cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anion Effects on Interfacial Absorption of Gases in Ionic Liquids. A Molecular Dynamics Study

Molecular dynamics simulations with many-body interactions were carried out to systematically study the effect of anion type, tetrafluoroborate [BF(4)] or hexafluorophosphate [PF(6)], paired with the cation 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium [bmim], on the interfacial absorption of gases in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). The potentials of mean force (PMF) of CO(2) and H(2)O at 350 K were calculated across the air-liquid interfaces of [bmim][BF(4)] and [bmim][PF(6)]. We found that the PMFs for H(2)O exhibited no interfacial minima at both interfaces, while the corresponding PMFs for CO(2) had significant free energy minima there. However, the PMFs for H(2)O showed a much higher interfacial free energy than in the bulk for [bmim][BF(4)], but only a slightly higher interfacial free energy for [bmim][PF(6)] than in bulk. The reason for this was due to the more hydrophilic nature of the [BF(4)] anion, and the fact that [BF(4)] was found to have little propensity for the interface. Our results show that H(2)O is much more likely to be found at the air-[bmim][PF(6)] interface than at the air-[bmim][BF(4)] interface. The free energies of solvation were found to be more negative for [bmim][BF(4)] than [bmim][PF(6)] for water and similar for CO(2). This observation is consistent with experimental Henry's law coefficients. Our results show that anion type, in addition to affecting the free energy of solvation into RTILs, should also significantly influence the uptake mechanism.
Polyazulene, A Member of a New Class of Polymers

Abstract Electrochemical oxidation of azulene in acetonitrile containing an appropriate electrolyte yields thick, electrically conducting polymeric films. Free-standing films of polyazulene peeled off a platinum electrode have electrical conductivities [sgrave]=10−2 to 1/Ω·cm, depending on the counter-anion, with perchlorate or tetrafluoroborate giving the highest values. Similar polymers are obtained from benzenoid or heterocyclic aromatic monomers, for example, pyrene, triphenylene or carbazole. These polymers resemble the better known polypyrrole. Spectroscopic evidence shows that the polymer consist of aromatic units, and elemental analysis reveals incorporation of counter-anions from the electrolyte; for polyazulene, one per 4 monomeric units. The consequences of alkyl substituents upon the tendency of the monomer to polymerize reveal that the hypothetical structure of polyazulene is best represented by 1,3-linked azulene units. The reaction mechanism involves dimerization of radical cations and depr...
Coccidiostatic Effects of Buquinolate in Poultry

Abstract INTRODUCTION IN SPITE of the wide usage of commercially available coccidiostatic drugs at prophylactic levels for the control of coccidiosis in poultry, coccidiosis remains one of the most common disease hazards of the poultry industry in floor-reared birds. Coccidiostatic drugs fed continuously in rations to poultry until withdrawal periods has been a great disease prevention asset, particularly to the broiler industry, and have to a great extent aided most producers in marketing a high percentage of broilers with excellent weights and feed conversions. In spite of these advances, coccidiosis remains a problem because most of the available drugs at use levels (1) do not completely suppress coccidiosis, preventing reduced growth and impaired feed efficiency, (2) some do not protect equally well against all species of coccidia, (3) some possess undesirable side effects, and (4) there has been evidence of development of drug resistance, particularly after prolonged usage of a drug . . .
Social Support, Quality of Life, and Self-Care Behaviors Among African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes:

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine social support and its relationship to diabetes-specific quality of life and selfcare behaviors in African Americans with type 2 diabetes.Methods The study followed a cross-sectional, observational design and recruited 89 African American adults, age 40 and older (mean = 60, SD = 10.5), diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Participants completed measures assessing dia- betes-specific quality of life, self-care behaviors (healthy eating, physical activity, self-monitoring of blood glucose, foot care, medication and/or insulin use), demographic background, and diabetes-related social support. Diabetes-related social support variables included amount of social support received, satisfaction with support, positive support behavior, negative support behavior, and primary source of support.Results Stepwise regressions, controlling for demographic variables, were conducted to identify predictors of diabetes-specific quality of life and selfcare behaviors from the diabe...
Optimal linear estimation fusion - part VI: sensor data compression

In many engineering applications, esti- mation accuracy can be improved by data from dis- tributed sensors. Due to limited communication band- width and limited processing capability at the fusion center, it is crucial to compress these data for the fi- nal estimation at the fusion center. One way of ac- complishing this is to reduce the dimension of the data with minimum or no loss of information. Based on the best linear unbiased estimation (BLUE) fusion results obtained in the previous parts of this series, in this pa- per we present optimal rules for compressing data at each local sensor to an allowable size (i.e., dimension) such that the fused estimate is optimal. We show that without any performance deteriomtion, all sensor data can be compressed to a dimension not larger than that of the estimatee (i.e., the quantity to be estimated). For some simple cases, these optimal compression rules are given analytically; for the general case, they can be found numerically by an algorithm proposed here. Sup- porting simulation results are provided.
Particle swarm optimization for chaotic system parameter estimation

A study is presented on the application of particle swarm optimization (PSO) for estimation of parameters in chaotic systems. The parameter estimation is formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem using PSO to minimize the synchronization error for the observable states of the actual system and its mathematical model. The procedure is illustrated using a typical chaotic system of Lorenz equations. The effectiveness of different variants of PSO on parameter estimation is studied with a wide search range of parameters. The results show the capability of the proposed PSO based approach in estimating the chaotic system parameters even in the presence of observation noise.
Note on the Occurrence of Anacampsis populella (Clerck) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Canada

In August, 1963, silver poplar trees in St. John's West, Newfoundland, were severely attacked by small leaf-rolling caterpillars. Larvae were taken from a poplar tree during mid-August, 1963, and reared in the laboraeory. Moths that emerged were identified as of Anacampsis populella Clerck by Dr. T. N. Freeman, Entomology Research Institute, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, who also noted (in litt.) that this was apparently tlie first record of the species in Canada. Dr. K. Sattler (in litt.), Munich, Germany, confirmed the identification in 1964. Dr. Kelvin Dorward (in litt.), Chief Staff Officer, Survey and Detection Operations, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., stated that the only record of A. populella for North America was for Washington State by Clarke (1942). Clarke stated that E. I. Smith of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, Seattle, Washington, reared moths from larvae collected on a species of Salix , and this appeared to be the first record of the occurrence of this species in North America.
Research Strategies to Advance Our Understanding Early Life Exposures to Improve Child Health and Reduce Disease Burden.

Abstract The environment is a fundamental determinant of human health. Targeting the best scientific research to environmental problems, wherever they arise, can lead to breakthroughs in our understanding that can be of great benefit to all. Environmental factors cause or influence an array of conditions that lead to illness and death among mothers and children, populations at greatest risk for premature death and illness. Exposures during pregnancy can influence maternal conditions during pregnancy, such as: asthma, anemia, and infectious disease susceptibility, and result in adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as: miscarriage, intra- uterine growth retardation, prematurity. These exposures can also adversely affect long-term health outcomes for the offspring, leading to chronic diseases. Developmental-stage specific exposures and windows of susceptibility are critically important since the effects of any given exposure are determined largely by the time in the developmental and maturational process when ex...
Glucocorticoid-induced skeletal muscle atrophy is associated with upregulation of myostatin gene expression

The mechanisms by which excessive glucocorticoids cause muscular atrophy remain unclear. We previously demonstrated that dexamethasone increases the expression of myostatin, a negative regulator of...
Lewis acid catalysis of phosphoryl transfer from a copper(II)-NTP complex in a kinase ribozyme

The chemical strategies used by ribozymes to enhance reaction rates are revealed in part from their metal ion and pH requirements. We find that kinase ribozyme K28(1-77)C, in contrast with previously characterized kinase ribozymes, requires Cu 2+ for optimal catalysis of thiophosphoryl transfer from GTPcS. Phosphoryl transfer from GTP is greatly reduced in the absence of Cu 2+ , indicating a specific catalytic role independent of any potential interactions with the GTPcS thiophosphoryl group. In-line probing and ATPcS competition both argue against direct Cu 2+ binding by RNA; rather, these data establish that Cu 2+ enters the active site within a Cu 2+ � GTPc So r Cu 2+ � GTP chelation complex, and that Cu 2+ � nucleobase interactions further enforce Cu 2+ selectivity and position the metal ion for Lewis acid catalysis. Replacing Mg 2+ with [Co(NH3)6] 3+ significantly reduced product yield, but not kobs, indicating that the role of inner-sphere Mg 2+ coordination is structural rather than catalytic. Replacing Mg 2+ with alkaline earths of increasing ionic radii (Ca 2+ ,S r 2+ and Ba 2+ ) gave lower yields and approximately linear rates of product accumulation. Finally, we observe that reaction rates increased with pH in log-linear fashion with an apparent pKa=8.0±0.1, indicating deprotonation in the rate-limiting step.
A general analysis technique for ARQ protocol performance in high speed networks

The general behaviour of the automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocols is modeled by a queueing network with priorities representing the erroneous and recovery processes. A mean value analysis algorithm is developed for the performance analysis of the model. The input parameters, the erroneous period and the recovery duration, for the model are gained from the extended finite state machine model description of the protocols. By giving several examples the authors demonstrate the general applicability of the new approach. >
Health Concerns of Micronesian Peoples

Several states in the United States have been experiencing an influx of migrants from an area of the world that most people have only heard of when learning about the atomic bomb and World War II. ...
An assessment of ROSETTA for smart electricity grid system-of-systems design

To meet increasing demand worldwide for electricity, efforts are underway to augment today's electrical grid infrastructure with enhanced information technology (IT), creating a Smart Grid capable of advanced monitoring, information exchange, analytics, and control. Because of the nature of the electrical grid, the stakeholders that control and use it, and the interconnectedness of proposed IT solutions, Smart Grid is a system-of-systems (SoS) that warrants new approaches to design. In this paper, the Relational-Oriented Systems Engineering and Technology Tradeoff Analysis (ROSETTA) Environment is assessed in light of Smart Grid system-of-systems (SoS) design. The specific example considered is a demand response (DR) problem of monitoring and leveling peak electricity demand. DR is first presented as an SoS design problem, comprising multiple, managerially independent systems (both human and technical) and subject to a variety of scenarios. Through discussion of the DR example, the intent and structure of ROSETTA is elucidated and initially considered for relevance to Smart Grid SoS design decisions.
King among Kings: Understanding the Role and Responsibilities of the Department Chair in Higher Education

The role and responsibilities of the chair of an academic department in higher education is considered from the perspective of both actor and agent, within the context of the institution being served and the department being represented. The intent of this article is to further research on the role of department chair by analyzing it in the context of the institution’s goals and expectations, the stakeholders affecting and affected by the department chair, and the chair’s own capabilities. A 360-degree exploration of the role, expectations and competencies of department chairs was carried out at a private business university in the Northeast area of the USA, including both business and liberal arts department chairs. The results led to new development programs for incoming chairs as well as better supports for current chairs. The design of this project allowed for both the study of the role of department chair and the improvement of support mechanisms to be effective in that role. The design, data and ana...
Spinal geometry and paresthesia coverage in spinal cord stimulation

Objective. To test the following hypotheses, based on computer modeling studies of spinal cord stimulation, by the analysis of data from chronic pain patients: I. the probability-of-paresthesia in a dermatome is highest when the cathode is placed at the corresponding segmental level; II. variation of the rostrocaudal position of the cathode in the lower cervical/high thoracic region results in less variation of the probability-of-paresthesia in a dermatome than stimulation in more caudal regions; III. when stimulating in the midthoracic region, the probability-of-paresthesia in a dermatome is low in comparison to other regions when the cathode is not at the corresponding segmental level. Method. The probability-of-paresthesia in 16 body segments as a function of the rostrocaudal position of the cathode was analyzed from the paresthesia coverage with 3,897 bipolar and unipolar combinations from 106 chronic pain patients. Results. The distributions of the probability-of-paresthesia in the upper and lower limb are in accordance with the hypotheses, but different distributions were found in all trunk areas. Conclusion. The success to be expected from spinal cord stimulation in chronic pain management is inversely related to the thickness of the dorsal cerebrospinal fluid layer at the cathode level. Therefore, preoperative measurement from transverse images can be helpful as a predictor for success.
Assessment of Nitrification Potential in Ground Water Using Short Term, Single-Well Injection Experiments

Nitrification was measured within a sand and gravel aquifer on Cape Cod, MA, using a series of single-well injection tests. The aquifer contained a wastewater-derived contaminant plume, the core of which was anoxic and contained ammonium. The study was conducted near the downgradient end of the ammonium zone, which was characterized by inversely trending vertical gradients of oxygen (270 to 0 μM) and ammonium (19 to 625 μM) and appeared to be a potentially active zone for nitrification. The tests were conducted by injecting a tracer solution (ambient ground water + added constituents) into selected locations within the gradients using multilevel samplers. After injection, the tracers moved by natural ground water flow and were sampled with time from the injection port. Rates of nitrification were determined from changes in nitrate and nitrite concentration relative to bromide. Initial tests were conducted with 15N-enriched ammonium; subsequent tests examined the effect of adding ammonium, nitrite, or oxygen above background concentrations and of adding difluoromethane, a nitrification inhibitor. In situ net nitrate production exceeded net nitrite production by 3- to 6- fold and production rates of both decreased in the presence of difluoromethane. Nitrification rates were 0.02–0.28 μmol (L aquifer)−1 h−1 with in situ oxygen concentrations and up to 0.81 μmol (L aquifer)−1 h−1 with non-limiting substrate concentrations. Geochemical considerations indicate that the rates derived from single-well injection tests yielded overestimates of in situ rates, possibly because the injections promoted small-scale mixing within a transport-limited reaction zone. Nonetheless, these tests were useful for characterizing ground water nitrification in situ and for comparing potential rates of activity when the tracer cloud included non-limiting ammonium and oxygen concentrations.
Employer Attitudes Toward Hiring the Learning Disabled

To determine attitudes about employing workers with learning disabilities, 326 employers from six states were surveyed about their attitudes toward hiring the handicapped in general and the learning disabled in particular. The employers expressed positive attitudes toward making special allowances for handicapped workers as long as such allowances did not involve reduced workloads or involvement in the worker's personal life. Less positive attitudes were expressed toward hiring the learning disabled. Only one-half of the employers stated that they would hire workers with learning disabilities. These negative attitudes did not seem to be related to lack of knowledge about learning disabilities, but rather seemed to relate to prejudice against workers with learning disabilities or lack of experience in supervising such workers.
New constraints on the arctic crust and uppermost mantle: surface wave group velocities, Pn, and Sn

We present the results of a study of surface wave dispersion across the Arctic region (>60N) and compare the estimating group velocity maps with new maps of the body wave phases Pn and Sn. Data recorded at about 250 broadband digital stations from several global and regional networks were used to obtain Rayleigh and Love wave group velocity measurements following more than 1100 events with magnitudesM s > 5:0 that occurred in the northern hemisphere from 1977 to 1998. These measurements were used to construct both isotropic and 2 azimuthally anisotropic group velocity maps from 15 to 200 s period. As elsewhere in the world, the observed maps display the signatures of sedimentary and oceanic basins, crustal thickness variations, and upper mantle anomalies under both continents and oceans. We also present Pn and Sn maps produced from a groomed data set of travel times from the ISC and NEIC bulletins. The long period group velocity maps correlate well with Pn and Sn velocities. Finally, at long wavelengths, the estimated 2 azimuthal anisotropy in Rayleigh wave group velocity correlates well with the azimuthal anisotropy in phase velocity obtained in a global scale study of Trampert and Woodhouse. Because attempts to improve the resolution to regional scales change both the amplitude and the pattern of the inferred azimuthal anisotropy, caution should be exercised in interpreting the anisotropy maps. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Circuit-Based Characterization of Device Noise Using Phase Noise Data

A circuit-based device noise characterization technique is introduced which uses phase noise data to estimate the power spectral density (PSD) of high-frequency noise in MOSFETs. To apply this technique to a typical CMOS process, an oscillator structure is introduced which provides a predictable phase noise level for a given device noise PSD. The analytical equations governing the phase noise of this oscillator are presented and subsequently verified using circuit simulations. Three oscillators, using transistors of various channel lengths, are fabricated in a commercial 0.18 μm CMOS process technology to study short-channel excess noise. It is shown that, at equal current levels, the noise PSD in minimum-channel-length transistors is 8.7 dB larger than that in 3t -minimum-channel-length devices. The proposed method is especially suitable for applying to a state-of-the-art CMOS process to provide a quantitative analysis of various noise tradeoffs which are sometimes missing in foundry-provided models.
Noise reduction in magnetic resonance imaging.

This paper describes a noise-reduction technique applicable to multiple-measurement systems. This method, known as measurement-dependent filtering (or MDF), can be used to advantage in a number of MRI applications. We present the general theory for one of these applications, material-canceled projection imaging. We discuss and show the results of MDF for material-canceled images as well as for heavily T2-weighted spinecho images and computed T2 images. Significant improvements in SNR are demonstrated while spatial resolution is preserved. © 1988 Academic Press, Inc.
Structural evidence of a fourth Gla residue in fish osteocalcin: biological implications.

Osteocalcin is a small (45 amino acids) secreted protein found to accumulate in bone and dentin of many organisms by interacting with calcium and hydroxyapatite, through the presence of three γ-carboxylated residues. In this work, we describe the first X-ray crystal structure for a nonmammalian osteocalcin, obtained at 1.4 A resolution, purified from the marine teleost fish Argyrosomus regius. The three-dimensional fit between the A. regius structure and that of the only other known X-ray structure, the porcine osteocalcin, revealed a superposition of the Cα atoms of their metal chelating residues, Gla and Asp, showing that their spatial distribution is consistent with the interatomic distances of calcium cations in the hydroxyapatite crystals. In both structures, the protein forms a tight globular arrangement of their three α-helices while the remaining residues, at N- and C-terminal regions, have essentially no secondary structure characteristics. This study revealed the presence of a fourth γ-carboxyla...
The Role Of Cal Poly College Of Business International Business Education In Inland Empire

etween 1980 and 1990 most universities worked to internationalize their curriculum. During this period California State Polytechnic University, Pomona also internationalized its curriculum, especially in the College of Business. During the fall of 1985 an International Task Force (IBTF) was established and continued its work through 1992. One of the tasks of this committee was to internationalize the College of Business curriculum. The IBTF established a major and minor in International Business. Dr. Sakamoto, a member of the IBTF and professor of MHR used a survey and a paper to prove that there was a need for an International Business major (IB). In his paper, “Employer Needs for Graduates Trained In International Business” Dr. Sakamoto wrote as follows:
Phenotypic and functional analysis of CD1a+ dendritic cells from cats chronically infected with feline immunodeficiency virus

Numerous studies suggest dendritic cell (DC) dysfunction is central to the dysregulated immune response during HIV infection; however, in vivo studies are lacking. In the present study we used feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection of cats as a model for HIV-1 infection to assess the maturation and function of dendritic cells, in vivo and in vitro. We compared CD1a+ DC migration, surface phenotype, endocytosis, mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) and regulatory T cell (Treg) phenotype induction by CD1a+ cells isolated from lymph nodes of FIV-infected and control cats. Results showed that resident CD1a+ DC in lymph nodes of chronically FIV-infected cats are phenotypically mature, can stimulate normal primary T cell proliferation, override Treg suppression and do not skew toward Treg induction. In contrast, FIV infection had deleterious effects on antigen presentation and migratory capacity of CD1a+ cells in tissues.
Integrated microarchitectures

Trends in CMOS technology point to an era of high-performance microprocessor design in which problems such as power consumption and cooling, deviceand chip-level variability, and hard and soft errors threaten to slow down historically established performance growth rates.
P5.075 BioPlex ® 2200 HIV Ag-Ab: An Automated Screening Method Providing Discreet Detection of HIV-1 P24, HIV-1 Antibody, and HIV-2 Antibody

Background Develop an automated HIV assay with 4 th generation sensitivity that can report antibody and antigen results individually, and distinguish HIV-1 from HIV-2 positives. Methods The BioPlex 2200 HIV Ag-Ab assay uses multiplex flow immunoassay to detect HIV-1 p24 antigen, HIV-1 antibody (Groups M and O), and HIV-2 antibody in a single reaction vessel using a mixture of four populations of dyed microparticles. Each population is coated with a different HIV antigen or with p24 antibody. Results for each marker can be reported individually, and antibody-reactive specimens can be typed as HIV-1 or HIV-2. Specimens with similar levels of HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibody reactivity are reported as reactive but undifferentiated. Results of in-house testing: To assess specificity, 5239 samples of unknown risk were tested resulting in specificity of 99.83%. To assess sensitivity, known positive specimens (209 HIV-1 Group M, 21 HIV-1 Group O, and 177 HIV-2) were tested and all were reactive. All HIV-1 samples (209 Group M and 21 Group O) were correctly identified as HIV-1, and 153 of 177 HIV-2 samples were correctly identified as HIV-2. Of 24 that were undifferentiated, 18 could not be typed by Orgenics Immunocomb ® . Among 26 commercial seroconversion panels, BioPlex 2200 detected HIV-1 infection one donation sooner than Abbott Architect Combo HIV (4 th generation) in three panels. In one panel, BioPlex 2200 missed one donation positive by Architect. Both tests gave equivalent results for 22 of the 26 panels. Conclusion The BioPlex 2200 HIV Ag-Ab assay, which is currently in development, is highly sensitive and specific, and can also provide detailed screening results that will assist in identifying specimens from primary infection and HIV-2 positives and guide selection of of supplemental testing.
Nonlinear Flow Solver Acceleration by Reduced Rank Extrapolation

Convergence acceleration of nonlinear flow solvers through use of vector sequence extrapolation techniques is presented. In particular, suitability of the Reduced Rank Extrapolation (RRE) algorithm for the use of convergence acceleration of nonlinear flow solvers is examined. In the RRE algorithm, the solution is obtained through a linear combination of Krylov vectors with weighting coefficients obtained by minimizing L2 norm of error in this space with properly chosen constraint conditions. This process effectively defines vector sequence extrapolation process in Krylov subspace that corresponds to the GMRES method applied to nonlinear problems. Moreover, when the RRE algorithm is used to solve nonlinear problems, the flow solver plays the role of the preconditioner for the nonlinear GMRES method. Benefits of the application of the RRE algorithm include better convergence rates, removal of residual stalling and improved coupling between equations in numerical models. Proposed algorithm is independent of the type of flow solver and it is equally applicable to explicit, implicit, pressure and density based algorithms.
The Effects of Prior Knowledge on Strategy Development & Performance

The types of strategies individuals use and how they use them over time potentially determines adaptability, their ability to learn, and their performance. The prior knowledge and experience people bring to a dynamic task can influence these task interactions. This study investigated the strategies used, strategy variability, performance, and learning over a 2-3 month time period in a complex, dynamic task environment between two groups of individuals that differed on their prior knowledge of the task domain of football coaching. The two groups displayed distinctly different patterns of strategy use, development, learning, and performance over time. One group focused on improving their domain knowledge base while the other refined their strategy repertoire and showed improved performance over time.
Form features provide a cue to the angular velocity of rotating objects.

As an object rotates, each location on the object moves with an instantaneous linear velocity dependent upon its distance from the center of rotation, while the object as a whole rotates with a fixed angular velocity. Does the perceived rotational speed of an object correspond to its angular velocity, linear velocities, or some combination of the two? We had observers perform relative speed judgments of different sized objects, as changing the size of an object changes the linear velocity of each location on the object’s surface, while maintaining the object’s angular velocity. We found that the larger a given object is, the faster it is perceived to rotate. However, the observed relationships between size and perceived speed cannot be accounted for simply by size-related changes in linear velocity. Further, the degree to which size influences perceived rotational speed depends on the shape of the object. Specifically, perceived rotational speeds of objects with corners or regions of high contour curvature were less affected by size. The results suggest distinct contour features, such as corners or regions of high or discontinuous contour curvature, provide cues to the angular velocity of a rotating object.
Proactive inhibition in rats after prior partial reversal: A critique of the spontaneous recovery hypothesis

Forty-eight rats were taught a simultaneous visual discrimination, S1+ vs S2−. Subsequently, they learned a second discrimination, involving one of the old stimuli and a new one. Half of them now learned S3+ vs S1−. The other half learned S2+ vs S3−. Retention of the second discrimination was tested one day or 32 days after training. The two different partial reversals resulted in proactive inhibition and to the same degree. It is argued that this result is inconsistent with the spontaneous recovery interpretation of proactive inhibition.
Drude Polarizable Force Field for Modeling Divalent Cations in Biological Systems

Accurate potential energy functions are crucial for in-depth investigations of biological systems through molecular dynamics simulations. Classical additive force fields with fixed point charges has been proven to be insufficient for describing phenomenon such as ion binding to macromolecules. It is thus important to incorporate polarization effects in modeling of biological systems. In our previous work, we have developed a protocol for developing models of monovalent ions along with Ca2+, by bridging the gap between experimental measurements of bulk-phase properties and quantum mechanics (QM) calculation of gas phase clusters. With a focus on divalent cations and their interactions with amino acids, we have advanced the methodology of parametrization by utilizing a large number of configurations of model compound clusters from relevant condensed phase simulations. Cations currently being studied include (Fe2+), barium (Ba2+), zinc (Zn2+), and magnesium (Mg2+). Based on the classical Drude oscillator model, we have developed a Fe2+ model in fully solvated aqueous solution and in the protein environment. Despite challenges of describing accurately transitional metals through computational approaches, the developed model exhibits robust performance in predicting a wide range of properties that are critical to understanding the structure and function of cations in biological systems. These range from sophisticated coordination geometries to energetics such as water interaction energies and free energies of cation binding in liquids. The developed parameters will be enable discoveries in the area of metalloproteins and other relevant systems.
Divide and Conquer: A Necessary Approach to Complex Analysis

HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ANALYSIS In our work, and in our personal affairs, we can address inference and decision problems at various levels of detail. As an introductory example, we describe a situation in which we do not decompose a problem at all and consider some of the consequences of failure to do any decomposition. Faced with the task of drawing a conclusion about some matter of interest, we may gather some information that seems relevant and believable, think about it for a while, and eventually draw at least a tentative conclusion. We do this all in our own heads without recording any of the stages and details in our analysis. Furthermore, there is usually no orderly structure to our trains of thought in this analysis. This approach has a name: It is called a holistic approach to emphasize the fact that we deal with some problem in its perceived entirety all at once and without any kind of outside assistance or interference. In simple problems involving our own personal affairs, we may do this very frequently. But there are some natural hazards involved in a completely holistic approach to inference and decision problems. The following is a very simple example of what can happen as a result of an entirely holistic approach. Example 5.1. Suppose, in discussing with your spouse an upcoming political election, you say that you have reached the conclusion that Person X will be the best candidate. Here are just a few of the questions your spouse might raise while listening to your conclusion: Your spouse first says, “Tell me what evidence you used to reach the conclusion that X would be the best candidate?” Suppose you say, “Well, I believe I considered evidence A, B, C, and D, that I thought on balance favored X.” Your spouse listens to your account and has further questions. Your spouse says, “Why did you believe that evidence B was relevant at all? And why did you believe that the source of evidence D deserved to be believed?” You search for answers to these questions and have difficulty deciding what you had previously thought about these matters, if you thought about them at all.
Abstract 672: Differential effects of p53 mutations on cancer invasion and metastasis in a mouse model of colon cancer

Inactivation of the APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) tumor suppressor gene plays an important role in initiating most adenomas and colorectal cancers (CRCs). Somatic mutations in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene and KRAS oncogene are found in roughly 60% and 40% of CRCs, respectively, and contribute to tumor progression. In the vast majority of human CRCs, TP53 missense mutations lead to high levels of mutant p53 protein expression and the loss of the other wild type TP53 allele. To evaluate the role of TP53 missense mutations in CRC progression, we generated a genetically engineered mouse model of colorectal carcinoma, via combined targeting of Apc, Kras, and Trp53 alleles in mouse colon epithelium, focusing on comparing phenotypic effects of the murine equivalent of the human R273H mutation (i.e., murine R270H mutation) or a large deletion mutation of mouse Trp53. Inactivation of one allele Apc and activation of an oncogenic Kras allele in colon epithelium generated serrated and hyperplastic morphologic epithelium and adenomas. The addition of either the R270H missense mutation or the Trp53 null mutation to the Apc and Kras mutations led to markedly shortened survival of the mice, due to the development of multiple colon tumors in each mouse ranging from adenomas to late stage adenocarcinomas. Evidence of invasion into the smooth muscle and serosa area was found in both compound mice with missense or deletion mutations in Trp53, with the Trp53R270H mutant mice displaying an increased prevalence of deeply invasive tumors relative to the mice with deletion of Trp53. Furthermore, we found that the missense mutant Trp53R270H allele in combination with Apc and Kras mutations, but not the null-mutant Trp53 allele, was strongly linked to metastases to lymph nodes and lung. We have developed a useful mouse model of metastatic colon cancer that recapitulates the role of TP53 mutations in cooperating with APC and KRAS mutations in human CRC development and progression. In addition, our findings strongly suggest a powerful role for missense mutant p53 proteins compared to TP53 null mutations in promoting invasion and metastasis in CRC progression. Citation Format: Ying Feng, Naoya Sakamoto, Maranne Green, Megan Greenn, Kathleen R. Cho, Eric R. Fearon. Differential effects of p53 mutations on cancer invasion and metastasis in a mouse model of colon cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 672.
Local cone and rod system function in progressive cone dystrophy.

PURPOSE To compare the patterns of local cone and rod system impairment in patients with progressive cone dystrophy (CD) using psychophysical and electrophysiological techniques. METHODS Local cone system function was assessed by measuring cone system thresholds (visual fields) and cone-mediated multifocal electroretinograms (mfERGs). Rod system function was assessed by measuring rod system thresholds (visual fields) and rod-mediated mfERGs. The results in a group of eight patients with CD were compared with those in an age-similar control group. RESULTS All the patients had abnormal cone system visual field thresholds and cone-mediated mfERGs. Cone system psychophysical thresholds were elevated for targets presented within the central 10 degrees, but were within normal limits for targets at peripheral locations. Cone-mediated mfERG measures of amplitude scale and time scale were abnormal for most of the hexagons tested. Most of the rod-mediated psychophysical thresholds and mfERGs were within normal limits. Rod system losses tended to be patchy and scattered throughout the area tested. CONCLUSIONS There was poor correspondence among local measures of cone and rod system losses in these patients with CD. The results suggest that the spatial pattern of cone system losses in this disease differs from the spatial pattern of rod system losses.
Randomized sham controlled pilot trial of weekly electro-acupuncture for the prevention of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy.

e20738 Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and potentially disabling effect of taxanes. There are no effective preventive therapies. Electro-acupuncture (EA) u...
Delivering Deep Learning to Mobile Devices via Offloading

Deep learning has the potential to make Augmented Reality (AR) devices smarter, but few AR apps use such technology today because it is compute-intensive, and front-end devices cannot deliver sufficient compute power. We propose a distributed framework that ties together front-end devices with more powerful back-end "helpers" that allow deep learning to be executed locally or to be offloaded. This framework should be able to intelligently use current estimates of network conditions and back-end server loads, in conjunction with the application's requirements, to determine an optimal strategy. This work reports our preliminary investigation in implementing such a framework, in which the front-end is assumed to be smartphones. Our specific contributions include: (1) development of an Android application that performs real-time object detection, either locally on the smartphone or remotely on a server; and (2) characterization of the tradeoffs between object detection accuracy, latency, and battery drain, based on the system parameters of video resolution, deep learning model size, and offloading decision.
A Worksite Wellness Intervention: Improving Happiness, Life Satisfaction, and Gratitude in Health Care Workers.

Abstract Objective To assess the effect of a 12-week Stress Management and Resilience Training (SMART) program on happiness, life satisfaction, gratitude, mindfulness, spirituality, and stress in health care workers. Participants and Methods Participants were members of an employee wellness center at an academic health care center. Participants were enrolled as cohorts of 12 to 18 individuals and received the intervention at an employee wellness center from February 19, 2013, to February 27, 2017. The study was designed as a prospective, nonrandomized, single-arm clinical trial that included a 3-month in-person SMART program (defined as the intervention), with an additional 3-month postintervention follow-up period (6 months total). Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T0), end of intervention (T3), and after the postintervention follow-up period (T6) and included Subjective Happiness Survey, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Gratitude Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Spiritual Well-Being, and Perceived Stress Scale. Results Of the 110 participants who enrolled and provided consent, 98 participants (89%) completed the T0 and T3 assessments and 85 participants (77%) completed the T0, T3, and T6 assessments. On comparing the T0 and T6 responses, we observed statistically significant improvements (P Conclusion In health care workers, training in the SMART program was associated with statistically significant improvements in happiness, satisfaction with life, gratitude, mindfulness, spirituality, and stress (P
The Teacher and the Classroom.

In Becoming a Nation of Readers (BNR) (1985), Richard C. Anderson, Elfrieda H. Hiebert, Judith A. Scott, and Ian A. G. Wilkinson argued that the quality of teaching is a powerful influence on child...
Large moments in bcc FexCoyMnz ternary alloy thin films

The elemental magnetic moments and the average atomic moment of 10–20 nm thick single crystal bcc (bct) FexCoyMnz films deposited on MgO(001) have been determined as a function of a broad range of compositions. Thin film epitaxy stabilized the bcc structure for 80% of the available ternary compositional space compared to only a 23% stability region for the bulk. The films that display ferromagnetism represent 60% of the available compositional possibilities compared to 25% for the bulk. A maximum average atomic moment of 3.25 ± 0.3 μB/atom was observed for a bcc Fe9Co62Mn29 film (well above the limit of the Slater-Pauling binary alloy curve of 2.45 μB/atom). The FexCoyMnz ternary alloys that exhibit high moments can only be synthesized as ultrathin films since the bcc structure is not stable in the bulk for those compositions.
Critical care nursing. Expanding roles and responsibilities within the community.

A major change in the health care system today is the redirection of the focus of care on the community. Complex nursing therapies are provided to medically fragile individuals in their homes and schools by nurses facing the challenges of independence required of community-based practice and the difficult task of addressing the related ethical issues and dilemmas that occur. To be effective, nurses must be aware of the authority and autonomy inherent in their professional role.
The Heart and Hurt of Beauty

We have parted company with the citadel of our bodies By casting melanin out of our skin...
Re-refinement of Plasmodium falciparum orotidine 5'-monophosphate decarboxylase provides a clearer picture of an important malarial drug target.

The development of antimalarial drugs remains a public health priority, and the orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase from Plasmodium falciparum (PfOMPDC) has great potential as a drug target. The crystallization of PfOMPDC with substrate bound represents an important advance for structure-based drug-design efforts [Tokuoka et al. (2008), J. Biochem. 143, 69–78]. The complex of the enzyme bound to the substrate OMP (PDB entry 2za1) would be of particular utility in this regard. However, re-refinement of this structure of the Michaelis complex shows that the bound ligand is the product rather than the substrate. Here, the re-refinement of a set of three structures, the apo enzyme and two versions of the product-bound form (PDB entries 2za1, 2za2 and 2za3), is reported. The improved geometry and fit of these structures to the observed electron density will enhance their utility in antimalarial drug design.
Implementation of a second victim program in the neonatal intensive care unit: An interim analysis of employee satisfaction:

BackgroundWhile research has established the negative impact of medical errors or adverse events on healthcare providers, few organizations have evaluated support programs for second victims. Thus,...
Central Nervous System Blastomycosis With Multiple Brain Abscesses Presenting as Right Upper Extremity Weakness

Blastomycosis is a mycotic infection that typically affects the lung, but that can have dermatologic, orthopedic, genitourinary, and central nervous system manifestations. Blastomyces dermatitidis ...
Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Homing: Mechanisms and Strategies for Improvement

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been widely investigated for their therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine, owing to their ability to home damaged tissue and serve as a reservoir of growth factors and regenerative molecules. As such, clinical applications of MSCs are reliant on these cells successfully migrating to the desired tissue following their administration. Unfortunately, MSC homing is inefficient, with only a small percentage of cells reaching the target tissue following systemic administration. This attrition represents a major bottleneck in realizing the full therapeutic potential of MSC-based therapies. Accordingly, a variety of strategies have been employed in the hope of improving this process. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms underlying MSC homing, based on a multistep model involving (1) initial tethering by selectins, (2) activation by cytokines, (3) arrest by integrins, (4) diapedesis or transmigration using matrix remodelers, and (5) extravascular migration toward chemokine gradients. We then review the various strategies that have been investigated for improving MSC homing, including genetic modification, cell surface engineering, in vitro priming of MSCs, and in particular, ultrasound techniques, which have recently gained significant interest. Contextualizing these strategies within the multistep homing model emphasizes that our ability to optimize this process hinges on our understanding of its molecular mechanisms. Moving forward, it is only with a combined effort of basic biology and translational work that the potential of MSC-based therapies can be realized.