cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Further evidence for the involvement of EFL1 in a Shwachman–Diamond-like syndrome and expansion of the phenotypic features

Recent evidence has implicated EFL1 in a phenotype overlapping Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), with the functional interplay between EFL1 and the previously known causative gene SBDS accounting for the similarity in clinical features. Relatively little is known about the phenotypes associated with pathogenic variants in the EFL1 gene, but the initial indication was that phenotypes may be more severe, when compared with SDS. We report a pediatric patient who presented with a metaphyseal dysplasia and was found to have biallelic variants in EFL1 on reanalysis of trio whole-exome sequencing data. The variant had not been initially reported because of the research laboratory's focus on de novo variants. Subsequent phenotyping revealed variability in her manifestations. Although her metaphyseal abnormalities were more severe than in the original reported cohort with EFL1 variants, the bone marrow abnormalities were generally mild, and there was equivocal evidence for pancreatic insufficiency. Despite the limited number of reported patients, variants in EFL1 appear to cause a broader spectrum of symptoms that overlap with those seen in SDS. Our report adds to the evidence of EFL1 being associated with an SDS-like phenotype and provides information adding to our understanding of the phenotypic variability of this disorder. Our report also highlights the value of exome data reanalysis when a diagnosis is not initially apparent.
Migrating pathogens: creating fear of health risks

A medical student illustrates the damaging effects that stereotyping of immigrants has on the availability and receipt of health care and on the medical system itself. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF A GLOVEBOX GLOVE FAILURE INCIDENT

As part of the “Lessons Learned” Program, a recent glovebox glove failure incident is examined to provide feedback and continuous improvement of the Safe Work Practices (SWPs) workcontrol process. While slowly evaporating liquid from solutions in trays on hot plates, a glovebox became pressurized and a glove ruptured resulting in widespread contamination of equipment, work surfaces, and the floor. Based on the post-analysis of the solution and residues of the incident, several contributing causes of the overpressurization were ruled-out, including exposure to strong shock, organic materials, and inorganic species. Evaporation of an ammonium nitrate solution was postulated as the cause of the incident glovebox breach. Since ceramic-top stirring hotplates heat from 150°C to 590°C and are controlled by a voltage power controller, the temperature to reach rapid decomposition conditions (210°C) was possible. The risk of these types of incidents is control to acceptable level by replacing voltage power controlled hotplates with temperature controlled ones. In addition, a still pot thermometer is required to prevent the solution from evaporating to dryness. Using a heating device designed such that 210°C cannot be reached under any circumstances further minimizes the risk. In summary, a primary objective of the Integrated Safety Management program is to minimize hazards associated with materials whenever possible. Implementing “Lessons Learned” not only maintains SWPs, but also contributes to an organization’s scientific and technological excellence. As with all other elements of business, there are costs associated with implementing an effective “Lessons Learned” Program. Using a cost-benefit analysis for another category of reportable occurrences, radiation exposure, it was estimated that over $50,000 could be spent on “Lessons Learned” to reduce the likelihood of this type of unusual occurrences and still be cost-effective. While the cost saving may not be immediately apparent, feedback in the form of incident reports provide continuous improvement in day-to-day operations.
Parent and Infant Attachment in Mammals

Parental care is one strategy which helps ensure the survival of offspring and thereby enhances the parents’ reproductive success (see Klopfer, this volume; Pianka, 1970). In mammals, parental care usually involves behavioral interactions between parents and offspring. One form these interactions can take is that of parent and infant attachment, the subject of this chapter.
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in invertebrates: Comparisons with homologous receptors from vertebrates

The pharmacology, physiology and molecular biology of invertebrate muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are compared with current knowledge concerning vertebrate muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Evidence for the existence of multiple receptor subtypes in invertebrates is examined, emphasizing what is presently known about the sensitivity of invertebrate preparations to subtype selective ligands previously defined in vertebrate studies. Other evidence for muscarinic receptor subtypes which is examined includes: heterogeneous responses to classical muscarinic ligands and evidence for coupling of invertebrate muscarinic receptors to several different classes of second messenger systems. Clues regarding possible functions for invertebrate muscarinic receptors are discussed, including evidence from both physiological studies and in situ localization studies which reveal patterns of receptor protein and mRNA expression. A detailed analysis of the structural similarities between a cloned Drosophila muscarinic receptor and vertebrate muscarinic receptors is also presented. Regions of the receptors that may be involved in ligand binding, effector coupling and receptor regulation are identified in this comparison. Future directions for invertebrate muscarinic receptor research are considered including: methods for cloning other receptor subtypes, methods for cloning homologous receptors from other species and genetic approaches for determining the physiological roles of muscarinic receptors
When galleries shake: earthquake damage mitigation for museum collections

Jerry Podany, who for thirty years was head of antiquities conservation at the J. Paul Getty Museum, culls decades of research and leadership in When Galleries Shake, a comprehensive guide to mitig...
Resolution of the DNA methylation state of single CpG dyads using in silico Strand Annealing and WGBS data

Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) has been widely used to quantify cytosine DNA methylation frequency in an expanding array of cell and tissue types. Because of the denaturing conditions used, this method ultimately leads to the measurement of methylation frequencies at single cytosines. Hence, the methylation frequency of CpG dyads (two complementary CG dinucleotides) can be only indirectly inferred by overlaying the methylation frequency of two cytosines measured independently. Furthermore, hemi-methylated CpGs (hemiCpGs) have not been previously analyzed in WGBS studies. We recently developed in silico strand annealing (iSA), a bioinformatics method applicable to WGBS data, to resolve the methylation status of CpG dyads into unmethylated, hemi-methylated, and methylated. HemiCpGs account for 4-20% of the DNA methylome in different cell types, and some can be inherited across cell divisions, suggesting a role as a stable epigenetic mark. Therefore, it is important to resolve hemiCpGs from fully methylated CpGs in WGBS studies. This protocol describes step-by-step commands to accomplish this task, including dividing alignments by strand, pairing alignments between strands, and extracting single-fragment methylation calls. The versatility of iSA enables its application downstream of other WGBS-related methods such as nasBS-seq (nascent DNA bisulfite sequencing), ChIP-BS-seq (ChIP followed by bisulfite sequencing), TAB-seq, oxBS-seq, and fCAB-seq. iSA is also tunable for analyzing the methylation status of cytosines in any sequence context. We exemplify this flexibility by uncovering the single-fragment non-CpG methylome. This protocol provides enough details for users with little experience in bioinformatic analysis and takes 2-7 h.
On the Evolution of Public Opinion in the Presence of Confirmation BIAS

This paper provides a model to investigate the evolution of opinions in social networks comprising of individuals and other influential entities, which herein are referred to as information sources. Each individual holds an opinion represented by a scalar that evolves over time. The information sources are stubborn, in the sense that their opinions are time-invariant. Individuals receive the opinions of information sources that are closer to their belief, confirmation bias is explicitly incorporated into the model. The proposed dynamics of the social network is adopted from DeGroot-Friedkin model, where an individual's opinion update mechanism is a convex combination of her innate opinion, her neighbors' opinions at the previous time step, and the opinions passed along by information sources which she follows. In our specific model, the social network relies on trust and hence static, while the information sources are highly dynamic since they are weighted as a function of the distance between an individual state and the state of information source to account for confirmation bias. The conditions for convergence of the aforementioned dynamics to a unique equilibrium point are characterized. The estimation and exact computation of the steady-state values under non-linear and linear state-dependent weight functions are provided. Finally, the impact of the distance between polarized opinions of information sources in the public opinion evolution is numerically analyzed in the context of the well-known Krackhardt's advice network.
Synthesis of d-[6-13C]glucose, 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-[1-13C]glucose hydrochloride, and 2-[15N]amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose hydrochloride

Abstract d -[6- 13 C]Glucose, 2-amino-2-deoxy- d -[1- 13 C]glucose hydrochloride, and 2-[ 15 N]amino-2-deoxy- d -glucose hydrochloride have been synthesized for use in biosynthetic studies. The two amine hydrochlorides were prepared by a series of reactions involving d -arabinose and 2-(benzylamino)-2-deoxy- d -glucononitrile. The intermediates employed in preparing d -[6- 13 C]glucose were d -glucose, 1,2- O -isopropylidene-α- d -glucofuranose, 1,2- O -isopropylidene-α- d - xylo -pentodialdo-1,4-furanose dimer, barium 1,2- O -isopropylidene-α- d -[6- 13 C]glucofuranuronate, and 1,2- O -isopropylidene-α- d -[6- 13 C]glucofuranose.
Coalescence-Induced Swift Jumping of Nanodroplets on Curved Surfaces.

In this work, we use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate coalescence-induced jumping of nanodroplets on curved surfaces with different wettabilities. On a curved surface, a liquid bridge ...
Dynamic Biogeochemistry of the Particulate Sulfur Pool in a Buoyant Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Plume

In deep-ocean hydrothermal vent systems, oxidation–reduction (redox) reactions involving sulfur are known to fuel primary production via chemosynthesis. The particulate sulfur pool within buoyant h...
Impact of gradient imperfections on bone water quantification with UTE MRI.

Purpose The impact of gradient imperfections on UTE images and UTE image-derived bone water quantification was investigated at 3 T field strength. Methods The effects of simple gradient time delays and eddy currents on UTE images, as well as the effects of gradient error corrections, were studied with simulation and phantom experiments. The k-space trajectory was mapped with a 2D sequence with phase encoding on both spatial axes by measuring the phase of the signal in small time increments during ramp-up of the read gradient. In vivo 3D UTE images were reconstructed with and without gradient error compensation to determine the bias in bone water quantification. Finally, imaging was performed on 2 equally configured Siemens TIM Trio systems (Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany) to investigate the impact of such gradient imperfections on inter-scanner measurement bias. Results Compared to values derived from UTE images with full gradient error compensation, total bone water was found to deviate substantially with no (up to 17%) or partial (delay-only) compensation (up to 10.8%). Bound water, obtained with inversion recovery-prepared UTE, was somewhat less susceptible to gradient errors (up to 2.2% for both correction strategies). Inter-scanner comparison indicated a statistically significant bias between measurements from the 2 MR systems for both total and bound water, which either vanished or was substantially reduced following gradient error correction. Conclusion Gradient imperfections impose spatially dependent artifacts on UTE images, which compromise not only bone water quantification accuracy but also inter-scanner measurement agreement if left uncompensated.
Nondiffusive Pitch-Angle Scattering of a Distribution of Energetic Particles by Coherent Whistler Waves

Whether or not coherent magnetospheric whistler waves play important roles in the pitch‐angle scattering of energetic particles is a crucial question in magnetospheric physics. The interaction of a thermal distribution of energetic particles with coherent whistler waves is thus investigated. The distribution is prescribed by the Maxwell‐Juttner distribution, which is a relativistic generalization of the Maxwell‐Boltzmann distribution. Coherent whistler waves are modeled by circularly polarized waves propagating parallel to the background magnetic field. It is shown that for parameters relevant to magnetospheric chorus, a significant fraction (1‐5%) of the energetic particle population undergoes drastic, non‐diffusive pitch‐angle scattering by coherent chorus. The scaling of this fraction with the wave amplitude may also explain the association of relativistic microbursts to large‐amplitude chorus. A much improved condition for large pitch‐angle scattering is presented that is related to, but may or may not include the exact resonance condition depending on the particle's initial conditions. The theory reveals a critical mechanism not contained in the widely‐used second‐order trapping theory.
On the Importance of Dynamic FOV Receivers for Dense Indoor Optical Wireless Networks

The increased density of fixed and mobile wireless devices in indoor settings introduces novel challenges related to the deployment of multi-user access points (APs). Network “densification” includes the adoption of many replicated APs in order to meet aggregate demands divided up across the system. However, the close proximity of APs can create interference. Directional optical channels have been proposed to improve signal isolation between adjacent APs.In this paper we explore the use of controlled dynamic field of view (D-FOV) as a way to isolate resources. Specifically, we study (a) system resource reuse, (b) receiver scope, and (c) interference mitigation. Analysis and simulation show performance gains in overall system performance, and user SNR/SINR. We also show that D-FOV enables improved resource reuse, making full use of spatial diversity while mitigating interference effects on user devices. We validate results using data collected in a network and lighting testbed implementation. Results of the experimentation show good correspondence to the analysis and reveal the associated trade-offs that occur when moving between the span of narrow to wide FOVs.
Mechanisms of same–different conceptualization: entropy happens!

Can nonhuman animals learn abstract concepts? This intriguing question has been extensively studied over the past several decades with many different species and experimental methods. Here, we review evidence showing that pigeons can acquire a same–different concept: they readily learn to discriminate between arrays of same and different items as well as robustly transfer their discrimination to novel arrays of items. To do so, pigeons use the degree of visual variability in the collection of items, as measured by entropy. Not only pigeons, but baboons and human adults also use entropy in their discrimination of same from different items. Thus, entropy does seem to lie at the root of this basic abstract concept.
Gestational diabetes status and dietary intake modify maternal and cord blood allostatic load markers.

INTRODUCTION Allostatic load (AL) defines cardiometabolic, inflammatory, and neuroendocrine changes in the body in response to internal and external stressors. It is largely unknown whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) alters maternal and fetal AL, which in turn affects GDM outcomes. Whether dietary intakes and quality can modify AL and thus influence GDM progression is also unknown. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this study, we recruited 35 GDM and 30 non-GDM women in gestational week 25-33. Fasting blood samples were collected at enrollment, and cord venous blood samples were collected at delivery for the measurement of a series of AL biomarkers to calculate the composite AL index. Three-day dietary recalls were conducted at enrollment. RESULTS Results suggest that GDM women had 60% higher composite AL index scores (p value=0.01). Maternal AL index was associated with shorter duration of gestation (β=-0.33, p value=0.047) and higher fetal AL index (β=0.47, p value=0.006) after adjusting for GDM status. Dietary intake of monounsaturated fatty acids was negatively associated with maternal AL index (β=-0.20, p value=0.006). GDM women had lower total caloric intake and dietary glycemic load, yet their linolenic acid, vitamin C and E intakes were also decreased (all p value<0.05). These dietary differences were not related to birth outcomes measured. CONCLUSIONS In this study, GDM status and dietary intakes modify AL in this population. AL may serve as an indicator of GDM control. Future research on dietary interventions that can improve maternal AL markers during GDM is warranted.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity

This research commentary reviews the current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity. We explore the impact of the pandemic on existing programs and evaluate how these programs adapted under these unprecedented circumstances. Moreover, we explore currently undertaken, favorable strategies for successfully addressing food insecurity during the pandemic. These initiatives include a nonprofit-retail industry partnership and programmatic strategies implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In an effort to bring awareness to addressing this important public health issue, we note the need to document these strategies and determine the most effective solutions to combat food insecurity in a vulnerable population.
Are Millennial Males and Females Different in Their Financial and Banking Behavior

The purpose of this research is to portray a descriptive picture of how gender influences the Millennials attitudes and behavior as they relate to banking and financial decisions. With 75 million in strength and about a quarter of the total U.S. population, the Millennials or Generation Y easily eclipsed the size of the Baby Boomers (Frey, 2018). Not only are they young and large as a market segment, they also wield significant financial presence in the market. Like their baby boomer parents, the Generation Y composes an immensely influential market segment that has the numbers to influence virtually every macroeconomic variable at every stage of life they pass through. Extant literature found significant impact of gender difference on financial socialization, willingness to take financial risks, credit card usage, and general financial decision-making (Schubert et al., 1999; Jianakoplos and Bernasek, 1998; Neelakantan, 2010; Hibbert, 2013; Lemaster and Strough, 2014; Garrison, and Gutter, 2010; Charnessa and Gneezyb, 2012; Nelson, 2015). On the other hand, there is no paucity of research and newspaper articles on the Millennials, focusing on their cultural diversity, family structure, core values, narrowing gender gap among Millennials when it comes to purchase of consumer goods, and marketing to the Millennials (Parment, 2013; Rodriguez, 2015; Brown, 2016; Jones, 2017; Tulp, 2017; West and Friedline, 2016). Despite plethora of research on the Generation Y or the Millennials, our understanding of how Millennials’ gender influences their banking and financial decisions is still limited (Hussain and Linden, 2013).
Black algae

Many species of cyanophytes, especially those growing on tiles and walls exposed to air and sunlight, appear black due to the presence of pigments in the mucilaginous cell-walls. Such pigments may serve a protective role against adverse effects of ultraviolet light but, overlying the ordinary intracellular blue-green pigments, they make the algal clumps look black. Among the most familiar of such algae are species of Gloeocapsa, which by discolouring pale surfaces of public or private premises can constitute a nuisance responsible for a considerable loss of financial value.
Defining Learning Experience Design: Voices from the Field of Learning Design & Technology

Increasing interest in user experience design (UXD) in the field of learning design and technology (LDT) signals a growing recognition of the importance of the individual experience of using learning technologies to learning—the learner experience (LX). However, a need exists to better define and conceptualize the phenomenon of learning experience design (LXD). Imprecise, interchangeable, and reductive usage of terms and concepts related to LXD frustrates efforts to situate and connect the established traditions of our field with complimentary methods and processes external to LDT (e.g., UXD, human-computer interaction). To approach this need, we performed qualitative content analysis on a corpus of 15 chapters from a recently published edited volume focused specifically on LXD in the field of LDT. Our research questions focused on identifying key terms and concepts, exploring how chapter authors characterized LXD, and examining the perspectives that informed authors’ conceptions of LXD. We approached these questions using a rigorous, multi-phase inquiry process in which we conducted systematic, iterative open-coding. These coding efforts led to the emergence of a rich tapestry of terminology, methods, and concepts associated with LXD. Importantly, while book chapter authors drew from outside the field of LDT, the manner in which they intentionally located their work within established traditions of this field was particularly revealing. Grounded in the voices of these researchers and practitioners, we assert that LXD is a human-centric, theoretically-grounded, and socio-culturally sensitive approach to learning design, intended to propel learners towards identified learning goals, and informed by UXD methods. On the basis of this operational definition, directions for future research are proposed.
Efficacy of Adenoidectomy for the Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children Older Than 7 Years of Age.

OBJECTIVES While adenoidectomy is the first-line surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in young children, evidence regarding its utility in older children is lacking. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of adenoidectomy in children 7 to 18 years old with regard to symptom control, postoperative medication use, and the need for additional surgery. METHODS Single-institution retrospective chart review of patients ages 7 to 18 undergoing adenoidectomy for CRS from 2009 to 2019. Patients with cystic fibrosis and ciliary disorders were excluded. Comorbidities, preoperative and postoperative symptoms (rhinorrhea, congestion, anosmia, and facial pain), medication use (antibiotics, antihistamines, nasal steroids, and irrigations), and Lund-Mackay scores were extracted. McNemar's or Wilcoxon Rank Sum Tests were used to assess rates of symptom control and medication use. Fisher's exact or Chi-square tests were used to assess for factors associated with symptom persistence. RESULTS Ninety-seven patients with a mean age of 9 years (range 7-18) were identified. Patients were shown to experience significantly decreased rates of rhinorrhea (64.9% vs 20.6%, <.001), congestion (95.9% vs 26.8%, <.001), facial pain (17.5% vs 3.1%, .001), use of nasal steroids (79.4% vs 36.1%, <.001), antihistamines (47.4% vs 20.6%, <.001), and number of antibiotics (median 1 vs 0, <.001) after adenoidectomy. No patient or disease factors were associated with symptom persistence. Nine patients (9.3%) required additional nasal surgery. CONCLUSION In this cohort of older children with CRS with limited follow up, additional surgery is not routinely done following adenoidectomy, the results suggest that adenoidectomy alone may provide adequate symptom control and medication reduction.
MicroScribe 3D Analysis of the Rotator Cuff Muscles Compared to MRI Reconstruction

We mapped and defined the attachments and fiber orientations of the rotator cuff muscles of the right and left shoulders of a 58-year-old male cadaveric specimen. A better understanding of the comp...
Procedures for minimizing protease activity during isolation of nuclei, chromatin, and the histones.

Publisher Summary This chapter outlines the procedures for minimizing protease activity during isolation of nuclei, chromatin, and the histones. Preparation of nucleoprotein has followed one of two principles: (1) purification from disrupted whole tissue, or (2) preparation from purified nuclei. Extraction of histones with detergents is used as an analytical tool rather than on a preparative scale. The histones may be conveniently assayed on acid-urea gels. The loss of any of the major fractions and appearances of degradation products are apparent when compared to a standard of acid-extracted whole histone from calf thymus. A sodium dodecyle sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel system is used to assay for proteolysis of the nonhistone proteins. The method used for minimizing proteolysis can be employed for the isolation of nuclei and nucleoprotein from any source, with the proviso that the integrity of the nucleoproteins is assayed at every step.
Involvement of the AML1 gene in the t(3;21) in therapy-related leukemia and in chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis

A nonrandom translocation between chromosomes 3 and 21, t(3;21)(q26.2;q22) has been detected in patients with a myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia after treatment (t-MDS/t-AML) for a primary malignant disease and in chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis (CML-BC). In these patients, the breakpoint on chromosome 21 is at band 21q22. This band is also involved in the t(8;21)(q22;q22) detected in 40% of the patients with acute myeloid leukemia subtype M2 (AML-M2) de novo who have an abnormal karyotype. In the t(8;21), the AML1 gene is the site of the breakpoint on chromosome 21. The AML1 gene is transcribed from telomere to centromere, and in the t(8;21) the 5' part of AML1 is fused to the ETO gene on chromosome 8 to produce the chimeric AML1/ETO on the der(8) chromosome. We found that AML1 is also rearranged in two t-AML patients and in one CML-BC patient with the t(3;21), but the breakpoints are approximately 40 to 60 kb downstream to those of AML-M2 patients. This region contains at least one additional exon of AML1, as determined by using an AML1 cDNA as a probe in Southern blot analysis. The t(3;21) breakpoints for the remaining patients could not be determined because, by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis, the breaks are outside of the region covered by the available probes.
ASCE and Graduate Students: Faculty Advisor’s Opinion

The future generations of ASCE leadership are now enrolled in our graduate schools. It is essential that ASCE establish a viable bond with this group of embryo professionals. This union will be difficult to achieve and will compel much unitlateral action by the Society. Educational constraints, especially time, imposed on graduate students greatly hamper their participation and reduce their role mainly to that of an interested bystander. This contact with the Society can provide professional guidance, technical information, and the basis for active future contribution by the students. The pressures of graduate training severely limit the extracurricular activities of the students and if ASCE is to compete with the many other demands for the limited spare time, it must make it obvious that participation is in the best interest of the student. This may require a completed review of existing policies concerned with student members of the Society.
Admission control and resource management for multi-service ATM networks

We propose a resource allocation scheme that takes into account both the QoS requirements and the characteristics of traffic streams. In our scheme, the decision to allocate buffer and bandwidth resources to a QoS class depends on whether buffering will be effective in reducing loss probability for this class. We present analytical techniques based on the theory of large deviations for estimating the small loss probability. Furthermore, we address the problem of accepting calls with incomplete traffic statistics. Existing proposals of traffic descriptors call for specification of only the first?order statistics such as the peak rate and the sustainable cell rate. To guarantee QoS, the admission policy must be conservative by assuming the worst?case distribution compliant to the traffic descriptor. We demonstrate that on---off sources exhibit such worst?case behavior. However, a static conservative policy results in under?utilization of network resources. We devise and analyze dynamic algorithms that improve the estimates of the actual bandwidth requirements for existing sources by collecting information on?line. We show that a direct approach, where the quantity measured is the QoS of interest, combined with an extrapolation technique to speed up the estimation process, offers a promising solution.
The market valuation of biotechnology firms and biotechnology R&D

This paper sheds light on how and why the stock market values high technology by examining the pricing of 606 publicly traded biotechnology firms. Contrary to the common view that the primary value drivers of biotechnology are ‘soft’ variables such as intellectual human capital, patents, strategic alliances and joint ventures, I show that simple but ‘hard’ balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows data explains some 70% of the variance in biotech firms’ equity market values within a log-linear regression framework. Given the size and economic importance of RD the growth rate in RD the scale of RD the human capital of the firm’s employees; and the age of the firm. Using financial statement proxies for these factors, I find that the elasticity of biotech firms’ equity market values with respect to R&D is significantly larger the earlier is the R&D expenditure in the value chain, and the greater is the growth rate in R&D spending. The value elasticity of R&D is also reliably decreasing in the scale of R&D expenditures, and the maturity of the firm.
Purification and characterization of a low molecular weight acid phosphatase from bovine liver.

Abstract Several mammalian tissues have been shown to contain as many as three acid phosphatases which may be separated on the basis of differences in size by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. The smallest of these enzymes from bovine liver, termed acid phosphatase III, has been purified to apparent homogeneity. The purified enzyme migrates as a single band during electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel and yields arginine as the only detectable amino terminal residue. Acid phosphatase III has been characterized with respect to its substrate specificity, molecular weight, and amino acid composition. The Km value determined with p-nitrophenyl phosphate, the most readily hydrolyzed substrate tested, is 7.5 x 10-4 m. Optimal rates of hydrolysis were observed at pH 5.5. The pure enzyme is stabilized by ethylenediaminetetraacetate and phosphate ion, but is rapidly inactivated in the presence of Mg++ or mercaptoethanol. The molecular weight of acid phosphatase III determined by sedimentation equilibrium analysis is 16,590. This figure is in close agreement with the value of 16,296 obtained from the amino acid composition.
Inadvertent instillation of nonophthalmic antiseptic drops due to packaging similarity.

Report of a Case. An 87-year-old woman underwent penetrating keratoplasty, anterior vitrectomy, and lens exchange for pseudophakic corneal edema. Six months postoperatively her medications included prednisolone acetate (Pred Forte, Allergan Inc, Irvine, Calif), four times a day, and 5% sodium chloride drops (Muro 128, Bausch & Lomb Pharaceutical Inc, Tampa, Fla), four times a day. A nurse’s aide assisting with eye drops mistakenly placed an antiseptic solution, (,1% benzalkonium chloride, Mycocide NS, Woodward Laboratories Inc, Los Alamitos, Calif) into the postoperative eye resulting in immediate eye pain, redness, and tearing. This antiseptic is typically used as a topical treatment for nailbed fungus. The eye was flushed repeatedly with tap water, and the patient was seen 2 hours later in the eye clinic with a visual acuity of 20/100 OD. Diffuse injection and mucoid drainage were seen. Slitlamp examination revealed a large bulbar conjunctival epithelial staining defect extending into the inferior fornix and on to the upper eyelid margin. The corneal transplant showed diffuse punctate keratopathy with staining defects at the graft host junction inferiorly. The patient was started on a combination of neomycin sulfate, polymixin B sulfate, and gramicidin (Neosporin Ophthalmic Solution, Glaxo Wellcome Inc, Research Triangle Park, NC) drops, four times a day, and told to increase the topical steroid to every 2 hours while awake. She was seen 4 days later with a visual acuity of 20/100 OD, a healed ocular surface, and mild corneal graft edema.
Construction and characterization of Escherichia coli strains deficient in multiple secreted proteases: protease III degrades high-molecular-weight substrates in vivo.

Abstract Protease III, the product of the ptr gene, is a 110-kDa periplasmic protease with specificity towards insulin and other low-molecular-weight substrates (less than 7,000 molecular weight) in vitro (Y.-S.E. Cheng and D. Zipser, J. Biol. Chem. 254:4698-4706, 1979). Escherichia coli strains deficient in protease III were constructed by insertional inactivation of the ptr gene. This mutation did not appear to affect the function of the adjoining recB and recC genes. Expression of protein A-beta-lactamase, a protease-sensitive secreted polypeptide, was increased approximately twofold in ptr cells. A comparable increase in the half-life of protein A-beta-lactamase was observed by pulse-chase experiments, suggesting that protease III is involved in the catabolism of high-molecular-weight substrates in vivo, ptr mutants exhibited no detectable phenotypic alterations except for a slight reduction in growth rate. When the ptr mutation was transferred to a strain deficient in the secreted protease DegP, a further decrease in growth rate, as well as an additive increase in the expression of the fusion protein, was observed. A ptr degP ompT mutant strain resulted in a further increase in expression in minimal medium but not in rich medium.
ΔN = 0 Dielectronic Recombination as a Line Formation Process in Photoionized Plasmas

In photoionized plasmas, X-ray line emission is dominated by radiative cascades following recombination and photoexcitation, with a negligible contribution from collisional excitation due to the relatively low electron temperatures. Most existing photoionized plasma emission codes include only radiative recombination (RR) when calculating the level populations. Such models have been shown to be inadequate to explain the X-ray emission from H-like and He-like ions in the spectra of some Seyfert 2 active galactic nuclei and X-ray binaries obtained by the grating spectrometers on board Chandra and XMM-Newton. It has been shown that photoexcitation must be included to obtain theoretical models consistent with observations. In this Letter we show that for X-ray emission from iron L-shell ions, one must also include dielectronic recombination (DR) as a level population mechanism. As an example, the well-known 3 → 2 lines of Fe XVII have been analyzed in detail. The 3F line at 16.78 A is most affected by DR of Fe XVIII at low temperatures, while it is negligibly weak in purely RR models.
Inhibition of Sindbis Virus Release by Media of Low Ionic Strength: an Electron Microscope Study

Release of Sindbis virus from infected cells is inhibited by lowering the ionic strength of the medium. To determine the nature of the inhibited step, we examined, by electron microscopy, both freeze-etched and thin-sectioned preparations which had been fixed with either glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde. Inhibitory medium had two different effects on Sindbis virus release: virus budding was partially inhibited, and those virions which did mature were precipitated on the surface of the cell. Freeze-etched, inhibited cells showed very few viral buds. After shift to normal medium, the number of budding virions increased dramatically, far exceeding the quantity found in normal controls. Thus, low ionic strength medium clearly inhibited an early stage of virus maturation. The results were the same regardless of the fixative. Thin sections of glutaraldehyde-fixed, inhibited cells contained large extracellular aggregates of mature virus which were not present in similar, formaldehyde-fixed preparations. Fixation of radioactively-labeled, inhibited cultures revealed that approximately half of the virus that could be released from inhibited cells by raising the ionic strength of the medium could also be released by formaldehyde, but not by glutaraldehyde. This fraction probably represents mature virus attached to the cell surface by the ionic conditions.
A Survey of Clergy Practices Associated with Premarital Financial Counseling

The purpose of this exploratory study was to gain an understanding of the state of clergy-led premarital financial counseling. Clergy respondents (n =223) indicated that they often include a financial component in their formal premarital counseling. The most frequently discussed financial topics are budgeting, managing debt and credit, and saving. The most frequently cited obstacles to providing premarital financial counseling are lack of time and lack of subject matter expertise.
Decade in review--genetics of kidney diseases: Genetic dissection of kidney disorders.

Advances in genome sequencing and genetic manipulation techniques over the last decade have helped identify numerous single-gene causes of early-onset kidney diseases and risk alleles for complex, polygenic traits. Subsequent studies regarding the underlying disease mechanisms will help lead to personal genetic diagnoses and unique therapeutic interventions in the future.
All-or-none craniorachischisis in Loop-tail mutant mouse chimeras.

Mouse embryos homozygous for the mutant gene Loop-tail (Lp) are characterized by craniorachischisis, an open neural tube extending from the midbrain to the tail. In the present study, experimental chimeric mice containing mixtures of genetically mutant (from Lp/+ x Lp/+ matings) and genetically normal cells were produced. Our aim was to determine whether a 'rescue,' phenotypic gradient, or intermediate expression (i.e. alternating areas of open and closed neural tube) would be observed in these chimeras. We report our analyses of Loop-tail mutant chimeras (n = 82) by gross examination, progeny testing and quantitative analysis of glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) isozyme levels. An all-or-none craniorachischisis in Loop-tail mutant chimeras was observed. Two multicolored adult chimeras, without any gross evidence of a neural tube defect, were shown to be homozygous Loop-tail chimeras (Lp/Lp in equilibrium +/+) by progeny testing. These results indicate that the normal phenotype can be expressed in the presence of mutant cells. Conversely, six neonates with craniorachischisis were shown to be chimeras by GPI analyses. These results show that the full mutant phenotype can be expressed even when one-third to one-half of the cells are genotypically wild-type. This study did not determine which tissue is primarily responsible for the defective neurulation in this mutant, but suggests that a 'threshold' mechanism underlies the Loop-tail mutant phenotype. In some chimeras that threshold is not reached and the neural tube remains open, whereas in other chimeras the threshold is reached and the neural tube closes completely.
A new atomization cell for trace metal determinations by tungsten coil atomic spectrometry

Abstract A new metallic atomization cell is used for trace metal determinations by tungsten coil atomic absorption spectrometry and tungsten coil atomic emission spectrometry. Different protecting gas mixtures are evaluated to improve atomic emission signals. Ar, N2, CO2 and He are used as solvents, and H2 and C2H2 as solutes. A H2/Ar mixture provided the best results. Parameters such as protecting gas flow rate and atomization current are also optimized. The optimal conditions are used to determine the figures of merit for both methods and the results are compared with values found in the literature. The new cell provides a better control of the radiation reaching the detector and a small, more isothermal environment around the atomizer. A more concentrated atomic cloud and a smaller background signal result in lower limits of detection using both methods. Cu (324.7 nm), Cd (228.8 nm) and Sn (286.3 nm) determined by tungsten coil atomic absorption spectrometry presented limits of detection as low as 0.6, 0.1, and 2.2 μg L−1, respectively. For Cr (425.4 nm), Eu (459.4 nm) and Sr (460.7 nm) determined by tungsten coil atomic emission spectrometry, limits of detection of 4.5, 2.5, and 0.1 μg L−1 were calculated. The method is used to determine Cu, Cd, Cr and Sr in a water standard reference material. Results for Cu, Cd and Cr presented no significant difference from reported values in a 95% confidence level. For Sr, a 113% recovery was obtained.
The Toxicity and Metabolism of Dihydroquercetin

Dihydroquercetin, which is closely related to quercetin in chemical structure, has been shown to be nontoxic when fed to albino rats at a dietary level of 1 per cent for long periods of time. Chromatographic examination of the urine of two human volunteers before and after the ingestion of 2 grams of dihydroquercetin demonstrated the conversion of the compound to 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-acetic, m -hydroxyphenylacetic, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acids. These same metabolites are excreted following oral administration of quercetin, or DOPA, to rats, rabbits, or humans.
Competing for tourists at Victoria Falls: A historical consideration of the effects of government involvement

Although many African countries have only recently started benefiting from tourism development, Zambia and Zimbabwe have a long history of promoting tourism. Since the late nineteenth century, the large number of visitors drawn to Victoria Falls has stimulated the development of one of southern Africa's earliest and most popular tourist destinations. Its value as both a commercial and spiritual site and its position on the border between Zambia have resulted in a complex, long-term transnational struggle between interested parties on both sides of the border. This article examines tourism development around Victoria Falls from a historical perspective, with attention to the efforts of colonial and post-colonial governments to promote tourism, and policies that have stifled it.
Thermographic analysis of localized conductive channels in bipolar resistive switching devices

Temperature distributions in Pt/SrZrO3/SrRuO3 and Pt/TiO2/Pt thin film heterostructures were imaged by infrared thermography while under electrical bias. Local hot spots with lateral sizes between 5 and 30 µm appear during electroforming, they reappear during switching, and they show temperature increases from 50 to above 250 °C. Over 90% of conductivity increases produced by electroforming were confined to the hotspot locations. In some structures, thermography demonstrated that two separate conductive paths could be formed using opposite biases, and their conductivities could be repeatedly switched on and off with opposite voltage dependences. Direct evidence of large temperature increases supports the existence of Joule heating within the conductive channel during resistance switching of oxide heterostructures.
Parental substance abuse as a predictor of child maltreatment re- reports

This longitudinal study of child abuse and neglect cases closed after investigation examined the impact of parental substance abuse on family functioning and on subsequent referrals to child protective services. The findings support the hypothesis that parental substance abuse would have a negative impact on family functioning, which, in turn, would result in a higher rate of re-reports. As expected, substance abuse also had a direct impact on re-reports. It is critical that the child welfare system recognize and respond to parental substance abuse problems in these families through expanded and improved voluntary, and perhaps, mandatory services.
Epoxy Infiltration into Nanoporous Aluminum Oxide

Abstract This research uses spatially-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) to study epoxy infiltration into a nanoporous aluminum surface oxide. Imaging by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the oxide surface of an as-anodized aluminum wire consists of columnar nanopores with diameters ranging from approximately 5 -150 nm. Anodized wires were embedded in a 100 g: 28 g mixture of DGEBA (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A) resin and PACM20 (bis(p-aminocyclohexyl)methane) curing agent followed by a two-step cure. Electron-transparent sections were cut by ultramicrotomy. Spatially-resolved carbon and oxygen EELS profiles from the oxide are anti-correlated indicating that oxide pore walls are separated by pore interiors containing epoxy. Spatially-resolved low-loss spectral data are transformed into a measure of apparent specimen thickness. Comparisons of such data with simulations based on experimentally derived oxide topologies indica...
Caveat emptor: Cross-country data on education and the labor force

Abstract Cross-country data on education and the labor force frequently are used to describe important dimensions of development and to estimate models of economic growth and growth determinants, the impact of education, and related phenomena. This investigation finds: (1) there are serious intertemporal and inter-country comparability problems with these data that may importantly affect inferences about labor force size, trends and productivity and schooling investments and impact; (2) data gaps are systematically related to levels of development and literacy; and (3) conclusions about the determinants or consequences of development based on constructed data that have been made available to fill data gaps can be seriously misleading.
The High School Sociology Teacher

High school teachers of sociology have long been neglected by academic sociologists and the ASA. Recent developments are encouraging, however. In 2001, the ASA appointed a Task Force on the Advanced Placement Course for Sociology in High School, and Teaching Sociology has published three articles on high school sociology since that year. Still, there is a dire need for research on the characteristics and experiences of teachers themselves, and for empirically-based recommendations for assisting them. The current study uses questionnaire data to examine the personal and professional characteristics of the teachers who offered a sociology course in Connecticut public high schools during academic year 2000-01. The results indicate that teachers have little formal education in sociology, are not involved in the professional activities of the discipline, and have virtually no exposure to sociology outside of their own courses. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and action.