cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Invited Commentary: The Use of Imperfect Data—Compromise or Compromising?

Automated databases are appealing resources because they contain detailed data that are relatively accessible, but there are also critical gaps in the data available. Researchers may compromise by trying to fill those gaps with proxy variables, but how appropriate these surrogates are is rarely known. In this issue (Am J Epidemiol 2008;167:630-640), Toh et al. consider the effect of using two algorithms to estimate the timing of medication use during pregnancy in the absence of gestational-age data. Although the delivery-date algorithm has promising sensitivity and specificity, it is true under very specific conditions that seem unlikely to hold generally. Furthermore, it seems difficult to know a priori when those conditions do hold. There are times when using imperfect data is acceptable, but, at other times, the data are too imperfect to be helpful. Automated databases are certainly valuable, but they should be used with caution and where possible should be linked to databases that can fill the critical gaps.
Alpha backgrounds for HPGe detectors in neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments

The Majorana Experiment will use arrays of enriched HPGe detectors to search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76Ge. Such a decay, if found, would show lepton-number violation and confirm the Majorana nature of the neutrino. Searches for such rare events are hindered by obscuring backgrounds which must be understood and mitigated as much as possible. A potentially important background contribution to this and other double-beta decay experiments could come from decays of alpha-emitting isotopes in the 232Th and 238U decay chains on or near the surfaces of the detectors. An alpha particle emitted external to an HPGe crystal can lose energy before entering the active region of the detector, either in some external-bulk material or within the dead region of the crystal. The measured energy of the event will only correspond to a partial amount of the total kinetic energy of the alpha and might obscure the signal from neutrinoless double-beta decay. A test stand was built and measurements were performed to quantitatively assess this background. We present results from these measurements and compare them to simulations using Geant4. These results are then used to measure the alpha backgrounds in an underground detector in situ. We also make estimates of surface contamination tolerances for double-beta decay experiments using solid-state detectors.
Inward technology transfer and competitiveness: the role of national innovation systems

This paper examines the role of national innovation systems in the inward transfer of technology that has underpinned the transformation of Japan and other East Asian economies since 1945. The economies that have benefited most from inward technology transfer have national innovation systems that have strengthened their 'national absorptive capacity'. This capacity relies primarily on investments in scientific and technical training, and on economic policies that enforce competition among domestic firms. The particular channels for inward technology transfer, the identity of any 'strategic industries' targeted for public intervention, and the overall level of a nation's trade restrictions are ail of secondary importance. A central theme of global economic change during the postwar period has been the application in less developed countries of technologies developed within economically advanced regions. This phenomenon underpinned the post-1945 transformation of Japan and other East Asian economies, and influenced the reconstruction of Western European economies after World War II. The application of externally developed technologies within 'latecomer' economies is hardly unique to the postwar period, however. Samuel Slater's introduction of British textile manufacturing is but one example of inward technology transfer in the nineteenth century US economy, and David (1992) traces the origins of patent monopolies to efforts by medieval European city-states and nations to attract experts in industrial arts to practice their craft within these jurisdictions. Both international technology flows and government efforts to influence them for national competitive advantage thus have ample historical precedent. Several characteristics nevertheless distinguish the post-1945 era from earlier historical periods. The influence of international technology transfer on national economic development has increased, as the postwar development of such economies as Taiwan and South Korea has relied much less on natural resource endowments than nineteenth
The effect of walking on lower body disability among older blacks and whites.

OBJECTIVES. This study investigated the association between regular physical activity and risk of or increase in lower body disability in older, community dwelling Blacks and Whites. METHODS. The present study used the 1984 to 1990 Longitudinal Study on Aging, which included 413 Black and 3428 White self-respondents 70 years of age or older. Discrete-time hazard models provided estimates of the effects of self-reported walking frequency, and regular exercise on lower, body disability among Black and White self-respondents. RESULTS. Whites who reported walking 4 to 7 days per week at baseline vs those who reported never walking 1 mile (1.6 km) or more experienced a one-third lower risk of increased disability. Blacks who reported walking 4 to 7 days per week experienced a two-thirds lower risk. Walking 4 to 7 days per week reduced the risk of disability onset by 50% to 80% on all five disability items within the Black sample and by 50% on two items within the White sample. CONCLUSIONS. Among older Blacks, ...
A scheduling and dispatching tool designed for rural transit systems

TRASIMS is a license-free scheduling and dispatching application that was developed for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). It is designed primarily for use by rural transit systems that have limited resources for purchasing commercial software solutions. TRASIMS is configured to assist personnel who schedule and dispatch transit vehicles for clients of transit systems and human services providers. Its software features allow use by rural transit systems that operate on both pre-scheduled and on-demand type client notifications. TRASIMS reduces the need for repetitive manual entries by capturing all information entered into a database, structuring it for convenient recall, and compiling it into reports capable of being transmitted via e-mail to ODOT.
Terahertz polaritonics: spectroscopy and technology

Summary form only given. Coherent phonon-polaritons are generated by femtosecond pulses in electro-optic crystals and exploited for THz spectroscopic and signal processing applications. The use of spatially and temporally shaped excitation fields to generate specified polariton responses the integration of THz waveguides and other functional elements into the polariton host crystals and the use of polaritons for linear and nonlinear THz spectroscopy are discussed.
Density and natural enemies of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), in the residential landscape of Southern Florida.

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the density, the incidence of parasitism, and the generalist predator assemblage of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), on orange jasmine plants [Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack] in the residential landscape of Miami-Dade County, Florida. Flush shoots (10 cm) were collected from ten orange jasmine hedges in each of the four communities (Doral, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, and Homestead). We did not detect any consistent pattern in the fluctuation of psyllid density over time in the four communities. The greatest densities of eggs (65.5 ± 36.3 eggs/shoot), early instars (first to third) (87.2 ± 47.8 nymphs/shoot), and late instars (fourth and fifth) (16.9 ± 9.3 nymphs/shoot) were detected on 24 May 2006 in Palmetto Bay (egg) and Doral (early and late instars). The density of adult psyllids remained below two individuals per flush shoot at all locations for the entire sampling period. There were no consistent correlations bet...
Metabolomic analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid reveals changes in phospholipase expression in the CNS of SIV-infected macaques

HIV infiltrates the CNS soon after an individual has become infected with the virus, and can cause dementia and encephalitis in late-stage disease. Here, a global metabolomics approach was used to find and identify metabolites differentially regulated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rhesus macaques with SIV-induced CNS disease, as we hypothesized that this might provide biomarkers of virus-induced CNS damage. The screening platform used a non-targeted, mass-based metabolomics approach beginning with capillary reverse phase chromatography and electrospray ionization with accurate mass determination, followed by novel, nonlinear data alignment and online database screening to identify metabolites. CSF was compared before and after viral infection. Significant changes in the metabolome specific to SIV-induced encephalitis were observed. Metabolites that were increased during infection-induced encephalitis included carnitine, acyl-carnitines, fatty acids, and phospholipid molecules. The elevation in free fatty acids and lysophospholipids correlated with increased expression of specific phospholipases in the brains of animals with encephalitis. One of these, a phospholipase A2 isoenzyme, is capable of releasing a number of the fatty acids identified. It was expressed in different areas of the brain in conjunction with glial activation, rather than linked to regions of SIV infection and inflammation, indicating widespread alterations in infected brains. The identification of specific metabolites as well as mechanisms of their increase illustrates the potential of mass-based metabolomics to address problems in CNS biochemistry and neurovirology, as well as neurodegenerative diseases.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus: risk factors, surveillance, infections, and treatment.

Abstract Background: The use of vancomycin has continued to expand because of the increasing number of patients infected or colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, causing an in...
α-glucosidase activity in human leucocytes

Abstract α-Glucosidase (α- D -glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.20) activity was measured in leucocytes from normal subjects and relatives of a patient with Type II glycogenosis. Enzyme activity was greatest in the granular fraction of leucocytes at pH 4.0, was inhibited by turanose, was similar in men and women, was reproducible in the sam subject, and did not change with freezing. Leucocyte α-glucosidase activity was low in relatives of the patient with Type II glycogenosis, suggesting that the heterozygote state may be demonstrable by this technique.
ACAN - Ad hoc Context Aware Network

This paper presents the design and system architecture of the Ad hoc Context Aware Network (ACAN), a wireless environment with no pre-configuration and with spontaneous applications running according to the contextual situation. The ACAN is a new vision to the future of the wireless networks where it will consist of sensors that will capture the entities in the environment and the surrounding users. A context manager agent will interpret the sensor captures information and process it to a higher level context data to be used by the Ad hoc application in a way to minimize the user attention while maximizing the relevance of the information provided. ACAN targets the network layer and the application layer and introduces new mechanisms for network configuration, QoS provisioning and more dynamic adaptable and flexible applications. We explain the architectural model of the ACAN with the required goals and specification, the ACAN new protocol stack is presented and the Context Aware Service Discovery Protocol (CASDP) with its advantages over the existing service discovery protocols.
Assessment of therapists’ attitudes towards BDSM

Participants in alternative or ‘kinky’ sexual behaviours are a sizable enough minority that psychotherapists are likely to see them in their practices. However, those who engage in bondage and discipline (BD), dominance and submission (DS) and sadism and masochism (SM) (BDSM) are concerned that mental health-care providers will view BDSM as evidence of psychopathology. This research employed an Internet-based survey of 766 therapists in the United States to assess therapists’ attitudes towards the BDSM community. Seventy-six per cent of the sample reported having treated at least one client who engaged in BDSM, although only 48% perceived themselves to be competent in this area. Attitudes towards BDSM were related to socio-demographic variables and self-perceived competence.
Silicon carbide microdisk resonator

We demonstrate a silicon carbide (SiC) microdisk resonator with an intrinsic optical quality factor of 6.19×10(3), fabricated on the 3C-SiC-on-Si platform. We characterize the temperature dependence of the cavity resonance and obtain a thermo-optic coefficient of 2.92×10(-5)/K for 3C-SiC. Our simulations show that the device exhibits great potential for cavity optomechanical applications.
Metal Chelates as Potential Reactivators of Organic Phosphate Poisoned Acetylchlinesterase

As part of a study to investigate metal chelates as possible reactivators of phosphate poisoned acetylcholinesterase, it is shown that chelates act as inhibitors of the enzyme. In addition, copper and nickel chelates of 2-pyridinealdoxime catalyze the decomposition of DFP and sarin. Compared to 2-PAM, however, these chelates are very poor reactivators, probably because of an improper alignment of the oxime oxygen in the chelate-enzyme complex.
Use of centrifugal force in the study of xylem cavitation

Two methods were evaluated for using centrifugal force to measure the occurrence of cavitation as a function of negative pressures in xylem. The general protocol was to measure the hydraulic conductivity of xylem segments (stem or root pieces) before and after centring them on a centrifuge rotor and spinning them about their long axis to generate negative xylem pressure. The percentage decrease in conductivity from the initial to final measurement was used to quantify the embolism resulting from cavitation during spinning. In one approach, segments were spun with their ends exposed to air. This method could only be used when xylem conduits were much shorter than the segment. Results from an angiosperm (Betula occidentalis) and a gymnosperm (Abies lasiocarpa) corresponded to previous observations of embolism caused by air dehydration where negative pressure was measured with the pressure chamber. Results also agreed with embolism caused by injection of air into the xylem, in support of the air-seeding hypothesis for cavitation. In a second approach, segments were spun in a rotor designed to keep the segment ends immersed in water during spinning. This gave the same results as for non-immersed segments. Immersing the segment ends allowed measurements on any material, regardless of conduit length, as demonstrated for roots of B. occidentalis. The chief advantage of the centrifugal force method is the rapidity and precision with which any desired xylem pressure can be imposed.
Social mating systems and extrapair fertilizations in passerine birds

Two alternative hypotheses have been proposed to explain how social and genetic mating systems are interrelated in birds. According to the first (male trade-off) hypothesis, social polygyny should increase extrapair fertilizations because when males concentrate on attracting additional social mates, they cannot effectively protect females with whom the); have already paired from being sexually assaulted. According to the second (female choice) hypothesis, social polygyny should decrease extrapair fertilizations because a substantial proportion of females can pair with the male of their choice, and males can effectively) guard each mate during her fertile period. To discriminate these alternatives, we comprehensively reviewed information on social mating systems and extrapair fertilizations in temperate zone passerine birds. We found significant inverse relationships between proportions of socially polygynous males and frequencies of extrapair young, whether each species was considered as an independent data point (using parametric statistics) or phylogenetically related species were treated as nonindependent (using contrasts analyses). When social mating systems were dichotomized, extrapair chicks were twice as frequent in monogamous as in polygynous species (0.23 vs. 0.11). We hypothesize that in socially polygynous species, (1) there is less incentive for females and males to pursue extrapair matings and (2) females incur higher costs for sexual infidelity (e.g., due to physical retaliation or reduction of paternal efforts) than in socially monogamous species. (Less)
Group Decision Making with Responses of a Quantitative Nature: The Theory of Social Decision Schemes for Quantities

Group decisions involving responses of a quantitative nature occur frequently in organizations. Although extensive research has considered group decisions involving discrete responses, only recently have responses involving quantities received comparable attention. It is proposed that the group decision processes related to quantities involve compromise and are characteristically different from the consensus processes that occur for discrete choices. The theory of social decision schemes (Davis, 1973) as originally formulated is intractable for quantitative responses because they involve a large number of response alternatives. This paper extends and adapts the theory of social decision schemes to apply it to group decisions of a quantitative nature. The decision schemes considered in modeling group decisions for quantitative responses also differ from those of discrete responses. The classes of decision schemes considered include central tendency, consensus-based, faction-attraction, coalition, distance-influence, dictator, special cases, and other. Unique approaches for evaluating the adequacy of these decision schemes for quantities are considered. An illustration of the theory of social decision schemes for quantities is presented with data from research on group goal decisions (Hinsz, 1991).
Uterus hyperplasia and increased carcinogen-induced tumorigenesis in mice carrying a targeted mutation of the Chk2 phosphorylation site in Brca1.

The tumor suppressor BRCA1 contains multiple functional domains that interact with many proteins. After DNA damage, BRCA1 is phosphorylated by CHK2 at serine 988, followed by a change in its intracellular location. To study the functions of CHK2-dependent phosphorylation of BRCA1, we generated a mouse model carrying the mutation S971A (S971 in mouse Brca1 corresponds to S988 in human BRCA1) by gene targeting. Brca1S971A/S971A mice were born at the expected ratio without a developmental defect, unlike previously reported Brca1 mutant mice. However, Brca1S971A/S971A mice suffered a moderately increased risk of spontaneous tumor formation, with a majority of females developing uterus hyperplasia and ovarian abnormalities by 2 years of age. After treatment with DNA-damaging agents, Brca1S971A/S971A mice exhibited several abnormalities, including increased body weight, abnormal hair growth pattern, lymphoma, mammary tumors, and endometrial tumors. In addition, the onset of tumor formation became accelerated, and 80% of the mutant mice had developed tumors by 1 year of age. We demonstrated that the Brca1S971A/S971A cells displayed reduced ability to activate the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint upon γ-irradiation and to stabilize p53 following N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine treatment. These observations suggest that Chk2 phosphorylation of S971 is involved in Brca1 function in modulating the DNA damage response and repressing tumor formation.
Multimedia hypertext on the WWW and its use in education

Describes a method of organizing course material on the World Wide Web (WWW) that has been implemented during the course of teaching a computer algorithms course at the State University of New York, Binghamton. We first provide the motivations for using such an approach. We then describe a technique for organizing the material that can be implemented in stages. The use of the Internet has been growing at a rapid pace during the last few years, and the trend is expected to continue. With the advent of graphical navigation tools (Web browsers), the WWW has become a much more interactive medium for individual research and learning. The use of multimedia has the potential for illuminating difficult principles and ideas for the students.
Lipidated APOE has effects on cognitive function that are independent of amyloid-β pathology.

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Opposing effects of Apoe/Apoa1 double deletion on amyloid-β pathology and cognitive performance in APP mice’, by Fitz et al. (doi:10.1093/brain/awv293). Since the discovery of the apolipoprotein E e4 allele ( APOE4 ) as the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (reviewed by Verghese et al. , 2011), there has been a dramatic increase in research on the intersection of lipid biology and Alzheimer pathology. APOE is the major cholesterol and lipid carrier in the brain, while apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) is the major lipid carrier in the periphery. Efflux of cholesterol and phospholipids from cells onto lipid-poor APOE and APOA1 is regulated by the ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), which is essential for the generation of the vast majority of high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. The importance of APOE in Alzheimer pathology is highlighted by the fact that crossing a transgenic Alzheimer’s disease mouse model with APOE-deficient mice produced a marked decrease in amyloid-β pathology in the offspring (Bales et al. , 1997). By contrast, crossing ABCA1-deficient mice with an Alzheimer’s disease model generated offspring with increased amyloid-β pathology, despite vastly reduced levels of APOE and APOA1 (reviewed by Koldamova et al. , 2014). This apparent contradiction is currently unresolved. However, in this issue of Brain , Fitz and co-workers provide substantial insight into the complex role of apolipoproteins and their lipidation state in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (Fitz et al. , 2015 …
Review, Creating the Administrative Constitution by Jerry L. Mashaw

“[T]here is a hole in the text of the U.S. Constitution,” writes Jerry Mashaw: “Administration is missing.” But the republic’s leaders did not wait a century to start filling it in, as the standard narrative has it; instead, they began building the state’s administrative capacities from day one. Mashaw traces this first century of state-building through innovations in public law, focusing on techniques agencies themselves developed to regulate the exercise of discretion. The practices and norms that emerged form the core of what he calls “the administrative constitution.” With important implications both for contemporary controversies in constitutional law and the future research agenda for administrative law, Mashaw’s richly-researched book is essential reading for students of administrative law, public law history, and political development.
Effects of natural and anthropogenic environmental influences on tree community composition and structure in forests along an urban-wildland gradient in southwestern Ohio

Unprecedented population growth and urban expansion are rapidly transforming natural and agricultural settings into highly modified urban and suburban landscapes in developed areas worldwide. A myriad of anthropogenic environmental disturbances invariably accompany such dramatic shifts in land use, and disentangling the effects of these multiple stresses on ecosystem variation pose major challenges as the world’s urban population continues to increase. Here, we quantitatively characterized environmentally-mediated variation in tree-community composition along an Urban-Wildland gradient in southwestern Ohio, using tree censuses conducted in sample plots at six study sites categorized as Urban, Exurban, or Wildland based on analyses of a broad suite of natural and anthropogenic environmental variables. Several direct measures of the tree-census data, including species richness, abundance, diversity metrics, and evenness, exhibited significant increases from Urban to Wildland sites. Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) showed that tree composition within study plots also varied systematically along the gradient, with significant differences among sites captured primarily on NMDS Axis 1. The dominant tree species at Urban and Exurban sites was Acer saccharum (sugar maple). While this species was also abundant at Wildland sites, two other species, Asimina triloba (paw paw) and Juniperus virginiana (red cedar) tended to be more abundant. Regression-tree analyses demonstrated that tree-community composition was controlled by a complex combination of natural and anthropogenic factors, with primary roles for population density and other indicators of urbanization at broader and intermediate scales; natural factors, such as aspect, soil drainage, elevation, slope, and soil pH were important in differentiating among Urban, Exurban, and Wildland sites already primarily categorized by anthropogenic agents.
Readings of Winnicott II

This article, part of a larger project examining the significance of Donald W. Winnicott’s contributions to research, teaching, and clinical care across psychology, religion, and theology, unfolds in mind of the broad question, What are Winnicott’s writings about? It draws from a study carried out by this author that concludes that Winnicott’s writings can be understood in terms of two “readings” (Ricoeur 1970)—expressing (a) a developmental-existential point of view and (b) a notion of being religious—of a network of six “theoretical ideas” (Stausberg 2009): early experience in infancy, transition, connecting and disconnecting, creative space, holding (and being held) and holding onto, and facilitating. The essay outlines the contours of the second reading of the third set of theoretical ideas—connecting and disconnecting expressing being religious—and spells out some implications.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation as Ethical Responsibilities: Suggestions for IPCC Working Group III

This paper provides a brief assessment of the ethical issues raised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Working Group III report, Mitigation of Climate Change. It argues that energy efficiency and conservation are not simply two more options that can be employed to address climate change; they are the most equitable and sustainable options. The other major options available to address climate change are direct reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, long-term storage of carbon, and adaptation. The paper argues that Working Group III should issue a special report in the near future assessing the potential of energy efficiency and conservation to contribute to stabilization of greenhouse gas emissions in the next ten years. It also argues that Working Group III should directly address developed country leadership in future reports, especially on per capita energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Nonconscious priming enhances the therapy relationship: An experimental analog study

AbstractObjective: We examined whether nonconscious priming could enhance client perceptions of the therapist in an experimental analog study. Method: Sixty undergraduate participants each played the part of client in a brief scripted role-play of a therapy intake session. Sessions lasted about 3 min. The first author played the role of therapist. Participants were randomly assigned to view a line drawing depicting two individuals pointing either in the same direction (empathy prime) or opposite directions (non-empathy prime). The drawing appeared as a watermark on initial screening forms. The experimenter was blind to group assignment and participants received a cover story designed to mask the purpose of the primes. Results: Participants in the empathy priming condition gave the therapist higher ratings of empathy and congruence, spoke to him longer, and rated their likelihood of future progress higher compared to participants in the non-empathy group. None of the participants expressed awareness of the...
IL-4 production by group 2 innate lymphoid cells promotes food allergy by blocking regulatory T-cell function

Background Food allergy is a major health issue, but its pathogenesis remains obscure. Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) promote allergic inflammation. However their role in food allergy is largely unknown. Objective We sought to investigate the role of ILC2s in food allergy. Methods Food allergy–prone mice with a gain-of-function mutation in the IL-4 receptor α chain (Il4raF709) were orally sensitized with food allergens, and the ILC2 compartment was analyzed. The requirement for ILC2s in food allergy was investigated by using Il4raF709 , IL-33 receptor–deficient (Il1rl1 −/− ) , IL-13–deficient (Il13 −/− ) , and IL-4–deficient (Il4 −/− ) mice and by adoptive transfer of in vitro –expanded ILC2s. Direct effects of ILC2s on regulatory T (Treg) cells and mast cells were analyzed in coculture experiments. Treg cell control of ILC2s was assessed in vitro and in vivo . Results Il4raF709 mice with food allergy exhibit increased numbers of ILC2s. IL-4 secretion by ILC2s contributes to the allergic response by reducing allergen-specific Treg cell and activating mast cell counts. IL-33 receptor deficiency in Il4raF709 Il1rl1 −/− mice protects against allergen sensitization and anaphylaxis while reducing ILC2 induction. Adoptive transfer of wild-type and Il13 −/− but not Il4 −/− ILC2s restored sensitization in Il4raF709 Il1rl1 −/− mice. Treg cells suppress ILC2s in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion IL-4 production by IL-33–stimulated ILC2s blocks the generation of allergen-specific Treg cells and favors food allergy. Strategies to block ILC2 activation or the IL-33/IL-33 receptor pathway can lead to innovative therapies in the treatment of food allergy.
Lactational Exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Its Relation to Early Childhood Anthropometric Measurements.

Background:Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that may influence growth and development.Objective:We investigated the association between exposure to P...
Investigation of adsorption kinetics and isotherm of cellulase and β-glucosidase on lignocellulosic substrates

Abstract Clear understanding of enzyme adsorption during enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass is essential to enhance the cost-efficiency of hydrolysis. However, conclusions from literature often contradicted each other because enzyme adsorption is enzyme, biomass/pretreatment and experimental condition specific, which makes descriptions and modeling of enzyme-substrate interaction difficult and inconsistent from case to case. This study investigated adsorption kinetics and isotherm under actual hydrolysis conditions with commercial cellulase and β-glucosidase on Avicel, dilute acid pretreated Creeping Wild Ryegrass (pCWR) and lignin residue of pCWR after enzymatic hydrolysis. It was found that β-glucosidase has little affinity to Avicel, but significant affinity to dilute acid pCWR and lignin with maximum adsorption capacity (Emax) of 161.57 and 173.50 mg protein/g-substrate, respectively. During hydrolysis, adsorption of cellulase on Avicel was productive and reversible (Emax = 22.86 mg protein/g-substrate); however, nonproductive and irreversible adsorption of cellulase on pCWR (Emax = 42.55 mg protein/g-substrate) and lignin (Emax = 86.07 mg protein/g-substrate) became significant and resulted in cellulase deactivation. Lignin is a key issue causing high cost of enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. The nonionic surfactant, Tween 20 was found to significantly overcome nonproductive adsorption of cellulase and β-glucosidase on lignin by reducing the adsorption affinity. All adsorption data including with and without Tween 20 were fit well to Langmuir isotherm. The results from this research will provide useful data for model development of enzymatic hydrolysis.
Parkinson disease: Parkinson disease-moving beyond association.

Two genome-wide association studies have independently identified genetic risk factors for Parkinson disease (PD). One study, conducted in individuals of European ancestry, provides further evidence for an association between PD risk and the genes SNCA and MAPT. The other study, conducted in a Japanese series, identified two novel loci that are associated with PD risk.
The complete amino acid sequence of a pea (Pisum sativum) seed lipoxygenase predicted from a near full-length cDNA.

Abstract A near full-length cDNA for a pea (Pisum sativum) seed lipoxygenase was isolated and sequenced. It has a protein coding sequence (2583 bp), 5' (59 bp) and 3' (191 bp) non-coding regions, and a poly(A) tail (20 bp). The predicted amino acid sequence indicates a polypeptide of Mr 97,628 that shows about 86% amino acid identity with a soya-bean lipoxygenase 3 protein sequence [Yenofsky, Fine & Liu (1988) Mol. Gen. Genet. 211, 215-222]. The cDNA directs the transcription of mRNA that can be translated to give an anti-lipoxygenase-precipitable polypeptide in vitro.
National indicators for health for all

This paper examines available international data relevant to the World Health Organization model of health status. It explores the possibility of constructing useful measures of health status, health policy, social and economic status, and provision of health care based on these data. A five-factor model is developed and tested empirically using World Bank statistical data from 123 countries. Two factors representing dimensions of country affluence and population density are found to explain 78 percent of the variations in the health status indicator. The countries with health status indicator levels worse than those predicted by the model are predominantly third-world countries; a majority are African. Countries with health status indicator levels better than predicted are mainly in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Some generally accepted causal relationships were not supported by the findings in this analysis.
Abstract 1995: Developing integrated single-cell metabolic/proteomic assays

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA The technology boom of single-cell metabolomics and proteomics has led to exciting biological discoveries in the past decade. It has become widely acknowledged that resolving the intratumoral heterogeneity at single cell resolution can aid the understanding of cancer therapeutic response and progression, as well as facilitate the development of therapeutic interventions. Here we present an integrated assay that simultaneously quantifies the intracellular metabolites, glucose uptake, metabolic proteins and functional signaling proteins at the single-cell level. The measurement of metabolites is achieved through a series of competitive binding assays and is incorporated into the microfluidic-based single cell barcode chip platform. We demonstrate that this assay is capable of obtaining information from both protein and metabolic signaling pathways associated with tumor survival and progression, providing new insights into cancer heterogeneity and drug responsiveness. Citation Format: Min Xue, Wei Wei, Yapeng Su, Young Shik Shin, Jungwoo Kim, James R. Heath. Developing integrated single-cell metabolic/proteomic assays. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1995. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1995
A comparison of the efficacy of weight-shift vs. joystick control of a robotic mobility device by infants ages 5 to 10 months.

ABSTRACTThe onset of crawling in infants contributes to cognitive, perceptual, social, and emotional development. Conversely, infants with motor impairment that delays or prevents autonomous mobility often have associated developmental delays. Evidence suggests that providing mobility may have positive developmental outcomes, however powered wheelchairs may not be recommended for very young children, due to safety concerns and the child’s level of cognitive maturity. The WeeBot is a mobility device controlled by infant weight shifting while seated; infants as young as 5 months have learned to use it. This study compares the efficacy of using the WeeBot vs. using the traditional manual joystick to control a robotic mobility device. Participants were 20 typically developing infants between 5 and 10 months who had not yet achieved independent mobility. A quasi-experimental two-group design was used: The first 10 participants recruited used the WeeBot (weight-shift); the next 10 used the joystick. Results sho...
Solvent-Controlled Branching of Localized versus Delocalized Singlet Exciton States and Equilibration with Charge Transfer in a Structurally Well-Defined Tetracene Dimer

A detailed photophysical picture is elaborated for a structurally well-defined and symmetrical bis-tetracene dimer in solution. The molecule was designed for interrogation of the initial photophysical steps (S1 → 1TT) in intramolecular singlet fission (SF). (Triisopropylsilyl)acetylene substituents on the dimer TIPS-BT1 as well as a monomer model TIPS-Tc enable a comparison of photophysical properties, including transient absorption dynamics, as solvent polarity is varied. In nonpolar toluene solutions, TIPS-BT1 decays via radiative and nonradiative pathways to the ground state with no evidence for dynamics related to the initial stages of SF. This contrasts with the behavior of the previously reported unsubstituted dimer BT1 and is likely a consequence of energetic perturbations to the singlet excited-state manifold of TIPS-BT1 by the (trialkylsilyl)acetylene substituents. In polar benzonitrile, two key findings emerge. First, photoexcited TIPS-BT1 shows a bifurcation into both arm-localized (S1-loc) and...
Synergistic photoluminescent interaction of Si and CdTe quantum dots

We report the synergistic photoluminescent effect of colloidal solutions comprising different volumetric concentrations of Si and CdTe quantum dots (QDs) that produces a discernible blue or red shift of the characteristic downshifted peaks of the corresponding QD previously observed in homogeneous colloidal solutions. Specifically, in all cases the characteristic peak of Si QDs was observed to exhibit a blue-shift, whereas, that of CdTe QDs was observed to be blue-shifted in Si-rich solutions and red-shifted in CdTe-rich colloidal solutions. The observed effects are thought to be due to physisorption-type quantum dot interactions leading to surface energy variations.
Do Neurotransmitters, Neurohumors, and Hormones Specify Critical Periods?

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the term critical period that refers to that segment of neurogenesis when specific ontogenic processes are vulnerable to perturbation by external insults or are sensitive to internal influences required for their development. The critical period concept originates largely from behavioral experiments involving imprinting in birds and early handling in mammalian neonates indicating that these processes can only occur during a circumscribed portion of postnatal development. The extent of a critical period varies for each organizational system and depends on the presence of fundamental neurogenic events, such as cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation, gliogenesis, myelinogenesis, and synaptogenesis. The chapter presents a new dimension to the concept of critical period in which a hierarchy of internal regulatory signals, provided by neurotransmitters, neurohumors, and hormones is superimposed upon basic ontogenic events. These internal humoral and hormonal signals can mediate the effects of external influences on developmental processes, a function that may either protect or place these events at risk depending on the nature of the influence and its mechanism of action.
Talking voices: Afterword: toward a humanistic linguistics

In 1985 I directed a summer Institute entitled “Humanistic approaches to linguistic analysis,” with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. In a lecture delivered at that Institute, Becker (1988:31) explains, The problem many of us have with science is that it does not touch the personal and particular…. By adopting scientific constraints on the statements we make, we move away from the very thing we want to study. This seems to me to be one of the major points of Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations. This accurately reflects the kinds of constraints most see as required by science, but there is no reason that scientific, in the sense of rigorous, disciplined, and systematic, investigation must exclude the personal and the particular. Just as the scientific study of whales or elephants or chimpanzees must include painstaking observation and description of particular, individual creatures interacting with each other in their natural environments, so the scientific study of language must include the close analysis of particular instances of discourse as they naturally occur in human and linguistic context. A similar perspective is expressed by Sacks (1987:41), who shows that modern medicine, in contrast with earlier naturalistic medical studies, has resulted in “a real gain of knowledge coupled with a real loss in general understanding.” Pleading for a reintegration of what has been split into a “soulless neurology” and a “bodiless psychiatry,” Sacks calls for a “personal or Proustian physiology,” a “personalistic neurology” (1986:3).
Pre-harvest measures to control Salmonella in laying hens

Abstract: One of the principal recurring themes in the search for effective responses to the continuing public health and economic problems caused by Salmonella contamination of eggs concerns reducing the susceptibility of egg-laying chickens to infection. Decreasing the overall prevalence or level of Salmonella infection among commercial laying flocks has the potential to exert a corresponding influence on the likelihood that contaminated eggs will be produced and marketed. This chapter considers both the capabilities and limitations of three leading options for reducing the susceptibility of laying hens to Salmonella: vaccination to induce immunity, genetic selection for naturally occurring resistance to infection, and gastrointestinal colonization control.
Supplements and Complements to the Current Employee Representation System in the United States

Employee representation is an important aspect of the employment relationship. In some countries (e.g., Germany), the government mandates employee representation. In other countries (e.g., the Commonwealth), employers voluntarily recognize employee representatives. In the United States, employees must earn their right to be represented in a certification process that results in collective bargaining. With the significant reduction of union membership in the United States, this representation model is in decline. Other forms of participation have not picked up the slack. Hence, there remains a significant representation gap. In this paper, I describe and analyze several solutions to the representation gap. Both unorganized and organized forms of employee representation are considered.
Body temperature and sleep.

Abstract Sleep in mammals is accompanied by a decrease in core body temperature (CBT). The circadian clock in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus regulates daily rhythms in both CBT and arousal states, and these rhythms are normally coupled. Reductions in metabolic heat production resulting from behavioral quiescence and reduced muscle tone along with changes in autonomic nervous system activity and thermoeffector activity contribute to the sleep-related fall in CBT. Reductions in sympathetic tone to the peripheral vasculature resulting in heat loss through the skin are reflected in a sleep-related increase in distal skin temperature that is a prominent feature of sleep onset in humans. Within a sleep episode, patterns of autonomic nervous system and thermoeffector activity and the ability to defend against heat and cold exposure differ during nonrapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement sleep. Anatomic and functional integration of the control of arousal states and thermoregulation occur in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamus. Subsets or warm-sensing neurons in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamus implicated in CBT regulation are spontaneously activated during sleep onset and NREM sleep compared to waking and may underlie sleep-related changes in autonomic nervous system and thermoeffector activity.
Utility of Naltrexone Treatment for Chronic Inflammatory Dermatologic Conditions: A Systematic Review.

Importance Dermatology is encountering increasing rates of autoimmune disease manifesting in primary skin conditions that are difficult to treat without a risk of immunosuppression. Naltrexone is an orally active opioid antagonist that influences a variety of systemic pathways, including the immune system, in low doses of 1.5 to 4.0 mg/d. This phenomenon has piqued the interest of researchers and practitioners in regard to low-dose naltrexone’s potential in the treatment of several autoimmune conditions. Objective To review the existing literature on naltrexone treatment for dermatologic conditions. Evidence Review A primary literature search was conducted using PubMed in April 2018 for all articles published from 1971 to April 2018. Search terms consisted ofnaltrexoneorlow dose naltrexoneorlow-dose naltrexoneanddermatologyorskinorhairornails. Reviews, animal studies, and nondermatologic and pharmacologic studies were excluded. Findings From 1037 articles, 22 were deemed to be appropriate for inclusion in this review for a qualitative synthesis. The 22 articles included randomized clinical trials, case reports, and series. There were 7 articles on low-dose naltexone, 1 on topical naltrexone, and 14 on high-dose naltrexone use in dermatology. In high, low, and topical doses, naltrexone was effective in treating pruritus attributable to atopic dermatitis, prurigo nodularis, cholestatsis, burn injury, systemic sclerosis, Hailey-Hailey disease, and lichen planopilaris. High-dose naltrexone was ineffective in treating flushing and uremic pruritus most likely because of the lack of opioid involvement in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of these conditions. Conclusions and Relevance The findings suggest that low-dose naltrexone is safe and effective in the treatment of Hailey-Hailey disease and lichen planopilaris and both low- and high-dose naltrexone successfully treat pruritus attributable to various pathologic conditions; however, more adverse effects occurred in those taking high doses. Low-dose naltrexone has the potential for the treatment of chronic inflammatory skin conditions; however, additional evidence is needed for dosing and long-term treatment guidelines.