cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of growth form on the accumulation of airborne copper by lichens

Lichens are known to accumulate airborne elements. This characteristic makes them useful as biomonitors of air quality. However, direct correlations of element concentrations in the air with element concentrations in lichen thalli are generally unavailable. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively examine the relationship between concentrations of copper in ambient air samples and thalli of foliose and fruticose lichens. Lichen samples from four sites along an air copper gradient were collected and analyzed. Foliose specimens consistently accumulated more than twice as much copper as fruticose specimens at all four sites. The relationship between copper concentrations in foliose and fruticose lichens and ambient air samples along an airborne copper gradient was examined using a stepwise regression model. An R2 value of (0.84) and an F-statistic of (182.5, p<0.001) for the model indicate that variability in lichen copper concentrations between sites is explained by airborne copper concentrations. Based on the regression analysis both foliose and fruticose growth forms appear to accurately predict airborne copper concentrations. A significant interaction between the airborne copper and growth form variables and large differences in the calculated slopes suggests that foliose lichens more efficiently accumulate airborne copper than fruticose lichens.
Understanding Business Creation: Serendipity and Scope in Two Decades of Business Creation Studies

This is the acceptance speech by Paul D. Reynolds upon receiving the 2004 International Award for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Research. The award is sponsored by the Swedish Foundation for Small Business Research (FSF) and the Swedish Business Development Agency (NUTEK). In this speech Reynolds reflects on his contribution to entrepreneurship research.
The Role of Human Glutathione S-Transferases hGSTA1-1 and hGSTA2-2 in Protection against Oxidative Stress

In order to elucidate the protective role of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) against oxidative stress, we have investigated the kinetic properties of the human α-class GSTs, hGSTA1-1 and hGSTA2-2, toward physiologically relevant hydroperoxides and have studied the role of these enzymes in glutathione (GSH)-dependent reduction of these hydroperoxides in human liver. We have cloned hGSTA1-1 and hGSTA2-2 from a human lung cDNA library and expressed both in Escherichia coli. Both isozymes had remarkably high peroxidase activity toward fatty acid hydroperoxides, phospholipid hydroperoxides, and cumene hydroperoxide. In general, the activity of hGSTA2-2 was higher than that of hGSTA1-1 toward these substrates. For example, the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of hGSTA1-1 for phosphatidylcholine (PC) hydroperoxide and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) hydroperoxide was found to be 181.3 and 199.6 s−1 mM−1, respectively, while the catalytic efficiency of hGSTA2-2 for PC-hydroperoxide and PE-hydroperoxide was 317.5 and 353 s−1 mM−1, respectively. Immunotitration studies with human liver extracts showed that the antibodies against human α-class GSTs immunoprecipitated about 55 and 75% of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity of human liver toward PC-hydroperoxide and cumene hydroperoxide, respectively. GPx activity was not immunoprecipitated by the same antibodies from human erythrocyte hemolysates. These results show that the α-class GSTs contribute a major portion of GPx activity toward lipid hydroperoxides in human liver. Our results also suggest that GSTs may be involved in the reduction of 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid, an important intermediate in the 5-lipoxygenase pathway.
Cues to Action as Motivators for Children's Brushing

Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. Home self-care procedures are the most important strategies to prevent tooth decay. Brushing is the most important single intervention for the prevention of tooth decay, yet compliance is not practiced and there is limited understanding of children's behavioral decisions. Guided by the Health Belief Model, this study consisted of eight focus groups with children in the second through fifth grades at three different socioeconomic-level school districts to determine the cues to action that are motivating or can motivate their brushing behavior. Results indicated children are primarily motivated to brush for aesthetic reasons, mainly due to viewed media pictures of "perfect" teeth. Other less commonly expressed motivations for brushing stemmed from interpersonal connections, such as relatives with dentures. Social media, on the other hand, played a key role in some children's understanding of more advanced oral health connections such as links between cardiovascular and oral disease, and smoking and oral cancer. These links were viewed as threatening to children to motivate better brushing. Additionally, the study found that home computers can be used as an external motivator to deliver tailored messages to encourage better brushing.
Activities and kinetics of digestive α- and β-glucosidase and β-galactosidase of five species of echinoids (Echinodermata)

Abstract 1. 1. Specific activities (nmol substrate hydrolyzed/min/mg total protein) of crude homogenates of the gut tissues of Arbacia punctulata, Diadema antillarum, Echinometra lucunter, Eucidaris tribuloides and Lytechinus variegatus ranged from 34 ± 19 to 462 ± 48 for α-glucosidase, 11 ± 2 to 47 ± 9 for β-glucosidase, 3 ± 1 to 6 ± 3 for α-galactosidase, and 7 ± 2 to 15 ± 3 for β-galactosidase (species means ± 1 standard deviation at pH of maximal activity). 2. 2. Maximal specific activity was at pH 7.0–7.5. 3. 3. The K m (measured at pH 7.5) ranged from 0.09 to 0.14 ± 0.03 mM for α-glucosidase, 0.03 ± 0.01 to 0.21 mM for β-glucosidase, and 0.04 ± 0.01 to 0.06 ± 0.03 for β-galactosidase. 4. 4. The calculated maximal velocity ( V max , specific activity) ranged from 37 ± 17 to 479 ± 41 for α-glucosidase, 9 ± 1 to 43 ± 6 for β-glucosid ase, and 7 to 10 ± 1 for β-galactosidase. This reflects the levels of enzymes. 5. 5. No trypsin activity was detected.
Ingredients of a successful grant application to the National Institutes of Health.

Many factors determine the scientific merit of an NIH research grant application. This paper is intended to help optimize the organization and logical development of investigators' research ideas so that grant applications will be evaluated by the reviewers in as favorable a light as possible. The ingredients of a successful grant application are good ideas, good science, and a good application. The research should be based on a significant hypothesis and, if possible, oriented towards uncovering an important biological mechanism. Specific methods should be directly related to each aim of the project. Likewise, the specific aims should be related to each hypothesis. All aspects of the application should be clear and focused. It is best to define all assumptions, limitations, and alternative approaches. In general, the best philosophy is for the applicant to address all possible problems before the reviewers do.
A fatal case of sun exposure in a multiple sclerosis patient

A 35-year-old woman with a long standing history of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis became physically incapacitated by heat-induced muscle weakness while sunbathing and suffered fatal sun exposure. These deleterious effects of increased core temperature on the neurological symptoms have been documented for a half century. Elevation of the patient's core temperature may lead to either transient or permanent neurologic symptoms and signs that predispose to considerable morbidity and mortality.
Evaluating the potential of a natural experiment to provide unbiased evidence of neighborhood effects on health

In this paper we advance a dual-prong method for evaluating whether data from a natural experiment can be leveraged to draw convincing implications about causal effects of neighborhood context on health. In particular, we probe a natural experiment’s ability to surmount potentially confounding measurement issues arising from geographic selection bias. We offer methods for assessing the degree of this potential bias both immediately after households are assigned to neighborhoods and over longer durations. We then illustrate these methods using data from a natural experiment involving scattered-site public housing in Denver and test whether neighborhood context affects the hazard of children’s asthma diagnoses. We find that, conditioned on ethnicity, the tenant allocation process used by the Denver Housing Authority produced a quasi-random initial assignment across neighborhood characteristics and that the range of bias arising subsequently through selective out-migration can be narrowly delineated by replicating analyses for alternative samples defined by period of residence in public housing. We further find support for the proposition that observing no correlation between neighborhood and observed household characteristics is tantamount to observing no correlation between neighborhood and (typically) unobserved household characteristics. There appears to be little bias reintroduced through selective out-migration and staying in initially assigned neighborhood. These findings suggest that, after employing the evaluation strategy suggested here, natural experiments can indeed be a powerful tool for assessing neighborhood effects on health.
Stimulation of FSH release in vivo by prolonged infusion of synthetic LH-RH.

Pure natural porcine LH—RH and synthetic LH—RH were administered iv to immature male rats by a quick injection or by infusion for a 4–hr period. Blood was collected 15 min or 60 min after quick injection, or immediately after the termination of the prolonged infusion. Serum was separated and assayed for LH and FSH by radioimmunoassay. A quick iv injection of 0.2 μg or 1 μg of synthetic LH—RH increased serum LH levels significantly at 15 min, but not at 60 min after injection. The magnitude of response was dose—related. Serum FSH was also increased, but the increase was very slight, and no dose—response relationship was observed. On the other hand, a 4–hr infusion of either 0.2 μg or 1 μg of synthetic LH—RH induced a considerable rise of both serum LH and FSH levels and the magnitude of rise for both serum LH and FSH was dose—related. A four—hr infusion of either 1 μg or 3 μg of natural pure or of synthetic LH—RH stimulated LH and FSH release near maximally, as indicated by the marginally significant or in...
Ligand K-Edge and Metal L-Edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and Density Functional Calculations of Oxomolybdenum Complexes with Thiolate and Related Ligands: Implications for Sulfite Oxidase

X-ray absorption spectra have been measured at the S K-, Cl K-, and Mo L3- and L2-edges for the d 0 dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes LMoO2(SCH2Ph), LMoO2Cl, and LMoO2(OPh) (L ) hydrotris(3,5- dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate) to investigate ligand -metal covalency and its effects on oxo transfer reactivity. Two dominant peaks are observed at the S K-edge (2470.5 and 2472.5 eV) for LMoO2(SCH2Ph) and at the Cl K-edge (2821.9 and 2824.2 eV) for LMoO2Cl, demonstrating two major covalent contributions from S and Cl to the Mo d orbitals. Density functional calculations were performed on models of the three Mo complexes, and the energies and characters of the Mo 4d orbitals were interpreted in terms of the effects of two strong cis-oxo bonds and additional perturbations due to the thiolate, chloride, or alkoxide ligand. The major perturbation effects are for thiolate and Cl - ﷿ mixed with the dxz orbital and U mixed with the dz 2 orbital. The calculated 4d orbital energy splittings for models of these two major contributions to the bonding of thiolate and Cl ligands (2.47 and 2.71 eV, respectively) correspond to the splittings observed experimentally for the two dominant ligand K-edge peaks for LMoO2(SCH2Ph) and LMoO2Cl (2.0 and 2.3 eV, respectively) after consideration of final state electronic relaxation. Quantification of the S and Cl covalencies in the d orbital manifold from the pre-edge intensity yields, 42% and 17% for LMoO2(SCH2Ph) and LMoO2Cl, respectively. The Mo L2-edge spectra provide a direct probe of metal 4d character for the three Mo complexes. The spectra contain a strong, broad peak and two additional sharp peaks at higher energy, which are assigned to 2p transitions to the overlapping t2g set and to the dz 2 and dxy levels, respectively. The total peak intensities of the Mo L 2- edges for LMoO2(OPh) and LMoO2Cl are similar to and larger than those for LMoO2(SCH2Ph), which agrees with the calculated trend in ligand-metal covalency. The theoretical and experimental description of bonding developed from these studies provides insight into the relationship of electronic structure to the oxo transfer chemistry observed for the LMoO2X complexes. These results imply that anisotropic covalency of the Mo- Scys bond in sulfite oxidase may promote preferential transfer of one of the oxo groups during catalysis.
First report of Xylella fastidiosa associated with leaf scorch in black oak in Washington, D.C.

Bacterial leaf scorch caused by Xylella fastidiosa has been reported in 17 species of oak including bur, pin, red, scarlet, shingle, and white oaks (3). In September 2002, a leaf scorch symptom cha...
Opsoclonus in Adults: Report of Three Cases and Review of the Literature

• Opsoclonus is a rare but distinctive disorder of ocular motility. Although there are many reported cases of opsoclonus in children, there is no large series of cases in adults. In recent years, three cases of opsoclonus in adults have been identified at the University of Iowa, Iowa City. Review of 55 other cases of opsoclonus in adults reported in the literature showed that adults over 40 years of age with onset of opsoclonus should be investigated fully for underlying malignancy. In younger adults with a history of a preceding influenzalike illness, viral titers (acute and convalescent) should be obtained. Also, younger adults should be investigated for other causes of opsoclonus, such as drug or toxin exposure. Treatment is directed toward correcting the underlying process.
Advanced CLARITY for rapid and high-resolution imaging of intact tissues

CLARITY enables the chemical transformation of intact biological tissues into a hydrogel–tissue hybrid. The hybrid samples can be interrogated using light and macromolecular labels, whilst retaining fine structure and native biological molecules.
Calibrations and the size of Grassmann faces

In the past fifteen years or so, convex geometry and the theory of calibrations have provided a deeper understanding of the behavior and singular structure ofm-dimensional area-minimizing surfaces inR n . Calibrations correspond to faces of the GrassmannianG(m,R n ) of orientedm-planes inR n , viewed as a compact submanifold of the exterior algebra Λ m R n . Large faces typically provide many examples of area-minimizing surfaces. This paper studies the sizes of such faces. It also considers integrands Φ more general than area. One result implies that form-dimensional surfaces inR n , with 2 ⩽m ⩽n − 2, for any integrand Φ, there are Φ-minimizing surfaces with interior singularities.
The interpretation and evaluation of winking in stranger dyads

This study investigates both the perceived message function of a wink and how the wink and winker are evaluated according to the attractiveness of the winker and the sex composition of the “winker/winkee “ dyad. One male and one female actor, dressed either attractively or less attractively, approached both male and female participants in public areas, asking for the time. Upon receipt of the time, the actor thanked the participant and winked. Following the wink, an experimenter asked the participant to provide an idea of what he/she thought the wink meant and to evaluate both the winking and the winker. Ratings of the wink and winker revealed that participants strongly preferred opposite‐sex to same‐sex winkers, and that male participants gave lower ratings to unattractive winkers than did female participants. Results of the study also show that a wink was assigned a number of different meanings by participants. The top two meanings were that a wink fulfilled the message functions of reinforcement (54% o...
Treatment positions for congenital dysplasia of the hip.

Fetal and infant hips were analyzed in an attempt to explain some of the observed complications (particularlyavascular necrosis) encountered in the treatment of hip dysplasia. Gross manipulation showed a tight interlocking of the acetabular labrum into the intertrochanteric notch of the proximal femur in the commonly used treatment positions that emphasized positional extremes. Injection studies corroborated vascular occlusion at three major sites when such positions were maintained. Marked abduction appeared to be the important position to avoid during treatment.
Seasonal LH profile in ovariectomized cattle

Two experiments were conducted to examine seasonal changes in circulating LH concentrations in ovariectomized heifers. In experiment 1, four Holstein heifers were ovariectomized in April 1977 during middiestrus. Blood samples were collected daily for 30 days surrounding each equinox and solstice for one year to examine changes in plasma LH levels at the time of seasonal photoperiod changes. The LH concentrations were highest during the winter solstice period and lowest during the summer solstice period. In addition, samples taken at two-week intervals indicated a distinct LH profile with maximal LH concentrations during November-April and minimal concentrations during May-October. In experiment 2, eight Holstein heifers were ovariectomized in June-July, 1979 and given an estradiol or a control implant in October. A distinct LH profile for the interval extending from January, 1980 to February, 1981 was found in the heifers that were not treated with estradiol. Concentrations were maximal during December-April and minimal during May-November. The LH profile followed a similar pattern in the estradiol-treated heifers; however, the overall profile was at a higher level. These data indicate that underlying seasonal reproductive mechanisms are present in cattle even though the species ovulates and breeds throughout the year.
Regulation of IGF binding proteins in human aorta vascular smooth muscle cells by cAMP, dexamethasone and IGF-I

Summary Human vascular smooth muscle cells produce IGFBP-3, IGFBP-4, IGFBP-6 and proteases specific for IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-4. This study evaluated the regulation of IGFBPs in human aorta smooth muscle cells by cyclic AMP, dexamethasone and IGF-1. cAMP decreased IGFBP-3, increased IGFBP-4 and increased IGFBP-6. Dexamethasone decreased IGFBP-3, slightly increased IGFBP-4 and increased IGFBP-6. IGF-1 increased IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-6 while decreasing IGFBP-4. Co-incubation with IGF-1 and dexamethasone or cAMP increased media IGFBP-3, despite a decrease in IGFBP-3 mRNA, due to the dominant effect of IGF-1-induced dissociation of cell surface-bound IGFBP-3. In cells incubated with cAMP and IGF-1, media IGFBP-4 was decreased, despite increased IGFBP-4 mRNA, in this case secondary to the dominant effect of IGF-1-stimulated IGFBP-4 protease. These findings suggest that cAMP, dexamethasone and IGF-1 regulate IGFBP production in human aorta smooth muscle cells via a complex interplay of changes in transcription, protease activation and dissociation of cell surface-bound IGFBPs.
Educational Technologies and the Teaching of Ethics in Science and Engineering

To support the teaching of ethics in science and engineering, educational technologies offer a variety of functions: communication between students and instructors, production of documents, distribution of documents, archiving of class sessions, and access to remote resources. Instructors may choose to use these functions of the technologies at different levels of intensity, to support a variety of pedagogies, consistent with accepted good practices. Good pedagogical practices are illustrated in this paper with four examples of uses of educational technologies in the teaching of ethics in science and engineering. Educational technologies impose costs for the purchase of hardware, licensing of software, hiring of support personnel, and training of instructors. Whether the benefits justify these costs is an unsettled question. While many researchers are studying the possible benefits of educational technologies, all instructors should assess the effectiveness of their practices.
Sliding mode setpoint control of an underactuated surface vessel: Simulation and experiment

A sliding mode control law is presented and experimentally implemented for setpoint control of an underactuated autonomous surface vessel. The control law is developed by defining a single sliding surface for orientation stabilization that determines the required yaw moment and three additional surfaces that determine the surge force. The trajectories are shown to converge to each of the surfaces in finite time and the sliding phase is shown to be asymptotically stable. Two setpoint control scenarios are simulated and then demonstrated experimentally. The experimental results show that the surface vessel converges to the desired setpoint with reasonable accuracy.
Psychosocial Factors in Early Release from Psychiatric Hospitalization

Extensive demographic and psychometric information was collected on 813 consecutively admitted psychiatric patients. Those male patients who were discharged with medical advice in 75 days or less t...
CC4-03: The Use of Administrative Data and Natural Language Processing to Estimate the Incidence of Statin-related Rhabdomyolysis

Background/Aims Despite the problem of misclassification, many studies of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) rely on administrative data rather than events validated by medical record review. We evaluated the new ICD-9 code for rhabdomyolysis (728.88) and natural language processing (NLP) as methods to identify cases of statin-related rhabdomyolysis, and estimated the incidence with various statins and doses.
Computational aspects of aortic bifurcation flows

Abstract Our investigation of bifurcation flows is here extended to two-dimensional regions obtained from radiographs of human aortic bifurcations. These regions were mapped onto rectangles with a slit. Wall shapes were at first approximated using cubic splines. However, the resulting wall vorticities were extremely sensitive to change in curvature, so the splines were replaced by least squares polynomial approximations. The correlations between computed wall vorticities and measured shear rates from laboratory experiments were good. These two quantities would be proportional in the same dimensionality. This suggests that useful data can be obtained from two-dimensional calculations of three-dimensional phenomena.
Redox reactions of phenazine antibiotics with ferric (hydr)oxides and molecular oxygen.

Phenazines are small redox-active molecules produced by a variety of bacteria. Beyond merely serving as antibiotics, recent studies suggest that phenazines play important physiological roles, including one in iron acquisition. Here we characterize the ability of four electrochemically reduced natural phenazines—pyocyanin (PYO), phenazine-1-carboxylate (PCA), phenazine-1-carboxamide, and 1-hydroxyphenazine (1-OHPHZ)—to reductively dissolve ferrihydrite and hematite in the pH range 5–8. Generally, the reaction rate is higher for a phenazine with a lower reduction potential, with the reaction between PYO and ferrihydrite at pH 5 being an exception; the rate decreases as the pH increases; the rate is higher for poorly crystalline ferrihydrite than for highly crystalline hematite. Ferric (hydr)oxide reduction by reduced phenazines can potentially be inhibited by oxygen, where O_2 competes with Fe(III) as the final oxidant. The reactivity of reduced phenazines with O_2 decreases in the order: PYO > 1-OHPHZ > PCA. Strikingly, reduced PYO, which is the least reactive phenazine with ferrihydrite and hematite at pH 7, is the most reactive phenazine with O_2. These results imply that different phenazines may perform different functions in environments with gradients of iron and O_2.
Does the Chromophore's Ring Move after Photoexcitation of Rhodopsin?

By comparing the shift of the absorption maxima when a visual pigment is converted to its lumirhodopsin photointermediate for two classes of pigments, we can infer whether or not the pigment's beta-ionone ring has left its binding site. We compare this shift for the long-wavelength sensitive visual pigment of chicken iodopsin (lambdamax = 571 nm), which has polar residues in the ring binding site that interact with the ring, with that for three pigments, which do not. We conclude that by the time the Lumi product of the pigment is formed, the ring has moved away from the ring binding site.
Invasion of Nests of Lasioglossum imitatum by a Social Parasite, Paralictus asteris (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Paralictus asteris Mitchell is a socially parasitic sweat bee that invades nests and becomes the dominant reproductive in colonies of a phylogenetically related host, Lasioglossum (Dialictus) imitatum (Smith). The parasite has a greatly enlarged quadrate head, with elongate scythe-like mandibles, and other morphological modifications apparently associated with a parasitic lifestyle. Nevertheless, the parasite did not forcefully enter nests. Host guards adopted a defensive posture at the nest entrance when they contacted a dead, frozen parasite, suggesting that they recognized the intruders as parasites. Living parasites, however, only sometimes induced this guarding response, while in other cases parasites entered host nests without obvious signs of aggression from the guard. Guards also responded aggressively to both frozen and living conspecifics from other nests, but were not aggressive to living or frozen nest-resident conspecifics, suggesting that the cues used for recognition of both unrelated conspecifics and parasites are chemical ones. More than one parasite can invade and occupy a nest, and successful invasion was not influenced by whether a parasitic female was mated or had developed ovaries.
Solar ultraviolet spectral irradiance data with increased wavelength and irradiance accuracy

Changes were made to improve the wavelength and irradiance accuracy of the Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SUSIM) before being flown on the third Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS-3) Space Shuttle mission. As a result, the Naval Research Laboratory's SUSIM program produced an improved solar spectrum covering the range 110 - 420 nm at 0.15 nm resolution. This spectrum can replace the results of the SUSIM Spacelab-2 which have been used for atmospheric models and as an extraterrestrial solar irradiance and wavelength standard. The improvements in the instrument and its calibration will be presented with a detailed error analysis. Comparison of this data against the Spacelab-2 and other solar UV spectral irradiance data will be discussed.
Bowel Obstruction after Open and Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery for Morbid Obesity

Background Bowel obstruction is increasingly recognized as an important complication after gastric bypass. This study analyzed late bowel obstruction after open and laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. Study design The medical records of 1,378 patients who had proximal gastric bypass during the years 2002 and 2003 at a large bariatric center were evaluated for readmission with bowel obstruction requiring operations. In the study group, 697 patients underwent a laparoscopic approach and 735 had an open approach to gastric bypass. Patients had a minimum followup of 18months. Results In the laparoscopic group, 68 of the 697 patients were readmitted for bowel obstruction requiring operations, for an incidence of 9.7%. There were 14 additional recurrent obstructions, for a total of 82 operations. Of the 68 patients requiring reoperations, 3 (4.4%) required bowel resection and 8 (11.7%) had conversion to an open approach. Bowel resections were performed in two of the three patients with a second episode of bowel obstruction. The average time intervals between the primary operation in 2002 and 2003 and the first episode of obstruction were 511 and 385 days, respectively. There were no readmissions requiring operations for late bowel obstruction in the open gastric bypass group. Conclusions We found an unanticipated high incidence of bowel obstruction after laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. There were no hospital admissions for bowel obstruction requiring operations in the open gastric bypass group. Lack of adhesions and the resulting free displacement of small bowel after laparoscopy appear to be the cause of this complication. Open gastric bypass surgery produces thin, diffuse upper abdominal adhesions that may then stabilize the bowel and prevent internal hernias and bowel obstruction. An open approach may be a reasonable option for management of recurrent episodes of bowel obstruction after laparoscopy.
Prehospital prophylactic lidocaine does not favorably affect outcome in patients with chest pain

Study objectives: The purpose of our study was to determine the morbidity and mortality in initially stable patients presenting to paramedics with chest pain; to examine possible beneficial effects of its use, including reduction of sudden death syndrome in the prehospital and emergency department setting; and to determine if prophylactic lidocaine is associated with adverse effects in this patient population. Design and setting: This was a randomized, prospective study using prophylactic lidocaine in patients complaining of chest pain who presented to our paramedic system between January 1984 and January 1988. Type of participants: All patients aged 18 years or older with chest pain of suspected cardiac origin who presented to paramedics during the study period were included. Excluded were patients presenting with warning arrhythmias, second- or third-degree heart block, bradycardias of less than 50, hypotension of less than 90 mm Hg systolic, or known allergy to lidocaine. Interventions: Patients were randomized into two groups, the lidocaine-treated group and the control group. An initial bolus of 1 mg/kg IV lidocaine was administered to the lidocaine-treated group. A simultaneous 2 mg/min IV drip was established. Ten minutes after the first dose of lidocaine, a second bolus of 0.5 mg/kg was administered. Measurements and main results: During the study period, 1,427 patients were entered; 704 received lidocaine, and 723 did not. Discharge diagnoses included acute myocardial infarction (31%), unstable angina (33%), other cardiac problems (7%), and noncardiac problems (29%); overall mortality rate was 7.4%. There was an equal distribution of deaths between the lidocaine-treated group (57) and the control group (48). Six patients had a cardiac arrest in the prehospital setting, and 15 had a cardiac arrest in the ED. Malignant ventricular arrhythmias as the precipitating arrest-rhythm in patients with acute myocardial infarctions were similar for the lidocaine-treated and control groups. The incidence of adverse effects, including hypotension, bradycardias, second- or third-degree heart blocks, tinnitus, and altered mental status, was similar in both groups. Conclusion: There are no benefits from the administration of prehospital prophylactic lidocaine in stable patients with chest pain; therefore, routine use in this setting appears unwarranted.
Mobile multicasting in wireless ATM networks

Multicasting is a desired function in both wired and wireless networks. Currently, multicasting‐based applications have pervasive presence and influence in our Internet. Wireless ATM aims to support different traffic types over a high speed wireless network. In particular, traditional approaches towards multicasting in wired networks cannot be directly applied to mobile ATM networks. This includes the mechanism proposed to handle mobility in wired networks. In this paper, we address the issues behind multicasting in wireless ATM networks and the underlying mechanisms to support handoffs of both unicast and multicast connections. Through simulation, we evaluated the performance of optimal core‐based tree (CBT), late‐joined CBT, optimal source‐based tree (SBT), and late‐joined SBT during changing multicast host membership conditions. In addition, we evaluated the impact of multicast receivers' migration on the total link cost of the resultant multicast tree. Simulation results revealed that source‐based trees incur more total link costs under both dynamic host membership and receivers' migration scenarios. However, it generates less control messages than the distributed CBT and SBT approaches.
Estrogen-related Receptor α1 Actively Antagonizes Estrogen Receptor-regulated Transcription in MCF-7 Mammary Cells

The estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) is an orphan member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. We show that the major isoform of the human ERRα gene, ERRα1, can sequence-specifically bind a consensus palindromic estrogen response element (ERE) and directly compete with estrogen receptor α (ERα) for binding. ERRα1 activates or represses ERE-regulated transcription in a cell type-dependent manner, repressing in ER-positive MCF-7 cells while activating in ER-negative HeLa cells. Thus, ERRα1 can function both as a modulator of estrogen responsiveness and as an estrogen-independent activator. Repression likely occurs in the absence of exogenous ligand since charcoal treatment of the serum had no effect on silencing activity. Mutational analysis revealed that repression is not simply the result of competition between ERα and ERRα1 for binding to the DNA. Rather, it also requires the presence of sequences within the carboxyl-terminal E/F domain of ERRα1. Thus, ERRα1 can function as either an active repressor or a constitutive activator of ERE-dependent transcription. We hypothesize that ERRα1 can play a critical role in the etiology of some breast cancers, thereby providing a novel therapeutic target in their treatment.
Methods for the interconversion of protective groups. Transformation of mem ethers into isopropylthiomethyl ethers or cyanomethyl ethers

Abstract This letter describes methods for the synthesis of isopropylthiomethyl and cyanomethyl ethers from the corresponding MEM ethers and also a process for the cleavage of MEM or MOM ethers of 1,2- and 1,3-diols which avoids cyclization to formals.
Sequential speciation and the diversity of parasitic insects

A major issue in biology is what generates biodiversity. An important part of the answer may be biodiversity itself. As new species form they may often create new niches, providing an impetus for other organisms to adapt and speciate. This hypothesis of ‘cascading’ or ‘sequential’ speciation has been argued to be particularly relevant for host-plant-specific phytophagous insects and their associated parasites. Here, we discuss the empirical and theoretical bases for sequential speciation and its potential significance for understanding the genesis of new life forms. We examine the application of the concept that biodiversity begets biodiversity by palaeontologists, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists to explain current and past distributions of organisms. We look at factors that may promote and restrict sequential speciation and review evidence from phytophagous insects for the process in nature. In particular, we discuss a case study involving the apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) and its wasp parasitoid Diachasma alloeum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). We conclude by outlining a research agenda for testing for sequential speciation in the field.
The relationship between dynamic mechanical behavior, transverse curvature, and wear of magnetic tapes

Abstract Dynamic mechanical measurements of the viscoelastic behavior of magnetic tapes and substrates are presented. Five types of tapes were analyzed including three polyethylene terephthalate (PET) tapes with metal particulate, barium ferrite particulate, and metal-evaporated coatings. A polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) tape with a barium ferrite particulate coating was also analyzed along with an aromatic polyamide (ARAMID) tape with a metal-evaporated coating. From the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), the storage (or elastic) modulus, E ′, was obtained as a function of temperature and frequency along with the loss tangent, tan δ, which is a measurement of viscous energy dissipation. Frequency-temperature superposition was used to predict the dynamic mechanical behavior of the tapes and substrates over a 10–12 decade frequency range. Results show that the advanced PEN and ARAMID tapes tend to have higher storage moduli than the PET tapes, and the PET tapes are more susceptible to non-recoverable deformation at higher frequencies due to their higher loss tangents. Also, storage moduli for the tapes are typically higher than those for the substrates, due to the role that the particulate or metal-evaporated coatings play in increasing the overall modulus of the tapes. Tapes with particulate coatings have somewhat higher loss tangents than their constitutive substrates, whereas ultra-thin metal-evaporated coatings contribute little to the loss tangent behavior of a tape. The DMA data is used in a model to predict the resistance of a tape to transverse curvature when tension is applied. Transverse curvature of a magnetic tape is related to higher edge wear of a head. To facilitate the prediction of edge wear and enable the design of better magnetic tapes, a technique is presented which can be used to predict transverse curvature from the elastic moduli, substrate orthotropy ratios, and thicknesses of the substrates and coatings.
Molecular and Functional Characterization of a Novel Cardiac Specific Human Tropomyosin Isoform

Previous work using human cardiac RNA identified a novel tropomyosin (TM) isoform designated as TPM1-kappa. We developed a TPM1-kappa specific antibody and quantified the levels of TPM1-kappa protein in the hearts of normal and various cardiomyopathy patients. Our study reveals that TPM1-kappa protein is expressed in the human heart and its level is differentially regulated during cardiomyopathic conditions. To investigate the role of TPM1-kappa in sarcomeric function, we generated several lines of transgenic (TG) mice overexpressing TPM1-kappa in the hearts. Immunohistochemical studies show the incorporation of the TPM1-kappa protein in the myofilaments but no significant pathological alterations are observed in these TG mice. Hearts that express TPM1-kappa protein exhibit significant decreases in rates of contraction and relaxation when assessed by ex vivo work-performing cardiac analyses. Studies on skinned fiber bundles demonstrate decreased myofilament calcium sensitivity with no change in maximum developed tension. Additional biophysical studies, including circular dichroism and in vitro actin-binding assays using recombinant TM proteins demonstrate less stability and weaker actin-binding affinity of TPM1-kappa as compared to TPM1-alpha. Energetic analyses of the structural models of TPM1 kappa and alpha isoforms reveal regions which decrease the overall stability of the TPM1 kappa/kappa and kappa/alpha coiled-coil dimers. This functional analysis of TPM1-kappa provides a possible mechanistic explanation for the isoform switch that is observed in cardiomyopathy patients.
Ptera: an event-oriented model of computation for heterogeneous systems

Many modeling techniques for embedded systems focus on events that occur in time and the causality relationships between them. Event-oriented modeling complements class-oriented, object-oriented, actor-oriented and state-oriented approaches. To facilitate event-oriented modeling, we have extended an older established model called event graphs to define new model of computation that we call Ptera (Ptolemy event relationship actors). Ptera is appropriate for modeling complex discrete-event systems. A key capability is that Ptera models conform with an actor abstract semantics that permits hierarchical composition with other models of computation such as discrete-event actors, dataflow, process networks and finite state machines. This enables their use in complex system design, where not every aspect of the system is best described with event-oriented modeling.
Motivation and the behavioral effects of LSD

The acute behavioral effects of LSD were measured in 23 rats trained to press a bar on a fixed-ratio schedule of food reinforcement. At any level of deprivation, rate of responding is a decreasing monotonic function of doses of 0.02–0.20 mg LSD/kg. Increasing hunger generally decreases amount of effect.
In vivo antisense oligonucleotide reduction of NPC1 expression as a novel mouse model for Niemann Pick type C- associated liver disease.

Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease with an estimated prevalence of 1:150,000, which is characterized by cellular accumulation of cholesterol and glycosphingolipids in all tissues of the body.1 The majority of patients with NPC have mutations in the NPC1 gene and a small number have mutations in NPC2.2 Symptoms of NPC include vertical gaze palsy, ataxia, dystonia, and progressive neurodegeneration. The majority of patients with NPC die as a consequence of their neurological disease; however, approximately 45%−65% of patients with NPC also suffer from cholestasis, prolonged jaundice, and hepatosplenomegaly.2-4 Ten percent of these patients die from liver failure before they reach 6 months of age.3 NPC disease is the second most common cause of neonatal cholestasis.5 Multiple cases have reported patients suffering from liver failure.4,6-11 Thus, liver disease in patients with NPC is more common than previously perceived. A key function of the liver is to maintain the whole-body cholesterol balance.12 The liver is responsible for clearing cholesterol circulating in the blood in the form of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and chylomicron remnants. Both chylomicron remnants and LDL particles are internalized via a clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway in which the cholesteryl ester core is hydrolyzed in endosomes to unesterified cholesterol. NPC1 and NPC2 encode proteins found in late endosomes and lysosomes and are hypothesized to participate in cholesterol egress from those organelles.13 The cholesterol can then be sent to the endoplasmic reticulum for re-esterification or utilized for bile acid synthesis, leading to its elimination from the body. When NPC1 or NPC2 is mutated, cholesterol transport out of endosomes and lysosomes is impaired, leading to the formation of storage bodies. Previous studies investigating NPC liver disease have used the NPCnih mouse model, which lacks a functional NPC1 protein.14 These studies report that NPCnih mice exhibit a liver disease phenotype similar to that seen in the NPC infant.15-19 Characteristic features include hepatomegaly, liver cholesterol accumulation, increased plasma liver enzymes, and apoptotic cells.16 Fibrosis occurs when the mice are fed a high-cholesterol diet.17 Although liver disease is observed in NPCnih mice, the neurodegeneration is overwhelming, causing declining body weight and a lifespan shortened to approximately 60−80 days.17,20-22 To study NPC liver disease without the confounding effects of neurodegeneration, we have developed a mouse model in which the liver disease is predominant. In this study, we used second-generation 2′-O-methoxyethyl–modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to block NPC1 expression. We show that ASO treatment causes reduced NPC1 expression in liver and lung, but not in brain or other tissues. This leads to changes in liver histology and physiology that are characteristic of NPC disease.
Soil Resources and the Environment

Soil the Earth's skin serves many functions. In recent years, scientists and concerned individuals have come to understand that our management of soil resources can have either positive or negative effects on our quality of life. Soil Resources and the Environment provides a very broad-spectrum contextual approach to the many functions of soils, with an emphasis on low external-input sustainable agricultural techniques. Aswathanarayana emphasizes the dynamics of soil processes, provides an overview of how knowledge of soil processes can be put to practical use, and gives a broad overview of the many functions that soil is capable of performing.
Letting the grass grow: grassroots information on blogs and wikis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to illustrate some of the major uses and limiting factors of blogs and wikis, as well as the ways that these resources can be used by librarians and educators.Design/methodology/approach – This paper analyses blog and wiki use from set‐up to practice in real‐world events including citizen journalism, disaster response and education.Findings – The paper highlights the many ways that socially mediated, group‐edited web pages add value to research, information sharing, and collaborative, asynchronous modes of education.Originality/value – This paper provides insights for educators and librarians about the ways that blogs and wikis can be used in classrooms and as primary sources of information.
Density functional theory study of the mechanism for Ni(NHC)2 catalyzed dehydrogenation of ammonia–borane for chemical hydrogen storage

Abstract The mechanism for catalytic dehydrogenation of ammonia–borane (AB = H 3 N–BH 3 ), a promising candidate for chemical hydrogen storage, by the Ni(NHC) 2 complexes was studied by using density functional theory at the non-empirical meta-GGA level, Tao–Perdew–Staroverov–Scuseria (TPSS) functional, with all-electron correlation-consistent polarized valence double-zeta (cc-pVDZ) basis set. The mechanism for both the first and the second H 2 release from AB was studied for the first time. Several unusual aspects of this catalytic mechanism were revealed through our calculations. First, the first H 2 release begins with proton transfer from nitrogen to the Ni bound carbene carbon, forming a new C–H bond, instead of the previously hypothesized direct B–H or N–H bond activation. Second, this new C–H bond is activated by the metal, transferring the H to Ni, then forming the H 2 molecule by transferring another H from B to Ni, rather than β-H transfer. Third, the second H 2 release from H 2 N–BH 2 begins with the breaking of a 3-center, 2-electron Ni–H–B bridging structure with the assistance of the unsaturated carbene carbon atom to form a B–C bond. Fourth, a nearly rhombic N 2 B 2 H 6 structure is formed to help the regeneration of the catalyst Ni(NHC) 2 . These reaction pathways explain the importance of NHC ligands in this catalytic process and yield lower energy barriers than those mechanisms that begin with N–H or B–H activations catalyzed by the metal atoms. The predicted reaction mechanism which features unexpected ligand participation points the way to finding new catalysts with higher efficiency, as partial unsaturation of the M–L bond may be essential for low energy H transfers.
Cryptic prophages help bacteria cope with adverse environments

Phages are the most abundant entity in the biosphere and outnumber bacteria by a factor of 10. Phage DNA may also constitute 20% of bacterial genomes; however, its role is ill defined. Here, we explore the impact of cryptic prophages on cell physiology by precisely deleting all nine prophage elements (166 kbp) using Escherichia coli. We find that cryptic prophages contribute significantly to resistance to sub-lethal concentrations of quinolone and β-lactam antibiotics primarily through proteins that inhibit cell division (for example, KilR of rac and DicB of Qin). Moreover, the prophages are beneficial for withstanding osmotic, oxidative and acid stresses, for increasing growth, and for influencing biofilm formation. Prophage CPS-53 proteins YfdK, YfdO and YfdS enhanced resistance to oxidative stress, prophages e14, CPS-53 and CP4-57 increased resistance to acid, and e14 and rac proteins increased early biofilm formation. Therefore, cryptic prophages provide multiple benefits to the host for surviving adverse environmental conditions.