cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Highly Energetic PolyNitrogen by Nanosecond-Pulsed Plasma in Liquid Nitrogen.

We report on an experimental study of nanosecond-pulsed plasma treatment of liquid nitrogen demonstrating synthesis of a highly energetic nitrogen material. Raman, FTIR analysis of gas phase products of decomposition, and the material explosion characteristics suggest synthesis of polymeric (amorphous) nitrogen compound which is stable at ambient pressure up to temperatures of about −150 °C. Addition of adsorbents with relatively large characteristic pore sizes (>5 nm) allows marginally improved recovery of the material as determined by temperature-dependent Raman measurements. By analyzing the shock wave propagation resulting from the explosions, we estimated the energy density of the material to be 13.3 ± 3.5 kJ/g, close to the previously predicted value for amorphous polymeric nitrogen.
Supporting and Sustaining Nonspecialists to Deliver Mental Health Interventions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Umbrella Review

This umbrella review used a systematic approach to examine the state of the evidence regarding the nonspecialist health worker (NSHW) workforce in mental health and psychosocial services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Seventeen review articles were included in this analysis. Most reviews defined nonspecialists by their lack of formal mental health experience. Less than half of the reviews reported their qualifications and roles. Findings indicated that NSHWs were trained and supervised in a range of skills with variability in approaches, duration, format and topical focus. The evidence supporting NSHW-delivered interventions was mixed but mainly favourable, particularly for depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder; additionally, studies identified implementation challenges with the nonspecialist workforce. In conclusion, NSHWs are widely used in LMICs to address mental health needs and some indicators suggest the interventions they deliver are beneficial, yet little is known about their needs and requirements. Further work is needed to prioritise nonspecialists as a critical workforce in global mental health. This includes developing best practice models, new policies and investments and conducting further research.
Imperfect Learning and Neglected Long Run Economic Constraints

This paper shows that an economy with unobservable preference shocks can be temporarily explosiveif adaptive learning agents focus on short run optimization but ignore long run constraints. However,when agents slowly learn that the economy will not be sustainable under the explosive path, they canrestore the economy to a stationary process by changing their current consumption decisions. Withoutany structural changes, these temporarily explosive dynamics lead to more volatile and longer fluctuationsof the consumption to capital ratio compared to those of real business cycle models focusing on highfrequency economic fluctuations. Since these fluctuations are not optimal responses to structural changes,this paper provides policy suggests to prevent these sub-optimal fluctuations of the consumption to capitalratio.
Comparison of enrichment procedures for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in wastes from commercial swine farms.

Three methods for enrichment of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) were compared using waste pit samples from swine production facilities housing 50 to 3,000 animals. The STEC gene stx2 was detected in 5 of 17 pooled samples using a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) enrichment procedure, 6 of 17 samples using a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enrichment procedure, and 8 of 17 samples using an experimental acid enrichment. All isolates were non-O157 and 5 of 6 were positive for enterotoxigenic E. coli–associated heat stable toxins a and b. The three enrichment procedures were also tested for their ability to support growth of 31 strains of STEC. The acid enrichment media supported growth of 100% of the strains, the FDA medium supported 77% of the strains, and the USDA medium supported 16% of the strains.
THE INTONATION-SYNTAX INTERACTION: PROSODIC FEATURES IN PERCEPTUAL PROCESSING OF SENTENCES

Speech is an intrinsically temporal event in which the auditory input is constantly changing over time. No single instant of the speech signal carries sufficient information to be fully discriminating, and recognition on the phonemic level, for example, is heavily dependent on the context of neighboring linguistic elements (Cole & Scott, 1974). For this reason, logic alone would demand that speech must be processed in “units” of some useful and manageable size. Arguments for the phoneme as one such unit have been offered (Liberman, et al., 1967), as have arguments for units closer to syllable size (Massaro, 1972).
Making every year a presidential election year: Using The West Wing’s Santos/Vinick race to simulate election politics

This article makes a case for using The West Wing’s Santos/Vinick presidential election as a way to simulate election politics in civics and government courses. The series provides a behind-the-scenes view of the political decisions made by both fictional campaigns throughout the course of the primary and general elections. Teachers can use the content contained within the storyline to make connections to aspects of the formal curriculum found in typical survey courses and creating opportunities for authentic learning by allowing students to place abstract content into a practical context.
Leucine metabolism is not altered with improved insulin sensitivity following a 6-month exercise program in pre-diabetics (LB447)

Obesity is associated with decreased insulin sensitivity (IS), elevated plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), and accumulation of medium to long even-chain acylcarnitines (AC; products of β-oxidation). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between BCAA metabolism and IS in overweight individuals. Whole-body leucine turnover, IS and metabolic profiles were assessed from blood, muscle and breath samples at baseline in 10 healthy controls (CTRL: 5M, 5F; age 50 ± 3) and 9 overweight pre-diabetic individuals (PD-Pre: 5M, 4F; age 51 ± 2) using stable isotope tracers, hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp and metabolomics methods, respectively. PD then underwent a 6 month aerobic + resistance exercise program and repeated tests (PD-Post). IS was higher in CTRL vs PD-Pre, increased in PD-Post, but remained lower than CTRL. Relative to lean mass, leucine breakdown, oxidation and synthesis were higher in PD-Pre and PD-Post vs CTRL, with no effect of exercise. Plasma leucine and va...
Assessing physicians' in training attitudes and behaviors during the 2009 H1N1 influenza season: a cross-sectional survey of medical students and residents in an urban academic setting

Please cite this paper as: May et al. (2010) Assessing physicians’ in training attitudes and behaviors during the 2010 H1N1 influenza season: a cross-sectional survey of medical students and residents in an urban academic setting. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2010.00151.x. Background Despite concern for hospital-based transmission of influenza, little research has been carried out on perceptions and behaviors of physicians in training with regard to influenza-like illness (ILI), especially in light of the recent H1N1 pandemic. Objectives We aimed to evaluate self-reported episodes of ILI among medical students and residents to determine the impact of ILI on school and clinical performance, absenteeism, and patterns of preventive measures used by this population both in and out of the healthcare setting. Methods We anonymously surveyed medical students and residents at an urban institution between November 3 and December 11, 2009. Data were analyzed separately for medical students and residents for frequency of close-ended responses. Open-ended answers were analyzed thematically. Our Institutional Review Board exempted this study from review. Results Forty-five percent of medical students and 53% of resident respondents perceived the risk of acquiring H1N1 at school or work as high, and although 43% of medical students and 66% of resident respondents had received the influenza vaccination and most reported increasing non-pharmaceutical preventive measures, 9% of medical students and 61% of residents with one or more episodes of ILI chose to continue to attend class or work when ill. Conclusions Although students and residents report high risk of infection because of work- or school-related activities, many involved in patient care activities do not comply with recommended infection control precautions. Educational campaigns should be developed and infection control guidelines should be included in routine medical student and resident curricular activities.
Evaluation of Mixing Wet Distillers Grains with Ground Hay in a Bunker and Covering Modified Distillers Grains to Extend Storage Life—A Demonstration Project

Low cost storage methods for MDGS and WDGS proved to be effective with total storage shrink amounting to 9.28% and 9.83%, respectively. Covering piles of MDG with plastic was the lowest cost technique per ton, however, it is important to remember that this methodology will not work for WDGS due to its high moisture content. On a very positive note, the WDGS when mixed with 20% tub ground hay on as moisture basis proved to be an effective way to store this product while utilizing and enhancing some very low quality forage. These two methods of storage proved to be much lower in cost than bagging with a packing machine and equally as effective in preventing storage shrink. The MDGS was utilized successfully in supplementing both lactating fall calving cows and pregnant spring calves. MDGS when taken from their piles was mixed with 15% tub ground hay and then fed along a fence line to reduce contamination due to foot traffic and fecal droppings.
Molecular factors associated with recurrence and survival following hepatectomy in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A guide to adjuvant clinical trials

Background This study sought to determine clinical and molecular factors related to recurrence and survival in patients with ICC following hepatectomy. Methods Database review identified 34 patients. Molecular markers (Ki67, p53, beta-catenin) and standard pathological evaluations were performed. Results The most common resections were right (n = 11), extended right (n = 8), and left hepatectomy (n = 7). The 30- and 90 -day mortality rates were 5.9% and 11.8%. The median tumor size was 7.8 cm. Nine patients (26.5%) had positive lymph nodes and ten patients (29.4%) received adjuvant therapy. Median follow up was 33.5 months. The median disease-free interval was 6 months. The median overall survival was 37.9 months. Univariate predictors of recurrence were tumor size (P = 0.02) and differentiation (P = 0.05). On multivariate analysis, differentiation (P = 0.03; OR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.17–0.89) remained significant. Univariate predictors of survival were tumor size (P = 0.02), lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.02), satellite nodules (P = 0.006), beta-catenin expression (P = 0.008), and recurrence (P = 0.026). On multivariate analyses, satellite lesions (P = 0.05, OR = 3.15, 95% CI: 0.96–10.4) and beta-catenin (P = 0.04, OR = 3.23; 95% CI: 1.1–9.7) remained significant and differentiation (P = 0.045; OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.18–0.98) was an additional predictor. Conclusion Future clinical trials could include certain molecular and pathologic factors to assist in determining the necessity and type of adjuvant therapy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 109:98–103. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Activation of NMDA receptors reverses desensitization of mGluR5 in native and recombinant systems

The metabotropic glutamate receptor, mGluR5, has a critical role in induction of NMDA-receptor-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity and excitotoxicity. This is likely mediated by a reciprocal positive-feedback interaction between these two glutamate receptor subtypes in which activation of mGluR5 potentiates NMDA receptor currents and NMDA receptor activation potentiates mGluR5-mediated responses. We have investigated the mechanism by which NMDA receptor activation modulates mGluR5 function and find evidence that this response is mediated by activation of a protein phosphatase and a resultant dephosphorylation of protein kinase C phosphorylation sites on mGluR5. This form of neuromodulation may be important in a number of normal and pathological processes that involve activation of the NMDA receptor.
Data-driven robotic assembly: Retaining accuracy through process and software techniques

A trend in the field of robotics is the creation of links between robot work cells and mainframe-based computer aided design (CAD) systems, simulators and off-line programming tools. In an experiment in the IBM Poughkeepsie development laboratory, harness cable design data is used to calculate path information for a mock-up assembly station. The calculations are performed using a mathematical "model" representing the physical dimensions of the robot. However, the actual robot has slight asymmetries in its joints and beams that are not predicted in the model, resulting in a substantial difference in the calculated and the actual locations of the robot gripper. This paper describes the detection and measurement of the model-vs-robot accuracy problem in the Poughkeepsie experiment and a systematic approach used to resolve it.
Engineering insights: developing stem education for students with disabilities leads to K-16 partnerships

RASEM/sup 2/, a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored project in New Mexico and west Texas, addresses the unequal representation of students with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines. Therefore, the authors commuted to an understanding of pre-college public education, which led to the establishment of K-16 initiatives including bridging programs, summer camps, teacher outreach, professional development, mentorships, and research. In addition, the New Mexico Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education together formed a K-16 partnership group to study and recommend effective strategies fostering quality teaching and learning in all levels of education. The primary author was selected as member of this group. Particularly interesting was the fostering of relationships between college and pre-college educators and the integration of methodologies pursuant 10 the K-16 partnership objectives. Most important involvement in the partnership fostered a K-12 outreach with the charge to better understand pre-college education.
John T. Cunningham: An Appreciation

Abstract: A friend and colleague pays tribute to John T. Cunningham, the indefatigable chronicler of New Jersey history. Â
The Impact of Component Pricing of Soybeans and Milk: Reply

The main point of Lesser's comment on my article seems to be that in the case of milk my procedure for estimating p biases the estimate toward 1.0. If true, the subsequent analysis would have underestimated both the size of equilibrium shifts caused by a change to component pricing and the increase in social surplus which would follow from such a change. Lesser offers three diverse reasons for the existence of bias in my estimate 1 = (Wa/Wb)/(Pa/Pb) = (.882/.63)/(1.2) = 1.17. First, in paragraph 4, he states that his figure 1 shows how my use of a two-component model for a threecomponent situation produces such a bias. Second, in paragraph 5, he states that for some processors the marginal value product of the residual approaches zero, which would imply a large value of p. Third, in paragraphs 6-9, he notes that in estimating the farm value of SNF (Wb), the residual value could be imputed to larger quantities of SNF, and if so the estimate of wb would fall and the estimate of p would rise. The latter two arguments are fallacious, so I will address them first, then turn to the first argument, which has some substance. One must have an estimate of the implicit producer price of SNF (Wb) to estimate p. I subtracted the value of fat (at $.882 per pound) from the total producer value of milk and imputed this remainder to the 5.98 billion pounds of SNF produced to obtain Wb = ($3.773)/(5.98) = $.63. It is clear that if 5.98 is an underestimate of SNF production, then $.63 is an overestimate of imputed price, and 1.17 is an underestimate of the implicit disequilibrium. Lesser offers no evidence in his note that 5.98 is an underestimate. In paragraphs 6-9 he suggests that some cows under some conditions can produce a higher-than-average percentage of SNF, but of course, by the same token, others must produce lower-than-average levels. The estimated 5.98 billion pounds of SNF is unaffected by such observations about the distribution of SNF in milk, so the imputed average price of $.63 must also be unaffected. Lesser argues in paragraph 5 that for some processors, the marginal value product of nonfat components might be very low. But even if true, this assertion has no effect whatever on the imputation procedure (above) by which both he and I determined Wb. If anything, his assertion would suggest that my estimate of Pb (the SNF price in the component market) is too large. But this would imply an upward bias in the estimate of p, which is exactly the opposite of what Lesser wanted to prove by the assertion.
Disseminated Fusarium solani Infection With Cutaneous Nodules in a Bone Marrow Transplant Patient

Fusarium is a ubiquitous fungus that commonly colonizes ulcerated, burned, or traumatized skin and may cause keratitis and onychomycosis in healthy hosts. Serious disseminated infection due to Fusarium has been reported with increasing frequency in immunocompromised patients. We describe a bone marrow transplant patient who developed fungal septicemia and disseminated skin nodules due to Fusarium solani. Fusarium should be recognized as a potential cause of deep fungal infection in immunocompromised patients.
Clozapine-caused eosinophilic colitis

Four patients with diarrhea and eosinophilia associated with clozapine therapy are presented. In two cases clozapine therapy was interrupted but then restarted; all patients eventually tolerated clozapine well. A syndrome of clozapine-induced eosinophilic colitis is suggested.
Atrial electrogram discordance during baseline vs reinduced atrial fibrillation: Potential ramifications for ablation procedures

Background There are scant data comparing the electrogram (EGM) signal characteristics of atrial fibrillation (AF) at baseline vs electrically induced states during ablation procedures. Objective The purpose of this study was to use novel intracardiac signal analysis techniques to gain insights into the effects of catheter ablation and AF reinduction on AF EGMs in patients with persistent AF. Methods We collected left atrial EGMs in patients undergoing first ablation for persistent AF at 3 time intervals: (1) AF at baseline; (2) AF after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI); and (3) AF after post-PVI cardioversion and subsequent reinduction. We analyzed 2 EGM spectral characteristics: (1) dominant frequency and (2) spectral complexity; and 2 EGM morphologic characteristics: (1) morphology variation and (2) pattern repetitiveness. Results There were no differences in AF dominant frequency, dominant amplitude, spectral complexity, or metrics of EGM morphology or repetitiveness at baseline vs after PVI. However, dominant frequency, dominant amplitude, and spectral complexity differed significantly after direct current cardioversion and reinduction of AF. Conclusion The frequency, spectral complexity, and local EGM morphologies of AF do not significantly change over the course of a PVI procedure in patients with persistent AF. However, reinduction of AF after direct current cardioversion results in different dominant frequency and spectral complexity, consistent with a change in the characteristics of the perpetuating source(s) of the newly induced AF. These data suggest that AF properties can vary significantly between baseline and reinduced AF, with potential clinical ramifications for outcomes of catheter ablation procedures.
An Examination of the Time Series Properties of Beta in the Market Model

Abstract Understanding the stochastic behavior of beta is fundamental to portfolio risk management. We evaluate the time series properties of beta for oil industry stocks, machinery industry stocks, and a random sample of 100 stocks. Daily returns for stocks in each of these industries and the random sample are obtained from the Center for Research in Security Prices tapes for the period July 1962 through December 1986 and are grouped into 98 quarter-year, and also 49 half-year, nonoverlapping time intervals. Beta is estimated for each interval. Our analysis indicates that the time series of beta is consistent with ARMA(1, 1). We found that the autoregressive parameter of the time series of beta estimated using a half-year interval is equal to the square root of the autoregressive parameter of the time series of beta using a quarter-year interval. Thus, as the length of time interval chosen to estimate beta becomes longer, the time series behavior of beta becomes less autoregressive and more random in nature.
Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems—CLXXII: The electron-impact promoted fragmentation of 1,2-cyclohexanediol†‡

The mass spectra of 1,2-cyclohexanediol and important data from the spectra of four deuterium labeled analogs have been recorded and mechanistic rationalizations are given for the most important degradation processes observed. Multiple mechanisms are required to explain the indicated peak shifts in the labeled analogs. Particularly relevant is the initial loss of water from the molecular ion, which involves at least four distinct processes.
Psychosocial treatments for children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

This article reviews studies examining the efficacy of behavioral interventions for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A specific emphasis is placed on evidence-based interventions that include parent training, classroom, academic, and peer interve-ntions. Results indicate that school-aged children respond to behavioral interventions when they are appropriately implemented both at home and in the classroom setting. Combined treatments (behavioral management and stimulant medication) represent the gold standard in ADHD treatment and are often recommended as the first-line treatment option due to the many problems faced by children with ADHD. Diversity issues, although an important consideration in the treatment of ADHD, continue to remain an understudied area. Recommendations for future research are made pertaining to treatment sequencing with regard to behavior management as well as for subgroups of ADHD children who may respond best to specific treatments.
Spatial variability of water vapor turbulent transfer within the boundary layer

Although the physics of evaporation within the inner region of the boundary layer is believed to be well understood, observations of mass-energy exchange processes have been hindered by the limitations of point sensors. A combination of point sensors and active remote sensing, namely, water-Raman Lidar measurements, offers new opportunities to study relatively large areas at temporal and spatial scales previously unattainable. Results from experiments over uniform canopies both confirm some traditional theories and challenge some of the underlying assumptions concerning the homogeneity of the surface-atmosphere interface and the use of point sensors to characterize large areas.
ENSEMBLE CONTROL ON LIE GROUPS

Abstract In this article, we study a class of control problems which involves controlling a continuum of dynamical systems with different dynamics by using the same control signal. We call such problems control of ensembles. We will specially focus on the systems evolving on SO(3). The motivation for looking into these problems comes from the manipulation of an ensemble of nuclear spins in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and imaging. From the mathematical control point of view, the challenge is to simultaneously steer a continuum of systems between points of interest with the same control signal. This raises some new and unexplored questions about ensemble controllability. We show that controllability of an ensemble can be understood by the study of the algebra of polynomials defined by the noncommuting vector fields that govern the system dynamics. A systematic study of these systems has immediate applications to broad areas of control of systems in quantum and nano domains, such as coherent spectroscopy and quantum information processing. The new mathematical structures appearing in such problems are excellent motivation for new developments in control theory.
Micellar alkylation: a methylating surfactant

Abstract Micellar n -C 16 H 33 N + (CH 3 ) 2 CH 2 S + (CH 3 ) 2 , 2CF 3 SO 3 − rapidly methylates bound thiophenoxide ions.
Optical measurement system for characterizing compound semiconductor interface and surface states

An optical measurement system that is useful for the characterization of interface and surface states on a wide variety of compound semiconductor material systems has been developed. The PC-based measurement system, using argon ion laser excitation from 10/sup -1/ to 10/sup 4/ W/cm/sup 2/ power density and a light spot focused to a FWHM of 35 /spl mu/m, acquires photoluminescence (PL) spectra from a semiconductor material system over a dynamic intensity range of more than eight orders of magnitude. The measured PL intensities that are evaluated using an extended, numerical self-consistent drift-diffusion model provide properties of interface and surface states such as density and capture cross section as well as derived quantities including nonradiative interface and surface recombination velocity.
One year improvements in cardiovascular risk factors: a comparative trial of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass vs. adjustable gastric banding.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the industrialized world with obesity as a leading preventable risk factor. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) have been shown to improve certain biochemical cardiovascular risk factors (BCRFs) at 1 year post-op, however no study has directly compared the 12-month BCRF improvements of RYGB vs. LAGB. At a single academic institution (2004–2009), we measured BCRF in 838 consecutive bariatric patients (765 RYGB, 73 LAGB) pre-operatively and at 12 months post-operatively. BCRF included total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (Trig), Trig/HDL ratio, lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), homocysteine (HmC), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fasting insulin (FI), and hemoglobin A1C (Hgb A1C). Pre-op and 12-month post-op values were compared by a paired t test of equal variance. At 12 months post-op, RYGB patients had lost 77% of their excess weight and had significant improvements in TC, LDL, HDL, Trig, Trig/HDL, HmC, hs-CRP, FI, and Hgb A1C. LAGB patients lost 47.6% of their excess weight and had significant improvements in Trig, Trig/HDL, HmC, hs-CRP, and Hgb A1C. Having RYGB instead of LAGB was predictive of significantly greater improvements in TC at 12 months post-operatively. In this study, both RYGB and LAGB demonstrated significant weight loss and improvements in BCRF at 12 months post-op. RYGB produced significant improvements in a greater number of BCRFs and in some instances the 12-month post-op BCRF values were significantly lower risk in RYGB vs. LAGB patients.
Fatigue Modeling of Concrete-Filled Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Tubes

Field applications and laboratory research have shown the feasibility of concrete-filled fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) tube (CFFT) in bridges. Yet, their widespread applications require developing appropriate design and analysis tools for different types of loading, particularly fatigue loads. An analytical tool is developed to trace the response of CFFTs under fatigue loading. The FRP material models are calibrated against fatigue and creep coupon tests. Material models are cast into a fiber element analysis, with an algorithm to simulate strain profile, moment-curvature and residual bending strength at any given time or after any number of fatigue cycles in a single or multiple stages of loading. Comparisons with available test data show good agreement with model predictions. A detailed parametric study shows that fatigue response of CFFT beams can improve by either increasing the reinforcement index or the effective modulus of FRP tube in the longitudinal direction. Higher load ranges may drastically ...
Terrain map building for fast navigation on rugged outdoor terrain

Terrain map building is an essential component of a planning autonomous navigator. External terrain must be represented in a manner that is convenient for the path planning subsystem to use, and that is useful for fine tuning the position estimate. This work is concerned with the solution of the particular problems encountered when attempting high speed navigation of an autonomous vehicle on rough terrain. These problems include the requisite longer downrange field of view, the range shadow problem, the image fusion problem, and the motion of the vehicle during image digitization. Experimental results have been obtained for an all terrain autonomous vehicle testbed--the Navlab II. The perception system was successful in supporting runs of 6.7 kilometers at speeds averaging 1.8 meters/second while checking for obstacles, 5.1 kilometers at 1.8 meters/sec while avoiding obstacles, and 0.3 kilometers at 4.5 meters/second while checking for obstacles.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Complexes of polyacids with poly(vinylbenzocrown ether)s and polyvinylbenzoglymes in water

Insoluble complexes are formed in acidic aqueous media when poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly-(vinylbenzo-18-crown-6) (P18C6) or polyvinylbenzoglymes are mixed. Complex formation results from hydrogen bonding between carboxyl groups and crown ether- or glyme–oxygen atoms as well as from hydrophobic interactions. The precipitation is pH dependent and was determined as a function of the ratio PAA to P18C6 or to polyglyme at different HCl concentrations in 10−4M solutions of polycrown or polyglyme. Precipitation is nearly quantitative in 0.01N HCl. The compositions of PAA/P18C6 precipitates were determined as a function of the initial PAA/P18C6 ratio in solution. The complexes with P18C6 can be solubilized in acidic media when crown-complexable cations (K+, Cs+, Ba2+) are added, but the charged P18C6 reprecipitates in basic solution as a polysalt complex with the PAA–polyanion. More stable PAA–P18C6 complexes in the form of fibers can be obtained by interfacial complex formation. Poly(methacrylic acid) is less effective as a complex former.
Determination of cellular injury and death thresholds following exposure to high voltage 10ns electrical pulses

Intense, nanosecond-duration electric pulses (nsEP) have been introduced as a novel modality to alter cellular function, with a mechanism of action qualitatively different from micro- and millisecond duration pulses used in electroporation. In this study, we determined the thresholds for plasma membrane injury (within 15 minutes) and cell death (at 24 hours) for 4 different cell types (CHO-K1, HeLa, Jurkat and U937). Plasma membrane injury was measured by flow cytometry using two fluorescent dyes, namely Annexin V-FITC, which binds to phosphatidylserine (PS) upon its externalization (subtle membrane injury), and propidium iodide (PI), which is typically impermeable to the cell, but enters when large pores are formed in the plasma membrane. In all cell types, 10-ns pulses caused phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization at low doses (<150kV/cm and 100 pulses for each cell type) and no PI uptake. Jurkat and U937 cell lines showed substantial cell death without uptake of PI (15 minutes post exposure) suggesting either delayed permeabilization due to swelling, or damage to intracellular components. In CHO-K1 and HeLa cell lines, PI uptake occurred at low doses relative to that necessary to cause cell death suggesting a necrotic death similar to longer pulse exposures. These findings suggest that nanosecond pulses may be beneficial in applications that require selective elimination of specific cell types.
Clinicopathologic correlations in leukemia cutis.

Abstract This clinicopathologic study involved 42 cases of leukemia cutis: 3 of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), 16 of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), 12 of acute granulocytic leukemia (AGL), 3 of chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL), 5 of acute monocytic leukemia (AML), and 3 of acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML). The clinical appearance of leukemia cutis included papules, macules, plaques, nodules, ecchymoses, palpable purpura, and ulcerative lesions, and these were seen in all types of leukemias. Gingival hypertrophy was seen only in AML or AMML, and erythroderma and bullous lesions of leukemic infiltration were observed only in CLL. Cutaneous leukemic lesions may be concomitant with or preceding the diagnosis of systemic leukemia. Therefore, skin biopsy may be helpful in detecting the leukemia and may facilitate the work-up. Leukemia cutis probably is a dissemination of systemic leukemia to the skin, and the demonstration of leukemia in skin is associated with a very poor prognosis.
BCR-ABL suppresses autophagy through ATF5-mediated regulation of mTOR transcription

The oncoprotein BCR-ABL transforms myeloid progenitor cells and is responsible for the development of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In transformed cells, BCR-ABL suppresses apoptosis as well as autophagy, a catabolic process in which cellular components are degraded by the lysosomal machinery. The mechanism by which BCR-ABL suppresses autophagy is not known. Here we report that in both mouse and human BCR-ABL–transformed cells, activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5), a prosurvival factor, suppresses autophagy but does not affect apoptosis. We find that BCR-ABL, through PI3K/AKT/FOXO4 signaling, transcriptionally up-regulates ATF5 expression and that ATF5, in turn, stimulates transcription of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR; also called mechanistic target of rapamycin), a well-established master negative-regulator of autophagy. Previous studies have shown that the BCR-ABL inhibitor imatinib mesylate induces both apoptosis and autophagy, and that the resultant autophagy modulates the efficiency by which imatinib kills BCR-ABL–transformed cells. We demonstrate that imatinib-induced autophagy is because of inhibition of the BCR-ABL/PI3K/AKT/FOXO4/ATF5/mTOR pathway that we have identified in this study.
On-chip test structure suite for free-standing metal film mechanical property testing, Part I – Analysis

Abstract We propose and analyze a notched free-standing thin-film structure subject to a well-defined stress concentration in pure tension for in situ mechanical testing of thin metal films. Load is applied electrostatically, making testing and handling routine and simple. The sensitivity of the notched structure to geometry, residual stress and to electrostatic instability are modeled and discussed. It is found that significant plastic straining can occur in the notch region before electrostatic instability. Coupled with adjacent cantilevers and fixed–fixed beams, this small area test structure suite enables a platform for evaluating linear properties such as Young’s modulus and residual stress, and gaining information on inelastic properties such as plasticity and fatigue. The total area of the suite is much smaller than that of a typical chip, allowing for the possibility that these devices can serve as diagnostic test structures.
Redesign of a Pediatric Pharmacotherapy Elective Course to Accommodate Budget Reductions

Objective. To redesign a pediatric elective pharmacotherapy course and determine whether the redesign resulted in changes in outcome measures. Design. Active learning activities were moved to an online format. Prerecorded lectures continued to be used. Peer evaluation was incorporated to give the students more feedback on their performance. Assessment. Presentation grades, average examination grades, course grades, and evaluation scores from each student who completed University course evaluations were documented for students during the 2 semesters before and the 2 semesters after the course redesign. Although for undetermined reasons a drop in examination grades occurred after the course redesign, no significant differences in presentation grades, final grades, or course evaluation grades occurred. Conclusions. A strategic course redesign successfully reduced the costs and faculty time required to offer an elective course viewed as essential to the curriculum, allowing the course to be continued in the face of state budget cuts.
Phenytoin administration reveals a differential role of pontine reticular formation and periaqueductal gray neurons in generation of the convulsive behaviors of audiogenic seizures.

The ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (PAG) and pontine reticular formation (PRF) are implicated in the neuronal network for audiogenic seizures (AGS). The AGS of genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR-9s) culminate in tonic hindlimb extension (TE), and elevated acoustically evoked neuronal firing and burst firing, immediately preceding TE, have been observed in PAG and PRF. This study examined changes in PAG and PRF neuronal firing and behavior in GEPR-9s, following phenytoin administration. Recordings involved 16 PAG and nine PRF neurons in GEPR-9s. Phenytoin in doses (mean, 6.3 mg/kg) that suppressed TE selectively did not consistently alter PAG neuronal firing. However, these doses of phenytoin resulted in significant (51.6% of control) suppression of PRF neuronal firing. Doses of phenytoin (mean, 8.3 mg/kg), which completely blocked AGS, significantly reduced PAG neuronal firing (64.6% of control), and more greatly suppressed PRF firing (25.8% of control). These results are consistent with a critical role for PRF neurons in generation of TE not evident for PAG. The suppression of PAG and PRF neuronal firing induced by phenytoin with complete seizure blockade is consistent with vital roles for both structures in the seizure network. The differential effects of phenytoin on structures requisite to the seizure network indicate that this experimental approach may be able to identify the most sensitive therapeutic target for anticonvulsant drugs, which could be critical to pharmacological suppression of specific seizure behaviors manifest in various types of convulsions, potentially including human epilepsy.
Identification of cptA, a PmrA-Regulated Locus Required for Phosphoethanolamine Modification of the Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Lipopolysaccharide Core

In order to survive in the mammalian host, salmonellae have evolved means of evading killing by antimicrobial peptides (AP), central components of innate immunity. Such mechanisms have been demonstrated to be important for survival within hosts and host cells (9, 16, 27, 28). A common mode of increasing AP resistance involves alteration of the bacterial surface. In Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, the two-component regulatory systems (TCRS) PhoP-PhoQ and PmrA-PmrB have been characterized as contributing to resistance to AP by mediating alterations to the outer membrane and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (reviewed in reference 8). Both TCRS respond to specific cues from the host environment and have been shown to be activated within host cell vacuoles (1, 17). PhoP-PhoQ can be activated under conditions of low magnesium or low pH in vitro (3) and can activate PmrA-PmrB via induction of PmrD, whose product affects the phosphorylation state of PmrA (15, 19-21). PmrA can also be activated independent of PhoP in response to mild acid pH or high iron concentrations (11, 30). Such activation results in the induced transcription of pmrE and pmrHFIJKLM (also called pbg and arn elsewhere [12, 35]), which encode enzymes involved in biosynthesis of aminoarabinose (Ara4N) and its addition primarily to the 4′-phosphate of the lipid A portion of LPS (14). PmrA is also predicted to control modification of LPS with phosphoethanolamine (pEtN), because PmrA mutants with increased polymyxin B (PM) resistance show enhanced pEtN substitutions to the lipid A and core oligosaccharide (OS) fractions of LPS (18). Recently, the PmrA-regulated pmrC gene product was shown to mediate the addition of pEtN to the 1-position of lipid A and affect resistance to PM (22). In Neisseria meningitidis, loci necessary for transferring pEtN to the heptose II (HepII) of the LPS core or to lipid A were also recently identified (5, 23, 38). Inactivation of N. meningitidis lpt-3 resulted in the absence of pEtN from HepII of the core and bestowed increased resistance to bactericidal killing and decreased opsonophagocytosis by LPS-specific monoclonal antibody B5 (23). Similarly, inactivation of lptA led to loss of pEtN replacement of lipid A phosphates (5), and lpt6 was required for the addition of pEtN-6 on HepII of the core. However, it is not known if these pEtN phosphotransferases play a role in neisserial AP resistance or animal virulence. We recently identified a number of new Salmonella PmrA-regulated genes, including one locus with homology to both lpt-3 and lptA of N. meningitidis (34). In this work, we describe the further characterization of this gene, its role in pEtN modification of LPS, and the role of pEtN modification of LPS in AP resistance and virulence of Salmonella.
Intimate Partner Violence Research in the Health Care Setting: What Are Appropriate and Feasible Methodological Standards?

The past 20 years of research has exposed the profound cost of intimate partner violence (IPV) in health care problems and health care dollars for victims and bystanders. As a result, professional organizations encourage clinicians to identify IPV victims and to refer them to community resources. To date there is little evidence to show the value of these efforts, and many completed studies are criticized for methodological weaknesses. IPV studies are challenging to design, and the double-blind randomized controlled trial may be an impossible standard. To move forward, funders and study committees are encouraged to reassess the standards for IPV research methodologies.
Penal tourism and a tale of four cities: Reflecting on the museum effect in London, Sydney, Melbourne, and Buenos Aires

The resurrection of former prisons as museums has caught the attention of tourists along with scholars interested in studying penal tourism. This work expands on previous research on prison museums...
Diabetes prevalence and diagnosis in US states: analysis of health surveys

Current US surveillance data provide estimates of diabetes using laboratory tests at the national level as well as self-reported data at the state level. Self-reported diabetes prevalence may be biased because respondents may not be aware of their risk status. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes by state. We estimated undiagnosed diabetes prevalence as a function of a set of health system and sociodemographic variables using a logistic regression in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2006). We applied this relationship to identical variables from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2003-2007) to estimate state-level prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes by age group and sex. We assumed that those who report being diagnosed with diabetes in both surveys are truly diabetic. The prevalence of diabetes in the U.S. was 13.7% among men and 11.7% among women ≥ 30 years. Age-standardized diabetes prevalence was highest in Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia (15.8 to 16.6% for men and 12.4 to 14.8% for women). Vermont, Minnesota, Montana, and Colorado had the lowest prevalence (11.0 to 12.2% for men and 7.3 to 8.4% for women). Men in all states had higher diabetes prevalence than women. The absolute prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes, as a percent of total population, was highest in New Mexico, Texas, Florida, and California (3.5 to 3.7 percentage points) and lowest in Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Alaska, Vermont, Utah, Washington, and Hawaii (2.1 to 3 percentage points). Among those with no established diabetes diagnosis, being obese, being Hispanic, not having insurance and being ≥ 60 years old were significantly associated with a higher risk of having undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes prevalence is highest in the Southern and Appalachian states and lowest in the Midwest and the Northeast. Better diabetes diagnosis is needed in a number of states.
Closure temperatures of the Sm—Nd system in metamorphic garnets

Abstract Garnet-whole rock and garnet-mineral isochrons were determined on granulite facies gneisses and amphibolites from the Archean Pikwitonei Granulite Domain of the Superior Province, and the Proterozoic Central Gneiss Belt and Adirondack Highlands of the Grenville orogen. The Sm—Nd ages obtained from Archean garnets 0.1–0.5 cm in length are 30–110 Ma younger than the U—Pb ages obtained on the same garnets and also younger than the time of the last regional metamorphism, as determined by the growth ages of the youngest metamorphic garnets and zircons. Similarly, the Sm—Nd ages obtained from Proterozoic garnets with a diameter of 0.1–5 cm are younger than the time of the last regional metamorphism and similar or younger than cooling ages obtained on sphenes from the same sample or from the same geologic setting. Only the core of a garnet with a diameter of ca. 30 cm and without abundant inclusions may record the time of garnet growth. Comparison of the Sm—Nd ages with other geochronologic data and temperature estimates leads to the conclusion that the closure temperature for the Sm—Nd system in garnets analyzed in this study is ca. 600 ± 30°C. Only garnets with radii much larger than 5 cm may record Sm—Nd growth ages in upper amphibolite facies rocks from slowly cooled terranes. Garnets from higher grade terranes yield cooling ages that define the retrograde history of metamorphic terranes.
Dimensions of Approval Motivation: Sensitivity, Conformity, and Defensiveness

This paper reviewed research on the social desirability response tendency. The implications drawn from the studies reviewed were (1) the desire to appear socially acceptable is not merely a test-taking phenomenon but reflects a more pervasive determinant of individual behavior, and (2) there are three dimensions of approval motivation, sensitivity, conformity, and defensiveness.
Reinvestigation of bis(trimethylsilyl)mercury

In the course of work on main-group silyl compounds, crystals of the title compound, [Hg(C3H9Si)2]2, were prepared. An earlier X-ray analysis of this compound failed to give a full structural characterization. Here, the title compound is found to consist of dimers with 222 crystallographic symmetry formed by two molecules of (Me3Si)2Hg linked by a weak Hg⋯Hg interaction with an interatomic distance of 3.1463 (6) A. Each Si—Hg—Si frame is nearly linear and has an Hg—Si distance of 2.4913 (18) A.
Structure and morphology of polar and semi-polar pyramidal surfaces coating wurtzite ZnO micro-wires

Wurtzite ZnO nano-pyramids grown by evaporation-deposition methods have been characterized using advanced electron microscopy. The basal and pyramidal planes of the nano-pyramids were identified as (0001) polar and $$ \{ 20\bar{2}1\} $$ semi-polar surfaces, respectively. The $$ \{ 20\bar{2}1\} $$ semi-polar surfaces were further faceted into $$ \{ 10\bar{1}1\} $$ semi-polar and $$ \{ 10\bar{1}0\} $$ non-polar surfaces. Surface area calculations revealed that approximately 65 % of the total surfaces of the as-grown nanostructures consisted of polar or semi-polar surfaces.