cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stress ulcer prophylaxis in the absence of guidelines: An exploratory study of different student perspectives from an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE)

Background: Guidelines for the use of stress-ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) do exist in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) setting, but not in the non-ICU setting. Aims: The objective was to analyse how fourth-year pharmacy students transfer knowledge acquired during didactic course work into clinical practice during an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) in Adult Medicine, in the absence of such guidelines. Methods: Three fourth-year pharmacy students completed an APPE in a non-ICU Adult Medicine setting. Part of this experience was hospital rounds with a medical team, which included a clinical pharmacist and a post-graduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy resident. The students reviewed the ASHP guidelines from 1999 and discussed the evidence-based recommendations in the ICU and non-ICU settings. During the rotation students completed journal club assignments about the challenges associated with SUP outside the ICU. At the end of the rotation, each student developed and documented their opinion on the use of SUP in the non-ICU setting. Results: The opinions provided by the students ranged from opposing SUP in the non-ICU setting, over using clinical judgment for each patient, to overall uncertainty. Conclusion: The opinions formed by the students varied, even though they participated in the same didactic coursework and APPE. Further studies could help determine the impact of didactic education and APPEs in the absence of clinical guidelines on pharmacy students.
Opportunity Evaluation as Future Focused Cognition: Identifying Conceptual Themes and Empirical Trends

The evaluation of opportunities to introduce new goods or services to one or more markets is an essential part of entrepreneurship, and the last decade ushered in a steady stream of studies on the topic. However, to date, this knowledge has not been systematically reviewed. The current article addresses this gap by synthesizing studies that speak to the evaluation of entrepreneurial opportunities. The review of 53 articles involves the development of a thematic framework used to organize the literature in terms of conceptual and empirical themes as well as patterns in publication trends. The insights derived culminate in an integrative framework that conceptually describes what goes on in the ‘mind in the middle’ as opportunity evaluation unfolds. The model illuminates a path for future research that guides improved understanding of the cognitive dynamics that lead some individuals to believe that a set of circumstances represents an attractive opportunity while others have little confidence that the same circumstances represent an opportunity at all.
EFFECTS OF INCREASED SALINITY ON GLUCOSE AND MALTOSE COMPOSITION OF BIOMPHALARIA GLABRATA SNAILS AS DETERMINED BY HIGH PERFORMANCE THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY-DENSITOMETRY

High performance thin-layer chromatography was used to analyze the glucose and maltose concentrations of the digestive gland-gonad complex of mature adult uninfected Biomphalaria glabrata snails maintained in laboratory cultures containing various dilutions of artificial ocean water (AOW) as well as the whole bodies of young adult B. glabrata snails maintained in laboratory cultures at the same dilutions of AOW for up to 4 weeks. Controls for both groups consisted of snails of the same size maintained identically in deionized water and artificial spring water. Sugars were extracted from the snails in ethanol-water (70:30). Random samples from both experimental groups were tested to detect the presence of different types of carbohydrates; the major sugars detected in the snails were glucose and maltose. These sugars were separated on EMD Millipore silica gel preadsorbent plates with mobile phase 1-butanol-glacial acetic acid-diethyl ether-deionized water (27:18:5:3), detected using α -naphthol-sulfuric aci...
Application of two-photon microscopy to elucidate oleic acid-induced changes in microscale transdermal transport processes

In a novel application of two-photon scanning fluorescence microscopy (TPM), three-dimensional spatial distributions of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic fluorescent probes, sulforhodamine B (SRB) and rhodamine B hexyl ester (RBHE), in excised full-thickness human cadaver skin were visualized and quantified. These findings utilizing TPM demonstrate that, in addition to providing three-dimensional images that clearly delineate probe distributions in the direction of increasing slun depth, the subsequent quantification of these images provides additional important insight into the mechanistic changes in transdermal transport underlying the visualized changes in probe distributions across the slun.
Radar Polarimetry for Target Discrimination

Discrimination of targets vs. clutter is critical to many radar identification problems. For the purpose of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detection, radar range profiles and images are valuable to capture the target of interest; it remains a big challenge to differentiate the target from the surrounding man-made clutter. The goal is to reduce the clutter. It is well-known that vector wave scattering is sensitive to both wave polarization and target orientation. This work makes use of ultra-wide-band (UWB) radar technology and polarization diversity to characterize targets with polarimetric signatures. The results were based on both radar measurement and electromagnetic simulation. This research demonstrated the effectiveness of radar polarimetry for improved target identification.
Embedded-atom/Monte Carlo study of short-range order in nitrogen strengthened FeNiCr austenite

Abstract Experimental data for the cubic elastic constants, the lattice parameters, the cohesion energies, and the enthalpies of mixing were used to determine the embedded-atom interaction potentials in the FeNiCrN austenite. The latter were subsequently used in the Monte Carlo simulations to analyze the extent of short-range order, i.e. to determine the fractions of various metallic octahedrons and nitrogen apportionment between them in a FeNiCr face-centered cubic (f.c.c) alloy without and with nitrogen at 1723 and 298 K. It is found that, at the lower temperature nitrogen promotes short-range order by giving rise to substantial deviations in the metallic octahedron distribution from the random distribution. Furthermore, the results revealed that nitrogen preferentially occupies octahedrons containing a large number of chromium atoms and that the number of such octahedrons is increased with the addition of nitrogen. These effects were particularly pronounced at 298 K. The implication of short-range order and nitrogen apportionment on the deformation mechanism in FeNiCrN f.c.c alloys is briefly discussed.
A GEOMETRIC PROOF OF THE ADDITION IDENTITY FOR SINE

ABSTRACT We provide a geometric proof of the formula for the sine of the sum of two positive angles whose measures sum to less than π/2. * Thanks to Francesca Fairbrother, Kathy Sheldon and Richard Jurgens for their assistance in preparing this manuscript.
A possible new electron state above liquid helium

Abstract Excited states of helium atoms have been observed in the bulk liquid. We discuss the properties of such states if created at the surface. For low quantum numbers the surface is a weak perturbation compared to the atomic excitation energy. At high quantum numbers (weakly bound states) the electron wave function is forced out of the interior of the fluid and the energy spectrum is Rydberg-like.
A Poet of Seventeenth Century Brazil: Gregório De Matos

With the publication of the complete works of Gregorio de Matos, seventeenth century Brazilian satirical poet, or almost complete works (his poems which were too obscene for publication remain in manuscript), by the Brazilian Academy of Letters, it is now possible to evaluate his production to see if the critics who call him the founder of Brazilian literature, the precursor of literary emancipation and mental independence, and the first to give the cry of Brazilian independence, were overestimating the contribution of this “Mouth of Hell” as he was dubbed by his contemporaries.
Silver-palladium alloy particle production by spray pyrolysis

Spray pyrolysis was used to produce submicron Ag-Pd metal alloy particles for applications in electronic component fabrication. The particles were prepared in nitrogen carrier gas from metal nitrate precursor solutions with various compositions. The Ag-Pd alloy was the predominant phase for reactor temperatures of 700 °C and above for all compositions. The 70-30 Ag-Pd partcles were fully dense at 700 °C, but an increased reaction temperature was necessary to produce dense particles at higher Pd to Ag ratios. The extent of palladium oxidation was suppressed with increased amounts of Ag. Single-crystal particles could be produced at sufficiently high temperatures. These results show that particle phase composition, size, oxidation behavior, and morphology can be controlled by the Ag-Pd ratio in the precursor solution and by the reaction temperature.
Effects of cigarette smoking on bilateral electrodermal measures of the orienting reflex.

Bilateral skin conductance was recorded in 6 male and 6 female smokers and in 6 male and 6 female nonsmokers on two different days. On the first day, a 10-min rest period during which 3 male and 3 female smokers smoked a cigarette was followed by a taped series of common and uncommon innocuous tone stimuli to which evoked responses were measured. Nonsmokers did not smoke prior to presentation of the tones. On the second day, one week later, evoked responding was again measured during two further presentations of the tone stimuli after a 10-min rest period during which the remaining smokers smoked a cigarette. During the first presentation, subjects listened to the tones as before. During the second presentation, subjects performed a pedal-press whenever they heard the uncommon tone in the series. Results showed that smoking depressed responding to common and uncommon tones on the first day, but elevated responding to both tones on the second day during the passive listening phase. During the pedal-press task, smoking selectively elevated responding to uncommon tones. Male smokers gave larger responses to uncommon tones in their left than right hands during the pedal-press task, especially after smoking. Results are interpreted in terms of nicotine-induced enhancement of the voluntary orienting reflex possibly mediated by the left frontal cortex.
A quantitative method for measurement of lysosomal acid phosphatase latency in cultured rat heart cells with210Pb

A method is described for measuring the latency of lysosomal acid phosphatase in cultured rat heart endotheloid cells.210Pb was added to a medium used to demonstrate acid phosphatase activity by the Gomori lead method, and the amount of lead deposited was measured with a liquid scintillation counter. Deposition rates were measured after enzyme activation pretreatments with acetate buffer (pH 5.0) at various osmolalities, and after formaldehyde fixation. Formaldehyde, alloxan, or fluoride in the Gomori medium were evaluated for their differential effects on lysosomal and non-lysosomal acid phosphatase. The method was found to provide a sensitive, rapid and quantitative evaluation of acid phosphatase latency and should be useful for studying the integrity of lysosomes within cells.
Reflux episodes detected by impedance in patients on and off esomeprazole: a randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled crossover study.

Summary Background Combined with 24-h pH monitoring, the use of impedance is the most sensitive method available for detecting oesophageal reflux. Normal values for impedance have been previously established in healthy controls studied on and off proton pump inhibitors (PPI). Aims To determine the effects of PPIs on the total number of reflux episodes in the distal oesophagus measured by impedance in patients with and without gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods In this prospective randomised double-blinded placebo controlled crossover study, all patients underwent two 24-h pH with impedance studies at least 2 weeks apart. Based on a randomisation scheme, patients received either 40 mg of esomeprazole twice daily for 1 week or identical capsule placebo for 1 week, then all patients were crossed over to the other treatment arm. GERD was defined by the validated Johnson–DeMeester score. Reflux by impedance was defined as a 50% decrease from baseline in retrograde movement of liquid between two impedance sites. Results Sixty-three patients were enrolled and 41 patients completed the study [mean age 52 ± 12 years, 42% (17/41) men, 56% (23/41) Caucasian and 34% (14/41) African American]. Overall, there was no significant decrease in the total number of distal impedance episodes with esomeprazole compared with placebo (mean change 6.1 ± 22, P = 0.100). When analysed separately by GERD status, among GERD-positive patients, there was a significant decrease in distal impedance episodes while on esomeprazole compared with placebo (mean change −16 ± 22, P = 0.023), but not in GERD-negative patients (mean change −0.35 ± 20, P = 0.872). Conclusion Esomeprazole decreases significantly the number of reflux episodes detected by impedance, but only in patients with GERD.
The Jobs Are Back, but Where? Implications for How Best to Pay for Local Government Services:

Decentralization and economic restructuring challenged local governments before the recession. Warned that property tax receipts would also recede as real estate markets collapsed and unemployment ...
Chronic albumin infusions to achieve diuresis in patients with ascites who are not candidates for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).

While transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a common therapy for cirrhotic patients with diuretic-resistant or diuretic-refractory ascites, some patients are unsuitable for the procedure for technical or medical reasons. We report our experience with the use of chronic intravenous albumin infusions to achieve diuresis in this difficult patient population and review the historic experience of chronic albumin infusions as a treatment for ascites. Nineteen patients with cirrhosis and diuretic-resistant or diuretic-refractory ascites who were deemed unsuitable for TIPS received outpatient intravenous albumin infusions (50 g) weekly for at least 4 weeks. The following endpoints were retrospectively recorded: serum sodium, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, hematocrit, bilirubin, albumin, international normalized ratio, body weight, and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. The contraindicatoins for TIPS included the following: portal vein thrombosis, two; advanced age, one; encephalopathy, nine; hyperbilirubinemia, five; and other, two. Compared to pretreatment, posttreatment weight decreased in 17 patients, remained unchanged in 0 patients, and increased in 2 patients. The overall mean change in body weight (before vs. after therapy) was 8 lb (P < 0.05). The only significant change in biochemistries was an increase in serum albumin from 2.5 g/dl before therapy to 3.5 g/dl after therapy (P < 0.05). We conclude that (1) recurrent intravenous weekly albumin infusions resulted in significant loss of edema and ascites as measured by loss of body weight, and (2) clinicians may want to consider chronic albumin infusions for selected patients with refractory ascites who are not candidates for TIPS.
Transporters in drug development: advancing on the Critical Path

A new report from an international consortium provides comprehensive scientific recommendations for studies of transporter-related drug interactions in drug development.
Variability analysis of human plasma and cerebral spinal fluid reveals statistical significance of changes in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics data

Analytical and biological variability are issues of central importance to human metabolomics studies. Here both types of variation are examined in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using a global liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) metabolomics strategy. The platform shows small analytical variation with a median coefficient of variation (CV) of 15-16% for both plasma and CSF sample matrixes when the integrated area of each peak in the mass spectra is considered. Analysis of biological variation shows that human CSF has a median CV of 35% and plasma has a median CV of 46%. To understand the difference in CV between the biofluids, we compared plasma and CSF independently obtained from different healthy humans. Additionally, we analyzed another group of patients from whom we compared matched CSF and plasma (plasma and CSF obtained from the same human subject). A similar number of features was observed in both biofluids, although the majority of features appeared with greater intensity in plasma. More than a dozen metabolites shared between the human CSF and plasma metabolomes were identified based on accurate mass measurements, retention times, and MS/MS spectra. The fold change in these metabolites was consistent with the median biological CV determined for all peaks. The measured median biological CV together with analysis of intragroup variation of healthy individuals suggests that fold changes above 2 in metabolomics studies investigating plasma or CSF are statistically relevant with respect to the inherent variability of a healthy control group. These data demonstrate the reproducibility of the global metabolomics platform using LC/MS and reveal the robustness of the approach for biomarker discovery.
Soil and habitat complexity effects on movement of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae in maize

Abstract Habitat heterogeneity enhances conservation of aboveground biological control organisms in agricultural systems. Complex habitats may also conserve beneficial organisms in the soil, although this has rarely been examined in field experiments. We compared the effect of simple (maize) and more complex (maize plus mixed annual plant refuge) habitats on the persistence and dispersal of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae applied to soil as nematode-killed insects. The experiment was conducted twice, in 2005 and 2006. We quantified S. carpocapsae dispersal by bioassay of soil samples collected at distances up to 3 m away from the application point within and between crop and refuge habitats. We detected S. carpocapsae in 1.4% (2005) and 0% (2006) of control site samples. S. carpocapsae detection at the source was not affected by habitat complexity but was associated with soil bulk density, plant density, and soil matric potential. The maximum movement rate was 33.3 cm/day, 9 days after application, which exceeded previously reported rates of 7.5 cm/day. S. carpocapsae detection decreased with increasing distance away from the application point. In 2005, soil moisture affected dispersal such that S. carpocapsae were detected further away in complex habitats, when the soil moisture in this habitat was higher. In 2006, movement was similar in both habitats, likely due to similarities in overall plant density in both treatments that year. Our results indicate that movement of S. carpocapsae is not necessarily dependent on habitat complexity but may respond to variation in factors associated with overall plant density, and subsequently, soil moisture.
Influence of environmental temperature on disposition of dietary naphthalene in coho coho salmon (oncorhynchus kisutch): Isolation and identification of individual metabolites

Abstract 1. Depressed temperature (4° vs 10°C) resulted in significantly (P 2. High-pressure liquid chromatography of liver and gall bladder extracts from 3H-naphthalene dosed fish allowed the isolation and quantitation of 1-naphthol, 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene, 1-naphthyl glucuronic acid, 1-naphthyl sulfate, 1-naphthyl glucoside and five unidentified derivatives. 3. The dihydrodiol was the predominant metabolite, comprising 72 and 94% of the identified metabolites in gall bladder and liver, respectively.
Utilization of process improvement to manage change in an academic library

Changing the way that academic libraries operate is necessary to accommodate increasing demands for resources with shrinking materials budgets. This article demonstrates how one library administration is managing change. It also shows that these methods can be adapted to fit the specific needs of other institutions.
Immunohistochemical distinction of ocular sebaceous carcinoma from basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma.

Background Diagnosis of sebaceous carcinoma of the periorbital region is often delayed. Clinically, this lesion can mimic several inflammatory disorders. Histopathologically, it can mimic either squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma. Objective To identify an immunohistochemical approach to assist in the diagnosis of periorbital sebaceous carcinoma. Method The immunohistochemical profiles of several cases of periorbital sebaceous, basal cell, and squamous cell carcinoma were examined. Results Although at least focal epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) staining can effectively distinguish sebaceous carcinoma (10 of 11 were positive) from basal cell carcinoma (1 of 16 were positive), most squamous cell carcinomas examined were also focally EMA positive (11 of 14). However, Cam 5.2 reactivity was seen in most sebaceous carcinomas (8 of 11) but no squamous cell carcinomas (0 of 14). In addition, at least focal BRST-1 reactivity was also seen in most sebaceous carcinomas (7 of 11) but no basal cell carcinomas (0 of 16). Conclusions Periorbital sebaceous, basal cell, and squamous cell carcinomas have different immunohistochemical staining profiles; a panel of commonly available antibodies, including anti-EMA, BRST-1, and Cam 5.2, may help distinguish these diseases from each other when that distinction cannot be clearly made by light microscopy alone.
Surface and bulk diffusion of adsorbed nickel on ultrathin thermally grown silicon dioxide

Abstract The surface diffusion of Ni on a thermally grown silicon dioxide ultrathin film (5–50 A), and the bulk diffusion of Ni through the silicon dioxide film into the single crystal silicon substrate have been studied by XPS, HREELS, LEED and AFM. Nickel agglomeration on the oxide surface occurs in the 100–850 K regime, while bulk Ni diffusion through the thin oxide layer to the Si substrate occurs in the 700–1050 K regime. The onset of bulk Ni diffusion is dependent on the oxide thickness; thicker oxides reduce the rate of Ni penetration [1]. Above 950–1100 K. the oxide layer desorbs leaving nickel silicide on silicon.
Ultra-arithmetic II: intervals of polynomials

Abstract In Part 1 of this paper (Function Data Types) we developed ultra-arithmetic. a calculus for functions which is performable on a digital computer. Here in analogy with the notion of interval arithmetic for intervals of reals we begin the development of an interval arithmetic for functions. The operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, integration and differentiation for intervals of polynomials are defined and studied. In certain cases simplified isotonal approximations to the resultant interval as well as error analyses are also given.
Structure of an Axial Convergence Zone from Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Measurements

Abstract An acoustic doppler current profiler was used to measure the current distribution in a convergence zone located in the Piscataqua River—a well-mixed estuary in New Hampshire, U.S.A. The convergence zone was distributed along a line parallel to the channel axis and could be located visually by accumulated debris. Observations of transverse circulation during the flood tide along a transect crossing the front are presented. Results show surface currents directed towards the centre of the channel, sinking in the middle, and divergence towards the sides of the channel at the bottom. Conductivity and temperature measurements indicate accompanying higher densities in the centre of the channel. A simple mathematical model is developed, applied and compared with the data. Major features of the frontal circulation are reproduced indicating that transverse circulation is driven primarily by the cross-channel density gradients.
An Optical Afterglow Model for Bright Linear Type II Supernovae

We show that a gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow model combined with an underlying plateau Type II supernova can fit the data of at least one bright linear Type II supernova, SN 1979C. We suggest that the bright linear subclass of Type IIs could be represented by this model. We describe a scenario in which a hydrogen-rich massive star core collapses, causing a jet explosion that punctures through the star and initiates a shock that ejects the hydrogen-rich envelope. The jet is responsible for a low-density high-energy ejecta causing a GRB optical afterglow. The jet contains enough energy to create an asymmetric shock wave that ejects the He core and the overlying H envelope. We fit the observational data of SN 1979C with an analytic GRB model and a parameterized Type II light curve from the data of SN 1969L. We also show that a numerical simulation of a massive star experiencing mass loss can also fit the data with ejected mass of 12 M☉, initial radius ~300 R☉, and explosion energy of 1 × 1051 ergs coupled to a GRB afterglow. We suggest that the energy of the jet could have been dissipated by the hydrogen envelope and thus not cause the ejecta to expand with the high velocities typically seen in Type Ic supernovae associated with GRBs. The model presented here could be an example of a failed GRB and X-ray flashes.
CONTROL OF ENDOTHELIAL LEUKOCYTE ADHESION MOLECULES BY FATTY ACIDS

Dietary balance of long-chain fatty acids (FA) may influence human susceptibility to pathological processes which involve the interaction of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, such as atherogenesis and inflammation. Such interaction is largely mediated by the de novo or increased expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules on vascular endothelial cells, able to tether and stably bind leukocytes onto the vessel wall, and by the production of leukocyte chemoattractants. Endothelial cells do not normally support high levels of leukocyte adhesion. They do so, however, when exposed to a number of stimuli, such as oxidized low density lipoprotein bacterial lipopolysaccharides, and inflammatory cytokines, which induce phenotypic changes generally referred to as "endothelial activation." We compared various FA in their ability to modulate endothelial activation by cytokines. FA included linoleic, arachidonic, oleic, eicosapentaenoic and, docosa-hexaenoic acid (DHA) as representatives of the n-6, n-3 polyunsaturated FA and of the monounsaturated FA. The n-3 FA DHA, and, to a lesser extent, oleate, at nutritionally compatible concentrations, were able to reduce endothelial expression of Vascular Cell and Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1). In further studies, DHA dose- and time-dependently reduced also the expression of E-selectin, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, in response to IL-1, IL-4, tumor-necrosis factor, or bacterial endotoxin. The magnitude of this effect paralleled its incorporation into cellular phospholipids. Also, coordinate with reduced surface adhesion molecule expression, DHA reduced the adhesion of human monocytes and of monocytic U937 cells to cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells. These effects were accompanied by a quantitatively consistent reduction in VCAM-1 mRNA, indicating a pretranslational control of adhesion molecule gene expression. These novel properties of FA as modulators of endothelial activation may help to explain the influence of dietary FA intake on atherogenesis and inflammation.
Investigation of the DNA target design parameters for effective hybridization-induced aggregation of particles for the sequence-specific detection of DNA

In a recent publication, we presented a label-free method for the detection of specific DNA sequences through the hybridization-induced aggregation (HIA) of a pair of oligonucleotide-adducted magnetic particles. Here we show, through the use of modified hardware, that we are able to simultaneously analyze multiple (4) samples, and detect a 26-mer ssDNA sequence at femtomolar concentrations in minutes. As such, this work represents an improvement in throughput and a 100-fold improvement in sensitivity, compared to that reported previously. Here, we also investigate the design parameters of the target sequence, in an effort to maximize the sensitivity of HIA and to use as a guide in future applications of this work. Modifications were made to the original 26-mer oligonucleotide sequence to evaluate the effects of: (1) non-complementary flanking bases, (2) target sequence length, and (3) single base mismatches on aggregation response. The aggregation response decreased as the number of the non-complementary flanking bases increased, with only a five base addition lowering the LOD by four orders of magnitude. Low sensitivity was observed with short sequences of 6 and 10 complementary bases, which were only detectable at micromolar concentrations. Target sequences with 20, 26 or 32 complementary bases provided the greatest sensitivity and were detectable at femtomolar concentrations. Additionally, HIA could effectively differentiate sequences that were fully complementary from those containing 1, 2 or 3 single base mismatches at micromolar concentrations. The robustness of the HIA system to other buffer components was explored with nine potential assay interferents that could affect hybridization (aggregation) or falsely induce aggregation. Of these, purified BSA and lysed whole blood induced a false aggregation. None of the interferents inhibited aggregation when the hybridizing target was added. Having delineated the fundamental parameters affecting HIA-target hybridization, and demonstrating that HIA had the selectivity to detect single base mismatches, this fluor-free end-point detection has the potential to become a powerful tool for microfluidic DNA detection.
The Automatic Country-of-Origin Effects On Brand Judgments

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that country stereotypes can be spontaneously activated by the mere presence of country-of-origin (COO) information in the environment, and they may influence product judgments even when consumers do not intend to base their judgments on COO. Participants learned the attributes of a set of brands from advertisements, and categorized each brand as good or bad by using a simple attribute rule. Results indicate that the accuracy of participants' categorization decisions was influenced by their intentional use of the attribute rule and the country stereotypes that were activated automatically by COO cues presented during categorization. This study also employed the process dissociation procedure to generate quantitative estimates of the two sources of influence. The results provide converging evidence that COO effects occurred automatically and contributed to product evaluations without participants' intention or control.
Theory and Simulations of Electron Beam-Driven Localized Wave Structures

Results of recent 2-D kinetic simulations of two kinds of turbulence driven by cold electron beams are presented and discussed. Weak electron beams injected at a boundary drive strong Langmuir turbulence marked by spatially collapsing nonlinear wavepackets and density cavities. The two-stream instability in a magnetized plasma with mobile ions evolves first into phase-space holes which manifest themselves as bipolar electric field structures. Later interactions yield electrostatic whistlers and ion-Bernstein waves.
Comparison of postnatal changes in alpha1-adrenoceptor binding and adrenergic stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat cerebral cortex

Abstract Adrenergic stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis is mediated by the alpha 1 -adrenoceptor subtype in many tissues including the brain. We have investigated the coupling of alpha 1 -adrenoceptors to phosphoinositide hydrolysis during ontogeny. Alpha 1 -adrenoceptor number and affinity were measured using [ 3 H]prazosin binding in crude membranes of cerebral cortex and compared to the ability of the adrenergic agonists norepinephrine (NE) and phenylephrine (PE) to stimulate the formation of [ 3 H] inositol phosphates from [ 3 H]myo-inositol in brain slices at various ages. The greatest changes in the developmental expression of both the B max for [ 3 H]prazosin binding and maximal (10 −4 M) NE- or PE-stimulated [ 3 H]inositol phosphates were observed during the period of 7–21 days of age. No changes in the K D for [ 3 H]prazosin were observed. However, at 14 days of age the ec 50 for NE but not PE stimulation of [ 3 H]inositol phosphates was slightly but significantly lower than at later ages. To quantitatively compare these two parameters during ontogeny, data were expressed as a percentage of the adult (>65 day) value. At early ages (7 and 14 days) but not at later ages (21 and 37 days) the percent expression of [ 3 H]prazosin binding sites was significantly greater than the maximal NE-stimulated [ 3 H]inositol phosphates. This suggests that early in neonatal development alpha 1 adrenoceptors in brain are not tightly coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis.
The Physics of Tablet Compression XI.:Determination of Porosity of Tablet Granulations

A method is presented for determining the porosity of tablet granulations in which two different density measurements are employed. They are (a) the “true” or maximum density of the granules obtained by high pressure compression of samples of the granulations, and (b) the apparent density, determined by mercury displacement. The values resulting from these two measurements on a given granulation were used to calculate the per cent void space in the granules. This report includes data from applying the experimental procedures to four test granulations, potassium bromide crystals (10-20 mesh), and glass beads. The results indicate that granulations prepared by the wet granulation method, using starch paste, had approximately 30% void space, while aspirin granulation, prepared by the slugging process, had approximately 3% void space.
Responding to negativity : How a risky tactic can serve a vigilant strategy

Abstract Regulatory focus theory distinguishes between two motivational systems—a promotion system concerned with nurturance and advancement and a prevention system concerned with security and safety [Higgins, E. T. (1997). Beyond pleasure and pain. American Psychologist, 52 , 1280–1300]. In signal detection terms, a preference for eager strategies within the promotion system has been equated with a “risky” bias, whereas a preference for vigilant strategies within the prevention system has been equated with a “conservative” bias. However, we propose that when prevention-focused individuals face negative input, they should be willing to incur false alarms to ensure that negative stimuli are correctly identified. Across six studies, we found for negative stimuli a reversal of the traditional finding that prevention participants show a conservative bias in information processing. In these studies, prevention participants consistently exhibited a risky bias when the input was negative. We suggest that this new tactic—a risky bias in response to negativity—best serves the prevention strategy of vigilance.
Interaction of ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase with phycobilisomes and phycobilisome substructures of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002.

The enzyme ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase (FNR) from Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 has an extended structure comprising three domains (FNR-3D) (Schluchter, W. M., and Bryant, D. A. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 3092−3102). Phycobilisome (PBS) preparations from wild-type cells contained from 1.0 to 1.6 molecules of FNR-3D per PBS, with an average value of 1.3 FNR per PBS. A maximum of two FNR-3D molecules could be specifically bound to wild-type PBS via the N-terminal, CpcD-like domain of the enzyme when exogenous recombinant FNR-3D (rFNR-3D) was added. To localize the enzyme within the PBS, the interaction of PBS and their substructures with rFNR-3D was further investigated. The binding affinity of rFNR-3D for phycocyanin (PC) hexamers, which contained a 22-kDa proteolytic fragment derived from CpcG, the LRC27 linker polypeptide, was higher than its affinity for PC hexamers containing no linker protein. PBS from a cpcD3 mutant, which lacks the 9-kDa, PC-associated rod linker, incorporated up to six rFNR-3D molecu...
Low-Reynolds-Number Airfoil Investigation of Lower-Surface Leading-Edge Flaps

A low-speed wind-tunnel investigation was undertaken to evaluate the ability of a small leading-edge flap attached to the pressure surface of a Clark Y airfoil to improve low-Reynolds-number performance. Different flap geometries and designs were evaluated. Testing encompassed the measurement of lift and drag, surface pressures, and surface-flow topology rendered using titanium dioxide. Tests were undertaken at Reynolds numbers of 75,000 and 150,000. The results show that the flaps shift the zero-lift angle of attack in the positive direction, with the lift decrement stemming from reduced lower-surface pressure. The flaps proved to be beneficial only at high angles of attack, where they cause a sustained lift plateau and eliminate hysteresis.
Constrained geometry organolanthanide catalysts. Synthesis, structural characterization, and enhanced aminoalkene hydroamination/cyclization activity

The synthesis and characterization of a series of Me2Si[(η5-C5Me4)(tBuN)]LnE(TMS)2 complexes is described for Ln = Sm, Nd, Yb, Lu; E = CH, N. As precatalysts for aminoalkene hydroamination/cyclization, they are significantly more active than the corresponding (C5Me5)2LnE(TMS)2 complexes.
Does bias in science hold women back

“The heart of the problem is that equal talent and accomplishment are viewed as unequal when seen through the eyes of prejudice . . .” With these words, the MIT Women Faculty Committee summarized its 1999 report on obstacles faced by women in science (1). Gender bias and prejudice, born of conflicting beliefs about the “natures” of women and men, what they can and cannot, should and should not do, is now a well tilled field in the social sciences. Since gender bias and prejudice have been made visible, their impact is diminished. But, unequal evaluations can still be found. Are there other sources of prejudice that continue to hinder the advancement of women? I would argue that there are. Bias and prejudice born of conflicting beliefs about the “nature” of science can have a serious impact on the evaluation of scientific talent. Since all scientists agree on what constitutes good scientific evidence, if its quality were the only criterion for judgment, there could be no bias in evaluating the talent of any individual scientist. But, other factors also influence who is chosen, and who chooses to practice science. Personal and cultural perspectives are involved in a scientist’s choice of what kind of science to do, and how to do it (2). They can also influence the criteria used to evaluate other scientists’ choices. Einstein must have understood this when he wrote:
Statistical procedures for analyzing mental health services data

In mental health services research, analyzing service utilization data often poses serious problems, given the presence of substantially skewed data distributions. This article presents a non-technical introduction to statistical methods specifically designed to handle the complexly distributed datasets that represent mental health service use, including Poisson, negative binomial, zero-inflated, and zero-truncated regression models. A flowchart is provided to assist the investigator in selecting the most appropriate method. Finally, a dataset of mental health service use reported by medical patients is described, and a comparison of results across several different statistical methods is presented. Implications of matching data analytic techniques appropriately with the often complexly distributed datasets of mental health services utilization variables are discussed.
A study of morphology-based wavelet features and multiple-wavelet strategy for EEG signal classification: Results and selected statistical analysis

Automatic detection and classification of Epileptiform transients is an open and important clinical issue. In this paper, we test 5 feature sets derived from a group of morphology-based wavelet features and compare the results with that of a Guler-suggested feature set. We also implement a multiple-mother-wavelet strategy and compare performance with the usual single-mother-wavelet strategy. The results indicate that both the derived features and the multiple-mother-wavelet strategy improved classifier performance, using a variety of performance measures. We assess the statistical significance of the performance improvement of the new feature sets/strategy. In most cases, the performance improvement is either significant or highly significant.
Multiple comparisons in resource selection using logistic regression

Resource selection by wildlife is often studied by observing if a particular resource category is used or not, or by observing and comparing quantitative at tributes of used and unused plots. That is, plots may be described as used or not used, as belonging to a particular resource category, and through an array of quantitative characteristics thought to be related to their use status. Of interest is the situation where different resource categories have experienced differing treatments, and one category is considered the control. A method of comparing selection of treatment categories to selection of the control is presented here when several quantitative characteristics are concurrently measured on each plot. The method is used to investigate the effect of grazing and vegetative characteristics on use of plots by pygmy rabbits.
Effect of zidovudine and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis on progression of HIV-1 infection to AIDS

Abstract Although used widely, the effectiveness of zidovudine therapy and primary prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in HIV-1-infected individuals, has not been assessed in a large cohort. We have done an observational study between October, 1986, and October, 1990, of a cohort of 2145 HIV-1-seropositive men and 371 who seroconverted during the study. A Markov chain transitional analysis was used to examine the effect of zidovudine and PCP prophylaxis on the probability of progression of H IV-1 infection to AIDS (after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months) after follow-up visits categorised into one of six disease states. The six starting states were based on CD4 + lymphocyte counts and the presence of HIV-related symptoms. Use of pre-AIDS zidovudine and PCP prophylaxis was associated with significant reductions in rates of progression to AIDS at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months for participants starting with less than 350 CD4 + lymphocytes/μl. For those starting with 350 or more CD4 + lymphocytes/μl, non-significant protective trends were seen during 12, 18, and 24 month intervals. In multivariate log-linear models virtually all the treatment effect was due to zidovudine. However, after adjusting for the effects of zidovudine, PCP prophylaxis reduced significantly the probability of progression to a first episode of PCP during 6, 12, 18, and 24 month intervals. This study suggests that early primary PCP prophylaxis is effective in preventing first episodes of PCP, and that the efficacy of zidovudine demonstrated in clinical trials can be translated to the population level.
High-Resolution Epifluorescence and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Chemical Imaging Comparisons of Single DNA Microarray Spots

DNA microarray assay performance is commonly compromised by spot–spot probe and signal variations as well as heterogeneity within printed microspots. Accurate metrics for captured DNA target signal rely upon uniform spot distribution of both probe and target DNA to yield reliable hybridized signal. While often presumed, this is neither easily achieved nor often proven experimentally. High-resolution imaging techniques were used to determine spot heterogeneity in identical DNA array microspots comprising varied ratios of unlabeled and dye-labeled DNA probes contact-printed onto commercial arraying surfaces. Epifluorescence imaging data for individual array microspots were correlated with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) chemical state imaging of the same spots. Epifluorescence imaging intensity distinguished varying DNA density distributed both within a given spot and from spot to spot. TOF-SIMS chemical analysis confirmed these heterogeneous printed DNA distributions by tracking b...
Reasons for a fresher northern North Atlantic in the late 20th century

[1] Observational analyses suggest that the northern North Atlantic is fresher in the late 20th century in comparison to the 1950–60s. Here we examine possible contributors to these observed changes by analyzing a four-member ensemble of 20th century simulations from a coupled climate model. Results show that a weaker meridional freshwater divergence related to a weaker thermohaline circulation in the North Atlantic is the primary cause for the freshening in the northern North Atlantic in the model. The increased P-E tends to enforce it, but the reduced sea ice flux into this region tends to weaken it. Citation: Hu, A., and G. A. Meehl (2005), Reasons for a fresher northern North Atlantic in the late 20th century, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L11701, doi:10.1029/2005GL022900.
Preferential hydrophobic interactions are responsible for a preference of D-amino acids in the aminoacylation of 5'-AMP with hydrophobic amino acids

We have studied the chemistry of aminoacyl AMP to model reactions at the 3' terminus of aminoacyl tRNA for the purpose of understanding the origin of protein synthesis. The present studies relate to the D, L preference in the esterification of 5'-AMP. All N-acetyl amino acids we studied showed faster reaction of the D-isomer, with a generally decreasing preference for D-isomer as the hydrophobicity of the amino acid decreased. The beta-branched amino acids, Ile and Val, showed an extreme preference for D-isomer. Ac-Leu, the gamma-branched amino acid, showed a slightly low D/L ratio relative to its hydrophobicity. The molecular basis for these preferences for D-isomer is understandable in the light of our previous studies and seems to be due to preferential hydrophobic interaction of the D-isomer with adenine. The preference for hydrophobic D-amino acids can be decreased by addition of an organic solvent to the reaction medium. Conversely, peptidylation with Ac-PhePhe shows a preference for the LL isomer over the DD isomer.
Theory on Morphological Instability in Driven Systems

Motivated by recent findings from simulation of a driven lattice gas under shifted periodic boundary conditions, we study within the context of a continuum model the interfacial stability of driven diffusive systems. In this model, an external driving field maintains the system away from equilibrium. Well below criticality, steady-state solutions of the associated bulk kinetic equation are obtained. Our results successfully account for the novel features found in simulation. In particular, the solution describing a pair of interfaces tilted with respect to the driving field under periodic boundary conditions shows a tilt-dependent bulk density (and internal energy), and boundary layers near one of the interfaces. Focusing on the interface dynamics, one finds that such an interface exhibits a characteristic Mullins-Sekerka instability. This is argued to be responsible for the onset of the single- to multistrip transformation observed in simulation.