cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative phylogeography of five sympatric Hypseleotris species (Teleostei: Eleotridae) in south‐eastern Australia reveals a complex pattern of drainage basin exchanges with little congruence across species

Aim To determine biogeographical patterns in five closely related species in the fish genus Hypseleotris, and to investigate the relative roles of drainage divide crossings and movement during lowered sea levels between drainage basins and biogeographical provinces based on the phylogeographical patterns within the group. The high degree of overlap in the distributions and ecology of these species makes them ideal candidates for comparative phylogeographical study. Location Eastern, central and south-eastern Australia. Methods A total of 179 Hypseleotris individuals were sequenced from 45 localities for the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and the first 30 base pairs of the threonine transfer RNA for a total of 1170 bp. Phylogenetic relationships were hypothesized using parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Results Phylogenetic analysis resolves the five species into three clades. The first corresponds to the species Hypseleotris klunzingeri (Ogilby, 1898); within it two clades are resolved, one consisting of individuals from the Eastern Province (EP), plus two eastern Murray-Darling Province (MDP) localities, and the other including the remainder of the MDP localities, along with the Lake Eyre Basin (Central Australian Province, CAP) individuals. The other two clades include a mixed Hypseleotris galii (Ogilby, 1898)/Hypseleotris sp. 3 Murray-Darling clade, with EP and MDP lineages mostly segregated and differentiations in populations spread along the EP, and a mixed Hypseleotris sp. 4 Lake's and Hypseleotris sp. 5 Midgley's clade, with two groups of MDP localities and two CAP lineages indicated, interspersed with EP lineages as well as those from the Northern Province. Main conclusions This study is broadly congruent with a previous analysis of Hypseleotris phylogeny, but the previously observed overall relationship of south-eastern Australian provinces [EP(MDP+CAP)] was not confirmed and is more complicated than hitherto thought. This highlights the necessity of obtaining a sufficient number of sampling localities to identify potential connectivity between populations in order to demonstrate congruent biogeographical patterns. We identified many instances of drainage divide crossings, which were the major means of movement between provinces. Despite the commonness of movement across drainage divides, very few of these were found to be exactly congruent among the species. Most occurred in different places, or if in the same location, apparently at different times, or in at least one case, in opposite directions. Patterns of movement between adjacent coastal drainages were also found to be largely incongruent; when congruence was found the populations involved had quite different genetic divergences.
Synthesis and Characterization of Self-Assembled Sulfonated Poly(styrene-b-vinylidene fluoride-b-styrene) Triblock Copolymers for Proton Conductive Membranes

The synthesis of novel ionic triblock copolymers, sulfonated poly(styrene-b-vinylidene fluoride-b-styrene), with varied degrees of sulfonation is described. The synthetic strategy involves a new approach to a chain-end-functionalized fluoropolymer as a macroinitiator followed by atom transfer polymerization of styrene and sulfonation. Characterization of the polymers has been extensively carried out by 1H and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry analysis. Tapping mode atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were applied to image the microphase separation and ionic aggregates. The dependence of ion-exchange capacity, water uptake, and proton conductivity on the degree of sulfonation has been studied. It has been found that the conductivities of the block copolymers are considerably higher than the random copolymers of polystyrene and sulfonated polystyrene possessing similar ion-exchange capa...
Concomitant pulsus and U-wave alternans after head trauma.

Abstract Concomitant pulsus and U-wave alternans were first described by Eyer in 1974. 1 We report herein a patient who had marked pulsus and U-wave alternans after head trauma.
Proteomic identification of a novel protein regulated in CA1 and CA3 hippocampal regions during intermittent hypoxia

Abstract The CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus markedly differ in their susceptibility to hypoxia in general, and more particularly to the intermittent hypoxia (IH) that characterizes sleep apnea. We used proteomic analysis to build a database of proteins expressed in normoxic CA1 and CA3. The current hippocampus protein database identifies 106 proteins. A hypothetical protein with accession number AK006737 (gi∣12839969) was strongly upregulated in the CA1, but not CA3 hippocampal region. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the unknown protein contained a high stringency protein kinase e binding site. Domain analysis demonstrated the presence of a conserved sequence indicative of macrophage scavenger receptors. Using proteomic analysis we have previously demonstrated that acute (6 h) IH-mediated CA1 injury results from complex interactions between pathways involving increased metabolism, induction of stress-induced proteins and apoptosis, and ultimately disruption of structural proteins and cell integrity. The current findings identify a hypothetical protein that may play a key role in the response of CA1 to IH. These findings provide initial insights into mechanisms underlying differences in susceptibility to hypoxia in neural tissue and demonstrate how proteomic analysis can be used to generate new hypotheses, which define neuronal adaptation to IH.
Cyanate ester/Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) nanocomposites: Synthesis and characterization

Cyanate ester (PT-15, Lonza Corp.) composites containing the blended polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS), TriSilanolPhenyl-POSS (C42H38O12Si7), were prepared containing PT-15/POSS 99/1, 97/3, 95/5, 90/10, and 85/15 w/w ratios. The composites were characterized by FT-TR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (X-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and three-point bending flexural tests. TriSilanolPhenyl-POSS was throughly dispersed into uncured liquid PT-15 resin. After curing, XRD, SANS, and X-EDS measurements were consistent with partial molecular dispersion of a portion of the POSS units in the continuous matrix phase while the remainder forms POSS aggregates. Larger aggregates are formed at higher loadings. SANS, SEM, and TEM show that POSS-enriched nanoparticles are present in the PT-15/POSS composites. The storage bending moduli, E‘, and the g...
The Use of Various Forms of Oxygen in the Treatment of Abnormal Fermentation in Swiss Cheese

Summary Ozone and oxygen had a somewhat similar effect in checking gassy fermentation in Swiss cheese occasioned by the introduction of spore-forming anaerobes and did not interfere with the normal functioning of the ripening agents. Within the limits used the temperature did not seem to influence appreciably the effectiveness of these germicides. Ozone, however, generally imparted such an objectionable flavor to the cheese as to render it unmarketable. In the case of oxygen some advantage was observed in introducing 20 cubic feet of the gas instead of 10 cubic feet. In two cases when oxygen was added to milk delivered once a day and the cheese was made upon a commercial scale without the addition of gas-producing organisms, favorable results were observed in checking nissler tendencies. This suggests, at least for this particular factory, that the organisms responsible for abnormal fermentations were anaerobic in character. The action of oxygen, as indicated by dilution and flask tests, seemed germicidal as well as inhibitory. In the case of air the oxygen appeared to be diluted too much to exert any favorable influence upon the gassy fermentation.
Factors affecting scalability of multithreaded Java applications on manycore systems

Modern Java applications employ multithreading to improve performance by harnessing execution parallelism available in today’s multicore processors. However, as the numbers of threads and processing cores are scaled up, many applications do not achieve the desired level of performance improvement. In this paper, we explore two factors, lock contention and garbage collection performance that can affect scalability of Java applications. Our initial result reveals two new observations. First, applications that are highly scalable may experience more instances of lock contention than those experienced by applications that are less scalable. Second, efficient multithreading can make garbage collection less effective, and therefore, negatively impacting garbage collection performance.
c-Boron–aluminum nitride alloys prepared by ion-beam assisted deposition

Abstract The structure, mechanical, and chemical properties of boron–aluminum nitride thin films prepared by ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) are reported. The ratio of N to Al+B as determined by Auger electron spectroscopy was consistently 1.0 in all films. The c -lattice constant of the alloy decreased linearly up to approximately 10% BN, suggesting the formation of a single-phase AlN–wurtzite-BN alloy. The hardness of the films was between 20 and 25 GPa, as measured by nanoindentation, and did not change significantly with the amount of boron present. The etch rate in warm phosphoric acid of an alloy containing 9% BN was an order of magnitude lower than that of pure AlN.
The interpretation of high resolution electron micrographs of the cellulose elementary fibril

Some of the present evidence for the structure of the celluiose elementary fibril may be attributed to artifacts. The factors involved in the production of these artifacts may include the phenomenon of phase image granularity, the thickness of the ultrathin section, the structure of the negative stain, and the nature of the substrate. Interpretation of high resolution electron micrographs requires an intimate knowledge of these factors.
Reaction Models of the Oxidative Rearrangement of Averufin to 1'- Hydroxyversicolorone: The First Step in Dihydrobisfuran Formation in Aflatoxin Biosynthesis

Abstract The formation of the dihydrobisfuran ring system uniquely representative of the aflatoxins among polyketide natural products is achieved in three net oxidative steps relating averufin (2) to versicolorin A (5). The first of these oxidative rearrangements carries the former to 1'-hydroxyversicolorone (3). Labeling experiments have placed several limitations on the mechanisms of reactions that can account for this transformation. Two viable possibilities involve radical or cationic intermediates whose fundamental reactivity toward rearrangement has been investigated in model reactions based on derivatives of 6,8-di-O-methylaverufin (20, X=H).
Shared knowledge, “glitches,” and product development performance

Much recent thought in strategy has stressed the importance of organizational integration for competitive advantage. Empirical studies of product development have supported this emphasis by correlating integrating practices and superior performance. We propose, from a resource-based or capability view, that this correlation results from integration leading to patterns of shared knowledge among firm members, with the shared knowledge constituting a resource underlying product development capability. To explore this connection, we examine the product development efforts of a scientific software company. We define the ‘glitch’ as a costly error possible only because knowledge was not shared, and measure the influence of glitches on firm performance. At this company, gaps in shared knowledge did cause the company to incur significant excess costs. We also identify a set of ‘syndromes’ that can lead to glitches, and measure the relative importance of these syndromes. The glitch concept may offer a general tool for practical measurement of the marginal benefits of shared knowledge. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Symptom clusters of pain, depressed mood, and fatigue in lung cancer: Assessing the role of cytokine genes

Symptom clusters, the multiple, co-occurring symptoms experienced by cancer patients, are debilitating and affects quality of life. We assessed if a panel of immune-response genes may underlie the co-occurrence of severe pain, depressed mood, and fatigue and help identify patients with severe versus non-severe symptom clusters. Symptoms were assessed at presentation, prior to cancer treatment in 599 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients. We applied cluster analyses to determine the patients with severe versus non-severe symptom clusters of pain, depressed mood, and fatigue. Two homogenous clusters were identified. One hundred sixteen patients (19 %) comprised the severe symptom cluster, reporting high intensity of pain, depressed mood, and fatigue and 183 (30 %) patients reported low intensity of these symptoms. Using Bayesian model averaging methodology, we found that of the 55 single nucleotide polymorphisms assessed, an additive effect of mutant alleles in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (-1474 T/A) (posterior probability of inclusion (PPI) = 0.78, odds ratio (OR) = 0.54, 95 % credible interval (CI) = (0.31, 0.93)); IL1B T-31C (PPI = 0.72, OR = 0.55, 95 % CI = (0.31, 0.97)); TNFR2 Met196Arg (PPI = 0.70, OR = 1.85, 95 % CI = (1.03, 3.36)); PTGS2 exon 10+837T > C (PPI = 0.69, OR = 0.54, 95 % CI = (0.28, 0.99)); and IL10RB Lys47Glu (PPI = 0.68; OR = 1.74; 95 % CI = (1.04, 2.92)) were predictive for symptom clusters. Genetic polymorphisms may facilitate identification of high-risk patients and development of individualized symptom therapies.
Effect of hindlimb suspension on the functional properties of slow and fast soleus fibers from three strains of mice.

Cross-sectional area (CSA), peak Ca2+-activated force (Po), fiber specific force (Po/CSA), and unloaded shortening velocity (Vo) were measured in slow-twitch [containing type I myosin heavy chain (...
Regimes of Leg Lengthening at Sheffield Children's Hospital

Summary Bone lengthening is increasingly the treatment of choice for leg length discrepancy and disproportionate short stature. The aim of this paper is to describe the service offered in Sheffield and to give some guiding principles of treatment for physiotherapists. The full assessment procedure, the operation, and the post-operative management regimes used at the Sheffield Children's Hospital are all described. Physiotherapy has not featured heavily in the past. However, it has now been recognised that the success of the procedure is dependent on careful post-operative management. This field requires an in-depth investigation of the effects and benefits.
Adventures in Bioinorganic Chemistry

The author recounts formative events in his scientific career and provides a personal introduction to the wonders of resonance Raman spectroscopy and its application to metalloproteins.
A vortex core transition in an unconventional superconductor

Abstract I show that a weak symmetry breaking field coupled to an unconventional superconducting order parameter proposed to describe UPt 3 induces a phase transition between two vortex states.
SODIUM LACTATE AND SODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE EFFECTS ON OXIDATIVE STABILITY AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF PRECOOKED REDUCED‐FAT PORK SAUSAGE WITH CARRAGEENAN

One 40%-fat, three 10%-fat, and three 17%-fat ground pork sausage products were manufactured. Within each reduced-fat level, these products contained 0.5% carrageenan, carrageenan and 3% sodium lactate (SL), and carrageenan, SL and 0.25% sodium tripolyphosphate (SP). Precooked patties packaged with oxygen-permeable PVC film were stored at 4C and −20C for up to 6 days and 252 days, respectively. Vacuum-packaged patties were stored up to 84 days and 252 days at the respective temperatures. All reduced-fat products were harder, more dense, and less juicy than the 40%-fat product. Total aerobic microbial plate counts determined on PVC-packaged samples stored at 4C were similar among the 7 products. SL acted as a prooxidant as evaluated by 2-thiobarbituric acid values. SP used with SL tended to overcome the prooxidive effect of SL but increased springiness, hardness, and fracturability sensory scores.
Propagation of concentration/density disturbances in an inertially coupled two-phase dispersion

Abstract Geurst's equations are used to predict the speed of disturbance wave propagation in a mixture containing a compressible dispersed phase. Results are obtained for the case when there is no relative velocity ahead of the disturbance and are compared with Karplus' data for air-water mixtures. The changes in density, void fraction and the velocities of each phase across the wave are predicted.
Burden of proof in legal argumentation

We present a computational model of dialectical argumentation that could serve as a basis for studying elements of legal reasoning. Argumentation is well-suited to decisionmaking in the legal domain, where knowledge is incomplete, uncertain, and inconsistent, We model an argument both as information structure, i.e., argument units connecting claims with supporting data, and as dialectical process, i.e., an alternating series of moves made by opposing sides. Inspired by the legal domain, our model includes burden of proof as a key element, indicating the level of support that must be achieved by a particular side to an argument. Burden of proof acts as a move filter and termination criterion during argumentation and determines the eventual winner. We demonstrate our model by considering two examples that have been discussed previously in the artificial intelligence and legal reasoning literature. INTRODUCTION As the artificial intelligence (AI) and legal reasoning communities are well aware, most decisions are reached against a background of incomplete, uncertain, and inconsistent knowledge (i.e., weak theory domains; Porter, et. al., 1990). The most widely used AI methods for reasoning under uncertainty either rely on an absence of outright contradictions (e. g., probabilistic reasoning; Pearl, 1987) or are unable to support motivated decision-making in the face of inconsistent information (e.g., default reasoning; Ginsberg, 1987). Both solutions put the problem of deciding what to believe outside their respective domains of discourse. Choosing the proposition with highest Permission to copywithoutfee all or part of this material is granted provided that the copies are not made or distributed for direct commercial advantage, the ACM copyright notice and the title of the publication and its date appea, and notice is given that copying is by permission of the Association for Computing Machinery. To copy otherwise, or to republisb, requires a fee andlor specific permission.
Intraverbal associations in sentence behavior

Word-associates occurred as intrusion errors reliably more often than did non-associates in a paced recall task. In a sentence completion task, word-associates were put into the same sentence reliably more often than were non-associates. Sentences embedding word-associates were rated more fluent than sentences embedding non-associates. These results suggest that intraverbal association is a variable influencing the selection of words in sentence production.
From morphogenes to morphogenesis

Summary: If the concept of organization is of such importance as it appears to be, it is something of a scandal that biologists have not yet begun to take it seriously but should have to confess that we have no adequate conception of it. The first duty of the biologist would seem to be to try and make clear this important concept.
The POWER8 TM processor: Designed for big data, analytics, and cloud environments

POWER8™ delivers a data-optimized design suited for analytics, cognitive workloads, and today's exploding data sizes. The design point results in a 2.5x performance gain over its predecessor, POWER7+™, for many workloads. In addition, POWER8 delivers the efficiency demanded by cloud computing models and also represents a first step toward creating an open ecosystem for server innovation.
Behavioral effects of chronic oral administration of levo-alpha-acetylmethadol in the rat.

Abstract Estrogen and progesterone (PROG) are both considered essential hormones for the display of sexual receptivity in the female rat. Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the active components of marijuana, was tested in ovariectomized rats for possible estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activity using the display of lordosis behavior, one of the components of sexual receptivity, as an endpoint. Test animals were treated with THC (1.25, 2.50 or 10.00 mg/kg/day) or estradiol benzoate (EB) + THC (2.0 μg/kg/day and 10.0 mg/kg/day, respectively) followed by 500 μg PROG and tested for lordosis behavior on Day 5. The animals treated with THC alone failed to show any lordosis behavior, similar to oil and vehicle controls, while the behavioral effects of EB were not antagonized by the 10.0 mg/kg dose of THC. Thus, the estrogenic effects of THC, using the lordosis system as an end point, are at best minimal, if present at all. The effects of acute THC in EB primed rats (2.0 μg/kg/day × 3) were also tested in this study. At relatively low doses (0.5 and 1.5 mg/kg) of THC, a significant increase in the lordosis quotient (LQ; number of lordosis responses/number of mounts × 100) was noted. At a higher dose (3.0 mg/kg) of THC, a significant reduction in the LQ was noted, indicating a dose-dependent effect of THC. Following adrenalectomy, the dose-response curve for THC was shifted to the left, as a lower dose (0.15 mg/kg) of THC was now capable of enhancing the LQ, while the 0.5 and 1.5 mg doses were no longer effective (similar to the 3.0 mg/kg dose in non-adrenalectomized animals). The biphasic action of PROG on LQ was also utilized to rule out adrenal involvement in the enhanced behavior seen in the EB primed and THC treated animals. When a behaviorally effective dose of PROG was administered, 18 hr prior to PROG followed by a behavioral test, it antagonized the behavioral effects of the second dose of PROG, while a behaviorally effective dose of THC, given 18 hr prior to PROG followed by a behavior test, was ineffective in antagonizing the behavioral effects of PROG, indicating that minimal, if any, PROG is released from the adrenal following a behaviorally effective dose of THC. Thus, it appears that THC is capable of enhancing sexual receptivity of female rats by a direct action on the central nervous system.
Kinetics of accumulation of creatine phosphokinase activity in developing embryonic skeletal muscle in vivo and in monolayer culture.

Abstract 1. 1. The creatine phosphokinase content of developing chick muscle in vivo and in vitro has been measured using the firefly ATP assay method of Strehler and Totter. 2. 2. The concentration of creatine phosphokinase in chick leg musculature increases with a constant doubling time between the 11th and 22nd day of incubation. The doubling time is slightly longer than one day at 37 °C. 3. 3. The concentration of creatine phosphokinase in developing monolayer culture of chick muscle increases much more slowly under our experimental conditions (36.5 °C). 4. 4. In tissue cultures this enzyme is not detectable until after the appearance of multinuclear muscle elements.
RELATION OF SEX AND SEX ROLE TO ADULTS' ABILITY TO DECODE INFANTS' EMOTIONS

The present study examined the relative contributions of sex and sex role to subjects' ability to recognize infants' emotional expressions. Men and women were classified into traditional, androgyno...
The Moral Imagination at Work in Haile Selassie's Ethiopia: Reconsidering The Thirteenth Sun by Daniachew Worku

Daniachew Worku’s The Thirteenth Sun is a pilgrimage narrative with a father-son conflict at its core, offering a complex and loosely allegorical depiction of a conflicted Ethiopian society at the close of Haile Selassie’s reign. Daniachew was already well known for his Amharic writing when he published The Thirteenth Sun in English, in Heinemann’s African Writers Series (AWS) in 1973. Drawing on a range of contextual information including records from the AWS and from the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program (IWP), this essay invites a reconsideration of this important Ethiopian text. Despite the ubiquitous decadence and violence of the narrative, the essay asserts that reconciliation emerges as a dominant theme, and that the novel thus offers a noteworthy instance of a writer’s moral imagination at work at a time of conflicted transition.
Endothelium-dependent constriction demonstrated in vivo in mouse cerebral arterioles.

Endothelium-dependent constriction in mouse pial arterioles was demonstrated by testing contractile responses before and after endothelial injury. All responses were monitored at the same site as the injury. Injury was produced in vivo by exposing an arteriole on the brain surface to the beam of a 6-mW helium-neon laser after first sensitizing the microvascular bed to the laser energy by injecting Evans blue intravenously. The contractile response to serotonin creatinine sulfate (20 micrograms/ml) and to sodium arachidonate (30 micrograms/ml) was monitored in vivo with an image splitter and TV microscope. The responses before laser injury were always constriction; the responses after laser injury were always relaxation. After laser injury, acetylcholine chloride (80 micrograms/ml) constricted every vessel tested at the injured site. Thus, the injured segment had not lost the capacity to constrict even though neither serotonin nor arachidonate remained able to induce a constriction. The endothelium-dependent constrictions to serotonin or arachidonate were also blocked by pretreatment of the mouse with cyclooxygenase inhibitors, acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg i.p.) or indomethacin (5 mg/kg). The data suggests that endothelium-dependent constriction to serotonin is mediated by release of arachidonate from the endothelial cell and conversion of that arachidonate by cyclooxygenase to some constricting prostanoid.
Measurement of sample temperatures under magic-angle spinning from the chemical shift and spin-lattice relaxation rate of 79Br in KBr powder

Accurate determination of sample temperatures in solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with magic-angle spinning (MAS) can be problematic, particularly because frictional heating and heating by radio-frequency irradiation can make the internal sample temperature significantly different from the temperature outside the MAS rotor. This paper demonstrates the use of 79Br chemical shifts and spin-lattice relaxation rates in KBr powder as temperature-dependent parameters for the determination of internal sample temperatures. Advantages of this method include high signal-to-noise, proximity of the 79Br NMR frequency to that of 13C, applicability from 20 K to 320 K or higher, and simultaneity with adjustment of the MAS axis direction. We show that spin-lattice relaxation in KBr is driven by a quadrupolar mechanism. We demonstrate a simple approach to including KBr powder in hydrated samples, such as biological membrane samples, hydrated amyloid fibrils, and hydrated microcrystalline proteins, that allows direct assessment of the effects of frictional and radio-frequency heating under experimentally relevant conditions.
Effect of space flight on cytokine production.

Abstract Space flight has been shown to alter many immunological responses. Among those affected are the production of cytokines, Cytokines are the messengers of the immune system that facilitate communication among cells that allow the interaction among cells leading to the development of immune responses. Included among the cytokines are the interferons, interleukins, and colony stimulating factors. Cytokines also facilitate communication between the immune system and other body systems, such as the neuroendocrine and musculoskeletal systems. Some cytokines also have direct protective effects on the host, such as interferon, which can inhibit the replication of viruses. Studies in both humans and animals indicate that models of space flight as well as actual space flight alter the production and action of cytokines. Included among these changes are altered interferon production, altered responsiveness of bone marrow cells to granulocyte/monocyte-colony stimulating factor, but no alteration in the production of interleukin-3. This suggests that there are selective effects of space flight on immune responses, i.e. not all cytokines are affected in the same fashion by space flight. Tissue culture studies also suggest that there may be direct effects of space flight on the cells responsible for cytokine production and action. The results of the above study indicate that the effects of space flight on cytokines may be a fundamental mechanism by which space flight not only affects immune responses, but also other biological systems of the human.
Examining the effects of stressors and resources on multiple sclerosis among African Americans and Whites

The first objective of this study was to explore whether stressors and resources, quality of life and symptom severity differed among African American and White individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The second aim was to examine whether social stressors and resources were related to symptom severity and overall quality of life, regardless of ethnicity. Sixteen African American and 28 White patients completed measures of stressors and resources, symptom severity and quality of life. There were no significant differences among the groups, with the exception of African Americans reporting fewer friend resources and more financial stressors than White participants. Irrespective of ethnicity, greater symptom severity was associated with a poorer quality of life, fewer financial and family resources. Financial and family resources, and positive life events were positively correlated with quality of life. The results indicate that strengthening existing familial support and reducing social stressors in MS patients could impact quality of life, regardless of ethnicity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drugs and Lipid transport

Drugs such as ethanol, carbon tetrachloride, ethionine or ACTH have a profound influence on lipid metabolism. The enzymatic synthesis of triglycerides and phospholipids by the liver, the release of triglycerides from liver to plasma and the transport of free fatty acids from adipose tissue are affected. These changes in lipid metabolism may be considered as resulting from chemically induced stress. In order to study the transport of lipids during a stress not induced by drugs, cold stress was also investigated. The changes in lipid transport following ethanol or ACTH administration were quite different from those observed during cold stress where body temp must be maintained by mobilization of energy producing substrates. However, the alterations in lipid transport during both cold and drug induced stress are dependent on the sex of the rat. The observed effects apparently involve a sexdependent transport of triglycerides from liver to plasma and also a sex-dependent mobilization of energy-producing substrates.
Daunting Realities of Leading Complicated by the New Media: Wounding and Community College Presidents

Community college presidential leadership is more taxing than ever; leaders face unprecedented economic declines, increased expectations, and the immediacy of media reporting. The smallest of rumors can escalate into campaigns for good or ill within minutes via the Internet, social media (such as blogs, Twitter, Facebook) and electronic news. Using a basic qualitative design, this paper examines key struggles of community college presidents and describes challenges of leading in the new media spotlight. In-depth interviews were conducted with four presidents to identify their perspectives of how a crisis became a “wounding experience.” The leader stories reveal how the daunting realities of leading can be complicated in the digital era, and the paper concludes with some insights and implications for how to cope with a leadership crisis and the new media.
American Chemical Society National Meeting

Reports on the 227th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) which took place at the end of March 2004 in Anaheim, California. Notes that the national meeting of the society is held twice a year, and is a working meeting of the membership, most of whom are involved in chemical research in the industrial and academic sectors; notes also that the range of topics at this meeting varied widely. Outlines several of the papers presented, including one which the author delivered. The highlight of the whole conference for the author was a presentation in the General Papers session “New ways to integrate data and information”, which discussed the organization of information and how to improve access performance by using federated data sources, linking using data wrappers, application software and user defined libraries, and database extenders.
Heavy metal concentrations and deposition in bulk precipitation in Montane ecosystems of New Hampshire, USA

Abstract Concentrations of lead, mercury and cadmium in bulk precipitation were measured at four heights along an 866 metre elevational gradient in New England, USA during four months of 1971. Weighted average concentration of lead, determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, was 13·4 μM/l. The mean deposition rate was 54 μM/m 2 /day and an extrapolated value for mean annual deposition was 20 mg/m 2 , eighteen times higher than that reported as derived from marine air in the mountains of California, but lower than that reported in urban areas where airborne heavy metals are released in high concentrations by human activities. These values suggest that New England receives a relatively high deposition of lead due to its continental downwind position. Much of this lead probably originates from human activities. Cadmium and mercury concentrations averaged 0·6 and 0·06 μM/l and deposition rates averaged 2·4 and 0·2 μM/m 2 /day, respectively. It is possible that these bulk precipitation measurements underestimate the total deposition at high elevations since they do not account for cloud water condensation and aerosol impaction.
Effects of Forest Fragmentation on Recruitment Patterns in Amazonian Tree Communities

Fragmentation can alter the ecology of rain forest remnants in many ways, but its long-term effects on tree communities are poorly understood. One phenomenon that has received little attention is tree regeneration in fragmented forests (Janzen 1983; Viana et al. 1997). Patterns of regeneration are important because they will ultimately determine the floristic composition of the remnant. Janzen (1983) suggested that fragments of tropical dry forest in Costa Rica are prone to invasions of weedy, generalist plant species from the surrounding modified matrix, which could progressively alter the floristic composition of remnants. Laurance (1991, 1997) proposed that fragments in some tropical regions are chronically disturbed by winds and other factors and may exhibit a general shift toward successional trees, lianas, and vines adapted for recurring disturbance. Using data collected over 13 years, we describe patterns of tree recruitment in a fragmented landscape in central Amazonia. We ask three questions: (1) Do rates of tree recruitment differ between fragmented and continuous forests? (2) Are recruitment rates influenced by fragment area, age, and proximity of forest edge? (3) Are regenerating trees in fragments biased toward successional species or against old-growth species?
Evaluation of an Intervention to Maintain Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Within Therapeutic Range

Critically ill patients often require intubation with an endotracheal tube (ETT) to provide an artificial airway for mechanical ventilation. Management of the artificial airway is an important part of care rendered by nurses and respiratory therapists. One aspect of airway management is maintenance of an adequate pressure in the ETT cuff. The cuff is inflated to seal the airway to deliver mechanical ventilation. A cuff pressure between 20 and 30 cm H2O is recommended to provide an adequate seal and reduce the risk of complications.1–4 Survey results5–7 indicate that cuff pressure is usually monitored and adjusted every 8 to 12 hours. ETT cuff pressure varies and may be out of range during the interval between intermittent measurements, increasing the risk for complications. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of an intervention, management of the ETT cuff pressure via continuous monitoring and alarm or clinical triggers, versus intermittent pressure measurement. The objective was to maintain the ETT cuff pressure within a range of 20 to 30 cm H2O. The study also provided an opportunity to describe the natural history of ETT cuff pressure over time.
Critical phenomena and the quantum critical point of ferromagnetic Zr(1-x)NbxZn2

We present a study of the magnetic properties of Zr(1-x)NbxZn2, using an Arrott plot analysis of the magnetization. The Curie temperature Tc is suppressed to zero temperature for Nb concentration xc = 0.083+/-0.002, while the spontaneous moment vanishes linearly with Tc as predicted by the Stoner theory. The initial susceptibility chi displays critical behavior for x or= xc we find that chi(-1) = chi0(-1) + aT(4/3), where chi0(-1) vanishes as x-->xc. The resulting magnetic phase diagram shows that the quantum critical behavior extends over the widest range of temperatures for x=xc, and demonstrates how a finite transition temperature ferromagnet is transformed into a paramagnet, via a quantum critical point.
Nonpeptide ligands of neuropeptide FF: current status and structural insights

Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) was first isolated from the bovine brain in 1985 and is linked with a variety of biological activities. NPFF, which belongs to the RF-amide family of peptides, interacts with two distinct G-protein-coupled receptors, NPFF1 and NPFF2. These receptors are distributed throughout the body. The NPFF system was initially described as an anti-opioid system and, while the NPFF system does affect the opioid system, it also has been implicated in pain modulation, changes in arterial blood pressure, feeding behavior and regulation of core body temperature and of monoamine systems. Most of this pharmacology has been realized from the peptide NPFF itself or through peptide analogs. The quest for nonpeptide tools for this receptor system has been limited by low selectivity and poor pharmacokinetic properties. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge from the scientific and patent literature that demonstrates a clear need for future medicinal chemistry efforts.
Potential Impact of Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) on Spread of Drug-Resistant Malaria

Treatment of asymptomatic individuals regardless of their malaria infection status with regularly spaced therapeutic doses of antimalarial drugs has been proposed as a method for reducing malaria morbidity and mortality. This strategy called intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) is currently employed for pregnant women and is being studied for infants (IPTi) as well. As with any drug-based intervention strategy it is important to understand how implementation may affect the spread of drug-resistant parasites. This is a difficult issue to address experimentally because of the limited size and duration of IPTi trials as well as the intractability of distinguishing the spread of resistance due to conventional treatment of malaria episodes versus that due to IPTi when the same drug is used in both contexts. Using a mathematical model we evaluated the possible impact of treating individuals with antimalarial drugs at regular intervals regardless of their infection status. We translated individual treatment strategies and drug pharmacokinetics into parasite population dynamic effects and show that immunity treatment rate drug decay kinetics and presumptive treatment rate are important factors in the spread of drug-resistant parasites. Our model predicts that partially resistant parasites are more likely to spread in low-transmission areas but fully resistant parasites are more likely to spread under conditions of high transmission which is consistent with some epidemiological observations. We were also able to distinguish between spread of resistance due to treatment of symptomatic infections and that due to IPTi. We showed that IPTi could accelerate the spread of resistant parasites but this effect was only likely to be significant in areas of low or unstable transmission. The results presented here demonstrate the importance of considering both the half-life of a drug and the existing level of resistance when choosing a drug for IPTi. Drugs to which little or no resistance exists are not advisable for IPT in high-transmission areas but IPTi is not likely to significantly impact the spread of highly resistant parasites in areas where partial resistance is already established. IPTi is more likely to accelerate the spread of resistance in high-transmission areas than is IPT in adults (i.e. pregnant women). (authors)
Elucidating the Origins of Nosocomial Infections with Candida albicans by DNA Fingerprinting with the Complex Probe Ca3

Computer-assisted DNA fingerprinting with the complex probe Ca3 has been used to analyze the relatedness of isolates collected from individuals with nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSIs) and hospital care workers (HCWs) in the surgical and neonatal intensive care units (ICUs) of four hospitals. The results demonstrate that for the majority of patients (90%), isolates collected from commensal sites before and after collection of a BSI isolate were highly similar or identical to the BSI isolate. In addition, the average similarity coefficient for BSI isolates was similar to that for unrelated control isolates. However, the cluster characteristics of BSI isolates in dendrograms generated for each hospital compared to those of unrelated control isolates in a dendrogram demonstrated a higher degree of clustering of the former. In addition, a higher degree of clustering was observed in mixed dendrograms for HCV isolates and BSI isolates for each of the four test hospitals. In most cases, HCW isolates from an ICU were collected after the related BSI isolate, but in a few cases, the reverse was true. Although the results demonstrate that single, dominant endemic strains are not responsible for nosocomial BSIs in neonatal ICUs and surgical ICUs, they suggest that multiple endemic strains may be responsible for a significant number of cases. The results also suggest that cross-contamination occurs between patients and HCWs and between HCWs in the same ICU and in different ICUs. The temporal sequence of isolation also suggests that in the majority of cases HCWs are contaminated by isolates from colonized patients, but in a significant minority, the reverse is true. The results of this study provide the framework for a strategy for more definitive testing of the origins of Candida albicans strains responsible for nosocomial infections.
Immigrant Gateways and Hispanic Migration to New Destinations

Our understanding of the underlying demographic components of population change in new Hispanic destinations is limited. In this paper, we (1) compare Hispanic migration patterns in traditional settlement areas with new growth in emerging Hispanic destinations; (2) examine the role of immigration vis-a-vis domestic migration in spurring Hispanic population redistribution; and (3) document patterns of migrant selectivity, distinguishing between in-migrants and non-migrant Hispanics at both the origin and destination. We use several recent datasets, including the 1990 and 2000 Public Use Microdata Samples (which include new regional geocodes), and the 2005 and 2006 files of the American Community Survey. Our results document the widespread dispersion of the Hispanic population over the 1990–2006 period from established Hispanic gateways into new Hispanic areas and other parts of the country. Nearly one-half of Hispanic net migration in new destinations comes from domestic gains. In contrast, both established and other Hispanic areas depend entirely on immigration, with each losing domestic migrants to high growth areas. Migrant flows also are highly differentiated by education, citizenship, and nativity. To fully understand the spatial diffusion of Hispanics requires a new appreciation of the complex interplay among immigration, internal domestic migration, and fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Robust Cardinality and Cost Estimation for Skyline Operator

Incorporating the skyline operator inside the relational engine requires solving the cardinality estimation and the cost estimation problem, hitherto unaddressed. We propose robust techniques to estimate the cardinality and the computational cost of Skyline, and through an empirical comparison, show that our technique is substantially more effective than traditional approaches. Finally, we show through an implementation in Microsoft SQL Server that skyline queries can substantially benefit from our techniques.
Persistent cognitive and dopamine transporter deficits in abstinent methamphetamine users.

Background: Studies in abstinent methamphetamine (METH) users have demonstrated reductions in brain dopamine transporter (DAT) binding potential (BP), as well as cognitive and motor deficits, but it is not yet clear whether cognitive deficits and brain DAT reductions fully reverse with sustained abstinence, or whether behavioral deficits in METH users are related to dopamine (DA) deficits. This study was conducted to further investigate potential persistent psychomotor deficits secondary to METH abuse, and their relationship to brain DAT availability, as measured using quantitative PET methods with [11C]WIN 35428. Methods: Twenty-two abstinent METH users and 17 healthy non-METH using controls underwent psychometric testing to test the hypothesis that METH users would demonstrate selective deficits in neuropsychiatric domains known to involve DA neurons (e.g., working memory, executive function, motor function). A subset of subjects also underwent PET scanning with [11C]WIN 35428. Results: METH users were found to have modest deficits in short-term memory, executive function, and manual dexterity. Exploratory correlational analyses revealed that deficits in memory, but not those in executive or motor function, were associated with decreases in striatal DAT BP. Conclusions: These results suggest a possible relationship between DAT BP and memory deficits in abstinent METH users, and lend support to the notion that METH produces lasting effects on central DA neurons in humans. As METH can also produce toxic effects on serotonin (5-HT) neurons, further study is needed to address the potential role of brain 5-HT depletion in cognitive deficits in abstinent METH users. Synapse 62:91–100, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.