cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Phenotypic, Genotypic, & Environmental Drivers of Local Adaptation to a Harsh Granite Outcrop Environment in Mimulus

A primary goal in evolutionary biology is to understand what traits, genes, and environmental variables drive local adaptation. This is difficult since many traits and genes diverge simultaneously between populations. Here we investigate the traits, genetic regions, and ecological variables that underlie Mimulus laciniatus adaptation to granite outcrops. We measure selection on flowering time, flower size, and leaf shape in a reciprocal transplant using M. laciniatus x M. guttatus F4 hybrids, test whether a previously mapped pleiotropic life-history quantitative trait locus (QTL) controls fitness in the field, and use fine scale measurements of soil moisture and herbivory to determine the environmental drivers of adaptation. We find that M. laciniatus and M. guttatus exhibit a fecundity trade-off, strong selection for earlier flowering in granite outcrops, and advantageous flowering time plasticity. The direction of selection differs before vs. after flowering on our life-history QTL, and differences in drought & herbivory drive survival differences between habitats. We conclude that M. laciniatus and M. guttatus are locally adapted to dramatically different microhabitats. While early flowering time underlies plant fitness in M. laciniatus seasonally dry environment, herbivore resistance and plant size are advantageous in a competitive mesic environment like M. guttatus.
Priceline for Pollution: Auctions to Allocate Public Pollution Control Dollars

In addition to regulatory strategies, the federal government has spent large amounts of money to pay for or to subsidize pollution control and other environmental measures. Although those expenditures have often achieved environmental improvements, they have not always done so as cost effectively as possible. The use of auctions to distribute funds could significantly improve the cost effectiveness of public spending programs for environmental protection, as it has in other areas of government procurement.
“Love Jihad,” digital affect, and feminist critique

In the face of the affective publics generated by online media, feminist critics have had to rethink our epistemological assumptions. This becomes particularly urgent when those of us who came of a...
To Flip or Not to Flip the English Classroom

The twenty-first century multi-tasking, tech-savvy, digital natives are smarter than their smart phones, and if English teachers do not change the way they teach and what they teach, they will be no more useful than their smart phones. Lecturing is good if the purpose is to disseminate information so that students can satisfy Bloom’s lower order cognitive abilities ‘knowing’ and ‘understanding’ information being imparted. However, it does not promote the higher order skills, such as analysing, applying, evaluating, and creating. Flipped classrooms can provide an ideal form for promotion of communication and critical thinking skills through interaction. The concept of flipping is understood as flipping lectures in favour of maximizing student talk/write time, flipping the responsibility of learning from the teacher to the learner, and flipping teacher’s stationery position in favour of making it more mobile and dynamic in the class. Methods of flipping can either through replacement of lecture with video or through learners’ enquiry to find the answer on their own with or without technological assistance.
New nurses apply only basic source evaluation criteria but realize their skills are lacking: More sophisticated approaches to teaching evaluation skills are required

BACKGROUND While information evaluation is an essential component of evidence based practice, it remains unclear how nurses perceive their own source evaluation skills and what evaluation criteria they typically apply. OBJECTIVES This study aims to determine nurses' self-reported confidence in their evaluation skills and their actual source evaluation ability. The findings will guide information literacy instruction. METHODS A questionnaire asked recently graduated nurses from four institutions in the Intermountain West (USA) to rate their confidence in evaluating information and to provide examples of evaluation criteria they typically applied. The quality of these criteria was rated by nursing librarians, then compared with reported confidence in evaluation, years employed as a nurse and highest degree level. RESULTS While nurses' self-reported confidence levels about source evaluation largely matched their ability, their evaluation criteria showed a low level of sophistication and did not match the recommended criteria by professional organizations. Graduate education, not years of work experience, was predictive of the quality of criteria used by nurses, suggesting the importance of more instruction on source evaluation for nursing students. CONCLUSIONS Nursing educators, including librarians, need to teach evaluation skills at the undergraduate level. Further investigation into building evaluation skills in nurses is warranted.
Technology and Practice Readiness

In ever-changing world circumstances, the role of information technology has become more prominent. Implementation of e-Learning began with a focus on infrastructure; this focus is now changing toward the experiences of users (Adams and Morgan, International Journal on e-Learning, 6:157–185, 2007). The role of the information technology department in organizations is also changing as we continue to depend heavily on information technology infrastructure to simplify and connect processes within organizations. Infrastructure plays an important role in e-Learning since it facilitates access to materials through connectivity. The infrastructure for e-Learning can affect the experiences of system users. Careful consideration of the day-to-day processes related to technology can help save costs. These include maintenance of computer technology and integration of computer technology throughout departments. This chapter discusses the factors which influence technology and practice.
Créditos vencidos e vincendos na recuperação judicial: o negócio jurídico sob condição suspensiva e o contrato bilateral (Matured and Unmatured Claims in Reorganization Proceedings: An Analysis of Agreements Under Suspensive Condition and Bilateral Contracts)

Portuguese Abstract: A Lei de Recuperacao de Empresas e Falencia brasileira, Lei 11.101/05, submeteu a recuperacao judicial todos os creditos existentes a data do pedido, sejam vencidos ou vincendos. O conceito de credito existente para a sujeicao a recuperacao judicial, entretanto, pode nao ser de facil apreensao. O surgimento do credito pode nao coincidir com a celebracao do negocio juridico que lhe origina. No negocio juridico sob condicao suspensiva, se o evento futuro e incerto previsto contratualmente ocorrer somente apos a distribuicao do pedido de recuperacao, o direito de credito surgira apenas a partir dessa ocorrencia e nao estara sujeito a recuperacao. Por sua vez, mesmo o conceito de credito existente para a submissao a recuperacao judicial exige interpretacao nao isolada da Lei 11.101/05, mas em harmonia as demais normas do direito privado. Nos contratos de duracao, sejam de execucao periodica ou de execucao continuada, embora as prestacoes possam se multiplicar e ser reciprocamente dependentes da prestacao do outro contratante, o direito de credito surge a partir da celebracao do negocio juridico. A sujeicao desse credito existente a recuperacao judicial, contudo, imporia onerosidade excessiva ao credor e poderia comprometer a propria finalidade do instituto da recuperacao judicial. English Abstract: This paper aims at analyzing how claims arising from complex agreements, such as the ones under suspensive condition, should be ranked in a reorganization scenario according to the provisions of the Brazilian Bankruptcy Law 11.101/05.
Genetic and Proteomic Analysis of Fungal Virulence

This chapter explores the genetic and proteomic approaches that are now feasible for many fungal systems. Post-genomic approaches to the analysis of biological function, networks, and processes often include techniques that permit global analysis of gene expression at the protein level. Analysis of protein expression during modulation of external conditions or during particular developmental states can provide useful clues about which genes might be important for a particular function. These proteomic approaches are complementary to techniques, such as serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) and microarrays, that measure gene expression at the RNA level. Signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) was also used to identify Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii mutants with altered virulence in a mouse model of disseminated disease. Restriction enzyme-mediated insertion has also been used with fungi to promote relatively random insertions in fungal genomes. It has been commonly used in phytopathogens, but the only published studies in a human pathogen are those done with C. albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Proteomic analysis of the C. albicans response to several antifungal drugs showed that inhibition of specific targets resulted in a unique profile. Mechanisms of antifungal resistance can be elucidated by identification of proteins induced by treatment with antifungal agents. To determine mechanisms of fungal virulence, it is important to study the expression of proteins during the interaction of a pathogen with host cells, either in vitro or in vivo.
Vancomycin-Binding Characteristics in Patients with Serious Infections

Study Objective. To examine the extent, variability, and factors affecting vancomycin protein binding. Design. Prospective, open-label, cohort study. Setting. A general hospital. Patients. Forty-four adults [mean (± SD) age 50.9 ± 17.1 yrs, range 16.8-92.0 yrs] with serious infections. Interventions. Unbound (V u ) and total (V tot ) vancomycin concentrations were determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. A statistical analysis model used the maximum likelihood method to evaluate the association between several important variables and log V u while controlling for log V tot effects. Measurements and Main Results. The mean fraction percentage of unbound vancomycin was 79.5 ± 6.0% (range 53.0-96.3%). While controlling for V tot the total variability of V u was 8.3%, suggesting that vancomycin binding is relatively constant in sick adults. We were able to demonstrate a significant statistical interaction effect between gender and globulin protein concentration on V u (p=0.022). Globulin protein concentration in men was negatively associated with V u (p=0.0009), but there was no association in women (p=0.645). Age, race, peak-trough association, serum creatinine, serum albumin, serum prealbumin, and hemodialysis were not significantly associated with log V u in the statistical model. Conclusion. Compared with earlier studies in healthy adults, vancomycin binding appears to be decreased during acute illness, and intrapatient and interpatient variability are relatively small. Unbound vancomycin concentration appears to be gender dependent.
September 11 in History: A Watershed Moment? Introduction

Within hours after the collapse of the Twin Towers, the idea that the September 11 attacks had "changed everything" permeated American popular and political discussion. As the Introduction to this edited volume argues, in the period since September 11, the notion that 9/11 changed the nation and the world has been used to justify profound changes in U.S. law, public policy and foreign relations. Bringing together leading scholars of history, law, literature, and Islam, "September 11 in History" asks whether the attacks and their aftermath truly marked a transition in U.S. and world history or whether they are best understood as part of pre-existing historical trajectories. From a variety of perspectives, the contributors to this collection scrutinize claims about September 11. Essays range from an analysis of terms like Ground Zero, Homeland, and "the Axis of Evil" to an argument that the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay has become a site for acting out a repressed imperial history. Examining the effect of the attacks on Islamic self-identity, one contributor argues that Osama bin Laden enacted an interpretation of Islam on September 11 and asserts that progressive Muslims must respond to it. Other essays by legal scholars focus on citizenship and the deployment of Orientalist tropes in categorizations of those "who look Middle Eastern," the blurring of domestic and international law evident in a number of legal developments including the use of military tribunals to prosecute suspected terrorists, the question of whether September 11 should cause a paradigm shift in international law, and the justifications for and consequences of American unilateralism. This collection ultimately reveals that everything did not change on September 11, 2001, but that some bedrocks of democratic legitimacy have been significantly eroded by claims that it did. Contributors include: Khaled Abou el Fadl, UCLA Law School; Mary L. Dudziak, USC Law School; Christopher L. Eisgruber, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University; Laurence R. Helfer, Loyola Law School; Sherman A. Jackson, Department of Near Eastern Studies, University of Michigan; Amy B. Kaplan, Department of English, University of Pennsylvania; Elaine Tyler May, Departments of History and American Studies, University of Minnesota; Lawrence G. Sager, University of Texas Law School; Ruti G. Teitel, New York Law School; Leti Volpp; American University Law School; Marilyn B. Young, Department of History, New York University.
The History of Pneumococcal Disease

This chapter reviews some of the major events in the history of Streptococcus pneumoniae—events that have led to our modern understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pneumococcal disease. Manifestations of primary infection involved the respiratory tract, including pneumonia, acute purulent tracheobronchitis, otitis media, and acute purulent sinusitis. Pneumococcal pneumonia was a driving force behind clinical and microbiologic research. Until the 1880s and 1890s, pneumonia had been regarded as a respiratory affliction rather than an infectious disease, with no specific therapy other than supportive care and various ineffectual potions and poultices. To provide serum treatment outside the academic medical centers, an ambitious new infrastructure of pneumonia control programs was developed with the intention of providing serum, usually at no cost, to treat the largest number of people possible. The general impression was that penicillin had conquered the pneumococcus: it eliminated the need for serotyping, for serum therapy, and for the further development of vaccines. The reality was that the very young and the very old continued to have high rates of mortality. Capsular type switching, originally observed in experiments with mice, has now been implicated in humans and may play an important role in the expansion of nonvaccine serotypes.
Query difficulty prediction for contextual image retrieval

This paper explores how to predict query difficulty for contextual image retrieval. We reformulate the problem as the task of predicting how difficult to represent a query as images. We propose to use machine learning algorithms to learn the query difficulty prediction models based on the characteristics of the query words as well as the query context. More specifically, we focus on noun word/phrase queries and propose four features based on several assumptions. We created an evaluation data set by hand and compare several machine learning algorithms on the prediction task. Our preliminary experimental results show the effectiveness of our proposed features and the stable performance using different classification models.
Lithium, titanium and vanadium dithiocarboxylates

Reaction of the in situ generated lithium aryls 2,6-Mes2C6H3Li and 2,6-Trip2C6H3Li (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, Trip = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl) with CS2 afforded the lithium dithiocarboxylates [2,6-Mes2C6H3CS2]Li and [2,6-Trip2C6H3CS2]Li in good yields. These sterically-hindered S-donor ligands proved useful for the salt-metathesis preparation of the paramagnetic Ti(III) and V(III) derivatives [2,6-Mes2C6H3CS2]TiCl2(thf)2 and [2,6-Trip2C6H3CS2]2VCl(L)2 (L = thf, py). Similarly, reaction of [2,6-Trip2C6H3CS2]Li with TiCl4(thf)2 in the presence of py afforded the diamagnetic Ti(IV) [2,6-Trip2C6H3CS2]2TiCl2(py). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies are reported for [2,6-Mes2C6H3]Li(OEt2)2, [2,6-Mes2C6H3CS2]TiCl2(thf)2, [2,6-Trip2C6H3CS2]2TiCl2(py), and [2,6-Trip2C6H3CS2]2VCl(py)2.
Use of Acyclovir in the Treatment of Chickenpox

To the Editor.— In two recent articles by Dr Robert Cushman and his colleagues in Ottawa, Canada,1,2 including a publication in the July 1991 issue of Pediatrics, they conclude “physicians interested in [bicycle] helmet promotion would do better to participate in the design and implementation of multidisciplinary community campaigns.” I find this conclusion, which is identical in both articles, to be enlightening but, at the same time, disturbing. In their two articles Dr Cushman9s group
Effect of selenium on glutathione metabolism. Induction of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione reductase in the rat liver.

Abstract The effect of sodium selenite (Na 2 SeO 3 , Se) on cellular glutathione metabolism was examined, particularly with respect to its ability to alter the activities of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) reductase. The treatment of rats with Se (5, 10 and 20 μmoles/kg) caused time- and dose-dependent increases in the activities of the synthetase and the reductase in the liver. The activity of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis, was particularly susceptible to Se treatment. The Se-mediated increases in the activities of the above enzymes were inhibited by puromycin and the increases could not be elicited in vitro . Selenium treatment caused time-dependent perturbations in the levels and ratio of GSSG and GSH in the liver. When compared to the control animals, rats treated for 3 hr with 10 and 20 μmoles Se/kg showed increased cellular levels of GSSG; in contrast, 24 hr after Se treatment the concentration of GSH was increased significantly. The activity of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, which catalyzes the initial reaction in GSH breakdown, was unaltered by Se treatment. Repeated administration of low doses of Se (7.0 μmoles/kg, three times) also increased the activities of the reductase and the synthetase as well as the cellular levels of hepatic GSH and GSSG. It is suggested that the Se-mediated increases in the activities of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase and GSSG-reductase represent cellular responses to Se-mediated perturbations in the levels and ratio of GSH and GSSG.
NMR observation of altered sodium interaction with human erythrocyte membranes of essential hypertensives.

Abstract Sodium-23 nuclear magnetic resonance was utilized to compare sodium binding to erythrocyte ghosts of normotensive and of essential hypertensive individuals. Plots of the reciprocal of the excess longitudinal relaxation rates as a function of total sodium ion concentration indicated tighter and more complex sodium interaction with erythrocyte membrane preparations from normotensives and a weaker, simpler sodium binding with membranes of hypertensives. NMR studies comparing 1) sodium-23 interaction with DIDS inhibition of chloride-35 interaction and 2) competitive effects of cations on the sodium interaction provided evidence for specific sodium binding to the cytoplasmic surface of the erythrocyte ghosts. The results are briefly considered relative to possible mechanisms for essential hypertension.
More Research Questions: Rebuttal to Bornstein, Langer, and Stickney

Stickney (2010), Bornstein (2010), and Langer (2010) expand the research recommendations for experimental writing research that Range and Jenkins (2010) generated from gender schema, gender role, and socialization theory. Stickney derives research questions from communication and emotion theory. Bornstein and Langer focus on assessment in this paradigm. Bornstein’s multimodal assessment strategy might improve understanding of apparently inconsistent findings, indicate unstudied processes of interest, and show how changing instructions might maximize writing benefits. Langer’s recommendations to examine gender differences in pre/post/and follow-up emotional outcomes, and in subjective, expressive, and physiological indicators of emotion, identify potential new outcome measures in this research. All three commentaries show promise of advancing our understanding of how writing about trauma might help women and men.
Methanol and hydrogen oxidation kinetics in water at supercritical states

The oxidation kinetics of methanol and hydrogen in a supercritical water medium were investigated. Numerical analyses were performed using an isobaric, plug-flow reactor model coupled with the Chemkin Real-Gas software package to handle real-gas thermodynamic effects and elementary kinetics. In the present work, select unimolecular reactions that involve thermal decomposition have been corrected for the high-pressure conditions found in supercritical reactors. Predictions of fuel destruction rates obtained using an elementary reaction mechanism for hydrogen oxidation under isobaric, isothermal supercritical conditions (P > 22.1 MPa, and T > 374 C) were verified by comparison with previous experimental results obtained in a laboratory-scale supercritical water reactor. The H2O2 model is a subset of a proposed elementary reaction mechanism for methanol oxidation which was also verified by comparing the present model predictions of the kinetic rate calculations with previous measurements. The mechanism was validated over a temperature range of 726 to 873 K, a fuel concentration range of 0.001 to 0.004 mole/L, and at a pressure of 246 bar. To facilitate future computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling efforts in SCWO, a two-step reduced reaction mechanism was constructed to simulate the oxidation process of methanol in supercritical water and H2O. The reduced model reflects the sequential oxidation of methanol into carbon monoxide, and eventually into final products consisting primarily of carbon dioxide and H2O. The calculations of the two-step reduced mechanism matched the elementary reaction model well with respect to major species concentration profiles.
Mesalamine protects against colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease.

Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) compared with the general population. Previous studies show this risk is strongly associated with dysplasia, extent of disease, duration of disease, and degree of inflammation, while chemoprevention of CRC has less support. Evaluate factors influencing risk of colorectal cancer development in inflammatory bowel disease patients. IBD patients with CRC were matched to controls by IBD type, age at diagnosis, sex, race, extent of disease, and disease duration. We compared body mass index, family history of IBD, family history of CRC, tobacco use, and cumulative and daily use of aminosalicylates, immunomodulators, folic acid, steroids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Statistical analysis was performed with logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Of 1,594 IBD patients, 30 CRC patients were identified. Of these, 18 CRC patients were matched to 30 controls. More control patients used a cumulative aminosalicylate dose of ≥4,500 g (46.6% versus 5.6%; P = 0.047), folic acid (40.0% versus 16.7%; P = 0.002), cumulative folic acid dose of ≥1,400 mg (30.0% versus 11.1%; P = 0.014), and average daily folic acid dose of ≥1 mg (30.0% versus 16.7%; P = 0.002) compared with CRC patients. Multivariate analysis showed that a cumulative aminosalicylate dose of ≥4,500 g reduced the risk of CRC by 97.6% (P = 0.047). Folic acid reduced CRC risk by 89% (P = 0.002). Aminosalicylate and folic acid use may decrease the risk of CRC among IBD patients.
Opposites Do Not Attract: The Impact of Domestic Institutions, Power, and Prior Commitments on Alignment Choices

States that choose to involve themselves in an ongoing dispute do so by choosing to align with or against one of the original disputants. What factors lead states to prefer to help one side over the other? We consider the effect of the disputants' power, political and economic institutional similarities between each disputant and the aligning state, and formal alliance commitments between each disputant and the aligning state on these alignment choices. We evaluate these expectations empirically by examining the alignment choices of states that joined with one side or another in a Militarized Interstate Dispute during the period of 1816 to 1986. The results indicate that regardless of regime type, institutional similarities matter to the aligning state's decision. We also find that power concerns matter only to autocracies; democracies do not seem to base their alignment choices on the power of the sides in the dispute. Finally, the evidence indicates that the alignment choices of democracies cannot be anticipated by their prior alliance commitments, although the alignment choices of autocracies can. These results suggest interesting implications for research on the democratic peace, the determinants of threat in the international system, and the impact of selection effects. The consistent empirical evidence that institutional similarity affects alignment decisions also increases our confidence that future investigations of institutional similarity generally, rather than an exclusive focus on joint democracy, will prove fruitful.
Regulation of mammalian S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase

S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines that is the rate limiting step in the formation of spermidine and spermine. The activity of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase is known to be regulated negatively by these polyamines and positively by their precursor, putrescine. A specific antiserum to S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was raised by immunizing rabbits with the homogeneous enzyme purified from rat prostate and a specific radioimmunoassay for the protein was set up. Using this radioimmunoassay it was found that a number of inhibitors of other steps in the polyamine biosynthetic pathway lead to increases in the amount of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase protein. These changes were caused by both a decreased rate of degradation and an increased rate of synthesis of the protein. The increased synthesis was due to two factors; a rise in the amount of translatable mRNA and an enhanced translation efficiency. The mRNA content of the prostate was substantially increased by treatment for 3 days with alpha-difluoromethylornithine (2% in drinking water). The translation of mRNA for S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was studied using a polyamine-depleted reticulocyte lysate supplemented with mRNA from rat prostate and the antiserum to precipitate the proteins corresponding to S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase. These studies indicated that the enzyme was synthesized as an inactive precursor of Mr 37,000 which was converted to the enzyme sub-unit of Mr 32,000. The conversion of the precursor to the active sub-unit in vitro was increased by putrescine. The precursor could also be detected by immunoblotting of extracts from prostates of rats depleted of putrescine by treatment with the ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, alpha-difluoromethylornithine. The translation of the S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase mRNA in the reticulocyte lysates was strongly inhibited by the addition of spermidine or spermine demonstrating that polyamines directly inhibit the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase. cDNA clones corresponding to S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase were isolated using prostatic mRNA from polysomes enriched in S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase by immunopurification. The use of these probes showed that rat ventral prostate contains two S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase mRNA species of approximately 3.4 and 2.1 kb which differ in the 3' non-translated sequence. The sequence of these cDNAs will enable the amino acid sequence of the precursor to be obtained. This will provide evidence on the origin of the pyruvate prosthetic group of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Remarks Concerning a Proposed Two-Component Spin- 1/2 Wave Equation

Two-component equations of the form proposed by Biedenharn, Han, and van Dam are discussed for the case in which the parity operator is strictly internal. It is shown that these equations lack conventional translation and Lorentz invariance. The connection between these equations and the Dirac equation is discussed and it is shown that the solutions of the Dirac equation may be constructed from the solutions of one of the two-component equations.
Studies On the Genus Criconemoides Taylor, 1936 With Descriptions of Eleven New Species and Bakernema Variabile N. Sp. (Criconematidae: Nematoda)

The nominal species of Criconemoides now total 85, eleven of which are described here as new. Additional information and illustrations are given for seven described species. Redescriptions are made for crotaloides, mutabilis, macrodorus and sphaerocephalus based on type specimens of the original authors found in the USDA Nematode Collection at Beltsville, Maryland. Designations of lectotypes and paralectotypes were made for these four species. Males of macrodorum and mutabilis are described for the first time. A new species of Bakernema also is described. Representatives of the genus Criconemoides are found world-wide virtually in every area where nematological research has been initiated. Not many species are known to be widely distributed but at least five species are on two or more continents and C. sphaerocephalus has been reported from Europe, North and South America, Hawaii, Africa and India. It is expected that many more species will be equally or more widespread because collections are only in the initial stages or have not even begun in many parts of the world. The morphological characters which are especially important in the taxonomy of Criconemoides include the type and number of body annules, the absence or presence and nature of sublateral lobes on the lip region, annulation of the lip region (especially the first two annules), stylet length and proportion of parts, location of vulva and anus, and tail shape. No longitudinal lines or incisures denote the lateral field but in a few species frequent anastomosis creates the semblance of a line in that area. Occasionally regular arch-like structures in the annules occur in the lateral field area. Cuticular configurations of two general types are reported for 17 species. The females of some species have rough or irregular posterior edges on the annules. Others have many fine indentations creating a minutely scalloped or serrated appearance. Some larvae also have pronounced development of cuticular protuberances as scales or spines quite distinct from the smooth cuticle of their adult stage. Other species have larvae with configurations similar to the adults. These cuticular characters should one day prove valuable in establishing relationships. Cuticular variations in larvae and adults complicate the distinction of Criconema, Bakernema and Criconemoides which are characterized principally on this character. Additional information is needed to provide a more sound basis for indicating relationships in this variable group of nematodes.
Riboswitch structure in the ligand‐free state

Molecular investigations of riboswitches bound to small-molecule effectors have produced a wealth of information on how these molecules achieve high affinity and specificity for a target ligand. X-ray crystal structures have been determined for the ligand-free state for representatives of the preQ₁-I, S-adenosylmethionine I, lysine, and glycine aptamer classes. These structures in conjunction with complimentary techniques, such as in-line probing, NMR spectroscopy, Forster resonance energy transfer, small-angle scattering, and computational simulations, have demonstrated that riboswitches adopt multiple conformations in the absence of ligand. Despite a number of investigations that support ligand-dependent folding, mounting evidence suggests that free-state riboswitches interact with their effectors in the sub-populations of largely prefolded states as embodied by the principle of conformational selection, which has been documented extensively for protein-mediated ligand interactions. Fundamental riboswitch investigations of the bound and free states have advanced our understanding of RNA folding, ligand recognition, and how these factors culminate in communication between an aptamer and its expression platform. An understanding of these topics is essential to comprehend riboswitch gene regulation at the molecular level, which has already provided a basis to understand the mechanism of action of natural antimicrobials.
Dynamical smooth energy fitted by parametrized quintessence

This paper proposes two phenomenological quintessence potentials with parameters fitted to the presently observed ratio R0 of smooth energy to clustered mass and limits on the equation of state parameter wQ (a) = P/ϱQ, for which the quintessence potential is now slow- or fast-rolling. These two potentials are intended to illustrate rather different quintessence phenomenology after reaching the attractor and into the near future. Neither can be a fundamental potential derivable from present-day string theory.
Serum erythromycin levels in pregnancy

Erythromycin is the recommended therapy for pregnant women with chlamydial infection. Despite the fact that this drug has been available since 1952, relatively little is known about its pharmacokinetic behavior in pregnant women, and no investigations have been conducted in women who were in the third trimester of pregnancy. In this study, 10 women were treated with erythromycin for chlamydial infection during pregnancy; 7 of these women were in the third trimester of pregnancy, and 3 were in the second trimester. Serum samples were obtained at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after a 500-mg oral dose of erythromycin base and were analyzed to determine absorption and peak serum levels of erythromycin. Results indicated that absorption was delayed and serum levels were diminished in comparison with values reported in the literature for patients in the second trimester of pregnancy. In 2 women, erythromycin serum levels were not detectable at any time during the 4 hours of the study; these 2 women also experienced the most severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Although the size of our study population was small and certainly not definitive, the data suggest that in patients in the third trimester of pregnancy, severe adverse gastrointestinal events may forewarn of subtherapeutic plasma concentrations of erythromycin, which could have consequences for the treatment outcome.
Manifestation of left atrial events and interatrial frequency gradients in the surface electrocardiogram during atrial fibrillation: contributions from posterior leads.

Background: In most patients, atrial fibrillation (AF) is initiated and maintained by pulmonary vein foci, but the relationship between left atrial (LA) events and the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) is largely unknown. We investigated whether LA events are reflected in the surface ECG and whether additional information can be obtained from recording posterior leads in patients with AF. Methods and Results: In 10 patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation of AF, we identified 103 5-second segments with a significant frequency gradient between right (RA) and left (LA) intraatrial electrograms, or with frequency changes from segment to segment in the same patient. QRS-T cancellation methods were used to isolate atrial activity in the surface ECG and peak frequencies were computed. Peak frequencies of different posterior leads were very similar (6.0 ± 1.3 Hz for V10, 6.0 ± 0.9 Hz for V9, 5.9 ± 1.4 Hz for V8, 6.0 ± 1.3 Hz for V7). We found a strong correlation between V1 and RA and between V9 and LA, 0.89 and 0.88, respectively, while the lowest correlation was found between lead V1 and LA, 0.62, P < 0.0001. Magnitude-squared coherence values were highest between V1 and RA and between V9 and LA. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that, by recording additional surface ECG leads from posterior locations, RA and LA electrical events and interatrial frequency gradients can be monitored noninvasively.
Are calcineurin inhibitors-free regimens ready for prime time?

The goal of research in transplant therapeutics is to achieve safe and effective immunosuppression strategies that allow durable engraftment free of toxicities. The calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) regimens, because of their inherent toxicities (including nephrotoxicity), have been unable to meet these promises. Over the past decade acute cellular rejection decreased dramatically with a concomitant robust increase in 1-year graft survival; however, long-term graft outcome showed only modest improvement. This is due in part to the toxicities of the immunosuppressive drugs. The quest for a toxicity-free–CNI-free regimen has been both intense and frustrating. A turning point in CNIs-free therapy may have occurred with the recent approval of belatacept, which represents a new paradigm in immunosuppression: biological therapy for chronic immunosuppression devoid of the usual toxicities associated with the CNIs. Belatacept, a fusion receptor protein, blocks costimulation signals necessary for the activation of T cells. Although costimulation blockade has not been shown to induce tolerance, it can provide safe and effective immunosuppression without renal or cardiovascular toxicities. The approval of belatacept in both the United States and Europe for use in renal transplantation will finally push CNI-free regimens into prime time. Novel biologics such as ASKP1240 (a human anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody) and one small molecule, tofacitinib, may advance further the use of CNI-free regimens in organ transplantation.
Sluicing in Japanese

This paper argues for the presence of an agreeing functional head in Japanese, on the basis of an ellipsis phenomenon called Sluicing. It is argued that the existence of Sluicing, together with the functional head licensing approach to ellipses, implies that an agreeing Comp exists in Japanese and that the presence of what I call multiple Sluicing evidence one-to-one Spec-Head agreement in the language. This study has implications for the theory of economy, the comparative syntax of English and Japanese, and the issues concerning functional categories and syntacticwh-movement in Japanese.
Heats of solution of cuprous chloride in aqueous HCl−HClO4 mixtures

Experimental heats of solution of CuCl in aqueous HCl-HClO4 mixtures have been analyzed using a virial model to represent the effects of solution composition on activity coefficients of all species. The thermodynamics needed for this purpose are described briefly. Optimization of the representation of the data produced values of standard heats of solution to form CuCl 2 − and CuCl 3 2− which agreed with these previously deduced from solubility data, as well as temperature derivatives of the virial parameters. Uses of the resultant information are discussed.
Effects of Affirmation and Acceptance on Incorporation of Opposing Information in Problem-Solving

Summary In an experiment on the way effective problem-solvers discuss opposing opinions to understand and incorporate their ideas, 33 college men and women discussed a dilemma with confederates (Cs) who took an opposing view. In the affirmation condition, Cs positively evaluated Ss' competence. In the acceptance condition, Cs minimized evaluative comments but indicated the other was arguing in a reasonable manner. In the disconfirmation condition, Ss were informed they were ineffective. Compared to the affirmation and acceptance conditions, disconfirmation resulted in uncertainty about the correctness of one's views, closed-mindedness toward opposing information, lack of interest in learning the other's position, misunderstanding the other's reasoning, unwillingness to incorporate the other's arguments, and dislike for the other.
Black Miami in the Twentieth Century

The first book devoted to the history of African Americans in south Florida and their pivotal role in the growth and development of Miami, Black Miami in the Twentieth Century traces their triumphs, horrors, drudgery, and courage during the first 100 years of the city's history. Firsthand accounts and over 130 photographs, many of them never published before, bring to life the proud heritage of Miami's black community.
Advances in APPN architecture

In this paper, we discuss the evolving environment and requirements for the Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking™ (APPN®) architecture and the accommodation of these changes in basic directory, topology, and configuration services, as well as in application transport capabilities. We use high-performance routing, a recent APPN extension, as an example of the adaptation of the architecture to emerging highspeed communication facilities and the increasing trend to multiprotocol networks. Finally, we discuss some extensions to switched support and network management in APPN and speculate on possible future considerations.
Templated non-PGM cathode catalysts derived from iron and poly(ethyleneimine) precursors

Abstract A series of oxygen reduction catalysts derived from pyrolyzed iron-containing compounds and a nitrogen-containing polymeric precursor, poly(ethyleneimine), (Fe–PEI) were prepared using a sacrificial support method (SSM). The synthesis includes high-temperature pyrolysis in inert atmosphere of the precursor that has been deposited onto a highly dispersed silica support, followed by etching (dissolving) the oxide support, thus resulting in a templated, self-supported, highly porous material – the non-PGM electrocatalyst. The influence of experimental parameters on the catalytic activity of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acid media was studied, such as molecular weight of PEI, temperature of the heat treatment, duration of the heat treatment, and the ratio of metal to nitrogen precursor. This series of materials was analyzed and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), BET method (BET) and XPS in order to establish structural morphology and chemical moieties, which was then correlated to activity. Rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) experiments were performed to evaluate catalytic activity, and the ring current data was used to conduct a mechanistic study of the material for the ORR. This work has determined that the most influential parameters on activity are the metal to nitrogen precursor ratio, and temperature of the heat treatment. Accelerated durability RDE tests (cycling between 0.2 and 1.1 V) revealed high stability of synthesized materials in acid media.
Impact of EGFR mutations on treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

Somatic mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been identified in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who achieve dramatic clinical and radiographic responses to treatment with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) gefitinib and erlotinib. Retrospective studies comparing outcomes of patients with and without EGFR mutations treated with EGFR-TKIs demonstrate that patients with EGFR mutations live significantly longer than those without mutations. In addition, patients with NSCLC and a somatic deletion mutation of exon 19 exhibit longer survival than patients with point mutations of exon 21. Secondary resistance mutations have also been identified. Patients exhibiting a somatic sensitizing mutation of EGFR who achieve partial response to gefitinib or erlotinib therapy eventually develop clinical resistance to treatment with EGFR-TKI. Approximately half of these resistant patients develop a detectable secondary acquired resistance mutation (T790M) in their tumor. New irreversible EGFR inhibitors have in vitro and in vivo evidence of antitumor activity against lung cancer cells harboring both the sensitizing and resistance mutations. These findings suggest that patients with advanced NSCLC bearing somatic EGFR mutations should receive treatment with an EGFR-TKI included as at least part of their initial therapy. Trials are starting to test the irreversible EGFR inhibitors in patients with NSCLC after they develop resistance to their initial treatment with gefitinib or erlotinib.
Education for entry level competency : teaching strategies

The goal of this discussion is to summarize the results of the Workshop on Teaching Strategies that was held as part of the Curriculum Conference at Denver, Colorado in July, 1992. Various teaching methods were presented as alternatives to traditional lectures and laboratories; among these problem-based learning (PBL) was the subject of greatest interest. Advantages and disadvantages encountered using PBL in optometric education were presented. The need for a more uniform core curriculum among optometric institutions is emphasized, as well as the need for appropriately trained faculty to teach in the newer curricular areas
Melting and Shedding of Graupel and Hail. Part II: Sensitivity Study

Abstract A sensitivity study on the melting and shedding behavior of individual graupel and hail is presented utilizing the detailed microphysical model presented in Part I. The influence of particle density and size, atmospheric temperature profile, relative humidity profile, liquid water content, shedding parameterization, and heat transfer rates are investigated. The results show that the melting of graupel and the melting and shedding behavior of hailstones are significantly affected by the initial particle density and size, temperature profile, and relative humidity. When graupel and hail are grown in a Doppler-derived three-dimensional wind field, the results show that the melting and shedding behavior of the graupel and hail are relatively insensitive to changes as large as 25% in the heat transfer coefficient or to the differences between the Rasmussen et al. and the Chong and Chen shedding parameterizations.
Two-pass rate-constrained still image compression

A number of applications employing lossy compression require that a mechanism be employed to control the size of a compressed image so that it does not exceed the capacity of a fixed-size buffer. This situation arises in digital cameras, where a user expects to store a predefined number of pictures into a fixed-size buffer, or in computer peripheral systems like a laser printer where a fixed-size buffer is used to store the rendered page image. We describe a fully JPEG compliant tow-pass scheme that can compress an arbitrary image to a predetermined fixed size file. The advantages of the proposed method are that it is fully compliant with the JPEG standard image compression algorithm and it requires a smaller working buffer than other rate- control schemes.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.