cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Culture of Teaching and Learning through a Syllabus Review.

Content analysis of course syllabi can answer a variety of questions about the structure of courses and the campus culture of teaching and learning. The authors report a review of the full population of undergraduate syllabi at one institution during one academic term (n = 1153), including rubric design and training procedures for reviewers. The authors discuss the rich data generated by a comprehensive analysis of syllabus content, including student learning outcomes, descriptions of assignments and projects, and descriptions of activities and strategies instructors use to promote student learning. The review generated inventories of courses that addressed learning outcomes and associated assignments. Librarians and the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Assessment will use these inventories to approach departments and faculty with shared interests (e.g. information literacy, high-impact pedagogical practices, twenty-first century skills) and initiate collaborations to develop library workshops, resource ...
Manganese, Mn-dependent peroxidases, and the biodegradation of lignin

Manganese and Mn-dependent peroxidases have been implicated in the enzymatic degradation of lignin. However, the specific role of manganese is uncertain. We report here the novel observation that in the absence of enzyme, suitably chelated Mn3+ is a ligninolytic agent capable of oxidizing veratryl alcohol, lignin model compounds, and lignin. We also demonstrate the unexpected effect of reducing agents which stimulate the oxidations by Mn3+. The stimulation is apparently through the production of a reduced oxygen species likely to be superoxide. These observations provide a fresh insight into the process of lignin biodegradation.
Particle identification by pulse-height correlation in a range telescope

Abstract A range telescope consisting of 22 plastic scintillators was constructed to aid in the identification of photoproduced K mesons with energies between 175 and 300 MeV. Extensive use of the correlation between pulse heights helped establish the particle identification. After preselection of a fairly standard nature, pulse heights from 18 scintillators were digitized and punched onto paper tape for subsequent computer analysis. Data from the last few counters were used to establish a range for the particle under a particular mass hypothesis, and it was required that these data represent a reasonable behavior for the stopping particle. Using this range and mass, a parameter similar to χ 2 was then computed from the data from the remaining counters. From the distribution of this variable, backgrounds and efficiencies were estimated. The method permitted a gain of about a hundred in rejection efficiency over pure electronic selection. Various backgrounds, phototube instabilities and computing difficulties limited the technique, but it was successful for this experiment and may have other uses.
Influence of enolate geometry and structure on the stereochemistry of the asymmetric oxidation of prochiral ketone enolates to optically active α-hydroxy ketones

Abstract The stereoselectivity for the asymmetric oxidation of enolates to optically active α-hydroxy ketones using (+)-(camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine is dependent on the enolate substitution pattern, the solution structure of the enolate and to a lesser extent the enolate geometry.
Representations of GL(n) over ap-adic field with an Iwahori-fixed vector

An elementary proof of Zelevinsky’s classification for representations of GL(n) with an Iwahori-fixed vector is given using the theory of Hecke algebras.
Self-Help Groups and Mental Health/Substance Use Agencies: The Benefits of Organizational Exchange

Self-help groups benefit clients by linking them to people who have “been there” and are successfully coping with their situations. Mental health/substance use agencies can increase access to evide...
Hemiarthroplasty for Four-Part Fractures of the Proximal Humerus

Hemiarthroplasty is a time-tested and valuable tool in a surgeon's armamentarium for the treatment of complex fractures of the proximal humerus. Hemiarthroplasty has been shown to reliably relieve pain; functional outcomes are less predictable. Hemiarthroplasty is demanding, and meticulous attention to detail is required for a successful outcome. Reconstruction of proximal humeral anatomy via the restoration of humeral height, version, and alignment is the foundation of the operation. However, tuberosity repair is arguably the most important part of the procedure. Tuberosity malposition and malunion is the most common and significant cause of poor functional outcomes. This article reviews the technique of hemiarthroplasty for fractures of the proximal humerus.
Microscopic fracture mechanisms observed on Cu–Sn frangible bullets under quasi-static and dynamic compression

The damage behavior of Cu–Sn frangible bullets was characterized in an effort to aid predictions of impact performance of these projectiles with soft body armor through finite element simulations. Fracture surfaces and failed cross sections were examined via light optical and scanning electron microscopy and related to the composite bullet microstructure. Two types of samples were analyzed: (1) those used in quasi-static and dynamic diametral compression testing to determine the effective properties of the composite material, and (2) bullets discharged into soft body armor. Two primary microscopic fracture mechanisms were cleavage and intergranular fracture of the Cu–Sn intermetallic compounds, ɛ(Cu3Sn) and η(Cu6Sn5), which joined the un-bonded copper particles in the composite microstructure. Microvoid coalescence of copper metal was also observed, though infrequently, in places where the spacing between intermetallic phase clusters on a single copper particle was typically no greater than 30 μm. These modes of failure were similar between the samples used in the mechanical testing methods and the discharged bullets. From these results, it is reasonable to assume that the failure strength data measured via diametral compression testing can be used to predict the onset of bullet failure on impact during finite element simulations.
A Private and Reliable Recommendation System for Social Networks

With the proliferation of internet-based social networks into our lives, new mechanisms to control the release and use of personal data are required. As a step toward this goal, we develop a recommendation system which protects the privacy of user answers while allowing them to learn an aggregate weighted average of ratings. Due to the use of social network connections, the querier obtains a more relevant and trustworthy result than what generic anonymous recommendation systems can provide, while at the same time preserving user privacy. We also give experimental performance results for our solution and several recently developed secure computation techniques, which is of independent interest.
The law of approach as a means of modelling the magnetomechanical effect

Abstract This study is concerned with the development of a model theory of the changes in magnetization that a ferromagnetic material undergoes when subjected to a varying external applied stress.
A comparison of red spots in the atmosphere of Jupiter

Voyager, Pioneer and ground-based astronomical and broadband photometric images of Jupiter are analyzed to compare the Great Red Spot (GRS) with the Little Red Spots (LRS) observed in the North Tropical Zone in 1976. Attention is given to the size and latitudinal positions and the color profiles. The red ovals are found to absorb strongly at blue and UV wavelengths, unlike red-brown belts. The movements of the GRS and the LRS coincided strongly with zonal wind profiles of the regions in which they are embedded. The meridional gradient of the zonal wind is the controlling factor in the lifetime of the red spots.
Gas Turbine Blade Stress and Temperature Sensitivity to Turbine Inlet Profile and Cooling Flow

Actual operating conditions in the hot section of a gas turbine vary from the design condition due to factors such as geographic location, component wear, and fuel composition. Turbine design practices typically use a conservative approach that requires checking the sensitivity of operating parameters such as turbine inlet profiles, cooling flows, and heat transfer correlations on component temperatures and stresses. In most cases, a sensitivity check is limited to analyzing the bounds of a range of values for only a few input parameters, whereby the inputs that produce the most conservative results are carried through the remainder of the analysis. For flow path components, however, multiple inputs must be evaluated over a range of values due to the interaction of the hot gas flow field and internal cooling systems. The study presented in this paper uses a probabilistic approach to develop surrogate models to evaluate the sensitivity of a set of operating parameters on the predicted blade temperatures and stresses. Commercially available software is utilized to predict blade temperatures and stresses for the first two stages of an industrial gas turbine. The operating parameters define the blade cooling flow and the shape and values of the turbine inlet profiles of total temperature and total pressure. The results of the study show the spatially resolved sensitivity of the operating parameters on blade temperature and stress distributions.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Self-interaction correction to density-functional approximations for many-electron systems

The exact density functional for the ground-state energy is strictly self-interaction-free (i.e., orbitals demonstrably do not self-interact), but many approximations to it, including the local-spin-density (LSD) approximation for exchange and correlation, are not. We present two related methods for the self-interaction correction (SIC) of any density functional for the energy; correction of the self-consistent one-electron potenial follows naturally from the variational principle. Both methods are sanctioned by the Hohenberg-Kohn theorem. Although the first method introduces an orbital-dependent single-particle potential, the second involves a local potential as in the Kohn-Sham scheme. We apply the first method to LSD and show that it properly conserves the number content of the exchange-correlation hole, while substantially improving the description of its shape. We apply this method to a number of physical problems, where the uncorrected LSD approach produces systematic errors. We find systematic improvements, qualitative as well as quantitative, from this simple correction. Benefits of SIC in atomic calculations include (i) improved values for the total energy and for the separate exchange and correlation pieces of it, (ii) accurate binding energies of negative ions, which are wrongly unstable in LSD, (iii) more accurate electron densities, (iv) orbital eigenvalues that closely approximate physical removal energies, including relaxation, and (v) correct longrange behavior of the potential and density. It appears that SIC can also remedy the LSD underestimate of the band gaps in insulators (as shown by numerical calculations for the rare-gas solids and CuCl), and the LSD overestimate of the cohesive energies of transition metals. The LSD spin splitting in atomic Ni and $s\ensuremath{-}d$ interconfigurational energies of transition elements are almost unchanged by SIC. We also discuss the admissibility of fractional occupation numbers, and present a parametrization of the electron-gas correlation energy at any density, based on the recent results of Ceperley and Alder.
Anomalous fluorescence and low-temperature absorption spectra of naphtho[1,8-cd][1,2,6] thiadiazine and its derivatives: an example of second excited state emission (S2 → S0)

Abstract An anomalous fluorescence near 380 nm is detected from heptane solutions on naphtho[1,8-cd][1,2,6] thiadiazine (1), 6,7-dihydroacenaphtho[5,6-cd][1,2,6]thiadiazone (2), its unsaturated derivative (4), and the tetrachloro derivative of 1 (3), when these substances are excited into the S0→S2 absorption band near 350 nm. Excitation spectra verify that S2→S0 fluorescence is occurring. The measured lifetimes of each fluorescence are 2.2, 3.3, 0.3, 0.4 ns respectively for 1,2,3, and 4. Radiative and non-radiative rate constants are presented. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibit unusual low-temperature absorption spectra at 77 K in 3-methylpetane matrix. The disappearance of the long-wavelength transition at 650 nm is accompanied by a new transition near 450 nm at 77 K. It is theorized that a ground-state dimer can explain these observations.
The holy grail of high bone mass.

Humans with a missense mutation in LRP5 (encoding lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5) have a high bone mass phenotype, which has now been recapitulated in mice conditionally expressing this Lrp5 variant in terminally differentiated bone osteocytes (pages 684–691). These results suggest that LRP5 acts locally to increase bone mass, thereby opening avenues for new therapeutics for osteoporosis and bone injury by manipulating LRP5 signaling.
Dialogue and the Transmission of Culture: The Spindlers and the Making of American Anthropology

The American Cultural Dialogue and Its Transmission: George and Louise Spindler with Henry Trueba and Melvin D. Williams Interpretive Ethnography and Education: At Home and Abroad Edited by George Spindler and Louise Spindler Education and Cultural Process: Anthropological Approaches Edited by George Spindler
Current concepts in the pathophysiology and treatment of inhalation injury

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the author, and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the official views of the Department of the Army or Departm...
Sex Differences in Dually Diagnosed Severely Mentally III Clients in Dual Diagnosis Outpatient Treatment

The authors explored gender differences among clients enrolled in an integrated outpatient program for dually diagnosed severely mentally ill patients. A total of 338 clients (36% women) were evaluated in several clinical areas. Women were more often diagnosed with affective disorders and men with schizophrenia. Women were more often single vs. poly drugusers, showed lower levels of substance use, and had higher overall functioning. Women, however, attended groups less often than men despite comparable individual attendance and compliance. The authors discuss results in terms of program evaluation and future research.
From the Margins to the Center Ethnic Minority Women and the Mental Health Effects of Sexual Assault

The trauma of sexual assault is heightened for many women by the interlocking experience of societal traumas such as racism, sexism, and poverty. The mental health effects of sexual assault are mediated by race and ethnicity. The investigators explore the experiences of African American, Asian American, Latina, and Native American female survivors of sexual assault. The sociohistorical context of intergenerational trauma in the lives of ethnic minorities is a part of the context for the contemporary experience of sexualized violence. Racial and ethnic dynamics related to sexual assault prevalence, mental health effects, and disclosure are examined. Literature related to cultural beliefs, community attitudes, and perceived social support in relation to sexualized violence are also reviewed. Finally, practice, research, and policy implications are discussed.
The financial impact of orthopaedic fellowship training.

Background Previous reports have compared the expected financial return of a medical education with those expected in other professions. However, we know of no published report estimating the financial return of orthopaedic training. The purpose of this study was to estimate the financial incentives that may influence the decision to invest an additional year of training in each of the major orthopaedic fellowships. Methods With survey data from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and using standard financial techniques, we calculated the estimated return on investment of an additional year of orthopaedic training over a working lifetime. The net present value, internal rate of return, and the break-even point were estimated. Eight fellowships were examined and compared with general orthopaedic practice. Results Investment in an orthopaedic fellowship yields variable returns. Adult spine, shoulder and elbow, sports medicine, hand, and adult arthroplasty may yield positive returns. Trauma yields a neutral return, while pediatrics and foot and ankle have negative net present values. On the basis of mean reported incomes, the break-even point was two years for spine, seven years for hand, eight years for shoulder and elbow, twelve years for adult arthroplasty, thirteen years for sports medicine, and twenty-seven years for trauma. Fellowship-trained pediatric and foot and ankle surgeons did not break even following the initial investment. When working hours were controlled for, the returns for adult arthroplasty and trauma became negative. Conclusions The financial return of an orthopaedic fellowship varies on the basis of the specialty chosen. While reasons to pursue fellowship training vary widely, and many are not financial, there are positive and negative financial incentives. Therefore, the decision to pursue fellowship training is best if it is not made on the basis of financial incentives. This information may assist policy makers in analyzing medical education economics to ensure the training of orthopaedic surgeons in all specialties and subspecialties.
Guinea pig model of infectious disease - Viral infections:

The guinea pig model of disease has been considered synonymous with the experimental laboratory animal since the nineteenth century. Recently we have reviewed the use of this species in models of bacterial infectious disease. The present review extends to viral diseases for which the guinea pig is less frequently considered the relevant animal model. The use of the guinea pig as a laboratory animal, aspects of immunology, viral pathogens and host-pathogen models are discussed. As a small and relatively inexpensive model for infection and immunity the guinea pig has a significant future but there are substantial requirements for development of validated quantitative analytical methods for immunological and disease biomarkers if it is to reach its potential.
Footprint of the Retrotransposon R2Bm Protein on its Target Site Before and After Cleavage

R2 elements are non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons that specifically integrate into the 28 S rRNA genes of their host. These elements encode a single open reading frame with a genome-specific endonuclease and a reverse transcriptase that uses the cleaved chromosomal target site to prime reverse transcription. Cleavage of the DNA strand that is used to prime reverse transcription is an efficient process that occurs in the presence or absence of RNA. Cleavage of the second DNA strand is much less efficient and requires RNA. Reverse transcription occurs before second strand cleavage and only if the RNA bound to the protein contains the 3' untranslated region of the R2 element. Thus a complex series of protein interactions with the DNA and conformational changes in the protein are likely to occur during this retrotransposition reaction. Here, we conduct electrophoretic mobility-shift assays and DNase I footprint studies on the binding of the R2 protein to the DNA target in the presence and absence of RNA both before and after first strand cleavage. While the total expanse of the protein footprint on the DNA eventually covers five helical turns, before cleavage the footprint only extends from 17 bp to 40 bp upstream of the cleavage site. This footprint is the same in the presence and absence of RNA. We hypothesize that the active site of the endonuclease domain is analogous to type IIS restriction enzymes in that it is located on a flexible domain that is not tightly bound to the cleavage site. After first strand cleavage the protein footprint extends beyond the cleavage site. We suggest that this increased protection after cleavage is the RT domain that is positioned over the free DNA end to begin reverse transcription on the nicked DNA substrate.
Comparison of Brachial Venous and Mixed Venous Blood Gas Tensions and pH Values in the Chicken

Differences in blood gas tensions and pH between brachial venous blood (BVB) and mixed venous blood obtained from the pulmonary artery (PAB) were compared in anesthetized male White Leghorn chickens to determine if BVB as obtained in routine venipuncture cold be used to estimate mixed venous values of pO2, pCO2, and pH. When paired samples were compared over the range of 25 to 68 mm Hg, brachial pO2 was 5.7 mm Hg higher (P less than .001) than PAB pO2. Brachial pCO2 was 4.25 mm Hg higher (P less than .001) than PAB pCO2 over the range of 17 to 56 mm Hg. Brachial pH was .066 units lower (p less than .001) than comparable values for PAB over the range of 7.2-7.6 pH units. Regression equations are given for estimating mixed venous blood gas tensions and pH values from blood samples taken from the brachial vein.
Chemistry and Mechanisms of Allelopathic Interactions

Allelopathy, originally defined as chemically elicited interactions between plants or fungi, is mediated by many types of compounds with different sites and modes of biochemical action. Although it is possible to measure a generalized effect, it is unlikely that deeper insight into the basic mechanisms of this phenomenon will he obtained until problems are more clearly and specifically delineated. Future work should include identificaflon of the compounds found in specific interactions and their evaluation in bioassay systems that use organisms actually involved in the response. A broader range of compounds and test organisms must be considered, and the biochemical sites and mechanisms of interaction must be evaluated, even for compounds that appear to be inactive. Once active compounds have been identifled, their release, movement, uptake, and effects on source and target species in the allelopathic system should be examined. The effects of plant density require additional investigation. Studies in which plants are grown in various combinations and ratios can ultimately provide information about the major sources of allelopathic interaction in communities, the role of allelopathy in succession, and the nature and extent of coadaptation of organisms. Understanding the role of allelopathy in succession will require information about the chemistry and biology of interaction, and a better understanding of the ecological factors involved. Agricultural systems can supply much needed information, as they are similar to natural systems but usually are simpler and better defined. In turn, a better understanding of allelopathy is important in many phases of modern agriculture, especially in the tropics. By attacking allelopathic interactions at several organizational levels, the effects collectively known as allelopathy can be understood, even in complex natural communities. Major advancement in understanding allelopathy will be accomplished only by the combined effort of investigators from many disciplines.
Batch-fabricated high Q-factor microcrystalline diamond cylindrical resonator

This paper reports a 1.5 mm batch-fabricated polycrystalline diamond Cylindrical Resonator (CR) for gyroscope applications. The device is fabricated in a cylindrical shape using silicon on insulator (SOI) wafers and deep reactive ion etching (DRIE), which allows flexibility of choosing different geometries and materials for the resonator structure. A quality factor (Q) of 313,100 is measured at the 23 kHz 2 theta elliptical wineglass modes, producing a ring-down time of 4.32 seconds. Annealing CRs at 700 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere improved Q from 75,000 to over 300,000. The highly symmetric fabrication results in CRs with an excellent frequency mismatch of 3 Hz (130 ppm) between the 2 theta degenerate wineglass modes without applying any tuning voltage.
Best practice methods for determining an electrode material's performance for ultracapacitors

Ultracapacitors are rapidly being adopted for a wide range of electrical energy storage applications. While ultracapacitors are able to deliver high rates of charge and discharge, they are limited in the amount of energy stored. The capacity of ultracapacitors is largely determined by the electrode material and as a result research to improve the performance of electrode materials has dramatically increased. While test methods for packaged ultracapacitors are well developed, it is often impractical for the materials scientist to assemble full sized, packaged cells to test electrode materials. Methodology to reliably measure a material's performance for use as an ultracapacitor electrode is not well standardized with various techniques yielding widely varying results. In this manuscript, we review and validate best practice test methods that accurately predict a material's performance, yet are flexible and quick enough to accommodate a wide range of material sample types and amounts.
Toward a science of metapatterns: building upon Bateson's foundation

Purpose – Gregory Bateson defined a metapattern as a “pattern of patterns.” But, what did he mean by metapattern (which he used only once)? Can there be a meta‐science, in which metapatterns are its objects or principles? The authors explore these issues.Design/methodology/approach – The authors review examples of Bateson's “great pattern” of “combination,” which the authors call the binary. Bateson showed that binary is the minimal solution to the problem of gaining new characteristics by combining parts into a larger whole. Thus, binary is clearly a metapattern, a discipline‐transcending structural and functional principle. The authors select parts of Bateson's writings to highlight his search for other great patterns, some of which correspond with those developed by T. Volk.Findings – The authors suggest that the basis for a science of metapatterns is the following: functional patterns that confer advantages on the systems that possess those patterns can converge, in a meta‐realm that includes all of w...
Non-inferiority trials: the 'at least as good as' criterion

To demonstrate in a clinical trial that a new or experimental therapy (et) is 'at least as good as' a standard therapy (st), a statistical test or confidence interval procedure must rule out clinical inferiority with a high probability. The term 'at least as good as' implies equivalent but not necessarily superior efficacy. As it is statistically impossible to demonstrate equivalence (that is, prove the null hypothesis of no difference), Blackwelder proposed a one-sided significance test to reject the null hypothesis that standard therapy is better than experimental therapy by a clinically acceptable amount, delta(BW). In this paper, Blackwelder's approach is redefined in terms of the ratio of two means (R(True)= mu(et)/mu(st)) based on a continuous variate with higher values denoting greater improvement. The ratio-based equivalents to Blackwelder's hypotheses will be shown. The ratio parameter has the benefit of being available as a dimensionless percentage, not tied to a specified difference in means. Thus, a study can be sized to assure, with high probability, that the experimental therapy is 'at least' (R(LB)x100) per cent 'as effective as' the standard therapy, where R(LB) is the selected lower bound on the percentage effectiveness. A practical rationale is given for defining non-inferiority as a high fraction or percentage of the standard drug's efficacy, both in terms of statistical efficiency and medical relevance. For most typical 'at least as good as' applications (when R(LB) or = delta(BW), thereby requiring smaller sample sizes to detect the directionally based non-null alternatives contained in H(1): mu(et)/mu(st)>R(LB) or, equivalently, mu(st) - mu(et) R(LB), is shown to be more efficient than excluding R(LB) from the lower limit of a 100(1-2alpha) per cent two-sided symmetric confidence interval centred by R. Relevant examples will be presented.
Network radar: tomography from round trip time measurements

Knowledge of link specific traffic characteristics is important in the operation and design of wide area networks. Network tomography is a powerful method for measuring characteristics such as delay and loss on network-internal links using end--to--end active probes. Prior work has established the basic mechanisms for the use of tomographic inference techniques in the networking context. However, the measurement methods described in prior network tomography studies require cooperation between sending and receiving end-hosts, which limits the scope of the paths over which the measurements can be made. In this paper, we describe a new network tomographic technique based on round trip time (RTT) measurements which eliminates the need for special-purpose cooperation from receivers. Our technique uses RTT measurements from TCP SYN and SYN-ACK segments to estimate the delay variance of the shared network segment in the standard one sender - two receivers configuration. We call this approach Network Radar since it is analogous to standard radar. We present an analytic evaluation of Network Radar that specifies the variance bounds within which the technique is effective. We also evaluate Network Radar in a series of tests conducted in a controlled laboratory environment using live end hosts and IP routers. These tests demonstrate the boundaries of effectiveness of the RTT-based approach.
Planar quasi-Newton algorithms for unconstrained saddlepoint problems

A new class of quasi-Newton methods is introduced that can locate a unique stationary point of ann-dimensional quadratic function in at mostn steps. When applied to positive-definite or negative-definite quadratic functions, the new class is identical to Huang's symmetric family of quasi-Newton methods (Ref. 1). Unlike the latter, however, the new family can handle indefinite quadratic forms and therefore is capable of solving saddlepoint problems that arise, for instance, in constrained optimization. The novel feature of the new class is a planar iteration that is activated whenever the algorithm encounters a near-singular direction of search, along which the objective function approaches zero curvature. In such iterations, the next point is selected as the stationary point of the objective function over a plane containing the problematic search direction, and the inverse Hessian approximation is updated with respect to that plane via a new four-parameter family of rank-three updates. It is shown that the new class possesses properties which are similar to or which generalize the properties of Huang's family. Furthermore, the new method is equivalent to Fletcher's (Ref. 2) modified version of Luenberger's (Ref. 3) hyperbolic pairs method, with respect to the metric defined by the initial inverse Hessian approximation. Several issues related to implementing the proposed method in nonquadratic cases are discussed.
Relationship of Oxygen Consumption to Body Build and Maturation

Healthy boys and girls show marked differ ences in their need for or use of oxygen, depend ing upon their body builds.Slender children use more oxygen per kilogram body weight per minute than broad built ones when matched for age and sex. This raises the question of biochemical individuality with body build as the selective factor.
Pollination and Predation Limit Fruit Set in a Shrub, Bourreria succulenta (Boraginaceae), after Hurricanes on San Salvador Island, Bahamas1

Hurricanes have been assumed to reduce the reproduction of plants, either directly by leaf stripping and stress or indirectly by reducing pollinators. I examined the pollination and fruit set of a common shrub, Bourreria succulenta, after hurricanes on San Salvador island, Bahamas. Contrary to the assumption of resource limitation, B. succulenta showed unusually prolific flowering after Hurricane Lili stripped leaves from most of the plants in October 1996. I predicted that the abundant flowering would saturate pollinators and that fruit set would be pollination-limited. Fruit set was strongly pollination-limited by 71 percent. Butterflies are probably the major pollinators and were present at the site, but they rarely visited B. succulenta flowers even though flowers were brimming with nectar. Nectarivorous birds (Bananaquits and Bahama Woodstars) visit B. succulenta flowers, but their populations were decimated by Hurricane Lili and they rarely visited flowers during this time. Fruit set was also severely predation-limited; a moth caterpillar (Gelechiidae) was extremely abundant and ate buds, flowers, and fruits, causing a further 68 percent reduction in fruit set. Together, pollination limitation and predation limitation reduced fruit set to only 7 percent or less. Predation was also intense in 1999 after Hurricane Floyd and resulted in 11 percent fruit set or less. Whether or not hurricanes were the cause of limited pollinators or abundant predators, the resulting low fruit set could have population effects because hurricanes can provide opportunities for the recruitment of new plants. These results emphasize that understanding plant–animal interactions may be necessary for predicting the effects of hurricanes on plant reproductive success, which may affect subsequent recruitment. Species on small islands like San Salvador (150 km2) with relatively few species may be especially vulnerable to environmental disturbances such as hurricanes.
American physicians remain slow to embrace the reproductive needs of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

Nearly 1 million Americans are infected with HIV. Most are living well and enjoying productive lives. Yet few programs in the United States permit unrestricted access to assisted reproduction for HIV-seropositive patients. Some of these individuals have conventional problems causing infertility. Many others are attempting to minimize viral transmission to their spouse or offspring. European centers remain far ahead of those in the United States in advancing techniques and offering services to safeguard the uninfected while providing effective, affordable care to the HIV-seropositive patient.
Four Critical Domains of Accountability for School Counselors.

Despite recognition of accountability for school counselors, no clear set of interrelated performance measures exists to guide school counselors in collecting and evaluating data that relates to student academic success. This article outlines four critical domains of accountability for school counselors (i.e., grades, attendance, disciplinary referrals, and suspension) that can be generalized across primary and secondary levels, geography, region, location, and culture. The authors present a case study to demonstrate the four critical domains of accountability and establish school counselors as key players in promoting academic success.
Munc13 Homology Domain-1 in CAPS/UNC31 Mediates SNARE Binding Required for Priming Vesicle Exocytosis

Neuropeptide and peptide hormone secretion from neural and endocrine cells occurs by Ca(2+)-triggered dense-core vesicle exocytosis. The membrane fusion machinery consisting of vesicle and plasma membrane SNARE proteins needs to be assembled for Ca(2+)-triggered vesicle exocytosis. The related Munc13 and CAPS/UNC31 proteins that prime vesicle exocytosis are proposed to promote SNARE complex assembly. CAPS binds SNARE proteins and stimulates SNARE complex formation on liposomes, but the relevance of SNARE binding to CAPS function in cells had not been determined. Here we identify a core SNARE-binding domain in CAPS as corresponding to Munc13 homology domain-1 (MHD1). CAPS lacking a single helix in MHD1 was unable to bind SNARE proteins or to support the Ca(2+)-triggered exocytosis of either docked or newly arrived dense-core vesicles. The results show that MHD1 is a SNARE-binding domain and that SNARE protein binding is essential for CAPS function in dense-core vesicle exocytosis.
EFFECT OF ORALLY ADMINISTERED D-PENICILLAMINE ON GOLD DEPOSITED IN THE RAT KIDNEY.

Although orally administered D-penicillamine, a chelating agent, is known to enhance urinary excretion of gold in man, studies in experimental animals raised the possibility that renal deposition of gold might increase in the presence of the circulating gold-penicillamine complex. To investigate this possibility, rats previously treated with a gold salt were given a diet containing the chelating agent for a 28-day period. The renal content of gold was assayed at the end of the study period. The results showed that administration of D-penicillamine significantly enhanced the removal of gold from the kidneys. Ben que oralmente administrate D-penicillamina (un agente de chelation) promove cognoscitemente le excretion urinari de auro in le homine, studios in animales experimental suggereva le possibilitate que le deposition renal de auro es augmentate in le presentia del circulante complexo de auro e penicillamina. Pro investigar iste possibilitate, rattos previemente tractate con un sal de auro esseva tractate con un dieta continente le agente de chelation durante un periodo de 28 dies. Le contento renal de auro esseva detreminate al fin del periodo. Le resultatos monstrava que le administration de D-penicillamina promoveva significativemente le elimination de auro ab le renes.
Bringing Geography to Book: Ellen Semple and the Reception of Geographical Knowledge. By Innes M. Keighren

(2012). Bringing Geography to Book: Ellen Semple and the Reception of Geographical Knowledge. By Innes M. Keighren. Geographical Review: Vol. 102, No. 1, pp. 132-135.
On a relation between the principle of minimum relative entropy and maximum likelihood estimation

A justification for the use of the minimum relative entropy (MRE) principle as a probability density function (PDF) estimation method is given by showing a relation with the classical maximum likelihood estimation procedure. This ultimately provides a noninformation theoretic argument for the validity of the MRE principle as well as some properties that the MRE PDF obeys. >
Pancreatitis: A Potential Complication of Liraglutide?

OBJECTIVE:To review the evidence surrounding a potential association between liraglutide and pancreatitis.DATA SOURCES:A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (1948-July 12, 2012) and EMBASE (1974-week 27, 2012) using the search terms pancreatitis, liraglutide, and glucagon-like peptide 1/adverse effects. Reference citations from identified publications were reviewed. The manufacturer was contacted and regulatory documents from the Food and Drug Administration website were reviewed for unpublished data related to cases of pancreatitis associated with liraglutide use.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All identified sources that were published in English were considered for inclusion.DATA SYNTHESIS:Eleven cases of pancreatitis have been reported in patients taking liraglutide. Seven were from the LEAD (Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes) studies, 1 was reported in the extension of a clinical trial, and 1 was in an unpublished obesity trial. Two were published postmarketing case reports. Nine o...
Sensorimotor control of gait: a novel approach for the study of the interplay of visual and proprioceptive feedback.

Sensorimotor control theories propose that the central nervous system exploits expected sensory consequences generated by motor commands for movement planning, as well as online sensory feedback for comparison with expected sensory feedback for monitoring and correcting, if needed, ongoing motor output. In our study, we tested this theoretical framework by quantifying the functional role of expected vs. actual proprioceptive feedback for planning and regulation of gait in humans. We addressed this question by using a novel methodological approach to deliver fast perturbations of the walking surface stiffness, in conjunction with a virtual reality system that provided visual feedback of upcoming changes of surface stiffness. In the “predictable” experimental condition, we asked subjects to learn associating visual feedback of changes in floor stiffness (sand patch) during locomotion to quantify kinematic and kinetic changes in gait prior to and during the gait cycle. In the “unpredictable” experimental condition, we perturbed floor stiffness at unpredictable instances during the gait to characterize the gait-phase dependent strategies in recovering the locomotor cycle. For the “unpredictable” conditions, visual feedback of changes in floor stiffness was absent or inconsistent with tactile and proprioceptive feedback. The investigation of these perturbation-induced effects on contralateral leg kinematics revealed that visual feedback of upcoming changes in floor stiffness allows for both early (preparatory) and late (post-perturbation) changes in leg kinematics. However, when proprioceptive feedback is not available, the early responses in leg kinematics do not occur while the late responses are preserved although in a, slightly attenuated form. The methods proposed in this study and the preliminary results of the kinematic response of the contralateral leg open new directions for the investigation of the relative role of visual, tactile, and proprioceptive feedback on gait control, with potential implications for designing novel robot-assisted gait rehabilitation approaches.
Advances in cervical cancer pharmacotherapies

While widely employed in the management of cervical cancer, the overall utility of systemic anti-neoplastic agents in this clinical setting is quite modest. Cisplatin, the single most studied agent, is currently administered concurrently with external beam radiation as a component of “standard-of-care” in the management of locally advanced cervical cancer. Cisplatin (or carboplatin) combined with paclitaxel is the most commonly utilized regimen in the metastatic/recurrent disease setting (assuming the absence of evidence the cancer is resistant to platinum agents). Recently reported phase 3 trial data have demonstrated that the addition of bevacizumab to either a cisplatin/paclitaxel or paclitaxel/topotecan chemotherapy regimen improves overall survival in metastatic/recurrent cervical cancer.
Z decay into two massless gauge bosons in a magnetic field

An investigation of the processes Z → gg and Z → in a background magnetic field is presented. For homogeneous fields corrections to the charged fermion propagator can be calculated in leading orders of the magnetic field. This work examines the first order contributions of the corrected propagator to decays that are otherwise zero. Results of the decay rates for varying field strengths are included.
Generation of knock-in mouse model expressing functional CD8ab without an active CD8aa (IRC5P.634)

To understand functional significance of Recognition of CD8aa complexes in vivo, we generated transgenic mouse model and knock-in mouse model carrying a variant CD8ab (CD8am3b) capable of forming inactive CD8aa/pMHC1 complexes. These mice show a sub-optimal thymic differentiation with reduced populations of CD8 single-positive thymocytes. Transgenic CD8 T cells exhibit a compromised developmental capacity when competing with CD8 T cells exhibit normal effector function against viral infection. In addition, TCRab+ T cell populations expressing CD8ab+ or CD8aa reduced to about 50% in our TG mice compared to normal B6 mice, and none of these CD8aa+TCRab+ T cells were attained by TL tetramer. Furthermore, this mice show reduced inflammatory responses in DSS-induced colitis model. These findings obtained from our transgenic and knock-in animal models are going to be important to dissect the distinct function of CD8aa molecule.
Susceptibility of swine to H5 and H7 low pathogenic avian influenza viruses

Citation: Balzli, C., Lager, K., Vincent, A., Gauger, P., Brockmeier, S., Miller, L., . . . Swayne, D. E. (2016). Susceptibility of swine to H5 and H7 low pathogenic avian influenza viruses. Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses. doi:10.1111/irv.12386
Biochemical Determination of the Viability of Fungal Spores and Hyphae

Germination is commonly used to monitor spore viability, but many fungal spores do not germinate readily. Rapid viability tests are needed. Methods were developed to monitor viability, based on enzyme activity and ATP content of fungal spores and hyphae. ATP content, measured by the luciferin-luciferase system, was much higher in living spores than in dead spores. Hydration was an additional aid in differentiating the ATP content of viable spores compared with dead spores. Approximately 40 Mg of spores were required to measure the ATP level. Preparation from 25 Mg of living spores or 100-150 Mg fresh hyphae contained sufficient phosphatase or glucosidase to give a positive fluorescence test for hydrolysis of methylumbelliferyl-phosphate or methylumbelliferyl-glucoside at 37 C in 2 h. Dead spores and hyphae did not fluoresce. These methods were used to test the viability of: Tilletia controversa, T caries, Ustilago scitaminea, Puccinia striiformis, Pisolithus tinctorius, Rhizopogon colossus, and Elaphomyces granulatus spores, and hyphae of T caries, Rhizoctonia solani, Hymenochaete tabacina, Phellinus weirii, Haematostereum sanguinolentum and Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. These techniques should be useful in determining quickly the effects of fumigants and fungicides on fungal spores and hyphae.
Nucleation with Radiation Dissolution and Resolution

Energetic particle irradiation may induce athermal processes in addition to the thermallyactivated single atom addition or subtraction events considered by classical nucleation theory. Displacement cascades could destroy sub-critical precipitates. Similarly, either displacement cascades or energetic knock-on atoms could remove single atoms or groups of atoms from subcritical clusters. Cluster destruction becomes significant in nucleation when the probability of destruction is comparable to the probability of growth by single atom capture. The model is applied to the nucleation of embrittling precipitates in pressure vessel steels. The scaling of accelerated embrittlement tests on the basis of displacements per atom is found only sometimes to be applicable. Athermal single atom loss, as in ion mixing, may appreciably reduce the nucleation if the rate of loss approaches or exceeds the rate of solute atom capture.
Comparative Studies of Gonad-Stimulating Hormones. II. Influence of Length of Period of Administration of Certain Extracts

SummaryThe administration of a known total dose of an ovary-stimulating pregnancy blood extract over periods of 10, 15, or 20 days produced a much greater increase in ovarian and uterine weights of immature rats than when the same total dose was given in 5 days. The opposite result was obtained with acid extracts of sheep anterior pituitary glands, as the injection of a known dose in 5 days produced a greater increase in ovarian weight than when the administration of the same total dose was spread out over periods of 10, 15, or 20 days.