cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Colony-level pesticide exposure affects honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) royal jelly production and nutritional composition

Honey bees provision glandular secretions in the form of royal jelly as larval nourishment to developing queens. Exposure to chemicals and nutritional conditions can influence queen development and thus impact colony fitness. Previous research reports that royal jelly remains pesticide-free during colony-level exposure and that chemical residues are buffered by the nurse bees. However, the impacts of pesticides can also manifest in quality and quantity of royal jelly produced by nurse bees. Here, we tested how colony exposure to a multi-pesticide pollen treatment influences the amount of royal jelly provisioned per queen and the additional impacts on royal jelly nutritional quality. We observed differences in the metabolome, proteome, and phytosterol compositions of royal jelly synthesized by nurse bees from multi-pesticide exposed colonies, including significant reductions of key nutrients such as 24-methylenecholesterol, major royal jelly proteins, and 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid. Additionally, quantity of royal jelly provisioned per queen was lower in colonies exposed to pesticides, but this effect was colony-dependent. Pesticide treatment had a greater impact on royal jelly nutritional composition than the weight of royal jelly provisioned per queen cell. These novel findings highlight the indirect effects of pesticide exposure on queen developmental nutrition and allude to social consequences of nurse bee glandular degeneration.
Strategies for Rotation between Gabapentinoids in the Inpatient Setting.

Guidance and evidence to support best practices in rotating between gabapentinoids is lacking. This retrospective cohort study was performed to describe and evaluate strategies for rotation. Patients rotated while admitted from June 1st, 2014 to April 25th, 2020 at a large, academic medical center were included. The primary outcome was the proportion of rotations using a direct switch strategy compared to a cross-taper strategy. Secondary outcomes were successful rotation, defined as stable or improved pain scores pre- to post-rotation, dose ratios, and adverse effects. A total of 67 patients were included. Median age was 50 years (35 - 59) and 58% (38) were male. The majority used a direct switch strategy (87%). Ninety-five percent of patients using the direct switch strategy and 78% of patients using the cross-taper strategy were successful. There was no difference in strategies between those who were successful and those who were not. Post hoc analysis of patients with normal renal function (eGFR ≥ 50 mL/min/1.73 m2) found that those who were successful were more likely to have used a direct switch strategy (p = 0.048). There were no differences in adverse effects. These findings suggest that either strategy is reasonable for gabapentinoid rotation in the inpatient setting.
Identification of decondensed large-scale chromatin regions by TSA-seq and their localization to a subset of chromatin domain boundaries

Large-scale chromatin compaction is nonuniform across the human genome and correlates with gene expression and genome organization. Current methodologies for assessing large-scale chromatin compaction are indirect and largely based on assays that probe lower levels of chromatin organization, primarily at the level of the nucleosome and/or the local compaction of nearby nucleosomes. These assays assume a one-to-one correlation between local nucleosomal compaction and large-scale compaction of chromosomes that may not exist. Here we describe a method to identify interphase chromosome regions with relatively high levels of large-scale chromatin decondensation using TSA-seq, which produces a signal proportional to microscopic-scale distances relative to a defined nuclear compartment. TSA-seq scores that change rapidly as a function of genomic distance, detected by their higher slope values, identify decondensed large-scale chromatin domains (DLCDs), as then validated by 3D DNA-FISH. DLCDs map near a subset of chromatin domain boundaries, defined by Hi-C, which separate active and repressed chromatin domains and correspond to compartment, subcompartment, and some TAD boundaries. Most DLCDs can also be detected by high slopes of their Hi-C compartment score. In addition to local enrichment in cohesin (RAD21, SMC3) and CTCF, DLCDs show the highest local enrichment to super-enhancers, but are also locally enriched in transcription factors, histone-modifying complexes, chromatin mark readers, and chromatin remodeling complexes. The localization of these DLCDs to a subset of Hi-C chromatin domain boundaries that separate active versus inactive chromatin regions, as measured by two orthogonal genomic methods, suggests a distinct role for DLCDs in genome organization.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Hospitalizations in Children With Neurological Disorders, 2006-2015.

BACKGROUND We quantified the risk of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalizations and severe outcomes among children with neurological disorders. METHODS We estimated RSV-specific and RSV-associated hospitalization rates using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes from 2 insurance claims IBM MarketScan Research Databases (Commercial and Multi-State Medicaid) from July 2006 through June 2015. For comparison, a simple random sample of 10% of all eligible children was selected to represent the general population. Relative rates (RRs) of RSV hospitalization were calculated by dividing rates for children with neurological disorders by rates for children in the general population by age group and season. RESULTS The RSV-specific hospitalization rate for children with any neurological condition was 4.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.1, 4.4) per 1000 person-years, and the RSV-associated hospitalization rate was 7.0 (95% CI: 6.9, 7.2) per 1000 person-years among children <19 years of age. Among privately insured children, the overall RR of RSV hospitalization in children with neurological disorders compared with the general population was 10.7 (95% CI: 10.0, 11.4) for RSV-specific hospitalization and 11.1 (95% CI: 10.5, 11.7) for RSV-associated hospitalizations. Among children in Medicaid, the RSV-specific hospitalization RR was 6.1 (95% CI: 5.8, 6.5) and the RSV-associated hospitalization RR was 6.4 (95% CI: 6.2, 6.7) compared with the general population. CONCLUSIONS Our population-based study of children with neurological disorders found that the risk of RSV hospitalization was 6 to 12 times higher among children with neurological disorders than among the general pediatric population. These findings should be considered when determining who should be targeted for current and future RSV interventions.
Negative Emotion Differentiation Predicts Psychotherapy Outcome: Preliminary Findings.

Emotion differentiation (ED), the extent to which same-valenced emotions are experienced as distinct, is considered a valuable ability in various contexts owing to the essential affect-related information it provides. This information can help individuals understand and regulate their emotional and motivational states. In this study, we sought to examine the extent to which ED can be beneficial in psychotherapy context, and specifically for predicting treatment response. Thirty-two prospective patients with mood and anxiety disorders completed four daily assessments of negative and positive emotions for 30 days before receiving cognitive behavioral treatment. Depression, stress, and anxiety symptoms severity were assessed pre-and post-treatment using self-reports and clinical interviews. We conducted a series of hierarchical regression models in which symptoms change scores were predicted by ED while adjusting for the emotions mean and variability. We found that negative ED was associated with greater self-reported treatment response (except for anxiety) when negative emotional variability (EV) was included in the models. Probing negative ED EV's interactive effects suggested that negative ED was associated with greater treatment response (except for anxiety) for individuals with lower EV levels. Results were obtained while controlling for mean negative affect. Our findings suggest that negative ED can benefit psychotherapy patients whose negative emotions are relatively less variable. We discuss the meaning of suppression and interactive effects between affect dynamics and consider possible clinical implications.
Different forms of vitamin E and metabolite 13'-carboxychromanols inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 and its catalyzed thromboxane in platelets, and tocotrienols and 13'-carboxychromanols are competitive inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase.

Abstract Cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2)- and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)-catalyzed biosynthesis of eicosanoids play important roles in inflammation and chronic diseases. The vitamin E family has four tocopherols and tocotrienols. We have shown that the metabolites of δ-tocopherol (δT) and δ-tocotrienol (δTE), i.e., δT-13’-carboxychromanol (COOH) and δTE-13’-COOH, respectively, inhibit COX-1/-2 and 5-LOX activity, but the nature of how they inhibit 5-LOX is not clear. Further, the impact of tocopherols and tocotrienols on COX-1/-2 or 5-LOX activity has not been fully delineated. In this study, we found that tocopherols and tocotrienols inhibited human recombinant COX-1 with IC50s of 1–12 µM, and suppressed COX-1-mediated formation of thromboxane in collagen-stimulated rat's platelets with IC50s of 8–50 µM. None of the vitamin E forms directly inhibited COX-2 activity. 13’-COOHs inhibited COX-1 and COX-2 enzyme activity with IC50s of 3–4 and 4–10 µM, respectively, blocked thromboxane formation in collagen- and ionophore-stimulated rats’ platelets with IC50s of 1.5-2.5 µM, and also inhibited COX-2-mediated prostaglandins in stimulated cells. Using enzyme kinetics, we observed that δT-13’-COOH, δTE-13’-COOH and δTE competitively inhibited 5-LOX activity with Ki of 1.6, 0.8 and 2.2 µM, respectively. These compounds decreased leukotriene B4 from stimulated neutrophil-like cells without affecting translocation of 5-LOX from cytosol to the nucleus. Our study reveals inhibitory effects of vitamin E forms and 13’-COOHs on COX-1 activity and thromboxane formation in platelets, and elucidates mechanisms underlying their inhibition of 5-LOX. These observations are useful for understanding the role of these compounds in disease prevention and therapy.
Tissue Temperature Effects on Cavitation During Focused Ultrasound Nerve Modulation

Focused ultrasound (FUS) neuromodulation can induce therapeutic effects, such as decreasing perceived pain. To ensure safety during FUS and to better understand the role of cavitation during in vivo neuromodulation, factors influencing cavitation activity must be well understood. Tissue temperature may change between patients and heat may accumulate during therapy. Previous studies have shown a dependence of inertial cavitation thresholds on tissue shear modulus, which changes with temperature. Tissue temperature may therefore affect the intensity of cavitation in the tissue, yet this has not been well-characterized. This study sought to assess the relationship between tissue temperature and levels of cavitation under FUS in vivo. Cavitation was recorded during each sonication and analyzed using calculated passive cavitation images and cavitation doses. Two study designs were used to evaluate cavitation across tissue temperatures of 30-38°C. Our results showed that greater cavitation intensities occurred at higher tissue temperatures. Thus, temperature elevation and cavitation events should be monitored during FUS therapies.
Varicella Exposure Time

In Reply.— Dr Brunell9s concerns are valid, and we certainly agree that protective efficacy can only be defined by prospective controlled trials, such as that of Weibel et al (N EngI J Med 1984;310:1409). However, we disagree with the concept that data about protection can only be derived from family exposure data. Arbeter et al (Pediatrics 1986;78(suppl):748-756) reviewed all studies of varicella vaccine in healthy children and combined household day-care and playmate exposures as we did.
A Comparison of the Oral Syntactic Performance of Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Adults

Oral language samples of alcoholic and non-alcoholic male and female adults were compared to determine the effects of the chronic ingestion of alcohol on oral syntax. Subjects viewed a series of selected pictures, and audio recordings were made of their spoken reactions. Transcriptions of the linguistic output of each subject were analyzed according to Laura Lee's Developmental Sentence Scoring procedure. Syntactic performance was examined in reference to the occurrence of eight grammatical items, the degree of syntactic completeness and the mean syntactic complexity. Alcoholic subjects committed a greater number of syntactic and semantic errors than did non-alcoholics and displayed a minimal deficit in the integrative aspect of expressive language. Further investigation is suggested in such areas as the effect of other neurotoxins on language performance and the effect of pre-morbid alcoholism on patterns of aphasic disturbance and recovery.
Designing and running a pre-college computing course

Enrollments in undergraduate computer science programs have declined steadily over the past few years. Overall, high school computer science curriculum is limited to either basic usage of Microsoft office tools or some advanced placement programming. Student expectations of undergraduate computer science courses for non-majors as well as the scope of computer science literacy in general are moving targets. All these problems have a negative impact on undergraduate recruitment and on promoting computing sciences courses and programs. In this paper we present our experience with a pre-college course in computing for high-school students offered at our College in the summer of 2004. We have learned promising lessons from running this program. These lessons can guide the curriculum design of computing courses for non-majors and motivate prospective students to pursue computer science programs.
Addressing Ageism in Students: A Systematic Review of the Pedagogical Intervention Literature

With the rapid aging of the population, strategies that can be incorporated into the curriculum are needed, including social work and medicine. Over the past 20 years, pedagogical strategies to improve attitudes toward older adults and gerontological practice along with knowledge about aging have been tested. Instructors are seeking methods that are evidence-based; thus, a need for a systematic review of this literature is warranted. For this review, 58 articles met inclusion and were evaluated to determine the best approaches to positively impacting knowledge about, and attitudes toward, older people and gerontological practice. Interventions to change knowledge are the most straightforward with support for aging courses, modules, and infusion approaches. A combination of information with an experiential activity (e.g., service learning) was the most common pedagogical approach; the evidence suggests that this approach can change student attitudes. Addressing gerontological interest appears to be more ch...
Mexico's fiscal crisis

Abstract Mexico's current crisis has its origins in a number of structural conditions that developed in the 1970s. This paper examines one of these structural impediments, the country's fiscal disequilibrium. An empirical analysis of the country's tax structure indicates that there is ample scope for major tax reforms geared to introducing more responsiveness into the country's tax collection system. Given that the government will have to reduce its budget deficit to comply with IMF stabilization requirements, the analysis indicates tax reform rather than expenditure reduction would be the most efficient policy in achieving this objective.
Virtual worlds, conceptual understanding, and me: designing for consequential engagement

Purpose – This paper aims to advance the idea of consequential engagement, positioning it as a necessary complement to the more common practices of supporting procedural or conceptual engagement. More than a theoretical argument, this notion is grounded in examples from the authors’ work in enlisting game-based methodologies and technologies for supporting such engagement. Design/methodology/approach – Through the presentation of two example designs, an elementary statistics curriculum and an undergraduate educational psychology course, the paper attends to the potential of narratively-rich, multi-user virtual environments for positioning students to critically engage academic content. In particular, it discusses the importance of designing spaces that afford opportunities to understand and apply disciplinary concepts in making sense of, and potentially transforming, conceptually-revealing scenarios. Findings – The paper discusses the role of consequential engagement in supporting meaningful procedural and conceptual engagement, and the potential of these designed spaces for positioning learners to develop an appreciation both of the power of the conceptual tools they engage, and of themselves and their peers as people who use these tools. Originality/value – This paper proposes a framework for design that can be applied to both real and virtual learning environments.
Balloon sinuplasty for the surgical management of immunocompromised and critically ill patients with acute rhinosinusitis

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review use of balloon sinuplasty for surgical treatment in critically ill patients with acute sinusitis.Study Design: Case series with chart review.Subjects and Methods: Patients who underwent balloon sinuplasty between October 2007 and March 2008 were identified. Medical records of the subset of patients who were immunocompromised or otherwise critically ill were analyzed.Results: Thirty-one patients underwent balloon sinuplasty at our institution between October 2007 and March 2008. We identified five critically ill patients with sinus disease within this group. Patient ages ranged from 15 to 51 years with no sex preponderance. All patients had focal findings on a sinus CT scan. In all cases, purulent drainage was noted intraoperatively. All patients returned to baseline health meeting discharge criteria after treatment.Conclusion: Balloon sinuplasty represents a potentially less invasive surgical option than standard Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS)...
Cannabinoid Transmission and Pain Perception

The use of cannabis for the management of a wide range of painful disorders has been well documented in case reports throughout history. However, clinical evaluations of cannabis and its psychoactive constituent THC have not led to a consensus regarding their analgesic effectiveness. On the other hand, THC and its synthetic derivatives have been shown to be effective in most animal models of pain. These antinociceptive effects are mediated through cannabinoid receptors in the brain that in turn appear to interact with noradrenergic and kappa opioid systems in the spinal cord to modulate the perception of painful stimuli. The endogenous ligand, anandamide, is also an effective antinociceptive agent. The extent to which the endogenous cannabinoid system is involved in the modulation of pain is currently unknown.
Volatile organic compounds at a coastal Gulf of Mexico site

Abstract Volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in surface waters from the Brazos River and across the river/seawater mixing zone ranged from 30 to 18,200 ng/L. Molecular level compositions were highly variable. Normal alkane, alkyl aromatic, and halogenated compounds were the dominant VOC detected. Individual compound concentrations were generally less than 10 ng/L, although occasional levels as great as 1000 ng/L were encountered (usually near point sources). The VOC detected had an anthropogenic source. Once introduced to the water via runoff and direct discharge, the main mechanism controlling the VOC concentrations was rapid (within hours) loss to the atmosphere. Sediment resuspension of VOC may have been observed across the river/sediment mixing zone.
Growth of the Mammary Glands in Hypophysectomized Mice.

SummarySlight growth of mammary glands of some hypophysectomized male mice was induced within 15 days by the injection of desoxycorticosterone acetate, progesterone and estradiol di-propionate. A more extensive and more rapid proliferation of the mammary ducts of hypophysectomized mice occurred when desoxycorticosterone acetate or progesterone was injected with the estradiol dipropionate.
Calorimetric determination of differential integral heats of solution for a set of diastereomeric salt pairs

Heats of solution in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) have been determined for the diastereomeric salts (−)-(R)-methamphetammonium (+)-(RR)-bitartrate and (−)-(R)-methamphetammonium (−)-(SS)-bitartrate, (+)-(R)-α-phenethylammonium (−)-(R)-2-phenylbutyrate and (−)-(S)-α-phenethylammonium (−)-(R)-2-phenylbutyrate, and of a new polymorph of (+)-(1S2R)-ephedrinium (−)-(R)-mandelate. The heats of solution for these salts were found to be 11.4 and 10.0 kcal/mol, 15.6 and 14.0 kcal/mol, and 7.4 kcal/mol, respectively. Differential enthalpy contributions to chiral discrimination computed from these numbers are 1.4, 1.6, and 2.1 kcal/mol for the methamphetammonium bitartrates, α-phenethylammonium (−)-2-phenylbutyrates, and ephedrinium mandelates, respectively. The new and previously observed (Zingg et al. J Am Chem Soc 110:1565–1580, 1988) polymorphs of the (+)-(1S2R)-ephedrinium (−)-(R)-mandelate are separated by nearly 1 kcal/mol. Comparison of differential heats of solution with the corresponding differential heats of fusion suggests that heats of fusion differences do not properly represent the energy differences useful for diastereomeric salt separations. Chirality 9:325–328, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Layer potentials and regularity for the Dirichlet problem for Laplace's equation in Lipschitz domains

For D, a bounded Lipschitz domain in Rn, n ⩾ 2, the classical layer potentials for Laplace's equation are shown to be invertible operators on L2(∂D) and various subspaces of L2(∂D). For 1 < p ⩽ 2 and data in Lp(∂D) with first derivatives in Lp(∂D) it is shown that there exists a unique harmonic function, u, that solves the Dirichlet problem for the given data and such that the nontangential maximal function of ▽u is in Lp(∂D). When n = 2 the question of the invertibility of the layer potentials on every Lp(∂D), 1 < p < ∞, is answered.
Electrically switchable mirrors based on polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals

We developed an electrically switchable mirror based on polymer-stabilized, short-pitched cholesteric liquid crystals using electro-optical cells with planar alignment. The devices enable the switching of a pre-selected reflective wavelength of the cholesteric to reflect a different wavelength in corresponding to the magnitude of applied electric field. The principle of the wavelength shift to a shorter wavelength is a result of field-induced pitch shortening near the boundaries. The spectral wavelength shift of the reflected wavelength is about 140nm and the wavelength shift is linearly proportional to the magnitude of applied voltage. The optical response of the device is also studied.
Conformational and vibrational analysis with the aid of normal coordinate calculations

Abstract Many organic compounds exist as equilibrium mixtures of two or more molecular conformations, and vibrational spectroscopy can be used to obtain information about the structure of those conformations. Normal coordinate calculations are often an aid to those conformational studies and to making vibrational assignments for the different conformers. However, sometimes those calculations are partially inconclusive, and a few results are briefly discussed in which both conclusive and inconclusive results were obtained from calculations. Calculations are then applied to some 1,2-dichloro- and 1,2-dibromo-alkanes. Previous calculations on 1,2-dichloropropane and 1,2-dichlorobutane are revised, and calculations are reported for 1,2-dibromopropane, 1,2-dibromopropane-d 6 , and 1,2-dibromobutane. Spectra are given for the last two of these compounds. A modified valence force field was determined for each family of 1,2-dihaloalkane that should be transferable to other members of the family.
Measuring the Impact and Outcomes of Maternal Child Health Federal Programs

Improving maternal and child health is a key objective of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals and the Healthy People goals for improving the health of Americans. Government initiatives are important particularly for reducing disparities that affect disadvantaged populations. Head Start, Healthy Start, WIC and Medicaid are four federal programs that target disparities in maternal and child health outcomes. This paper reviews recent evaluations of these programs to identify outcomes assessed and opportunities for further evaluation of these programs. We conducted a review of recent evaluation studies assessing the impact of four maternal and child health programs on a health or healthcare outcome. Sources for published literature included the PubMed, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL and PsycInfo databases. Titles and abstracts of studies were examined to determine if they met inclusion criteria. Included studies were categorized by type of outcome examined. Twenty peer-reviewed studies published between January 2006 and June 2011 met inclusion criteria. The majority of studies examined infant outcomes (11), followed by breastfeeding/nutrition (4), maternal health (3), and unintended pregnancy (2). Measures used were consistent across studies; however, findings on the impact of programs were mixed reflecting differences in selection of comparison group, data source and statistical methods. The impact of maternal and child health programs may vary by setting and population served, but inconclusive findings remain. Health service researchers can build upon current evaluations to increase our understanding of what works, help target resources, and improve evaluation of programs in the future.
STAKEHOLDER MISMATCHING: A THEORETICAL PROBLEM IN EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ON CORPORATE SOCIAL PERFORMANCE

This paper uses a stakeholder framework to review the empirical literature on corporate social performance (CSP), focusing particularly on studies attempting to correlate social with financial performance. Results show first that most studies correlate measures of business performance that as yet have no theoretical relationship (for example, the level of corporate charitable giving with return on investment). To make sense of this body of research, CSP studies must be integrated with stakeholder theory. Multiple stakeholders (a) set expectations for corporate performance, (b) experience the effects of corporate behavior, and (c) evaluate the outcomes of corporate behavior. However, we find that the empirical CSP literature mismatches variables in terms of which stakeholders are relevant to which kind of measure. Second, only the studies using market‐based variables and theory show a consistent relationship between social and financial performance, particularly those showing a negative abnormal return to the stock price of companies experiencing product recalls. Although this paper shows that the CSP construct is not yet well‐specified enough to produce stronger results, recent research suggests that much progress is being made both empirically and theoretically in developing valid and reliable measures of corporate social performance.
Demonstration of Specific Plasma Protein Binding Sites For Somatomedin

Native somatomedin (SM) has an apparent mol wt of at least 60,000 daltons, while all the purified SM peptides have mol wt 5-8,000 daltsons. We have studied the behavior of somatomedin in plasma during gel filtration at pH 8.1 and pH 2.8, and by the recombination of fractions. Using porcine bioassay for SM, displacement of 125I-insulin by SM, and binding of 125I-SM to plasma proteins, we can demonstrate that the disparity in apparent mol wt of SM is due to reversible binding to plasma proteins which are themselves biologically inactive. This binding site is specific for the SM peptides, saturable, and has high affinity and relatively low capacity.
Paraneoplastic opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome secondary to immature ovarian teratoma.

Paraneoplastic neurologic complications from gynecologic tumors are rare, but can be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In most cases, the neurologic symptoms precede the diagnosis of malignancy, prompting an evaluation that identifies the tumor. Paraneoplastic opsoclonus–myoclonus syndrome, characterized by saccadic eye movements caused by lesions in the brain stem, has in particular been linked to ovarian teratomas.
Peptide nucleic acid-fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA-FISH) assay for specific detection of Mycobacterium immunogenum and DNA-FISH assay for analysis of pseudomonads in metalworking fluids and sputum

Specific and rapid detection and quantification of mycobacteria in contaminated metalworking fluid (MWF) are problematic due to complexity of the matrix and heavy background co-occurring microflora. Furthermore, cross-reactivity among neighboring species of Mycobacterium makes species differentiation difficult for this genus. Here, we report for the first time a species-specific peptide nucleic acid-fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA-FISH) method for Mycobacterium immunogenum, a non-tuberculous Mycobacterium species prevalent in MWF and implicated in occupational lung disease hypersensitivity pneumonitis and pseudo-outbreaks. A novel species-specific 14-bp PNA probe was designed for M. immunogenum based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence and was validated for specificity, by testing against a panel of other phylogenetically closely related rapidly growing mycobacteria and representative species of gram-positive, gram-negative, and acid fast organisms. In addition, a DNA-FISH protocol was optimized for co-detection of Pseudomonas, the most predominantly co-occurring genus in contaminated MWF. Reliable quantification for both the test organisms was achieved at or above a cell density of 10(3)cellsml(-1), a recognized minimum limit for microscopic quantification. The mycobacterial PNA-FISH assay was successfully adapted to human sputum demonstrating its potential for clinical diagnostic applications in addition to industrial MWF monitoring, to assess MWF-associated exposures and pseudo-outbreaks.
A fractal approach for interpretation of local instantaneous temperature signals around a horizontal heat transfer tube in a bubbling fluidized bed

Temperature signals measured around a horizontal heat transfer tube in a bubbling fluidized bed have been analyzed using Hurst's rescaled range (R/S) analysis. This analysis estimates and identifies long-term persistence or correlation in measured time series. The Hurst exponent H, which is evaluated from R/S analysis, also provides the local fractal dimension of the time series. A new approach to analyze an air fluidized particle system is proposed based on the evaluation of the Hurst exponent. Two Hurst exponents can be evaluated from a single time series, one from the discrete time fractional noise (where the linearity of the signal is subtracted and short-term fluctuations are emphasized) and the other from the signal itself (without subtracting the linearity of the signal). The authors argue that the Hurst exponent obtained from discrete time fractional noise characterizes the particle motion, whereas the Hurst exponent obtained from the signal itself characterizes the bubble motion. Moreover, a comparison between these two Hurst components identifies the zones where an alternating type of contact between the tube surface and the bubble-emulsion phase occur. The results were interpreted in conjunction with the mutual information function. The mutual information function provides the relationship between the data points separated in time and uses only the statistical relationship between the data points. The mutual information functions and the Hurst exponents exhibited similar trends around the heat transfer tube.
Thermal plasma synthesis of SiC

Synthesis of silicon carbide has been carried out using thermal plasma processing technique using SiO2 as the solid feed and CH4 as the gaseous reducing agent. Thermochemical calculations have been performed varying the molar ratio of silicon dioxide and methane to determine the feasibility of the reaction. Experiments using a molar ratio of SiO2:CH4 equal to 1:2 produced maximum yield of SiC of about 65 mol % at a solid feed rate of 5 g/min. Mostly spherical morphology with some nanorods has been observed. The presence of Si had been observed and was quantified using XRD, HRTEM, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS). Si acts as a nucleating agent for SiC nanorods to grow.
National Factors in Gubernatorial Elections

This paper explores the determinants of gubernatorial election outcomes at the national level. Gubernatorial elections are found to be sensitive to swings in the national economy and presidential p...
Current Concepts in the Treatment of Common Compartment Syndromes in Athletes

Compartment syndromes of the leg, and to a lesser extent the forearm and other areas, occur in both acute and chronic exertional forms. Similar inciting events may precipitate either form, with different presentations, prognoses and implications for treatment. A complete knowledge of the anatomy and pathophysiology of these syndromes is essential for diagnosis. Measurement of compartment pressures is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of chronic exertional compartment syndrome. In our experience, athletes who desire to return to the same level of exercise will require fascial release, although symptoms may improve if the intensity or duration of the activity is decreased. Fascial release is the treatment of choice in acute compartment syndrome and in chronic exertional compartment syndrome unresponsive to nonoperative treatment.
American perspectives on the ANZUS alliance

(1978). American perspectives on the ANZUS alliance. Australian Outlook: Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 131-152.
Restricting Zap70 Expression to CD4+CD8+ Thymocytes Reveals a T Cell Receptor–dependent Proofreading Mechanism Controlling the Completion of Positive Selection

Although T cell receptor (TCR) signals are essential for intrathymic T cell–positive selection, it remains controversial whether they only serve to initiate this process, or whether they are required throughout to promote thymocyte differentiation and survival. To address this issue, we have devised a novel approach to interfere with thymocyte TCR signaling in a developmental stage-specific manner in vivo. We have reconstituted mice deficient for Zap70, a tyrosine kinase required for TCR signaling and normally expressed throughout T cell development, with a Zap70 transgene driven by the adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene enhancer, which is active in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes but inactive in CD4+ or CD8+ single-positive (SP) thymocytes. In such mice, termination of Zap70 expression impaired TCR signal transduction and arrested thymocyte development after the initiation, but before the completion, of positive selection. Arrested thymocytes had terminated Rag gene expression and up-regulated TCR and Bcl-2 expression, but failed to differentiate into mature CD4 or CD8 SP thymocytes, to be rescued from death by neglect or to sustain interleukin 7Rα expression. These observations identify a TCR-dependent proofreading mechanism that verifies thymocyte TCR specificity and differentiation choices before the completion of positive selection.
New opportunities in chemoprevention research

The importance of prevention in reducing the morbidity and mortality from cancer has been widely recognized. With the demonstration of tamoxifen's ability to prevent breast cancer in women, the feasibility of cancer chemoprevention in humans is now established. Future clinical chemoprevention studies should focus on phytochemicals, cancer preventive compounds in fruits, vegetables and other plants. Many phytochemicals are excellent potential chemopreventive agents, because, in addition to their cancer preventive effects, they are relatively non-toxic and inexpensive, they can be taken orally and some of them have other health benefits as well. New opportunities in clinical chemoprevention research include investigating chemopreventive effects of phytochemicals and conducting studies in patients with cancer. There is also a great need to investigate potential benefits and risks of administering phytochemicals before, during or after conventional therapies, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or hormonal therapy. In addition, administration of chemopreventive agents prior to surgery provides an opportunity to investigate the modulation of genetic and epigenetic pathways by putative cancer preventive compounds and nutrients.
Lung Function and Respiratory Health at School Age in Ventilated Very Low Birth Weight Infants

To investigate respiratory health and lung function in school-aged children without broncho-pulmonary dysplasia (BPD), who were very low birth weight (VLBWi) and randomized at birth to high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) or volume guarantee (VG) ventilation for severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). In this observational study, 7-y-old ex-preterm infants with severe RDS, randomly assigned at birth to receive assisted/control ventilation + VG (Vt = 5 mL/kg, PEEP = 5 cmH2O)(VG group; mean GA 27 ± 2 wk; mean BW 1086 ± 158 g) or HFOV (HFOV group; mean GA: 27 ± 2; mean BW: 1090 ± 139 g) (both groups were ventilated with Drager Babylog 8000 plus) were recalled. Neonatal clinical data and outcome were known. Actual outcomes were investigated with an interview; lung function was measured by whole-body plethysmography. Twenty five children were studied (VG group, n = 13 vs. HFOV group, n = 12). There were no differences in anthropometric data, drugs (steroids/bronchodilators and antibiotics) or hospital readmission for respiratory disorders. Compliance to the test was adequate. The authors found a similar obstructive deficit (elevated values: airway resistance (RAW), residual volume (RV), total lung capacity (TLC) with near-normal spirometry) in both groups suggesting a persistent airflow limitation even in absence of BPD. VLBW infants even in absence of BPD, need long term respiratory follow-up, because they frequently show an impairment of lung function, independent from initial respiratory support, even if at birth the choice is a lung protective approach (e.g., HFOV or VG ventilation).
Syntheses and Structures of the New Quaternary Rubidium Selenides RbLn2CuSe4 (Ln=Sm, Gd, Dy), Rb1.5Ln2Cu2.5Se5 (Ln=Gd, Dy), and RbSm2Ag3Se5

Six quaternary rubidium selenides RbLn2CuSe4 (Ln=Sm, Gd, Dy), Rb1.5Ln2Cu2.5Se5 (Ln=Gd, Dy), and RbSm2Ag3Se5 have been synthesized at 1073 K with the use of a reactive flux of Rb2Se3. At 153 K all compounds contain four formula units in orthorhombic unit cells. The isostructural compounds RbLn2CuSe4 crystallize in space group Cmcm; the isostructural compounds Rb1.5Ln2Cu2.5Se5 crystallize in space group Pnnm; RbSm2Ag3Se5 crystallizes in space group Cmcm. The cells of RbLn2CuSe4 are (Ln, a, b, c (A)): Sm, 4.1834(9), 14.308(3), 14.439(3); Gd, 4.1568(8), 14.227(3), 14.409(3); Dy, 4.1237(10), 14.083(4), 14.291(3), and the corresponding R1 indices for the refined structures are 0.023, 0.029, and 0.039. The cells of Rb1.5Ln2Cu2.5Se5 are: Gd, 16.243(3), 16.449(3), 4.0980(7); Dy, 16.120(3), 16.292(3), 4.0610(8), and the R1 indices are 0.036 and 0.043. The cell of RbSm2Ag3Se5 is 4.3223(6), 15.229(2), 17.420(3) A and the R1 index is 0.025. All six are closely related three-dimensional tunnel structures. Their anionic frameworks are built from LnSe6 octahedra and MSe4 (M=Cu, Ag) tetrahedra. RbLn2CuSe4 contains infinite 1∞[CuSe3] chains of vertex-sharing tetrahedra; Rb1.5Ln2Cu2.5Se5 also contains infinite chains of tetrahedra; and the tunnel in RbSm2Ag3Se5 holds one Rb+ cation in a 10-membered ring consisting of six Ag–Se bonds and four Sm–Se bonds. Rb1.5Dy2Cu2.5Se5, which is paramagnetic, obeys the Curie–Weiss law and has an effective magnetic moment of 10.63(4) μB.
The virtues of organizational integrity

Structural and ethical forms of integrity are described, related to three archetypes of colleges and universities, and connected to the integrity of student affairs practice.
1689 REGULATION OF FATTY ACID SYNTHESIS IN DEVELOPING RAT

Fatty acids are integral components of both pulmonary surfactant and cell membranes. De novo fatty acid synthesis in adult tissues is regulated by the interplay of nutrition and hormones on the content of rate limiting enzymes, their state of phosphorylation and the concentration of allosteric effectors. To determine if de novo fatty acid synthesis in developing lung is regulated by similar factors, we measured the activity of the rate limiting enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase and its in vitro regulatory characteristics in fetal, newborn and adult rat lung. In fetal lung, acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity, measured in 100,000xg cell supernatant, increased from 1.01 nmoles/min/mg protein at 19 days gestation to 3.15 nmoles/min/mg protein by term (22 days). By one day after birth, activity fell to 30% of the peak fetal value. Activity remained low at 1, 2 and 3 weeks of age and in adult lung. In vitro activity of enzyme from fetal lung was greatly influenced by allosteric effectors: 2.0 mM citrate increased activity 5 fold while 25μM palmitoyl-CoA decreased activity by 75%. Pre-incubation in dephosphorylating conditions (10mM Mg++) resulted in a 50% increase in activity while phosphorylating conditions (2mM Mg++ - 4mM ATP) decreased activity 86%. These data demonstrate that acetyl-CoA carboxylase is very active in fetal lung, and the activity falls to low levels in the newborn period. In addition, in vitro regulation of the enzyme in fetal lung was qualitatively similar to that reported for adult liver, suggesting that fetal lung enzyme activity is modulated by similar mechanisms.
Two-frequency injection-seeded Nd:YAG laser

Dual longitudinal mode (DLM) operation of a Nd:YAG laser is achieved by simultaneously injection seeding with two seed frequencies. We show that the relative energy in the two frequency components can be adjusted by varying the relative seed power, and that they have excellent spatial, angular, and temporal overlap. The result is a deeply modulated 1.06-/spl mu/m pulse with a modulation frequency that can be tuned from 185 MHz to at least 17 GHz in 185 MHz increments. In addition to the two seeded frequencies, weak sidebands are also observed in the output spectra. Their energy content is typically less than 1% of that of the seeded modes. We discuss mechanisms which might cause them. >
Biosynthesis of cephalosporin C: Regulation and recombinant technology

Recombinant technology has been employed to study the cephalosporin C pathway and enhance the activity of a rate-limiting enzyme, DAOCS, in Cephalosporium acremonium.
Expansions for spherical functions on noncompact symmetric spaces

Section 0 Lot G be a connected noncompact semisimple Lie group with finite center and real rank one; fix a maximal compact subgroup K. Our concern in this paper is Fourier analysis on the Riemannian symmetric space G]K. We shall analyze the local and global behavior of spherical functions, the boundedness of multiplier operators, and the inversion of differential operators. The core of the paper, however, is an analysis of how the size of a function is controlled by the size of its Fourier transform. There is an extensive literature on such topics, centered about the Paley-Wiener and Plancherel theorems. Our work relies heavily on these earlier ideas and techniques, to which detailed reference will be made in the body of the paper. The problems we wish to solve, however, require estimates more precise and of a different nature than are necessary for the Plancherel or Paley-Wienor theorem. Thus the first two sections of this paper are devoted to the construction of various asymptotic expansions for spherical functions; in later sections we show how these expansions may be applied to the Fourier analysis of G/K.
The Ups and Downs of Smooth Muscle Myosin Regulation

Since discovery that regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation was the primary method of regulation of smooth and non-muscle myosin II, the structure of the phosphorylated and dephosphorylated forms has been a goal only partially realized. Regulation in both smooth muscle and the related scallop striated muscle myosin requires a 2-headed myosin species; single headed species are unregulated. Thus head to head interactions are key to achieving the inhibited state. A folded conformation of full length myosin, generally referred to as the 10S conformation was discovered early by conventional electron microscopy and in 1999, a structural explanation for the head-head interactions was obtained from 2-D arrays of dephosphorylated smooth muscle heavy meromyosin formed on lipid monolayers and imaged in 3-D by cryoEM. The structure was later confirmed by 2-D arrays of the 10S conformation of whole myosin. While this structure explained inhibition of the solubilized form of regulated myosins, it had not been observed in filaments. Surprisingly, the first observation of smooth muscle myosin-like head-head interactions in a thick filament was obtained from tarantula striated muscle, not from smooth muscle myosin. Even more surprising was the observation of a similar conformation in relaxed cardiac muscle thick filaments. Thus, these head-head interactions observed first in smooth muscle HMM, appear to be ubiquitous in relaxed muscle although still not confirmed for thick filaments in relaxed smooth muscle. Still to be determined is an explanation of the factors that can lead to solubilization and the location of the N-terminus of the RLC, whose location and structure has yet to be revealed, in the phosphorylated and dephosphorylated state. Theoretical modeling has provided possible explanations for several factors that affect regulation but has not yet yielded a coherent theory. Supported by NIAMSD.
Emergency Center Arteriography in the Evaluation of Suspected Peripheral Vascular Injuries

From January 1982 through June 1983, 488 patients with suspected peripheral vascular injuries were examined with the use of 515 emergency center arteriograms performed by surgical residents via hand injection of contrast material using a single roentgenographic film. A total of 130 (25%) abnormal arteriograms resulted, including vascular spasm in nine instances and occlusion of noncritical arteries in 19 instances. One hundred two (20%) operations resulted from these abnormal emergency center arteriograms. A diminished pulse rate was the indication for performing 76 arteriograms, 52 (68%) of which were abnormal; however, only 43 patients from this group required surgery. Anatomic proximity to a major vessel was the sole indication for performing 352 arteriograms, 59 (17%) of which were abnormal. There was one false-normal arteriogram, one delayed development of an arteriovenous fistula, and four false-abnormal arteriograms. No complications of arteriography occurred during examination or at the time of clinic follow-up. Single-injection arteriography in the emergency center is a simple, sensitive, accurate, and cost-effective technique for the examination of patients with potential peripheral vascular injuries.