cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A study of properties of renal microbodies of the rat.

The in vitro response of renal microbodies and lysosomes to a variety of altered physical and chemical conditions was examined. The influence of these conditions upon the integrity of the organelles was determined as that proportion of the total activity of various “marker” enzymes (α-hydroxy acid oxidase, catalase and D-amino acid oxidase for microbodies, and acid phosphatase for lysosomes) which was released from the organelles and recovered in the soluble phase following treatment. Microbodies and lysosomes were separated by differential centrifugation from 15% homogenates of male, rat kidney prepared in 0.25 M sucrose. After exposure to experimental treatments, the preparation was further separated into sediment and supernatant fractions by centrifugation at 100,000 × g for 30 minutes. The sediment and supernatant fractions were assayed to determine the distribution of the “marker” enzymes. Eighty to 100% of the activities of α-hydroxy acid oxidase and catalase were found in the supernatant after exposure of the microbody-lysosome fraction to low concentrations of Triton-X 100 or digitonin, or after treatment by sonic vibrations or high speed laminar shearing. Lesser but significant proportions of the total activities of these enzymes were recovered in the soluble phase after exposure of the organelles to distilled water, 0.1 M Sorensen's phosphate buffer or 0.1 M TRIS-HCl buffer prepared in distilled water. Acid phosphatase showed lower levels of release into the supernatant under most of these conditions. When microbody-lysosome preparations were exposed to sucrose in concentrations of 0.1 M to 0.8 M to phosphate buffer in 0.25 M sucrose or to TRIS-HCl buffer prepared in 0.25 M sucrose, the release of α-hydroxy acid oxidase, catalase and acid phosphatase was insignificant. However, under these conditions D-amino acid oxidase was released into the soluble phase to a significant extent. These results suggest that α-hydroxy acid oxidase and catalase are soluble constituents of renal microbodies while D-amino acid oxidase is associated firmly with a sedimentable component of the organelle, and that renal microbodies are more fragile than renal lysosomes.
UNDERLUMINOSITY AND MAGNETIC FIELDS IN $beta$ LYRAE.

A combination of available observational data for Beta Lyrae and theoretical models of evolution in close binary systems in used to show that the minimum underluminosity of the dark secondary component of this system is 1 to 4 mag. It is demonstrated that magnetic fields are probably relatively weak in massive main-sequence stars, including the two stellar components of Beta Lyrae, and therefore that a strong magnetic field is not a likely explanation for the underluminosity of the secondary component of Beta Lyrae.
Decaying two-dimensional turbulence with rigid walls

Abstract Decaying two-dimensional Navier-Stokes turbulence (or turbulence for the corresponding electrostatic “guiding center” plasma) has usually been studied in spatially periodic boundary conditions. It is known to exhibit a variety of features which are different from the three-dimensional case. By means of spectral-method direct numerical computation, we show that circular no-slip boundaries can significantly alter the decay scenario in two dimensions. In particular, the wall functions as an important source of vorticity and vorticity gradient, and the decay of energy is enhanced by this effect, relative to the decay in periodic boundary conditions. In addition, the very slow decay of angular momentum in high Reynolds number cases constrains the evolution in a way that has no analogue for rectangular periodic boundary conditions.
Sequencing exam questions relative to topic presentation

Abstract This study extends prior studies of the effects of alternative test question sequences on students' examination performance by investigating the effects of an examination which orders the questions in the reverse of the order in which the topics were learned. The results suggest that students who received this version of the test performed significantly better than if the test questions were in the order learned or in a random order.
Fragrance material review on 1-(3,5,6-trimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)ethan-1-one.

Abstract A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 1-(3,5,6-trimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)ethan-1-one when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. 1-(3,5,6-Trimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)ethan-1-one is a member of the fragrance structural group Alkyl Cyclic Ketones. These fragrances can be described as being composed of an alkyl, R 1 , and various substituted and bicyclic saturated or unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons, R 2 , in which one of the rings may include up to 12 carbons. Alternatively, R 2 may be a carbon bridge of C2–C4 carbon chain length between the ketone and cyclic hydrocarbon. This review contains a detailed summary of all available toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. Available data for 1-(3,5,6-trimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)ethan-1-one were evaluated then summarized and includes physical properties, skin irritation, and skin sensitization data. A safety assessment of the entire Alkyl Cyclic Ketones will be published simultaneously with this document; please refer to Belsito et al. (Belsito, D., Bickers, D., Bruze, M., Calow, P., Dagli, M., Fryer, A.D., Greim, H., Miyachi, Y., Saurat, J.H., Sipes, I.G., 2013. A Toxicologic and Dermatologic Assessment of Alkyl Cyclic Ketones When Used as Fragrance Ingredients (submitted for publication)) for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all Alkyl Cyclic Ketones in fragrances.
Symptomatic Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common, yet challenging condition for clinical management. The majority of these patients have evidence of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction that may be asymptomatic or associated with debilitating symptoms of heart failure. In this report, we discuss the clinical presentation, appropriate evaluation, and management of a patient with symptomatic obstructive HCM. A 65-year-old woman presents to the ambulatory clinic for evaluation and management of dyspnea. The patient has a lifelong history of a murmur but was never limited in her activities until ≈8 months ago. Her symptoms consist of dyspnea that occurs when climbing a flight of stairs and while gardening. These activities can also precipitate lightheadedness, although she has never had frank syncope. The patient’s medical history is significant for medically treated hypertension (metoprolol succinate, 100 mg/d); there is no history of coronary or peripheral atherosclerosis. She also has a 42-year-old son, who was recently diagnosed with obstructive HCM during a routine medical examination. On physical examination, the patient is relatively small in stature (5′7″; 55 kg). Her blood pressure is 120/70 mm Hg with a heart rate of 60 bpm. Her lungs are clear to auscultation. The jugular venous pulse is normal. Carotid upstroke is brisk and not bifid. Her left ventricular apex is localized and slightly sustained (1+). No murmur is present at rest. However, with squat-to-stand maneuver, there is a 2/6 systolic ejection murmur heard best at the left lower sternal border. The remainder of the physical examination is unremarkable. An ECG demonstrates normal sinus rhythm and voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy. A chest radiograph is normal. The patient undergoes a transthoracic echocardiogram (Figure 1). Left ventricular size is normal, and systolic function is preserved (ejection fraction, 65%). There is moderate myocardial hypertrophy localized to the ventricular septum (maximal thickness, …
Survival analysis of response to group psychotherapy in bulimia nervosa

A reanalysis of treatment response and relapse was performed using survival analysis in a 12-week clinical trial of cognitive behavioral group psychotherapy for the treatment of bulimia nervosa. One hundred forty-three (143) bulimic women with high incidence of binge eating, self-induced vomiting, and/or laxative abuse were randomly assigned to one of four possible treatment conditions that consisted of a combination of two factors: (1) emphasis on abstinence (high and low), and (2) treatment intensity (high and low). “Initial” and “maintained” response to treatment based on “total” and “near” abstinence criteria were determined using self-reported binge eating, vomiting, and laxative use data. Results suggest that an emphasis on abstinence appears important in achieving initial abstinence, whereas in-tensity of treatment may be important in maintaining abstinence. © 1993 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Identification of a germ line transcript from the unrearranged kappa gene in human B cells.

Abstract A novel kappa immunoglobulin-hybridizing mRNA in cell lines derived from human B cells arrested at several stages of development has been identified. Hybridization studies demonstrate that this 1.5-kilobase mRNA species is the spliced product of a precursor germ line transcript initiating upstream of the unrearranged JKappa locus.
Solid-State NMR and MD Simulations of the Antiviral Drug Amantadine Solubilized in DMPC Bilayers

The interactions of 15 N-labeled amantadine, an antiinfluenza A drug, with DMPC bilayers were investigated by solid- state NMR and by a 12.6-ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The drug was found to assume a single preferred orientation and location when incorporated in these bilayers. The experimental and MD computational results demonstrate that the long axis of amantadine is on average parallel to the bilayer normal, and the amine group is oriented toward the headgroups of the lipid bilayers. The localization of amantadine was determined by paramagnetic relaxation and by the MD simulation showing that amantadine is within the interfacial region and that the amine interacts with the lipid headgroup and glycerol backbone, while the hydrocarbon portion of amantadine interacts with the glycerol backbone and much of the fatty acyl chain as it wraps underneath the drug. The lipid headgroup orientation changes on drug binding as characterized by the anisotropy of 31 P chemical shielding and 14 N quadrupolar interactions and by the MD simulation.
Linking Policy Intention and Policy Implementation The Role of the Organization in the Integration of Human Services

This article argues that (1) the clarity of a policy intention depends upon the appropriateness of the organizational form to implement it, and (2) the assumptions held by policymakers regarding or...
Child Molesting: Variables Relating to Attribution of Fault to Victims, Offenders, and Nonparticipating Parents

Abstract In this study variables relating to attribution of fault to child molestation victims, offenders, and nonparticipating parents were investigated. Previous researchers have demonstrated that people blame women who are raped, and numerous authors have blamed child molestation victims. Subjects were 180 male and 180 female volunteers attending a large northeastern state university. They read a description of child molesting in which victim's sex, victim's age (7, 11, or 15) and offender‐victim relationship (parent, acquaintance, or stranger) were varied among subjects. Subjects indicated how much fault they attributed to each person and stated their reasons. Four attitudinal scales were also administered, and subjects were asked if they were ever molested. Regarding attribution of fault to victims, a breakdown of the significant Subject's Sex x Victim's Sex x Victim's Age interaction revealed that male subjects attributed significantly more fault than female subjects to 15‐year‐old male victims, and...
Minorías étnico-culturales y derechos de las mujeres

Este articulo examina las bases de una propuesta conciliatoria que permita equilibrar las pretensiones del feminismo de la igualdad con una nocion de la ciudadania suficientemente inclusiva, deteniendose en particular en la propuesta de las jurisdicciones multiculturales. Para ello, en primer lugar, se revisa el modo en que el feminismo de la igualdad y el multiculturalismo coinciden en una critica a la nocion tradicional de ciudadania liberal. En segundo lugar se indaga la posibilidad de construir una concepcion que permita superar ese ideal de ciudadania. Finalmente se analiza criticamente la tesis de las jurisdicciones multiculturales para concluir que por si sola no es suficiente, debiendo insertarse en una adecuada concepcion de la democracia deliberativa.
Evolving sets and mixing

We show that a new probabilistic technique, recently introduced by the first author, yields the sharpest bounds obtained to date on mixing times in terms of isoperimetric properties of the state space (also known as conductance bounds or Cheeger inequalities). We prove that the bounds for mixing time in total variation obtained by Lovasz and Kannan, can be refined to apply to the maximum relative deviation |pn(x,y)/π(y)-1| of the distribution at time n from the stationary distribution π. Our approach also yields a direct link between isoperimetric inequalities and heat kernel bounds; previously, this link rested on analytic estimates known as Nash inequalities.
DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS OF BURIED-VALLEY AQUIFERS IN NORTH DAKOTA.

Many buried-valley aquifers in North Dakota occupy narrow, trench-like valleys incised through glacial sediment into bedrock. By analogy with nonburied valleys of similar size, shape, and geomorphic characteristics, the buried valleys are interpreted to be glacial-lake spillways formed during glaciations prior to the last advance and retreat. Water-bearing sediments that fill these buried valleys, although traditionally interpreted as glacial outwash, are commonly composed of nonglacial fluvial sediments deposited between glaciations. Interglacial fluvial systems that occupied the glacial-lake spillways include major trunk streams draining the Rocky Mountains as well as sluggish, underfit streams with small drainage areas. Deposits associated with the latter type consist of fine-grained fluvial and lacustrine sediments in the valley centers grading into coarser sediments of alluvial-fan origin along the valley sides. Thus, in some buried valleys, the most productive aquifers may lie along the valley sides rather than in the valley centers.
Jitter-tolerant clock routing in two-phase synchronous systems

Due to process, manufacturing and system operating conditions in a real environment, clock jitter is inevitable. In the presence of jitter, zero or near-zero skew are not really safe for reliable clock operations. Appropriate skew or useful skew can serve as a safety margin to guard against clock jitter. In two-phase clocking, the nonoverlapping interval of two-phase clocks provides an additional degree of freedom to improve either the clock tree cost or jitter-tolerance. We construct a two-phase jitter-tolerant useful-skew tree (JT-UST) such that the susceptibility to clock jitter and the clock tree cost is minimized. Following the Deferred-Merge Embedding (DME) framework, we use a simulated annealing approach to explore the routing topologies and embeddings. Experimental results have shown 63% to 100% reduction of jitter-prone sink pairs over previous clock routing methods while having very comparable clock tree costs.
Renegotiation-proof contract in repeated agency

Abstract Renegotiation-proof contracts are studied in infinitely repeated principal–agent problem. Contracts satisfying a weaker notion of renegotiation-proofness always exist. The renegotiation-proof value function has a simple characterization: It is the principal's optimal value function when an appropriate lower bound is placed on the agent's expected utility. Sufficient conditions are provided for renegotiation-proof value function in finite horizon to converge to renegotiation-proof value function in infinite horizon as time goes to infinity.
A model for merging residency programmes during health care consolidations: a course for success.

Objective We describe a process for the survival and successful merging of existing residency training programmes in the context of larger health care mergers. People, management, and communication skills are critical for leaders of the change process. We offer approaches and guidelines for leaders and others who are involved health care and residency training programme mergers. Awareness and understanding of systems issues and human factors improve the likelihood of success. Although our guidelines are intended primarily for residency programme mergers, they are equally applicable to mergers of health care institutions. Conclusion Successful residency training programme mergers require a carefully planned and executed series of actions that minimise disruptions. Effective communication on all levels is key. Success is associated with effective leadership, good communication skills, an open process with physician input, attention to institutional cultures, and a relatively short timetable. Most important is the continuous involvement, input, and creation of the programme by those most affected.
Cosmopolitan Hagglers or Haggling Locals

There has been much debate about the definition of cosmopolitan, but little attention has been paid to the underlying opposition of cosmopolitans to locals. Based on ethnographic work in the medina of Tunis, this article suggests that categories of local and cosmopolitan are discursively created and that the categorization of specific groups shifts depending on the context. I focus on a group of salesmen in the medina's tourist trade. These salesmen categorize themselves as sophisticated individuals who know about, and adapt to, the cultural practices of different tourist groups. They describe tourists as ignorant and inflexible. By contrast the tourists describe themselves in cosmopolitan terms and the salesmen as culturally determined locals. I suggest that while the categorization of cosmopolitanism depends on the opposition of cosmopolitan to local, the two are not commensurate terms. While cosmopolitanism refers to a cluster of attributes that individuals or groups ascribe to themselves, status as a local derives from being viewed by those who consider themselves to be cosmopolitans. The relation of cosmopolitanism to localness echoes earlier structured oppositions such as modernity to tradition, particularly with its implications of progress and homogeneity for the first category in contrast to the backwardness and heterogeneity of the second. By implication, cosmopolitans are sometimes seen as free from cultural constraints. I argue that cosmopolitanism is an ideological construction that always draws on specific contexts. Any group, given the appropriate circumstances, can be held as the local object of a cosmopolitan gaze.
Muscleblind-like 1 interacts with RNA hairpins in splicing target and pathogenic RNAs

The MBNL and CELF proteins act antagonistically to control the alternative splicing of specific exons during mammalian postnatal development. This process is dysregulated in myotonic dystrophy because MBNL proteins are sequestered by (CUG)n and (CCUG)n RNAs expressed from mutant DMPK and ZNF9 genes, respectively. While these observations predict that MBNL proteins have a higher affinity for these pathogenic RNAs versus their normal splicing targets, we demonstrate that MBNL1 possesses comparably high affinities for (CUG)n and (CAG)n RNAs as well as a splicing target, Tnnt3. Mapping of a MBNL1-binding site upstream of the Tnnt3 fetal exon indicates that a preferred binding site for this protein is a GC-rich RNA hairpin containing a pyrimidine mismatch. To investigate how pathogenic RNAs sequester MBNL1 in DM1 cells, we used a combination of chemical/enzymatic structure probing and electron microscopy to determine that MBNL1 forms a ring-like structure which binds to the dsCUG helix. While the MBNL1 N-terminal region is required for RNA binding, the C-terminal region mediates homotypic interactions which may stabilize intra- and/or inter-ring interactions. Our results provide a mechanistic basis for dsCUG-induced MBNL1 sequestration and highlight a striking similarity in the binding sites for MBNL proteins on splicing precursor and pathogenic RNAs.
Effectiveness of chlorhexidine in a postmilking teat dip.

Abstract Chlorhexidine used at 0.2% in an aqueous dip for cows' teats immediately after each milking reduced the resident microflora on the apical teat skin by about 95%. The skin microflora was evaluated as gram-positive cocci culturable on Staphylococcus Medium 110 from a standardized swabbing of washed teats. As so measured, the microbial population of untreated apical skin of a given teat is quite stable at a magnitude characteristic of the individual teat. The chlorhexidine dip was used in the same manner to sanitize half-udders of 12 cows against exposure of the entire udders to Staphylococcus aureus applied at each milking through contamination of the milking machine teat cups. During 31 weeks of such challenge, nine new gland infections appeared among the undipped quarters with a mean-day of onset of 97, whereas there were three new infections among the dipped quarters with a mean-day of onset of 153.
How to not get frustrated with neural networks

In the presentation major difficulties of designing neural networks are shown. It turn out that popular MLP (Multi Layer Perceptron) networks in most cases produces far from satisfactory results. Also, popular EBP (Error Back Propagation) algorithm is very slow and often is not capable to train best neural network architectures. Very powerful and fast LM (Levenberg- Marquardt) algorithm was unfortunately implemented only for MLP networks. Also, because a necessity of the inversion of the matrix, which size is proportional to number of patterns, the LM algorithm can be used only for small problems. However, the major frustration with neural networks occurs when too large neural networks are used and it is being trained with too small number of training patterns. Indeed, such networks, with excessive number of neurons, can be trained to very small errors, but these networks will respond very poorly for new patterns, which were not used for training. The most of frustrations with neural network can be eliminated when smaller, more effective, architectures are used and trained by newly developed NBN (Neuron-by-Neuron) algorithm.
Molecular Characterization and Expression in Escherichia coli of Three β-1,3-Glucanase Genes from Lysobacter enzymogenes Strain N4-7

Lysobacter enzymogenes strain N4-7 produces multiple biochemically distinct extracellular β-1,3-glucanase activities. The gluA, gluB, and gluC genes, encoding enzymes with β-1,3-glucanase activity, were identified by a reverse-genetics approach following internal amino acid sequence determination of β-1,3-glucanase-active proteins partially purified from culture filtrates of strain N4-7. Analysis of gluA and gluC gene products indicates that they are members of family 16 glycoside hydrolases that have significant sequence identity to each other throughout the catalytic domain but that differ structurally by the presence of a family 6 carbohydrate-binding domain within the gluC product. Analysis of the gluB gene product indicates that it is a member of family 64 glycoside hydrolases. Expression of each gene in Escherichia coli resulted in the production of proteins with β-1,3-glucanase activity. Biochemical analyses of the recombinant enzymes indicate that GluA and GluC exhibit maximal activity at pH 4.5 and 45°C and that GluB is most active between pH 4.5 and 5.0 at 41°C. Activity of recombinant proteins against various β-1,3 glucan substrates indicates that GluA and GluC are most active against linear β-1,3 glucans, while GluB is most active against the insoluble β-1,3 glucan substrate zymosan A. These data suggest that the contribution of β-1,3-glucanases to the biocontrol activity of L. enzymogenes may be due to complementary activities of these enzymes in the hydrolysis of β-1,3 glucans from fungal cell walls.
Regulating Political Risks

This is a response to Bruce Ackerman’s Tanner Lectures, “The Decline and Fall of the American Republic,” delivered at Princeton University on April 7-9, 2010. I suggest a framework for clarifying and evaluating Ackerman’s claims: constitutions and other instruments of public law can be understood as devices for regulating political risks. Many of the standard tools of risk regulation analysis can be used, with appropriate modifications, to analyze political risks and to evaluate the institutions that attempt to manage those risks. Given this framework, I suggest that Ackerman’s central claims and concerns are inconsistent or ill-defined.
Cluster-M parallel programming model

Present a novel parallel programming model called Cluster-M. This model provides an environment for efficiently designing highly parallel machine independent software. Cluster-M is a generic model consisting of a collection of clusters such that each cluster represents a set of processors having similar level of interconnectivity. For every multiprocessor architecture there exists a Cluster-M representation. This leads to a mapping mechanism which allows a single software to be ported among various parallel computing systems. >
Comments on “the (3He,d) reaction on28Si”

An assertion made in a recent paper dealing with the28Si(3He,d) reaction to the 1/2+ ground state of29P, namely that the spectroscopic factor extracted in the conventional way using DWBA analyses has a strong energy dependence, is shown to be due to a complication of inconsistent DWBA analyses by various authors, rather than being due to any intrinsic feature of the28Si(3He,d) reaction mechanism.
Clustering of cytokine genes on mouse chromosome 11.

The presence of positionally conserved amino acid residues suggests that the mouse proteins TCA3, P500, MIP1-alpha, MIP1-beta, and JE are members of a single gene family. These proteins are activation specific and can be expressed by both myeloid and lymphoid cells. MIP1-alpha/MIP1-beta and MCAF (the putative human homologue of JE) act as chemotactic and activating agents for neutrophils and macrophages, respectively. The functions of TCA3 and P500 are unknown. We have used interspecies somatic cell hybrids and recombinant inbred mouse strains to show that the genes encoding TCA3, MIP1-alpha, MIP1-beta, and JE (provisionally termed Tca3, Mip-1a, Mip-1b, and Sigje, respectively) map as a cluster on the distal portion of mouse chromosome 11 near the Hox-2 gene complex. DNA sequence analysis indicates that the P500 and TCA3 proteins are encoded by alternative splicing products of one genomic gene. Additionally, the genes encoding TCA3 and JE are found to be strikingly similar with respect to the positions of intron-exon boundaries. Together, these data support the model that the cytokines TCA3, P500, MIP1-alpha, MIP1-beta, and JE are encoded by a single cluster of related genes. The gene encoding IL-5 (Il-5), which acts as a T cell-replacing factor, a B cell growth factor, and an eosinophil differentiation factor, is also mapped to mouse chromosome 11.Il-5 maps approximately 25 cM proximal to the Tca-3 gene and appears tightly linked to a previously described gene cluster that includes Il-3, Il-4, and Csfgm. We discuss the potential relevance of the two cytokine gene clusters described here with particular attention to specific human hematologic malignancies associated with chromosomal aberrations at corresponding locations on human chromosomes 5 and 17.
Outdoor stand-off interrogation of fissionable material with a hybrid coded imaging system

Summary form only given. A hybrid coded imaging and detection system developed at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) was used for active interrogation measurements with pulsed bremsstrahlung at the Hermes-III facility at Sandia National Laboratories. This work follows previous experiments performed in 2011 and explores different targets and system conditions to the previous work. Unique detection and imaging of fissionable compared to nonfissionable material will be discussed.
On adversarial policy switching with experiments in real-time strategy games

Given a Markov game, it is often possible to hand-code or learn a set of policies that capture a diversity of possible strategies. It is also often possible to hand-code or learn an abstract simulator of the game that can estimate the outcome of playing two strategies against one another from any state. We consider how to use such policy sets and simulators to make decisions in large Markov games such as real-time strategy (RTS) games. Prior work has considered the problem using an approach we call minimax policy switching. At each decision epoch, all policy pairs are simulated against each other from the current state, and the minimax policy is chosen and used to select actions until the next decision epoch. While intuitively appealing, our first contribution is to show that this switching policy can have arbitrarily poor worst case performance. Our second contribution is to describe a simple modification, whose worst case performance is provably no worse than the minimax fixed policy in the set. Our final contribution is to conduct experiments with these algorithms in the domain of RTS games using both an abstract game engine that we can exactly simulate and a real game engine that we can only approximately simulate. The results show the effectiveness of policy switching when the simulator is accurate, and highlight challenges in the face of inaccurate simulations.
A FIELD-BASED EVALUATION OF A PRESENCE–ABSENCE PROTOCOL FOR MONITORING ECOREGIONAL-SCALE BIODIVERSITY

Abstract Declines in populations of many species across the United States are prompting the need for monitoring programs that can detect population change effectively for large suites of species. The proliferation of reliable standardized monitoring techniques enhances the potential that we may meet these burgeoning information needs. However, multiple-species monitoring approaches are still a rarity. In an attempt to meet monitoring information needs on National Forest System (NFS) lands, the U.S. Forest Service developed the Multiple Species Inventory and Monitoring (MSIM) protocol, an approach that employs a variety of vertebrate and habitat survey methods to obtain presence–absence data for a broad spectrum of species at a systematic array of sample points throughout ecoregions. A recent evaluation of the MSIM protocol predicted that its implementation across the Sierra Nevada ecoregion would detect a 20% change in proportion of points occupied for 76% of the species with 80% confidence and power. Thi...
In situ XANES and EXAFS Analysis of Redox Active Fe Center Ionic Liquids

Abstract In situ X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) and Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) techniques are applied to a metal center ionic liquid undergoing oxidation and reduction in a three electrode spectroscopic cell. Determination of the extent of reduction under negative bias on the working electrode and the extent of oxidation are determined after pulse voltammetry to quiescence. While the ionic liquid undergoes full oxidation, it undergoes only partial reduction, likely due to transport issues on the timescale of the experiment. Nearest neighbor Fe-O distances in the fully oxidized state match well to expected values for similarly coordinated solids, but reduction does not result in an extension of the Fe-O bond length, as would be expected from comparisons to the solid phase. Instead, little change in bond length is observed. We suggest that this may be due to a more complex interaction between the monodentate ligands of the metal center anion and the surrounding charge cloud, rather than straightforward electrostatics between the metal center and the nearest neighbor grouping.
Deception, Disadvantage, and Democratic Deliberation: Aboriginal Strategies and Deliberative Institutions

Deliberative democrats argue that citizens should ideally enter the public sphere openly and honestly, so that they can reason most effectively with others. Yet deliberative theorists increasingly acknowledge that deviations from this model are necessary in practice, and often endorse rhetoric and related forms of persuasion where necessary to bridge divided communities or spotlight serious injustices. They have given limited attention to the status of deceptive speech, however. In this paper, I consider the ethics of political deception in two ways. First, I consider its acceptability by groups that are severely disadvantaged. Drawing on John Dryzek’s work, I argue that deception is permissible when necessary to build a larger “deliberative system” or to reduce profound injustices. Second, I consider the effects of deception on disadvantaged actors themselves, arguing that deceptive strategies are often harmful because their distorting effects on self-understandings and group solidarity. I thus argue that, for their own good, disadvantaged groups should choose deception only in extreme circumstances, even if they are morally permitted to use it much more frequently. The paper looks especially at the political and legal claims of Aboriginal peoples within Canada and the United States, though its general arguments are more broadly applicable.
Aging albedo model for asphalt pavement surfaces

Abstract One of the most significant factors affecting pavement-induced Urban Heat Islands is the albedo. Several studies have shown albedo's effect on air temperature and building energy usage. Albedo depends on the optical properties of the material constituents of the surface layer of the pavement, which can change over time or with additives. The albedo of a series of full-scale asphalt and concrete pavement test sections of varying ages in Rantoul, Illinois (USA) was measured and a non-linear aging albedo model for asphalt pavements was developed. For a hypothetical pavement section, the current practice of assuming a constant albedo over time was found to overestimate the Global Warming Potential of the asphalt pavement by about 25%. In addition, the albedo of translucent polymer fibers was determined to be 0.07 using a spectrophotometer. This does not have a thermal impact on the pavement as long as the fibers remain coated with cement paste. However, if the fibers become exposed because of abrasion, they will have an impact on albedo depending on the pavement area containing exposed fibers.
A Redescription of Two Pliocene Cormorants

Recent skeletons, I have used the term dzd’/n - 1 to determine the standard deviation of some of the meaformation (Lower Pliocene) of Florida to ida- surements. The “statistical range” refers to six stanhensis, but later (1963) stated that these re- dard deviations centered on the mean. Those specimens ferred specimens probably represent other of iduhensis and mater that exceeded the measured species. Brodkorb (1958) suggested that two ranges of auritus skeletons were tested statistically
Lymphoid infiltrates of the orbit and conjunctiva. A morphologic and immunophenotypic study of 99 cases

Most of the earlier clinicopathologic studies of orbital and conjunctival lymphoid infiltrates were done before the development of immunohistologic methods. In this study, we have examined 99 lymphoid infiltrates of the orbit and conjunctiva immunohistologically and correlated clinical and histologic features with immunophenotype. Sixty-six infiltrates expressed monotypic immunoglobulin; one case was immunoglobulin-negative, B-lineage; and 32 infiltrates expressed polytypic immunoglobulin. Using histologic criteria, 36 cases were malignant (35 monotypic; one immunoglobulin-negative, B-lineage), 44 were indeterminate (31 monotypic, 13 polytypic), and 19 were benign (all polytypic). Combining histologic and immunophenotypic criteria, 67 cases were diagnosed as malignant lymphoma. Seventy-six percent of the lymphomas were classified as low-grade according to the Working Formulation; small lymphocytic lymphoma (45%) was the most common histologic subtype. Cytologic atypia (p less than .0001) and Dutcher bodies (p less than .05) were found only in lymphomas. Similarly, bilateral involvement (p less than .05) and dissemination at time of presentation (p less than .001) occurred only in lymphomas. No other histologic or clinical features reliably distinguished lymphomas from benign orbital and conjunctival lymphoid infiltrates. Nineteen patients had a prior history of extraorbital malignant lymphoma, and eight patients had a history of pseudolymphoma. Patients with a history of malignant lymphoma more often presented with dissemination (p less than .001) and less often had the small lymphocytic subtype (p = .07) than patients without a history of lymphoma. However, not all patients with a history of extraorbital lymphoma had monotypic orbital and conjunctival infiltrates, and the incidence of monotypic orbital and conjunctival lesions in these patients was similar to that of the patients without a history of lymphoma. Patients with a history of pseudolymphoma always presented with localized disease (p less than .01) and more often had benign lesions (p = .08) as compared with patients without a history of pseudolymphoma. We conclude that the presence of either cytologic atypia or Dutcher bodies is a reliable criterion of malignant lymphoma in the orbit and conjunctiva. However, for one-third of the cases in this study, immunohistologic studies were the only means of distinguishing malignant from benign lymphoid infiltrates.
Mesoscale effects in electrochemical conversion: Coupling of chemistry to atomic- and nanoscale structure in iron-based electrodes

The complex coupling of atomic, chemical, and electronic transformations across multiple length scales underlies the performance of electrochemical energy storage devices. Here, the coupling of chemistry with atomic- and nanoscale structure in iron conversion electrodes is resolved by combining pair distribution function (PDF) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis for a series of Fe fluorides, oxyfluorides, and oxides. The data show that the anion chemistry of the initial electrode influences the abundance of atomic defects in the Fe atomic lattice. This, in turn, is linked to different atom mobilities and propensity for particle growth. Competitive nanoparticle growth in mixed anion systems contributes to a distinct nanostructure, without the interconnected metallic nanoparticles formed for single anion systems.
Phenoloxidase Activity, Lack of Bactericidal Immunity, and Oral Susceptibility of Tobacco Budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae to Serratia marcescens

A 20% difference in phenoloxidase activity was found between hemolymph obtained from uninoculated Heliothis virescens (F.) larvae and from larvae inoculated with heat-killed Serratia marcescens , indicating a lack of immunity and perhaps a lack of larval recognition of S. marcescens by the phenolxidase system. No bactericidal (0%) humoral immunity to pigmented and capsulated S. marcescens could be detected in cell-free hemolymph from fifth instars. This was true for hemolymph obtained from uninoculated larvae and from inoculated larvae 24 h after inoculation of heat-killed S. marcescens . After oral infection of larvae with S. marcescens , larval mortality was 17.4%, pupation decreased by 17.4%, and adult emergence decreased by 21.5%, when uninfected and infected insects were compared.
Analysis of Fundamentals of Fencing

Abstract The purpose of the study was (a) to analyze the fundamentals of fencing as performed in accordance with the classical forms; (b) to compare the data in a with the data obtained when these fundamentals were performed in accordance with nine variations of the classical forms; and (c) upon the basis of the comparisons in b, to suggest deviations from the classical forms which might result in improved techniques. The evidence presented in this study indicates that performances from each of five variations from the classical on-guard are, for certain fundamentals of fencing, superior to performances from the classical on-guard.
Don’t look now! Oculomotor avoidance as a conditioned disgust response

Pavlovian conditioning paradigms have revealed fear learning tendencies that may be implicated in the etiology and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Given the prominence of disgust in certain anxiety disorders, it may be fruitful to study disgust learning in addition to fear learning. The present study utilized eye tracking to examine the effects of disgust conditioning on attentional bias, a phenomenon that characterizes anxiety disorders. Participants completed either a disgust condition, in which a face (conditioned stimulus; CS+) was paired with videos of individuals vomiting (unconditioned stimulus; US), or a negative condition in which a face was paired with videos of individuals being harmed in motor-vehicle accidents. Eye movements were used to measure attentional biases related to the USs and the CSs. In line with prior research, attentional avoidance was observed for the disgust CS+. However, this effect did not reach significance until after extinction and was linked to self-reported disgust postacquisition, yet decoupled from self-reported disgust postextinction. Attentional avoidance of the CS+ was not found in the negative condition, and postextinction differences in attentional bias for the CS+ between conditions were found to be mediated by differences in attentional bias for the US, as only the disgust US elicited attentional avoidance. Also, individual differences in disgust sensitivity were found to be associated with attentional avoidance of the disgust US, and this effect was mediated by self-reported disgust in response to the US. Further, disgust sensitivity was associated with attentional avoidance of the disgust CS+, and this effect was mediated by attentional avoidance of the disgust US. These findings provide new insight into a complex pattern of relations between disgust, evaluative learning, and attention that may have implications for the etiology and maintenance of certain anxiety disorders.
N2(C2H2−C2H4) fixation in two species of Ceanothus seedlings in second year postfire chaparral

Nitrogen fixation in excised root nodules of 2-year-old, postfireCeanothus tomentosus andC. leucodermis seedlings was measured over an 8-month period using the acetylene reduction method. High levels of NO3−N and NH4−N present in postfire soils were limited to the upper 10 cm and did not inhibit nodulation in these deeper-rooting seedlings. Decreases in acetylene reduction activity occurred with decreased soil moisture and increased soil temperature. Nitrogen gains from these two Ceanothus shrub seedlings totalled 1.6 kg N ha−1 yr−1.
Diabetes education and the primary care provider

The problems involved in developing a practical primary care model of individualized diabetes management are discussed. Even though the multidisciplinary team approach is the preferred delivery system for diabetes care, primary care providers who do not have access to a diabetes care team can work with diabetes educators who provide a comprehensive body of knowledge, attitudes, and self-management skills to help people with diabetes make a positive psychosocial adaptation to diabetes. The person with diabetes is the only one in a position to determine what is learned and what is ultimately practiced.
Structure Analysis of Unfolded Peptides I: Vibrational Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy is an invaluable spectroscopic techniques utilized to exploit the optical strength of vibrational transitions for structure analysis. In this chapter, we describe the protocol for measuring and self-consistently analyzing VCD and the corresponding FT-IR spectra of short peptides. This process involves the decomposition of the IR spectrum as well as simulations of the amide I band profiles in both spectra based on structural models of the peptides investigated. This type of spectral analysis should be complemented with similar investigations of Raman spectra, which are described in the subsequent chapter. The structural analysis of short, unfolded peptides described in this chapter can easily be extended for the analysis of longer unfolded peptides or even proteins. This is particularly important in view of the demonstrated biological relevance of intrinsically disordered peptides and proteins (IDPs).
Prehypertension in Early Pregnancy: What is the Significance?

Objective Hypertensive disorders play a significant role in maternal morbidity and mortality. There is limited data on prehypertension (pre-HTN) during the first half of pregnancy. We sought to examine the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with prehypertension in early pregnancy (<20 weeks' gestational age). Study Design A retrospective cohort study of 377 patients between 2013 and 2014. Patients were divided based on the highest blood pressure in early pregnancy, as defined per the JNC-7 criteria. There were 261 control patients (69.2%), 95 (25.2%) pre-HTN patients, and 21 (5.6%) chronic hypertension (CHTN) patients. The groups were compared using X2, Fisher's Exact, Student t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test with p < 0.05 used as significance. Results Patients with pre-HTN delivered earlier (38.8 ± 1.9 weeks vs 39.3 ± 1.7 weeks), had more pregnancy related hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 4.62; confidence interval [CI], 2.30-9.25; p < 0.01) and composite maternal adverse outcomes (OR, 2. 10; 95% CI, 1.30-3.41; p < 0.01), NICU admission (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.14-4.26; p = 0.02), neonatal sepsis (OR, 6.12; 95% CI, 2.23-16.82; p < 0.01), and composite neonatal adverse outcomes (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.20-3.49; p < 0.01). Conclusion Although women with pre-HTN are currently classified as normal in obstetrics, they are more similar to women with CHTN. Pre-HTN in the first half of pregnancy increases the likelihood of adverse outcomes.
Esophageal pathology: a brief guide and atlas

This article contains a brief atlas for esophageal dysphagia, with an emphasis on endoscopic evaluation. Dysphagia refers to an abnormality with food propulsion, and it may be caused by oropharyngeal or esophageal disorders. Radiological modalities, endoscopy, and manometry play an important role in both the diagnosis and management of esophageal disorders.
Telemedicine is as effective as in-person visits for patients with asthma.

Abstract Background Access to asthma specialists is a problem, particularly in rural areas, thus presenting an opportunity for management using telemedicine. Objective To compare asthma outcomes during 6 months in children managed by telemedicine vs in-person visits. Methods Children with asthma residing in 2 remote locations were offered the choice of an in-person visit or a telemedicine session at a local clinic. The telemedicine process involved real-time use of a Remote Presence Solution (RPS) equipped with a digital stethoscope, otoscope, and high-resolution camera. A telefacilitator operated the RPS and performed diagnostic and educational procedures, such as spirometry and asthma education. Children in both groups were assessed initially, after 30 days, and at 6 months. Asthma outcome measures included asthma control using validated tools (Asthma Control Test, Childhood Asthma Control Test, and Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids) and patient satisfaction (telemedicine group only). Noninferiority analysis of asthma control was performed using the minimally important difference of an adjusted asthma control test that combined the 3 age groups. Results Of 169 children, 100 were seen in-person and 69 via telemedicine. A total of 34 in-person and 40 telemedicine patients completed all 3 visits. All had a small, although statistically insignificant, improvement in asthma control over time. Telemedicine was noninferior to in-person visits. Most of the telemedicine group subjects were satisfied with their experience. Conclusion Children with asthma seen by telemedicine or in-person visits can achieve comparable degrees of asthma control. Telemedicine can be a viable alternative to traditional in-person physician-based care for the treatment and management of asthma.