cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic neurological sequelae of acute organophosphate pesticide poisoning

To evaluate the latent neurological effects of organophosphate pesticide poisoning, this epidemiologic study examined 100 matched-pairs of individuals with previous acute organophosphate pesticide poisoning and nonpoisoned controls. No significant difference between poisoned subjects and controls was found on audiometric tests, ophthalmic tests, electroencephalograms, or the clinical serum and blood chemistry evaluations. Of the more than 50 scores from the neurological examination, abnormalities were demonstrated among the cases only on measures of memory, abstraction, and mood, and on one test of motor reflexes. Differences between the two cohorts were much more apparent in the neuropsychological tests. The differences occurred on tests of widely varying abilities including intellectual functioning, academic skills, abstraction and flexibility of thinking, and simple motor skills. Twice as many cases as controls (24 vs. 12) had Halstead-Reitan Battery summary scores in the range characteristic of individuals with cerebral damage or dysfunction. Results from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the Patient's and Relative's Assessment of Patient Functioning Inventories also revealed greater distress and complaints of disability for the poisoned subjects.
Neutrino production of the Δ(1236)

New data for the reaction νp → μ−π+p near 1 GeV/c neutrino momentum are consistent with complete dominance by the quasi-two-body reaction νp → μ− Δ++(1236). It is shown how information about the N-Δ axial current transition matrix element can be extracted from this data. Various predictions for the matrix elements are reviewed and tested against the experimental results. The data are consistent with the PCAC prediction for dσ/dq2 near q2 = O. In contrast to previous findings, Adler's relativistic version of the static model is reasonably successful in fitting the data. Zucker's model also fits the data. Finally, the implications of these results for future experiments are discussed.
Evaluation of large girth LDPC codes for PMD compensation by turbo equalization.

Large-girth quasi-cyclic LDPC codes have been experimentally evaluated for use in PMD compensation by turbo equalization for a 10 Gb/s NRZ optical transmission system, and observing one sample per bit. Net effective coding gain improvement for girth-10, rate 0.906 code of length 11936 over maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) detector for differential group delay of 125 ps is 6.25 dB at BER of 10-6. Girth-10 LDPC code of rate 0.8 outperforms the girth-10 code of rate 0.906 by 2.75 dB, and provides the net effective coding gain improvement of 9 dB at the same BER. It is experimentally determined that girth-10 LDPC codes of length around 15000 approach channel capacity limit within 1.25 dB.
Accuracy of Corrections for Restriction in Range Due to Explicit Selection in Heteroscedastic and Nonlinear Distributions

Corrections for restriction in range due to explicit selection assume linearity of regression and homoscedastic array variances. Violation of one or both of these assumptions can lead to serious er...
A model of multiattribute decisionmaking and trade-off weight determination under uncertainty

Several behaviourally relevant extensions of the standard decision analysis paradigm are generalized by the model, and an inverse decision-aiding feature is included that permits the use of directly expressed preferences among the alternatives. Parameter values (lowest-level-attribute utility scores and trade-off weight) are described by set membership which can be used to describe many natural language expressions of preference, interval descriptions of value, and ordinal and cardinal rankings. Procedures are presented for ranking the alternatives and determining trade-off weights if the preference information gleaned from utility score assessment, trade-off weight assessment, and directly expressed preferences among the alternatives is consistent. For inconsistent information, procedures are presented for identifying the inconsistencies.
Suggested posthypnotic amnesia in psychiatric patients and normals.

The present study examined both quantitative and qualitative hypnotizability differences among four psychiatric patient groups (dissociative disorder (n = 17), schizophrenic (n = 13), mood disorder (n = 14), and anxiety disorder (n = 14) patients), and normals (college students (n = 63)). Dissociative disorder patients earned significantly higher corrected total scores on the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (mean = 7.94), than all other groups. Likewise, dissociative disorder patients initially recalled significantly fewer items when the posthypnotic amnesia suggestion was in effect (mean = .41) and reversed significantly more items when the suggestion was canceled (mean = 3.82) than all other groups. In contrast, schizophrenic patients recalled significantly fewer items when the amnesia suggestion was in effect (mean = 1.85) and reversed significantly fewer items when it was canceled (mean = .77) than the remaining groups. This qualitative difference between schizophrenic patients and the ...
Influences of FTO gene on onset age of adult overweight

FTO affects changes in BMI during both childhood and adulthood. However, its effect on onset age of overweight in adulthood is not known. To address this question, we conducted a study to examine effects of FTO tag SNPs on censored age of overweight in the longitudinal Bogalusa Heart Study (BHS) cohort, which began in 1973–1974. Of participating subjects, 658 whites (308 males and 350 females) with genotype data were selected for the study. The FTO gene was examined by a survival analysis of 30 tag SNPs regarding their association with left, interval and right-censored adult overweight. After adjustment for birth weight and sex, SNP rs9939609 has a small nominal p value of 0.004 for the association with onset age, which has an expected proportion of false positives of 9.6 % after adjusting for multiple tests. It was estimated that genotypes AA, AT and TT have onset age (standard error) of 22.82 (1.07), 28.96 (1.04) and 27.76 (1.04) years, respectively, for a 50 % cumulative proportion of overweight in the population. Genotypes AA, AT and TT, respectively, have estimated survival probability of 65.8, 78.7 and 76.8 % at the age of 18; and survival probability of 6.5, 11.8 and 10.7 % at the age of 60. The odds ratios of survival beyond age ≥18 years are 0.52 for AA versus AT and 0.58 for AA versus TT. We thus concluded that risk genetic variants at FTO gene can accelerate the onset age and influence the survival odds of overweight in younger adults.
Thermal migration of formation waters in salt domes

The impermeability, plasticity, high thermal conductivity, and ‘self-sealing’ properties of rock salt have been cited as favorable characteristics for its potential use in the isolation of radioactive wastes. U.S. Gulf Cost salt domes are therefore one type of salt deposit which is under serious consideration for this purpose. However, despite the advantageous character of the material itself, water does accumulate in at least three of the seven operating salt mines in the Gulf Coast. Three of the others are dry mines, and the remaining one is nearly so. An eighth mine, in the Winnfield dome, was flooded in 1965 and is no longer operating. In that instance, mine seeps had been reported by Hoy etal. [1962], but flooding may have been a result of quarrying of caprock over the mine [Martinez etal., 1976].
Fire in the hole: pore dilation of the capsaicin receptor TRPV1.

The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 is important in pain sensation. A new study suggests that this nonselective cation channel shows dynamic alterations in ion permeability, which may contribute to mechanisms of pain hypersensitivity.
Phosphorus-containing purines and pyrimidines: A new class of transition state analogs

Abstract Synthetic routes to the [1,5,2]-diazaphosphorine (“4-phosphapyrimidine”), imidazo[4,5-e][1,5,2]-diazaphosphorine (“6-phosphapurine”), and imidazo[4,5-d][1,3,2]-diazaphosphorine (“2-phosphapurine”) ring systems have been developed. Appropriately functionalized derivatives of these heterocycles are desired as possible transition state analogs of the nucleoside deaminases.
Use of a Light-Addressable Potentiometric Sensor for the Detection ofEscherichia coliO157:H7

Abstract We describe the development of an immunoligand assay (ILA) in conjunction with a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) for the rapid detection ofEscherichia coliO157:H7 cells in buffered saline. The ILA protocol consists of “sandwiching” bacterial analyte between biotinylated and fluoresceinated antibodies, indirect enzyme labeling of the bacteria with urease-labeled anti-fluorescein antibody, and active capture of the immune complex at a biotinylated bovine serum albumin-blocked nitrocellulose filter membrane with streptavidin. Using liveE. coliO157:H7, the efficiency of the ILA was compared using various ratios of the biotinylated and fluoresceinated antibodies. Simultaneous addition of equimolar biotinylated and fluoresceinated antibodies effected optimal urease labeling and subsequent active capture of the bacteria in the ILA. Equimolar concentrations of the antibodies were varied to achieve optimal LAPS detection response for the live bacteria. Using ILA with LAPS, a minimum detectable level of ca. 7.1 × 102cells/ml of heat-killed or ca. 2.5 × 104cells/ml of liveE. coliO157:H7 bacteria was achieved in Tris-buffered saline in an assay time of ca. 45 or ca. 30 min, respectively.
Sequential two-photon laser-induced fluorescence detection of mercury.

We present initial experimental results on the two-photon laser-induced-fluorescence (TP-LIF) detection of mercury. This technique uses the sequential absorption of two photons, involving real atomic levels, to produce atomic fluorescence at a wavelength shorter than either pump wavelength. In this system, the pumping occurs at 254 and 408 nm, and optical sampling occurs at 185 nm. Based on preliminary findings using a first-generation system, together with modest evaluations of future improvements, we have estimated that the sensitivity of the TP-LIF mercury-detection system, under atmospheric sampling conditions, could approach ~103 atoms/cm3. Under ideal sampling conditions, e.g., using He or Ar diluent gases, the detection limit could be as low as a few atoms per cubic centimeter. Attempts to realize both of these goals will soon be undertaken.
A data-driven method for determining natural human-robot motion mappings in teleoperation

Though many aspects of teleoperation systems have been fine-tuned through research, the mapping between the operator's movement and the robot's movement is almost always pre-defined as a simple scaling and offset. We believe that implementing nontraditional data-driven motion mappings has the potential to further improve the usability of teleoperation platforms, making it easier for a human to remotely complete challenging tasks. This paper presents a new paradigm for determining data-driven human-robot motion mappings for teleoperation: the human operator mimics the target robot as it autonomously moves its arm through a variety of trajectories. We analyze the resulting motion data to find the human's chosen mapping combined with the systematic errors the human made when relying on proprioception to execute these arm movements. We report results from a study in which nine human subjects repeatedly mimicked the planar arm motions of a simulated PR2. We propose three nontraditional motion mappings (similarity, affine, and variable similarity), and we fit each of the proposed models to these data sets, verifying within and across trials and subjects. As hypothesized, the newly proposed mappings are found to outperform the traditional motion mapping model.
Flying Foxes (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae): Threatened Animals of Key Ecological and Economic Importance

Abstract: Flying foxes are animals of extraordinary ecological and economic importance throughout forests of the Old World tropics Nearly 200 species play an essential role as forest pollinators and seed dispersers, yet they are frequently misunderstood intensely persecuted and exceptionally vulnerable to extinction Their role in the propagation of numerous important plants remains virtually uninvestigated. However, our review of already available literature demonstrates that at least 289 plant species rely to vatying degrees on large populations of flying foxes for propagation. These plants, in addition to their many ecological contributing produce some 448 economically valuable products. The fact that flying foxes are increasingly threaten and that few baseline data exist on population trends is cause for concern Many appear to be in severe decline, and several species are already extinct. We present initial observations on flying fox importance and survival threats in hopes of highlighting research and conservation needs.
Self-generated mnemonics for enhancing free recall performance in older learners

The effectiveness of self-generated mnemonic strategies for free-recall list learning was examined in 94 older community-dwelling adults. Participants were presented with a list of 19 nouns and were given seven minutes to commit the list to memory with three minutes for recall. Performance was measured immediately following recall and after a 2-day delay. Forty-five percent of the participants reported using a specific organizational mnemonic encoding strategy to facilitate recall. At both immediate and delayed recall, those individuals who reported using a well-articulated mnemonic outperformed those reporting the use of repetition or making simple associations. The results suggest that many older adults can spontaneously generate specific elaborative encoding strategies and that pre-existing encoding skills should be assessed prior to remedial memory training for older adults.
Feeding jejunostomy during Whipple is associated with increased morbidity

Abstract Background Placement of a feeding jejunostomy tube (FJ) is often performed during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Few studies, however, have sought to determine whether such placement affects postoperative outcomes after PD. Materials and methods This is a retrospective analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database to determine the 30-d-postoperative mortality rate, major complication rate, and overall complication rate of jejunostomy tube placement at the time of PD. Univariate and multivariate comparison of postoperative outcomes between patients with and without FJ placement during PD was performed on a total of 4930 patients. Results Thirty-day-postoperative mortality did not differ between the two groups (4.0% for patients with FJ versus 2.7% without, P = 0.13), whereas overall morbidity (43.3% with FJ versus 34.6% without, P Conclusion Although FJ placement during PD is considered to be routine at many institutions, our analysis of data from NSQIP suggest that FJ placement may be associated with increased postoperative morbidity.
Predicting complications after adenotonsillectomy in children 3 years old and younger.

Abstract Objectives To identify risk factors for complications in the first 24 h after surgery in the young ( Methods A retrospective chart review was performed at a tertiary care children's hospital. Consecutive records of all children of age 3 years and younger undergoing adenotonsillectomy over a 5 year period were included in the study. The main outcomes measured were total and airway complications occurring on post-operative days 0–1. Results 993 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 2.94 years old. Witnessed apneas (74.1%) and snoring (59.2%) were the most frequent pre-operative symptoms. 700 children were admitted with a mean length-of-stay of 1.22 days (0–9 days) and a mean time-to-oral intake of 0.28 days (0–4 days) among those patients admitted. The total number of complications was 102 in 98 patients (9.9%). There were 35 complications on post-operative days (POD) 0–1 (3.5%), and 23 of those were airway-related (2.3%). With regard to all complications on POD 0–1, significant predictors were nasal obstruction, gastroesophageal reflux disease, prematurity and a history of cardiovascular anomalies. Significant predictors of airway complications on POD 0–1 were younger age (1–2 years old), larger adenoid size, nasal obstruction, and a history of cardiovascular anomalies. Conclusions Knowing the stated risk factors for complications in the early post-operative period after adenotonsillectomy in the younger pediatric patient can help select certain patients for closer monitoring. Specifically, children aged 1–2 years old with a history of nasal obstruction from large adenoids, gastroesophageal reflux disease, prematurity, and/or cardiovascular anomalies appear to be at higher risk for early complications and should warrant closer observation.
Ab initio rigid water: effect on water structure, ion hydration, and thermodynamics.

We investigate the liquid structure, ion hydration, and some thermodynamic properties associated with the rigid geometry approximation to water by applying ab initio molecular dynamics simulations (AIMD) with the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) exchange–correlation functional at T = 320 K. We vary the rigid water geometry in order to locate a class of practical water models that yield reasonable liquid structure and dynamics, and to examine the progression of AIMD-predicted water behavior as the OH bond length varies. Water constrained at the optimal PBE gas phase geometry yields reasonable pair correlation functions. The predicted liquid phase pressure, however, is large (∼8.0 kbar). Although the O–H bond in water should elongate when transferred from gas to the condensed phase, when it is constrained to 0.02, or even just 0.01 A longer than the optimal gas phase value, liquid water is predicted to be substantially overstructured compared to experiments. Zero temperature calculations of the thermodynamic properties of cubic ice underscore the sensitivity toward small variations in the O–H bond length. We examine the hydration structures of potassium, chloride, and formate ions in one rigid PBE water model. The results are in reasonable agreement with unconstrained AIMD simulations.
Sunitinib-related Fulminant Hepatic Failure: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Drug-induced hepatotoxicity is an infrequent but life-threatening complication. Sunitinib is a multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for treatment of renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. However, results from preapproval clinical trials suggest an equivocal hepatic risk profile for sunitinib. We describe a 75-year-old woman with renal cell carcinoma who was admitted to the intensive care unit after experiencing fulminant hepatic failure during sunitinib therapy. The patient's hepatic and renal chemistries had been within normal limits throughout four previous cycles of sunitinib therapy spanning 9 months. After the fifth cycle, she complained of a 3-day history of severe diarrhea and dehydration. Her abnormal laboratory test results included the following: total bilirubin level 5.9 mg/dl, aspartate aminotransferase level 3872 U/L, alanine aminotransferase level 3332 U/L, ammonia level 897 microg/dl, and an international normalized ratio of 4.8. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicated a possible relationship between sunitinib and hepatotoxicity. Supportive care including aggressive intravenous hydration and reversal of coagulopathy was successful. The patient was discharged home on hospital day 7 without apparent longstanding sequelae. Clinicians should be aware of this possible adverse effect of sunitinib, and continued pharmacovigilance is imperative to accurately quantify the possible risk of sunitinib-related hepatotoxicity.
Ornithine decarboxylase activity in developing rat brain.

—Total ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) (EC 4.1.1.17) activity per rat brain was elevated markedly from 14 days after conception to 12 days postnatum. ODC activity in the brainstem was very low and changed little during postnatal development. Activity in the cerebral hemispheres declined from a high level at birth to the low adult level by 8 days postnatum. Conversely activity in the cerebellum increased markedly from 3 days until 11 days postnatum, then suddenly decreased. Hence, the periods of greatest ODC activity paralleled those of maximal cell proliferation in each brain region. During perinatal brain development ODC activity changed considerably; it declined at about one day prior to term, and then increased rapidly to its highest level of activity at 4 h postnatum. Premature birth by caesarian section or lack of maternal care and nutrition did not affect this early postnatal response. The postnatal burst in ODC activity appears to be unique for brain tissue, since this response did not occur in heart, skeletal muscle or liver. Data from studies in which portions of fractions characterized by high or low enzymatic activity, respectively, were mixed or in which the supernatant enzyme fraction was dialysed are not consistent with the presence of direct inhibitors or activators of the enzyme. In addition, administration of cycloheximide to newborn rats abolished the 4-h postnatal burst in ODC activity. Our results suggest that the increase in ODC activity reflects enzyme synthesis de novo.
Positively Charged Deoxynucleic Methylthioureas: Synthesis and Binding Properties of Pentameric Thymidyl Methylthiourea

The negatively charged phosphodiester linkages in DNA {-O(PO2-)O-} have been replaced by a novel methylthiourea {-NHC(SMe+)NH-} backbone. The backbone is positively charged, achiral, and stable and can be easily synthesized. A basic strategy for the synthesis of deoxynucleic methylthioureas (DNmt) is described. Synthetic procedures are provided for thymidyl DNmts (1−4 linkages). Synthesis proceeds in 3‘−5‘ direction and involves coupling of a protected 3‘-isothiocyanate with the corresponding 5‘-amine of the growing oligo chain. Coupling reactions at room temperature are nearly quantitative, and products are easily purified. The method of continuous variation indicates that there is an equilibrium complex with a molar ratio of d(Tmt) to r(Ap) or d(Ap) of 2:1. Continuous variation plots carried out at temperatures from 15 to 60 °C show a triple helical complex. Titration scans over the entire range of wavelengths (240−285 nm) confirm binding in triple helical fashion. Thermal denaturation analyses show pro...
The symbiont side of symbiosis: do microbes really benefit?

Microbial associations are integral to all eukaryotes. Mutualism, the interaction of two species for the benefit of both, is an important aspect of microbial associations, with evidence that multicellular organisms in particular benefit from microbes. However, the microbe’s perspective has largely been ignored, and it is unknown whether most microbial symbionts benefit from their associations with hosts. It has been presumed that microbial symbionts receive host-derived nutrients or a competition-free environment with reduced predation, but there have been few empirical tests, or even critical assessments, of these assumptions. We evaluate these hypotheses based on available evidence, which indicate reduced competition and predation are not universal benefits for symbionts. Some symbionts do receive nutrients from their host, but this has not always been linked to a corresponding increase in symbiont fitness. We recommend experiments to test symbiont fitness using current experimental systems of symbiosis and detail considerations for other systems. Incorporating symbiont fitness into symbiosis research will provide insight into the evolution of mutualistic interactions and cooperation in general.
Loading of Ventilated Dry-Type Transformers

This is a continuation of the previously published data on the loading of sealed dry-type transformers.1 With the same representative core and coils as were used in the previous work, and the sealed tank replaced with a louvered casing, the winding temperature rises are measured for a variety of loads following several steady-state conditions. These data are converted to hottest-spot temperatures utilizing previously published hottest-spot increments and the allowable limits specified in the standards. Aging rates are those for the presently used materials in ventilated dry-type transformers. Insulation aging is computed for various overload cycles and the allowable loads determined for normal life expectancy as well as a few specified per cent loss-of-life criteria.
The association of metabolic syndrome with triple-negative breast cancer.

Metabolic syndrome, a conglomerate of obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension has been linked with an increased risk of breast cancer. We investigated the possible association of highly aggressive triple-negative breast cancer and the metabolic syndrome. Information on metabolic syndrome components and tumor characteristics were reviewed in a cohort of 176 patients (including 86 triple-negatives). Retrospective comparison was performed using Pearson Chi-square test or Student’s t test for data analysis. A statistically significant association of triple-negative breast cancer with the metabolic syndrome was observed. In accordance with the NCEP (National Cholesterol Education Program) definition, 58.1% of triple-negative patients had metabolic syndrome compared to only 36.7% of non-triple-negative patients (P = 0.004). Consistently, by the AACE (American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) criteria, 52.3% of triple-negative patients had metabolic syndrome as compared to 34.4% of non-triple-negative patients (P = 0.017). Blood glucose, triglyceride, and HDL levels but not hypertension or BMI (body mass index) showed significant independent association with triple-negative breast cancer. Additionally, triple-negative tumors displayed a significantly higher histological grade and relative paucity of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) when compared to the non-triple-negative tumors (P < 0.001). Our study suggests that metabolic syndrome is significantly more prevalent in triple-negative breast cancer patients as opposed to non-triple-negative patients. Furthermore, triple-negative breast cancer showed a significantly higher histological grade and a relative absence of DCIS. Whether the presence of metabolic syndrome preferentially increases the risk of developing triple-negative-breast cancer remains to be elucidated with future prospective studies.
Measurement of tissue 3-β-hydroxy sterols by tritiated digitonin

Abstract 1. 1. A method for the determination of cholesterol using radioactive digitonin is reported. 2. 2. The sensitivity of this technique is comparable to other microtechniques. 3. 3. The specificity of radioglycoside analysis is comparable with ferric chloride colorimetric measurement as determined in tissues obtained from the human, monkey, rabbit, and rat. 4. 4. Specific activity measurements of dog tissue C 14 -cholesterol have been made by double isotope counting and the values obtained by H 3 -digitonin and ferric chloride compared favorably in the tissues studied, with the exception of the adrenal gland.
Converging us softly: how intergovernmental organizations promote neoliberal educational policy

In recent years, international organizations (IOs) and, more specifically, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) have played an important role in educational policy‐making at the national level. These organizations encourage world change and promote particular ideologies through a set of complex actions and policy recommendations that exploit growing world interconnectedness. This paper discusses some of the ways in which IGOs are affecting educational policy‐making at the national level and the ways in which national Governments are engaging with IGOs in order to develop their educational policies. The paper separates the manner in which IGOs influence national educational policy in a movement towards global ‘soft’ convergence by creating four distinct constructs through which we can better understand how IGOs such as the World Bank, the OECD, and even UNESCO are able to perpetuate a neoliberal agenda through global educational policy influence.
Quantization and Saturation Noise Due to Analog-to-Digital Conversion of Radar Returns from Targets with Log-Normal Radar Cross-Section Distributions

An analysis of the saturation and quantization noise generated by analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion of radar returns from targets with log-normal radar cross sections is presented. The results of the analysis show that the high-cross-section tails of the log-normal distribution require higher saturation levels to be set in the A/D converter. The setting of the higher saturation level in the converter results in an increase in quantization noise. Thus the minimum achievable distortion in the output of the A/D converter signal is considerably higher than that for radar targets if their radar cross section had an exponential power distribution.
TOURISM AND ANTHROPOLOGY IN A POST‐MODERN WORLD

Dans le cadre d'une recherche de terrain chez les Chambri (Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinee), l'exemple d'une confrontation effective avec la penetration et les strategies touristiques est analysee dans le sens d'une discussion critique des assimilations faites entre les pratiques, discours touristiques et ethnographiques (cf. les critiques de l'anthropologie reflexive, « post-moderniste », etc...)
Survival and pesticide exposure of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) and eastern cottontails (sylvilagus floridanus) on agricultural fields treated with counter® 15G

During 1988 and 1989 northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) and eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus flondanus) were radiotagged and their daily survival monitored on six study sites treated with the organophosphorus insecticide-nematicide Counter®15G (terbufos), at the rate of 1.45 kg a.i. per hectare, and on three reference sites. Nonlethal blood samples were collected at the time of capture and during subsequent recaptures to determine exposure to terbufos through blood ChE analysis. Survival rates of radiotagged eastern cottontails and blood plasma ChE activities were not different between treated and reference sites in either year. Gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of two cottontail carcasses found in 1988 contained traces of terbufos in concentrations <0.046 ppm. No terbufos was detected in GI tracts in 1989. There were no differences in survival rates of radiotagged northern bobwhites among treatments. Mean blood plasma ChE activities of northern bobwhites were significantly lower (P < 0.05) on treated sites than on reference sites both years, including sublethal exposure to the test chemical. No GI tract residues were detected in bobwhites in 1988, and GI tract residues were detected in trace amounts (<0.046 ppm) in only one bobwhite carcass in 1989.
COMMENTARY––A Call to Action: The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Auditing Profession's Public Interest Responsibilities

As President Franklin Roosevelt recognized more than 70 years ago, the public accounting profession plays an integral role in protecting investors. The SEC was created during FDR’s presidency and, as defined by one of its early chairmen, William O. Douglas, has historically been viewed as the sole government agency that serves as ‘‘the investor’s advocate’’ (Hohenstein 2005). As an individual who has observed virtually every important auditing-related policy debate over the past dozen years from a quasi-inside perspective, but unrestrained by the strictures of a government appointment so, therefore, able to speak freely, I believe that the SEC can do more to empower the PCAOB to advance policy-related initiatives that will serve the auditing profession’s public interest responsibilities. In this commentary, I discuss three auditing policy-related initiatives where I believe that the SEC can provide more support to the PCAOB, and one initiative that the SEC can pursue on its own. Each of these initiatives should lead to better auditing and/or to better communication between the auditor and financial statement users. These initiatives involve: (1) the standard audit report; (2)
Modeling femtosecond pulse laser damage on conductors using Particle-In-Cell simulations

We present, to our knowledge, the first adaptation of the Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulation method for use in the study of femtosecond pulse laser damage, including the first implementation of the Morse potential for PIC codes. We compare the PIC method to a wide variety of currently used modeling schemes, ranging from purely ab-initio molecular dynamics simulations to semi-empirical models with many fitting parameters, and show how PIC simulations can provide a complementary approach by filling the gap in theoretical methodology between the two cases. We detail the necessity and implementation of an inter-atomic pair-potential in PIC studies of laser damage. Lastly, we use our model to treat the full laser damage process of a copper target, and show that our results compare well to simple scaling laws for crater size.
An assay for organic phosphorus fractions in microgram quantities of tissue.

Abstract A fluorometric technique for the determination of acid-soluble phosphorus, lipid phosphorus, and nucleic acid phosphorus in 0.5 to 1.0 μg quantities of tissue is described. The assay is based on the stoichiometric generation of NADPH from P i by the use of purified crystalline enzymes, a feature which confers the advantage of extension to even greater sensitivity by application of the “NADPH cycling” system. Assays of mouse brain and mouse brain tumor were performed at both the microgram and milligram level and compared. The fluorometric assay offers about fivefold increase in sensitivity with a sacrifice of analytical accuracy of approximately 6% (4% vs. 10%) when compared to an established spectrophotometric procedure.
Modulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ by nitric oxide in cultured bovine vascular endothelial cells.

In the present study, we used laser scanning confocal microscopy in combination with fluorescent indicator dyes to investigate the effects of nitric oxide (NO) produced endogenously by stimulation ...
Crystal Structure of a 70S Ribosome-tRNA Complex Reveals Functional Interactions and Rearrangements

Our understanding of the mechanism of protein synthesis has undergone rapid progress in recent years as a result of low-resolution X-ray and cryo-EM structures of ribosome functional complexes and high-resolution structures of ribosomal subunits and vacant ribosomes. Here, we present the crystal structure of the Thermus thermophilus 70S ribosome containing a model mRNA and two tRNAs at 3.7 A resolution. Many structural details of the interactions between the ribosome, tRNA, and mRNA in the P and E sites and the ways in which tRNA structure is distorted by its interactions with the ribosome are seen. Differences between the conformations of vacant and tRNA-bound 70S ribosomes suggest an induced fit of the ribosome structure in response to tRNA binding, including significant changes in the peptidyl-transferase catalytic site.
The E3 ubiquitin ligase SMAD ubiquitination regulatory factor 2 negatively regulates Krüppel-like factor 5 protein.

The zinc finger transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) is regulated posttranslationally. We identified SMAD ubiquitination regulatory factor 2 (SMURF2), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, as an interacting protein of KLF5 by yeast two-hybrid screen, coimmunoprecipitation, and indirect immunofluorescence studies. The SMURF2-interacting domains in KLF5 were mapped to its carboxyl terminus, including the PY motif of KLF5 and its zinc finger DNA-binding domain. KLF5 protein levels were reduced significantly upon overexpression of SMURF2 but not catalytically inactive SMURF2-C716A mutant or SMURF1. SMURF2 alone reduced the protein stability of KLF5 as shown by cycloheximide chase assay, indicating that SMURF2 specifically destabilizes KLF5. In contrast, KLF5(1–165), a KLF5 amino-terminal construct that lacks the PY motif and DNA binding domain, was not degraded by SMURF2. The degradation of KLF5 by SMURF2 was blocked by the proteasome inhibitor MG132, and SMURF2 efficiently ubiquitinated both overexpressed and endogenous KLF5. In contrast, knocking down SMURF2 by siRNAs significantly enhanced KLF5 protein levels, reduced ubiquitination of KLF5, and increased the expression of cyclin D1 and PDGF-A, two established KLF5 target genes. In consistence, SMURF2, but not the E3 ligase mutant SMURF2-C716A, significantly inhibited the transcriptional activity of KLF5, as demonstrated by dual luciferase assay using the PDGF-A promoter, and suppressed the ability of KLF5 to stimulate cell proliferation as measured by BrdU incorporation. Hence, SMURF2 is a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase for KLF5 and negatively regulates KLF5 by targeting it for proteasomal degradation.
In Situ Observation of Surface Species on Iridium Oxide Nanoparticles during the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

An iridium oxide nanoparticle electrocatalyst under oxygen evolution reaction conditions was probed in situ by ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Under OER conditions, iridium undergoes a change in oxidation state from IrIV to IrV that takes place predominantly at the surface of the catalyst. The chemical change in iridium is coupled to a decrease in surface hydroxide, providing experimental evidence which strongly suggests that the oxygen evolution reaction on iridium oxide occurs through an OOH-mediated deprotonation mechanism.
THE HISTORY OF A NEARCTIC COLONIZATION: MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF THE NEARCTIC TOADS (BUFO)

Previous hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships among Nearctic toads (Bufonidae) and their congeners suggest contradictory biogeographic histories. These hypotheses argue that the Nearctic Bufo are: (1) a polyphyletic assemblage resulting from multiple colonizations from Africa; (2) a paraphyletic assemblage resulting from a single colonization event from South America with subsequent dispersal into Eurasia; or (3) a monophyletic group derived from the Neotropics. We obtained approximately 2.5 kb of mitochondrial DNA sequence data for the 12S, 16S, and intervening valine tRNA gene from 82 individuals representing 56 species and used parametric bootstrapping to test hypotheses of the biogeographic history of the Nearctic Bufo. We find that the Nearctic species of Bufo are monophyletic and nested within a large clade of New World Bufo to the exclusion of Eurasian and African taxa. This suggests that Nearctic Bufo result from a single colonization from the Neotropics. More generally, we demonstrate the utility of parametric bootstrapping for testing alternative biogeographic hypotheses. Through parametric bootstrapping, we refute several previously published biogeographic hypotheses regarding Bufo. These previous studies may have been influenced by homoplasy in osteological characters. Given the Neotropical origin for Nearctic Bufo, we examine current distributional patterns to assess whether the Nearctic-Neotropical boundary is a broad transition zone or a narrow boundary. We also survey fossil and paleogeographic evidence to examine potential Tertiary and Cretaceous dispersal routes, including the Paleocene Isthmian Link, the Antillean and Aves Ridges, and the current Central American Land Bridge, that may have allowed colonization of the Nearctic.
Legal disparities in the capital of capital punishment

Death penalty opponents charge that wealthy defendants who can hire legal counsel are exempt from capital punishment, but that indigent defendants who receive court-appointed counsel are frequently condemned to death. The critique is based on sensational stories, but anecdotes cannot establish a causal relationship. To explore the issue systematically, the current research examines the impact of legal counsel on the District Attorney's decisions to seek the death penalty and juries' decisions to impose death sentences against adult defendants indicted for capital murder in Harris County (Houston), Texas from 1992 to 1999 (n=504). Harris County is the largest jurisdiction in the nation to use the appointment method rather than the public defender method to deliver indigent capital defense, though by no means the only such jurisdiction. The empirical comparison of hired counsel to appointed counsel in Harris County reveals three central findings: (1) Defendants who hired counsel for the entire case were never sentenced to death; (2) Defendants who hired counsel for a portion of the case were substantially less likely to be sentenced to death; (3) Hiring counsel is not the province of the wealthy, as almost all of the capital murder defendants in this study were poor. Though not the focus of the research and a finding that must be considered tentative, the data also reveal that defendants who hired counsel for the entire case were much more likely to be acquitted. To be clear, the findings are not an indictment of appointed attorneys, but rather an indictment Of the structural deficiencies inherent in the appointment method. The research concludes with a call for Harris County-the capital of capital punishment-to establish a Public Defender Office with a specific Capital Defender Office. Though not a panacea, the public defender method comes much closer to the adversarial ideal of evenly matched partisans doing battle to produce justice.
Reminiscences of runaway adolescents

Forty-one teenage boys and girls who had sought counseling at a street clinic for runaways were interviewed by telephone more than a year after they had run away from home. This paper reports on the experience of running away, as perceived by the runaways—reasons for leaving home, problems encountered while on the run, benefits derived, and plans for the future. The need is suggested for further study of causes and consequences of running away from home, and recommendations are offered for aiding and treating adolescent runaways.
Logical-physical co-design for deep submicron circuits: challenges and solutions

As IC fabrication capabilities extend down to sub-half-micron, the significance of interconnect delay and power dissipation can no longer be ignored. Existing enhancements to synthesis and physical design tools have not been able to solve the problem. The only remaining alternative is that tradeoffs in logical and physical domains must be addressed in an integrated manner. Vast business opportunities will be lost unless more revolutionary changes to design flow are made. This paper discusses three technologies which are key to performing logic synthesis and physical layout optimization in tandem. They are early floorplanning, layout-driven logic synthesis, and post-layout resynthesis.
Guided-wave electro-optic beam deflector using domain reversal in LiTaO/sub 3/

We have fabricated and demonstrated the operation of electro-optic beam deflectors using domain reversal in planar waveguides fabricated on LiTaO/sub 3/ substrates. The planar waveguides were made using proton exchange on z-cut substrates, and proton exchange with subsequent rapid thermal annealing was used to form the inverted domains. The deflection sensitivity of the device was measured to be about 6.7 mrad/kV. Calculations indicate that the deflection sensitivity should be increased by a factor of 25 to 30 with improvements in device geometry. >
Ultrasonic flaw detection using Support Vector Machine classification

In this work, a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier is introduced for ultrasonic flaw detection based on features extracted from the output of the subband decomposition filters. SVM is a machine learning method used for classification and regression analysis of complex real-world problems that may be difficult to analyze theoretically. A dataset constituting feature vectors of ultrasonic signals containing flaw and no flaw, is created in order to train and test the SVM. A k-fold cross validation technique is then performed to choose the best parameters for classification. Experimental results, using A-scan data measurements from a steel block, show that a very high classification accuracy can be achieved. Robust performance of the classifier is due to proper selection of frequency-diverse feature vectors and successful training.
An Investigation of the Breakup of an Evaporating Liquid Film, Falling Down a Vertical, Uniformly Heated Wall

The breakup of an evaporating, thin liquid film falling down a vertical, uniformly heated wall is of interest in many applications. Analytical expressions are developed for predicting the thickness of an evaporating liquid film and the corresponding wetting rate at breakup. These expressions, derived from minimizing the total energy of a stable liquid rivulet forming immediately following the film breakup, required solving for the rivulet profile and the two-dimensional velocity field in the rivulet. The total energy of the rivulet is the sum of the kinetics energy of the liquid, the surface energies at the liquid-vapor and the solid-liquid interfaces, and those due to evaporation and the thermocapillary force along the liquid-vapor interface
Applying the Neuman Stressor Model for workplace safety

This article applies the Betty Neuman Stressor Model, typically used in nursing education to explain illness causation of the patient, to educating healthcare workers on workplace stressors (i.e., hazards). Prevention strategies for dealing with workplace hazards are discussed in terms of bolstering flexible lines of defense or lines of resistance as described by this stressor model. Key hazards to include in a healthcare safety curriculum or in workplace safety training are provided.
Dishabituation of the BOLD response to speech sounds

Neural systems show habituation responses at multiple levels, including relatively abstract language categories. Dishabituation – responses to non-habituated stimuli – can provide a window into the structure of these categories, without requiring an overt task. We used an event-related fMRI design with short interval habituation trials, in which trains of stimuli were presented passively during 1.5 second intervals of relative silence between clustered scans. Trains of four identical stimuli (standard trials) and trains of three identical stimuli followed by a stimulus from a different phonetic category (deviant trials) were presented. This paradigm allowed us to measure and compare the time course of overall responses to speech, and responses to phonetic change. Comparisons between responses to speech and silence revealed strong responses throughout the extent of superior temporal gyrus (STG) bilaterally. Comparisons between deviant and standard trials revealed dishabituation responses in a restricted region of left posterior STG, near the border with supramarginal gyrus (SMG). Novelty responses to deviant trials were also observed in right frontal regions and hippocampus. A passive, dishabituation paradigm provides results similar to studies requiring overt responses. This paradigm can readily be extended for the study of pre-attentive processing of speech in populations such as children and second-language learners whose overt behavior is often difficult to interpret because of ancillary task demands.
MUSIC AND THE GLOBAL ORDER

▪ Abstract Often music is used as a metaphor of global social and cultural processes; it also constitutes an enduring process by and through which people interact within and across cultures. The review explores these processes with reference to an anthropological and ethnomusicological account of globalization that has gathered pace over the last decade. It outlines some of the main ethnographic and historical modes of engagement with persistent neoliberal and other music industry–inspired global myth making (particularly that associated with world music), and argues for an approach to musical globalization that contextualizes those genres, styles, and practices that circulate across cultural borders in specific institutional sites and histories.