cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genomics of human health and aging

Despite notable progress of the candidate-gene and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), understanding the role of genes contributing to human health and lifespan is still very limited. We use the Framingham Heart Study to elucidate if recognizing the role of evolution and systemic processes in an aging organism could advance such studies. We combine throughput methods of GWAS with more detail methods typical for candidate-gene analyses and show that both lifespan and ages at onset of CVD and cancer can be controlled by the same allelic variants. The risk allele carriers are at highly significant risk of premature death (e.g., RR = 2.9, p = 5.0 × 10−66), onset of CVD (e.g., RR = 1.6, p = 4.6 × 10−17), and onset of cancer (e.g., RR = 1.6, p = 1.5 × 10−6). The mechanism mediating the revealed genetic associations is likely associated with biological aging. These aging-related phenotypes are associated with a complex network which includes, in this study, 62 correlated SNPs even so these SNPs can be on non-homologous chromosomes. A striking result is three-fold, highly significant (p = 3.6 × 10−10) enrichment of non-synonymous SNPs (N = 27) in this network compared to the entire qualified set of the studied SNPs. Functional significance of this network is strengthened by involvement of genes for these SNPs in fundamental biological processes related to aging (e.g., response to stimuli, protein degradation, apoptosis) and by connections of these genes with neurological (20 genes) and cardio-vascular (nine genes) processes and tumorigenesis (10 genes). These results document challenging role of gene networks in regulating human health and aging and call for broadening focus on genomics of such phenotypes.
Men in Nursing: Barriers to Recruitment

Men still constitute a small minority of the nursing population. Although the literature has identified barriers that deter men from entering the profession, nursing schools and other stakeholders have been conservative in their efforts to recruit men. With the changes taking place in the healthcare system, nursing education programs are attracting fewer students. Active recruitment of young men may be a means of addressing nursing shortages. If nursing is to survive in the 21st century, affirmative action is needed to close the gender gap.
Cost-effectiveness of testing for hypercoagulability and effects on treatment strategies in patients with deep vein thrombosis

Abstract Purpose Among patients with deep vein thrombosis, hypercoagulable conditions impart a substantial risk of recurrent thrombosis. We sought to determine the cost-effectiveness of testing for these disorders, as well as which tests should be selected and how results should be used. Methods Using a Markov state-transition model, strategies of testing or not testing for a hypercoagulable state followed by anticoagulation for 6 to 36 months were compared in a hypothetical cohort of patients with apparently idiopathic deep vein thrombosis who were followed for life. Strategies were compared based on lifetime costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and marginal cost-effectiveness. Results In the base case, testing followed by 24 months of anticoagulation in patients with a hypercoagulable condition was more cost-effective ($54,820; 23.76 QALYs) than usual care, which comprised 6 months of anticoagulation without testing ($55,260; 23.72 QALYs). All hypercoagulable conditions tested were common enough and associated with a sufficient risk of recurrence to justify inclusion in a test panel. Twenty-four months of initial anticoagulation was preferred ( CONCLUSION Testing for hypercoagulable disorders in patients with idiopathic deep vein thrombosis followed by 2 years of anticoagulation in affected patients is cost-effective. A simpler approach of treating all patients with prolonged anticoagulation without testing is justified if data confirm the persistent risk of recurrent thrombosis.
Cysteine Cross-linking Defines the Extracellular Gate for the Leishmania donovani Nucleoside Transporter 1.1 (LdNT1.1)

Equilibrative nucleoside transporters are a unique family of proteins that enable uptake of nucleosides/nucleobases into a wide range of eukaryotes and internalize a myriad of drugs used in the treatment of cancer, heart disease, AIDs, and parasitic infections. In previous work we generated a structural model for such a transporter, the LdNT1.1 nucleoside permease from the parasitic protozoan Leishmania donovani, using ab initio computation. The model suggested that aromatic residues present in transmembrane helices 1, 2, and 7 interact to form an extracellular gate that closes the permeation pathway in the inward-open conformation. Mutation of residues Phe-48TM1 and Trp-75TM2 abrogated transport activity, consistent with such prediction. In this study cysteine mutagenesis and oxidative cross-linking were combined to analyze proximity relationships of helices 1, 2, and 7 in LdNT1.1. Disulfide bond formation between introduced paired cysteines at the interface of such helices (A61CTM1/F74CTM2, A61CTM1/G350CTM7, and F74CTM2/G350CTM7) was analyzed by transport measurement and gel mobility shifts upon oxidation with Cu (II)-(1,10-phenanthroline)3. In all cases cross-linking inhibited transport. However, if LdNT1.1 ligands were included during cross-linking, inhibition of transport was reduced, suggesting that ligands moved the three gating helices apart. Moreover, all paired cysteine mutants exhibited a mobility shift upon oxidation, corroborating the formation of a disulfide bond. These data support the notion that helices 1, 2, and 7 constitute the extracellular gate of LdNT1.1, thus further validating the computational model and the previously demonstrated importance of F48TM1 and Trp-75TM2 in tethering together helices that are part of the gate.
Winter Sunlight, Ultra Violet Light, and Glass Substitutes in the Prevention of Rickets in Growing Chicks

Abstract In 1923, Hart and associates1 published data showing that light can play a very important part in the rearing of baby chicks, acting as a supplement or the equivalent to the antirachitic factor of food stuffs. Data in agreement with the above conclusions were also presented by Hughes2. The latter investigator found a condition to develop in chicks identical with mammalian rickets when birds were given adequate food, but received sunlight filtered through glass. Chicks receiving the same food and treatment, but exposed to direct sunlight for a few hours, developed normally. Since common window glass is known to shut off the beneficial ultra violet rays, much attention has been directed toward the manufacture of glass filters which will overcome this deficiency. During the past two years several of these substitutes have been tested in this laboratory for their transmissibility. However, Tisdall and Brown3 at Toronto, Canada, and Cochran and . . .
Cost Considerations in Providing Nutrition and Feeding Team Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs

Abstract Up to 40% of children with special health care needs are at increased risk for a variety of nutrition and feeding problems, including altered growth, inadequate nutrient intake, impaired feeding skills, and need for specialized feedings. Documenting the costs of providing nutrition services relative to savings in related medical costs has not been done. A case series of 30 children who received nutrition or feeding team services was collected in Washington State. Positive outcomes included appropriate growth, improved dietary intake, decreased illness and hospitalizations, improved feeding skills, and improved health status. The estimated medical costs avoided exceeded the intervention costs for nutrition and feeding team services for 28 of the 30 children. The case studies demonstrate the benefits of providing nutrition and feeding team services for a selected group of children with special health care needs. Early identification of problems followed by referral for assessment and intervention was key in positive outcomes. Improvements in nutrition and feeding problems were achieved by modest investments of professional expertise, resulting in savings in overall health care expenditures. With changing health care delivery systems, health care policy makers, providers, and payers of services need to be aware of results such as these, especially when considering benefits packages, systems of nutrition screening and referral, and client/family satisfaction.
Extending SGML to accommodate database functions: a methodological overview

A method for augmenting an SGML document repository with database functionality is presented. SGML (ISO 8879, 1986) has been widely accepted as a standard language for writing text with added structural information that gives the text greater applicability. Recently there has been a trend to use this structural information as meta-data in databases. The complex structure of documents, however, makes it difficult to directly map the structural information in documents to database structures. In particular, the flat nature of relational databases makes it extremely difficult to model documents that are inherently hierarchical in nature. Consequently, documents are modeled in object-oriented databases (Abite-boul, Cluet, & Milo, 1993), and object-relational databases (Holst, 1995), in which SGML documents are mapped into the corresponding database models and are later reconstructed as necessary. However, this mapping strategy is not natural and can potentially cause loss of information in the original SGML documents. Moreover, interfaces for building queries for current document databases are mostly built on form-based query techniques and do not use the “look and feel” of the documents. This article introduces an implementation method for a complex-object modeling technique specifically for SGML documents and describes interface techniques tailored for text databases. Some of the concepts for a Structured Document Database Management System (SDDBMS) specifically designed for SGML documents are described. A small survey of some current products is also presented to demonstrate the need for such a system. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
27Al nuclear quadrupole resonance study of crystalline aluminosilicates

Abstract 27 Al NQR responses have been obtained from the three different forms of crystalline Al 2 SiO 5 , andalusite, kyanite, and sillimanite, by a very sensitive Robinson-type continuous wave NQR spectrometer at 77 K or at room temperature. From the NQR responses the values of Q cc and of η were determined for all the aluminum coordinations in the powdered samples. The values are compared with those obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance studies of single crystals.
Vertical diplopia and ptosis from removal of the orbital roof in pterional craniotomy.

Purpose To describe a newly recognized clinical syndrome consisting of ptosis, diplopia, vertical gaze limitation, and abduction weakness that can occur after orbital roof removal during orbito-zygomatic-pterional craniotomy. Design Case series. Participants Eight study patients (7 women), 44 to 80 years of age, with neuro-ophthalmic symptoms after pterional craniotomy. Methods Case description of 8 study patients. Main Outcome Measures Presence of ptosis, diplopia, and gaze limitation. Results Eight patients had neuro-ophthalmic findings after pterional craniotomy for meningioma removal or aneurysm clipping. The cardinal features were ptosis, limited elevation, and hypotropia. Three patients also had limitation of downgaze and 2 patients had limitation of abduction. Imaging showed loss of the fat layers that normally envelop the superior rectus and levator palpebrae superioris. The muscles appeared attached to the defect in the orbital roof. Ptosis and diplopia developed in 2 patients despite Medpor titanium mesh implants. Deficits in all patients showed spontaneous improvement. In 2 patients, a levator advancement was required to repair ptosis. In 3 patients, an inferior rectus recession using an adjustable suture was performed to treat vertical diplopia. Follow-up a mean of 6.5 years later revealed that all patients had a slight residual upgaze deficit, but alignment was orthotropic in primary gaze. Conclusions After pterional craniotomy, ptosis, diplopia, and vertical gaze limitation can result from tethering of the superior rectus–levator palpebrae superioris complex to the surgical defect in the orbital roof. Lateral rectus function sometimes is compromised by muscle attachment to the lateral orbital osteotomy. This syndrome occurs in approximately 1% of patients after removal of the orbital roof and can be treated, if necessary, by prism glasses or surgery.
Are rural and urban newly licensed nurses different? A longitudinal study of a nurse residency programme.

Aim This study aimed to compare rural and urban nurse residency programme participants’ personal and job characteristics and perceptions of decision-making, job satisfaction, job stress, nursing performance and organisational commitment over time. Background Nurse residency programmes are an evolving strategy to foster transition to practice for new nurses. However, there are limited data available for programme outcomes particularly for rural nurses. Method A longitudinal design sampled 382 urban and 86 rural newly licensed hospital nurses during a 12-month nurse residency programme. Data were collected at the start of the programme, at 6 months and the end of the programme. Results At the end of the programme, rural nurses had significantly higher job satisfaction and lower job stress compared with urban nurses. Across all time-periods rural nurses had significantly lower levels of stress caused by the physical work environment and at the end of the programme had less stress related to staffing compared with urban nurses. Perceptions of their organisational commitment and competency to make decisions and perform role elements were similar. Conclusions Differences in these outcomes may be result from unique characteristics of rural vs. urban nursing practice that need further exploration. Implications for nursing management Providing a nurse residency programme in rural and urban hospitals can be a useful recruitment and retention strategy.
Environmental Factors Affecting Computer Assisted Language Learning Success: A Complex Dynamic Systems Conceptual Model.

This conceptual, interdisciplinary inquiry explores Complex Dynamic Systems as the concept relates to the internal and external environmental factors affecting computer assisted language learning (CALL). Based on the results obtained by de Rosnay [World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution, 67(4/5), 304–315 (2011)], who observed that the systems approach is separate from, and complimentary to, the analytical/experimental model of analysis, the authors use a systems analysis approach to identify a typology of environmental factors that are internal and external to the CALL student, and internal and external to the school. The typology is presented in a CALL ecology model (CEM) along with implications for pedagogy. The authors believe that the systems orientation will become more and more important in the overall understanding of best practices in computer assisted language learning.
Sensitivity of proliferating human breast epithelial cells to hypotonic treatment

An assay for colony-forming cells of breast epithelia derived from normal and malignant surgical specimens is described using an IMR 90 fibroblast feeder layer. Their radiosensitivity (DO: 120-172) is consistent with the proliferative origin of the colonies. Distilled water inhibits proliferation of a proportion of the colony-forming cells after a 1-minute exposure. Continued detection of colonies after 10 minutes of exposure indicates that it is an inefficient way of completely eradicating proliferating epithelial cells of normal and malignant origin.
Should every patient with left-ventricular systolic dysfunction receive implantable cardioverter-defibrillators?

Should every patient with left-ventricular systolic dysfunction receive implantable cardioverter-defibrillators?
Enhanced Electron Transfer and Lauric Acid Hydroxylation by Site-Directed Mutagenesis of CYP119

CYP119, a cytochrome P450 from a thermophilic organism for which a crystal structure is available, is shown here to hydroxylate lauric acid in a reaction supported by putidaredoxin and putidaredoxin reductase. This fatty acid hydroxylation activity is increased 15-fold by T214V and D77R mutations. The T214V mutation increases the rate by facilitating substrate binding and enhancing the associated spin state change, whereas the D77R mutation improves binding of the heterologous redox partner putidaredoxin to CYP119 and the rate of electron transfer from it to the heme group. A sequence alignment with P450cam can, therefore, be used to identify a part of the binding site for putidaredoxin on an unrelated P450 enzyme. This information can be used to engineer by mutagenesis an improved complementarity of the protein−protein interface that results in improved electron transfer from putidaredoxin to the P450 enzyme. As a result, the catalytic activity of the thermo- and barostable CYP119 has been incorporated i...
Introduction to the Special Section on 22nd International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology

The seven papers in this special section are expanded versions of papers presented at the 22nd International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology, held from April 25 to April 28, 2011 in Tucson, AZ.
Spatial profiles of N2+ concentration in an atmospheric pressure nitrogen glow discharge

Spatial profiles of N2+ concentration are measured in an atmospheric pressure nitrogen glow discharge by cavity ring-down spectroscopy. At discharge currents of ~100 mA, we measure centreline ion concentrations on the order of 1012 cm-3, and radial profiles with radial-half-maximum of ~1 mm. The measurements have sub-ppm concentration sensitivity, and sub-millimetre spatial resolution. Using a collisional-radiative model we relate the ion concentrations to electron number densities, and we find good agreement with spatially integrated electrical measurements. The measured concentrations indicate significant nonequilibrium in the discharges.
Notch post-translationally regulates β-catenin protein in stem and progenitor cells

Cellular decisions of self-renewal or differentiation arise from integration and reciprocal titration of numerous regulatory networks. Notch and Wnt/β-catenin signalling often intersect in stem and progenitor cells and regulate each other transcriptionally. The biological outcome of signalling through each pathway often depends on the context and timing as cells progress through stages of differentiation. Here, we show that membrane-bound Notch physically associates with unphosphorylated (active) β-catenin in stem and colon cancer cells and negatively regulates post-translational accumulation of active β-catenin protein. Notch-dependent regulation of β-catenin protein did not require ligand-dependent membrane cleavage of Notch or the glycogen synthase kinase-3β-dependent activity of the β-catenin destruction complex. It did, however, require the endocytic adaptor protein Numb and lysosomal activity. This study reveals a previously unrecognized function of Notch in negatively titrating active β-catenin protein levels in stem and progenitor cells.
Partisanship and political discussion

Abstract The question of how individuals affect each other politically has drawn considerable interest in the social sciences for some time. Unfortunately, little in the way of a theoretical formulation of the social interaction process has been developed. Using party identification as an attitude subject to social influence, this paper evaluates the general hypothesis that individual party identification is affected by the party identification of a politically significant other, as well as specific hypotheses about the conditions that facilitate this process. Using data collected specifically for this task in South Bend, Indiana, the analyses indicate that individual partisanship responds to discussant partisanship, and that this effect is enhanced in situations of homogeneous political content, frequent discussion, and where the partisanship of the discussant is known.
Clinical Profile Differences Between PTSD-Diagnosed Military Veterans and Crime Victims

Few studies have conducted symptom comparisons across different trauma-exposed populations. Evidence linking different types of trauma to variations in clinical presentation would have potential implications for the assessment and treatment of trauma-related psychopathology. The current study evaluated whether military veterans (n = 187) and civilian crime victims (n = 47) diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder differ in their self-reported posttraumatic symptoms as measured by the Trauma Symptom Inventory. A multivariate profile analysis revealed that military-related trauma is associated with more severe posttraumatic symptoms than criminal victimization and suggested that these 2 types of trauma have statistically distinct symptom profiles. Some potential implications of these findings and considerations for future research are discussed.
Influence of grain size on the constitutive response and substructure evolution of MONEL 400

The influence of grain size on the constitutive behavior (strain-rate and temperature dependence of the yield stress and strain hardening) and substructure evolution of MONEL 400 was investigated. Increasing the grain size from 9.5 to 202 µm was seen to reduce the quasi-static yield strength from 290 to 115 MPa, while having a minimal effect on the work-hardening response. Increasing the strain rate from quasi-static to dynamic strain rates (3000 s−1) was seen to increase the yield and overall flow-stress levels, but has no effect on the strong grain-size dependency exhibited by this alloy. The persistent influence of grain size to large strains is inconsistent with previous d −1/2 pileup grain-size modeling in the literature, which predicts convergence at large strains. Substructure evolution differences between the grain interiors and adjacent to grain boundaries supports differential defect storage processes which are consistent with previously published work-hardening d −1 modeling arguments for grain size-dependent strengthening in polycrystals. The integration of grain-size dependency into constitutive modeling using the mechanical threshold stress (MTS) model is discussed. The MTS model is shown to provide a robust constitutive description capturing yielding, large-strain work hardening, and grain-size effects simultaneously. The MTS model is, additionally, shown to satisfactorily address the experimentally observed transients due to strain-rate or temperature-path dependency.
Fabrication of a “Soft” Membrane Electrode Assembly Using Layer-by-Layer Technology

A new type of thin-film electrode that does not utilize conducting polymers or traditional metal or chemical vapor deposition methods has been developed to create ultrathin flexible electrodes for fuel cells. Using the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique, carbon-polymer electrodes have been assembled from polyelectrolytes and stable carbon colloidal dispersions. Thin-film LbL polyelectrolyte-carbon electrodes (LPCEs) have been successfully assembled atop both metallic and non-metallic, porous and non-porous substrates. These electrodes exhibit high electronic conductivities of 2-4 S cm - 1 , and their porous structure provides ionic conductivities in the range of 10 - 4 to 10 - 3 S cm - 1 . The electrodes show remarkable stability towards oxidizing, acidic, or delaminating basic solutions. In particular, an LPCE consisting of poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride)/poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid)/carbon-platinum assembled on a porous stainless steel support yields an open-circuit potential similar to that of a pure platinum electrode. With LbL carbon-polymer electrodes, the membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) in a fuel cell can be made several times thinner, assume multiple geometries, and hence be more compact. The mechanism for LPCE deposition, electrode structure, and miniaturization will be presented and discussed, and demonstrations of the LbL electrodes in a traditional Nafion-based proton fuel cell and the first demonstration of a thin-film hydrogen-air "soft" fuel cell fully constructed using multilayer assembly are described.
Generating Pareto schedules with outsource and internal parallel resources

Abstract The outsourcing of manufacturing operations continues to gain popularity, forcing companies to deal with the issue of scheduling orders in increasingly complex supply chains. This paper addresses a supply chain scheduling problem where both internal and external/outsourced parallel resources are available and the objectives are to minimize the number of late orders and the total outsource machine time. Both criteria are significant since the former is a measure of the degree of customer service while the latter represents an important cost measure. Several heuristics are developed that generate sets of Pareto-efficient schedules. The bi-criteria performance of the heuristics is assessed employing three existing methods for evaluating efficient solution sets. The evaluation (comparison of the heuristics) is based on two experiments where the values of relevant parameters (e.g., due date tightness or number of jobs) are set at different levels. These performance evaluations and comparisons between heuristics show that various approaches work well, each dominating under particular conditions of experimental variables.
Filial Piety and Care for Elders: A Contested Confucian Virtue Reexamined

Filial piety is a Confucian value common in East Asian societies and among Asian-Americans that sets an expectation for children to respect and care for aging parents. Within social work and gerontology literature, filial piety is contested as being a positive or negative influence on families and social welfare policy. However, there has not been a detailed examination of filial piety as presented in the Confucian philosophy that advocates it. Accordingly, this article examines the Confucian view of filial piety in order to assist with the process of transforming it in ways that fit contemporary social conditions.
An explanation for deamination of phenylethylamine by multiple types of monoamine oxidase

Summary The effect of varying substrate concentration on the shape of inhibition plots to clorgyline has been investigated for phenylethylamine (PEA) in rat heart, liver and vas deferens. The results show that the MAO types deaminating PEA vary in accordance with the substrate concentration. The factors influencing the shape of clorgyline plots are discussed. Classification and assay of tissue MAOs with PEA may lead to false conclusions unless careful attention is given to the concentration used.
The relation between discriminability and memory for vowels, consonants, and silent-center vowels

People remember lists of vowel-contrasting syllables better than lists that vary only in stop consonant identity. Most views suggest that this difference is due to the structure of immediate memory and the greater discriminability of vowels compared with consonants. In all of these views, there is a presumed systematic relationship between discriminability and recall so that the more discriminable an item, the better that item should be recalled. The 11 experiments reported here measured the relative discriminability of and compared serial recall for (1) intact syllables that varied only in the medial vowel, (2) intact syllables that varied only in the initial consonant, and (3) syllables with the center vowel replaced by silence (so-called silent-center vowels). When item discriminability, as measured by identification, was equated for consonant-contrasting and silent-center lists, serial recall performance was also equal. However, even when the vowels were less discriminable than the consonants or silent-center vowels, serial recall performance for the vowels was still better. These results are problematic for theories based on acoustic discriminability but can be explained parsimoniously by Nairne's (1990) feature model.
Effects of morphine, in vitro and in vivo, on tyrosine hydroxylase activity in rat brain☆

Abstract The effect of morphine on the synthesis of catecholamines was determined in rat brain. In agreement with other studies, morphine produced a dose-dependent increase in the biosynthesis of the catecholamines. To assess whether morphine might enhance the synthesis of norepinephrine and dopamine by a direct chemical interaction with tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting step in their biosynthesis, the effects of the narcotic on the activity of the enzyme were determined in several regions of rat brain. Morphine, in vitro , from 10 −8 to 10 −2 M had no effect on the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase in any region examined. Moreover, morphine (10 −5 and 10 −3 M) had no effect on the apparent K m of tyrosine hydroxylase for either substrate or cofactor (6-7-dimethyl-5, 6,7,8-tetrahydropterine). In addition, morphine (10 −5 and 10 −3 M) failed to block the inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase, in vitro , by norepinephrine and dopamine in the hypothalamus and caudate respectively. The effects of morphine treatment, in vivo , on enzyme activity were also examined. The results of these studies indicated that acute injections of morphine had no effect on tyrosine hydroxylase activity, in vitro , indicating that the drug did not alter the level of an endogenous activator or inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase. Further studies indicated that development of tolerance to and physical dependence on morphine was not associated with an increase in the activity of brain tyrosine hydroxylase activity. The results of these studies suggest that morphine does not enhance the biosynthesis of catecholamines by a direct effect of tyrosine hydroxylase and that tolerance to the narcotic is not characterized by an induction of this enzyme.
Tolerance to multiple doses of the pulmonary toxicant, naphthalene

Intraperitoneal administration of single doses of the volatile aromatic hydrocarbon, naphthalene, resulted in dose-dependent bronchiolar epithelial cell necrosis in mice. Twenty-four hours after a dose of 50 mg/kg, swelling of Clara cells with some exfoliation of epithelial cells was evident in half of the treated animals. At doses of 100 mg/kg small numbers of necrotic and swollen cells with pyknotic nuclei were observed. At 200 mg/kg there were substantial numbers of bronchiolar epithelial cells sloughed into the airway lumen, apical projections were virtually absent, and there were large numbers of cells with pyknotic nuclei. In contrast, bronchiolar airways from mice treated with naphthalene daily for 7 days at doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day differed only slightly from controls. Significant protection to bronchiolar epithelial cell necrosis produced by 300 mg/kg naphthalene was afforded by seven daily injections of 200 but not 50 or 100 mg/kg naphthalene. A gradual recovery in sensitivity to the 300 mg/kg challenge dose of naphthalene was observed as the time between the last 200 mg/kg naphthalene dose increased from 24 to 144 hr. Daily administration of 200 mg/kg but not 50 or 100 mg/kg naphthalene for 7 days resulted in a selective decrease in the rate of formation of 1R,2S-naphthalene oxide by mouse lung but not liver microsomal enzymes. This selective decrease in pulmonary microsomal formation of 1R,2S-oxide continued in animals killed 48, 96, and 144 hr after the last administration of 200 mg/kg. Alterations in the rate of formation of reactive, covalently bound naphthalene metabolites in lung microsomes were not observed, nor were there any differences in the levels of covalently bound reactive metabolites in vivo between tolerant and control animals. These studies are consistent with other work showing that the lung loses susceptibility to the acute injury arising from repeated exposure to pneumotoxicants. In contrast to other studies with naphthalene where alterations in the levels of covalently bound reactive metabolites in the lung closely paralleled the extent and severity of bronchiolar injury, these studies clearly separate necrosis from covalent binding. Although the correlation was not absolute, it appears that formation of 1R,2S-oxide by microsomal enzymes in vitro is a better overall marker of decreased sensitivity to naphthalene-induced bronchiolar necrosis than is reactive metabolite binding either in vivo or in vitro.
16.7 A 20V 8.4W 20MHz four-phase GaN DC-DC converter with fully on-chip dual-SR bootstrapped GaN FET driver achieving 4ns constant propagation delay and 1ns switching rise time

Recently, the demand for miniaturized and fast transient response power delivery systems has been growing in high-voltage industrial electronics applications. Gallium Nitride (GaN) FETs showing a superior figure of merit (R ds, ON X Q g ) in comparison with silicon FETs [1] can enable both high-frequency and high-efficiency operation in these applications, thus making power converters smaller, faster and more efficient. However, the lack of GaN-compatible high-speed gate drivers is a major impediment to fully take advantage of GaN FET-based power converters. Conventional high-voltage gate drivers usually exhibit propagation delay, t delay , of up to several 10s of ns in the level shifter (LS), which becomes a critical problem as the switching frequency, f sw , reaches the 10MHz regime. Moreover, the switching slew rate (SR) of driving GaN FETs needs particular care in order to maintain efficient and reliable operation. Driving power GaN FETs with a fast SR results in large switching voltage spikes, risking breakdown of low-V gs GaN devices, while slow SR leads to long switching rise time, t R , which degrades efficiency and limits f sw . In [2], large t delay and long t R in the GaN FET driver limit its f sw to 1MHz. A design reported in [3] improves t R to 1.2ns, thereby enabling f sw up to 10MHz. However, the unregulated switching dead time, t DT , then becomes a major limitation to further reduction of t de!ay . This results in limited f sw and narrower range of V IN -V O conversion ratio. Interleaved multiphase topologies can be the most effective way to increase system f sw . However, each extra phase requires a capacitor for bootstrapped (BST) gate driving which incurs additional cost and complexity of the PCB design. Moreover, the requirements of f sw synchronization and balanced current sharing for high f sw operation in multiphase implementation are challenging.
Effect of substrate temperature on the microstructure of thin‐film silicide

The effect of substrate temperature Ts during evaporation on the microstructure of Pd2Si thin films on (111) Si formed by evaporation followed by subsequent higher‐temperature anneal has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy. For Ts of 20 and 100 °C, the Pd2Si grows epitaxially on the substrate. For a Ts of 200 °C the Pd2Si is polycrystalline and grains are uniaxially textured about the [001] axis and there are pinholes in the film. For a Ts of 300 °C, the microstructure of Pd2Si is spongy and grains are much less oriented.
A pilot study of etoposide, vinblastine, and doxorubicin plus involved field irradiation in advanced, previously untreated Hodgkin's disease.

BACKGROUND Advanced stage Hodgkin's disease (HD) usually is treated with combination chemotherapy with or without supplemental irradiation. The risk of significant acute and long term toxicity when the chemotherapy regimen contains alkylating agents has provided the impetus for the development of systemic combinations that do not include alkylating agents. This trial was designed to assess the toxicity and efficacy of a regimen of etoposide, vinblastine, and doxorubicin (EVA) as part of a combined modality approach in patients with moderate to high risk HD. METHODS This was a prospective pilot study that included 26 previously untreated patients. They received 6 cycles of EVA, and complete responders received low dose (1500-2500 cGy) involved field radiation. RESULTS Four patients were hospitalized for sepsis during chemotherapy. Complete response was achieved in 54% of patients, and 46% patients experienced induction failures. Two year failure-free survival is 44%, while 2 year overall survival is 86%. Median follow-up is 27 months. CONCLUSIONS The EVA regimen is no more efficacious than other programs already in use and may be less so. It also is potentially leukemogenic because of the presence of etoposide. New combinations that do not contain etoposide should be explored in therapy programs for advanced HD in the hopes of discovering an efficacious treatment program that has minimal long term side effects.
Ideal theory and laplace transforms for a class of measure algebras on a group

In this paper we introduce, and undertake the study of a class of Banach algebras associated with a locally compact group G. These algebras are related to the two-sided Laplace transform in the same way that the group algebra LI(G) and the measure algebra M(G) are related to the Fourier transform. In the following paragraph, we indicate the nature of some of our final results by exposing them in the simplest nontrivial case. If A is a compact convex subset of R" let s denote the space of measurable functions on R a for which II/II~=SRI~'(~)I~A(~),Z~<~, ,,,,here ~A(x)=sup~A~ -~~ Note that for /E ~(A), the Laplace transform
A Proteomic Survey of Nonribosomal Peptide and Polyketide Biosynthesis in Actinobacteria

Actinobacteria such as streptomycetes are renowned for their ability to produce bioactive natural products including nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) and polyketides (PKs). The advent of genome sequencing has revealed an even larger genetic repertoire for secondary metabolism with most of the small molecule products of these gene clusters still unknown. Here, we employed a “protein-first” method called PrISM (Proteomic Investigation of Secondary Metabolism) to screen 26 unsequenced actinomycetes using mass spectrometry-based proteomics for the targeted detection of expressed nonribosomal peptide synthetases or polyketide synthases. Improvements to the original PrISM screening approach (Nat. Biotechnol. 2009, 27, 951−956), for example, improved de novo peptide sequencing, have enabled the discovery of 10 NRPS/PKS gene clusters from 6 strains. Taking advantage of the concurrence of biosynthetic enzymes and the secondary metabolites they generate, two natural products were associated with their previously “orpha...
Mathematical modelling of singular value decomposition problems for oceans

This paper is a continuation of a previous article that presented mathematical modelling of inverse problems for oceans. In this paper, we examine the extent to which the technique of singular value decomposition (SVD) can be used to reduce the solution variance. It is shown that by comparing the relative sizes of the standard deviations and the expected values of the coefficients of the basis vectors used in the SVD, one can obtain a reasonably good indication of when to stop the truncation of the expansion of the solution. Finally, this paper demonstrates the importance of using the data at the appropriate scales, and that the SVD technique can be used to determine whether or not the scales at which one is using the data are realistic.
On the current source implementation for the ADI-FDTD method

The current source implementation for the alternating-direction implicit finite-difference time-domain (ADI-FDTD) method is examined in this letter. By regarding the ADI-FDTD method as an approximate factorization of the Crank-Nicolson scheme, current source is naturally coupled into simulations. As a result, field distribution is much more improved and free of asymmetry.
Reduction of emergent dropping behavior during treatment of elopement

Although treatments for elopement (leaving an assigned area or a caregiver without permission) and dropping (falling to the floor) have been reported in the literature, there are no studies that have examined the concurrent treatment of these behaviors. The current investigation reports on the emergence and treatment of dropping during the treatment of elopement.
Stark ionization in dc and ac fields: An L2 complex-coordinate approach

A finite-dimensional-matrix technique valid for computation of complex eigenvalues and eigenfunctions useful for discussing time evolution in both dc and ac Stark fields is presented. The complex eigenvalue parameters are those of appropriately analytically continued, time-independent Stark Hamiltonians as obtained via the complex scale transformation $r\ensuremath{\rightarrow}r{e}^{i\ensuremath{\theta}}$. Such a transformation distorts the continuous spectrum away from the real axis, exposing the Stark resonances, and also allowing use of finite variational expansions employing ${L}^{2}$ basis functions chosen from a complete discrete basis. The structure of the dc and ac Stark Hamiltonians is discussed and extensive convergence studies performed in both the dc and ac cases to fully document the utility of the method. Sudden and adiabatic dc Stark time evolution is used to illustrate the power of finite-dimensional-matrix methods in describing complex, multiple-time-scale time evolution. The relationship between the ac Stark Hamiltonian used (a time-independent truncated Floquet Hamiltonian) and continued-fraction perturbation theory follows easily via use of matrix partitioning, and provides a particularly straightforward derivation of these results. Finally, some illustrative calculations of off-resonant generalized cross sections are given at low and high intensities, indicating that the method works satisfactorily at intensities the order of internal atomic field strengths. A more detailed discussion of time evolution in two-, three-, and four-photon ionization processes appears in the following paper by Holt, Raymer, and Reinhardt.
Measurement of the Absorption Coefficient of Atmospheric Dust

A method developed by previous workers for measuring the absorption coefficient of strongly absorbing powdered materials has been applied to samples of atmospheric dust in the 0.3-1.1-microm wavelength interval. This work, which is based on the Kubelka-Munk theory of diffuse reflectance, provides an estimate of the optical absorption coefficient. The corresponding imaginary refractive index is calculated from this value. Results are given for several samples of dry atmospheric dust collected in the desert of southern New Mexico. A typical value for the imaginary refractive index was found to be 0.007 at 0.6 microm, with little dependence on wavelength in the spectral range investigated. These results are found to be in good agreement with those of other workers obtained by different methods.
Three General Laws of Politics and Government in America (with Apologies to Sir Isaac Newton)

Since our earliest days as a profession, regularities of politics have been described in terms of laws of political behavior (Bryce 1909), but not without controversy. Reviewing a century of efforts to identify laws of politics yields numerous offerings, including Duverger's (1954) and Michels' (1915) well-known contributions. Following the structure embodied in Newton's Laws of Motion, I propose three general laws of politics and government in America: (1) political objects in motion tend to stay in motion, (2) the relationship between a candidate and his or her political force is the product of campaign funding and personal likability or appeal to the press, and (3) for every political action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (i.e., “Craig Leonard Brians Law of Unintended Political Consequences”). Each law is illustrated and discussed using examples drawn from US politics. Finally, I note several potential research limitations of these proposed laws, as well as their possible utility in teaching introductory political science courses.
Oriented Percolation in Dimensions D ≥ 4: Bounds and Asymptotic Formulas

Let pc(d) be the critical probability for oriented percolation in ℤd and let μ(d) be the time constant for the first passage process based on the exponential distribution. In this paper we show that as d → ∞,dpc(d) and dμ,(d) → γ where γ is a constant in [e−1, 2−1] which we conjecture to be e−1. In the case of pc(d) we have made some progress toward obtaining an asymptotic expansion in powers of d−1. Our results showThe left hand side agrees, up to O(d−3), with a (nonrigorous) series expansion of Blease (1, 2):
Inviting Young Adults to Come Out Religiously, Institutionally and Traditionally

AbstractIn recent years, sociologists of religion and research organizations have compiled a picture of the sense and sensibilities of young adults. This article focuses on three major facets of the portrait generated from the research: young adults are (1) spiritual, not religious, (2) anti-institutional, anti-church, and (3) apathetic, if not dismissive, of tradition. The article offers a counterargument, a critical and constructive educational response and correction to each facet of the mosaic. It advocates the re-appropriation of the religious, the institutional, and tradition as indispensable for reopening access to young adults to participate in our social and public spaces.
Democracy, Disputes, and Negotiated Settlements:

The argument that democracies are less belligerent toward one another because of their experience with mediation, negotiation, and compromise at the domestic level suggests that negotiated dispute settlements are more likely between relatively democratic states than other conflicting pairs. Militarized Interstate Dispute data and Polity IIId and Freedom House ratings of democracy are used to examine the propensities of disputants to resolve their grievances through negotiated means. Findings suggest a strong positive influence for mutual democracy. Specifically, the more democratic the less democratic member of a conflictual dyad, the more likely it is their dispute will be resolved through a negotiated settlement. This finding also holds across varying degrees of dyadic relative power and supports existing literature that chronicles the pacific conditioning power of democratic norms for several areas of interstate relations.
Changes in leadership of breast cancer research and treatment

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Daniel Hayes for his wonderful service and leadership as an Associate Editor of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. Our journal averages around five submissions a day 365 days a year and Dan has ably overseen many of the clinical manuscripts submitted. Not only has he done this with timeliness, sympathy, and wonderful judgment, but in addition has led substantial improvement in policy and guidelines for articles on prognostic variables and other areas. With Dan’s remarkable efforts, the impact factor of the journal has risen substantially and we commonly receive among the most critical clinical trials results in breast cancer. We deeply appreciate his dedication and effort. I am very pleased to announce that Professor Stefan Gluck, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has accepted our proposal to replace Dan as Associate Editor. Stefan brings many of the same skills to our board plus a wide ranging experience in other areas of malignancy which will serve us well. We are still seeking to fill one additional Associate Editor position, with a focus on imaging technologies. We would appreciate hearing from our readership concerning suitable candidates for this important role.