cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic studies on Didelphid marsupials i. introduction and preliminary results from nuclear IRBP gene sequences

We report and analyze nucleotide sequence variation in the first exon (1158 bp) of the nuclear gene encoding the Interphotoreceptor Retinoid Binding Protein (IRBP) among 21 species representing all 15 currently recognized genera of living didelphids. Six previously published IRBP sequences representing five nondidelphimorph marsupial orders were also analyzed to test didelphid monophyly, and 12 published sequences representing ten placental orders were used as outgroups. No gaps (indels) are necessary to align didelphid sequences, but one short region (35 bp) is alignment-ambiguous among nondidelphids. Uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence ranges from 0.7 to 5.7% among nonconspecific didelphids, from 9.2 to 15.3% between didelphids and nondidelphid marsupials, and from 24.9 to 32.1% between marsupials and placentals. Neither transitions nor transversions exhibit saturation for any codon position at any level of taxonomic comparison. Parsimony analyses of these data provide strong support (bootstrap values >95%, Bremer values ≥7) for the monophyly of (1) Didelphidae ("caluromyines" + Didelphinae); (2) a group containing Caluromys and Caluromysiops; (3) Didelphinae; (4) a group of large opossums that includes Metachirus; (5) a group containing the remaining large opossums (with 2N = 22 chromosomes); (6) a group containing Marmosa and Micoureus; (7) a group containing Thylamys, Lestodelphys, and Gracilinanus; and (8) a group containing the last three genera plus a monophyletic Marmosops. In addition, we found moderate support (bootstrap values >80%, Bremer values ≥2) for the monophyly of Thylamys + Lestodelphys and for a sister-group relationship between Monodelphis and Marmosa + Micoureus. Sensitivity analysis suggests that all of these clades, together with their associated levels of bootstrap and Bremer support, are robust to alternative hypotheses of positional homology within the ambiguously alignable region. Although some of the relationships supported by IRBP are not consistent with the results of published morphological analyses, our reassessment of the morphological data suggests that many conflicts are more apparent than real.
RHINOVIRUS INFECTION IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE LOWER RESPIRATORY DISEASE: EVIDENCE AGAINST ETIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE.

The clinical, clinical laboratory, and viral aspects of 16 cases of lower respiratory disease in infants and children associated with rhinovirus isolation have been described. Rhinovirus isolations appeared to be as frequent in children without lower respiratory disease. Although the presence of concomitant infection with other viral agents made interpretation difficult, there was no conclusive evidence that the rhinoviruses were significant etiologic agents in children with lower respiratory disease severe enough to require hospitalization.
A review of: ‘Social media in travel, tourism and hospitality: theory, practice and cases’

Thinking about and practicing social media and travel 2.0The explosive impact of the Internet in contemporary societies hits all sectors of society and the editors of Social Media in Travel, Touris...
Brazilian news portals characteristics

A content analysis of four Brazilian news media portals found that economic news dominated the top headlines with little attention paid to education, the environment and welfare. Other trends included a focus on local events and national news sources, reliance on few sources, mostly official ones, and a low percentage of news that fitted the concept of newsworthiness (a combination of both social significance and deviance concepts). Other findings of a study of 432 top news stories published by UOL, Estadao, iG and Terra during a 15-day period between February and March 2008 indicate that the top portions of the portals’ front pages carry news that lacks story depth, editorial branding, and multimedia applications. The results suggest that online news portals are in their infancy although Brazil has the largest online population of Latin America. This study hopes to shed light on the gatekeeping process in Brazilian news portals. Brazilian media portals have yet to become a significant editorial force able to provide knowledge about social issues and public affairs in a socially responsible fashione.
Generating realistic datasets for deduplication analysis

Deduplication is a popular component of modern storage systems, with a wide variety of approaches. Unlike traditional storage systems, deduplication performance depends on data content as well as access patterns and meta-data characteristics. Most datasets that have been used to evaluate deduplication systems are either unrepresentative, or unavailable due to privacy issues, preventing easy comparison of competing algorithms. Understanding how both content and meta-data evolve is critical to the realistic evaluation of deduplication systems. We developed a generic model of file system changes based on properties measured on terabytes of real, diverse storage systems. Our model plugs into a generic framework for emulating file system changes. Building on observations from specific environments, the model can generate an initial file system followed by ongoing modifications that emulate the distribution of duplicates and file sizes, realistic changes to existing files, and file system growth. In our experiments we were able to generate a 4TB dataset within 13 hours on a machine with a single disk drive. The relative error of emulated parameters depends on the model size but remains within 15% of real-world observations.
Hysteresis of glaciations in the Permo‐Carboniferous

The hysteresis of glaciations in the Permo-Carboniferous is simulated in an iterative energy balance model with 84 scenarios of varied orbital elements, CO2 levels, and glacial modes. Gondwana attains its glacial maximum when CO2 is roughly the same or slightly higher than the preindustrial level. Once glaciated it maintains a large ice covered area under higher CO2 levels up to 4 to 6 times of the preindustrial value followed by an abrupt disappearance of ice beyond this threshold. The solutions arrived at by iteration indicate the existence of parameter thresholds of glaciations and deglaciations which lead to the alternating extremes of glacial coverage. Dominated by the large seasonal cycle over land, the concentrated geography of the Permo-Carboniferous is more sensitive to the CO2-forced climate than sparsely distributed land. Our conceptual modeling agrees well with the recent geological evidence of intercalations of three glaciations and two lacunae of deglaciations in this geologic time.
Molecular Surgery for the Treatment of Malignant Tumors: Bioincompatible Material Apheresis for Cancer Therapy?

Controlled immunological shock, induced by bioincompatible material apheresis for cancer (BIC MAC) therapy, produces an immunoactive status in experimental subjects. However, in order to provide a safe, painless, effective, and reproducible BIC MAC therapy, it is mandatory to provide general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation not only during apheresis procedures of 1-h duration but also for an additional 5 h. Using this procedure, there was no mortality experienced during animal experiments. Also, there were no procedurally related physical or sensory abnormalities demonstrated. This general anesthesia of 6 h covered not only the initial 30 min of the hypotension and hypoxic stages but also the recovery stages to hemodynamically normalize the experimental animals. After 6 h, the accumulated leukocytes in the lung are released back to the systemic circulation. In general, granulocytes decreased almost 100% while lymphocytes decreased only 40-50%. During these 6 h, increases of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, etc.) sometimes up to 1000 times occurred. After the 6-h procedure, leukocytes returned nearly to preoperative levels but tended to be continuously increased. After the fourth day, leukocyte counts more than doubled. These cellular and humoral activations were normalized after 2 weeks. These studies were conducted on six normal mongrel dogs. Currently, similar studies are planned to be conducted on tumor-bearing experimental animals. This procedurally induced immunoactivation by apheresis may be able to produce effective apoptosis in malignant tumor cells.
Effect of source and season on apparent digestibility of carotene in forage by cattle.

Abstract Digestibility of carotene and dry matter in forage was determined in 445 individual digestion trials involving 35 animals. Forage was provided in the form of hay, silage, greenchop, or pasture. Plants investigated included seven grasses, six legumes or legume mixtures, and eight lots of alfalfa hay used as a control feed. Digestibilities of carotene and dry matter were correlated with dry matter content of the plant, with zero-order correlations of r=-0.21 (P = 0.05) and r=-0.33 (P 0.05). The over-all mean digestibility of carotene was 77.7%; of dry matter, 55.3%. Month, form, plant, and dry matter content had significant effects on digestibility of carotene. Significant effects on digestibility of dry matter were month, year, form, and plant. Fitting of least-squares constants accounted for 39 and 44% of the total variability in the two digestibilities. In no case was variability among animals an important source of error.
Synaptic organization of anomalous retinal projections to the somatosensory and auditory thalamus: target-controlled morphogenesis of axon terminals and synaptic glomeruli.

These experiments examine which morphological features of axon terminals and their synaptic glomeruli are determined by afferent axons, and which by their targets. In normal, adult hamsters, electron microscopy reveals that, with respect to multiple ultrastructural features, the terminals and synaptic glomeruli of retinal afferent axons in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus differ from those of ascending auditory and somatosensory afferents in the medial geniculate and ventrobasal nuclei, respectively. These features include: (1) the location of specific sensory axon terminals on the somata and dendrites of their targets neurons, (2) the constitutents of the glomeruli and their synaptic relationships, (3) the number of specific sensory terminal boutons per glomerulus, (4) bouton size, (5) the number of dendritic and somatic appendages contacted by each bouton, and (6) the mitochondrial morphology of the specific sensory afferent boutons. In order to ascertain which of these features are determined by afferent axons and which by their targets, we subjected newborn Syrian hamsters to surgical procedures known to produce permanent, abnormal retinal projections to the main thalamic auditory (medial geniculate) and somatosensory (ventrobasal) nuclei. When the animals were adults, we examined the terminals and synaptic glomeruli of abnormal retino-auditory and retino-somatosensory axons that were anterogradely labeled by intraocular injection of horseradish peroxidase. With respect to all of the preceding features except mitochondrial morphology, the terminals and synaptic glomeruli of retino-medial geniculate and retino-ventrobasal axons more nearly resembled those of normal, auditory and somatosensory afferent axons, respectively, than they did those of normal, retino-lateral geniculate axons. These results demonstrate that the differentiation of all the features that we have examined, except mitochondrial morphology, is determined by factors in target neurons or their environment. This finding suggests that the differentiation of morphological features involved in contacts among neurons (including the type, number and size of interconnected neuronal elements and the loci at which they contact each other) is responsive to interactions among the connected elements, or between neural elements and their environment (e.g., glia, extracellular matrix), whereas the differentiation of structures reflecting intrinsic functions of individual neuronal elements is not responsive to such interactions.
Function of vitamin B12 in the central nervous system as revealed by congenital defects

The 13 cases of methylcobalamin (MeCbl) deficiency presenting in early infancy have all been developmentally delayed, and the majority have had seizures, hypotonia, lethargy, and microcephaly. The CNS injury appears to occur during the first 6 months of postnatal life. The same symptoms are seen in acquired cobalamin (Cbl) deficiency in the same age group. MRI performed at age 18-19 months and after 13-14 months of large amounts of Cbl, in two cases showed delayed myelination, most pronounced in the cerebrum. Isolated MeCbl deficiency is the consequence of cblE and G mutations where the lesion is of a single Cbl-dependent enzyme, the methyltransferase. One effect of a deficiency of MeCbl, and of the associated failure of the methionine synthase reaction, is, therefore, an impairment of myelination of the brain of the newborn. The slow, but usually incomplete, improvement in psychomotor status after years of treatment with Cbl may be related to the eventual myelination. However, the hypotonia, lethargy, and impaired responsiveness react to treatment with Cbl within 24-48 hours, which suggests an expression of MeCbl deficiency on the CNS distinct from the delayed myelination. Although there is much to be learned, it is now clear that a normally functioning Cbl-dependent methyl transferase is required for development and function of the human brain.
Effectiveness of Dual Focus Mutual Aid for Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders: A Review and Synthesis of the “Double Trouble” in Recovery Evaluation

Over 5 million adults in the United States have a co-occurring substance use disorder and serious psychological distress. Mutual aid (self-help) can usefully complement treatment, but people with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders often encounter a lack of empathy and acceptance in traditional mutual aid groups. Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR) is a dual focus fellowship whose mission is to bring the benefits of mutual aid to persons recovering from co-occurring disorders. An evaluation of DTR was conducted by interviewing 310 persons attending 24 DTR meetings in New York City (NYC) in 1998 and following them up for 2 years, in 1999 and 2000. The evaluation produced 13 articles in 12 peer-reviewed journals, the main results of which are summarized here. The sample's characteristics were as follows: mean age, 40 years; women, 28%; black, 59%; white, 25%; Hispanic, 14%; never married, 63%; live in supported community residence, 53%; high school graduate or GED, 60%; arrested as adult, 63%; diagnoses of: schizophrenia, 39%; major depression, 21%; or bipolar disorder, 20%; currently prescribed psychiatric medication, 92%; primary substance used, current or past: cocaine/crack, 42%; alcohol 34%; or heroin, 11%. Overall, the findings indicate that DTR participation has both direct and indirect effects on several important components of recovery: drug/alcohol abstinence, psychiatric medication adherence, self-efficacy for recovery, and quality of life. The study also identified several "common" therapeutic factors (e.g., internal motivation and social support) and unique mutual aid processes (helper-therapy and reciprocal learning) that mediate the influence of DTR participation on recovery. For clinicians, these results underline the importance of fostering stable affiliation with specialized dual focus 12-step groups for their patients with co-occurring disorders, as part of a comprehensive recovery-oriented treatment approach.
Robust metastability-based TRNG design in nanometer CMOS with sub-vdd pre-charge and hybrid self-calibration

In this work, we study the impact of sub-vdd pre-charge operation of metastability-based True Random Number Generator (TRNG) and propose a hybrid self-calibration to improve the statistics of the TRNG in the presence increasing intra-die variation. Circuits designed in deep submicron technologies are susceptible to process variation. The variability may affect the circuit performance, power and reliability. Numerous pre-silicon design methodologies and post-silicon circuit tuning mechanisms have been studied in literature. We propose a sub-vdd pre-charge technique to improve the tolerance of the TRNG to device mismatch. This is followed by a hybrid self-detection and calibration technique based on algorithmic post processing and circuit tuning to mitigate the effects of variability. The cryptographic metric of ‘bit entropy’ is used to validate the proposed techniques. The TRNG circuit and the proposed techniques are implemented using 45nm PDK. Results show that variation in fabrication process affect the reliability of TRNG circuits. Pre-charging the TRNG to 0.7V for a typical supply voltage of 1.1V reduces the impact of device mismatch on the circuit by 2X for device mismatch as large as 4–5%. The hybrid self-calibration further improves the bit entropy by ∼120% across a range of 5% intra-die variation. The simple control logic has an estimated area of 128 um2 and results in a negligible energy overhead of 0.82 fj/bit.
Structured Imagination in Story Creation

Studies on structural imagination show that imaginative thinking is guided by conceptual knowledge structures. The two present studies explored the role of structured imagination in story creation. In Study 1, it was predicted that variations in the representational knowledge of abstract concepts would influence whether or not stories are meaningful and original to readers. In addition, it was predicted that meaningful and original stories would be more likely to express abstract concepts than nonmeaningful and nonoriginal stories. In Study 2, it was predicted that stories evaluated as meaningful/original, meaningful/nonoriginal, or nonmeaningful/nonoriginal would be related to the qualities of meaning/nonmeaning and originality/nonoriginality of the image descriptions used to write them. Chi-square analyses and percentage differences showed support for representational knowledge as an important influence on story meaning and originality, and that meaningful and original stories were more likely to contain abstract concepts than nonmeaningful and nonoriginal stories. In addition, significant correlations were found between the creating of meaningful versus nonmeaningful stories and the use of meaningful versus nonmeaningful knowledge pools. However, significance was not found for the originality/nonoriginality dimension.
Age-related changes in gastric mucosal bicarbonate secretion in rats

The present study was designed to examine the effects of aging on gastric bicarbonate secretion, a major mucosal defensive factor, basally and after treatment with 16,16-dimethyl-prostaglandin (PG) E2, a known stimulant of gastric bicarbonate secretion. Our data have demonstrated that aging was associated with significant decline in basal gastric bicarbonate secretion (as reflected by luminal pH and bicarbonate output). While 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 significantly stimulated both luminal pH and bicarbonate output in 3-month-old and 1-year-old rats; no significant changes in either luminal pH or bicarbonate output were noted in the 2-year-old rats after treatment with 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2. In summary, aging was associated with significantly lower gastric luminal pH and bicarbonate output in the rat stomach, and aging also blunted the PG-mediated increases in gastric bicarbonate secretion in the rat.
Clinically relevant approach to failure testing of all-ceramic restorations.

Abstract Statement of problem. One common test of single-unit restorations involves applying loads to clinically realistic specimens through spherical indenters, or equivalently, loading curved incisal edges against flat compression platens. As knowledge has become available regarding clinical failure mechanisms and the behavior of in vitro tests, it is possible to constructively question the clinical validity of such failure testing and to move toward developing more relevant test methods. Purpose. This article reviewed characteristics of the traditional load-to-failure test, contrasted these with characteristics of clinical failure for all-ceramic restorations, and sought to explain the discrepancies. Literature regarding intraoral conditions was reviewed to develop an understanding of how laboratory testing could be revised. Variables considered to be important in simulating clinical conditions were described, along with their recent laboratory evaluation. Conclusions. Traditional fracture tests of single unit all-ceramic prostheses are inappropriate, because they do not create failure mechanisms seen in retrieved clinical specimens. Validated tests are needed to elucidate the role(s) that cement systems, bonding, occlusion, and even metal copings play in the success of fixed prostheses and to make meaningful comparisons possible among novel ceramic and metal substructures. Research over the past 6 years has shown that crack systems mimicking clinical failure can be produced in all-ceramic restorations under appropriate conditions. (J Prosthet Dent 1999;81:652-61.)
Giant cell tumor of the plantar tendon sheath: Role of MR imaging in diagnosis case report

Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath with characteristic magnetic resonance imaging findings is reported. The tumor was low intensity on T1-weighted and T2-weighted images, and showed strong homogeneous enhancement. These findings were considered to represent the pathological features of fine hemosiderin granules and collagenization.
Fission Product Yields in Helium Ion-Induced Fission of Au 197 , Pb 204 , and Pb 206 Targets

Mass-yield curves were measured radiochemically for fission of Au/sup 197/, Pb/sup 204/, and Pb/sup 206/ target nuclei bombarded with 41.9-Mev helium ions. Fission is symmetric in all three cases, the data being satisfactorily represented by Gaussian-shaped curves with full widths at half-maximum of 30, 27, and 24 mass units, respectively. The widths at half-maximum. W/sub 1/2/, of a number of cases of fission in the symmetric mode are examined and it is shown that the widths appear to be correlated with the excitation energy E/sub S.P/ which the fissioning nucleus possesses at the saddle point. Over the excitation energy interval 10-23 Mev the data follow the empirical expression W/sub 1/2/ = E/ sub S.P/ + 7. (auth)
A three-dimensional, finite element model for coastal and estuarine circulation

Abstract This paper describes the development and application of a three-dimensional model for coastal and estuarine circulation. The model uses a harmonic expansion in time and a finite element discretization in space. All nonlinear terms are retained, including quadratic bottom stress, advection and wave transport (continuity nonlinearity). The equations are solved as a global and a local problem, where the global problem is the solution of the wave equation formulation of the shallow water equations, and the local problem is the solution of the momentum equation for the vertical velocity profile. These equations are coupled to the advection-diffusion equation for salt so that density gradient forcing is included in the momentum equations. The model is applied to a study of Delaware Bay, U.S.A., where salinity intrusion is the primary focus.
Tumor localizing agents. IX. Radioiodinated cholesterol

19-Iodocholesterol- 125 I was synthesized for study as a possible agent for photoscanning the adrenal gland and associated tumors. In contrast to previous radioiodinated steroids, it was found to be much less prone to rapid in vivo deiodination. Preliminary tissue distribution studies and biochemical analyses have revealed a marked similarity in the behavior of the radioiodinated derivative with the natural steroid. The concentration of radioactivity in the adrenal cortex of dogs at 48 hours was found to greatly exceed that found in other organs.
Therapist Utilization of Online Social Support for Parents of Premature Infants

Using a qualitative framework to capture the voices and stories of parents of premature infants, this study explored the role of online social support through the use of the March of Dimes, Share Your Story site. Given the growing trend of computer mediated communication usage in the lives of individuals and family members experiencing medical challenges, this study adds to the broad array of research on online social support, while specifically contributing to the limited literature on the parental experience of premature birth and online social support. The research also connects marriage and family therapists and other family practitioners to the role of online social support opportunities for families.
Communication and Decision-Making Styles, Power Base Usage, and Satisfaction in Marital Dyads.

This research focused on use of power, decision‐making and communication styles of spouses in marital dyads, and the level of marital satisfaction of the partners in these relationships. Drawing primarily on previous work involving Management Communication Style and decision‐making styles in organizational and instructional communication contexts, but also examining directly relevant work within the marital context, three hypotheses and five research questions were advanced. Marital satisfaction for members of 136 marital dyads was examined to determine its relationship with self‐ and spouse‐reported communication and decision‐making styles and use of various power bases in communication designed to influence marital partner. The three hypotheses were supported by the findings: 1) Self‐reported satisfaction as a member of a marital dyad was positively related to the spouse's use of a more co‐active style of communication and decision‐making; 2) Such satisfaction was positively related to one's spouse's co...
Cu2Sb–Al2O3–C nanocomposite alloy anodes with exceptional cycle life for lithium ion batteries

Cu2Sb–Al2O3–C nanocomposite alloy material has been synthesized via a mechanochemical reduction of Sb2O3 with Al and Cu metals in the presence of carbon (acetylene black). X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveal that these nanocomposites are composed of nanostructured Cu2Sb particles in an amorphous Al2O3 and conductive carbon matrix. The presence of Al2O3 in the nanocomposite drastically improves the cycle life of the Cu2Sb–C material and enables a remarkable capacity retention of 80% over 500 cycles (330 mAh/g) after the first cycle. With a tap density of ∼1.4 g cm−3, Cu2Sb–Al2O3–C offers significantly higher volumetric capacity than the commonly used graphite anode. A conductive Cu framework supports the electrochemically-active Sb and results in low impedance and good rate capability, while the matrix of ceramic oxide and conductive carbon reduce the agglomeration of the nanocrystalline Cu2Sb particles and buffer the volume expansion/contraction that occurs during cycling. TEM of the electrodes that were cycled between 1 and 500 cycles shows the evolution of the morphology of Cu2Sb particles in the presence and absence of Al2O3. Because the Cu2Sb–Al2O3–C nanocomposite electrodes can operate well above the potential where lithium plating occurs, it is viewed as a safer alternative to graphite anodes.
Neurosecretion in the White Leghorn cockerel

Abstract The median eminence and posterior pituitary of White Leghorn cockerels was examined to see if there was a relationship between the presence of aldehydefuchsin positive neurosecretory material (NSM) and activity of the testes or pituitary and photoperiod. No correlation was found between the presence of NSM in the median eminence (ME) and castration, adenohypophysectomy, dehydration, or exposure to light (24-hour lighting for one week). From hatching to 45–50 days of age there is little NSM in the ME; after that there is an increase in the ME although the testes are developing rapidly. Dehydration effects a depletion of NSM from the posterior pituitary (PP).
Cellular Immunotherapy for Neuroblastoma : A Review of Current Vaccine and Adoptive T Cell Therapeutics

Immunotherapy is an attractive option for patients with high risk neuroblastoma due to their poor long-term survival rates after conventional treatment. Neuroblastoma cells are derived from the embryonic neural crest and therefore express tumor antigens not widely seen in normal cells, making them potential targets for immunologic attack. There is already considerable experience with monoclonal antibodies that target these tumor associated antigens, and in this review we focus on more exploratory approaches, using tumor vaccines and adoptive transfer of tumor-directed T cells.
Glutathione Supplementation Potentiates Hypoxic Apoptosis by S-Glutathionylation of p65-NFκB *

Abstract In murine embryonic fibroblasts, N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a GSH generating agent, enhances hypoxic apoptosis by blocking the NFκB survival pathway (Qanungo, S., Wang, M., and Nieminen, A. L. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 50455-50464). Here, we examined sulfhydryl modifications of the p65 subunit of NFκB that are responsible for NFκB inactivation. In MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells, hypoxia increased p65-NFκB DNA binding and NFκB transactivation by 2.6- and 2.8-fold, respectively. NAC blocked these events without having an effect on p65-NFκB protein levels and p65-NFκB nuclear translocation during hypoxia. Pharmacological inhibition of the NFκB pathway also induced hypoxic apoptosis, indicating that the NFκB signaling pathway is a major protective mechanism against hypoxic apoptosis. In cell lysates after hypoxia and treatment with N-ethylmaleimide (thiol alkylating agent), dithiothreitol (disulfide reducing agent) was not able to increase binding of p65-NFκB to DNA, suggesting that most sulfhydryls in p65-NFκB protein were in reduced and activated forms after hypoxia, thereby being blocked by N-ethylmaleimide. In contrast, with hypoxic cells that were also treated with NAC, dithiothreitol increased p65-NFκB DNA binding. Glutaredoxin (GRx), which specifically catalyzes reduction of protein-SSG mixed disulfides, reversed inhibition of p65-NFκB DNA binding in extracts from cells treated with hypoxia plus NAC and restored NFκB activity. This finding indicated that p65-NFκB-SSG was formed in situ under hypoxia plus NAC conditions. In cells, knock-down of endogenous GRx1, which also promotes protein glutathionylation under hypoxic radical generating conditions, prevented NAC-induced NFκB inactivation and hypoxic apoptosis. The results indicate that GRx-dependent S-glutathionylation of p65-NFκB is most likely responsible for NAC-mediated NFκB inactivation and enhanced hypoxic apoptosis.
Magnetospheric geomagnetic coordinates for space physics data presentation and visualization

Abstract Corrected geomagnetic coordinates, which account for the multipolar geomagnetic field, are frequently used to organize the ionospheric-altitude data. However, realistic organization of data measured simultaneously in the magnetosphere and ionosphere in a some sort of magnetic coordinate system requires a combination of the high-altitude external magnetic fields and the multipolar low-altitude field. Such combinations have been non-existent in the past. A new magnetospheric geomagnetic coordinate system is introduced providing such a combination.
Who Really Lives Next Door: Creating False Memories with Phonological Neighbors☆☆☆★

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to examine false recall and recognition with lists of phonologically related words. Experiment 1 found that the pattern of false memories (both recall and recognition) obtained for lists of phonological associates was similar to results that have been observed with semantically associated word lists (Roediger & McDermott, 1995). Experiment 2 demonstrated that increasing the number of talkers producing list items did not significantly affect either false recall or recognition. Experiment 2 also showed that the representations underlying false memories can contain highly detailed voice information. Experiment 3 found that changing to lists with the least, rather than most, confusable phonological associates of critical (nonpresented) items significantly reduced the incidence of false memories. The findings are discussed within the framework of the Neighborhood Activation Model of spoken word recognition and suggest that similar mechanisms may mediate false memories with lists of semantic and phonological associates.
Myocardial Oxygenation Imaging: New Methods for Ischemia Detection

Myocardial ischemia is associated with many cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy, and diabetic cardiomyopathy, etc. The ischemia is caused by the imbalance of myocardial oxygen supply and demand. Positron emission tomography (PET) is the only noninvasive imaging technique to directly measure myocardial oxygenation. However, its low spatial resolution, limited availability, and ionizing radiation discourage the widespread use of PET to detect myocardial ischemia in clinical practice. The cardiac BOLD (blood-oxygen-level dependence) effect allows the measurement of myocardial oxygenation through T2 or T2* change using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging techniques. Many efforts were made to improve the sensitivity of detecting this change and image quality for clinical evaluations. With relatively high spatial resolution, oxygenation in the subendocardium, a common location for myocardial ischemia, for the first time could be directly assessed by CMR oxygenation imaging. This method, combined with other CMR functional and anatomic imaging, will offer a one-stop shop for the detection of myocardial ischemia, even in the absence of angiographically significant coronary artery stenosis.
Properties of a monoclonal antibody for the detection of abasic sites, a common DNA lesion

Abstract The abasic site is one of the most frequent changes occuring in DNA and has been shown to be lethal and mutagenic. An abasic site in DNA can be tagged by reaction with O-4-nitrobenzylhydroxylamine (NBHA), resulting in the formation of an oxime linkage between the abasic site and the NBHA moiety. In order to measure NBHA-tagged abasic sites, a monoclonal antibody was elicited against a 5′-phosphodeoxyribosyl O-4-nitrobenzyl hydroxylamine-BSA conjugate. The antibody was specific for the NBHA residue as demonstrated by hapten inhibition, with IC50 values for5′-phosphodeoxyribosyl-NBHA, deoxyribosyl-NBHA, ribosyl-NBHA and NBHA of 0.3 μM, 5 μM, 5 μM and 7 μM, respectively. Other haptens examined, including benzylhydroxylamine, 5′-phosphodeoxyribosyl-, deoxyribosyl-, and ribosyl-benzylhydroxylamine, showed no inhibition even at 1 mM. The antibody showed high specificity for NBHA-modified AP sites in DNA and exhibited no cross reactivity with normal DNA bases, otherwise-modified DNA bases or unmodified AP sites. Using a direct ELISA assay, the antibody detected 1 AP site (after NBHA-modification) per 10 000 base-pairs or approximately 10 femtomoles of AP sites in DNA. DNA lesions were detectable in 60Co γ-irradiated DNA at a dose as low as 10 rad (0.1 Gy) and the production of antibody detectable sites was proportional to the γ-ray dose.
Improving Instruction in Mineralogy, Petrology, and Geochemistry—Lessons from Research on Learning

Effective instruction can enhance our ability to retain students in the geoscience major and to raise their level of expertise in mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry (MPG). Research on learning and education provides a framework for designing learning experiences in our classes. As a community we are well positioned to consider the goals of MPG instruction and to evaluate the materials and methods we currently use in our teaching. This will enhance the ability of faculty members to design and implement courses that meet the needs of their department and capitalize on their strengths as teachers.
The evolutionary history of the ribosome and its relevance to the search for life elsewhere in the universe

Abstract Evidence pertaining to the evolutionary history of the ribosome is reviewed and is discussed in the context of the origin of life as we know it on the Earth. The implications for the search for life elsewhere are also discussed. If extraterrestrial life is found that has complex protein synthesis machinery, it will be of interest to determine if it represents a second genesis of life. It is argued that a comparison with the translation machinery of Earth life will be able to resolve the issue. If such extraterrestrial life were concluded to have arisen from the same genesis as Earth life, then examination of the ribosomal RNAs will provide further insight. In particular, it would in many scenarios be possible to determine how recently an organism found on another body such as Mars had been transferred to or from the Earth. Thus, forward contamination could be distinguishe d from interplanetary transfer. Introduction The search for life elsewhere in the universe depends in part on the nature of living systems and the extent to which that nature has been conserved. In his classic text, What is Life? Schrodinger originally suggests that the key facet would be a self replicating aperiodic crystal and later changes this designation to aperiodic polymer.
Investor and Analyst Reactions to Earnings Announcements of Related Firms: An Empirical Analysis

In this article I examine the response of investors and analysts of nonannouncing firms to the earnings report of the first announcers in the industry. The error in the earnings forecast of the first announcer is found to be informative about the errors in the contemporaneous earnings forecasts of subsequent announcers in the industry. However, investors and analysts do not appear to fully incorporate the information from the first announcers’ news in their revised earnings expectations for subsequent announcers. This apparent underreaction to the first announcers’ news leads to predictable stock returns for subsequent announcers in the days following the first announcement. Results of this study can be seen as further evidence of investor and analyst underreaction to publicly available information.
Setting priorities for protected area planning in a conflict zone – Afghanistan’s National Protected Area System Plan

Abstract Planning for protected area networks is often done on an ad hoc basis, especially in data-poor countries. Afghanistan, a country mired in conflict for the past 30 years, has little of the relevant data to plan a protected area network, and security concerns hinder collection of new data. However, conservation of Afghanistan’s natural resources will be critical to recovery efforts. To assist Afghanistan in planning for its protected area network, we conducted an analysis to identify ecologically important areas for conservation. We overlaid data from ecoregion, floral, and faunal analyses on a grid map of Afghanistan (313 cells each 2500 km 2 ), and used a ranking system to determine those cells containing diverse and/or threatened ecosystems. A color gradation was applied to each cell (white – least diverse to black – most diverse) to produce a map visually depicting ecological diversity across Afghanistan. Those cells with the highest scores were labeled as Priority Zones – defined as areas in which Afghanistan should prioritize conservation activities for protected area designation. Our results formed the basis of the National Protected Area System Plan of Afghanistan, a document setting quantitative protected area targets and outlining a concrete plan of action for the designation of a protected area network. We found the Priority Zone model to be useful in helping Government partners locate areas potentially important for conservation and prioritize activities for protected area designation. This process may be useful for other conflict or post-conflict countries working to establish protected area networks in a data deficient environment.
Clinical and Microbiologic Efficacy of a Water Filter Program in a Rural Honduran Community

Water purification in the rural Honduras is a focus of the nonprofit organization Honduras Outreach Medical Brigade Relief Effort (HOMBRE). We assessed water filter use and tested filter microbiologic and clinical efficacy. A 22-item questionnaire assessed water sources, obtainment/storage, purification, and incidence of gastrointestinal disease. Samples from home clay-based filters in La Hicaca were obtained and paired with surveys from the same home. We counted bacterial colonies of four bacterial classifications from each sample. Sixty-five surveys were completed. Forty-five (69%) individuals used a filter. Fifteen respondents reported diarrhea in their home in the last 30 days; this incidence was higher in homes not using a filter. Thirty-three paired water samples and surveys were available. Twenty-eight samples (85%) demonstrated bacterial growth. A control sample was obtained from the local river, the principal water source; number and bacterial colony types were innumerable within 24 hours. Access to clean water, the use of filters, and other treatment methods differed within a geographically proximal region. Although the majority of the water samples failed to achieve bacterial eradication, water filters may sufficiently reduce bacterial coliform counts to levels below infectious inoculation. Clay water filters may be sustainable water treatment measures in resource poor settings.
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: Clinicopathological definition and workup recommendations

Background The condition that came to be known as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) was first reported in 2000 and, in 2001, was termed "nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy." Since then, NSF has been the subject of a wide-ranging multidisciplinary medical investigation that has proven an indisputable link to renal disease and a compelling association with the increasing use of gadolinium-containing magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents in the renally impaired. Objective Although precise causation and risk factors continue to be elucidated, the need for reproducible prospective epidemiologic data demands clear and objective criteria for the diagnosis of NSF. Methods Experts in NSF diagnosis used their experience and the resources of the Yale International NSF Registry to develop a clinicopathological diagnostic system for NSF. Results A consensus scoring system incorporating a clinical and histopathological atlas was devised to guide and standardize the evaluation and diagnosis of NSF. Limitations There is no laboratory test that can be used as a gold standard to diagnose NSF. To overcome this, we relied on classic clinicopathological presentations, published sources, and consensus clinical expertise to ensure the integrity of the study population. Conclusion The clinicopathological definition of NSF provides guidance to physicians for the evaluation and diagnosis of NSF. Clinical, laboratory, and histopathological features comprise a schema that excludes conditions mimicking NSF while facilitating its reproducible and accurate diagnosis, even among physicians with little prior clinical experience with this entity. This definition can serve as a working diagnostic standard for future research and as the basis for adjudicating borderline cases.
Inhaled albuterol does not inhibit cellular influx or lung injury produced by segmental antigen challenge in humans

Summary Many experimental protocols and published guidelines for performing bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), bronchial biopsies, and segmental antigen challenge (SAC) of allergic asthmatic subjects recommend treating subjects with a β -agonist prior to the procedure. However, the effect of β -agonist pretreatment has not been reported. In a retrospective analysis of ragweed allergic subjects undergoing bronchoscopy, SAC, and BAL, we examined the effect of albuterol pretreatment on cellular influx and lung injury produced by antigen challenge. Forty-eight subjects, 17 who received no pretreatment and 31 who received four puffs of albuterol prior to bronchoscopy, comprised the study groups. No parameter monitored in BAL fluid 24 h after SAC (total cells, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophiis, lymphocytes, total protein, albumin, or eosinophil cationic protein) differed in subjects pretreated with albuterol when compared with subjects who were not pretreated. Although additional, prospective studies are warranted, we conclude that β -agonist pretreatment of experimental subjects does not alter many aspects of the inflammatory response produced by SAC.
Randomized Clinical Trials in Advanced and Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma

The treatment of advanced colorectal cancer has long been a dilemma for clinicians. After many years of therapy limited to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy, a number of new discoveries have significantly advanced this field in the last decade. The advent of irinotecan has given us hope for a second line chemotherapeutic agent and a possible new combination for first line chemotherapy.
Energy harvesting using a PZT ceramic multilayer stack

In this paper, the interdisciplinary energy harvesting issues on piezoelectric energy harvesting were investigated using a ‘33’ mode (mechanical stress and/or electric field are in parallel to the polarization direction) lead zirconate titanate multilayer piezoelectric stack (PZT-Stack). Key energy harvesting characteristics including the generated electrical energy/power in the PZT-Stack, the mechanical to electrical energy conversion efficiency, the power delivered from the PZT-Stack to a resistive load, the electrical charge/energy transferred from the PZT-Stack to a super-capacitor were systematically addressed. Theoretical models for power generation and delivery to a resistive load were proposed and experimentally affirmed. In a quasi-static regime, 70% generated electrical powers were delivered to matched resistive loads. A 35% mechanical to electrical energy conversion efficiency, which is more than 4 times higher than other reports, for the PZT-Stack had been obtained. The generated electrical power and power density were significantly higher than those from a similar weight and size cantilever-type piezoelectric harvester in both resonance and off-resonance modes. In addition, our study indicated that the capacitance and piezoelectric coefficient of the PZT-Stack were strongly dependent on the dynamic stress. (Some figures may appear in colour only in the online journal)
The effect of objectively measured crime on walking in minority adults.

Abstract Purpose Evaluate the relationship between neighborhood crime and the amount of daily walking by minority adults. Design This was a cross-sectional study of minority adult walking behavior and crime. Setting Oakland, California was chosen as the study area because of the substantial spatial variation in levels of criminal activity combined with detailed information on walking trips. Participants The study was restricted to minority adults who responded to the 2000 Bay Area Travel Survey and lived in Oakland, California (n = 359). Method Data on leisure and utilitarian walking were collected through the 2000 Bay Area Travel Survey and combined with crime data from the Oakland Police Department. A negative binomial model was used to test if violent, property, or quality of life crimes had significant associations with daily minutes walked, controlling for individual and neighborhood covariates. Results The model showed a significant negative association between violent crime and minutes walked per...