cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Savoring Helps Most When You Have Little: Interaction Between Savoring the Moment and Uplifts on Positive Affect and Satisfaction with Life

Savoring the moment is a means of generating, prolonging, or intensifying positive emotions while a positive event is occurring. While the occurrence of positive events is integral to savoring the moment, there is a paucity of research examining the interaction of the two. This study examines the longitudinal interaction of savoring the moment and the number of everyday positive events (uplifts) that occur over 2 weeks on measures of positive affect and satisfaction with life. Significant interactions between savoring and uplifts were found, indicating that those participants with low levels of savoring and low numbers of uplifts were at risk, as they experienced low levels of both positive affect and satisfaction with life. The other three groups (high savoring/high uplifts, low savoring/high uplifts, high savoring/low uplifts) had similarly positive outcomes. The findings imply the utility of increasing savoring when individuals experience few positive events.
Bleb formation in granulosa cells of rat pre-ovulatory follicles in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract To determine if hormone-induced events leading to ovulation an granulosa cell luteinization might be associated with changes in the surface configuration of granulosa cells we have studied the morphology of granulosa cells from the preovulatory follicles both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo , granulosa cells in follicles from rats primed with estradiol and FSH developed bulbous protrusions termed blebs in response to injected hCG. The blebs were restricted to the adluminal granulosa cells which possess the least number of receptors for hCG. When granulosa cells from follicles of rats primed with estradiol and FSH were cultured in vitro , in the absence of serum, approximately 10% of the cells formed blebs. In the presence of 10% rat or fetal calf serum, nearly 90% of the cells formed blebs by 18 hr. Serum-induced bleb formation was prevented by 1 mM dibutyryl cycle-AMP plus 0·5 mM methyl isobutyl xanthine and by cytochalasin B (25 μg/ml), while 0·1 mM colchicine had no effect. Fibronectin at 25 μg/ml increased bleb formation three-fold over control values in serum-free medium. When hCG was included in serum containing medium, the majority of the cells remained smooth without any blebs. Thus, in contrast to its action in vivo , hCG inhibited the formation of blebs in vitro . When the cells were incubated in the presence of dbcAMP plus methyl isobutyl xanthine in serum-containing medium, none of the cells formed blebs. One explanation for the seemingly opposite actions of hCG in vivo and in vitro is that hCG might act to alter the permeability of the pre-ovulatory follicles, and thereby allow the admission of serum. The admitted serum component(s) could then induce the formation of blebs on receptor-deficient adluminal cells that did not have elevated cAMP concentrations. The results suggest that fibronectin and/or other serum components, act to induct microfilament-dependent, cAMP-inhibited bleb formation on granulosa cells in vivo and in vitro .
Predictors of the cost of liver transplantation

Background. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a highly effective but costly therapy for end-stage liver disease. However, there are limited data on the demographic and clinical variables that affect cost. We undertook a preliminary study using multiple regression techniques to analyze factors that influence the cost of OLT. Methods. Patient and demographic data, including laboratory values and charges for all liver transplantations performed between June 1992 and June 1993 were analyzed (n = 111). Linear regression with standard and log-transformed values was performed by using STATA software (Stata Corporation College Station, TX). Independent variables included in the analyses were age, sex, United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) status, primary versus retransplantation, liver-kidney transplantation, and laboratory parameters of both liver (aspartate aminotransferase, AST; alkaline phosphatase; bilirubin; albumin; and prothrombin time) and kidney (blood urea nitrogen, BUN; creatinine) function. An F-to-remove strategy was employed with a significance level set at P = .05. Results. The full model with 12 variables explained 37% of the total variation in charges. When one excludes variables that did not have a significant impact on cost, the remaining significant variables were BUN and UNOS status 1. The final model was Charges (US$) = 3,407 × BUN + 74,474 × status 1 + 102,662 This model accounted for 29% of the total variability with BUN accounting for the vast majority (26%). Conclusions. Renal function is the most important predictor of cost of OLT (P < .001). UNOS status 1 further increases cost, but other hospitalized patients have similar costs when one controls for other clinical variables. The degree of liver impairment is less important in predicting cost.
Mission Impossible: Measuring the Offense-Defense Balance with Military Net Assessment

Charles Glaser's Rational Theory of International Politics argues that state security competition is not an inevitable consequence of international anarchy. 1 To be sure, sometimes the attempt by o...
Fractionation of residual phosphorus in a highly weathered sludge‐treated soil: Organic phosphorus

Abstract Numerous studies have shown that, through transformation processes, organic phosphorus (P) plays an important role in P cycling and plant nutrition in temperate and tropical soils. Field and laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the transformation of residual organic P in the 0–15 cm surface layer of a sewage sludge‐amended Decatur silty clay loam, six years after the final of five consecutive annual sludge applications to field plots of Huntsville and Chicago sludges at 20 Mg/ha and 10 years after a single application of 100 Mg/ha of the same sludges. Two indicator crops, corn (Zea mays L.) and sudangrass (Sorghum sudanenses L.), were grown on these plots for one season. Treatment plots—control, fertilizer, Chicago 20 Mg ha/yr, Huntsville 20 Mg ha/yr, Chicago 100 Mg/ha, (single application), and Huntsville 100 Mg/ha (single application)—were sampled and organic P fractions determined. The P fractions followed the order of: moderately labile P > moderately resistant P > highly resistant P...
Influence of inoculum level and acidic marination on inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 during drying and storage of beef jerky

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculum level (4 [L] and 7 [H] log cfu/cm 2 ) on its inactivation during drying and storage of beef jerky slices (8.7×4.0×0.6 cm). Beef jerky slices at each inoculum level were untreated (C), exposed to a traditional marinade (M), or exposed to a 5% acetic acid solution followed by traditional marination (AM). Surviving bacterial populations were determined during 10 h of drying (60 °C) and 60 days of aerobic storage (25 °C) using tryptic soy agar supplemented with 0.1% pyruvate (TSAP), sorbitol MacConkey (SMAC) agar, and modified eosin methylene blue (MEMB) agar. Irrespective of recovery culture media and inoculation level, the AM treatment decreased ( P 0.05 ) bacterial populations more ( P 0.05 ) than the C or M treatments during the 10 h of drying. The death rate (log cfu/h) in AM-treated samples was higher during the first 4 h of drying (first death phase) for H (0.9) than L (0.5–0.6); however, death rates in samples of C and M treatments were 0.7 and 0.6–0.7 at H and 0.7–0.8 and 0.7–0.8 at L, respectively. The results suggest that the acetic acid treatment may have sensitized the cells at the high inoculum level causing inactivation by drying, thus enhancing destruction of higher inoculation levels.
Rate-determining steps in phenacetin oxidations by human cytochrome P450 1A2 and selected mutants.

Mutants with altered activities were obtained from random libraries of human cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A2 with the putative substrate recognition sequences (SRS) mutated [Parikh, A., Josephy, P. D., ...
Interface of epidemiology and history : A commentary on past, present, and future

From time immemorial, epidemics have ravaged the human species. In his book Rats, Lice, and History, Hans Zinsser reviewed the mechanisms by which infectious diseases arise and become epidemic and chronicled their impact on the populations affected (1). By implication, Zinsser also indicated the analogous impact of noninfectious diseases. His analyses revealed a broad range of outcomes, from the interruption of military conquests to the disorganization of nation-states. Furthermore, Zinsser correctly predicted the emergence of "new" epidemic diseases with consequent impact. Thus, as we enter the new millennium, we find ourselves experiencing a great pandemic of a new disease, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is decimating the populations of sub-Saharan Africa and disrupting the health and disease care resources of many other locales. Indeed, it is a truism that epidemics have been major contributors to the course of history and that in the future we will experience further visitations. The epidemiologic literature is replete with reports of particular investigations which led to the identification of etiologic mechanisms and subsequent effects on disease incidence and prevalence in the populations affected. Although there may be some disagreement as to whether epidemiology is truly a science or simply a method (2), most modern epidemiologists consider themselves biomedical scientists investigating a particular paradigm—i.e., the interaction of host, environment, and agent—to explain the occurrence of health and disease in human populations. This commentary examines the historical origins of this science and considers several examples of how it has interfaced with some historical trends.
The Nature of Urban Soils and Their Role in Ecological Restoration in Cities

Current and predicted trends indicate that an increasing proportion of the world’s population is living in urban and suburban places. The nature of the urban environment becomes an important factor if we are concerned with the restoration and preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems in and around cities. This article highlights the varied impacts of cities on soils and their implications for restoration planning and expectations of restoration “success.” Urban soils exist in different historical and formational trajectories than their local nonurbanized counterparts due to direct anthropogenic disturbance and indirect environmental impacts from urbanization. Therefore, urban soils often exhibit altered physical, chemical, and biological characteristics in comparison to local nonurbanized soils. Several unique features of urban soils and urban ecosystems pose particular issues for ecological restoration or the improvement of degraded soil conditions in cities. The creation of novel soil types, conditions that promote invasion by non-natives, the strong influence of past land use on soil properties, and the presence of strong interactions and alternative stable states set up unique difficulties for the restoration of urban soils. Soils in urban restorations are a medium that can be deliberately manipulated to improve site conditions or in the monitoring of soil conditions as indices of ecosystem status. Including an explicit role for strong manipulations of soils in urban ecosystems changes how we approach baselines, management, and reference conditions in urban ecological restoration. With an understanding of urban soil ecological knowledge, we can guide aspects of urban ecological restoration toward successful outcomes.
Inactivation of the Intrinsic Activity of Pro-urokinase by Diisopropyl Fluorophosphate Is Reversible

Single chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator or pro-urokinase (pro-UK) has been reported to have a significant intrinsic amidolytic and plasminogen activator activity, estimated to be about 0.2-0.6% that of two-chain urokinase (UK). However, it has also been suggested that this reported activity is related entirely to trace UK contaminants generated during the analytic procedures. In an attempt to resolve this controversy, it was decided to measure the incorporation of diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) by pro-UK and UK. Surprisingly, it was found that although > 98% of the apparent intrinsic activity of pro-UK was inhibited by 5 mM DFP, > 97% of this activity was recoverable after exhaustive dialysis of the preparation. This finding could not be explained by UK generation, which was excluded. Instead, the findings indicated that DFP inhibition of pro-UK, in contrast to UK and other serine proteases, was largely reversible. The reaction rate of the reversible inhibition was significantly slower than that of irreversible inhibition by DFP. When the hydrolysis of DFP (2 mM) during incubation (37 degrees C) with or without pro-UK (20 microM) was compared, a > 5-fold acceleration of DFP hydrolysis in the presence of pro-UK was found, whereas little loss of DFP occurred in the presence of UK (20 microM), consistent with 1:1 stoichiometry. This suggested that pro-UK acted as a slow DFPase in the reaction, a finding consistent with a reversible DFP-enzyme reaction. It was concluded that pro-UK has a distinct and measurable intrinsic catalytic activity, which is qualitatively unique and thereby distinguishable from that of UK as well as other serine proteases.
Obama's American Graduation Initiative: Race, Conservative Modernization, and a Logic of Abstraction

The American Graduation Initiative stands as the cornerstone of the Obama administration's higher education agenda. To investigate the state of the politics of education in the Age of Obama, this article employs critical discourse analysis to unveil the hidden meanings and ideological commitments inherent in Obama's policy discourse. Read within and against the backdrop of what Apple (2006) called the era of conservative modernization, Obama's policy discourse relies on a logic of abstraction that serves to promote a falsely “postracial” society in which hegemonic notions of education are perpetuated.
Arrhenius and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Svante August Arrhenius was the first to calculate global climate sensitivity to changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration. He was also the first to calculate the anthropogenic rate of CO2 buildup in the modern atmosphere. There is apparently an inconsistency, however, between the references to these estimates [e.g., Uppenbrink, 1996] and the real numbers Arrhenius derived in his later works. The citations of Arrhenius' calculations are usually based on the work published in 1896 [Arrhenius, 1896]. In this paper Arrhenius reported that CO2 doubling should increase the Earth's mean temperature by 5–6°C. In the same ear, he estimated that it would take about 3000 y ears for mankind to double the atmospheric concentration through the burning of fossil fuels [Arrhenius, 1896]. However, the 1896 paper was not his last publication on the problem of global warming.
Occupational exposures among nurses and risk of spontaneous abortion

Objective We investigated self-reported occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs, anesthetic gases, antiviral drugs, sterilizing agents (disinfectants), and X-rays and the risk of spontaneous abortion in US nurses. Study Design Pregnancy outcome and occupational exposures were collected retrospectively from 8461 participants of the Nurses' Health Study II. Of these, 7482 were eligible for analysis using logistic regression. Results Participants reported 6707 live births, and 775 (10%) spontaneous abortions ( Conclusion This study suggests that certain occupational exposures common to nurses are related to risks of spontaneous abortion.
Charge Effects in the Selection of NPF Motifs by the EH Domain of EHD1

The Eps15 homology (EH) domain is found in proteins associated with endocytosis and vesicle trafficking. EH domains bind to their target proteins through an asparagine-proline-phenylalanine (NPF) motif. We have measured the interaction energetics of the EH domain from EHD1 with peptides derived from two of its binding partners: Rabenosyn-5 (Ac-GPSLNPFDEED-NH2) and Rab11-Fip2 (Ac-YESTNPFTAK-NH2). Heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectroscopy shows that both peptides bind in the canonical binding pocket of EHD1 EH and induce identical structural changes, yet the affinity of the negatively charged Ac-GPSLNPFDEED-NH2 (Ka = 8 × 105 M−1) is tighter by 2 orders of magnitude. The thermodynamic profiles (ΔG, ΔH, ΔS) were measured for both peptides as a function of temperature. The enthalpies of binding are essentially identical, and the difference in affinity is a consequence of the difference in entropic cost. Ac-GPSLNPFDEED-NH2 binding is salt-dependent, demonstrating an electrostatic component to t...
Structure−Activity Relationship for Noncoplanar Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners toward the Ryanodine Receptor-Ca2+ Channel Complex Type 1 (RyR1)

Ryanodine receptor isoforms are expressed in both excitable and nonexcitable tissues where they form microsomal Ca2+ release channels broadly involved in shaping cellular signaling. In this report, we provide a detailed structure−activity relationship (SAR) for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and metabolites necessary for enhancing ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1) activity using [3H]ryanodine ([3H]Ry) binding analysis. The 2,3,6-Cl PCB configuration is most important for optimal recognition by the RyR1 complex and/or critical for sensitizing its activation. Para substitution(s) diminishes the activity with para-chloro having a higher potency than the corresponding para-hydroxy derivative. The addition of a more bulky para-methyl-sulfonyl group eliminates the activity toward RyR1, supporting the importance of the para positions in binding RyR1. The requirement for an intact major T cell immunophilin FKBP12−RyR1 complex was observed with each of 12 active PCB congeners indicating a common mechanism...
Error of Measurement and Its Interpretation.

(1970). Error of measurement and its interpretation. Supervisors Quarterly: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 17-20.
Extreme poverty and the development of precursors to the speech capacity

The study of infant vocal development has suggested that babbling is an important precursor of the speech capacity. In addition, research has shown that the babbling of infants is biologically robust - it develops normally in infants from widely varying environments of language and socio-economic status. Babbling development is so robust that even premature birth does not appear to slow its course in healthy infants.
Corynebacterium ulcerans 0102 carries the gene encoding diphtheria toxin on a prophage different from the C. diphtheriae NCTC 13129 prophage

Background Corynebacterium ulcerans can cause a diphtheria-like illness, especially when the bacterium is lysogenized with a tox gene-carrying bacteriophage that produces diphtheria toxin. Acquisition of toxigenicity upon phage lysogenization is a common feature of C. ulcerans and C. diphtheriae. However, because of a lack of C. ulcerans genome information, a detailed comparison of prophages has not been possible between these two clinically important and closely related bacterial species.
Histone stoichiometry and DNA circularization in archaeal nucleosomes

Recombinant (r)HMfB (archaealhistone B fromMethanothermusfervidus) formed complexes with increasing stability with DNA molecules increasing in length from 52 to 100 bp, but not with a 39 bp molecule. By using125I-labeled rHMfB-YY (an rHMfB variant with I31Y and M35Y replacements) and32P-labeled 100 bp DNA, these complexes, designated archaeal nucleosomes, have been shown to contain an archaeal histone tetramer. Consistent with DNA bending and wrapping, addition of DNA ligase to archaeal nucleosomes assembled with 88 and 128 bp DNAs resulted in covalently-closed monomeric circular DNAs which, following histone removal, were positively supercoiled based on their electrophoretic mobilities in the presence of ethidium bromide before and after relaxation by calf thymus topoisomerase I. Ligase addition to mixtures of rHMfB with 53 or 30 bp DNA molecules also resulted in circular DNAs but these were circular dimers and trimers. These short DNA molecules apparently had to be ligated into longer linear multimers for assembly into archaeal nucleosomes and ligation into circles. rHMfB assembled into archaeal nucleosomes at lower histone to DNA ratios with the supercoiled, circular ligation product than with the original 88 bp linear version of this molecule. Archaeal histones are most similar to the globular histone fold region of eukaryal histone H4, and the results reported are consistent with archaeal nucleosomes resembling the structure formed by eukaryal histone (H3+H4)2tetramers.
Invisalign and traditional orthodontic treatment postretention outcomes compared using the American Board of Orthodontics objective grading system.

Abstract Objective: To compare the postretention dental changes between patients treated with Invisalign and those treated with conventional fixed appliances. Materials and Methods: This is a comparative cohort study using patient records of one orthodontist in New York City. Two groups of patients were identified that differed only in the method of treatment (Invisalign and Braces group). Dental casts and panoramic radiographs were collected and analyzed using the objective grading system (OGS) of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). The cases were evaluated immediately after appliance removal (T1) and at a postretention time (T2), three years after appliance removal. All patients had completed active orthodontic treatment and had undergone at least one year of retention. A Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to evaluate differences in treatment outcomes between the groups for each of the eight categories in the OGS, including four additional subcategories in the alignment category. A Wilcoxon signed ra...
Separations via continuous parametric pumping

A continuous pump in which the feed and product streams flow steadily both in upflow and downflow is experimentally investigated in the model system toluene-n-heptane on silica gel adsorbent. The experimental data compare reasonably well with analytical results based on an equilibrium theory. The operating conditions necessary to achieve high separation factors are shown to be dependent on the relative magnitudes of penetration distances and the height of the column.
The Renminbi as an Emerging World Currency

Although capital controls ensure that worldwide use of China’s currency, the Renminbi, has lagged far behind the nation’s influence on world markets, China’s currency is seeing greatly increased use in cross-border trade as a vehicle currency. This trend accelerated in the aftermath of the global financial crisis amidst successive agreements with neighbouring countries such as Japan and Russia to move away from the dollar in favour of using their own currencies for bilateral trade. Other key steps include the establishment of a full offshore Renminbi market in Hong Kong in 2010 and the September 2013 establishment of the Shanghai free-trade zone. Meanwhile, offshore Renminbi bond issuance not only reached a cumulative total of nearly RMB 400 billion in Hong Kong by the third quarter of 2013 but also was being joined by such new offshore Renminbi bond centres as Singapore, Taiwan and London. It is no longer so farfetched to imagine the greenback being replaced by a new ‘redback’ standard in the long run.
Student Reactions to Classroom Management Technology: Learning Styles and Attitudes Toward Moodle

The authors look at student perceptions regarding the adoption and usage of Moodle. Self-efficacy theory and the Technology Acceptance Model were applied to understand student reactions to instructor implementation of classroom management software Moodle. They also looked at how the learning styles of students impacted their reactions to Moodle. Results show that students most valued the control Moodle gave them over their educational progress. Communication was also found to be an important benefit students sought in Moodle. Individual student reaction to Moodle was influenced by visual learning and degree of laziness.
Complex impedance spectroscopy for monitoring tissue responses to inserted neural implants

A series of animal experiments was conducted to characterize changes in the complex impedance of chronically implanted electrodes in neural tissue. Consistent trends in impedance changes were observed across all animals, characterized as a general increase in the measured impedance magnitude at 1 kHz. Impedance changes reach a peak approximately 7 days post-implant. Reactive responses around individual electrodes were described using immuno- and histo-chemistry and confocal microscopy. These observations were compared to measured impedance changes. Several features of impedance changes were able to differentiate between confined and extensive histological reactions. In general, impedance magnitude at 1 kHz was significantly increased in extensive reactions, starting about 4 days post-implant. Electrodes with extensive reactions also displayed impedance spectra with a characteristic change at high frequencies. This change was manifested in the formation of a semi-circular arc in the Nyquist space, suggestive of increased cellular density in close proximity to the electrode site. These results suggest that changes in impedance spectra are directly influenced by cellular distributions around implanted electrodes over time and that impedance measurements may provide an online assessment of cellular reactions to implanted devices.
Systematic Review of Handoff Mnemonics Literature

A systematic review of published English-language articles on handoffs is conducted (1987 to June 4, 2008). Forty-six articles describing 24 handoff mnemonics are identified by trained reviewers. The majority (82.6%) have been published in the last 3 years (2006-2008), and SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) is the most frequently cited mnemonic (69.6%). Of 7 handoff research articles, only 4 study mnemonics. All 4 of these studies have relatively small sample sizes (10-100) and lack validated instruments. Only 1 study has obtained IRB approval. Scientifically rigorous research studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of handoff mnemonics. These should be published in the peer-reviewed literature using the Standards for QUality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE) guidelines.
Thymine‐Containing Styrene Polymers as Environmentally Benign Photoresists

Introduction Polystyrene Derivatives Polymer Coatings Regenerating Polymeric Starting Materials Outlook and Perspectives Keywords: styrene; thymine; ultraviolet light (UV); biodegradable; photodimerization; enzyme; water-soluble; hydrogen-bonding; deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA); dye; reversibility; riboflavin; photoresist
Radiation Response of a Gate-All-Around Silicon Nano-Wire Transistor

Gate-all-around MOSFETs were fabricated from single-crystal silicon nanowires as small as 500 A? across. The response to x-rays was measured for transistors with various gate oxide thicknesses, a variety of physical designs, and several different electric fields during irradiation. While the devices are otherwise very well behaved, the total dose degradation is larger than expected and is attributable to thicker, non-uniform gate oxide grown on non-(100) Si surfaces of the nanowires.
The radiation pattern of a monopole antenna attached to a conducting box

A system investigation was undertaken to determine the radiation patterns of a monopole antenna mounted on a cubical conducting box over a ground plane. The effects of the location of the monopole and the electrical size of the box were noted as compared to similar patterns measured over a flat ground plane. Experimental results were also compared with numerically predicted values obtained from a method of moments patch code. It was concluded that the location at which a monopole antenna is mounted on a conducting box and the electrical size of the box clearly affect the overall radiation pattern of a monopole antenna. In general, mounting the antenna away from the center of the box will increase the depth of the nulls. >
An Introduction to Scholar Teams: A Method to Enhance DSP Education and Competence

This paper introduces the concept of Scholar Teams (STs), discusses strategies to successfully implement STs, overviews the results of the first two years of comprehensive ST trials conducted in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department at North Dakota State University (NDSU), and details a specific ST, the Digital Signal Processing (DSP) ST, to illustrate the benefits of STs, particularly from a DSP education perspective.
A comparison of the midvastus and paramedian approaches for total knee arthroplasty

This prospective, double-blinded evaluation of 24 osteoarthritic patients undergoing bilateral total knee replacement compared the midvastus and standard parapatellar approaches. The midvastus approach was found to offer an early advantage in terms of less pain and earlier return to function. There were no significant complications associated with the midvastus approach. This approach should be a part of the knee surgeon's armamentarium.
Trends in survival after stroke among medicare beneficiaries

Most strokes occur among people aged 65 years and older. The increasing proportion of persons who are in this age group underlines the importance for health-care providers to be aware of trends in poststroke survival. We investigated poststroke survival trends from 1985 to 1989 among Medicare beneficiaries.Medicare hospital claim records and enrollment data were obtained on 1 901 439 Medicare patients with a principal diagnosis of stroke occurring during the years 1985 through 1989. Cox proportional hazard techniques were used to compare the 2-year poststroke survival for strokes occurring in 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989 relative to strokes occurring in 1985. Poststroke survival trends were examined among groups defined by age, race, region, type of stroke, and, for a 20% subset, history of stroke.We observed a modest improvement in poststroke survival from 1985 to 1989 (1989:1985 hazard ratio, 0.96; P < .05). Trends for persons with hemorrhagic stroke showed more improvement (hazard ratio, 0.88; P < .05) t...
The lived experiences of adolescent girls' relationship with tobacco.

Purpose: Despite increased efforts to educate youth about the dangers of cigarette smoking, the percentage of teenagers who smoke continues to rise. This study was designed to explore the lived experiences of 14 adolescent girls who enrolled in a tobacco cessation program. Design: Phenomenology Methods: The experiences of fourteen adolescent girls were studied over a 10-week period while they were enrolled in a school-based tobacco cessation program. A combination of interviews, group discussions, and journaling were used to describe the experiences of these girls with tobacco use. Three common themes and two subthemes emerged that were supported by data. Results: Tobacco use in the lives of these girls changed over time. The importance of listening to their stories and giving meaning to the behavior is clear. Nurses must continue to explore these methods as they support clients in tobacco cessation programs. While none of the girls in this study quit smoking, the need for nursing interventions to support...
Increased medial temporal lobe activation during the passive viewing of emotional and neutral facial expressions in schizophrenia.

Abstract Introduction Patients with schizophrenia show deficits in facial affect and facial identity recognition and exhibit structural and neurophysiological abnormalities in brain regions known to mediate these processes. Functional neuroimaging studies of neural responses to emotional facial expressions in schizophrenia have reported both increases and decreases in medial temporal lobe (MTL) activity in schizophrenia. Some of this variability may be related to the tasks performed and the baseline conditions used. Here we tested whether MTL responses to human faces in schizophrenia are abnormal when unconstrained by a cognitive task and measured relative to a low-level baseline (fixation) condition. Methods 15 patients with schizophrenia and 16 healthy control subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while passively viewing human faces displaying fearful, happy, and neutral emotional expressions. Results Relative to control subjects, the patients demonstrated (1) significantly greater activation of the left hippocampus while viewing all three facial expressions and (2) increased right amygdala activation during the initial presentation of fearful and neutral facial expressions. Conclusions In schizophrenia, hippocampal and amygdala activity is elevated during the passive viewing of human faces.
Are Rural Schools Inferior to Urban Schools? A Multilevel Analysis of School Accountability Trends in Kentucky*

Recent research does not provide clear evidence that rural schools are inferior to urban schools. For example, one prominent study finds that students in rural schools perform less well than their urban counterparts, but other studies using the same national data set have reached divergent conclusions. The present study reassesses the issue using a time series approach to school performance. We investigate the effects of location on school-level performance and improvement indicators between 1999 and 2003 using a sample of 1,111 Kentucky public schools nested in 170 school districts. Repeated-observations HLM analysis reveals that rural schools achieve mean annual gains in performance that equal or better their urban counterparts. Furthermore, schools in some nonmetro locations perform on par with metro schools in between-school baseline score comparisons. A simple answer to the question "Are rural schools inferior?" is not feasible, however, since standards for assessing school quality are changing as a consequence of education reform initiatives at the state and national levels. Language: en
Ground state destabilization by anionic nucleophiles contributes to the activity of phosphoryl transfer enzymes.

Enzymes stabilize transition states of reactions while limiting binding to ground states, as is generally required for any catalyst. Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) and other nonspecific phosphatases are some of Nature's most impressive catalysts, achieving preferential transition state over ground state stabilization of more than 1022-fold while utilizing interactions with only the five atoms attached to the transferred phosphorus. We tested a model that AP achieves a portion of this preference by destabilizing ground state binding via charge repulsion between the anionic active site nucleophile, Ser102, and the negatively charged phosphate monoester substrate. Removal of the Ser102 alkoxide by mutation to glycine or alanine increases the observed Pi affinity by orders of magnitude at pH 8.0. To allow precise and quantitative comparisons, the ionic form of bound Pi was determined from pH dependencies of the binding of Pi and tungstate, a Pi analog lacking titratable protons over the pH range of 5–11, and from the 31P chemical shift of bound Pi. The results show that the Pi trianion binds with an exceptionally strong femtomolar affinity in the absence of Ser102, show that its binding is destabilized by ≥108-fold by the Ser102 alkoxide, and provide direct evidence for ground state destabilization. Comparisons of X-ray crystal structures of AP with and without Ser102 reveal the same active site and Pi binding geometry upon removal of Ser102, suggesting that the destabilization does not result from a major structural rearrangement upon mutation of Ser102. Analogous Pi binding measurements with a protein tyrosine phosphatase suggest the generality of this ground state destabilization mechanism. Our results have uncovered an important contribution of anionic nucleophiles to phosphoryl transfer catalysis via ground state electrostatic destabilization and an enormous capacity of the AP active site for specific and strong recognition of the phosphoryl group in the transition state.
Occipital condyle fracture in a patient with neck pain

Occipital condyle fractures (OCF) are rare traumatic injuries and are of critical clinical importance because of the anatomic considerations of the occipitoatlantoaxial joint complex. OCF can be a diagnostic challenge because of the inability to diagnose this injury with plain radiographs. This is especially true in the emergency department (ED) setting. A high degree of clinical suspicion and careful investigation of the craniocervical junction is warranted in patients presenting to the ED with head and cervical trauma. We present a case of a 45-year-old male who presented to the ED with complaints of neck pain and headache four days after an assault. The classification, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of his injury are discussed, and pertinent literature is reviewed. OCF can be easily overlooked due to multiple factors; including the conscious state of the patient or the inability to diagnose it through plain radiographs. Early recognition and diagnosis of OCF is crucial to prevent neurological involvement.
Phylogeography and systematics of zebra mussels and related species

The genus Dreissena includes two widespread and aggressive aquatic invaders, the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha , and the quagga mussel, Dreissena bugensis . This genus evolved in the Ponto-Caspian Sea basin, characterized by dynamic instability over multiple timescales and a unique evolutionary environment that may predispose to invasiveness. The objectives of this study were to gain insights into the demographic history of Dreissena species in their endemic range, to reconstruct intraspecific phylogeographic relationships among populations, and to clarify systematics of the genus, using DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene. We found four deeply diverged clades within this genus, with a basal split that approximately coincided with the Cretaceous– Tertiary boundary. Divergence events within the four base clades were much more recent, corresponding to geographically disjunct sets of populations, which might represent species complexes. Across all taxa, populations of Dreissena shared a common pattern of genetic signatures indicating historical population bottlenecks and expansions. Haplotype diversity was relatively low in Ponto-Caspian drainages relative to more stable tectonic lakes in Greece, Macedonia, and Turkey. The phylogeographic and demographic patterns in the endemic range of Dreissena might have resulted from vicariance events, habitat instability, and the high fecundity and passive dispersal of these organisms.
Metabolic Syndrome, CKD Progression, and Death: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Previous studies have reported an association between metabolic syndrome, proteinuria, incidence and progression of CKD, and ESRD among different ethnic groups ([1][1]–[6][2]). With an increasing sedentary lifestyle and high rates of obesity, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome stands at 34% ([7
A new model in teaching undergraduate research: A collaborative approach and learning cooperatives

Forming new, innovative collaborative approaches and cooperative learning methods between universities and hospitals maximize learning for undergraduate nursing students in a research course and provide professional development for nurses on the unit. The purpose of this Collaborative Approach and Learning Cooperatives (CALC) Model is to foster working relations between faculty and hospital administrators, maximize small group learning of undergraduate nursing students, and promote onsite knowledge of evidence based care for unit nurses. A quality improvement study using the CALC Model was implemented in an undergraduate nursing research course at a southern university. Hospital administrators provided a list of clinical concerns based on national performance outcome measures. Undergraduate junior nursing student teams chose a clinical question, gathered evidence from the literature, synthesized results, demonstrated practice application, and developed practice recommendations. The student teams developed posters, which were evaluated by hospital administrators. The administrators selected several posters to display on hospital units for continuing education opportunity. This CALC Model is a systematic, calculated approach and an economically feasible plan to maximize personnel and financial resources to optimize collaboration and cooperative learning. Universities and hospital administrators, nurses, and students benefit from working together and learning from each other.
Emergence Rhythm in Chrysoteuchia topiaria

A laboratory study of the influence of various combinations of light, dark, and temperature on adult Chrysoteuchia topiaria (Zeller) revealed that the rhythm of emergence was exogenous and was initiated by changes of temperature or by the transition from dark to light corresponding to dawn in nature. Thus, the time of emergence in nature is probably determined by an interaction of photoperiod and temperature. In a field test, virgin females were attractive to males in a rhythmic manner whereby 71% of the males were attracted to the females between 0700 and 1100. Cool and cloudy weather reduced the number of responding males.
Voltage clamping of xenopus laevis oocytes utilizing agarose-cushion electrodes

Two-electrode voltage clamping of expressed ion channels in intact oocytes of the South African clawed frog Xenopus laevis has been refined to allow stable, low-resistance electrical access to the cytosol (50–800 kΩ). Glass microelectrodes were filled with a cushion of 1 % agarose at their tips to prevent KC1 leakage (agarose-cushion electrodes). Insertion of these electrodes into X. laevis oocytes yielded stable preparations for periods of more than l h with a stable input resistance of 1–4MΩ. Furthermore, a simple modification of the voltage-clamp circuit (charging compensator) is described that increases the flexibility of arrangements for differential recording of the membrane potential in order to subtract voltage drops across a series resistance. The result is a considerable increase in the practically attainable speed of the voltage clamp with the conventional two-electrode arrangement. The performance of the charging compensator was tested on an equivalent circuit that simulates the oocyte and electrodes. In addition, the combination of agarose-cushion electrodes and the charging compensator was tested on oocytes expressing Shaker H4 currents. The fidelity of the voltageclamp circuit was also verified by measuring the membrane potential with additional independent microelectrodes connected to a differential amplifier, independent of the two-electrode voltage clamp system. The system described here will be useful for ion channel studies in X. laevis oocytes requiring long-term recordings and/or measurements of large, fast ion currents.
The Development of a Hardware-in-the-Loop Attitude Determination and Control Simulator for IlliniSat-2

The University of Illinois’ IlliniSat-2 CubeSat bus achieves 3-axis attitude control via a series of magnetic torque coils and attitude determination via Kalman filtered magnetometer data and a crude Sun vector measurement. This robust new attitude determination and control system (ADCS) requires extensive pre-flight simulation and testing. A hardware-in-the-loop ADCS simulator for IlliniSat-2, known as CubeSim, has been established for this purpose. The simulator retrieves magnetic field data from a satellite simulation in STK and subjects a physical IlliniSat-2 bus to the same magnetic field in real-time via a large triaxial Helmholtz coil, the HC3. The bus, fixed within the HC3, determines its attitude from the generated magnetic field. From here, the bus attempts control maneuvers with its torque coils; the control signals are intercepted and used to forward propagate the simulated attitude and angular velocity, which are fed back into STK. This system allows for testing and calibration of the ADCS of an assembled IlliniSat-2 bus prior to launch. The design process for the HC3 and related hardware, the development of the simulation software, and the associated calibration processes are discussed here.
Use of noncontact low-frequency ultrasound in the treatment of chronic foot and leg ulcerations: a 51-patient analysis

Background: A feasibility study was conducted to characterize the effects of noncontact low-frequency ultrasound therapy for chronic, recalcitrant lower-leg and foot ulcerations. Methods: The study was an open-label, nonrandomized, baseline-controlled clinical case series. Patients were initially treated with the Mayo Clinic standard of care before the addition of or the switch to noncontact low-frequency ultrasound therapy. We analyzed the medical records of 51 patients (median ± SD age, 72 ± 15 years) with one or more of the following conditions: diabetes mellitus, neuropathy, limb ischemia, chronic renal insufficiency, venous disease, and inflammatory connective tissue disease. All of the patients had lower-extremity ulcers, 20% had a history of amputation, and 65% had diabetes. Of all the wounds, 63% had a multifactorial etiology, and 65% had associated transcutaneous oximetry levels below 30 mm Hg. Results: The mean ± SD treatment time of wounds during the baseline standard of care control period ver...
Inequality in the Earnings of Self-Employed African and Asian Americans

Self-employed African Americans in the United States earn much less than do their Asian counterparts. This study examines the sources of this earnings inequality. Explanatory variables include the ...
Channels of Energy Transfer on Polycrystalline Microwave Ferrite

The relaxation process via the spin wave system in the grain-surface-layer to the lattice is proposed as the chief channel of microwave energy transfer for polycrystalline materials. This relaxation mechanism is based on the fact that the model of the spin wave resonance in the grain-surface-layer successfully explained the behaviors of off-resonance effective linewidth. In the model it was considered that the anisotropy constant Ks and the anisotropy field Hs in the grain-surface-layer are different from the anisotropy constant and the anisotropy field in the grain-interior.
The Noncanonical Role of ULK/ATG1 in ER-to-Golgi Trafficking Is Essential for Cellular Homeostasis

ULK1 and ULK2 are thought to be essential for initiating autophagy, and Ulk1/2-deficient mice die perinatally of autophagy-related defects. Therefore, we used a conditional knockout approach to investigate the roles of ULK1/2 in the brain. Although the mice showed neuronal degeneration, the neurons showed no accumulation of P62(+)/ubiquitin(+) inclusions or abnormal membranous structures, which are observed in mice lacking other autophagy genes. Rather, neuronal death was associated with activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. An unbiased proteomics approach identified SEC16A as an ULK1/2 interaction partner. ULK-mediated phosphorylation of SEC16A regulated the assembly of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites and ER-to-Golgi trafficking of specific cargo, and did not require other autophagy proteins (e.g., ATG13). The defect in ER-to-Golgi trafficking activated the UPR pathway in ULK-deficient cells; both processes were reversed upon expression of SEC16A with a phosphomimetic substitution. Thus, the regulation of ER-to-Golgi trafficking by ULK1/2 is essential for cellular homeostasis.