cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monsoons as eddy-mediated regime transitions of the tropical overturning circulation

Monsoons are generally viewed as planetary-scale sea-breeze circulations, caused by contrasts in the thermal properties between oceans and land surfaces that lead to thermal contrasts upon radiative heating1, 2. But the radiative heating evolves gradually with the seasons, whereas the onset of monsoon precipitation, and the associated circulation changes such as reversal of surface winds, occur rapidly3, 4. Here we use reanalysis data to show that the onset of the Asian monsoon marks a transition between two circulation regimes that are distinct in the degree to which eddy momentum fluxes control the strength of the tropical overturning circulation. Rapid transitions of the circulation between the two regimes can occur as a result of feedbacks between large-scale extratropical eddies and the tropical circulation5. Using simulations with an aquaplanet general circulation model, we demonstrate that rapid, eddy-mediated monsoon transitions occur even in the absence of surface inhomogeneities, provided the planet surface has sufficiently low thermal inertia. On the basis of these results, we propose a view of monsoons in which feedbacks between large-scale extratropical eddies and the tropical circulation are essential for the development of monsoons, whereas surface inhomogeneities such as land-sea contrasts are not.
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations and risk for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene are common in white persons and are associated with pancreatic disease. The purpose of this case-control study was to determine whether CFTR mutations confer a higher risk of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: In a case-control study, the authors compared the rates of 39 common cystic fibrosis-associated CFTR mutations between 949 white patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 13,340 white controls from a clinical laboratory database for prenatal testing for CFTR mutations. The main outcome measure was the CFTR mutation frequency in patients and controls. RESULTS: Overall, 50 (5.3%) of 949 patients with pancreatic cancer carried a common CFTR mutation versus 510 (3.8%) of 13,340 controls (odds ratio [OR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.89; P = .027). Among patients who were younger when their disease was diagnosed (<60 years), the carrier frequency was higher than in controls (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.14-2.94; P = .011). In patient-only analyses, the presence of a mutation was associated with younger age (median 62 vs 67 years; P = .034). In subgroups, the difference was seen only among ever-smokers (60 vs 65 years, P = .028). Subsequent sequencing analysis of the CFTR gene detected 8 (16%) compound heterozygotes among the 50 patients initially detected to have 1 mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Carrying a disease-associated mutation in CFTR is associated with a modest increase in risk for pancreatic cancer. Those affected appear to be diagnosed at a younger age, especially among smokers. Clinical evidence of antecedent pancreatitis was uncommon among both carriers and noncarriers of CFTR mutations. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Comparative studies of the mitochondrial properties of longissimus dorsi muscles of pietrain and large white pigs

Investigations, using various techniques (electron microscopy, polarography, spectrophotometry), on mitochondria isolated immediately post-mortem from the Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles of stress-susceptible (SS) Pietrain and stressresistant (SR) Large White pigs suggest no marked biochemical difference in their mitochondrial properties. There was no evidence of “uncoupling” 2 nor of aberrant mitochondrial energy metabolism”3 in the mitochondria of either breed of pig. The difference observed between the two breeds in mitochondrial cytochrome c content, in the State 3 rate of oxidation of succinate and of ascorbate plus tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) and in the maximum time of mitochondrial storage in situ, could be attributed mainly to differences in initial muscle pH values and in the subsequent rates of pH decline post-mortem. With both breeds of pig intact mitochondria could still be isolated from LD muscle even after prolonged storage as long as the ultimate tissue pH was not below 5.5. Prolonged storage of mitochondria in situ caused a loss of mitochondrial cytochrome c, which was responsible for a decline in the State 3 respiration. The latter could be restored by addition of cytochrome c and ADP. The cytochrome oxidase activity (e.c. 1.9.3.1) was the most stable to post-mortem ageing both in situ (1 °C) and in vitro (0 °C), and the NAD+-linked oxidation of pyruvate plus malate, the least stable. The small observed differences in immediate post-mortem mitochondrial function between SR and markedly SS pigs cannot possibly account for the very large differences in post-mortem biochemical behaviour and particularly not for the low initial pH and high rate of post-mortem pH fall, characteristic of SS pigs showing the pale, soft and exudative (PSE) condition.
Morphometric evolution of composite volcanoes

Statistical relations between geometry, slope, and age for 26 circum-Pacific composite volcanoes (stratovolcanoes) are presented. Topics considered include morphometry, eruption characteristics, growth rates, repose periods, flow lengths, and petrological/chemical trends. Composite and cinder cones are compared, and it is suggested that, if cinder cones do evolve into composite volcanoes, a fundamental change in cone morphometry, eruption style, and petrology occurs at a basal diameter of 2 km.
Vibrational analysis of chemisorbed CO on the Pt(1 1 1)/Ru bimetallic electrode

Abstract We investigated a Pt(1 1 1) electrode covered by two-dimensional nanosized Ru islands and used CO chemisorption, cyclic voltammetry and sum-frequency-generation (SFG) to probe the distribution of CO binding sites on such surfaces. Two distinctive CO species were resolved spectroscopically: Pt(1 1 1)/Ru–CO, with CO chemisorbed on the surface ruthenium sites; and Ru/Pt(1 1 1)–CO, with CO chemisorbed on the platinum sites. Our SFG assignment of these species is that the 1970 cm −1 peak corresponds to linear-bonded CO on the Ru island sites and 2070 cm −1 to the linear-bonded CO on the Pt(1 1 1) sites. Further, two current-potential voltammetric peaks from Pt(1 1 1)/Ru–CO, at ≈0.55 and 0.67 V vs. RHE, are associated with SFG resonances at 1970 and 2070 cm −1 . Upon positive going CV scan, the first peak was selectively removed, and the SFG spectrum confirmed that only the resonance from CO chemisorbed on Pt remained, although there was noticeable spectral intensity reduction and spectral tailing, which will have to be reconciled in future research. Clearly however, it is possible to remove CO from the Ru sites while the Pt sites remain occupied by CO, and the remaining CO contribute to SFG and voltammetry without participation of the CO previously present on the Ru sites.
Analysis of proton scattering patterns for identification of silicon carbide phases

Proton back-scattering patterns recorded on film are found to provide sufficient crystallo-graphic information to identify the phases present in samples of silicon carbide, and presumably can also be used in various other crystal identification applications in which single crystal patterns can be obtained. Details are presented of the proton pattern analysis by which SiC modifications known as 6H and 15R were unambiguously identified in a group of crystals. The degree of confidence with which alternate interpretations of the patterns can be discarded is discussed, together with the effect of a temperature factor on the calculation used in the analysis.
Functional correlates of verbal memory deficits emerging during nicotine withdrawal in abstinent adolescent cannabis users.

Background Cannabis remains the most widely used illicit substance by adolescents and is typically consumed by this population in the context of ongoing tobacco use. Human studies have shown that both cannabis and tobacco exert effects on cognitive function; however, little is known about possible interacting effects of these drugs on brain function and cognition during adolescent development. Methods Verbal learning and memory were assessed in 20 adolescent users of tobacco and cannabis and 25 adolescent tobacco users with minimal history of cannabis use. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine brain function and functional connectivity while a subset of these subjects performed a verbal working memory task. Results Delayed recall of verbal stimuli deteriorated during nicotine withdrawal among cannabis users but not among comparison subjects. During high verbal working memory load, nicotine withdrawal selectively increased task-related activation of posterior cortical regions and was associated with disruption of frontoparietal connectivity in adolescent cannabis users relative to comparison subjects. Conclusions These observations suggest that cannabis use during adolescent development may disrupt neurocircuitry supporting verbal memory formation and that deficits associated with disruption of these neurocircuits are unmasked during nicotine withdrawal.
The 1976/77 transition in precipitation over the Americas and the influence of tropical sea surface temperature

Most major features of the interdecadal shift in boreal winter-spring precipitation over the American continents associated with the 1976–1977 transition are reproduced in atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) simulations forced with observed sea surface temperature (SST). The GCM runs forced with global and tropical Pacific SSTs produce similar multidecadal changes in precipitation, indicating the dominant influence of tropical Pacific SST. Companion experiments indicate that the shift in mean conditions in the tropical Pacific is responsible for these changes. The observed and simulated “post- minus pre-1976” difference in Jan–May precipitation is wet over Mexico and the southwest U.S., dry over the Amazon, wet over sub-Amazonian South America, and dry over the southern tip of South America. This pattern is not dramatically different from a typical El Nino-induced response in precipitation. Although the interdecadal (post- minus pre-1976) and interannual (El Nino−La Nina) SST anomalies differ in detail, they produce a common tropics-wide tropospheric warmth that may explain the similarity in the precipitation anomaly patterns for these two time scales. An analysis of local moisture budget shows that, except for Mexico and the southwest U.S. where the interdecadal shift in precipitation is balanced by evaporation, elsewhere over the Americas it is balanced by a shift in low-level moisture convergence. Moreover, the moisture convergence is due mainly to the change in low-level wind divergence that is linked to low-level ascent and descent.
Measurement error in linear autoregressive models

Time series data are often subject to measurement error, usually the result of needing to estimate the variable of interest. Although it is often reasonable to assume that the measurement error is additive (i.e., the estimator is conditionally unbiased for the missing true value), the measurement error variances often vary as a result of changes in the population/process over time and/or changes in sampling effort. In this article we address estimation of the parameters in linear autoregressive models in the presence of additive and uncorrelated measurement errors, allowing heteroscedasticity in the measurement error variances. We establish the asymptotic properties of naive estimators that ignore measurement error and propose an estimator based on correcting the Yule–Walker estimating equations. We also examine a pseudo-likelihood method based on normality assumptions and computed using the Kalman filter. We review other techniques that have been proposed, including two that require no information about ...
Gender Differences in Interdependent Self-construals: It's Not the Type of Group, It's the Way You See It

The self-construal literature suggests that there is a gender difference in interdependence, with women placing more value on relational groups and men placing more value on collective groups. However, the evidence for such differences is inconsistent. We hypothesized that gender differences are due to differential cognitive representations of groups rather than differential value placed on those groups. In three studies we found that women were more likely than men to think of their groups as dyadic bonds, whereas men were more likely than women to think of their groups as categorical affiliations. Additionally, men's cognitive representations tended to be categorical regardless of the type of group, whereas women's representations tended to match the type of group. We discuss how gender socialization may teach differential cognitive representations of the same social groups.
Adsorption dynamics of native and pentylated bovine serum albumin at air-water interfaces : Surface concentration/surface pressure measurements

The dynamics of adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and its pentylated derivative (p-BSA) at the air–water interface was investigated through the measurements of surface pressure (Π) and surface concentration (Γ) via a radiotracer technique. The steady-state values of Γ and Π ranged from 0.8 to 1.3 mg/m2and from 10 to 17 mN/m, respectively, for bulk concentrations of 0.5 to 10 ppm in sodium phosphate buffer at ambient temperature. The rate of increase as well as the steady state value of Γ were smaller whereas the rate of increase as well as the steady state value of Π were slightly larger for p-BSA, which has a surface hydrophobicity higher than that of BSA. The observed apparent time lag for Π was more pronounced at lower bulk concentrations. At lower ionic strengths and at pH away from pI(the isoelectric point) of BSA, the rates of adsorption at longer times were lower, thus resulting in smaller steady-state values of Γ. The Π–Γ relationship during adsorption dynamics differed from the surface equation of state obtained with the spread monolayer. The area per adsorbed protein molecule (Ā) during adsorption was smaller than that for spread monolayer, indicating that the protein molecule partially unfolds during adsorption.Āfor p-BSA was larger than that for BSA due to more unfolding of the p-BSA because of its lower conformational stability, as evidenced by the changes in the CD spectra of protein solution upon heating as well as a decrease in the phase transition temperature. The steady-state Π–Γ relationship agrees well with the isotherm obtained from the monolayer experiments, thus indicating that adsorbed BSA molecules unfold more or less completely after sufficiently long times (>20 h). A previously developed model (G. Narsimhan and F. Uraizee, 1992,Biotech. Prog.8,187) was modified to better account for the electrostatic energy barrier to adsorption by postulating that the charges are uniformly distributed in an adsorbed protein layer of finite thickness. The predictions of the new model agree better with the data for native and p-BSA than the previous model, especially at low ionic strengths.
Load balancing in large-scale epidemiological simulations

Despite the recent advancements in graph partitioning techniques and algorithms, achieving static load balancing in agent-based epidemiological applications is challenging. Input to these simulations is a large agent-location bipartite graph that is highly complex and non-uniform. In this paper, we compare several static load distribution schemes, including our custom strategies, for partitioning a class of bipartite graphs. Computations over such graphs happen between classes of nodes in phases. Our performance evaluations on a 768 core system show that our lower-overhead custom load balancing strategy achieves a 2-fold increase in strong scaling performance compared to the default Round Robin data distribution.
Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Surface Malignancy: Current Status and Future Directions

Natural history studies have shown that peritoneal carcinomatosis is uniformly fatal, with a median survival in the range of approximately 6 months. For more than a decade, a handful of centers have pursued aggressive intraperitoneal cytoreductive surgery combined with intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy as an alternative approach to this disease. Strict selection criteria, variation in intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and the vagaries of what represents "cytoreductive surgery" make many of our colleagues, particularly those in medical oncology, reticent to refer patients for such an aggressive therapy. This article establishes a conceptual framework for understanding the role of intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy in the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancy. This procedure continues to make advancements in the oncological community despite formidable challenges. The advancement of centers of excellence and the initiation of further phase II trials will help to define the optimal treatment approach for peritoneal carcinomatosis.
Coffee and copy, deadlines and cutlines: The lessons of a scientist turned reporter

I'm a scientist, and I drink coffee. Now, I know what you're thinking, “So what? We're all scientists. We all drink coffee.”—but I didn't. Not until I left my laboratory bench at the University of Notre Dame, journeying deep into the foreign land of newspaper journalism, did I learn to appreciate a slow drip alongside the morning hustle.
Factors Predictive of Right Internal Jugular Vein Cross-Sectional Area Change in Response to Trendelenburg Positioning

Background/Purpose: The right internal jugular vein (RIJV) is the most commonly accessed central venous site in the cardiac operating room. The Trendelenburg position is frequently used to increase the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the RIJV to facilitate its cannulation. However, the extent of change of RIJV CSA in response to Trendelenburg positioning in anesthetized patients and its predictive factors remain unknown. Methods: Thirty-seven patients presented for the cardiac surgery, and 20 ASA I and II surgical patients without a history of cardiac disease (control) were studied. After induction of anesthesia, RIJV CSA was measured both at supine level position and in 10-degree Trendelenburg using vascular ultrasonography. Central venous pressure was measured in cardiac surgery patients only, since the patients in control group did not require invasive lines placement. Results and Conclusions: Body-surface area, central venous pressure, type of surgery and ejection fraction did not show any correlation with the degree of RIJV CSA change. RIJV dilation in response to Trendelenburg was significantly less pronounced, and more variable, in female patients.
Nitrate leaching under irrigation in the United States—a review

Abstract The literature was reviewed for nitrate leaching under irrigation. The mass of nitrate leached is directly related to the percolation volume. Both water management and nitrogen management are important in controlling nitrate leaching. Applying only enough nitrogen fertilizer to meet yield goals, timing of nitrogen application and the use of slow release fertilizers are nitrogen management practices that will reduce nitrate leaching. There have been a number of nitrogen simulation models that have been developed, but there is a lack of field data to validate the models.
Are Research Ethics Bad for Our Mental Health

Patients with mental illness are much better off now than they were only a few decades ago. Diagnostic methods are more reliable, and treatments are more effective. Only a minority of psychiatric p...
Characterization of macromolecules by constant velocity sedimentation.

To exploit the analytical power of zone velocity centrifugation, a novel method has been developed using sucrose gradients calculated to give constant particle velocity.
MITOSIS AND CYTOKINESIS IN COLEOCHAETE SCUTATA1

SUMMARY Increase in the size of thalli of C. scutata was achieved by division and growth of the marginal cells. During mitosis, the nuclear envelope disintegrated and the daughter nuclei remained widely separated after telophase. The plane of cytokinesis in the marginal cells was either along a radius of the discoidal thalli or parallel to their circumference For radial divisions, this alga utilized a phragmoplast typical of higher plants, and a modified phragmoplast when dividing circumferentially. The phylogenetic implications of these findings are discussed.
Enhanced Toughness Through Urethane Thickened Smc

Glass content, in all modes of stress application, is the most powerful of factors in the improvement of all aspects of SMC behavior. Proper selection of resin/glass-type combinations for maximum compatibil ity is a major formulation concern. The improvements due to thickening by in-situ formed urethane of ITP resins are demonstrated.
An Investigation of Turbine Wheelspace Cooling Flow Interactions With a Transonic Hot Gas Path—Part II: CFD Simulations

A computational model has been developed to study the mechanisms responsible for hot gas ingestion into the wheel-space cavity of a stationary high pressure turbine (HPT) cascade rig. Simulations were undertaken for the stationary rig described by Bunker (2009, “An Investigation of Turbine Wheelspace Cooling Flow Interactions With a Transonic Hot Gas Path—Part I: Experimental Measurements,” ASME Paper No. GT2009-59237) in a companion paper. The rig consists of five vanes, a wheel-space cavity, and five cylinders that represent the blockage due to the leading edge of the rotor airfoils. The experimental program investigated two cylinder diameters and three clocking positions for a nominal coolant flow rate. Comparisons are made between the computed and measured flow-fields for the smaller of the two cylinders. It is demonstrated that the circumferential variation of pressure established by the vane wake and leading edge bow wave results in an unstable shear layer over the rim seal axial gap (trench) that causes hot gases to ingest for a nominal coolant flow. Steady-state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations did not capture this effect and it was determined that an unsteady analysis was required in order to match the experimental data. Favorable agreement is noted between the time-averaged computed and measured pressure distributions in the circumferential direction both upstream and downstream of the trench, as well as within the trench itself. Furthermore, it is noted that time-averaged buffer cavity effectiveness agrees to within 5% of the experimental data for the cases studied. The validated CFD model is then used to simulate the effect of rotation by rotating the cylinders and disk at rotational rate that scales with a typical engine. A sliding mesh interface is utilized to communicate data between the stator and rotor domains. The stationary cases tend to ingest past the first angel-wing for a nominal coolant flow condition, whereas the effect of rotation helps pressurize the cavity and is responsible for preventing hot gas from entering the buffer cavity.
Low body temperature in long-lived Ames dwarf mice at rest and during stress

Among homeothermic animals, larger species generally have lower metabolic rates and live longer than do smaller species. Because Ames dwarf mice (dwarfs) live approximately 1 year longer than their larger normal sex- and age-matched siblings (normals), we hypothesized that they would have lower body core temperature (Tco). We, therefore, measured Tco of six dwarfs and six normals during 24-h periods of ad lib feeding, 24-h food deprivation, and emotional stress induced by cage switching. With ad lib feeding, Tco of dwarfs averaged 1.6°C lower than normals; during food deprivation, Tco of both dwarfs and controls was significantly lower than when food was available ad lib; and following cage switch, Tco was elevated in both groups. However, during all three experiments, Tco was significantly lower in dwarfs than in normals. These data support the hypothesis that Ames dwarf mice, which live longer than normal size controls, maintain lower Tco than normals. Because dwarfs are deficient in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and growth hormone (GH), their low Tco may be a result of reduced thermogenesis due to lack of those hormones. However, whether low Tco per se is related to the increased longevity of the dwarf mice remains an interesting possibility to be investigated.
Noise-induced auditory loss: influence of genotype, naloxone and methyl-prednisolone.

Inbred strains of mice have several advantages as models for human noise-induced hearing loss. However, the isogenic nature of inbred lines is very unlike the human condition, and may make this species less valuable as an auditory model. The present experiments start with two mouse genotypes having lifelong normal cochlear functions: The CBA/CaJ and the AUS/sJ inbred strains. These strains and their F, hybrid offspring were examined for noise-induced elevation of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold. The F, line had an intermediate degree of loss and the most uniform high frequency cochlear loss. Methylprednisolone was found to protect the F] from noise-induced losses, whereas naloxone did not.
Patterns of failure among patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who obtain a complete response to chemoradiotherapy

Background. The role of adjuvant neck dissection in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who obtain complete clinical and radiologic response following definitive chemoradiation treatment is controversial. Methods. Patterns of failure among 120 patients with locally advanced SCCHN, all with node-positive disease, treated with concurrent chemoradiation, were analyzed. Results. Ninety-one of the patients achieved a complete response and were observed without undergoing neck dissection. Isolated failure in the neck occurred in 2 patients. The most common site of failure was metastatic disease (17 patients). Six patients had recurrence at the primary only, and 1 experienced failure in the neck and at the primary. Partial responders with resectable disease underwent neck dissection following chemoradiation. This group had worse local control and overall survival compared with complete responders. Conclusions. We recommend observation after definitive chemoradiation for complete responders. Further research is needed to improve outcomes among partial responders. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010
Mechanisms of failed apoptotic cell clearance by phagocyte subsets in cardiovascular disease

Recent evidence in humans indicate that defective phagocytic clearance of dying cells is linked to progression of advanced atherosclerotic lesions, the precursor to atherothrombosis, ischemic heart disease, and leading cause of death in the industrialized world. During atherogenesis, apoptotic cell turnover in the vascular wall is counterbalanced by neighboring phagocytes with high clearance efficiency, thereby limiting cellularity and maintaining lesion integrity. However, as lesions mature, phagocytic removal of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis) becomes defective, leading to secondary necrosis, expansion of plaque necrotic cores, and susceptibility to rupture. Recent genetic causation studies in experimental rodents have implicated key molecular regulators of efferocytosis in atherosclerotic progression. These include MER tyrosine kinase (MERTK), milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFGE8), and complement C1q. At the cellular level, atheromata are infiltrated by a heterogenous population of professional phagocytes, comprised of monocytes, differentiated macrophages, and CD11c+ dendritic-like cells. Each cell type is characterized by disparate clearance efficiencies and varying activities of key phagocytic signaling molecules. It is in this context that we outline a working model whereby plaque necrosis and destabilization is jointly promoted by (1) direct inhibition of core phagocytic signaling pathways and (2) expansion of phagocyte subsets with poor clearance capacity. Towards identifying targets for promoting efficient apoptotic cell clearance and resolving inflammation in atherosclerosis and during ischemic heart disease and post myocardial infarction, this review will discuss potential in vivo suppressors of efferocytosis at each stage of clearance and how these putative interventional targets may differentially affect uptake at the level of vascular phagocyte subsets.
At home with disability: one family’s three generations narrate autism

We examined the lived experiences of a Cypriot family with a young child with autism. Semi‐structured interviews with parents, siblings, and extended family members across three generations and observations of the family’s daily activities were the primary data‐generating methods. Critical events related to the disability diagnosis, the mother’s decision to undertake a significant role in the child’s education following negative interactions with professionals, and the family’s daily accommodations to the child’s needs emerged in narratives of multiple participants. Family narratives reflect the polyphony of experiences and responses shared by participants. The study illuminates the complexities of this experience and offers opportunities to rethink the interplay of disability, family, and culture in the context of research and practice.
Temporal indiscriminateness: the case of cluster bombs.

This paper argues that the current stock of anti-personnel cluster bombs are temporally indiscriminate, and, therefore, unjust weapons. The paper introduces and explains the idea of temporal indiscriminateness. It argues that to honor non-combatant immunity—in addition to not targeting civilians—one must adequately target combatants. Due to their high dud rate, cluster submunitions fail to target combatants with sufficient temporal accuracy, and, thereby, result in avoidable serious harm to non-combatants. The paper concludes that non-combatant immunity and the principle of discrimination require a moratorium on the use of current cluster munitions.
Developing a culture of support for recruitment and retention of American Indian Students

American Indian demographics in the United States are at about 1.2% of the population and at about 0.5% of the engineering enrollment. In South Dakota, American Indians are about 10%) of the general population and are at 4.0% of the enrollment at SDSMT in 2013. South Dakota has nine American Indian tribes within its borders. All of these 9 tribes can trace their roots to the Seven Council Fires and this alliance consisted of the Santee, Yankton, and Teton tribes. Each of these tribes had a different dialect of the same language: Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota. These cultural traditions influence these students and how they look at the world. This influences how these students are learning. In this paper, we discuss how some of these cultural traditions influence these students as well strategies for the recruitment and retention by capitalizing on these traditions. Following best practices developed by American Indian educators and tribal colleges, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has developed a new program in 2008, Tiospaye, a Lakota word for extended family, offers a new paradigm for recruitment and support for American Indian students. The program centers on support areas which include financial support, academic support, mentoring and positive intervention, research opportunities, and social networking. In this paper we include a discussion of the types of support offered in each of the support areas as well as lessons learned and steps for improvement. We conclude the paper with a discussion of the necessary conditions needed to promote sustainability of the program.
The electronic spectra of unsaturated hydrocarbons a VESCF-CI treatment

A modified Pariser-Parr method, which allows for the inductive effect of alkyl groups by a VESCF method, has been applied to the calculation of the electronic spectra of a number of hydrocarbons. All singly- and doubly-excited configurations are included in the configuration interaction treatment, except for large molecules for which the configuration interaction matrices are truncated to an order of 110. The red shifts which result from methylation of the polyenes are well calculated. For azulene, the shift to either the red or the blue, depending on the location of the substituent, is also well calculated. The largest deviation between the calculated and experimental transition energies for all of the compounds studied was 1.1 eV, while the standard deviation of all observed transitions for planar compounds was 0.24 eV. The ionization potentials and the singlet-triplet transitions of these compounds were also studied.
Are Macrophages in Tumors Good Targets for Novel Therapeutic Approaches

The development of cancer has been an extensively researched topic over the past few decades. Although great strides have been made in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, there is still much to be learned about cancer’s micro-environmental mechanisms that contribute to cancer formation and aggressiveness. Macrophages, lymphocytes which originate from monocytes, are involved in the inflammatory response and often dispersed to areas of infection to fight harmful antigens and mutated cells in tissues. Macrophages have a plethora of roles including tissue development and repair, immune system functions, and inflammation. We discuss various pathways by which macrophages get activated, various approaches that can regulate the function of macrophages, and how these approaches can be helpful in developing new cancer therapies.
Local public health department adoption and use of electronic health records.

CONTEXT Electronic health records (EHRs) may help local health departments (LHDs) to improve services and thereby promote and protect population health. Yet, little is known about nationwide trends and correlates of EHR use by LHDs. OBJECTIVE We examine relative contributions of LHD finances, leadership, and governance to EHR adoption and use from 2010 to 2013. The impact of LHD service provision and meaningful use factors on EHR use is explored in depth. DESIGN Combining data from the National Association of County & City Health Officials Profile survey and the Area Health Resource File, logistic regression models were used to examine EHR use in 2013. Multinomial logistic models examined EHR adoption, use, or discontinuation from 2010 to 2013. PARTICIPANTS EHR usage data were available for 514 and 488 LHDs in 2010 and 2013, respectively. A total of 117 LHDs had data for both 2010 and 2013. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Outcomes included dichotomized measures of LHD self-reported use of EHRs in 2010 and 2013. For LHDs with 2 years of data, a 4-category variable measuring self-reported EHR use, nonuse, adoption, or discontinuation was analyzed. RESULTS Overall LHD EHR use did not increase significantly between 2010 (19.3%) and 2013 (22.0%). While 15% of LHDs reported adopting EHRs from 2010 to 2013, another 8.5% reported discontinuing use of EHRs during this time. Likelihood of EHR use was strongly associated with LHD clinical service characteristics, per capita expenditures, and state governance structure. CONCLUSIONS EHRs do not appear to be rapidly diffusing across LHDs, and retention of current systems may be a concern. Given trends away from clinical service provision and other pressing demands for LHD resources, the benefits of EHR adoption are unclear.
Pressure Drop and Heat Transfer in a Single-Phase Micro-Pin-Fin Heat Sink

The pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics of a single-phase micro-pin-fin heat sink were investigated experimentally. Fabricated from 110 copper, the heat sink consisted of 1950 staggered micro-pins with 200×200 μm2 cross-section by 670 μm height. Deionized water was employed as the cooling liquid. A coolant inlet temperature of 25°C, and two heat flux levels, q" eff = 50 W/cm2 and q" eff = 100 W/cm2 , defined relative to the planform area of the heat sink, were tested. The inlet Reynolds number ranged from 93 to 634 for q" eff = 50 W/cm2 , and 127 to 634 for q" eff = 100 W/cm2 . The measured pressure drop and temperature distribution were used to evaluate average friction factor and local averaged heat transfer coefficient/Nusselt number. Predictions of the Moores and Joshi friction factor correlation and the Chyu et al. heat transfer correlation that were developed using macro-size pin-fin arrays were compared to micro-pin-fin heat sink data. While the Moores and Joshi correlation provide acceptable predictions, the Chyu et al. correlation overpredicted local Nusselt number data by a fairly large margin. These findings point to the need for further study of single-phase thermal/fluid transport process in micro-pin-fin heat sinks.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Indications for Urethroscopy in Male Patients With Penile Condylomata

AbstractBenson et al recommended that to detect condylomata, urethroscopy should be performed on the male partners of women with cervical dysplasia. Considering this, in April 1990 we began to perform urethroscopy on all of our patients who presented with genital condylomata. Between April 1990 and January 1993, 84 patients were referred for initial evaluation of condylomata. The penis, scrotum, perineum and perianal areas were inspected, and the penis was reinspected after staining with 5 percent acetic acid. Intraurethral condylomata were detected in 13 patients (15 percent), 11 of whom had visible lesions on physical examination with spreading of the meatus. Urethroscopy confirmed these lesions to be limited to the fossa navicularis. Two patients had lesions of the fossa not visible at the meatus. No patient in this series had lesions of the more proximal urethra. All patients eventually determined to have intraurethral lesions had external condylomata on the distal penis (glans, corona or frenulum). U...
Soil Catenas on pinedale and Bull Lake moraines, Willow Lake, wind river mountains, Wyoming

Abstract Soils in coarse-grained tills on Pinedale (about 20,000 years old) and Bull Lake (about 140,000 years old) moraines show significant variaton with slope position and age. Soils on the Pinedale moraine are mostly non-calcareous Typic Cryoborolls with A/Bw/C profiles that thicken considerably downslope. These soils are weakly developed due to their youth and to the unstable, steep (up to 24°), highly convexo-concave slopes. Soils on the Bull Lake moraine are mostly Argic Cryoborolls with A/Bt/C profiles. These soils are more strongly developed than soils at similar positions on the Pinedale moraine because the Bull Lake moraine is older and has less steep (up to 16°), more gently curved slopes. The soils on the Bull Lake moraine contain more clay, a higher proportion of pedogenic clay, more weathered stones, and more free sesquioxides. Erosion and dry conditions at the convex summit and shoulder sites on the Bull Lake moraine have resulted in thin soils with minimal argillic horizons; these soils are only slightly more strongly developed than soils at analogous sites on the much younger Pinedale moraine. In contrast, at the concave sites in downslope positions the soils on the Bull Lake moraine are much more strongly developed than analogous soils on the Pinedale moraine; slow deposition of weathered material, probably transported by creep, has acted concurrently with pedogenesis to form soils with thick, homogeneous argillic horizons. The relationship between hillslope curvature and soil properties on both moraines is shown by significant correlations between soil properties and the second derivative of the hillslope profile. This relationship is probably due primarily to the interaction of soil formation and soil creep.
A study of pentylenetetrazol kindling in rats and mice

The effect of repeated injection of pentylenetetrazol on pentylenetetrazol seizure thresholds was determined in mice and rats. Once per week treatment of rats with pentylenetetrazol resulted in the development of a state of kindling. On the other hand, when pentylenetetrazol was administered twice per week, a phenomenon resembling tolerance was observed. In mice, it was not possible to demonstrate kindling under experimental conditions utilizing either one or two treatments with PTZ per week.
Radical Ion Probes. 8. Direct and Indirect Electrochemistry of 5,7-Di-tert-butylspiro[2.5]octa-4,7-dien-6-one and Derivatives

Results pertaining to the direct and indirect electrochemistry of 5,7-di-tert-butylspiro[2.5]octa-4,7-dien-6-one (1a), 1-methyl-5,7-di-tert-butylspiro[2.5]octa-4,7-dien-6-one (1b), and 1,1,-dimethyl-5,7-di-tert-butylspiro[2.5]octa-4,7-dien-6-one (1c) are reported. Product analyses reveal that reduction of all these substrates leads to cyclopropane ring-opened products; ring opening occurs with modest selectivity leading to the more substituted (stable) distonic radical anion. The direct electrochemistry of these compounds is characterized by rate limiting electron transfer (with α ≈ 0.5), suggesting that while ring opening is extremely rapid, the radical anions do have a discrete lifetime (i.e., electron transfer and ring opening are not concerted). Utilizing homogeneous redox catalysis, rate constants for electron transfer between 1a, 1b, and 1c and a series of aromatic radical anions were measured; reduction potentials and reorganization energies were derived from these rate constants by using Marcus th...
Carotid baroreflex function during and following voluntary apnea in humans.

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and arterial pressure increase concomitantly during apnea, suggesting a possible overriding of arterial baroreflex inhibitory input to sympathoregulatory ce...
Formation of iron sulphide in solar nebula

Noting that the iron sulfide in the Orgueil carbonaceous meteorite is an Fe-deficient monosulfide (pyrrhotite), it is suggested that such mineral chemistry is inconsistent with equilibrium condensation of the solar nebula and that the course of condensation may have been modified by kinetic effects. The effect of Ni on the reaction between Fe and S to produce FeS is examined, and possible reasons are considered for the fact that the cited meteorite differs in both crystal structure and Ni content from the predictions of equilibrium condensation. It is proposed that sulfide formation in the solar nebula may have been inhibited by sluggish diffusion, so that sulfur began to react with previously condensed troilite to form pyrrhotite. On this basis, observations of the Orgueil sulfides are shown to suggest that the course of solar-system condensation was modified by kinetic effects below about 700 K and that equilibrium may not have been achieved.
Universality of Random-Matrix Predictions for the Statistics of Energy Levels

Wigner statistics for correlations of matrix eigenvalues are shown to be a property of any matrix ensemble with a density of levels and probability distributions for matrix elements that are smooth. This justifies the universality of level correlations in generic quantum systems, while suggesting that level widths and other eigenvector-dependent statistics are system dependent.
Spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and nucleophilicity of nickel and cobalt complexes of 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde-2-pyridyl hydrazone (papyH)

Abstract Nickel and cobalt complexes of pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde-2′-pyridylhydrazone (papyH) and N-methyl(pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde-2′-pyridyl-hydrazone) (papyMe) have been fully characterized through electrochemistry, titration, and alkylation with methyl iodide and compared with existing data on zinc and iron complexes. Both rate constants for alkylation and ligand p K a depend on the coordinated metal and can be understood based on the influence of d electrons on the ligand molecular orbitals.
Gender differences in salary of internal medicine residency directors: a national survey.

Abstract Objectives Whether salary disparities exist between men and women in medical education leadership roles is not known. The study objective was to determine whether salary disparities exist between male and female Internal Medicine residency program directors, and if so, to identify factors associated with the disparities and explore historical trends. Methods The annual Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM) survey in August 2012 included items to assess the salary and demographic characteristics of program directors, which were merged with publically available program data. To assess historical trends, we used similarly obtained survey data from 2008 to 2011. The study included program directors of 370 APDIM member programs, representing 95.6% of the 387 accredited Internal Medicine training programs in the United States and Puerto Rico. Of the 370 APDIM member programs, 241 (65.1%) completed the survey, of whom 169 (70.1%) were men and 72 (29.9%) were women. Program directors' total annual salary, measured in $25,000 increments, ranged from $75,000 or less to more than $400,000. Historical trends of mode salary by gender from 2008 to 2012 were assessed. Results The mode salary was $200,000 to 225,000 for men and $175,000 to $200,000 for women ( P = .0005). After controlling for academic rank, career in general internal medicine, and program director age, the distribution of salary remained different by gender ( P = .004). Historical trends show that the difference in mode salary has persisted since 2008. Conclusions Leaders in academic medical centers, residency and fellowship directors, and all faculty in medical education need to be aware that salary disparities cited decades ago persist in this sample of medical educators. Closing the gender gap will require continued advocacy for measuring and reporting salary gaps, and changing the culture of academic medical centers.
Oligomerization and RNA binding domains of the type 1 human immunodeficiency virus Rev protein: a dual function for an arginine-rich binding motif

Abstract The Rev protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is a sequence-specific RNA binding protein that is essential for viral replication. Here we present evidence that Rev is a stable oligomer both in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of Rev mutants indicates that oligomerization is essential for RNA binding and hence Rev function. The oligomerization and RNA binding domains overlap over 47 amino acids. Within this region is a short arginine-rich motif found in a large class of RNA binding proteins. Substitution of multiple residues within the arginine-rich motif abolishes oligomerization, whereas several single-amino-acid substitution mutants oligomerize but do not bind RNA. Thus, Rev's arginine-rich motif participates in two distinct functions: oligomerization and RNA binding.