cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Posttranslational Modifications Required for Cell Surface Localization and Function of the Fungal Adhesin Aga1p

Adherence of fungal cells to host substrates and each other affects their access to nutrients, sexual conjugation, and survival in hosts. Adhesins are cell surface proteins that mediate these different cell adhesion interactions. In this study, we examine the in vivo functional requirements for specific posttranslational modifications to these proteins, including glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor addition and O-linked glycosylation. The processing of some fungal GPI anchors, creating links to cell wall β-1,6 glucans, is postulated to facilitate postsecretory traffic of proteins to cell wall domains conducive to their functions. By studying the yeast sexual adhesin subunit Aga1p, we found that deletion of its signal sequence for GPI addition eliminated its activity, while deletions of different internal domains had various effects on function. Substitution of the Aga1p GPI signal domain with those of other GPI-anchored proteins, a single transmembrane domain, or a cysteine capable of forming a disulfide all produced functional adhesins. A portion of the cellular pool of Aga1p was determined to be cell wall resident. Aga1p and the α-agglutinin Agα1p were shown to be under glycosylated in cells lacking the protein mannosyltransferase genes PMT1 and PMT2, with phenotypes manifested only in MATα cells for single mutants but in both cell types when both genes are absent. We conclude that posttranslational modifications to Aga1p are necessary for its biogenesis and activity. Our studies also suggest that in addition to GPI-glucan linkages, other cell surface anchorage mechanisms, such as transmembrane domains or disulfides, may be employed by fungal species to localize adhesins.
EFFECT OF THE SULFATE ION ON THE PLASTICITY OF BRICK CLAYS

Two red-firing Iowa brick clays were analyzed for sulfate (SO4−) content by a method suitable for plant-control tests. From this datum the amount of barium carbonate required to react with this ion can be calculated. Plasticity measurements on (1) samples treated with the amount of barium carbonate indicated by SO4− analysis, (2) untreated samples, and (3) samples treated with normal plant additions show significant differences in this property. These differences can be explained using the modern concepts of the factors which influence the zeta potential.
Prognostic Significance of the Non–Size-Based AJCC T2 Descriptors: Visceral Pleura Invasion, Hilar Atelectasis, or Obstructive Pneumonitis in Stage IB Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Is Dependent on Tumor Size

Background The T2 descriptor for staging non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) contains several non–size-based criteria. It remains unknown whether the prognostic significance of these non–size-based criteria is dependent on tumor size. Methods A total of 10,545 patients with stage IB NSCLC from the California Cancer Registry between 1989 to 2003 were categorized into the following three nonoverlapping criteria: (1) tumor size (T2S); (2) visceral pleura invasion, hilar atelectasis, or obstructive pneumonitis (T2P); and (3) main bronchus involvement ≥ 2 cm from the carina (T2C). Univariate survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate survival analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards ratios. Results A total of 51.1% of patients with stage IB NSCLC were staged by T2S, 43.2% by T2P, and 5.7% by T2C; 2,224 stage IB patients (total, 21.1%; 18.9% T2P + 2.2% T2C) had tumors ≤ 3 cm in size. The 5-year survival rate and the median survival time of these stage IB patients with tumors ≤ 3 cm in size were as follows: T2P, 51.2% and 64 months, respectively; T2C, 49.0% and 58 months, respectively. These values were similar to the 53.2% 5-year survival rate and 67-month median survival time for patients with stage IA NSCLC (p = 0.40). Cox proportional hazards model revealed T2P of > 3 cm was a poor prognostic factor for survival (vs T2S; hazard ratio [HR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 1.24). Conversely, T2P ≤ 3 cm was a favorable prognostic factor for survival (vs T2S; HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.96). T2C was not an independent prognostic factor for survival. Conclusions Prognostic significance of the non–size-based T2 descriptor T2P is dependent on tumor size.
Source Expertise and Persuasion: The Effects of Perceived Opposition or Support on Message Scrutiny

Compared to nonexperts, expert sources have been considered to elicit more processing of persuasive messages because of expectations that the information is likely to be valid or accurate. However, depending on the position of an advocacy, source expertise could activate other motives that may produce a very different relation from that found in past research. When messages are counterattitudinal (disagreeable), experts should motivate greater processing than nonexpert sources because of expectations that they will likely provide robust opposition to one's existing views. In contrast, when advocacies are proattitudinal (agreeable), nonexpert rather than expert sources should elicit more scrutiny because of perceptions that they will likely provide inadequate support to recipients' current views. Two studies offer evidence consistent with these predictions. Manipulations of source expertise created different expectations regarding the strength of opposition or support, and these perceptions accounted for effects of source expertise on the amount of message scrutiny.
Utility of Galactomannan Enzyme Immunoassay and (1,3) β-d-Glucan in Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections: Low Sensitivity for Aspergillus fumigatus Infection in Hematologic Malignancy Patients

Previous studies have reported that galactomannan (GM) enzyme immunoassay and 1,3 beta-glucan (BG) assay may be useful diagnostic tools, but their sensitivities are variable. We compared the performances of both tests. Between October 2002 and May 2005, 82 patients were prospectively monitored for 12 weeks. A total of 414 samples were tested by GM assay and 409 samples were tested by BG assay for the following four groups of patients: those with invasive aspergillosis (IA), those with other mold infections (Fusarium, scedosporium, zygomycosis, etc.), those with candidemia, and control patients. Blood samples were obtained twice on week 1 and once every other week for a total of 12 weeks. Patients in the invasive fungal infection groups had comparable risk factors. The sensitivity of the GM test was significantly higher for patients with IA due to non-fumigatus Aspergillus species than for patients with IA due to Aspergillus fumigatus (49% versus 13%; P < 0.0001) or with other mold infections (49% versus 6%; P < 0.0001). However, the sensitivity range (47% to 64%) and specificity (88%) of the BG assay were comparable among all patients tested, regardless of the infecting pathogen. The performance of GM-based diagnosis appears to be better for detecting non-fumigatus Aspergillus species. The diagnostic marker BG was shown to have a higher sensitivity than that of GM in detecting IA and other mold infections in hematologic malignancy patients.
Modeling nonlinear compressional waves in marine sediments

A computational model is presented which will help guide and interpret an upcoming series of experiments on nonlinear compressional waves in marine sediments. The model includes propagation physics of nonlinear acoustics augmented with granular Hertzian stress of order 3/2 in the strain rate. The model is a variant of the time domain NPE (McDonald and Kuperman, 1987) supplemented with a causal algorithm for frequency-linear attenuation. When attenuation is absent, the model equations are used to construct analytic solutions for nonlinear plane waves. The results imply that Hertzian stress causes a unique nonlinear behavior near zero stress. A fluid, in contrast, exhibits nonlinear behavior under high stress. A numerical experiment with nominal values for attenuation coefficient implies that in a water saturated Hertzian chain, the nonlinearity near zero stress may be experimentally observable.
Micropatterned surfaces with controlled ligand tethering.

Microcontact printing (μ-CP) is a facile, cost-effective, and versatile soft-lithography technique to create two-dimensional patterns of domains with distinct functionalities that provides a robust platform to generate micropatterned biotechnological arrays and cell culture substrates. Current μ-CP approaches rely on nonspecific immobilization of biological ligands, either by direct printing or adsorption from solution, onto micropatterned domains surrounded by a nonfouling background. This technique is limited by insufficient control over ligand density. We present a modified μ-CP protocol involving stamping mixed ratios of carboxyl- and tri(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiols that provides for precise covalent tethering of single or multiple ligands to prescribed micropatterns via standard peptide chemistry. Processing parameters were optimized to identify conditions that control relevant endpoint pattern characteristics. This technique provides a facile method to generate micropatterned arrays with tailorable and controlled presentation of biological ligands for biotechnological applications and analyses of cell–material interactions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
COMSED 2 - recent advances to an explosively driven high power microwave Pulsed Power system

Continued efforts at the Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics at Texas Tech University have led to improvements to the design, testing, and performance of a high power microwave (HPM) system, which is sourced by Lithium-ion Polymer batteries, a polypropylene capacitor, and high energetics. An indirectly seeded two-stage helical flux compression generator (HFCG) produces electrical energies in the kilo-Joule regime into a low impedance inductive load, varying from 2 µH to 3 µH. This high current output of the explosively driven generator is conditioned with a pure silver-wire-based electro-explosive opening switch, which reaches voltage levels in excess of 300 kV into a 18 Ohm load. Upon reaching levels high enough to close an integrated peaking switch, this high voltage is sufficient to drive a reflex triode virtual cathode oscillator, also known as a Vircator, into radiation. The Vircator employed in the system has reached microwave radiation levels well over 100 Megawatts from a cavity volume of less than 5 Liters at a microwave frequency of a few GHz. The complete system is governed through a microcontroller that regulates seed and detonator charging levels as well as discharge times using built-in feedback diagnostics. The complete system aforementioned is constrained to 15 centimeter diameter and measures 183 centimeter in length with an overall volume of less than 34 Liters. No external power or vacuum pumping for the HPM tube is required. This report will discuss recent design advancements and improvements on the HPM system and its sub-components that include the compact seed source, HFCG, and the power conditioning system. Improved safety features implemented as well as novel diagnostic integration will be discussed as well.
Mathematical formulation of viscous-inviscid interaction problems insupersonic flow.

Abstract : The problem area of the interaction between the viscous and inviscid flowfields around a body is investigated. The study is based on ascertaining a flow model which has the ability of determining interaction effects wityout the possibility of having to choose between an infinite number of possible solutions. The importance of the inclusion of a two-family characteristic net for the outer supersonic flow and the normal momentum for the inner viscous flow is discussed and the necessity of their inclusion in order to have a properly posed model is presented. A result of the numerical analysis based on the flow model is presented and the uniqueness of such results is discussed.
Acknowledgment of Invited Editors

On behalf of the Editors of mBio , I gratefully acknowledge the following individuals, who served as Invited Editors for the journal from 2010 to 2013. While not members of the Board of Editors, Invited Editors serve an important role in the review process. Invited Editors are experts in their fields of research who add an additional level of quality to the review process. An Editor may assign a paper to an Invited Editor when he/she would like to have an additional expert opinion of the reviews or when the subject area falls outside the Editor’s primary …
Varenicline in smoking cessation.

Varenicline, an α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, is the newest drug in the armamentarium of tobacco-addiction treatment. Improved smoking quit rates with varenicline are seen in comparison with other pharmacotherapies or behavioral treatments alone. Efficacy, tolerability and safety have been demonstrated in healthy smokers and in smokers with cardiovascular or pulmonary comorbidity, as well as in smokeless tobacco users. Varenicline is started 1 week before a target quit date, uptitrated to 1 mg twice daily, and continued for 12–24 weeks. Post-marketing reports have led to labeling changes to monitor patients for change in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicide-related events. Varenicline’s pharmacological profile does not clearly explain an association with these adverse events. A review of placebo-controlled studies found that varenicline was not associated with self-reported neuropsychiatric symptoms, with the exception of sleep disorders. Data in smokers with...
N2O5 hydrolysis on the components of mineral dust and sea salt aerosol: Comparison study in an environmental aerosol reaction chamber

Abstract The kinetics of the heterogeneous hydrolysis of N2O5 on some of the major components of mineral dust and sea salt aerosol have been investigated in an environmental aerosol chamber. Gas-phase N2O5 undergoes heterogeneous reaction to form HNO3 on carbonate, clay and oxide minerals. The nitric acid hydrolysis product was promptly detected in the gas phase concomitant with the decay of N2O5 over time. The N2O5 decay kinetics were measured and analyzed assuming first-order reaction kinetics. When normalized for surface area, heterogeneous decay of N2O5 on the different minerals followed the reactivity trend; kaolinite > hematite > montmorillonite > calcite>quartz. N2O5 decay was faster on all of the mineral dust aerosol components relative to NaCl, a major component of sea salt, at a relative humidity (RH) below the NaCl deliquescence point. The measured heterogeneous uptake coefficients were over an order of magnitude larger on several of the mineral dust aerosol compared to NaCl. The uptake coefficient was found to increase with RH.
Regarding: “Management of Glomerular Proteinuria: A Commentary”

We read with interest the comprehensive review of the management of glomerular proteinuria by Wilmer et al. ([1][1]). We found the commentary to be well organized and very informative, citing many relevant reports. We wish to take this opportunity to correct a statement regarding the RENAAL study
Cigarette Smoking Among Asthmatic Adults Presenting to 64 Emergency Departments

Study objectives: The emergency department (ED) is an important focal point for asthmatic individuals with uncontrolled illness. Anecdotally, many adults presenting to the ED with acute asthma are active cigarette smokers. The present study determined the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults presenting to the ED with acute asthma and identified the factors associated with current smoking status. Design: A prospective cohort study conducted as part of the Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration. Patients: A structured interview was performed in 1,847 patients, ages 18 to 54 years, who presented to the ED with acute asthma. Setting: Sixty-four EDs in 21 US states and 4 Canadian provinces. Results: Thirty-five percent of the enrolled asthmatic patients were current smokers with a median of 10 pack-years (interquartile range, 4 to 20 pack-years), while 23% were former smokers, and 42% were never-smokers. Current smokers comprised 33% of asthmatic patients aged 18 to 29 years, 40% for ages 30 to 39 years, and 33% for ages 40 to 54 (p Conclusions: Although cigarette smoke is generally recognized as a respiratory irritant, cigarette smoking is common among adults presenting to the ED with acute asthma. The ED visit may provide an opportunity for patients to be targeted for smoking cessation efforts.
Racial differences in prostate cancer screening by family history

Purpose Prostate cancer (CaP) is disproportionately prevalent among black, compared to white, men. Additionally, men with a family history of CaP have 75% to 80% higher risk of CaP. Therefore we examined racial variation in the association of family history of CaP and self-reported prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in the nationally-representative National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Methods Data were obtained from the 2005 NHIS, including the Cancer Control Module supplement. We restricted the study sample to men over the age of 40 who reported having “ever heard of a PSA test” (N = 1,744). Men were considered to have a positive family history if either their biological father or at least one biological brother had been diagnosed with CaP. SUDAAN 9.0 was used to perform descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results Men with a family history of CaP were more likely to have a PSA test than those who never had a PSA test (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3–2.5). Among blacks, men with a family history were not significantly more likely to have a PSA test. Conclusions Despite having the highest risk of cancer, black men with a family history are not screened more than black men without a family history.
Representation of Confidence Associated with a Decision by Neurons in the Parietal Cortex

The degree of confidence in a decision provides a graded and probabilistic assessment of expected outcome. Although neural mechanisms of perceptual decisions have been studied extensively in primates, little is known about the mechanisms underlying choice certainty. We have shown that the same neurons that represent formation of a decision encode certainty about the decision. Rhesus monkeys made decisions about the direction of moving random dots, spanning a range of difficulties. They were rewarded for correct decisions. On some trials, after viewing the stimulus, the monkeys could opt out of the direction decision for a small but certain reward. Monkeys exercised this option in a manner that revealed their degree of certainty. Neurons in parietal cortex represented formation of the direction decision and the degree of certainty underlying the decision to opt out.
Visual attention and self-regulation of driving among older adults

Background: With the number of older drivers increasing, self-regulation of driving has been proposed as a viable means of balancing the autonomy of older adults against the sometimes competing demand of public safety. In this study, we investigate self-regulation of driving among a group of older adults with varying functional abilities. Method: Participants in the study comprised 1,543 drivers aged 75 years or older. They completed an objective measure of visual attention from which crash risk was estimated, and self-report measures of driving avoidance, driving exposure, physical functioning, general health status, and vision. Crash records were obtained from the State Department of Public Safety. Results: Overall, participants were most likely to avoid driving in bad weather followed by driving at night, driving on high traffic roads, driving in unfamiliar areas, and making left-hand turns across oncoming traffic. With the exception of driving at night, drivers at higher risk of crashes generally reported greater avoidance of these driving situations than lower risk drivers. However, across all driving situations a significant proportion of higher risk drivers did not restrict their driving. In general, self-regulation of driving did not result in reduced social engagement. Conclusion: Some older drivers with visual attention impairments do not restrict their driving in difficult situations. There is a need for physicians and family members to discuss driving behaviors with older adults routinely to ensure their safety. The association between visual attention and driving restriction also has implications for interventions aimed at preserving mobility in the elderly.
Observed properties of interplanetary rotational discontinuities

In a prior study, discontinuities were identified as tangential or rotational principally on the basis of the existence or absence of a magnetic field component perpendicular to the plane of the discontinuity. The observed properties of the rotational discontinuities are described in this paper. The normals to the discontinuities were subjected to a variance analysis and did not exhibit a statistically significant anisotropy. These normals appear to be randomly oriented. Since rotational discontinuities are large-amplitude Alfven waves, the transverse perturbation in the magnetic field implies a corresponding jump in the solar wind velocity that is often only slightly less than the Alfven speed. The rotational discontinuities identified are all circularly polarized and transport vorticity and angular momentum.
Segmented conjugated macromolecules containing silicon and boron: ADMET synthesis and luminescent properties

Boron- and silicon-containing conjugated homo- and copolymers could be synthesized using acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) condensation of bis-styryl monomers. Both, tri-and tetra-coordinated boron monomers were successfully polymerized forming homopolymers, or random copolymers (if polymerized together with a silicon containing co-monomer). Polymer molecular weights Mn were measured at ∼6000 to 15,000 g/mol (NMR end group analysis) with molecular weight distributions Mw/Mn ∼1.8 to 2.2. The polymers absorbed at λmax ∼317 to 406 nm and emitted at λmax ∼370 to 494 nm with fluorescent quantum efficiencies ∼24 to 48%. The copolymer with tri-coordinate boron showed highly efficient fluorescence quenching in the presence of fluoride ions at ratios boron/fluoride ∼5/1, demonstrating its potential as anion sensor. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 1707–1718
Optimal dose of intrathecal clonidine added to sufentanil plus bupivacaine for labour analgesia.

Purpose: The combination of intrathecal (IT) 5µg sufentanil plus 1.25 mg bupivacaine is useful for inducing labour analgesia, albeit of short duration and slow onset. As a supplementation to this regimen, the effect of IT clonidine on the duration of analgesic action was investigated. Methods: Forty-eight healthy parturients were randomly assigned into three groups to receive 0µg (group C0), 15µg (C15) or 30µg (C30) of clonidine IT in addition to 5µg sufentanil plus 1.25 mg bupivacaine IT for labour analgesia. The quality of pain relief was assessed on 0-100 visual analogue scale by the author. The occurrence of side effects was also evaluated before the request for additional analgesia. Results: Clonidine (C15 and C30), produced a longer duration of analgesia than C0 (mean 144±sd 27.9, 165±31.8 vs 111±21.9 min,P<0.01). Also, C15 and C30 produced a more rapid onset and a higher quality of analgesia than C0, (P<0.01). The most cephalad level of sensory block was higher in C30 than C15 (median T3 vs T4,P<0.05) but lowest in C0 (median T7 vs T3,T4,P , 0.01). Side effects, sedation and hypotension, occurred more frequently in C30 than in either C0 or C15, (9 vs 2,5 and 9 vs 1,3, respectively,P<0.05). Conclusion: The optimal dose of intrathecal clonidine to enhance labour analgesia with the current sufentanil-bupivacaine regimen is 15µg. In view of the side effect profile, doses greater than 30µg clonidine are unlikely to be useful.
Cloud Classification and its Application in Reducing False Rain

Clouds are a key component in the weather and climate studies. However, their representations in climate models are associated with high uncertainty. For example, some studies show that compared to observations of real clouds, models significantly enhance solar radiation reflected by low clouds. This finding has major implications for the cloud-climate feedback problem in models . A cloud classification scheme would be a valuable tool for illuminating the uncertainty of our models and algorithms and improving the accuracy of weather, climate, and precipitation studies. After classifying clouds into different classes, the precipitation estimation can be improved by integrating the classification scheme into the precipitation algorithm.
Isolated Pancreatic Islet Transplantation: A Coming of Age.

Keywords: editorial/personal viewpoint; islet transplantation; islets of Langerhans; clinical trial
The Typed Theory of Abstract Objects

The typed version of our theory commits us not only to abstract objects, but also to abstract properties, abstract relations, abstract properties of properties, abstract properties of relations, etc. We can use these entities to model impossible relations, like the symmetrical, non-symmetrical relation, and fictional relations, like simultaneity.1 However, the primary motivation for developing the typed theory is to account for the data concerning the propositional attitudes and to model the fictional relations of mathematics.
On estimating population characteristics from record‐breaking observations II. Nonparametric results

Consider an experiment in which only record-breaking values (e.g., values smaller than all previous ones) are observed. The data available may be represented as X1,K1,X2,K2, …, where X1,X2, … are successive minima and K1,K2, … are the numbers of trials needed to obtain new records. We treat the problem of estimating the mean of an underlying exponential distribution, and we consider both fixed sample size problems and inverse sampling schemes. Under inverse sampling, we demonstrate certain global optimality properties of an estimator based on the “total time on test” statistic. Under random sampling, it is shown than an analogous estimator is consistent, but can be improved for any fixed sample size.
Migration: The Real Challenges. Review of 'Exodus' by Paul Collier.

Review of: Collier, Paul (2013). Exodus: How Migration Is Changing Our World. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.
Firearm injury risk among primary care patients.

Background Firearm injuries are the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. Evidence suggests that availability of guns in the home is associated with an increased risk of homicide, suicide, and unintentional injuries and fatalities. Our study examined five demographically diverse primary care practices in Oregon to determine the extent to which patients and members of their households might be at risk for firearm injuries. Methods Six hundred and four consecutive English-speaking patients who were at least 18 years old and seeking care at the five different practices were surveyed. Participants were asked about the presence of firearms in the home, methods of storage, history of firearm safety training, and history of firearm counseling by their physicians. Results Forty-two percent of respondents reported having at least one firearm in the home. In homes with firearms, 48% contained at least one firearm that was stored unlocked, and 26% contained at least one firearm stored loaded. Twenty percent of homes with children contained at least one unlocked firearm, and 10% contained a loaded firearm. Forty-five percent [corrected] of those homes with both children and firearms had at least one gun that was stored unlocked, and 25% [corrected] contained at least one loaded firearm. Those who reported having had formal firearm safety training were no more likely to store their firearms safely than those without such training. Only 3% of respondents reported that their physician had ever talked with them about gun safety. Conclusions Our data indicate that a substantial number of patients cared for by primary care physicians are at risk for firearm injuries.
Infectiousness of a University Student with Laryngeal and Cavitary Tuberculosis

A search for the source of infection for four children with tuberculosis (TB) identified a university student with cavitary and laryngeal TB. An investigation was conducted at the university, including tuberculin skin test (TST) screening and the use of questionnaires, chest radiographs, and DNA fingerprint analyses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates. Six students with active TB were identified. All were linked to the source case. TSTs were positive for 22.4% of 419 students who had contact with the source case vs. 3.6% of 1,306 students without contact. The odds of a positive TST increased to 9.0 with 80 hours of classroom contact. Infectiousness increased significantly in the last of three semesters during which the source case was symptomatic (RR of a positive TST in classmates, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.8-11.8). TST conversions were documented in 23 students; eight had, at most, 5 hours of classroom contact. The source case was highly infectious; transmission following only a few hours of exposure was documented. Her infectiousness increased as her clinical course progressed. This report illustrates the potential infectiousness of TB cases and demonstrates important aspects of tuberculosis control.
Electron-impact excitation of the Rb 7 2 S 1/2 , 8 2 S 1/2 , 5 2 D 3/2 , and 6 2 D 3/2 states

Electron-impact cross sections for excitation of the 7 $^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$, 8 $^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$, 5 $^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{3/2}$, and 6 $^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{3/2}$ states of rubidium have been measured from threshold to 1000 eV. The optical-excitation-function method has been employed in a crossed atom- and electron-beam apparatus. Relative, total (cascade including) experimental cross sections are made absolute by comparison with the known total cross section of the Rb D1 line. Total excitation cross sections are compared with theoretical calculations employing first Born approximation and theoretical branching ratios. Born cross sections for the 7 $^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$ and 8 $^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$ states are obtained from the literature, while Born cross sections for the 5 $^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{3/2}$, 6 $^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{3/2}$, and all cascading states are calculated in this paper. At high energies, the measured total $^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{3/2}$ state cross sections show 1/E behavior and converge to first Born theory; for Eg100 eV, experiment and theory agree within 6.7% for 5 $^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{3/2}$ and within 3.7% for 6 $^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{3/2}$. The total cross sections for the $^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$ states do not converge to Born theory even at 1000 eV, and it is shown that this cannot be attributed to cascading. At low energies, $^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$ and $^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{3/2}$ state total excitation cross sections have similar shapes with sharply peaked maxima at about 0.9 eV above threshold. After cascading is corrected using first Born theory, estimated experimental cross sections for direct excitation of higher fine-structure states of rubidium are given.
The ultrasonic motion detector: A conditioned stimulus for rats in the CER paradigm

In an attempt to resolve conflicting data concerning the conditioned-stimulus properties of the 40-kHz signal generated by the ultrasonic motion detector, the high-frequency signal (96-112 dB) was used as the CS in a CER experiment. Rats receiving forward pairings of the tone with shock showed progressive decreases in activity in the presence of the tone as compared to controls during off-the-baseline conditioning sessions. During the CER test session, the forward-pairings group showed reliably more suppression to the high-frequency CS. It was concluded that the ultrasonic motion detector can mediate associative response tendencies.
Effects of Mirex on the General Ant Fauna of a Treated Area in Louisiana

The effect of a mirex bait treatment was studied on 14 common ants in Washington Parish, southeastern Louisiana. The most noticeable effect was the suppression for 1 year of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Reductions of 98% in the number of live mounds and 99.5% in the foraging workers occurred within 1 month of the treatment. Populations of 3 other species of ants, S. xyloni McCook, Pogonomyrmex badius (Latreille), and Monomorium minimum (Buckley), were also reduced. Three species of ants, Iridomyrmex pruinosus (Roger), I. humilus (Mayr), and Conomyrma insana (Buckley), were not adversely affected and may have benefited from the elimination of competition with the red imported fire ant. Two other species, S. Molesta (Say) and Prenolepis imparis (Say), and several genera, Camponotus spp., Nylanderia spp., Aphanogaster spp., and Pheidole spp., apparently were not directly affected either way by the bait application.
Perceived Skin Tone Discrimination Across Contexts: African American Women’s Reports

There is a void in empirical research that examines African American women’s self-reported skin tone discrimination from out-groups (e.g., whites) and in-groups (blacks). We analyzed data of women from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in the nationally representative National Survey of American Life (N = 1653). Light-skinned women reported less out-group colorism, and light-, medium-, and dark-skinned women with higher self-mastery perceived lower out-group colorism. Medium-skinned women perceived less in-group colorism, while dark-skinned women perceived more in-group and out-group colorism than counterparts. Implications for intergroup and intragroup race relations as well as well-being are discussed.
"Judge a Man's Wealth by the Number of Songs He Knows"

In my article, I present images relevant to the relationships between land, culture, music, health and healing, and Indigenous societies. I offer examples of how music works effectively to create positive social change. I also present some theoretical ideas to support the significance of music in our indivitual and collective lives.
Highly efficient CRISPR/HDR-mediated knock-in for mouse embryonic stem cells and zygotes

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) gene editing technique, based on the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair pathway, has been used to generate gene knock-outs with variable sizes of small insertion/deletions with high efficiency. More precise genome editing, either the insertion or deletion of a desired fragment, can be done by combining the homology-directed-repair (HDR) pathway with CRISPR cleavage. However, HDR-mediated gene knock-in experiments are typically inefficient, and there have been no reports of successful gene knock-in with DNA fragments larger than 4 kb. Here, we describe the targeted insertion of large DNA fragments (7.4 and 5.8 kb) into the genomes of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and zygotes, respectively, using the CRISPR/HDR technique without NHEJ inhibitors. Our data show that CRISPR/HDR without NHEJ inhibitors can result in highly efficient gene knock-in, equivalent to CRISPR/HDR with NHEJ inhibitors. Although NHEJ is the dominant repair pathway associated with CRISPR-mediated double-strand breaks (DSBs), and biallelic gene knock-ins are common, NHEJ and biallelic gene knock-ins were not detected. Our results demonstrate that efficient targeted insertion of large DNA fragments without NHEJ inhibitors is possible, a result that should stimulate interest in understanding the mechanisms of high efficiency CRISPR targeting in general.
Risk factors for same-admission mortality after pathologic fracture secondary to metastatic cancer

The skeleton is the third most common site of cancer metastases. Approximately 10 % of patients with bone metastases will develop a pathologic fracture, with significant associated morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for same-admission mortality after pathologic fractures secondary to metastatic cancer. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was queried from 2002 to 2013 for hospitalized patients with diagnoses of pathologic fracture and a primary cancer at high risk for skeletal metastasis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine risk factors associated with same-admission mortality after fracture. A total of 371,163 patients were identified. The spine was the most common site of pathologic fracture (68.0 %) followed by lower extremity (25.0 %) and upper extremity (8.7 %). The following factors were independently associated with increased mortality (p < 0.001): cancer of lung or unspecified location; fracture of upper or lower extremity; male gender; age ≥65; non-Medicare insurance; coexisting congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, renal failure, or liver disease; and postoperative surgical site infection, acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, or pneumonia. Closed reductions were associated (p < 0.001) with increased mortality while open or percutaneous surgical treatments were protective (p < 0.001) against mortality. Pathologic fractures are a devastating consequence of metastatic bone disease, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. Numerous demographic and medical factors are associated with increased same-admission mortality. This data is useful for counseling patients with skeletal metastatic disease and should be taken into consideration when conducting routine skeletal surveillance in patients with metastatic cancer.
Time domain spectroscopic measurements of the dielectric properties of heterogeneous materials

In recent years the powerful new techniques of time domain dielectric spectroscopy (TDDS) have revolutionized the field of high frequency dielectric measurements. However, due to the relative newness of the method many questions remain unresolved concerning the applicability of TDDS and the interpretations and limitations of the measurements. In previous and continuing work we have attempted to use TDDS to detect and follow phase changes when a homogeneous single phase liquid transforms into a two phase system consisting of a dispersion of small particles of the new second phase in the remaining original phase.[1] Although the TDDS system provides a good way to detect the phase changes as a function of transition temperature and composition, questions remain about the meaning of the calculated dielectric permittivity (e' and e″) of the two phase system. The present investigation was undertaken to obtain experimental results for two phase systems with separately known dielectric properties for the somewhat more interesting case of solid polymer particles in a dielectric fluid.
Mitoferrin1 Transgenic Zebrafish Line Serves as a Model to Study Erythroid Cell Fate during Hematopoiesis

We previously identified the mitochondrial solute carrier, Mitoferrin1 (Slc25a37, Mfrn1) as the principal mitochondrial iron importer essential for heme and iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster synthesis in developing erythroblasts. Its closely related paralog, Mitoferrin2 (Slc25a28, Mfrn2) functions in an analogous role in non-erythroid cells. Zebrafish with mutations in Mfrn1 have defects in hemoglobinization and maturation of erythroid cells caused by defective acquisition of iron into the mitochondria (GC Shaw, et al ., 2006 Nature 440:96–100). Mfrn1 is highly expressed in embryonic and definitive sites of hematopoiesis in zebrafish and mouse, such as the developing blood island (ICM), fetal liver and adult bone marrow. In contrast, Mfrn2 is ubiquitously expressed, including at very low levels in erythroid cells. To understand the transcriptional regulation of Mfrn1 and Mfrn2 , we used bioinformatics tools to identify potential cis-regulatory motifs (CRM) within each gene from mouse. The Gateway-modified Tol-2 vector was used to rapidly clone these conserved, minimal CRM fragments from mouse upstream of the basal promoter and an EGFP-reporter. Each construct was then introduced into zebrafish embryos for transient and stable expression. Using this strategy, we identified CRM’s that recapitulate the endogenous mRNA expression pattern of Mfrn genes during zebrafish development. Germ line stable transmission of the murine Tg(Mfrn1:EGFP) reporter in zebrafish showed robust EGFP expression in erythroid progenitors and mature erythrocytes and the remarkable conservation of function for CRM’s across species. In contrast, the mouse Tg(Mfrn2:EGFP) was expressed in skeletal muscle, heart, liver, and pronephros. The Mfrn1 enhancer is located ~35 kb upstream of the transcription start site and contains two GATA consensus motifs, which bind GATA-1 by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis. Moreover, the ~150 bp Mfrn1 enhancer fragment exhibits transcriptional activation when coupled to the minimal γ-globin promoter driving expression of a luciferase reporter in K562 cells. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that both GATA motifs are required for robust erythroid expression. In a complementary approach, transient knockdown of GATA-1 in zebrafish embryos using anti-sense morpholinos selectively ablated Mfrn1 mRNA expression in the ICM, consistent with the epistatic relationship of GATA-1 and Mfrn1. The zebrafish transgenic lines harboring the two murine Mfrn enhancers have proven useful in studying the regulatory and developmental expression in the Mfrn genes in erythroid and non-hematopoietic organs, such as heart and liver. Our results show that the combined use of bioinformatics, Gateway-mediated cloning, and Tol-2 mediated transgenesis in zebrafish embryos is an effective approach to functionally interrogate the transcriptional activity of putative CRM’s in vivo . The conservation and faithful expression of mouse CRM’s in zebrafish demonstrate the utility of this functional approach for analyzing mammalian CRM’s.
Bootleggers and Baptists in the Garden of Good and Evil: Understanding America’s Entangled Economy

The U.S. is a regulatory state where major industries and firms throughout the economy are subject to extensive command and control regulation. Put another way, America is an entangled economy where concepts of seperate private from public enterprises and occasional intervention to affect market outcomes no longer apply. There is regulation at every margin. Drawing on the Bootlegger/Baptist theory, this chapter seeks to explain how special interest group demand for command-and-control regulation, as opposed to other forms of regulation, such as the use of performance standards and economic incentives, has accommodated and reinforced the rise of the regulatory state. The chapter traces the evolution of regulation theory to the present and then provides evidence on the rise of regulation and its effects.
Role of the nifB1 and nifB2 Promoters in Cell-Type-Specific Expression of Two Mo Nitrogenases in the Cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413.

Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 has one Mo nitrogenase that is made under oxic growth conditions in specialized cells called heterocysts and a second Mo nitrogenase that is made only under anoxic conditions in vegetative cells. The two large nif gene clusters responsible for these two nitrogenases are under the control of the promoter of the first gene in the operon, nifB1 or nifB2 Despite differences in the expression patterns of nifB1 and nifB2, related to oxygen and cell type, the regions upstream of their transcription start sites (tss) show striking homology, including three highly conserved sequences (CS). CS1, CS2, and the region just upstream from the tss were required for optimal expression from the nifB1 promoter, but CS3 and the 5' untranslated region (UTR) were not. Hybrid fusions of the nifB1 and nifB2 upstream regions revealed that the region including CS1, CS2, and CS3 of nifB2 could substitute for the similar region of nifB1; however, the converse was not true. Expression from the nifB2 promoter region required the CS1, CS2, and CS3 regions of nifB2 and also required the nifB2 5' UTR. A hybrid promoter that was mostly nifB2 but that had the region from about position -40 to the tss of nifB1 was expressed in heterocysts and in anoxic vegetative cells. Thus, addition of the nifB1 promoter region (from about position -40 to the tss of nifB1) in the nifB hybrid promoter supported expression in heterocysts but did not prevent the mostly nifB2 promoter from also functioning in anoxic vegetative cells. IMPORTANCE In the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis, two Mo nitrogenase gene clusters, nif1 and nif2, function under different environmental conditions in different cell types. Little is known about the regulation of transcription from the promoter upstream of the first gene of the cluster, which drives transcription of each of these two large operons. The similarity in the sequences upstream of the primary promoters for the two nif gene clusters belies the differences in their expression patterns. Analysis of these nif promoters in strains with mutations in the conserved sequences and in strains with hybrid promoters, comprising parts from nif1 and nif2, provides strong evidence that each promoter has key elements required for cell-type-specific expression of the nif1 and nif2 gene clusters.
Is Global Warming Good, or Was Arrhenius Erroneous?

What if global warming is actually a good thing? While there are obviously plenty of data to the contrary, one particularly interesting historical figure identified global warming far before his ti...
Arterial stiffness in HIV-infected youth and associations with HIV-related variables.

Children and young adults infected with HIV are at elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, scarce data exist on the utility of non-invasive methods to diagnose subclinical CVD, suc...
Age and gender influences on the needs, concerns and strategies of CABG caregivers.

Abstract Background Caring for coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery patients can be challenging. No studies have explored caregiver burden by age and gender. Objective To describe age and gender-specific concerns, needs and strategies during the first 3 months. Methods Themes for burden concerns, needs and strategies were derived from interviews of 32 CABG caregivers using constant comparative analysis. Results Age-specific themes related to motivating exercise ( 70). Gender-specific themes related to incision worries and transportation (all females); regulating blood sugars, vital sign anxiety, hurrying back, reinforcing healthy behaviors, and being there (females 70); caregiver relief, inconsistent information, and doing it all (all males); upsetting scars (males 70). Conclusions Future research should validate concerns in diverse samples so interventions can be targeted to support male and female caregivers by age groups.