cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective bioreduction of nitroxides by rat liver microsomes

Abstract It was found that control rat liver microsomes will not reduce 2-ethyl-2,4,4-trimethyl-3-oxazolidinyloxy (OXAN) even though the reduction potential for OXAN is identical to that for 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (TEMPO) and di-tert-butyl nitroxide (DTBN) which are reduced by these microsomes. It is suggested that the conformation of OXAN prevents these control enzymes from reducing OXAN. Administration of phenobarbital for 3 days prior to sacrifice, results in a rat liver microsomal preparation which will reduce OXAN and is inhibited by very low concentrations of SKF-525A. On the other hand, rats induced with 3-methylcholanthrene did not reduce OXAN. These results suggest that phenobarbital induces the synthesis of a form of cytochrome P-450 which is not present in either normal rat liver microsomes or in 3-methylcholanthrene-induced microsomes.
A comparison of stressful life events that preceded psychotic, depressive, and negative symptom onsets

negative symptoms, disorganisation) was replicated in 65 young, recently hospitalized schizophrenic patients, who also showed evidence of a fourth dimension (depression). Distinct patterns of correlations were found for these symptom dimensions with cognitive and social variables. Longitudinal data are now available with repeated measures of symptoms and cognitive variables 3 and 1.5 months later, when most patients have moved to day-care and ambulatory care, respectively. Results show that the four-dimensional model is preserved in the longitudinal analysis, with satisfactory levels of internal consistency for each of the dimensions. These data further challenge the simple positive/negative dichotomy of schizophrenia. Rather few significant correlations be tween symptoms and cognitive measures were found. Change of cognitive deficits over time was also investigated. Results show that the performance on several cognitive tests, including Card Sorting, improves to normal levels.
Attachment and caregiving behavioral systems in intercountry adoption: A literature review

Abstract The dual challenge faced by adoptees and their adoptive parents is inherent in the adoption process. By design, as adoptees transition from out-of-home placement to adoption they are permanently separated from birth parents and are, perhaps, experiencing one of multiple separations and associated feelings of loss. Adoptive parents must acknowledge these losses and simultaneously utilize adaptive caregiving strategies that encourage the adoptee's adjustment in to the new family, and ultimately, encourage secure attachment. A review of social work and psychology literature on adoption suggests that multiple caregiving methods, including flexible and adaptive parenting strategies contribute to a secure parent child relationship. Secure relationships help the child develop confidence that their adoptive parents will provide consistent, protective care. In contrast, inflexible parenting, and unrealistic expectations about child outcomes contribute to low attachment security. Attachment theory is the most relevant theory identified. Future implications for child welfare practice are discussed.
Multi-Dimensional, Inviscid Flux Reconstruction for Simulation of Hypersonic Heating on Tetrahedral Grids

The quality of simulated hypersonic stagnation region heating on tetrahedral meshes is investigated by using a three-dimensional, upwind reconstruction algorithm for the inviscid flux vector. Two test problems are investigated: hypersonic flow over a three-dimensional cylinder with special attention to the uniformity of the solution in the spanwise direction and hypersonic flow over a three-dimensional sphere. The tetrahedral cells used in the simulation are derived from a structured grid where cell faces are bisected across the diagonal resulting in a consistent pattern of diagonals running in a biased direction across the otherwise symmetric domain. This grid is known to accentuate problems in both shock capturing and stagnation region heating encountered with conventional, quasi-one-dimensional inviscid flux reconstruction algorithms. Therefore the test problem provides a sensitive test for algorithmic effects on heating. This investigation is believed to be unique in its focus on three-dimensional, rotated upwind schemes for the simulation of hypersonic heating on tetrahedral grids. This study attempts to fill the void left by the inability of conventional (quasi-one-dimensional) approaches to accurately simulate heating in a tetrahedral grid system. Results show significant improvement in spanwise uniformity of heating with some penalty of ringing at the captured shock. Issues with accuracy near the peak shear location are identified and require further study.
Combining MALDI-FTMS and bioinformatics for rapid peptidomic comparisons.

Increasing research efforts in large-scale mass spectral analyses of peptides and proteins have led to many advances in technology and method development for collecting data and improving the quality of data. However, the resultant large data sets often pose significant challenges in extracting useful information in a high-throughput manner. Here, we describe one such method where we analyzed a large mass spectral data set collected using decapod crustacean nervous tissue extracts separated via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to high-resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry (MALDI-FTMS). Following their acquisition, the data collected from discrete LC fractions was compiled and analyzed using an in-house developed software package that deisotoped, compressed, calibrated, and matched peaks to a list of known crustacean neuropeptides. By processing these data via bioinformatics tools such as hierarchical clustering, more than 110 neurop...
In vitro auxin production by Balansia epichloë

Abstract Balansia epichloe , a systemic plant pathogen isolated from Sporobolus poiretii , was shown to produce the plant growth regulators 3-indole acetic acid, 3-indole ethanol, 3-indole acetamide and methyl-3-indole carboxylate when grown on a medium containing tryptophan. When grown on a tryptophan deficient medium 3-substituted indole derivatives were not detected. However, extracts of the medium in lower doses increased and in higher doses inhibited the growth of wheat coleoptiles.
Abstract 4542: Dose-dependent effects of progestins on progesterone receptor activity and target gene expression: less is more

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL While the molecular mechanisms by which the progesterone receptor (PR) regulates breast tumor growth and metastasis have not been fully elucidated, recent studies highlight the fact that PR has a complex role in breast cancer progression that may be dependent on ligand dose. For example, data from the Women's Health Initiative trial suggest that low-dose progestins used in combination with estrogen are associated with an increased risk of invasive breast cancer compared to estrogen alone. On the other hand, high-dose progestin therapy has been used as an effective front-line and second-line treatment for advanced, metastatic breast cancer. To investigate this paradox, we undertook studies to identify aspects of PR biology that respond differently to treatment with low or high doses of progestins. Interestingly, we found that treatment of T47D breast cancer cells with low-dose progestins generates a significantly more robust induction of a subset of PR target genes, including the cell cycle regulators cyclin D1 and E2F1, than treatment with high-dose progestins. Furthermore, we show that varying doses of progestins have differential effects on the receptor itself, including the subcellular localization, phosphorylation and subsequent turnover of PR. At the level of transcriptional regulation, our ChIP analyses have led us to hypothesize that the strength of PR activation of target gene expression may hinge upon the ratio of phospho-PR versus unmodified PR that is recruited to enhancer elements. This dose-dependent effect may result in the formation of different PR transcriptional complexes and explain the diverse downstream biologies that are regulated by varying levels of progestins throughout the female reproductive cycle and in diseases such as breast cancer. Given the wide range of medical therapies that utilize progestins, our findings may have important clinical implications. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4542. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4542
Potential of Ag Interconnect and Contact Metallization for Various Applications via Cu Additions

The thermal stability of Ag(Cu) alloy thin films on indium tin oxide (ITO) has been investigated and compared to that of pure Ag thin films on ITO. Atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction results of annealed films show differences in the evolution of surface morphology and texture with annealing. The presence of Cu atoms in the silver impacts the surface energy and surface diffusion. This results in Ag and Ag(Cu) alloy having very different surface morphology and crystallographic texture. The enhanced texture and thermal stability of the Ag(Cu) alloy constitute its potential use contact as material for MOSFET and for flip-chip light-emitting diodes.
Ramp-Related Incidents Involving Wheeled Mobility Device Users During Transit Bus Boarding/Alighting

Abstract Objectives To estimate the prevalence of wheeled mobility device (WhMD) ramp-related incidents while boarding/alighting a public transit bus and to determine whether the frequency of incidents is less when the ramp slope meets the proposed Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) maximum allowable limit of ≤9.5°. Design Observational study. Setting Community public transportation. Participants WhMD users (N=414) accessing a public transit bus equipped with an instrumented ramp. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Prevalence of boarding/alighting incidents involving WhMD users and associated ramp slopes; factors affecting incidents. Results A total of 4.6% (n=35) of WhMD users experienced an incident while boarding/alighting a transit bus. Significantly more incidents occurred during boarding (6.3%, n=26) than during alighting (2.2%, n=9) ( P P =.01). The odds ratio for experiencing an incident when the ramp slope exceeded the proposed ADA maximum allowable ramp slope was 5.4 (95% confidence interval, 2.4–12.2; P P Conclusions The findings of this study support the proposed ADA maximum allowable ramp slope of 9.5°. Ramp slopes >9.5° and ramps deployed to street level are associated with a higher frequency of incidents and provision of assistance. Transit agencies should increase awareness among bus operators of the effect kneeling and deployment location (street/sidewalk) have on the ramp slope. In addition, ramp components and the built environment may contribute to incidents. When prescribing WhMDs, skills training must include ascending/descending ramps at slopes encountered during boarding/alighting to ensure safe and independent access to public transit buses.
Metachronous Presentation of Ureterovesical Junction Obstruction Contralateral to a Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney

Multicystic dysplastic kidney is often associated with contralateral urinary tract anomalies (19% to 39% incidence).1,2 While obstructions at the level of the ureteropelvic junction or ureterovesical junction are uncommon, they are detected during the initial evaluation of the disease. To our knowledge we report the first case of a congenital intrinsic UVJ obstruction presenting metachronously during surveillance imaging of a multicystic dysplastic kidney.
On the Isstropic Nature of Laser Induced Infrared Fluorescence

Abstract Laser induced infrared fluorescence1,2 is potentially a method for the remote detection of atmospheric pollutants.3,4 An important parameter in the evaluation of this technique is the relationship between fluorescence intensity and the variation of the angle between the stimulating laser beam and the viewing direction of the detection system. It is important for monitoring procedures that the fluorescence be isotropic, otherwise the quantitative interpretation of the data becomes very complicated.
HIV-1 protease does not play a critical role in the early stages of HIV-1 infection

We asked whether human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease plays a major role in the early stages of infection (i.e. from viral entry to reverse transcription) by using various protease inhibitors (saquinavir, ritonavir, and KNI-272). When assessed in the two-day multinuclear activation of a galactosidase indicator (MAGI) assay, involving a single cycle of HIV-1 replication, all protease inhibitors failed to block infection of HeLa-CD4-LTR-β-gal cells by HIV-1, while reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (AZT and ddI) completely blocked the infection. Moreover, when HIV-1 proviral DNA synthesis was examined by polymerase chain reaction in HeLa-CD4-LTR-β-gal cells exposed to HIV-1 and cultured in the presence of protease inhibitors, a significant amount of proviral DNA was detected, while no proviral DNA synthesis was detected when the cells were cultured in the presence of RT inhibitors. Protease inhibitors also failed to block chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) expression in HLCD4-CAT cells exposed to HIV-1, while RT inhibitors completely suppressed CAT expression. These results strongly suggest, contrary to a previous report by Nagy et al. (1994), that HIV-1 protease does not play a major role in the early stages of infection.
Self-assembly and applications of anisotropic nanomaterials: A review

Summary Anisotropic nanoparticles are ideal building blocks for a variety of functional materials due to their unique and anisotropic optical, electronic, magnetic and mechanical properties. Precise control over the orientation and spatial arrangement of these nanomaterials is often requisite to achieve coupling between nanoparticles and thereby translate the properties of individual nanoparticles to macroscopic material properties. The physics and thermodynamics involved in the self-assembly are inherently more complex than isotropic nanoparticles due to the anisotropy within the system. However, the anisotropy also introduces anisotropic nanoparticle surface chemistry and stronger interparticle interactions which could be leveraged to achieve self-assembly. To address these challenges and opportunities, a plethora of strategies have been conceived and developed to induce the self-assembly of anisotropic nanoparticles into desired nanostructures over macroscopic areas and volumes. These strategies involve manipulation of interparticle physical interactions, modification of nanoparticle surface chemistry, application of external fields, and utilization of physically or chemically patterned templates to achieve the required level of spatial and orientational control over the assembly of anisotropic nanoparticles. The resulting ordered anisotropic nanoparticle assemblies display strong plasmonic, electronic, and excitonic coupling, which render these assemblies as ideal materials for chemical and biological sensing, energy harvesting, and many other technological applications. Considering the rapid advancement in this field of research, this review aims to provide an overview of the assembly, applications, and opportunities of anisotropic nanomaterials.
Dislocation-based modeling of the mechanical behavior of epitaxial metallic multilayer thin films

A 3D dislocation cellular automaton model is employed to simulate yield and hardening in nanostructured metallic multilayer thin films during in-plane, biaxial tensile loading. The films consist of two types of alternating, single-crystalline FCC layers with (0 0 1) epitaxy, a mismatch in stress-free lattice parameter, but no elastic modulus mismatch. The simulations monitor the operation of interfacial and threading sources with lengths greater than the individual layer thickness. At larger layer thickness, strength increases with decreasing layer thickness, due to slip confinement to individual layers. At sufficiently small layer thickness, slip confinement is not possible, even during initial stages of plastic deformation. Consequently, strength is not controlled by layer thickness but rather by source length, as well as coherency stress and interfacial barrier strength. Here, strength may increase, decrease, or reach a plateau depending on how source length and barrier strength vary with layer thickness.
Landscape interactions among nitrogen mineralization, species composition, and long-term fire frequency

Path analysis was used to determine the importance of long-term disturbance regime and the relative importances of correlations among vegetation patterns, disturbance history, and nitrogen (N) mineralization in old-growth forests of northwestern Minnesota. Leaf biomass (estimated by allometric equations), fire history (from fire scars on Pinus resinosa trees), and N mineralization rates (estimated from incubationsin situ) were determined from sample plots dominated by
TB or Not TB: How Mycobacterium tuberculosis may evade drug treatment

In this issue of Cell, a study by Valerie Mizrahi and her colleagues suggests that a putative error-prone DNA polymerase encoded by the dnaE2 gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis may bypass certain types of DNA base damage, generating mutations. This may be an important mechanism for generating drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis.
Application of the agar gel precipitin test to detect antibodies to Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis in serum and egg yolks from infected hens

Abstract Serological surveillance can be an important component for egg quality assurance programs geared toward controlling problems with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. enteritidis) within a flock. Serum is the primary sample source for the procedures, although egg yolk antibody assays have become popularity in recent years. However, these assays tend to be labor intensive, requiring procedures for extracting antibodies from the yolk followed by assaying the samples. We describe an adaptation of the agar gel precipitin (AGP) test for use in detecting antibodies to S. enteritidis deposited in egg yolks of infected hens. Yolk or sera from infected birds were administered to wells cut into seven-well clusters in an agar gel plate, and detection antigen was added to the center well. The agar gels were incubated for 24 h and then examined for the presence of precipitin lines formed by the interaction of antibody with antigen. Three different antigens were tested: S. enteritidis flagella, SEF14 (a 14-kDa fimbrial protein produced ostensibly by S. enteritidis), and a sodium deoxycholate extract of whole S. enteritidis organism. Flagella and the organism extract detected antibodies to S. enteritidis in the yolk and sera, whereas SEF14 was not reactive. Positive reactions were observed in serum 1 wk postchallenge, whereas in yolks, this was further delayed by 1 wk. The sensitivity of the test was slightly less than the standard microagglutination assay, although specificity was slightly higher, as indicated by results from sera and yolks from birds infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Simplicity and low labor requirements of the assay would allow for the potential testing of several hundred egg samples within a day, which would make up for test shortcomings due to sensitivity. The AGP test could be an important tool for individuals using serological testing to monitor the S. enteritidis situation within their flocks or as a rapid screen for vaccine responses. The assay could also be used in tandem with other AGP tests to screen for the presence of multiple avian pathogens.
Effects of parathyroidectomy and of parathyroid extract on levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood and urine of the red-spotted newt.

Abstract A single pair of parathyroid glands is typical of the red-spotted newt but an auxilary pair is sometimes present. The gland is composed of a single type of epithelial cell arranged in cords. The structure of the gland is stable throughout the year and shows no sexual dimorphism. Parathyroidectomy causes the calcium levels of both the blood and the urine to fall but control values are reestablished within 2 weeks. Administration of mammalian parathyroid extract (PTE) produces a rise in the concentration of calcium in the urine but no change in the calcium of the blood. Plasma phosphate rises after parathyroidectomy but the phosphate level of the urine remains unchanged. Within 24 hr of the injection of PTE a transitory peak in the phosphate appears in both blood and urine. It is suggested that in the red-spotted newt the parathyroid hormone mobilizes calcium from bone but, perhaps, may not act on the kidney.
Overcoming Rituximab Resistance: The US Clinical Experience With Bendamustine

Despite the wide usage, mild side effect profile, and commendable efficacy of rituximab in frontline treatment of indolent lymphoma, resistance to this agent commonly develops, ultimately limiting patient treatment options. The mechanisms of rituximab resistance have not yet been fully elucidated, although both tumor- and host-associated resistance mechanisms have been proposed. Several strategies for overcoming rituximab resistance are currently being evaluated, including manipulation of the immune system, as well as second-generation engineered anti-CD20 antibodies. Ultimately, the use of novel agents with alternative mechanisms of action may represent the best solution for overcoming rituximab resistance. The cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent bendamustine, which has both alkylating agent and other cell-killing properties, has been used successfully in phase II clinical trials to treat rituximab-refractory disease. Ongoing pivotal studies are currently evaluating the use of bendamustine in this difficult-to-treat lymphoma patient population.
Effects of submarine alteration on K-Ar dating of deep-sea igneous rocks

In an attempt to establish criteria for obtaining reliable K-Ar dates, conventional K-Ar studies of several Deep Sea Drilling Project sites were undertaken. K-Ar dates of these rocks may be subject to inaccuracies as the result of sea-water alteration. Inaccuracies may also result from the presence of excess radiogenic 40 Ar trapped in rapidly cooled rocks at the time of their formation. The results obtained for DSDP Leg 34 basalts indicate that lowering of K-Ar dates, which is related to potassium addition by weathering, is a major cause of uncertainty in obtaining reliable K-Ar dates for deep-sea rocks. It could not be determined if the potassium addition to the basalts occurred at the time of formation, t o , or continuously from t o to the present. Calculations show that sediment cover is not a significant barrier to the diffusion of potassium into the basalt. 40 Ar loss contributes, at least in part, to the lowering of the K-Ar date in rocks that have added potassium. The meaning of the K-Ar results obtained for DSDP Legs 35 and 2 basalts could not be unambiguously established. Because of the problems involved, caution must be used in interpreting the meaning of conventional K-Ar dates for deep-sea rocks.
The logarithmic number system for strength reduction in adaptive filtering

An important technique for reducing pow er consumption in VLSI systems is strength reduction, the substitution of a less-costly operation such as a shift, for a more-costly operation such a multiplication. Using a logarithmic number represen tation provides sev eral opportunities for strength reductions; in particular, m ultiplicationis performed as the fixed-point addition of logarithms, and extracting a square root is implemented via a shift. These reductions occur transparently at the hardware level; consequently relativ ely little algorithmic modification is required, and they are readily applicable to adaptive filtering. For performing Givens rotations in the QR decomposition recursiv e least squares adaptive filter, logarithmic arithmetic is shown to compare favorably to other strength reduction techniques, such as CORDIC arithmetic, in terms of switched capacitance and numerical accuracy.
On the verification and validation of geospatial image analysis algorithms

Verification and validation (V&V) of geospatial image analysis algorithms is a difficult task and is becoming increasingly important. While there are many types of image analysis algorithms, we focus on developing V&V methodologies for algorithms designed to provide textual descriptions of geospatial imagery. In this paper, we present a novel methodological basis for V&V that employs a domain-specific ontology, which provides a naming convention for a domain-bounded set of objects and a set of named relationships between these objects. We describe a validation process that proceeds through objectively comparing benchmark imagery, produced using the ontology, with algorithm results. As an example, we describe how the proposed V&V methodology would be applied to algorithms designed to provide textual descriptions of facilities.
Electron flow via sulfate reduction and methanogenesis in the anaerobic hypolimnion of Lake Mendota1

The rate of dissimilatory sulfate reduction during summer stratification in Lake Mendato was estimated from sulfate and sulfide profiles. The electron flow via sulfate reduction in the anaerobic hypolimnion was about 25% of the electron flow via methanogenesis. There is a possible stoichiometric relationship between anaerobic electron flow and anaerobic carbon mineralizaton.
Should We Use Intravenous Catheter Tip Cultures in the Determination of Bloodstream Infections

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Intravenous catheter (IVC) tips are often cultured when IVC lines are removed from febrile patients to help determine if the patient has a line-related bloodstream infection (BSI). We wanted to determine the reliability and cost-effectiveness of IVC tip cultures in predicting bacteremia and BSI in our institution. METHODS: We perform surveillance for and maintain a database of all bloodstream infections in our 400 bed facility. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions are used. We reviewed all (339) IVC tip cultures obtained from January 1-June 30, 2005. Positive tip cultures were defined as greater then 15 colony-forming units (cfu) via the semi-quantitative roll plate method. Positive tip cultures were compared with our BSI database to determine if the culture was associated with a bloodstream infection. IVC tip cultures without a blood culture done within 24 hours of the tip culture were excluded from analysis (119 (35%)). Positive tip cultures with an associated positive blood culture were examined to determine if CDC BSI criteria were met and the patient was in our database. Cost information was obtained from the laboratory. RESULTS: Of 339 IVC tips cultured, 59 (17%) were deemed positive. 222 (65%) of tip cultures were associated with a blood culture done within 24 hours either before or after the tip culture. 246 (73%) cultures were negative for both IVC tip and blood. 13 cultures were positive for both the IVC tip and blood. Of these, 1 had a positive blood culture after the positive tip culture within 24 hours but with a different organism. Twelve had positive blood cultures before the tip culture. The predictive value of a positive tip culture (PVP) was 0/15 = 0%. The predictive value of a negative culture was 246/280 = 88%. The cost to the laboratory of processing a negative tip culture is $71, while the cost of processing a positive culture is $124. The annualized cost of IVC tip cultures in the adult critical care units is $33,142. The estimated cost hospital-wide is $54,392. CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not support the use of IVC tip cultures for the prediction of bacteremia or BSI. Discontinuation of the practice could save the hospital thousands of dollars per year. On the basis of these findings, our institution has stopped performing routine culture of IVC tips. This change has been accepted without objections.
An Analysis of Micro Aeroelastic Energy Harvesting Devices

New micro renewable energy harvesting devices are being developed using the stable limit cycle response of aeroelastic systems to drive energy conversion. This paper analyzes such devices. This paper investigates devices that use two types of aeroelastic instability: galloping and multi-mode flutter. Since the generation of power can be stabilizing, resulting in no power generation at all, the analysis begins by analyzing the stability of such devices from the perspective of power generation. Next, the level of power generation is discussed, and peak levels of performance are found. The analysis suggests that with proper tuning the power generation of micro aeroelastic energy harvesters operating at representative speeds (∼4.5 m/s (10 mph) ) can produce power on the order of 10 mW .Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Gender Differences in Completed Suicide

This report extends the present range of observed gender differences insuicide as demonstrated by a prospective study of 2,756 depressed and/orsuicidal inpatients followed for four years. Each of twelve demographiccategories was examined for its relationship to fifteen variablessignificantly associated with suicidal outcome in the total sample. The oddsratios for males and females in each category were determined and comparedto identify gender differences. In the array of comparisons (ratios of oddsratios) the most prominent variable associated with higher risk for males isthe subjects‘ view of their physical health as other than ‘‘good’’ in threecategories. In females, significantly higher risk than males is notablyassociated with feelings of guilt or shame (5 categories), prior suicideattempt (3 categories), prior psychiatric hospitalization (5 categories),and presence of suicidal impulses (3 categories).
Determination of Damage and Repair in Specific DNA Sequences

Abstract We describe here the methodology developed in our laboratory to study the frequency and repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers induced by ultraviolet light (254 nm) in the individual strands of specific DNA sequences. We have used this technique to establish the direct correlation between transcription by RNA polymerase II and the preferential repair of the transcribed strand of an active gene in mammalian cells. The approach has similarly been applied to bacteria and to yeast, as detailed for those respective systems.
Expression of bone protein mRNA at physiological fluoride concentrations in rat osteoblast culture

Fluoride causes an increase in the amount of unmineralized osteoid. To determine whether the increase in osteoid is due to greater protein expression in the presence of fluoride, we measured the relative amount of mRNA expressed by fetal rat calvaria cells maintained in culture for either 18 or 26 days in the presence of 0, 5, 20 or 300 microM fluoride. There were no differences in the level of expression of mRNA for collagenous or non-collagenous proteins in fluoride-treated cells as compared with control cells at 18 days in culture. Expression of mRNA for osteocalcin and alpha 1-type 1 collagen was decreased at 300 microM fluoride after 26 days culture. The amount of [3H]thymidine incorporation in cells exposed to the different amounts of fluoride was measured at various time points. Fluoride did not alter the time at which rapid cell proliferation ended. These studies indicate that at physiological serum levels, fluoride does not increase expression of mRNA by osteoblasts. The relative increase in osteoid in bone may be related to other mechanisms such as altered matrix mineralization.
Rotation of the atmospheres of the Earth and planets

The most striking features of the general circulation of the Earth's atmosphere are its average \`super-rotation' relative to the solid Earth at about 10 m s$^{-1}$, and the concentration of much of the motion in jet streams with speeds of about 30 10 m s$^{-1}$. Changes in the pattern of winds, and variations in the distribution of mass within the atmosphere produce fluctuations in the angular momentum associated with this \`super-rotation', namely, the axial component H$\_{3}$ of the total angular momentum of the atmosphere H$\_{i}$, i = 1,2,3, and also in the equatorial components H$\_{1}$ and H$\_{2}$. Fluctuations in H$\_{3}$ during the Special Observing Periods of the recent \`First GARP Global Experiment' (FGGE, where GARP is the Global Atmospheric Research Programme) later have been investigated. They are well correlated with short-term changes of up to about 10$^{-3}$ s in magnitude in the length of the day (allowing for lunar and solar tidal effects on the moment of inertia of the solid Earth), exhibiting pronounced contributions on timescales of about seven weeks and one year and they are consistent with the sum of H$\_{3}$ and the axial component of the angular momentum of the Earth's crust and mantle being conserved on short timescales, without requiring significant angular momentum transfer between the Earth's liquid core and overlying solid mantle on such timescales. Fluctuations in H$\_{1}$ and H$\_{2}$ on timescales much less than the Chandlerian period (14 months) but rather more than a few days make a major contribution to the observed wobble of the instantaneous pole of the Earth's rotation with respect to the Earth's crust, which has a variable amplitude of several metres. A theoretical basis has now been established for future routine determinations of fluctuations in H$_{i}$ for the purposes of meteorological and geophysical research, including the assessment of the extent to which movements within the solid Earth associated with major earthquakes (magnitude much greater than 7.9) and motions in the liquid metallic core might occasionally contribute to the excitation of the Chandlerian wobble. Venus's atmosphere \`super-rotates' at an average speed of about ten times that of the underlying planet, which, owing to angular momentum exchange with the atmosphere, should (like the solid Earth) undergo detectable changes in rotation period. Each of the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn exhibits a sharply-bounded equatorial atmospheric jet stream moving at 100 m s $^{-1}$ (Jupiter) or 400 m s$^{-1}$ (Saturn) in a positive (i.e. eastward) direction relative to higher latitude parts of the atmosphere, the average rotation of which is close to that of the hydrogen-metallic fluid interior (as determined from radio-astronomical observations). The theoretical interpretation of these observations presents challenging problems in the dynamics of rotating fluids.
Authoritarianism, creativity, and other aspects of a prison organization

This analysis shows that no simple explanation will do when trying to understand a prison. The authoritarian aspects were very negative to me as a professional working there. I did not like being blamed for things I did not do, or being sent to numerous required training programs, almost all of which were worthless for me, telling me thing 1 already knew or could not use. However, there were positive sides to the prison, especially in the treatment aspect. In 1972 Messinger wrote “I must take the position that prisons and custodial mental hospitals should be abolished” (Messinger, 1972, P. 6). His position was that these institutions are so inhumane that society would be better served by their abolition. We probably need more analyses like the present one, and other studies which rely more heavily on more gathering of quantitative data in order to understand what prisons are really like. Only then can we make informed choices, without depending on stereotypes.
Validation of a computer application as a test of motor function in healthy children and adults.

UNLABELLED We recently developed a computer-based test that uses a pointing task with multiple levels of difficulty to evaluate upper extremity motor function. The purpose of this study is to report performance data in adults and children, to determine test reliability, and to validate this test against well established scales of motor function (Purdue Pegboard and 9-hole Pegboard tests). We examined 40 healthy right-handed subjects (18 children and 22 adults) to determine the correlation among computer-based test and validated measures. The test is quick to administer, engaging for adults and children, with a steep learning curve to stable performance, and can be finely tuned to baseline ability. Test-retest reliability was confirmed for all levels of difficulty. The computer-based test demonstrated moderate correlation in healthy adults and children with the Purdue Pegboard test (Spearman, r = 0.52, p = 0.0005; Pearson, r = 0.55, p = 0.0002). IMPLICATIONS The test is a valid measure of motor skills and could be use for periodic evaluation and monitoring in the clinic setting. Further development of a user-friendly version for self-administration would allow for home based monitoring of treatment/interventions.
Real-time influenza forecasts during the 2012–2013 season

Recently, we developed a seasonal influenza prediction system that uses an advanced data assimilation technique and real-time estimates of influenza incidence to optimize and initialize a population-based mathematical model of influenza transmission dynamics. This system was used to generate and evaluate retrospective forecasts of influenza peak timing in New York City. Here we present weekly forecasts of seasonal influenza developed and run in real time for 108 cities in the USA during the recent 2012-2013 season. Reliable ensemble forecasts of influenza outbreak peak timing with leads of up to 9 weeks were produced. Forecast accuracy increased as the season progressed, and the forecasts significantly outperformed alternate, analogue prediction methods. By week 52, prior to peak for the majority of cities, 63% of all ensemble forecasts were accurate. To our knowledge, this is the first time predictions of seasonal influenza have been made in real time and with demonstrated accuracy.
Auctions with and without the Right of First Refusal and National Park Service Concession Contracts

The National Park Service has struggled to improve the quality of service provided by concessioners for decades. To address these concerns, the Park Service eliminated the right of first refusal from the largest revenue-generating concession contract auctions beginning in 2000. This article provides models of concession contract auctions with and without the right of first refusal. The optimal bidding strategies and expected level of service are found. The results confirm the auction without the right of first refusal leads to bids that include a higher level of service. Soggy hamburgers, dirty bathrooms, cold showers, and poor postcard selection have been only a few of the complaints raised against National Park concessioners. Visitors have voiced such annoyance with poor concession service for decades. The Park Service recently changed the method to award the largest revenue-generating concession contracts in hopes of increasing the level of service. This work compares two auctions used to allocate concession rights to determine which leads to contracts with higher service included. Since its creation in 1916, the National Park Service has been attempting to balance its dual objectives of promoting the use and conserving the sites under its charge. Currently, the Park Service administrates over 83 million acres of land. These lands comprise 379 sites in 49 states (none in Delaware), the District of Columbia, and many U.S. territories (National Park Service 1999). In 2000, the number of recreational visitors totaled more than 285 million (National Park Service 2001). To meet the needs of visitors at many diverse sites, over 630 monopoly concessioners provide food, lodging, shopping, transportation, and other services. This is big business. These concessioners grossed over $765 million in revenues in 1998 (General Accounting Office 2000).
Improving weed management in organic spring barley: physical weed control vs. interspecific competition

Kolb LN, Gallandt ER & Molloy T (2010). Improving weed management in organic spring barley: physical weed control vs. interspecific competition. Weed Research 50, 597–605. Summary Few options exist for effectively managing weeds in organic spring cereals. Establishing a competitive crop through increased seeding rate provides improved weed suppression, but competition with inter-row weeds is delayed, compared with an alternative, more uniform spatial pattern of sowing. We speculated that (i) enhanced interspecific competition or (ii) improved physical weed control with a strategy of wide-row sowing and inter-row hoeing would both provide better weed control than current regional organic practices. However, whether one of these strategies is superior to the other depends on an economic analysis of the relative costs of seed and equipment. We tested this hypothesis in two field experiments with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) at three row spacings (11.4, 17.7 and 22.8 cm), and by sowing in a more uniform pattern, using condiment mustard (Sinapis alba) as a surrogate weed. Standard regional organic practice (17.7 cm rows, 200 plants m−2) had the highest weed biomass at the conclusion of both seasons. Weeds in this treatment accounted for 57% of total above-ground plant biomass in 2007 and 27% in 2008. The more uniform sowing pattern reduced weed biomass by 26% compared with the regional standard, averaged over 2 years of the experiment. Although we expected enhancing crop competition to be the most economical practice, high cost of organic seed resulted in intermediate net returns. At high weed density, the wide row strategy offered improved weed control, yields and profitability. However, with lower weed density, spring barley was sufficiently competitive that it did not benefit from cultivation.
A high performance 2.4 Mb L1 and L2 cache compatible 45nm SRAM with yield improvement capabilities

A hardware based, fully functional, stable 2.4 Mb L1 and L2 Cache compatible 6T embedded SRAM is demonstrated. Measured results show an operating range of -40degC to 120degC, speed of 6.5 GHz and 3.8 GHz for L1-Cache cells and L2-Cache cells, respectively, at 1 V and 25degC, with high yield. The key features include multi-setting programmable clock block, separate read/write margin circuitry, low noise dynamic decoders, bit select circuitry supported by newly developed fast Monte Carlo technique useful for improved cell stability, writeability, and enhanced yield. A novel Burst Mode feature allows defect analysis at high frequency while using slow tester speeds.
Specification of the military precedence and preemption in the DS-TE networks

This article reviews multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network mechanisms for providing traffic engineering (TE) and quality of service (QoS) with. the emphasis on an emerging technology Differentiated Services-aware MPLS traffic engineering (DS-TE). It then analyzes how DS-TE enabled networks can provide the multi-level precedence and preemption (MLPP) like functionality in converged military networks and identifies some DS-TE constraints. The article then suggests some practical implementation approaches for overcoming these limitations.
Similar Neurocognitive Performance of Adults With and Without a History of Parental Alzheimer’s Disease: A Pilot Study:

The first reported 20-year prospective follow-up of middle-aged children of Alzheimer patients failed to find statistically significant neurocognitive decline. Because that report did not include a comparison group, the current study compared the 20-year follow-up scores with scores obtained on the same 8 measures by an age-comparable sample of healthy adults without a family history of Alzheimer's disease. Both were convenience samples (n = 24). Statistical analyses (correcting for age) yielded no significant group differences in neurocognitive scores but did show a significantly higher mean score for the comparison group on the Mini-Mental State Examination (29.5 vs 28.8, P = .003, controlling for age). Even though this finding suggests that adult children of a parent with Alzheimer's disease performed well on a limited neurocognitive battery and on the Mini-Mental State Examination, the findings are preliminary and require confirmation on large representative samples with appropriate controls and long-term follow-up.
The Emergence of Ethnic Interests: A Case of Serendipity

This study reports the findings of a study of the emergence of ethnic interests among a sample of 100 Irish and Italians. The failure to find predicted relationships among scale items for a proposed scale of ethnic consciousness led to a consideration of "law" of third-generation return. The reemergence of ethnicity as a salient force in the lives of third-generation ethnics was associated with little organizational activity but significant questioning about the reality of the "American dream" and opposition to the demands of Negroes for equal rights. The declining importance of objective ethnic constraints does not then necessarily imply total assimilation but rather serves as a condition for the emergence, however episodically, of ethnic consciousness. Contrary to all predictions ethnic interests persist, and to some even appear to have increased in salience (Bernard, 1969; Cinel, 1969; Glazer and Moynihan, 1963; Goldstein and Goldscheider, 1968; Greeley, 1969; Vecoli, 1970; Zochert, 1969). Little is known, however, about the conditions for this persistence while even less is known about the corollary problem of the measurement of ethnic consciousness. This paper relates an attempt to develop a scale for measuring ethnic interests and consciousness with serendipitous attention focused on the notion of "third-generation
Mycetoma due to Acremonium falciforme.

Observation chez un homme de 64 ans ayant presente pendant son enfance un traumatisme du pied gauche avec drainage purulent
Comparative assessment of acid, alkali and salt tolerance in Listeria monocytogenes virulent and avirulent strains

Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen of man and animals that has the capacity to survive under extreme environmental conditions. While our knowledge on L. monocytogenes and its ability to sustain within wide pH and temperature ranges and salt concentrations has been largely built on the virulent strains of this species, relatively little is known about avirulent strains in this regard. In this study, we extend our analysis on avirulent L. monocytogenes strains. By subjecting three virulent (EGD, 874 and ATCC 19196) and three avirulent (ATCC 19114, HCC23 and HCC25) strains to various pH and salt concentrations, it was found that L. monocytogenes recovered well after treatment with 100 mM Tris at pH 12.0, and to a lesser extent at pH 3.0. Interestingly, avirulent L. monocytogenes strains showed a somewhat higher tolerance to alkali than virulent strains. This unique feature of avirulent L. monocytogenes strains may potentially be exploited for the development of a rapid technique for differentiation between avirulent and virulent strains. Furthermore, all L. monocytogenes strains tested were resistant to saturated NaCl (about 7 M, or 40% w/v) for a long period of time (20 h and possibly longer). Together, these results highlight that acid, alkali, and/or salt treatments commonly used in food product processing may not be sufficient to eliminate L. monocytogenes, and therefore stringent quality control measures at the beginning and end of the food manufacturing process is essential to ensure that such food products are free of listerial contamination.