cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Removal of phenol and substituted phenols by newly developed emulsion liquid membrane process.

Abstract Emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) stabilized by non-Newtonian conversion of the liquid membrane phase and dispersed in a Taylor–Couette flow was applied to treat model industrial wastewaters containing phenols and selected substituted phenols (hydroquinone, three chlorophenols and two nitrophenols) at relatively high concentrations. Under optimized operating conditions, all the compounds except hydroquinone were extracted with the maximum extraction efficiency of over 96% and the time to reach maximum extraction ranged from 2 to 30 min. For 2-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and 2-nitrophenol, maximum extraction efficiency of over 99% was reached in less than 2 min of contact time. Extraction of these compounds from the mixture was also highly efficient. Factors that affected the overall extraction efficiency such as acid-base speciation of the target compounds and the affinity between the target compounds and the membrane phase were determined. This study suggested that the newly developed ELM process might provide a promising alternative technology to treat industrial wastewaters containing high concentrations of phenolic compounds.
Body weight and semen production of broiler breeder males as influenced by crude protein levels and feeding regimens during rearing

An appropriate dietary CP level and feeding regimen during rearing is considered important for controlling BW and improving semen production in broiler breeder males. A total of 640 day-old broiler breeder male chicks of two commercial strains (A and B) received treatments of a factorial arrangement of two CP levels (12 and 16%) of corn-soybean grower diets and two feeding regimens [changing feed to a grower diet from the standard broiler starter at 0.45 and 0.68 kg BW and then skip-a-day feeding]. Four- to 28-wk BW differed between CP levels during rearing, with heavier BW on the 16% CP diet than on the 12% CP diet in spite of isocaloric feed intake. Strains did not show a significant difference in BW prior to 40 wk of age. Feed restriction initiated at 0.45 or 0.68 kg BW had no effect in controlling BW after 4 wk of age. Uniformity of BW did not differ between CP levels. Semen volume was greater on the 12% than on the 16% CP diet from 28 to 36 wk of age. Semen concentration was not affected by CP levels, feeding regimens, or strains. Spermatozoa per ejaculate from 28 to 52 wk of age was correlated negatively with 8- to 20-wk BW. This negative relationship was attenuated with age, until at Week 46 or later spermatozoa per ejaculate was associated positively with BW after sexual maturity. No difference in percentage of males in semen production was noted between strains, CP levels, or feeding regimens. In brief, diet changes at 0.45 or 0.68 kg BW were not important in improving semen production, whereas the low CP diet (12%) had advantages in semen production over the high CP diet (16%). A negative relationship existed between semen production and BW during rearing; however, continued BW gain after sexual maturity was necessary to optimize semen production, especially during the late breeding period.
A radioimmunoassay for immunologic phenomena in pneumococcal disease and for the antibody response to pneumococcal vaccines. I. Method for the radioimmunoassay of anticapsular antibodies and comparison with other techniques

A radioimmunoassay is described which uses a 14C biosynthetically internally labeled antigen. This modified Farr technique has been standardized by quantitative precipitation and compared with hemagglutination and mouse protection. Specificity was established by use of heterologous hyperimmune sera and by use of unlabeled pneumococcal polysaccharides for inhibition. Reproducibility has been evaluated for different preparations of antigens and varying storage conditions of sera. The system has been applied to a wide variety of studies requiring analysis of human and animal sera.
Genes are us

The Chosen Primate: Human Nature and Cultural Diversity. By Adam Kuper Harvard University Press: 1994. Pp. 269. $27.95, £22.25
Budget deficits, inflation risk, and asset prices

Abstract Kitchen examines how US budget deficit news affects asset prices and concludes that news of lower deficits reduces the inflation risk premium. This paper constructs narrative histories of several deficit-reduction laws to identify when markets learned that deficits would fall. It then estimates a multi-factor model that allows the inflation risk premium to vary following news of deficit-reductions. The results indicate that there is a large and statistically significant drop in the factor price associated with inflation following news that budget deficits would decline.
Determination of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A New Method That Requires Minimal Operator Training

A new algorithm for the semiautomatic detection of the left ventricular edge has been developed and a consistent technique for background subtraction has been refined. This new method of assessing left ventricular ejection fraction correlates well with contrast angiography and has minimal inter- and intra-observer variability. The technique allows both experienced and inexperienced observers to obtain accurate, reproducible results.
Corticotrophin-releasing hormone and fetal responses in human pregnancy.

During human pregnancy, maternal and fetal compartments of the human placenta produce and release corticotrophic-releasing hormone (CRH). Elevations of placental CRH are associated with decreased gestational length (including preterm delivery). The effects of elevated placental CRH on human fetal neurological development are not known. Pregnant women in the 31st and 32nd week of gestation consented to procedures for collection of blood and measurement of fetal heart rate (FHR) in response to a series of 40 vibro-acoustic stimuli (VAS). Measures of habituation and dishabituation were calculated from the FHR. All subjects were followed to delivery. Fetuses (N = 33) of women with highly elevated CRH were least responsive (p < .03) to stimulation after presentation of a novel (dishabituating) stimulus with control for parity, fetal gender, medical (antepartum) risk, and gestational length at term. In a larger sample (N = 156) a polynomial model predicted the pattern of FHR reactivity for the first 15 trials. Placental CRH concentration significantly predicted FHR reactivity after controlling for the effects of trial number, baseline FHR, inter-trial interval, and presence of uterine contractions. Increased maternal CRH levels were significantly related to the length of gestation after controlling for the effects of fetal gender, parity, and medical risk (p = .05). The relationship between length of gestation and FHR was not significant suggesting separate actions of CRH on these events. Elevated placental CRH appears to accelerate certain developmental events (gestational length) and may influence the fetal nervous system. The impaired fetal responses to novelty and increased arousal observed in this study suggest that neurological systems may be targets for placental CRH during sensitive developmental periods.
Preoperative erythropoietin in Jehovah's Witnesses who require cardiac procedures.

Abstract This report details the preoperative use of recombinant human erythropoietin in 2 Jehovah's Witnesses who required elective cardiac operations.
Correlation between vitiligo antibodies and extent of depigmentation in vitiligo

We correlated the level of vitiligo antibodies to the extent of depigmentation in thirty-two patients with vitiligo. Vitiligo antibodies were assayed by protein A-sepharose immunoprecipitation method. Antibodies were present in four of eight (50%) patients with minimal vitiligo ( 5% surface involved). The level of vitiligo antibodies in the three groups expressed as a binding index was 2.9% ± 2.03, 5.6% ± 2.92, and 8.0% ± 3.03 SD, respectively. These results suggest that there is a relation between the incidence and level of vitiligo antibodies and the extent of depigmentation in vitiligo.
Mission success regulations, their effect on ELV launch success and the applicability to regulating commercial human spaceflight

Abstract As the human spaceflight industry grows the agencies charged with regulating that industry meet significant challenges. An improvement in launch success would improve the safety for the crew and passengers of a commercial human spaceflight. With respect to ELV launches, NASA's regulations over civil launches are mission success oriented while commercial launches regulated by the FAA-AST, the agency that will also be charged with human spaceflight, takes a more public safety oriented stance. A comparison of the launch success between civil and commercial launches is used to inform the decision on whether or not mission success would be an appropriate regulatory stance for the FAA-AST. The results show that there is no significant difference in launch success between civil and commercial ELV launches. Because of this and because the industry is wary of over regulation, there is indication that a mission success oriented stance might not be appropriate for regulating commercial human spaceflight.
The chlorophyll-proteins of soybean (Glycine max. L. var. Wayne) cotyledons

Summary The chlorophyll-proteins of chloroplasts isolated from soybean cotyledons were examined. Ten chlorophyll-proteins were observed and nine of these were characterized with respect to visible absorption spectra, relative mobility, relative % distribution, chlorophyll a/b ratio, and the presence or absence of room temperature fluorescence. Three P - 700 chlorophyll-a protein complexes (CP1, CP1a, and CP1b), including one previously unreported (CP1b), were resolved. CP1b has a visible absorption spectrum and room temperature fluorescence characteristics identical to that of CPla but possesses a higher mobility, migrating between CP1 and CP1a. Four light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein complexes (HCP0 - LHCP3) and two chlorophyll-a proteins (CPa1, CPa2; possible reaction centers for PS II) were observed. In general, the characteristics of these chlorophyll-proteins are very similar to those isolated from barley chloroplasts. Additionally, a simple method for extracting chlorophyll from polyacrylamide gel slices is described.
Hydrodynamic analysis of the mechanisms of agglomerate dispersion

Hydrodynamic dispersion of particle agglomerates occurs whenever the applied shear stresses can break the interparticle bonds responsible for the cohesivity of the agglomerate. Various mechanisms of hydrodynamic dispersion have been demonstrated for silica agglomerates infiltrated to different extents by the suspending fluid. In some cases, hydrodynamic forces are sufficient to induce the removal of incompletely infiltrated fragments from the parent agglomerate (dry cohesive failure) or the breakage of wetted fragments from the infiltrated portion of the parent agglomerate (wet cohesive failure). Dispersion can also occur such that a portion of the fracture surface originates at the interface between the infiltrated periphery of the agglomerate and its dry core (adhesive failure). To elucidate the tendencies for dispersion via various modes, a hydrodynamic analysis of the forces acting on and within the agglomerate has been performed for both uninfiltrated and partially infiltrated structures. This analysis reveals that the size of the region on which the hydrodynamic stress bears is sensitive to the degree of infiltration, which is consistent with the observed shifts in dispersion mechanism.
Differences between the prion protein and its homolog doppel: a partially structured state with implications for scrapie formation

The key event in the pathogenesis of prion diseases is a conformational change in the prion protein (PrP). Models for conversion of PrPC into PrPSc typically implicate an, as yet, unidentified intermediate. In an attempt to identify such an intermediate, we used native-state hydrogen exchange monitored with NMR. Although we were unable to detect an intermediate directly, we observed substantial protection above that expected based upon measurements of the global stability of PrP (>2 kcal mol−1 super protection). This super protection implicates either structure in the denatured state or the presence of an intermediate. Similar experiments with Doppel, a homolog of PrP that does not form infectious prions, failed to demonstrate such super protection. This suggests that the partially structured state of PrP encompassing portions of the B and C helices, may be a significant factor in the ability of PrP to convert from PrPC to PrPSc.
Counter-Music: Harun Farocki's Theory of a New Image Type

Harun Farocki's 2004 installation Counter-Music explores the issue of surveillance. It probes different kinds of surveillance and, in so doing, delineates historical trajectories, juxtaposing, for instance, state surveillance under Louis XIV in late-seventeenth-century France (through public streetlights) with more recent modes of observation via surveillance cameras (through closed-circuit-television systems). The tacit epicenter of Farocki's installation is the novel form of surveillance in which cameras are linked with automatic-recognition systems that no longer rely on human beings as observers: Human beings have been replaced by software designed to surveil. This new kind of surveillance, in which images are recorded and then “viewed” by automatic “eyes”—that is, analyzed by algorithmic software—generates what Farocki calls “operational images” to be used within systemic surveillance operations.
Spectral Radiometric Measurements For High Temperature Solar Applications

A specially modified Barnes Net Radiometer (Model 12-550) has been used to obtain information concerning the radiative losses from the EPRI/Boeing 1 MWth Bench Model Solar Receiver (BMSR). This solar receiver was tested at the DOE/Sandia Laboratories Central Receiver Test Facility on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Ethnic and gender differences in parental expectations and life stress

This paper presents ethnic and gender differences in reported stressful life events (SLE) in a sample of 70 Southeast Asian (SEA) adolescents. The ranking of five SLEs with the highest percentage reportingSome orA Lot of stress showed differences in qualitative life events among Cambodian, Hmong, and Vietnamese adolescents. Cambodians rankedstrict discipline in social life by parents as most stressful. Hmong and Vietnamese adolescents reporteddoing house chores andacademic pressure to do well, respectively, as most stressful. In other stressor domains, academic performance (i.e.studying for a test, personal pressure to get good grades) and parental expectations (i.e.high expectations from parents to do well, fear of failure to meet family expectations) show similarity across ethnic groups. T-tests show that female adolescents reported higher stress on eight out of 10 life events females than males.Personal pressure to get good grades had the highest percentage mean for females. For males,worrying about where to live or getting a job after graduation were the two most endorsed stressful life events. Important implications for social work practice in schools and with parents in SEA families are discussed. Further research into parental involvement and family distress is also recommended.
National trends in the ambulatory treatment of hypertension in the United States, 1997-2012.

Importance Hypertension is common and costly. Over the past decade, new antihypertensive therapies have been developed, several have lost patent protection and additional evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of these agents has accrued.
Bolaamphiphilic Phosphocholines: Structure and Phase Behavior in Aqueous Media

The phase behavior of 1,1‘-di-O-eicosamethylene-2,2‘-di-O-decylbis(glycero-3-phosphocholine) (1) and 1,1‘-di-O-hexadecamethylene-2,2‘-di-O-octylbis(glycero-3-phosphocholine) (2) was studied at the air−water interface and in aqueous dispersions using monolayer film balance, small-angle X-ray scattering, Raman spectroscopy, and cryo-TEM techniques. The limiting molecular areas (20 °C, pH 6.8) were observed to be 172 A2 for 2 and 105 A2 for 1, indicating a U-shaped configuration of the long polymethylene chains at the air−water interface. The larger molecular area of 2 relative to 1 at the air−water interface suggests that the alkyl chains of 2 are less ordered than those of 1 at similar pressures. The extrapolated d spacings for 1 from SAXS experiments were 32 A in the liquid crystalline lamellar phase and 40 A in the gel phase where the hydrocarbon chains are in their all trans configuration. The extrapolated d spacings for 2 were 27 and 33 A in the liquid crystalline and gel phases, respectively. DSC anal...
A Synthesis of Research on Second Language Writing in English by LEKI, ILONA, ALISTER CUMMING, & TONY SILVA

The article reviews the book "A Synthesis of Research on Second Language Writing in English," by Ilona Leki, Alister Cumming, and Tony Silva.
Structural effects of carbohydrate-containing polycations on gene delivery. 3. Cyclodextrin type and functionalization.

Linear cationic β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-based polymers can form polyplexes with plasmid DNA and transfect cultured cells. The effectiveness of the gene delivery and the cellular toxicity has been related to structural features in these polycations. Previous β-CD polycations were prepared from the cocondensation of 6^A,6^D-dideoxy-6^A,6^D-diamino-β-CD monomers with other difunctionalized monomers such as dimethyl suberimidate (DMS). Here, the type of CD and its functionalization are varied by synthesizing numerous 3^A,3^B-dideoxy-3^A,3^B-diamino-β- and γ-CD monomers. Both alkyl- and alkoxydiamines are prepared in order to vary the nature of the spacing between the CD and the primary amines in the monomers. These diamino-CD-monomers are polymerized with DMS to yield amidine-based polycations. The nature of the spacer between the CD-ring and the primary amines of each monomer is found to influence both molecular weight and polydispersity of the polycations. When these polycations are used to form polyplexes with plasmid DNA, longer alkyl regions between the CD and the charge centers in the polycation backbone increase transfection efficiency and toxicity in BHK-21 cells, while increasing hydrophilicity of the spacer (alkoxy versus alkyl) provides for lower toxicity. Further, γ-CD-based polycations are shown to be less toxic than otherwise identical β-CD-based polycations.
A preliminary study of vapor deposition of rhenium and rhenium-tungsten

Abstract Coherent, high-purity rhenium deposits were obtained by the hydrogen reduction of ReF6 from the vapor phase, although some rhenium powder was always produced. The reaction temperature and the ratio of H2 to ReF6 significantly influenced the amount of coherent rhenium deposited. The near-optimum parameters are temperature, 250 °C; H2 to ReF6 gas volume ratio, 25. The deposition efficiency for coherent rhenium deposits was 70–75%. The average Knoop microhardness of vapor-deposited rhenium was 907, measured under a 100 g load. Intermittent deposition is undesirable for forming coherent deposits because it produces discontinuities in the metal. Codeposits of rhenium and tungsten were obtained, but they were of non-uniform composition, owing to the large difference in optimum reduction temperatures of their hexafluorides.
Fast and accurate PoseSLAM by combining relative and global state spaces

We revisit the question of state space in the context of performing loop closure. Although a relative state space has been previously discounted, we show that such a state space is actually extremely powerful, able to achieve recognizable results after just one iteration. The power behind the technique (called POReSS) is the coupling between parameters that causes the orientation of one node to affect the position and orientation of other nodes. At the same time, the approach is fast because, like the more popular incremental state space, the Jacobian never needs to be explicitly computed. Furthermore, we show that while POReSS is able to quickly compute a solution near the global optimum, it is not precise enough to perform the fine adjustments necessary to reach the global minimum. As a result, we augment POReSS with a fast variant of Gauss-Seidel (called Graph-Seidel) on a global state space to allow the solution to settle closer to the global minimum. We show that this combination of POReSS and Graph-Seidel converges more quickly and scales to very large graphs better than other techniques while at the same time computing a competitive residual.
CTH07-2: Design of Multi-Antenna Coded Modulators Using Noisy Quantized Channel State Information

Combining the benefits of diversity/coding gain from space-time coding and array gain from beamforming over quasi-static block fading channels is accomplished in a suitable way for erroneous feedback conditions. For this purpose, we utilize multi-dimensional space-time constellation sets or vector codes combined with linear precoders which are designed to minimize the error probability. Furthermore, the design of a feedback link based on maximum received signal-to-noise ratio criterion is considered. In practice, the transmitter channel state information is degraded by several factors in the feedback link, e.g. bandwidth limitation, delay, and noise which is the main problem. The defective information at the transmitter leads to drastic performance degradation unless the system is robustly designed against the feedback errors and mismatches. Therefore, we employ quantized feedback strategies optimized for noisy channels. The most attractive property of our scheme is that it converges to space-time coding in extremely poor feedback cases and to pure beamforming in relatively high quality feedback situations. Simulation results confirm the good performance of our scheme.
Topographically generated steady currents in barotropic turbulence

Abstract Steady currents develop in oceanic turbulence above topography even in the absence of steady forcing. Mesoscale steady currents are correlated with mesoscale topography with anticyclonic eddies above topographic bumps, and large scale westward flows develop when β is non-zero. The relationship between those two kinds of steady currents, as well as their dependence on various parameters, is studied using a barotropic quasi-geostrophic channel model. The percentage of steady energy is found to depend on the forcing, friction and topography in a non-monotonic fashion. For example, the percentage of steady currents grows with the energy level in the linear regime (low energies) and decreases when the energy level increases in the nonlinear regime (high energies). Mesoscale steady currents are the energy source for the steady westward flow U, and therefore U is the maximum when large scale and mesoscale currents are of the same order of magnitude. This happens when the ratio S of the large scale slope...
Formation and cooperation for SWARMed intelligent robots

Summary form only given. An intelligent robot is different with the traditional mobile robot. The traditional mobile robot uses a powerful microcontroller to control the movement, with the help of sensing devices it normally is able to make a tactic decision but could not do any sophisticate thinking since the limitation of the computation power provided by microcontroller. However, the intelligent robot adds a separate layer of computation core, such as laptop or a single motherboard, on the top of the movement control microcontroller. That means, by adding a "brain' the traditional mobile robot is upgraded to an intelligent machine, which is capable to undertake many sophisticate environment sensing and decision making. The prototype version of the intelligent management algorithm for swarmed intelligent robots has been simulated using Matlab and it is currently tested and evaluated using advanced intelligent robots system.
Laser performance of Yb 3+ doped oxyorthosilicates LYSO and GYSO

Ytterbium offers a number of advantages as the active ion in solid-state laser crystals, but is hindered by the disadvantages of a three level lasing scheme. Yb3+-doped oxyorthosilicates have emerged in recent years as potentially quasi-four level laser materials. Two such crystals, Yb:GdYSiO5 and Yb:LuYSiO5, are investigated to determine the extent of four-level behavior. It is shown that these crystals demonstrate a significant reduction in the pump intensity required to reach threshold, but still exhibit three-level effects in terms of self-absorption, population inversion, and thermal sensitivity. The important material properties such as the coefficient of thermal expansion and the thermo-optic coefficient are measured.
ON SOME FALSE SCORPIONS OF THE SUBORDER HETEROSPHY-RONIDA (ARACHNIDA-CHELONETHIDA)

The following contribution is supplementary and complementary to a more extensive paper recently published in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. An elucidation of the terminology and definitions of the higher categories employed may be found therein.
Suppression of granuloma formation around Schistosoma mansoni eggs in severe protein malnutrition: the role of the egg

The role of Schistosoma mansoni eggs in producing suppressed granulomatous response in severe protein malnutrition was studied in mice by the von Lichtenberg technique. Granulomatous response to eggs recovered from infected mice fed on 4% protein diet for four weeks was compared with the response to eggs that were recovered from mice fed on standard control (20% protein) diet in both unsensitized and sensitized normal mice. Granulomatous response to the former was significantly smaller (p < ·01) in unsensitized mice than to the latter. This suggests that the eggs might have responded to the “milieu interne” altered by malnutrition, in a way that its granuloma-inducing capacity differed from what it would be in well nourished mice. It was concluded that suppression of host cellular immunity may not be the only factor that explains suppression of granulomatous response to S. mansoni egg in severe protein malnutrition.
The occluded renal artery: Durability of revascularization

Between 1970 and 1982, 50 patients (38 male and 12 female) underwent revascularization of 51 occluded renal arteries. Ages ranged from 8 to 71 years (mean 54.6 years). Occlusion was caused by atherosclerosis in 43 patients, fibromuscular dysplasia in three, chronic dissection in two, abdominal aortic coarctation in one, and neurofibromatosis in one. Contralateral renal artery occlusive disease occurred in 22 patients. Extrarenal atherosclerosis occurred in 44 patients. Mean preoperative serum creatinine level ranged from 0.5 to 8.4 mg/dl (mean 1.9 mg/dl). No patient required preoperative dialysis. Length of the involved kidney ranged from 8.4 to 14.5 cm (mean 11.5 cm). Indication for renal revascularization was hypertension in 49 patients and preservation of renal function in one. Renal artery bypass was performed in 36 patients, renal artery endarterectomy in six, transaortic endarterectomy in five, and reimplantation of the renal artery in three. Simultaneous revascularization of the contralateral renal artery was performed in 20 patients. There were three operative deaths. At hospital dismissal, hypertension had improved in 45 of 46 patients. Follow-up periods ranged from 4 months to 12 years (mean 50.2 months). Thirty-four patients remained normotensive, five still had less hypertension, and seven became worse. These data demonstrate that revascularization of an occluded renal artery can be effective in controlling hypertension and that this effect is durable in the majority of patients.
JAK/STAT Signaling Is Associated With Cardiac Dysfunction During Ischemia and Reperfusion

Background Activation of the heart renin-angiotensin system (RAS) under pathophysiological conditions has been correlated with the development of ischemic injury. The binding of angiotensin II to its receptors triggers induction of several, perhaps multifunctional, intracellular signaling pathways, notable among them the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway. In this study, we investigated whether the JAK/STAT signaling is involved in the ischemia/reperfusion injury in adult rat myocardium. Methods and Results We report here that 2 components of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, namely STAT 5A and STAT 6, are selectively activated in the rat heart subjected to ischemia/reperfusion. The activated STATs bind to a conserved nucleotide sequence (St domain) in the promoter of the angiotensinogen (ANG) gene and consequently upregulate the level of ANG mRNA. Treatment of the hearts with losartan (4.5 μmol/L), an AT1 blocker, or with tyrphostin AG490 (5 μmol/L), an inhibit...
Communication as an Intentional, Social System

The argument is presented that taking communication as intentional and as a social system is necessary although not sufficient for defining the concept of communication for scholarly and research purposes. To illustrate the tendency and the error of ignoring the sociality of communication the notion of “intrapersonal communication” is examined. It is contended that many authors reject “intention” as a defining attribute of communication as a result of a strong tendency toward seeing the concept only in a defective form, represented as “speaker's purpose” and that the sense of “intention” needs to be grounded in a prior notion of “intentionality.”
Distribution and Diversity of Natural Product Genes in Marine and Freshwater Cyanobacterial Cultures and Genomes

Natural products are a functionally diverse class of biochemically synthesized compounds, which include antibiotics, toxins, and siderophores. In this paper, we describe both the detection of natural product activities and the sequence identification of gene fragments from two molecular systems that have previously been implicated in natural product production, i.e., nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) and modular polyketide synthases (PKSs), in diverse marine and freshwater cyanobacterial cultures. Using degenerate PCR and the sequencing of cloned products, we show that NRPSs and PKSs are common among the cyanobacteria tested. Our molecular data, when combined with genomic searches of finished and progressing cyanobacterial genomes, demonstrate that not all cyanobacteria contain NRPS and PKS genes and that the filamentous and heterocystous cyanobacteria are the richest sources of these genes and the most likely sources of novel natural products within the phylum. In addition to validating the use of degenerate primers for the identification of PKS and NRPS genes in cyanobacteria, this study also defines numerous gene fragments that will be useful as probes for future studies of the synthesis of natural products in cyanobacteria. Phylogenetic analyses of the cyanobacterial NRPS and PKS fragments sequenced in this study, as well as those from the cyanobacterial genome projects, demonstrate that there is remarkable diversity and likely novelty of these genes within the cyanobacteria. These results underscore the potential variety of novel products being produced by these ubiquitous organisms.
A Working Framework for Quantifying Carbon Sequestration in Disturbed Land Mosaics

We propose a working framework for future studies of net carbon exchange (NCE) in disturbed landscapes at broad spatial scales based on the central idea that landscape-level NCE is determined by the land mosaic, including its age structure. Within this framework, we argue that the area-of-edge-influence (AEI), which is prevalent in many disturbed, fragmented landscapes, should constitute a distinct ecosystem type since numerous studies have indicated unique ecological properties within these areas. We present and justify four working hypotheses currently being tested in northern Wisconsin, based on this framework: (1) the area of an ecosystem that is influenced by structural edges (e.g., AEI) has NCE that is significantly different from the ecosystem interior; (2) age structure and composition of an ecosystem play critical roles in determining the ecosystem’s contribution to the cumulative net ecosystem production (NEP) of the landscape mosaic; (3) the relative importance of different structural and biophysical controls of carbon exchange is ecosystem dependent; and (4) the frequency and intensity of disturbances in time and space control the cumulative NCE of the land mosaic through alteration of ecosystems that vary in age, structure, physical environment, and interactions. In addition, we describe five different research approaches to quantify NCE at broad scales, including biometric estimations, ecophysiological methods, micrometeorological methods, applications of remote sensing and GIS, and ecosystem models.
An economic evaluation of alternative pix application strategies for cotton production using GOSSYM:COMAX

The plant growth regulator pix (mepiquat chloride) is used extensively throughout the USA cotton belt to control excessive plant growth and to enhance early crop maturity in cotton production. Economic returns from pix use can vary greatly across different production environments. This study evaluates the economic returns to dryland cotton obtained from 12 different pix application strategies under two different soil types (Bosket sandy loam and Dundee silty clay loam) and three different weather conditions (normal, cold-wet, and hot-dry) in the Mississippi delta using simulated output from the GOSSYM/COMAX cotton management system. The most profitable pix application strategies varied by soil type. Also, economic returns were larger when using different pix application strategies for different weather conditions as opposed to using one pix application strategy for all weather conditions.
Sources of shaking and flooding during the Tohoku-Oki earthquake: A mixture of rupture styles

Modeling strong ground motions from great subduction zone earthquakes is one of the great challenges of computational seismology. To separate the rupture characteristics from complexities caused by 3D sub-surface geology requires an extraordinary data set such as provided by the recent Mw9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake. Here we combine deterministic inversion and dynamically guided forward simulation methods to model over one thousand high-rate GPS and strong motion observations from 0 to 0.25 Hz across the entire Honshu Island. Our results display distinct styles of rupture with a deeper generic interplate event (∼Mw8.5) transitioning to a shallow tsunamigenic earthquake (∼Mw9.0) at about 25 km depth in a process driven by a strong dynamic weakening mechanism, possibly thermal pressurization. This source model predicts many important features of the broad set of seismic, geodetic and seafloor observations providing a major advance in our understanding of such great natural hazards.
Correlation between crystallographic orientation and mechanical response in a three-dimensional β-Ti microstructure

Three-dimensional image-based modeling is used to investigate the correlations between crystallographic orientation and mechanical response in a body-centered cubic (BCC) β-titanium microstructure. Statistical significance is achieved by combining the simulation data of multiple image-based crystal plasticity models. Each individual model contains ∼100 grains and is subjected to uniaxial and biaxial tensile loading conditions. Although the use of smaller sub-volumes instead of a single large representative volume may preclude accurate prediction of the global stress–strain response of the material, it is demonstrated here that the microstructural and mechanical information at the local (grain) scale can be used to establish statistically significant microstructure–property correlations. It is shown that grains with orientations aligned with the loading axis experienced much smaller effective stresses and strains than those with and orientations aligned with the loading axis under both types of loading conditions.
Taurine transport by reconstituted membrane vesicles.

Although taurine is found in very high concentration in the heart, a role for this amino acid has not been established. Read and Welty (24) initially reported in 1963 that taurine exhibited antiarrhythmic activity; they attributed this effect of taurine to changes in potassium flux. Since that study taurine has also been linked to changes in calcium transport (26). In addition, several investigators have described specific membrane-stabilizing effects of taurine (10,16).
Abstract 266: Heparin Documentation Improvement to Safely Manage Heparin Infusions

Background: Documentation of intravenous (IV) heparin infusion dose/hold by nurses is a vital component in heparin infusion management. The barcode electronic medication administration system is used when administering and documenting medications but precludes the documentation of continuous IV infusion doses such as heparin. Aim: To increase documentation of IV Heparin Administration Documentation in the electronic nursing documentation system. Methods: We reviewed multiple adverse patient events that involved heparin infusions. When discussing these events, we identified a common trend regarding the inability for nurses to document heparin IV doses/holds in the nursing electronic documentation. Although heparin volume infusion is charted every 4 hours, this does not reflect the exact heparin dose that the patient received when factoring heparin hold orders and boluses. With the involvement of clinical informatics, physicians, nurses, and a quality consultant (QC), we developed a method for nurses to document heparin IV doses and holds via the electronic documentation (Figure 1). On October 30th 2012, two Cardiovascular Step-Down (CVSD) units championed the heparin process improvement documentation. The nurses on these units receive targeted education about the process improvement change. Audits were performed daily during the first month of implementation and periodically by the QC. Electronic communication was also sent out throughout VUH regarding the changes in heparin documentation. Results: Documentation of administered dose increased from 46% to 71% across VUH regardless of the type or level of education to the change. CVSD: Pre / Post n = 16/21 DOSE: 37.5% / 81% Both DOSE & VOLUME: 31.3% / 71.4% HOLD: 75% / 81% Drop Down: 43% use (68.8% annotation) Non ICU Control: Pre / Post n = 12 / 17 DOSE: 16.7% / 41.2% BOTH DOSE & VOLUME: 8.3% / 11.8% HOLD: 50% / 41.2% Drop Down: 11.1% use (88.9% annotation) ICU units were 100% in dose documentation post changes Conclusion: The heparin documentation change has increased the accuracy of the documentation of heparin dose, volume, and hold across VUH. Targeted education has the potential to increase compliance and adoption. The heparin dose documentation is now exported to an electronic heparin dashboard that physicians/providers can easily access. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Thermal Neutron Flux Distributions in Space and Energy

The steady-state space-energy distribution of thermal neutrons in homogeneous media is considered in the diftusion approximation. From the general form of the solution it is shown that the asymptotic (in space) distribution depends upon the source distribution and under different circumstances can be qualitatively different. The relation of the asymptotic flux to the usually found infinite medium spectrum is exhibited. For a heavy gas moderator the asymptotic flux from a source of limited extent is shown to be much softer than an infinite medium spectrum in the same material. (auth)
Negotiation over decommitment penalty

We consider the role of negotiation in deciding decommitment penalties. In our model, agents simultaneously negotiate over both the contract price and decommitment penalty in the contracting game and then decide whether to decommit from contracts in the decommitment game. Experimental results show that setting penalties through negotiation achieved higher social welfare than other exogenous penalty setting mechanisms.
Characteristics of activated carbon and carbon nanotubes as adsorbents to remove annatto (norbixin) in cheese whey.

Removing annatto from cheese whey without bleaching has potential to improve whey protein quality. In this work, the potential of two activated carbon products and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT) was studied for extracting annatto (norbixin) in aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption experiments were studied for the effects of solution pH, adsorbent mass, contact duration, and ionic strength. The equilibrium adsorption data were observed to fit both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The thermodynamic parameters estimated from adsorption isotherms demonstrated that the adsorption of norbixin on three adsorbents is exothermic, and the entropic contribution differs with adsorbent structure. The adsorption kinetics, with CNT showing a higher rate than activated carbon, followed the pseudo first order and second order rate expressions and demonstrated the significance of intraparticle diffusion. Electrostatic interactions were observed to be significant in the adsorption. The established adsorption param...
Production of copper deficiency in the rat by an egg albumin diet.

SummaryCopper deficiency as judged by achromotrichia and lower levels of copper in blood, plasma, liver, kidney, brain, and hair was induced in black rats by feeding a copper-deficient diet containing egg albumin. Results obtained with this diet were comparable to those obtained with a skim milk copper-deficient diet. Ascorbic acid, at 1% of the diet, had no effect on the development of copper deficiency in rats fed the egg albumin diet. Soybean protein diets were ineffective in producing copper deficiency. Plasma protein patterns obtained by disc electrophoresis were not influenced by copper deficiency.
An Evidence-Based Approach to Differentiating the Cause of Shoulder and Cervical Spine Pain

Differentiating the cause of pain and dysfunction due to cervical spine and shoulder pathology presents a difficult clinical challenge in many patients. Furthermore, the anatomic region reported to be painful may mislead the practitioner. Successfully treating these patients requires a careful and complete history and physical examination with appropriate provocative maneuvers. An evidence-based selection of clinical testing also is essential and should be tailored to the most likely underlying cause. When advanced imaging does not reveal a conclusive source of pathology, electromyography and selective injections have been shown to be useful adjuncts, although the sensitivity, specificity, and risk-reward ratio of each test must be considered. This review provides an evidence-based review of common causes of shoulder and neck pain and guidelines for assistance in determining the pain generator in ambiguous cases.
Affection Exchange Theory

Affectionate communication is fundamental to the human relational experience. Across cultures, the expression of affection contributes to the formation, maintenance, and satisfaction level of close personal relationships. Floyd's affection exchange theory (AET) proposes that affectionate communication evolved among humans due to its contributions to the important goals of survival and procreation. This article introduces and evaluates AET, and details empirical work identifying the benefits of affectionate behavior for relationships and individual physical and mental health. Keywords: affection; health; intimacy
Outcome with postmastectomy radiation with transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap breast reconstruction

The effects of radiation on the outcome of patients undergoing transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction have not been extensively studied. Concern still exists of a possible negative impact secondary to irradiation as related to control of disease, cosmetic outcome, and flap viability. Thirty-six patients underwent both a modified radical mastectomy (MRM) with TRAM flap reconstruction and irradiation to the chest wall to include the TRAM flap and/or regional nodes either before reconstruction or after TRAM flap reconstruction. Fifteen patients had all of their treatment and follow-up at our institution and were retrospectively reviewed to assess treatment and outcome. During a median follow-up of 36 months there were no local-regional failures. One patient at Stage IIIA failed with distant metastases 3 years after treatment. One patient had a flap loss from a nonhealing wound after reconstruction performed 2 years after MRM and radiotherapy. Only one patient expressed dissatisfaction with the cosmetic outcome. Patients undergoing MRM with TRAM flap reconstruction and irradiation before or after reconstruction can achieve excellent local-regional control and satisfactory cosmesis. Risk of flap loss is low. Further follow-up is needed for assessing longer-term outomes in this patient group. Larger prospective studies are necessary for more definitive conclusions.
‘Psychological Curiosit[ies]’ from an ‘Intellectual Giant’: Coleridge, Disease, Disability, and Drugs

This chapter explores the causal connection between both the failings of Coleridge’s physical body and his body of work, viewed through the lens of Helen Deutsch’s concept of ‘symptomatic correspondences’, and models of medical rehabilitation described by disability theorists. This analysis demonstrates in Coleridge’s work a refusal to enter the safe, observational discourse of disease: his speakers embrace their own marginalised states, their illnesses, and/or an abundance of feminine sensibility. Goergen’s chapter demonstrates in these writings a willing subjection of both Coleridge himself as author and his poetic speakers to a medical and pathologising gaze. In doing so, Coleridge upsets the ‘natural’ distinctions in gender, race, and bodily ability, as the body of the male author—often explicitly his own body—becomes, at once, a site of unchecked sensibility and of poetic genius that identifies itself as feminine and hysterical, but nonetheless asserts authority over its rational, masculine audience.
Cloud software development platforms: A comparative overview

Doing things “in the cloud” has become ubiquitous, and the cloud has become a rich environment for the use of technology anywhere and anytime to solve problems, connect people, and improve lives. Software engineering paradigms have been shifting during the last decade from “Software-as-a-Product (SaaP)” to “Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)” provided “in the cloud”. The SaaS software paradigm comes with new capabilities and technical challenges for cloud software development, as compared to mobile and stand-alone software development. Distributed multitiered architecting, design, and programming for cloud software development require new strategies specifically motivated by the SaaS paradigm. This paper aims to compare and contrast cloud software development platforms and frameworks, namely, Java platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE); Microsoft platform, .NET framework; Ruby on Rails framework; Zend framework; Node.js framework; and Django (Python) framework. A comparative overview is presented to help cloud software engineers select an appropriate platform / framework to solve a complex problem.