cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevention of Bovine Mastitis by a Premilking Teat Disinfectant Containing Chlorous Acid and Chlorine Dioxide

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a premilking teat disinfectant for the prevention of mastitis in dairy cows under natural exposure conditions. Predipping was compared with a negative control using a split udder experimental design. All teats were dipped after milking with the same teat dip. Percentage of quarters newly infected by major mastitis pathogens was 34% lower in quarters with teats predipped and postdipped than in quarters with teats postdipped only. New IMI by Streptococcus uberis and Staphylococcus aureus were significantly lower in quarters with teats predipped and postdipped than in quarters with teats postdipped only. Differences in incidence of clinical mastitis between treatment groups approached significance. Predipping and postdipping were no more effective against Gram-negative bacteria, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species, and Corynebacterium bovis than postdipping only. No chapping or irritation of teats was observed, and no adverse effects were noted using the test product as a premilking and postmilking teat disinfectant. Results of this study suggest that predipping and then postdipping with the test product was a more effective procedure against major mastitis pathogens than postdipping only.
Writing Migrations: Transnational Readings of Rosario Ferre and Víctor Hernández Cruz

This article examines two Puerto Rican literary writers who have written in English on the island: Rosario Ferre and Victor Hernandez Cruz. It argues that this fact is making Puerto Rican literatures on the island and on the mainland less clearly differentiated, while it also represents a challenge to the traditional homologies between the Puerto Rican literary canon and the Spanish language. The article mostly examines the different ideologies as well as social, racial, and class locations that fuel the English writings of both authors.
Radiotherapy for cervical spine metastases in breast cancer patients

Background Although cervical spine metastasis in breast cancer patients is the least frequent of metastatic disease to the spinal column, it is nonetheless a clinically important source of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to describe our radiotherapeutic experience of this particular neoplastic complication.
Ascent performance of an air-breathing horizontal-takeoff launch vehicle

Simulations are conducted to investigate a proposed NASA launch vehicle that is fully reusable, takes off horizontally, and uses airbreathing propulsion in a single stage. The propulsion model is based on a cycle analysis method, and the vehicle is assumed to be a rigid structure with distributed fuel, operating under a range of atmospheric conditions. The program to optimize simulated trajectories (POST) is modified to include a predictor-corrector guidance capability and then used to generate the trajectories. Significant errors are encountered during the unpowered coast phase due to uncertainty in the atmospheric density profile. The amount of ascent propellant needed is shown to be directly related to the thrust-vector angle and the location of the center of gravity of the vehicle because of the importance of aim-drag losses to total ideal velocity.
Incorporation of [14C]amino acids into ribonucleoprotein fraction of isolated thymus cell nuclei

Abstract The ribonucleoprotein fraction prepared from isolated thymus cell nuclei has been found to incorporate a number of [14C]amino acids in vitro. The incorporation varies according to the individual amino acids. The effects of ribonucleoside triphosphates and chloramphenicol on the incorporation of amino acid have also been studied. The uptake of amino acid by the ribonucleoprotein was increased in the presence of adenosine triphosphate and cytosine triphosphate. Chloramphenicol inhibition was found to be very slight.
Carbon-14 Uptake by Picoplankton and Total Phytoplankton in Eight New Zealand Lakes

Eight New Zealand lakes were surveyed for 14C uptake by phytoplankton as a function of light intensity. The results support the view that the photosynthetic picoplankton is an important contributor to primary productivity in oligotrophic lakes but is relatively unimportant in more eutrophic lakes. A comparison of carbon uptake vs. light intensity characteristics (P vs. I) of the picoplankton size class vs. that of the total phytoplankton community supports the view that the picoplankton size class may be adapted to utilization of dimmer light.
Chemical induction of presumed dominant-lethal mutations in postcopulation germ cells and zygotes of mice. II. Sensitivity of different postcopulation-precleavage stages to three alkylating chemicals

Abstract The relative sensitivities of various postcopulation-precleavage and pronuclear stages to dominant-lethal effects of isopropyl methanesulfonate (IMS), ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), and triethylenemelamine (TEM) were investigated. The pattern of sensitivity differed with the chemical. IMS was most effective when pronuclear formation was already completed and the majority of the zygotes were presumably undergoing DNA synthesis. EMS, on the other hand, induced its most pronounced effects when eggs in the course of second meiotic division and zygotes in early pronuclear stages were treated. The greatest effect of TEM was observed when zygotes were treated at the early pronuclear stage. EMS and TEM, in contrast to IMS, are similar to radiations in that zygotes undergoing DNA synthesis are more resistant to them than are the early pronuclear stages. In the case of IMS, effects induced in the most sensitive postcopulation-precleavage stage were 6 to 9 times greater than in the most sensitive precopulatory dictyate oocytes or male germ cells. On the other hand, in the case of EMS and TEM, the most sensitive precopulatory male germ cells, but not the dictyate oocytes, were more sensitive than the most sensitive postcopulation stages.
Correlation of tetradecylmaltoside induced increases in nasal peptide drug delivery with morphological changes in nasal epithelial cells

The effect of tetradecylmaltoside (TDM) on nasal peptide drug absorption was assessed with four peptides of distinct molecular size: insulin (5.7 kDa), leptin (16 kDa), somatropin (22.1 kDa), and epoetin alfa (30.4 kDa). The nasal uptake of the smallest peptides, insulin and leptin, was significantly increased at a TDM concentration of only 0.06%. The uptake of somatropin was significantly increased when concentrations of 0.125% or more were used. The uptake of the largest peptide, epoetin alfa, was not significantly increased, in the presence of 0.125-0.5% TDM. Light microscopy revealed that formulations containing 0.125% TDM caused moderate alterations in nasal epithelial cell morphology, while higher concentrations of TDM (0.5%), caused more extensive morphological changes. Following treatment with 0.125% TDM, the distribution of cilia was altered and the number of pinocytotic vesicles was increased, at a time that correlated with increased nasal absorption of insulin. Consistent with these findings, FITC-insulin applied nasally in the absence of TDM did not enter nasal epithelial cells, whereas FITC-insulin co-administered with 0.125% TDM was internalized into the cells, with a uniform distribution, consistent with transcellular movement of the peptide through the cells.
Chronic activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha1 in liver leads to decreased adiposity in mice.

To assess the metabolic effects of chronic activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in liver, we generated a new transgenic (Tg) mouse model expressing constitutively active (CA)-AMPK-alpha1 in liver. In the short-term activation, the TgCA-AMPK-α1 mice exhibited minimal phenotype, but the Tg liver had elevated sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-2 mRNA level and a parallel increase in transcripts of its target genes. UCP2 mRNA level was elevated. In the long-term activation, the TgCA-AMPK-α1 mice had markedly reduced white fat mass. The Tg liver had reduced mRNA expression of SREBP-1c and its target genes. Remarkably, the Tg mice were resistant to a high-fat diet-induced obesity. These data suggest that short-term chronic activation of AMPK-α1 in liver leads to compensatory increase in lipogenic gene expression due to increased SREBP-2 expression, and long-term chronic activation of AMPK-α1 decreases expression of SREBP-1c and its target genes, which results in reduced fat storage.
Enamine salts of retinals with secondary amines.

Abstract Retinal condenses with secondary amines to produce a carbinol type compound. Protonation of this system with anhydrous HCl results in the formation of an enamine salt, with an extensive bathochromic shift in its visible spectrum (λ max ranges from 450 to 650 nm). Extensive investigations of this system were undertaken with indole. The stability of the protonated product is temperature dependent; the resulting solution is readily hydrolyzed and possesses indicator-like properties; and the precipitated protonated species is extremely unstable in all available solvents. Both unprotonated and protonated solutions are photosensitive, as evidenced by marked alterations in their visible spectra. The various chemical properties and the extensive bathochromic shift indicate the possible relevance of this system to the chemistry of visual pigments.
The marked length-spectrum of a surface of nonpositive curvature

We generalize work of J.P. Otal and C. Croke on the marked length spectrum of surfaces to the case where one of the metrics is of nonpositive curvature and the other one has no conjugate points. If M is a manifold and g1, g2 are two Riemannian metrics, we say that they have the same marked length spectrum if in each homotopy class of closed curves in M the infimum of g1-lengths of curves and the infimum of g2-lengths of curves are the same. The marked length spectrum problem in general is to show that two metrics with the same marked length spectrum are isometric. Of course, this cannot hold for arbitrary metrics (for example if M is simply connected). This problem was stated as a conjecture in [BK] in the case where M is a closed surface and g1 and g2 are of negative curvature. This conjecture was solved by J.P. Otal [To] and independently by C. Croke [Cr]–see also [Fa]. Previous work on the problem was done by Guillemin and Kazhdan [GK]. In this work, using Otal’s approach, we improve some of these results by proving the following theorem: Theorem A. Let M be a closed surface and let g1, g2 be Riemannian metrics on M , with g1 of nonpositive curvature and g2 without conjugate points. If g1 and g2 have the same marked length-spectrum then they are isometric by an isometry homotopic to the identity. We will also prove the following fact, which reduces the length spectrum and curvature condition to the assumption that the Morse correspondence preserves angles—see §1 for the definition of the Morse correspondence. Theorem B. Let M be a closed surface of genus ≥ 2, and let g1, g2 be Riemannian metrics without conjugate points on M . If g1 and g2 have the same marked lengthspectrum and the Morse correspondence preserves angles then they are isometric by an isometry homotopic to the identity.
THE AFTERMATH OF 1974: A WORLD BANK VIEW

Whilst OPEC's quadrupling of the oil price in January 1974 undoubtedly placed an additional burden on the balance of payments of developed and oil importing developing countries alike, seen in retrospect, the impact in both cases has proved less severe than had been feared. Increased OECD exports to OPEC and the recycling of OPEC surpluses in both groups of countries did much to relieve the pressure. The most striking feature, however, was the performance of the poorer nations: despite the increased oil price and the effects of the recession on their main export markets, this group managed to increase its real CDP by 5% per annum between 1973 and 1977, thus faring considerably better than the developed countries. In this Paper, Dr. Shamsher Singh, of the World Bank, puts in proper perspective the aftermath of 1974 and anticipates the challenges all nations will face in tackling the eriergy problem in the future. He concludes on a hopeful note for the poorer countries: according to World Bank studies, some 40 to 50 of the more than 70 nations classified under this head might produce petroleum, and the Bank intends to continue to extend its traditional forms of assistance into this sector.
The importance of communication in today's world

(1962). The importance of communication in today's world. The Speech Teacher: Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 322-326.
Thermal residual stresses in plates and coatings composed of multi-layered and functionally graded materials

In this paper, thermal residual stresses in multi-layered and compositionally graded plates and coatings were analyzed. Systematic studies on effects of different material combinations, including the compositional gradient, the elastic modulus, the coefficient of thermal expansion, and the number of layers in the case of multi-layered materials on the magnitude and distribution of residual stresses were conducted. Geometry changes of plates and coatings due to these residual stresses were also investigated. It was found that the distribution and magnitude of thermal residual stresses within a plate can be adjusted by controlling the compositional gradient and selecting a proper combination of ceramic and metal constituents. When the compositional gradient of a plate is such that a rapid change in volume fraction and properties occurs near the ceramic face and a gradual change near the metal face, a residual compressive stress is produced on both faces of the plate. However, when the rapid change in volume fraction and properties occurs near the metal face and the gradual change near the ceramic face, a residual tensile stress is generated on both faces of the plate. Minimum residual stresses are obtained when the plate has a linear compositional gradient. As for compositionally graded coatings, the magnitude of the residual stresses on the surface of the coating cannot be decreased by introducing a compositional gradient. The gradient coating only alters the characteristics of the residual stress distribution.
Targeting megalin to enhance delivery of anti-clusterin small-interfering RNA nanomedicine to chemo-treated breast cancer.

Abstract The goal of this study is to evaluate a new targeting strategy to improve nanomedicine delivery to breast cancer cells that survive prior exposure to chemotherapy. These cells are particularly difficult to treat because they often develop drug resistance by upregulation of chemoresistant factors such as clusterin and should be preferably eradicated before they further spread out. In this study, the surface endocytotic receptor megalin was studied for the first time for targeted delivery of anti-clusterin small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to these chemo-treated cells. Lipid–polyethylenimine hybrid nanocarriers decorated with apolipoprotein E (Ap-LPNs) were developed for this purpose. Using immunoblotting, we demonstrated induction of both megalin and clusterin in MCF-7 cells by previous paclitaxel treatment. The siRNA transfection of these megalin-rich chemo-treated cancer cells was improved by three-fold when the siRNAs were delivered by Ap-LPNs. This trend was translatable into enhanced clusterin knockdown and improved chemosensitization to subsequent paclitaxel treatment (both p
Lattice models with asymmetric propensity matrices for locationally informed protein structure prediction

In this work we developed lattice models with novel scoring matrices used in conjunction with genetic algorithm for protein structure prediction. Specifically, we incorporated into the propensity scoring matrices the knowledge that hydrophobic residues should be near the core of the folded protein while hydrophilic residues should be on the outside, thus scored a conformation generated by the genetic algorithm by taking into account residues' positions in relation to the center of the conformation, which we define as the centroid of all residues. Results from the new scoring matrices show noticeable improvements, many significantly, over the standard HP lattice model and the more recent HPNX and hHPNX models.
Coriolis acceleration analysis of planar mechanisms by complex-number algebra

Abstract One of the pitfalls in current methods of acceleration analysis of planar mechanisms is the difficulty in identifying the different types of acceleration components such as the “sliding” acceleration and the Coriolis contribution. Furthermore, the latter is often missed by the analyst altogether which then leads to completely false results in dynamic analysis. Even distinguished authors have on the record actual numerical examples where the wrong angular velocity was used in computing the Coriolis component. The present article demonstrates the acceleration analysis of planar mechanisms using complex-number algebra. This technique, when programmed for digital computation using complex-arithmetic, or using hand calculation, provides the magnitude and direction of all the acceleration components, including the Coriolis term, automatically without resort to such crutches as a “rule of thumb” for determining whether or not the latter is present, “traditional sign conventions”, and without the risk of using the wrong angular velocity. The procedure, derived here, is illustrated by examples.
Real Leaders Do Soft Power: Learning the Lessons of Iraq

There is an urgent need to return to the bipartisan tradition of enlightened global leadership—the fundamental strategy pursued by the United States since World War II—which remains the most reliable path to U.S. security and prosperity.
Soil Structure and Fluid Interaction Assessment of New Modular Reactor: Part 1 — Numerical Simulation of Fluid Motion due to Seismic Waves

In recent years, the nuclear industry has proposed design of affordable small modular reactors (SMR), which will be installed below grade. A complex soil-structure-fluid interaction is expected to occur during a seismic event at such installation sites. A thorough understanding of this interaction is needed for the purpose of designing damping or isolation systems as well as to determine the adequacy and safety of these devices. A fully dynamically coupled analysis of the surrounding soil, reactor structure, and contained fluid within the reactor would provide the most accurate estimate of the forces acting on the SMR, but such an exercise is difficult to accomplish due to large discrepancies in length and time scales of each subsystem. It also would be computationally intensive to explicitly model all the detail physical features that affect system response in a single analysis framework. A sequential one-way explicit coupling between parts of the system, such as soil-structure or fluid-structure interaction in response to seismic ground motion, would provide some reasonable engineering information useful to designers and regulators. A two part study was conducted to understand the soil-structure and fluid-structure interaction in response to a seismic event for an SMR. The present paper describes the latter (fluid-structure interaction), where the containment fluid behavior during a seismic event is studied.A simplified two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, representing a mockup structure based on the mPower reactor is developed in the study. It is used to simulate the sloshing motion of the fluid during a seismic event. A general volume of flow (VOF) approach is employed to simulate the sloshing motion and track the air-water interface. Ground acceleration calculated from a separate mechanical analysis is adopted in the study to specify the body forces experienced by the fluid. CFD simulations are performed for two different cases that correspond to two different input seismic waveforms. Simulated results highlight the movement of air-water interface due to sloshing within the containment building. The total horizontal and vertical forces on the structure, resulting from the sloshing motion were calculated. A Fourier analysis of the calculated fluid forces shows the dominant frequencies of the force, due to fluid sloshing, are different from that of the seismic acceleration. Similar dominant frequencies of the forces are predicted using two different input seismic waveforms. The magnitudes of the forces varied, depending on the magnitude of the seismic waveform input.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Structure of the Associated OH Valence Vibration Band in Light and Heavy Acetic, Trichloroacetic, and Trifluoroacetic Acids*

This paper presents infrared spectral data in the three micron region for ordinary and deuterium-substituted acetic, trichloroacetic, and trifluoroacetic acids. Series regularities are pointed out among the many submaxima appearing in the broad associated hydroxyl vibration band. The spacing between the submaxima for the heavy acids appears to be only one half that for the light acids. A critical discussion is given of various combination band hypotheses which have been proposed to explain the structure of the associated band. An alternative hypothesis is then suggested. This explanation postulates a series of regularly spaced positions of equilibrium of the hydrogen atom between the oxygen atoms in the O—H…O chain, these different positions corresponding to different quantized ground-state energy levels of the dimer molecule. It is suggested that the different members of a series of absorption submaxima might then be correlated with transitions to the first-excited state from the corresponding different ground states.
Medical Aspects of Expatriate Health: Health Threats

The globalisation of business activity can lead to the movement of key employees and their dependants from country to country. In their host country these expatriates often face health hazards not experienced at home. This paper describes the range of health issues of relevance to expatriates.
Prevalence and Characteristics of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Men Aged ≥80 Years

Objectives We analyzed the prevalence and characteristics of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in community-dwelling men aged 80 years and older. Methods We administered the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUA-SI) by mail to 291 surviving community-dwelling male participants in the Rancho Bernardo Study, a prospective, community-based study of aging. We compared the prevalence, severity, and types of LUTS occuring in men who were ≥ 80 years to those Results The mean age was 74.6 years (standard deviation [SD] 8.9, range 48.3-97.1). One third of the respondents were ≥ 80 years. The mean total AUA-SI score increased steadily by decade of life (P-trend = .002). The prevalence of LUTS was 70% in men ≥ 80 years and 56% in men Conclusions In this cohort of community-dwelling men, prevalence and severity of LUTS increased into the 10th decade of life. Compared to younger men, men ≥ 80 years were more likely to complain of incomplete emptying, frequency, urgency, and weak stream. Further studies of LUTS in older men are needed to better delineate these associations.
Towards collaboration with robots in shared space: spatial perspective and frames of reference

Abstract : Imagine mobile robots of the future working side by side with humans, collaborating in a shared workspace. For this to become a reality, robots must be able to do something that humans do constantly: understand how others perceive space and the relative positions of objects around them -- they need the ability to see things from another person's point of view. The authors' research group and others are building computational, cognitive, and linguistic models that can deal with frames of reference. Issues include dealing with constantly changing frames of reference, changes in spatial perspective, understanding what actions to take, the use of new words, and common ground. Their approach is an implementation informed by cognitive and computational theories. It is based on developing computational cognitive models (CCMs) of certain high-level cognitive skills humans possess that are relevant for collaborative tasks. They then use these models as reasoning mechanisms for their robots. Why do they propose using CCMs as opposed to more traditional programming paradigms for robots? They believe that by giving the robots similar representations and reasoning mechanisms to those used by humans, they will build robots that act in a way that is more compatible with humans.
Anomaly detection system for toxicology protocol studies

Abstract Large-scale longitudinal toxicologic animal studies necessarily generate a considerable volume of numerical data points, though only a relatively small number of these data may be variations of interest to the investigator. This computer-based method detects these anomalies of interest by the use of predetermined criteria which create an individual element “window” to which each data point is compared. The anomalies thus detected are presented in various formats which assist the investigator in drawing scientific conclusions. The tedious manual task of screening the original data is eliminated, the accuracy is improved and professional time is conserved. The methodology of setting the windows is described, and typical sample outputs are presented.
Inverted Vertical Pull Surface Tension Method

A method for determining surface tension is proposed in which vertical pull measurements are made by weighing the liquid phase, while a ring, plate, or rod is allowed to contact the surface of the solution and then pulled slowly upward. This contrasts with conventional vertical pull methods in which the ring, plate, or rod is suspended from a microbalance mounted above the solution. The utility and simplicity of the alternative approach are discussed, and procedures are given for using a top-loading analytical balance to determine the maximum vertical force exerted on either a rod or a plate.
3D characterization and analysis of particle shape using X-ray microtomography (XMT)

In the processing industries, it is well known that particle shape is an important factor that determines the behavior of particulate systems. For example, system properties of technological significance, including rheology, suspension stability, agglomeration, packing, permeability, etc., are affected by particle shape. In this regard, characterization and analysis of particle shape is essential for more detailed understanding and improved development of particulate processes. In general, it is clear that the behavior of these systems depends on the statistical characteristics of particle shape. Remarkably few techniques exist to predict the mechanical and hydrodynamic behavior of an irregularly shaped particle or a population of irregularly shaped particles for that matter. The lack of models and correlations can be attributed to the wide variety and complexity of particle shapes, the difficulty of defining shape descriptors suitable for modeling, the limitations of measuring shape, and the lack of classifying techniques to characterize particle shape. In this paper, we present information on how 3D particle shape can be measured, characterized, and analyzed using cone beam X-ray microtomography (XMT).
Characterizing the reproducibility of a protein profiling method for the analysis of mouse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

The detection of biomarkers in biological fluids has been advanced by the introduction of mass spectrometry screening methods such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS), which enables the detection of the presence and the molecular mass of proteins in unfractionated mixtures. The generation of reproducible mass spectra over the course of an experiment is vital in obtaining data in which differences in protein profiles between diseased and healthy states can be assessed correctly. We have developed a protocol to automate the collection of protein profiling data from a large number of samples using MALDI-TOFMS, and we used these samples to characterize the technical reproducibility of the method. This protocol has been used for the analysis of proteins found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples from mice with the ultimate goal of enabling the discovery of differential expression patterns predictive of the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary...
Effect of fasting or feeding diets containing different levels of protein or amino acids on the activities of the liver amino acid-degrading enzymes and amino acid oxidation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract Experiments were done on fingerling rainbow trout at 15 ± 1 °C to determine the effect of: (1) fasting or feeding diets containing different levels of protein on liver glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), alanine aminotransferase (AAT) and histidase activities; (2) dietary protein level on the oxidation rates of glutamate and phenylalanine in vivo; and ( 3 ) dietary phenylalanine level on the phenylalanine oxidation rate in vivo. Activities of GDH and AAT per g liver or per g protein were higher (P The oxidation rates of dietary glutamate and phenylalanine in trout that had previously been fed the 35% protein diet, were about three and five times those found in fish previously fed the 10% protein diet, respectively. This difference was found when fish that had been fed the 10 or 35% protein diet were subsequently fed the 35% protein diet containing14C-labeled glutamate or phenylalanine, indicating that trout previously fed a high protein diet have a greater capacity to catabolize these amino acids. The oxidation rate of dietary glutamate was approximately five or nine times that of phenylalanine in trout fed diets containing 35 or 10% protein, respectively. The rate of phenylalanine oxidation increased with increasing phenylalanine levels in the diet; no break point or plateau in the dose-response curve was observed. Our studies demonstrated that fasting or feeding a high protein diet increases the amino acid catabolism in trout, and suggested that the amino acid oxidation technique cannot be used to determine the amino acid requirements of trout.
Cultural considerations for designing crossover applications for the visually impaired

This paper reviews the overall impact of culture on the design of crossover applications, which are particularly intended to support the blind and visually impaired (B/VI) community. We believe that cultural differences have an impact on the proliferation and wide usage of any assistive technology. Therefore, cultural aspects must be considered in the design of crossover applications for the B/VI community. Comprehensive cultural vision is necessary for an innovative application to be accepted widely. In addition, there is a need to revise and periodically review the application's acceptance, and update a product based on the cultural changes that may occur to some communities especially with the vast cultural exchange. This paper reviews and highlights good design practices for assistive technology from cultural perspectives.
Cellular functions of proteoglycans--an overview.

This issue of Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology contains a number of articles reviewing the cellular functions of proteoglycans. Proteoglycans are proteins, substituted with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), that generally either decorate the cell membrane or fill the extracellular space. GAGs are linear polysaccharides consisting of a repeating disaccharide, generally of an acetylated amino sugar alternating with a uronic acid. Although there are intracellular types, most proteoglycans are destined for the extracellular space. These are very diverse molecules, and various combinations of both different types of proteins [matrix, cell surface transmembrane or covalently linked to membrane glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)] and classes of GAG chains [hyaluronan (HA), chondroitin sulfate (CS), keratan sulfate (KS), dermatan sulfate (DS) and heparan sulfate (HS)] are found in vertebrates. For example, the syndecan transmembrane proteins can be decorated with two HS and one CS chains, while the aggrecan cartilage matrix protein is typically decorated by about 100 CS and 30 KS chains, and decorin, a major proteoglycan of the interstitial matrix, contains a single DS chain. Further, GAGs may decorate only a proportion of a type of protein. The function of the GAG substituent in these so-called ‘part-time proteoglycans’ is rarely understood. Proteoglycans can be very abundant. At the surface of epithelial cells, it has been estimated that there may be as many as 1 million syndecan-1 molecules, and cartilage matrix is a several mg per ml composite of aggrecan with HA. HA, the structurally most simple GAG, is not an authentic proteoglycan, as it is not co-
Behavior and morphological changes in the leech, Placobdella parasitica, during hypodermic insemination

Three to 5 minutes after implantation of a spermatophore in Placobdella parasitica there is a pronounced granulation of the tissues in the immediate region of the capsule. During the following 20 minutes a path 81 to 120 μ across communicating with the sinuses of the body cavity is established. By a mechanical shrinkage of the distended spermatophore the spermatozoa are injected through this path into the coelomic sinuses. They are dispersed through the body by the haemolymph and possibly by muscular contractions of the recipient. Fifty to 75 hours after their introduction into the body some of them arrive in the ventral sinus. From here they penetrate the walls of the ovisacs and take up a position in the lumina in preparation for fertilization. Two to 30 hours after implantation a plug of cells composed of migrating cellular elements of the recipient's body and of cells introduced along with the spermatozoan bundles forms in the subhypodermal region of the sperm path. Twenty to 45 hours later the wound is entirely repaired. Hypodermal epithelium is replaced by a migration into the affected region of similar reserve cells. The parenchymatous tissue is restored by a differentiation and growth of some of the cellular elements making up the plug.
Perceptions of climate change worldwide

We begin this review with a brief overview of the first published comparative national studies on public attitudes and climate change. We continue by exploring key findings from more recent surveys from three major studies conducted in late 2009. These results are organized into two major sections—the first in reviewing established ground or questions commonly asked of the general public regarding climate change. These questions include willingness to pay to protect the environment, global warming as a serious problem, and willingness to pay to address climate change. The second section continues the review by exploring questions that have been seldom asked or new ground. We look at such topics as—the perceived effects of climate change; when respondents think climate change will be felt; their view of what climate scientists think, and whether they feel their government is doing enough to address the issue. We end this section by reviewing two questions that focus on international relations and the global climate change negotiations—the public's perception of their government's efforts at international cooperation, and which country is most trusted by the public to lead the climate change negotiations. The review concludes with discussions on data limitations and some summary thoughts and future research needs. WIREs Clim Change 2011, 2:871–885. doi: 10.1002/wcc.146 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Severity of gambling is associated with physical and emotional health in urban primary care patients

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of recreational and disordered gambling, and to identify its association with health functioning, in urban primary care patients. Materials and methods: Data were collected from 574 adults presenting to an urban primary care medical clinic. Participants completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen, Short Form-12 Health Survey, Second Edition and questions assessing demographic characteristics and frequency and intensity of current gambling behaviors. Results: Overall, 10.6% of participants met lifetime criteria for pathological gambling, and an additional 5.1% were classified as problem gamblers. Pathological gamblers and problem gamblers reported more health-related concerns than recreational gamblers and nongamblers on indices of physical and emotional functioning. Contrary to prior research, recreational gambling was not associated with better health. Conclusion: These data suggest that disordered gambling is relatively common in primary care settings, and gambling severity is associated with decreased health functioning.
Assessing the Correspondence between Experimental Results Obtained in the Lab and Field: A Review of Recent Social Science Research

A small but growing social science literature examines the correspondence between experimental results obtained in lab and field settings. This article reviews this literature and reanalyzes a set of recent experiments carried out in parallel in both the lab and field. Using a standardized format that calls attention to both the experimental estimates and the statistical uncertainty surrounding them, the study analyzes the overall pattern of lab-field correspondence, which is found to be quite strong (Spearman's ρ = 0.73). Recognizing that this correlation may be distorted by the ad hoc manner in which lab-field comparisons are constructed (as well as the selective manner in which results are reported and published), the article concludes by suggesting directions for future research, stressing in particular the need for more systematic investigation of treatment effect heterogeneity.
Interviewer effects in public health surveys

Interviewer effects can have a substantial impact on survey data and may be particularly operant in public health surveys, where respondents are likely to be queried about racial attitudes, sensitive behaviors and other topics prone to socially desirable responding. This paper defines interviewer effects, argues for the importance of measuring and controlling for interviewer effects in health surveys, provides advice about how to interpret research on interviewer effects and summarizes research to date on race, ethnicity and gender effects. Interviewer effects appear to be most likely to occur when survey items query attitudes about sociodemographic characteristics or respondents' engagement in sensitive behaviors such as substance use. However, there is surprisingly little evidence to indicate whether sociodemographic interviewer-respondent matching improves survey response rates or data validity, and the use of a matched design introduces possible measurement bias across studies. Additional research is needed to elucidate many issues, including the influence of interviewers' sociodemographic characteristics on health-related topics, the role of within-group interviewer variability on survey data and the simultaneous impact of multiple interviewer characteristics. The findings of such research would provide much-needed guidance to public health professionals on whether or not to match interviewers and respondents on key sociodemographic characteristics.
Edaravone Attenuates Brain Edema and Neurologic Deficits in a Rat Model of Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose— Our previous studies have demonstrated that oxidative DNA injury occurs in the brain after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We therefore examined whether edaravone, a free-radical scavenger, could reduce ICH-induced brain injury. Methods— These experiments used pentobarbital-anesthetized, male Sprague-Dawley rats that received an infusion of either 100 μL autologous whole blood (ICH), FeCl 2 , or thrombin into the right basal ganglia. The rats were humanely killed 24 hours later. There were 4 sets of experiments. In the first, the dose-dependent effects of edaravone on ICH-induced brain injury were examined by measuring brain edema and neurologic deficits. In the second set, apurinic/apyrimidinic abasic sites and 8-hydroxyl-2′-deoxyguanosine, which are hallmarks of DNA oxidation, were investigated after treatment for ICH. In the third, the effect of delayed treatment with edaravone on ICH-induced injury was determined, whereas the fourth examined the effects of edaravone on iron- and thrombin-induced brain injury. Results— Systemic administration of edaravone immediately or 2 hours after ICH reduced brain water content 24 hours after ICH compared with vehicle ( P P Conclusions— Edaravone attenuates ICH-induced brain edema, neurologic deficits, and oxidative injury. It also reduces iron- and thrombin-induced brain injury. These results suggest that edaravone is a potential therapeutic agent for ICH.
USE OF PULVERIZED COAL AS A FUEL FOR PERIODIC KILNS1

A research problem on the control of the temperature, using pulverized coal as a fuel for intermittent kilns. The paper consists of a description of the operation and design of a fire box with a hot-spot combustion chamber for the ignition of the fuel during the water-smoking period, and first part of the oxidation period.
Experimental investigation of electron collection to solid and slotted tape probes in a high-speed flowing plasma

This paper presents the analysis and comparison of measurements of electron current collection to round cylinder, solid tape, and slotted tape electrodynamic-tether samples in a mesosonic flowing plasma. A Hall thruster was used to simulate a flowing unmagnetized space plasma in a large 6-m /spl times/ 9-m vacuum chamber. Guarded tether samples were employed to mitigate end effects. Plasma parameters were determined based on the ion saturation and electron retardation regimes of a cylindrical Langmuir probe's current characteristics. Solid tape samples with widths spanning from 4.9 to 41.9 Debye lengths, and slotted tapes with center-to-center line spacings spanning from 1.4 to 13.2 Debye lengths were tested. Several conclusions can be drawn from the analysis of the results: 1) the plasma flow leads to significant current enhancements over that predicted by the orbital-motion-limited theory; 2) the electron current collected per unit area on solid tapes decreases as the width of the tape is increased; 3) beyond a threshold bias close to the beam energy, solid and slotted tapes both collect more current when oriented transverse to the flow; 4) slotted tapes are more efficient electron collectors per unit area than solid tapes; and 5) our data suggests that the electron current collected on slotted tapes decreases with increasing line spacing until a possible minimum is attained, beyond which it is expected to start increasing again. The minimum was attained in the case of the samples oriented transverse to the flow, but not in the case of the samples aligned with the flow, for which the critical spacing is likely higher (due to an increased sheath interaction radius of each line caused by flow-induced sheath elongation).
Diversity of surface protein expression in group B streptococcal colonizing & invasive isolates.

Background & objectives: The classification of group B streptococcal (GBS) isolates is based on the capsular polysaccharides (Ia-VIII), and antigenic characterization of clinical isolates is augmented by the detection of various surface-localized protein antigens. In our laboratory, all GBS isolates are routinely analysed for the alpha trypsin-resistant and the beta trypsin-sensitive c protein antigens, as well as other trypsin-resistant proteins R1, R3, and R4, as well as BPS. The purpose of this work was to study diversity of protein expression in colonizing isolates (vaginal and rectal sites) from nonpregnant women and from invasive isolates (blood or CSF) from mothers and their less than seven day old newborn infants. Methods: A total of 289 invasive isolates and 2660 colonizing isolates were collected between 1993-2002. All isolates were tested for polysaccharide serotype and cell surface-expressed protein profile by double immunoprecipation in agarose using monospecific antisera. Results: Among the 289 invasive isolates, 89.6 per cent expressed one or more trypsin-resistant proteins; 93 per cent of the colonizing isolates expressed one or more of these proteins. Overall, the most common surface protein expression profile by GBS serotype was: alpha in type Ia; alpha plus beta in type Ib; alpha and R4 in type II; R4 in type III; and co-expression of R1 plus R4 in isolates of type V. BPS was found in five (1.7%) invasive isolates, alone in two isolates and with other proteins in three isolates. Among 2660 colonizing isolates, BPS was found alone in 15 (0.6%) and in 57 additional isolates with other proteins. Among the total isolates, BPS was found predominantly in serotype Ia isolates, also expressing R1. Uncommon protein profiles of known serotypes included 11 type III isolates expressing alpha plus beta. Among 72 nontypable colonizing isolates, expression of R1 plus R4 was the commonest (33.3%) profile. Interpretation & conclusion: The GBS surface proteins and the common serotypes were distributed comparably in colonizing and invasive isolates. Trypsin-resistant, alpha and alpha-like proteins, R1 and R4 were the most prevalent. The phenotypic diversity of the surface-localized protein antigens of GBS is intriguing, and genotypic analysis will permit consensus in nomenclature from laboratory to laboratory.
Quantifying and comparing intraspecific functional trait variability: a case study with Hypochaeris radicata

Summary 1. The importance of intraspecific trait variation is increasingly recognized, but the ways in which this variation is quantified and compared have not been rigorously assessed. 2. We reviewed 5 years of ecological literature quantifying intraspecific variation (64 published studies) and identified commonly applied statistical methods. Analysis of variance techniques (n = 43) was the most commonly applied method. Levene’s tests (n = 14), linear techniques (both general and generalized models) (n = 12) and mixed effects modelling (n = 9) were also used. Qualitative comparisons of plant phenotype using descriptive statistics (n = 10) and coefficients of variation (n = 8) were also applied. Bayesian analysis was used in a single study. 3. We compared the efficacy and interpretation of analysis of variance, tests for homogeneity of variance, qualitative comparisons, mixed effects models and Bayesian hierarchical modelling in a case study measuring variation in specific leaf area (SLA) and rosette diameter among 10 populations (n = 241 individuals) of Hypochaeris radicata. We also examined whether data base- and literature-based trait values provided good estimates for measured populations. 4. Intraspecific variation was substantial, and significant differences existed in both means and variation across populations for both measured traits. There was a 27-fold variation in SLA (1� 7–46� 1m m 2 mg � 1 ) and a 34-fold variation in rosette diameter (1� 7–59� 1 cm). The choice of statistical technique influenced the interpretation of results. Permutational ANOVA was reasonably successful in detecting differences among populations, particularly when combined with a permutational test of dispersion within populations. Only Bayesian estimates were able to simultaneously quantify and compare variation within and across populations and to estimate trait values and variation on a larger, regional scale. Literature-based trait values had poor fit for four of 10 populations and differed from the estimated regional trait distribution. 5. Synthesis. Although both classical and Bayesian techniques yielded similar results, Bayesian techniques were more sensitive to differences in intraspecific variation, could simultaneously examine variation within and across populations, could estimate regional trait distributions and did not require that the assumption of homogeneity of variance be met. Bayesian techniques and hierarchical models in particular represent a powerful analytical tool for studies of intraspecific variation.
Group Learning in the Workplace.

The concept of the “learning organization” is discussed, including the use of dialogue in group learning as a process for generative, creative, collective, and transformative learning.