cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opposing breathing therapies for panic disorder: a randomized controlled trial of lowering vs raising end-tidal P(CO₂).

BACKGROUND Teaching anxious clients to stop hyperventilating is a popular therapeutic intervention for panic. However, evidence for the theory behind this approach is tenuous, and this theory is contradicted by an opposing theory of panic, the false-suffocation alarm theory, which can be interpreted to imply that the opposite would be helpful. OBJECTIVE To test these opposing approaches by investigating whether either, both, or neither of the 2 breathing therapies is effective in treating patients with panic disorder. METHOD We randomly assigned 74 consecutive patients with DSM-IV-diagnosed panic disorder (mean age at onset = 33.0 years) to 1 of 3 groups in the setting of an academic research clinic. One group was trained to raise its end-tidal P(CO₂) (partial pressure of carbon dioxide, mm Hg) to counteract hyperventilation by using feedback from a hand-held capnometer, a second group was trained to lower its end-tidal P(CO₂) in the same way, and a third group received 1 of these treatments after a delay (wait-list). We assessed patients physiologically and psychologically before treatment began and at 1 and 6 months after treatment. The study was conducted from September 2005 through November 2009. RESULTS Using the Panic Disorder Severity Scale as a primary outcome measure, we found that both breathing training methods effectively reduced the severity of panic disorder 1 month after treatment and that treatment effects were maintained at 6-month follow-up (effect sizes at 1-month follow-up were 1.34 for the raise-CO(2) group and 1.53 for the lower-CO(2) group; P < .01). Physiologic measurements of respiration at follow-up showed that patients had learned to alter their P(CO₂) levels and respiration rates as they had been taught in therapy. CONCLUSIONS Clinical improvement must have depended on elements common to both breathing therapies rather than on the effect of the therapies themselves on CO(2) levels. These elements may have been changed beliefs and expectancies, exposure to ominous bodily sensations, and attention to regular and slow breathing. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00183521.
Mechanistic characterization of N-formimino-L-glutamate iminohydrolase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

N-Formimino-L-glutamate iminohydrolase (HutF) from Pseudomonas aeruginosacatalyzes the deimination of N-formimino-L-glutamate in the histidine degradation pathway. An amino acid sequence alignment between HutF and members of the amidohydrolase superfamily containing mononuclear metal centers indicated that residues Glu-235, His-269, and Asp-320 are involved in substrate binding and activation of the nucleophilic water molecule. The purified enzyme contained up to one equivalent of zinc. The metal was removed by dialysis against the metal chelator dipicolinate with the complete loss of catalytic activity. Enzymatic activity was restored by incubation of the apoprotein with Zn 2+ ,C d 2+ ,N i 2+ , or Cu 2+ . The mutation of Glu-235, His-269, or Asp-320 resulted in the diminution of catalytic activity by two to six orders of magnitude. Bell-shaped profiles were observed for kcat and kcat/Km as a function of pH. The pKa of the group that must be unprotonated for catalytic activity was consistent with the ionization of His-269. This residue is proposed to function as a general base in the abstraction of a proton from the metal-bound water molecule. In the proposed catalytic mechanism, the reaction is initiated by the abstraction of a proton from the metal-bound water molecule by the side chain imidazole of His-269 to generate a tetrahedral intermediate of the substrate. The collapse of the tetrahedral intermediate commences with the abstraction of a second proton via the side chain carboxylate of Asp-320. The C-N bond of the substrate is subsequently cleaved with proton transfer from His-269 to form ammonia and the N-formyl product. The postulated role of the invariant Glu-235 is to ion pair with the positively charged formimino group of the substrate.
Energy resolution of silicon surface-barrier detectors for oxygen and sulphur ions

Abstract A group of 9 silicon surface-barrier detectors, 4 manufactured by ORTEC and 5 fabricated by the first author and his students. has been tested for their energy resolutions with oxygen ions of 36.750 and 50 MeV energy and sulphur ions of 51.086 MeV energy from the University of Pittsburgh Van de Graaff accelerator. Six of the detectors had previously been tested with oxygen ions of 25 and 50 MeV energy at Pittsburgh, and those results are compared with the present ones. It is now possible to conclude that the energy resolution of the best detectors is independent of oxygen ion energy between 36.750 and 50 MeV and is about 100 keV (fwhm). When tested with sulphur ions, 4 of the detectors showed anomalous effects, including peaks and smudges both below and above the main peak. Some of these could be eliminated by varying the reverse bias voltage across the detector, others could not. In particular, the ORTEC detector 40, used in the previous work as the standard detector presently available, did not show a single peak at any bias. It is an excellent detector for oxygen ions, but is not useful for sulphur ions. The energy resolution of the best detectors for 51.086 MeV sulphur ions is under 300 keV (fwhm).
Morbidity, mortality, and technical factors of distal pancreatectomy.

Abstract Background: Pancreatic leak is a major source of morbidity associated with pancreatic surgery. We sought to identify disease and technique-dependent factors associated with morbidity and mortality after distal pancreatectomy. Methods: Retrospective review of patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy during a 5-year period. Clinical, technical, and pathologic data were correlated with operative morbidity or mortality. Results: Fifty-one patients underwent distal pancreatectomy for primary pancreatic disease, extrapancreatic malignancy, or trauma. Overall perioperative mortality and morbidity rates were 4% and 47%, respectively. Pancreatic leak was the most common complication, occurring in 26% of patients. Overall complications and pancreatic leaks occurred more often after distal pancreatectomy for trauma and in patients with a sutured pancreatic stump closure. Conclusions: Distal pancreatectomy can be performed with a low rate of mortality, though pancreatic leak is a common cause of morbidity. The urgency of the procedure and the method of pancreatic stump closure may influence postoperative morbidity.
Cardiac vasculitis in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

A63-year-old man presented with a 1-week history of bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, arthralgias, and fatigue. Physical examination revealed an acutely ill patient with a distended, tender abdomen. A purpuric skin rash was noted on the extremities and trunk (Figure 1⇓). Laboratory tests showed leukocytosis, proteinuria, and elevated creatinine. A skin biopsy revealed small-vessel neutrophilic vasculitis. Immunofluorescence was positive for multifocal IgA deposits along the walls of dermal vessels (Figure 2⇓). High-dose prednisone and …
A diagramming technique for representation of linear models

Abstract A diagramming methodology for modeling and integration of mathematical and data models is developed. The entity-relationship model of data is extended to represent the objective function and the constraints of linear mathematical models. The main contribution of this methodology is the integration of representation and documentation of both data and linear mathematical models.
Electrochemical study of a soluble niobium anode in molten salts

Abstract Electrochemical studies of niobium were performed in various molten salts, including NaClKClKF, LiClNaFKF and LiFNaFKF. The cathodic current efficiency increased with increasing number of fluoride components, as did the quality of the metal deposited at the cathode. Thus, the order of cathodic current efficiency was NaClKCl and the overall reaction was in terms of m1and m2 mol.
The Cost Effectiveness of Three Different Measures of Breast Volume

Background Several methods including water displacement, casting, the Grossman–Roudner measuring device, photographs, mammograms, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been proposed for the measurement of breast volume. The most cost-effective method has not been determined.
Closing the Vocabulary Gap?: A Review of Research on Early Childhood Vocabulary Practices

Our qualitative literature review of 31 published studies found that (a) three major approaches are used in early childhood classrooms to support children's vocabulary learning—exposing children to advanced words, providing direct word-meaning instruction, and employing mixed-method interventions; (b) these practices support children's learning of targeted vocabulary words and/or general vocabulary knowledge gains, but various methods have differential impacts on children's depth of word knowledge; and (c) theme-based multimethod interventions are the most likely approach to close the gap. Based on these findings, we suggest future research directions and discuss implications for classroom practice.
Rad51 and Rad54 ATPase activities are both required to modulate Rad51-dsDNA filament dynamics

Rad51 and Rad54 are key proteins that collaborate during homologous recombination. Rad51 forms a presynaptic filament with ATP and ssDNA active in homology search and DNA strand exchange, but the precise role of its ATPase activity is poorly understood. Rad54 is an ATP-dependent dsDNA motor protein that can dissociate Rad51 from dsDNA, the product complex of DNA strand exchange. Kinetic analysis of the budding yeast proteins revealed that the catalytic efficiency of the Rad54 ATPase was stimulated by partial filaments of wild-type and Rad51-K191R mutant protein on dsDNA, unambiguously demonstrating that the Rad54 ATPase activity is stimulated under these conditions. Experiments with Rad51-K191R as well as with wild-type Rad51-dsDNA filaments formed in the presence of ATP, ADP or ATP-gamma-S showed that efficient Rad51 turnover from dsDNA requires both the Rad51 ATPase and the Rad54 ATPase activities. The results with Rad51-K191R mutant protein also revealed an unexpected defect in binding to DNA. Once formed, Rad51-K191R-DNA filaments appeared normal upon electron microscopic inspection, but displayed significantly increased stability. These biochemical defects in the Rad51-K191R protein could lead to deficiencies in presynapsis (filament formation) and postsynapsis (filament disassembly) in vivo.
Regeneration of Bladder Urothelium, Smooth Muscle, Blood Vessels and Nerves Into an Acellular Tissue Matrix

AbstractPurpose: To study the cellular events occurring during bladder development and regeneration we developed an in vivo model of bladder augmentation with an acellular tissue graft. We propose that the extracellular matrix orchestrates the regenerative capacity of host bladder cells (urothelium, smooth muscle, blood vessels and nerve cells) after bladder augmentation with acellular tissue matrix.Materials and Methods: A total of 40 adult rats underwent partial cystectomy and augmentation with a patch of extracellular matrix representing the full thickness of rat gastric or bladder tissue. Sections were examined histologically to assess urothelial, smooth muscle and neuronal invasion of the graft.Results: A total of 32 rats was evaluated 1 day to 26 weeks after grafting. Epithelialization occurred by day 4, accompanied by granulocytic infiltration. Smooth muscle regenerated 2 weeks after grafting in juxtaposition to epithelial surfaces and it matured into normal sized bundles by 26 weeks. Neovascularit...
Measuring oxygen tension modulation, induced by a new pre-radiotherapy therapeutic, in a mammary window chamber mouse model

Tumor regions under hypoxic or low oxygen conditions respond less effectively to many treatment strategies, including radiation therapy. A novel investigational therapeutic, NVX-108 (NuvOx Pharma), has been developed to increase delivery of oxygen through the use of a nano-emulsion of dodecofluoropentane. By raising pO 2 levels prior to delivering radiation, treatment efficacy may be improved. To aid in evaluating the novel drug, oxygen tension was quantitatively measured, spatially and temporally, to record the effect of administrating NVX-108 in an orthotopic mammary window chamber mouse model of breast cancer. The oxygen tension was measured through the use of an oxygen-sensitive coating, comprised of phosphorescent platinum porphyrin dye embedded in a polystyrene matrix. The coating, applied to the surface of the coverslip of the window chamber through spin coating, is placed in contact with the mammary fat pad to record the oxygenation status of the surface tissue layer. Prior to implantation of the window chamber, a tumor is grown in the SCID mouse model by injection of MCF-7 cells into the mammary fat pad. Two-dimensional spatial distributions of the pO 2 levels were obtained through conversion of measured maps of phosphorescent lifetime. The resulting information on the spatial and temporal variation of the induced oxygen modulation could provide valuable insight into the optimal timing between administration of NVX-108 and radiation treatment to provide the most effective treatment outcome.
Processing of differentially valued rewards and punishments in youths with bipolar disorder or severe mood dysregulation.

ABSTRACT Background: Youths with chronic irritability and hyperarousal (i.e., severe mood dysregulation, SMD) have reward- and punishment-processing deficits distinct from those exhibited by children with episodic symptoms of mania (i.e., narrow-phenotype bipolar disorder, BD). Additionally, youths with SMD, like those with psychopathy, have prominent reactive aggression. Therefore, we hypothesized that SMD, but not BD, youths would be impaired on a decision-making task that has identified reward- and punishment-processing deficits in individuals with psychopathy. Methods: A decision-making task was used in which BD (n = 23), SMD (n = 37), and control subjects (n = 31) were asked to choose between two images associated with different levels of reward or punishment. Results: No between-group differences in task performance were found. Conclusion: These results suggest that BD, SMD, and normal youths do not differ in their ability to select between rewards and punishments of different value. Effect-size ana...
Detection of the Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase Type 2 Carbapenem-Hydrolyzing Enzyme in Clinical Isolates of Citrobacter freundii and K. oxytoca Carrying a Common Plasmid

The Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) was detected in carbapenem-resistant isolates of Citrobacter freundii and Klebsiella oxytoca recovered from different patients in a Michigan hospital. Restriction analysis and hybridization with a KPC-specific probe showed the bla KPC-2 genes of these two genera of the family Enterobacteriaceae are carried on a common plasmid.
Health-Related Needs Assessment of Older Residents in Subsidized Housing

When a nonprofit organization with nursing-home and assisted-living experience purchased a 30-year-old highrise apartment building in downtown Portland, Oregon, the new owners were faced with how to manage a building that provided housing to more than 200 older residents whom they knew very little about. As long-term care providers, they knew that older people were at risk for developing chronic illnesses, disabilities, and other factors that could result in moves to nursing homes, hospitalizations, and early death. They also knew that older adults in subsidized housing, such as this Section 8 building, have higher levels of disability than their age cohorts in unsubsidized housing and apartment rentals (Redfoot and Kochera, 2004). What they did not know was whether and in what ways these residents’ independence and quality of life might be jeopardized by unmet health and social service needs. In collaboration with the Portland State University School of Social Work, a multidimensional needs assessment was developed and conducted to identify the most important unmet needs of the residents as a group so that targeted services could be planned. Findings based on interviews with 130 residents revealed a heterogeneous population of older adults whose health status varied considerably, especially among the four different ethnic and language groups living in the building. This article describes how the results of such an assessment can be used to plan for enriching services to those most in need.
PlayerRating: a reputation system for multiplayer online games

In multiplayer online games, players interact with each other using aliases which unfortunately enable antisocial behavior. Vague rules and limited policing mean that only the very worst offenders are ever disciplined. This paper presents PlayerRating, a distributed reputation system specifically designed for online games. It leverages the prior experiences of a player's peers to determine the reputability of all other peers, allowing well-behaved players to safely congregate and avoid interaction with antisocial peers. The system has been implemented as an interface add-on for the game World of Warcraft and is evaluated theoretically and experimentally.
Compensation ethics and organizational commitment

If an employee is committed to his firm-if he is "attached" or "bound" to it-then his firm may be able to obtain a discount on his labor. This paper asks: Is it wrong for firms to do so? If we understand just or fair pay solely in terms of voluntary agreements between employers and employees, the answer seems to be 'no.' Against this, I argue that, in some cases, it is 'yes.' In particular, it is wrong for firms to try to obtain discounts on their committed employees' labor when their employees reasonably expect that they will not try to obtain them. In the process, I probe the limits of exploitation and question the relevance of contribution to fairness in compensation.
Elevated growth temperature decreases levels of the PEX5 peroxisome-targeting signal receptor and ameliorates defects of Arabidopsis mutants with an impaired PEX4 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme

Peroxisomes house critical metabolic reactions. For example, fatty acid β-oxidation enzymes, which are essential during early seedling development, are peroxisomal. Peroxins (PEX proteins) are needed to bring proteins into peroxisomes. Most matrix proteins are delivered to peroxisomes by PEX5, a receptor that forms transient pores to escort proteins across the peroxisomal membrane. After cargo delivery, a peroxisome-tethered ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (PEX4) and peroxisomal ubiquitin-protein ligases mono- or polyubiquitinate PEX5 for recycling back to the cytosol or for degradation, respectively. Arabidopsis pex mutants β-oxidize fatty acids inefficiently and therefore fail to germinate or grow less vigorously. These defects can be partially alleviated by providing a fixed carbon source, such as sucrose, in the growth medium. Despite extensive characterization of peroxisome biogenesis in Arabidopsis grown in non-challenged conditions, the effects of environmental stressors on peroxisome function and pex mutant dysfunction are largely unexplored. We surveyed the impact of growth temperature on a panel of pex mutants and found that elevated temperature ameliorated dependence on external sucrose and reduced PEX5 levels in the pex4-1 mutant. Conversely, growth at low temperature exacerbated pex4-1 physiological defects and increased PEX5 levels. Overexpressing PEX5 also worsened pex4-1 defects, implying that PEX5 lingering on the peroxisomal membrane when recycling is impaired impedes peroxisome function. Growth at elevated temperature did not reduce the fraction of membrane-associated PEX5 in pex4-1, suggesting that elevated temperature did not restore PEX4 enzymatic function in the mutant. Moreover, preventing autophagy in pex4-1 did not restore PEX5 levels at high temperature. In contrast, MG132 treatment increased PEX5 levels, implicating the proteasome in degrading PEX5, especially at high temperature. We conclude that growth at elevated temperature increases proteasomal degradation of PEX5 to reduce overall PEX5 levels and ameliorate pex4-1 physiological defects. Our results support the hypothesis that efficient retrotranslocation of PEX5 after cargo delivery is needed not only to make PEX5 available for further rounds of cargo delivery, but also to prevent the peroxisome dysfunction that results from PEX5 lingering in the peroxisomal membrane.
Approach-Span Failure of the Hoan Bridge as a Case Study for Engineering Students and Practicing Engineers

On the morning of December 13, 2000, all three steel girders in a three-girder approach span of the Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, fractured. Two of the three girders had a fracture propagate completely through the 3.05-m-deep girders. The bridge was adequately designed and fabricated according to existing code specifications. The failure was caused by the geometric arrangement of the lateral bracing connection into the web of the girders that created a highly constrained condition and prevented yielding of the girder web when overloaded (a situation known as constraint-induced fracture). Other brittle fractures had been observed in steel bridges and ship structures in the United States, which also resulted from this condition. However, the Hoan Bridge attracted more publicity as it was near collapse. The failure of this bridge can serve as a case study for students and professionals. This paper describes the failure and its causes and suggests engineering lessons to be learned. The unique details of the failure offer the opportunity to promote critical thinking and problem solving at levels appropriate to undergraduate students, graduate students, and practitioners, through investigating the cause of failure, emphasizing the lessons learned, and highlighting the resulting change to engineering practice through modifications to code provisions.
THE EFFECT OF TWO CORTIN-LIKE COMPOUNDS UPON THE BODY WEIGHT AND WORK PERFORMANCE OF ADRENALECTOMIZED RATS

THE EXPERIMENTAL results reported in this paper show a difference in the effect of II desoxycorticosterone and of 17-hydroxy-IIdehydrocorticosterone both upon body weight and upon the capacity to continue work, so that the conelusion has been reached that these compounds may have different physiologic properties. Heron, Hales and Ingle (I) described a procedure for subjecting anesthetized rats to continuous stimulation of the loaded gastrocnemius muscle. Under suitable experimental conditions a high rate of work output is sustained for several days even when no food is admiiv istered. Hales, Haslerud and Ingle (a) found that muscular responsiveness was lost within a few hours following the removal of the adrenal glands but that the ability to continue work was maintained by the administration of potent extracts of the adrenal. Ingle (3) adapted this procedure as a method for the assay of adrenal cortical extract (cortin). There were four considerations
Depletion of Wee-1 Kinase Is Necessary for both Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vpr- and Gamma Irradiation-Induced Apoptosis

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protein R (Vpr) induces G2 arrest, and prolonged G2 arrest leads to apoptosis. We find that in HeLa cells the cell cycle regulatory kinase, Wee-1, is depleted following prolonged G2 arrest induced by Vpr. Of note, small interfering RNAs directed to Wee-1 triggered apoptosis, suggesting a direct role for Wee-1 in apoptosis. In support of this hypothesis, overexpression of Wee-1 suppressed Vpr-mediated apoptosis. Importantly, similar results were observed with cells induced to undergo apoptosis gamma irradiation. Thus, Wee-1 may serve as a key regulator of both HIV type 1 Vpr- and gamma irradiation-mediated apoptosis and possibly serve as a general regulator linking the cell cycle to some pathways of apoptosis.
Dynamic resource allocation for wireless LAN interconnect

Sustaining the intuitive commander and providing him with a "common view of the battlefield", and the ability to make decisions within the enemy's decision cycle and beyond his contact range, requires the ability to "Digitize the Battlefield" and to "Own the Spectrum"-enabling our forces to reliably communicate at will. Such a communications system needs to provide seamless, timely, robust, reliable, and survivable communications over widely dispersed geographical areas. Support must be provided for a vast complex of sensors as well as supporting command and control for multiple command layers. The Post Cold War/21/sup st/ Century Land Combat doctrine emphasizes mobility and C2OTM (Command and Control On The Move), requiring the communication network to dynamically respond to continuously changing network topology. Based upon previously published work in survivable communications networks, this paper discusses the evaluation of resource allocation schemes applicable to wireless LAN bridge interconnects. Specifically, the paper addresses allocatable channel design applicable to the distribution of available bandwidth to disadvantaged network users based on their immediate data transmission requirements. Key here is the size and number of channels to be included in the design, and the control and management of the available bandwidth within the constraints imposed by the tactical scenario. Simulation results are described which delineate the trade-offs leading to an architecture providing optimum performance. >
Lung transplantation in a Jehovah's Witness

Patients of the Jehovah's Witness faith generally do not accept transfusions of blood or blood products but some will accept cadaveric organs for transplantation. We report a left single lung transplantation in a 48-year-old Hispanic female with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and secondary pulmonary hypertension. We believe this is the first reported case of lung transplantation in a Jehovah's Witness.
An efficient multiprocessor implementation scheme for real-time DSP algorithms

An algorithm to derive minimum-processor implementation for real-time DSP algorithms is proposed. In order to make the number of possible schedules finite and to assure the optimal schedule within the search space, the authors define a novel notion of cutoff time. All the possible schedules can find an equivalent schedule that finishes before cutoff time. Next, they apply all efficient heuristic periodic scheduling and fully static allocation algorithms derived from two generic problem solving heuristics developed in a branch of artificial intelligence research called planning. Extensive benchmarks have been tested and the results are most encouraging. >
Vocational development of professional women: A review

Abstract Women have become an important part of the labor force in this country, and work is central in redefining roles of contemporary women. There is a small but growing body of research relevant to the vocational development of professional women. This article reviews studies investigating women's interest, value, personality, background, and current life situation factors as these variables relate to their vocational development and behavior. In many instances results were inconsistent; this may be due to inadequate definition of the construct “career orientation” or the fact that a large proportion of the studies have focused on college women who had not yet experienced marriage or regular employment.
Adaptive critic designs

We discuss a variety of adaptive critic designs (ACDs) for neurocontrol. These are suitable for learning in noisy, nonlinear, and nonstationary environments. They have common roots as generalizations of dynamic programming for neural reinforcement learning approaches. Our discussion of these origins leads to an explanation of three design families: heuristic dynamic programming, dual heuristic programming, and globalized dual heuristic programming (GDHP). The main emphasis is on DHP and GDHP as advanced ACDs. We suggest two new modifications of the original GDHP design that are currently the only working implementations of GDHP. They promise to be useful for many engineering applications in the areas of optimization and optimal control. Based on one of these modifications, we present a unified approach to all ACDs. This leads to a generalized training procedure for ACDs.
Incremental Parsing by Modular Recurrent Connectionist Networks

We present a novel, modular, recurrent connectionist network architecture which learns to robustly perform incremental parsing of complex sentences. From sequential input, one word at a time, our networks learn to do semantic role assignment, noun phrase attachment, and clause structure recognition for sentences with passive constructions and center embedded clauses. The networks make syntactic and semantic predictions at every point in time, and previous predictions are revised as expectations are affirmed or violated with the arrival of new information. Our networks induce their own "grammar rules" for dynamically transforming an input sequence of words into a syntactic/semantic interpretation. These networks generalize and display tolerance to input which has been corrupted in ways common in spoken language.
Simultaneous removal of phosphorus and EfOM using MIEX, coagulation, and low-pressure membrane filtration.

The feasibility of using magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) treatment, in-line alum coagulation, and low-pressure membrane filtration was investigated for the simultaneous removal of total phosphorus (TP) and effluent organic matter (EfOM) from biologically treated wastewater. The focus was also placed on minimizing fouling of polyvinylidene fluoride and polyethersulfone membranes, which are the most commonly used low-pressure membranes in new and retrofit wastewater treatment plants. MIEX alone was effective for the removal of EfOM, and MIEX plus a small alum dose was very effective in removing both EfOM and TP. MIEX removed phosphorus, but organic acids in EfOM were preferentially removed, and the effects of competing anions on the removal of EfOM were insignificant. All the pretreatment strategies decreased the resistance to filtration. The greatest decrease in fouling was achieved by using MIEX (15 mL L−1) plus a very low dose of alum (∼0.5 mg Al L−1). Sweep floc coagulation using alum and without MIEX also...
Modeling alpha-particle-induced accelerated soft error rate in semiconductor memory

This paper presents an analytic integral model for the accelerated soft error rate (ASER). The model took into account the physical and structural parameters as four alpha incident angles and an angular function. Two angles were related to charge collection and another two angles and an angular function were related to measurement configuration and how much alpha flux arrived. The model was verified by measuring ASER in 8 M static RAM. The model could explain ASER characteristics of saturation, exponential dependence, and vanishing with the power supply voltage. The model also reproduced an extraordinary phenomenon that there is a maximum in ASER with respect to the thickness of the capping layer on the static RAM.
Investment, Valuation, and Growth Options ∗

We develop a model in which the opportunity for a firm to upgrade its technology to the frontier (at a cost) leads to growth options in the value of the firm. Variation in the technological frontier leads to variation in firm value that is unrelated to current cash flow and investment, though variation in firm value anticipates future upgrades and investment. We simulate this model and show that in situations in which growth options are important, regressions of investment on Tobin’s Q and cash flow yield small positive coefficients on Q and larger coefficients on cash flow, consistent with the empirical literature. We also show that when growth options are important, the volatility of firm value can substantially exceed the volatility of cash flow, as empirically documented by Shiller (1981) and West (1988).
Dispersion Limitations of Ultra-Wideband Wireless Links and Their Compensation Via Photonically Enabled Arbitrary Waveform Generation

In this study, we present compression of ultra-wideband RF waveforms via photonic synthesis of phase pre-compensated waveforms. By exciting a dispersive wireless link (employing Archimedean spiral antennas) with variable-bandwidth excitation waveforms, we first demonstrate that such links exhibit a dispersion-limited output pulse duration. Subsequently, we utilize the RF spectral phase extracted from the impulse response of the link to create signals designed to negate the nonuniform phase response of the spiral antennas utilized in the link. Such waveforms remove the dispersion limitation and enable bandwidth-limited operation. We achieve compression to within a factor of two of the bandwidth limit for signals with bandwidths of 1-10 GHz at a center frequency of ~6 GHz. To our knowledge, this represents the first demonstration of dispersion pre-compensation for signals with fractional bandwidths exceeding 100%. Our technique is reprogrammable and may be extended to larger bandwidths and higher operational frequencies, making it an enabler for future radar and communication systems.
Monitoring for Antipsychotic Metabolic Effects in an Inpatient Setting

I practice at San Antonio State Hospital, a 301-bed facility for the seriously mentally ill in South Central Texas. About one out of three to one out of four of our patients have metabolic syndrome. Almost half have at least one component of metabolic syndrome. While I am describing my own inpatient practice's monitoring, most, if not all, of these suggestions would directly translate into other practice settings where antipsychotic medications are used. I would encourage any CPNP members with comments about metabolic monitoring to send an email to the CPNP list for discussion.
Adapted Verbal Feedback, Instructor Interaction and Student Emotions in the Landscape Architecture Studio

In light of concerns with architectural students’ emotional jeopardy during traditional desk and final-jury critiques, the authors pursue alternative approaches intended to provide more supportive and mentoring verbal assessment in landscape architecture studios. In addition to traditional studio-based critiques throughout a semester, we provide privately held, one-on- one feedback at the semester's close that follows a mentor–trainee model of purposeful interface and a vision of where the student is going. This article reports 82 landscape architecture students’ experience of this adapted verbal feedback. The findings suggest an overwhelming positive student experience, and we conclude that these sessions help balance the emotional challenge of architectural study with nurturing support. Furthermore, the students’ positivity was not influenced by their experiences in the previous class. We therefore conclude that the adapted feedback sessions provide appropriate closure, even when (perhaps particularly when) a student has had a negative emotional experience during the class.
Economic Stress and Cortisol among Postpartum Low-Income Mexican American Women: Buffering Influence of Family Support

Low-income Mexican American women experience significant health disparities during the postpartum period. Contextual stressors, such as economic stress, are theorized to affect health via dysregulated cortisol output. However, cultural protective factors including strong family support may buffer the impact of stress. In a sample of 322 low-income Mexican American women (mother age 18–42; 82% Spanish-speaking; modal family income $10,000–$15,000), we examined the interactive influence of economic stress and family support at 6 weeks postpartum on maternal cortisol output (AUCg) during a mildly challenging mother–infant interaction task at 12 weeks postpartum, controlling for 6-week maternal cortisol and depressive symptoms. The interaction significantly predicted cortisol output such that higher economic stress predicted higher cortisol only among women reporting low family support. These results suggest that family support is an important protective resource for postpartum Mexican American women experien...
Anthostomella formosa var. abietis var. nov. and notes on Apiorhynchostoma

Anthostomella formosa var. abietis var. nov. is described from Abies foliage in Oregon. Anthostomella brachystoma is considered to be a synonym of Apiorhyn- chostoma tumulatum. The taxonomic affinities of Apio- rhynchostoma are discussed.
Amodal causal capture in the tunnel effect.

In addition to identifying individual objects in the world, the visual system must also characterize the relationships between objects, for instance when objects occlude one another or cause one another to move. Here we explored the relationship between perceived causality and occlusion. Can one perceive causality in an occluded location? In several experiments, observers judged whether a centrally presented event involved a single object passing behind an occluder, or one object causally launching another (out of view and behind the occluder). With no additional context, the centrally presented event was typically judged as a non-causal pass, even when the occluding and disoccluding objects were different colors—an illusion known as the ‘tunnel effect’ that results from spatiotemporal continuity. However, when a synchronized context event involved an unambiguous causal launch, participants perceived a causal launch behind the occluder. This percept of an occluded causal interaction could also be driven b...
Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to the Action of Penicillin.

ConclusionStrains of Staphylococcus aureus vary only slightly in their susceptibility to the antibacterial action of penicillin. By growing the organism in increasing concentrations of penicillin o...
Platelet activating factor antagonist enhances lung preservation in a canine model of single lung allotransplantation.

Optimal techniques for lung preservation are yet to be defined. Platelet activating factor is a phospholipid released by a variety of cells and produces pulmonary abnormalities similar to posttransplantation pulmonary dysfunction. We investigated the strength of the effect of the platelet activating factor antagonist BN 52021 as compared with that of deferoxamine, an iron chelator previously shown to improve lung preservation. Differential lung function and pulmonary hemodynamics were used to assess preservation after a 6-hour period of cold ischemic storage in a modified canine model of left lung allotransplantation. Thirty size- and weight-matched mongrel male dogs were used for 15 transplant procedures randomized to one of three preservation techniques. The University of Wisconsin solution was used as the basic flush solution for all experimental animals. BN 52021 was added to the flush solution in one group (10 mg/kg, n = 5) and deferoxime in another group (10 mg/kg, n = 5). No additives were used for the control animals (n = 5). BN 52021 and deferoxime were administered to respective donor animals 30 minutes before organ harvesting (10 mg/kg) and to recipient animals 30 minutes before reperfusion (10 mg/kg). The pulmonary artery flush solution was administered (40 ml/kg) over 4 minutes. Recipient animals received double-lumen endotracheal tubes and were monitored with balloon-tipped, flow-directed catheters in both pulmonary arteries and dual-angle ultrasonic flow probes around each pulmonary artery. Solid-state high-fidelity micromanometers were used to measure pressures in the pulmonary artery, the left atrium, and the left ventricle. Systemic arterial, right and left pulmonary venous, and mixed venous blood samples were analyzed at 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after transplantation. Pulmonary venous oxygen tension of the transplanted lung for the control group was 202 +/- 81 mm Hg versus 282 +/- 53 mm Hg for the BN 52021 group 6 hours after transplantation (p less than 0.05). Pulmonary vascular resistance of the transplanted lung for the control group was 319 +/- 54 dynes.sec.cm-5 versus 149 +/- 71 dynes.sec.cm-5 for the BN 52021 group (p less than 0.05). Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed on segments of upper and lower lobes of the native and transplanted lung from recipient animals to determine total lung water content. The BN 52021 group had a total lung water content of 57.3% as compared with 51.9% for the deferoxime group (p = not significant) and 88.6% for the control group (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Governing water augmentation under the Watercourse Convention

ABSTRACTThis article evaluates how the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses can be interpreted and implemented to facilitate responsible and equitable implementation of water augmentation technology. Innovation in technology that has the potential to augment water supplies, like desalination or cloud seeding, may aggravate or mitigate conflict over shared international rivers or lakes. On the one hand, international water disputes may arise due to water scarcity, and augmentation mitigates scarcity. On the other hand, wealthy nations may secure increased water supplies through technological innovations while externalizing the costs of those innovations to poorer nations.
Valproate and EEG Abnormalities

The effect of valproate on EEG epileptic abnormalities was investigated at the Institute of Neurophysiology, Genoa, Italy.
Increased Bone Marrow Erythroid Precursors Is Associated with Shorter Survival in Low-Grade Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

According to the FAB and WHO classifications, the diagnosis of acute erythroid leukemia is based on the numbers of nucleated red blood cells and myeloid blasts in the bone marrow. The WHO classification recognizes two types of acute erythroid leukemia; M6A with 51–80% erythroid precursors and with 20% or more of the non-erythroid precursors being myeloid blasts; and M6B with more than 80% of the nucleated cells in the bone marrow consisting of erythroid precursors, regardless of the percentage of the myeloid blasts. Previous studies have shown that many cases of acute erythroid leukemia arise in patients with a history of myelodysplastic syndrome and in other cases acute erythroid leukemia is associated with significant dysplastic features. The significance of the number of erythroid precursors is not well known in the myelodysplastic syndromes. In the present study, we included 617 consecutive patients with low-grade myelodysplasia (482 patients with refractory anemia [RA] and 135 patients with refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts [RARS]). Among this group, 82 patients with 50% or more of erythroid precursors had shorter survival compared with 535 patients with less than 50% erythroid precursors (P
Strategies and Tools for Learning to Think

This chapter presents strategies and associated digital tools that help learners think and avoid shortfalls in thinking. These strategies include: questioning, peer discussions, solving authentic problems, thinking about thinking, seeing the big picture, brain training, media literacy, and memory support. The chapter ends with a section on artificial intelligence or machines that could potentially “think” as a window into what the future might bring.
From Asset Price Bubbles to Liquidity Traps

This paper argues that it is useful to divide the cyclical behavior of modern mixed capitalist economies into four phases: expansion, upper turning period, recession, and lower turning period. This characterization of the business cycle is more demanding and potentially more beneficial than the one currently used by the National Bureau of Economic Research, which identifies only the peak and trough of the cycle. To illustrate the value of this approach, the recent global financial crisis is examined by reviewing the expansion driven by the development of the housing bubble. Then, the beginning of the crisis is regarded as the upper turning period. The initial financial instability evolved into a full crisis during the Great Recession due to its impact on unemployment. Finally, the ending of the crisis during the challenging period of the liquidity trap is analyzed as the lower turning period. Orthodox economic analysis offers valuable insights for both the expansion and recession phases, but can also benefit from behavioral finance and Minsky’s analysis, when fluctuations in the economy extend beyond the business cycle and become financial crises. For financial crises, the upper turning period is Minskyan and the lower turning period is an updated version of the Keynesian-Minskyan liquidity trap. Taleb’s concavity and convexity properties of the upper and lower turning periods also offer valuable insights.
Identification of the proteome complement of humanTLK1 reveals it binds and phosphorylates NEK1 regulating its activity

ABSTRACTThe Tousled Like kinases (TLKs) are involved in numerous cellular functions, including the DNA Damage Response (DDR), but only a handful of substrates have been identified thus far. Through a novel proteomic screen, we have now identified 165 human proteins interacting with TLK1, and we have focused this work on NEK1 because of its known role in the DDR, upstream of ATR and Chk1. TLK1 and NEK1 were found to interact by coIP, and their binding is strengthened following exposure of cells to H2O2. Following incubation with doxorubicin, TLK1 and NEK1 relocalize with nuclear repair foci along with γH2AX. TLK1 phosphorylated NEK1 at T141, which lies in the kinase domain, and caused an increase in its activity. Following DNA damage, addition of the TLK1 inhibitor, THD, or overexpression of NEK1-T141A mutant impaired ATR and Chk1 activation, indicating the existence of a TLK1>NEK1>ATR>Chk1 pathway. Indeed, overexpression of the NEK1-T141A mutant resulted in an altered cell cycle response after exposure of...
A D-enantiomer of the antimicrobial peptide GL13K evades antimicrobial resistance in the Gram positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus gordonii

Antimicrobial peptides represent an alternative to traditional antibiotics that may be less susceptible to bacterial resistance mechanisms by directly attacking the bacterial cell membrane. However, bacteria have a variety of defense mechanisms that can prevent cationic antimicrobial peptides from reaching the cell membrane. The L- and D-enantiomers of the antimicrobial peptide GL13K were tested against the Gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus gordonii to understand the role of bacterial proteases and cell wall modifications in bacterial resistance. GL13K was derived from the human salivary protein BPIFA2. Minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined by broth dilution and a serial assay used to determine bacterial resistance. Peptide degradation was determined in a bioassay utilizing a luminescent strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to detect peptide activity. Autolysis and D-alanylation-deficient strains of E. faecalis and S. gordonii were tested in autolysis assays and peptide activity assays. E. faecalis protease inactivated L-GL13K but not D-GL13K, whereas autolysis did not affect peptide activity. Indeed, the D-enantiomer appeared to kill the bacteria prior to initiation of autolysis. D-alanylation mutants were killed by L-GL13K whereas this modification did not affect killing by D-GL13K. The mutants regained resistance to L-GL13K whereas bacteria did not gain resistance to D-GL13K after repeated treatment with the peptides. D-alanylation affected the hydrophobicity of bacterial cells but hydrophobicity alone did not affect GL13K activity. D-GL13K evades two resistance mechanisms in Gram-positive bacteria without giving rise to substantial new resistance. D-GL13K exhibits attractive properties for further antibiotic development.