cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bee communities and pollination services in adjacent crop fields following flower removal in an invasive forest shrub

The habitat boundaries between crops and seminatural areas influence bee movements and pollination services to crops. Edges also provide favorable conditions for invasive plants, which may usurp pollinators and reduce visitation to native or crop plants. Alternatively, floral displays of alien plants may facilitate, or increase, the pollination success of adjacent plants by attracting more pollinators to the area. Therefore, pollination services of bees from seminatural habitats to crop areas should vary with the presence of invasive floral resources and distance from habitat edges. To test the hypothesis that floral resources of invasive forest shrubs affect the bee community and pollination services in adjacent crop fields, we conducted a 2-yr field experiment along forest-crop edges at five isolated forest remnants. We removed flower buds from a dominant invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii (Amur honeysuckle), along forest-crop edges and paired removals with controls of intact flowers. The bee community, their pollination services, and flower visitation rates were quantified along a 200-m gradient into an adjacent crop field using pan traps and sentinel cucumber plants. Impacts to the bee community were dependent of bee functional traits. Larger bees visited fewer sentinel cucumber flowers in flower removal plots, which corresponded with decreased cucumber pollination compared to plots with honeysuckle flowers at distances >100 m from forest edges. Small-bodied and weaker flying bees visited sentinel plants more frequently closer to the forest edge and increased pollination services to cucumber at distances <100 m from L. maackii shrubs in flower removal plots. After 2 yr, bee abundance and species richness increased within flower removal plots across all distances. High functional diversity of the bee community increased pollination services to sentinel plants and increased cucumber production within 200 m from forest remnants. Our findings suggest that dense floral resources of invasive shrubs suppressed forest-edge bee communities and their pollination services, but also attracted large-bodied generalist bees, which were effective pollinators. This study helps explain how life histories and functional attributes of bees can predict either facilitation or suppression of pollination services to crop or native plants in response to invasive floral resources.
Increasing Access to Care: Telehealth During COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency has amplified both the potential value and the challenges with healthcare providers deploying telehealth solutions. As people across the country find ways to stay at home, telehealth preserves an opportunity to obtain necessary healthcare services. Further, telehealth can help individuals avoid COVID-19 infection, free up hospital beds and other resources for those patients most in need, and prevent infected individuals from spreading that infection. Federal and state regulators have recognized this potential of telehealth and have quickly changed a variety of laws and regulations to enable healthcare providers to deploy solutions quickly. These changes can provide lasting benefits for the use of telehealth well after the current crisis. However, to best realize telehealth's benefits, further legal and regulatory actions are necessary. Specifically, lawmakers and regulators should focus on six areas: reimbursement, privacy/cybersecurity, liability, licensure, technology access, and artificial intelligence.
Reflections on the First Bi-annual Endicott College Expressive Therapies Symposium: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Arts, and Culture

Creative Arts Educ Ther (2020) 6(1):97–107 DOI: 10.15212/CAET/2020/6/18 Reflections on the First Bi-annual Endicott College Expressive Therapies Symposium: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Arts, and Culture 关于第一届两年一度的恩迪科特大学表达疗法研讨会的思考：中医，艺术与文化 Krystal Demaine Endicott College, USA Abstract This article shares a reflection of the first bi-annual Endicott College Expressive Therapies Symposium: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Arts, and Culture. The purpose of the symposium was to maintain a collaborative and cross-cultural dialog between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners and Western creative arts therapists. Keywords: Expressive Therapies Symposium, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Culture, Arts, Guqin, Daoism 摘要 本文分享了第一届两年一度的Endicott大学表达疗法专题讨论会：传统中医药，艺术与文化。 研讨会目的是持续传统中医（TCM）从业者与西方创造艺术治疗师之间的协作及跨文化对话。 关键词： 表达疗法研讨会，中医，中国文化，艺术，古琴，道
Economic Hardship and Depression Among Women in Latino Farmworker Families

Farmworker family members risk poor mental health due to stressors including poverty, relocation, and documentation status. This paper explores the relationship between farm-work related stressors and depressive symptoms in women of Latino farmworker families. 248 mothers of young children completed fixed-response interviews in Spanish. Measures included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, Migrant Farmworker Stress Inventory, and USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. Bivariate analyses indicated greater depressive symptoms with more economic hardship, more farm work-related stressors, greater age, and being unmarried. In multivariable logistic regression, economic hardship remained the only factor associated with depressive symptoms. Greater economic hardship, but not general farm work-related stress, is a main factor associated with depression in women of Latino farmworker families. Maternal depression can have consequences for both mothers and families. Mental health services for women in farmworker families should be targeted to those with the greatest economic challenges.
Satellite analysis of the environmental impacts of armed-conflict in Rakhine, Myanmar

Abstract The impacts of armed conflict on the environment are extremely complex and difficult to investigate, given the impossibility of accessing the affected area and reliable data limitation. Very-high-resolution satellite imageries and highly reliable machine learning algorithms become very useful in studying direct and indirect impacts of war on the ecosystem, in addition to connected effects on human lives. The Rohingya conflict is described as one of the worst humanitarian crises and human-made disasters of the 21st Century. Quantification of damage due to the conflict and the suitability of human resettlement has been lacking despite the ongoing agreements to repatriate refugees and the importance of ecosystem services for the communities' survival. In this work, the investigation of environmental conditions pre-, during, and post-conflict in the conflict zone was carried out using satellite data. The Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud-based computing platform with a widely applied algorithm, the Random Forest (RF) classifier was implemented and experienced. Striking near-complete demolition of inhabited regions, dramatic and highly significant increase in burning areas, and substantial deforestation were found. The study discusses the reasons behind such findings from the Rakhine case and debates some general conservation lessons applicable to other countries undergoing post-conflict transitions.
Biocompatibility and Antimicrobial Activity of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Topical Applications Are Affected by Type of Oils Used in Their Composition.

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have gained significant attention as tools for the dermal delivery of therapeutics due to their stability, biocompatibility, and ability to improve drug bioavailability. The use of natural plant oils (NPO) in NLC formulations has numerous benefits for the skin due to their therapeutic potential. This work shows the effect of NLC composition on bioavailability in epidermal cells and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Sixteen systems containing fixed (sunflower, olive, corn, peanut, coconut, castor, and sweet almond) and essential (eucalyptus) oils, with different solid lipid (SL): liquid lipid (LL) ratios, were engineered. The structural properties, bioavailability, and antimicrobial action of the particles was studied. The choice of NPO influenced the physicochemical stability by changing the diameter of NLC formulations (between 160 nm and 185 nm) and Z-potential (between −46 mV and −61 mV). All of the systems were characterized by concentration-dependent cytocompatibility with human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFn). The SL:LL ratio in some NLC systems impacted cell cytotoxicity differently. Antimicrobial properties were observed in all 16 systems; however, the type of oil and SL:LL ratio affected the activity of the formulations. Two NLC-NPO systems were found to be non-cytotoxic to human cells lines at concentrations that completely inhibited bacterial growth. These results present a strong argument that the use of natural oils in NLC formulations presents a promising tool for the treatment of skin infections.
INFECTIONS AFTER GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY

Infections observed after gynecologic surgical procedures are polymicrobial and require parenteral broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy until the patient has been afebrile 24 to 72 hours. Therapy should be tailored to the specific infection and patient response thereto. When the infections are complicated by abscess or infected hematoma, combination therapy appears to be effective in a shorter period of time, and surgical drainage is infrequently necessary other than drainage of those in the supravaginal, extraperitoneal space. Administration of antibiotics immediately before surgery to women at high risk for postoperative infection has essentially eliminated pelvic infections. These infections range from cuff cellulitis through pelvic abscess and include pelvic thrombophlebitis. Pelvic infections and those in an abdominal, perineal, or vaginal incision can occur during the immediate postoperative period or after discharge from the hospital. As many as 50 per cent of these infections may occur after the patient is discharged from the hospital. Without question, the most appropriate means of objectively identifying infection rates, appropriate and inappropriate use of antimicrobials, and trends in morbidity is with an infection control program, usually consisting of an epidemiologist or specially trained nurses. Their contribution to appropriate patient care is significant. Information uncovered may put some clinicians on the defensive. This need not happen if gynecologic surgeons participate in and define criteria to be used for various infection diagnoses and similar situations. These diagnoses must be based on physical examination evidence, not "presumptive evidence." Antimicrobial administration and selection has an emotional component; objective evaluation avoids this bias. Optimal and efficient patient care is the goal and these programs should be established with that as their only goal. Several synergistic polymicrobial infections involve skin, subcutaneous tissue, and perhaps fascia; these are infrequently observed but require prompt recognition and antimicrobial therapy as well as wide surgical excision to healthy tissue to effect a cure. Clinical presentation extends to both ends of the spectrum with respect to degree of illness. These infections also occur spontaneously in gynecologic sites, and do so only in patients at high risk, such as those with diabetes, delibitating disease, advanced age, or evidence of arteriosclerotic disease. Another infection that was diagnosed and managed only surgically (that is, septic pelvic thrombophlebitis) can now be accurately diagnosed without surgery and can be adequately treated medically.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Characterization of the novel H82R mutation in CGI-58 that causes Neutral Lipid Storage Disorder in humans (LB153)

Comparative gene identification-58 (CGI-58) interacts with and co-activates adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). The H82R mutation in human CGI-58 causes a neutral lipid storage disorder (NLSD) characterized by ichthyosis and excessive triglyceride storage in many types of cells. We studied the comparable H84R mutation in mouse CGI-58, and H84A mutated CGI-58, to ask how CGI-58 function is impaired. The ectopic expression of wild-type (WT) CGI-58 in human NLSD fibroblasts reduced excessive triglyceride storage to normal levels, whereas H84R CGI-58 was significantly less effective. Additionally, neither H84R nor H84A CGI-58 co-activated ATGL in an in vitro triglyceride hydrolase assay. A co-immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that H84R and H84A CGI-58 bound ATGL as well as WT CGI-58. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that H84R and H84A CGI-58 localized to ectopic perilipin 1A on lipid droplets of cultured NIH3T3CARΔ fibroblasts as well as WT CGI-58. Moreover, the addition of forskolin and isobutylme...
Making Nanoscale Materials with Supercritical Fluids

Nature uses templates to grow bone and other biominerals. As Johnston and Shah describe in their Perspective, this concept has been applied by Pai et al. to create silicate films with highly ordered pores and low dielectric constants. In this work, reported in the same issue, block copolymer micelles were used as the template. Supercritical carbon dioxide was used as the solvent to swell the polymer enough to allow the reactants to enter. Not only are the silicate films created in this way of interest in microelectronics, but the synthesis rate was fast enough to be useful in a fabrication facility.
Electrical Transfer Function and Poling Mechanisms for Nonlinear Optical Polymer Modulators

Electro-Optic Polymers hold great promise in increased electro-optic coefficients as compared to their inorganic corollaries. Many researchers have focused on quantum chemistry to describe how the dipoles respond to temperature and electric fields. Much work has also been done for single layer films to confirm these results. For optical applications, waveguide structures are utilized to guide the optical waves in 3 layer stacks. Electrode poling is the only practical poling method for these structures. This research takes an electrical engineering approach to develop poling models and electrical and optical transfer functions of the waveguide structure. The key aspect of the poling model is the large boundary charge density deposited during the poling process. The boundary charge density also has a large effect on the electrical transfer function which is used to explain the transient response of the system. These models are experimentally verified. Exploratory experiment design is used to study poling parameters including time, temperature, and voltage. These studies verify the poling conditions for CLDX/APC and CLDZ/APEC guest host electro optic polymer films in waveguide stacks predicted by the theoretical developments.
Enhancing Local Government Capacity through University-Community Partnerships

The recent economic crisis has put tremendous pressure on the governance capacity of local governments. Reduced funding from federal and state governments as well as increased citizen demands have put additional strain on public agencies, many which were already stretched thin prior the latest recession. This paper presents the findings from a nationally-representative survey of city and county managers designed to gauge the distinct service, research, and capacity-building needs of local governments. We argue that growing trend of community-based or service learning in higher education can help local governments respond to this new governing context. While service learning has applicability across the curriculum, partnerships with public sector agencies should be of particular interest to political science, public policy and public administration given the opportunities they provide for applying theoretical knowledge about government, skill-building and early career exposure for students in public affairs, and the goal of citizenship education more widely emphasized by service learning advocates. Collaboration with higher education can be a cost-effective way for local governments to strengthen public problem solving and expand service delivery. By identifying gaps in university-government partnerships, public affairs programs can better align service and community-based learning opportunities with the needs of local governments.
Los gauchos judíos, de Alberto Gerchunoff: el gaucho como herencia simbólica nacionalizadora en la Argentina del Centenario

A partir del analisis de varios de los relatos de Los gauchos judios (1910), de Alberto Gerchunoff, trato de dilucidar la operacion simbolica de extension y desplazamiento que realiza en el imaginario gauchesco, como emblema de la nacionalidad. La tesis basica es que pretende incorporar a los colonos judios en las ficciones de arcadias pampeanas premodernas, redefiniendo desde ahi la oposicion basica entre nacionales y extranos, tal como empieza a articularse en torno al Centenario. Para esto, erige una instancia narradora sincretica, hispanocriolla y judia que demuestra el exito de este proceso, y encuentra en ello su propia legitimidad.
Reasoning in Systems of Equations and Inequations

Reasoning in purely equational systems has been studied quite extensively in recent years. Equational reasoning has been applied to several interesting problems, such as, development of equational programming languages, automating induction proofs, and theorem proving. However, reasoning in the presence of explicit inequations is still not as well understood. The expressive power of equational languages will be greatly enhanced if one is allowed to state inequations of terms explicitly. In this paper, we study reasoning in systems which consist of equations as well as inequations, emphasizing the development of forward, i.e., non-refutational, techniques for deducing valid inequations, similar to those for equational inference. Such techniques can be used as a basis for developing execution strategies for equational and declarative languages. We develop an inference system and show that it is complete for deducing all valid inequations. The inference system is used to develop a goal-directed semi-decision procedure which uses a narrowing technique for proving inequations. This semi-decision procedure can be converted into a decision procedure when certain additional conditions are satisfied.
Near-field scanning acoustic microscope

A traditional scanning acoustic microscope (SAM) has been modified to operate in the near-field mode. A pinhole in a thin shim of brass defines the resolution of the instrument, which can be as small as 0.1 lambda . In an edge scan experiment, a 125- mu m-thick brass shim with a pinhole size of 125 mu m, a SAM operating at 3 MHz, and a transducer with an F-number of 0.7 are used. The improvement in resolution corresponds to using a transducer with an F-number of 0.2. The results of measurements of the line response of the system, using steel pinholes of several thicknesses and diameters at different linewidths and operating frequencies and showing the details of the design of the instrument, are presented. >
Variation in the number of capitate glandular trichomes in wild and cultivated sunflower germplasm and its potential for use in host plant resistance

The capitate glandular trichomes of wild sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) are considered to be effective defence components that act against some herbivorous insects, but cultivated sunflowers are reportedly deficient in glandular trichomes. To investigate whether glandular trichomes have a role in the protection of cultivated sunflowers against insects, in the present study, Helianthus annuus L. accessions were grown to quantify glandular trichome density in wild and cultivated germplasm types and assess potential anti-insect effects of terpenoids in the glandular trichomes of cultivated sunflowers. Evaluation revealed that capitate glandular trichomes are often abundant in cultivated sunflowers; relative to wild H. annuus, inbred maintainer (HA) lines have similar numbers of glandular trichomes per floret, while commercial hybrids have only ≈ 20% fewer trichomes when compared with wild sunflowers. In the laboratory assay, it was found that glandular trichome extracts increased the mortality rates of sunflower moth, Homoeosoma electellum (Hulst), larvae exposed from the neonatal stage to 9 d. In the surviving larvae, the extracts significantly reduced larval mass and head capsule width. Though there are limitations to the value of glandular trichomes for host plant resistance, the feeding deterrent or toxic effects of sesquiterpene lactones and diterpenes in sunflower glandular trichomes are not limited to sunflower moth larvae, suggesting a potential for resistance to other sunflower insect pests. Additional research is required to understand the inheritance and value of glandular trichomes in commercial sunflower germplasm and how the composition of terpenoids in the glandular trichomes of wild H. annuus may differ from that in cultivated material.
Sources and chemistry of NOx in the upper troposphere over the United States

The origin of NOx in the upper troposphere over the central United States is examined using aircraft observations obtained during the SUCCESS campaign in April–May of 1996. Correlations between NOy (sum of NOx and its oxidation products) and CO at 8–12 km altitude indicate that NOx originates primarily from convective transport of polluted boundary layer air. Lightning and aircraft emissions appear to be only minor sources of NOx. Chemical steady state model calculations constrained by local observations of NO underestimate the measured NOx/NOy concentration ratio at 8–12 km altitude by a factor of two on average. The magnitude of the underestimate is correlated with concentrations of condensation nuclei, which we take as a proxy for the age of air in the upper troposphere. We conclude that the NOx/NOy ratio is maintained above chemical steady state by frequent convective injections of fresh NOx from the polluted boundary layer and by the long lifetime of NOx in the upper troposphere (5–10 days). In contrast to previous studies, we find no evidence for fast heterogeneous recycling from HNO3 to NOx in the upper troposphere.
Intratracheal aerosolized etidocaine to attenuate cardiovascular and cough responses to laryngoscopy and intubation

Forty-five ASA I or II patients scheduled for elective surgery were randomized into one of three groups. Patients in Group 1 (n = 15) received no intratracheal aerosol at laryngoscopy. Patients in Group 2 (n = 15) and Group 3 (n = 15) received 50 mg and 75 mg, respectively, of intratracheal aerosolized etidocaine at laryngoscopy. Cardiovascular and respiratory responses were observed at laryngoscopy and intubation and for the first ten minutes following laryngoscopy and intubation (with anesthesia provided by IV thiopental and nitrous oxide [70%] in oxygen). The magnitude and duration of blood pressure and heart rate increases caused by laryngoscopy and intubation were significantly less in the etidocaine-treated patients than in the controls ( P P
A re-examination of the relationship between thermal conductance and body weight in mammals

1. 1. The following equation based on 230 conductance values for 192 species of mammals of body weights ranging from 3.5 to 150,000 g describes the relationship of conductance below thermal neutrality to body weight in mammals: C = 0.760 W−0.426, where C has units of mlO2/g·h·°C and W is body weight in g. 2. 2. Bats, order Chiroptera, have conductance values higher than predicted from body weight; conductance is predicted by the equation : C = 1.54 W−0.54. 3. 3. Heteromyid and cricetid rodents have conductance values below predicted and the following equations predict conductance in these two families. C = 0.62 W−0.44 and C = 1.03 W−0.54, respectively.
Gestational 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin exposure effects on sensory cortex function.

Abstract Gestational exposure to environmental contaminants such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) poses a significant threat to normal growth and differentiation of the developing brain. To characterize the impact of gestational TCDD exposure on subsequent cortical function, pregnant Long Evans rats were exposed to a single acute dose (100 or 700 ng/kg b.w. via gavage) on gestational day 15. This dosing regimen had no significant effect on birth index. After the TCDD-exposed animals were born and reached maturity, neural activity was recorded under urethane anesthesia from neurons in primary somatic sensory cortex. Spontaneous activity was reduced by ∼50% in barrel cortex compared to corn oil vehicle controls. The magnitude of neuronal response to sensory (whisker) stimuli also was significantly reduced, and responses did not achieve control levels at any stimulus intensity. The greatest deficit was in the short latency component of the cortical responses. These decrements in cortical responsiveness were present in young F1 generation TCDD-exposed animals and persisted for up to 180 days. Because glutamate receptors are crucial to the evoked responses and show developmental regulation, selected iontotropic glutamate receptor subunits (NMDA NR2A + NR2B and GluR1) were profiled for RNA levels in the cortex of F1 generation rats. The expression of NR2B (NMDA receptor) and GluR1 (AMPA receptor) subunits was significantly reduced in the TCDD-exposed F1 generation animals compared to vehicle controls. The results indicate that gestational TCDD exposure results in cortical deficits that are paralled by diminished expression of certain NMDA and AMPA receptor subunits at a time when synapses are being formed for the first time in cortex.
Matching with interviews

Abstract This paper explores how interviews affect the matching process when worker productivity is private information. Wages are determined by a single round of strategic bargaining after the worker is interviewed. The implications of this hiring process for the efficiency of matching and the incidence and severity of statistical discrimination are considered. The better are firms at identifying productive workers the worse the average quality of the unemployment pool so interviewing tends to slow down matching for every one. Multiple Pareto rankable equilibria are possible such that any social group in a “bad” equilibrium faces stricter hiring standards, longer spells of unemployment and lower welfare.
Information servers: a scaleable communication paradigm for wide area networks and the information superhighway

The predominant use of point-to-point communication protocols on the global Internet, combined with the communication patterns imposed by the World Wide Web, make inefficient use of the Internet's increasingly scarce network bandwidth. While more network fiber helps to belay the impact of these inefficiencies, ultimately more intelligent coordination of data distribution and the use of more efficient distribution protocols will be necessary to support the user population of the Information Superhighway. To this end, we propose the notion of Information Servers. Using the publish-subscribe paradigm, Information Servers distribute information in such way to minimize network traffic.
Minimally invasive approach for coronary artery bypass surgery

Forty-two patients, 33 male and 9 female, aged 35.7 to 81.6 years old (mean 62.7), were operated on for left main and/or triple vessel coronary artery disease by using minimally invasive cardiac surgical techniques. A myocardial infarction had occurred in 26 patients (61.9%). The left ventricular ejection fraction ranged from 17 to 83% (52+/-22). The surgeries were performed through left parasternal minithoracotomy (8 to 12 cm in length) under femoro-femoral or aorto-atrial cardiopulmonary bypass. The myocardium was protected by blood cardioplegic solution with the aorta crossclamped. Under direct vision, average 3.8 distal anastomoses were performed in each patient, with the saphenous vein grafts and the left internal thoracic arterial graft. The aortic crossclamp time was 62 to 137 min (80+/-15). The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass was 88 to 168 min (115+/-24). The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. Follow-up (1.0 to 5.6 months, mean 2.9) was complete in all patients and there were no late deaths or angina. Coronary angiography of ten patients showed patent grafts. Our experience demonstrates that minimally invasive cardiac surgery during cardioplegic arrest is technically feasible and can be performed in coronary artery disease safely and effectively for complete revascularization.
Modeling ethanol decomposition on transition metals: a combined application of scaling and Brønsted-Evans-Polanyi relations.

Applying density functional theory (DFT) calculations to the rational design of catalysts for complex reaction networks has been an ongoing challenge, primarily because of the high computational cost of these calculations. Certain correlations can be used to reduce the number and complexity of DFT calculations necessary to describe trends in activity and selectivity across metal and alloy surfaces, thus extending the reach of DFT to more complex systems. In this work, the well-known family of Bronsted-Evans-Polanyi (BEP) correlations, connecting minima with maxima in the potential energy surface of elementary steps, in tandem with a scaling relation, connecting binding energies of complex adsorbates with those of simpler ones (e.g., C, O), is used to develop a potential-energy surface for ethanol decomposition on 10 transition metal surfaces. Using a simple kinetic model, the selectivity and activity on a subset of these surfaces are calculated. Experiments on supported catalysts verify that this simple model is reasonably accurate in describing reactivity trends across metals, suggesting that the combination of BEP and scaling relations may substantially reduce the cost of DFT calculations required for identifying reactivity descriptors of more complex reactions.
The structure of lead silicate glasses determined by vibrational spectroscopy

The polarized Raman spectra and infrared powder absorption spectra for PbO ·xSiO2 glasses, with 0.5⩽x⩽2, were measured and interpreted in terms of the structure of the glasses. Comparison of the spectra of the glasses with the spectra of numerous stable and metastable crystalline phases was also made. It was found that the glasses are composed of a number of silicate species. In glasses for whichx is less than 1, the presence of ionic oxygen (oxygen not bonded to silicon) is confidently inferred from the spectra. A new way of deconvoluting the spectra is also reported.
F-isocrystals and homotopy types

Abstract We study a positive characteristic analogue of the nonabelian Hodge structure constructed by Katzarkov, Pantev, and Toen on the homotopy type of a complex algebraic variety. Given a proper smooth scheme X over a perfect field of characteristic p and a Tannakian category C of isocrystals on X , we construct an object X C in a suitable homotopy category of simplicial presheaves whose category of local systems is equivalent to C in a manner compatible with cohomology. We then study F -isocrystal structure on these simplicial presheaves. As applications of the theory, we prove a p -adic analogue of a result of Hain on relative Malcev completions, a generalization to the level of homotopy types of a theorem of Katz relating p -adic etale local systems and F -isocrystals, as well as a p -adic version of the formality theorem in homotopy theory. We have also included a new proof based on reduction modulo p of the formality theorem for complex algebraic varieties.
Progestin-mediated changes in progesterone receptor forms in the normal human endometrium.

Monoclonal antibodies to the human progesterone receptor (PR) were used to detect changes in PR form during the menstrual cycle. In proliferative phase samples, two PR proteins with mol wt (Mr) of 116,000 and 81,000 were detected on protein blots probed with anti-PR monoclonal antibodies. The 116,000 Mr protein was comprised of triplet isoforms, while the 81,000 Mr protein was a singlet. By contrast, protein blot analysis of secretory phase samples revealed a doublet isoform at 116,000 Mr and an 81,000 Mr singlet. Organ culture of human endometrium was used to mimic these changes in PR form in vitro. Although the triplet to doublet conversion was not realized in organ culture, time- and dose-related changes in PR form were achieved which were similar to the in vivo state. Furthermore, these changes preceded the progestin-mediated induction of the enzyme estradiol dehydrogenase in parallel cultures, demonstrating that this is a useful system in which to study the relationship between receptor modulation an...
Central tetrahydrobiopterin concentration in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is a naturally occurring cofactor essential for critical metabolic pathways. Studies suggest that BH4 supplementation may ameliorate autism symptoms; the biological mechanism for such an effect is unknown. To help understand the relation between central BH4 concentration and systemic metabolism and to develop a biomarker of central BH4 concentration, the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid BH4 concentration and serum amino acids was studied. BH4 concentration was found to be distributed in two groups, a lower and higher BH4 concentration group. Two serum amino acids, citrulline and methionine, differentiated these groups, and the ratio of serum citrulline-to-methionine was found to correlate with the cerebrospinal fluid BH4 concentration (r = -0.67, p < 0.05). Both citrulline and methionine are substrates in inflammation and oxidative stress pathways - two pathways that utilize BH4 and are abnormally activated in autism. These data suggests that central BH4 concentration may be related to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress pathways.
Development of megapixel dual-band QWIP focal plane array

Mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) 1024x1024 pixel InGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs based quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal planes and a 320x256 pixel dualband pixel co-registered simultaneous QWIP focal plane array have been demonstrated as pathfinders. In this paper, we discuss the development of 1024x1024 MWIR/LWIR dualband pixel co-registered simultaneous QWIP focal plane array.
A rapid fluorometric DNA assay for the measurement of cell density and proliferation in vitro

Many research efforts require the accurate determination of cell density in vitro. However, physical cell counting is inaccurate, time-intensive and requires removal of the cells from their growth environment, thereby introducing a host of potential artifacts. The current studies document a very simple method of determining cell density in microtiter wells via DNA-enhanced fluorescence. Fixed cells are stained with the A-T intercalating DNA stains DAPI or Hoechst 33342 and then fluorescence is quantified in a plate fluorometer. Fluorescence is shown to be linearly related to cell density as determined by two physical counting methods. The validity of the method is established in determining serum-stimulated growth of smooth muscle cells and in mitogen-induced growth of endothelial cells. The fixed cells can be stored for prolonged periods, thus allowing time-course proliferation assays without interassay variations. The fixed cells are also suitable for determinations of antigens of interest by ELISA. This method is potentially valuable in many in vitro systems where the quantification of cell density and proliferation is necessary.
Risk assessment and the use of information on underlying biologic mechanisms : A perspective

Recent years have seen the rapid expansion of scientific understanding of the underlying biologic bases of toxic reactions to chemicals. Use of this information in health risk assessment is expanding, but it has yet to reach its full potential. This article considers what has successfully been done, what approaches are now being developed, and what impediments and difficulties have been encountered in attempts to bring case-specific, mechanistic toxicological information to bear on risk estimation. In hazard identification, mechanistic information can help explain the bearing of various empirical experimental results for inferring human hazard, can increase the sensitivity of detection, and can be considered in attempts to replace 2-year animal bioassays with hazard identification methods that rest on identifying key biological properties underlying carcinogenicity rather than relying only on the experimental observation of tumors. In carcinogen potency estimation, mechanistic information can potentially extend relevant observation to lower dose levels, provide the basis for choosing among empirically based dose-response models, lead to potency estimates through relationships with quantitative measures of short-term test outcomes, and can be considered as a basis for providing direct observation of the biological parameters in biologically based dose-response modeling.
Regional differences in the effects of glucocorticoids on maturation of the fetal skeleton of the rat

The effects of glucocorticoids on fetal growth and development in the rat were investigated. Pregnant rats were injected subcutaneously on gestational days 12 and 13 with betamethasone (0.18 or 0.42 mg), with dexamethasone (0.12 or 0.24 mg), or with physiological saline. Fetuses at day 21 of gestation were weighed, cleared, and stained for calcification with Alizarin Red S. Fetal weight was significantly reduced at both dose levels of each steroid; a greater reduction occurred with the higher dose. Retardation of growth and of calcification of bones in the axial skeleton occurred at both doses; there was greater retardation with the high dose. In the appendicular skeleton there was enhanced calcification of some bones with the low dose, and a retardation of calcification with the high dose of each steroid. The present findings show that different regions of the fetal skeleton may respond discordantly to the effect of glucocorticoids depending on the dose.
Pitfalls in Fine needle aspiration cytology of extraadrenal paraganglioma: A report of 2 cases

Background Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is commonly used as an initial diagnostic tool in the evaluation of mass lesions. However, extraadrenal paragangliomas (EAPs) are not commonly seen on FNA and, when encountered, can pose a diagnostic challenge since they have a wide variety of morphologic patterns. Cases Two intraabdominal EAPs were misdiagnosed as an anaplastic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with giant cell features and papillary adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The sources of the pitfalls were inaccurate radiologic localization, misinterpretation of vascular-rich tissue fragments as papillary structures, presence of acinarmicroglandular structures, marked cellular pleomorphism (including multinucleation), prominent nucleoli and some cells with "squamoid" cytoplasm. Conclusion The cytologic features of EAP, although suggestive, are not specific. A high index of suspicion and knowledge of clinical information, exact anatomic location and cytologic morphology combined with appropriate ancillary studies are the key to an accurate diagnosis.
Genetical feedback repression. I. Single locus models.

Abstract The process of genetical feedback-repression analogous to the Jacob-Monod system has been simulated by digital computer modelling, allowing inclusion of stochastic variation of the components. In the absence of stochastic variability, the model shows a damped oscillation over a wide range of specifications. Inclusion of stochastic variation results in the model maintaining oscillations which, if summed over several independent genetical feedback-repression loops, results in a regular oscillation.
Fractal analysis of steady-state-flicker visual evoked potentials: feasibility.

Electrophysiological models of visual evoked potential recording have assumed that response variability is caused predominantly by random noise added to a true steady signal. Since neuronal geometry has a fractal structure, neural activity may demonstrate deterministic nonlinear dynamics, i.e., chaos. We recorded several-minute time-series traces of the visual evoked potential magnitude in response to full-field flicker from three glaucoma patients and one normal subject. When plotted in phase space, the steady-state response derived from a lock-in amplifier shows an apparent so-called strange attractor (extended nonrepeating loops) rather than the pattern expected from a signal-plus-noise model (a fuzzy dot). The fractal dimension of this attractor may be a more sensitive indicator of early optic-nerve damage than are visual evoked potential latency or amplitude measures.
Theory and method for calculating resonance Raman scattering from resonance polarizability derivatives

We present a method to calculate both normal Raman-scattering (NRS) and resonance Raman-scattering (RRS) spectra from the geometrical derivatives of the frequency-dependent polarizability. In the RRS case, the polarizability derivatives are calculated from resonance polarizabilities by including a finite lifetime of the electronic excited states using time-dependent density-functional theory. The method is a short-time approximation to the Kramers, Heisenberg, and Dirac formalism. It is similar to the simple excited-state gradient approximation method if only one electronic excited state is important, however, it is not restricted to only one electronic excited state. Since the method can be applied to both NRS and RRS, it can be used to obtain complete Raman excitation profiles. To test the method we present the results for the S2 state of uracil and the S4,S3, and S2 states of pyrene. As expected, the results are almost identical to the results obtained from the excited-state gradient approximation method. Comparing with the experimental results, we find in general quite good agreement which enables an assignment of the experimental bands to bands in the calculated spectrum. For uracil the inclusion of explicit waters in the calculations was found to be necessary to match the solution spectra. The calculated resonance enhancements are on the order of 104–106, which is in agreement with experimental findings. For pyrene the method is also able to distinguish between the three different electronic states for which experimental data are available. The neglect of anharmonicity and solvent effects in the calculations leads to some discrepancy between theory and experiment.
A refined semilocal convergence analysis of an algorithm for solving the Ricatti equation

The semilocal convergence of a numerical algorithm for solving the algebraic Ricatti equation with multiparameter singularly perturbed systems is investigated here. We show that under weaker hypotheses and the some computational cost than in Mukaidani et al. (J. Math. Anal. Appl. 267:209–234, [2002]) finer estimates on the distances involved and a more precise information on the location of the solution can be obtained.
An improved dental surveyor

A new dental surveyor has been developed which is described as versatile, practical, and of value to a large laboratory or to a dentist desiring to design and prescribe special prostheses. Another instrument has been completed which facilitates making parallel preparations in the oral cavity.
Non-Salary Retention Incentives for Social Workers in Public Mental Health

While workers' reasons for leaving jobs are myriad, little is known of what might induce workers to remain in jobs. The literature reports that money, alone, is not sufficiently persuasive as an incentive. This study of social workers in the public mental health system in Colorado reveals the incentive value of a set of non-salary retention measures. The findings of the study show that measures which furthered professional enrichment, contribution to the profession, and the exercise of professional autonomy are rated most highly. Cross-tabulations with some demographic variables reveal significant findings. Recommendations for implementing the findings are presented.
From hospice to hospital: short-term follow-up study of hospice patient outcomes in a US acute care hospital surveillance system

Objectives In the USA, there is little systematic evidence about the real-world trajectories of patient medical care after hospice enrolment. The objective of this study was to analyse predictors of the length of stay for hospice patients who were admitted to hospital in a retrospective analysis of the mandatorily reported hospital discharge data. Setting All acute-care hospitals in Florida during 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2012. Participants All patients with source of admission coded as ‘hospice’ (n=2674). Primary outcome measures The length of stay and discharge status: (1) died in hospital; (2) discharged back to hospice; (3) discharged to another healthcare facility; and (4) discharged home. Results Patients were elderly (median age=81) with a high burden of disease. Almost half died (46%), while the majority of survivors were discharged to hospice (80% of survivors, 44% of total). A minority went to a healthcare facility (5.6%) or to home (5.2%). Only 9.2% received any procedure. Respiratory services were received by 29.4% and 16.8% were admitted to the intensive care unit. The median length of stay was 1 day for those who died. In an adjusted survival model, discharge to a healthcare facility resulted in a 74% longer hospital stay compared with discharge to hospice (event time ratio (ETR)=1.74, 95% CI 1.54 to 1.97 p Conclusions Our results raise significant questions about the ethics and pragmatics of end-of-life medical care, and the intentions and scope of hospices in the USA. Future studies should incorporate prospective linkage of subjective patient-centred data and objective healthcare encounter data.
Intraspecific life history variation in the threatened Louisiana pearlshell mussel,Margaritifera hembeli

Summary 1. Margaritifera hembeli is a threatened mussel limited to twenty-two headwater streams in the Red River drainage in central Louisiana, USA. This study evaluated intraspecific variation in density, growth, size and age structure and shell morphology among several isolated populations. This study also identified the host fish and considered the role that host fish distribution played in determining mussel recruitment. 2. Mussels were aggregated in beds and average densities differed among streams. However, maximum mussel densities in beds were similar in all streams; the observed maxima were among the largest for monospecific mussel beds in North America, often exceeding 300 individuals m–2. 3. The maximum size reached by individuals differed among streams, but all size distributions were skewed towards larger individuals. A repeated measures analysis of tagged mussels in four populations, over a 2-year period, indicated 2-fold differences in growth rates among streams, and significant variation among years. Growth rates were not affected by local population density. Maximum ages reached, determined indirectly by comparing growth rates, varied from 45 to 75 years. A canonical discriminant analysis also revealed significant differences in shell morphology across populations. 4. Half of the populations showed evidence of recent recruitment, and these sites had fish assemblages dominated by the host fish Noturus phaeus (Taylor). Host fish abundance appeared more important than adult mussel density in explaining recruitment patterns. 5. Considerable intraspecific life history variation suggests that management strategies for this species should be stream-specific, with emphasis on ensuring long-term habitat stability.
Unexpected kinetic complexity in the formation of a nonheme oxoiron(IV) complex

The stoichiometric formation of [FeIV(O)(TPA)(NCMe)]2+ (TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) from the reaction of [FeII(TPA)(NCMe)2]2+ with 1 equiv. peracetic acid exhibits more kinetic complexity than might be expected from the simple stoichiometry. A multiple-pathway mechanism with an FeIV–peracetic acid species, [(TPA)FeIV(O)((H)O3CR)]2+/+, as the primary oxidant is proposed.