cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lower expression of tumor microRNA‐26a is associated with higher recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing surgical treatment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) exhibit lower tumor microRNA-26a (miR-26a) expression which is associated with worse outcomes. It is unknown if similar miR-26a loss occurs in HCC developed in other liver diseases. We examined tumor miR-26a expression and its impact on recurrence and mortality in a North American HCC cohort. METHODS MiR-26a levels from tumor and surrounding nontumor liver tissue in 186 subjects were collected. We defined lower tumor expression of miR-26a as <1-fold that of the adjacent nontumor liver tissue. RESULTS Viral hepatitis (42%; 40% hepatitis C and 2% HBV), alcohol (19%), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (18%) were the most common causes of liver disease. The prevalence of lower tumor miR-26a expression was 68%, and it was evident in HCCs arising in all etiologies (viral hepatitis 60%, alcohol 61%, and NAFLD 76%). Subjects with lower tumor miR-26a expression had significantly higher tumor recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 2.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18 to 5.1; P = 0.016) and higher mortality of borderline significance (HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.94 to 2.41; P = 0.086). CONCLUSION Reduced miR-26a expression is a common phenomenon in HCC arising in North American patients with different underlying liver diseases and may increase recurrence and mortality after surgery.
The Combination of Fosfomycin plus Meropenem Is Synergistic for Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 in a Hollow-Fiber Infection Model

Treating high-density bacterial infections is a challenging clinical problem. We have a paucity of new agents that can address this problem. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a particularly difficult pathogen to treat effectively because of the plethora of resistance mechanisms it carries. Fosfomycin is an agent discovered circa 40 years ago. Recently, it has been resurrected in the United States and studied for intravenous therapy. We hypothesized that, to maximize its utility, it would require combination chemotherapy when used in a clinical circumstance in high-bacterial-burden infections. We chose to examine the combination of meropenem plus fosfomycin. These agents were studied in the hollow-fiber infection model. We utilized a fully factorial study design, looking at 2 doses of meropenem alone (1 and 2 g 8-hourly) and two doses of fosfomycin alone (6 and 8 g 8-hourly), as well as all possible combinations plus a no-treatment control. We used a high-dimensional model of 5 inhomogeneous differential equations with 5 system outputs to analyze all data simultaneously. Combination therapy outperformed all monotherapy regimens, with all combinations driving >6 log10 CFU/ml of bacterial killing. Combination therapy was able to counterselect resistance emergence (meropenem mutants being killed by the combination, as well as fosfomycin mutants being killed by the combination) in all regimens studied. The analysis demonstrated that the combination was significantly synergistic for bacterial cell killing and resistance suppression. Meropenem plus fosfomycin is a promising combination for therapy of high-burden Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and requires further study.
Beijing Is Rock, Shanghai Is Jazz: Musical Identity Formations and Shifts in the Big City Soundscapes of China

This chapter traces the rise of live music scenes in Beijing and Shanghai since the 1980s, looking at how their respective identities as China’s rock and jazz capital originated and developed, and how these identities have shifted since the 2000s. It traces Beijing’s identity as a rock and roll city to the 1980s with the rise of China’s early rockers, in the bewildering context of the new reform era and the massive protest movement in 1989 that ended in violence. In the 1990s, rock in Beijing went underground in makeshift club and bar scenes that gave rise to the Chinese punk movement. Meanwhile, Shanghai began reviving its identity as a jazz metropolis in the 1980s, with ample references to its ‘golden age’ of the 1930s. More recently, each city has fed off the other’s scenes, clubs, and musicians to create a more diverse musical soundscape for the inhabitants.
Transducing Protease Activity into DNA Output for Developing Smart Bionanosensors.

DNA can process information through sequence-based reorganization but cannot typically receive input information from most biological processes and translate that into DNA compatible language. Coupling DNA to a substrate responsive to biological events can address this limitation. A two-component sensor incorporating a chimeric peptide-DNA substrate is evaluated here as a protease-to-DNA signal convertor which transduces protease activity through DNA gates that discriminate between different input proteases. Acceptor dye-labeled peptide-DNAs are assembled onto semiconductor quantum dot (QD) donors as the input gate. Addition of trypsin or chymotrypsin cleaves their cognate peptide sequence altering the efficiency of Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) with the QD and frees a DNA output which interacts with a tetrahedral output gate. Downstream output gate rearrangement results in FRET sensitization of a new acceptor dye. Following characterization of component assembly and optimization of individual steps, sensor ability to discriminate between the two proteases is confirmed along with effects from joint interactions where potential for cross-talk is highest. Processing multiple bits of information for a sensing outcome provides more confidence than relying on a single change especially for the discrimination between different targets. Coupling other substrates to DNA that respond similarly could help target other types of enzymes.
Development of Path-Integrated Remote Chirped Laser Dispersion Spectrometer with Automatic Target Tracking

The recent developments in instrumentation for mobile field deployment of a chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy is discussed, including optomechanical considerations, system signal fidelity, and real-time target tracking for chemical plume detection.
Introduction: Past Vernaculars: The Aesthetic and the Everyday

This chapter considers the complex reception of different kinds of late medieval texts to argue for a renewed examination of the category of vernacularity itself. Examining the formal composition and popular reception of vernacular texts in late medieval and early modern culture, this chapter discusses the recent work exploring the aesthetic production of poetry, prose, and music. Jager offers a timely and appropriate intervention into the lay reception of medieval vernacular texts and the function of aesthetics within that reception, two subjects that have been critically under-examined despite the recent turn toward formalism within medieval studies. She posits that the popular, lay audience imagined by anonymous songs, carols, lyrics, lays, poems, and satires is one that often must be inferred by the careful, close reading of manuscript context and diction and that may also be inferred by the affective production of sound, echoed and performed within their bounds as a kind of sensory replication of the noise of an audience.
The conceptualization of costs and barriers of a teaching career among Latino preservice teachers

Abstract We investigated the perceived costs and barriers of a teaching career among Latino preservice teachers and how these men conceptualized costs relative to their race-ethnic identity, gender identity, and planned persistence in the profession from an expectancy-value perspective. We used a mixed-method approach that included a content analysis of open-ended survey responses to identify salient costs and barriers and non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) of participants’ responses to quantitative scales to capture phenomenological meaning of perceived costs, collective identity constructs, and planned persistence in the profession. Participants identified a range of drawbacks and barriers of a teaching career including concerns about job demands, work conditions, teacher preparation demands, emotional costs, social status, and salary, among other concerns. The MDS map for the whole sample suggested race-ethnic and gender identity were closely associated with status, salary, and morale; maps also provided insight into phenomenological meanings of different types of costs and cost measures. MDS maps for individual students demonstrated substantial diversity in individual meanings that are lost in group-level analyses. Results are discussed with attention to theoretical and practical implications for understanding and supporting men of color entering the teaching profession.
On zero-sum $$\mathbb {Z}_{2j}^k$$Z2jk-magic graphs

Let $$G = (V,E)$$G=(V,E) be a finite graph and let $$(\mathbb {A},+)$$(A,+) be an abelian group with identity 0. Then G is $$\mathbb {A}$$A-magic if and only if there exists a function $$\phi $$ź from E into $$\mathbb {A} - \{0\}$$A-{0} such that for some $$c \in \mathbb {A}, \sum _{e \in E(v)} \phi (e) = c$$cźA,źeźE(v)ź(e)=c for every $$v \in V$$vźV, where E(v) is the set of edges incident to v. Additionally, G is zero-sum$$\mathbb {A}$$A-magic if and only if $$\phi $$ź exists such that $$c = 0$$c=0. We consider zero-sum $$\mathbb {A}$$A-magic labelings of graphs, with particular attention given to $$\mathbb {A} = \mathbb {Z}_{2j}^k$$A=Z2jk. For $$j \ge 1$$jź1, let $$\zeta _{2j}(G)$$ź2j(G) be the smallest positive integer c such that G is zero-sum $$\mathbb {Z}_{2j}^c$$Z2jc-magic if c exists; infinity otherwise. We establish upper bounds on $$\zeta _{2j}(G)$$ź2j(G) when $$\zeta _{2j}(G)$$ź2j(G) is finite, and show that $$\zeta _{2j}(G)$$ź2j(G) is finite for all r-regular $$G, r \ge 2$$G,rź2. Appealing to classical results on the factors of cubic graphs, we prove that $$\zeta _4(G) \le 2$$ź4(G)≤2 for a cubic graph G, with equality if and only if G has no 1-factor. We discuss the problem of classifying cubic graphs according to the collection of finite abelian groups for which they are zero-sum group-magic.
Bullous pemphigoid associated with nintedanib.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a subepidermal autoimmune blistering skin condition that is sometimes induced by numerous medicines.1 We report the case of a patient who developed BP shortly after starting nintedanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a progressive scarring disorder of the lung associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Although there is no cure for IPF, 2 medications appear to slow disease progression: nintedanib and pirfenidone.2 Nintedanib works as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, targeting numerous receptors, including vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor.3 The most common adverse effects from nintedanib are gastrointestinal events, mainly diarrhea.3, 4 Reports of adverse dermatologic effects from nintedanib are less common, and there are no reports, to our knowledge, of nintedanib-induced BP. Accordingly, the purpose of this case report is to shed light on BP as a possible adverse reaction to nintedanib.
Regulation of photosynthetic cyclic electron flow pathways by adenylate status in higher plant chloroplasts.

Cylic electron flow (CEF) around Photosystem I in photosynthetic eukaryotes is likely to be necessary to augment ATP production, rapidly- and precisely balancing the plastid ATP/NADPH energy budget to meet the demands of downstream metabolism. Many regulatory aspects of this process are unclear. Here we demonstrate that the higher plant plastid NADH/Fd:plastoquinone reductase (NDH) and proposed PGR5/PGRL1 ferredoxin:plastoquinone reductase (FQR) pathways of CEF are strongly, rapidly and reversibly inhibited in vitro by ATP with Ki values of 670 μM and 240 μM respectively, within the range of physiological changes in ATP concentrations. Control experiments ruled out effects on secondary reactions, e.g. FNR- and cytochrome b6f activity, nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence etc., supporting the view that ATP is an inhibitor of CEF and its associated pmf generation and subsequent ATP production. The effects are specific to ATP, with the ATP analog AMP-PNP showing little inhibitory effect, and ADP inhibiting only at higher concentrations. For the FQR pathway, inhibition was found to be classically competitive with Fd, and the NDH pathway showing partial competition with Fd. We propose a straightforward model for regulation of CEF in plants in which CEF is activated under conditions when stromal ATP low, but is downregulated as ATP levels build up, allowing for effective ATP homeostasis. The differences in Ki values suggest a two-tiered regulatory system, where the highly efficient proton pumping NDH is activated with moderate decreases in ATP, with the less energetically-efficient FQR pathway being activated under more severe ATP depletion.
The S. mutans mntE gene encodes a manganese efflux transporter

Streptococcus mutans is a colonizer of the human dentition, and under conditions of dysbiosis is the primary causative agent of dental caries. The pathogenic potential of S. mutans depends, in part, on its ability to regulate the transport of metal ions across the plasma membrane to maintain intracellular metal ion homeostasis. Research in our laboratory has focused on the Mn2+ -specific SloC lipoprotein importer and its regulator encoded by the S. mutans sloR gene. Herein, we used a bioinformatics approach to identify a gene on the S. mutans UA159 chromosome, SMU_1176, as a metal ion efflux transporter that contributes to S. mutans manganese ion homeostasis. Metal ion sensitivity assays performed with the wild-type S. mutans UA159 strain and an isogenic SMU_1176 insertion-deletion mutant, called GMS3000, revealed significantly heightened sensitivity of GMS3000 to MnSO4 challenge. 54 Mn uptake experiments support the accumulation of 54 Mn in GMS3000 cell pellets when compared to 54 Mn concentrations in UA159 or in a complemented strain of GMS3000, called GMS3001. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) studies were performed in parallel to quantify intracellular manganese concentrations in these strains, the results of which corroborate the 54 Mn uptake studies, and support the SMU_1176 gene product as a Mn2+ efflux protein. Expression profiling experiments revealed de-repression of SMU_1176 gene transcription in the SloR-deficient GMS584 strain of S. mutans, especially under high manganese conditions. In conclusion, the S. mutans SMU_1176 gene, which we renamed mntE, is a manganese efflux transporter that contributes to essential metal ion homeostasis as part of the SloR regulon.
The Road to the Baccalaureate: Assessing the Viability of Community Colleges as Transfer Pathways for International Students

International students are increasingly enrolling in U.S community colleges as a starting point to their higher education. However, limited research examines the factors contributing to their successful transfer to a 4-year institution and bachelor degree attainment. Utilizing longitudinal transcript data from a large community college district in Texas, this study uses hierarchical logistical regression to compare college experiences and transfer outcomes based on region of origin. Findings demonstrate that while Sub-Saharan African students have a significantly higher probability of transfer than Asian and Latin American students, the majority of bachelor degree recipients were Asian students graduating in STEM fields. Delayed enrollment into college and academic preparedness in math were negatively associated with transfer for Latin American and Caribbean students.
Improving heart failure transitional care after hospital discharge: A quality improvement project

Background and objective: The burden of heart failure is growing, affecting more than 6 million Americans and an estimated of 26 million worldwide. Heart failure is the most common cause of hospital readmission in the United States and is identified as a marker of poor health outcomes. Thirty day readmission contribute to more than $30 billion dollars in health care expenditures, underscoring a need for the development and implementation of programs that reduce readmission and improve outcomes for individuals with heart failure. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a heart failure education program to increase attendance to a transitional care clinic and reduce 30-day readmissions. Methods: We included 22 individuals who received heart failure education, focused on symptom management and transitional care. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed to examine attendance to the transitional care clinic and 30-day readmission. Results: There was a statistical significance between individuals attending follow-up at the designated transitional care clinic and 30-day hospital readmission ( p ≤ .05). Of the (N = 22) participants, 64% were not readmitted into the hospital 30 days after discharge. Conclusions: The findings of this project demonstrate that a nurse-led evidence-based heart failure education program can improve attendance to transitional care programs and reduce 30-day readmissions. A well-designed plan for transitional care remains a critical component of patient care necessary to address complications and optimize continuity of care after discharge.
Voltage Propagation in Inverter-driven Machine Windings over Wide Operation Range

This paper studies the pulse voltage propagation inside machine windings driven by power inverters. The fast switching of devices in the inverter generates voltage pulses with high dv/dt and induces high overshoots at the machine winding terminals. Those high voltage overshoots can accelerate the degradation of the winding insulation system. This work analyzes how the steep-front voltage distributes along the windings during switching transients over a wide range of operation conditions. Circuit analysis is conducted for each transition of switching events over an entire fundamental cycle. An 8-pole interior permanent magnet synchronous machine for hybrid electric vehicle traction applications with a complex winding structure was used to verify the analysis. Tests were conducted to obtain the pulse voltage propagation along the machine winding at all the transition of switching events over an entire fundamental cycle when the machine was working at certain operating points. The effect of multiple factors on the pulse winding voltage propagation were tested and analyzed in this work, such as DC voltage level, current level, rotor speed, etc. Then, the voltage stress was mapped on each part of the winding insulation along the winding for various machine operating points, which quantifies the maximum voltage stress distribution on the winding insulation system. The understanding of the voltage stress distribution gained from this study will be applied to guide optimization of electric machine winding insulation in the future.
Development and Evaluation of the 8-item Caregiver Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES-8)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This paper describes the development and evaluation of a short caregiving self-efficacy measure. The self-administered 8-item Caregiver Self-efficacy Scale (CSES-8) was developed to reflect components of typical caregiver-support interventions and to be practical for inclusion in future self-efficacy and caregiving research. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We administered the CSES-8 in two samples: participants in an intervention for caregivers of persons with cognitive disabilities, and a voluntary on-line survey for caregivers of adults. We evaluated the completion rate, item-scale correlations, reliability, descriptive statistics, and preliminary construct validity of the CSES-8 in both samples, and sensitivity to change in the intervention sample. RESULTS The intervention caregivers' sample (N=158) was 85% female (mean age=65 years). The on-line survey sample (N=138) was 90% female (mean age=78). In both samples, the CSES-8 had excellent internal-consistency reliability (0.89 and 0.88) and good distribution with sufficient variability to detect change. Test-retest reliability was good in the on-line sample (0.73). As evidence of construct validity, most hypotheses were confirmed in both samples. The CSES-8 was sensitive to change at 6 months for caregivers in the intervention program (p < .001). DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS The CSES-8 is short, comprehensive with respect to common components of interventions to improve caregivers' quality of life, and sensitive to change. It can serve a useful role exploring mechanisms by which caregiver intervention studies work, and it can be helpful in examining whether self-efficacy mediates the effect of these intervention on various outcomes such as psychological well-being.
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) in psychiatric inpatient child admissions: Prevalence among consecutive admissions and in children receiving NOS diagnoses

Abstract Background Many children present with uncontrollable outbursts that present diagnostic challenges. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) is a diagnosis that may capture their behavior. We examined the prevalence of DMDD in a series of 100 child discharges from inpatient care after the introduction of DSM-5 and in 100 children who received diagnoses of mood or bipolar disorder NOS prior to the advent of DSM-5. Methods All children were re-diagnosed with a retrospective chart review procedure. In the first sample, 100 consecutive discharges were reviewed. In the second study, children seen prior to the release from DSM-5 had their charts reviewed. The reviews addressed the presence of DMDD, as well as other conditions that may be co-morbid with DMDD. Results 18 of the 100 consecutively discharged children (18 %) received a retrospective diagnosis of DMDD and 9 (50 %) received a comorbid diagnosis of major depression. Only 4 of the 18 children had a discharge diagnosis of DMDD. For the 100 children with NOS diagnoses prior to DSM-5, 37 (37 %) received retrospective diagnosis of DMDD. The major specific feature of DMDD was the higher frequency of temper outbursts. Longer length of stay and higher discharge GAF scores were also seen Discussion DMDD was present in approximately the same proportion of children as previous studies, in samples admitted before and after DSM-5. Clinical diagnoses of mood disorders NOS are common in children who meet criteria for DMDD and DMDD diagnoses still do not appear to be given to many children who meet the criteria.
Multi-label Classification for Epileptic Seizure Recognition: Deep Neural Network Ensemble versus Choquet Fuzzy Integral Fusion

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder. The cause are unprovoked recurrent seizures that patients experience. The most commonly used tool for the diagnosis of epilepsy is the electroencephalogram (EEG). The EEG measures the electrical activity of the brain. The patients have to be monitored as to detect an epileptic episode early on in order to prevent associate risks. Research in the past has used a combination of time and frequency features for the automatic recognition of epileptic seizures. An classification approach has been used to automatically detect epileptic seizures. In this paper, the epileptic seizure recognition data set is used for the investigation. Two fusion methods, ensemble and Choquet fuzzy integral, are compared using different deep neural network architectures. To aid the comparison, evaluation measures such as confusion matrix, AUC and accuracy are used in conjunction with MSE and RMSE. The results of the experiments show that the Choquet fuzzy integral fusion method outperforms the ensemble method. In addition, other state-of-the-art classification methods are also outperformed by the Choquet fuzzy integral fusion method.
Local superimpositions facilitate morphometric analysis of complex articulating structures.

Articulating structures, such as the vertebrate skeleton or the body and limb segments of the arthropod exoskeleton, comprise a majority of the morphological diversity across the eukaryotic tree of life. Quantifying the form of articulating structures is therefore imperative for a fuller understanding of the factors influencing biological form. A wealth of freely available 3 D data capturing this morphological diversity is stored in online repositories such as Morphosource, but the geometric morphometric analysis of an articulating structure is impeded by arbitrary differences in the resting positions of its individual articulating elements. In complex articulating structures, where the angles between articulating elements cannot be standardized, landmarks on articulating elements must be Procrustes superimposed independently (locally) and then recombined to quantify variation in the entire articulating structure simultaneously. Here, we discuss recent advances in local superimposition techniques, namely the 'matched local superimpositions' approach which incorporates anatomically-accurate relative sizes, positions, and orientations of locally-superimposed landmarks, enabling clearer biological interpretation. We also use simulations to evaluate the consequences of choice of superimposition approach. Our results show that local superimpositions will isolate shape variation within locally-superimposed landmark subsets by sacrificing size and positional variation. They may also create morphometric 'modules' when there are none by increasing integration within the locally-superimposed subsets, however this effect is no greater than the spurious between-module integration created when superimposing landmark subsets (i.e., articulating elements) together. Taken together, our results show that local superimposition techniques differ from conventional Procrustes superimpositions in predictable ways. Finally, we use empirical datasets of the skulls of wrasses and colubriform snakes to highlight the promise of local superimpositions and their utility. Complex articulating structures must be studied, and the only current solution to do so is local superimpositions.
Human pluripotent stem cells in the research of Fragile X Syndrome

Abstract Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a monogenic inherited X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by cognitive impairment and autistic-like behaviors. It is caused by transcriptional silencing of FMR1 and absence of FMRP, an RNA-binding protein which regulates gene transcription and protein translation across tissues, including the brain. Animal models of FXS are useful and have uncovered valuable information regarding the role of FMRP in neurons but lack critical features that are present in humans only. Neural precursors and neurons differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells carrying the naturally occurring mutation can be used to reveal how lack of FMRP affects human neuronal physiology and compare it to the findings in transgenic animals. They can be used as a reliable readout of drug efficacy and target discovery and validation, and as a unique in-vitro tool to test whether it is possible to cure FXS by removing the mutation in FMR1 and rescuing expression of FMRP. Here we summarize and contextualize the main findings and advancements in the field of FXS research using human pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives.
Treatment of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Is VATS Superior to Non-operative Management?

Background/Purpose: Several management options exist for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with poor outcomes and evaluate long-term recurrence rates of both operative and non-operative treatments. Methods: A single-center review was performed of children with PSP from 2011 to 2018. Treatment was guided by surgeon-preference and follow-up data were collected by clinic visit …
Extended porphyrinoid chromophores: heteroporphyrins fused to phenanthrene and acenaphthylene

Abstract Fusion of aromatic subunits onto porphyrin chromophores produces variable results and in some cases only minor bathochromic shifts are observed. In order to extend these observations, a series of oxa-, thia- and selenaporphyrins with fused acenaphthylene or phenanthrene units have been synthesized. Phenanthro[5,6-b]porphyrins were previously prepared via conventional ‘2 + 2’ MacDonald condensations, but a more versatile ‘3 + 1’ synthesis is now reported. Phenanthrotripyrranes reacted with a pyrrole dialdehyde in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, followed by an oxidation step, to give phenanthroporphyrins. However, this chemistry initially gave products that were contaminated with isomeric impurities. Fortunately, good yields of isomerically pure phenanthroporphyrins were obtained when the reactions were carried out under relatively concentrated conditions, and a diphenanthroporphyrin was also obtained using this strategy. An alternative ‘3 + 1’ synthesis was performed where a phenanthropyrrole dialdehyde was condensed with a tripyrrane and this also afforded a phenanthroporphyrin in good yields. Furan, thiophene and selenophene dialdehydes similarly reacted with phenanthro- and acenaphthotripyrranes to give a series of heteroporphyrins with fused phenanthrene and acenaphthylene rings. All of these porphyrinoids retained highly diatropic characteristics. As is the case for tetrapyrrolic porphyrins, the presence of a fused acenaphthylene unit leads to highly modified UV–vis spectra with multiple Soret bands and relatively strong Q bands above 650 nm. However, the longest wavelength absorptions for the acenaphthylene series were only red shifted by 12–15 nm compared to the phenanthrene-fused heteroporphyrin series, which is a somewhat reduced effect compared to previously reported phenanthroporphyrins and acenaphthoporphyrins. Nevertheless, the combined effects of core modification and acenaphthylene ring fusion affords potentially valuable strongly red shifted absorption bands between 677 and 684 nm.
Effects of risk tolerance, financial literacy, and financial status on retirement planning

In this study, we investigate the effects of retirement planning on the economic and psychological factors of consumers using a large sample drawn from the 2012 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Specifically, we examine the combined impact of risk tolerance, financial literacy, savings, income, and debt on consumers’ retirement planning behavior. Risk tolerance, financial literacy, income, and savings are all found to have positive relationships with retirement planning, though debt has no significant relationship with retirement planning. Also, higher levels of risk tolerance weaken the relationship between savings and retirement planning. Implications of these findings for the literature and the financial planning industry are provided as well as directions for future research.
Portable direct methanol fuel cell systems

This article includes discussion of the specific power and power density requirements for various portable system applications, the status of stack technology, progress in the implementation of balance-of-plant designs, and a summary of the characteristics of various DMFC portable power source demonstrations.
Audio Description as a Pedagogical Tool

Audio description is the process of translating visual information into words for people who are blind or have low vision. Typically such description has focused on films, museum exhibitions, images and video on the internet, and live theater. Because it allows people with visual impairments to experience a variety of cultural and educational texts that would otherwise be inaccessible, audio description is a mandated aspect of disability inclusion, although it remains markedly underdeveloped and underutilized in our classrooms and in society in general. Along with increasing awareness of disability, audio description pushes students to practice close reading of visual material, deepen their analysis, and engage in critical discussions around the methodology, standards and values, language, and role of interpretation in a variety of academic disciplines. We outline a few pedagogical interventions that can be customized to different contexts to develop students' writing and critical thinking skills through guided description of visual material.
On Intertemporal Subsidy-Free Prices and Economic Depreciation: Constrained Market Pricing Revisited

The constrained market pricing approach to regulating monopolies maintains that prices should be “subsidy-free”, lying between the often expansive bounds of stand alone and incremental costs. For a simple two-good/two-period model of a monopolist subject to a zero profit constraint, it is shown that subsidy-free prices are those which rise to the amortized opportunity cost of the currently optimal asset configuration required to meet both current and future demand, providing—in some circumstances—justification for accelerated depreciation. Such intertemporal subsidy-free prices recognize that the stand alone cost of existing assets to current consumers depends on the value of those assets to future consumers. Hence, if a feasible resale price for the fixed costs of capacity exists within or between periods, then intertemporal stand alone costs and intertemporal incremental costs are driven to equality.
The static profiles of several solid/oil/water/vapor configurations

Abstract Systems composed of oil, water, and vapor phases in partial contact with a solid surface occur in such diverse areas as detergency, lithographic printing, and flotation. Frequently, the mechanical properties of such systems depend on their configuration. In this article, we consider an axisymmetric configuration comprising an oil drop in contact with a solid surface and partially submerged in a film of water. In particular, the equilibrium shapes of several example systems are computed from the equations of capillarity. From these calculations, the dependence of the solid/oil interfacial contact on the water layer thickness, oil drop volume, and contact angle at the solid/oil/water intersection is developed. The theoretical results are in qualitative agreement with experiment and in some cases, the agreement is semiquantitative. An interesting result emerging from the above calculations is that the solid/oil contact radius is not a single valued function of the water layer thickness when the oil volume, contact angle, interfacial tensions, and densities are fixed. A simple Gibbsian analysis of contact line instability allows us to determine which profiles of the configuration do not correspond to stable equilibrium at each water layer thickness. However, a rigorous proof of stability of the remaining equilibrium shapes has not been attempted.
Capital disadvantage: America's failing capital investment system.

The U.S. system of allocating investment capital is failing, putting American companies at a serious disadvantage and threatening the long-term growth of the nation's economy. The problem, says Michael Porter, goes beyond the usual formulation of the issue: accusations of "short-termism" by U.S. managers, ineffective corporate governance by directors, or a high cost of capital. The problem involves the external capital allocation system by which capital is provided to companies, as well as the system by which companies allocate capital internally. America's system is marked by fluid capital and a financial focus. Other countries--notably Japan and Germany--have systems with dedicated capital and a focus on corporate position. In global competition, where investment increasingly determines a company's capacity to upgrade and innovate, the U.S. system does not measure up. These conclusions come out of a two-year research project sponsored by the Harvard Business School and the Council on Competitiveness. Porter recommends five far-reaching reforms to make the U.S. system superior to Japan's and Germany's: 1. Improve the present macroeconomic environment. 2. Expand true ownership throughout the system so that directors, managers, employees, and even customers and suppliers hold positions as owners. 3. Align the goals of capital providers, corporations, directors, managers, employees, customers, suppliers, and society. 4. Improve the information used in decision making. 5. Foster more productive modes of interaction and influence among capital providers, corporations, and business units.
The Dubious Legal Rationale for Denying Copyright to Fashion

This essay clarifies the useful article doctrine and argues that it does not, as clarified, bar copyright for fanciful clothing. Clarification is necessary because the drafters of the 1976 Act botched their attempt to codify the doctrine. As written, the Act denies copyright to a useful article unless its aesthetic features are separable from its utilitarian function. Separability, however, is irrelevant. What matters is whether the article has unconstrained features. The features of many fanciful garments are unconstrained enough for copyright. Indeed, they are more unconstrained than the features of other useful articles that courts already protect.
Comments on "The reconstruction of a multidimensional sequence from the phase or magnitude of its Fourier transform"

When one imposes a nonnegativity constraint, one usually can reconstruct a two-dimensional sequence of finite support from the modulus of its Fourier transform using an iterative algorithm, even when file initial estimate is an array of random numbers.
A model for antibody diversity based on non-conservative DNA synthesis errors.

A new model is proposed for antibody diversity based on somatic mutations produced during non-conservative DNA synthesis. The model consists of two basic alternatives. The first permits somatic mutations as a result of background non-conservative DNA synthesis in the absence of antigen, while the second alternative requires antigen stimulation to activate such non-conservative synthesis. Antigen, then, would serve to select a particular cell line and expand an appropriate clone of similar cells. An obvious advantage of our model is the capacity to reconstruct variable genes in the absence of cell division, and without affecting other DNA sites. The model is shown to be consistent with known immunological phenomena and is discussed in terms of current experimental data.
Corrigendum to “Assembling of AcrB Trimer in Cell Membrane” [J. Mol. Biol. 423(1) (2012) 123–134]

25. Schulz, R., Vargiu, A.V., Collu, F., Kleinekathofer, U. & Ruggerone, P. (2011). Functional rotation of the transporter AcrB: insights into drug extrusion from simulations. PLoS Comput. Biol. 6, e1000806. 26. Takatsuka, Y., Chen, C. & Nikaido, H. (2010). Mechanism of recognition of compounds of diverse structures by the multidrug efflux pump AcrB of Escherichia coli. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 107, 6559–6565. 27.Eicher, T., Brandstatter, L. & Pos, K. M. (2009). Structural and functional aspects of the multidrug efflux pump AcrB. Biol. Chem. 390, 693–699.
Temperature dependence of the relaxation of injected charge at the polycrystalline‐silicon–SiO2 interface

Electron injection can occur at the polycrystalline‐silicon–SiO2 interface of a polycrystalline‐silicon gate MOS capacitor when relatively low negative voltages are applied to the gate. If the interface is improperly annealed, the flat‐band shift due to injected electrons can be several hundred millivolts for 350‐A‐thick oxides. The temperature and voltage dependence of the relaxation of injected negative charge has been measured. The amount of charge injected is higher and its relaxation is faster at higher temperatures. The moment of charge can shift towards the substrate silicon‐SiO2 interface at negative gate voltages whose absolute magnitudes are less than the flat‐band voltage of the capacitor.
The Relationship Of Family Theory To Family Therapy

This paper deals with the knowledge and thinking of the therapist, who is the link between theory and therapy. Based on the self-analysis of a single family consultation interview, the various theories employed and the decision points are described. It is suggested that therapists can espouse many theories or single ones, but are always confronted with difficult decisions. Some features of the field of family therapy which foster an overevaluation of science and certitude are discussed.
Comparing Whole-Genome Amplification Methods and Sources of Biological Samples for Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Genotyping

High-throughput genotyping systems promise to be an efficient means of identifying susceptibility genes involved in the etiology of non-Mendelian disorders. Adequate amounts of high-quality DNA are essential, however, for large-scale genotyping studies (1). The supply of genomic DNA is frequently limited, and the quality of DNA obtained from oral buccal swabs or Guthrie cards has not been thoroughly evaluated for high-throughput single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping (2)(3). Whole-genome amplification (WGA) technologies offer the opportunity to expand DNA from depleted biological samples. The first generation of WGA strategies (i.e., PCR-based methods) (4)(5), however, was limited by substantial amplification bias and incomplete coverage of genetic markers (6)(7). Recently, new strategies for WGA, such as multiple displacement amplification (MDA) or OmniPlex® WGA technology (Rubicon Genomics) have been developed. MDA is an isothermal amplification with the bacteriophage φ29 DNA polymerase (6)(8), whereas OmniPlex uses in vitro libraries with fragmented DNA (∼1.5 kb) to amplify the entire genome by PCR (9). To apply WGA technology to BeadArray™ genotyping (Illumina), the utility of MDA and/or OmniPlex on DNA samples derived from lymphoblast cells has been evaluated (9)(10). In this study, we determined the genotyping success rate and reliability of 2 MDA variants (8)(11) and OmniPlex with and without 7-deaza-dGTP, using buccal swabs, whole blood, dried blood spots, and sheared genomic DNA on 1260- and 1228-SNP BeadArray panels. The 7-deaza-dGTP nucleotide analog was included in an attempt to ensure amplification of GC-rich DNA. After Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent were obtained, DNA samples were collected from participants in a study of oral clefts (12). Genomic DNA samples were prepared from peripheral blood by protein precipitation (13). Buccal cells were obtained by rubbing the inside of cheeks with a brush (Medical Packaging), and DNA …
On the efficiency of thermal engines with power output: Consideration of inertial effects

We consider an idealized heat engine with nonzero power output, which receives heat from and rejects heat to reservoirs by linear heat conduction and produces work in the surroundings by providing kinetic and potential energy to a mass in the gravitational field. The working fluid of the engine is in internal equilibrium. For this engine we write the equations of motion including inertial effects, i.e., we include Newton’s equation for conservation of momentum. We define variables, controls, parameters, and boundary conditions in these equations in connection with the optimization of some performance (cost) functional. The conceptual neglect of inertial effects, as has been done previously, is shown to change the set of variables and controls, thus changing the optimization problem. Furthermore, the neglect of these terms leads to requirements of energy balance which must be incorporated as boundary conditions. We do not solve any optimization problem explicitely but show that appropriate inclusion of inertial effects in such engines precludes in the optimal cycle the existence of isothermal branches which are not preceded and followed by acceleration and deceleration branches.
Backyard Hog Production Efficiency: Evidence from the Philippines*

This article investigates the economic efficiency and the factors associated with efficiency for a sample of 126 hog producers in the Philippines. The input-oriented efficiency indices are computed and bootstrapped using data envelopment analysis. Econometric analysis of the factors influencing the efficiency indices are conducted using the Tobit model. Fixed capital does not influence the efficiency scores, whereas labor does negatively influence the efficiency indices. On average, technical efficiency is low, an indication that most households are not using the most efficient technology. Scale efficiency is fairly high but constrained by lack of operating capital and managerial skills. Technical efficiency is constrained by lack of access to credit and limited experience in hog production.
Fractures, Fluid Flow and Mineralization

How is it that normal loads cause fractures to be closed within a few hundred meters of the Earth's surface, yet delicately banded hydrothermal veins up to meters thick are relatively common in the shallow crust? Why is there a correlation of fracture density and interconnectivity and ore bodies in mineral deposits? We have learned the inextricable interdependence of heat transfer, chemical transfer, and deformation in fluid flow from the daunting task of securing nuclear waste materials for millennia and trying to develop alternative energy resources such as hot dry rock regimes. With fracture-controlled flow dominating in magmatic and hydrothermal environments, permeability is a critical parameter. Understanding the causes of it and how it interplays with heat and chemical transfer is fundamental to understanding the behavior of all types of fluid flow in the crust.
What's in Your Box? Promoting Self-Reflection and Analysis of External Influences on Gender Expression and Sexual Orientation Attitudes.

This lesson plan is designed to stimulate awareness and reflection on personal attitudes toward gender expression and sexual orientation. Participants are guided to identify and analyze how external influences from various socialization agents shape gender and sexual orientation norms and, consequently, personal attitudes about gender expression and sexual orientation. This lesson introduces a box as a metaphor for a human being, with the intention of enlightening participants that humans are dynamic beings with unique characteristics that do not necessarily fit in neat boxes. This lesson plan describes how to achieve these goals in college classrooms and with other adult learners.
"White Rock": an eroded Martian lacustrine deposit(?)

The existence and location of ancient lake sites and sediments have important implications for Martian paleoclimate and exobiology. White Rock, an enigmatic crater interior deposit, may be the eroded remnant of such a lacustrine deposit. Stereogrammetric analysis of newly processed Viking images allows better determination of the dimensions of White Rock (12.5 x 15 km, thickness 180 to 540 m, volume ∼40 km 3 ), reveals differences in erosion patterns that may reflect differences in depositional environment, and allows the identification in or on the crater wall of a possible source region of the high-albedo White Rock material. If White Rock is the remnant of a once-larger deposit, then open- system circulation may have been required to deliver the required quantity of evaporites.