cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of the ICM diagnostic criteria for shoulder periprosthetic joint infection

Abstract Background Diagnosis for shoulder periprosthetic infection (PJI) is a challenge in shoulder arthroplasty. The 2018–2019 International Consensus Meeting (ICM) on Orthopedic Infections created a scoring system with minor and major criteria for shoulder PJI. The purpose of this study was to apply these criteria in a cohort of suspected shoulder PJI cases and assess their treatment course. Methods An institutional database was used to query TSA patients from January 2013 to May 2019. Patients for revision shoulder arthroplasty were stratified into groups based on the ICM criteria with four main groups: unlikely PJI, possible PJI, probable PJI, and definite PJI. Each patient included was assessed for baseline demographics, Elixhauser co-morbidities (ECM), prior hardware, timing of infection, treatment type, reinfection incidence at one-year, length of hospitalization and 90-day readmission. Results A total of 43 patients were identified. After applying ICM criteria for diagnosis of shoulder PJI, there were 16 cases of unlikely PJI, 15 cases of possible PJI, 5 cases of probable PJI and 7 cases of definite PJI. Comparison of baseline characteristics including age (p = 0.23), BMI (p = 0.62), ASA (p = 0.53) reveled no significant differences between each ICM group. C. acnes was not found in any case of definite PJI. Definite PJI had the highest LOS at 2.6 days, p = 0.04. Revision for PJI that was classified as definite infection demonstrated the highest rate of reinfection at 1-year (28.6%) (p = 0.02). Conclusion ICM criteria represent an accurate and reliable tool for defining shoulder PJI. Moreover, the criteria appear to demonstrate a higher risk of reinfection in the definite PJI group. Based on these findings, we recommend careful consideration of treatment strategies due to higher risk for reinfection Level of evidence Level IV; Retrospective Cohort.
The effect of distance from cancer facility on advanced clinical stage at diagnosis in patients with cervical cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES In the United States, cervical cancer remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The effect of distance has a complicated relationship with disease characteristics and outcomes in other cancers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between distance from cancer facility on clinical stage at diagnosis in women with cervical cancer. MATERIALS/METHODS Data were obtained from the National Cancer Database which include patient demographics, disease characteristics, and treatment details. Persons diagnosed with cervical cancer from 2004 to 2015 were included. Subjects were excluded if they had missing information, variant histology, or lived >1,000 miles from their facility resulting in 51,413 persons. Disease was classified as localized (stage 1a-2a) or advanced (stage 2b-4b). Univariate comparisons were performed using analysis of variance and chi-square test. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the effect of distance quartiles on advanced stage while adjusting for other significant variables. RESULTS Mean age was 51.0 years, 16.9% of women were black, 14.7% were Hispanic, 45.0% had private insurance, and 10.7% were uninsured. Overall, 50.9% of women presented with advanced disease. In multivariable analysis, greater distance demonstrated a stepwise risk reduction of advanced disease where those in the farthest quartile had odds ratio of 0.73 (p<0.001) relative to the closest. Additionally, age, race, income, and insurance status significantly affected risk of advanced disease. CONCLUSIONS Distance from cancer facility resulted in lower risk of advanced stage disease at diagnosis. Additional research could elucidate the nuanced relationship between distance, disease characteristics and outcomes in cervical cancer.
Equal Pay for All: An Idea Whose Time Has Not, and Will Not, Come

The proposal on offer is a radical form of egalitarianism. Under it, each citizen receives the same income, regardless of profession or indeed whether he or she works or not. This proposal is bad for two reasons. First, it is inefficient. It would eliminate nearly all incentive to work, thereby shrinking national income and leaving all citizens poorly off (albeit equally poorly off). I illustrate this inefficiency via an indifference curve analysis. Second, the proposal would be regarded as unjust by almost everyone. The empirical work on justice makes this plain. Equal pay for equal work is desirable; equal pay no matter what is something else entirely. It is an idea not likely to find adherents.
A generational review of developmental plasticity: Histories of the Transgender Child

The author of Stories of the Transgender Child suggests that our current society views transgender children as “unprecedented and must be treated as such with caution or awe” (p. 2). However, she n...
‘Will This Build Me or Break Me?’: The Embodied Emotional Work of a Teacher Candidate

This year-long study by an undergraduate teacher candidate explores the identity and emotional work involved in learning decisions through her teacher preparation program. Using personal reflection...
Dichotomous role of microtubule associated protein tau as a biomarker of response to and a target for increasing efficacy of taxane treatment in cancers of epithelial origin

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and the World Health Organization estimates that one in six deaths globally is due to cancer. Chemotherapy is one of the major modalities used to treat advanced cancers and their metastasis. However, the existence of acquired and intrinsic resistance to anti-cancer drugs often diminishes their therapeutic effect. In order to pre-select patients who could benefit the most from these treatments, the efforts of many research groups have been focused on identification of biomarkers of therapy response. Taxanes paclitaxel (Taxol) and docetaxel (Taxotere) have been introduced as chemotherapy for treatment of cancers of ovary in 1992 and breast in 1996, respectively. Since then, clinical use of taxanes has expanded to include lung, prostate, gastric, head and neck, esophageal, pancreatic, and cervical cancers, as well as Kaposi sarcoma. Several independent molecular mechanisms have been shown to support taxane chemoresistance. One such mechanism is dependent on microtubule associated protein tau. Tau binds to the same site on the inner side of the microtubules that is also occupied by paclitaxel or docetaxel, and several studies have demonstrated that low/no tau expression significantly correlated with better response to the taxane treatment, suggesting that levels of tau expression could have a predictive value in pre-selecting patient cohorts that are likely to benefit from the treatment. However, several other studies have found no correlation between tau expression and taxane response, introducing a controversy and precluding its wide use as a predictive biomarker. Based on the knowledge of tau biology accumulated thus far, in this review we attempt to critically analyze the studies that evaluated tau as a biomarker of taxane response. Further, we identify yet unknown aspects of tau biology understanding of which is necessary for improvement of development of tau as a biomarker of response and a target for increasing response to taxane treatment.
Bagehot's Giant Bubble Failure

Walter Bagehot is remembered today primarily as a proponent of the doctrine of lender of last resort, in which central banks pump money into the economy to ameliorate the damage from a financial crisis. But none of the growing number of publications about him appear to investigate in depth whether, as the editor of "The Economist," he warned his readers about the bubble that collapsed in the famous Overend crash of 1866. This paper shows that while Bagehot did express serious misgivings about that bubble in its early stages, he did not understand just how large it was, and he did not succeed in penetrating the depths of "financial engineering" that concealed the ugly reality that led to the crisis. Since none of the other prominent observers of the time appear to have done better, this may not have been a giant failure, but it was a failure to identify a giant bubble. It suggests we should not expect regulators to be able to detect bubbles in the future.
All Aboard! The Supreme Court, Guilty Pleas and the Railroading of Criminal Defendants

This Article conducts an in-depth examination of the federal plea withdrawal rules and details how the current rules unfairly and adversely impact not only defendant interests in plea withdrawal, but also the fairness and constitutionality of the guilty plea process. Several years ago, Professors Albert Alschuler, Stephen Schulhofer, Robert Scott and William Stuntz wrote a series of well-received law review articles that critiqued the merits and demerits of plea bargaining. However, since then, various events have occurred that necessitate not only a reevaluation of the critical issues raised in those earlier articles, but also a more exhaustive review of the federal guilty plea process as a whole. Professor Cook examines two of those recent events - the 1997 United States Supreme Court decision in United States v. Hyde, and the December 2002 amendments to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure - and details how these events have profoundly and adversely influenced the fairness and legitimacy of the existent plea bargaining and guilty plea processes. Through a novel application of contract law and a discussion of rational choice theory, this article details how the existing guilty plea procedure systematically betrays enforceable plea agreements. More particularly, through an illuminating and comprehensive examination of the federal plea withdrawal rules in light of contractual and constitutional standards, Professor Cook explains why this subterfuge of enforceability unfairly binds defendants to unaccepted plea offers and constricts their ability to pursue more optimal strategies in a manner unseen in standard marketplace contracts.
On the Structure of Blocks of Characters of Finite Groups

The role played by characters in recent work on finite groups can be described as follows. Given rather incomplete information concerning a finite group G, we try to find the table of irreducible characters of G. If we succeed, we use the character table of G to obtain additional information on G. We may also try a similar procedure in order to show that finite groups with certain given properties do not exist.
Measuring Agenda Setting with Online Search Traffic: Influences of Online and Traditional Media

This paper addresses the patterns of influence between the news media and the public, by specifically targeting breaking stories, or shocks, to a news system. Specifically, we assess media agenda setting and selective exposure by looking at the relative public attention spans to hard and soft news (as measured by query volume), in comparison with the volume of news coverage (in print, broadcast, and Web content) for these selected news events. We measure the dynamic distribution of issue coverage in the news media, and how this volume of coverage ultimately influences online search traffic. In order to assess sustained interest in a given topic, distributions of query volume and news coverage were fit with Gamma distributions of appropriate parameters. Findings indicate that there are significant differences in the public attention spans for hard and soft news issues, particularly relative to what news coverage might predict. Soft news events produced a slower rate of decline in query volume, matching the slow tapering off of issue coverage found in Web content. Conversely, for hard, substantive news issues, query volume drops off quite quickly, more closely paralleling the distribution of coverage in broadcast news.
Sequence diversity in S1 genes and S1 translation products of 11 serotype 3 reovirus strains.

The S1 gene nucleotide sequences of 10 type 3 (T3) reovirus strains were determined and compared with the T3 prototype Dearing strain in order to study sequence diversity in strains of a single reovirus serotype and to learn more about structure-function relationships of the two S1 translation products, sigma 1 and sigma 1s. Analysis of phylogenetic trees constructed from variation in the sigma 1-encoding S1 nucleotide sequences indicated that there is no pattern of S1 gene relatedness in these strains based on host species, geographic site, or date of isolation. This suggests that reovirus strains are transmitted rapidly between host species and that T3 strains with markedly different S1 sequences circulate simultaneously. Comparison of the deduced sigma 1 amino acid sequences of the 11 T3 strains was notable for the identification of conserved and variable regions of sequence that correlate with the proposed domain organization of sigma 1 (M.L. Nibert, T.S. Dermody, and B. N. Fields, J. Virol. 64:2976-2989, 1990). Repeat patterns of apolar residues thought to be important for sigma 1 structure were conserved in all strains examined. The deduced sigma 1s amino acid sequences of the strains were more heterogeneous than the sigma 1 sequences; however, a cluster of basic residues near the amino terminus of sigma 1s was conserved. This analysis has allowed us to investigate molecular epidemiology of T3 reovirus strains and to identify conserved and variable sequence motifs in the S1 translation products, sigma 1 or sigma 1s.
Telecommunications in the developing world

Abstract The contention that there is significant underinvestment in telecommunications services in developing nations is supported by cross country data. The accepted approach to determining whether investment should take place involves: identifying unsatisfied demand; determining the least cost solution; and assessing whether benefits will exceed costs. The author draws upon the experience of World Bank involvement in telecommunications projects in developing nations and concludes that the trend in some developing countries toward increased investment in the sector will continue, furthering the goals of increased economic efficiency and improved social equity.
Normalizing US—Cuba relations: escaping the shackles of the past

President Barack Obama explained his historic reversal of half a century of US antagonism towards Cuba as necessary because of the failure of the policy of hostility pursued by his ten predecessors. But the old policy's failure was not new, and thus was not, in itself, an adequate explanation for the dramatic shift. This article uses theories of agenda-setting, policy failure and policy change to explain the persistence of the US policy of hostility from 1959 to 2014 and the policy change announced by President Barack Obama in December 2014. Four structural factors account for the continuity in policy and, as a result of gradual changes in those factors, the eventual policy shift. They are: the security threat Cuba posed to the United States during the Cold War; the political influence of the Cuban American community; the diplomatic cost to Washington, especially in Latin America, of maintaining the status quo; and domestic changes under way in Cuba.
Constraints on Heavy Meson Form Factors Derived from QCD Analyticity, Unitarity and Heavy Quark Spin Symmetry

Using the analytic properties of two-point functions in QCD, as well as unitarity, bounds on the B meson form factor F(q^2) can be derived. Heavy quark spin symmetry, correctly taken into account, is shown to improve these bounds significantly.
Inclusion trail patterns in porphyroblasts from the Foothills Terrane, California: A record of orogenesis or local strain heterogeneity?

A major problem with the current use of porphyroblast–matrix microstructural relationships to infer orogenic histories, such as multiple orthogonal orogenic events, is that other evidence for these events is typically lacking. For example, a comparison of regional relationships and local structures formed in and adjacent to porphyroblasts present in contact aureoles in the Foothills Terrane, Sierra Nevada, California, shows that: (1) except in shear zones, contact aureoles and local zones along lithological contacts, the Foothills Terrane has a single regional cleavage, although locally formed by multiple processes; (2) the regional cleavage and locally developed porphyroblast inclusion trails have variable orientations, and neither dataset supports the formation of dominantly subhorizontal and subvertical cleavages in this orogen; (3) structural and metamorphic heterogeneities occur at all scales and can markedly affect inclusion trail patterns in porphyroblasts; (4) complex porphyroblast growth features and internal inclusion trail patterns can form in porphyroblasts that grow during short time intervals in contact aureoles, indicating that local complexity in porphyroblasts does not imply regional complexity. Because of these conclusions, multiple datasets, rather than data acquired only from porphyroblasts, should be considered when attempting to understand the evolution of orogens. Furthermore, using microstructural information preserved only in porphyroblasts to infer orogenic processes and plate motions is generally unjustified.
M&A Outlook

The current economic recovery is fragile. But we are starting to see the initial signs of improvement in the merger-and-acquisition (M&A) market. The author takes an analytical look at where we've been and where we're going. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Airborne laser program revolutionizing airpower for the 21st century

The Airborne Laser is an Air Force Major Defense Acquisition Program to develop and field an airborne high energy laser weapon system to provide speed-of-light lethal defense against hostile theater ballistic missiles in the boost phase. The Air Force believes the Airborne Laser has the potential to revolutionize air warfare. The advanced technologies being introduced by the Airborne Laser presents new and unique challenges for acquisition, operations, and supportability. This paper provides a program overview, and will cover the threat, system description, technology maturity, and acquisition strategy. The Airborne Laser program successfully passed through its Milestone 1 Defense Acquisition Board decision to proceed from Concept Design into Program Definition and Risk Reduction phase, to design, build, integrate, and conduct a lethal airborne demonstration against a boosting missile in 2002. Upon a successful lethal demonstration, the program will then proceed into Engineering and Manufacturing Development and Production. Initial Operation Capability will be in 2006 with three aircraft, and Full Operational Capability will be in 2008 with seven aircraft.
Creating and using index scores in the analysis of school policy implementation and impact.

BACKGROUND: Epidemic increases in childhood obesity and associated health risks are resulting in efforts to implement school policies related to nutrition and physical activity (NPA). With multicomponent policy efforts, challenges exist in characterizing the extent of policy change across the breadth of NPA policies. METHODS: Aggregated policy indices were created to characterize NPA policy implementation in Arkansas public schools from 2004 through 2009. Index scores are presented by year, domain, and school level. RESULTS: Both mean and median index scores increased over time, with greater changes seen in nutrition than in physical activity policy scores. The composite index score was heavily dependent on the nutrition index score and, thus, is relatively less useful for the purposes of our evaluation. Policy index scores varied by school level, rurality, enrollment size, and percentage of students eligible for federal meal programs. CONCLUSIONS: The policy index approach facilitates the consideration of the effect of school policy change in a holistic, aggregated way. School characteristics influence policy adoption, and thus, should be taken into consideration in the promotion of policy change.
THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY ON MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE.

Abstract “Avirin”, or “Avicel”, a microcyrstalline form of cellulose, has been with success in this laboratory for thin-layer chromatography. The material is employed without a binder and has, in this laboratory, essentially completely displaced the papergram because its speed, quality of separation, and the ease with which preparative plates may be run. In all cases tried it has been found that the papergram solvent systems and spray reagents are directly transferable to the new system, a finding which opens up the vast papergram literature to this type of thin-layer chromatography. By all comparisons, where both systems can be used, the method has proved superior, for technical and economic reasons, to that employing silica gel.
Coupling-constant analyticity and the renormalization group

It is shown that for all definitions of coupling constants any analytic continuation in the coupling parameter of the Green's functions of quantum chromodynamics is limited to a horn-shaped domain with zero opening angle. This extends a result of't Hooft's obtained for one specific choice of coupling parameter to all possible choices. For some choices of coupling parameter, it is also shown that the renormalization group itself leads to an analytic continuation in the coupling constant for the Green's functions regular in the above domain.
Factors influencing salaries for educational technologists

The authors hope that the information reported in this article will be useful to members seeking to establish or increase the levels of compensation for themselves or those whom they supervise. Being knowledgeable of the education, experience, and salary of your peers may empower you to negotiate more effectively. Requests for additional information may be directed to the authors at the Division of Instructional Support and Development, 118 Himes Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803. 1 Employment Profiles and Compensation for Educational Technologists: 1989, Tech Trends. Vol.34, No.4, Sept., 1989. 2 Employment Profiles and Compensation for Educational Technologists: 1983–86 Educational Media and Technology Yearbook: 1987. Vol.13, Libraries Unlimited, Littleton, Co., 1987. 3 Salary Funding and Distribution for Educational Technologists: A National Survey Instructional Innovator. Vol.29, No.4, April, 1984.
Negative priming from masked words : Retrospective prime clarification or center-surround inhibition?

Masked repetition and semantic priming effects were examined in 2 experiments. In Experiment 1, a masked-prime lexical decision task followed a phase of detection, semantic, or repetition judgments about masked words. In Experiment 2 participants made speeded pronunciations to target words after they tried to identify masked primes, and the proportion of semantically and identically related prime-target pairs was varied. Center-surround theory CT. H. Carr & D. Dagenbach, 1990; D. Dagenbach, T. H. Carr, & A. Wilhelmsen, 1989) predicts positive repetition priming but negative semantic priming when people attempt, but fail, to extract the meanings of masked words. A retrospective prime-clarification account, in contrast, predicts that semantic and repetition priming effects will vary (being positive or negative) as a function of expectations about the prime-target relation. The data support a retrospective prime-clarification account, which, unlike center-surround theory, correctly predicted negative repetition priming effects.
Production of high momentum negative pions by 800 MeV protons AT 0° to 20°

The π− yield in the momentum range 500–740 MeV/c produced by 800 MeV protons incident on targets of Be and C has been measured at laboratory production angles between 0° and 20°. The yield of 725 MeV/c π− from Be and C at 0° is a factor of 6 greater than at 20°, for 600 MeV/c π− the factor is 3. The yield from beryllium is typically 30% higher than from carbon.
Experiments with Tunnel Junctions Using Ferromagnetic Metals

Results on tunnel current flow in junctions using ferromagnetic metals as electrodes or as added impurities at the barrier electrode interface are reported in this paper. Oxides of the ferromagnetic metal and aluminum oxide have been used to form the insulating barrier in combination with a second electrode made from aluminum, silver, or iron. Complete data are reported for various types of junctions using iron and iron oxide and covering a zero-bias resistance range at 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K from ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ \ensuremath{\Omega} to above ${10}^{8}$ \ensuremath{\Omega}. Preliminary results on junctions using cobalt and nickel are also reported. The most general feature of interest is a very strong non-Ohmic behavior at low bias voltage and a very rapid temperature dependence of tunnel conductance, particularly in the helium temperature range. Data obtained on Al-${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$-Al junctions doped with iron impurities at the ${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$-Al interface show a strong zero-bias anomaly corresponding to a resistance maximum. This behavior appears to be generally explained by an anomalous scattering mechanism near zero bias and has been compared to the behavior of identical undoped Al-${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$-Al junctions. The experiments on junctions using iron oxide barriers also show strong zero-bias anomalies, but in addition show a more complex temperature dependence and an unusual breakdown effect at high voltages. These latter features are possibly associated with special properties of magnetic iron oxide ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. The data on junctions with iron oxide barriers have also been compared to the behavior predicted by standard tunnel theory, and areas of qualitative agreement can be found if a relatively low barrier height is assumed. The appropriate barrier height has been estimated as 0.025 eV from Fowler-Nordheim plots of the data. The preliminary data on junctions made with $\mathrm{Co}{\mathrm{O}}_{x}$ and $\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{x}$ barriers also show some similar effects, but they are generally of smaller magnitude. The experimental data will be presented in detail along with a summary of the relevant theories.
Urban early childhood teachers' attitudes towards inclusive education

This study investigated the relationship between urban early childhood teachers' attitudes towards inclusive education and personal characteristics, professional background, and programme context. Questionnaires were completed by teachers (n = 130) who taught preschool children in primarily low-income, urban neighbourhoods. Attitude ratings were slightly above average, suggesting that teachers overall had a moderately positive attitude towards inclusive education. A hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine potential factors influencing ratings of inclusive education. Results indicated that none of the variables related to personal demographics significantly predicted overall attitude about inclusion. Among variables related to professional background, having had a positive past experience with children with disabilities predicted a positive attitude. The teachers' role within the programme also predicted attitude towards inclusive education, with lead teachers having a more positive attitude t...
Overview of the pathogenesis, prophylaxis and therapeusis of viral hepatitis B, with focus on reduction to practical applications.

Hepatitis B is the most important of several hepatitis viruses of man because of the number of cases of the disease and the frequent occurrence of persistent infection that may lead to cirrhosis and cancer of the liver. The pathology of hepatitis B infection results mainly from the self-destructive cytotoxic T cell response of the host. This may be modulated by soluble pre-core e antigen of the virus that induces immune tolerance and by cytokines elaborated by cytotoxic T cells, which suppress viral replication in the infected cell. Pathogenesis of the disease is markedly influenced by viral mutations. Persistent hepatitis B virus infection may be controlled in a minority of patients by passive α-interferon therapy, and in a majority of patients by the nucleoside lamivudine until resistance develops. The best means to control the disease is by prevention through application of the highly effective vaccine prepared using surface antigen of the virus. It is anticipated that the gradually increasing application of the vaccine throughout the world may lead to elimination of hepatitis B as an important medical problem. This paper is intended to provide a cursory overview of the contemporary knowledge relating to pathogenesis, prophylaxis and therapeusis of human hepatitis B.
Deformation mechanisms in ferritic/martensitic steels and the impact on mechanical design

Abstract Structural steels for nuclear applications have undergone rapid development during the past few decades, thanks to a combination of trial-and-error, mechanism-based optimization, and multiscale modeling approaches. Deformation mechanisms are shown to be intimately related to mechanical design via dominant plastic deformation modes. Because mechanical design rules are mostly based on failure modes associated with plastic strain damage accumulation, we present here the fundamental deformation mechanisms for Ferritic/Martensitic (F/M) steels, and delineate their operational range of temperature and stress. The connection between deformation mechanisms, failure modes, and mechanical design is shown through application of design rules. A specific example is given for the alloy F82H utilized in the design of a Test Blanket Module (TBM) in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), where several constitutive equations are developed for design-related mechanical properties.
Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Assessment: Area versus Thickness Measurements from Elliptical Scans Centered on the Optic Nerve

Purpose. An evaluation of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) provides important information on the health of the optic nerve. Standard measurements of the RNFL consider only thickness, but an accurate assessment should also consider axial length, size of the optic nerve head (ONH), blood vessel contribution, and distance of the scan from the ONH margin. In addition, although most primate ONHs are elliptical, the circular scan centered on the ONH is the mainstay in both clinical and research analyses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate thickness and area measures of RNFL cross sections when axial length and ONH shape are included.
The dynamics of barrier crossings in solution: The effect of a solvent polarity-dependent barrier

Abstract Experiments on the role of the solvent in the dynamics of photoisomerization involving large dipole moment changes are discussed. Variation of the photoisomerization dynamics of dimethylaminobenzonitrile in a series of solvents is attributed chiefly to polarity-induced barrier height changes rather than viscosity changes. Implications of these findings regarding the use of barrier crossing theories are discussed.
Kinetic and structural consequences of the leaving group in substrates of a class C β-lactamase

Abstract The class C β-lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99 is known to catalyze the hydrolysis of certain acyclic (thio)esters. Previous experiments have employed thioglycolate, m -hydroxybenzoate, and phenylphosphate leaving groups. The relative effectiveness of these leaving groups has now been quantitatively assessed by employment of a series of compounds with common acyl groups, and found to rank in the order phenylphosphate > m -hydroxybenzoate >thioglycolate. Structural models suggest that these leaving groups interact during acylation principally with Tyr 150, Lys 315, and Thr 316 of the β-lactamase active site. The positions of the leaving group carboxylates in these models is compared with those in published crystal structures of complexes of class C β-lactamases with β-lactams. The particular effectiveness of the acyl phosphate indicates the positions of two oxyanions that strongly interact with the active site. This information should be useful in the design of inhibitors of class C β-lactamases.
Tabernanthe iboga : an African narcotic plant of social importance

Tabernanthe iboga is an apocynaceous shrub native to the forests of Gabon and the northern Congo. First described in the late 1800’s, it has been reasonably well studied by botanists. The roots of T. iboga contain several indole alkaloids, of which the most important, ibogaine, is a central stimulant and in large doses an hallucinogen. In Gabon, the roots are used in the initiation rites to a number of secret societies, of which the Bwiti is most famous. The plant remains to this day a central feature of local religion, and its spectacular effects have hampered native acceptance of Christianity in Gabon.
Cold cardioplegic preservation aggravates alloantibody mediated cardiac dysfunction due to an increase in vascular resistance.

IN HEART TRANSPLANTATION, hyperacute rejection due to preformed antibodies is characterized by a rapid, irreversible, and complete graft dysfunction. However, when antibodies appear later in the posttransplantation course, the dysfunction they mediate can be reversible (acute humoral rejection). Hori et al recently reported that ischemia-reperfusion injury played a major role in the etiology of hyperacute rejection of cardiac xenografts. However, whether ischemia-reperfusion injury enhances the severity of hyperacute allograft rejection has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cold ischemiareperfusion injury in alloantibody-mediated cardiac dysfunction in an isolated heart model.
Cumulative effects on wetland landscapes: Links to wetland restoration in the United States and southern Canada

The cumulative effects of human actions on wetland ecosystems motivate current efforts at wetland restoration. They also have created in part the context within which restorations are undertaken. Using modern hydrogeological understanding of wetland-landscape linkages, I argue that restorations should begin with a cumulative impact analysis for the entire region in which the restoration is proposed. The analysis, however, should not focus merely on number of hectares of wetlands lost or degraded. It should be based on the concept of templates for wetland development. These templates are the diversity of settings created in specific landscapes by the complex interactions of hydrogeologic factors and climate. They control key hydrologic variables and hydrologically influenced chemical variables that cause specific wetland types to form and to be maintained through time. They also determine in large part the biogeochemical cycling characteristics specific to different types of wetlands. They thus account for both the biological and functional diversity of wetlands. A cumulative impact assessment for restoration purposes should identify the kinds, numbers, relative abundances, and spatial distribution of wetland templates in a region—both past and present. These past and present profiles of the wetland landscape can be used to make decisions regarding the type and location of restorations. Matching type and location to the appropriate hydrogeologic setting will maximize the probability of success for individual projects. Regional wetland diversity can be restored if individual restoration decisions about wetland type and location are made in light of the diversity of templates in past and present regional profiles.
An artificial intelligence approach to motif discovery in protein sequences: Application to steroid dehydrogenases

Abstract MEME (Multiple Expectation-maximization for Motif Elicitation) is a unique new software tool that uses artificial intelligence techniques to discover motifs shared by a set of protein sequences in a fully automated manner. This paper is the first detailed study of the use of MEME to analyse a large, biologically relevant set of sequences, and to evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of MEME in identifying structurally important motifs. For this purpose, we chose the short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase superfamily because it is large and phylogenetically diverse, providing a test of how well MEME can work on sequences with low amino acid similarity. Moreover, this dataset contains enzymes of biological importance, and because several enzymes have known X-ray crystallographic structures, we can test the usefulness of MEME for structural analysis. The first six motifs from MEME map onto structurally important α-helices and β-strands on Streptomyces hydrogenans 20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. We also describe MAST (Motif Alignment Search Tool), which conveniently uses output from MEME for searching databases such as SWISS-PROT and Genpept. MAST provides statistical measures that permit a rigorous evaluation of the significance of database searches with individual motifs or groups of motifs. A database search of Genpept90 by MAST with the log-odds matrix of the first six motifs obtained from MEME yields a bimodal output, demonstrating the selectivity of MAST. We show for the first time, using primary sequence analysis, that bacterial sugar epimerases are homologs of short-chain dehydrogenases. MEME and MAST will be increasingly useful as genome sequencing provides large datasets of phylogenetically divergent sequences of biomedical interest.
Designing an archive for born-digital dissertations

While many dissertations and theses continue to be largely print-based, increasingly the systems being used to archive these documents require digital formats for deposit into their system. The dissertations and theses are then indexed and easily searchable through Google and various library interfaces. However, new types of digital dissertations and theses are being "born-digital"---that is projects that are conceived and authored as works of new media---these new types of dissertations and theses often contain elements and media that are not depositable in existing systems such as ProQuest and ETD. The need to develop an open system that would support all digital file types (e.g., HTML/CSS, .mov or .mp4, or XML, JAVA, or PHP, etc.) became apparent. The Digital Dissertation Depository (D3) sought to begin the work of building an open-source, open-access a system to support these born-digital dissertations and theses.
Young mother-father dyads and maternal harsh parenting behavior.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether the age of parents predicted maternal harsh parenting behavior, specifically whether younger mothers might be at higher risk than older mothers, and which paternal characteristics might be associated with maternal parenting behavior. METHODOLOGY: This study used data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (FFCW) study. In the present study, the authors examined a subsample of families for which complete data were available on all variables that were used in the analyses (n=1,597). Based on the parents' age at the time of the child's birth, mother-father age-dyad types were classified, and selected paternal factors were used to examine their association with maternal harsh parenting behavior. Psychological aggression, physical aggression, and self-reports of spanking were used as proxies for maternal harsh parenting behavior. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses indicated that adolescent mothers, regardless of how old their partners were, were at higher risk for harsh parenting behavior than older adult mothers. Regarding paternal factors, paternal coercion against mother and the fathers' use of spanking were significantly associated with all three proxies for maternal harsh parenting behavior. Fathers' employment was a risk factor for maternal physical aggression. CONCLUSION: This study supported findings from previous studies that younger mothers may indeed be at greater risk for harsh parenting behavior. It is critical, therefore, that they acquire appropriate parenting behavior and develop a healthy relationship with their children. Additional studies, both cross-sectional and longitudinal, are needed to involve their partners (i.e., their child's father) in order to shed light on ways of preventing harsh parenting behavior and examining the role of fathers in maternal parenting behavior. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The present study calls for more attention to sex education and intervention programs in school and health care settings as important components of prevention services. Practitioners need to better understand the concept of harsh parenting behavior in order to work with young parents and prevent future physical child abuse. Policy makers should support these efforts and research should be done that engages both mothers and fathers and seeks to enhance and modify existing programs for youths. Language: en
Denitrification and N2O emission from forested and cultivated alluvial clay soil

Restored forested wetlands reduce N loads in surface discharge through plant uptake and denitrification. While removal of reactive N reduces impact on receiving waters, it is unclear whether enhanced denitrification also enhances emissions of the greenhouse gas N2O, thus compromising the water-quality benefits of restoration. This study compares denitrification rates and N2O:N2 emission ratios from Sharkey clay soil in a mature bottomland forest to those from an adjacent cultivated site in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Potential denitrification of forested soil was 2.4 times of cultivated soil. Using intact soil cores, denitrification rates of forested soil were 5.2, 6.6 and 2.0 times those of cultivated soil at 70, 85 and 100% water-filled pore space (WFPS), respectively. When NO3 was added, N2O emissions from forested soil were 2.2 times those of cultivated soil at 70% WFPS. At 85 and 100% WFPS, N2O emissions were not significantly different despite much greater denitrification rates in the forested soil because N2O:N2 emission ratios declined more rapidly in forested soil as WFPS increased. These findings suggest that restoration of forested wetlands to reduce NO3 in surface discharge will not contribute significantly to the atmospheric burden of N2O.
Pharmacodynamics of antifungal drugs: A strategy to optimize efficacy

Pharmacodynamic studies examine the relationship between drug pharmacokinetics and outcome. These investigations have been shown to be helpful for the design of dosing intervals, choice of optimal dose levels, and the development of susceptibility breakpoints. Pharmacodynamic studies with available antifungal agents have been useful in developing optimal dosing regimens to improve efficacy and reduce treatment-associated toxicities. This review summarizes accepted antifungal concepts and discusses recent advances in the field.
OSTEOPONTIN PROMOTES PATHOLOGIC MINERALIZATION IN ARTICULAR CARTILAGE

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals are commonly found in osteoarthritic joint tissues, where they predict severe disease. Unlike other types of calcium phosphate crystals, CPPD crystals form almost exclusively in the pericellular matrix of damaged articular cartilage, suggesting a key role for the extracellular matrix milieu in their development. Osteopontin is a matricellular protein found in increased quantities in the pericellular matrix of osteoarthritic cartilage. Osteopontin modulates the formation of calcium-containing crystals in many settings. We show here that osteopontin stimulates ATP-induced CPPD crystal formation by chondrocytes in vitro. This effect is augmented by osteopontin's incorporation into extracellular matrix by transglutaminase enzymes, is only modestly affected by its phosphorylation state, and is inhibited by integrin blockers. Surprisingly, osteopontin stimulates transglutaminase activity in cultured chondrocytes in a dose-responsive manner. As elevated levels of transglutaminase activity promote extracellular matrix changes that permit CPPD crystal formation, this is one possible mechanism of action. We demonstrate the presence of osteopontin in the pericellular matrix of chondrocytes adjacent to CPPD deposits and near active transglutaminases. Thus, osteopontin may play an important role in facilitating CPPD crystal formation in articular cartilage.
Differential effects of 2,3-DPG, ATP and inositol pentaphosphate (IP5) on the oxygen equilibria of duck embryonic, fetal and adult hemoglobins

1. 1. In addition to the fetal and adult hemoglobins (F, A and D) already described in the Peking Duck, there are two embryonic hemoglobins (E1 and E2) which disappear by day 21 of incubation. 2. 2. Fetal hemoglobin does not exhibit any specific 2,3 DPG effect, in spite of the fact that this is the major red cell phosphorylated intermediate during the last quarter of the prehatching period. Conversely, embryonic hemoglobins are sensitive to IP5 in spite of the fact this compound is absent in the corresponding red cells. 3. 3. ATP preferentially lowers the oxygen affinity of Hb A. 4. 4. IP5 is the major organic phosphate effector with respect to oxygen affinity in vitro in all duck hemoglobins studied. 5. 5. Hb D exhibits an increased Bohr effect as compared with Hbs A and F. 6. 6. Considering the organic phosphates present at each period of development, the corresponding hemoglobin pattern, and the p50 induced by these phosphorylated compounds we suggest that there is a need for a higher oxygen affinity for the red cells during the immediate pre-hatching period and that 2,3 DPG could be the appropriate phosphate modulator for this phenomena.
An approximate method for predicting annulus inlet turbulent flow development characteristics

Newtonian fluid turbulent flow development characteristics in inlet region of smooth concentric annulus from momentum integral equations
An Attitudinal Model of Technology-Based Self-Service: Moderating Effects of Consumer Traits and Situational Factors

The accelerating growth in technology-based self-service today is giving rise to questions about the acceptance of such forms of service delivery by all kinds of consumers and under different situational contexts. This study investigates the moderating effects of consumer traits and situational factors on the relationships within a core attitudinal model for technology-based self-service. An experimental design is used with perceived waiting time and social anxiety (through perceived crowding) as the situational treatments. Relevant consumer traits for technology-based self-service are examined and include inherent novelty seeking, self-efficacy with respect to technology self-consciousness, and the need for interaction with an employee. The results lend support to the hypothesized moderating effects. Implications for service practitioners as well as directions for future research are discussed.
Collection and handling of ultrathin serial sections for 3-dimensional reconstruction

Serial sectioning for 3-D reconstruction requires a highly skilled and experienced individual to collect ribbons of ultrathin sections on formvar-coated grids, and to handle the grids after section collection. A simple method is described for placing ribbons in an orderly serial fashion on formvar-coated grids, by a microtomist with average experience. Prior to sectioning, a wax ledge is prepared on the sloping edge of a glass knife in order to support a formvar-coated grid held in a horizontal slot cut in the wax. After a ribbon is formed, the water in the trough is slowly withdrawn to allow the ribbon to settle on the grid. The grids are then placed in an easy-to-make plastic chamber so that the formvar does not get ruptured during drying. The chamber can also be used for staining and storage of grids thereafter. Approximately 4000 sections from mudpuppy retinal cells have been successfully collected using this method. Computer 3-D reconstruction of the individual cells has been done.