cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Benthic ecology of the northeastern Chukchi Sea. Part I. Environmental characteristics and macrofaunal community structure, 2008-2010 $

Spatial variations of processes driving macrofaunal distributions can arise from interactions among topographic features and oceanographic patterns, and are not understood at small scales in the northeastern Chukchi Sea. Benthic macrofauna and environmental characteristics were measured to determine factors driving macrofaunal distributions as part of a multidisciplinary environmental program in the northeastern Chukchi Sea from 2008 to 2010. Macrofauna were sampled in three study areas, named Klondike, Burger, and Statoil, with a van Veen grab at up to 82 stations each year, as well as an area where marine mammals were seen feeding. The macrofaunal assemblages in all study areas were similar in species-composition with deposit-feeding polychaetes (53% of density and of 26% biomass) and bivalves (15% of density and 52% of biomass) collectively the most prominent groups. Maldane sarsi dominated the polychaetes in terms of both density and biomass, while bivalves were numerically dominated by Ennucula tenuis, but their biomass was dominated by larger species such as Macoma calcarea and Astarte borealis. Exceptions occurred in the marine mammal feeding area that was dominated by amphipods (71% of density and 30% biomass). Average densities were higher in Burger than in Klondike or Statoil, while biomass values were similar between Burger and Statoil, and higher in these two study areas than in Klondike. Overall, the distributions, biomass and density of benthic macrofauna reflect the high volume of production reaching the seafloor in the shallow waters of the Chukchi Sea. Variations in community structure among study areas were correlated with water depth and bottom-water temperature. Short-term temporal differences in community structure covaried with interannual oceanographic variations that may have altered food availability, macrofaunal survival, or larval recruitment. Topographic control over circulation appears to be a primary driver in structuring benthic communities within the present study region, as well as throughout the Chukchi Sea.
Flicker noise in Hg1−xCdxTe

Abstract Hooge's flicker noise parameter α in Hg1−xCdxTe samples was measured and was found to depend strongly on surface treatment; this points to the surface as the source of noise. MIS field plate experiments were performed on Hg1−xCdxTe samples; it was found that Hooge's flicker noise parameter α depended on the field plate bias. While this rules out a bulk noise model, it is at present not clear how a surface model can be developed that can explain the data.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Targeted therapy in children—what is the right way?

The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children is growing in parallel with that of obesity; however, to date, no drugs have been approved for its treatment. Results from a 5-year clinical trial show that neither metformin nor vitamin E are effective for the treatment of pediatric NAFLD.
Sorry in the Pacific: Defining communities, defining practices

This article examines the distribution of speech acts based on the word sore 'sorry' in Bislama, the creole language spoken in Vanuatu. Three functions of these "apology" routines are identified and analyzed within the framework of politeness theory. Women are shown to use sore more frequently over all than men; they are also found to use sore to express empathy with the referent/addressee. Empathy is expressed in men's speech in other ways. The asymmetric distribution of sore is shown to make sense, given wider societal beliefs about and attitudes toward appropriate behaviors for women and men. Given a strict definition of a "community of practice," it is clear that this shared speech behavior does not mean that women in this speech community can be said to form a community of practice. Analyses based on the speech community and intergroup distinctiveness are more useful in understanding this variation. (Apologies, creoles, women's language, community of practice, speech community, intergroup distinctiveness, Vanuatu, Bislama.)* Understanding what something is often requires understanding what it is not. This article analyzes the social and linguistic significance of apology routines within the context of a community of speakers in Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides, SW Pacific). The distribution of apologies within this speech community is a helpful case study, highlighting both what communities of practice are and what they are not. The article has five sections. After this introduction, I present the linguistic facts relevant to the analysis of apologies in Bislama, the English-lexified creole spoken in Vanuatu. The following section presents some of the basic properties of the speech act of an apology, within the framework of politeness theory. Next it is shown that the distribution of the word sore, literally 'sorry', is sex-preferential in Bislama, occurring predominantly in the speech of women. It will also be shown that the discourse functions associated with sore are distributed even more asymmetrically than are the tokens over all. The significance of
GEMS: a mobile wireless network for atmospheric sampling

Large scale, mobile ad-hoc networks (MANET) are of great interest for a number of applications including battlesphere dominance and homeland security. ENSCO, Inc. is designing a system for profiling large regions of the atmosphere. The concept, known as Global Environmental Micro Sensors (GEMS), features an integrated system of airborne probes that will remain suspended in the atmosphere and take measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind velocity as they are carried by atmospheric currents. In addition to gathering meteorological data, the probes could be used for monitoring and predicting the dispersion of particulate emissions, organic and inorganic pollutants, ozone, carbon dioxide, and chemical, biological, or nuclear contaminants. Several functionality requirements are called into question when investigating a scalable mobile network protocol. For instance, periodic reporting may not always be required and can be abandoned in favor of event-driven reports. Similarly, network connectivity may not be required at all times. Instead of constant global connectivity, paths can be formed only when data packets are ready for transmission. For a successful GEMS system, the most important network function is to relay timely data to one or more receiving stations. We will present both the GEMS system and probe design as well as discuss the trade-offs associated with optimizing a three-dimensional, mobile, airborne network comprised of low-cost, low-power probes. We will also analyze and present measured data to determine the performance of a representative MANET under actual environmental conditions and various aspects of mobility.
MDM2 induces NF-κB/p65 expression transcriptionally through Sp1-binding sites: a novel, p53-independent role of MDM2 in doxorubicin resistance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

MDM2 protein is thought to exhibit tumorigenic activity by binding to the p53 tumor-suppressor protein and inhibiting its function. Alternatively, MDM2 may have oncogenic roles other than those resulting from p53 interactions. Here we report that MDM2 can induce expression of the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB, which is an anti-apoptotic factor expressed in certain neoplastic cells in response to chemotherapy. Initially, we noted that the overexpression of MDM2 protein in leukemic bone marrow cells of patients with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), and an ALL cell line (EU-4) transfected with the MDM2 gene was associated with elevated expression of p65 and in vitro resistance to doxorubicin (Adriamycin). By cotransfection of the MDM2 gene and p65-promoter-reporter constructs into EU-4 cells, we found that transient and high-level MDM2 expression induced p65 promoter activity. In the presence of wild-type (wt) p53, MDM2 increased p65 promoter activity by reversing p53-mediated suppression of p65. In the absence of p53, MDM2 directly increased p65 promoter activity. Deletion and mutation analysis of the p65 promoter indicated that the region between nt -575 and -178, which contains the first and second Sp1-binding sites, was required for activation by MDM2. Further studies using chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that MDM2 was able to directly bind to the Sp1 site of the p65 promoter. Our findings suggest that by inducing p65 expression, MDM2 has a p53-independent role in tumorigenesis, which may further elucidate the association between MDM2 overexpression and resistant disease in childhood ALL.
Behavioral thresholds to electric signals in high frequency electric fish

1) The behavioral thresholds ofApteronotus andEigenmannia to imposed sine wave electric fields were measured as a function of stimulus frequency using operant conditioning techniques. 2)Apteronotus responds to a broad range of frequencies. Its threshold—frequency curve is complex, showing three distinct threshold dips at: <5–15 Hz, 0.6–0.9 μV/cm; 200–300 Hz, 0.9 μV/cm; and 700–2200 Hz to 0.2 μV/cm. The high frequency dip itself is bimodal, with a primary minimum at the fish's electric organ discharge (EOD) fundamental, and a secondary minimum at its second harmonic. 3) The threshold—frequency curve forEigenmannia differs in several respects, being unimodal and sharpely tuned to the fish's EOD frequency with a sensitivity of 0.2–0.3 μV/cm.Eigenmannia shows a lack of keen low frequency perception, and no marked sensitivity increase at the second harmonic of its EOD. 4) The EOD wave forms ofApteronotus andEigenmannia were Fourier analysed:Eigenmannia's EOD approximates a sine wave, whileApteronotus' EOD contains considerable power at harmonic frequencies. 5) It is proposed that behavioral thresholds to frequencies within ca. 50–100 Hz of the fish's EOD fundamental or second harmonic are improved by the fish's extraction of, and preference for, low frequency beats of its EOD with the stimulus. This is suggested by the sharp, EOD specific tuning demonstrated by bothEigenmannia andApteronotus and the second harmonic sensitivity peak ofApteronotus, which are not predicted by known receptor response characteristics. Such a beat extraction capability might provide a mechanism for improving the resolution of conspecific electrocommunication. 6) The influence of water resistivity on the behavioral thresholds ofApteronotus was measured. High frequency sensitivity increases as a power function with decreasing water resistivity down to 1 k Ohm · cm, below which it remains constant. Low frequency sensitivity increases progressively from 100 k Ohm · cm down to 10 k Ohm · cm, but decreases again below this value. Thus low frequency eleotroreceptors are maximally sensitive in 10 k Ohm · cm water, while high frequency receptors function best in water below 1 k Ohm · cm.
Differences in protein and glycoprotein patterns between mature and immature neutrophil leukocytes.

Abstract 1. 1.|The post-nuclear particulate fractions of highly enriched mature and immature neutrophil preparations were dissolved in buffer containing sodium dodecyl sulfate and analyzed for protein and glycoprotein components by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 2. 2.|The electrophoretic patterns of mature and immature neutrophils showed pronounced differences in both protein and glycoprotein bands. There were 12 prominent protein bands in the patterns of mature neutrophils which also stained for glycoproteins. With one exception, these bands were either greatly reduced in intensity or undetectable at corresponding positions in the patterns of immature cells. The patterns of immature neutrophils revealed three prominent glycoprotein bands, two of which were absent and the third was greatly reduced in intensity at corresponding position in the mature cell patterns. 3. 3.|The results indicate that a number of new glycoproteins appear in the later stages of neutrophil maturation, whereas other glycoproteins, present in immature cells, are either lost or greatly reduced in amount. These changes are presumably related to the development of specific cell functions that also appear in later stages of cell maturation.
Ca2+-independent interaction of the γ subunit of phosphorylase kinase with dansyl-calmodulin

Abstract A strong Ca 2+ -independent interaction between the isolated, active γ subunit of phosphorylase kinase and dansyl-calmodulin (dansyl-CaM) was observed by monitoring changes in fluorescence intensity in the absence of calcium ion. The pure, active γ subunit of phosphorylase kinase was simply prepared by dialyzing the HPLC-purified, inactive γ subunit against 8 m urea, containing 0.1 m m DTT, 0.1 m Hepes at pH 6.8 or 0.1 m Tris at pH 8.2, followed by dilution of urea with pH 6.8 or 8.2 buffer. The dissociation constants determined by fluorescence spectroscopy for the γ subunit to dansyl-CaM are 25.7 ± 0.6 and 104 ± 12 n m at pH 6.8 in the presence and absence of CaCl 2 . At pH 8.2, these values are 4.9 ± 0.3 and 29 ± 8 n m in the presence and absence of CaCl 2 . As the free Ca 2+ decreases to as low as 10 −9 m , the fluorescence intensity and the fluorescence polarization of the γ subunit and dansyl-CaM complex do not decrease in parallel, indicating that the complex does not come apart at low Ca 2+ concentration. The presence of Mg 2+ affects the interaction between dansyl-CaM and the γ subunit, as indicated by the increase in the polarization of fluorescence of dansyl-CaM. Mn 2+ interferes with the interaction of the γ subunit and dansyl-CaM. Free ATP has little effect.
Extraction of chronically infected transvenous pacemaker leads: report of an unusual problem.

This is a report of a patient with an impacted, chronically infected transvenous pacemaker lead whose management was complicated by the presence of a functioning contralateral transvenous pacemaker. Treatment included sustained traction on the infected lead, a left subcostal thoracofomy for placement of new sutureless epicardial leads, and retrograde right iliac vein cannula-tion for final snare removal of the mobilized lead. The patient is currently free of infection, and has normal pacemaker function.
Experience-dependent integration of texture and motion cues to depth

Previous investigators have shown that observers' visual cue combination strategies are remarkably flexible in the sense that these strategies adapt on the basis of the estimated reliabilities of the visual cues. However, these researchers have not addressed how observers' acquire these estimated reliabilities. This article studies observers' abilities to learn cue combination strategies. Subjects made depth judgments about simulated cylinders whose shapes were indicated by motion and texture cues. Because the two cues could indicate different shapes, it was possible to design tasks in which one cue provided useful information for making depth judgments, whereas the other cue was irrelevant. The results of experiment 1 suggest that observers' cue combination strategies are adaptable as a function of training; subjects adjusted their cue combination rules to use a cue more heavily when the cue was informative on a task versus when the cue was irrelevant. Experiment 2 demonstrated that experience-dependent adaptation of cue combination rules is context-sensitive. On trials with presentations of short cylinders, one cue was informative, whereas on trials with presentations of tall cylinders, the other cue was informative. The results suggest that observers can learn multiple cue combination rules, and can learn to apply each rule in the appropriate context. Experiment 3 demonstrated a possible limitation on the context-sensitivity of adaptation of cue combination rules. One cue was informative on trials with presentations of cylinders at a left oblique orientation, whereas the other cue was informative on trials with presentations of cylinders at a right oblique orientation. The results indicate that observers did not learn to use different cue combination rules in different contexts under these circumstances. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that observers' visual systems are biased to learn to perceive in the same way views of bilaterally symmetric objects that differ solely by a symmetry transformation. Taken in conjunction with the results of Experiment 2, this means that the visual learning mechanism underlying cue combination adaptation is biased such that some sets of statistics are more easily learned than others.
Yugoslavs into Serbs: Serbian national identity, 1961–1971*

In an essay published in September 1962, poet Pavle Stefanovic announced that in the next census he would identify himself as a Yugoslav rather than a Serb. Writing down “Serb” on official forms, Stefanovic said, had always made the sweat break out on his forehead, plunging him into “the nightmarish vision of an individual identity imposed upon me rather than chosen by my own will, one which fills me with polar opposites: pride and shame … a feeling of innocence and of culpability.” Mixed with his pride in parts of his Serbian heritage, he explained, was horror at the atrocities committed in the name of Serbdom by the Chetniks, the Serbian monarchist forces of the Second World War. Stefanovic emphasized that he was not rejecting Serbian identity because he thought the Serbian past was worse than others. Rather, he wished to throw off the symbolic weight attached to all national pasts. By declaring himself a Yugoslav, he thought, he could show that he considered nationality merely “a sort of historic-genetic address, a fact about one's origin,” and not a primary or sacred identity. In his eyes, choosing the Yugoslav identity meant asserting his own free will against the unchosen national collective, expressing his commitment to internationalism, and separating the future from a nightmare-ridden past.
Quantitative structure-activity relationships of phenolic compounds causing apoptosis.

Abstract A study of a variety of phenolic compounds (simple phenols, estradiol, bisphenol A, diethylstilbesterol) on their action on L1210 leukemia cells led to the formulation of the following QSAR for apoptosis:log 1/ C =−3.16 C log P +2.77 CMR−3.76 n =11, r 2 =0.939, s =0.630, q 2 =0.892 C is the molar concentration causing 25% apoptosis, C log P is the calculated octanol/water partition coefficient and CMR is the calculated molecular refractivity. Our results imply the significance of characterization of the phenolic compounds with apoptotic activity and the development of new agents for cancer therapy.
Segregation in homogeneous alloys during sintering

The vacancy gradient set up by the sharp curvature of the neck between two sintered particles can under favorable conditions produce a considerable segregation in a completely homogenized solid solution. This effect was demonstrated by the precipitate in Cu-In and Cu-Ag alloys occurring in the neck cavity at a higher temperature than indicated by the solidus line and at a lower one than the solidus temperature. These results are supported by the appearance of side peaks and a shift of the peaks of X-ray lines.
Determination of sample size for a multi-class classifier based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms: a volume under the surface approach.

Data on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been found to be useful in predicting phenotypes ranging from an individual’s class membership to his/her risk of developing a disease. In multi-class classification scenarios, clinical samples are often limited due to cost constraints, making it necessary to determine the sample size needed to build an accurate classifier based on SNPs. The performance of such classifiers can be assessed using the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve (AUC) for two classes and the Volume Under the ROC hyper-Surface (VUS) for three or more classes. Sample size determination based on AUC or VUS would not only guarantee an overall correct classification rate, but also make studies more cost-effective. For coded SNP data from D(≥2) classes, we derive an optimal Bayes classifier and a linear classifier, and obtain a normal approximation to the probability of correct classification for each classifier. These approximations are then used to evaluate the associated AUCs or VUSs, whose accuracies are validated using Monte Carlo simulations. We give a sample size determination method, which ensures that the difference between the two approximate AUCs (or VUSs) is below a pre-specified threshold. The performance of our sample size determination method is then illustrated via simulations. For the HapMap data with three and four populations, a linear classifier is built using 92 independent SNPs and the required total sample sizes are determined for a continuum of threshold values. In all, four different sample size determination studies are conducted with the HapMap data, covering cases involving well-separated populations to poorly-separated ones. For multi-classes, we have developed a sample size determination methodology and illustrated its usefulness in obtaining a required sample size from the estimated learning curve. For classification scenarios, this methodology will help scientists determine whether a sample at hand is adequate or more samples are required to achieve a pre-specified accuracy. A PDF manual for R package “SampleSizeSNP” is given in Additional file 1, and a ZIP file of the R package “SampleSizeSNP” is given in Additional file 2.
Growth kinetics of AlxGa1-xN grown via ammonia-based metal-organic molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract The structural characteristics and growth regimes of AlGaN grown by ammonia-based metal-organic molecular beam epitaxy (NH 3 -MOMBE) on GaN templates were investigated. The NH 3 utilization efficiency for the growth of AlGaN was estimated to be 2–2.5 times greater than the growth of GaN. Increasing the Al gas phase composition lead to an increase in the utilization efficiency as a result of increased NH 3 catalyzation. Despite the increased pyrolysis of ammonia, AlGaN films grown at 860 °C had significant active species desorption, leading to slower growth rates as well as lower calculated utilization efficiencies. AlGaN films grown with constant Al gas phase compositions showed an increase in the solid Al composition when grown more metal-rich, because of the preferential Al incorporation over Ga in N-limited growth environments. AlGaN surface morphologies became smoother with higher V/III ratios since surface pitting, which is attributed to decoration of threading dislocations, was reduced with increasing NH 3 flux.
Tyrosine-194 of glycogenin undergoes autocatalytic glucosylation but is not essential for catalytic function and activity

Glycogenin is the protein primer for glycogen synthesis. By autocatalytic transglucosylation from UDPglucose, it creates a malto-octaose chain attached to its Tyr-194. It has been uncertain whether the autocatalysis includes the addition of the first glucose residue to Tyr-194. We now show this to be the case. However, we also demonstrate, contrary to a claim by others, that Tyr-194 is not necessary for the catalytic function and activity of glycogenin.
Electromyographic responses to prescribed mastication

Abstract The aim was to understand between-volunteer differences in Electromyography (EMG) behaviour during chewing. EMG was used to record the electrical activity of the temporal and masseter muscles of volunteers, who carried out mastication movements by operating calibrated springs held between their incisors. The volunteers coordinated their jaw movements with the signal produced by a metronome, at four rates: 30, 60, 90 and 120 beats per minute (bpm). Raw data were analyzed to examine the distributions of the intervals between chews. For the highest prescribed chew rates, the volunteers’ distributions were very similar. The distributions varied most for the 30 bpm data, suggesting that volunteers differed in their ability to carry out and maintain this prescribed chewing pattern. The data were Fourier transformed to give power spectra in the frequency domain. The low frequency (
Imaging Airborne Particulate Matter with X-ray Lasers

We report x-ray FEL experiments at FLASH and LCLS that show single-particle x-ray diffractive imaging (XDI) can recover nanoscale morphological information of individual airborne particulate matter over a large complexity range.
Fault-tolerant monitor placement for out-of-band wireless sensor network monitoring

Abstract Monitoring a sensor network to quickly detect faults is important for maintaining the health of the network. Out-of-band monitoring, i.e., deploying dedicated monitors and transmitting monitoring traffic using a separate channel, does not require instrumenting sensor nodes, and hence is flexible (can be added on top of any application) and energy conserving (not consuming resources of the sensor nodes). In this paper, we study fault-tolerant out-of-band monitoring for wireless sensor networks. Our goal is to place a minimum number of monitors in a sensor network so that all sensor nodes are monitored by k distinct monitors, and each monitor serves no more than w sensor nodes. We prove that this problem is NP-hard. For small-scale network, we formulate the problem as an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) problem, and obtain the optimal solution. For large-scale network, the ILP is not applicable, and we propose two algorithms to solve it. The first one is a ln( kn ) approximation algorithm, where n is the number of sensor nodes. The second is a simple heuristic scheme that has much shorter running time. We evaluate our algorithms using extensive simulation. In small-scale networks, the latter two algorithms provide results close to the optimal solution from the ILP for relatively dense networks. In large-scale networks, the performance of these two algorithms are similar, and for relatively dense networks, the number of monitors required by both algorithms is close to a lower bound.
BOOK REVIEW: The Conservation Professional's Guide to Working with People . S. A. Bonar. 2007. Island Press, Washington, DC. 224 pp. $50 cloth, $25 paperback.

This book is unusual. It is not a how-to book, nor is it a history book, nor is it a philosophy book, nor is it a behavioral science book, although more that than the others. This book is really an...
Statement of American Social Scientists of Research on School Desegregation to the U.S. Supreme Court in Parents v. Seattle School District and Meredith v. Jefferson County

In June 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review two related cases originating from school districts in Louisville, Kentucky and Seattle, Washington that involved voluntarily adopted racial integration plans. Concerned about the outcome of these cases, 553 social scientists submitted a social science statement to the Supreme Court summarizing the large body of social science research supporting the school districts’ policies relevant to the Court’s determination. The statement, reprinted here, supports three interrelated conclusions: (1) racially integrated schools provide significant benefits to students and communities; (2) racially isolated schools have harmful educational implications for students; and (3) race-conscious policies are necessary to maintain racial integration in schools. Because of the overwhelming amount of scholarly data, social scientists argued, as the lower courts had found, that the schools boards have a compelling interest to promote racial integration and prevent racial isolation through choice-based school assignment policies that consider race as a factor. On June 28, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the school assignment plans on the grounds that the plans were not narrowly tailored to the interests that the school districts had asserted. In addition to affecting the ability of school districts to maintain racially diverse schools, the decision has broad implications for researchers who seek to help school districts in these efforts.
Quantum evaporation from quantum liquids and solids

Quantum evaporation is the evaporation of atoms from the surface of a liquid or solid by single excitations, such as phonons. We show that this process can only occur in systems for which the deBoer quantum parameter is above a critical value. For superfluid helium we argue that, because the interface between liquid and gas is not sharp, it may be useful to consider quantum evaporation as a process in which excitations coming from the liquid are adiabatically deformed as they propagate through the interface and then emerge as gas atoms. Based on this picture, we make several predictions which can be tested experimentally. Finally, we discuss quantum evaporation in solid hydrogen.
Optimum multisensor fusion of correlated local decisions

A distributed detection system consisting of a number of local detectors and a fusion center is considered. Each detector makes a decision for the underlying binary hypothesis testing problem based on its own observation and transmits its decision to the fusion center where the global decision is derived. The local decision rules are assumed to be given, but the local decisions are correlated. The correlation is generally characterized by a finite number of conditional probabilities. The optimum decision fusion rule in the Neyman-Pearson sense is derived and analyzed. The performance of the distributed detection system versus the degree of correlation between the local decisions is analyzed for a correlation structure that can be indexed by a single parameter. System performance as well as the performance advantage of using a larger number of local detectors degrade as the degree of correlation between local decisions increases. >
Reasoning with preferences and values

Abstract This paper is concerned with supporting practical thinking. This involves reasoning with a decision maker's preferential and ethical orderings of the different courses of action that could be pursued. We reject the use of a numeric utility function and argue for a logic programming approach for decision support. The basic properties of a logic model for reasoning with preferences and ethical values is defined. The paper then considers the problem of trading-off conflicting preferences and values. We propose a principle of cooperating preferences and values after a review of several other approaches.
Re: Pre-emptive Penile Ring Block with Sucrose Analgesia Reduces Pain Response to Neonatal Circumcision

Objective To compare retrospective use of oral sucrose (SUC) vs oral sucrose plus lidocaine ring block (SUC + RB) in the management of pain during neonatal circumcision. Methods A retrospective review of medical records of newborns circumcised using the “Neonatal Infant Pain Scale” was done. Results With regard to pain, the SUC group had a significantly greater percentage of those with pain than the SUC + RB group at 1 minute (77.7% vs 69.4%; P = .01) and 5 minutes (65.7% vs 55.7%; P = .004). There was no significant pain difference at 30 minutes. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, those in the SUC group had significantly greater odds for pain at 1 minute than those in the SUC + RB group (odds ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.04-2.02; P = .03). No significant difference was noted at 5 minutes. Each of the SUC and SUC + RB groups had significant decreases in pain percentages at 5 minutes and 30 minutes (P <.001). In addition, post-term gestational age had significantly greater odds for pain at 5 minutes (odds ratio 3.67, 95% confidence interval 1.51-8.93; P = .004). Conclusion We found that sucrose use alone as compared with sucrose and ring block combined had greater odds for pain at 1 minute but not at 5 minutes. In addition, those with post-term gestational age had greater odds for pain at 5 minutes as compared with those with regular gestational age. We recommend for hospital-based circumcision using clamps, the use of combined sucrose and ring block for increased analgesia. In addition, for post-term neonates, we recommend greater focus on pain levels, including considering higher dosages of pain medications.
Characterization of coordination complexes by desorption electrospray mass spectrometry with a capillary target

Abstract Metal coordination complexes were formed directly from liquid surfaces using desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry, in which the analyte solutions were furnished by a target capillary that protrudes into the ESI spray. The approach is attractive because it separates complexities of ESI spray droplet formation from delivery of the analyte solution, and thereby gets around difficulty resulting from alteration of the spray process by changes in solution chemistry. Cs+, Ba2+, and La3+ coordination complexes were formed using 18-crown-6 (18c6) and triethylphosphate (TEP) as ligands (L), that had the general formula [Mn+(NO3−)n−1(L)m]+. Formation of singly charged cation complexes was preferred, with charge reduction at the metal site accomplished by attachment of nitrate. Using TEP as a model phosphoryl ligand, alkali metals coordinate with up to three ligands, with Cs+ preferring fewer than Na+. Ba2+ and La3+ are formed as ion pair complexes [Ba(NO3)]+ and [La(NO3)2]+, and both will coordinate with up to four TEP ligands. Using 18c6, Cs+ forms a bis-ligand complex. In contrast, [Ba(NO3)]+ prefers a single 18c6 ligand, while La forms mainly [La(NO3)2(18c6)]+, for which DFT calculations suggested a structure in which the nitrate ligands occupy pseudo-axial positions on opposing sides of the crown. Lower abundances of bis-18c6 complexes were also formed together with doubly charged [La(NO3)(18c6)n]2+ complexes (n = 2–4). The results suggest an alternative strategy for probing metal speciation in solution that is less perturbed by the droplet formation and ionization mechanisms operating in conventional electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
Finding an Optimal Inversion Median: Experimental Results

We derive a branch-and-bound algorithm to find an optimal inversion median of three signed permutations. The algorithm prunes to manageable size an extremely large search tree using simple geometric properties of the problem and a newly available linear-time routine for inversion distance. Our experiments on simulated data sets indicate that the algorithm finds optimal medians in reasonable time for genomes of medium size when distances are not too large, as commonly occurs in phylogeny reconstruction. In addition, we have compared inversion and breakpoint medians, and found that inversion medians generally score significantly better and tend to be far more unique, which should make them valuable in median-based tree-building algorithms.
Sequence Stratigraphy of Lower Cretaceous (Barremian-Albian) Carbonate Platforms of Northeastern Mexico: Regional and Global Correlations

ABSTRACT The Lower Cretaceous Cupido and Coahuila platforms of northeastern Mexico form part of the extensive carbonate platform system that surrounded the ancestral Gulf of Mexico. A sequence-stratigraphic model for these Barremian to Albian platforms was constructed from regional correlations of vertical cycle stacking patterns constrained by newly acquired biostratigraphic data and C and Sr isotope stratigraphy. The Cupido shelf lagoon (Barremian-Aptian) is composed of up to 150 peritidal cycles, which stack into high-frequency sequences that are correlated across the shelf. Cupido high-frequency sequences build into a lower partial composite sequence (Cu1), an overlying full composite sequence (Cu2), and the transgressive base of a third composite sequence (Cu-Co3) related to backstepping of the Cupido platform. The highstand part of Cu-Co3 is recorded in evaporite and carbonate facies of the Coahuila platform (Aptian-Albian). More than 80 meter-scale evaporite-to-carbonate cycles characterize the restricted interior of the Coahuila platform and stack into two full composite sequences (Co4, Co5). The Coahuila platform was drowned in the latest Albian or earliest Cenomanian, terminating shallow-water carbonate sedimentation in the region. Regional correlations of the depositional sequences in northeast Mexico with coeval platforms in Texas and the northern Gulf coast indicate that the lower two composite sequences of the Cupido shelf correlate with the lower part of the Sligo-Hosston platform in Texas. The transgressive systems tract of the third composite sequence of the Cupido-La Pena is recorded in Texas by the upper Sligo and Pearsall formations. The highstand systems tract and the disconformable top of the third composite sequence (Coahuila platform) is likely coeval with the upper Glen Rose platform in Texas. The fourth and fifth composite sequences are correlative with the Fredericksburg platform and the Washita-Devils River platforms of Texas, respectively. We conservatively correlated our sequence-stratigraphic framework with composite "global" sequences and "eustatic" curves derived from several other basins. Given the available time resolution, results are variable, but sequence boundaries at the top of Cu-Co3 and Co5 appear to have clear interbasinal equivalents.
Loss of distinct arterial and venous boundaries in mice lacking endoglin, a vascular-specific TGFβ coreceptor

Abstract Several characteristic morphological and functional differences distinguish arteries from veins. It was thought that hemodynamic forces shaped these differences; however, increasing evidence suggests that morphogenetic programs play a central role in blood vessel differentiation. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular dysplasia characterized by the inappropriate fusion of arterioles with venules. The genes implicated in this disease, ALK1 and endoglin, may be involved in defining the fundamental boundaries between arteries and veins. We previously showed that mice lacking Alk1 lost structural, molecular, and functional distinctions between arteries and veins [Nat. Genet. 26 (2000), 328]. Here, we report that mice lacking endoglin develop arterial–venous malformations and fail to confine intraembryonic hematopoiesis to arteries. In contrast to Alk1 mutants, endoglin mutants do not show profound vessel dilation or downregulation of arterial ephrinB2. Finally, our data indicate that a failure in cardiac cushion formation observed in both strains may be secondary to the peripheral vasculature defect. The phenotypic similarities, yet reduced severity, implicates endoglin as an accessory coreceptor that specifically modulates Alk1 signaling. We propose that endoglin and Alk1 are necessary for the maintenance of distinct arterial–venous vascular beds and that attenuation of the Alk1 signaling pathway is the precipitating event in the etiology of HHT.
The Civil–Military Divide in Protracted Small War: An Alternative View of Military Leadership Preferences and War Termination

This article examines the basis of military leadership preferences toward war termination, and thus the basis of the associated civil–military divide, within the context of protracted small war. Th...
Wet shape memory alloy actuated robotic heart with thermofluidic feedback

This paper presents the design, optimization, and experimental analysis of a biologically inspired wet shape memory alloy (SMA) actuated heart for robotic systems. Just as the human heart provides energy to the muscles in the body, the robotic SMA heart distributes thermofluidic energy to arrays of SMA actuators that function as robotic muscles. Furthermore, the robotic heart draws from its own fluidic output to assist in the actuation of its own internal SMA actuators, just as a portion of the blood pumped by the human heart supplies energy to its own muscles. Dynamic modeling and simulation of the SMA actuators and pumping system are used to assist in optimizing the output of the heart. The effects of changing various parameters such as actuator length and actuation timing were explored via simulation and experiment. The current prototype of the SMA heart is capable of pumping 2.1 times more fluid than is required to sustain its own actuation. This is the first successful implementation of such a robotic heart, such that it has a net positive thermofluidic output to provide to other actuators while sustaining its own actuation via thermofluidic feedback. Furthermore, the SMA heart is capable of pumping a net output of 66 mL/min, which is two orders of magnitude larger than the output of other SMA “micro” pumps.
Of Hurricanes and Harness Racing: The Accounting Fraud at DHB Industries, Inc.

ABSTRACT: This instructional case focuses on an accounting and financial reporting fraud involving DHB Industries, Inc., the nation's largest manufacturer of bullet-resistant vests. Three executives of this Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registrant, including its founder and CEO, masterminded a large-scale fraud that grossly misrepresented DHB's financial statements. The three executives colluded to conceal their misdeeds from the four accounting firms that served as the company's independent auditors over the course of the fraud. In late 2010, a federal jury convicted DHB's former CEO and COO of multiple counts of fraud and related charges. This case addresses a wide range of auditing issues raised by the DHB fraud, including the identification of fraud risk factors, auditing of related-party transactions, the impact of frequent auditor changes on audit quality, and the internal control reporting responsibilities of auditors.
Increased sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation in nitrogen-limited dinoflagellates: Photoprotection and repair

Nitrogen (N) limitation significantly increased the sensitivity of photosynthesis to inhibition by ultraviolet radiation (UV) in two estuarine dinoflagellates, Akashiwo sanguinea(5 Gymnodinium sanguineum ) and Gymnodinium (5 Gyrodinium) cf. instriatum. Biological weighting functions (BWFs) and the kinetics of photosynthetic response to UV indicated that the main mechanism for the increase in sensitivity was less efficient repair. A decrease in cell size and in the concentration of the photoprotective mycosporine-like amino acids also elevated sensitivity. The BWFs predict that increased UV-B due to ozone depletion would cause a more than 1.5-fold greater additional inhibition of N-limited compared to nutrient-sufficient dinoflagellates. The BWFs of the N-limited cultures are similar to those measured for natural assemblages of phytoplankton in the Chesapeake Bay under low N availability.
Demographic and practice characteristics of Medicaid-participating dentists

Objectives The challenges entailed in dental Medicaid programs are well documented. To increase our understanding of Medicaid participation, we surveyed Florida dentists to determine the demographic and practice characteristics of Medicaid-participating dentists. Methods Our target population was practicing Florida dentists who treat children, including those who do not currently accept Medicaid as well as those who do. The final sample (n = 882) included (1) pediatric dentists and (2) general dentists who self-reported that they treat children. Participants completed a survey concerning their Medicaid participation. Analyses included survey-sample weighted chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results More than two-thirds of the sample dentists are not participating in Medicaid and will not consider doing so. Key findings are that Black dentists across the state and Hispanics in South Florida are more likely to participate in Medicaid than other groups of Florida dentists. Pediatric dentists are more likely to be Medicaid participants than general dentists, but nearly one-fifth of the pediatric dentists might quit participation. Non–Medicaid providers are more likely to report not being busy enough in their practice than Medicaid providers. Conclusions If we are to address the shortage of Medicaid dental providers, increasing our understanding of how to capture the excess capacity among general dentists (the reported lack of busyness) in a way acceptable to dentists and to the State of Florida is an important first step. In addition, dental schools should consider implementing a track dedicated to training students for practice success within communities of highest dental need and to seek to increase the number of Black dental students.
Inhibition of prefrontal protein synthesis following recall does not disrupt memory for trace fear conditioning.

Background The extent of similarity between consolidation and reconsolidation is not yet fully understood. One of the differences noted is that not every brain region involved in consolidation exhibits reconsolidation. In trace fear conditioning, the hippocampus and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are required for consolidation of long-term memory. We have previously demonstrated that trace fear memory is susceptible to infusion of the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin into the hippocampus following recall. In the present study, we examine whether protein synthesis inhibition in the mPFC following recall similarly results in the observation of reconsolidation of trace fear memory.
Executive Development Through Consciousness-Raising Experiences

I describe the design and use of various “consciousness-raising” experiences in several corporate development programs and report my firsthand observations and reflections from executives who parti...
Welfare-state decommodification in 18 OECD countries: a replication and revision:

We present and discuss a replication and reassessment of the welfare-state decommodification index, and introduce a new, publicly available data set of key welfare-state programme characteristics. Using the same programme features used to create the ‘decommodification index’ in The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism, one of the most widely cited sources in the field, we are able to replicate the results quite closely. However, our investigation suggests a number of likely errors in the original formulation. Once these are accounted for, we find very limited empirical support for the ‘three worlds’ typology in the decommodification data. Though some clear differences remain, there is also much less overall variation among countries. Furthermore, there is little evidence of ‘clustering’ among programme scores, a finding which is at odds with the idea of distinctive national regimes. Our results point to the need for a detailed re-investigation of welfare-state benefits in advanced industrial democracies. Ou...
Hiding biometric data

With the wide spread utilization of biometric identification systems, establishing the authenticity of biometric data itself has emerged as an important research issue. The fact that biometric data is not replaceable and is not secret, combined with the existence of several types of attacks that are possible in a biometric system, make the issue of security/integrity of biometric data extremely critical. We introduce two applications of an amplitude modulation-based watermarking method, in which we hide a user's biometric data in a variety of images. This method has the ability to increase the security of both the hidden biometric data (e.g., eigen-face coefficients) and host images (e.g., fingerprints). Image adaptive data embedding methods used in our scheme lead to low visibility of the embedded signal. Feature analysis of host images guarantees high verification accuracy on watermarked (e.g., fingerprint) images.