectosigmoid is a rare lesion. Preoperative recognition has been recorded but, because of lack of awareness and inconsistent diagnoses inappropriate therapy still persists. Surgical therapy is the hallmark of treatment. Abdominoperineal resection has been advocated. Three cases of diffuse cavernous hemangiomas of the rectosigmoid, recognized preoperatively and treated successfully with sphincter-saving procedures, are reported. Use of the CT scan as a consistent diagnostic tool will be presented for the first time.
Phylogenetic and differentiation analysis of the trunk rot pathogen Fomitiporia tsugina in North America

Summary Fomitiporia hartigii s.l. is an important trunk rot pathogen of conifers throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, this pathogen primarily attacks Tsuga, but is also found on Abies, Picea and Pseudotsuga. Previous research showed that isolates of F. hartigii from North America represent a distinct phylogenetic species, known as F. tsugina. However, that conclusion is based on limited data. To better understand the phylogenetic relationships of F. tsugina in North America, a phylogenetic analysis was performed using three loci (internal transcribed spacer, nuclear large subunit and tef1) with 23 isolates originating from the northern United States, Canada and central Europe. North American isolates formed a monophyletic group with significant statistical support, confirming previous reports that F. tsugina represents a unique phylogenetic species, distinct from European F. hartigii s.s. Population subdivision between isolates of F. tsugina from eastern (Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York and Wisconsin) and western (British Columbia, Colorado, Oregon and Washington) North America was investigated. Tests of gene flow and genetic differentiation based on region of origin detected significant variation (FST = 0.761; KST = 0.625, p < 0.01), suggesting gene flow between the two populations may be limited. Neutrality tests revealed significant, negative departures from the standard neutral model, which could indicate that a purifying or stabilizing selection has maintained low levels of polymorphisms in the population, perhaps favouring an advantageous phenotype. Further studies are required to better understand the occurrence of F. tsugina on Abies and Picea in boreal forests outside the natural range of Tsuga.
How Much English Language Arts and Mathematics Instruction Do Students Receive? Investigating Variation in Instructional Time

The amount of instruction students receive has long been viewed as a foundational educational resource. This article presents an analysis of the time students spend in elementary English language a...
Molecular screening testing for colorectal cancer.

Worldwide, colorectal cancer is diagnosed in ∼1 million individuals each year, accounting for >9% of all new cancer cases ([1][1]). Approximately 529,000 people worldwide die of this disease annually. In 2006, it is estimated that 146,000 cases of colorectal cancer will occur in the United States
Commentary on ‘EMLA and Amethocaine for reduction of children's pain associated with needle insertion’

This is a commentary on a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Lander JA, Weltman BJ, So SS. EMLA and Amethocaine for reduction of children's pain associated with needle insertion. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD004236. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004236.pub2. Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying EBCH Summary and Characteristics and Key Findings Tables articles. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Widely tunable nonlinear liquid crystal-based photonic crystals

We report theoretical and experimental studies of 1-D and 2-d tunable nonlinear photonic crystals made of liquid crystal or liquid crystal infiltrated periodic structures. Theoretical modeling shows that such structures exhibit tunable bandgap, and sugar-prism effect. Experimentally, we have demonstrated the possibility of writing dynamic or permanent [but switchable] index gratings to dye-doped LC films that act as planar waveguides.
2-Aminobenzoxazole ligands of the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site

2-Aminobenzoxazoles have been synthesized as ligands for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES) RNA. The compounds were designed to explore the less basic benzoxazole system as a replacement for the core scaffold in previously discovered benzimidazole viral translation inhibitors. Structure-activity relationships in the target binding of substituted benzoxazole ligands were investigated.
Molecular multilayer organic solar cells with large excitonic diffusion length

We report on the photovoltaic properties of organic solar cells based on pentacene and C60 thin films. A peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 69 % at a wavelength of λ = 668 nm is achieved upon optimization of the exciton blocking layer (EBL) thickness. Complex optical functions of pentacene films are measured as a function of wavelength by spectroscopic ellipsometry and used to analyze the EQE spectra. Detailed analysis of the EQE spectra indicate that the pentacene layers exhibit large excitonic diffusion lengths of ∼70 nm and that the performance improvement in EQE can be attributed to the influence of the thickness of the EBL layer on the carrier collection efficiency.
Indel and Carryforward Correction (ICC): a new analysis approach for processing 454 pyrosequencing data

Motivation: Pyrosequencing technology provides an important new approach to more extensively characterize diverse sequence populations and detect low frequency variants. However, the promise of this technology has been difficult to realize, as careful correction of sequencing errors is crucial to distinguish rare variants (� 1%) in an infected host with high sensitivity and specificity. Results: We developed a new approach, referred to as Indel and Carryforward Correction (ICC), to cluster sequences without substitutions and locally correct only indel and carryforward sequencing errors within clusters to ensure that no rare variants are lost. ICC performs sequence clustering in the order of (i) homopolymer indel patterns only, (ii) indel patterns only and (iii) carryforward errors only, without the requirement of a distance cutoff value. Overall, ICC removed 93–95% of sequencing errors found in control datasets. On pyrosequencing data from a PCR fragment derived from 15 HIV-1 plasmid clones mixed at various frequencies as low as 0.1%, ICC achieved the highest sensitivity and similar specificity compared with other commonly used error correction and variant calling algorithms. Availability and implementation: Source code is freely available for download at http://indra.mullins.microbiol.washington.edu/ICC. It is implemented in Perl and supported on Linux, Mac OS X and MS
Intestinal P Glycoprotein Acts as a Natural Defense Mechanism against Listeria monocytogenes

Mechanisms by which the intestinal epithelium resists invasion by food-borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes are an evolving area of research. Intestinal P glycoprotein is well known to limit the absorption of xenobiotics and is believed to act as a cytotoxic defense mechanism. The aim of this study was to determine if intestinal P glycoprotein is involved in host defense against L. monocytogenes. Caco-2 cells and a P-glycoprotein-overexpressing subclone (Caco-2/MDR) were employed in addition to mdr1a−/− mice and wild-type controls. In vitro invasion assays and in vivo experiments were employed to measure bacterial invasion and dissemination. In addition, L. monocytogenes proteins were labeled with [35S]methionine, and the transepithelial transport across Caco-2 monolayers was characterized in both directions. Overexpression of P glycoprotein in Caco-2/MDR cells led to increased resistance to L. monocytogenes invasion, whereas P-glycoprotein inhibition led to increased invasion. Flux of [35S]methionine-labeled L. monocytogenes proteins was significantly greater in the basolateral-to-apical direction than in the apical-to-basolateral direction, indicating dependence on an apically located efflux transporter. Moreover, inhibiting P glycoprotein reduced the basolateral-to-apical flux of the proteins. Early dissemination of L. monocytogenes from the gastrointestinal tract was significantly greater in the mdr1a−/− mice than in wild-type controls. Expression and function of intestinal P glycoprotein is an important determinant in resistance to early invasion of L. monocytogenes.
A bridge too far? Explaining beginning teachers' use of ICT in Australian schools

This paper discusses some of the findings from a recent longitudinal study that examined how 35 beginning teachers used information and communications technologies (ICT) in the first three years of their teaching. The research, set in Western Australia, adopted a mixed method approach to help understand the role that ICT played in the evolving pedagogical practices of the teachers involved. The study found that beginning teachers articulated pedagogical beliefs that aimed to engage their students in active meaning making. It also found that these teachers were competent in the use of a basic suite of ICT software. However, pedagogical beliefs that resonate with contemporary learning theory and operational ICT competence did not translate into practices that synergised pedagogical, content and technological knowledge. The teachers involved in the study did not use ICT in ways that were consistent with their stated pedagogical beliefs. The relationships between teachers' beliefs and their pedagogical and technological knowledge are discussed within the contexts of different school settings. A framework is presented that emphasises the need for teachers and school leaders to make connections across pedagogical and technological domains.
Sleep Disturbances in Patients With Mild-Stage Alzheimer's Disease

We examined the ability of sleep/wake measures to discriminate 45 control subjects from 44 mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Sleep fragmentation was observed as indicated by significant increases in time awake (37-52%) and number of awakenings (31-36%) during the night as compared to controls. Further, slow wave sleep (SWS) was significantly reduced (22%) in AD patients relative to controls. These findings are consistent with our earlier observations of increased wakefulness and decreased SWS in mild-moderate, moderate-severe, and severe stage AD patients. However, when we used these sleep/wake stage measures in discriminant analyses to classify the current AD subjects vs control subjects, the analyses failed to confirm our earlier high classification rate (90%). The present groups were discriminated at overall classification rates of only 63-67%. We conclude that while sleep/wake patterns are significantly disturbed in AD, this phenomenon is not diagnostically useful for discrimination of mild stage AD.
Prostaglandins Stimulate Thyroid Function in Pregnant Women

Intravaginal or intravenous administration of prostaglandin F2α to pregnant women produced significant elevations of plasma triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentrations, but no rise of thyrotropin. These observations are consistent with those of previous in vitro studies indicating that prostaglandins can act directly on the thyroid gland to stimulate thyroid hormone synthesis or release, or both.
Lifetime Prediction of Organic Coatings on Steel

A review of methods for predicting the lifetime of protective organic coatings on steel is presented in terms of a model which includes the steps of defect formation, transport of corrodents, loss of adhesion, and corrosion. Electrochemical impedance methods and acoustic techniques have played important roles in characterizing how the four processes interact and depend on coating processes and environmental effects. A major result of this work has been the observation that both the anodic and cathodic partial processes of the corrosion reaction limit adhesion of organic coatings on steel by generating tensile stresses and polymer degradation, thereby limiting the life of the protective system.
Testing, characterization, and modeling of SiC diodes for transportation applications

The emergence of silicon carbide- (SiC-) based power semiconductor switches, with their superior features compared with silicon- (Si-) based switches, has resulted in substantial improvement in the performance of power electronics converter systems. These systems with SiC power devices have the qualities of being more compact, lighter and more efficient; thus, they are ideal for high-voltage power electronics applications such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) traction drive. More research is required to show the impact of SiC devices in power conversion systems. In this study, findings of SiC research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), including SiC device design and system modeling studies, are discussed.
Distribution of multilocus genotypes of Escherichia coli within and between host families

SUMMARY Isolates from the intestinal Escherichta coli flora of 28 members of five families (including parents, children, and household pets) in Amherst, Massachusetts and Rochester, New York, were characterized by the electrophoretic mobilities of 12 enzymes to estimate the extent of sharing of strains among associated and unassociated hosts. Among the 655 isolates examined 60 different combinations of electromorphs (electrophoretic types or ETs), each representing a distinctive multilocus genotype, were identified of which 85 °/O were recovered from only a single individual. On averageS 11 °/O of the ETs isolated from the same family were shared by two or more members, 4*9 °/O of ETs were shared among members of unassociated families living in the same city and only 2 °/O were shared by families in different cities. All three ETs that were recovered from multiple hosts in the present study are widespread clones that have been isolated from many other host individuals in North America and Sweden.
Affine stationary processes with applications to fractional Brownian motion

In our previous work, we introduced a new class of nonstationary stochastic processes whose spectral representation is associated with the wavelet transforms and established a mathematical framework for the analysis of such processes. We refer to these processes as affine stationary processes. These processes are indexed by the affine group, or ax+b group, which can be thought of as a group of shifts and scalings. Affine stationary processes are nonstationary in the classical sense. However, their second order statistical properties are invariant under the affine group composition law. We show that any physically realizable affine stationary process is a wavelet transform of the white noise process. As a result, we derive a spectral decomposition of the affine stationary processes using wavelet transform. Additionally, we apply the results to the fractional Brownian motion (fBm). We show that fBm is an affine stationary process and the filter associated with the fBm is a continuous time analyzing wavelet. Finally, we apply our results to choose an optimal wavelet filter in the development of a spectral representation of fBm via wavelet transforms.
The Kernel Beta Process

A new Levy process prior is proposed for an uncountable collection of covariate-dependent feature-learning measures; the model is called the kernel beta process (KBP). Available covariates are handled efficiently via the kernel construction, with covariates assumed observed with each data sample ("customer"), and latent covariates learned for each feature ("dish"). Each customer selects dishes from an infinite buffet, in a manner analogous to the beta process, with the added constraint that a customer first decides probabilistically whether to "consider" a dish, based on the distance in covariate space between the customer and dish. If a customer does consider a particular dish, that dish is then selected probabilistically as in the beta process. The beta process is recovered as a limiting case of the KBP. An efficient Gibbs sampler is developed for computations, and state-of-the-art results are presented for image processing and music analysis tasks.