cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bosonized squeezed-state coupled-cluster approach to electron correlations in nonlinear spectroscopy

The signatures of excited-state correlations in the third-order optical response of many-electron systems are calculated using a time-dependent quasiparticle picture which maps the optical excitations onto a system of interacting bosons, following a transformation to boson (oscillator) variables. The many-body wavefunction is approximated by a Gaussian wavepacket representing a squeezed state in the quasiparticle space. Unlike the standard coupled-cluster technique, the present approach constitutes a generalized coherent state representation which makes it possible to derive simple closed equations of motion for its parameters. The time-dependent Hartree–Fock approximation is recovered for weakly correlated systems where squeezing is negligible.
Recognizing neuroleptic malignant syndrome in the emergency department: a case study.

PURPOSE. A case study is presented to discuss the importance of accurate assessment of a patient in the emergency department (ED) who develops neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). CONCLUSIONS. There has been a significant increase in the number of patients with psychiatric emergencies seeking treatment in the ED. The most frequently used medication for treating these patients is a high-potency typical antipsychotic (neuroleptic). Although NMS is a rare condition, it is a potentially fatal complication of neuroleptic medications. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Early identification of this potentially life-threatening syndrome will lead to prompt treatment and improve the care of this vulnerable population.
Using Groupware to Enhance Teaching and Learning in Undergraduate Economics.

Computer-assisted instruction has been around for some time, but only in the last few years have economists begun using the tools of local area networks and the Internet for teaching purposes. Instructors have used Gopher, electronic mail, and list-servs or newsgroups for disseminating information about their courses and have even held rudimentary electronic discussions outside of the classroom.' But more recent technologies such as groupware hold greater promise. Groupware is a generic term for network-based software designed to facilitate group activities such as discussions, debates, joint papers, or team projects. Groupware combines elements of Web pages, electronic bulletin boards, and discussion lists to create a shared hypermedia environment in which multiple users can read and edit each other's files synchronously or asynchronously. The market leader is Lotus NOTES, although a variety of other products are available.2 Originally intended to enhance business decisionmaking processes, this class of software has potential for classroom use as well.3 Imagine a discussion of a topic that takes place, not in a classroom on a given day but rather electronically over days or even weeks, where participants have the time and opportunity to reflect and explore the various issues. Use of software does not preclude face-toface classroom meetings, but it certainly goes beyond them. In addition to traditional text materials, participants may draw on electronic documents supplied by the instructor or available from the Internet. Over the course of the discussion, participants literally construct a reusable base of knowledge. The theoretical justification for using groupware comes from the active learning paradigm known as constructivism. Using traditional pedagogy, an instructor might present a lecture, that is, the refined product of his own research, whereas a constructivist would provide an environment in which students construct their own understanding of the source materials (e.g., a class discussion). A constructivist might ask students to read from a bibliography of sources instead of a textbook. Although a lecturer is likely to deliver a better product, in the sense of a more knowledgeable interpretation of the literature, proponents of constructivism argue that students are likely to learn more from the process of digging through the materials. Jonassen et al. (1995, 16) explain, "knowledge construction occurs when stu
Electrical stimulation of denervated muscle prevents decreases in oxidative enzymes

The influence of muscular contraction on the oxidative enzymes and the diameters of muscle fibers was investigated. Soleus muscles of guinea pigs were denervated for four weeks. The denervated fibers showed a reduction in the intensity of staining for beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, and NADH-dependent tetrazolium reductase. Denervation also resulted in a decrease in fiber diameter. Denervated soleus muscles were electrically stimulated to contract over a four-week period at a frequency normally received by slow contracting muscles. Electrical stimulation caused the stain intensity of histochemical reactions for oxidative enzymes to appear to be normal or greater than normal in 90% of the denervated fibers. Stimulation also caused 69% of the denervated fibers to be of normal or greater than normal size. The results demonstrate that contraction of denervated muscle by electrical stimulation prevents the loss of oxidative enzymes and the atrophy associated with denervation.
Origins and effects of coagulation in lakes

A physical model for the transport and deposition of particles in lakes is formulated mathematically, solved numerically, compared with some field results available in the literature, and used to simulate the effects of coagulation and sedimentation in some limnetic systems. The results indicate that these processes exert significant and perhaps controlling effects on the transport and fate of particles and associated pollutants and nutrients in lakes.
Treatment of chronic lumbar diskogenic pain with intradiskal electrothermal therapy: A prospective outcome study

Abstract Lutz C, Lutz GE, Cooke PM. Treatment of chronic lumbar diskogenic pain with intradiskal electrothermal therapy: a prospective outcome study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84:23-8. Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy of intradiskal electrothermal annuloplasty in treating patients with chronic constant lumbar diskogenic pain who have not responded to at least 6 months of aggressive nonoperative care. Design: Prospective case series. Setting: Academic-affiliated private physiatry practice. Participants: Thirty-three patients with chronic constant lumbar diskogenic pain of more than 6 months in duration diagnosed with history and physical examination, with concordant pain on provocative pressure-controlled lumbar diskography, and with symptomatic annular tears and/or protrusions less than 5mm, who did not respond to aggressive nonoperative care. Intervention: Intradiskal electrothermal annuloplasty. Main Outcome Measures: Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores for the back and for the lower extremity, the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and the North American Spine Society Patient Satisfaction Index. Results: A total of 33 patients, with mean age of 40 years and a mean duration of symptoms of 46 months, were observed with a mean follow-up of 15 months. Relief of pain and improvement in physical function were associated with a mean change in the VAS score of 3.9 ( P [lt ].001), a mean change in the lower-extremity VAS score of 3.7 ( P [lt ].001), and a mean change in the RMDQ of 7.3 ( P [lt ].001). For patient satisfaction, 75.7% reported that they would undergo the same procedure for the same outcome. Complete pain relief was achieved in 24% of the patients, and partial pain relief in 46% of the patients. Conclusions: Intradiskal electrothermal annuloplasty offers a safe, minimally invasive treatment option for carefully selected patients with chronic lumbar diskogenic pain who have not responded to aggressive nonoperative care. [copy ] 2003 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Athletic Reform is Key to Character Development: An Interview with Chancellor Gordon Gee of Vanderbilt University

Chancellor Gordon Gee of Vanderbilt University emphasizes the essential role that coaches play in character development in this interview with JCC's David Eberhardt. Gee stresses that coaches must first live by the standards that they set for their studentathletes in guiding their moral decisions.
Online approximate optimal path-following for a mobile robot

Online approximation of an infinite horizon optimal path-following strategy for a unicycle-type mobile robot is considered. An approximate solution to the optimal control problem is obtained by using an adaptive dynamic programming technique that uses adaptive update laws to estimate the unknown value function. The developed controller overcomes challenges with the approximation of the infinite horizon value function by using an auxiliary function that describes the motion of a virtual target on the desired path. The developed controller guarantees uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB) convergence of the vehicle to a desired path while maintaining a desired speed profile and UUB convergence of the approximate policy to the optimal policy without requiring persistence of excitation.
How do plants know when other plants are flowering? Resource depletion, pollen limitation and mast‐seeding in a perennial wildflower

Mast-seeding is the synchronous and periodic reproduction by plant populations. This phenomenon has been widely studied from a community-level perspective, but we know extremely little about how plants are able to synchronize reproduction. Here, we present the first experimental test of proximate mechanisms of mast-seeding, by preventing reproduction in an iteroparous, mast-seeding wildflower. Through a series of experiments, we show that mobile carbohydrate stores (NSC) control alternate-year flowering by individual plants; seed set depletes NSC which prevents flowering the following year. Plants are synchronized by density-dependent pollen limitation; when plants flower asynchronously, they set fewer seeds, which prevents NSC depletion. Therefore, these individual plants flower in subsequent years and become synchronized. Because mast-seeding is a consequence of physiological controls of reproduction, differences in plant resource acquisition and allocation could dramatically change patterns of seed production, and changes in plant consumers and pollinators could change selection on physiological and developmental pathways.
Nondestructive evaluation of corrosion damage using electrostatic measurements

We investigate the problem of detecting and assessing, by means of static electrical measurements, damage due to corrosion in a structure. Corrosion damage, which is assumed to occur in an inaccessible part of a specimen, is modelled as material loss. The detection device consists of electrodes which inject DC current and measure voltage potentials in the accessible part of the specimen. The topography of the damaged surface is estimated from the measured data. This research is meant to evaluate if a method based on static electrical measurements has the potential to be developed into a useful nondestructive evaluation tool. We propose computational methods that take the measured data and estimate the unknown damaged surface. The methods are studied in order to understand their properties. Several example calculations from synthetic data are presented. Our findings indicate that such a device has limited resolution. However, it offers several advantages that make it worthwhile to pursue further research.
Wave propagation and ignition in a combustible mixture

Wave propagation through a combustible mixture is examined in the large activation limit. A detailed analysis is given of the interaction between the applied signal and the ambient nonequilibrium state during the induction period prior to ignition. It is shown that, within the wave, shock formation will always precede the thermal explosion. Results for finite amplitude expansion waves are presented and the associated ignition delay times obtained. Wall heat loss effects are also discussed. For compression waves the critical heat loss which prevents ignition is found.
Homeostatic regulation in a single neuron model from the Pre-Bötzinger Complex

Central Pattern Generators (CPGs) control rhythmic movements in diverse species ranging from decapods to mammals. For the same CPG, from preparation to preparation, the intrinsic membrane properties of CPG neurons are highly disparate and modulated, however the network output remains constant. This leads to questions regarding the coregulation of currents preserving essential dynamics of a neuron. When the fast-transient potassium current, IA, is increased in the pyloric dilator neuron of the stomatogastric ganglion, there is a compensatory increase in the hyperpolarization-activated current, IH[1]. This prevents changes in the output of this well-studied CPG. Here, we test whether this coregulation would be effective if applied to the dynamics of another well-studied CPG found in mammals that controls breathing. We hypothesized that when the maximal conductance, ḡA, of IA was increased there would be an increase in the period and interburst interval (IBI) and subsequently increasing the maximal conductance, ḡH, of IH would provide a matching compensatory decrease. To investigate this, we modified a single neuron model of the pre-Botzinger complex [2] by adding IA [3] and IH[4]. We investigated this model by systematically exploring properties of the ionic currents. First, we increased ḡA from 0 to 51nS. This increased the period and IBI from 1.78s to 40.12s and 1.37s to 39.35s, respectively (Fig. ​(Fig.1,1, blue curve). At the same time, the spike frequency and spike number increased from 10.29 to 60.72Hz and 5.00 to 38.35 spikes, respectively. Then we subsequently increased ḡH from 0nS to 69nS. The period and IBI was decreased from 40.12s to 2.02s and 39.35 to 1.64s, respectively (Fig. ​(Fig.1,1, red curve). The spike frequency and spike number decreased from 60.72 to 13.93Hz and 36.50 to 2.74 spikes, respectively. In Figure ​Figure11 we presented the data for the IBIs. To place the graphs on the same scale we normalized the parameter values by the maximum values used in the study. The blue and red curves look similar, except ḡA graph grows and ḡH graph decays. To further evaluate how well the two dependences are matched, we plotted the IBI dependence on as the green curve. One could see that the green and blue curves are well matched. Figure 1 Dependence of interburst interval on ḡA (blue) and ḡA (red). Conductances were normalized to their maxima, max(ḡA) and max (ḡH). Green curve represents the IBI dependence on . This model shows that increasing IH opposes the effects of increasing IA in period, IBI, frequency and spike number. This may be a common mechanism for regulating rhythmic patterns in CPGs.
Situations where formal confirmatory analysis is inappropriate for clinical research.

When new drugs are developed for indications where no effective therapies have been established, such as emphysema, useful measures of clinical activity have to be derived from a large number of proposed measures. It often happens that most of the proposed measures are of little use in tracking the disease and that the numbers of patients needed to establish whether the drug is effective is very large. Thus, the first study in man may be the size of the usual Phase III “confirmatory” study, and the expense and the time needed to complete it are so great that decisions about the future development of the drug will depend upon this one large study. The situation of such innovative therapies is examined, and methods for controlling the error rate when almost ail analyses have to be exploratory are proposed.
Trihalomethane Reduction in Drinking Water: Technologies, Costs, Effectiveness, Monitoring, Compliance

This book is a compilation of three Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports written during the preceeding 2 years on trihalomethanes (THM's) in drinking water and compliance with the maximum contaminant level (MCL). The goal of this work, as set forth by the editor, is to “present guidance for planning changes in water treatment systems and various treatment approaches to the problem” of THM control. In this regard, one finds here a wealth of information on the current regulation, “best generally available treatment methods,” full-scale experience on treatment modifications, anticipated costs of such modifications, and their impacts on the microbiological quality of the finished water. The final portion of the book also includes some very practical information on approved methods of THM sampling and analysis.
Analysis of Structural Variability in Pharmaceutical Excipients Using Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

Polysaccharide-based excipients comprise the majority of most solid dosage forms and can vary dramatically in terms of structural and functionally related properties. Analytical methods for characterizing these important formulation components are crucial. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy (SSNMR) can provide a wealth of information on these materials while offering the advantages of non-destructive sample preparation and selectivity. The overall objective of this work is to identify SSNMR parameters that can be used to detect differences among these excipients. Excipients were obtained from a wide range of suppliers and analyzed as received; 13C SSNMR spectra were acquired using a Chemagnetics CMX-300 spectrometer operating at approximately 75 MHz. The resolution of SSNMR signals of many excipients allows for positive identification of the major form present. Alginic acid and sodium alginate can be differentiated based on carbonyl peak position. Analysis of relative peak intensities provides insight into the purity of a carrageenan sample compared to known standards. The SSNMR spectrum of starch can be used to identify the source and to quantitate the amorphous and crystalline content. Relaxation values and peak areas of starch derivatives can be related to the degree of hydrolysis, providing an alternative method for determining dextrose equivalent. Differences in peak intensities and relaxation time values of HPMC samples can be correlated to the amount of methoxy subsituent groups. Important characteristics of excipients such as form identification, structural differences, crystalline and amorphous content, and water content variations can be detected using SSNMR spectroscopy.
Both response effort and current intensity affect self-stimulation train duration thresholds

Abstract Self-stimulation thresholds obtained from rate/intensity functions have often been used to measure brain stimulation reward (BSR) under the assumption that these indices are not contaminated by performance factors. However, very few studies have explicitly examined the effects of performance variables on thresholds. The present experiment examined the joint effects of response effort and current intensity on brain duration thresholds. Three levels of stimulation current and lever weightings were factorially combined and train duration thresholds (defined as 50% of maximum response rates) were determined for each condition. It was discovered that changes in both current intensity and response effort produced shifts in thresholds, and that these shifts were of approximately equal magnitude. It was concluded that caution must be exercised when interpreting self-stimulation threshold data since, at least under some conditions, both reward (i.e., train duration) and performance (i.e., effort) manipulations produced similar shifts in self-stimulation response functions.
Efficient resolution of racemic 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol with chiral selectors identified from a small library.

Abstract Efficient resolution of racemic 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol, a well-studied analyte in chiral separation, was achieved using selectors developed from a small library. Separation factors (up to 7.2) obtained are significantly higher than the ones reported previously for this analyte. The library consists of 121 members and it does not contain the pi deficient 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl (Dnb) group. These highly efficient stationary phases may lead to the practical large-scale chromatographic resolution of enantiomers of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol, which are widely used as chiral auxiliaries and ligands in asymmetric synthesis.
Predicting outcome in critical care

This summary suggests that the systematic collection of objective information on a patient’s disease, the acute severity of the disease, their physiologic reserve and their response to treatment can improve our ability to predict outcome for critically ill ICU patients. These predictions can then be used to evaluate the quality of ICU services and improve the precision of treatment for individual patients.24
Histopathology of the Liver in Histiocytosis Syndromes

Liver biopsies were studied in 47 cases representing various histiocytosis syndromes. These included 32 cases of hemophagocytic syndrome, 11 cases of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), and 4 cases of other histiocytic disorders. All cases of hemophagocytic syndrome, except one with cytomegalovirus infection, displayed portal lymphohistiocytic infiltrates dominated by T lymphocytes. Activation of the hepatic mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS), evidenced by enlarged von Kupffer cells, some of which were hemophagocytic, was seen in 28 cases of hemophagocytic syndrome. Endothelial enlargement, minor degrees of hepatocellular degeneration, and steatosis were also noted. Ten of the 11 cases of LCH also showed activation of the MPS. It was the only lesion in two biopsies. Seven cases demonstrated nonspecific “triaditis.” In three this was associated with cholangiocentric and random acinar histiocytic lesions. Evidence of activation of the MPS was also observed in both cases of Rosai-Dorfman disease and was ac...
Anti-CD3-induced changes in protein kinase C isozymes expression in human CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes.

In order to determine whether there is a differential expression and activation of PKC isozymes between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (moAb) for various time intervals and the expression of calcium-dependent PKC isozymes (α, β, γ) and calcium-independent PKC isozymes (δ, e, ζ) was analyzed with dual color flow cytometry, using anti-PKC isozyme antibodies and anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 antibodies. The basal fluorescence intensity of all PKC isozymes was comparable between CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. Following activation with anti-CD3 moAb a marked increase in the fluorescence intensity of all PKC isozymes in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, albeit to a different extent and with different kinetics was observed. Among all PKC isozymes studied, the least striking changes were observed in PKCζ isozyme and the most striking changes were observed in PKC-e isozyme. Laser-based confocal microscopic studies confirmed that the increase in fluorescence intensity of PKC isozymes following anti-CD3 moAb stimulation, as measured by flow cytometry was accompanied by the translocation of PKC isozymes from cytosol to the plasma membrane. This study demonstrates a differential effect of anti-CD3 moAb on the expression of PKC isozymes between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and suggests that flow cytometry can be used to study the translocation of PKC isozymes from cytosol to the plasma membrane.
Socially Shared Regulation in Collaborative Groups: An Analysis of the Interplay between Quality of Social Regulation and Group Processes.

This study extends prior research on both individual self-regulation and socially shared regulation during group learning to examine the range and quality of the cognitive and behavioral social regulatory sub-processes employed by six small collaborative groups of upper-elementary students (n = 24). Qualitative analyses were conducted based on videotaped observations of groups across a series of three mathematics tasks. Variation in the quality of social regulation as a function of group processes (positive and negative socioemotional interactions, collaborative and non-collaborative interactions) was also considered. Findings suggested that the synergy among the social regulatory processes of planning, monitoring, and behavioral engagement was important for differentiating quality variation between groups. Positive socioemotional interactions and collaboration also appeared to facilitate higher quality social regulation. Implications for comprehensively supporting high quality social regulation, alongsid...
Trinucleon charge densities and three-nucleon forces

Trinucleon charge densities and charge form factors are calculated in impulse approximation for a large set of wave functions obtained from solving the Faddeev equations for diverse combinations of four two-body force models and three three-nucleon force models. The three-nucleon forces improve the form factor predictions in the region of the secondary maximum slightly, but the experimental data are still substantially higher than the theoretical predictions, while the positions of the theoretical first diffraction minimum and secondary maximum are too high.
Integrating Multiple Health Behavior Theories Into Program Planning: The PER Worksheet

The foundation of a logic model or any theory-based planning model is the identification of the behavioral antecedents and the relationship of these variables to the target behavior. Applying theoretical concepts to specific behaviors and populations is often challenging for practitioners and program planning students. The challenge comes from the abstract definition of theoretical constructs, the duplication of similar constructs in multiple theories, and the need to combine multiple theories. To simplify the planning process when utilizing logic models and health behavior theory, we recommend the use of the PER Worksheet. The PER Worksheet is a planning tool that provides layman-term prompts for identifying health behavior antecedents. It encompasses five common health behavior theories-health belief model, theory of planned behavior, social cognitive theory, an ecological perspective, and transtheoretical model. The PER Worksheet is organized into three columns: Predisposing, Enabling, and Reinforcing factors, terms of the PRECEDE/PROCEED model.
The use of the Mitek anchoring system on the iliac crest for flank incisional hernia repair

Large incisional or ventral hernia repairs continue to be a challenge for general and plastic surgeons. Hernias without tangential fascial substance eventually face problems with recurrence. We present a case report of a patient who had undergone multiple repairs for a right flank incisional hernia which eventually recurred. We demonstrated the successful use of the Mitek® anchoring system in this repair. Using the Mitek® system in hernia repair is an innovative approach for large abdominal hernias with limited areas for fixation of synthetic mesh. Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study
Posterior sternoclavicular epiphyseal fracture-dislocation with delayed diagnosis

Posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocations and epiphyseal fractures are relatively rare injuries. We present a case report of a 16-year-old male who presented with a 10-day delay in diagnosis. The medial clavicular fragment was widely displaced and rested against the cervical vertebral body. Despite the degree of displacement, the patient had very few symptoms, and the diagnosis was not appreciated in the emergency department and became apparent at 10-day clinic follow-up. Treatment consisted of attempts at closed reduction, which were not successful. Open reduction was performed and the repair done with strong sutures. At 1-year follow-up the patient is doing well without any symptoms. A literature review consisting of anatomy, ossification patterns, classification systems, diagnosis and associated symptoms, imaging recommendations, treatment recommendations, outcomes, and complications is included.
Bad friend book.

SUMMARY This piece was written for a one-woman performance in San Francisco. The theme of the show was "mean and nasty," and this piece focuses, with humor and without mercy, on the less enticing aspects of lesbian polyamorous relationships.
An Algorithmic Aid for Intensity Measures of Consumer Preference

Recently, J. R. Hauser and S. M. Shugan, and K. Pasumarty, have used constant-sum paired comparisons to estimate the intensity of consumer preferences for various products. Both studies use the consumer's responses to determine whether his/her preference function is ratio, interval or ordinal in nature. This determination involves performing a statistical analysis based upon the experimental design matrix, M, which identifies the various transitivity tests designed into the experiment, and upon a companion matrix, W. Unfortunately, both studies generated W by means of exhaustive enumeration, a costly computational technique. In this paper, we propose an algorithm that generates the matrix W cheaply and efficiently. The algorithm is based in part upon modular arithmetic and a technique developed by R. J. Duffin and T. D. Morley for meshing electrical networks. When implemented on a Zenith 150 personal computer, the proposed algorithm found W, for the examples given in both Hauser and Shugan and Pasumarty, in a fraction of the time at most 0.032 required by exhaustive enumeration. We also show that even when W is not unique, the statistical measurements that utilize W are.
Morphological control of precipitated calcium carbonates and phosphates by colloidal additives

The precipitation of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphates from solutions with and without additives such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, colloidal silica and potato starch, has been studied by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. A constant rate of 10−6 mol s−1 of reactant was added into the mixed solutions with and without additives. Nucleation frequency and morphology were dramatically altered by the addition of colloidal potato starch. It was found to be effective for non-specific nucleation of calcite and hydroxyapatite and specific nucleation of monetite. The nucleation frequency of calcite is increased by adding starch by about a factor of 104. Starch also alters the shape of hydroxyapatite to fibre-like.
The function and structure of the metal coordination sites within the glucocorticoid receptor DNA binding domain

The glucocorticoid receptor enhances or represses transcription by binding to specific DNA sequences termed glucocorticoid response elements, or GREs1–5. Studies of cloned glucocorticoid receptors6–8 reveal that the protein is organized as functional domains, in an arrangement that appears to be common among members of the steroid receptor family9. A segment near the centre of the gene specifies DNA binding activity in vitro and contains two sequence motifs similar to 'zinc fingers' found in Xenopus transcription factor III A (TFIIIA)10. Such sequence motifs have been identified in nucleic acid binding proteins from a wide range of organisms11–13. Steroid receptor protein fingers are proposed to bind zinc through two pairs of conserved cysteine residues7,14,15.We report here that a protein of relative molecular mass 19,000 (Mr = 19K) encompassing the DNA-binding domain of the glucocorticoid receptor that has been overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity reversibly ligates two Zn(II) or Cd(II) ions. We show that metal ions are required for specific DNA binding and proper folding. Using EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) and visible light spectroscopies, we find that each Zn atom is coordinated in a tetrahedral arrangement by four cysteines.
Tillage and crop effects on seasonal dynamics of soil CO2 evolution, water content, temperature, and bulk density.

Crop management practices impact soil productivity by altering the soil environment, which in turn affects microbial growth and decomposition processes that transform plant-produced C to soil organic matter (SOM) or CO2. Long-term reduced tillage increases SOM, but little is known about the seasonal dynamics of soil CO2 evolution as affected by tillage and crop. The objectives were as follows: (1) To determine the effect of tillage (conventionally disked (CT) and no tillage (NT)) in monoculture sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) on the seasonal dynamics and soil depth distribution of gravimetric soil water content (SWC), soil temperature, bulk density (BD), and water-filled pore space (WFPS). (2) To relate soil CO2 evolution to changes in these parameters. The soil was a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) located in southcentral Texas. Soil CO2 evolution, using the static chamber method with alkali absorption, and physical parameters were measured 57 times during 2 years, Soil water content was greater under NT than under CT during the fallow period in all crops, but not always during the growing season. Soil BD was reduced shortly after tillage, but increased to levels observed under NT during wet and cold intervals in the fallow period and during the growing season in all crops. Soil temperature at sunrise was 0.7–1.6°C greater under NT than under CT during spring and autumn months in all crops. Mean soil CO2 evolution was greater during the growing season than during fallow in all crops. Mean soil CO2 evolution during the fallow period was not different between tillage regimes in sorghum (1.25 g CO2-C m−2 day−1) , but was greater under NT compared with CT in wheat (1.88 vs. 1.65 g CO2-C m−2 day−1) and in soybean ( 1.04 vs. 0.86 g CO2-C m−2 day−1). During the growing season, soil CO2 evolution was greater under NT compared with CT in sorghum (2.04 vs. 1.84 g CO2-C m−2 day−1) and in soybean (2.08 vs. 1.58 g CO2-C m−2 dayt1), but was lower under NT compared with CT in wheat (2.09 vs. 2.52 g CO2-C m−2 day−1). Mean Soil CO2 evolution during both periods was related to soil organic C (SOC) under CT, but not under NT. The combined effects of soil temperature, SWC (or WFPS), temperature-water interactions, days after harvest during the fallow period, and days after planting during the growing season explained 73 to 92% of the seasonal variation in soil CO2 evolution depending upon tillage regime and crop. In situ soil CO2 evolution responded to soil temperature and SWC differently depending upon tillage and crop management, suggesting that C budgets of agroecosystems derived from climatic data alone could be misleading. Conversion from CT to NT increased C sequestration in soil, but soil under NT released the same or more C as CO2 depending on crop during Year 9 and Year 10 after initiation, suggesting that the dynamics of C sequestration/ mineralization had changed during the 10 year period.
Phosphorus cycling in a managed lake ecosystem: Seasonal and longer-term trends

Abstract Irondequoit Bay, adjacent to Rochester, New York, is one of the larger embayments along the southern coast of Lake Ontario. Since the 1980s, management activities have been focused on improving water quality and the trophic status of the bay, including a program of hypolimnetic oxygenation. During the summers of 2003, 2004 and 2009, a program of basic water quality parameter profiles and sediment sampling completed. Results of these surveys show an increase in hypolimnetic P throughout each summer season. The increase in P is concordant with decreasing dissolved O2 concentrations. Although the dissolved O2 levels are persistent in the suboxic range for most of the summer season, the oxygenation program prevents anoxic conditions, limiting the release of P to that associated with Mn oxyhydroxides. Longer-term trends show an upward linear trend in metalimnetic P which is associated with the trophic status of the bay. This upward trend may be linked to cycling and enrichment of the near surface sediment in P.
11.3 A 10b 0.6nW SAR ADC with data-dependent energy savings using LSB-first successive approximation

ADCs used in medical and industrial monitoring often transduce signals with short bursts of high activity followed by long idle periods. Examples include biopotential, sound, and accelerometer waveforms. Current approaches to save energy during periods of low signal activity include variable resolution and sample rate systems [1], asynchronous level-crossing ADCs [2], and ADCs that bypass bitcycles when the signal is within a predefined small window [3]. This work presents a signal-activity-based power-saving algorithm called LSB-first successive approximation (SA) that maintains a constant sample rate and resolution, scales logarithmically with signal activity, and does not inherently suffer from slope overload.
Electron-Transport Properties and Use in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes of a Bis(dioxaborine)fluorene Derivative†

Bis(dioxaborine)fluorenes (DOB) have been studied as potential electron-transport materials. These materials are reversibly reduced at ca. −1.31 V vs ferrocenium/ferrocene, indicating that they have considerably higher electron affinities than tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (AlQ3). They are also highly fluorescent in both solution and the solid state. Time-of-flight measurements show the room-temperature electron mobility of one example to be 2 orders of magnitude higher than the commonly used electron-transport material AlQ3. Organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices based on the dioxaborine and poly(9-vinylcarbazole) have been fabricated and show a red emission that can be attributed to an exciplex or a charge-transfer complex formed between the two organic components. Forster energy transfer from the exciplex or the charge-transfer complex to a phthalocyanine dopant in the dioxaborine electron-transport layer leads to a near-infrared-emitting OLED.
Contact stresses and ground motion generated by soil‐structure interaction

A study has been made of the dynamic contact stresses that the foundation of a nine-storey reinforced concrete building exerts on the soil during forced vibration tests. The effects of the flexibility of the foundation on the contact stress distribution and on the force-displacement relationship for the foundation have been examined in an attempt at testing several simplifying assumptions commonly used in soil-structure interaction studies. Comparisons of calculated and observed ground displacements induced by soil-structure interaction in the immediate neighbourhood of the building have also been presented.
Potentially perilous pedagogies: Teaching trauma is not the same as trauma-informed teaching

This article explores why and how trauma theory and research are currently used in higher education in nonclinical courses such as literature, women's studies, film, education, anthropology, cultural studies, composition, and creative writing. In these contexts, traumatic material is presented not only indirectly in the form of texts and films that depict traumatic events but also directly in the form of what is most commonly referred to in nonclinical disciplines as trauma studies, cultural trauma studies, and critical trauma studies. Within these areas of study, some instructors promote potentially risky pedagogical practices involving trauma exposure or disclosure despite indications that these may be having deleterious effects. After examining the published rationales for such methods, we argue that given the high rates of trauma histories (66%-85%), posttraumatic stress disorder (9%-12%), and other past event-related distress among college students, student risk of retraumatization and secondary traumatization should be decreased rather than increased. To this end, we propose that a trauma-informed approach to pedagogy-one that recognizes these risks and prioritizes student emotional safety in learning-is essential, particularly in classes in which trauma theories or traumatic experiences are taught or disclosed.
Dynamic intrinsic optical signal monitoring of electrically stimulated inner retinal neural response

Dynamic monitoring of stimulus-evoked inner neural response is important for functional validation of stimulation protocols of retinal prosthetic devices. In this paper, we demonstrate label-free intrinsic optical signal (IOS) imaging of electrically stimulated inner neural response in freshly isolated mouse retinas. While single-pulse stimulation evoked rapid IOS within 20 ms, pulse-train stimulation indicated that the fast IOS response can follow frequency stimulation up to at least 8 Hz. Fast IOS imaging promises a noninvasive method for high resolution examination of electrically evoked retinal response, without artifact contamination of electrical stimulus.
Weight Change and Functional Limitations Among Older Adults in North Carolina

There is emerging evidence that weight change during older adulthood is associated with decreased physical function; however, less is known about the association between weight change during middle to older adulthood and physical function. This study assessed the association of weight change between middle and older adulthood and functional limitations among 2,531 older African-American and white participants, ages 65 and older at baseline (1987), from the Piedmont Health Survey of the Elderly. Weight gainers had ≥8% increase in weight, weight losers had >8% decrease in weight, and weight maintainers had <8% increase or decrease between age 50 and baseline. Functional limitations were categorized as none (0), mild (1–3), or severe (4 or more) using items from the activities of daily living scale by Katz and the extremity function scale by Nagi. Modified Poisson regression was used to assess these associations in crude and adjusted analyses. Weight gain and weight loss between age 50 and baseline were associated with severe functional limitations (prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.36 and PR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.41, 1.78, respectively) compared to weight maintainers after adjustment for age, race, and gender. These associations were attenuated after additional adjustment for health characteristics, while weaker associations were noted for mild functional limitations. In summary, weight gain and weight loss between middle and older adulthood were associated with severe functional limitations among older adults in North Carolina. Additional research is needed to explore weight change across the life course and its possible effects on physical function later in life.
Comparison of reference image generation techniques for projection moiré interferometry.

Three different approaches of generating reference images for projection moire interferometry are compared. An interpolation-based phase-shift technique that phase shifts the actual reference images is shown to reduce error by over 25% and to reduce processing time compared with the common cosine-wave- and square-wave-based approaches.
Relationship of phenotypic variation in sorghum to nutritive value of crop residues

Abstract Improvements in dry matter digestibility of crop residues contribute to greater productivity of livestock consuming dual-purpose sorghums (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). Delayed leaf senescence (stay-green), brown-midrib (bmr), leaf disease resistance, and high yield are among sorghum phenotypic traits that could enhance nutritive value of crop residues. The objective was to evaluate nutritive value and hydrocyanic acid potential (HCN-p) of leaf or stem components of crop residues of sorghum lines and hybrids representing differences in phenotypic traits. Four replications of eight or more lines and hybrids made up a randomized complete block design during 2 years in central Texas. Dry matter yield, dry weight loss after extraction in water and incubation in rumen, and fiber concentrations of leaves and stems were measured after grain harvest under field conditions. In addition, HCN-p of axillary branches and mature leaves was quantified. Sample weight loss in water extractions without incubation in rumen was negatively correlated with fiber concentrations, which were measured as the sample weights remaining after extraction in neutral (NDF) and acidic (ADF) detergent solutions. Greater concentrations of water-extractable dry matter and lower concentrations of NDF and ADF were observed for stay-green than for bmr or lines that senesced under drought. Yet, the sum of water-extractable dry matter plus ensuing weight loss during 7 days in rumen, expressed as yield ha−1 of leaf and stem digestible dry matter, was not consistently greater for stay-green than drought-susceptible lines. In addition, the yield of the sum of water-extractable and 7-day rumen losses of stay-green lines was comparable to or less than the bmr line. Under conditions in which leaf senescence varied little, analyses of nutritive value indicated water-extractable dry matter was enhanced and fiber concentrations were reduced in crop residues of stay-green compared to senescent lines.
Bayesian modeling of age-specific survival in nesting studies under Dirichlet priors.

Summary. There has been much work done in nest survival analysis using the maximum likelihood (ML) method. The ML method suffers from the instability of numerical calculations when models having a large number of unknown parameters are used. A Bayesian approach of model fitting is developed to estimate age-specific survival rates for nesting studies using a large class of prior distributions. The computation is done by Gibbs sampling. Some latent variables are introduced to simplify the full conditional distributions. The method is illustrated using both a real and a simulated data set. Results indicate that Bayesian analysis provides stable and accurate estimates of nest survival rates.
Determination of l-α-acetylmethadol (LAAM), norLAAM, and dinorLAAM in Clinical and In Vitro Samples Using Liquid Chromatography with Electrospray Ionization and Tandem Mass Spectrometry

l-Alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) is an alternative to methadone for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence. LAAM has a longer therapeutic half-life than methadone, primarily because it is metabolized to more active metabolites, norLAAM and dinorLAAM. We have developed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method capable of measuring LAAM and its metabolites, norLAAM and dinorLAAM, at lower concentrations with 1.0-mL aliquots of plasma (range of 0.25 to 100 ng/mL) or higher concentration with 0.2-mL aliquots of plasma (range 1.25 to 500 ng/mL). It has acceptable precision and accuracy across both linear ranges, as well as in the urine matrix. Results from this assay correlate well with our previously validated gas chromatograghy-mass spectrometry method. All analytes had acceptable stability after three freeze-thaw cycles, room temperature storage for 20 h, or storage of extracts either at -20 degrees C for 6 days or on the autosampler (10 degrees C) for 4 days. The pharmacokinetics of LAAM, norLAAM, and dinorLAAM were determined for the first time in three male opioid-naive individuals receiving a single oral dose of 5 mg LAAM/70 kg. Using this method, we could monitor the in vitro N-demethylation of LAAM and norLAAM at substrate concentrations in the therapeutic range of 0.5 and 1.0 microM by cDNA-expressed cytochrome P450s. This confirmed the involvement of cytochrome P450s 3A4, 2B6, 2C8, and 2C18 at therapeutic concentrations of LAAM. An accurate and precise method for determination of LAAM and its metabolites, norLAAM and dinorLAAM, that is suitable for both in vivo and in vitro metabolism studies has been developed and validated.