cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Climate Risk Materiality and Firm Risk

Managers are required to disclose material climate risk (CR) in Form 10-K, but their decision whether or not to disclose is confounded by the lack of consensus on whether CR is material to the firms, as well as uncertainty about enforcement of disclosure regulations. Using the SASB Materiality Map™ to impute market expectations of CR materiality, we test whether the association between disclosing CR in 10-Ks and firm risk (proxied by cost of equity (COE)) varies with market expectations of CR materiality. Using S&P 500 firms’ CR disclosures over nine years, we find that disclosing firms’ COE is 27 bps lower than nondisclosers overall. In industries where the market expects CR to be material, disclosing firms’ COE is 50 bps lower than nondisclosers, while in industries where the market does not expect CR to be material, disclosing firms’ COE is 23 bps lower than nondisclosers. Our results indicate that market expectations of CR materiality allow inferences about the credibility of managers’ CR disclosure decisions.
Abstract 73: Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-2 Expression derived From Microglia Contributes to Neurological Recovery in Experimental Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose: We previously reported that triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) expression promotes post-ischemic phagocytosis and leads to neurological recovery. Howev...
Opportunities for nurses to support recovery after pediatric injury: Relationships among posttraumatic stress, hope, and quality of life.

Purpose Nurses are at the forefront of children's postinjury recovery; this unique role provides an opportunity for nurses to recognize and screen for symptoms that may interfere with children's quality of life (QOL). As such, aims of the present investigation were to explore selected variables (e.g., posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS], hope) that have the potential to impact QOL after pediatric injury, with a larger goal of contributing to recommendations for nursing practice to support children's full (physical and emotional) recovery during the peritrauma period following injury. Design and methods Sixty children (aged 7-13) completed measures of PTSS, hope, and QOL while receiving injury treatment. Results PTSS significantly predicted concurrent QOL, β = -0.42, p = 0.001. Exploratory results demonstrated that specific PTSS clusters (re-experiencing [ β = -0.39; p = 0.003), avoidance [ β = -0.35; p = 0.009], arousal [ β = -0.34; p = .012]) all significantly predicted QOL. Specific PTSS were explored. Hope (overall, domains of pathways, general agency, goal setting) did not significantly predict concurrent QOL. Practice implications While this study is exploratory and more research is needed, current results suggest that nurses' awareness of PTSS (including symptoms of re-experiencing, avoidance, arousal) may help medical teams in identifying children that are at risk for impaired functional recovery (e.g., QOL) during the peritrauma period. Nurses may want to consider advocating for the integration of PTSS screeners into standard medical care. In addition, nurses have the opportunity to serve as key medical professionals in the delivery of trauma-informed medical care (which aims to minimize further trauma or re-traumatization). Nursing leadership may want to consider offering training in how nurses can identify and respond to children who have experienced an injury (such as trauma-informed care).
Abstracts from the Proceedings of the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Association for Surgical Education (ASE)

Twenty-four of 85 submitted abstracts were selected for podium presentation at the 31st annual meeting of the Association for Surgical Education, held in Boston, Massachusetts. Based on popular themes, 10 abstracts were chosen for publication under the auspices of the Alliance for Clinical Education. These abstracts have been modified to succinct, self-contained works that can be understood by those who have not attended the meeting or are from nonsurgical disciplines.
Northeast Asian Perspectives on China’s Belt Road Initiative: the View from South Korea

This article examines South Korea’s response to BRI, focusing on former President Park Geun-hye’s “Eurasia Initiative” as well as current President Moon Jae-In’s “New Southern Policy.” Given Beijing’s preoccupation with political and social stability both domestically as well as in neighboring countries, it argues that there is little doubt that for Beijing economic goals are subordinate components of broader national goals, which in turn formulate the basis for geopolitical calculations. BRI represents an attempt by Beijing’s leadership to shape the rules and norms governing the surrounding regions to better reflect their own preferences. Following Xi Jinping’s launch of BRI, Seoul announced the Eurasia Initiative (EAI) as its own vision for an East-West connection. In calling for a revival of the ancient Silk Road, President Park’s main goal was to foster a flow of economic, political, and social interaction from Europe though the Korean Peninsula. Her policy was driven primarily by political and security motives concerning the division of the Peninsula. Park’s successor, President Moon announced his own foreign policy initiative, the New Southern Policy (NSP), which seeks to strengthen relations with Southeast Asia while continuing to manage relations with Northeast Asia. While NSP at first sight might suggest a new policy direction, the article argues that both EAI and NSP ultimately have sought to change dynamics on the Korean Peninsula and work toward peace with the North. Both policies reflect the Korean fear of vulnerability to great power competition, seeking to foster relations with smaller powers so as to increase Seoul’s foreign policy leverage as a middle power.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Systemic Hypertension: Gut Dysbiosis as the Mediator?

Introduction:Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and systemic hypertension (SH) are common and interrelated diseases. It is estimated that approximately 75% of treatment-resistant hypertension cases have...
The (re)turn to aesthetics in Brazilian Cultural Studies

AbstractThis introduction offers a discussion of the important contributions made in essays by Maite Conde, Leila Lehnen, and Alfredo Suppia in Romance Quarterly’s special issue on Brazilian Cultur...
Different Yet Similar: The Educational Experiences of Latinx Male Students at Texas PWI, HSI, and HBCU Institutions:

This article explored Latino male students’ educational experiences at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI), Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and Historically Black College and University (HB...
A different approach to endpoint weak-type estimates for Calderon-Zygmund operators

Abstract We present a new proof of the classical weak-type ( 1 , 1 ) estimate for Calderon-Zygmund operators. This proof is inspired by ideas of Nazarov, Treil, and Volberg that address the non-doubling setting. An application to a weighted weak-type inequality is also given.
MAPE-K/MAPE-SAC: An interaction framework for adaptive systems with security assurance cases

Abstract Security certification establishes that a given system satisfies properties and constraints as specified in the system security profile. Mechanisms and techniques have been developed to assess if and how well the system complies with the properties, thereby providing a degree of confidence in the security certification. Generally, certification of security controls defined by NIST SP800-53 is performed at design time to provide confidence in a system’s trustworthiness to achieve the organization’s mission and business requirements. Assuring confidence in a self-adaptive system’s security profile is challenging when both functional and security conditions may change at run time. Static security solutions are insufficient, given that dynamic application of defense mechanisms often needs to dynamically adapt security functionality at run time as part of self-protection. This security adaptation may hinder maintaining functional constraints or vice versa. In addition, adaptation capabilities may give rise to the need for dynamic certification, which can be a difficult procedure given the complexity of the security dependencies. Confidence in an information system’s compliance with security constraints can be expressed using security assurance cases (SACs). NIST security controls are defined with a hierarchical structure that makes them amenable to being specified in terms of SACs. A collection of SACs for related security controls form a network that can be used to measure the confidence of security compliance through certification-based evidence. Once the system is deployed, environmental and functional uncertainties may require the coordination of functional and security adaptations. This paper introduces the MAPE-SAC, a security-focused feedback control loop, and its interaction with a MAPE-K, function and performance-focused control loop, to dynamically manage run-time adaptations in response to changes in functional and security conditions. We illustrate the use of both control loops and their interaction with an example of two independent systems that need to cooperate to facilitate autonomous search and rescue in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Erratum to: A monotonicity result for discrete fractional difference operators

The authors would like to correct the errors in the publication of the original article, and one of the authors also wants to update his present affiliation. The present affiliation and corrected details are given below for your reading: Unfortunately, Corollary 2.3 in the original paper was stated incorrectly; it should be noted that all other results in the original paper are correct as stated. The correct statement is as follows. Note that the only difference is the addition of the hypothesis Δy(0) ≥ 0. The exclusion of this hypothesis is the error Corollary 2.3 in the original paper. Corollary 2.3. Let y : N0 → R be a nonnegative function. Fix ν ∈ (1, 2) and suppose that Δ0y(t) ≥ 0 for each t ∈ N2−ν . If, in addition, it holds that Δy(0) ≥ 0, then y is increasing on N0. Due to this change, we should also point out that some of the results in Goodrich [1] must be slightly changed as well, namely if we wish to argue that ΔN−1y(t) ≥ 0 for all t ∈ N0, then we must require ΔN−1y(0) ≥ 0, and this was omitted in certain of the results—see, for example, [1, Theorem 2.6, Example 2.9, Corollaries 2.8, 2.10, and 2.11].
Provoking the Press: [MORE] Magazine and the Crisis of Confidence in American Journalism: Lerner, Kevin M. Columbia MO: University of Missouri Press, 2019, 277 pp., $35 (hardcover).

Kevin M. Lerner offers a thoughtful assessment of (MORE) Magazine’s cheeky critique of journalism in the 1970s, when “The Press” of the 1960s evolved into “The Media” of the 1980s. Provoking the Pr...
Oral Miltefosine as Salvage Therapy for Refractory Acanthamoeba Keratitis.

Purpose To report a case series of patients with treatment-resistant Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) using oral miltefosine, often as salvage therapy. Design Descriptive retrospective multi-center case series. Methods We reviewed 15 patients with AK unresponsive to therapy that were subsequently given adjuvant systemic miltefosine between 2011 to 2017. The main outcome measures were resolution of infection, final visual acuity, tolerance of miltefosine, and clinical course of disease. Results All patients were treated with biguanides and/or diamidines or azoles without resolution of disease prior to starting miltefosine. 11 of 15 patients retained count fingers or better vision, and all were considered disease-free at last follow up. 11 of 15 patients had worsening inflammation with miltefosine, with 10 of them improving with steroids. Six patients received multiple courses of miltefosine. Most tolerated oral miltefosine well, with mild gastrointestinal symptoms as the most common systemic side effect. Conclusion Oral miltefosine is a generally well-tolerated treatment adjuvant in patients with refractory acanthamoeba keratitis. The clinician should be prepared for a steroid-responsive inflammatory response frequently encountered during the treatment course.
The 'Big N' Audit Quality Kerfuffle

In a highly influential analysis, Lawrence, Minutti-Meza, and Zhang (2011), LMZ henceforth, report that statistically significant relations between a firm’s choice of a Big N auditor and three audit quality metrics (discretionary accruals, cost equity capital, and analyst forecast accuracy) turn “insignificant” after application of matching (propensity score and size) designs. LMZ, however, in interpreting these outcomes mistakenly identify the difference between statistically significant and statistically insignificant as significant (Gelman and Stern, 2006). This analysis re-examines the LMZ evidence descriptively. It finds that little descriptive support exists in the LMZ evidence for conclusive assertions regarding the “insignificance” of audit quality proxy level differences between Big N and non-Big N auditors. Nor does its evidence provide a reliable basis for thinking that propensity score matching based assessment of these differences produces substantially closer to zero inferences about them relative to inferences obtained from existent (inclusive of LMZ provided estimates) conventional non-matching design based multiple regression assessments. Indeed, the LMZ evidence is most appropriately interpreted as providing broad robustness support for the insights provided by such models.
Laryngeal Mask Use in the Neonatal Population: A Survey of Practice Providers at a Regional Tertiary Care Center in the United States.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of training, awareness, experience, and confidence of neonatal practice providers in the use of laryngeal mask (LM), and to identify the barriers in its implementation in the neonatal population. Study Design Descriptive observational study utilizing an anonymous online questionnaire among healthcare providers at the Oklahoma Children's Hospital who routinely respond to newborn deliveries and have been trained in the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). Participants included physicians, trainees, nurse practitioners, nurses, and respiratory therapists. Results Ninety-five participants completed the survey (27.5% response rate). The sample consisted of 77 NRP providers (81%), 11 instructors (12%), and 7 instructor mentors (7%). Among 72 respondents who had undergone LM training, 51 (54%) had hands-on manikin practice, 4 (4%) watched the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) NRP educational video, and 17 (18%) did both. Nurses (39 out of 46) were more likely to have completed LM training than were physicians (31 out of 47). With only 11 (12%) participants having ever placed a LM in a newly born infant, the median confidence for LM placement during neonatal resuscitation was 37 on a 0 to 100 scale. Frequently reported barriers for LM use in neonates were limited experience (81%), insufficient training (59%), preference for endotracheal tube (57%), and lack of awareness (56%). Conclusion While the majority of the neonatal practice providers were trained in LM placement, only a few had ever placed one in a live newborn, with a low degree of confidence overall. Future practice improvement should incorporate ongoing interdisciplinary LM education, availability of LM in the labor and delivery units, and promotion of awareness of LM as an alternative airway. Key Points
Development of an AMOEBA water model using GEM distributed multipoles

Distributed multipoles obtained from the Gaussian electrostatic model (GEM) have been previously shown to be amenable for use in the AMOEBA force field [JCTC(2012) 12, 5072]. GEM distributed multipoles (GEM-DM) were determined for several systems including water. This previous AMOEBA water model with GEM-DM included only monopoles on the hydrogens and multipoles up to quadrupoles on the oxygen. This model showed good agreement with experiment for several properties at room temperature, but not at higher temperatures. In this contribution, we present the development of an AMOEBA water model using GEM-DM with distributed multipoles for each atomic site up to the quadrupole level. Quantum mechanical energy decomposition analysis has been employed to compare each term of the force field for parametrization. The inclusion of higher-order multipoles on hydrogen atoms is shown to provide better agreement with experiment on a number of properties including liquid density ( $$\rho$$ ), enthalpy of vaporization ( $$\Delta H_\mathrm{vap}$$ ), heat capacity ( $$C_{p}$$ ), and self-diffusion coefficient (D) for a range of temperatures.
Effects of Leucine on in Vitro Protein Synthesis and Degradation in Rat Skeletal Muscles

Weanling rats were used to examine the role of leucine in in vitro protein turnover in skeletal muscles. In three experiments, rats were subjected to 24 or 72 hours of food deprivation or 5 days of consuming a protein-free diet or injection of streptozotocin. The soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles were removed and utilized for measures of protein synthesis or degradation by using the isolated, incubated muscle technique of Li et al. These experiments demonstrate that supplementation of the incubation media with 0.5 mM leucine stimulates protein synthesis in these catabolic muscles and that during total starvation the stimulation decreases as the severity of the condition increases. Leucine supplementation failed to affect protein degradation in these skeletal muscles. This study demonstrates that the branched-chain amino acid leucine has the potential to stimulate protein synthesis in skeletal muscles, at least under specific catabolic conditions, but does not affect protein degradation in skeletal muscles under the conditions studied.
A Dual CCD Mosaic Camera System Searching for Massive Compact Halo Objects (MACHOs)

The Macho Collaboration uses a dedicated 1.27-m telescope (The Great Melbourne Telescope) at Mount Stromlo to make photometric measurements of tens of millions of stars per night searching for the gravitational microlensing signature of MACHOs in the halo and disk of the Milky Way. A prime focus corrector and dichroic beamsplitter provide red (6300–7800 A) and blue (4500–6300 A) foci with one degree fields. A two by two mosaic of 2048 x 2048 pixel CCDs in each focal plane provides simultaneous images of 0.5 square degrees. By August of 1994, more than 20,000, 32 megapixel images will have been collected of fields in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), Small Magellanic Cloud and the bulge of the Milky Way. We have implemented an online analysis system which produces photometric reductions of a night’s data (five Gbyte of images) within 24 hours. This system allows us to identify and follow interesting events in real-time. In this search, we have identified more than 60,000 variable stars, and a preliminary analysis of their types and distribution will be presented. Microlensing events toward the LMC and the bulge have been discovered and detection efficiencies are being calculated to constrain the MACHO content of the Milky Way’s halo.
Cell growth factor activity. New quantitative method in cell culture assay.

Abstract This quantitative method for the assay of growth factor activity in vitro was developed empirically. Based on the empirical equations, it seems logical to express the cell growth rate by cell duplication frequency, f, and the growth factor activity by the normalized cell growth rate: 1 (T-T min ) . The latter is recommended as the basis of defining an arbitrary unit of growth factor activity. For the in vitro growth factor activity assay, the quantitative method based on the empirical equations has two important features: (1) it appears to express linearly the growth factor concentration in assay, and (2) it is not affected by the initial cell counts and the length of cultivation. The view that these two features overcome the apparent defects associated with the expression systems that use the cell count ratio and net cell count is discussed. The quantitative method based on the empirical equations has been verified with experiments and compared with expression systems using the cell count ratio and net cell count. The experiments, which verified the quantitative method based on the empirical equations, were carried out with four selected cell lines: aortic endothelial cells, mouse 3T3 fibroblasts, Walker 256 carcinoma, and Chang's liver cells, using serum as the source of growth factor(s) for all cell lines. Vitreous, retinal extract, and Walker 256 carcinoma extract were also used for aortic endothelial cells.
Self-starting passive harmonic mode-locked femtosecond Yb/sup 3+/-doped fiber laser at 1030 nm

We demonstrate the first self-starting passively harmonic mode-locked femtosecond Yb/sup 3+/-doped fiber laser with up to 585 MHz scalable repetition rate and >45 dB of supermode suppression. 400 mW average power, /spl sim/240 fs pulses is achieved after amplification. Pulse-to-pulse jitter is characterized by optical cross correlation.
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; report of a case.

Abstract A resume is presented of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. It is believed that there is excessive destruction of platelets by the spleen; that a substance is elaborated by the spleen which suppresses the formation of platelets from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow; that the existing capillary fragility requires more blood platelets to repair this defect. The diagnosis depends on decrease in the number of circulating platelets, prolonged clot retraction time, normal bone marrow except for occasional megakaryocytosis with agranularity of the cytoplasm of the megakaryocytes, and absence of known causative factors. The symptoms are caused by increased capillary permeability with repeated subcutaneous or submucosal hemorrhages varying from petechiae to large ecchymotic areas. There may be severe menorrhagia or prolonged occult loss of blood resulting in secondary anemia with concomitant bone marrow changes. The treatment is both medical and surgical.
Delay jitter control for real-time communication in a packet switching network

A study is made of the feasibility of bounding the delay jitter for real-time channels in a packet-switched store-and-forward wide-area network with general topology, extending the scheme proposed in previous papers. The authors prove the correctness of the solution, and study its effectiveness by means of simulations. The results show that the scheme is capable of providing a significant reduction in delay jitter, that there is no accumulation of jitter along the path of a channel, and that jitter control reduces the buffer space required in the network significantly. >
ON-LINE ALGORITHMS FOR TRUCK FLEET ASSIGNMENT AND SCHEDULING UNDER REAL-TIME INFORMATION

With greater availability of real-time information systems, algorithms are needed to support commercial fleet operators in their decisions to assign vehicles and drivers to loads in a dynamic environment. A rolling horizon framework for the dynamic assignment and sequencing of trucks to jobs consisting of picking up and delivering full truckloads when requests for service arise on a continuous basis is presented. A mathematical formulation of the problem faced at each stage is presented; its solution allows for the dynamic reassignment of trucks to loads, including diversion to a new load of a truck already en route to pick up another load, as well as for the dynamic resequencing of the order in which loads are to be served as new loads arrive and conditions unfold. Loads have associated time windows for pickup and delivery, and the objective function includes an explicit penalty cost for not serving a particular load. A solution algorithm is presented and implemented, and computational results are presen...
Variational calculations of electron impact excitation of He near the 2 S 3 and 2 S 1 thresholds

Matrix variational calculations, reported previously, of $e$-He inelastic scattering, have been extended into the near-threshold regions for excitation of the metastable states $2^{3}S$ and $2^{1}S$. Wigner cusp and rounded-step structures are computed at these thresholds for elastic and inelastic processes not involving the threshold channels. Excitation cross sections are computed for the threshold channels. The present computed results are compared with available experimental data, and found to be in general qualitative and quantitative agreement. A new estimate is derived of the rate coefficient for deactivation of $\mathrm{He}(2^{3}S)$ by thermal electrons: a constant value 2.525 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/sec for $T\ensuremath{\le}1053$ \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K.
Disorders of micturition Neuropharmacologic basis and results of drug therapy

The clinical use of various pharmacologic agents in problems of micturition is based on the new concepts of intrinsic urethrovesical innervation, presence and regional predominance of autonomic neuroreceptors, and experimental evidence of the effects of various drugs on the bladder and the urethra. A new concept, relating to the processes that control bladder filling and emptying, is coming into being and replacing the traditional concept based on anatomic grounds alone. On the basis of the published data, and from personal experience both experimental and clinical, pharmacologic agents singly or in combination can be effectively and safely used in various problems of micturition such as incontinence (enuresis, stress incontinence in women, postprostatectomy, urgency incontinence), and functional outflow obstruction caused by neurologic or non-neurologic disease processes.
Methods for comparing mutation rates using fluctuation assay data.

Abstract Comparing microbial mutation rates via the fluctuation assay protocol is an important routine task in the laboratory. However, methods for the comparison of mutation rates are still scarce and not well understood. This paper proposes new methods to address this situation. First, it provides a likelihood ratio test. Second, it explores the use of confidence intervals that can be readily computed. Third, it uses simulations to assess the new and existing methods. Both the likelihood ratio test and the use of confidence intervals were found to be superior to the general-purpose Mann–Whitney test, while the t-test was found to be unsuitable for fluctuation assay data. In addition, the method based on confidence intervals is suitable for comparison of experiments in which the terminal cell population sizes differ.
Differential sensitivity to dexamethasone suppression in an animal model of the DST

The present study reports the feedback suppression of basal and stimulated corticosterone secretion in rats by low doses of dexamethasone (DEX). DEX suppression of basal secretion 6 hr after administration was observed with doses as low as 0.005 mg/kg. The lowest dose capable of suppressing basal corticosterone levels for 24 hr with a return to normal values by 36 hr was established to be 0.025 mg/kg. The ability of DEX to decrease corticosterone responses to physostigmine, morphine, immobilization, and ether stress was determined. Although the magnitude of the rise in corticosterone did not differ significantly among these evocative stimuli, the degree to which DEX attenuated these responses varied. The response to morphine was completely prevented by 0.025 mg/kg and the rises following ether or immobilization were decreased significantly. In contrast, the response to physostigmine was not affected by DEX. With a higher dose of DEX (0.25 mg/kg), responses to morphine, ether, and immobilization were completely eliminated, but the response to physostigmine was only attenuated partway. The time course of the suppression in basal levels, the attenuation of several stimuli for corticosterone secretion, and the "escape" of physostigmine-induced corticosterone secretion resemble the clinical Dexamethasone Suppression Test of endogenous depression and suggest that this test might be useful in the study of animal models of depression.
Lithium insertion into the normal thiospinel CuZr2S4 and the defect thiospinel Cu0.05Zr2S4

Abstract Lithium was inserted into the normal thiospinel CuZr2S4 by chemical and electrochemical means up to a limiting composition Li1.0CuZr2S4. X-ray and neutron-diffraction data indicate that this lithiation is accompanied by displacement of the copper atoms from 8a tetrahedral sites to 16c octahedral sites of the spinel structure. The open-circuit voltage of a Li⋎Li+⋎CuZr2S4 cell (3.4V) was higher than that of a cell containing the corresponding copper titanium thiospinel as cathode (2.9 V). Unlike CuTi2S4, oxidative extraction of copper from CuZr2S4 required strong oxidising agents and could not be carried to completion. These surprising observations could be accounted for by a qualitative band model of CuTi2S4 and CuZr2S4. The lithium-ion mobility in LixCuZr2S4 (0⩽x⩽1.0) was found to be extremely low. Treatment of CuZr2S4 with a large excess of concentrated n-butyl lithium resulted in expulsion of almost all the copper as copper metal; subsequent treatment with iodine in acetonitrile enabled the defect thiospinel Cu0.05Zr2S4 to be isolated in high yield. The lattice parameter of Cu0.05Zr2S4 is 0.4% less than that of CuZr2 S4. Chemical and electrochemical lithiations of Cu0.05Zr2S4 were carried out up to the limiting composition Li1.95Cu0.05Zr2S4; the lithiation was found to be topotactic with a lattice expansion of 0.3% when fully lithiated. The open-circuit voltage of a Li ⋎ Li + ⋎ Li x Cu 0.05 Zr 2 S 4 cell varied smoothly from 2.32 V at x=0.25 to 1.55 V at x=1.9; the corresponding voltages for the defect titanium thiospinel are 2.50 V and 2.10 V. The lithium-ion mobility in LixCu0.05Zr2S4 is high.
Histochemical study of enzyme systems in frozen dried tissue.

Cytochrome oxidase, succinic dehydrogenase, phosphorylase and branching enzymes were consistently demonstrated in frozen dried paraffin embedded dog myocardium if the appropriate solvent for deparaffinization was used. No modification of the incubating medium was necessary for cytochrome oxidase. For succinic dehydrogenase a 0.8 M succinate solution was used instead of the usual 0.2 M solution and phenazine methosulfate had to be added to the incubating medium. No primer or activators were necessary for demonstration of phosphorylase and branching enzyme activities.
Processing and economic impacts of biomass delignification for ethanol production

The need for chemical pretreatment of biomass for the enzyme-catalyzed production of ethanol from lignocellulosic feedstocks has been established. Past research in the Alternative Fuels Division of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has focused on dilute-acid prehydrolysis processes as a means of hydrolyzing the hemicellulose component of biomass. Such processes provide a solid residue that is more easily hydrolyzable by cellulase enzymes, as well as a hemicellulose-sugar component that can be converted by pentose-fermenting microorganisms. This work investigates the technical and economic feasibility of including a separate biomass delignification/fractionation step, either in conjunction with dilute acid prehydrolysis or as an independent pretreatment process. These alternatives would not only solubilize the hemicellulose component of a biomass feedstock, but the lignin fraction as well. The resulting residual solids would be primarily composed of cellulose. The benefits found in converting such material to ethanol may include lower cellulase requirements, shorter bioconversion times, higher effective cellulose concentrations resulting in higher ethanol concentrations, smaller reactor volumes, and more efficient enzyme recycle options. A technoeconomic assessment indicates that improvements in these process parameters can lead to significant savings that can cover the costs of such process additions.
PDGFRA rearrangement leading to hyper-eosinophilia, T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, myeloproliferative neoplasm and precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The recent World Health Organization (WHO) classification clearly defined a new entity, named ‘myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms with eosinophilia and abnormalities of PDGFRA, PDGFRB and FGFR1’, as a category of three rare specific but related disease groups.1 They are characterized by the formation of a fusion gene encoding an aberrant tyrosine kinase and almost always associated with peripheral blood eosinophilia.1 Myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms with PDGFRA rearrangement are unique disease entities mostly characterized by the formation of a fusion gene FIP1L1–PDGFRA, as a result of a cryptic deletion at chromosome 4q12.1, 2 The disease presents generally as chronic eosinophilic leukemia but can also present as acute myeloid leukemia, T-lymphoblastic lymphoma or both simultaneously. Although the hematopoietic stem cell has been postulated as a possible cellular origin of the disease, clinical manifestations are apparently limited only to the myeloid and T-cell lineages both in chronic phase and in acute leukemic transformation.1, 2 In this study we present an extremely rare case, in which a single genetic abnormality (PDGFRA rearrangement) led to multiple morphologically and immunophenotypically distinct diseases, including T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, a myeloproliferative neoplasm with eosinophilia and abnormal mastocytosis, and a precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, thus involving all three major hematopoietic lineages, that is, myeloid, T-cell and B-cell in the same patient, truly representing a ‘pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell disorder.’
CLIMATOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SPRINGTIME LOWER TROPOSPHERIC AIRFLOW OVER CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

A climatology of springtime lower tropospheric airflow, as represented by 850 hPa observed winds and 1000 hPa geostrophic winds, is presented for central and eastern North America. The climatology is based on twice-daily grid-point values for 1969–1989 from the operational analyses for the Northern Hemisphere prepared by the USA National Weather Service's National Meteorological Centre. Sixteen-point wind roses are used to show the spatial and temporal distributions by direction category of wind frequency, average speed, and wind run. These analyses are supplemented by resultant wind vector and streamline maps for each month. Evident in the climatological distributions is the declining strength of the circulation from March to May, the northward migration and strengthing of the North Atlantic subtropical anticyclone in late spring, and the nocturnal strengthening and veering of southerly airflow over the southern Great Plains. Additionally, areas of cyclonic and/or anticyclonic resultant flow correspond well with earlier identified centres of cyclogenesis and anticyclogenesis. The results presented here may provide a useful climatological baseline for future studies involving lower tropospheric airflow.
On the Markov approximation of fatigue crack growth

Abstract Some recent developments on the probabilistic modelling of fatigue crack growth are reviewed here and special attention is given to several Markov approximations. A continuously parametered discrete Markov process model is then introduced. In terms of analytical sophistication, this model represents an approach between the Markov chain model and the continuous Markov process model used by other researchers. It is easy to apply and probabilistic quantities such as the distribution function of random time reaching a certain crack size, the probability of crack exceedance at a given time, constant-probability crack growth curves and generation of the crack sample functions can also be easily obtained. Three numerical examples are illustrated using the proposed model and the results are compared with available experimental data and other researchers' results.
Sporulation regulatory protein GerE from Bacillus subtilis binds to and can activate or repress transcription from promoters for mother-cell-specific genes.

The mother-cell line of gene expression during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis is a hierarchical cascade consisting of at least four temporally controlled gene sets, the first three of which each contain a regulatory gene for the next gene set in the pathway. gerE , a member of the penultimate gene set, is a regulatory gene whose product is required for the transcriptional activation of genes (coat protein genes cotB and cotC ) in the last gene set. The gerE product also influences the expression of other members of the penultimate gene set (coat protein genes cotA and cotD appear to be repressed and activated, respectively). We now report that the purified product of gerE (GerE) is a DNA-binding protein that adheres to the promoters for cotB and cotC . We also show that GerE stimulates cotB and cotC transcription in vitro by RNA polymerase containing the mother-cell sigma factor σ K . These findings support the view that GerE is a positively acting, regulatory protein whose appearance at a late stage of development directly activates the transcription of genes in the last known temporal class of mother-cell-expressed genes. In addition, GerE stimulates cotD transcription and inhibits cot A transcription in vitro by σ K RNA polymerase, as expected from in vivo studies, and, unexpectedly, profoundly inhibits in vitro transcription of the gene ( sigK ) that encodes σ K . The effects of GerE on cotD and sigK transcription are just the opposite of the effects exerted by the earlier-appearing, mother-cell regulatory protein SpoIIID, suggesting that the ordered appearance of first SpoIIID, then GerE, ensures proper flow of the regulatory cascade controlling gene expression in the mother cell.
Synthesis of tritium‐labelled enantiomers of myo‐inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate

Both natural D- and L-enantiomers of myo-Ins(1,4,5)P3 were synthesized with specific activities 14–16 Ci/mmol. A suitable inositol derivative was resolved as the diastereomeric camphanate esters, and the chiral inositol derivatives were oxidized to the protected inosose. Reduction of each chiral ketone with sodium borotritide and manipulation of protecting groups gave the enantiomeric [1-3H]-2,3,6-tri-0-benzyl-myo-inositols in 55% radiochemical yield. Phosphorylation with tetrabenzylpyrophosphate and complete hydrogenolytic debenzylation provided the separate D-myo and L-myo- [1-3H]-Ins(1,4,5)P3 enantiomers in 30% radiochemical yield.
Molecular Mechanism of Telokin-mediated Disinhibition of Myosin Light Chain Phosphatase and cAMP/cGMP-induced Relaxation of Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle

Phospho-telokin is a target of elevated cyclic nucleotide concentrations that lead to relaxation of gastrointestinal and some vascular smooth muscles (SM). Here, we demonstrate that in telokin-null SM, both Ca2+-activated contraction and Ca2+ sensitization of force induced by a GST-MYPT1(654–880) fragment inhibiting myosin light chain phosphatase were antagonized by the addition of recombinant S13D telokin, without changing the inhibitory phosphorylation status of endogenous MYPT1 (the regulatory subunit of myosin light chain phosphatase) at Thr-696/Thr-853 or activity of Rho kinase. Cyclic nucleotide-induced relaxation of force in telokin-null ileum muscle was reduced but not correlated with a change in MYPT1 phosphorylation. The 40% inhibited activity of phosphorylated MYPT1 in telokin-null ileum homogenates was restored to nonphosphorylated MYPT1 levels by addition of S13D telokin. Using the GST-MYPT1 fragment as a ligand and SM homogenates from WT and telokin KO mice as a source of endogenous proteins, we found that only in the presence of endogenous telokin, thiophospho-GST-MYPT1 co-precipitated with phospho-20-kDa myosin regulatory light chain 20 and PP1. Surface plasmon resonance studies showed that S13D telokin bound to full-length phospho-MYPT1. Results of a protein ligation assay also supported interaction of endogenous phosphorylated MYPT1 with telokin in SM cells. We conclude that the mechanism of action of phospho-telokin is not through modulation of the MYPT1 phosphorylation status but rather it contributes to cyclic nucleotide-induced relaxation of SM by interacting with and activating the inhibited full-length phospho-MYPT1/PP1 through facilitating its binding to phosphomyosin and thus accelerating 20-kDa myosin regulatory light chain dephosphorylation.
Anatomy and embryology of the biliary tract.

Working knowledge of extrahepatic biliary anatomy is of paramount importance to the general surgeon. The embryologic development of the extrahepatic biliary tract is discussed in this article as is the highly variable anatomy of the biliary tract and its associated vasculature. The salient conditions related to the embryology and anatomy of the extrahepatic biliary tract, including biliary atresia, choledochal cysts, gallbladder agenesis, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, and ducts of Luschka, are addressed.
Evidence for feature perturbations

Feature perturbations were proposed by Wolford (1975) to explain the pattern of errors generated by subjects in experiments involving speeded presentations. These experiments were carried out to test the notion of feature perturbations in a fairly direct fashion. The logic of the experiments involved the creation of an artificial alphabet in which feature perturbations, if they occurred, would lead to predictable error patterns. The results of the three experiments supported the notion of feature perturbations. Evidence was also found for errors which resulted from items that were correctly identified but that were reported in an incorrect order. These latter errors were shown to be distinct from errors resulting from feature perturbations.
A reversed-phase capillary ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) method for comprehensive top-down/bottom-up lipid profiling

Lipidomics is a critical part of metabolomics and aims to study all the lipids within a living system. We present here the development and evaluation of a sensitive capillary UPLC-MS method for comprehensive top-down/bottom-up lipid profiling. Three different stationary phases were evaluated in terms of peak capacity, linearity, reproducibility, and limit of quantification (LOQ) using a mixture of lipid standards representative of the lipidome. The relative standard deviations of the retention times and peak abundances of the lipid standards were 0.29% and 7.7%, respectively, when using the optimized method. The linearity was acceptable at >0.99 over 3 orders of magnitude, and the LOQs were sub-fmol. To demonstrate the performance of the method in the analysis of complex samples, we analyzed lipids extracted from a human cell line, rat plasma, and a model human skin tissue, identifying 446, 444, and 370 unique lipids, respectively. Overall, the method provided either higher coverage of the lipidome, greater measurement sensitivity, or both, when compared to other approaches of global, untargeted lipid profiling based on chromatography coupled with MS.
Horizontal Distribution and Density of Yeasts and Filamentous Fungi in Lake St. Clair Water

Yeasts and filamentous fungi were collected from 67 stations throughout Lake St. Clair. Organisms from water samples were isolated by filtration through membrane filters and cultured on a selective agar medium. Representative colonies of the predominant types of yeasts and filamentous fungi and certain bacteria were identified. Yeasts and yeast-like fungi, including Rhodotorula, Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aureobasidium species, were widely distributed in densities of 1 to 1,000 colony forming units per 100 mL. The presence of these quantities and types of yeasts in the water may be related to nutrients of municipal and industrial inputs into these waters.
Separation of anti-histone antibodies from nonimmune histoneprecipitating serum proteins, predominantly α2-macroglobulin

Abstract Calf thymus histories formed precipitates with human, rabbit, guinea pig, mouse, goat, or sheep sera regardless of whether the subjects were immunized with histones. Their order of activity in precipitation was: H4 >H3 >H2a >H2b ⪢ H1. Precipitation occurred with more than one serum protein fraction, but not with purified IgG, IgM, or crystallized albumin. The major nonimmune precipitant had the size and charge properties of α2-macroglobulin. Serological analysis with anti-α2-macroglobulin antiserum confirmed the presence of this protein in the precipitating fractions, and its selective depletion from histone-precipitated serum. Specific anti-histone antibodies were separated from the nonimmune precipitants by DEAE-cellulose chromatography.
Strenuous exercise simulating hepatic injury during vaccine trials

Abstract Three healthy young men participating in phase 1 clinical vaccine trials had unexplained increases in their serum transaminase levels. Retrospective analysis indicated that these volunteers had participated in strenuous physical training 2–5 days prior to the noted elevations. The pattern of serum enzyme elevations, initially thought to be consistent with hepatic injury, were associated with parallel increases in creatine phosphokinase. One individual consented to repeat his exercise regimen. This was followed by a recurrence of the same pattern of increases in serum enzymes, including creatine phosphokinase. Thus, in trials where serum enzymes will be measured, it may be prudent to encourage subjects to refrain from increasing their activity above that which they normally perform.
What Determines Social Capital in a Social–Ecological System? Insights from a Network Perspective

Social capital is an important resource that can be mobilized for purposive action or competitive gain. The distribution of social capital in social–ecological systems can determine who is more productive at extracting ecological resources and who emerges as influential in guiding their management, thereby empowering some while disempowering others. Despite its importance, the factors that contribute to variation in social capital among individuals have not been widely studied. We adopt a network perspective to examine what determines social capital among individuals in social–ecological systems. We begin by identifying network measures of social capital relevant for individuals in this context, and review existing evidence concerning their determinants. Using a complete social network dataset from Hawaii’s longline fishery, we employ social network analysis and other statistical methods to empirically estimate these measures and determine the extent to which individual stakeholder attributes explain variation within them. We find that ethnicity is the strongest predictor of social capital. Measures of human capital (i.e., education, experience), years living in the community, and information-sharing attitudes are also important. Surprisingly, we find that when controlling for other factors, industry leaders and formal fishery representatives are generally not well connected. Our results offer new quantitative insights on the relationship between stakeholder diversity, social networks, and social capital in a coupled social–ecological system, which can aid in identifying barriers and opportunities for action to overcome resource management problems. Our results also have implications for achieving resource governance that is not only ecologically and economically sustainable, but also equitable.