cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biological evidence for a split in the North Pacific central gyre

Abstract Species lists and relative numerical abundance of species were determined for the Hyperiid amphipod assemblage along 28°N in the western half of the North Pacific central gyre. Eleven samples were examined, all taken with a large (3 × 3-m mouth, 505-μm mesh) plankton net towed obliquely in the upper 350 m. The samples share of a common species list, but fall into two distinct groups when species' rank orders of numerical abundances are compared among samples: (a) samples taken east and (b) samples taken west of about 180°. There were no intermediate samples. No samples from west of 180° were significantly different from one another and no samples from east of 180° were significantly different from one another. All comparisons of samples from the two groups showed significant differences. The division of the gyre into two regions occupied by the two Hyperidd groups parallels similar indiications within both the mesopelagic fish fauna and physical oceanographic parameters.
Ultrasonic devices: Evaluation of repellency to cockroaches and mosquitoes and measurement of sound output∗

Two commercially available ultrasonic devices (UD) were evaluated for their efficacy in repelling cockroaches and preventing the attack and biting of two species of mosquitoes. The frequency output...
Analysis of the crystal structure of poly(ethylene sulfide) by electron diffraction

The crystal structure of poly(ethylene sulfide) has been determined by electron diffraction. The analysis was based on the combined use of single crystal and fiber diffraction data. The refined str...
Annexin I interactions with human neutrophil specific granules: fusogenicity and coaggregation with plasma membrane vesicles

The interactions of annexin I with specific granules isolated from human neutrophils were investigated. Unfractionated cytosol induced Ca(2+)-dependent granule self-aggregation and fusion of granules with model phospholipid vesicles. High Ca2+ concentrations were required for these processes (500-600 microM for the half-maximal rate of granule self-aggregation; 100-200 microM for the half-maximal rate of fusion with phospholipid vesicles). These activities were inhibited by a monoclonal antibody specific for annexin I and immunodepletion of cytosol by this antibody greatly reduced activity, implicating annexin I as the major mediator of these processes in neutrophil cytosol. The fact that the Ca2+ concentration dependences differed for different membranes suggests that specificity may be controlled by the type of intracellular membrane involved and the local Ca2+ concentration. Trypsin treatment of granules enhanced the rate of fusion of phospholipid vesicles with granules, suggesting that access to phospholipids in the granule membrane may be modulated by granule proteins or that a fusogenic protein factor in the granule membrane is activated by trypsin treatment. Coaggregation of specific granules with plasma membrane vesicles mediated by Ca2+ and annexin I was suggested by the fact that granules preincubated with Ca2+, cytosol and plasma membrane vesicles blocked the fusion of subsequently added phospholipid vesicles with the plasma membrane vesicles. These data suggest a role for annexin I as part of a multiprotein system involved in membrane-membrane contact necessary for exocytosis of specific granules in human neutrophils.
The incidence of California poverty by population segment

Abstract This research note accomplishes two goals. The first is to create smoothed rates of annual poverty for the state of California for the years 1959 through 2000. These estimates are benchmarked and linked to the decennial censuses. Separate time-series estimates and projections are made for all state residents and for six separate subpopulations—whites, blacks, Hispanics, female-headed householders, the elderly, and children. The overall trend in the poverty rate within California is projected to rise, primarily due to the increasing Hispanic population. After the first goal is attained, a suggestion is then made to supplement the current definition of business cycles with the disparity between the long-run trend in the overall poverty rate and the actual annual rates. The degree of divergence between the two series would indicate either the severity of an economic downturn or the extent of prosperity.
Detecting malicious inclusions in secure hardware: Challenges and solutions

This paper addresses a new threat to the security of integrated circuits (ICs) used in safety critical, security and military systems. The migration of IC fabrication to low-cost foundries has made ICs vulnerable to malicious alterations, that could, under specific conditions, result in functional changes and/or catastrophic failure of the system in which they are embedded. We refer to such malicious alternations and inclusions as Hardware Trojans. The modification(s) introduced by the Trojan depends on the application, with some designed to disable the system or degrade signal integrity, while others are designed to defeat hardware security and encryption to leak plain text information. This paper explores the wide range of malicious alternations of ICs that are possible and proposes a general framework for their classification. The taxonomy is essential for properly evaluating the effectiveness of methods designed to detect Trojans. The latter portion of the paper explores several Trojan detection strategies and the classes of Trojans each is most likely to detect.
In Vivo Measurements of Glutamate, GABA, and NAAG in Schizophrenia

The major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, glutamate (Glu) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively, are implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAG), a neuropeptide that modulates the Glu system, may also be altered in schizophrenia. This study investigated GABA, Glu + glutamine (Glx), and NAAG levels in younger and older subjects with schizophrenia. Forty-one subjects, 21 with chronic schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls, participated in this study. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was used to measure GABA, Glx, and NAAG levels in the anterior cingulate (AC) and centrum semiovale (CSO) regions. NAAG in the CSO was higher in younger schizophrenia subjects compared with younger control subjects. The opposite pattern was observed in the older groups. Glx was reduced in the schizophrenia group irrespective of age group and brain region. There was a trend for reduced AC GABA in older schizophrenia subjects compared with older control subjects. Poor attention performance was correlated to lower AC GABA levels in both groups. Higher levels of CSO NAAG were associated with greater negative symptom severity in schizophrenia. These results provide support for altered glutamatergic and GABAergic function associated with illness course and cognitive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. The study also highlights the importance of studies that combine MRS measurements of NAAG, GABA, and Glu for a more comprehensive neurochemical characterization of schizophrenia.
Enhanced thulium fiber laser lithotripsy using micro-pulse train modulation

The thulium fiber laser (TFL) is currently being studied as an alternative to the conventional holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) laser for lithotripsy. The diode-pumped TFL may be electronically modulated to operate with variable parameters (e.g., pulse rate, pulse duration, and duty cycle) for studying the influence of pulse train mode on stone ablation rates. The TFL under study was operated at 1908 nm, 35-mJ pulse energy, and 500-μs pulse duration, in a train of 5 micro-pulses, with macro-pulse rates of 10 Hz, compared with conventional TFL operation at 10 to 50 Hz. TFL energy was delivered through 100-μm-core fibers in contact with human uric acid (UA) and calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) stones. Mass removal rates, optical coherence tomography, and light microscopy were used to analyze the ablation craters. Stone retropulsion and fiber tip degradation studies also were conducted for these laser parameters. TFL operation in micro-pulse train (MPT) mode resulted in a factor of two increase in the ablation rate of 414±94 μg/s and 122±24 μg/s for the UA and COM stones, respectively, compared to 182±69 μg/s and 60±14 μg/s with standard pulse trains delivered at 50 Hz (P<0.05). Stone retropulsion remained minimal (<2 mm after 1200 pulses) for both pulse modes. Fiber burnback was significant for both pulse modes and was higher for COM stones than UA stones. TFL operation in MPT mode results in increased stone ablation rates which, with further optimization, may approach levels comparable to Ho:YAG laser lithotripsy in the clinic.
Efficiency Frontier Determination by Constrained Facet Analysis

Assessing the efficiency of organizational units has long been recognized as an important management problem but an extremely difficult one to solve, especially when one considers the multiplicity of resources and services or products associated with these units operating in a variety of industries. Data Envelopment Analysis DEA, a promising approach for addressing this problem, is extended in this paper. The proposed extension, called Constrained Facet Analysis CFA, provides a lower bound efficiency measure for organizational units that have a mix of resources and/or outputs that is different from any frontier point. In addition, CFA yields marginal rates of productivity and substitution associated with the lower bound efficiency measure. This lower bound analysis, combined with the upper bound efficiency analysis provided by the DEA, broadens the applicability of the DEA theory and methodology.
The cellular control of DNA double-strand breaks

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most hazardous lesions arising in the genome of eukaryotic organisms, and yet occur normally during DNA replication, meiosis, and immune system development. The efficient repair of DSBs is crucial in maintaining genomic integrity, cellular viability, and the prevention of tumorigenesis. As a consequence, eukaryotic cells have evolved efficient mechanisms that sense and respond to DSBs and ultimately repair the break. The swiftness of the DNA DSB response has paved to the identification of sensors and transducers which allowed to generate a hierarchical signaling paradigm depicting the transduction of the damage signal to numerous downstream effectors (Fig. 1). The function of such effectors involve posttranslational modifications through phosphorylation, acetylation, and methylation of the substrates. This review will address the control of DSBs in damaged eukaryotic cells, the physiological processes that require the introduction of a DSB into the genome, and the maintenance of DSBs in non-damaged cells.
Applications of paired ion high-pressure liquid chromatography: quantitative determination of potassium guaiacolsulfonate and other ingredients in cough syrups.

A method for the quantitative determination of potassium guaiacolsulfonate and phenylephrine hydrochloride in commercial dosage forms was developed. The method is based on paired ion high-pressure liquid chromatography with tetrabutylammonium as the counterion. The method not only separates potassium guaiacolsulfonate from phenylephrine hydrochloride but also from some other ingredients: chlorpheniramine maleate, sodium benzoate, colors, and flavors. Furthermore, two isomers of potassium guaiacolsulfonate, potassium salts of 4- and 5-guaiacolsulfonic acid, also separate from each other. The method was tried on five different commercial dosage forms (all with different colors) with excellent results on three. In the other two samples, which also contained codeine, there may have been a stability problem.
Magic moment? Maternal marriage for children born out of wedlock.

To test the existence of the “magic moment” for parental marriage immediately post-birth and to inform policies that preferentially encourage biological over stepparent marriage, this study estimates the incidence and stability of maternal marriage for children born out of wedlock. Data came from the National Survey of Family Growth on 5,255 children born nonmaritally. By age 15, 29 % of children born nonmaritally experienced a biological-father marriage, and 36 % experienced a stepfather marriage. Stepfather marriages occurred much later in a child’s life—one-half occurred after the child turned age 7—and had one-third higher odds of dissolution. Children born to black mothers had qualitatively different maternal marriage experiences than children born to white or Hispanic mothers, with less biological-parent marriage and higher incidences of divorce. Findings support the existence of the magic moment and demonstrate that biological marriages were more enduring than stepfather marriages. Yet relatively few children born out of wedlock experienced stable, biological-parent marriages as envisioned by marriage promotion programs.
Capture Their Attention: Capturing Lessons Using Screen Capture Software

When students miss classes for university activities such as athletic and academic events, they inevitably miss important class material. Students can get notes from their peers or visit professors...
AC power calibration system with phase feedback

A 'phantom' power calibration system that combines a digital phase angle generator with a 120-V/75-mA voltage amplifier and a voltage-controlled, almost ideal, 5-A/5-V current source is described. Voltages up to 120 V at burdens of 75 mA and currents of up to 6 A at compliance voltages of 5 V are available up to 6 kHz. The current amplifier incorporates a nearly ideal current source output, a broadband shunt, and a set of nearly ideal, wideband, low-distortion, 10*, differential amplifiers with common mode rejection ratios exceeding 96 dB at 5 kHz. The system provides phase-controllable voltages and currents from 20 Hz to 5 kHz with phase accuracies approaching 0.001/sup 0/. >
Geodetic observations and modeling of magmatic inflation at the Three Sisters volcanic center, central Oregon Cascade Range, USA

Abstract Tumescence at the Three Sisters volcanic center began sometime between summer 1996 and summer 1998 and was discovered in April 2001 using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). Swelling is centered about 5 km west of the summit of South Sister, a composite basaltic-andesite to rhyolite volcano that last erupted between 2200 and 2000 yr ago, and it affects an area ∼20 km in diameter within the Three Sisters Wilderness. Yearly InSAR observations show that the average maximum displacement rate was 3–5 cm/yr through summer 2001, and the velocity of a continuous GPS station within the deforming area was essentially constant from June 2001 to June 2004. The background level of seismic activity has been low, suggesting that temperatures in the source region are high enough or the strain rate has been low enough to favor plastic deformation over brittle failure. A swarm of about 300 small earthquakes ( M max = 1.9) in the northeast quadrant of the deforming area on March 23–26, 2004, was the first notable seismicity in the area for at least two decades. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) established tilt-leveling and EDM networks at South Sister in 1985–1986, resurveyed them in 2001, the latter with GPS, and extended them to cover more of the deforming area. The 2001 tilt-leveling results are consistent with the inference drawn from InSAR that the current deformation episode did not start before 1996, i.e., the amount of deformation during 1995–2001 from InSAR fully accounts for the net tilt at South Sister during 1985–2001 from tilt-leveling. Subsequent InSAR, GPS, and leveling observations constrain the source location, geometry, and inflation rate as a function of time. A best-fit source model derived from simultaneous inversion of all three datasets is a dipping sill located 6.5 ± 2.5 km below the surface with a volume increase of 5.0 × 10 6 ± 1.5 × 10 6 m 3 /yr (95% confidence limits). The most likely cause of tumescence is a pulse of basaltic magma intruding the upper crust along the brittle–ductile interface — a process that must occur episodically beneath the Cascade Range but in the past would have escaped detection in the absence of unusual seismicity. We speculate that such intrusive episodes last from days to years and are separated by quiescent periods of decades to centuries. The likelihood that the current episode at Three Sisters will culminate in an eruption is judged to be low, but the impact of an eruption could be great. The USGS has updated its volcano hazards assessment for the Three Sisters region, notified appropriate agencies and the public, and is helping to prepare an emergency coordination and communication plan.
An adaptive vigilance task with knowledge of results.

Four groups of subjects performed a 48-min, computer-controlled, visual watch-keeping task. Two groups were run under fixed, non-adaptive conditions, one with immediate knowledge of results (KR) and the other without (NKR). The KR group showed the usual superiority in detection rate over the NKR group, and made fewer commissive errors (false alarms). Two other groups, also KR and NKR, ran under adaptive conditions, wherein the size of the signals they watched for was adjusted during the vigil according to past performance, so as to maintain a preset detection rate. The resulting curves for the adaptive variable closely resembled the traditional performance measure, detection rate. Various adaptive strategies are discussed.
The elastic constants of cuprous oxide

The elastic constants of cuprous oxide have been measured by a standard pulse echo technique. The low temperature limiting values of the stiffness moduli are (in units of 1011 dyn/cm2) C11 = 12.1 ± 0.5, C12 = 10.5 ± 0.4, C44 = 1.09 ± 0.03. The Debye temperature calculated from these is 181° K. Both shear moduli show an unusual increase with increasing temperature. Es wurden die elastischen Konstanten von Kupferoxid mittels einer ublichen Impuls-Echotechnik bestimmt. Die Grenzwerte des Elastizitatsmoduls fur tiefe Temperaturen sind (in Einheiten von 1011 dyn/cm2) C11 = 12,1 ± 0,5, C12 = 10,5 ± 0,4, C44 = 1,09 ± 0,03. Die hieraus berechnete Debyetemperatur betragt 181° K. Beide Schubmoduli zeigen mit steigender Temperatur einen ungewohnlichen Anstieg.
Conceptual Frameworks and Research Models on Resilience in Leadership

The purpose of this article was to discuss conceptual frameworks and research models on resilience theory. The constructs of resilience, the history of resilience theory, models of resilience, vari...
Fibronectin-based isolation of valve interstitial cell subpopulations: relevance to valve disease.

Myxomatous mitral valves (MVs) contain elevated proportions of unique cell populations such as myofibroblasts. Without a reliable technique to isolate such cell populations, however, it has been difficult to study the role of these cells. The goal of this study was to use fibronectin (FN) to isolate distinct cell subpopulations from normal porcine MVs. Cells from porcine posterior MV leaflets were separated based on time-dependent adhesion to either tissue culture plastic (TCP) flasks or FN-coated flasks. The resultant “FAST” and “SLOW” adhering subpopulations from each technique were phenotyped using flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry to detect expression of myofibroblast markers, enzymes for collagen synthesis, and MAP kinases. Compared with FN SLOW, FN FAST showed significantly higher expression of prolyl 4-hydroxylase, heat shock protein-47 (HSP47), smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMαA), nonmuscle myosin (Smem), extracellular-related signaling kinase (ERK) 1, ERK2, and phosphorylated-ERK. In contrast, TCP FAST showed higher expression of only HSP47, SMαA, and Smem compared with TCP SLOW. In conclusion, differential adhesion to FN successfully separated a myofibroblast-like subpopulation from the posterior leaflet of the MV. This subpopulation may be useful in studying myxomatous MV disease, although additional studies remain to verify that this myofibroblast-like population resembles that observed in myxomatous MV disease. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010
Species richness, endemism and ecology of crustacean assemblages in northern California vernal pools

Ephemeral pools occur worldwide, provide habitat for organisms with a variety of life history strategies, and may have served as evolutionary refugia for some taxa since Mesozoic times. Yet, our understanding of the ecology and evolutionary history of ephemeral pool communities is hampered by a paucity of such basic data as the species composition of pool assemblages. We surveyed 58 vernal (ephemeral spring-time) pools from 14 sites in northern California for crustaceans, and found diverse assemblages composed largely of endemic and rare species. Sixty-seven species of crustaceans were found, and as many as 30 of these may be new, undescribed species. Differences in species composition among pools correspond with physical and chemical aspects of the habitat (depth, solutes concentration, elevation, biogeographic region), and with existing geologic/floristic-based habitat descriptions. Species richness is positively correlated with both depth and surface area. This relationship can be explained in terms of hydroperiod (accommodation of species with slower developmental rates in long-lived pools, greater time for temporal resource partitioning) and size (spatial habitat heterogeneity). High species richness and numerous co-occurrences of congeneric species in temporary pools may be due to super-abundant resources, low levels of predation, and annual truncation of the community which prevents ecological interactions from going to completion. The results of this survey underscore the need for conservation of the vernal pool habitat and endemic vernal pool species in California. The best preservation strategy will include many pools at each site, multiple sites of each habitat type, and all identified habitat types.
REENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH

The purpose of this paper is to open some eyes to the way infrastructure research has traditionally been conducted and how the methodology must change for the future. It stresses the fact that things are changing. Business is no longer conducted as it was in the past. Organizations can no longer survive by conducting business as usual. In the area of infrastructure research, projects are done piecemeal. There is virtually no critical mass of research. Programs are not organized and managed. This paper, after describing the traditional approach to infrastructure research, suggests that an integrated systems approach be taken toward it. Project management techniques for research management are proposed. A prototype system is suggested.
Robust Inductor Design for RF Circuits

Design of monolithic spiral inductors with electromigration (EM) robustness has been demonstrated. By adding small metal reservoir structures in the underpass area, inductor EM lifetime can be significantly improved. Measurements showed that the metal reservoir structures do not have an impact on inductor Q and inductance. Adding these structures hence allows more aggressive and scalable RF IC design.
Influence of Pressure, Salinity, Temperature, and Grain Size on Silica Diagenesis and Reservoir Quality in Quartzose Sandstones: ABSTRACT

Based on calculated silica solubilities (1-4 km depth range), there is a suggested predictable effect of pressure (P), temperature (T), and salinity (S) on silica diagenesis. Silica distribution under various P-T-S conditions is in turn influenced by grain-size differences. Quartz solubility related to increasing grain-contact pressure with depth is about 7 times greater at 4 km than at 1 km (mS = 1.5 × 10-3 vs. 2.0 × 10-4). The differences between solubilities based on hydrostatic and point-contact pressures (orthorhombic closest packing) increase with increasing depth (excluding overpressured areas). At greater depths, local precipitation of silica appears more likely, whereas at shallower depths, larger scale silica migration ay occur preceding precipitation. The effect of increasing salinity generally decreases solubility regardless of depth (e.g., at 3 km and 3 m, mS = 8.9 × 10-4; at 6 m, mS = 7.5 × 10-4); hence, reservoir-quality loss by pressure solution is impeded in those sandstones containing more saline pore fluids. Pressure solution is far more active in basins characterized by high heat flow. Very fine-, fine-, and medium-grained sand laminae (perfect sorting; several grain diameters thick) will experience 500, 64, and 8 times (all other factors equal) the amount of pressure solution compared to coarse-grained sand. Chemical potential gradients are suggested among centimeter-scale size laminated intervals, resulting in migration of silica to coar er grained areas before precipitation. Reservoir-quality loss in the finer laminae is caused primarily by pressure solution, whereas, in coarser intervals, silica precipitation is mainly responsible. End_of_Article - Last_Page 269------------
Weight Change and Glycemic Control in a Population-Based Sample of Adults With Older-Onset Diabetes

Background Numerous clinic-based studies have observed improved glycemic control with even moderate weight reductions, for periods up to 1 year, in obese subjects with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Similar benefits of weight loss have not been well documented in free-living populations, particularly in older persons with NIDDM of long duration. Methods Relations between weight change and glycosylated hemoglobin were evaluated in a population-based sample of persons with older-onset diabetes. Persons participating in baseline (1980-1982, n = 1370) and two follow-up examinations (1984-1986, n = 987; 1990-1992, n = 550) were included. Mean glycosylated hemoglobin levels among those losing, gaining, or remaining within 5 kg were compared in all subjects combined and stratified by insulin use, using ordinary least-squares regression to adjust for confounding variables. Results Subjects who lost weight had higher mean glycosylated hemoglobin compared to those who gained weight (baseline to second exam only). This pattern remained in those not using insulin. Weight change was not related to glycosylated hemoglobin in persons using insulin. Conclusions Associations suggest that in older persons not using insulin, moderate weight loss over periods of 4-6 years has little beneficial impact on glycosylated hemoglobin. Weight loss may be reflecting disease processes that also result in poor glycemic control. Intentional weight loss achieved over a shorter time period and maintained through the later years in older diabetic persons remains to be evaluated.
Elderly patients with intracranial aneurysms have higher quality of life after coil embolization: a decision analysis

Objective To develop a decision analytic model to calculate outcomes after treatment of cerebral aneurysms in elderly patients. Neurosurgical clipping and endovascular coiling for both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms were compared with predicted health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after treatment. Methods A Medline search of articles published in English between 1995 and June 2012 was performed using key words: ‘intracranial aneurysms’, ‘treatment’, or various combinations of ‘elderly’, ‘older’, or ‘decade’. Reports that met inclusion criteria used either the Glasgow Outcome Score or the modified Rankin Scale for outcomes, age >69, and intracranial aneurysm that was treated by endovascular coiling or surgical clipping. Data were collected by performing a comprehensive review of published reports. Meta-analysis (inverse variance-weighted, random effects) was used to calculate pooled values for probabilities and HRQoL. Results HRQoL was significantly higher for patients with coiled rather than clipped aneurysms in both ruptured (p Conclusions As life expectancy increases, treatment of cerebral aneurysms in the elderly becomes more important. Given the results of this decision analysis and the continuous refinement in endovascular technology, embolization should strongly be considered as a first-line treatment for cerebral aneurysms in the elderly.
Scientific Schools and Their Success

A view of the social structure of science is now popular, according to which each discipline of science is autonomous and its membership is divided into the few leaders and the rank-and-file, also known as normal scientists. The leaders declare what is the model scientific theory in the field, also known as a paradigm. A scientific revolution is a paradigm change, and is effected by the leadership, old or new. Normal scientists, finally, solve routine problems, also known as puzzles, in the light of the paradigm. This terminology is of Thomas S. Kuhn. The view it reflects is now popular, its advocate is Kuhn and its originator is Michael Polanyi.
Hazards to the therapist in the treatment of multiple personalities.

It is vitally important that the therapist be cognizant of the dangers inherent in treating some patients with multiple personality disorder. The authors offer sound, detailed advice on every facet of the clinician's interaction with the patient--from keeping on good terms with each ego state to guarding against physical violence and sexual seduction. Language: en
How the Energetic Landscape in the Mixed Phase of Organic Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells Evolves with Fullerene Content

Energy levels in the mixed polymer:fullerene phase of three-phase bulk heterojunction solar cells are significantly shifted from their values in the pure materials. These shifts provide an important driving force for separating charge carriers. Through cyclic voltammetry, we measure a gradual shift in the polymer HOMO and fullerene LUMO as a function of blend composition in a model bulk heterojunction (BHJ) system that only contains amorphous polymer. The effective band gap of the polymer:fullerene blend varies by up to 300 meV with varying blend composition. The shifts in polymer HOMO and fullerene LUMO can be quantitatively accounted for by the electrostatic potential generated by induced dipoles at the polymer:fullerene interfaces. Remarkably, however, the measured charge transfer state energy and open-circuit voltage shift far less.
Optically diffracting hydrogels for screening kinase activity in vitro and in cell lysate: impact of material and solution properties.

Optically diffracting films based on hydrogel-encapsulated crystalline colloidal arrays have considerable utility as sensors for detecting enzymaticphosphorylation and, thus, in screening small molecule modulators of kinases. In this work, we have investigated the impact of hydrogel properties, as well as the role of the ionic character of the surrounding environment, on the optical sensitivity of kinase responsive crystalline colloidal array-containing hydrogels. In agreement with a model of hydrogel swelling, the optical sensitivity of such materials increased as the shear modulus and the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter between polymer and solvent decreased. Additionally, elimination of extraneous charges in the polymer backbone by exploiting azide–alkyne click chemistry to functionalize the hydrogels with a peptide substrate for protein kinase A further enhanced the sensitivity of the optically diffracting films. Increasing peptide concentration and, in turn, immobilized charge within the hydrogel ...
Some characteristics of the stimulating effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose on endogenous fermentation in yeast.

It was shown earlier(1) that 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) elicits a dissimilation of glycogen in yeast, with one mole of CO2 formed for each glucose equivalent of glycogen lost. These data were consistent with a proposed mechanism of cyclic fermentation reported earlier(2) from studies made on dialyzed yeast extracts. In the present paper certain characteristics of the 2DG-stimulated fermentation in cells are presented along with possible implications of such findings.Methods. All experiments were done at 30°C under nitrogen on nonproliferating baker' yeast previously washed and aerated(3). Tris-succinate-tartrate adjusted to appropriate pH served as buffer. CO2 production was measured in a Warburg apparatus. Glycogen was determined using the method of Berke and Rothstein(4) after washing the yeast 3 times with distilled water.Results. Specificity of the stimulatory effect of 2DG; absence of effects of KCl. In Fig. 1 and Table I are shown cumulative CO2 productions by yeast suspensions for various sugars added...
A rare remarkable recovery in a pediatric patient with the bi-hemispheric, transventricular trajectory craniocerebral gunshot wound.

The gunshot wound to the head (GSWH) is associated with a mortality rate of 20–90% in adults and 20–65% in the pediatric population. Due to the high rates of mortality and morbidity, the management of these patients has been a topic of high interest in the neurosurgical community. We present an 18-year-old male suffering a GSWH with the bullet following a transventricular trajectory and crossing the midsagittal plane, creating extensive intracranial injuries. Despite a calculated mortality rate of >97% from these devastating injuries, the patient survived the GSWH and made a remarkable recovery. The young adult brain still maintains a high potential for neurological plasticity. This may partially explain why the young adult population with a severe GSWH can have a better than expected recovery course. Bifrontal GSW injuries may have much better outcomes than more posterior injuries as has been demonstrated in this patient in this case.
Atherosclerosis: The Risk of High Cholesterol

Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which a plaque, a thick hard deposit of fatty material, builds up inside arteries. The plaque contains cholesterol, calcium, cells from the blood, and cells from the arterial wall. Over time the plaque grows, hardens, and narrows the artery. This reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood, and also make it more likely to cause a blood clot, or thrombus, that will block the blood flow. A blockage formed in the coronary arteries may trigger a heart attack. A blockage formed in the carotid artery (located on each side of the neck, feeding oxygen to the brain) may cause a stroke. Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide, with annual deaths of 900,000 in the United States and 13 millions worldwide.
Earnings Expectation versus Earnings Management: Do Profit and Loss Firms Use Abnormal Accruals Differently?

We find that profit-reporting firms that "just meet" or "beat" analysts' forecasts tend to use income-increasing abnormal accruals while loss-reporting firms in the same group tend to use income-decreasing abnormal accruals after controlling for both earnings performance and opportunity to use abnormal accruals. We also find consistent results for profit- and loss-reporting firms with pre-managed earnings that "just missed" analysts' forecasts. These combined results suggest that Brown's (2001) finding may be partially the result of greater income-increasing earnings' manipulation by profit-reporting firms. Our findings also suggest that managers of loss-reporting firms that have extreme negative forecast errors are motivated to "take a bath", while managers of profit-reporting firms in this group still use income-increasing abnormal accruals possibly to achieve other thresholds, consistent with Brown and Caylor (2003).
Veterans' Location in Health Professional Shortage Areas: Implications for Access to Care and Workforce Supply

Objective To describe the distribution of Veterans in areas of the United States where there are potentially inadequate supplies of health professionals, and to explore opportunities suggested by this distribution for fostering health workforce flexibility. Data Sources County-level data from the 2015–2016 Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA's) Area Health Resources Files (AHRF) were used to estimate Veteran populations in HRSA-designated health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). This information was then linked to 2015 VA health facility information from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Study Design Potential Veteran populations living in Shortage Area Counties with no VHA facilities were estimated, and the composition of these populations was explored by Census division and state. Principal Findings Nationwide, approximately 24 percent of all Veterans and 23 percent of Veterans enrolled in VHA health care live in Shortage Area Counties. These estimates mask considerable variation across states. Conclusions An examination of Veterans residing in Shortage Area Counties suggests extensive maldistribution of health services across the United States and the continued need to find ways to improve health care access for all Veterans. Effective avenues for doing so may include increasing health workforce flexibility through expansion of nurse practitioner scopes of practice.
What Did the Supreme Court Hold in Heffernan v. City of Paterson

As a favor to his mother, Jeffrey Heffernan picked up a political yard sign. His supervisors demoted him, in the mistaken belief that he had engaged in protected speech. In Heffernan v. City of Patterson, 136 S.Ct. 1412 (2016), the Supreme Court held that a public employee can sue a local government under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 when a supervisor acts for constitutionally impermissible motives, even though he has not in fact exercised First Amendment rights. But the grounds for that holding are unclear. The Court may have ruled that the city, through its police chief, violated Heffernan’s First Amendment rights despite the lack of speech on his part. Or it may have ruled that the City is liable on § 1983 “official policy” grounds, even though it violated no constitutional right. This article examines each of these and argues that neither withstands scrutiny. A more convincing rationale for the outcome is that the Court in effect recognized a constitutional common law right. Alternatively, the arbitrary demotion may support recovery under the Equal Protection Clause on a “class of one” theory, though Jeffrey Heffernan did not pursue that approach and current doctrine seems hostile to it.
Feeling the Beat and Feeling Better: Musical Experience, Emotional Reflection, and Music as a Technology of Mental Health

Using data from the 1999 Arts and Religion Survey, this article builds on the work of Tia DeNora and the understanding of music as a technology of health by focusing on an important aspect of music's impact on mental health, emotional reflection. The study first examines the relationship between musical experiences and the perceived effectiveness of music as a coping tool in everyday life. The results indicate that musical experience is positively associated with the perception of music as an effective coping mechanism, controlling for relevant demographic and artistic factors included in the survey. The analysis then assesses the relationship between music's perceived effectiveness as a coping mechanism and emotional reflection, indicating a positive association between the two. Aesthetic disposition and parental education are also positive predictors of using music to cope and emotional reflection. The study demonstrates that those who value music as a means of coping may be more emotionally reflective and in turn, experience benefits related to positive mental health. The results also highlight the importance of considering both micro- and macro-theoretical approaches to understanding musical practices and their role in health improvement.
Pyridine-Mediated Anionic Homo-and Copolymerization of Alkylmethacrylate

Several years ago we discovered that pyridine played a significant role in the anionic homo- and copolymerization of polar monomers such as N,N-dimethylacrylamide, e-caprolactone and alkylmethacrylate. Pyridine gives rise to monodisperse polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) at a temperature higher than normally observed. We believe this reflects a new mechanism, involving a living polymerization, which should have profound implications for the design of PMMA copolymers via anionic techniques.
An online interactive tool to assess visual environment in offices with roller shades

Abstract The Visual Environment in perimeter office spaces is of interest in three different aspects: Visual Comfort, Lighting Energy Performance and Connection to the Outside, all of which are affected by a selection of design parameters, including the building's location, orientation, geometry and facade configuration (glazing and shading). This paper presents an interactive web-based tool for assessing the visual environment in office spaces with roller shades; it extends the three aforementioned metrics in an annual framework, and allows users to input the parameters of their space of interest and return design recommendations for visual comfort, lighting energy use and outside view based on fabric properties. The tool considers different locations, orientations, glazing properties and seating layouts and provides a straightforward and fast way to obtain preliminary information about the comfort, energy and view clarity performance of office designs will roller shades, without the need of high expertise or time-consuming simulations.
Ethnic Differences in the Effects of Naloxone on Sustained Evoked Pain: A Preliminary Study.

Ethnic differences in pain response have been well documented, with non-Hispanic Black (NHB) participants reporting enhanced clinical pain and greater laboratory-evoked pain sensitivity to a variety of quantitative sensory testing (QST) methods compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). One potential mechanism that may contribute to these disparities is differential functioning of endogenous pain-regulatory systems. To evaluate endogenous opioid (EO) mechanisms in pain responses, we examined group differences in response to tonic capsaicin pain following double-blinded crossover administration of saline and the opioid antagonist, naloxone. Ten percent topical capsaicin cream and a thermode were applied to the dorsum of the non-dominant hand, maintaining a constant temperature of 40°C for 90 min. Naloxone (0.1 mg/ kg) or saline placebo was administered at the 25 min mark and post-drug pain intensity ratings were obtained every 5 min thereafter. As an index of EO function, blockade effects were derived for each participant, reflecting the difference between mean post-drug pain intensity ratings under the saline versus naloxone conditions, with higher positive scores reflecting greater EO inhibition of pain. Thirty-nine healthy, young individuals (19 non-Hispanic Black [NHB], 20 non-Hispanic White [NHW]) participated. Group difference in EO function were identified, with NHB participants displaying lower EO function scores (mean=-10.8, SD=10.1) as compared to NHW participants (mean=-0.89, SD=11.5; p=0.038). NHB participants experienced significant paradoxical analgesia with naloxone. Thirty five percent of the NHW participants showed a positive blockade effect indicating EO analgesia (i.e., an increase in pain with naloxone), while only 10% of the NHB participants exhibited evidence of EO analgesia. These findings suggest differential functioning of the endogenous opioid pain regulatory system between NHB and NHW participants. Future research is warranted to examine whether these differences contribute to the disparities observed in clinical pain between groups.
G-band reflectivity results of a conical blackbody for radiometer calibration

Two hollow conical cavities have been developed and built for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for use as radiometer calibration sources, or blackbodies. We seek high emissivity, thus low reflectivity, to approximate an ideal blackbody. We present new results on the reflectivity of the smaller conical blackbody in G-band between 130 GHz and 230 GHz. We found monostatic reflectivity, or return loss, no larger than −45 dB at critical remote sensing bands near 165 GHz, 183 GHz, and 229 GHz. We found that use of a thin closed-cell polyethylene insulation layer has a significant impact on reflectivity performance. We compared the reflectivity of the conical blackbody with the reflectivity of a pyramidal absorber array of the type typically used as on-board radiometer calibration sources. The insulated conical blackbody showed an average of 15 dB lower reflectivity than the pyramidal array over the measured band.
The immunoregulatory molecule B7H3 regulates tumor cell adhesion, migration and invasion, but not proliferation

3946 Specific cancer markers are powerful tools for early cancer diagnosis, prognosis prediction and monitoring of disease progression. To date, no general cancer marker is available for different cancer types. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) 376.96 has been used for detection of micrometastatic tumor cells for its ability to recognize a wide range of tumor cells, but not to most normal cells. Yet, the cellular antigen for 376.96 mAb is still unknown. In this study, using immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, and siRNA technologies, we discovered that the antigen is human immunoregulatory molecule 4Ig-B7H3 (4Ig-hB7H3). ELISA data demonstrated that 376.96 mAb has a high specificity and sensitivity to 4Ig-hB7H3. Furthermore, immunoblot results from subcellular fractionation and tunicamycin treatment indicated that 4Ig-hB7H3 is a ~100-kDa N-linked glycoprotein that is expressed only on the cell membrane of many different cancer types. These data indicates that 4Ig-hB7H3 presents as a valuable cancer marker to discriminate between tumor cells and normal cells. Interestingly, tumor promoter phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) significantly enhanced the expression of 4Ig-hB7H3 in FEMX-I (melanoma), MA11 (breast cancer), and OHS (osteosarcoma) cells, suggesting a relationship between 4Ig-hB7H3 and tumor biological functions. Functional studies showed that in both melanoma and breast cancer cells down-regulation of 4Ig-hB7H3 by siRNA-hB7H3 reduced cell adhesion ability 2-fold. Down-regulation also significantly inhibited migration and matrigel-invasion by more than 3-fold, while no apparent impact on cell proliferation and on sensitivity of the tumor cells to NK cell-mediated cytoxicity was observed. In summary, these data indicate that 4Ig-hB7H3 is an important cancer marker. The results shed new light on the novel role of the immunoregulatory molecule 4Ig-hB7H3 in tumor metastasis and progression and it is critical for improving the cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment in the future.
Li3VP3O9N as a Multielectron Redox Cathode for Li-Ion Battery

Li3VP3O9N was for the first time synthesized from its sodium analogue Na3VP3O9N using a solid–solid Li+/Na+ ion-exchange method. This lithium variant of nitridophosphate is found to possess similar crystal structure (space group P213) as its sodium analogue Na3VP3O9N (a = 9.4507(1) A) but with much smaller lattice parameter (a = 9.1237(1) A). The crystal structure of Li3VP3O9N was solved and refined using combined synchrotron X-ray and time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction data, allowing the three distinct lithium-ion sites to be identified. A lithium bond valence sum difference map calculation suggests the existence of isotropic three-dimensional lithium-ion-conducting pathways with a minimum valence threshold |ΔV| of 0.02. Li3VP3O9N behaves as a promising reversible cathode material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with an average V3+/V4+ redox potential of 3.8 V (vs Li+/Li). Both cyclic voltammetry tests and chemical delithiation (using NO2BF4) indicate it is possible to partially remove the ...