cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anonymous Voting Rules with Abstention: Weighted Voting

We consider legislative voting rules that govern collective approval or disapproval of a bill or a motion, and that allow abstention (or absence) as a “middle option” distinct from a yes or no vote. In contrast with Peter Fishburn’s work on representative systems, or RSs, we do not treat collective approval and disapproval symmetrically; a voting rule may have a built-in bias against passing motions, for example. In this asymmetric case, the additional assumption that a rule is anonymous (all votes count equally) still allows for a significant variety of rules, a number of which are used by real voting bodies (see Freixas & Zwicker (2003)). We provide three characterizations of weighted voting in this context, and discuss potential applications. In real legislative voting bodies an abstention or absence often does have an effect different from a voter’s yes or no vote. Yet since the publication of Theory of Games and Economic Behavior von Neumann & Morgenstern (1949) the standard mathematical model for a legislative voting system has been the simple game, which by virtue of its structure treats any non-yes vote as a no. Peter Fishburns 1973 work seems to be the earliest to have taken abstention seriously, but others followed: Rubenstein (1980); Bolger (1986, 1993a,b); Felsenthal & Machover (1997, 1998); Amer et al. (1998); Freixas & Zwicker (2003); Corte-Real & Pereira (2004); Dougherty & Edward (2004); Bilbao, Fernandez, Jimenez, & Lopez (2005a,b). Distinguishing features of a RS, as defined in Fishburn (1973), include:
Pediatric palliative care: born of necessity.

Introduction to the July 2010 issue of Virtual Mentor on the topic of pediatric palliative care. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
A Practical Approach to Approximate Input-Output Linearization

Abstract An approach to approximate feedback linearization is developed which relies on a simple empirical algebraic expression relating the derivatives of the output to the derivatives of the input. The approach is valid for minimum phase systems, and yields a dynamic output feedback controller which consists of an observer coupled with the feedback linearizing controller.
Forwarding Molecular Design of Heterogeneous Catalysts.

A new dual-atom catalyst for efficient water oxidation combines the benefits of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.
Multimedia-assisted self-learning materials: the benefits of E-flashcards for vocabulary learning in Chinese as a foreign language

In this study, we examined the effects of E-flashcards and paper flashcards on Chinese vocabulary learning and learning attitudes among students learning Chinese as a foreign language. One hundred fourth and fifth grade English-speaking students participated in two groups, E-flashcards (n = 50) and paper flashcards (n = 50), to learn 20 new Chinese words. E-flashcards (or digital flashcards through students’ iPads) incorporate multimedia resources with comprehensive visual, verbal, and audio inputs while the paper flashcards provide only visual and verbal inputs. Results revealed that students who used E-flashcards statistically outperformed those who used paper flashcards on immediate post-tests of Chinese word reading and listening, as well as on 1-week delayed listening test. In addition, students who used E-flashcards demonstrated more positive learning attitudes toward Chinese word learning than those who used paper flashcards. Such findings support the audio application of multimedia on Chinese word recognition among novice Chinese language learners as an effective pedagogical approach. Instructional implications are discussed.
State-of-the-art review of bridges under rail transit loading

A state-of-the-art review on the global behaviour of bridges under rail transit loading is presented. Of interest is a synthesis of recent technical findings that can bridge the gap between researc...
Poster: On Cost-Sensitive Task Allocation in Social Sensing: An Online Learning Approach

Social sensing has emerged as a new sensing paradigm where human sensors collectively report measurements about the physical world. This paper focuses on the cost-sensitive task allocation problem in social sensing where the goal is to effectively allocate sensing tasks to the human sensors to meet the desirable data quality requirement of the applications while minimizing the sensing cost. While recent progress has been made to tackle the cost-sensitive task allocation problem, an important challenge has not been well addressed, namely "real time task allocation", the task allocation schemes need to respond quickly to the potential large dynamics of the measured variables in social sensing. To address this challenge, this paper presents a Cost-Sensitive Task Allocation (CSTA) scheme inspired by techniques from online learning. The preliminary results show that our new scheme significantly outperforms the-state-of-the-art baselines.
Police Perceptions of Crime Victim Behaviors: A Trend Analysis Exploring Mandatory Training and Knowledge of Sexual and Domestic Violence Survivors’ Trauma Responses:

Police perceptions of a victim’s self-presentation style can have an impact on secondary victimization, case processing, and public safety. Trauma survivors may present to police with flat or restr...
Microbial colonization of subscapularis tagging sutures in shoulder arthroplasty: a prospective, controlled study

Background Reducing intraoperative wound contamination is a critical preventive strategy for reducing the risk of prosthetic joint infection in shoulder arthroplasty. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential microbial colonization of subscapularis tagging sutures during shoulder arthroplasty. Methods In this prospective study, 50 consecutive patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty (anatomic or reverse) were enrolled. Patients with revision shoulder arthroplasty and proximal humeral fractures were excluded. Nonabsorbable, braided tagging sutures were placed through the subscapularis tendon prior to tenotomy. A similar nonabsorbable, braided suture (control) was placed in a sterile container on the back table, open to the operating room environment. Subscapularis tagging sutures (experimental specimens) and control sutures were collected prior to subscapularis tenotomy repair and submitted for aerobic and anaerobic cultures. Cultures were held for 21 days to account for extended growth of slow-growing bacteria. Results A total of 12 of 50 experimental and 16 of 50 control sutures had positive cultures. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes were the 2 most commonly isolated organisms. Active tobacco use (P = .038) and procedure length (P = .03) were significantly associated with positive cultures. No significant association between positive subscapularis tagging suture cultures and positive control cultures was found (P = .551). Patient age, sex, body mass index, and significant medical comorbidities were not significantly associated with positive cultures. Discussion Subscapularis tagging sutures are a potential source of microbial contaminant in shoulder arthroplasty, and we recommend exchanging the tagging suture with a suture opened immediately prior to subscapularis repair.
Association Between Environmental Factors and Toxigenic Clostridioides difficile Carriage at Hospital Admission

Importance Clostridioides difficileinfection is the most frequent health care–associated infection in the United States. However, exposure to this organism might occur outside the health care setting. Objective To examine whether exposure to environmental factors, such as livestock farms, is associated with a higher probability of being colonized withC difficileat hospital admission. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study was conducted from May 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018, at a teaching-affiliated hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All consecutive patients underwentC difficilescreening using a nucleic acid amplification test at hospital admission. Data analyses were performed from July 2018 to October 2019. Exposures The distances from patient residence to the nearest livestock farms, meat processing plants, raw materials services, and sewage facilities were measured in addition to risk factors previously evaluated in other studies. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was a positive result onC difficilescreening tests performed within 72 hours of hospital admission. Results A total of 3043 patients admitted to the hospital were included in the final analysis. Of those, 1564 (51.4%) were women and 2074 (68.9%) were white, with a mean (SD) age of 62.0 (15.9) years; 978 patients (32.1%) were admitted to hematology-oncology units. At first admission, 318 patients (10.4%) were detected through testing asC difficilecarriers. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed on a stratified sample of patients based on hematology-oncology admission status. These analyses indicated that although patients admitted to hematology-oncology units were 35% more likely to be colonized withC difficile, no significant association existed between their sociodemographic and economic characteristics or health care and environmental exposures and the likelihood of a positiveC difficiletest result. In contrast, among patients admitted to non–hematology-oncology units, comorbidities increased the likelihood for colonization by more than 4 times; women had 60% greater colonization than men, and a history of recent hospitalization (ie, within the preceding 6 months) increased the likelihood of colonization by 70%. Residential proximity to livestock farms were all significantly associated with a higher likelihood of a positiveC difficiletest result. Residential proximity to livestock farms more than doubled the probability ofC difficilecolonization in patients admitted to non–hematology-oncology units. Conclusions and Relevance A shorter distance between residence and livestock farms was associated withC difficilecolonization. Knowledge of the epidemiology ofC difficilein the community surrounding the hospital is important, as it has potential implications for the incidence of hospital-onsetC difficileinfection.
An exonic insertion in the NAGLU gene causing Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB in Schipperke dogs.

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IIIB (Sanfilippo syndrome B; OMIM 252920), is a lysosomal storage disease with progressive neurological signs caused by deficient activity of alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU, EC 3.2.1.50). Herein we report the causative variant in the NAGLU gene in Schipperke dogs and a genotyping survey in the breed. All six exons and adjacent regions of the NAGLU gene were sequenced from six healthy appearing and three affected Schipperkes. DNA fragment length and TaqMan assays were used to genotype privately owned Schipperkes. A single variant was found in exon 6 of MPS IIIB affected Schipperkes: an insertion consisting of a 40–70 bp poly-A and an 11 bp duplication of the exonic region preceding the poly-A (XM_548088.6:c.2110_2111ins[A(40_70);2100_2110]) is predicted to insert a stretch of 13 or more lysines followed by either an in-frame insertion of a repeat of the four amino acids preceding the lysines, or a frameshift. The clinically affected Schipperkes were homozygous for this insertion, and the sequenced healthy dogs were either heterozygous or homozygous for the wild-type allele. From 2003–2019, 3219 Schipperkes were genotyped. Of these, 1.5% were homozygous for this insertion and found to be clinically affected, and 23.6% were heterozygous for the insertion and were clinically healthy, the remaining 74.9% were homozygous for the wild-type and were also clinically healthy. The number of dogs homozygous and heterozygous for the insertion declined rapidly after the initial years of genotyping, documenting the benefit of a DNA screening program in a breed with a small gene pool. In conclusion, a causative NAGLU variant in Schipperke dogs with MPS IIIB was identified and was found at high frequency in the breed. Through genotyping and informed breeding practices, the prevalence of canine MPS IIIB has been drastically reduced in the Schipperke population worldwide.
Gynecologic Concerns in the Woman Athlete

Many athletes question how exercise and certain gynecologic conditions may affect each other. Among the issues of greatest concern are menstrual irregularity and amenorrhea, delay of puberty, menopause, menstrual cramps, premenstrual syndrome, contraception, infertility, urinary incontinence, pelvic and vaginal infections, sanitary protection, heavy bleeding, breast problems, and postoperative and postpartum training. Any gynecologic problems that arise should be evaluated and treated appropriately, with regard to the importance of exercise in the lifestyle of the woman.
Crystal Structure of Thaumatin I, a Sweet Taste Receptor Binding Protein

Among sensory perceptions, taste is one of the least understood. Taste perception is associated with many properties, of which some are similar to, but others quite different from, those in hormone-hormone receptor interaction.
Stability of a spectral calibration model with non-linear intensity correction for photon-counting detectors

This work extends the methodology for estimating spectral response of photon-counting detectors (PCDs) from transmission measurements through an object of known composition and geometry. The extension incorporates a non-linear model that relates the photon counts incident on the PCD with the photon counts registered by the PCD. The model calibration is performed on an actual step-wedge phantom and it used to predict Xray transmission through a different material than what comprises the phantom. In addition, stability of the determination of the model parameters is investigated, and this analysis is used to determine regularization strength and basis materials for the test object.
Industry's First Recessed Gate Transistor Technology for Sense Amplifer Circuit in DRAM: Phenomena of Randomly Threshold Voltage High Flying and Subthreshold Swing Degradation

We have fabricated a recessed gate (RG) transistor for sense amplifier (SA) in high density DRAM and have compared it with a conventional planar gate (PG) transistor in terms of VT mismatch performance. The mismatch was reduced into 22% compared to PG and it was more superior at VT mismatch gap 86% between cold-hot temperature. It was attributed to the lower channel doping and the larger effective channel length in RG than PG. But RG showed phenomenon of randomly threshold voltage high flying in a few levels of 1K array, which makes VT mismatch of some RG transistors worse. In addition, the subthreshold swing (SS) of RG is inferior to that of PG. Failure analysis and TCAD modeling showed that the random VT high flying is caused by the Fermi-Level pinning at polysilicon gate grain boundaries, its effect increases only within a specific geometric angle range between grain boundary and channel surface and SS degradation comes from an electric field spreading at recessed channel corner, resulting in relatively low surface potential at channel corner than that of channel center. The above two phenomena were technically controlled and the industry's first RG technology was applied to SA transistor for highly scaled DRAM production.
Phase I study of mTORC1/2 inhibitor sapanisertib (TAK-228) in combination with metformin in patients (pts) with mTOR/AKT/PI3K pathway alterations and advanced solid malignancies.

3017Background: Sapanisertib (TAK-228) is a potent, selective ATP-competitive, dual inhibitor of mTORC1/2. Metformin is thought to inhibit the mTOR pathway through upstream activation of AMPK sugge...
Biologic Tuberoplasty With an Acellular Dermal Allograft for Massive Rotator Cuff Tears.

Abstract We present the technique of biologic tuberoplasty, where an acellular dermal allograft is used to cover the tuberosity in patients with massive irreparable cuff tears to prevent bone-to-bone contact between the tuberosity and acromion when active elevation is attempted. This technique can be performed in patients with massive rotator cuff tears who are low-demand and have significant medical comorbidities, poor bone quality, or who are not candidates for a reverse shoulder arthroplasty or who cannot tolerate a lengthy rehabilitation protocol. It is less time-consuming than a superior capsule reconstruction and more bone-sparing than traditional tuberoplasty. Patients with massive rotator cuff tears involving the supraspinatus and a portion of the infraspinatus lose their force couple, leading to superior humeral head migration with abutment of the tuberosity against the acromion upon deltoid activation. The center of rotation moves superiorly with deltoid contraction, developing an acromiohumeral articulation. This results in bone-to-bone contact between the acromion and humerus, leading to pain and acetabularization of the acromion over time. Coverage of the tuberosity with the acellular dermal allograft acts as an interpositional tissue and prevents bone-to-bone contact between the tuberosity and acromion.
Medical Spending from Ancient Times to the 21st Century

The historical record of medical expenditures over 3,800 years from the Code of Hammurabi to the current OECD Health Data Set is used to illustrate and analyze long-run trends. Scientific and industrial revolutions, demographic transition, urbanization, nationalism, professional organization, institutions, and insurance are seen to be necessary preconditions for the growth of national health expenditures. Modern health systems are both technologically dynamic and fiscally inertial. Country trends from 1960 to 2018 are illustrated graphically, providing a framework for macroeconomic extrapolations that can be used to make forecasts for decades 2030+. The most rapid expansion usually occurred during the 1960s, with medical costs rising more than +3% per year faster than national incomes. After 1975 excess growth moderated in most high-income developed countries, and since 2000 has averaged less than +1% annually. This long-run temporal pattern resembles the S-shaped exponential growth curves characteristic of many biologic and economic processes, having an inflexion point where rates peak and then slowly decelerate. Appendices and related articles provide context for this historical review with more detailed examination of the international development of national health accounting methods, measurement boundaries, comparability, and data sources, and an extended national case study of the USA from 1776 to 2026.
Martian Dust Abrasion Damage on Solar Arrays: HALT Experimental Investigation and Opportunity Rover Performance Analysis

We investigated the utility of ground-based highly accelerated life testing (HALT) on epitaxial lift-off (ELO) triple-junction coverglass interconnected cells (CICs) after exposure to simulated Martian dust storms. Dust storm impingement was replicated by sandblasting CICs with Mars dust simulant replicating conditions similar to the weather conditions reported by the Viking landers. We observed that even in cases when there are no observable open circuit voltage (V OC ) losses, the minority carrier lifetime is reduced. Short circuit current (J SC ) losses can be recovered upon cleaning, suggesting J SC losses are not linked to permanent damage, like cell cracking. This suggests a permanent degradation could be determined by quantifying the difference between recoverable and non-recoverable power loss. We mined field data from the Mars Exploration Rover, Opportunity and extracted a degradation rate to compare to our experimental data. We found exceptional agreement between 4.9 Martian years of mined field data (9.4%) and the irreversible damage observed in our HALT experiment (9.7%). We demonstrate that the laboratory method for exposing CICs to Martian dust storm conditions well represents the physical reality of long duration CIC operation on Mars.
Evaluation of a Basic Skills Curriculum for Women Students of Low Motor Ability at the University of Washington

Abstract This study deals with the value of a general basic skills curriculum for Freshman women of low motor ability. A group of these students received instruction in the special curriculum previous to entering the regular service program. Follow-up procedures included testing of motor ability after the special instruction, attitude toward physical education throughout the physical education experience, and skill and knowledge achieved at the end of a beginning course in badminton, bowling, or folk dancing. When this group is compared to a matched group, results indicate that the instruction was effective in improving general motor ability and attitude toward physical education, and in gaining skill and knowledge in specific activities.
In Vitro Studies on Chemical Carcinogenesis in BALB/c 3T3 Cells

During the last decade many in vitro systems have been developed as short-term tests for chemical, viral and physical carcinogenesis. A complete battery of such tests should include bacterial and mammalian mutagenesis, chromosome tests, DNA repair and cell transformation. These tests have been developed on the assumption that the oncogenic event is based on a genotoxic mechanism, the endpoint of which is detectable in a qualitative or quantitative way in each system.
Women's Political Empowerment in Post-War Sierra Leone: A Critical Assessment

For 11 years (1991-2002), Sierra Leone underwent a very brutal civil war that totally destroyed the country with thousands being killed, maimed and/or displaced. Women and girls were deliberate targets for gender-based violence during the war. The TRC that was set up after the war to investigate the causes reported in 2004 that among the causes was a) the demise of local government resulting from the total exclusion of the Provinces from the centralized political power in Freetown, and b) the exclusion of women from the structures of government and meaningful participation in decision-making and policy formulation. The Commission therefore recommended a 30% increase in political representation of women at the national, district and local levels of government as well as for the government to ensure that there are more young women in positions of leadership while working toward achieving a 50/50 gender parity in representative politics within 10 years (i.e. by 2014). This paper will critically assess the extent to which political participation and access to power for women, especially in the Provinces, has increased since the end of the civil war, pointing out notable achievements as well as on-going challenges and obstacles to women’s empowerment and overall development.
Aging and primary care: an overview of organizational and behavioral issues in the delivery of healthcare services to older Americans.

Abstract An overview of (1) key trends shaping the healthcare environment and market; (2) ways in which these environmental trends are reflected in changes in the organization and delivery of healthcare; (3) the implications of environmental and organizational changes for older Americans; and (4) the research issues that can be addressed using organizational and behavioral theories. This introductory article sets the healthcare scene for the articles that follow.
Monetary Values of Life and Health

Sensible values for life and health are proposed as a substitute for the current practice of using virtually infinite value in some engineering decisions, e.g., high dam design, and zero value in other decisions, e.g., flood control evaluation. Recommended human values are based on the lifestream of earnings that would be foregone in the event of death or disability. Computing procedure is illustrated by examples. Results are compared with other sources. The technique is considered adequate for immediate use and until something better is devised.
Sediment storage by vegetation in steep bedrock landscapes: Theory, experiments, and implications for postfire sediment yield

[1] Mechanistic models for sediment transport on hillslopes are needed for applications ranging from landscape evolution to debris-flow hazards. Progress has been made for soil-mantled landscapes; however, little is known about sediment production and transport in bedrock landscapes that often maintain a patchy soil mantle, even though slopes exceed the angle of repose. Herein we investigate the hypothesis that patchy soil cover is stable on steep slopes due to local roughness such as vegetation dams that trap sediment upslope. To quantify local sediment storage, we developed a new theory and tested it against tilt-table experiments. Results show that trapped sediment volume scales with the cube of dam width. Where the dam width is less than about fifty grain diameters, particle force chains appear to enhance stability, resulting in greater trapped volumes and sediment-pile slopes that exceed the angle of repose. Trapped volumes are greatest for hillslopes that just exceed the friction slope and are independent of hillslope gradient for gradients greater than about twice the friction slope. For neighboring dams spaced less than about five grain diameters apart, grain bridging results in a single sediment pile that is larger than the sum of individual piles. This work provides a mass-conserving framework for quantifying sediment storage and nonlocal transport in bedrock landscapes. Results may explain the rapid increase in sediment yield following wildfire in steep terrain in the absence of rainfall; as sediment dams are incinerated, particles become gravitationally unstable and move rapidly downslope as dry ravel.
Abnormal Concentrations of Nickel in Serum in Cases of Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, Burns, Hepatic Cirrhosis, and Uremia

Nickel concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in sera. The mean concentration of nickel in sera of 47 healthy adults was 2.6 SD ± 0.8) µg/liter. Abnormally high mean concentrations (µg/liter) of serum nickel were found in patients with: ( a ) acute myocardial infarction (13-36 h after onset), mean = 5.2 ± 2.8, N = 33, P 25% body surface, 37-72 h after injury), mean = 7.2, N = 3, range = 4.1-10.9. Diminished mean concentrations of serum nickel were found in patients with: ( a ) hepatic cirrhosis, mean = 1.6 ± 0.8, N = 18, P <0.005; and ( b ) chronic uremia, mean = 1.7 ± 0.7, N = 12, P = <0.005. Normal mean concentrations of serum nickel were found in patients with: ( a ) acute myocardial ischemia without infarction (13-36 h after onset), mean = 3.3 ± 1.6, N = 22; ( b ) acute trauma with fractured bones (13-36 h after injury), mean = 2.7 ± 0.9, N = 19; ( c ) acute delirium tremens (13-36 h after admission), mean = 2.3 ± 0.9, N = 25; and ( d ) muscular dystrophy, mean = 2.3 ± 1.4, N = 10. In sera collected from 12 mothers immediately after normal delivery, the mean concentration of nickel was 3.0 ± 1.2 µg/liter, the same values as for sera from the umbilical cords of their 12 full-term infants.
Functional analysis of a frame-shift mutant of the dihydropyridine receptor pore subunit (α1S) expressing two complementary protein fragments

Background The L-type Ca2+ channel formed by the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) of skeletal muscle senses the membrane voltage and opens the ryanodine receptor (RyR1). This channel-to-channel coupling is essential for Ca2+ signaling but poorly understood. We characterized a single-base frame-shift mutant of α1S, the pore subunit of the DHPR, that has the unusual ability to function voltage sensor for excitation-contraction (EC) coupling by virtue of expressing two complementary hemi-Ca2+ channel fragments.
Reflective surfaces as computational sensors

Abstract We present a family of reflective surfaces that will provide a wide field of view while preserving the geometry of a plane perpendicular to their axis of symmetry. Used in conjunction with a conventional imaging device, these surfaces act as computational sensors capable of providing unwarped images automatically, eliminating the need for further processing. These surfaces arise as solutions to a differential equation that contains a function, which controls the planar distortion. We demonstrate how the differential equation can be altered to accommodate different models of imaging devices with which the surfaces may be coupled. Such sensors could be potentially useful in mobile robotics with applications such as control and range estimation.
Fossil Forests of Ocú, Panama

Silicified woods, the remains of mid-Tertiary tropical forests, are abundant in the vicinity of Ocu, Panama. Initial identifications reveal plant taxa not previously recorded as fossil woods. The plants identified can be found today in moist forests of tropical America, but not in the savanna-like vegetation now growing at the fossil site.
A stochastic line balancing procedure

This paper presents a heuristic procedure for designing paced production lines with stochastic task times. The procedure adopts explicitly the objective of minimizing the sum of incompletion cost and labour cost. Basically, the first stage of the procedure uses a probabilistic procedure to generate many promising line designs: this probabilistic procedure is conceptually related to the procedures of Arues (1960) and Tongc (1965). The procedures second stage uses the Kottas-Lau (1976) cost model to evaluate the operating costs of the generated line designs and to identify the economical ones. Extensive tests with the computerized procedure using randomly generated-test problems have indicated that the procedure can produce very good line designs with modest computer time
Ascorbic acid requirement for optimal flexor tendon repair in vitro

Numerous studies from our laboratory have defined aspects of the repair process in a lacerated flexor tendon model, both in vivo and in vitro. Inherent in the development of a viable tissue or cell culture model system is the definition of the optimal media environment. Since our laboratory investigations of in vitro flexor tendon repair encompass the formation of numerous extracellular matrix proteins, we have defined the optimal level of ascorbic acid with which to study the tendon wound healing process. The ascorbic acid requirement for proline and lysine hydroxylase activity during collagen biosynthesis is well known, and the importance of this vitamin for matrix proteoglycan synthesis more recently has been appreciated. This report describes the effect of several levels of ascorbic acid on 3H-thymidine incorporation, collagen and noncollagen protein synthesis, and glucose utilization and lactate production. Profundus flexor tendon segments were obtained from young adult New Zealand white rabbits and maintained in organ culture for periods of 1, 2, or 3 weeks. Ascorbic acid concentrations ranged from 50 to 300 micrograms/ml and were added fresh at each 48-h media change. Tendon protein synthesis, glucose metabolism, and cell permeability/viability were significantly correlated with the level of ascorbic acid in the culture medium. The results suggest that ascorbic acid levels in excess of the traditional 50 micrograms/ml are necessary to optimally maintain flexor tendons from adult animals in organ culture with 48-h media and ascorbate changes. Additionally, it may be necessary to determine the precise ascorbic acid requirement for individual tissues, since the specific tissue/cell and species requirement for ascorbate may vary.
First report of zebra chip disease and "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" on potatoes in Idaho.

In September 2011, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers graded in a packing facility in south-central Idaho were observed with internal discolorations suggestive of zebra chip disease (ZC). Symptoms were observed in 1 to 2% of tubers of cv. Russet Norkotah and included brown spots and streaks especially in and near the vascular tissue. Some tubers also showed a dark and sunken stolon attachment typical of ZC (1). Initially, tissue samples were taken from seven symptomatic tubers and tested by PCR for “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum”, the bacterium associated with ZC. Primers specific for the 16S rDNA (primers CLipoF [4] and OI2c [3]) and the outer membrane protein (OMB 1482f and 2086r) (2) were used. Six of these samples were positive for the bacterium. The amplified 16S rDNA and OMB products from two symptomatic tubers of cv. Russet Norkotah were cloned and three clones of each were sequenced. The 16S sequences (1,071 bp; GenBank Accession Nos. JN848755 and JN848756) from the two tubers varied by o...
Fluid-melt interactions involving Cl-rich granites: Experimental study from 2 to 8 kbar

Experiments have been conducted in the system Na2O-K2O-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O-Cl2O−1at 2, 4 kbar (800 and 1000°C) and 6, 8 kbar (800°C) to determine thermodynamic constraints on fluid-melt interaction and to determine the effects of pressure (P) and temperature (T) on Cl partitioning between aqueous fluid and subaluminous and peralkaline haplogranite melts. The Cl concentration of the run product glasses was determined by electron microprobe, and the H2O concentration of some glasses was determined by ion microprobe. The Cl concentration of the aqueous fluid was computed by mass balance and was also analyzed by chloridometer for several runs; agreement between the two methods is within ±9 relative %. DCl (wt% Cl in aqueous fluid/wt% Cl in granite melt) increases strongly with increasing P for P < 6 kbar, increasing concentrations of Cl in the system, and decreasing T. Previous work, however, indicates the effect of T on DCl in F-bearing granites within this P–T range is opposite to that observed here. The experimental results indicate that the concentration of Cl in granitic melts may reach a maximum limiting value as Cl-rich magmas crystallize. Granitic systems exhibiting a maximum concentration of Cl in the melt must either contain crystalline alkali chlorides, molten alkali chlorides, or coexisting liquid plus vapor or the melt must contain the solubility limit for Cl. The experimental data suggest that at 2 kbar and 800°C a single, supercritical fluid is stable, if the fluid contains ≤67 wt% NaCl and KCl. Conversely, at 2 kbar and 1000°C two immiscible phases (i.e., saline liquid and relatively alkali chloride-poor vapor) coexist with haplogranite melt if the combined liquid and vapor contain from approximately 10 to 55 wt% NaCl and KCl. Computed activities of H2O in the experimental melts (Burnham, 1981; Nekvasil, 1986) constrain the activity of H2O in the associated saline fluids at magmatic P and T. At 2 kbar and 800°C, H2O behaves ideally with up to 10 mol% NaCl and KCl in the aqueous fluid. As the NaCl and KCl concentration of the aqueous fluid increases from 10 to 40 mol%, the activity of H2O exhibits small but increasingly positive deviations from ideality. Application of experimental data to Cl-rich and F-poor, mineralizing granitic systems suggests that Cl will be most strongly enriched in ore fluids at relatively low temperature (between 800 and 1000°C) and relatively high pressure (for P < 6 kbar). The data also suggest that inasmuch as granitic systems contain a single aqueous fluid at T ≤ 800°C, 2 kbar, and with ≤67 wt% NaCl and KCl in fluid, the deposition of ore minerals from such fluids cannot be a direct result of boiling.
The role of "excess" CO2 in the formation of trona deposits

Abstract The prevailing theory for the formation of trona [Na3(CO3)(HCO3) · 2(H2O)] relies on evaporative concentration of Na + – HCO 3 - water produced by silicate hydrolysis of volcanic rock or volcaniclastic sediments. Given the abundance of closed drainage basins dominated by volcanics, it is puzzling that there are so few trona deposits and present-day lakes that would yield dominantly Na–CO3 minerals upon evaporation. Groundwater in the San Bernardino Basin (southeastern Arizona, USA and northeastern Sonora, Mexico) would yield mainly Na–CO3 minerals upon evaporation, but waters in the surrounding basins would not. Analysis of the chemical evolution of this groundwater shows that the critical difference from the surrounding basins is not lithology, but the injection of magmatic CO2. Many major deposits of trona and Na–CO3-type lakes appear to have had “excess” CO2 input, either from magmatic sources or from the decay of organic matter. It is proposed that, along with the presence of volcanics, addition of “excess” CO2 is an important pre-condition for the formation of trona deposits.
Intracellular Mg2+ surge follows Ca2+ increase during depolarization in cultured neurons

Abstract The intracellular magnesium and calcium concentrations in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons were measured using a fluorescent Mg2+ indicator, Mag-Fura-2 and a Ca2+ indicator, Fura-2, respectively. The magnesium concentration in the cytoplasm was higher than that in the nuclei at rest; 0.68±0.10 mM (mean±S.E.M., n=7) in the cytoplasm and 0.11±0.05 mM in the nucleus. When depolarized by a 60 mM KCl solution, the magnesium concentration increased remarkably in the cytoplasm; 1.52±0.26 mM (n=7) in the cytoplasm and 0.25±0.12 mM in the nucleus. This is in contrast to a Ca2+ increase due to depolarization in which the increase was remarkable also in the nucleus. The Mg2+ response displayed a rapid spontaneous recovery even in the presence of the high K+ solution. The Ca2+ response, on the other hand, accompanied a slow recovery `plateau'. Simultaneous measurements of Mg2+ and Ca2+ by a double-labeling experiment revealed that the Ca2+ concentration started to rise 0.46±0.05 s (n=32) earlier, and it reached its peak 1.38±0.12 s (n=32) earlier than Mg2+. These results support the scheme of `calcium induced magnesium release', that the depolarization-induced elevation of the Ca2+ concentration causes an increase in the Mg2+ concentration in the cytoplasm.
Differential inhibition of catabolite-sensitive enzyme induction by intercalating dyes.

Differential inhibition by intercalating dyes of catabolite-sensitive enzyme induction is reversed by cyclic AMP and could be due to in vivo differences in DNA conformation which increase the accessibility of the promoter region for dye binding and thus selectively inhibit transcription.
Electrodeposition of BTDA-ODA-PDA polyamic acid coatings on carbon fibers from nonaqueous emulsions

Electrochemical deposition of polyamic acid copolymer of 3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) and 1.3-phenylenediamine (PDA) was performed from a nonaqueous emulsion on carbon fibers. The electrodeposited PAA was subsequently dried. The yield and quality of deposited polyamic acid are strongly dependent upon a number of parameters that are related to the formulation and characteristics of polyamic acid emulsion. These parameters include solvent/precipitant ratio, concentration of surfactant, and solids content. The deposition yield of PAA was related to the applied current density, deposition time, and the charge passed, and was found to obey Faraday's laws of electrolysis. The coulombic efficiency was calculated.
Screening of Oligopeptides that Recognize Inorganic Crystalline Facets of Metal Nanoparticles

Peptides that possess specific affinity to distinct crystal facets have been reported previously. However, their adsorption behavior in terms of the crystal sizes and shapes is less exploited. Herein, we isolate several phage clones that show the strong affinity to {100} of Pd at a neutral pH from the M13 phage library, and among them the phages that have shape selectivity to the cubic structure are identified by eliminating ones that bind randomly shaped Pd nanoparticles (NPs). Since Pd nanocube-binding phages are eluted by lowering pH values in the biopanning process, the selected phages (and their binding peptides displayed on protein pIII) can be released from Pd surfaces through pH changes. We used this feature to modulate the capping density of selected peptides on NPs. For example, when less peptides are capped on Pd nanocubes by lowering the pH values, the shape of the nanocubes is deformed and some evolve into a concave shape, indicating that Pd atoms are released from the less protected {100} facet selectively due to the higher surface energy. This type of crystalline facet-recognizing peptides can be applied for smart capping agents that not only bind target crystalline planes, but also modify their coverage on the specific surfaces with pH changes. The peptide-capping agents could be useful to fabricate NPs with characteristic shapes through etching and adsorption of atoms on specific crystalline planes of seed nanocrystals.
PROTEOMICS INVESTIGATIONS OF HDL. CHALLENGES AND PROMISE

High density lipoprotein (HDL) is recognized as the major negative risk factor of cardiovascular disease and number of anti-atherogenic functions has been ascribed to HDL. HDL is an assembly of a neutral lipid core and an outer shell consisting of polar lipids and proteins. It has been defined many different ways based on various distinct properties including density flotation, protein composition, molecular size, and electrophoretic migration. Overall the studies characterizing HDL clearly demonstrate that it is a complex heterogeneous mixture of particles. Furthermore several studies convincingly demonstrated that certain populations of HDL particles have a distinct functionality suggesting that HDL may serve as a platform for assembly of protein complexes with very specific biological functions. Indeed recent proteomics studies described over 100 proteins associated with HDL. Here we review approaches to isolation and proteomic analysis of HDL and discuss potential problems associated with isolation methods which may confound our understanding of the relation of the HDL composition and its biological function.
The epidemiology of pure and comorbid generalized anxiety disorder: a review and evaluation of recent research.

Objective: Research documenting high rates of comorbidity among patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has led to the suggestion that GAD might best be conceptualized as a prodrome, residual or severity marker of other disorders. Recent research investigating this suggestion is reviewed in this report. Method: A computer search cross-classified the terms ‘Generalized Anxiety’ and ‘Comorbidity’. Results: Results arguing that GAD is an independent disorder include the finding that GAD is usually temporally primary in cases of comorbidity with major depression, that primary GAD is a significant predictor of subsequent depression and that the course of GAD is independent of comorbidity. Studies in both patient and community samples show that the impairment associated with pure GAD is equivalent to the impairment associated with pure depression. Conclusion: The results reviewed here support the view that GAD as an independent disorder is a major public health problem.
The academic story: introducing the clinical nurse leader role in a multifacility health care system.

Introducing the clinical nurse leader (CNL) role in a multifacility health care system is an exciting but obstacle-filled journey. This story includes facilitating factors, opportunities, and successes plus suggestions for other academic–practice partners considering implementing the CNL role. A sample course sequence with course descriptions is provided.
What Do Urban Black Mothers Tell Their Adolescents About Alcohol And Other Drugs

This study utilized qualitative content analysis to examine messages conveyed about alcohol and other drugs by urban Black mothers (N = 130) with a personal, familial, or personal and familial history of problematic substance use to younger and older adolescents (M = 15.2 years). Data from a two-cohort longitudinal sample revealed considerable similarity in themes across the younger and older cohorts. RESULTS suggest Black mothers offer more messages of information and advice to younger adolescents, while communicating directives related to use to older adolescents. Language: en
Sending classical information via noisy quantum channels

This paper extends previous results about the classical information capacity of a noiseless quantum-mechanical communication channel to situations in which the final signal states are mixed states, that is, to channels with noise.
Late-Holocene paleofloods in the Upper Little Tennessee River valley, Southern Blue Ridge Mountains, USA

We derive a paleoflood chronology for the past 2000 years from three stratigraphic sections of overbank sediments with dates from radiocarbon, luminescence, 137Cs techniques, and historical records. Particle sizes were measured in 6–15 year intervals in post-1870 sediments and in 45–170 year intervals in pre-1870 sediments using an automatic laser analyzer. The sedimentological characteristics of ad 1948–2009 deposits were compared with gaging records, demonstrating that fine sand content and sorting discern time intervals of large floods, but flood magnitudes are not well resolved. This modern analog was applied to pre-1870 sediments and revealed two periods in the last 2000 years with large floods during ad 650–850 and ad 1100–1350, which are times when the regional tree-ring record showed extreme wetness and no severe or extreme droughts. Our findings indicate flood-prone phases of transitional climate at the beginning and end of the ‘Medieval Warm Period’ (MWP), and relatively subdued flooding during ...
Monoamine and metabolite levels in CNS regions of the P line of alcohol-preferring rats after acute and chronic ethanol treatment

Abstract Levels of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were determined in 8 brain regions of the P line of alcohol-preferring rats following: (a) an IP injection of 2.5 g ethanol/kg body wt; (b) 8 and 15 weeks of chronic free-choice drinking of 10% ethanol; (c) 15 weeks of chronic free-choice drinking of 10% ethanol and 24 hours of withdrawal; and (d) 7 weeks of forced administration of 5% ethanol in liquid diet. One hour after IP injection of 2.5 g ethanol/kg body wt, the levels of DOPAC and HVA increased 20–45% in the cerebral cortex (CTX) and striatum (STR). A 20% lower content of NE in the CTX of the ethanol group was the only other statistically significant difference observed. Chronic free-choice drinking of 10% ethanol for 8 weeks (6.5±0.4 g ethanol/kg/day) or 15 weeks (7.8±0.2 g ethanol/kg/day) and the chronic forced administration of ethanol in liquid diets (up to 13.2±0.2g ethanol/kg/day) did not produce any consistent pattern of alterations in the levels of the monoamines or their metabolites in the 8 CNS regions. After 15 weeks of chronic free-choice drinking of 10% ethanol, withdrawal from alcohol also did not produce alterations in the content of the monoamines or their metabolites. These data indicate that acute administration of hypnotic doses of ethanol increases the metabolism of specific dopaminergic neurons in the CNS of the P rat, but monoamine levels and metabolism are not altered after chronic (7–15 weeks) alcohol consumption.