cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solution structure and backbone dynamics of an omega-conotoxin precursor.

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to characterize the solution structure and backbone dynamics of a putative precursor form of ω-conotoxin MVIIA, a 25-amino-acid residue peptide antagonist of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. The mature peptide is found in the venom of a fish-hunting marine snail Conus magus and contains an amidated carboxyl terminus that is generated by oxidative cleavage of a Gly residue. The form examined in this study is identical to the mature peptide except for the presence of the unmodified carboxy-terminal Gly. This form, referred to as ω-MVIIA–Gly, has previously been shown to refold and form its disulfides more efficiently than the mature form, suggesting that the presence of the terminal Gly may favor folding in vivo. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure determination indicated that the fold of ω-MVIIA–Gly is very similar to that previously determined for the mature form, but revealed that the terminal Gly residue participates in a network of hydrogen bonds involving both backbone and side chain atoms, very likely accounting for the enhanced stability and folding efficiency. 15N relaxation experiments indicated that the backbone is well ordered on the nanosecond time scale but that residues 9–15 undergo a conformational exchange processes with a time constant of ∼35 microseconds. Other studies have implicated this segment in the binding of the peptide to its physiological target, and the observed motions may play a role in allowing the peptide to enter the binding site
Measuring school climate in high schools: a focus on safety, engagement, and the environment

BACKGROUND: School climate has been linked to multiple student behavioral, academic, health, and social-emotional outcomes. The US Department of Education (USDOE) developed a 3-factor model of school climate comprised of safety, engagement, and environment. This article examines the factor structure and measurement invariance of the USDOE model. METHODS: Drawing upon 2 consecutive waves of data from over 25,000 high school students (46% minority), a series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses examined the fit of the Maryland Safe and Supportive Schools Climate Survey with the USDOE model. RESULTS: The results indicated adequate model fit with the theorized 3-factor model of school climate, which included 13 subdomains: safety (perceived safety, bullying and aggression, and drug use); engagement (connection to teachers, student connectedness, academic engagement, school connectedness, equity, and parent engagement); environment (rules and consequences, physical comfort, and support, disorder). We also found consistent measurement invariance with regard to student sex, grade level, and ethnicity. School-level interclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.04 to.10 for the scales. CONCLUSIONS: Findings supported the USDOE 3-factor model of school climate and suggest measurement invariance and high internal consistency of the 3 scales and 13 subdomains. These results suggest the 56-item measure may be a potentially efficient, yet comprehensive measure of school climate. Language: en
Carvedilol Inhibits Reactive Oxygen Species Generation by Leukocytes and Oxidative Damage to Amino Acids

Background—The purpose of this study was to test whether carvedilol has an antioxidant effect in humans in vivo. Methods and Results—We administered 3.125 mg of carvedilol twice daily to normal subjects for 1 week. ROS generation by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mononuclear cells fell from 314±183.43 and 303±116 mV to 185±157 and 189±63 mV (P<0.025), respectively. m-Tyrosine fell from 4.24±0.99 to 4.03±0.97 ng/mL (P=0.01), and o-tyrosine fell from 4.59±1.10 to 4.24±0.99 ng/mL (P=0.004) in the absence of a change in phenylalanine concentrations. Conclusions—We conclude that carvedilol significantly inhibits ROS generation by leukocytes and oxidative conversion of phenylalanine to m- and o-tyrosine.
Smyth Chicken Melanocyte Autoantibodies: Cross‐Species Recognition, In Vivo Binding, and Plasma Membrane Reactivity of the Antiserum

Smyth line (SL) chickens, which develop a depigmenting disorder similar to human vitiligo, produce circulating anti-melanocyte antibodies (Austin, L.M. et al., (1992) The detection of melanocyte autoantibodies in the Smyth chicken model for vitiligo. Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol., 64:112-120). In order to characterize these autoantibodies, we studied the reactivity of cultured chicken, mouse, and human melanocytes, as well as frozen sections of chicken feather follicles and embryonic eyes, against SL serum, employing indirect immunofluorescence. Light Brown Leghorn (LBL) serum was used as a negative control. Chicken (SL and LBL), mouse, and human melanocytes exhibited greater fluorescence with SL serum than with LBL serum (up to a 1:60,000 dilution). The fluorescent pattern was predominant along the perimeter of the cells, suggesting plasma membrane staining. Fluorescence-activated flow cytometry analysis and immunocytochemical localization at the ultrastructural level using intact chicken cells supported this hypothesis. Melanocytes were readily stained in cryosections of regenerating feather follicles and embryonic eyes incubated with SL, but not LBL, serum. In addition, amelanotic melanocytes in albino chicken feathers reacted with SL serum. SL serum also preferentially stained cells emigrating from cultured avian neural tubes and within the dermis of the proliferative germ of regenerating feather follicles suggesting that melanoblasts express the antigens. We conclude that Smyth line serum contains melanocyte autoantibodies that cross-react with mouse and human melanocytes, are able to bind to pigment cells within tissues, and recognize antigens expressed in the cytoplasm and on the surface of melanocytes and melanoblasts.
Evaluation of Pavement Curing Effectiveness and Curing Effects on Concrete Properties

This research was conducted to understand the effects of curing compounds and their application methods on concrete properties. In the research, three different curing compounds were selected and applied to lab and field concrete at different times. The curing compounds were applied with two methods—single- and double-layer sprays. Moisture content, electrical conductivity, sorptivity, and strength tests were performed to investigate the effects of curing on concrete properties, especially on the near-surface layer concrete properties. The experimental results indicated that for pavement without curing compound, the properties of the near-surface layer were considerably different from those of the internal layers. By decreasing the differences between the layers through proper curing technique, a pavement would have more uniform properties throughout its depth. Based on the results, the test methods for quantifying concrete curing effectiveness were also evaluated.
Cognitive neuroscience: Time, space and memory

The brain's hippocampus contains place cells, which encode an animal's specific location. The finding that hippocampal neurons may also respond to time could provide information on the coding of episodic memories.
Resolution of monoterpene enantiomers by gas chromatography

Abstract Enantiomeric monoterpenes can be resolved by gas chromatography on conventional capillary and packed columns following conversion to diastereomeric ket
Resistance to Meloidogyne arenaria in Arachis spp. and the Implications on Development of Resistant Peanut Cultivars

Abstract Peanut root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood race 1) is a serious pathogen in commercial peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production. There is no peanut cultivar with resistance to this nematode. The primary constraint in the development of resistant cultivars has been the absence of identified sources of resistance in A. hypogaea and related wild species. The objective of this study was to examine the wild Arachis spp. collection of the Coastal Plain Experiment Station for sources of resistance to M. arenaria. Thirty-six wild Arachis spp. genotypes were compared with the susceptible cv. Florunner for resistance to M. arenaria reproduction and galling response in two greenhouse tests. A. monticola Krap. et Rig., a member of the second-order gene pool, was the only wild species tested which did not have a gall index and egg-mass index significantly lower than that of A. hypogaea. There was no significant difference between A. monticola and A. hypogaea for the number of eggs per root...
Social tourism participation: The role of tourism inexperience and uncertainty

Abstract Social tourism initiatives tend to facilitate access to tourism for groups who would otherwise be financially unable to participate in holidays. The tourism products offered in social tourism vary between individual and group holidays, and day trips. This paper presents the findings of an exploratory, qualitative study with social tourism beneficiaries and social support workers, which explores via interviews and focus groups how these different tourism products can be tailored most effectively to the needs to the beneficiaries. The findings of the study highlight the important role of travel inexperience, and associated uncertainty, in travel decisions made by this target group. The findings show that (public sector or charitable) providers of social tourism can offer the most tailored and potentially most cost-effective tourism product to each beneficiary by closely considering previous travel experience and uncertainty levels before departure.
Systemic Sclerosis and Lupus: Points in an Interferon-Mediated Continuum

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem autoimmune disease of connective tissue characterized by immune dysregulation, obliterative vasculopathy, and fibrosis of skin and internal organs (1–3). Using microarrays, 4 previous studies have investigated the transcript profiles of SSc peripheral blood (PB) cells or their subpopulations. We first reported that, compared with PB cells from controls, PB cells from patients with early SSc have a distinct transcript pattern that includes dysregulation of interferon (IFN)–inducible genes (4). This observation was replicated by other investigators in PB mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (5), monocytes, and CD4+ T cells (6) and PB cells (7) from SSc patients. None of those studies found a correlation between the IFN signature and the clinical or serologic subtypes of SSc. Due to the heterogeneity of SSc, those studies may not have been sufficiently powered to assess subtle clinical and serologic differences in the transcript profile. However, Bos et al (7) reported that the expression levels of 5 IFN-inducible gene transcripts measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in an extended group of 43 SSc patients were higher in patients without anticentromere antibodies (ACAs). Several studies have shown a striking pattern of up-regulated type I IFN–inducible genes in PBMCs from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (8–10). In particular, the presence of anti-Ro, anti–U1 RNP, anti-Sm, and anti–double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) is significantly associated with a high IFN score in SLE (11). SSc shares several similarities with SLE, such as autoantibodies directed against nuclear antigens, and in some patients, overlapping clinical features. At the gene level, there is emerging evidence that SSc and SLE share common genetic associations, such as IRF5 (12–14) and PTPN22 (15–17). The risk alleles of the IRF5 and PTPN22 genes have been linked to higher serum levels of IFNα in SLE patients (18,19). Despite the evidence of similarities between SSc and SLE, a direct comparison of the transcript profiles of patients with the 2 diseases has not been undertaken. We now report the results of such a comparative study of a large number of SSc patients with SLE patients and controls. We analyzed our results using conventional methods and a newly described modular analysis framework (10). We examined whether SSc patients with certain genetic, clinical, or serologic features are more likely to have a transcript profile that is similar to that of SLE. The results place a subset of SSc patients alongside SLE in the continuum of IFN-mediated autoimmune diseases.
Macromolecules and behavior: effects of behavioral training on transfer RNAs of goldfish brain

Goldfish were taught a new swimming skill by attaching a float to their ventral surface. The effect of training on the in vitro aminoacyl acceptor activity of tRNA from whole brain was studied. The results were as follows: (1) The total functional amount of tRNA remained constant 0–8 h after training. (2) Consistent and significant increases in leucyl-tRNA activity were observed in trained fish 2–8 h post-training. (3) This change was not caused by the (a) stress or intense physical exertion attendant to training, (b) minor surgical procedures involved, or (c) variation in the enzyme preparations employed. (4) No differences were found in the activities of several other tRNA species tested. Both our behavioral and biochemical findings correspond well with those reported by Shashoua18,19. The implications of these findings with respect to learning are discussed.
Enhanced Phosphorylation of Src Family Kinase Substrates Containing SH2 Domain Binding Sites

Src family protein-tyrosine kinases possess several modular domains important for regulation of catalytic activity and interaction with potential substrates. Here, we explore interactions between the SH2 domain of Hck, a Src family kinase, and substrates containing SH2 domain-binding sites. We have synthesized a series of peptide substrates containing a high affinity SH2 domain binding site, (phospho)Tyr-Glu-Glu-Ile. We show that the presence of this sequence in a peptide results in a dramatic increase in the phosphorylation rate of a second tyrosine located at the N terminus. Enhanced phosphorylation is not a consequence of stimulation of enzymatic activity by C-terminal tail displacement but is imparted instead by a 10-fold reduction in the K m of the phosphotyrosine-containing peptide when compared with a control. The isolated catalytic domain of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Abl does not show a preference for the pYEEI motif-containing peptide; however, the preference is restored when the SH2 domain of Src is introduced into Abl. Furthermore, enhanced phosphorylation is dependent on the distance between SH2 domain-binding site and phosphorylatable tyrosine, with the minimum distance requirement being seven amino acids. Reversing the orientation of the pYEEI motif with respect to the substrate sequence decreases phosphorylation by down-regulated Hck, but both orientations are utilized equally well by activated Hck. We discuss the possible implications of these results for processive phosphorylation of substrates in vivo by Src family kinases.
Economic costs of linguistically alternative communication systems: The case of Uzbekistan∗

Before engaging in empirical treatment inherent in the title, I will outline the model on which my analysis is based. I begin with the observation that natural languages are codes which groups of people have conveniently adopted for the purposes of communicating and of information storing. The costs, both explicit and implicit, associated with a given code can be divided into two categories.
Intravenous opioid dosing and outcomes in emergency patients: a prospective cohort analysis.

Abstract Objectives Pain management in emergency department (ED) patients is variable and often inadequate. This study sought to (1) describe the variability in intravenous opioid dosing and (2) compare the outcomes that result from the most commonly prescribed opioid doses. Methods This prospective cohort study enrolled emergency patients who were prescribed intravenous morphine or hydromorphone as their initial analgesic. Subjects were interviewed at the time of opioid administration and 1 to 2 hours after opioid administration. Outcomes included the numeric pain score change (using a 0-10 scale), the proportion achieving a 50% pain score reduction, and the proportion developing side effects. Logistic regression was used to assess the effects of demographic, clinical, and treatment variables on outcomes. Results Six hundred ninety-one patients were analyzed. Initial equianalgesic dosages varied by a factor of 27 (from 1 mg morphine to 4 mg hydromorphone). Opioid dose titration occurred in only 21% of patients. Outcomes were similar across the range of opioid dosages before and after adjusting for potentially confounding variables. Among patients not taking opioids at home who received a total of 4 mg of morphine or less. 48% achieved at least a 50% pain score reduction and 60% did not want additional analgesics. Conclusions We found marked opioid dosing variability and infrequent opioid dose titration. A substantial number of ED patients with severe pain responded well to relatively low opioid dosages. Improved ability to predict opioid dose requirements and strategies that increase the use of opioid dose titration in ED patients are needed.
D.P.22 Muscle ultrasound as a consistent imaging marker for RYR1 related myopathies

Abstract Skeletal muscle ultrasound applications in neuromuscular medicine are increasing since high frequency transducers are capable of generating images of much improved resolution. Similar to MRI, diagnostic ultrasound imaging phenotypes are being identified, such as the finding of a “central cloud” in the rectus femoris of patients with collagen six myopathy. Here we describe an ultrasound imaging phenotype that is characteristic for RYR1 related myopathies: sparing of the rectus femoris next to a significantly increased echogenicity in the vastus lateralis. RYR1 related myopathies include the histological phenotypes of central core disease, multi-minicore disease, centro-nuclear myopathy. In addition to these established histological phenotypes muscle biopsy findings may be non-specific with a myopathic or dystrophic appearance and the presence of significant fibroadipose tissue. Clinically, autosomal dominant forms more commonly present with static or slowly progressive proximal weakness involving hip and axial muscles but can also be severe in infancy. Recessive forms typically present with more severe early hypotonia and weakness, and with extraocular muscle involvement in a number of patients. This clinical and histopathological variability can give rise to diagnostic confusion and delay. Muscle MRI has been shown to demonstrate relative sparing of the rectus femoris in patients with RYR1 mutations, but the acquisition of such an imaging study often requires sedation in this younger patient population that may also be at risk for malignant hyperthermia. Muscle ultrasound can demonstrate the same imaging phenotype via a quick, painless and highly tolerable bedside procedure. Here we present 15 patients with genetically proven RYR1 related myopathies with a variety of clinical, histological and genetic findings all demonstrating a consistent an ultrasound imaging phenotype. This easily obtained imaging finding may thus help to guide diagnostic considerations.
Saving the Fisherman as Well as the Fish: Conservation and Commercial Rivalry in Maine's Lobster Industry, 1872–1933

Historians of Progressive Era conservation measures have focused on the efforts of government resource experts to free environmental management decisions from special-interest groups. Professor Judd argues that this emphasis has obscured the importance of economic factions in securing conservation legislation reflecting their various interests. His examination of Maine's ongoing efforts to manage its lobster industry demonstrates that scientific conservation codes received legislative sanction only when they could be made to conform to the commercial needs of the industry's competing groups.
Bimeasures in Banach spaces

In this paper we study integration with respect to a bimeasure with finite semivariation. The bimeasures as well as the functions to be integrated, take on their values in Banach spaces.
Cytopathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A personal perspective of recent developments

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disease that primarily involves the motor neuron system. Despite this disease having been studied for over 100 years, its etiology is still unknown and no specific diagnostic laboratory test is available. The diagnosis of ALS is therefore based on clinical and/or neuropathological findings with loss and degeneration of the large anterior horn cells of the spinal cord being the principal and most salient features. Several symposia and workshops on the cytopathology of ALS were held within the last 2 year period, which reflects the many new and important developments taking place. Although loss of motor neurons has been well-known for many years, cytoplasmic alterations of the lower motor neurons have been studied in detail only in recent years by applying immunohistochemical and electron microscopic procedures. The purpose of this review is to introduce some of the novel findings associated with lower motor neuron alterations.
Optical modulation of light transmission in GaAs doping superlattices

We report results of measurements of optically modulated optical transmittance of GaAs doping superlattices. The data extend over a spectral region of 1.39–1.58 eV. We find that the peak transmission modulation reaches 21% for a 2.6‐μm‐thick sample and an optical pump power density of <10 W/cm2 at room temperature. We interpret our data in the framework of a simple semiclassical model that includes the Franz–Keldysh effect both below and above the bulk GaAs band gap, as well as band filling and band shrinkage effects.
The role of surface acidity in adsorption of aromatic sulfur heterocycles from fuels

Abstract The objective of this work is to investigate the relationship between sulfur adsorption capacity and surface acidity of supported silver oxide adsorbents from liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Inherently acidic supports such as TiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 developed sulfur adsorption capacity following activation in air at temperatures above 350 °C. Addition of Ag to these supports further increased sulfur adsorption capacity by ∼40%. Efforts were made to understand the thermal activation process and the sulfur adsorption mechanism. Breakthrough characteristics of various hetero aromatic molecules revealed that the strengths of adsorption increased with electronegativities of the heteroatoms. Sulfur adsorption capacities of these adsorbents were progressively reduced when poisoned with increasingly basic molecules. Surface acidity was measured using NH 3 chemisorption and titration with 2,6-lutidine. Interactions of probe molecules on acid centers were also observed from IR spectroscopy where both Bronsted and Lewis centers were observed. However interactions with 2,6-lutidine and trimethyl chlorosilane indicated that the active centers involved in sulfur adsorption were primarily Bronsted in nature. A clear correlation between activation temperature, surface acidity, and sulfur adsorption capacity was established for both blank and Ag loaded samples.
Holoprosencephaly: Association with interstitial deletion of 2p and review of the cytogenetic literature

Chromosome analysis with high-resolution banding showed a small de novo interstitial deletion of chromosome 2(p21----p22.2) in an infant with holoprosencephaly. This is the first such observation. There is a well-known association with abnormalities of chromosome 13 (most commonly trisomy 13, but also dup(13q) and del(13q) and chromosome 18 (most often del(18p), but also trisomy 18). Review of the literature also showed duplications of 3p and deletions of 7q to be causes of the holoprosencephaly defect.
Effects of Eubacterium coprostanoligenes and Lactobacillus on pH, Lipid Content, and Cholesterol of Fermented Pork and Mutton Sausage‐Type Mixes

: Pork and mutton sausage-type mixes produced using Eubacterium coprostanoligenes with or without Lactobacillus as starter culture showed changes in pH, cholesterol and lipid content. Viability of E. coprostanoligenes was assessed by culturing samples from each treatment and analyzing for coprostanol, a cholesterol metabolite. The pH and/or cholesterol decreased (P < 0.05) in the sausage-type mixes inoculated with E. coprostanoligenes or Lactobacillus or their combinations. Variability in lipid content was observed among and within treatments. Very low (6.2 μg/g dry matter) concentrations of coprostanol were produced in sausage-mixes and cultures except when inoculated with 2.0 g of E. coprostanoligenes (from 8.2 to 130.6 μg/g dry matter).
Results of adjunctive spinal drainage and/or left subclavian artery bypass in thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Background The adjunctive use of a preoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drain and/or left subclavian artery (LSA) bypass for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) to minimize neurologic complications remains controversial. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of a prospective database of patients undergoing TEVAR from April 2005 through August 2012. CSF drainage was performed under local anesthesia in a staged fashion prior to TEVAR. When possible, LSA bypass was also performed prior to TEVAR. Adjunctive procedures were not performed for patients in emergent operations. Preoperative characteristics, operative variables, outcomes, neurologic complications, and survival status were recorded. Results Ninety patients underwent TEVAR at our institution during the study period with a mean follow-up of 23 months (IQR 7–50). Mean age was 67.3 years (SD 13.8) and 48 (53%) were male. One (1%) patient had a connective tissue disorder. Sixty-six (73%) patients presented with degenerative aneurysm, 13 (14%) with chronic type B dissection, 6 (7%) with pseudoaneurysm, and 5 (6%) with traumatic aortic pathology. Fourteen (16%) had acute ruptures. Sixty-seven (74%) patients underwent adjunctive procedures for TEVAR including a CSF drain ( n = 48, 53%), LSA bypass ( n = 7, 8%), or both ( n = 12, 13%). CSF drain placement was uncomplicated in all instances. Cerebral ischemia was seen in 2 (2%), which recovered with further surgical therapy. Embolic stroke was appreciated in 1 (1%). Delayed spinal cord ischemia (SCI) occurred in 3 (3%) patients and was reversed with hypertensive therapy in 2 to ambulatory status at discharge. The 30-day permanent SCI and mortality were 0.9% and 3%, respectively. CSF drain placement was associated with improved 1-year survival ( P = 0.03). Conclusions Our use of adjunctive procedures for TEVAR demonstrated better SCI results compared with those of prior reports of selective CSF drainage when SCI arises. Our approach was associated with improved 1-year survival. Preoperative CSF drain placement allows for rapid, intensive therapy for SCI and should be considered when clinically feasible.
Efficiency of Photosynthesis in a Chl d-Utilizing Cyanobacterium is Comparable to or Higher than that in Chl a-Utilizing Oxygenic Species

The cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina uses chlorophyll d to carry out oxygenic photosynthesis in environments depleted in visible and enhanced in lower-energy, far-red light. However, the extent to which low photon energies limit the efficiency of oxygenic photochemistry in A. marina is not known. Here, we report the first direct measurements of the energy-storage efficiency of the photosynthetic light reactions in A. marina whole cells, and find it is comparable to or higher than that in typical, chlorophyll a-utilizing oxygenic species. This finding indicates that oxygenic photosynthesis is not fundamentally limited at the photon energies employed by A. marina, and therefore is potentially viable in even longer-wavelength light environments.
Characterization of physical activity and sitting time among patients on hemodialysis using a new physical activity instrument.

Objectives Physical activity questionnaires usually focus on moderate to vigorous activities and may not accurately capture physical activity or variation in levels of activity among extremely inactive groups like dialysis patients. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Three dialysis facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Subjects Sixty-eight prevalent hemodialysis patients. Intervention We administered a new physical activity questionnaire designed to capture activity in the lower end of the range, the Low Physical Activity Questionnaire (LoPAQ). Main Outcome Measure Outcome measures were correlation with a validated physical activity questionnaire, the Minnesota Leisure Time Activity (LTA) questionnaire and with self-reported physical function (physical function score of the SF-36) and physical performance (gait speed, chair stand, balance, and short physical performance battery). We also determined whether patients who were frail or reported limitations in activities of daily living were less active on the LoPAQ. Results Sixty-eight participants (mean age 59 ± 14 years, 59% men) completed the study. Patients were inactive according to the LoPAQ, with a median (interquartile range) of 517 (204-1190) kcal/week of physical activity. Although activity from the LTA was lower than on the LoPAQ (411 [61-902] kcal/week), the difference was not statistically significant (P = .20), and results from the 2 instruments were strongly correlated (rho = 0.62, P Conclusions The LoPAQ performed similarly to the Minnesota LTA questionnaire in our cohort despite being shorter and easier to administer.
Characteristic temperature in magnetically doped amorphous semiconductors

The introduction of magnetic moments such as Gd into amorphous Si produces dramatic effects in electrical transport below a characteristic temperature ${T}^{*}$. Below ${T}^{*}$, the conductivity of the magnetically doped systems is strongly suppressed compared to equivalent nonmagnetic Y doped samples, and displays enormous negative magnetoresistance. ${T}^{*}$ occurs at relatively high temperatures $(\ensuremath{\sim}10\char21{}100\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K})$ and decreases sharply with increasing Gd concentration, passing smoothly through the metal-insulator transition. In ternary samples with both Gd and nonmagnetic Y, ${T}^{*}$ decreases strongly with increasing metallization, whether due to the addition of Gd alone or a mixture of Gd and Y. These results cannot be explained by simple magnetic interaction models, suggest the crucial role of electron screening and are reminiscent of mass enhancement behavior.
Compositional and size-dependent spectroscopic shifts in charged self-assembledInxGa1−xAs/GaAsquantum dots

Atomistic pseudopotential many-body calculations of excitonic (X) recombination in charged, self-assembled ${\mathrm{In}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{s}/\mathrm{G}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{s}$ dots predict and explain remarkable trends. (i) The redshift of the exciton energy upon negative charging is rapidly reduced with increasing the In content and increasing the dot height. The opposite behavior is observed upon positive charging. (ii) The recombination peak energies of different charge states show intriguing symmetries and alignments, e.g., ${X}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ aligns with ${X}^{2\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${X}^{3\ensuremath{-}}$ aligns with ${X}^{4\ensuremath{-}}.$ (iii) The ${X}^{3\ensuremath{-}}$ spectrum shows that a triplet initial state is lower in energy for flat dots (yielding two spectral lines), whereas the singlet state is lower in energy for taller dots (yielding a single line). These trends are explained theoretically in terms of a crossover occurring at a critical In concentration and dot height at which the electron wave functions becomes more localized than the hole wave functions.
Complementary ensemble clustering of biomedical data

The rapidly growing availability of electronic biomedical data has increased the need for innovative data mining methods. Clustering in particular has been an active area of research in many different application areas, with existing clustering algorithms mostly focusing on one modality or representation of the data. Complementary ensemble clustering (CEC) is a recently introduced framework in which Kmeans is applied to a weighted, linear combination of the coassociation matrices obtained from separate ensemble clustering of different data modalities. The strength of CEC is its extraction of information from multiple aspects of the data when forming the final clusters. This study assesses the utility of CEC in biomedical data, which often have multiple data modalities, e.g., text and images, by applying CEC to two distinct biomedical datasets (PubMed images and radiology reports) that each have two modalities. Referent to five different clustering approaches based on the Kmeans algorithm, CEC exhibited equal or better performance in the metrics of micro-averaged precision and Normalized Mutual Information across both datasets. The reference methods included clustering of single modalities as well as ensemble clustering of separate and merged data modalities. Our experimental results suggest that CEC is equivalent or more efficient than comparable Kmeans based clustering methods using either single or merged data modalities.
Significant venous thromboembolism caused by pelvic lymphocysts: diagnosis and management.

Abstract Lymphocysts are an infrequent complication of pelvic lymphadenectomy, but may lead to serious complications. Previous reviews have discussed the etiology, diagnosis, and management of lymphocysts. We present three cases of venous thromboembolic complications secondary to venous compression and stasis from a lymphocyst. Evaluation of venous dynamics by impedance plethysmography differentiates between venous obstruction and/or lymphedema. The subsequent management of extrinsic venous obstruction with and without thrombosis is discussed.
Child Computer Use and Anthropometry

Despite all of the literature that exists on ergonomic considerations for adult computer use, there is a deficit of established objective data on how computer input device designs may affect children. By applying the relevant anthropometric data from children to the design of computer input devices, we have developed recommendations which may lead to new standards for child- and gender-specific computer input device designs, specifically, regarding mouse size (length, width, height, switch location), and mouse-button activation forces. Trends yielded four major size delineations based on age and gender, which happen to correspond well with the conventional grouping of grades in school in the United States. The data support that children and adult females may benefit from stature proportionate mice based on anthropometry.
A graphical analysis of profit variances under absorption and direct costing

Abstract This note describes a graphical approach that illustrates how the different treatment of fixed manufacturing overhead affects absorption and direct costing profit variances when actual sales and production volumes deviate from the planned ones.
Inferior Vena Cava Filter Fracture: Potential Liability for Emergency Physicians

A 58-year-old female presented to the emergency department complaining of low back pain following a motor vehicle crash. She denied loss of consciousness, headache, or extremity weakness. Her past medical history was notable for inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement many years ago due to multiple pregnancy-associated deep venous thromboses (DVTs). Physical exam was unrevealing: no spinal point tenderness and a nonfocal neurologic exam. Posteroanterior lumbosacral radiograph demonstrated fracture and displacement of the posterolateral IVC filter leg (Figure 1). Computed tomography showed the filter leg to be perforated through the IVC (Figure 2). After consultation with the interventional radiologist, it was decided that the risks of retrieval outweighed potential benefits, and the patient was discharged for outpatient monitoring of the fractured limb. Open in a separate window Figure 1 Posterior to anterior view of lumbosacral spine. Arrowhead demonstrates fracture and displacement of the posterolateral inferior vena cava filter leg.
Optimal and Heuristic Application-Aware Oblivious Routing

Conventional oblivious routing algorithms do not take into account resource requirements (e.g., bandwidth, latency) of various flows in a given application. As they are not aware of flow demands that are specific to the application, network resources can be poorly utilized and cause serious local congestion. Also, flows, or packets, may share virtual channels in an undetermined way; the effects of head-of-line blocking may result in throughput degradation. In this paper, we present a framework for application-aware routing that assures deadlock freedom under one or more virtual channels by forcing routes to conform to an acyclic channel dependence graph. In addition, we present methods to statically and efficiently allocate virtual channels to flows or packets, under oblivious routing, when there are two or more virtual channels per link. Using the application-aware routing framework, we develop and evaluate a bandwidth-sensitive oblivious routing scheme that statically determines routes considering an application's communication characteristics. Given bandwidth estimates for flows, we present a mixed integer-linear programming (MILP) approach and a heuristic approach for producing deadlock-free routes that minimize maximum channel load. Our framework can be used to produce application-aware routes that target the minimization of latency, number of flows through a link, bandwidth, or any combination thereof. Our results show that it is possible to achieve better performance than traditional deterministic and oblivious routing schemes on popular synthetic benchmarks using our bandwidth-sensitive approach. We also show that, when oblivious routing is used and there are more flows than virtual channels per link, the static assignment of virtual channels to flows can help mitigate the effects of head-of-line blocking, which may impede packets that are dynamically competing for virtual channels. We experimentally explore the performance tradeoffs of static and dynamic virtual channel allocation on bandwidth-sensitive and traditional oblivious routing methods.
The Effects of Desiccation on Excitation Energy Transfer at Physiological Temperatures Between the Two Photosystems of the Red Alga Porphyra perforata

Summary Room temperature fluorescence emission and excitation spectra were measured for wet and desiccated thalli of the red alga Porphyra perforata. Porphyra that had been desiccated in the dark showed a reduced efficiency of photosystem II trap closure along with a decrease of the photosystem II fluorescence emission at 687 nm and a concomitant increase of the far red photosystem I fluorescence emission band. Porphyra responds to desiccation by producing a strong increase in the distribution of excitation energy from phycoerythrin of photosystem II to photosystem I that may be mediated by increases in α, the fraction of light that is transferred initially to photosystem I, and increases in spillover or both. No photosystem II trap closure was seen at room temperature in Porphyra that had been dried in strong light, indicating that the photosystem II traps were closed under these conditions. Light dried Porphyra showed a complete loss of the 687 nm fluorescence band compared to dark dried Porphyra . This loss of the 687 nm band was accompanied by a proportionate loss of the 737 nm band. In light dried Porphyra F o is not affected, only part of F v was eliminated. This observation suggests that reaction center quenching of fluorescence in photosystem II may account for these observations. Increased energy transfer to photosystem I in the desiccated state may protect the more photolabile reaction centers of photosystem II from photochemical damage when these plants are subjected to desiccation and high light intensities.
Consumer empowerment model: from unspeakable to undeniable

Purpose – Although consumer sophistication and empowerment is on the rise as a result of the digital revolution, there is insufficient academic exploration with the aim of understanding how this empowerment functions on the internet. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by proposing a new conceptual model in light of available literature.Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a deep and broad literature review and discussion regarding possible consumer power sources on the internet to develop the proposed conceptual model, which is defined as consumer empowerment model (CEM). The components of the model are discussed in detail to reveal possible links, consumer empowerment actualization, and impacts on consumer markets on the internet.Findings – The components of CEM are structured in light of the theory of reasoned action's main proposals as follows: “Perceived consumer power,” “Perceived consumer trust,” “Attitudinal consumer power” and finally “Behavioral consumer power.” E...
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Extent of Trauma Exposure as Correlates of Medical Problems and Perceived Health Among Women with Childhood Abuse

This study examined the relative contributions of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and the extent of trauma exposure as factors contributing to the current health status of childhood abuse survivors. Sixty-seven women with a history of familial childhood abuse (sexual and/or physical) and twenty-nine women with no abuse history were assessed on two distinct aspects of health status: reported number of medical problems and perceptions of overall health. Women with abuse were found to have a greater number of medical problems and poorer perceived physical well-being than the no abuse comparison group. Regression analyses of the women with abuse histories revealed that trauma exposure was a stronger predictor than PTSD symptoms of medical problems. PTSD symptoms, however, were better predictors of the experience of physical well-being than trauma exposure. These results suggest that the nature of a traumatic exposure, especially when there is repeated, cumulative trauma may be more significant to medical problems than the psychological symptoms of PTSD. Perceived health, however, appears to be predominantly influenced by psychological factors, suggesting the importance of these variables in the quality of life of multiply traumatized women.
Chemical Wave Packet Propagation, Reflection, and Spreading

Chemical waves can travel in well-defined packets. Two types of phase wave packets, distinguished by whether their component waves move toward or away from an initiating perturbation, are found in a reaction−diffusion model with a finite wave instability. Their propagation, reflection, and spreading are studied numerically and analytically. Reflection from a boundary or collision of two identical packets can result in standing waves. When two wave packets collide, they can interact briefly and then pass through each other without modification. The phase velocity, group velocity, and spreading velocity calculated by linear stability analysis with the inclusion of quadratic dispersion agree well with the results of numerical simulations.
Ar degassing and the origin of the sialic crust

Abstract The degassing of radiogenic Ar40 is defined as coherent if only the Ar40 associated with parent K is degassed as K is transferred from the mantle to crust. Coherency predicts, for a 4.55 b.y. Earth, a sialic crust with 2.50 per cent K, using only the Ar content of the atmosphere and present crust (from a Hurley and Rand, 1969, age distribution). This is a maximum limit to K content of the sialic crust if the age of the Earth is no younger than 4.55 b.y. A K content of the sialic crust of 1.9 per cent (Holland and Lambert, 1972) implies an efficiency (E) less than 100 per cent for K transfer from oceanic basalt to sialic crust in subduction zones and/or some non-coherent (preferential) degassing of Ar from the mantle. K, Ar coherence for mantle differentiation to crust is supported however, by the agreement of the predicted oceanic He flux and radiogenic He-Ar ratios of volcanic gases with the observed limits if the best estimate of K, U, Th influx rates at oceanic ridges is used. Assuming K, Ar coherence, various sea-floor spreading rates as functions of time, and limiting K contents of the sialic crust, computed models give E and the portion of the sialic crust derived from melting oceanic basalt in subduction zones. Except for models with very high spreading rates in the Precambrian, they also predict that a significant part of the sialic crust was derived from vertical differentiation of the mantle, presumably early in Earth history. The results are in accord with Armstrong's model of an early sialic crust that is recycled to give a Hurley-type age pattern with the proviso that the ‘vertical’ sial Kυis formed early in Earth history for models with a high Kυcomponent. The coherent K, Ar models with preferred estimates of input parameters are also consistent with a limited mixing model (only old and new sial are equilibrated) for Sr isotopic evolution and the probable average Sr 87 Sr 86 ratio now of the sialic crust.
Platelet-activating factor mediates pulmonary macromolecular leak following intestinal ischemia-reperfusion.

Abstract Platelet-activating factor (PAF) causes hypotension, cardiac dysfunction, increased vascular permeability, intestinal necrosis, and pulmonary microvascular injury when administered experimentally. Receptor antagonism attenuates or abolishes many of these effects in animal models of bacteremia, endotoxemia, and intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). The purpose of this study was to further examine the role of PAF in intestinal I/R-induced pulmonary injury using the PAF receptor antagonist WEB 2086. Sprague–Dawley rats were anesthetized and cannulated for measurement of mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output. Laparotomy and thoracotomy were performed and the superior mesenteric artery was occluded for 45 min and reperfused for 120 min. Sham animals were treated similarly but without I/R. In the treatment groups, iv WEB 2086 (20 mg/kg/1 cc NS) was administered as a bolus 15 min prior to reperfusion. Hemodynamic and videomicroscopic data were obtained before and during ischemia, and after reperfusion at 30-min intervals. Alveolar leak index was calculated off-line via computer analysis of videomicroscopic images. Intestinal I/R caused pulmonary macromolecular leakage and hemodynamic instability. Treatment with WEB 2086 attenuated the pulmonary leak during the entire reperfusion period but improved cardiac output only during the first 30 min of reperfusion and had no effect on other hemodynamic variables. These data suggest that PAF is an important, but not the exclusive, mediator of pulmonary injury after intestinal I/R. PAF appears to play a minor role in the hemodynamic derangements observed after rat intestinal I/R.
DDT contamination of feed grains and forages in Pennsylvania.

It is well known that very small quantities of DDT may be found in meat, milk and poultry products (1, 2). These range from the lowest limits of confidence of the analytical method upward with an occasional instance of residues of 1 p.p.m. or higher. It is also recognized that DDT contained in and ingested with feed may accumulate in animal or poultry body tissues or be excreted in eggs or milk.