cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interfacing an ensemble Data Assimilation system with a 3D nonhydrostatic Coastal Ocean Model, an OSSE experiment

This paper presents the integration of a data assimilation framework and a nonhydrostatic coastal ocean model for the study of turbulent processes and state variables. Interfacing our General Curvilinear Coastal Ocean Model (GCCOM) with NCAR's Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART), enable the integration of very high-resolution observations into the system. These results included observation system simulation experiments (OSSEs) for test cases using a very steep seamount, by using different observation error variances. Our results demonstrated that the DART-GCCOM model can assimilate high-resolution observations using as few as 30 ensemble members.
Early assessment of the 10-step patient engagement framework for patient-centred outcomes research studies: the first three steps.

Background A key principle of patient-centred outcomes research (PCOR) is the engagement of patients and other stakeholders in the research process, but the evidence is still emerging on the impact patient engagement has on the research process. A 10-step framework has been developed to provide methodological guidance for patient engagement throughout the research process. However, the utility of the framework for patient engagement has not been tested in actual research studies. Objective To describe researcher's overall experiences with engaging patients at the beginning of their PCOR research process. Methods Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted face-to-face and by telephone with PCOR researchers between November 2014 and January 2015 at an Academic Health Center in the eastern USA. All data were audiotaped and transcribed, and NVivo 10 software was used for data analysis. Results Four major themes emerged (i) the importance of patient engagement and how it provides 'a perspective you can't get unless you talk to the patient'; (ii) the impact of patient engagement; (iii) challenges and barriers of engagement; and (iv) the realities of patient engagement. Conclusions Researchers' views illustrate the need to re-evaluate patient engagement in PCOR based on current realities. Given the many challenges to engagement that researchers encounter, it may be more productive to redefine the process of patient engagement so that the issues researchers now face are taken into account in future funding announcements, engagement rubrics and methodology frameworks developed.
Ketamine Infusion as a Counter Measure for Opioid Tolerance in Mechanically Ventilated Children: A Pilot Study

Drug rotation to prevent opioid tolerance is well recognized in chronic pain management. However, ketamine infusion as a counter measure for opioid tolerance is rarely described in mechanically ventilated children developing tolerance from prolonged opioid infusion. We performed a retrospective study in a 14-bed medical-surgical-cardiac pediatric intensive care unit. Thirty-two mechanically ventilated children who had developed tolerance from prolonged intravenous infusion of opioids received a continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine as an opioid substitute for more than 2 days, scheduled in a drug rotation protocol. Thirty-two children (median age 2.5 years, range 0.1–16.0; weight 11.2 kg [3.8–62.0]) were included. Patients had received continuous intravenous infusion of opioids and benzodiazepines for 16.0 days (4.0–34.0) when drug rotation was started. The median dose of continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine was 4.0 mg·kg−1·h−1 (1.8–6.0) and the median duration was 3.0 days (2.0–6.0). After having restarted opioids, fentanyl doses were significantly lower compared with the time before the drug rotation began (after, 2.9 µg·kg−1·h−1 [0.8–4.9] vs before, 4.15 µg·kg−1·h−1 [1.2–10.0]; p < 0.001). Continuous intravenous infusion of midazolam and clonidine were unchanged during drug rotation. COMFORT-B scoring was significantly lower after having started drug rotation (after, 14.5 [8–19] vs before, 16 [11–22]; p < 0.001). Drug rotation with ketamine in mechanically ventilated children with opioid tolerance is feasible and seems to reduce the rate of fentanyl infusion.
Home-Based Parent Child Therapy for Young Traumatized Children Living In Poverty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized control trial was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based, parent-and-child therapy program specifically developed for toddlers and preschoolers living in poverty with trauma symptoms. Sixty-four children 5-years of age and younger were referred to a community-based clinic for behavior problems and emotional difficulties. All children had experienced one or more potentially traumatic events and met the DSM-5's criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children Six Years of Age and Younger. All families received government assistance indicating that their income met the federal definition for poverty. Participants were randomly assigned to either immediate treatment or wait list control groups. Significant between-group differences on all post-treatment measures were found. After the waitlist group completed treatment, significant improvements for both groups were found on all measures at six-weeks follow-up. Outcomes included reductions in challenging behaviors and emotional symptoms of trauma, improved caregiver-child relationships, and increased caregiver adherence to treatment strategies. This study offers support for early intervention of children with trauma symptoms and identifies the clinical challenges and advantages of providing therapy services in a home setting for very young children in poverty.
Protein interaction based features' extraction

Protein and DNA features extraction represents an interesting research subject for a wide range of relevant applications. In this paper, we evaluated interactions in genes and diseases by modelling them as social networks. We introduced weighted cliques to indicate patterns of those interactions and distinguish the relations between different vertices based on their strengths or levels of interactions. We used those patterns as features and evaluate their value in comparison with other feature extraction existing approaches.
Molecular Mechanisms of Microtubule Acting Cancer Drugs

Here the molecular mechanism of antimitotic drugs, biological compounds that bind to tubulin and microtubules and suppress microtubule dynamics are reviewed. A common feature of tubulin-interacting compounds is that binding to tubulin is linked to assembly, either the stabilization of a microtubule lattice by compounds like the taxanes and epothilones, or the induction of alternate, nonmicrotubule polymer forms. The nonmicrotubule polymers arise from tubulin heterodimers or at microtubule ends with compounds like colchicine, vinca alkaloids, dolastatin, and cryptophycin-52. Their mechanism of action is strongly coupled to the mechanism of microtubule assembly, especially structural features that affect nucleotide binding, GTP hydrolysis, stabilization of longitudinal and lateral protofilament contacts, and endwise growth and disassembly dynamics. Quantitative analysis of drug binding and microtubule or nonmicrotubule polymer formation can be a useful tool in drug design, as in many cases the energetics are predictive of IC50 values and clinical doses. Furthermore, these drugs allosterically disrupt the regulation of microtubule dynamics, whereas the regulatory factors themselves may play an important role in drug resistance. Thus, the development of compounds that selectively target regulation of mitotic spindle dynamics and kinetochore capture, by chemical genetics for example, may result in useful and effective therapeutic tools.
Marine magnetic survey of Kachemak Bay, Alaska

Kachemak Bay in south-central Alaska is approximately 60 km long and 20 km wide at the mouth. Geologically, Kachemak Bay marks the boundary between the Mesozoic rocks of the Kenai Mountains and the low-lying Tertiary sediments of the northwestern part of the Kenai Peninsula. It is believed that the Border Ranges fault traverses the bay, although the fault's exact location is not known. In the summer of 1981, a marine magnetic survey was conducted to attempt to locate the fault and/or other geologic boundaries. The magnetic data indicate that a fault, presumed to be the Border Ranges fault, traverses the bay between Seldovia and Homer. The location of what is inferred to be the contact between the Mesozoic and Tertiary rocks can also be seen in the magnetic data. The data also suggest the existence of a magnetic (ultramafic) body beneath the bay.
Esthetic post and core treatment

The dilemma that confronts the practitioner in the area of post-endodontic rehabilitation is a positive one. The variety of products and techniques available offer practical solutions to most restorative problems. Patients have benefited [figure: see text] from recent developments in post-and-core technology, and continue to reap the benefits of research and development. The ideal system of products for the endodontic-restorative continuum includes: an esthetic resin fiber post a composite core an automixed resin luting cement current techniques that combine the automixed resin luting cement and composite core into the same component.
Crystal and molecular structure of [Cu2(3,5-dihydroxybenzoate)4 (acetonitrile)2] ⋅ 8H2O

The crystal and molecular structure of the title compound, [Cu2(3,5-dihydroxybenzoate)4 (acetonitrile)2] ⋅ 8H2O 1, is reported. Crystal data for 1: tetragonal, space group I 4/m, a = 11.720(2) A, c = 15.304(3) A, V = 2102.4(6), and D c = 1.53 g/cm3, for Z = 2. The metal and organic components crystallize to form a Cu paddle-wheel complex, of idealized D4h symmetry, that assembles in the solid-state, along with eight equivalents of water, to form a 3D hydrogen-bonded network held together by O–H ⋅⋅⋅ O hydrogens bonds. The metal complexes pack to form a 2D layered structure.
Low Complexity Fluctuation Measurement in Image Processing Considering Order

The standard deviation can measure the spread out of a set of numbers and entropy can measure the randomness. However, they do not consider the order of the numbers. This can lead to misleading results where the order of the numbers is vital. An image is a set of numbers (i.e. pixel values) that is sensitive to order. In this paper, a low complexity and efficient method for measuring the fluctuation is proposed considering the order of the numbers. The proposed method sums up the changes of consecutive numbers and can be used in image processing applications. Simulation shows that the proposed method is 8 to 33 times faster than other related works.
Abstract 106: Identifying Cardiac Conduction System-specific Enhancers That Link Cell-type Specification With Human Conduction Defects

The Cardiac Conduction System (CCS) is composed of a small set of specialized cardiomyocytes (CMs) that generate and propagate the electrical impulse required for contraction of the cardiac chamber...
High-frequency spinal cord stimulation in a subacute animal model of spinal cord injury.

This study indicates that the respiratory responses to high-frequency spinal cord stimulation applied at the T2 level results in activation of the inspiratory motoneuron pools via interneuronal cir...
Bella Swan and Katniss Everdeen: The Expectation of Motherhood in the Culture Industry

In this paper, the author applies Max Horkheimer’s and Theodor Adorno’s theoretical framework of the culture industry to modern literary works to demonstrate the ways in which motherization, or the process by which women are trained and conditioned within a societal context to expect and desire motherhood, is deployed within the culture industry. Horkheimer and Adorno argue that the Culture Industry destroys choice and alternative action to its audience. This process affects both the creator and the observer. It binds the choice of the artist (writer, composer, etc.…) and legitimizes the prescribed choice of the observer. Neither the creator of the piece nor the viewer is free. As Adorno explained “everything somehow appears ‘predestined’”. In other words, the Culture Industry exists outside of the people who produce and consume it. Horkheimer and Adorno were mostly concerned with general characteristics and consequences of the Culture Industry. In this paper, the author advances a more specific version of the Culture Industry. She argues that contemporary portrayals of motherhood in the Culture Industry are an integral part of both the motherization process. This is especially insidious in works targeting young women. Using Twilight, Hunger Games, and Herland, she demonstrates that portrayal of motherhood to young adolescent girls (especially those who are white) that becoming a mother is not a choice but a necessity. Furthermore, motherhood is not portrayed merely as an inevitability of womanhood rather motherhood must be of a particular type that produces women as a particularized docile body.
Clinical characteristics and demographic profile of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at child development clinic (CDC), Penang Hospital, Malaysia.

Objective To explore socio-demographics and clinical characteristics of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at Child Development Clinic (CDC), Penang Hospital. Study design A record review study of 331 children with ASD attending CDC, Penang Hospital from September 2013 to April 2017. Results Out of 331 children with ASD, 82.5% were males, 17.5% females, with male to female ratio of 4.7:1. Mean age at consultation was 5 years and 6 months (SD 31.68 months) with age range from 19 months to 18 years and 4 months. 85.8% were term infants with normal birth weight. History of speech regression was noted in 14.8%, epilepsy and genetic disorders in 9.4% and 5.7% respectively. Sleep problems was reported in 29.3%, dietary issues 22.1%, challenging behaviour 24.2% and ADHD 14.2%. Mean age of the father and mother at birth was 33.6 and 31.6 years respectively. Conclusion In this study, we report a higher male to female ratio and mean age at referral with some similar rates of neurodevelopmental and medical comorbidities and relatively younger parental age with higher parental education levels.
Monoclonal Gammopathies After Renal Transplantation: A Single-center Study.

Abstract Plasma cell disorders (PCD) are clonal plasma cell disorders which includes conditions such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS), multiple myeloma (MM), smoldering MM (SMM), solitary plasmacytoma, and light chain (AL) amyloidosis. The risk factors associated with and the clinical course of PCD following renal transplantation is not well established although immunosuppressive protocols may impact the incidence and natural history of PCD post transplant. This single-center retrospective study evaluated patients with a history of renal transplant who developed a PCD between 2014 and 2018. A total of 41 patients met the inclusion criteria including 29 MGUS and 12 symptomatic PCD (4 MM, 2 SMM, 4 MGRS, 1 AL amyloidosis, 1 solitary plasmacytoma). The median follow-up of survivors was 41.6 months. Three patients (1 MGUS and 2 MGRS) progressed to MM during the follow-up period. There was a male preponderance in both groups. There was no correlation between the donor and immunosuppressive regimen and the development of PCD. Patients with symptomatic PCD had higher serum creatinine and M-protein levels at diagnosis and higher free light chain ratio and plasma cell burden. There was also a higher percentage of allograft failure noted in the symptomatic PCD subset (50%) while only 23% patients had allograft failure in the MGUS group. This study shows the importance of considering monoclonal gammopathy in the differential of renal dysfunction following kidney transplant and the need to follow these patients closely to monitor for progression to symptomatic PCD.
Variational approach to probabilistic finite elements

Probabilistic finite element method (PFEM), synthesizing the power of finite element methods with second-moment techniques, are formulated for various classes of problems in structural and solid mechanics. Time-invariant random materials, geometric properties, and loads are incorporated in terms of their fundamental statistics viz. second-moments. Analogous to the discretization of the displacement field in finite element methods, the random fields are also discretized. Preserving the conceptual simplicity, the response moments are calculated with minimal computations. By incorporating certain computational techniques, these methods are shown to be capable of handling large systems with many sources of uncertainties. By construction, these methods are applicable when the scale of randomness is not very large and when the probabilistic density functions have decaying tails. The accuracy and efficiency of these methods, along with their limitations, are demonstrated by various applications. Results obtained are compared with those of Monte Carlo simulation and it is shown that good accuracy can be obtained for both linear and nonlinear problems. The methods are amenable to implementation in deterministic FEM based computer codes.
Is Clustering Advantageous in Statistical Ill-Posed Linear Inverse Problems?

In many statistical linear inverse problems, one needs to recover classes of similar objects from their noisy images under an operator that does not have a bounded inverse. Problems of this kind appear in many areas of application. Routinely, in such problems clustering is carried out at a pre-processing step and then the inverse problem is solved for each of the cluster averages separately. As a result, the errors of the procedures are usually examined for the estimation step only. The objective of this paper is to examine, both theoretically and via simulations, the effect of clustering on the accuracy of the solutions of general ill-posed linear inverse problems. In particular, we assume that one observes $X_{m} = A f_{m} + \delta \epsilon _{m}$ , $m=1, \cdots, M$ , where functions $f_{m}$ can be grouped into $K$ classes and one needs to recover a vector function $\mathbf {f}= (f_{1},\cdots, f_{M})^{T}$ . We construct an estimator for $\mathbf {f}$ as a solution of a penalized optimization problem which corresponds to the clustering before estimation setting. We derive an oracle inequality for its precision and confirm that the estimator is minimax optimal or nearly minimax optimal up to a logarithmic factor of the number of observations. One of the advantages of our approach is that we do not assume that the number of clusters is known in advance. Subsequently, we compare the accuracy of the above procedure with the precision of estimation without clustering, and clustering following the recovery of each of the unknown functions separately. We conclude that clustering at the pre-processing step is beneficial when the problem is moderately ill-posed. It should be applied with extreme care when the problem is severely ill-posed.
Evaluation and management of extrahepatic manifestations of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystemic disease and a rapidly growing cause of chronic liver disease in children and adults worldwide. Diagnosis and management of extrahepatic manifestations of NAFLD, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, and extrahepatic malignancy are crucial for the treatment of patients with NAFLD. The leading cause of death in NAFLD is primarily from CVD, followed by liver-related mortality, extrahepatic cancer, liver cancer, and diabetes-related mortality. Therefore, clinicians need to identify high-risk patients earlier in the disease course and be aware of the extrahepatic manifestations of NAFLD to improve liver disease outcomes. In this review, we focus on the monitoring and management of the extrahepatic manifestations of NAFLD. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2021;27:221-235)
Observation of plasmonic exceptional point and nano-scale sensing

We propose a novel approach to EPs based on spatial symmetry breaking and report their observation in plasmonics at room temperature. The sensing of anti-Immunoglobulin G, the most common antibody found in blood circulation, is evaluated.
Predetermined accommodations with a standardized testing protocol: Examining two accommodation supports for developing fraction thinking in students with mathematical difficulties

Abstract This study examined the effects of two pre-determined accommodations that were provided in a standardized testing. The two accommodations were meant to help students with difficulties in mathematics (SDMs) engage in unit thinking, reasoning, and coordination and consequently improve their ability to process fraction tasks. 23 middle school SDMs took the following tests and were asked to explain their solutions: a baseline fraction test without any accommodation; an annotated test with bolded information and additional simplified explanations; and a warming- up test that involved whole-number multiplicative reasoning tasks followed by the baseline test. Results show that while SDMs were able to construct and coordinate fraction units to solve fraction problems when appropriate accommodations were provided, standardized assessment with a predetermined “one-size-fits -all” accommodation could not meet the specific needs of all students with mathematics learning difficulties.
Constructing cognitive operations linguistically.

Publisher Summary The training study is one of the means to explore the mechanisms of conservation. The first efforts to train conservation interestingly enough were initiated by the Genevans themselves, in an effort to show that Piaget's equilibration theory better accounts for cognitive change than other explanations, particularly empiricist-behaviorist theories. Non-Genevan attempts to account for conservation acquisition are not confined to behaviorist or neobehaviorist theories, however. Among the alternatives are explanations based on a significant place given to the role of language. This chapter describes research, including that of the present author, designed to show how conservation can be acquired by linguistic means, despite assertions of Piaget and H. Sinclair (the principal Genevan investigator of language development) that conservation is not acquired in this fashion. There is a theoretical basis for expecting such achievements to occur, based in fact on Piaget's more recent views on the relation between language and thought.
Mode of action of vitamin K in microorganisms.

Publisher Summary Quinone analogs appear to act as electron acceptors for different segments of the chain and donate electrons either to oxygen or to the terminal respiratory pigments. This feature of the quinone analogs—that is, the ability to bypass different segments of the respiratory chain—has permitted differentiation of the different phosphorylative sites in a bacterial system. The development of new chromatographic techniques has permitted the isolation of a compound that appears to be a phosphorylated naphthoquinol. This compound comigrates with synthetic chromanyl phosphate but differs from the synthetic compound in stability. The ultraviolet, infrared and chromatographic properties of this compound are compatible with a phosphorylated derivative of reduced vitamin K. The enzymatic formation of a phosphorylated derivative of vitamin K is of particular interest, because vitamin K is necessary for the restoration of oxidative phosphorylation with the quinone-depleted system.
Law with a Life of Its Own: The Development of the Federal Income Tax Statutes through World War I

This manuscript examines the development of the federal income tax within the United States fiscal system from the founding of the nation through World War I. The study reveals that, although the tax had become a permanent feature of the tax system by World War I, congressional debates had focused primarily on whether there should be an income tax as opposed to how it should or would operate in practice. This paper argues that the technical aspects of this tax received surprisingly little congressional attention because when the tax was originally passed it was a marginal revenue measure. Laden with rhetorical and political value, the modern federal income tax became law without receiving serious practical scrutiny from Congress. Instead, the statute was passed because it had been made familiar by 50 years of congressional debate, almost all of it theoretical. The development of the early United States income tax reveals a path that initially marginal policies may take to prominence. When a particular revenue measure becomes closely associated with a particular political movement or policy agenda, congressional debate is likely to focus on the merits of the movement or agenda rather than on the mechanical aspects of the law itself.
An integrated process controller chip

A description is given of the development of an LSI circuit chip that finds use in a textile dyeing machine called JIGGER. Until now a semielectrical system was utilized to control the various operations in the process cycle. The various design steps involved and the use of novel design-for-testability features are also described. Possible future improvements in terms of additional features are discussed. >
Seed Size Effects on Early Seedling Growth and Response to Applied Nitrogen in Annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.)

Use of individual plants as experimental units may be necessary when resources are limited, but inter-plant variation risks obscuring differences among treatments. Experiments were undertaken to measure the effects of seed size on seedling size and response to applied nitrogen of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) harvested six or nine weeks after emergence. In two series of experiments, shoot and root dry weights of seedlings increased respectively at means of 53 - 61 and 29 - 30 mg·mg-1 increase in mean seed weight. Between the largest and smallest seed sizes used in this study, there was 83% difference in shoot weight at harvest six weeks after emergence and 22% difference with harvest nine weeks after emergence. Nitrogen (N) application, in comparison, increased shoot dry weights by averages of 69% and 77% with harvests at six or nine weeks, respectively. Dry mass response to N application was similar across seed size categories in shoots or roots. A mean 30% of total seedling-N was retained in roots. Nitrogen utilization efficiency for shoot growth (increase in shoot growth per unit increase in shoot N capture) ranged from 64 mg·mg-1 with harvest six weeks after emergence to 114 mg·mg-1 with harvest at nine weeks after emergence. Delay in seedling harvest from six to nine weeks post-emergence and use of closely-graded seed can reduce variation in individual seedling size and contribute to reduction in random variation in small-scale experiments.
The North American power delivery system: Balancing market restructuring and environmental economics with infrastructure security

The North American electric power system was developed over the last 100 years without a conscious awareness and analysis of the system-wide implications of its current evolution under the forces of deregulation, system complexity, power-market impacts, terrorism, and human error. The possibility of power delivery beyond neighboring areas was a distant secondary consideration. Today, the North American power network may realistically be considered to be the largest machine in the world. With the advent of deregulation and competition in the electric power industry, new ways are being sought to improve the efficiency of that network without seriously diminishing its reliability and security. Controlling a heterogeneous, widely dispersed, yet globally interconnected system is a serious technological problem in any case. It is even more complex and difficult to control it for optimal efficiency and maximum benefit to the ultimate consumers while still allowing all its business components to compete fairly and freely. In this paper we present an overview of key issues and the context in which the electricity infrastructure is being operated under the above forces along with a strategic vision extending to a decade, or longer, that would enable more secure and robust systems operation, security monitoring, and efficient energy markets.
Advanced Practice Nursing in Home Health

Advanced practice nurses play an important role in the delivery of home health care. They possess the advanced knowledge and skills to improve the quality of care given to clients. The increasingly complex needs of those receiving home health services today make access to these providers imperative. Many clients may not have this clinical expertise readily available to them because of the relatively small number of certified home health advanced practice nurses. Programs in home health graduate education prepare nurses for this very much needed advanced practice role.
A new intravenous immunoglobulin in adult and childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a review.

Summary This is a review of the work leading to the generalized use of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIgG) in the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Much of the work performed using a reduced and alkylated IVIgG is discussed. Finally, preliminary data on the results being achieved with a new non-modified IVIgG in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is dealt with in two studies involving a total of 42 patients.
Vibration and Buckling of Composite Beams

Abstract The eigenvalue problem corresponding to the vibration and buckling of a composite beam under the action of a conservative axial force is considered. The material properties of the beam or its cross-sectional dimension may vary continuously or discontinuously along its length. The eigen-frequencies and the buckling load are estimated by means of the method of the new quotient which has been recently proposed by Nemat-Nasser, and the results are compared with those obtained by means of the usual Rayleigh quotient and its dual. A scheme of improving the test functions is also presented. This gives very accurate lower and upper bounds for the vibration frequencies, as well as for the buckling load. Results are illustrated by means of several numerical examples which include both the determinate and the indeterminate cases. These examples tend to suggest that the new quotient gives very accurate estimates for this class of problems.
Pierre auger data, photons, and top-down cosmic ray models

We consider the ultrahigh energy cosmic ray (UHECR) spectrum as measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory. Top-down models for the origin of UHECRs predict an increasing photon component at energies above about 10{sup 19.7} eV. Here we present a simple prescription to compare the Auger data with a prediction assuming a pure proton component or a prediction assuming a changing primary component appropriate for a top-down model. We find that the UHECR spectrum predicted in top-down models is a good fit to the Auger data. Eventually, Auger will measure a composition-independent spectrum and will be capable of either confirming or excluding the quantity of photons predicted in top-down models.
Thermally Stable Nanoporous Palladium Alloy Powders by Hydrogen Reduction in Surfactant Templates

Abstract Nanometer-scale pores in metals used for hydrogen storage are expected to facilitate mass transport in the materials – in particular, the release of helium decay products when tritium is stored. Scalable methods for production of bulk powders of nanoporous metals typically use chemical reducing agents that can leave impurities in the product. Hydrogen gas can be used as the reducing agent in such procedures. This not only improves purity, but also expands the range of accessible pore and particle sizes and particle compositions. Powders of nanoporous palladium and its alloys with rhodium are synthesized by chemical reduction of chloride complexes by hydrogen in a concentrated nonionic aqueous surfactant at room temperature. Particle diameters are typically several micrometers and each particle is perforated by 2–3 nm pores, as determined by electron microscopy and nitrogen porosimetry. Alloys show major improvement in thermal stability and pore regularity compared to pure palladium. In addition to facilitating heavier isotope storage, the high surface areas of these materials may allow development of metal hydride batteries with high power density.
Cyclosporin A-Sensitive Calcium Signaling Represses NFκB Activation in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Enhances NFκB Activation in Jurkat T-Cells

Activation of the NFkappaB transcription factor in 16HBE human bronchial epithelial cells was compared with activation of NFkappaB in Jurkat T-cells. An NFkappaB-luciferase reporter gene was activated by phorbol myristyl acetate (PMA) in both cell types. Ionomycin added to PMA (P/I) inhibited NFkappaB activation in epithelial cells and enhanced PMA activation in T-cells. Cyclosporin A (CsA) inhibited calcium signaling in both cell types. Nuclear NFkappaB DNA-binding stimulated with PMA was inhibited with ionomycin in epithelial cells and was enhanced with ionomycin in T-cells; CsA reversed both effects of ionomycin. Cytosolic IkappaB-alpha was regulated identically in both cell types. Thus, calcium activated opposing nuclear signaling pathways in epithelial cells and T-cells. Calcium-mediated repression of NFkappaB in epithelial cells was derepressed by CsA, and this establishes a mechanism through which CsA may exert proinflammatory effects in nonlymphoid cells.
Young Children's Private Speech as a Precursor to Metacognitive Strategy Use during Task Engagement.

The overall purpose of these three investigations was to test the usefulness of private speech utterances as a means for understanding children's verbal self‐guidance during school task performance. A private speech coding system was derived from synthesizing the literature on private speech (e.g., Berk, 1986a), self‐regulated learning (e.g., Rohrkemper, 1989), and metacognition (Brown, 1987; Meichenbaum, 1977). Also, Vygotsky's theory of verbal self‐regulation (1934/1962, 1934/1987) served as the guiding theoretical perspective. To analyze verbal self‐guidance and to gather information about the importance of student characteristics (namely, autonomy, n = 118; academically advanced, n = 34; and creativity, n = 16), three separate studies using a different data source for each study, were conceptualized. Similar patterns of findings emerged; groups designated as more autonomous and more academically advanced used significantly less task‐irrelevant private speech; all groups used less nonfacilitative task‐...
The Contest of Christian and Muslim Spain, 1031-1157

List of Illustrations. Preface. Abbreviations. 1. The Old Order Changeth (1031--1072). 2. The Political Ferment in Northern Spain (1031--1073). 3. The Emerging Society of the Christian North. 4. The Hegemony of Leon--Castilla under Alfonso VI (1065--1109). 5. The Murabit Empire and the Other Spains. 6. The Dynastic Crisis in Leon--Castilla (1109--1126). 7. A New Aragon and a New Cataluna (1104--1134). 8. The Emerging Status Quo in Christian Iberia (1135--1143). 9. The Preponderance of the Christian North (1143--1157). 10. The Two Cultures of Twelfth--Century Iberia. Bibliography. Index.
On hierarchical structure adaptation and systems identification

This paper demonstrates that Magill's method of structure adaptation can be incorporated into the framework of hierarchical estimation and system identification. The associated reduction in computational requirements potentially allows efficient parallel processing of these algorithms for use with systems of high dimension.
Inhibitors of hepatitis C virus NS3.4A protease 1. Non-charged tetrapeptide variants

Abstract Tetrapeptide-based peptidomimetic compounds have been shown to effectively inhibit the hepatitis C virus NS3·4A protease without the need of a charged functionality. An aldehyde is used as a prototype reversible electrophilic warhead. The SAR of the P1 and P2 inhibitor positions is discussed.
Perceived stress factors of adult caregivers related to institutionalization of a relative with Alzheimer's disease

The progressive cognitive, behavioral and social losses experienced by the individual with Alzheimer's disease severely impact the family unit. These losses also influence the duration of home care and contribute to caregiver burden.Most studies lack specific descriptive data on caregiver stressors in home care giving which precipitate institutionalization of the individual with Alzheimer's disease. The purposes of this study were to identify selected caregiver stressors according to the Social Behavior Assessment Schedule (SBAS) and to determine the caregiver stressors precipitating the institutionalization of a family member with Alzheimer's disease.Theoretically, describing and clarifying caregiver burden develops the burden construct and identifies family behavior patterns. Clinically, the study provides direction to nurses in providing anticipatory guidance, direct care interventions, and supportive services to family caregivers. Crisis intervention was used as the theoretical framework. A convenienc...
Fumarate reductase is essential for Helicobacter pylori colonization of the mouse stomach

Fumarate reductase (FRD) is the key enzyme in fumarate respiration induced by anaerobic growth of bacteria. In Helicobacter pylori, this enzyme appears to be constitutively expressed under microaerobic conditions and is not essential for its survival in vitro. In this study, the role of FRD in the colonization of H. pylori was investigated using a mouse model. The frdA gene coding for subunit A of FRD, and two control genes, copA and copP associated with the export of copper out of H. pylori, were inactivated by insertion of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase cassette into these individual genes. The isogenic mutants of H. pylori strain AH244 were obtained by natural transformation. Seventy-five ICR mice (15 mice/group) were orogastrically dosed with either the wild type H. pylori strain AH244, its isogenic mutants, or Brucella broth (negative control). Five mice from each group were killed at 2, 4 and 8 weeks post-inoculation (WPI), respectively. H. pylori colonization was not detected in mouse gastric mucosa infected with the frdA mutant at any time point in the study by both quantitative culture and PCR. In contrast, the mice inoculated with either wild type AH244, copA or copPH. pylori mutants became readily infected. These data indicate that FRD plays a crucial role in H. pylori survival in the gastric mucosa of mice. Given that FRD, present in all H. pylori strains, is immunogenic in H. pylori -infected patients and H. pylori growth in vitro can be inhibited by three anthelmintics (morantel, oxantel and thiabendazole), this enzyme could potentially be used both as a novel drug target as well as in the development of vaccines for H. pylori prevention and eradication.
Characterization of phosphate-containing metabolites by calcium adduction and electron capture dissociation

Several phosphate-containing metabolites, including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), adenosine 5′-diphosphate ribose (ADP-r), adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), and guanosine 5′-triphosphate (GTP), have been characterized with electron capture dissociation (ECD) and sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-activated dissociation (SORI-CAD) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in positive-ion mode. Calcium complexation was used to successfully produce abundant doubly charged cationic precursor ions with or without hydration. This approach enabled application of ECD to acidic metabolites for the first time. Fragmentation pathways observed in ECD and SORI-CAD of calcium-adducted phosphate-containing metabolites were complementary. Unique fragmentation was observed in ECD compared to SORI-CAD MS/MS, including ribose cross-ring cleavage for NAD and NADP, and generation of hydrated product ions, including cross-ring fragments, for hydrated ATP and GTP. A combination of ECD and CAD appears promising for maximizing structural information about metabolites.
A quantile-based approach to system selection

Abstract We propose a quantile-based ranking and selection (R&S) procedure for comparing a finite set of stochastic systems via simulation. Our R&S procedure uses a quantile set of the simulated probability distribution of a performance characteristic of interest that best represents the most appropriate selection criterion as the basis for comparison. Since this quantile set may represent either the downside risk, upside risk, or central tendency of the performance characteristic, the proposed approach is more flexible than the traditional mean-based approach to R&S. We first present a procedure that selects the best system from among K systems, and then we modified that procedure for the case where K − 1 systems are compared against a standard system. We present a set of experiments to highlight the flexibility of the proposed procedures.
Spontaneous intrapartum ruptureof renal hamartoma

Abstract Spontaneous rupture of a renal hamartoma during pregnancy is a rare condition.Increased blood volume, increased renal blood flow, and vascular changes secondary to a change in the hormonal milieu may predispose to rupture in pregnancy. The diagnosis is made difficult by a desire to proceed cautiously and avoid the inherent risks of interventional radiography, aggressive surgical therapy, or conservative management as well. However, a conservative approach may be successful in selected cases.
"Messel and the terrestrial Eocene "- Proceedings of the 22nd Senckenberg Conference

In May 2009, a new fossil entered the history books: "Ida", a.k.a. Darwinius masillae, the most complete fossil primate ever found (Franzen et al. 2009). All around the world, from secluded palaeontology laboratories to the mass-frequented internet, this little female had tongues wagging vehemently about our own origin. Indeed, whereas everybody agrees that "Ida" belongs to the adapiforms (an extinct group of primates traditionally allied with lemurs), Franzen et al. (2009) claim that, based on features displayed by "Ida", the whole Adapiform clade should be allied with Haplorhini (tarsiiforms, monkeys and apes). Detractors of this hypothesis would question the significance of the characters chosen by Franzen et al. (2009), or even their interpretation, and put forth other morphological characters as well as other fossil primates as arguments against a relationship between haplorhines and adapiforms. Determinedly, these critics argue that more features support the widely held hypothesis that adapiforms and lemurs (Lemuriformes) are sister taxa in the clade Strepsirrhini. In any case, "Ida" is a wonderful fossil, which also advertises—thanks to her name “masillae”—the site of Messel that bore her remains for over 47 million years. Masilla is the Latin name for Messel used in the Lorsch monastery Codex, 800 AD. ... Messel, ...
Angular momentum effects in atom-atom scattering

Physical effects associated with change in angular momentum (in particular, $s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p$ transitions) caused by collision-induced excitation at a level crossing in kilovolt-energy ion-atom or atom-atom scattering are investigated. The component of angular momentum involved in this effect is that perpendicular to the plane of collision. The excitation of ${p}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ states ($\ensuremath{\Delta}{L}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}=\ensuremath{-}1$) and ${p}_{+}$ states ($\ensuremath{\Delta}{L}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}=+1$) can be distinguished experimentally by the emission of right-handed (RHC) and left-handed (LHC) circularly polarized photons emitted in a direction perpendicular to the collision plane. It is shown that the reduced differential scattering cross sections ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{RHC}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{LHC}}$, measured in coincidence with detection of the designated photon, are shifted with respect to one another by an amount $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\tau}$, where $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\tau}=\frac{2\ensuremath{\theta}(\frac{d\ensuremath{\tau}}{\mathrm{db}})}{D}$. Here $\ensuremath{\theta}$, $\frac{d\ensuremath{\tau}}{\mathrm{db}}$, and $D$ are, respectively, the angular velocity of trajectory motion, derivative of the deflection function, and slope of the ground-state-excited-state energy difference, all calculated at the level crossing. It is suggested that the more appropriate measurements to make experimentally are ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{RHC}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{LHC}}$, rather than the Stokes parameter ${P}_{3}$. The effect should be able to provide an experimental determination of the slope of the energy difference at the level crossing. Calculations have been made on the Li-Ne, ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}$ -He, and ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}$-Ar collision systems. The shifts $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\tau}$ between ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{RHC}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{LHC}}$ at 1-keV incident energy are 17.4 keV deg for Li-Ne, 5.1 keV deg for ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}$-He, and 4.3 keV deg for ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}$-Ar systems. The shifts increase in direct proportion to the square root of the incident energy in keV. They are easily measurable even at energies below 1 keV.
Human models of melanoma.

Abstract A human model for melanoma is a circumstance in which melanoma is particularly common. We can use models to gain an understanding of melanoma in two ways: (1) by studying the differences between the model and general susceptible population, we can link those differences to the etiology and pathogenesis of melanoma; (2) by studying differences in melanoma susceptibility among individuals in the model circumstances, we may be able to identify more readily etiologic factors and mechanisms. This article considers the potential of immunosuppression, xeroderma pigmentosum, albinism, psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA), and artificial high-dose ultraviolet radiation exposures to serve as models for melanoma. Familial melanoma, another model, is discussed by Bergman and Fusaro elsewhere in this issue.
Tumor: Stroma interactions in pancreatic pancer: Will this sparc prove a raging fire?

Commentary to:In vitro and in vivo antitumor effect of a trivalent bispecific antibody targeting ErbB2 and CD16 Tine S. Mantoni, Roy R.E. Schendel, Franz Rodel, Gerald Niedobitek, Osama Al-Assar, Atsuhi Masamune, Thomas B. Brunner
Behavioral responses to auditory stimulation during sleep

Abstract A review of selected literature suggests several factors for description in future studies of the effects of auditory stimuli on sleep. These are the following: (i) several stimulus parameters; (ii) sleep stage during which stimuli are presented; (iii) the inherent or induced meaningfulness of the auditory stimuli for the subjects; (iv) subject ages and concomitant sleep patterns and relative sensitivity; (v) the subjective or performance effects due to sleep disruption or loss. Finally, experiments of at least 14 consecutive nights with stimulation for each subject should be the rule.
Tumour suppressor function of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor-T

It has long been thought that PTPs (protein tyrosine phosphatases) normally function as tumour suppressors. Recent high-throughput mutational analysis identified loss-of-function mutations in six PTPs in human colon cancers, providing critical cancer genetics evidence that PTPs can act as tumour suppressor genes. PTPRT (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor-T), a member of the family of type IIB receptor-like PTPs, is the most frequently mutated PTP among them. Consistent with the notion that PTPRT is a tumour suppressor, PTPRT knockout mice are hypersensitive to AOM (azoxymethane)-induced colon cancer. The present review focuses on the physiological and pathological functions of PTPRT as well as the cellular pathways regulated by this phosphatase.