cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Length‐dependence of isometric twitch tension potentiation and myosin phosphorylation in mouse skeletal muscle

The effect of changes in muscle length on post-tetanic isometric twitch tension potentiation and myosin P-light chain phosphorylation was studied at 23 degrees C in the mouse extensor digitorum longus muscle. The length-tension relationship was determined for the same muscles after a 30 min period of quiescence and between 30 s and 3 min after a 1.5 s tetanus at L0. Isometric twitch tension is increased at all muscle lengths after the tetanus; however, the fractional increase in twitch tension rises from 0.2 at L0 to a maximum of 0.3 at 1.2 L0. The fractional increase in twitch tension measured at any fixed muscle length is constant between 30 s and 3 min post-tetanus. P-light chain phosphorylation remains constant between 30 s and 3 min post-tetanus followed by a slow decline to basal values. Under fixed length conditions, there is linear relationship between the relative magnitude of the twitch tension and the extent of P-light chain phosphorylation. Net myosin phosphorylation measured after a 1.5 s tetanus at 1.23 L0 is 35% less than that obtained under the same conditions at L0. Thus, contraction-induced phosphorylation of P-light chain decreases with increased muscle length and post-tetanic potentiation at a constant level of P-light chain phosphorylation increases with increasing muscle length. These observations may be consistent with alterations in the sarcoplasmic Ca2+ ion transient as the muscle is lengthened.
Thermodynamic Characteristics of the Subcloud Layer Affecting Haze Dispersion Along the West Coast of Borneo

Analysesof 5-year (1994-1998) monthly data from 4 upper-air and 7 surface meteorological stations along the west coast of Borneo showed that throughout the year the subcloud layer is convectively unstable, the lifting condensation level (LCL) is below 400 m, and the ventilation factor (VF) is within 2000 m2s-1. Spatial distribution of LCL and VF indicated that the lowest values are found in the south and the highest in the north. However, the VF values were all in the “bad” category for pollution dispersion.
China's One-Child Policy and the Empowerment of Urban Daughters

Urban daughters have benefited from the demographic pattern produced by China's one-child policy. In the system of patrilineal kinship that has long characterized most of Chinese society, parents had little incentive to invest in their daughters. Singleton daughters, however, enjoy unprecedented parental support because they do not have to compete with brothers for parental invest- ment. Low fertility enabled mothers to get paid work and, thus, gain the ability to demonstrate their filiality by providing their own parents with financial support. Because their mothers have already proven that daughters can provide their parents with old age sup- port, and because singletons have no brothers for their parents to favor, daughters have more power than ever before to defy disad- vantageous gender norms while using equivocal ones to their own advantage. (Keywords: gender, family, fertility, demography, China)
NEW HORIZONS IN HOLLYWOOD

The author, an editorial and magazine writer who for the past year has been working with the Hollywood Writers Mobilization, views the establishment of the Hollywood Quarterly as further evidence of Hollywood's search for maturity. Sponsored jointly by the Mobilization and the University of California, the Hollywood Quarterly represents a continuation in peace of the war-time collaboration between educators and the creative workers in the film and radio industries.
Realization of High-Tc dc π-SQUIDs

Abstract Exploiting the d x 2 − y 2 -dominated symmetry of the high- T c cuprates, we have fabricated thin film dc-π-SQUIDs which consist of high- T c superconductors only. The characteristics of the π-SQUIDs are compared with the properties of standard high- T c SQUIDs. Further we show that in superconductors the admixture of various symmetry components of the order parameter does not have to be constant, but in general is characterized by spatial variations.
Human response to vibroacoustic environments of space vehicles

To insure efficient utilization of the system, space station design and operations will require special habitability considerations for the occupants and crew because of the relatively long duration missions. Of particular concern is the environment in which the personnel will live and work, and how it affects both the performance and comfort of the occupants. Current criteria do not consider possible effects of reduced gravity, long duration, and confinement. Preliminary to developing space station vibroacoustic habitability criteria, the adequacy of criteria for other space vehicles has been reviewed. In this paper, responses to the noise and vibration environments of both Skylab and Shuttle are discussed. Some astronauts have reported sleep interference, communication interference, distraction, and general annoyance as noise related complaints. In addition, information from the Russian Salyut missions, as well as similar based situtations (e.g., submarines), is reviewed.
Linear Poly(arylene ether)s with Pendant Benzoyl Groups: Geometric Isomers of PEEK or Substituted Poly(phenylene oxide)?

The characterization and nucleophilic aromatic substitution (NAS) behavior of 3,5-difluorobenzophenone, 5, are reported. The reactivity of the electrophilic sites, activated by only a benzoyl group located in the meta position, in 5 was probed via NMR spectroscopy and model reactions and was determined to be sufficient to undergo typical NAS reactions. Displacement of the first fluoride atom in 5, with the phenoxide ion derived from p-cresol, required a reaction temperature of 150 °C for 21 h and resulted in a significant decrease in reactivity for displacement of the second fluoride atom, which required 185 °C for displacement. Confirmation that the displacement reaction of both fluorides occurred via an SNAr mechanism was provided by 1H and 13C NMR data on the model compounds. High molecular weight, amorphous poly(arylene ether)s, bearing a pendant benzoyl group, were prepared via the reaction of 5 with a variety of bis-phenols under typical NAS conditions. The glass transition temperatures (Tg) ranged ...
Theory of transient multicomponent transport coupling in three-dimensional stagnation flows

Abstract A general field transformation for transient three-dimensional multicomponent energy and species equations is presented. Employing this transformation, transient multicomponent transport coupling effects in three-dimensional flows with surface injection cooling are studied. A new multicomponent transport coupling parameter is introduced and new results for the surface heat flux for various values (between 0 and 1) of this parameter are given. These values of the transport coupling parameter represent a wide range of transport properties of multicomponent mixtures. The present results demonstrate how a given final surface cooling efficiency can be obtained by choosing a variety of combinations of various values of the transport coupling parameter and injection rates. The present study also reveals an interesting behavior of local overshoot values in the transient relative contribution of the transport coupling effects to the surface heat flux. This behavior is explained here in terms of fluctuations in a multicomponent 'Transport-coupling Activity' number, which is sensitive to the differences in the characteristic rate of change of the local concentration gradients with respect to the local temperature gradient.
Synergistic Action of Erythromycin and Cefamandole Against Bacteroides fragilis Subsp. fragilis

Erythromycin and cefamandole have exhibited synergistic activity against eight strains of Bacteroides fragilis subsp. fragilis. In concentrations of only 0.25 to 0.5 mug of erythromycin per ml (easily obtainable with oral therapy), less than 0.4 mug (0.015 to 1.0) of cefamandole per ml inhibited the B. fragilis strains. In the presence of the erythromycin, the potency of cefamandole was increased more than 100-fold. On the basis of the mechanism of action of these two antibiotics, the synergism may be related to inhibition of beta-lactamase formation by the erythromycin, removal of the bacterial cell wall by the cefamandole permitting erythromycin penetration to the ribosomal level, and decreasing inoculum effect.
A precise measurement of the cosmic microwave background radiation temperature from CN observations toward Zeta Persei

High-SNR high-resolution (R = 150,000-170,000) optical spectra of interstellar CN toward Zeta Per are presented. Fits to the data yield a value of 1.25 + or - 0.02 km/s for the R(O) linewidth parameter b along this line of sight. The column densities of the level populations are directly determined from the convolution of the instrument response function with a model which is then fitted to the data. Tex = 2.79 + or - 0.03 K is obtained along this line of sight.
The impact of downsizing on organizational career development activities and employee career development opportunities

Abstract While most of the human resource management research on downsizing has focused on the short term impact on laid-off workers and survivors, the long term, systematic impact of downsizing on organizational career development activities and employees' career development opportunities has received much less attention. This article argues that the rationale for downsizing the workforce, the goal of the downsizing and the rate, size and scope of the downsizing differ dramatically across organizations shrinking their workforces. Consequently, this article presents a theoretical framework for understanding when organizations are likely to pursue different strategies for reducing their core workforces, why downsizing organizations are likely to pursue different strategies for changing the emphasis of their career development activities and which employees are most likely to experience deteriorating career development opportunities as a result. Hypotheses to guide future theory development and empirical research in this area are discussed as well.
Ability of patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) to wean of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) after an intestinal rehabilitation program (BRP) is related to remaining bowel length

Ability of patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) to wean of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) after an intestinal rehabilitation program (BRP) is related to remaining bowel length
Cell migration and chick limb development: chemotactic action of FGF-4 and the AER.

Experiments have been carried out to investigate the role of the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) and FGF-4 on the control of cell migration during limb bud morphogenesis. By coupling DiI cell labeling with ectopic implantation of FGF-4 microcarrier beads we have found that FGF-4 acts as a potent and specific chemoattractive agent for mesenchymal cells of the limb bud. The response to FGF-4 is dose dependent in both the number of cells stimulated to migrate and the distance migrated. The cell migration response to FGF-4 appears to be independent of the known inductive activity of FGF-4 on Shh gene expression. We investigated the role of the AER in controlling cell migration by characterizing the migration pattern of DiI-labeled subapical cells during normal limb outgrowth and following partial AER removal. Subapical cells within 75 micrometer of the AER migrate to make contact with the AER and are found intermingled with nonlabeled cells. Thus, the progress zone is dynamic with cells constantly altering their neighbor relationships during limb outgrowth. AER removal studies show that cell migration is AER dependent and that subapical cells redirect their path of migration toward a functional AER. These studies indicate that the AER has a chemoattractive function and regulates patterns of cell migration during limb outgrowth. Our results suggest that the chemoattractive activity of the AER is mediated in part by the production of FGF-4.
The Effects of Parasitism on the Host and on the Parasite

The life of a parasite, contrary to general opinion, is not an easy one, it is full of dangers and the parasite is rigorously circumscribed. Parasitism is an achievement and the term degenerate is not aptly applied to this mode of living. Parasites are adapted to this mode of life in two general respects, namely (1) physiologically and (2) morphologically , and these adaptations become the more intense and exclusive as this mode of life progresses A true parasite should not destroy its host,—the life of the host and that of the parasite have become closely tuned to each other and the slightest change in the mode of life of either may result in serious disturbances in the life of the other. It appears that many of the more dangerous blood sucking species of insects have a rather benign “bite,” note the difference in the bite of Anopheles maculipennis , an important malaria vector, and Aedes dorsalis , a salt marsh species. A blood sucking insect that is to become a successful carrier of human disease will probably have to make its blood-lust less offensive to its host. The laws governing the development of a successful parasite are operative in the development of all successful living beings, it is therefore necessary to study the effects of parasitism on the host and on the parasite from a more comprehensive biological point of view.
Angiomotins link F-actin architecture to Hippo pathway signaling

The Hippo pathway regulates the transcriptional coactivator YAP to control cell proliferation, organ size, and stem cell maintenance. Multiple factors, such as substrate stiffness, cell density, and G protein–coupled receptor signaling, regulate YAP through their effects on the F-actin cytoskeleton, although the mechanism is not known. Here we show that angiomotin proteins (AMOT130, AMOTL1, and AMOTL2) connect F-actin architecture to YAP regulation. First, we show that angiomotins are required to relocalize YAP to the cytoplasm in response to various manipulations that perturb the actin cytoskeleton. Second, angiomotins associate with F-actin through a conserved F-actin–binding domain, and mutants defective for F-actin binding show enhanced ability to retain YAP in the cytoplasm. Third, F-actin and YAP compete for binding to AMOT130, explaining how F-actin inhibits AMOT130-mediated cytoplasmic retention of YAP. Furthermore, we find that LATS can synergize with F-actin perturbations by phosphorylating free AMOT130 to keep it from associating with F-actin. Together these results uncover a mechanism for how F-actin levels modulate YAP localization, allowing cells to make developmental and proliferative decisions based on diverse inputs that regulate actin architecture.
MicroRNA-27b Regulates the Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 in Human Osteoarthritis Chondrocytes

Objective Aberrant posttranscriptional regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by microRNA has emerged as an important factor in human diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether the expression of MMP-13 in human osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes is regulated by microRNA. Methods Chondrocytes were stimulated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in vitro. Total RNA was prepared using TRIzol reagent. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–based arrays were used to determine the expression profile of 352 human microRNA. Gene expression was quantified using TaqMan assays, and microRNA targets were identified using bioinformatics. Transfection with reporter construct and microRNA mimic was used to verify suppression of target messenger RNA (mRNA). Gene expression of argonaute and Dicer was determined by reverse transcription–PCR, and expression of protein was determined by immunoblotting. The role of activated MAP kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB was evaluated using specific inhibitors. Results In IL-1β–stimulated OA chondrocytes, 42 microRNA were down-regulated, 2 microRNA were up-regulated, and the expression of 308 microRNA remained unchanged. In silico analysis identified a sequence in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of MMP-13 mRNA complementary to the seed sequence of microRNA-27b (miR-27b). Increased expression of MMP-13 correlated with down-regulation of miR-27b. Overexpression of miR-27b suppressed the activity of a reporter construct containing the 3′-UTR of human MMP-13 mRNA and inhibited the IL-1β–induced expression of MMP-13 protein in chondrocytes. NF-κB and MAPK activation down-regulated the expression of miR-27b. Conclusion Our data demonstrated the expression of miR-27b in both normal and OA chondrocytes. Furthermore, IL-1β–induced activation of signal transduction pathways associated with the expression of MMP-13 down-regulated the expression of miR-27b. Thus, miR-27b may play a role in regulating the expression of MMP-13 in human chondrocytes.
Low-temperature specific heat of amorphous and crystalline Te0.81Ge0.15As0.04

Abstract We have measured the specific heats of amorphous and crystalline specimens of Te0.81Ge0.15As0.04 between 0.2 and 20 K, and of crystalline Te0.93As0.07 between 1 and 20 K. Amorphous Te0.81Ge0.15As0.04 shows a low-temperature linear specific heat anomaly whose magnitude, 0.027 mJ/mol-K2, is similar to that of other amorphous insulators. Crystalline Te0.81Ge0.15As0.04 exists as a two-phase material comprised of GeTe and As-doped Te. The specific heat of this material is analyzed in terms of a weighted average of the properties of its two constituents.
A Construct Validity Study of Scores on a Korean Version of an Academic Self-Concept Scale for Secondary School Students

For each of three samples of 213 8th-grade girls, 191 11th-grade boys, and 213 11th-grade girls attending schools in Korea, the twofold purpose of this investigation was to obtain evidence of the internal-consistency reliability and construct validity of scores on each of the five factor subscales of a Korean version of an academic self-concept instrument titled Dimensions of Self-Concept (DOSC), Form S. Internal-consistency estimates of the reliability of scores on the five 14-item factor subscales fell between .63 and .89, with a median value approximating .78. Confirmatory maximum-likelihood factor analyses for five alternative substantive factor models indicated that both a five-factor oblique model and a hierarchical factor model comprising a general factor correlated with interrelated first-order factors explained the greatest percentage of covariance in the two matrices for the two samples of 11th-grade students. The five hypothesized constructs of the DOSC, Form S (Korean version) received at leas...
A 5-yr Record of Aerial Primary Production and Stand Characteristics of Spartina Alterniflora

The purpose of this paper is to document and explain the interannual variability in aboveground primary productivity from salt marshes at North Inlet, South Carolina. A census method of measuring production was applied to salt marsh sites vegetated by the grass Spartina alterniflora, and a statistically significant relationship between stem age and cumulative leaf loss was used to estimate leaf turnover. Aboveground productivity was 2.3 times as large as the positive increment in standing biomass density due to the turnover of stems and leaves, with stem turnover accounting for 33% and leaf turnover 23% of total aboveground productivity. A numerical simulation demonstrated the sensitivity of destructive harvest methods to sampling errors that are propagated by spatial variability. Monthly measurements, made at one site for >5 yr, document a twofold variation in annual aboveground production, which has important implications for the biogeochemistry and trophic dynamics of estauries. Positive correlations i...
Diminished rostral anterior cingulate cortex activation during trauma-unrelated emotional interference in PTSD

Previous research suggests that individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) preferentially attend to trauma-related emotional stimuli and have difficulty completing unrelated concurrent tasks. Compared to trauma-exposed control groups, individuals with PTSD also exhibit lower rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) activation during tasks involving interference from trauma-related stimuli. However, it is not clear whether relatively diminished rACC activation in PTSD also occurs during interference tasks involving trauma-unrelated emotional stimuli. The present study employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and an interference task that involves emotional facial expressions and elicits rACC activation in healthy participants. While performing a trauma-unrelated emotional interference task, participants with PTSD (n=17) showed less rACC activation than trauma-exposed non-PTSD (TENP; n=18) participants. In the PTSD group, rACC activation was negatively correlated with the severity of re-experiencing symptoms. The two groups did not significantly differ on behavioral measures (i.e., response times and error rates). These findings suggest that relatively diminished rACC activation in PTSD can be observed in interference tasks involving trauma-unrelated emotional stimuli, indicating a more general functional brain abnormality in this disorder. Future neuroimaging studies need not employ trauma-related stimuli in order to detect rACC abnormalities in PTSD.
Back to the Future: How Biology and Technology Could Change the Role of PTFE Grafts in Vascular Access Management

Although the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred mode of dialysis vascular access, AVF maturation failure remains a huge clinical problem, often resulting in a prolonged duration of use of tunneled dialysis catheters. In contrast, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts do not suffer from early failure, but have significant problems with later stenosis and thrombosis. This review will initially summarize the pathology and pathogenesis of PTFE graft dysfunction and will then use this as a basis for describing some novel therapies, which may have the potential to reduce PTFE graft dysfunction. Finally, we will emphasize that the introduction of such therapies could be an important first step toward individualizing overall vascular access care.
Biologic correlates of response and survival in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma treated with denileukin diftitox.

Abstract Background Denileukin diftitox, a fusion protein consisting of peptide sequences for the enzymatically active and membrane translocation domains of diphtheria toxin and human interleukin, resulted in a response rate of 30% in the phase III registration trial in patients with recurrent or persistent cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Little is known with regard to the biologic correlates of response or the impact of denileukin diftitox on disease progression and survival. Patients and Methods In our single-center series of 37 patients with earlyand advanced-stage disease with CTCL treated with denileukin diftitox at a dose of 9 μg/kg or 18 μg/kg per day, we observed an overall response rate of 51%. Results In 8 patients with early-stage ( + CD25 + T-cell populations were observed in 7 of 19 responders, with no overall changes in the absolute lymphocyte counts during the course of therapy. Decrease in lactate dehydrogenase was strongly correlated with clinical response ( P Conclusion Denilekin diftitox was a well-tolerated treatment in early- and advanced-stage CTCL and was not associated with detrimental immunologic efects on lymphocyte populations.
Building Emotional Resilience to Promote Health

In recent years, a growing body of evidence has linked positive emotional health with lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, independent of negative emotion. Several potential mechanisms have been posited to account for these associations, including improved health behavior, direct physiological benefits, and enhanced resistance to and recovery from stress among individuals with high versus low positive emotional resources. Links between positive emotion and health have implications for targeted interventions, but no empirical investigations to date have tested the impact of efforts to enhance positive emotion on cardiovascular risk. Nevertheless, some existing data point to the potential value of strategies to increase emotional resources for individuals' functional health and capacity to manage stress.
Isolation of Aspergillus in three 2009 H1N1 influenza patients.

Please cite this paper as: Adalja et al. (2011) Isolation of Aspergillus in three 2009 H1N1 influenza patients. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 5(4), 225–229 Objectives: To describe the association of Aspergillus with influenza. Design/Setting/Sample Three case reports of ICU patients with influenza complicated by the isolation of Aspergillus species are described and a review of the literature on the topic was performed. Conclusions: Severe influenza cases can be complicated by Aspergillus infection.
Use of topical antibiotics as prophylaxis in clean dermatologic procedures

Background Topical antibiotics are not indicated for routine postoperative care in clean dermatologic procedures, but may be widely used. Objective We sought to describe topical antibiotic use in clean dermatologic surgical procedures in the United States. Methods The 1993 to 2007 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey database was queried for visits in which clean dermatologic surgery was performed. We analyzed provider specialty, use of topical antibiotics, and associated diagnoses. Use of topical antibiotic over time was analyzed by linear regression. Results An estimated 212 million clean dermatologic procedures were performed between 1993 and 2007; topical antibiotics were reported in approximately 10.6 million (5.0%) procedures. Dermatologists were responsible for 63.3% of dermatologic surgery procedures and reported use of topical antibiotic prophylaxis in 8.0 million (6.0%). Dermatologists were more likely to use topical antibiotic prophylaxis than nondermatologists (6.0% vs 3.5%). Use of topical antibiotic prophylaxis decreased over time. Limitations Data were limited to outpatient procedures. The assumption was made that when topical antibiotics were documented at procedure visits they were being used as prophylaxis. Conclusions Topical antibiotics continue to be used as prophylaxis in clean dermatologic procedures, despite being ineffective for this purpose and posing a risk to patients. Although topical antibiotic use is decreasing, prophylactic use should be eliminated.
Pleomorphic adenoma of the vulva, clinical reminder of a rare occurrence

Pleomorphic adenoma, also known as mixed tumor, is a benign tumor which typically presents as a painless and persistent mass. The majority of pleomorphic adenomas involve the salivary glands, most commonly the parotid gland. Other sites include breast and skin. It is a rare tumor in the vulva. In this article we are reporting a case of pleomorphic adenoma of labia with characteristic pathologic and clinical findings, as reminder of a common benign neoplasm occurring with rare locality.
Random Berry phase magnetoresistance as a probe of interface roughness in Si MOSFET's

The effect of silicon-oxide interface roughness on the weak-localization magnetoconductance of a silicon MOSFET in a magnetic field, tilted with respect to the interface, is studied. It is shown that an electron picks up a random Berry's phase as it traverses a closed orbit. Effectively, due to roughness, the electron sees an uniform field parallel to the interface as a random perpendicular field. At zero parallel field the dependence of the conductance on the perpendicular field has a well known form, the weak-localization lineshape. Here the effect of applying a fixed parallel field on the lineshape is analyzed. Many types of behavior are found including homogeneous broadening, inhomogeneous broadening and a remarkable regime in which the change in lineshape depends only on the magnetic field, the two length scales that characterize the interface roughness and fundamental constants. Good agreement is obtained with experiments that are in the homogeneous broadening limit. The implications for using weak-localization magnetoconductance as a probe of interface roughness, as proposed by Wheeler and coworkers, are discussed.
FDA Approval Summary: Ramucirumab for Gastric Cancer

The FDA approved ramucirumab (CYRAMZA; Eli Lilly and Company) for previously treated patients with advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma initially as monotherapy (April 21, 2014) and subsequently as combination therapy with paclitaxel (November 5, 2014). In the monotherapy trial, 355 patients in the indicated population were randomly allocated (2:1) to receive ramucirumab or placebo, 8 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks. In the combination trial, 665 patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive ramucirumab or placebo, 8 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks, in combination with paclitaxel, 80 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 of 28-day cycles. Overall survival (OS) was increased in patients who received ramucirumab in both the monotherapy [HR, 0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.60-0.998; log rank P = 0.047] and combination trials (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68-0.96; P = 0.017). The most common adverse reactions were hypertension and diarrhea in the monotherapy trial and fatigue, neutropenia, diarrhea, and epistaxis in the combination trial. Because of concerns about the robustness of the monotherapy trial results, FDA approved the original application after receiving the results of the combination trial confirming the OS effect. Based on exploratory exposure-response analyses, there is residual uncertainty regarding the optimal dose of ramucirumab.
ED intensivists and ED intensive care units.

a Division of Emergency Critical Care, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA b Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA c Departments of Critical Care Medicine & Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA d Department of Surgery/ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA e Department of Emergency Medicine & Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma/Critical Care, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA f Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Phylogenetic divergence in leatherside chub (Gila copei) inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences.

We examined intra-specific phylogenetic relationships in leatherside chub, Gila copei . The complete mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) was sequenced for 30 individuals from 10 populations that span the geographical distribution of this species. Traditional phylogenetic analyses revealed two deeply divergent and evolutionarily distinct mtDNA clades that are geographically separated in northern and southern drainage basins. Interpopulation sequence variation between clades ranged from 7.7 to 8.1%. The northern clade was genetically more similar and phylogenetically more closely related to the selected out-group Lepidomeda m. mollispinus than to the southern clade, suggesting that the taxonomy of this species may require revision. Sequence variation among populations within clades ranged from 0 to 0.3% in the north and from 0 to 0.7% in the south. Statistical parsimony was used to construct phylogenetic networks of haplotypes within clades. Nested clade analysis revealed that geographical fragmentation has played an important role in genetic structuring within northern and southern clades.
Addressing Class Imbalance in Non-binary Classification Problems

The problem of class imbalance in machine learning is quite real and cumbersome when it comes to building a useful and practical classification model. We present a unique insight into addressing class imbalance for classification problems that involve three or more categories, i.e. non-binary. This study is different than related works in the literature because most works focus on addressing class imbalance only for binary classification problems, even if it means transforming a non-binary dataset into a binary classification problem. We propose an effective, yet simple approach to alleviating class imbalance issues when the classification problem involves more than two classes. The process, with four different methods, is based on applying random undersampling and random oversampling to different parts of the dataset for achieving better classification performance. The proposed data sampling methods are evaluated in the context of two real-world datasets obtained from the UCI Repository for Machine Learning Databases, and two commonly used classification algorithms: C4.5 and RIPPER. Our results demonstrate that the multi-group classification accuracy increases significantly in most cases after the proposed data sampling methods are applied. The positive outcome of this study motivates us to further our research on class imbalance and non-binary classification problems.
Protest, Policy, and the Problem of Violence Against Women: A Cross-National Comparison. By S. Laurel Weldon. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2002. 288p. $45.00 cloth, $19.95 paper

In recent decades, women's movements have mobilized in a range of contexts in order to press for international and national governmental responses to violence against women. Despite the scope of such activity in the public realm, there has been relatively little scholarly analysis of cross-national variations in governmental responses to the problem of violence against women. Laurel Weldon's study is an important response to this scholarly gap in both the fields of policy studies and of women and politics.
NUMERICAL STUDIES OF STRONGLY CORRELATED ELECTRONIC MODELS

Recent numerical work on strongly correlated electronic models using the Lanczos approach is reviewed. In particular static and dynamical properties of the Hubbard, t—J (with one, two and more holes) and the spin-½ Heisenberg antiferromagnet are presented. An attempt to summarize the current active search for nontrivial ground states of the frustrated Heisenberg model is made. Numerical methods like the Lanczos technique are providing useful information in the study of these models.
Of goals and habits

In the television series The Wire , addicts Bubbles and Johnny regularly engage in bizarre and elaborate schemes to obtain drugs, ranging from robbing an ambulance to stealing drugs by lowering a fishing line from a rooftop. That these fictional crimes can be both so meticulously planned and yet focused on such narrow, shortsighted goals highlights a gap in our understanding of how the real brain deploys deliberative vs. automatic mechanisms to make decisions. On a standard account, people can deliberatively evaluate the consequences of candidate actions, which gives us our flexibility to dream up novel plans. Alternatively, the brain can crystallize repeatedly successful behaviors into habits: learned reflexes that free up resources by executing the behaviors automatically (although at the expense of inflexibility and, it is believed, underpinning pathological compulsions). As with most dichotomies, the problem with this view is that the world is not so black and white. Much as the drug-seeking behavior of addicts seems not to fit into either category, for healthy behaviors also, neither of these two sorts of decision making is very practical on its own. In PNAS, Cushman and Morris suggest a hybrid of these mechanisms, and show behavioral evidence that humans use it to plan actions (1). The study of Cushman and Morris (1) draws on recent advances using computational models of learning to make these strategies explicit enough that their hallmarks can be measured in choice behavior. Decisions are often modeled as determined by one’s estimates of the rewards expected from different options. There are many different methods to compute these decision variables. Deliberative planning can be formalized by an algorithmic family, called “model-based reinforcement learning” (2), which evaluates candidate sequences of actions much like a chess computer does, by exhaustively searching the “tree” of their future consequences, generated using … [↵][1]1Email: ndaw{at}princeton.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Studies of Vitamin B Depletion in Perfused Hearts

A progress report stated that perfused hearts could be maintained over a longer period if vitamin B complex were added to the perfusate. The present study comprises analyses of four of the B vitamins in muscle of control hearts, of hearts perfused with oxygenated Locke's solution and of hearts perfused with the same solution plus dihydropaveril. Statistically significant amounts of B vitamins disappear from the muscle during perfusion in comparison to values for control hearts.
Characterization of Vacuum Facility Background Gas Through Simulation and Considerations for Electric Propulsion Ground Testing

The background gas in a vacuum facility for electric propulsion ground testing is examined in detail through a series of cold flow simulations using a direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) code. The focus here is on the background gas itself, its structure and characteristics, rather than assessing its interaction and impact on thruster operation. The background gas, which is often incorrectly characterized as uniform, is found to have a notable velocity within a test facility. The gas velocity has an impact on the proper measurement of pressure and the calculation of ingestion flux to a thruster. There are also considerations for best practices for tests that involve the introduction of supplemental gas flows to artificially increase the background pressure. All of these effects need to be accounted for to properly characterize the operation of electric propulsion thrusters across different ground test vacuum facilities.
Analyzing and Using Receptor Language Proverb Forms in Translation: Part 2: Application

This paper is not about the study of the use of proverbs in the discourse structure of the source language or the RL (Receptor Language). Nor does this paper addres who uses proverbs with whom, and in what context. Nor is this about how to exegete proverbs. My goal here is to simply present some specific ideas on how to explore the structure of RL proverbs in preparation for translating proverbs into the RL, then give some proposals for application of the findings in a given language. Several earlier authors have advocated utilizing RL proverb forms, including Hatton (1976), Salisbury (1994), Schneider (1994), Wendland (2002) but this paper aims to develop this approach in more detail. In doing so, I lay out a more systematic method by which to do this.
Annealing-induced changes in chemical bonding and surface characteristics of chemical solution deposited Pb0.95La0.05Zr0.54Ti0.46O3 thin films

Abstract We report the effect of post deposition annealing temperature (Ta = 550 and 750 °C) on the surface morphology, chemical bonding and structural development of lanthanum doped lead zirconate titanate (Pb0.95La0.05Zr0.54Ti0.46O3; referred to PLZT) thin films prepared using chemical solution deposition method. Atomic force microscopy demonstrates formation of nanocrystallites in the film annealed at Ta = 750 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses indicate that the binding energies (BE) of the Pb 4f, Zr 3d, and Ti 2p doublet experience a positive energy shift at Ta = 750 °C, whereas the BE of O 1s and La 3d doublet show a negative shift with respect to the BE of the films annealed at Ta = 750 °C. Thermal induced crystallization and chemical modification is evident from XPS results. The Ar+ sputtering of the films reveals change in oxidation state and chemical bonding between the constituent atoms, with respect to Ta. Raman spectroscopy used to study phonon-light interactions show shift in longitudinal and transverse optical modes with the change in Ta, confirming the change in phase and crystallinity of these films. The results suggest annealing at Ta = 750 °C yield crystalline perovskite PLZT films, which is essential to obtain photovoltaic response from devices based on such films.
Assessing resilience in emerging adulthood: The Resilience Scale (RS), Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Scale of Protective Factors (SPF)

Abstract The transition to adulthood, emerging adulthood (EA), is characterized by the reorganization of multiple systems and societal scaffolding coming together to uniquely contribute to development. As a developmental turning point, EA has been a recent focus for researchers investigating both resilience and psychopathology. Resilience scales used in EA samples, within the United States are limited because many have not been validated in EA samples and they often do not assess both social/individual and cognitive/interpersonal determinants of resilience. The purpose of this study was to investigate the measurement models and reliability of commonly used resilience scales in the United States to include the Resilience Scale (RS-25; RS-10), the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale CD-RISC-25; CD-RISC-10), and the Scale of Protective Factors (SPF-24). We used an EA sample of 421 college students reporting significant stress or trauma. The results indicated that the CD-RISC-10, and the SPF-24 are psychometrically sound measures of overall resilience in EA. While the CD-RISC-10 has the benefit of clinical criteria for interpreting scores, the SPF-24 is a more comprehensive measure of resilience due to the representation of social/interpersonal in addition to cognitive/individual determinants of resilience. Practical and clinical implications as well as future directions are discussed.
Grain Boundary Diffusion Controlled Precipitation as a Model For thin Film Reactions

In order to arrive at a model for nucleation in the reaction of polycrystalline thin films, we have made use of a transport model that combines atom transport across interface reaction barriers with transport along grain boundaries. Through this transport model, the boundary chemical potential, µIi, and a characteristic length Li, for each specie are defined. Li and the ratio of grain size to Li determine the spatial variation and the time evolution of the boundary chemical potential respectively. Nucleation of the product phase is modeled as a process whose driving force is determined by these position dependent (and time dependent) boundary chemical potentials. Thus thin film reactions become similar to precipitation from bulk homogeneous supersaturated solid solutions. Numerical calculations, however, show that boundary diffusion results in low “effective” driving forces for nucleation which can lead to heterogeneous nucleation of even the first phase. The model provides a new approach to phase selection by re-evaluation of the driving force and considers the effect of product and reactant grain structure to be fundamental to the reaction process.
A Historical Era of Food Deserts Changes in the Correlates of Urban Supermarket Location, 1970–1990

Previous research on “food deserts” generally agrees that supermarkets tend to avoid economically disadvantaged and high percent African American urban areas. Yet this literature is largely ahistor...
Determination of deoxynivalenol in water and ipomoea batatas of pazi disease area in Sichuan province

Objective: To determine deoxynivalenol(DON)in water and ipomoea batatas of pazi disease area in Sichuan province.Methods:DON was extracted by methanol and water(1︰9,V/V);DON was quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results:The quantitation(median) of DON in ipomoea batatas was 78.5μg/kg,which was higher than that of the control(P0.05).The detectable rate was higher than that of the control.Conclusion:Pazi disease is relevant to Mycotoxin of foods.
Inhibition of p105 processing by NF-κB proteins in transiently transfected cells

Regulation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB involves proteasome-mediated processing of the NF-kappaB1 p105 precursor protein, which generates the p50 subunit of NF-kappaB. The processing of p105 occurs constitutively in vivo but can be markedly enhanced by various cellular activation agents, although the underlying regulatory mechanism is not yet clear. In the present study, we demonstrate that signal-mediated induction of p105 processing in human T cells is associated with de novo synthesis of this precursor protein. Transient transfection studies performed in COS7 cells revealed that the newly synthesized p105 protein appears to be more rapidly processed compared to its accumulated form that is already associated with the processed product p50. Interestingly, the processing rate of p105 is markedly inhibited in cells co-transfected with p50 or other NF-kappaB subunits, including RelA and c-Rel, that physically interact with p105. These findings suggest that the processing of p105 is subject to negative regulation by the various NF-kappaB subunits. We further demonstrate that p105 undergoes degradation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human monocytic cells. However, the inducible degradation of p105 is not coupled with the generation of p50. Together, these studies demonstrate that the processing and inducible degradation of p105 are differentially regulated.
Graphene-Silicon Heterojunction Infrared Photodiode at 1.3/1.55 μm

A novel infrared photodiode based on a graphene/n-type silicon heterojunction is explored. The heterojunction photodiode of interest has a large Schottky barrier that results in a low dark current. Graphene serves as the absorbing medium at a wavelength for which silicon is transparent. Under infrared illumination, photo-excited electrons in the graphene gain energy and thus have a greater probability to overcome the barrier and contribute to the photocurrent. We have demonstrated photodiode operation of a graphene/n-Si heterojunction at 1.3 and 1.55 μm wavelength, with 14% internal quantum efficiency and 1.5 pW/Hz1/2 noise-equivalent power, for potential use in silicon photonics.
Enhancing the Efficacy of Checkpoint Blockade Through Combination Therapies

Antibodies targeting coinhibitory receptors on T cells (“checkpoint blockade”) have emerged as some of the most promising therapies for a broad range of malignancies, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and bladder cancer. These coinhibitory molecules include CTLA-4, PD-1, LAG-3, TIM-3, and others. The anti-CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab was approved in 2011 and the anti-PD-1 antibodies pembrolizumab and nivolumab were approved in 2014 for patients with advanced melanoma. Single agent checkpoint blockade is associated with 20–40 % objective response rates in advanced melanoma with improved overall survival. The combination of anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies leads to an increased durable response rate compared to either antibody alone, supporting the concept that combination therapy may result in increased clinical benefit. An important goal in the field is to combine checkpoint blockade with other immunotherapies and other types of therapy (e.g., radiation, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, surgery) to increase the fraction of patients that have objective and durable responses. Here, we discuss the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying checkpoint blockade and the rationale for combination therapy. We then discuss potential immunotherapeutic and non-immunotherapeutic combination therapies. Finally, we discuss critical issues that need to be addressed in order to develop combination strategies to induce long-term clinical responses in patients with cancer.