cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuronal thread protein regulation and interaction with microtubule-associated proteins in SH-Sy5y neuronal cells.

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), neuronal thread protein (NTP) accumulates in cortical neurons and colocalizes with phospho-tau-immunoreactive cytoskeletal lesions that correlate with dementia. To generate additional information about the potential role of NTP in AD, we characterized its expression and regulation in human SH-Sy5y neuronal cells. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactin and Western blot analysis demonstrated prominent insulin, moderate insulin-like growth factor, type 1 (IGF-1) and minimal nerve growth factor stimulation of NTP expression. In addition, NTP protein was more stable and it progressively accumulated in cells that were stimulated with insulin for 24 or 48 h. Metabolic labeling and phospho-amino acid analysis demonstrated phosphorylation of NTP on Serine residues, 30–60 min after insulin or IGF-1 stimulation, when glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) activity would no longer have been suppressed. Kinase inhibitor and in vitro phosphorylation studies demonstrated a role for GSK-3β in the positive regulation of NTP expression and phosphorylation. Coimmunoprecipitation studies demonstrated physical interactions between NTP and tau or microtubule-associated protein 1b (MAP-1b), and ubiquitin immunoreactivity in NTP immunoprecipitates. In summary, these studies showed that (i) NTP expression is regulated at the level of transcription by insulin and IGF-1 stimulation; (ii) NTP is phosphorylated by GSK-3β; (iii) NTP can physically interact with tau and MAP-1b and (iv) NTP-MAP complexes are ubiquitinated. The results suggest a functional role for NTP in relation to the turnover or processing of neuronal cytoskeletal proteins, attributes that may be modulated by insulin/IGF-1-mediated signaling.
An Award‐winning Ethnographic Novel

Jo Anne Williams Bennett. Downfall People. Toronto: McCelland and Stewart. 1986. 316pp. $22.95 (cloth).
HIV protease inhibitors and nuclear lamin processing: Getting the right bells and whistles

One of the most notable successes of rational pharmaceutical design has been the development of drugs that inhibit the protease cleaving the polyproteins of the HIV into their structural and catalytic protein components (1, 2). Several of these inhibitors are currently used as components of “highly active antiretroviral therapy” for treating HIV infection and AIDS (2, 3). Given the similar chemistry involved in all peptide bond hydrolysis reactions, as well as the different sequence contexts of the polyprotein cleavage sites, the ability of these drugs to specifically target the HIV protease and not the hundreds of other proteases required for human health—digestive enzymes, enzymes of the coagulation pathway, enzymes of the complement cascade, proteases involved in protein maturation and transport—is truly remarkable. However, in a recent issue of PNAS, Coffinier et al. (4) demonstrate that these drugs do inhibit at least one unrelated protease and that this inhibition could conceivably account for some of the side effects of these pharmaceuticals. They show that HIV protease inhibitors, including lopinavir, a first-line widely used member of the saquinavir family, can also inhibit ZMPSTE24, a distinct protease involved in the conversion of farnesylprelamin A to lamin A, a key structural component of the nuclear lamina (Fig. 1). In recent years, genetic defects in the conversion of farnesylprelamin A to lamin A in humans have been shown to cause severe progeroid disorders (e.g., restrictive dermopathy, Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome) (6–8). These findings suggest that the inhibition of prelamin A processing by HIV protease inhibitors may result in some of the same disease phenotypes observed in the genetic prelamin A-processing disorders.
Diffractive imaging micro-spectrometer

Optical multiplexers/demultiplexers developed for the telecommunication industry, at the level of the basic principles, perform essentially the same functions as general-use optical spectrometers. The spectrometer design inspired by the telecom devices would represent an extremely compact device compatible with the manufacturing procedures in integrated optoelectronics and micro-optics. In this paper we summarize our recent results on development of a miniature optical spectrometer. The spectrometer uses a diffractive optical element integrated with a planar optical waveguide. It is designed to provide spectral resolution of at least 2nm in the entire visible spectral range from 400nm- 700nm, and simultaneously resolve spectra from up to 35 independent optical inputs. The optical part of the spectrometer fits volume below 10mm3. The spectrometer is designed for on-chip diagnostic systems, in particular for fluorescence detection of hazardous materials. A device prototype with diffractive optical element fabricated using electron beam lithography is manufactured and tested.
Evaluation of the Stability and Validity of Participant Samples Recruited over the Internet

Abstract Research conducted via the Internet has the potential to reach important clinical populations of participants who would not participate in traditional studies. Concerns exist, however, abo...
Leading institutional contributors to the elite economic journals

Given the prestige enjoyed by several economic departments, there is a natural curiosity regarding their contributions to the economic literature. This article, analyses the appearance of all academic institutions worldwide in the eight leading economic journals, the ‘Blue Ribbon Eight,’ from 1991 to 2005. We cite those institutions who appear the most, and analyse the composition of appearances across all eight journals to assess their degree of diversity. While it is tempting to use these measures as a ranking of institutions, the analysis is meant to be purely an historical appreciation of the contributions of these admirable institutions.
Future physics with a proposed radioactive beam facility in the United States

Abstract A brief overview of the physics at a proposed radioactive beam facility or ISOSPIN LABORATORY is presented. Its impact on future directions in nuclear structure, nuclei far from stability, reaction physics, nuclear astrophysics, and several applied fields is pointed out. Of particular interest are neutron rich beams. Radioactive beams with energies on the order of ≈10 MeV/nucleon or less are emphasized rather than the more energetic beams obtainable through projectile fragmentation. A concept of a high-intensity radioactive beam facility based on the post-acceleration of radioactive ions from an isotope-separator linked to a high-current, high-energy, light ion accelerator is discussed.
L2 convergence for positive finite-difference solutions of the diffusive logistic equation in two-dimensional bounded domains

Abstract This article considers finite-difference approximations of the nonlinear homogeneous Dirichlet boundary-value problem for the equation Δw + w[p(x, y) − qw] = 0 in a two-dimensional bounded domain. The equation is of fundamental importance for more elaborate study of ecological prey-predator diffusive models. This problem has a positive solution as well as the trivial one. By means of the Rayleigh quotient characterization of the first eigenvalue, we give a simple proof of the L 2 convergence of the positive solution of the discrete problem to the positive solution of the continuous problem. Simple criteria for this to happen in a large family of domains are given. Some computational results of interest are also presented.
Crimson Clover Seed Production and Volunteer Reseeding at Various Grazing Termination Dates

Crimson clover (Trifolium incamatum L.) is a widely used cool-season annual clover in the southeastern USA, but is not considered a dependable reseeder. Grazing termination dates (GTD) of 2-wk intervals from 1 April to 15 May for 3 yr were used on small plots of seven crimson cultivars. Seed production characteristics, seed germination after seed harvest, remaining hard seed percentage after 90 d heat treatment, and volunteer reseeding were determined. There was a general decline in flower density, seed weight flower -1 and seed yield as GTD was delayed. There was variability among cultivars for flower density and seed weight flower -1 , but in only 1 out of 3 yr for seed production. Percentage germination, soft seed, and hard seed after seed harvest were not influenced by GTD. Cultivars did differ for percentage germination and hard seed in 2 of 3 yr. Cultivar ranking was not consistent among years except for Columbus that always had high germination and low hard seed percentages. 'Auburn' and 'Flame' maintained the best hard seed percentage after the 90 d heat treatment. Volunteer seedling densities of 100 m -2 or higher occurred if grazing was terminated by mid-April except for Columbus. The poor reseeding of crimson clover is due to the initial low hard seed production and decline of hard seed percentage during the summer.
Evidence of a threshold effect for TSP in the Philadelphia data set

The purpose of the present paper is to examine the complex set of questions about the PM-mortality exposure–response (E-R) relationship by looking at the practical and demonstrable consequences of time series model building and by considering alternate modelling methods. Two questions are posed. The first is how to demonstrate goodness-of-fit for an exposure–response model and the effectiveness of a particular term in the model. The second is how to detect poor model fit associated with unusual relationships in the data, such as thresholds or other non-linear patterns. Suggested solutions are demonstrated using the Philadelphia data set used by Kelsall. These solutions are potentially applicable to other time series data analyses. Examination of the example data indicate several findings. First, the addition of the pollution terms to a model which contains temporal and weather variables has a negligible change on the predictive ability of the model. While the statistical criteria are slightly improved the practical improvement in mortality prediction is minimal. Second, for these data, there is demonstrable evidence that there is a threshold effect for total suspended particulate (TSP) on predicted mortality. The threshold is also seen in the gaseous pollutants. Lastly, the inclusion of terms representing the day of the week statistically improves model fit to a greater extent than the pollution terms. The results from this exercise suggest that several steps should be added to the traditional analysis and presentation of time-series data. These include visual and tabular presentation of results from each major model and analysis for a threshold at least for the criteria pollutant terms. The presentation elements allow the reader to independently assess model fit and the predictive capabilities of the model. Determination of a threshold allows objective determination of a no adverse effect level. Overall, application of these methods to time-series analyses provides more specificity for testing the predictive power of the model and for protecting health.Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hormone Ontogeny in the Ovine Fetus. XXIII. Pulsatile Administration of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Stimulates Inhibin Production and Decreases Testosterone Synthesis in the Ovine Fetal Gonad

Inhibin, a gonadal glycoprotein with selective FSH-suppressing activity, is synthesized by the Sertoli cell of the testis and the granulosa cell of the ovary mediated by the action of FSH. It is not known whether inhibin is produced by the fetal testes and ovaries or if FSH has the capacity to stimulate inhibin production by the fetal gonad. To explore these questions, we examined the bioactive inhibin content of the gonads of 16 chronically catheterized sheep fetuses between 111 and 143 days gestational age (0.7-0.95 gestation) in an ovine pituitary bioassay. Both the fetal testes and ovary contained inhibin activity (testes, 53.5-1,240 U inhibin/g tissue; ovaries, 58.5-2,250 U/g). After pulsatile administration of oFSH (5 fig every 3 h) to the fetus for 5 days in 1 fetus and 10 days in 2 fetuses, 10-day gonadal inhibin content of fetal testes increased to 5,080 ± 3,180 U/testes (n = 3) vs. 165 ± 50 U/testes in controls (n = 8; P < 0.02); the concentration of testicular inhibin in these fetuses rose to a...
Spatial variation of strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) in the Maya region: a tool for tracking ancient human migration

Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) in human bones and teeth have become a useful tool to study migration and sedentism of individuals from archaeological contexts. Here we analyzed 87Sr/86Sr of water, bedrock, soils, and plants across a broad geographic region to test the potential of this method in the ancient Maya area. Our aims were two-fold: first to test if the sources of dietary strontium (i.e., plants and water) in humans reflect the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of exposed bedrock, and second, to determine whether the ranges of 87Sr/86Sr values were sufficiently distinct among the principal Maya geocultural areas to infer past migration. We identified five distinct subregions on the basis of geologic maps and evaluated the variability of 87Sr/86Sr values (values given as mean 87Sr/86Sr ±2 standard deviations; number of samples): (1) Northern Lowlands (0.70888±0.00066; n=16); (2) Southern Lowlands (0.70770±0.00052; n=86); (3) Volcanic Highlands and Pacific Coast (0.70415±0.00023; n=34); (4) Metamorphic Province (0.70743±0.00572; n=50); and (5) the Maya Mountains of Belize (0.71327±0.00167; n=3). Although the sample size is small and overlap exists in 87Sr/86Sr values among some subregions, most areas can be readily distinguished from one another on the basis of strontium isotopes. These subregional 87Sr/86Sr differences provide archaeologists with a powerful tool to recognize geographic “outliers” in ancient Maya burials and thereby test hypotheses concerning the origin of specific individuals, inferred population migration patterns, and the possibility of outside cultural influences in the Maya region.
Is There a Size Effect in the Pricing of Stocks in the Chinese Stock Markets?: The Case of Bull Versus Bear Markets

Size effect studies generally suggest that a return premium exists for small firms. While the size effect has mostly disappeared in recent years in mature markets (e.g., US and UK), it remains mostly strong in developing markets. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between firm size and excess stock returns in the Chinese stock markets, and to examine this effect in both a bull and bear market. No studies have previously examined these relationships in the Chinese markets. The results of the study indicate that a size effect exists in the Chinese stock markets over the 6-year period from 1998 to 2003. We find small firms have significantly greater excess returns than large firms. Moreover, small firms are found to have a stronger reaction to the direction of the market than large firms. Small firms have significantly greater positive excess returns than large firms during the bull market. However, small firms have significantly greater negative returns (using total market value), or no significant difference in returns (using float market value) during the bear market period.
The display of three-dimensional anatomy with stereolithographic models

Stereolithography, a new technique of prototype fabrication developed for the aerospace industry, offers a unique way to display patient anatomy. Like current computer aided design (CAD) systems, it uses digital image data from computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) to produce a physical model. Unlike conventional CAD it does not require a cutting tool and, therefore, CAD toolpath limitations do not exist. The stereolithography apparatus uses an ultraviolet laser to selectively polymerize and solidify a polymeric liquid plastic solution under computer control. The device was used to produce a model of cranial bony anatomy from CT image data, providing full internal detail in the constructed model, including encased sinuses, foramen, and potentially complete internal anatomy within a closed skull. The advantages and disadvantages of this technology are reviewed with an emphasis on future development.
Influence of sulfide inhibition of nitrification on nitrogen regeneration in sediments

Nitrification, a central process in the nitrogen cycle, converts ammonium to nitrite or nitrate. In experiments with estuarine sediment, addition of 60 and 100 μM hydrogen sulfide (HS − ) reduced nitrification by 50 and 100 percent, respectively. Aerobic incubation of ammonium-enriched sediment slurries showed that previous HS − exposure reduced nitrification for at least 24 hours; nitrification rates recovered slowly after one-time HS − exposure. Sulfide inhibition of nitrification could limit nitrogen loss through coupled nitrification-denitrification and may contribute to the previously observed difference in net nitrogen cycling between freshwater and marine sediments. This interaction could also exacerbate eutrophication in coastal environments.
FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF IMMUNITY WITH PNEUMOCOCCUS VACCINE : I. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE IMMUNITY DURING THE FIRST SEVEN DAYS AFTER INJECTION OF ANTIGEN.

1. The antigenic function of a pneumococcus vaccine made from the intact cell was compared with that derived fron a watery extract of the cell free from formed elements. In each instance, the immunity produced was dependent upon type-specific protective substance and not upon the elaboration of the common protein antibody. 2. The vaccine made from the intact cell resulted in both active and passive immunity which began on the 3rd day, increased markedly to the 5th, and remained approximately stationery to the 7th day. In the case of the Berkefeld filtrate of the shaken bacteria and the filtrate of the broth culture, the immunity began on the 4th day, increased to the 5th, and remained approximately stationery to the 7th day. The immunity produced by Pneumococcus Type I vaccine is greater than that produced by Type II. On the 3rd day, mice vaccinated with Type I vaccine resisted 100,000 minimal lethal doses, whereas mice immunized with Type II resisted 10,000 minimal lethal doses. On the 5th day, a larger percentage of mice survived these doses than on the 3rd day. 3. Certain factors related to the preparation and dosage of the vaccine are discussed. 4. As far as the time interval and the degree of immunity produced are concerned, these results suggest the possibility of employing pneumococcus vaccine in suitable doses in the treatment of lobar pneumonia. That an earlier activity of the immunity mechanism could actually be initiated in a patient with lobar pneumonia has still to be demonstrated.
Effects of Brood Pheromone (SuperBoost) on Consumption of Protein Supplement and Growth of Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies During Fall in a Northern Temperate Climate

Honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), nutrition is vital for colony growth and maintenance of a robust immune system. Brood rearing in honey bee colonies is highly dependent on protein availability. Beekeepers in general provide protein supplement to colonies during periods of pollen dearth. Honey bee brood pheromone is a blend of methyl and ethyl fatty acid esters extractable from cuticle of honey bee larvae that communicates the presence of larvae in a colony. Honey bee brood pheromone has been shown to increase protein supplement consumption and growth of honey bee colonies in a subtropical winter climate. Here, we tested the hypothesis that synthetic brood pheromone (SuperBoost) has the potential to increase protein supplement consumption during fall in a temperate climate and thus increase colony growth. The experiments were conducted in two locations in Oregon during September and October 2009. In both the experiments, colonies receiving brood pheromone treatment consumed significantly higher protein supplement and had greater brood area and adult bees than controls. Results from this study suggest that synthetic brood pheromone may be used to stimulate honey bee colony growth by stimulating protein supplement consumption during fall in a northern temperate climate, when majority of the beekeepers feed protein supplement to their colonies.
Aberrant ERG expression cooperates with loss of PTEN to promote cancer progression in the prostate.

Pier Paolo Pandolfi and colleagues report that prostate-specific overexpression of ERG in transgenic mice results in no overt phenotype on its own but promotes progression of intraepithelial neoplasia to adenocarcinoma in a PTEN heterozygous background. They also find that human TMPRSS2-ERG–positive tumors are enriched for PTEN loss, suggesting that these two events cooperate in human prostate tumorigenesis. Chromosomal translocations involving the ERG locus are frequent events in human prostate cancer pathogenesis; however, the biological role of aberrant ERG expression is controversial1. Here we show that aberrant expression of ERG is a progression event in prostate tumorigenesis. We find that prostate cancer specimens containing the TMPRSS2-ERG rearrangement are significantly enriched for loss of the tumor suppressor PTEN. In concordance with these findings, transgenic overexpression of ERG in mouse prostate tissue promotes marked acceleration and progression of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) to prostatic adenocarcinoma in a Pten heterozygous background. In vitro overexpression of ERG promotes cell migration, a property necessary for tumorigenesis, without affecting proliferation. ADAMTS1 and CXCR4, two candidate genes strongly associated with cell migration, were upregulated in the presence of ERG overexpression. Thus, ERG has a distinct role in prostate cancer progression and cooperates with PTEN haploinsufficiency to promote progression of HGPIN to invasive adenocarcinoma.
Assessment of the performance of the Stanford Online Calculator for the prediction of nonsentinel lymph node metastasis in sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Several models for the prediction of nonsentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis in sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive breast cancer patients have been proposed. In this study, the authors evaluate the Stanford Online Calculator (SOC), which was designed to predict the likelihood of NSLN metastasis using only 3 variables: primary tumor size, SLN metastasis size, and angiolymphatic invasion status. They compared it with the Mayo and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomograms. METHODS: The SOC was used to calculate the probability of NSLN metastasis in 464 breast cancer patients with SLN metastasis who underwent completion axillary lymph node dissection at the Mayo Clinic. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated for each model. Mean probabilities of patients with and without NSLN metastasis were compared. Patients with ≤5%, ≤10%, and 100% NSLN metastasis probabilities were examined. RESULTS: The AUCs of the Stanford, MSKCC, and Mayo models were 0.72, 0.74, and 0.77, respectively (P = .13). The mean Stanford probabilities for patients with and without NSLN metastasis were 0.75 (range, 0.06-1.0) and 0.50 (range, 0.05-1.0), respectively (P < .0001). The false-negative rates for patients with a Stanford probability of ≤5% and ≤10% were 0% and 13%, respectively. Of the patients with a Stanford probability of 100%, 26% did not have NSLN metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Despite using only 3 variables, the Stanford nomogram appears to perform on a par with, but not better than, the MSKCC and Mayo nomograms. Further validation in other patient populations is needed. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium in laser-sustained plasmas

An argon laser sustained plasma (LSP) at atmospheric pressure has been studied spectroscopically, and the existence of a nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium state has been determined. The spectroscopic data consist of argon neutral and ion line emissions used to spatially resolve electronic energy level population densities in each plasma species. A hydrogen seed is added to the argon flow for the purpose of determining the electron number density by Stark broadening analysis of the Balmer series alpha line. Electron and heavy particle kinetic temperatures are calculated through the use of an appropriate nonequilibrium model. The dominant nonequilibrium effect in this plasma is kinetic nonequilibrium where the electron kinetic temperature can be more than twice the heavy particle kinetic temperature in high laser power flux regions. Typical electron and heavy particle kinetic temperatures are 14,000 K and 8000 K, respectively. Electron number density ranges from 6 x 10 exp 16/cu cm to 2.1 x 10 exp 17/cu cm. 31 refs.
Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of [C5Me5CoLL‘] Complexes with L = Pyridine and L‘ = Olefin or L−L‘ = Bipyridine

The bis(olefin) complex [C5Me5Co(C2H3SiMe3)2] (6) reacts with pyridine at 22 °C to give the pyridine olefin complex [C5Me5Co(C2H3SiMe3)(C5H5N)] (7). The addition of excess pyridine does not result in the formation of a bis(pyridine) adduct. Thermolysis of solutions of 7 in benzene-d6 results in catalytic H/D exchange which incorporates deuterium from the solvent into coordinated olefin. Pyridine dissociation generates a 16-electron intermediate which is formulated as the reactive species. At long times deuteration of the coordinated pyridine is also observed via shuttling of deuterium from the solvent to the olefin ligand and then to the pyridine. The reaction of 6 with pyridine-d5 results in the analogue 7-d5. Thermolysis of 7-d5 shows preference for H/D exchange at the ortho positions of coordinated pyridine, which has been explained by the formation of η2-coordinated intermediates. Reaction of 4-phenylpyridine with 6 yields the analogous pyridine adduct [C5Me5Co(C2H3SiMe3)(4-C6H5-C5H4N)] (12), which wa...
Ovol1 regulates the growth arrest of embryonic epidermal progenitor cells and represses c-myc transcription

Transcriptional control plays a key role in regulating epidermal proliferation and differentiation. Although ample information has been obtained on how epidermal homeostasis is controlled in adult skin, less is known about the control of proliferation/differentiation of epidermal stem/progenitor cells in the developing embryo. Ovol1, encoding a zinc finger protein homologous to Drosophila melanogaster Ovo, is expressed in embryonic epidermal progenitor cells that are transiting from proliferation to terminal differentiation. In this study, we demonstrate a function for Ovol1 in interfollicular epidermal development. In its absence, developing epidermis fails to properly restrict the proliferative potential of progenitor cells, and cultured keratinocytes fail to efficiently undergo growth arrest in response to extrinsic growth-inhibitory signals. We present molecular evidence that c-myc expression is up-regulated in Ovol1-deficient suprabasal cells and that Ovol1 represses c-myc transcription by directly binding to its promoter. Collectively, our findings indicate that Ovol1 is required for proliferation exit of committed epidermal progenitor cells and identify c-myc as an Ovol1 target.
On optimizing the backoff interval for random access schemes

To improve channel throughput and the fairness of random access channels, we propose a new backoff algorithm, namely, the sensing backoff algorithm (SBA). A novel feature of the SBA scheme is the sensing mechanism, in which every node modifies its backoff interval according to the results of the sensed channel activities. In particular, every active node sensing a successful transmission decreases its backoff interval by an additive factor of the transmission time of a packet. In order to find the optimum parameters for the SBA scheme, we have studied the optimum backoff intervals as a function of different numbers of active nodes (N) in a single transmission area with pure ALOHA-type channels. We find that the optimum backoff interval should be 4N times the packet transmission time when the random access channel operates under a pure ALOHA scheme. Based on this result, we have calculated numerically the optimum values of the parameters for SBA, which are independent of N. The SBA scheme operates close to the optimum backoff interval. Furthermore, its operation does not depend on a knowledge of N. The optimum backoff interval and the SBA scheme have been studied also by simulation. It is shown that the SBA scheme out-performs other backoff schemes, such as binary exponential backoff (BEB) and multiplicative increase linear decrease (MILD). As a point of reference, the SBA scheme offers a channel capacity of 0.19 when N is 10, while the MILD scheme can only offer 0.125. The performance gain is about 50%.
Hazardous Waste and Solid Waste Infrastructure

Proper waste management is essential to protect human health, ecosystems, and economic prosperity. Between 2001 and 2003, the St. Louis Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers evaluated the environmental infrastructure in the metropolitan St. Louis region: four counties in Illinois, six counties in Missouri, and St. Louis City. This paper addresses the findings for hazardous waste management and solid waste management from that study. The three general factors considered were: (1) Capacity versus need, (2) funding versus need, and (3) system performance. Data were gathered from regulatory agency surveys as well as online and printed sources. At times, the published data conflicted, indicating a need for caution when using it, and there are well-known problems associated with quantifying recycling and pollution prevention activities. Recognizing these problems, general conclusions were drawn from the study, including that both the hazardous and solid waste management systems were functioning adequately, although there is room for improvement.
Starch-branching enzymesSbe1 andSbe2 from wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Cheyenne): Molecular characterization, development expression, and homoeologue assignment by differential PCR

Starch is the main component of the wheat kernel, and wheat flour is used for hundreds of food and nonfood products. We are exploring ways to improve wheat quality and to develop new uses for wheat based on altered starch characteristics. To understand the molecular basis for variations in the physical and chemical properties of starch, we examined transcripts for starch biosynthetic enzymes. cDNAs encoding 2 isoforms of starch-branching enzyme (Sbe1, Sbe2) were isolated from wheat endosperm. The longestSbe1 andSbe2 cDNAs were 2797 and 2975 bp, respectively, and they shared extensive identity withSbe sequences reported for wheat and other species. With orthologue-specific primer pairs, homoeologue assignments to chromosome 7 were made forSbe1#19 (TRIae: Sbe1A.1) andSbe1#9 (TRIae:Sbe1D.1) using the wheat cv. Chinese Spring nullisomic-tetrasomic-7 lines. This strategy may prove useful for future mapping of expressed sequence tag (EST) data. TheSbe cDNAs and a granule-bound starch synthase cDNA (GbssI) (from an EST sequencing project) were used to examine the steady-state RNA levels during development of the wheat. Steady-state levels ofSbe2 mRNA were detectable 5 d postanthesis (DPA) and reached a maximum at 10 DPA. Steady-state levels ofSbe1 andGbssI began to rise at 10 DPA and peaked at 15 DPA. Levels of all messages declined rapidly at 20–25 DPA. Reported here is the first analysis of transcripts for these enzymes in the same RNA pools and demonstration that expression patterns are unique and developmentally regulated.
Representing cases and rules in plausible reasoning systems

The representation of cases and rules is addressed. A case representation language tool used to directly represent instantiated cases is presented. PRIMO (plausible reasoning module), a rule-based system used to represent uncertainty and vagueness in data and rules, is described. Cases and rules, integrated in a combined approximate reasoning system (CARS), are illustrated with examples taken from the domain of mergers and acquisitions. >
OMeta: an object-oriented language for pattern matching

This paper introduces OMeta, a new object-oriented language for pattern matching. OMeta is based on a variant of Parsing Expression Grammars (PEGs) [5]---a recognition-based foundation for describing syntax---which we have extended to handle arbitrary kinds of data. We show that OMeta's general-purpose pattern matching provides a natural and convenient way for programmers to implement tokenizers, parsers, visitors, and tree transformers, all of which can be extended in interesting ways using familiar object-oriented mechanisms. This makes OMeta particularly well-suited as a medium for experimenting with new designs for programming languages and extensions to existing languages.
Symmetry Considerations When Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition for Predicting Wind Turbine Yaw Loads

In an earlier study, the authors discussed the efficiency of low-dimensional representations of inflow turbulence random fields in predicting statistics of wind turbine loads that included blade and tower bending moments. Both root-mean-square and 10-min extreme statistics for these loads were approximated very well when time-domain simulations were carried out on a 600 kW two-bladed turbine and only a limited number of inflow "modes" were employed using proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). Here, turbine yaw loads are considered and the conventional ordering of POD modes is seen to be not as efficient in predicting full-field load statistics for the same turbine. Based on symmetry arguments, reasons for a different treatment of yaw loads are presented and reasons for observed deviation from the expected monotonic convergence to full-field load statistics with increasing POD mode number are illustrated.
Sexual assault and coercion among incarcerated women prisoners: Excerpts from prison letters

There are few existing studies that address sexual misconduct of women offenders toward other women prisoners. This qualitative study examined themes of sexual coercion and sexual assault among wom...
Development of a Model for Announcing Major Layoffs

A model for announcing major layoffs was developed. First a model was developed from the existing literature. Using this model as a guiding framework, layoffs from eight organizations were analyzed...
Reality check: should we use vancomycin for the prophylaxis of intravascular catheter-associated infections?

The use of intravascular catheters is associated with increased risk of bloodstream infections, principally caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci. This “Reality Check” session, held at die 4th Decennial International Conference on Nosocomial and Healthcare-Associated Infections, focused on the question of whether, and in what manner, vancomycin should be used for the prophylaxis of these infections.
Nutritional and psychological considerations after bariatric surgery

The anatomic and physiological changes resulting from bariatric surgery can affect both nutrition and psychological attitudes. Modifications of the gastrointestinal tract lead to a diminished ability to absorb nutrients, electrolytes, and bile salts, as well as deficiencies in iron, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals. Dehydration, lactose intolerance, and protein calorie malnutrition are other common sequelae. Alterations in bone metabolism increase long-term risk for osteopenia and osteoporosis. Noncompliance with postsurgical nutritional regimens has been estimated to occur in from one third to almost two thirds of cases and can exacerbate these complications. Psychological issues are often present in patients with morbid obesity and can affect surgical outcomes. These issues include mood and personality disorders, destructive eating behaviors, and poor body image. Nearly one third of patients undergoing bariatric surgery also have a history of substance abuse disorder. The literature suggests that although the mental health of patients improves as a result of bariatric surgery, the benefits may be transient, and problems such as negative personality profiles, detrimental eating patterns, and negative body image persist to some extent. Identification of presurgical psychiatric problems can help identify those patients more likely to achieve lasting weight loss when surgery is combined with long-term follow-up to minimize medical and psychological complications.
Quantitative study of the importance of water permeability in plant cold hardiness.

The rate of ice formation was measured for Hedera helix L. cv. Thorndale (English ivy) bark exposed to −10 C. The cooling rate of bark exposed to −10 C was 31 C per minute. The water efflux rate required for ice formation to occur extracellularly was calculated from the rate of ice formation and the average cell diameter. The water potential difference driving the efflux of water to sites of extracellular ice was calculated from the sample temperature, osmotic water potential, and fraction of water frozen at a given freezing temperature. From the water efflux rate and water potential difference, the resistance of the barrier controlling movement of intracellular water to sites of extracellular ice was calculated. Comparison of the resistance of this barrier to water movement with the resistance of the cell membrane revealed that the membrane represented only 0.5% of the barrier resistance. Thus, membrane resistance can have little influence on the rate of water efflux and ice formation when bark is cooled at a rate of 31 C per minute. If ice formation occurred at the same rate in ivy bark as it occurred in a 10 mm MnCl2 solution, the membrane resistance would still have represented only 1% of the resistance of the barrier to ice formation. Therefore, at a cooling rate of 31 C/minute, heat removal plays a large part in determining the rate of ice formation. At slower cooling rates experienced under natural freezing conditions the ability to remove heat would play an even larger role. It is concluded that under natural freezing conditions membrane resistance does not limit water efflux.
Prostaglandin inhibition of testosterone production induced by luteinizing hormone, dibutyryl cyclic AMP or 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine in dispersed rat testicular interstitial cells.

Abstract Testicular interstitial cells were utilized to study the effects of prostaglandins (PG) on in vitro testosterone production and to examine the role of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in this process. Testosterone production was assessed after 3 hour incubations while cAMP accumulation was examined after a 0.5 hour incubation period. Testosterone and cAMP were measured by radioimmunoassay. None of the PGs tested (PGA 1 , PGA 2 , PGB 1 , PGE 1 , PGE 2 , PGF 1α , PGF 2α ) altered basal testosterone production wnen present in incubates at concentrations of 1.3 × 10 M to 1.3 × 10 −4 M . However, at concentrations of 1.3 × 10 −4 M all of these PGs were capable of decreasing Luteinizing Hormone (LH; 100ng)- induced testosterone production. The inhibition of LH-induced testosterone production by the B, E and F series PGs was less pronounced than that for the A series. PGA 1 and PGA 2 - exhibited 80% and 95% inhibition, respectively, at 1.3 × 10 −4 M. The inhibitory action of 4 × 10 −5 M PGA 1 or PGA 2 was evident within 30 minutes. Preincubation of interstitial cells with indomethacin (10 −5 or 10 −6 M) for 30 minutes did not alter subsequent basal or LH (100 ng)-induced testosterone production. Accumulation of cAMP was stimulated by LH (10 μg) or by PGs (1.3 × 10 −4 M PGA 1 , PGA 2 , PGB 1 , PGE 1 or PGF 2α ). The PG-induced cAMP accumulation thus occurred at concentrations where LH-stimulated testosterone production was inhibited. Furthermore, PGA 1 and PGA 2 (1.3 × 10 −4 M) inhibited testosterone production induced by either 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine (MIX; 10 −4 M or 10 −3 M ) or dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP; 10 −4 M or 10 −3 M ). These results indicate that PGs can block testosterone productfon by a direct effect on testicular interstitial cells and suggest that PGs exert their inhibitory action distal to stimulation of cAMP formation. PGs do not appear to play a role in the mechanism of LH action.
Animals as sentinels of chemical terrorism agents: An evidence-based review

Objectives.The goal of this systematic review was to identify evidence that animals could serve as sentinels of an attack with a chemical terrorism agent. Methods.The biomedical literature was syst...
Saving-Enhanced Memory The Benefits of Saving on the Learning and Remembering of New Information

With the continued integration of technology into people's lives, saving digital information has become an everyday facet of human behavior. In the present research, we examined the consequences of saving certain information on the ability to learn and remember other information. Results from three experiments showed that saving one file before studying a new file significantly improved memory for the contents of the new file. Notably, this effect was not observed when the saving process was deemed unreliable or when the contents of the to-be-saved file were not substantial enough to interfere with memory for the new file. These results suggest that saving provides a means to strategically off-load memory onto the environment in order to reduce the extent to which currently unneeded to-be-remembered information interferes with the learning and remembering of other information.
Dispersion and transport of gas-phase contaminants in dry porous media: effect of heterogeneity and gas velocity

Abstract The purpose of these experiments was to study the effects of physical heterogeneity and velocity on transport of gas-phase contaminants in dry porous media. Experiments were conducted at gas velocities ranging from 6 to 200 cm min −1 to examine the contributions of longitudinal molecular diffusion, hydrodynamic dispersion, and rate-limited diffusive mass transfer to solute spreading. Methane was used as a nonreactive tracer, and trichloroethene, benzene and toluene were used as reactive tracers. Total dispersion of methane during transport through a homogeneous porous medium was the sum of longitudinal molecular diffusion and hydrodynamic dispersion. The latter was the major process contributing to total dispersion at gas velocities greater than 40 cm min −1 . The contribution of longitudinal molecular diffusion was negligible at gas velocities greater than 150 cm min −1 . Transport of tracers in the heterogeneous (macroporous) medium exhibited preferential flow and tailing at gas velocities greater than about 100 cm min −1 as a result of rate-limited mass transfer between macropore and micropore domains. The spreading associated with rate-limited mass transfer between macropore and micropore domains was the main contributor to total dispersion at gas velocities greater than 120 cm min −1 . The transport of the reactive tracers was successfully predicted using data obtained for the nonreactive tracer.
Interactions between the Responses of North American Climate to El Niño–La Niña and to the Secular Warming Trend in the Indian–Western Pacific Oceans

The modulation of El Nino and La Nina responses by the long-term sea surface temperature (SST) warming trend in the Indian–Western Pacific (IWP) Oceans has been investigated using a large suite of sensitivity integrations with an atmospheric general circulation model. These model runs entail the prescription of anomalous SST conditions corresponding to composite El Nino or La Nina episodes, to SST increases associated with secular warming in IWP, and to combinations of IWP warming and El Nino/La Nina. These SST forcings are derived from the output of coupled model experiments for climate settings of the 1951–2000 and 2001–50 epochs. Emphasis is placed on the wintertime responses in 200-mb height and various indicators of surface climate in the North American sector. The model responses to El Nino and La Nina forcings are in agreement with the observed interannual anomalies associated with warm and cold episodes. The wintertime model responses in North America to IWP warming bear a distinct positive (negative) spatial correlation with the corresponding responses to La Nina (El Nino). Hence, the amplitude of the combined responses to IWP warming and La Nina is notably higher than that to IWP warming and El Nino. The model projections indicate that, as the SST continues to rise in the IWP sector during the twenty-first century, the strength of various meteorological anomalies accompanying La Nina (El Nino) will increase (decrease) with time. The response of the North American climate and the zonal mean circulation to the combined effects of IWP forcing and La Nina (El Nino) is approximately equal to the linear sum of the separate effects of IWP warming and La Nina (El Nino). The summertime responses to IWP warming bear some similarity to the meteorological anomalies accompanying extended droughts and heat waves over the continental United States.
The Use of Back-up Units to Enhance the Safety of Unrelated Donor Cord Blood Transplantation

The inability to obtain additional stem cells is a disadvantage of unrelated donor cord blood transplantation (CBT). Moreover, in the event of problems with unit shipment, compromised unit quality, thaw mishaps, or graft failure, the time to secure a back-up graft could be unacceptable. Emergent shipment of 1 to 2 back-up units that have been previously typed and reserved could overcome this limitation. However, the advantages of this approach are not established. Therefore, we present our use of back-up units over a 5.5-year period. Six of 121 CBT recipients (5%) required back-up unit infusion. Indications included shipment mishaps (n = 2), poor unit viability (n = 2), significant infusion reaction (n = 1), and graft failure (n = 1). Lack of back-up units would have caused transplantation delay or infusion of inferior-quality units. Five of the 6 patients achieved sustained donor engraftment. We demonstrate that back-up units are emergently required in a significant minority of patients, supporting the incorporation of at least 1 back-up unit in cord blood (CB) selection algorithms to enhance CBT safety.