cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drosophila is an inclusive model for human diseases, growth and development

Cytogenetic studies over the last century have led to the complete mapping of the Drosophila polytene chromosomes. The resulting data and the analysis of puffing at specific gene sites, manifestations of enhanced transcriptional activity, have led to the use of the fruit fly as the most well-understood animal model for a plethora of cellular mechanisms and genetic defects. In recent years the fly data base has contributed greatly to the use of Drosophila as a remarkable model for the functional genomics of many human genes. Here I review briefly the diversity of "model genes" studied in this dipteran, ranging from mental acuity, sleep and development, to recent studies from our laboratory, and those of our collaborators, on steroid hormone biosynthesis and neurodegeneration.
Abstract SY19-01: Integrating proteomic, transcriptional, epigenomic, and interactome data reveals the signaling changes induced by oncogenic mutations

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Proteomic technologies, next-generation sequencing and RNAi screens are providing increasingly detailed descriptions of the molecular changes that occur in diseases. However, it is difficult to assemble these data into a coherent picture that could lead to new therapeutic insights for several reasons. Despite their power, each of these methods still only captures a small fraction of the cellular response. Moreover, when different assays are applied to the same problem, they often provide apparently conflicting answers. We have developed powerful new approaches to integrate these data to identify small, functionally coherent pathways that underlie cellular behavior. In this talk, I will demonstrate how these methods can be applied to understand how oncogenic mutations alter signaling and transcription. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr SY19-01. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-SY19-01
Recreation ecology research in East Asia's protected areas: Redefining impacts?

Abstract Recreation ecology, the scientific study of visitor impacts and their effective management, has been developed largely in North America, Europe, and more recently in Australia, in response to growing impacts of visitor use to protected area resources. A body of literature has been accumulated that contributes to sustainable visitor management in protected areas. This paper traces the development of recreation ecology research in East Asia and examines the field's relevance to East Asia's protected natural areas which endure both a long history of human utilisation and contemporary recreation and tourism pressure, much of which originates from surrounding densely populated urban areas. The formative , expanding and strengthening stages of recreation ecology research in this region were identified through an extensive review of literature published in English and East Asian languages. Each of these three developmental stages was illustrated with examples and compared with the general state of research during the same period. Key challenges and opportunities for future recreation ecology research in the region are discussed in light of this review.
TGF-β signaling is altered in the peripheral blood of subjects with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system inflammatory disorder with evidence of peripheral immune dysregulation. Abnormalities of the immune suppressive cytokine TGF-β have been reported, but not fully defined, in MS. Through a pathway-focused expression profiling of the peripheral blood, we found abnormalities of TGF-βRII, SMAD4 and SMAD7 expression in subjects with MS, and reduction in the levels of TGF-β regulated genes, indicating an overall reduction in TGF-β signaling in MS. The response to exogenous TGF-β was intact, however, indicating an extrinsic defect of TGF-β signaling in MS. These results indicate that TGF-β control is diminished in MS.
Small ring spectra

Abstract We determine conditions under which the cofibre of a self-map of a ring spectrum is again a ring spectrum. Sufficiently large iterates of vn self-maps will satisfy this condition.
Dead Donors and the "Shortage" of Human Organs: Are We Missing the Point?

(2003). Dead Donors and the 'Shortage' of Human Organs: Are We Missing the Point? The American Journal of Bioethics: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 26-27.
Company character and the software business

Consumers must evaluate a software producer's company character as well as its product offerings.
Daily temporal patterns of heroin and cocaine use and craving: Relationship with business hours regardless of actual employment status

Real-time monitoring of behavior using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) has provided detailed data about daily temporal patterns of craving and use in cigarette smokers. We have collected similar data from a sample of cocaine and heroin users. Here we analyzed it in the context of its relationship with a societal construct of daily temporal organization: 9-to-5 business hours. In a 28-week prospective study, 112 methadone-maintained polydrug-abusing individuals initiated an electronic-diary entry and provided data each time they used cocaine, heroin, or both during weeks 4 to 28. EMA data were collected for 10,781 person-days and included: 663 cocaine-craving events, 710 cocaine-use events, 288 heroin-craving events, 66 heroin-use events, 630 craving-both-drugs events, and 282 use-of-both-drugs events. At baseline, 34% of the participants reported full-time employment in the preceding 3-year period. Most participants' current employment status fluctuated throughout the study. In a generalized linear mixed model (SAS Proc Glimmix), cocaine use varied by time of day relative to business hours (p<0.0001) and there was a significant interaction between Day of the Week and Time Relative to Business Hours (p<0.002) regardless of current work status. Cocaine craving also varied by time of day relative to business hours (p<0.0001), however, there was no significant interaction between Day of the Week and Time Relative to Business Hours (p=.57). Heroin craving and use were mostly reported during business hours, but data were sparse. Cocaine craving is most frequent during business hours while cocaine use is more frequent after business hours. Cocaine use during business hours, but not craving, seems suppressed on most weekdays, but not weekends, suggesting that societal conventions reflected in business hours influence drug-use patterns even in individuals whose daily schedules are not necessarily dictated by employment during conventional business hours.
Thermal expansion and zero-point displacement in isotopic lithium hydride

The effect of substitution of one isotope for another in the lithium hydride crystal has been investigated by means of the localized-continuum model introduced in earlier publications in connection with calculations of elastic properties, thermal expansion, and melting phenomena. Theoretical analysis demonstrates that the observed lattice parameters can be accounted for within the experimental error and the accuracy of the Debye approximation by a combination of the effects of the zero-point displacement and thermal expansion. The contributions of both quantities vary for the different isotopic forms according to different values of the Debye temperature, which in turn varies approximately as the inverse square root of the cation-ion reduced mass. In addition, the analysis elucidates the nature of the quantized thermal oscillators in crystals.
Coincidence of Agreement between Probabilistic and Algebraic Choosers

Algebraic choosers make precise responses to pairwise preference comparisons on alternatives that are based on the relative rankings of the alternatives over some set of n attributes of comparison. Probabilistic choosers are less precise than algebraic choosers are, and they give pairwise preference responses that have some probability of being in agreement with the response of an algebraic chooser. The magnitude of this probability reflects the degree of discriminatory power of the probabilistic chooser. The current study significantly expands earlier work on the probability that algebraic and probabilistic choosers will select the same maximal alternative. Three factors are found to have an impact on this coincidence probability: the number of attributes of comparison that are being considered, the discriminatory power of probabilistic choosers, and the degree of dependence between attribute rankings.
Extracting Personal Names from Email: Applying Named Entity Recognition to Informal Text

There has been little prior work on Named Entity Recognition for "informal" documents like email. We present two methods for improving performance of person name recognizers for email: email-specific structural features and a recall-enhancing method which exploits name repetition across multiple documents.
Oral tradition and micronesian history: A microcosmic approach

(1970). Oral tradition and micronesian history: A microcosmic approach. The Journal of Pacific History: Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 33-41.
Expression of eukaryotic elongation initiation factor 1A differentially marks zygotic genome activation in biparental and parthenogenetic porcine embryos and correlates with in vitro developmental potential

Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is a major event during cleavage development. In vitro manipulation of mammalian embryos (including embryo culture) can result in developmental arrest around the time of ZGA. Eukaryotic elongation initiation factor 1A (eIF1A) has been used as a marker for ZGA in some mammalian species. We hypothesised expression of eIF1A can be used to assess ZGA in the pig; we also hypothesised that the expression profile of eIF1A can be used to assess developmental potential in vitro. The aims of the present study were to determine the expression pattern of eIF1A during porcine cleavage development and to assess its expression levels in embryos of different quality. We used a real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay to quantify eIF1A transcripts at different time points during cleavage development in porcine embryos produced by parthenogenetic activation (PA) and in vitro fertilisation (IVF). We found that eIF1A is activated at the two-cell stage in IVF embryos and at the four-cell stage in PA embryos. We showed that the increase in transcript levels observed in parthenogenetic embryos is dependent on de novo transcription. We found altered levels of eIF1A transcripts in parthenogenetic embryos that presented as either two- or eight-cell embryos 48 h after activation compared with four-cell embryos at the same time point. Our work supports the hypothesis that eIF1A is a marker of porcine ZGA and its expression profile can be used to assess embryo quality.
Procedural generation of stylized 2D maps

Outdoor worlds are often the setting for games and game worlds are often accompanied by a stylized version of the world drawn by an artist as a 2D map. Procedurally generating the terrain allows games to have a higher replay value. A limitation of procedural terrain generation is an artistic map of the terrain cannot be created by an artist beforehand. We propose an algorithm for generating a stylized 2D map from a simple procedurally generated 2D basis map. Our algorithm could be used in a game to generate stylized maps at execution time or in an offline application to serve as a guideline for an artist.
Suicidal ideation and attempts: A longitudinal investigation of children of depressed and well mothers

OBJECTIVE: This study uses a prospective longitudinal design to examine suicidality (ideation, plans, attempts, and completions) in children and adolescents, to compare suicidality in the offspring of depressed and well mothers, and to identify correlates and predictors of suicidality. METHOD: Two children (n = 192) from each of the families in an ongoing longitudinal study of the offspring of mothers with major depressive disorder (n = 42), with bipolar disorder (n = 26), or without past or current psychiatric diagnosis (n = 30) were studied. Assessment of suicidality, based on diagnostic interviews, was made when the younger of the sibling pairs were approximately 6, 9, and 14 years of age and older siblings were approximately 6, 9, 13, and 18 years of age. RESULTS: Children of depressed mothers were more likely to report suicidal thoughts or behaviors than were children of well mothers (particularly the older sibling cohort). Developmental trajectories of suicidality differed for offspring of mothers with major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Links were found between lifetime reports of suicidality and the adolescent's mood problems (e.g., hypomanic behavior), coping strategies, and parental rejection. Also, child's and mother's suicidality were related. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have implications for planning interventions targeted at preventing suicide in youth. Language: en
Oxidation state changes of the Mn4Ca cluster in Photosystem II

A detailed electronic structure of the Mn4Ca cluster is required before two key questions for understanding the mechanism of photosynthetic water oxidation can be addressed. They are whether all four oxidizing equivalents necessary to oxidize water to O2 accumulate on the four Mn ions of the oxygen-evolving complex, or do some ligand-centered oxidations take place before the formation and release of O2 during the S3 → [S4] → S0 transition, and what are the oxidation state assignments for the Mn during S-state advancement. X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy of Mn, including the newly introduced resonant inelastic X-ray scattering spectroscopy have been used to address these questions. The present state of understanding of the electronic structure and oxidation state changes of the Mn4Ca cluster in all the S-states, particularly in the S2 to S3 transition, derived from these techniques is described in this review.
Hairy cell leukemia in three siblings: An apparent HLA‐linked disease

In a sibship of 11 adults the HLA haplotype A1, B7 occurred in four brothers, three of whom developed hairy cell leukemia (HCL) within a seven-year period. While this haplotype does not appear to occur with increased frequency in random cases of HCL, the fact that three cases of this uncommon and unique disorder occurred within one family and affected siblings with a common haplotype strongly suggests a genetic linkage.
Effects of Walleye Predation on the Population Dynamics of Small Littoral-Zone Fishes in a Northern Wisconsin Lake

Abstract We used a bioenergetics model to assess the effects of predation by juvenile walleyes Stizostedion vitreum vitreum on the populations of darters (Percidae) and minnows (Cyprinidae) in Sparkling Lake, Wisconsin. In 1982, when young-of-the-year yellow perch Perca flavescens were scarce, darters and minnows were important in walleye diets throughout the summer. Walleye predation accounted for approximately 100% of adult darter mortality and 75% of adult minnow mortality. Walleyes appeared to be important in determining abundance of young-of-the-year darters in October, but had little direct effect on abundance of young-of-the-year minnows. In 1983, when young-of-the-year yellow perch were abundant, darters and minnows were only important in walleye diets in June. Walleye predation accounted for 80% of adult darter mortality but only 35% of adult minnow mortality. The decrease in walleye consumption of adult darters and minnows in 1983 compared with 1982 is consistent with the hypothesis that abundan...
SMALL INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND ECONOMIES OF SCALE

The financial problems of colleges under 1,000 in enrollment cannot be blamed entirely on a set of minimum, or “fixed,” costs that colleges of any size must bear. Enrollment fluctuations and lower tuitions also contribute to financial difficulties. In the past, colleges have used growth not so much to capitalize on economies of scale as to provide evidence of success to their constituents. As a result, the ranks of small colleges remain populated with those institutions experiencing financial difficulty, while more successful institutions have attained a larger size. However, in an era of limited growth potential, small colleges must not look to growth as a symbol of success. Success will be better equated with the continuation of quality academic programs in a closely knit community.
Mid-America Orthopaedic Association Physician in Training Award: Surgical Technique: Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures: A Technique to Aid Closed Reduction

Background Anatomic reduction of some displaced pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures is not attainable via closed manipulation, thus necessitating open reduction. Open reduction has been associated with increased complications, including elbow stiffness, scarring, iatrogenic neurovascular injury, and longer hospital stays. Using a Schanz pin to aid in closed reduction may decrease the need for conversion to an open procedure, possibly reducing morbidity.
Charm analysis of apple volatiles

Abstract The ‘Charm’ analytical procedure was applied to several apple cultivars and replication gave almost identical charm responses. However, no two cultivars showed close resemblance by the technique. Charm response can be used, together with physical parameters, to describe apple flavour.
DIAGONALIZATION OF COLOR FACTORS

The calculation of scattering amplitudes for many colored particles in QCD involves complicated color factors. Using the permutation symmetry of the identical particles present in the scattering process, these color factors can be diagonalized.
Performance characteristics of the 3 MV Tandetron AMS system at the National Ocean Sciences AMS facility

Abstract Operational and machine performance parameters are discussed for the National Ocean Sciences AMS system. The system now routinely measures between 50 and 100 carbon samples per week in largely unattended mode using one of two functional high-current ion sources. System development and procedures are described that enable us to reach and maintain the high precision level required for the measurement of deep sea water dissolved inorganic carbon samples.
Time-Resolved Spectroscopic Studies of Exploding Wires in Controlled Atmospheres

A spectroscopic technique for continuous and time-resolved study of the atomic and molecular species produced by electrically exploded wires is described. A high-speed drum camera is utilized to record the time history of the explosion spectrum. More detailed studies (from photographic plates) of the spectrum at selected times are then conducted by use of a rotating shutter. Results are presented from experiments with aluminum wires exploded in various controlled atmospheres.
Immunoglobulin and complement demonstration in kidney following transport medium preservation

Transport media have been widely utilized for the preservation of immunoglobulins and complement in skin biopsies submitted for direct immunofluorescence. Critical studies have been performed to evaluate the quality of immunoreactivity maintained following such handling of skin specimens. We assessed the degree of immunoreactant preservation in kidney specimens derived from 2 murine models of renal disease, namely the NZW/BiNJ and the C57BLKsJ-db/db strains. There was excellent preservation of glomerular immunoglobulin and complement through 48 h of transport medium holding time, with especially good maintenance of granular staining patterns. While fresh-frozen tissue is preferable for direct immunofluorescence study of renal disease, acceptable preservation of immunoreactants may be maintained for a moderate period of time by transport medium utilization.
Intimacy status: Relationship to interpersonal perception.

Five modes of reacting to the intimacy-isolation crisis of young adulthood were described, measured, and validated. Criteria for inclusion in one of the five intimacy statuses were (1) presence or absence of peer friendships, (2) presence or absence of an enduring-committed-heterosexual relationship, and (3) “depth” vs. “superficiality” of peer relationships. Statuses were compared on a “partner-perception” task assessing subject's intimate knowledge of his partner (a close male or female friend who accompanied the subject to the experiment). In all, 66 male college students participated in the study, 50 with male partners and 16 with female partners. The results support the hypothesis that subjects high in intimacy status share a greater degree of mutual knowledge and understanding with their partners then medium-or low-level intimacy status subjects.
Apoferritin-based nanomedicine platform for drug delivery: equilibrium binding study of daunomycin with DNA

This paper describes the preparation and optimization of the analytical properties of the protein based drug delivery platform apoferritin. In biological systems, the protein cage ferritin is used to store iron and to keep it from building to toxic levels in cells. When the iron atoms are removed from ferritin, apoferritin is formed. In this study, daunomycin, an anthracycline antibiotic drug that has been used for specific types of cancer treatment such as acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia, was encapsulated within the protein cage for drug delivery. Daunomycin slows or stops the growth of cancer cells by binding with the cell's DNA. The model for daunomycin-DNA complex binding mechanism is intercalation, where daunomycin binds with approximately every 3 base pairs causing a local unwinding, but a negligible distortion of the helical conformation. The binding affinity for free DNA is higher than that of structured DNA in cells. Upon binding with DNA the fluorescence intensity of daunomycin decreases. We used apoferritin's ability to disassemble and reassemble under pH control to load the therapeutic compound daunomycin. The combination of a modifiable interior and exterior surface and the passable hydrophobic and hydrophilic channels through the cage allows the containment or attachment of both insoluble and soluble drugs for delivery. At experimental pH 5 conditions the interaction between the apoferritin interior cage and daunomycin is weak making it difficult to encapsulate the drug effectively within the protein cage. The incorporation of poly-L-aspartic acid (PLAA), a polypeptide and biodegradable material that does not increase the toxicity of the drug delivery system and is negatively charged at pH 5.0, into the drug delivery system resulted in a substantial improvement in the drug encapsulation. The binding properties of free daunomycin with DNA were compared to the newly synthesized apoferritin protein based drug delivery system. Encapsulation of the daunomycin within the apoferritin protein cage had little effect upon the intrinsic binding constant, Ki, or the exclusion parameter n as compared to the free daunomycin model. The study resulted in the design and optimization of a unique protein based drug delivery platform using the protein cage apoferritin for potential therapeutic administration of the anti-cancer agent daunomycin.
Power optimisation of combinational circuits by input transformations

An approach is presented for power minimisation of CMOS combinational circuits based on transforming power-expensive inputs to functionally equivalent low-power inputs. It is assumed that the environment information is available in the form of either word-level statistics or a long representative input sequence. From the environment information, power-efficient input transformations are derived that will save power for any input stream that satisfies the environment properties. A transform module is synthesised that is prepended to the primary inputs of the module. The proposed approach can be applied at the system level by propagating environment information to the primary outputs of the system and then deriving transform circuits for each module. As an example of real-world application, results are presented for a DCT module in a JPEG compression chip with different input environments (e.g. face recognition dataset and weather forecasting). Experimental results are highly encouraging.
Expression of CAP37, a novel inflammatory mediator, in Alzheimer's disease

Recent evidence suggests that inflammation in the central nervous system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. However, the identity of the inflammatory mediators, cytokines, and reactive oxygen species, that orchestrate cell death and plaque biogenesis in Alzheimer's disease, have yet to be elucidated. We have identified a novel inflammatory mediator, CAP37 (Cationic Antimicrobial Protein Mi 37 kDa), that promotes mononuclear cell chemotaxis, adhesion of monocytes to endothelium, and release of oxygen radicals from monocytes. In the present immunocytochemical study, we demonstrate the expression of CAP37 in the cerebral microvasculature in Alzheimer's disease. CAP37 was not detected in brain vessels of normal controls or patients with other neuropathologic conditions such as Pick's, Parkinson's, Binswanger's disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, and Candida infection. Treatment of cerebral endothelial cultures with inflammatory mediators, cytokines or beta-amyloid results in the induction of CAP37 expression. These in vitro data showing endothelial-CAP37 expression after beta-amyloid treatment together with the previous demonstration that CAP37 stimulates mononuclear cell migration and activation, suggest that CAP37 could contribute to neuronal injury in Alzheimer's disease.
Decomposing the Components of Friendship and Friends' Influence on Adolescent Drinking and Smoking

Abstract Purpose Friendship networks are an important source of peer influence. However, existing network studies vary in terms of how they operationalize friendship and friend's influence on adolescent substance use. This study uses social network analysis to characterize three types of friendship relations: (1) mutual or reciprocated, (2) directional, and (3) intimate friends. We then examine the relative effects of each friendship type on adolescent drinking and smoking behavior. Methods Using a saturated sample from the Add Health data, a nationally representative sample of high school adolescents (N = 2,533 nested in 12 schools), we computed the level of exposure to drinking and smoking of friends using a network exposure model, and their association with individual drinking and smoking using fixed effect models. Results Results indicated that the influence from mutual or reciprocated type of friendship relations is stronger on adolescent substance use than directional, especially for smoking. Regarding the directionality of directional type of friendship relations, adolescents are equally influenced by both nominating and nominated friends on their drinking and smoking behavior. Results for intimate friends friendship relations indicated that the influence from "best friends" was weaker than the one from non—"best friends," which indicates that the order of friend nomination may not matter as much as nomination reciprocation. Conclusions This study demonstrates that considering different features of friendship relationships is important in evaluating friends' influence on adolescent substance use. Related policy implications are discussed.
RECORD KEEPING IN INTERDISCIPLINARY PRACTICES

Health care services today require an extensive amount of interdisciplinary effort and collaboration. Mutual knowledge among the variety of disciplines that interact within health care is essential in the process of promoting a teamwork concept. This study addresses issues that can arise when professionals from diverse disciplines work together in a health care setting. A systematic analysis of literature regarding documentation efforts necessary for client record management in the care team is focused upon, with special attention given to the role of social workers. Four major gaps in record keeping practices were found and highlight the need for an integrated approach to the design and maintenance of standardized and comprehensive patient records, but such incorporation has not yet been practically defined. The hindrances to record keeping practices define the need for establishing an evaluative component in record keeping.
Statistical Evaluation of Several Methods for Cut-Point Determination of Immunogenicity Screening Assay

The cut point of the immunogenicity screening assay is the level of response of the immunogenicity screening assay at or above which a sample is defined to be positive and below which it is defined to be negative. The Food and Drug Administration Guidance for Industry on Assay Development for Immunogenicity Testing of Therapeutic recommends the cut point to be an upper 95 percentile of the negative control patients. In this article, we assume that the assay data are a random sample from a normal distribution. The sample normal percentile is a point estimate with a variability that decreases with the increase of sample size. Therefore, the sample percentile does not assure at least 5% false-positive rate (FPR) with a high confidence level (e.g., 90%) when the sample size is not sufficiently enough. With this concern, we propose to use a lower confidence limit for a percentile as the cut point instead. We have conducted an extensive literature review on the estimation of the statistical cut point and compare several selected methods for the immunogenicity screening assay cut-point determination in terms of bias, the coverage probability, and FPR. The selected methods evaluated for the immunogenicity screening assay cut-point determination are sample normal percentile, the exact lower confidence limit of a normal percentile (Chakraborti and Li, 2007) and the approximate lower confidence limit of a normal percentile. It is shown that the actual coverage probability for the lower confidence limit of a normal percentile using approximate normal method is much larger than the required confidence level with a small number of assays conducted in practice. We recommend using the exact lower confidence limit of a normal percentile for cut-point determination.
Simulating Shape Changes during Electrodeposition Primary and Secondary Current Distribution

A technique based on the analytical method of lines is presented for predicting shape changes during electrodeposition. The technique is presented for both primary and secondary current distributions. The method presented does not require iterations for nonlinear Butler-Volmer boundary conditions or changing electrode shapes. The technique is based on a semianalytical method developed earlier for predicting current distributions in electrochemical cells. This technique is attractive because it provides a symbolic solution for the Laplace equation, and hence requires less computation time to perform case studies.
The Importance of Transferring Accountability for Infection Control Practices to the Direct Care Providers: Lessons Learned from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract BACKGROUND: An investigation was initiated when the microbiology laboratory notified Infection Control (IC) of an increase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) from our 50-bed level-III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a 5-week period. METHODS: IC performed record reviews of all PA patients, verified direct care provider (DCP) practices by observation and questioning the staff, reviewed written practice guidelines for the NICU and respiratory staff, and performed a variety of patient and environmental surveillance cultures. All PA isolates were submitted for strain characterization by cell wall fatty acid analysis. RESULTS: Review of the NICU microbiology data disclosed that from January 1–September 30, 2003, there had been only four episodic cases of PA. From October 8–November 12, 2003, six patients were identified; four had bloodstream infection (BSI) with three deaths. Surveillance cultures on December 2, 2003, identified a seventh patient. All patients with PA overlapped in their hospital stays and four of seven (4/7) were in the same nursery. All PA isolates had the same antibiogram and were confirmed to be a single strain. All environmental cultures were no growth. The results of the investigation were shared with the NICU faculty and staff. Guidelines were developed to control the outbreak. Inservice was provided to all shifts by IC and Staff Development for the NICU. IC emphasized the importance of holding all DCPs accountable for adherence to the guidelines. The NICU staff was empowered to demand compliance by all consult and ancillary service staff. IC performed weekly surveillance cultures of the patients. Since December 2, 2003, there have been no new patients with PA. CONCLUSION: We identified a single strain of PA causing an outbreak of cross infection in the NICU. Prevention of cross infection requires compliance with IC practices. Multiple disciplines provide specific skills to these patients, and the frequent contacts that occur between the patient and the DCP increases the risk of cross infection. We believe that transferring accountability for IC practices to the DCP was significant in controlling the outbreak.
Identification of a Unique Radical S-Adenosylmethionine Methylase Likely Involved in Methanopterin Biosynthesis in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii

Methanopterin (MPT) and its analogs are coenzymes required for methanogenesis and methylotrophy in specialized microorganisms. The methyl groups at C-7 and C-9 of the pterin ring distinguish MPT from all other pterin-containing natural products. However, the enzyme(s) responsible for the addition of these methyl groups has yet to be identified. Here we demonstrate that a putative radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzyme superfamily member encoded by the MJ0619 gene in the methanogen Methanocaldococcus jannaschii is likely this missing methylase. When MJ0619 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, various methylated pterins were detected, consistent with MJ0619 catalyzing methylation at C-7 and C-9 of 7,8-dihydro-6-hydroxymethylpterin, a common intermediate in both folate and MPT biosynthesis. Site-directed mutagenesis of Cys77 present in the first of two canonical radical SAM CX3CX2C motifs present in MJ0619 did not inhibit C-7 methylation, while mutation of Cys102, found in the other radical SAM amino acid motif, resulted in the loss of C-7 methylation, suggesting that the first motif could be involved in C-9 methylation, while the second motif is required for C-7 methylation. Further experiments demonstrated that the C-7 methyl group is not derived from methionine and that methylation does not require cobalamin. When E. coli cells expressing MJ0619 were grown with deuterium-labeled acetate as the sole carbon source, the resulting methyl group on the pterin was predominantly labeled with three deuteriums. Based on these results, we propose that this archaeal radical SAM methylase employs a previously uncharacterized mechanism for methylation, using methylenetetrahydrofolate as a methyl group donor.
Fetal and Maternal Vitamin A Levels in Tissues of Hypervitaminotic A Rats and Rabbits

Pregnant rats and rabbits were given excess vitamin A, in the form of retinyl acetate or retinoic acid, for the 3-day period just prior to palatal closure in the fetuses. Twenty-four hours later, the various forms of vitamin A, and their levels, were determined in fetal liver and carcass and in maternal liver and serum by thin-layer chromatography. The pre dominant forms of vitamin A found in both fetal and maternal tissues were retinyl palmitate, retinol and retinoic acid. In both species, the tissues from the groups treated with retinoic acid contained levels of vitamin A similar to those found in control tissues. After retinyl acetate treatment in the rat, both of the maternal tissues studied had elevated vitamin A levels, whereas in the rabbit only maternal liver levels increased. In the groups treated with retinyl acetate, the ratio of the vitamin A levels in fetal liver :maternal serum reflected a species difference: the ratio was lower than the control value in the rabbit and higher than controls in the rat. Radiotracer studies in the rat, using either 3H-retinol or 14C-retinoic acid, demonstrated vitamin A transport across the placenta, with vitamin A concentrating in the fetal liver. J. Nutr. 107: 1816-1821, 1977.
Using Inductance as a Tuning Parameter for RF Meta-atoms

The resonant frequency of metamaterials structured with split ring resonator (SRR) meta-atoms is determined primarily through the capacitance and inductance of the individual meta-atoms. Two designs that vary inductance incrementally were modeled, simulated, fabricated, and tested to investigate the role inductance plays in metamaterial designs. The designs consisted of strategically adding sections to the SRR to increase the inductance, but in a manner that minimized capacitance variations. Each design showed a shift in resonant frequency that was proportional to the length of the added section. As the length of each section was increased, the resonant frequency shifted from 2.78 GHz to 2.18 GHz.
Cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal consequences of self-monitoring

As their dialogue unfolds, Sancho reflects on Don Quixote’s view of human nature, “It is a fine comparison... though not so new that I have heard it many times before.” Indeed, we do hear the message of Don Quixote time and again. All the world, we are told, is a stage. Life, so the story goes, is a theatrical performance. In the theater of life, appearances and outward images are often more important than reality itself. Deception, pretense, and affectation may even be made into art forms.
Disruption of Rho signaling results in progressive atrioventricular conduction defects while ventricular function remains preserved

SPECIFIC AIMSThe aim of the present study was to explore the necessity for Rho GTPase activity in normal cardiac development and function through inhibition of Rho GTPase activity in the heart with cardiac-specific overexpression of Rho GDIα, an endogenous specific GDP dissociation inhibitor for Rho family proteins, using α-myosin heavy chain promoter.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS1. Increased cardiac expression of Rho GDIα inhibited activity of Rho family GTPases and revealed a negative feedback mechanism for gene regulation of Rho family proteinsThe study was focused on two transgenic lines (M2 and L2), in which Rho GDIα expression level is ∼7- and 3-fold higher than the endogenous level in adult ventricles. In adult hearts of the M2 mouse line, content of all three Rho family proteins (RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42) in the membrane fraction (active form) was significantly decreased vs. nontransgenic littermates (∼60 to 80%). In contrast, their total protein level was markedly increased in transgenic hearts compared with no...
North Atlantic warming: patterns of long-term trend and multidecadal variability

Climate fluctuations in the North Atlantic Ocean have wide-spread implications for Europe, Africa, and the Americas. This study assesses the relative contribution of the long-term trend and variability of North Atlantic warming using EOF analysis of deep-ocean and near-surface observations. Our analysis demonstrates that the recent warming over the North Atlantic is linked to both long-term (including anthropogenic and natural) climate change and multidecadal variability (MDV, ~50–80 years). Our results suggest a general warming trend of 0.031 ± 0.006°C/decade in the upper 2,000 m North Atlantic over the last 80 years of the twentieth century, although during this time there are periods in which short-term trends were strongly amplified by MDV. For example, MDV accounts for ~60% of North Atlantic warming since 1970. The single-sign basin-scale pattern of MDV with prolonged periods of warming (cooling) in the upper ocean layer and opposite tendency in the lower layer is evident from observations. This pattern is associated with a slowdown (enhancement) of the North Atlantic thermohaline overturning circulation during negative (positive) MDV phases. In contrast, the long-term trend exhibits warming in tropical and mid-latitude North Atlantic and a pattern of cooling in regions associated with major northward heat transports, consistent with a slowdown of the North Atlantic circulation as evident from observations and confirmed by selected modeling results. This localized cooling has been masked in recent decades by warming during the positive phase of MDV. Finally, since the North Atlantic Ocean plays a crucial role in establishing and regulating the global thermohaline circulation, the multidecadal fluctuations discussed here should be considered when assessing long-term climate change and variability, both in the North Atlantic and at global scales.
Personality predictors of citizenship performance

This article briefly introduces the criterion construct, citizenship performance, describes how this construct is different from task performance and presents a recently derived 3-dimension model of the domain. Evidence is then reviewed for links between personality constructs and citizenship performance. An update of the Organ and Ryan (1995) meta-analysis of personality-organizational citizenship behavior relationships suggests slightly higher correlations than those found in the meta-analysis and also indicates that personality, at least the conscientiousness and dependability constructs, correlates more highly with citizenship performance than with task performance. These results are discussed in the broader context of building models of job performance and studying linkages between individual differences and relatively specific criterion constructs.
Administrative case reviews: Improving outcomes for children in out-of-home care

Abstract For nearly three decades foster care review has been required and practiced in the United States. It is well established that foster care review was designed with the intent to reduce the time children spend in foster care and increase permanent placements for children. This article presents that foster care review, as practiced in Colorado, is a social work intervention and quantitative results of this study demonstrate that as an intervention, timely administrative case review is an effective social work intervention related to improving child welfare outcomes for the children and families served in Colorado. The major findings show that timely administrative case review and increased levels of review attendance (mother, father, Guardian ad litem's, and foster parents) are predictors of the child welfare outcomes of permanency and length of time in out-of-home care. Bivariate results indicate a median length of stay approximately 10.76 months longer for children who do not consistently receive timely case reviews. Additionally, the results show that timely care review moderates the underlying casework process related to caseworker contacts, demonstrating that a child's length of stay differs depending on the level of timely case review. In essence, the administrative case review process in Colorado is effectively achieving its goal and is an effective intervention for improving the lives of children in foster care.
Fruit and flower phenology at two sites in Kibale National Park, Uganda

Examination of phenological patterns of tropical trees at different temporal and spatial scales can elucidate biotic and abiotic factors that correlate with fruiting, flowering and/or leaf set patterns. In this study, 3793 trees from 104 species in Kibale National Park, Uganda were monitored. The trees were selected from two sites (Kanyawara and Ngogo) separated by 10 km. Trees were monitored monthly to document community-wide and population-level fruiting and flowering patterns for a maximum of 76 mo. Analysis of two sites over a number of years permitted examination of generalities of patterns found on smaller spatial and temporal scales. Spectral analysis indicated that community-level flowering and fruiting at Kanyawara exhibited regular annual peaks, although the flowering peaks were of shorter duration. At Ngogo, community-level flowering also dis- played regular annual peaks, but fruiting had an irregular pattern with no distinct peaks. The abundance of fruiting trees at Kanyawara was negatively related to the minimum temperature in the previous season (3-7 mo prior). Since fruiting tended to peak when the first wet season of the year was ending and the dry season was beginning, this suggests that the minimum temperature in the previous dry season is important in determining how many individuals fruit. Flowering at Kan- yawara peaked immediately after the maximum annual period of high irradiance. Within-species synchronization was evident in the flowering for all species exam- ined at Ngogo and for 64% of those at Kanyawara. Fruiting was synchronous within species for 64% of the species at both sites. Despite this general community-level synchronization, the months of peak fruiting and flowering for some species varied markedly among years. Furthermore, for a number of species the timing of fruiting or flowering events differed between Kanyawara and Ngogo. For some species, trends that were suggested from one year of data were not supported when addi- tional years were considered. Although these two sites are close together, share many of the same species, and experience similar climatic regimes, many phenolo- gical patterns were site-dependent.
Growth of LiNbO3 films on single crystal sapphire substrates using pulsed laser deposition

Abstract We report on the epitaxial growth of LiNbO3 (1120) films on sapphire (1120) substrates using pulsed laser deposition. We have used a Li-enriched target of Li2NbO3 to compensate for the loss of Li at high deposition temperatures of 600–800°C. X-ray θ-2θ scans reveal that the crystal orientation of our LiNbO3 films is very sensitive to the deposition temperature and oxygen pressure. To obtain a single (1120) orientation, we need to use a deposition temperature of 800°C and an oxygen pressure of 10−5 Torr. Otherwise, an extra (0001) orientation of LiNbO3 always occurs. From a rocking curve of the (1120) peak, we have measured a full width at half maximum of 0.3°, implying that our LiNbO3 (1120) film is highly oriented. The measured dielectric constants of the LiNbO3 (0001) and (1120) films at 1 MHz are 80 and 70, respectively.
The current status of systematic desensitization.

Abstract This article is a selective review of theory and research in systematic desensitization over the last two decades. First, several models that purport to explain therapeutic desensitization effects are reviewed. Then, the literatures pertaining to expectancy effects and relaxation effects in desensitization are reviewed and their implications for the several explanatory models are noted. Finally, the outstanding methodological problems in nonclinical desensitization research are discussed. The state of theory in desensitization is confusing. The research done heretofore is unimpressive. However, valuable methodological lessons have been learned, and we are now, for the first time, in a reasonably good position to study carefully the effects of desensitization treatments.
Distributed visualization using workstations, supercomputers, and high speed networks

Access to supercomputers via the high speed wide area networks being developed will enable sophisticated, interactive visualization on local workstations. As an experiment, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and the Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center collaborated to demonstrate the possibilities for such distributed applications. The test case was visualization of 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, with a Cray performing surface reconstruction to generate a set of triangles. The resulting geometric data was sent to a local workstation to be rendered, with minor enhancements to current network protocols enabling effective utilization of the 45 megabit bandwidth of a T3 based network.