cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of water content on uv-induced s-mutation and killing in Serratia.

Abstract Resting cells of Serratia were spread on a dry film of gelatin on a glass slide, dried, brought to different water contents in quartz covered chambers with salt solutions giving from 33 to 97.5 per cent relative humidities (r.h.), and then uv-irradiated. After dissolving the gelatin to suspend the cells, diluting, and plating, survivors and color-sector (s) mutants were counted. The main facts on the nature of s-mutations are reviewed. The relative uv sensitivities, measured as the slopes of the one-hit curves for killing and mutation, decreased from more than 20 to 1 when the cells were moved from 33 to 97.5 per cent r.h. and this decrease was about the same for mutation and killing. The decrease in radiosensitivity was accomplished in less than 13 min. The water content after irradiation seemed to play no appreciable role. The “protection” by water against uv cannot be due to simple dilution of supposed uv poisons, but it goes parallel with a change in the structure of the uv-absorbing DNA brought about by moisture content, which can be observed in vitro as a decrease of uv-induced gel formation by DNA. No indication of spacially “indirect” (diffusion) processes in the uv action was found. When dry (33 per cent r.h.) cells are uv-irradiated no photoreversion of either killing or mutation is observed with either dry or wet (97.5 per cent r.h.) illuminated cells. Wet uv-irradiated cells give photoreactivation of killing only when wet cells are illuminated, but s-mutations are photoreversed when wet or dry cells are exposed to light. A hypothetical reaction system which explains these effects is discussed. When cells are illuminated in the dry state, visible light alone induced killing but not s-mutation. This killing seems to be a one-hit process and its rate is the same in previously uv-irradiated and unirradiated cells. Light alone did not cause killing or mutation in cells kept in wet state; but cells previously dried and then illuminated when wet showed some killing and s-mutation induction by light alone.
Implementation of Mandatory Medicaid Managed Care in Missouri: Impacts for Pregnant Women

This study assesses the impact of mandatory Medicaid managed care in Missouri, relative to fee-for-service on prenatal care, maternal behavior, and low birth weight among pregnant women. Using birth certificate data linked to Medicaid enrollment data in 1995 and 2000, the authors found that managed care appears to have a positive effect on smoking cessation among pregnant women, but a negative effect on prenatal care and no effect on birth weight. The authors concluded that managed care appears to have a positive impact on smoking cessation but other policy changes may be needed to improve birth outcomes. (Sommers, Anna S., Kenney, Genevieve, and Dubay, Lisa. July 2005. Implementation of Mandatory Medicaid Managed Care in Missouri: Impacts for Pregnant Women. American Journal of Managed Care 11(7): 433-442.)
Accurate Indoor Location for the IoT

The combination of IoT and accurate location-finding technologies will enable a wide range of novel context-aware services to automate tasks and support everyday work practice.
Not all responses are the same: How CEO cognitions impact strategy when performance falls below aspirations:

This study integrates research on managerial discretion within the behavioral theory of the firm to examine how four CEO psychological traits serving as antecedents of managerial discretion—ambigui...
Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Disease

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become a rising epidemic in the last century, more pressing in the last few decades with the exponential rise of obesity, and has become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Genetic variants have also been a new field of epidemiology research to determine the underlying genetic component of those risk factors and the association of DM with CVD. In light of its significant prevalence, patients remain unaware of their disease progression that arises from genetic and metabolic risk factors. As compared to non-diabetics, those with type 2 DM carry a higher mortality risk from cardiovascular disease (CVD) across different ethnicity groups and sex. The most common cardiovascular manifestations in those with DM include heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, and coronary heart disease. Although DM does predispose patients to CVD, it in fact is not a risk equivalent, but carries significant heterogeneity in risk for CVD.
Adjustment to amputation and interest in upper limb transplantation.

Objective:Upper limb transplantation provides a new restorative option for individuals with amputations. As true for most operations, patient selection is critical to optimizing transplantation out...
The role of polysomnography in tracheostomy decannulation of children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Background Patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) may require tracheostomy for long-term mechanical ventilation. Polysomnography (PSG) may predict successful decannulation in children, however it is unclear how this success compares with children without a PSG. To better evaluate this role, we compared decannulation outcomes between tracheostomy-dependent children with BPD who underwent PSG before decannulation to those who did not. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study between 1 January 2007 and 1 June 2017 of tracheostomy-dependent children with BPD who were clinically considered for decannulation. Patient demographics, PSG results, and medical comorbidities were abstracted from medical records and compared between groups. Decannulation outcomes were compared between children with BPD who underwent PSG before decannulation and those who did not. Results One hundred twenty-five patients with BPD were considered for tracheostomy decannulation. Forty-six (37%) had a pre-decannulation PSG while 79 (63%) did not. Nineteen (41%) patients did not undergo decannulation within 6 months of the PSG. One (3%) patient with pre-decannulation PSG failed decannulation. Four (5%) patients without pre-decannulation PSG failed decannulation. Nineteen patients with PSG and no decannulation had significantly higher obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI) (13.62 vs 2.68 events per hour, P = 0.004), higher end-tidal CO 2 max (52.84 vs 48.03 mm Hg, P = 0.035), and were older at PSG (median age, 6.04 vs 4.04 years, P = 0.008). Conclusions While successful decannulation can be achieved without a PSG in some patients, PSG is a valuable tool to identify BPD patients undergoing clinical evaluation for decannulation who would benefit from treatment of OSA before decannulation.
Step-Growth Polyesters with Biobased (R)-1,3-Butanediol

We present the synthesis and characterization of polymers containing 1,3-butanediol, also known as butylene glycol. Butylene glycol (BG) can be prepared from petroleum or sugar-based feedstocks. Pe...
Expression of p52, a non-canonical NF-kappaB transcription factor, is associated with poor ovarian cancer prognosis

The canonical and non-canonical nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathways have key roles in cancer, but studies have previously evaluated only the association of canonical transcription factors and ovarian cancer survival. Although a number of in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated mechanisms by which non-canonical NF-κB signaling potentially contributes to ovarian cancer progression, a prognostic association has yet to be shown in the clinical context. We assayed p65 and p52 (major components of the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways) by immunohistochemistry in epithelial ovarian tumor samples; nuclear and cytoplasmic staining were semi-quantified by H-scores and dichotomized at median values. Associations of p65 and p52 with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were quantified by Hazard Ratios (HR) from proportional-hazards regression. Among 196 cases, median p52 and p65 H-scores were higher in high-grade serous cancers. Multivariable regression models indicated that higher p52 was associated with higher hazards of disease progression (cytoplasmic HR: 1.54; nuclear HR: 1.67) and death (cytoplasmic HR: 1.53; nuclear HR: 1.49), while higher nuclear p65 was associated with only a higher hazard of disease progression (HR: 1.40) in unadjusted models. When cytoplasmic and nuclear staining were combined, p52 remained significantly associated with increased hazards of disease progression (HR: 1.91, p = 0.004) and death (HR: 1.70, p = 0.021), even after adjustment for p65 and in analyses among only high-grade serous tumors. This is the first study to demonstrate that p52, a major component of non-canonical NF-κB signaling, may be an independent prognostic factor for epithelial ovarian cancer, particularly high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Approaches to inhibit non-canonical NF-κB signaling should be explored as novel ovarian cancer therapies are needed.
The moderating effects of prior trust on consumer responses to firm failures

Abstract Our paper examines how prior trust moderates consumer and firm responses to a firm's failures. We document that relatively high prior trust in a firm can help firms better recover from the negative effects of denying versus accepting failures, but that trust offers greater protection against competence as compared to ethical failures. We also consider the effects of two responses to ethical failures - external attribution and monetary compensation - and demonstrate that these responses may be viable alternatives that yield consumer perceptions that are as favorable as denying ethical failures. Finally, we show that reticence - neither confirming nor disconfirming a failure -elicits the least favorable post-recovery consumer responses. Our findings suggest that it may be possible for a firm to recover from an ethical failure even after accepting the failure, which is an important contribution since little prior research supports a successful recovery from ethical failures.
Determinants of Private Landowner Participation in Endangered Species Conservation: A Comprehensive Review and Analytical Framework

A positive future for Endangered species hinges on proactive and positive relations between private landowners and agencies. However, the scattered literature investigating the determinants of priv...
Develop Micro/Nano Technologies for Cancer Diagnosis

Micro/nano engineering can provide for new capabilities in cancer diagnosis. Biological samples, for example, blood and urine, have complicated components that interfere with the detection of cancer biomarkers. To overcome the challenges of detecting targets with high sensitivity and specificity from real-world samples, we recently developed technologies to isolate extracellular vesicles that contain cancer biomarkers from blood samples. Nanomaterials and nanomaterial-integrated microdevices are key to achieve high performance, while system integration and instrumentation will be key for technology adoption.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies in Schizophrenia

MRS is a neuroimaging modality that provides information on brain biochemistry and microstructure. Research in schizophrenia using this modality is rapidly growing and meaningful insights have already been obtained. This chapter highlights both methodological and interpretation challenges for MRS research, and reviews the progress that has been made, with a particular focus on metabolites measured using proton and phosphorus MRS. This literature indicates that N-acetylaspartate concentrations are reduced in schizophrenia, reflecting abnormal neuronal integrity and function. This neuronal signal abnormality may be related to another major finding in MRS studies, and that is elevated glutamate-related metabolite signals. Elevated glutamate signaling is consistent with hypofunction of the NMDA receptor, which has been hypothesized in schizophrenia and which may give rise to downstream neuronal dysfunction. A separate line of research has identified deficient ATP production in schizophrenia, which may reflect reduced oxidative phosphorylation and a compensatory shift towards glycolysis. These bioenergetic abnormalities are also accompanied by redox imbalance, reflected in the NAD+/NADH ratio. Taken together, these findings are consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction in schizophrenia. This picture would be expected to impair information processing because brain activity is energetically expensive and reductions in energy supply are known to dysregulate neuronal function. MRS research has contributed insights into the biochemical correlates of schizophrenia and it is expected to play an even greater role in the future of our field due to ongoing technical improvements and higher magnet strengths.
Fiberoptic array for multiple channel infrared neural stimulation of the brain

Significance: We present a new optical method for modulating cortical activity in multiple locations and across multiple time points with high spatial and temporal precision. Our method uses infrared light and does not require dyes or transgenic modifications. It is compatible with a number of other stimulation and recording techniques. Aim: Infrared neural stimulation (INS) has been largely confined to single point stimuli. In this study, we expand upon this approach and develop a rapidly switched fiber array capable of generation of stimulus patterns. Our prototype is capable of stimulating at nine separate locations but is easily scalable. Approach: Our device is made of commercially available components: a solid-state infrared laser, a piezoelectric fiber coupled optical switch, and 200-μm diameter optical fibers. We validate it using intrinsic optical signal imaging of INS responses in macaque and squirrel monkey sensory cortical areas. Results: We demonstrate that our switched array can consistently generate responses in primate cortex, consistent with earlier single channel INS investigations. Conclusions: Our device can successfully target the cortical surface, either at one specific region or multiple points spread out across different areas. It is compatible with a host of other imaging and stimulation modalities.
“Creative, Good Will for All Men:” Martin Luther King Jr. the Moralist

This essay considers how Ruth Grant’s understanding of hypocrisy and integrity might be applied to Martin Luther King Jr. Putting Grant and King in conversation, I argue, helps democratic citizens ...
Accuracy of Wearable Sensor Technology in Hand Goniometry: A Systematic Review.

BackgroundWearable devices and sensor technology provide objective, unbiased range of motion measurements that help health care professionals overcome the hindrances of protractor-based goniometry....
Re-Examining Women's Roles: A Feminist Group Approach to Decreasing Depression in Women

Depression in rural women is a problem of epidemic proportions. Within the parameters of a rural mental health center, a feminist group can assist women in examining depressogenic socialization messages. In this 13-week women's group, the focus shifted from a semi-structured socio-educational approach to the participants taking an increasingly active role in bringing in and working on relevant personal concerns. Crucial in the process were reexamining women's role expectations, challenging role-stereotypes, expressing anger, and bonding and networking with each other. The group fostered self-respect, awareness of choices, and assertiveness in previously depressed rural women.
Souble -aminolevulinic acid synthetase of rat liver. I. Some properties of the partially purified enzyme.

Abstract δ-Aminolevulinic acid synthetase, the rate-controlling enzyme of hepatic heme biosynthesis, catalyzes the synthesis of the aminoketone, δ-aminolevulinic acid, from glycine and succinyl-CoA. The enzyme was induced in rat liver by the administration of 2-allyl-2-isopropylacetamide, and subsequently purified 150- to 200-fold from the hepatic cytosol. The purification was accomplished by gel filtration with Sephadex G-50, protamine sulfate and ammonium sulfate fractionation, calcium phosphate gel adsorption, Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, and centrifugation through a sucrose density gradient. The partially purified enzyme requires high cation concentration (equivalent to 0.3 m NaCl) for maximum activation and stabilization of its activity. The molecular weight of the enzyme, determined in the presence of NaCl, is approximately 300,000; determinations in the absence of NaCl indicated an apparent molecular weight in excess of 500,000 with a diminished specific activity. δ-Aminolevulinic acid synthetase has a pH optimum of 7.5. The enzyme has an absolute requirement for the substrates, glycine and succinyl-CoA, and for the cofactor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. The apparent Km values are 1 x 10-2, 7 x 10-5, and 3 x 10-6, m, respectively. No enzymatic activity was measurable when either alanine or serine replaced glycine in the incubation medium. Specificity was also established for succinyl-CoA; replacement of this substrate by propionyl-CoA or acetyl-CoA resulted in the formation of aminoketones at a rate of less than 1% that of the normal substrate.
Design of an LTCC switch diplexer front-end module for GSM/DCS/PCS applications

This paper presents the results of an antenna switch/filter module integrating GSM/DCS/PCS diplexer functions and Rx/Tx antenna switching on a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate. Although the RF front-end module (FEM) was configured for dual-band (GSM/DCS) applications, the high pass filter function was designed to operate in the PCS band as well. Harmonic filtering was included in the diplexer design, which reduced the filtering requirements for the power amplifier. The 50-ohm in/out FEM utilized GaAs PHEMT switches and associated bias passives surface mounted on the LTCC substrate. S-parameter characterization of the FEM demonstrated excellent insertion and return loss characteristics. For GSM, the return and insertion losses measured at 912 MHz were better than 28 dB and less than 1.7 dB, respectively. Similarly, for DCS applications, the return and insertion losses at 1.77 GHz were better than 19 dB and less than 1.5 dB, respectively. In both cases, the design approach yielded excellent agreement between measured and simulated results.
ARE HUMAN CELL LINES HUMAN

Among the most novel and startling objects in the biological world discovered and developed by modern science is the phenomenon of human cell lines: living cells separated from living bodies and living and reproducing in laboratories over extended periods of time. This scientific status and utility of such cells is first reviewed, distinguishing cell cultures from cell strains and cell lines. Next, the ontological status of cell lines is reviewed in the tradition of philosophia perennis, and it is asserted that cell lines are neither formally human as extensions of human life or human parts, nor materially human in configuration; rather, they are new organisms animated by a vegetative soul, despite the biological continuity between a human being and a human cell line. Such cells can be conceptualized as having undergone substantial change from human part to individual vegetative life forms, or as virtually present in the human being with the potency like elements in a mixture to emerge from the composite and exist under highly specific and artificial conditions.
A Civic Conversation About Public Lands

Summary Community-based ecosystem management (CBEM) is being offered as an alternative to agency-based public land management. Its fundamental premise is connecting communities to public lands for the purpose of increasing ecosystem stewardship and community sustainability. For CBEM to appropriately serve the public interest, new social and institutional relationships will need to be formed, collaborative learning will need to occur, and capacities in community participation and ecological literacy will need to be developed. A new civic conversation about public lands is essential to these relationships, learning, and capacities. Community governance processes, which guide these collaborative and participatory activities, must correspondingly reflect the community-based nature of CBEM, while preserving the national interests in public land resources.
Studies on rat liver ribonucleases: III. Further studies on heterogeneity of liver lysosomes—intracellular localization of acid ribonuclease and acid phosphatase in rats of various ages

Abstract In adult rat liver, by the use of sucrose gradient centrifugation, the intracellular distribution pattern of acid ribonuclease was found to be different from that of acid phosphatase. This finding further confirms our previous results obtained by zonal centrifugation. An additional group of subcellular particles in the top few fractions of the gradients was reported in young rats. The biological significance of this new group of particles is discussed.
Effect of Hypertonic Sucrose Upon the Immune Bactericidal Reaction

This study was performed to determine the mechanism whereby hypertonic sucrose inhibits the immune bactericidal reaction. Other investigators had postulated that the initial attack of complement (C) on the cell wall was followed with lysozyme-containing whole serum by an enzymatic reaction upon the peptidoglycan substrate resulting in cell death. In the absence of serum lysozyme, secondary lethal changes might occur from damage to the cell9s inner membrane as a result of osmotic forces in the presence of a defective cell wall. Hypertonic sucrose giving rise to plasmolysis and protection of the inner membrane was presumed to differentially inhibit the immune response mediated by lysozyme-free serum. The experimental results observed in this investigation have indicated, however, that the inhibitory effect of sucrose upon the bactericidal reaction may be explained simply by its anticomplementary effect and not by any effect on the bacterial cell. This view was supported by the following observations: (i) the comparability of the inhibitory effect of sucrose upon the immune hemolytic and bactericidal reactions, (ii) the comparable percentage loss in bactericidal activity of whole serum and lysozyme-free serum resulting from hypertonic sucrose, (iii) bactericidal antibody titrations were relatively unaffected and C titrations markedly inhibited by sucrose, (iv) the inhibitory effect of sucrose on the bactericidal reaction was unaffected by prior growth of the organism in the presence of sucrose, (v) the kinetics of the bactericidal reactivity of lysozyme-free serum in hypertonic sucrose, compared with whole serum, did not reveal a prolonged lag phase with lysozyme-free serum, but simply diminished reactivity at all times. These observations are compatible with the view that the C attack upon the outer surface of gram-negative bacteria, which plays a part in the cell9s permeability control, may account for cell death. In this regard, the immune bactericidal reaction is quite comparable to the lysis of red cells or nucleated cells by C despite the lack of overt lysis in bacteria, probably because of their underlying supporting structures.
Die optischen Konstanten von Quarz im Infrarot und ihre Temperaturabhängigkeit. I

Im Zusammenhang mit der spektroskopischen Untersuchung derα-β-Umwandlung des kristallinen Quarzes wurden die optischen Konstanten im Spektralbereich von 300 bis 3000 cm−1 bei Zimmertemperatur gemessen. Ihre Bestimmung erfolgte in Gebieten schwacher Absorption durch die Kombination einer Absorptions- und einer Reflexionsmessung, in Gebieten starker Absorption durch zwei Reflexionsmessungen bei verschiedenen Einfallswinkeln. Die Auswertung dieser Messungen wird durch eine neue graphische Darstellung der Fresnelschen Reflexionsformeln in sehr einfacher Weise ermoglicht. Die Genauigkeit der Methode, die nicht einheitlich ist, wird angegeben. Auf dem Wege uber die Dielektrizitatskonstanten wurden die Gittereigenfrequenzen ermittelt, wobei sich verschiedene bisher nicht bekannte Frequenzen ergaben.
A Motion Platform Integrated UAV Pilot Training and Evaluation System for Future Civilian Applications

The potential for UAVs to benefit the civilian consumer is driving the demand for the integration of these vehicles into the national airspace. With UAV accidents occurring at a significantly higher rate than commercial airlines, the urgent issue becomes designing systems and protocols that can prevent UAV accidents, better train UAV operators and augment pilot performance. This paper presents three directions of research stemming from the goal of a UAV piloting and training system. Research direction one is the development of a research platform to assess UAV pilot skills and recreate the sensation of shared fate for UAV pilots. The second research direction looks at utilizing flight simulation packages to create virtual tools for training UAV pilots. The third direction covers the investigation of UAV’s in near earth environments as future applications will place UAVs in these areas.© 2008 ASME
OPTIMAL RETORT TEMPERATURE PROFILE IN OPTIMIZING THIAMIN RETENTION IN CONDUCTION-TYPE HEATING OF CANNED FOODS

The maximum principle theory (Pontryagin et al., 1962) was used to optimize thiamin retention during sterilization of a conduction-heating canned food. The optimal retort temperature Profile determined by this procedure improved thiamin retention by more than 2%, as Compared with other methods, and showed that a single solution for the temperature profile exists. This optimization method may be applicable to other processes in which retention of nutrients or other characteristics is to be improved.
Unrecognized benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in elderly patients

Balance disorders in elderly patients are associated with an increased risk of falls but are often difficult to diagnose because of comorbid chronic medical problems. We performed a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of unrecognized benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and associated lifestyle sequelae in a public, inner-city geriatric population. Dizziness was found in 61% of patients, whereas balance disorders were found in 77% of patients. Nine percent were found to have unrecognized BPPV. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of a spinning sensation and the absence of a lightheadedness sensation predicted the presence of unrecognized BPPV. Patients with unrecognized BPPV were more likely to have reduced activities of daily living scores, to have sustained a fall in the previous 3 months, and to have depression. These data indicate that unrecognized BPPV is common within the elderly population and has associated morbidity. Further prospective studies are warranted.
Control of metal contamination in the Varian Extrion 1000 ion implantation system

Abstract The rapid development of higher-density device structures in recent years has focussed increased attention on all defect-producing by-products of the ion implantation process. In the past, the well-known effects of alkali and transition metals have constrained the materials technology used in ion-source and beam-transport systems of ion implanters. The next generation of high-current ion implanters is being challenged with requirements for minimization of defects caused by other contamination sources. This paper presents data on the levels of metal contamination produced in typical high-dose implants on the Varian Extrion 1000 implanter. It is shown that the aluminum contamination level has been reduced by greater than a factor of 13 using masking techniques.
Physiological aging of an all-ceramic restorative material.

Abstract Ceramic materials exposed to a liquid environment may be subject to stress corrosion and/or time-delayed failure. The intent of this project was to evaluate the susceptibility of a magnesia alumina spinel (Cerestore™) to stress corrosion and degradation. Bars 2.5 × 2.5 × 30.0 mm were prepared according to manufacturer's instructions. Specimens were aged in distilled water or air at 37°C. The modulus of rupture was evaluated at zero, six, and 12 months in four-point loading at loading rates of 0.05, 0.5, and 5.0 mm/min. The modulus of rupture of each specimen was tested in its respective aging medium. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance with a multiple-means comparison test, linear regression analysis, and Weibull statistics. The pooled data sets of specimens aged in water vs. those aged in air showed a significant difference in the respective modulus of rupture (air, 108.50 ± 16.11; water, 96.94 ± 15.04 MPa). The one-way analysis of variance showed no significant difference between the aging times zero, six, and 12 months in each respective aging medium. The Weibull analysis also showed no difference between the Weibull constants, 7.66 air vs. 7.64 water, but a significant difference between the characteristic strengths, 115.22 air vs. 103.02 water. This study indicates that distilled water has a significant degradative effect on a magnesia alumina spinel, more likely affecting the mode of fracture rather than the stress corrosion characteristics.
“Faithful friend”: Nineteenth-century Midwestern American women's unpublished diaries

Abstract My purpose in this article is to explore theoretical and methodological questions in regard to the study of nineteenth-century Midwestern American women's unpublished diaries. Such questions include the following: Why did these women write diaries? How can present-day readers benefit from studying them? What is the nature of the interaction among writer, reader, and text? In what ways is the reader constructing the life of the diarist whose texts she studies? What are the reader's ethical responsibilities: both to the diarists and to the present-day readers who will learn about the diaries and their writers based on the reader's interpretation? My article is based on my study, over the past four years, of scores of unpublished diary manuscripts housed in state, county, and local historical society archives in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. My objective in studying these manuscripts has been to examine the ways in which these writings documented the experiences of and functioned as forms of autobiography for their writers, who were not well-known writers nor significant historical figures but ordinary women whose daily lives passed unnoticed and whose diaries now stand, for the most part, as the only extant records of their lives.
Targeting DNA 5mCpG sites with chimeric endonucleases.

Abstract Cytosine modification of the dinucleotide CpG in the DNA regulatory region is an important epigenetic marker during early embryo development, cellular differentiation, and cancer progression. In clinical settings, such as anti-cancer drug treatment, it is desirable to develop research tools to characterize DNA sequences affected by epigenetic perturbations. Here, we describe the construction and characterization of two fusion endonucleases consisting of the 5 mCpG-binding domain of human MeCP2 (hMeCP2) and the cleavage domains of BmrI and FokI restriction endonucleases (REases). The chimeric (CH) endonucleases cleave M.HpaII (C 5 mCGG)—and M.SssI ( 5 mCpG)-modified DNA. Unmodified DNA and M.MspI-modified DNA ( 5 mCCGG) are poor substrates for the CH-endonucleases. Sequencing cleavage products of modified λ DNA indicates that cleavage takes place outside the 5 mCpG recognition sequence, predominantly 4–17 bp upstream of the modified base (/N 4-17 5 mCpG, where / indicates the cleavage site). Such 5 mCpG-specific endonucleases will be useful to study CpG island modification of the regulatory regions of tumor suppressor genes, and for the construction of cell-specific and tumor-specific modified CpG island databases.
Childhood and adolescent predictors of heavy drinking and alcohol use disorders in early adulthood: a longitudinal developmental analysis

AIMS: To identify childhood and adolescent factors differentiating heavy alcohol users in early adulthood from more moderate users or abstainers. DESIGN: Low-income participants followed from birth to age 28 years. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 178 adults (95 males) who were first-born children of low-income mothers recruited in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during their third trimester of pregnancy. MEASUREMENTS: Maternal hostility (24/42 months), externalizing and internalizing behavior problems (9 years), peer acceptance and academic achievement (12 years), maternal alcohol use and participants' drinking behavior (16 years), quantity of alcohol use per occasion (19, 23 and 26 years), alcohol use disorders (28 years). FINDINGS: For men: (i) higher amounts of alcohol consumption at age 16 increased the odds of being a heavy drinker compared to an abstainer (age 19) and a moderate drinker (ages 23 and 26); (ii) lower achievement scores at age 12 and having a mother who drank more when the participant was age 16 increased the odds of being a heavy drinker compared to moderate drinker (age 26). Higher levels of externalizing behavior problems at age 9 and drinking more when the participants were age 16 increased the odds that men would have a current alcohol use disorder at age 28. For women: (i) drinking more at age 16 increased the odds of being a heavy drinker compared to being either an abstainer or a moderate drinker (age 26); (ii) having higher levels of achievement at age 12 increased the odds of being a heavy drinker compared to an abstainer at age 23. Adolescent alcohol use mediated the relation between externalizing behavior at age 9 and alcohol use at age 26 for women. CONCLUSIONS: Problem drinking may be the result of a long-term developmental process wherein childhood externalizing behavior problems sets a pathway leading to heavy drinking during and after adolescence. Language: en
Urban Sprawl: Diagnosis and Remedies:

This article argues that urban spatial expansion results mainly from three powerful forces: a growing population, rising incomes, and falling commuting costs. Urban growth occurring purely in response to these fundamental forces cannot be faulted as socially undesirable, but three market failures may distort their operation, upsetting the allocation of land between agricultural and urban uses and justifying criticism of urban sprawl. These are the failure to account for the benefits of open space, excessive commuting because of a failure to account for the social costs of congestion, and failure to make new development pay for the infrastructure costs it generates. Precise remedies for these market failures are two types of development taxes and congestion tolls levied on commuters. Each of these remedies leads to a reduction in the spatial size of the city.
Physical characterization of 45-MV photon beams for use in treatment planning.

Central‐axis percentage depth doses and tissue–maximum ratios (TMR) for 45‐MV photon beams from a betatron have been measured in water. Also the influence of field size and collimator scatter on the dose in the buildup region have been investigated. The maximum dose for TMR has been shown to occur at a point about 2 cm deeper than the maximum dose for percentage depth dose. This difference is significant in the characterization of the photon beam at this high energy. The measured physical data have been computerized for use in routine treatment planning. Computer‐generated beams have been found to be in close agreement with measured isodose curves. Computer‐generated isodose distributions for typical clinical irradiation techniques have been verified using RP/V film in an Alderson phantom.
Enhanced Tire Mark Visualization Using Polarization Imaging

Accident reconstructions often rely on measurements of tire marks left on the roadway surface. However, accurate identification and measurement of these marks can be challenging when the marks are faint, as is often the case with braking marks left by vehicles equipped with anti-lock (ABS) brakes. This paper describes an image processing technique that exploits differences in the polarization of reflected light to create images that significantly enhance tire mark visualization. The technique requires multiple photographs taken from the same perspective, but with a polarizing filter oriented at different angles. Based on these digital images, the state of polarization of light can be determined for each pixel. A new image can then be created in which the intensity of the image is proportional to the state of light polarization. Results are presented using ABS tire marks, and demonstrate that under certain conditions the resulting image more clearly differentiates tire marks than conventional photographs or even contrast enhanced conventional photographs.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A World-Wide Annual Variation in Sq

The amplitude of the annual variation in the horizontal component of Sq is larger in the southern hemisphere than the northern hemisphere. This asymmetry may be represented as the superposition of a world-wide annual variation with its maximum at or near perihelion and summer-winter annual variations of equal amplitudes in the two hemispheres and maxima at the local summer solstice. The amplitude of the world-wide annual variation, as a fraction of the yearly mean value of Sq, is about 0.07 ± 0.02. The variation in ionospheric conductivity associated with the earth's orbital eccentricity is inadequate alone to account for this annual variation in Sq. If joule heating by the Sq currents is appreciable, its annual and semi-annual variations could account for the similar variations in the temperature of the thermosphere.
A computational and analysis tool for proteomics research

Background Analysis Tool for Proteomics Research (ATP) is our next generation approach for processing, storing and analyzing mass spectrometry-based proteomics data base on our previously developed bioinformatics graphical comparative analysis tools (BIGCAT) software [1]. This software is being developed for the efficient management, visualization, identification, characterization and comparison of peptides and proteins from tandem mass spectrometry experiments. The basic framework of the software suite consists of a back-end relational database to store primary LC-MS/MS data and the peptide/protein identification data from various database search algorithms. The interactive front-end software applications are interfaced to the relational database for managing, visual interpreting, and analyzing the LC-MS/MS results (Figure 1). As an open source and multi-functional analysis software suite, it enables users to 1) customize source code scheme to facilitate specialized experiment aims, 2) manage and load LC-MS/ MS data and protein identification, 3) graphically display and evaluate protein identifications using various views and threshold modifications, 4) compare, merge, and run cluster results from multiple LC-MS/MS experiments, 5) search for neutral losses that are indications of modified peptides, and 6) search immunological peptide motifs. The overall goal is to increase the efficiency and simplicity of managing proteomics data while providing means of publishing and analyzing data on the web in a biologically intuitive and robust way. Acknowledgements We thank Vanderbilt University's Advanced Computing Center for Research and Education (ACCRE), which provides technique support for parallel computing service. Also, thank to Jennifer Jennings for providing from UT-ORNL-KBRIN Bioinformatics Summit 2008 Cadiz, KY, USA. 28–30 March 2008
Stationary External Rossby Waves in Vertical Shear

Abstract The structure of stationary Rossby waves in the presence of a mean westerly zonal flow with vertical shear is examined. There is typically only one stationary vertical mode, the external mode, trapped within the troposphere. For more than one tropospheric mode to exist, we find that vertical shears must be smaller than those usually observed in extratropical latitudes. The vertical structure, horizontal wavenumber and group velocity of the external mode, and the projection onto this mode of topographic and thermal forcing are studied with continuous models (a linear shear profile as well as more realistic basic states), and a finite-differenced model with resolution and upper boundary condition similar to that used in GCMs. We point out that the rigid-lid upper boundary condition need not create artificial stationary resonances, as the artificial stationary vertical modes that are created are often horizontally evanescent. The results are presented in a form which allows one to design the equival...
Tumor size on computed tomography scans: is one measurement enough?

BACKGROUND Bidimensional tumor measurements are used routinely as surrogates for tumor volume. The purpose this study was to determine whether there is any added benefit in bidimensional or tridimensional measurements over a unidimensional measurement. METHODS Sixty-nine colorectal hepatic metastases on 19 computed tomography scans (1–8 lesions per scan) from 9 patients were analyzed. Five patients contributed 2–4 scans each (mean, 3 scans). The standard volume of these lesions was determined by the “summation of areas” technique. The maximum axial dimension, the product of the greatest axial dimensions, and several volume estimates (based on the volumes of a sphere, an ellipsoid, and a cube) each were correlated with the standard volume. RESULTS The maximum axial dimension and the product of the greatest axial dimensions correlated equally with tumor volume (correlation coefficient = 0.93). Surrogate measures based on the equations for a sphere and an ellipsoid underestimated tumor volume, whereas the equation for a cube overestimated volume. CONCLUSIONS When reporting tumor size, there is no significant added benefit in reporting bidimensional or tridimensional measurements over the maximum axial dimension. Cancer 2001;91:555–60. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Poison Hemlock, Conium maculatum, in Southern California—an Alien Weed Attacked by Few Insects

Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum L., a highly toxic, herbaceous, umbelliferous weed of Eurasian origin, was found to host many fewer species of phytophagous insects in southern California than other alien herbaceous weeds surveyed in the past. The most common insect associates were the “honeysuckle and parsnip aphid,” Hyadaphis foeniculi (Passerini), and the leafhopper, Euscelidius varigatus (Kirschbaum), both accidentally introduced European species. The other 18 insect species detected belonged to six orders and 13 families, and were represented by very few individuals in our collections. All 20 associated insect species were relatively unspecialized, polyphagous, ectophagous sap feeders or foliage feeders. The native “anise swallowtail” butterfly, Papilio zelicaon Lucas, apparently is in the process of transferring to poison hemlock as a food plant.
Association among somatic HPRT mutant frequency, peripheral blood T-lymphocyte clonality, and serologic parameters of disease activity in children with juvenile onset dermatomyositis.

Abstract Somatic mutant frequencies (Mf) were determined using theHPRTT-cell cloning assay of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes from 14 children with juvenile onset dermatomyositis (JDM). Serologic parameters, specifically muscle enzyme determinations in JDM subjects, were correlated with residual lnMf (delta) in these patients to compare T-cell activation with clinical parameters associated with JDM. In addition TCR analysis was performed to determine T-cell proliferation and clonality on 12HPRTmutant isolates from two individuals with JDM. Statistically significant correlations were found between residual lnMf and the following serologic parameters: aldolase (r= 0.771,P= 0.015); CPK (r= 0.602,P= 0.023); and SGOT (r= 0.656,P= 0.011) in children with JDM. In addition, identical TCR gene rearrangements were identified in 86 and 40% of theHPRTmutant isolates from the two patient samples analyzed, which is a significantly higher level of clonality than the 10–15% expected in normal individuals. These data suggest that determiningHPRTMf can be a useful antigen-independent method of selecting clonally expanding T-lymphocytes in autoimmune disease where relevant antigens are unknown. Future analysis ofHPRTmutant isolates from children with active myositis may increase our understand of the activated T-cells involved in this disease.
On the solution of large Sylvester‐observer equations

The design of a Luenberger observer for large control systems is an important problem in Control Theory. Recently, several computational methods have been proposed by Datta and collaborators. The present paper discusses numerical aspects of one of these methods, described by Datta and Saad (1991). Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In situ respiration determination as tool for classifying soils according to soil organic matter content.

Abstract Soil respiration is indicative of biological status of the soil and high respiration is correlated to high contents of available carbon (C) in soil and/or organic matter content. Because of soil respiration's relationship to soil organic matter status and content, soil respiration is considered one measurement that could aid in determining the quality of soil. In the global scale, the cycling of C in soil is important because the rise in CO2 in the atmosphere is linked to global climate change. In situ measurement of CO2 using instruments that are portable and perform analyses quickly are important to obtain sufficient number of measurements in the field to overcome spatial variability. Soil respiration tests were conducted in plots amended with fertilizer or organic amendments of agricultural or municipal residues since 1994. Besides CO2, moisture and temperature were measured over a period where the moisture varied from near saturation to below wilting point. It was found that flux was curvilin...
VERTEX CORRECTIONS IN ANTIFERROMAGNETIC SPIN-FLUCTUATION THEORIES

We argue that recent calculations by Amin and Stamp (PRL 77, 301 (1996); cond-mat/9601086) overestimate the strength of the vertex corrections in the spin-fermion model for cuprates. We clarify the physical origin of the apparent discrepancy between their results and earlier calculations. We also comment on the relative sign of the vertex correction.
Targeted electroporation in Xenopus tadpoles in vivo– from single cells to the entire brain

Electroporation is becoming more popular as a technique for transfecting neurons within intact tissues. One of the advantages of electroporation over other transfection techniques is the ability to precisely target an area for transfection. Here we highlight this advantage by describing methods to restrict transfection to either a single cell, clusters of cells, or to include large portions of the brain of the intact Xenopus tadpole. Electroporation is also an effective means of gene delivery in the retina. We have developed these techniques to examine the effects of regulated gene expression on various neuronal properties, including structural plasticity and synaptic transmission. Restriction of transfection to individual cells aids in imaging of neuronal morphology, while bulk cell transfection allows examination of the affects of gene expression on populations of cells by biochemical assays, imaging, and electrophysiological recording.
Burnout among Prison Caseworkers and Corrections Officers.

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to compare burnout between prison caseworkers and correctional officers and examine reasons for the high turnover of caseworkers. The study was conducted through surveys at a maximum/medium men's prison and at an all security level women's prison in the Midwest. By using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, it was found that there was a significantly higher level of burnout for prison caseworkers than correctional officers. The perceived three main reasons for high turnover of prison caseworkers were low salaries, lack of support from management, and stress which leads to burnout. State prison officials can use this information to help minimize conditions that lead to burnout and turnover of trained caseworkers.