cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Federal Policy for Preserving Farmland: The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program

Since 1996, the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of USDA, has been the federal government’s chief policy for preventing the urban development of agricultural lands. The program helps state and local governments and nonprofit conservation organizations to fund the purchase of easements on privately owned farms and ranches, permanently preventing development. How the FRPP has dealt with a complex intergovernmental delivery network is the theme of this article. Examining the program’s participation requirements and funding patterns, we find that the FRPP operates differently from other federal assistance programs. In its short history, it has pursued an intergovernmental strategy of accommodating state and local interests while vigorously retaining core agency values and centralized control.
Theory of Gradient Elution Liquid Chromatography with Linear Solvent Strength: Part 1. Migration and Elution Parameters of a Solute Band

Based on the previous theoretical developments most notably by Snyder, this report offers the most complete theoretical framework of gradient elution LC with linear solvent strength (LSS). All statements of the theory are formulated as explicit mathematical expressions. The physics of chromatography in general and of the LSS model in particular were used only to justify the most basic mathematical expressions of the framework. Everything else was obtained by means of verifiable mathematical transformations. The framework was used for derivation of the largest systematic collection of mathematical expressions describing migration and elution parameters of a solute band. Majority of these expressions are new. They include not only the elution parameters of a band, but also previously unknown migration parameters as functions of distance and time traveled by the band. The set of the band parameters in this report was chosen on the basis of the needs for the study of the peak width formation (part 2 of this series) and for detailed study of performance of gradient LC similar to that recently published for temperature-programed GC. As an illustration of the utility of several parameters considered here, a simple way of prediction of a possibility of the reversal of a solute elution order due to the change in the gradient steepness has been found.
Modeling clear phase-mask materials for sub-50 nm X-ray application

Summary form only given. This paper presents a powerful modeling approach to the X-ray exposure operating space of a silicon nitride clear phase-shifter mask to produce sub-50 nm features. Although silicon nitride was examined, the approach can be used to model many other materials including Si, metals, and oxides, including complex shapes. Because this type of mask relies on both diffraction and phase shifting, the four factors, absorber thickness, absorber wall slope, gap, and CD were identified as critical to the resulting intensity profile. By first developing a central composite experimental design, we then used a wavefront modeling toolset to calculate intensity and linewidth responses for each of the response surface cells. Excellent second-order models were fit to the data for each of the responses.
Testing and certification of trustworthy systems introduction to minitrack

Modern society depends on complex information systems to control key infrastructures, with increasingly severe consequences of failure. Certifying the trustworthiness of these systems presents significant challenges. The Testing and Certification of Trustworthy Systems Minitrack focuses on research that will drive widespread use of rigorous testing and certification technologies. Specific topic areas include: • New techniques for trustworthiness certification • Testing and certification metrics and measures • Testing attributes such as security and survivability • Engineering practices and tools for certification • Testing in system maintenance and evolution • Specification methods to support system certification • Role of correctness verification in system certification • Industrial case studies in testing and certification The Minitrack papers are summarized below.
A FIELD STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONAL FEEDBACK ENVIRONMENT AND PERFORMANCE

This field study used the Job Feedback Survey (Herold & Parsons, 1985) and performance data gathered from multiple sources to examine the relationship between the perceived organizational feedback environment and performance. Regression analyses indicated that, while holding the other feedback variables constant, feedback from supervisory and organizational sources was related to reported job performance while feedback from peers and self was not. Most of the unique variance in performance explained by feedback was also accounted for by feedback from organizational and supervisory sources. Negative expressions from organizational/supervisory sources (e.g., the supervisor expressing anger, the company communicating dissatisfaction with poor performance) were related to lower performance, and positive job changes initiated by these sources (e.g., increasing responsibility, assignment to special jobs) were related to higher performance. Higher performers did not receive more feedback than lower performers but did receive more total positive feedback. Supplemental issues, possible explanations, and implications of the findings are discussed.
Oxygen regulation of gene expression: a study in opposites.

Oxygen is crucial to aerobic metabolism, but excesses of oxygen or reactive oxygen species (ROS) can injure cells. This minireview addresses two transcription factors that regulate several cellular responses to oxygen tension. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a heterodimeric protein activated by hypoxia. Levels of HIF-1 are regulated by removal of the HIF-1alpha subunit through ubiquination and proteasomal destruction under normoxic conditions. Hypoxia inhibits the ubiquination of HIF-1alpha, preventing its destruction and allowing it to bind to hypoxia-responsive elements in gene promoter, enhancer, and intronic sequences. HIF-1 induces the expression of the hypoxia responsive genes vascular endothelial growth factor and erythropoietin. Its dysregulation has been implicated in von Hippel-Lindau disease. Nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) is a family of pleotropic, dimeric transcription factors, and has a complex pattern of regulation. Under normoxic conditions, NFkappaB is bound to one of several inhibitory proteins (e.g., IkappaB) that prevent its nuclear translocation. Hyperoxia or elevations of ROS cause the ubiquination and destruction of the inhibitory proteins, freeing NFkappaB and allowing it to bind to target gene promoters. Hyperoxia in cell and animal models and acute lung injury in humans induce the expression of multiple proinflammatory cytokines through NFkappaB-dependent mechanisms. Although HIF-1 and NFkappaB respond to changes in pO(2), the precise nature of the oxygen sensing and transduction pathways is unclear in both cases. Both heme-protein and redox-sensitive mechanisms have been proposed. Improved understanding of oxygen-sensitive gene regulation may suggest targeted therapies for human disease.
Septic arthritis due to nonencapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans with coexisting sarcoidosis.

A patient with septic arthritis of the knee due to a nonencapsulated strain of Cryptococcus neoformans neoformans is reported. Predisposing factors included repeated trauma and sarcoidosis. Serologic tests and pathologic examination were consistent with the mutant strains recovered from infected tissue. The organism was eradicated by combined synovectomy and chemotherapy with amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine. The significance of capsular material is discussed. To our knowledge this is the first reported example of human infection caused by a nonencapsulated C neoformans.
Heart, body, and soul: impact of church-based smoking cessation interventions on readiness to quit.

Abstract Background. Given the relatively low spontaneous quit rates and poor treatment outcomes among African American smokers, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of a multimodal culturally relevant intervention for smoking behavior change compared with a self-help strategy among urban African Americans in Baltimore churches. Method. This randomized controlled trial in urban African American churches used the stages of change model to compare the effectiveness of two interventions in moving smokers along a continuum toward smoking cessation. Twenty-two churches were randomly assigned to either an intensive culturally specific intervention or a minimal self-help intervention. Smokers were interviewed at baseline church health fairs and at a 1-year follow-up. Self-reported quitters at follow-up were evaluated using saliva cotinine and exhaled carbon monoxide levels (CO). Stages of change were measured by applying a standardized stages of change instrument to individual interview response sequences. Analysis compared the two intervention groups at 1-year follow-up with baseline stages. Outcomes included quit rates and positive progress along the stages of change. Results. Multiple logistic regression results, controlling for intrachurch correlation and demographic and baseline smoking characteristics, showed that the multimodal cultural intervention group was more likely to make positive progress along the stages of change continuum, compared with the self-help intervention group (OR = 1.68; P = 0.04). Church denomination and intervention status interacted in the multivariate model; Baptists in the intensive intervention were three times (OR = 3.23; P = 0.010) more likely to make progress than all the other denomination groups. Conclusion. The multimodal culturally relevant intervention was more likely than a self-help intervention to positively influence smoking behavior. This is the first community-based intervention study to report progress along the stages of change as a process-oriented measure of success. It is notable that a spiritually based model focusing on environmental sanctions was more likely than a standard church disseminated self-help intervention to positively influence smoking behavior in an urban African American population.
Learning the Ropes: One Year in the Life of a Congressional Staffer

Anthropologists have often been accused of indulging in the exotic and esoteric. As the criticism goes, such research priority diverts us from investigating issues with direct relevance to our society's most pressing problems—racism, economic inequality, and the seeming inability of our governmental system to address these issues as we cross the metaphorical "bridge to the twenty-first century." As the following case study asserts, anthropologists who possess the tools to address inequality in the United States and can access research money and tools of scholastic research also have the responsibility to make field data available to legislators and others in the position to affect positive social change. From 1990-91, I used my skills of participant observation to study members of the United States Congress. With the help of a Graduate Legislative Fellowship awarded by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, I was able to observe legislators in the act of making laws that tend to maintain social inequa...
Epinephrine Protects Cancer Cells from Apoptosis via Activation of cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase and BAD Phosphorylation

The stress hormone epinephrine is known to elicit multiple systemic effects that include changes in cardiovascular parameters and immune responses. However, information about its direct action on cancer cells is limited. Here we provide evidence that epinephrine reduces sensitivity of cancer cells to apoptosis through interaction with β2-adrenergic receptors. The antiapoptotic mechanism of epinephrine primarily involves phosphorylation and inactivation of the proapoptotic protein BAD by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Moreover, BAD phosphorylation was observed at epinephrine concentrations found after acute and chronic psychosocial stress. Antiapoptotic signaling by epinephrine could be one of the mechanisms by which stress promotes tumorigenesis and decreases the efficacy of anti-cancer therapies.
Perturbation theory of antiferromagnetism

Abstract An expansion in terms of connected diagrams is derived for the partition function of an antiferromagnetic spin system with isotropic exchange Hamiltonian. It is shown that the series can be obtained as a perturbation over the Neel theory. A high-temperature perturbation expansion is suggested, which is of similar structure, but with the internal field being replaced by a purely imaginary quantity. The importance of summation methods is stressed in connection with the fact that the entire formalism is in configuration space. A method is indicated in which the thermodynamic energy plays a central role.
Estrogen alters trkA and p75 neurotrophin receptor expression within sympathetic neurons.

Survival and growth of sympathetic neurons is regulated by nerve growth factor acting through trkA and p75NTR receptors. Sympathetic neurons are also affected by gonadal steroid hormones, particularly estrogen. To determine if estrogen may influence sympathetic neurons via altered neurotrophin receptor expression, we investigated effects of acute or chronic estrogen administration on levels of trkA and p75NTR proteins, numbers of immunoreactive neurons, and numbers of neurons expressing trkA, p75NTR, and estrogen receptor-α transcripts. Superior cervical ganglia from ovariectomized or estradiol-treated rats were processed for in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry, and percentages of stained neurons quantitated or processed for Western blot analysis. In ovariectomized rats, approximately 50% of sympathetic neurons expressed trkA mRNA and protein. Acute estrogen administration did not affect trkA transcript expression, but reduced trkA protein significantly. Chronic treatment did not alter neuronal trkA expression. Approximately 70% of sympathetic neurons in ovariectomized rats expressed p75NTR transcripts and about 50% showed p75NTR immunoreactivity. Acute estrogen did not affect p75NTR expression. However, chronic estrogen reduced p75NTR mRNA and protein expression significantly. Fifty to sixty percent of sympathetic neurons in ovariectomized rats displayed estrogen receptor-α mRNA. After acute estrogen administration, estrogen receptor-α transcript expression increased by 35%, although this was not maintained chronically. These findings indicate that estrogen can influence sympathetic neuronal neurotrophin receptor expression as well as estrogen receptor-α. Reduced trkA expression after acute estrogen may transiently predispose neurons to degenerative events, while diminished p75NTR expression by chronic estrogen administration may exert long-term effects on survival or axonal outgrowth in sympathetic neurons. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2005
Role of amino acids 261-418 in proteolytic cleavage of the extracellular region of the human thyrotropin receptor.

Previous in vivo cross-linking studies of TSH to the recombinant TSH receptor revealed that the receptor exists at least in part as a single chain glycoprotein of approximately about 100 kilodaltons (kDa), with intramolecular disulfide bonds. TSH also binds to a 54-kDa amino-terminal fragment of the TSH receptor (cleaved up-stream of amino acid residue 317). In the present study in order to better understand the structure of the TSH receptor, we covalently cross-linked radiolabeled TSH to six TSH-LH receptor extracellular region chimeras and the wild-type TSH receptor expressed on Chinese hamster ovary cells in vivo. In these chimeras, different regions of the TSH receptor were substituted with the homologous regions of the LH receptor. When analyzed under nonreducing conditions by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the TSH-cross-linked products were similar to all TSH-LH receptor chimeras and the wild-type receptor. In contrast, differences among the receptors were noted when the TSH-cross-linked produc...
Experimental and theoretical investigation of the inflation of variable thickness parisons

In today's blow molding of complex parts, an optimal resin distribution is critical to a successful operation. These goals are mostly attained through a technique known as parison programming. The process involves varying the die gap during extrusion and therefore results in a parison having a variable thickness along its length. The subsequent inflation of a variable thickness parison is a complex phenomenon involving the interaction of many process variables. The final thickness distribution and inflation patterns were obtained for various programmed parisons. Constant, one step, two step, and sinusoidal thickness parisons were studied. The inflation patterns were monitored by employing a transparent mold in conjunction with a video camera. The experimental data indicated the presence of an oscillatory inflation pattern for some of the variable thickness parisons. The experimental final part thickness distribution for these cases was highly nonlinear. Theoretical predictions of the final thickness distribution were also obtained for some of the cases. The simulation is based on the inflation of a Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic material. A wide range of deformation is accounted for by introducing an evolutionary Mooney constant, dependent on the level of deformation.
Damage diagnosis algorithm using a sequential change point detection method with an unknown distribution for damage

This paper introduces a damage diagnosis algorithm for civil structures that uses a sequential change point detection method for the cases where the post-damage feature distribution is unknown a priori. This algorithm extracts features from structural vibration data using time-series analysis and then declares damage using the change point detection method. The change point detection method asymptotically minimizes detection delay for a given false alarm rate. The conventional method uses the known pre- and post-damage feature distributions to perform a sequential hypothesis test. In practice, however, the post-damage distribution is unlikely to be known a priori. Therefore, our algorithm estimates and updates this distribution as data are collected using the maximum likelihood and the Bayesian methods. We also applied an approximate method to reduce the computation load and memory requirement associated with the estimation. The algorithm is validated using multiple sets of simulated data and a set of experimental data collected from a four-story steel special moment-resisting frame. Our algorithm was able to estimate the post-damage distribution consistently and resulted in detection delays only a few seconds longer than the delays from the conventional method that assumes we know the post-damage feature distribution. We confirmed that the Bayesian method is particularly efficient in declaring damage with minimal memory requirement, but the maximum likelihood method provides an insightful heuristic approach.
Human IgA-myeloma protein which binds nitrophenyl ligands.

Abstract A human IgA myeloma protein which binds nitrophenyl ligands is characterized. The protein, with alpha chains of subclass Al and λ-type light chains, can be isolated in both monomer and polymer form. The association constant of the monomer (mol. wt. 162,000) for N -(2,4 dinitrophenyl) ϵ-amino-caproate is 2·65 × 10 4 M −1 as determined by equilibrium dialysis. The number of antigen combining sites was calculated to be 2·12 per pour polypeptide chain monomer, suggesting that the valence of human IgAl antibody is 2.
Hydrogen peroxide restrains endothelium-derived nitric oxide bioactivity—Role for iron-dependent oxidative stress

Vascular diseases are characterized by impairment of endothelial-derived nitric oxide (NO) bioactivity and increased vascular levels of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Here we examined the implications of H(2)O(2) for agonist-stimulated endothelial NO bioactivity in rabbit aortic rings and cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC). Vessels pre-treated with H(2)O(2) exhibited impaired endothelial-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine or calcium ionophore. In contrast, H(2)O(2) had no effect on endothelium-independent relaxation induced by a NO donor, indicating a defect in endothelium-derived NO. This defect was not related to eNOS catalytic activity; treatment of PAEC with H(2)O(2) enhanced agonist-stimulated eNOS activity indicated by increased eNOS phosphorylation at Ser-1177 and de-phosphorylation at Thr-495 and enhanced conversion of [(3)H]-L-arginine to [(3)H]-L-citrulline that was prevented by inhibitors of Src and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases. Despite activating eNOS, H(2)O(2) impaired endothelial NO bioactivity indicated by attenuation of the increase in intracellular cGMP in PAEC stimulated with calcium ionophore or NO. The decrease in cGMP was not due to impaired guanylyl cyclase as H(2)O(2) treatment increased cGMP accumulation in response to BAY 41-2272, a NO-independent activator of soluble guanylyl cyclase. At concentrations that impaired endothelial NO bioactivity H(2)O(2) increased intracellular oxidative stress and size of the labile iron pool in PAEC. The increase in oxidative stress was prevented by the free radical scavenger's tempol or tiron and the iron chelator desferrioxamine and these antioxidants reversed the H(2)O(2)-induced impairment of NO bioactivity in PAEC. This study shows that despite promoting eNOS activity, H(2)O(2) impairs endothelial NO bioactivity by promoting oxidative inactivation of synthesized NO. The study highlights another way in which oxidative stress may impair NO bioactivity during vascular disease.
Dications of Fluorenylidenes: Conformational and Electronic Effects on the Paratropicity/Antiaromaticity of Fluorenyl Cations with Cyclic Substituents

Oxidation of tetrabenzofulvalene derivatives 1−5 containing fluorenylidene and 5−7-membered rings resulted in the formation of dications which are effectively fluorenyl cations with perpendicular cyclic substituents. The observed paratropicity of the fluorenyl cation in these systems is attributed to an antiaromatic ring current, after evaluation of the effects of geometry, charge density, and polarity of the medium, and is dependent on the geometry and electronic character of the cyclic substituent. A linear relationship between the 1H shifts of appropriate protons of the fluorenyl system and 13C shift of carbon a suggests that the effect of the substituent is transmitted through cross-hyperconjugation.
Array-Based Real-Time Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Ocular Imaging

Although various ophthalmic imaging methods, including fundus photography and optical coherence tomography, have been applied for effective diagnosis of ocular diseases with high spatial resolution, most of them are limited by shallow imaging penetration depth and a narrow field of view. Also, many of those imaging modalities are optimized to provide microscopic anatomical information, while functional or cellular information is lacking. Compared to other ocular imaging modalities, photoacoustic imaging can achieve relatively deep penetration depth and provide more detailed functional and cellular data based on photoacoustic signal generation from endogenous contrast agents such as hemoglobin and melanin. In this paper, array-based ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging was demonstrated to visualize pigmentation in the eye as well as overall ocular structure. Fresh porcine eyes were visualized using a real-time ultrasound micro-imaging system and an imaging probe supporting laser pulse delivery. In addition, limited photoacoustic imaging field of view was improved by an imaging probe tilting method, enabling visualization of most regions of the retina covered in the ultrasound imaging.
The onset of nonlinearity in cosmological structure.

: We discuss the progression of growth of cosmological structure, from the quasilinear evolution of nearly Gaussian fluctuations on large scales into highly non-Gaussian, strongly nonlinear structure on small scales. A systematic development in perturbation theory describes the first departures from homogeneity but fails to reproduce the fully nonlinear results. Physical insight, conceptual models, and symmetries are useful in the strong clustering regime. A phenomenological model with input information from the quasilinear regime provides enticing results for the strongly nonlinear regime.
Out-of-pocket health spending between low-and higher-income populations: who is at risk of having high expenses and high burdens?

Objective:We studied the effects of health insurance, health care needs, and demographic and area characteristics on out-of-pocket health care spending for low and higher income insured populations.Materials and Methods:We used the 2002 National Survey of America's Families to analyze out-of-pocket
Three-zone simulated moving bed with partial feed and selective withdrawal

Three-zone simulated moving bed (SMB) systems are studied for binary separation within the linear range. Simulations were done by modifying the well-known Lapidus and Amundson dispersion model to include changing velocities and variable feed concentrations. Several different operations, total feed and withdrawal and partial feed and withdrawal, are tested and compared. The total operation is the traditional SMB operation, where feed or product are added or withdrawn continuously at a constant rate. The partial operations have variable port flow rates. For both, the three-zone SMB with one column per zone improves its productivity, desorbent efficiency, product purities, and recoveries. With the same total amount of adsorbent, the separation achieved in a three-zone SMB with 1 column/zone and partial feed and partial withdrawal was slightly better than the separation in a traditional four-zone SMB with 2 columns/zone.
Comment on "Moving Glass Phase of Driven Lattices"

A Comment on the Letter by T. Giamarchi and P. Le Doussal, Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 3408 (1996). The authors of the Letter offer a reply.
Post-translational regulation in plants employing a diverse set of polypeptide tags

The concept that plants exploit polypeptides as post-translational modifiers is rapidly emerging as an important method to manipulate various cellular processes. The best known is Ub (ubiquitin) that serves as reusable tag for selective protein degradation by the 26 S proteasome and for endosomal trafficking. Genomic analyses indicate that Ub pathway alone comprises over 6% of the Arabidopsis proteome with thousands of proteins being targets. Consequently, this pathway influences much of plant biology. Others tags include RUB-1 (related to Ub-1; also known as NEDD8), SUMO (small Ub-like modifier), ATG-8 (autophagy-8) and ATG-12, UFM-1 (Ub-fold modifier-1) and HUB-1 (homology to Ub-1). Preliminary studies indicate that these tags have much more limited sets of targets and provide more specialized functions, including transcriptional regulation, protein localization, autophagic turnover and antagonizing the effects of Ub. On the basis of their widespread distribution and pervasive functions, peptide tags can now be considered as prime players in plant cell regulation.
The Implementation Exchange: Science and Affairs

In October 1982, the Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh sponsored a national conference entitled “Producing Useful Knowledge for Organizations.” Behavioral scientists from around the nation were invited to present their views concerning rigor versus relevance and the overall usefulness of organizational research. The interest shown in the conference and the positions taken by the participants clearly indicated to us that a tremendous dilemma exists in the behavioral sciences between rigor and relevance; validity and impact; truth and pragmatism. Such a dilemma also exists in the management sciences. Managers are people of affairs. They conduct business; they engage in transactions with other people; they implement things; they, in one word, do. Scientists are people of knowledge. They are interested in systematizing knowledge through observation, study, experimentation, replication, and the use of all available scientific tools to develop truth.
Modulation of T Cell Metabolism and Function through Calcium Signaling.

As a vital second messenger in the activation of lymphocytes, the divalent cation Ca2+ plays numerous roles in adaptive immune responses. Importantly, Ca2+ signaling is essential for T cell activation, tolerance of self-antigens, and homeostasis. Supporting the essential role of Ca2+ signaling in T cell biology, the Ca2+ regulated protein phosphatase calcineurin is a key target of pharmacologic inhibition for preventing allograft rejection and for autoimmune therapy. Recent studies have highlighted the unique role of Stim1 and Orai1/2 proteins in the regulation of store operated/calcium release activated calcium (CRAC) channels in the context of T cells. While Ca2+ is known to modulate T cell activation via effects on calcineurin and its target, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), this second messenger also regulates other pathways, including protein kinase C (PKC), calmodulin kinases (CamKs) and cytoskeletal proteins. Ca2+ also modulates the unique metabolic changes that occur during in distinct T cell stages and subsets. Herein, we discuss the means by which Ca2+ mobilization modulates cellular metabolism following T cell receptor ligation. Further, we highlight the crosstalk between mitochondrial metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and CRAC channel activity. As a target of mitochondrial ROS and Ca2+ regulation, we describe the involvement of the serine/threonine kinase DRAK2 in the context of these processes. Given the important roles for Ca2+ dependent signaling and cellular metabolism in adaptive immune responses, the crosstalk between these pathways is likely to be important for the regulation of T cell activation, tolerance and homeostasis.
Laparoscopic techniques applied to open surgery: sliding-clip renorrhaphy.

OBJECTIVES To describe our initial experience with the laparoscopic technique of sliding-clip renorrhaphy applied to open surgery for small renal masses. METHODS Knotless renorrhaphy with the sliding-clip technique is performed by securing suture with Hem-o-lok clips slid under tension against the renal capsule and locked in place with Lapra-Ty clips. This approach was initially described by laparoscopic surgeons to aid with hemostasis, prevent urine leaks, and shorten warm ischemia time. We evaluated the utility of this technique during open partial nephrectomy. RESULTS From February 2009 to June 2010, 9 patients, with mean age of 54 years, underwent open partial nephrectomy using the sliding-clip technique. Mean ischemia time was <20 minutes, with a mean blood loss of approximately 280 mL. No intraoperative complications were reported. One clinically significant complication of a urinoma was found in the perioperative period. No bleeding complications developed. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study have shown that the sliding-clip technique is safe and effective in the open surgical management of small renal masses. We recommend this approach over traditional knot tying for renal reconstruction.
A Study of the Isolation, Cultivation and Pathogenicity of Actinomyces Israeli Recovered from the Human Mouth and from Actinomycosis in Man

The name Actinomyces israeli is used here to refer to the parasitic organisms whose characteristics and etiological relationship to actinomycosis were first defined by Israel (1878)1 and by Wolff and Israel (1891).2 This name has been used by Grootten8 in France and by Negroni and Bonfiglioni4 in Argentina. The specific name has likewise been adopted by Puntoni5 in Italy and by Waksman8 in this country. It replaces the ambiguous terms Actinomyces bovis and A. hominis, both of which require the modifying phrase "Wolff-Israel type" to make them apply clearly to the organism in question. Puntoni has recommended the generic name Actinobacterium to distinguish these organisms from saprophytic Actinomyces; and Waksman has revived the term Cohnistreptothrix (Pinoy)7 for the same purpose; but neith^teeems likely to supplant the commonly 3^^fted name Actinomyces. Since this paper \^^^Btoared for publication Waksman and He^^^Rve sanctioned the exclusive use of the gj^^^K^me Actinomyces for the parasitic organi^J^^^^fek form the subject of this paper.
U.S. EPA’s Toxicity Reference Database: Martin and Dix Respond

We appreciate the letter from Janus of CropLife America commenting on that group’s assessment of the database and our article (Martin et al. 2009a) from its perspective as an agriculture and pest-management trade organization. We also appreciate the CropLife America’s continued interest in the U.S. EPA’s (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) ToxRefDB and ToxCast research programs, including the review of much of the data entered into ToxRefDB. However, Janus’s comments do not address the ToxRefDB applications presented in our article, but instead create hypothetical uses of the database and reported data. For example, in Table 3 of our article (Martin et al. 2009a), we presented multi-gender, multisite, and multispecies rodent tumorigens in order to provide data in a systematic and computable format for predictive toxicity models incorporating potency values. In contrast, Janus and CropLife America refer to a hypothetical regulatory application of this same animal tumorigenicity data in a ranking system never suggested in our article. The U.S. EPA has gone to great lengths to make ToxRefDB and its development as transparent as possible. Three manuscripts and data sets have been published to date (Knudsen et al. 2009; Martin et al. 2009a, 2009b), and the standardized vocabulary and a version of the database are available on the ToxRefDB website (U.S. EPA 2008b). We will continue to make every effort to publicly release information from ToxRefDB as it continues to develop. We recognize the complexity of pathologic progression to cancer. The end point progression scheme we presented (Martin et al. 2009a) included aggregation of prolifera tive, preneoplastic, and neoplastic lesions for the development of predictive signatures from in vitro data coming from the ToxCast research program (U.S. EPA 2008a). This approach is not controversial in the context of predictive toxicology research and is supported by the literature (Cohen and Arnold 2008; Hanahan and Weinberg 2000). We agree that it is important to incorporate pharmacokinetics and metabolism, including chemical detoxification and activation, into predictive toxicology efforts. However, this issue is outside the scope of our article (Martin et al. 2009a) and is being addressed in other aspects of the ToxCast research program. Two additional papers on multigenerational reproductive and prenatal developmental toxicity studies in ToxRefDB have been recently published (Knudsen et al. 2009; Martin et al. 2009b), again with the primary goal of providing diverse end points for predictive modeling as part of the ToxCast research program (Dix et al. 2007). Of toxicity end points in ToxRefDB, we are using only those of sufficient quality for predictive modeling, and we are taking care to distinguish between missing versus negative data. We view ToxRefDB as a valuable resource to the scientific community and one in which the U.S. EPA, stakeholders, and other interested parties can work together to ensure the success of ToxRefDB and the larger ToxCast effort.
Reactions of the Neurospora crassa nitrate reductase with NAD(P) analogs.

Abstract The assimilatory NADPH-nitrate reductase (NADPH:nitrate oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.6.3) from Neurospora crassa is competitively inhibited by 3-aminopyridine adenine dinucleotide (AAD) and 3-aminopyridine adenine dinucleotide phosphate (AADP) which are structural analogs of NAD and NADP, respectively. The amino group of the pyridine ring of AAD(P) can react with nitrous acid to yield the diazonium derivative which may covalently bind at the NAD(P) site. As a result of covalent attachment, diazotized AAD(P) causes time-dependent irreversible inactivation of nitrate reductase. However, only the NADPHdependent activities of the nitrate reductase, i.e. the overall NADPH-nitrate reductase and the NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities, are inactivated. The reduced methyl viologen- and reduced FAD-nitrate reductase activities which do not utilize NADPH are not inhibited. This inactivation by diazotized AADP is prevented by I mM NADP. The inclusion of 1 μM FAD can also prevent inactivation, but the FAD effect differs from the NADP protection in that even after removal of the exogenous FAD by extensive dialysis or Sephadex G-25 filtration chromatography, the enzyme is still protected against inactivation. The FAD-generated protected form of nitrate reductase could again be inactivated if the enzyme was treated with NADPH, dialyzed to remove the NADPH, and then exposed to diazotized AADP. When NADP was substituted for NADPH in this experiment, the enzyme remained in the FADprotected state. Difference spectra of the inactivated nitrate reductase demonstrated the presence of bound AADP, and titration of the sulfhydryl groups of the inactivated enzyme revealed that a loss of accessible sulfhydryls had occurred.
Adult well-being of foster care alumni: Comparisons to other child welfare recipients and a non-child welfare sample in a high-risk, urban setting

Abstract Research has shown that children placed in foster care fall below population norms on many indicators of well-being. Yet few studies have been designed to distill the effects of foster care from conditions that precede foster care. Based on the available evidence, it is also uncertain whether the purported effects of foster care are lasting. This study used data gathered prospectively from an economically disadvantaged, urban cohort to examine whether foster care is associated with decreased educational and economic attainments as well as increased criminality in adulthood. Individuals who were placed in foster care after an indicated allegation of maltreatment were compared to three naturally occurring groups: (a) maltreatment victims who did not reside in foster care, (b) individuals without an indicated maltreatment allegation who were raised in a household with a Child Protective Services (CPS) record, and (c) individuals without an individual or household record of CPS involvement. Using multiple estimation procedures, we found that all participants with a CPS record fared worse in adulthood than their peers without a CPS record. Despite their poor outcomes, foster children functioned as well as other CPS recipients who did not reside in foster care. Our findings indicate that caution is warranted when attributing dysfunction observed in foster children to the effects of foster care. Implications for prevention and intervention within the context of child welfare are discussed.
Residual transforming activity of PY1178T, a mutant lacking the principal in vitro tyrosine phosphorylation site, is not affected by removal of the secondary tyrosine phosphorylation site at residue 322.

Abstract Polyoma virus mutants lacking one or both tyrosines at position 315 and 322 of wildtype middle T antigen have been constructed. The effects of the removal of these tyrosines are additive for middle T phosphorylation in immune complexes, with tyrosine 315 being the major acceptor site and 322 a secondary site. Previous studies have shown little or no effect of deletion of tyrosine 322 on transforming ability, whereas a strong effect has been seen by substitution of phenylalanine for tyrosine 315. In contrast to the phosphokinase results, there is no additive effect of combining these mutations on the viruses' transforming ability. Thus the double mutant lacking both tyrosines has the same weak transforming activity as the single mutant containing tyrosine 322 and phenylalanine 315. Phosphorylation of middle T antigen at tyrosine 322 by pp60c-src or other tyrosine-specific cellular protein kinase is therefore unimportant for transformation.
Strategic Value and Adoption of Electronic Commerce: An Empirical Study of Chilean Small and Medium Businesses

ABSTRACTBy combining 2 independent research streams, we attempt to identifi specific relationships between a manager's perceptions of the strategic value of ecommerce and the variables that may influence e-commerce adoption. Eightythree top managers/owners of small and medium size companies in Chile participated in the study. me results corroborate previous theory that posits several factors as determinants of the strategic value of e-commerce in other information technologies as well as factors that may influence e-commerce adoption. In addition, we found a significant relationship between the strategic value of e-commerce and e-commerce adoption. Factor analysis was conducted in order to test the measurement model while canonical analysis was employed to test the structured model.
The Statistical Properties of Human UTRs Compared to that of Random Sequences

Untranslated Regions (UTRs) are ubiquitous controllers of genetic networks and are a key component of the cell's regulatory machinery. The molecular mechanism by which these UTRs achieve their regulatory efficacy is still poorly understood. We postulate that the RNA structure of these UTRs plays a central role in regulation. We compare the statistical properties of over 21,000 5′ and 3′ UTRs from the human genome of less then 1,000 nucleotides to two sets of randomly generated sequences. One set of random sequences the sequences of the human UTRs are scrambled to keep the same distribution of GC content and length. The second set of random sequences contains 1,000 completely random sequences for each combination of GC content from 0 to 1 and lengths from 25 nucleotides to 1,000 nucleotides. The scrambled sequences allow us to compare distributions of the statistical properties such as the Shannon entropy and the Helix entropy of the RNA partition function. The second set of random sequences allowed us to obtain empirical rules for predicting the average properties such as number of bases paired and average helix length of a sequence given the GC content and the length. With these comparisons it is possible to make predictions about the resilience of a given UTR to mutation and how stable a particular UTR is compared to a random sequence.
Traumatic Rupture of the Gallbladder With Massive Biliary Ascites

TRAUMATIC laceration of the gallbladder with subsequent bile leakage into the peritoneum (choleperitoneum) is a rare complication of blunt abdominal trauma. Fewer than 50 cases have been reported in the English literature. Most cases have involved either children or adolescents, as the incidence of accidents in this group is the highest. The occasional cases reported in adults are usually secondary to steering wheel or seat belt injuries. If no other visceral organ is damaged and there are no signs of shock or hemoperitoneum, the delay in diagnosis can be as long as six weeks. In the rare instance when the patient has known chronic liver disease and ascites, the diagnosis may be further delayed. We present a case in which the diagnosis was established seven weeks after admission with the aid of a "skinny-needle" percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC). Report of a Case A 53-year-old man was admitted to the hospital
Biogeochemistry: signs of saturation in the tropical carbon sink.

The carbon sink in the land biosphere has grown during the past 30 years, taking up much of the carbon dioxide produced by human activities. The first signs of this growth levelling off have been spotted in Amazon forests. See Letter p.344 The Amazon is a globally important carbon sink, with tree growth incorporating carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This paper suggests that the capacity of Amazonian forests to sequester carbon has weakened, with potentially important implications for climate change. Using on-the-ground measurements from a network of more than 300 long-term monitoring plots across the region, Roel Brienen and colleagues show that the rates of net increase in above-ground biomass have declined by a third during the past decade compared to the 1990s as a consequence of growth rate increases levelling off. At the same time biomass mortality persistently increased.
Investigator allegiance and the evaluation of psychotherapy outcome research

Considerable evidence has demonstrated that the beliefs of researchers can inadvertently influence research findings. The possibility of this type of bias is of special concern in studies evaluatin...
Solid-State NMR, Crystallographic and Density Functional Theory Investigation of Fe−CO and Fe−CO Analogue Metalloporphyrins and Metalloproteins†

We have synthesized and studied via solid-state NMR, Mossbauer spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and density functional theory the following Fe−O2 analogue metalloporphyrins: Fe(5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinate) (nitrosobenzene)(1-methylimidazole); Fe(5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinate) (nitrosobenzene)(pyridine); Fe(5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinate)(4-nitroso-N,N-dimethylaniline)(pyridine); Fe(2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrinate) (nitrosobenzene)(1-methylimidazole) and Co(2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrinate)(NO). Our results show that the porphyrin rings of the two tetraphenylporphyrins containing pyridine are ruffled while the other three compounds are planar: reasons for this are discussed. The solid-state NMR and Mossbauer spectroscopic results are well reproduced by the DFT calculations, which then enable the testing of various models of Fe−O2 bonding in metalloporphyrins and metalloproteins. We find no evidence for two binding sites in oxypicket fence porphyrin, chara...
How parasites can promote the expression of social behaviour in their hosts

Recent theory on the role of parasites in the evolution of social behaviour has emphasized the costs of social behaviour to hosts. However, parasites whose primary effect on host fitness is to reduce fecundity can favour the evolutionary origin or maintenance of social behaviour, including eusociality, under certain conditions. If the parasites are not readily transmitted among members of social groups, then other group members will not be selected to reject infected individuals as social partners, nor will adaptive suicide or avoidance of grouping be selectively favoured for infected individuals. Rather, total or partial parasitic castration may promote the expression of helping behaviour by infected individuals. Some parasites may therefore act to increase variance in direct reproductive value within populations or societies, and to promote reproductive division of labour. The necessary conditions of reduced host fecundity and low within-group transmission are met in some insect-parasite systems, and could occur in other host-parasite systems as well.
MULTIPLE SOURCE POOLS AND DISPERSAL BARRIERS FOR GALAPAGOS PLANT SPECIES DISTRIBUTION

We reexamined geographic factors explaining the number of plant species on islands in the Galapagos Archipelago. We hypothesized that plant species richness (S) was related to the number of source pools and that plant species dispersal preferentially followed direct, oceanic pathways. To test different dispersal pathways from multiple source pools, the total number of islands within a given dispersal radius (i) was posed as the sum of the number of line-of-sight islands (C) and of the number of islands without line-of- sight connection (Bi). In partial regression analyses, controlling for nearest island area (A2) and for recipient island elevation (E) and area (lnA), Ci and Ci X E were found to be positively correlated with S in the Galapagos for nearly all dispersal ranges from 10 km to 419 km (maximum inter-island separation). In contrast, Bi X E was negatively correlated with S at the longest dispersal ranges. The connectivity index, Ci, multiplied by elevation, E, explained more variation in S in the Galapagos than prior regression models using additive forms of E, lnA, A2, and isolation from the central island. Using the variables Ci X E and lnA, multiple-regression models explained >90% of the variance in both endemic and total plant species richness in the Galapagos Archipelago.