cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Short-Term Precipitation Exclusion Alters Microbial Responses to Soil Moisture in a Wet Tropical Forest

Many wet tropical forests, which contain a quarter of global terrestrial biomass carbon stocks, will experience changes in precipitation regime over the next century. Soil microbial responses to altered rainfall are likely to be an important feedback on ecosystem carbon cycling, but the ecological mechanisms underpinning these responses are poorly understood. We examined how reduced rainfall affected soil microbial abundance, activity, and community composition using a 6-month precipitation exclusion experiment at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Thereafter, we addressed the persistent effects of field moisture treatments by exposing soils to a controlled soil moisture gradient in the lab for 4 weeks. In the field, compositional and functional responses to reduced rainfall were dependent on initial conditions, consistent with a large degree of spatial heterogeneity in tropical forests. However, the precipitation manipulation significantly altered microbial functional responses to soil moisture. Communities with prior drought exposure exhibited higher respiration rates per unit microbial biomass under all conditions and respired significantly more CO2 than control soils at low soil moisture. These functional patterns suggest that changes in microbial physiology may drive positive feedbacks to rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations if wet tropical forests experience longer or more intense dry seasons in the future.
Shock phase transformation and release properties of aluminum nitride

A environ 22 GPa la structure du nitride d'aluminium change d'une structure hexagonale de wurtzite en une structure cubique de sel gemme. La phase se caracterise par un changement de volume d'environ 20% ― non-recuperable. Nous avons etudie la manifestation de cet important changement de volume cors de la charge, au moyen de quatre experiences d'impact uniaxial. Nous avons effectue un releve des vitesses de choc et d'echappement, a une pression d'impact de 40 GPa, y compris le developpement du choc et de l'echappement, avec les distances de propagation. Grâce a une technique d'analyse numerique, nous avons determine les caracteristiques de fatigue et de tendance du nitride d'aluminium, y compris durant la transformation de phase
Benzodiazepines for acute pain in children

When pediatric pain is refractory and unresponsive to appropriate use of analgesic agents, there might be additional physical or psychologic dimensions of the pain that are not addressed by the analgesics. In addition to appropriate analgesic therapy, the psychologic needs of the child should be directly addressed and appropriate adjunctive physical modalities employed. Although benzodiazepines lack direct analgesic effects, they can reduce the distress associated with acute pain states by decreasing anxiety, insomnia, and muscle spasms that can be associated with acute pain. Intermediate or long-acting benzodiazepines in modest doses can be useful adjunctive agents when used short term for the treatment of selected acute pain complaints. In the highly distressed school-age child or adolescent with pain complaints relatively unresponsive to appropriate care, judicious use of benzodiazepines is worthy of consideration.
Pulsed terahertz time-domain communication

We consider the problem of building a communication channel based on modulation of terahertz pulses. Given the constrained propagation properties of this spectrum, one of our goals is to determine the potential data rates achievable for different environmental conditions. To do this, we first present a detailed channel model based on measurements carried out on a terahertz time-domain system. We next simulate frequency-domain differential quadrature phase shift keying (FD-DQPSK) and Adaptive FD-DQPSK pulse modulation schemes. Finally, we simulate communication for different cities in winter and summer seasons where the primary channel impairment includes humidity. We show that data rates of well over 1 Tbit/s are achievable for all cases for distances of up to three meters. We also examine the error behavior of this transmission channel as a function of humidity and frequency band.
A fission yeast B-type cyclin functioning early in the cell cycle.

Abstract We have cloned a fission yeast gene, cig1 + , encoding a 48 kd product that is most similar to cyclin B proteins. The cig1 + protein has a "cyclin box" ∼40% identical to B-type cyclins of other species, but lacks the "destruction box" required for proteolysis of mitotic cyclins. Deletion of cig1 + had no observable effect on cell viability or progression through G2 or M phase, but instead caused a marked lag in the progression from G1 to S phase. G1 constituted ∼70% of the cell cycle in cig1 deletion strains, as compared with cit1 + strains. Constitutive cig1 + overexpression was lethal, causing cessation of growth and arrest in G1. Expression of cig1 + failed to rescue an S. cerevisiae strain lacking CLN Start cyclins. Thus, cig1 1 identifies a new class of B-type cyclin acting in G1 or S phase that appears to be functionally distinct from all previously described cyclin proteins.
Magnetic Resonance Microscopy of Toxic Renal Injury Induced by Bromoethylamine in Rats

The alkylhalide 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide (BEA) produces renal injury in rats that mimics analgesic-related renal injury in humans. Our purpose was to examine this injury, in vivo in rats, with magnetic resonance (MR) microscopy and correlate MR findings with findings from light microscopy of hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections. Rats (n = 48) were injected intravenously with BEA (150 mg/kg) or saline and imaged with MR 6, 48, and 336 hr later. The spin-spin relaxation time, T2, was measured from the cortex to the papilla. In other rats, we measured regional water content of the kidney. Renal injury was present 48 and 336 hr after BEA dosing based on increased renal organ weights, decreased urine specific gravity, and significant renal lesions (H & E). T2 was elevated in the inner stripe of the outer medulla in injured kidneys at 48 hr. The differences in T2 between cortex and outer medulla were also elevated 48 hr after BEA. In the inner medulla, there were no changes in T2 after BEA treatment. However, in all groups there were significant regional differences in T2. The value of T2 increased from outer to inner medulla and this gradient was directly correlated with water content. Thus, MR microscopy detected damage in the outer medulla after BEA injury but not the damage in the inner medulla. T2 appeared to reflect the water content in the different regions of the medulla. The noninvasive in vivo capability of MR microscopy, with its high sensitivity to tissue water, allows the toxicologist to monitor the progression and regression of toxic insult in the same animal. At present the technology is complicated. The precise and accurate measure of MR-sensitive parameters in live animals at microscopic resolution is difficult. However, as the technology matures, there will be significant improvements providing the toxicologist a unique in vivo tool.
The design of a study to assess occult-blood screening for colon cancer.

Abstract It is our experience to date that large numbers of high risk individuals can be induced to use the self-administered Hemoccult test on a periodic basis. The study will determine not only whether a significant reduction in mortality can be effected by such periodic screening for colorectal cancer, but will also attempt to arrive at such parameters as the optimal period for rescreening by estimating mean lead time gained at different rescreening intervals using the methodology of Zelen and Feinleib [10] and Prorok [11, 12]. In addition, screening at two different intervals (Groups I and II) will yield empirical data about the effect of screening frequency on mortality and survivorship. Combining these methodologies may yield new information on optimal screening frequency. Such information could then be used to set up screening programs which would significantly reduce mortality from colorectal cancer on a nation-wide basis.
Melatonin increases oestrogen receptor binding activity of human breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is frequently a hormone-dependent tumour, and several studies have suggested that the pineal gland hormone melatonin may influence the growth and development of this malignancy. Subcutaneous injections of melatonin have been shown to inhibit, and pinealectomy to enhance, the development of dimethyl benz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumours in rats. Use of the psychotropic drug thorazine, which increases plasma melatonin levels, has been associated with a decreased incidence of breast cancer in psychiatric patients. Calcification of the pineal gland has been correlated with an increased incidence of breast cancer in women. While the mechanism by which melatonin influences these tumours is unknown, both human breast cancer and DMBA-induced tumours contain oestrogen receptors (ER) and respond to changes in the oestrogen milieu. We therefore wondered whether melatonin might be altering ER binding activity of these tumours. We report here that in vitro incubation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with melatonin in physiological conditions increased the cytoplasmic and nuclear ER activity of these cells within 40 min, giving no change in the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of the receptor. This induction was blocked by cycloheximide, and thus requires continuous protein synthesis. The modulation of ER binding activity of breast cancer by another endogenous hormone may be important for understanding the behaviour and treatment of this disease, and may provide insight into the factors regulating the synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormone receptors.
Leader Dilemmas and Countertransference Considerations in Group Psychotherapy with Substance Abusers

Leader issues and countertransference dilemmas that emerge in psychotherapy groups for substance abusers will be examined along with strategies to extricate the therapist from the impasses that emerge. Specific issues include feelings of helplessness and inadequacy when a patient relapses and resumes substance use, countertransference reactions emanating from an overlapping personal or family history of substance abuse, countertransference helplessness when the therapist is more invested in the treatment than the patient, feelings of incompetence related to partial familiarity with 12-step culture and lingo, and countertransference devaluation fostered by systemic issues in substance abuse settings.
A correlation between multiple unit activity in the hypothalamus and electrocardiographic changes during a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Abstract A sudden onset and short latency of cardiovascular responses that may follow a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the vicinity of the circle of Willis implicate neural mechanisms. To investigate this, multi unit activity (MUA) was recorded from the posterolateral hypothalamus and electrocardiogram was recorded from lead II before and during SAH in rats. A temporal correlation between MUA, heart rate and rhythm changes was observed. Following SAH, transient depression of MUA (approximately 5 s or less) did not affect heart rate; a more sustained suppression preceded bradycardia and arrhthmias. Bradycardia, premature atrial contractions and premature ventricular contractions occurred under two conditions: (1) when MUA was suppressed; and (2) during bursts in MUA when interburst phases were suppressed. Further evidence that bradycardia may be the result of suppression of brain potentials was obtained by failure of bilateral vagotomy, atropine and isoproterenol to reverse bradycardia generated after SAH under the ventral aspect of thain in the vicinity of circle of Willis. However, bilateral vagatomy reversed bradycardia after SAH in the cisterna magna indicating an activation of central parasympathetic neurons. The results indicate that different neural mechanisms underlie bradycardia generated from the above mentioned two sites, namely, ventral brain and cisterna magna.
ON SPECIFICATION OF REUSABLE SOFTWARE COMPONENTS

For widespread reuse in a component-based software industry, a component must be designed and developed to be reused. Benefits of reuse are maximized when a component is reused “as is” (possibly with provisions for expected customization, such as through parameters), based only on its specification. The expression of the specification of a component is crucial in this setting. The specification must be formal, yet understandable, as well as abstract and implementation-independent. The specification also must make it possible to demonstrate correctness of an implementation of the specification and permit formal reasoning about its behavior in a client program. This paper explains how it is possible to write specifications with these properties in RESOLVE, a conceptual framework that we have developed for constructing reusable software components.
From the Corn Laws to Free Trade: Interests, Ideas and Institutions in Historical Perspective

From the Corn Laws to Free Trade: Interests, Ideas and Institutions in Historical Perspective Cheryl Schonhardt-Bailey Cambridge, MA, MIT Press, 2006, 426 pp., $47.50 hardcover ISBN 978-0-262-19543...
Characteristics and trends in various forms of the Palmer Drought Severity Index during 1900–2008

[1] The Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) has been widely used to study aridity changes in modern and past climates. Efforts to address its major problems have led to new variants of the PDSI, such as the self-calibrating PDSI (sc_PDSI) and PDSI using improved formulations for potential evapotranspiration (PE), such as the Penman-Monteith equation (PE_pm) instead of the Thornthwaite equation (PE_th). Here I compare and evaluate four forms of the PDSI, namely, the PDSI with PE_th (PDSI_th) and PE_pm (PDSI_pm) and the sc_PDSI with PE_th (sc_PDSI_th) and PE_pm (sc_PDSI_pm) calculated using available climate data from 1850 to 2008. Our results confirm previous findings that the choice of the PE only has small effects on both the PDSI and sc_PDSI for the 20th century climate, and the self-calibration reduces the value range slightly and makes the sc_PDSI more comparable spatially than the original PDSI. However, the histograms of the sc_PDSI are still non-Gaussian at many locations, and all four forms of the PDSI show similar correlations with observed monthly soil moisture (r = 0.4–0.8) in North America and Eurasia, with historical yearly streamflow data (r = 0.4–0.9) over most of the world's largest river basins, and with GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellite-observed water storage changes (r = 0.4–0.8) over most land areas. All the four forms of the PDSI show widespread drying over Africa, East and South Asia, and other areas from 1950 to 2008, and most of this drying is due to recent warming. The global percentage of dry areas has increased by about 1.74% (of global land area) per decade from 1950 to 2008. The use of the Penman-Monteith PE and self-calibrating PDSI only slightly reduces the drying trend seen in the original PDSI. The percentages of dry and wet areas over the global land area and six select regions are anticorrelated (r = −0.5 to −0.7), but their long-term trends during the 20th century do not cancel each other, with the trend for the dry area often predominating over that for the wet area, resulting in upward trends during the 20th century for the areas under extreme (i.e., dry or wet) conditions for the global land as a whole (∼1.27% per decade) and the United States, western Europe, Australia, Sahel, East Asia, and southern Africa. The recent drying trends are qualitatively consistent with other analyses and model predictions, which suggest more severe drying in the coming decades.
Industrial Seismic Imaging on Commodity Supercomputers

The petroleum industry has been a strong consumer of traditional supercomputers, routinely running technical applications which process terabytes of data and require Gflops-years of computation. Now that comparable parallel supercomputers can be assembled using commodity components for about one-tenth the price of a traditional supercomputer, it is inevitable that the petroleum industry will adopt commodity systems. In this paper, we will first give an overview of industrial seismic imaging for petroleum exploration, including the physics and computational approach of the predominant algorithm. We then will describe our decision-making process for and experience in constructing a commodity supercomputer. This machine has been performing production seismic imaging since January 1, 1999.
The Preschool Playground: Developing Skills through Outdoor Play

(1994). The Preschool Playground: Developing Skills through Outdoor Play. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 65, No. 6, pp. 31-33.
Development of the Adult Epilepsy Self-Management Measurement Instrument (AESMMI)

Epilepsy self-management is the total sum of steps that people perform to maximize seizure control, to minimize the impact of having a seizure disorder, and to maximize quality of life. As part of a phased approach to instrument development, we conducted descriptive analyses of data from epilepsy self-management items covering 10 domains of self-management gathered from 422 adults with epilepsy from multiple study sites. Participants most frequently reported performing sets of behaviors related to managing treatment and stigma, information seeking, managing symptoms, and communicating with providers. Behaviors reported with lower frequency were related to seeking social support and engaging in wellness behaviors. Significant differences for the domains were found for income, gender, and education levels but not for other different demographic variables. A subsequent analytic phase, reported in a companion article, will use factor analysis to identify and validate the subscale structure of the domains.
On the Edge of Web-Based Multiple Sequence Alignment Services

There are many web-based multiple sequence alignment services accessible around the world. However, many researchers working on biological sequence analysis still struggle with inefficient, unfriendly user interface, and limited capability multiple sequence alignment software. In this study, we provide a comprehensive survey of regional and continental facilities that provide web-based alignment services. We also analyze and identify much needed services that are not available through these existing service providers. We then implement a web-based model to address these needs. From that perspective, our web-based multiple sequence alignment server, SeqAna, provides a unique set of services that none of these studied facilities have. For example, SeqAna provides a multiple sequence alignment scoring and ranking service. This service, the only of its kind, allows SeqAna's users to perform multiple sequence alignment with several alignment tools and rank the results of these alignments in the order of quality. With this service, SeqAna's users will be able to identify which alignment tools are more appropriate for their specific set of sequences. In addition, SeqAna's users can customize a small alignment sample as a reference for SeqAna to automatically identify the best tool to align their large set of sequences.
Ferroelectric electroreflectance of gold films

Abstract The modulation of the reflectivity of gold film deposited on BaTiO 3 was studied as the ferroelectric polarization of the substrate was reversed repeatedly. The fractional modulation of the reflectance, ΔR R , was measured as a function of the frequency, ν, of the incident light. The positions of anomalies in ( ΔR R )(ν) agree with the positions of similar anomalies found previously in the modulated reflectance of an electrolyte-gold interface. This similarity suggests strongly that the ΔR R is due to excessive charges induced on the gold.
AN IMPROVED HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY ASSAY FOR ACETAZOLAMIDE

AbstractA high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the quantitation of acetazolamide in a suspension dosage form is described. The method is simple, accurate, and precise. Acetazolamide was extracted from the suspension using a mobile phase which contained 65% phosphate buffer and 35% methanol and separated from other components by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The separation was carried out using a C18 column (250 × 4.5 mm i.d.). The photometric detector was set at 254 nm. The excipients present in the tablets from which the suspension was compounded did not interfere with the assay procedure. Sixteen replicate injections of 10.5 mg/mL samples resulted in a percent relative standard deviation of 2.02.
A model for the analysis of aew and cap aircraft availability

As a carrier taskforce proceeds into an operating area it becomes necessary to launch Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) aircraft, including Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and possibly Combat Air Patrol (CAP) units. The number of aircraft launched depends on the degree of AAW coverage desired, the time period to be covered, and the availability of aircraft. The principal factors determining the availability of aircraft for such employment are the composition of the aircraft complement and the adequacy of the maintenance facilities. This paper presents an analytical model describing the maintenance operation aboard an aircraft carrier. The model is sufficiently general to permit the evaluation of a wide variety of aircraft types and employment schemes. The model was applied to determining: (1) the maximum feasible airborne complement of AEW and CAP aircraft; and (2) the effect of various intra-carrier and intercarrier cycling operations in task forces containing more than one carrier. For each of these two examples, the output of the model is a probability distribution of the number of a given type of aircraft that are airborne as a function of time in the operating area. A maximum feasible airborne complement is obtained by assuring that the probability that the full complement is maintained remains about a given standard over the period of the operation. The effect of inter-carrier coordination is measured by the size of the maximum feasible airborne complement under various situations. Other applications for which the model would be useful are the measurement of sensitivity of AAW aircraft availability to variations on the parameters of maintenance process, and the evaluation of the effect of maintenance limitations of the AAW coverage as requirements increase during the later stages of an operation.
Heterologous expression of a plastid EF-Tu reduces protein thermal aggregation and enhances CO2 fixation in wheat (Triticum aestivum) following heat stress.

Heat stress is a major constraint to wheat production and negatively impacts grain quality, causing tremendous economic losses, and may become a more troublesome factor due to global warming. At the cellular level, heat stress causes denaturation and aggregation of proteins and injury to membranes leading to alterations in metabolic fluxes. Protein aggregation is irreversible, and protection of proteins from thermal aggregation is a strategy a cell uses to tolerate heat stress. Here we report on the development of transgenic wheat (Triticum aestivum) events, expressing a maize gene coding for plastidal protein synthesis elongation factor (EF-Tu), which, compared to non-transgenic plants, display reduced thermal aggregation of leaf proteins, reduced heat injury to photosynthetic membranes (thylakoids), and enhanced rate of CO2 fixation after exposure to heat stress. The results support the concept that EF-Tu ameliorates negative effects of heat stress by acting as a molecular chaperone. This is the first demonstration of the introduction of a plastidal EF-Tu in plants that leads to protection against heat injury and enhanced photosynthesis after heat stress. This is also the first demonstration that a gene other than HSP gene can be used for improvement of heat tolerance and that the improvement is possible in a species that has a complex genome, hexaploid wheat. The results strongly suggest that heat tolerance of wheat, and possibly other crop plants, can be improved by modulating expression of plastidal EF-Tu and/or by selection of genotypes with increased endogenous levels of this protein.
A Brief Experimental Analysis For Identifying Instructional Components Needed To Improve Oral Reading Fluency.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY Brief experimental analyses of oral reading fluency were conducted with 4 participants who had been referred by teachers and parents for reading problems. The procedures involved the sequential application of reading interventions to improve students' oral reading fluency. Following a baseline condition, instructional treatments were combined with prior conditions until there was improvement in oral reading fluency in the instruc- tional passages and passages with high content overlap. Differentiated response patterns, assessed via a multielement design, were obtained for all participants. Results are discussed in terms of the potential benefits and limitations of conducting brief experimental analyses for selecting reading interventions. DESCRIPTORS: brief experimental analysis, functional assessment, oral reading fluency
Cost Curve Evaluation of Fault Prediction Models

Prediction of fault prone software components is one of the most researched problems in software engineering. Many statistical techniques have been proposed but there is no consensus on the methodology to select the "best model" for the specific project. In this paper, we introduce and discuss the merits of cost curve analysis of fault prediction models. Cost curves allow software quality engineers to introduce project-specific cost of module misclassification into model evaluation. Classifying a software module as fault-prone implies the application of some verification activities, thus adding to the development cost. Misclassifying a module as fault free carries the risk of system failure, also associated with cost implications. Through the analysis of sixteen projects from public repositories, we observe that software quality does not necessarily benefit from the prediction of fault prone components. The inclusion of misclassification cost in model evaluation may indicate that even the "best" models achieve performance no better than trivial classification. Our results support a recommendation to adopt cost curves as one of the standard methods for software quality model performance evaluation.
Recurrent psychogenic paresis after dural puncture in a parturient

We describe the case of a 29-year-old parturient who, after undergoing elective cesarean delivery, displayed symptoms of lower extremity weakness and sensory deficit. Her past medical history was significant for asymptomatic Arnold Chiari Type I malformation and asthma. She had received spinal anesthesia that failed to achieve an adequate surgical level requiring conversion to general anesthesia. After tracheal extubation, she exhibited bilateral leg weakness that did not resolve over the next 4-6h. An urgent magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a normal spine with no evidence of hematoma. The lower extremity paresis persisted and a neurologist diagnosed psychogenic paresis, a type of conversion disorder. Interestingly, the patient's postoperative leg paresis was not her first occurrence of neurological dysfunction after dural puncture. At 27 weeks of gestation, she had similar lower extremity symptoms after a lumbar puncture, performed to exclude meningitis for severe headache symptoms. Psychogenic paresis is not commonly reported in the medical literature and we found no reports of psychogenic paresis after spinal anesthesia in a parturient or recurrent psychogenic paresis. We review the various risk factors, etiology, neurological signs and symptoms, types, therapy and future management of a patient with recurrent conversion disorder.
Optimal Audio Transmission Over Error-Prone Wireless Links

In this paper, we present an optimization framework for transmitting high quality audio sequences over error-prone wireless links. Our framework introduces apparatus and technique to optimally protect a stored audio sequence transmitted over a wireless link while considering the packetization overhead of audio frames. Utilizing rate compatible punctured Reed-Solomon (RS) codes and dynamic programming, it identifies the optimal assignment of parity to audio frames according to their perceptual importance such that the segmented SNR of the received audio sequence is maximized. Our framework covers two cases. In the first case, a frame grouping technique is proposed to packetize audio frames and protect them against temporarily correlated bit errors introduced by a fading wireless channel. In this case, each packet is treated as a channel coding codeword. In the second case, a one-dimensional RS coder is applied vertically to a sequence of horizontally formed packets associated with an audio sequence in order to protect the sequence against both bit errors introduced by fading wireless channels and packet erasures introduced by network buffering. Our numerical results capture the performance advantage of our framework compared to existing techniques proposed in the literature of audio transmission. We also note that our framework can be generically applied to a variety of audio coders, making it attractive in terms of implementation.
An Examination Of Organizational Citizenship Behavior In An Academic Setting From The Perspective Of The Five Factor Model

This paper examines the dispositional causes of student organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in an academic setting by utilizing facets scales of the NEO-PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992) in addition to the five broad dimensions of the five factor model of personality. Different facet scales were significantly related to organizational citizenship and to student satisfaction. The strongest predictor of OCB was found to be warmth, a facet of extraversion. This finding supported the contention of Lepine, et al. (2002) that OCB can best be conceptualized as a latent construct measuring cooperativeness.
Improving the Tax Efficiency of Mutual Funds: Exchange-Traded and Tax-Managed Funds

The author deals with hard questions involving mutual funds: Why are they frequently a poor bet from a tax standpoint? Why do mutual funds sell appreciated equities? There are, however, tax-managed mutual funds that are structured to achieve tax efficiency. The author discusses how such efficiencies have been, and can be, achieved. Exchange-traded funds, with pricing changed continuously throughout the day, are traded like stocks, but what is their track record? How can exchange-traded funds maximize tax-efficiency? This article looks at the issues from the perspective of the investor, but contains valuable insights that should be incorporated into the decisions made by the managers of mutual and exchange-traded funds.
Animal Models of Endotoxemia and Sepsis

Models of sepsis fall into two general categories: (1) live organisms introduced from an exogenous source either singly (e.g., E. coli) or as a mixture of several species; (2) providing access to the bloodstream for endogenous microbial flora, e.g., by cecal ligation and puncture. This procedure causes an intraabdominal abscess and is a model of peritonitis. Endotoxic shock and endotoxemia can be induced by the injection of varying doses of either live organism or the bacterial cell wall component, i.e., the endotoxin itself. The question raised about such models has been whether they are valid representations of clinical sepsis.
A New Graduate-Level Seminar to Prepare Students for the Next Step in Their Careers.

Many new PhDs are not prepared for a competitive interview process in seeking a first job. The University of Washington (UW) designed the Distinguished Young Scholars Seminar (DYSS) to rectify this problem with three goals: simulate a visit associated with many interviews and a one hour seminar; make UW graduate students aware of where they fit into the job-seekers landscape, and expose UW graduate students to peer evaluation decision making processes that governs funding decisions.
Reevaluation of the Influence of Appearance and Reflected Appraisals for Mixed-Race Identity The Role of Consistent Inconsistent Racial Perception

Developed from Cooley’s looking-glass self, the theory of reflected appraisals is frequently used to explain how appearance influences the racial identity development of mixed-race people. However,...
Recipient-Matching of Passenger Leukocytes Prolongs Survival of Donor Lung Allografts in Miniature Swine

Background Allograft rejection continues to be a vexing problem in clinical lung transplantation, and the role played by passenger leukocytes in the rejection or acceptance of an organ is unclear. We tested whether recipient-matching of donor graft passenger leukocytes would impact graft survival in a preclinical model of orthotopic left lung transplantation. Methods In the experimental group (group 1), donor lungs were obtained from chimeric swine, in which the passenger leukocytes (but not the parenchyma) were major histocompatibility complex-matched to the recipients (n = 3). In the control group (group 2), both the donor parenchyma and the passenger leukocytes were major histocompatibility complex-mismatched to the recipients (n = 3). Results Lungs harvested from swine previously rendered chimeric by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using recipient-type cells showed a high degree of passenger leukocyte chimerism by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The chimeric lungs containing passenger leukocytes matched to the lung recipient (group 1) survived on average 107 days (range, 80-156). Control lung allografts (group 2) survived on average 45 days (range, 29-64; P Conclusions Our data indicate that recipient-matching of passenger leukocytes significantly prolongs lung allograft survival.
Ineffectiveness of Sodium Succinate in Control of Duration of Barbiturate Anesthesia

SummaryThe intramuscular administration of sodium succinate to fasted rats under pentobarbital or amytal anesthesia did not significantly shorten the duration of the anesthesia. Similarly the intraperitoneal administration of succinate or malate to a limited number of fed rats under pentobarbital anesthesia did not significantly influence the duration of anesthesia. We were unable to confirm Soskin and Taubenhaus'observations that succinate is an effective agent in the control of barbiturate anesthesia.
Habitat-Related Factors Affecting the Distribution of Nonbreeding American Avocets in Coastal South Carolina

Changes in local environmental conditions can cause shifts in the distribution of nonbreeding shorebirds at sites that offer a wide choice of habitats. We assessed effects of water level-related variables and salinity on the distribution of nonbreeding American Avocets (Recurvirostra americana) among eight brackish water impoundments and two intertidal mudflats in coastal South Carolina from mid-January to mid-May, 1991 and 1992. Avocets exhibited nonrandom distribution on three spatial scales: between impoundments and natural tidal areas (impoundment use was greater), among impoundments, and within impoundments. Among all sites, avocet distribution correlated with water level-related variables (P < 0.05), but not salinity. Most avocets used habitats with water 10-17 cm deep and little or no exposed substrate. Furthermore, avocet numbers decreased in impoundments when the sites experienced large Ructuations in water levels (±6-10 cm). Analyses conducted at the level of one impoundment supported these results, indicating that macro- (among impoundments) and microhabitat (within impoundments) use was inRuenced by similar factors
Extra oversight for H7N9 experiments.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces a new review process for certain gain-of-function (GOF) experiments with the avian influenza A (H7N9) virus, some of which are proposed this week by influenza scientists. Specifically, before being undertaken using funds from the HHS, proposed studies that are reasonably anticipated to generate H7N9 viruses with increased transmissibility between mammals by respiratory droplets will undergo an additional level of review by the HHS.
Neutron Scattering of Residual Hydrogen in 1,4-Dioxane-d8 Liquid: Understanding Measurements with Molecular Dynamics Simulations

That incoherent scattering from protiated molecular liquids adds a constant background to the measured scattering intensity is well-known, but less appreciated is the fact that coherent scattering is also induced by the presence of hydrogen in a deuterated liquid. In fact, the scattering intensity can be very sensitive, in the small-q region, with respect to the amounts and distribution of residual H in the system. We used 1,4-dioxane liquid to demonstrate that the partial structure factors of the HD and DD atom pairs contribute significantly to intermolecular scattering and that uncertainty in the extent of deuteration account for discrepancies between simulations and measurements. Both contributions to uncertainty have similar magnitudes: scattering interference of the hydrogen-deuterium pair, and complementary interference from the deuterium-deuterium pair by virtue of chemical inhomogeneity. This situation arises in practice since deuteration of liquids is often 99% or less. A combined experimental and extensive computational study of static thermal neutron scattering of 1,4-dioxane demonstrates the foregoing. We show, through simulations, that the reason for the differences is the content of protiated dioxane (vendors quote 1%). We estimate that up to 5% (at 298 K and at 343 K) protiated molar fraction may be involved in generating the scattering differences. Finally, we find that the particular distribution of hydrogen in the protiated molecules affects the results significantly; here, we considered molecules to be either fully protiated or fully deuterated. This scenario best reconciles the computational and experimental results, and leads us to speculate that the deuteration synthesis process tends to leave a molecule either fully deuterated or fully protiated. Although we have used 1,4-dioxane as a model liquid, the effects described in this study extend to similar liquids, and similar systematic experimental/computational studies can be performed to either understand measurements or calibrate/validate molecular dynamics models.
Fast, Stable Induction of P-Glycoprotein-mediated Drug Resistance in BT-474 Breast Cancer Cells by Stable Transfection of ABCB1 Gene.

BACKGROUND Patients with P-glycoprotein and HER2/neu (HER2) receptor-overexpressing breast cancer usually have poor clinical outcomes. However, there exist no commercially available breast cancer cell lines that are HER2/P-glycoprotein double-positive, which limits research in this field. MATERIALS AND METHODS We report on the development and characterization of a drug-resistant sub-line from an HER2-positive breast cancer cell line by stable transfection of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) gene which encodes P-glycoprotein. RESULTS ABCB1 gene expression levels were higher after transfection, which led to a 40-fold increase in P-glycoprotein expression. Interestingly, the transfection of ABCB1 also led to a slight increase in HER2 gene and protein expression levels. The transfection of ABCB1 increased the P-glycoprotein expression levels significantly. CONCLUSION The method used herein for developing this cell line is appropriate for fast, stable induction of P-glycoprotein-mediated drug resistance compared to traditional methods. The in vitro cytotoxicity test suggests this cell line has cross-resistance to a wide range of chemotherapeutic agents.
Packaging food for radiation processing

Abstract Irradiation can play an important role in reducing pathogens that cause food borne illness. Food processors and food safety experts prefer that food be irradiated after packaging to prevent post-irradiation contamination. Food irradiation has been studied for the last century. However, the implementation of irradiation on prepackaged food still faces challenges on how to assess the suitability and safety of these packaging materials used during irradiation. Irradiation is known to induce chemical changes to the food packaging materials resulting in the formation of breakdown products, so called radiolysis products (RP), which may migrate into foods and affect the safety of the irradiated foods. Therefore, the safety of the food packaging material (both polymers and adjuvants) must be determined to ensure safety of irradiated packaged food. Evaluating the safety of food packaging materials presents technical challenges because of the range of possible chemicals generated by ionizing radiation. These challenges and the U.S. regulations on food irradiation are discussed in this article.
Problems, interventions and outcomes of the Omaha system in nursing clinical practice

Abstract Hepatic pancreatic biliary diseases are very common in gastroenterology. The issue of implementing the standardized terminology of the Omaha system in the Czech Republic has not been studied so far. The goal of the study was to identify the problems, interventions and the results of clients with a chosen gastroenterology problem according to the Omaha system in clinical nursing practice. The study used the quantitative method of documentation forms of the Omaha system with the author's permission. The studied sample group was composed of 23 clients who had a hepatic pancreatic biliary disease. The number of documented difficulties according to the Problem Classification Scheme was from 3 to 10, where 10% covered the environmental domain, 20% covered the psychological domain, 40% covered the physiological domain and 30% covered the domain of health-related behaviour. In total, there were 274 interventions. The average number of interventions was 11.9 per client. While mapping the interconnections of problems and interventions, most interventions occurred in the category of treatments and procedures (35.4%) and surveillance (31.8%). A very low number of interventions occurred in the category of teaching, guidance, counselling (18.2%), and case management (14.6%). The intervention in treatments and procedures category dominated in pain problem (35.5%), digestion – hydration (45.3%), skin (93.8%) and circulation (62.9%). Case management was used in substance use (50%) and nutrition (31.7%). After comparing the initial results to the final results, there was significant improvement in the knowledge and status regarding individual problems. The results of the study present the pilot experience with the implementation of the Omaha system in a selected group of clients. The most common problems of clients with hepatic pancreatic biliary disease were in the physiological domain and the health-related behaviour domain according to the Problem Classification Scheme of the Omaha system. More frequently, the problems were associated with the interventions in the treatments and procedures and surveillance categories. The interventions were less frequent in teaching, guidance and counselling and case management. Using a Problem Rating Scale for Outcomes an improvement in knowledge and status in individual problems was found. For future studies, we recommend verifying the components of the Omaha system using a larger number of respondents.
Economic Growth and Convergence, Applied to China

From the perspective of conditional convergence, China's GDP growth rate since 1990 has been surprisingly high. However, China cannot deviate forever from the global historical experience, and the per capita growth rate is likely to fall soon from around 8 percent per year to a range of 3–4 percent. China can be viewed as a middle-income convergence success story, grouped with Costa Rica, Indonesia, Peru, Thailand and Uruguay. Upper-income convergence successes (toward which China is likely heading) include Chile, Hong Kong, Ireland, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
Integration of Metagenomic and Stable Carbon Isotope Evidence Reveals the Extent and Mechanisms of Carbon Dioxide Fixation in High-Temperature Microbial Communities.

Although the biological fixation of CO2 by chemolithoautotrophs provides a diverse suite of organic compounds utilized by chemoorganoheterotrophs as a carbon and energy source, the relative amounts of autotrophic C in chemotrophic microbial communities is not well-established. The extent and mechanisms of CO2 fixation were evaluated across a comprehensive set of high-temperature, chemotrophic microbial communities in Yellowstone National Park by combining metagenomic and stable 13C isotope analyses. Fifteen geothermal sites representing three distinct habitat types (iron-oxide mats, anoxic sulfur sediments, and filamentous ‘streamer’ communities) were investigated. Genes of the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate, dicarboxylate/4-hydroxybutyrate, and reverse tricarboxylic acid CO2 fixation pathways were identified in assembled genome sequence corresponding to the predominant Crenarchaeota and Aquificales observed across this habitat range. Stable 13C analyses of dissolved inorganic and organic C (DIC, DOC), and possible landscape C sources were used to interpret the 13C content of microbial community samples. Isotope mixing models showed that the minimum fractions of autotrophic C in microbial biomass were > 50 % in the majority of communities analyzed. The significance of CO2 as a C source in these communities provides a foundation for understanding community assembly and succession, and metabolic linkages among early-branching thermophilic autotrophs and heterotrophs.
Connective and Soft Tissues

This chapter is focused on expressed proteins that organize to form softer connective tissues that are devoid of mineral content. Here, the composition and structure of various soft connective tissues are presented as links between the composition and resulting properties. There is a separate organizational structure to proteins composing soft tissues and issues of soft tissue orientation are addressed. Water contained within soft tissues makes up a large fraction of the extracellular matrix and ground substance, and essentially acts as a plasticizer to soften tissues dramatically altering their properties. There are known variants in both composition and structure that are natural and dynamic with age, and there are other variants that present as complications to normal physiologic function. Examples presented include those formed in the cardiovascular system, the integument which also includes hair and nails, and the muscular system with both similarities and distinctions.
Periodic Dielectric Metasurfaces with High‐Efficiency, Multiwavelength Functionalities

Metasurfaces are thin-film optical devices for tailoring the phase fronts of light. The extension of metasurfaces to multiple wavelengths has remained a major challenge, and existing design techniques do not yield devices with high efficiency. This study reports a new design method, based on inverse freeform optimization, that enables high-efficiency, multiwavelength metasurfaces. Using an iterative optimization solver, this study incorporates multiple wavelength responses into wavelength-scale design domains in a straightforward and automated manner. In principle, this method can readily scale to a very large number of wavelengths. As a proof of concept, this study designs and characterizes periodic transmissive metasurfaces, made from silicon, that deflect N different incident near-infrared wavelengths to N unique diffraction orders. The theoretical and experimental efficiencies of these devices scale as 1/N0.5, which is significantly better than current state-of-the-art devices. The implementation of large-angle, broadband blazed grating devices is also demonstrated. This study envisions that this inverse design method can generalize to high-performance, multiwavelength, aperiodic devices, and that it serves as a potential route to broadband metasurfaces.