cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An intrinsically disordered region of the transcription factor, NFAT5, becomes more ordered with an increase in osmolality (1182.8)

Hypertonicity stimulates NFAT5 nuclear localization and transactivating activity. Many transcription factors are known to contain intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) which become more structured with local environmental changes such as osmolality, temperature and tonicity. The N-terminal region of NFAT5 is predicted to contain an IDR. Using far-UV CD and fluorescence we found that addition of the organic osmolyte trehalose to the purified N-terminal IDR of NFAT5 caused an increase in the structure of the IDR, consistent with a 2-state transition, ID to native. To investigate how this increased structure affects cellular protein-protein interactions, we looked for a correlation between change in structure and association with other proteins. Mass spectrometry identified NFAT5 IDR protein binding partners. We thus have demonstrated that a change in osmolality gives rise to an increase in IDR structure and affects NFAT5 protein-protein interactions. These data will aid in understanding transcriptional up...
Induction of fetal demise before pregnancy termination: practices of family planning providers

Objectives Our survey aimed to characterize the practice of inducing fetal demise before pregnancy termination among abortion providers, including its technical aspects and why providers have chosen to adopt it.
Pessimists, Optimists, and Skeptics: The Consequences of Transnational Ties for Latino Immigrant Naturalization

Objective Central to current debates over immigration is the impact of transnational ties on immigrant political incorporation in the United States. Some researchers believe these ties hinder incorporation, while others have found a positive relationship between these variables, and yet other scholars have found that transnational connections exert no significant impact on immigrant behavior in the United States. We test these competing hypotheses in an attempt to resolve this scholarly debate. Methods We rely on data from the 2006 Latino National Survey and use logistic regression to test the impact of transnational ties on immigrant political incorporation (via naturalization). Results Transnational ties positively impact immigrants’ orientations toward citizenship and eventual naturalization. Conclusions Immigrant political incorporation is not a unidirectional process where immigrant engagement in the United States increases with disengagement in the ancestral homeland. Rather, Latino immigrants with ties to their ancestral homelands are more likely to desire and seek out U.S. citizenship.
Understanding Diverse Cultures is Imperative for Building Global Virtual Teams

A global virtual team is a sophisticated system of people who routinely confront cultural differences in a digital environment that is constantly changing. This study argues that understanding cultural differences is imperative for the success of a group of individuals within a team communicating virtually from different locations throughout the world. It is vital that cultural differences are clearly comprehended as they pertain to defining and understanding the role of management, the use of communication technology, expectations about profit and performance goals, the concept of time when planning and scheduling, the assessment of risk, and the definition of reward. This paper defines these critical dimensions for cultural diversity and their impact on the relationships between global virtual team members. The basis for the arguments are dependent upon existing scholarly literature solidified by practical examples of real world individuals experienced within the multi-cultural global business environments.
DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOCRATIZATION IN MEXICO

This article presents a cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between democracy and development in thirty-two Mexican provinces (thirty-one states plus the Federal District). The analysis suggests that socioeconomic modernization – whether measured by income, indices of material well-being, education, industrialization, urbanization, or some combination – exerts a powerful, positive influence on democratization across states. However, the political effects of modernization vary across regions of Mexico. Areas -whose economies have traditionally been based on commerce and industry (including Mexico's northern belt) appear to follow a familiar pattern, democratizing as they develop economically. By contrast, development has less politically powerful consequences on states with a long history oflabor- suppressive agriculture and mineral extraction (including most of Mexico's south). In short, different regions of Mexico appear to be following separate political trajectories.
Drugs and valvular heart disease

Several findings have implicated activation of 5-HT2B receptors as a key step in initiating drug-induced valvular heart disease. Dr. Bryan Roth describes molecular mechanisms by which 5-HT2B agonists induce valvular heart disease.
The Structure and Solid State Reactivity of a Cocrystal of Propynoic Acid and 4-(1 -pyrrolidino)-pyridine. A Study of γ-Ray-Induced vs. Thermal Reactivity

Abstract Mixing propynoic acid and 4-(l-pyrrolidino)-pyridine in ethanol produces the salt 4-(l-pyrrolidino)-pyridinium propynoate (1) in high yield. An X-ray structure determination of 1 (Space Group P2I , Z=4) shows it to contain two independent cation-anion sets. Each set is interconnected by N-H-0 and C-H-O hydrogen bonds; there are no hydrogen bonds formed between the two sets. Each set contains an infinite array of short acetylene-acetylene contacts (3.57 and 3.74 A, respectively); despite this characteristic, the material does not polymerize upon exposure to 60Co γ-rays. Heating 1 at 125 °C for 23 hours converts it, in high yield, to a 19:1 mixture of (E and Z)-4-(l-pyrrolidino)-pyridinium-l-acrylate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of the addition of a pyridine moiety to an acetylene in the solid state.
Advanced probabilistic structural analysis method for implicit performance functions

In probabilistic structural analysis, the performance or response functions usually are implicitly defined and must be solved by numerical analysis methods such as finite-elemen t methods. In such cases, the commonly used probabilistic analysis tool is the mean-based second-moment method, which provides only the first two statistical moments. This paper presents an advanced mean-based method, which is capable of establishing the full probability distributions to provide additional information for reliability design. The method requires slightly more computations than the mean-based second-moment method but is highly efficient relative to the other alternative methods. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the method. In particular, the examples show that the new mean-based method can be used to solve problems involving nonmonotonic functions that result in truncated distributions.
Effect of soft saturation on nonlinear interface switching.

Numerical simulation of a nonlinear interface has shown that remarkable improvement in switching quality is theoretically possible by hard-limited saturation of the nonlinearity. We report the results of simulations investigating the effect of different types of soft saturation on nonlinear-interface switching behavior. The calculated predictions are consistent with recent experimental findings and show surprisingly little difference between hard and soft saturation. Significant softening leads to contrast reduction.
Alterations in retinoid X receptor-α expression contribute to cell-type dependent differences in thyroid hormone regulation of malic enzyme transcription

Abstract Triiodothyronine (T3) stimulates a marked increase (>40-fold) in transcription of the malic enzyme gene in chick embryo hepatocytes (CEH), but has no effect on malic enzyme transcription in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) that express nuclear T3 receptors (TR) at levels which are similar to those of CEH. Heterodimerization of the TR with other nuclear proteins is a potential mechanism for the regulation of T3 action. For example, heterodimers of retinoid X receptors (RXR) and TR bind to T3 response elements (T3RE) with higher affinity and modulate transcription more effectively than TR homodimers. In the present report, we investigated the role of RXR in mediating differences in T3 responsiveness of the malic enzyme gene between CEH and CEF. Data from gel mobility shift analyses demonstrated that endogenous TRs from CEH and CEF bind to the major T3RE of the malic enzyme gene primarily as heterodimers with RXRα or a protein highly related to RXRα. The total binding activity of RXRα/TR complexes in CEF was decreased relative to that observed in CEH. Cell-type dependent differences in RXRα/TR complex formation were greater in cells incubated in the presence of T3 because T3 treatment increased RXRα/TR binding activity in CEH but had no effect on RXRα/TR binding activity in CEF. Decreased RXRα/TR complex formation in CEF relative to CEH was associated with a reduction in the abundance of RXRα protein and RXRα mRNA in the former cell-type. Expression of exogenous RXRα in CEF increased the T3 responsiveness of the malic enzyme promoter by about 4-fold. In contrast, expression of exogenous RXRα in CEH had no effect on the regulation of malic enzyme transcription by T3. These observations support the hypothesis that alterations in RXRα expression contribute to cell-type dependent differences in T3 responsiveness of the malic enzyme gene.
Clinical Outcomes of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Using Eye Bank–Prepared Tissues

Purpose To investigate the outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) using prestripped donor tissue prepared by an eye bank. Design Retrospective, noncomparative case series. Methods This retrospective, noncomparative, observational study investigated the outcomes of the first 40 consecutive DMEK procedures performed by a single surgeon using prestripped tissues prepared by a single eye bank during the period September 17, 2013 to July 1, 2014. A new technique to unfold the Descemet membrane grafts using a single cannula was described. Medical records were reviewed to obtain the prestripped and poststripped endothelial cell counts (ECC), postoperative ECC, visual acuity measurements, and complications. Results Of the 43 prestripped tissues received, 40 were transplanted. The leading indications for DMEK were Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (n = 28) and bullous keratopathy (n = 11). Nine DMEK procedures were performed in combination with phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Six patients had undergone prior glaucoma surgeries. The mean follow-up duration was 5.3 months (range, 1 week to 11 months). Preoperative spectacle-corrected visual acuity was ≤20/200 in 8 patients (20%) and ≤20/40 in 37 patients (92.5%). Primary graft failure occurred in the first case. Thirty-eight patients had improved vision postoperatively. Among the 39 patients who had successful DMEK, postoperative BCVA was ≥20/20 in 20 patients (51.2%), ≥20/25 in 30 patients (76.9%), and ≥20/40 in 34 patients (87.2%) by the last follow-up. There was no secondary graft failure. Rejection occurred in 2 patients because of self-discontinuation of topical corticosteroid. The most common complication was partial detachment requiring air injection (11 of 40 patients; 27.5%). Mean ECC loss after stripping of Descemet membrane was 3.9% (range, 6.5% gain to 14.5% loss). During the first 6 months after transplantation, the average ECC loss was 30.5% (range, 3.8%–67.4% loss). Conclusions DMEK using eye bank–prepared tissue achieved outcomes comparable to those reported for DMEK using surgeon-prepared tissue.
Condensed phase equilibria in transition metal–In–Sb systems and predictions for thermally stable contacts to InSb

Antimonide-based compound semiconductors are promising candidates for high-frequency, low-power electronic devices as well as a variety of optoelectronic devices. To assist with the design of shallow or thermally stable contacts, we have performed thermodynamic calculations to estimate ternary phase equilibria in many of the transition metal-Ga-Sb systems. We have used the results of our calculations and a limited number of experiments to identify candidates for nonreactive elemental contacts to GaSb. Both W and Re are clearly in thermodynamic equilibrium with GaSb under the conditions considered in our study. Metal gallides and antimonides that are candidates for thermally stable contacts to GaSb are also highlighted.
Phylogenetic biology for both novice and expert learners

Tree Thinking: An Introduction to Phylogenetic Biology, by David Baum and Stacey Smith. Greenwood Village, CO: Roberts and Company Publishers, 2013. Pp. xx +476. ISBN:9781936221165. H/b $75.00.
Baculovirus Expression, Purification, and Properties of Varicella-Zoster Virus gE, gI, and the Complex They Form

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) expresses six known glycoproteins. High level expression of recombinant soluble forms of the VZV glycoproteins E and I (gE and gl) was achieved in the baculovirus system, gE and gI associate in VZV-infected cells to form an intermolecular complex. To purify large amounts of these glycoproteins, gE was produced with a C-terminal six-histidine (HIS-6) tag sequence, and gl was produced both with and without the HIS-6 sequence. The individual glycoproteins or the gElgl complex were purified in their native forms by use of affinity chromatography. Recombinant soluble VZV gE and gI provided important tools in the biochemical analysis and may contribute further to the functional and immunologic studies of these VZV envelope components.
CO2 Pneumoperitoneum Modifies the Inflammatory Response to Sepsis

Minimally invasive surgical techniques continue to advance in capability and popularity. Shorter hospital stays, decreased postoperative pain, more rapid return to preoperative activity, and decreased postoperative ileus give laparoscopic surgery distinct advantages over conventional surgery for a number of operative procedures. 1–4 While several differences have been described between the physiologic, 5,6 metabolic, 3,6–8 and immune 9–14 responses to conventional and laparoscopic procedures, the molecular basis of the improved results observed following laparoscopic surgery is still unknown. Refinement of laparoscopic skills and technological advances in the field of laparoscopy now enable surgeons to apply the laparoscopic paradigm to a broader spectrum of patients. Extensive surgical dissections are now being performed in complex laparoscopic operations that can last for hours. Furthermore, exploratory laparoscopy is being used to aid surgeons in the diagnosis and treatment of patients in whom a cause of abdominal sepsis is unclear. 15 Finally, diagnostic laparoscopy is even being used at the bedside to evaluate critically ill patients with physiologic deterioration of suspected intra-abdominal origin. 16–18 Where laparoscopic surgery was once reserved for simple outpatient procedures, it is now being employed in patients with significant associated systemic inflammatory responses. Although the effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum may be irrelevant for short operations performed in physiologically well-compensated patients, a thorough understanding of the effects of laparoscopy becomes imperative as the effects are magnified during long operations and as they involve patients with little physiologic reserve. The liver is the central metabolic organ of the body, and hepatocytes are central to the overall response to stress. Hepatocytes are the predominant cellular target for circulating inflammatory molecules (e.g., cytokines). Hepatocytes also produce the metabolic substrates essential for survival during states of increased metabolic demand. Furthermore, because the intra-abdominal gastrointestinal tract is drained by the portal venous system, toxins and responding cytokines generated from sources of enteric infection (e.g., intra-abdominal sepsis) are encountered first by the liver. The liver responds to proinflammatory chemokines by upregulating specific genes, thus increasing the synthesis of proteins collectively termed acute phase reactants. For these reasons, hepatic acute phase response genes are important markers of the body’s physiologic response to stress. The effects of the combined insults of laparoscopic surgery and postoperative sepsis on the stress response are unknown. The purpose of this study was to analyze the additional influence of laparoscopic procedures, in particular CO2 insufflation, on the response to sepsis in a well-established animal model—cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in the rat. 19,20
Comparative Intravitreal Antibiotic Therapy for Experimental Enterococcus faecalis Endophthalmitis

Objective: To evaluate the most effective intravitreal antibiotic treatment of vancomycin-sensitive and -resistantEnterococcus faecalisendophthalmitis. Design: Animal experiment. Setting: Seventy-eight New Zealand white rabbits received an intravitreal injection of 105vancomycin-sensitive or -resistantE faecalisorganisms in one eye. Infections were allowed to proceed 3 hours before dividing animals randomly into the following treatment groups (n=6, each): the vancomycin-sensitiveE faecalismodel—(1) vancomycin (1 mg/0.1 mL), (2) combined vancomycin (1 mg/0.1 mL) and amikacin (0.4 mg/0.1 mL), (3) combined vancomycin (1 mg/0.1 mL) and gentamicin (0.1 mg/0.1 mL), (4) combined vancomycin (1 mg/0.1 mL) and ceftazidime (2 mg/0.1 mL), (5) combined ampicillin (5 mg/0.1 mL) and gentamicin (0.1 mg/0.1 mL), and (6) pristinamycin (1 mg/0.1 mL); and the vancomycin-resistantE faecalismodel—(1) same as above, excluding group 4. Control groups received sterile balanced salt solution. Twenty-four hours following intravitreal treatment, vitreous humor was collected for quantitative bacteriological studies. Results: Intravitreal therapy with combined vancomycin and amikacin provided the most effective reduction of vancomycin-sensitiveE faecalisorganisms compared with combined vancomycin and gentamicin therapy (P=.10, Wilcoxon's rank sum test) or any other treatment group (P Conclusions: Treatment with intravitreal vancomycin plus amikacin and with intravitreal ampicillin plus gentamicin provide an effective bactericidal therapy for severe experimental vancomycin-sensitive and -resistantE faecalisendophthalmitis, respectively.
Portrayals of Single Women in the Self-Help Literature

The purpose of this research was to identify current messages about single women in self-help literature. Feminist and social constructionist theoretical perspectives guided the study and a constant comparison analysis was conducted to identify the dominant themes about single women in the literature. Six overarching themes emerged: Singlehood as a Positive Aspect of Life, Stereotypes of Single Women, Media's Depictions of Single Women, Difficulties being Single, Perceived Reasons for Singlehood, and Commentary on Singlehood and Aloneness. These themes were organized into a total of 33 sub-themes. A discussion of the meanings and implications of these results for professionals is presented.
Phase separation to antiferromagnetic and superconducting domains in oxygen-rich single-crystal La2CuO4+x: Magnetic and structural neutron-diffraction studies.

We report on magnetic and structural neutron-diffraction studies of single-crystal ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4+\mathit{x}}$ versus temperature. The low-temperature diffraction data are consistent with the coexistence of two structurally related phases: nearly stoichiometric, antiferromagnetic (AF) domains, with average domain diameter \ensuremath{\sim}500 \AA{} in the ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ plane, and oxygen-rich, metallic, and superconducting domains. The ordered magnetic moment in the AF domains does not saturate at 10 K, and is on average, \ensuremath{\mu}=(0.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05)${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathit{B}}$/Cu atom. The phase-separation transition to these two phases occurs at ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathrm{PS}}$=260\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5 K, which is about 15 K higher than the N\'eel temperature, ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{N}}$=245\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3 K. The value of ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathrm{PS}}$ is identical within the errors with that (259\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 K) found previously from specific-heat measurements on the same crystal. The structural properties of the single crystal are discussed and compared to those of polycrystalline oxygen-rich ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4+\mathit{x}}$.
International regimes, transactions, and change: embedded liberalism in the postwar economic order

The prevailing model of international economic regimes is strictly positivistic in its epistemological orientation and stresses the distribution of material power capabilities in its explanatory logic. It is inadequate to account for the current set of international economic regimes and for the differences between past and present regimes. The model elaborated here departs from the prevailing view in two respects, while adhering to it in a third. First, it argues that regimes comprise not simply what actors say and do, but also what they understand and find acceptable within an intersubjective framework of meaning. Second, it argues that in the economic realm such a framework of meaning cannot be deduced from the distribution of material power capabilities, but must be sought in the configuration of state-society relations that is characteristic of the regime-making states. Third, in incorporating these notions into our understanding of the formation and transformation of international economic regimes, the formulation self-consciously strives to remain at the systemic level and to avoid becoming reductionist in attributing cause and effect relations. The article can therefore argue that the prevailing view is deficient on its own terms and must be expanded and modified. Addressing the world of actual international economic regimes, the article argues that the pax Britannica and the pax Americana cannot be equated in any meaningful sense, and that the postwar regimes for money and trade live on notwithstanding premature announcements of their demise.
The Effects of Religion on the Labor Supply of Married Women

Abstract Drawing from economic and sociological theories, this study explores two channels through which religion may influence the labor supply behavior of married women: (a) differences across religious groups in attitudes toward gender roles may be translated into different patterns of division of labor within the family, and (b) women who marry outside their faiths may have incentives to make stronger commitments to the labor market, as intermarriages are known to be relatively unstable. Data from the 1987-1988 National Survey of Families and Households an used to quantify the labor supply of women in different types of intra- and inter-faith unions at various stages of the life cycle. The results suggest that when young children are present in the household, both of these effects are operative and religion plays an important role in female labor supply decisions.
Inhibition of in vitro fertilization of rabbit ova with naturally occurring antifertility agents.

Abstract Decapacitation factor (DF) and seminal plasma acrosin inhibitor have been shown to inhibit fertilization of rabbit ova in vivo . One peak obtained by DEAE chromatography of sperm acrosomes possessed a "true" neuraminidase activity, i.e. which released dialysable sialic acid from a substrate (Cowpers gland mucin). A second peak rendered the sialic acid reactive in the thiobarbituric acid assay but not dialysable. Neuraminidase has not been proven to participate in the fertilization process but will increase the resistance of the zona pellucida to dissolution by mercaptoethanol and bovine pancreatic trypsin. This work confirmed the antifertility effect of crude and pure DF in an in vitro system and showed that the peak from DEAE chromatography which possessed "true" neuraminidase activity inhibited fertilization while the other peak tested did not. It is suggested that sperm neuraminidase alters the tertiary and quaternary structure of the zona pellucida sialo-protein thereby rendering this layer less penetrable to spermatozoa. This may be one mechanism involved in the reduction of, or block to polyspermy.
Temperature-Mediated Germ Cell Loss in the Testis is Associated With Altered Expression of the Cell-Cycle Regulator p53

The dependence of spermatogenesis on the relatively cool environment of the scrotum is well known, and recent work has shown that germ cells undergo apoptosis upon exposure to abdominal temperature. p53 is a potent inducer of apoptosis and regulator of cell growth, and is found in high concentrations in the testis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether exposure of the testes to suprascrotal temperature was associated with alterations in testicular p53 expression. Male adult CD-1 mice were rendered unilaterally cryptorchid by surgically fixing one testis to the anterior abdominal wall while leaving the contralateral tests in the scrotum to serve as the euthermic control. p53 expression was evaluated in the cytoplasmic, soluble nuclear, and insoluble fractions by Western blot analysis with the monoclonal p53 antibody pAb240. The weights of the scrotal testes were unchanged over the 15 day study period. The weights of the cryptorchid testes remained stable for 7 days and then decreased by approximately 40% over the next two days. Histological evidence of germ cell loss was evident only after day 7. Altered expression of p53 protein in the cryptorchid testis was noted beginning on day 7, and consisted of the expression of a new 47 kD isoform of p53 in the cytosolic form and a 30 kD isoform in the soluble nuclear fraction. Scrotal testes showed no changes at any time point. These results demonstrate altered expression of the regulatory protein p53 beginning 1-2 days prior to the onset of germ cell loss following experimental unilateral cryptorchidism. Given the known function of p53 as an inducer of apoptotic cell death, these observations suggest a significant role for p53 in temperature-mediated germ cell loss.
Salience in Logical Deduction Tasks: Effects on Processing or Representation?

Abstract An experiment was conducted to determine the role of a salient characteristic in a logical deduction task on the representational and/or processing capabilities of subjects. Subjects worked on a logical problem that was systematically altered by changing the information involved in making a particular deduction. Subjects were more likely to make the deduction under conditions of high salience, even though the logical, or processing demands of the deduction were similar in the high and low salient conditions. This finding suggests that the salience of attributes in logical deduction tasks influences the subjects' representation of them, rather than their processing of such attributes.
Ecologic patterns of living planktonic Foraminifera

Abstract Abundances of planktonic Foraminifera appear to be correlated with food supply. Reported concentrations in surface waters typically range from 1 or less to 100,000,000 specimens per 1000 m3, depending largely on the sampling gear used. Variations due to different mesh sizes can be partly eliminated by transforming numbers of Foraminifera into nominal foraminiferal volumes. It then becomes apparent that the highest concentrations (North Pacific) are about a thousand times greater than the lowest ones (Sargasso Sea). In general, total abundances in the Atlantic seem about half as great as those of the Indo-Pacific, in striking contrast to the distribution of foraminiferal sedimentation rates, which are highest in the Atlantic. Small Foraminifera dominate in cold, fertile (phosphate-rich) regions, and large ones in warm, less fertile regions. Many species adapted to extremes of the foraminiferal habitat range are among the most restricted environmentally. Species distributions correlate about equally well with surface temperatures and salinities and with subsurface parameters defining water masses. Depth distributions of living Foraminifera and of empty shells are incompatible with previously suggested life spans and settling speeds, and turnover rates of a few days appear possible under certain circumstances. Species depth patterns are similar for the Pacific and the Atlantic; two factors seem responsible: (1) tropical submergence, and (2) specific depth preferences. Complications arise from possible misidentification of geronts at depth. Day-night abundance variations exist at least in some species but the causes are unknown.
Ethology and ecology of cichlid fishes of the genus Etroplus in Sri Lanka: preliminary findings

The Asian cichlid fishes, Etroplus maculatus (Bloch) and E. suratensis (Bloch) were observed in their natural habitat. Ecological and behavioral interactions of these species have not been previously reported. E. suratensis benefits from being cleaned by E. maculatus; it is doubtful the ingestion of parasites and fungi is of much direct benefit to E. maculatus. The advantage to E. maculatus is more likely the survival and reproductive success of adult E. suratensis which in turn provide eggs and eleutheroembryos for the egg-young predatory habit of E. maculatus. Predation is lessened by age-specific crypticity of E. suratensis. E. maculatus displays a unique behavior during its parental cycle where both parents actively defend their young until they are nearly sexually mature and almost the size of the parents. Adult E. suratensis engage in altruistic multiple parental care where several adults care for a single brood that presumably were spawned by only two of the adults. Such behavior has not been reported previously for fish.
Hospital Physicians' Assistants: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract It's not surprising that hospitals are the fastest-growing areas of PA employment because PAs have much to offer in their cost-effectiveness, in the quality and continuity of their care, andin the variety of their skills. In this overview of hospitals' use of PAs, the author details the expansion of the PA profession.
Alveolar Bone Remodeling Following Osseous Surgery: A Clinical Study

Remodeling of the alveolar bone crest was monitored following periodontal surgery including osseous recontouring at 26 sites in 17 patients, aged 23 to 60 years, with advanced periodontitis. Comparison of measurements obtained at initial surgery with those noted at re-entry showed a reduction in crest height 3 months postsurgery at all sites tested: A) At the interradicular sites a mean reduction of 0.38 mm; B) at the radicular sites a mean reduction of 0.84 min; and C) at the furcation sites a mean reduction of 0.79 mm. A reduction in crest height was also noted 6 months postsurgery at all sites tested: A) At the interradicular sites a mean reduction of 0.23 mm; B) at the radicular sites a mean reduction of 0.55 mm; and C) at the furcation sites a mean reduction of 0.88 mm. The mean bone loss different surfaces in both 3 month and 6 month groups was statistically significant when compared with zero loss, using the t test. Within the limits of this clinical study, it can be concluded that crestal resorption, albeit limited in extent, was the usual remodeling response following osseous recontouring.
Induction and Evasion of Innate Antiviral Responses by Hepatitis C Virus

Persistent hepatitis C virus infection is associated with progressive hepatic fibrosis and liver cancer. Acute infection evokes several distinct innate immune responses, but these are partially or completely countered by the virus. Hepatitis C virus proteins serve dual functions in replication and immune evasion, acting to disrupt cellular signaling pathways leading to interferon synthesis, subvert Jak-STAT signaling to limit expression of interferon-stimulated genes, and block antiviral activities of interferon-stimulated genes. The net effect is a multilayered evasion of innate immunity, which negatively influences the subsequent development of antigen-specific adaptive immunity, thereby contributing to virus persistence and resistance to therapy.
Hydrogeochemical controls on the variations in chemical characteristics of natural organic matter at a small freshwater wetland

This study investigated the spatiotemporal variability in dissolved organic carbon concentration ([DOC]), natural organic matter (NOM) weight average molecular weight (Mw), and absorptivity at 280 nm (e280, an estimator of aromaticity) at McDonalds Branch, a first-order stream that is a fen wetland. When ground-water discharge to the stream was predominant, the [DOC], Mw, and e280 were all relatively low. When soil pore water represented an important contribution to streamflow, not only was the [DOC] higher, but also the Mw and e280. Hence, the contribution of soil pore water relative to ground water controlled not only the concentration but also the average physicochemical characteristics of the NOM. Combined field and laboratory experiments suggested that preferential adsorption of higher Mw, more aromatic NOM components to mineral surfaces, most likely within the lower soil horizons, resulted in a lower Mw, more aliphatic ground-water NOM pool. This process ultimately affected surface water as ground water discharged to the lower reaches of the stream. Within the stream, higher molecular weight, more aromatic components were susceptible to photo-aggregation and photo-degradation, in the presence of Fe. Results from this small watershed study provide insight into climatic effects on surface-water NOM characteristics in a small freshwater fen. Low flow periods resulted in lower Mw, more aliphatic NOM derived primarily from ground-water discharge to the stream, whereas higher flow periods resulted in a higher Mw (by 150–500 Da, i.e., increased by as much as 25%), more aromatic downstream surface-water NOM pool. Hence, during future summer drought periods, as suggested by climate-change models for much of North America, surface-water NOM likely will be lower molecular weight, more aliphatic, and more hydrophilic with lesser metal binding and hydrophobic organic carbon (HOC) uptake abilities [Environ. Sci. Technol. 34 (2000) 1103], along with decreased ability to attenuate UV radiation. Because NOM plays an important role in attenuating UV radiation, research on climate-induced effects on aquatic ecosystems needs to consider not only decreases in NOM concentration and photochemistry but also hydrology-induced changes to the NOM physicochemical characteristics.
Producer's and Consumer's Risk When Proportion Defective Is a Random Variable

In acceptance sampling, producer's and consumer's risk are traditionally based on assumed fixed values of p, the proportion of the lot which is defective. A more useful definition of producer's risk would be the probability of rejecting a lot in which the proportion defective falls within some range of acceptable values. Similarly, a more useful definition of consumer's risk would be the probability of accepting a lot in which the proportion defective falls within some range of unacceptable values. In this paper, we construct measures of these more useful definitions of risk by assuming that p follows either a uniform or triangular probability distribution. The proposed measure yields consumer's risk values, β', which are smaller than the traditionally computed values by a factor of up to twenty times. The proposed measure of producer's risk, α', gives values smaller than traditional values by a factor of two to four times. Decision makers who adopt the proposed measures may be able to reduce sample sizes substantially while maintaining given risk levels.
Electronic absorption of Frenkel excitons in topologically disordered systems

A self‐consistent effective medium theory of the electronic absorption spectra of tightly bound dipolar excitons in simple fluids is developed within the adiabatic picture. The theoretical approach is based on the isomorphism between the path‐integral formulation of quantum theory and classical statistical mechanics and is an extension of previous work [D. Chandler, K. S. Schweizer, and P. G. Wolynes, Phys. Rev. Lett. 49, 1100 (1982)]. The consequences of fluid structural disorder on resonant excitation transfer and the statistical fluctuations of single molecule energy levels are simultaneously treated. Detailed numerical calculations are performed to establish the dependence of the absorption spectrum on fluid density, short range order, and the relative magnitude of the resonant transfer vs the single site disorder. The density dependence of the spectral features are found to be a sensitive function of fluid structure and the relative strength of the localizing vs the delocalizing interactions. By comp...
Electronic Structure of Copper-Decorated Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) encapsulated with copper chains have been investigated with quantum mechanics calculations, with an emphasis on the effects of copper on CNTs electronic structure and the resultant conductance. Density functional theory frames in conjunction with nonequilibrium Green’s function were used for the study. The results have shown that due to the interaction between copper and CNTs, the conductance of the metallic CNTs-Cu system can be significantly increased.
The relationship between heart rate and energy expenditure in Alpine, Angora, Boer and Spanish goat wethers consuming different quality diets at level of intake near maintenance or fasting

Abstract Six Alpine (AL; 38.4 ± 3.0 kg), Angora (AN; 23.1 ± 2.7 kg), Boer (BO; 40.8 ± 4.5 kg) and Spanish (SP; 33.6 ± 2.2 kg) wethers (1.5 yr of age) were used to determine the effects of time of the day and potential interactions between time, genotype and diet quality on energy expenditure (EE), heart rate (HR) and EE:HR when fed near maintenance and fasting. The experiment consisted of four simultaneous crossovers, with 21 d for adaptation before measures. Diets were 60% concentrate (CON: 15% CP) and ground alfalfa hay (FOR: 23% CP), offered in two meals at 8:00 and 16:00 h. Energy expenditure was determined from O 2 consumption and production of CO 2 and CH 4 over 2-day periods in fed and fasting states (total 4-day fasting period). Fasting EE was higher during the day than night, with values generally highest at 16:00–17:00 h. Animal within breed affected EE, HR and EE:HR ( P P P P P 0.75 × day):heart beats/min) for CON and FOR, respectively. In conclusion, for use of HR to predict EE by goats, it appears desirable to determine the ratio of EE:HR with a diet similar to that consumed during prediction and over an extended period of time.
SU‐D‐301‐06: Impact of Non‐Stationarity in Breast Tomosynthesis on Task‐Based Imaging Performance

Purpose: Reconstructedtomosynthesis data is known to exhibit non‐stationarity, (i.e., the pixel mean and standard deviation depends on location), which is expected to impact our ability to accurately assess imaging performance. The purpose of this study was to characterize the magnitude and impact of non‐stationarity on various imaging tasks. Method and Materials:A phantom consisting of an array of 15 aluminum oxide beads was constructed to measure the 3D modulation transfer function(MTF) across a range of locations in the breast. Similarly, a uniform breast phantom was used to measure the noise‐power spectrum (NPS) across the same range of locations. Simulated tomosynthesis and real tomosynthesisimages were acquired to characterize independently the impact of non‐stationarity on quantum and anatomical noise measurements and the impact of scatter on non‐stationarity. The MTF and NPS were compared across locations in terms of measures of sharpness and noise and furthermore combined with a task function to measure task‐based performance indices including the detection, localization, and size estimation of a 4 mm mass. The variability and range of the indices were characterized across the different regions of the breast. Results: The 3D MTF and NPS varied in shape and orientation across location. The measure of sharpness and noise was found to vary by 3% and 2%, respectively, from the center to the edge (located 4 cm from center). The task‐based performance also depended on location, with 4% variation for a detection task and 3% variation for a size estimation task. Overall, variation was mostly along the lateral direction of the breast. Conclusions: This work provides guidelines for the application of Fourier‐based metrics in breast tomosyntehsis. While the shape and orientation of the 3D MTF and NPS are dependent on location, variability of the task‐based performance indices was found to be minimal.
Measuring the value of experiential learning

Educators have long held that experiential learning is valuable. The issue here is the measurement of that value for all participants
Phone n' Computer: teaming up an information appliance with a PC

Facing the ever growing complexity and usability problems of the PC, some propose specialized computers as a solution, while others argue that such "information appliances" are unnecessary. Rather than pitting information appliances and PCs against each other, we argue instead for exploring the design space in using them together. We experimented with a device teaming approach that takes advantage of both types of devices: the familiar and high bandwidth user interface of the PC, and the task specific form factors of an information appliance. In our experimentation, we designed and developed a phone n' computer (PnC) by teaming up an IP phone with a general-purpose PC. We outline the design space for such a combination and describe several point designs we created that distribute functions between the two devices according to their characteristics. In comparison to separately using phones and computers, our designs provide new and richer user experiences including Drop-to-Call, sharing visual information, and caller information display.
Electronic transmission across a metal/conjugated-oligomer/metal structure : role of intrinsic disorder

Abstract We have studied electronic transmission across metal/conjugated-oligomer/metal structures: (a) one oligomer chain, and (b) two oligomer chains sandwiched between metal contacts, in the presence of lattice fluctuations. The lattice fluctuations are approximated by static white noise disorder. Resonant transmission occurs when the energy of an incoming electron coincides with a discrete electronic level of the oligomer. Because of disorder there is an enhancement of electronic transmission for energies that lie within the electronic gap of the oligomer. If fluctuations are sufficiently strong, a transmission peak within the gap is found at the midgap energy E = 0 for degenerate conjugated oligomers. For the two-chain case the spatial mirror symmetry is broken and coherence between the wavefunctions of two chains is partly lost when fluctuations are introduced.
Essays in Frontier History: India, China and the Disputed Border – By Parshotam Mehra

In 1962 India and the People's Republic of China (PRC) fought a bitter, brutal, and costly war along their Himalayan frontier. The war led to a fundamental transformation of India's defense policie...
Gland ducts and multilayered epithelium in mucosal biopsies from gastroesophageal-junction region are useful in characterizing esophageal location

SUMMARY. There is controversy as to whether oxynto-cardiac mucosa (OCM), cardiac mucosa (CM) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) found in the gastroesophageal-junction region line the anatomic stomach, esophagus or both. A total of 785 retroflex biopsies taken at the endoscopic gastroesophageal junction in 244 patients were evaluated for the presence of gland ducts and multilayered epithelium which are two recognized markers of esophageal mucosa. Oxyntic mucosa was found in 287 biopsies, OCM in 283, CM in 158, IM in 30 and squamous epithelium in 53 (some biopsies had more than one epithelial type). Esophageal gland ducts and multilayered epithelium were absent in all biopsies with oxyntic mucosa. Sixty-four (13.6%) of 471 biopsies with OCM, CM and IM contained esophageal gland ducts, and 68 of 471 (14.4%) contained multilayered epithelium. Ninety-eight of 471 (20.8%) biopsies contained either gland ducts or multilayered epithelium. This study shows that 20.8% of biopsies at the gastroesophageal junction with OCM, CM and IM can be definitively characterized as lining the anatomic esophagus by the finding of gland ducts and multilayered epithelium. The absence of these markers in oxyntic mucosa confirms this epithelium as gastric. The presence of gland ducts and multilayered epithelium can be used by pathologists to objectively ascribe an esophageal or gastric location to a biopsy from the gastroesophageal junction.
Protamine allergy as a complication of insulin hypersensitivity: A case report.

Abstract Background: Although most patients receiving insulin produce insulin-specific IgE, significant allergic symptoms develop in very few of them. Patients receiving neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin are at increased risk for the development of protamine hypersensitivity. The case of a 19-year-old woman with insulin-dependent diabetes and regular and NPH insulin hypersensitivity is presented. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether desensitization to NPH insulin, as well as standard insulin desensitization, could control allergic symptoms in a patient allergic to both NPH and regular insulin. Methods: The patient required insulin desensitization for severe urticaria, angioedema, and occasional wheezing resulting from her insulin dose. She underwent a standard protocol for insulin desensitization twice in a 2-month period, with persistence in her symptoms. She was found to have high protamine-specific, as well as insulin-specific, IgE levels, and because of her poor response to regular insulin desensitization, she was desensitized to both regular and NPH insulin. Results: Dual desensitization resulted in marked improvement in her symptoms. The patient had recurrence of urticaria and angioedema a year and a half later, at which point the NPH was stopped and she was desensitized to regular insulin. She continued to receive regular insulin 4 times per day over the following 3 years with only occasional hives. Conclusion: Patients with insulin allergy may not have complete resolution of their symptoms after standard desensitization, particularly those patients with concomitant protamine allergy. These patients may require protamine/NPH desensitization, an alternative insulin preparation, or both. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:462-5.)
Cyclopentadienylmagnesium Hydride. A convenient synthesis and study of reactions with organic substrates via single electron transfer.

Abstract Cyclopentadienylmagnesium hydride (CpMgH) has been prepared conveniently by the reaction of magnesium hydride with cyclopentadiene in THF. The compound is soluble in THF and is a dimer in this solvent. Evidence is presented that supports the single electron transfer nature of the reactions of CpMgH with selected aromatic ketones, trityl halides and polynuclear hydro-carbons. Visible and EPR spectral studies of the colored, paramagnetic intermediates are described.
High power density magnetoelectric energy harvester

Conventional methods for vibration energy harvesting are based on electromagnetic, electrostatic, piezoelectric and magnetostrictive mechanisms [1?4]. Among them, the magnetostrictive mechanism shows relative higher power density [4]. Here, we report energy harvesting mechanism based on magnetoelectric (ME) composites [5] made of high-permeability magnetostrictive FeBSiC alloy ribbons laminated with piezoelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) fibers. We will see that this multiferroic laminated composite has the potential to achieve higher power densities. Figure 1 illustrates the configuration of our ME energy harvester. In this design, two PZT fiber layer with multi symmetric polarization (push-pull) units are laminated with four magnetostrictive FeBSiC ones. It is suited for operating in both longitudinal (excited by a longitudinal magnetic field) and bending vibration modes (excited by mechanical vibrations).