cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Less is more: exploring citizen-based financial reporting in local government

The purpose of this exploratory research is to identify key motivations, administrative costs, and instrumental benefits of translating data-rich budgets into user-friendly reports for citizens. This research draws from interviews with chief financial officers in local governments that are recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association for preparing additional financial reports that appeal to a citizen-based audience. Candid discussions and thoughtful reflections of respondents demonstrate that chief financial officers play a leading role in determining the style and extent to which financial information is communicated to external audiences. The research suggests that adopting this form of financial reporting, however, does not necessarily have an impact on citizen participation in the budget process. Recommendations from the point of view of the research participant are presented for practitioners interested in implementing citizen-based financial reporting. The research concludes with a discussion of the state of practice of citizen-based financial reporting of the research sample and areas for future study.
Identifying security vulnerabilities of weakly detectable network parameter errors

This paper is concerned about the security vulnerabilities in the implementation of the Congestion Revenue Rights (CRR) markets. Such problems may be due to the weakly detectable network model parameter errors which are commonly found in power systems. CRRs are financial tools for hedging the risk of congestion charges in power markets. The reimbursements received by CRR holders are determined by the congestion patterns and Locational Marginal Prices (LMPs) in the day-ahead markets, which heavily rely on the parameters in the network model. It is recently shown that detection of errors in certain network model parameters may be very difficult. This paper's primary goal is to illustrate the lack of market security due to such vulnerabilities, i.e. CRR market calculations can be manipulated by injecting parameter errors which are not likely to be detected. A case study using the IEEE 14-bus system will illustrate the feasibility of such undetectable manipulations. Several suggestions for preventing such cyber security issues are provided at the end of the paper.
Recent progress in heteroepitaxy of nonlinear optical materials for frequency conversion devices (Conference Presentation)

Frequency conversion in orientation-patterned (OP) materials is a leading approach for generating mid- and long-wave IR radiation. Although several phase-matching and quasi-phase-matching (QPM) materials have been investigated to date none of these have met all requirements for power, tunability and frequency range of the pursuit applications. We present an original approach that successfully combines in a QPM heterostructure two of the most promising materials, GaP—a material with lower two and three-photon absorption than GaAs, and GaAs—a material with a mature process for fabrication of high quality OP templates. Up to 300 µm thick OPGaP with excellent domain fidelity has been repeatedly grown with 100 µm/h by hydride vapor phase epitaxy on the robust and high quality OPGaAs templates. Some simplifications of both template fabrication and growth process are also reported. The samples, characterized by AFM, SEM, XRD, EDS and TEM, showed smooth surface morphology and high crystalline quality. Special attention was paid to the interface and especially to the mechanism of forming an intermediate ternary transition layer. This led to determining certain criteria that indicate, which other heteroepitaxial cases would be also successful. Thick growths of GaAsP and GaP on other alternative substrate materials by combining a-close-to-equilibrium with a-far-from-equilibrium processes were also performed. Efforts to develop heterostructures in horizontal and vertical direction have been also made. The success with one less favorable (in point of view of lattice mismatch) case, presented here, indicates that we should have even better results in other cases with closer lattice matches.
Making it Easier for Directors to 'Do the Right Thing'?

Some scholars argue that managers should take constituencies other than stockholders into account when running a corporation, and refuse to put short-term profit for stockholders over the best interests of the corporation’s employees, consumers, and communities, as well as the environment and society generally. In other words, they argue that managers should “do the right thing,” while ignoring that in the current corporate accountability structure, stockholders are the only constituency given any enforceable rights, and thus are the only one with substantial influence over managers. Few commentators have proposed real solutions that would give corporate managers more ability and greater incentives to consider the interests of other constituencies. This Article posits that benefit corporation statutes have the potential to change the accountability structure within which managers operate. These statutes create incremental reform that puts actual power behind the idea that corporations should “do the right thing.” Certain provisions of the Delaware benefit corporation statute are discussed as an example of how these statutes can create a meaningful shift in the balance of power that will in fact give corporate managers more ability to and impose upon them an enforceable duty to “do the right thing.” But this Article acknowledges that several important questions must be answered to determine whether benefit corporation statutes will have the durable, systemic effect desired. First, the initial wave of entrepreneurs who form benefit corporations must demonstrate a genuine commitment to social responsibility to preserve the credibility of the movement. Second, because the benefit corporation model relies on stockholders to enforce the duties to other constituencies, socially responsible investment funds must be willing to vote their long-term consciences instead of cashing in for short-term gains. To that end, it is crucial that benefit corporations show that doing things “the right way” will be profitable in the long run. Third, benefit corporations must pass the “going public” test. Finally, subsidiaries that are governed as benefit corporations must honor their commitments and grow successfully, if the movement is to grow to scale.
Collective electron motion in a C60 molecule: bridging the gap between atoms and bulk matter

espanolSe reportan las secciones transversales para la fotoionizacion de iones C60. La seccion transversal muestra dos resonancias como una funcion de energia fotonica: estas resonancias son atribuidas a una superficie y un volumen plasmon. Una resonancia plasmon es indicativa de movimiento colectivo de los aproximadamente 240 electrones de valencia. Esta manifestacion de tanta materia es significativa para una molecula que contiene solo sesenta atomos de carbono. EnglishCross sections have been reported for photoionization of C60 ions. The cross section shows two resonances as a function of photon energy: these resonances are attributed to a surface and a volume plasmon. A plasmon resonance is indicative of collective motion of the approximately 240 valence electrons. This manifestation of bulk matter is significant for a molecule containing only sixty carbon atoms.
Commentary by Arnold Zellner

The Chan and Stulz chapter is a stimulating and valuable contribution to the analysis of the problem of how risk and uncertainty may affect economies. In the successful tradition of financial economics, their chapter includes both theoretical and empirical results. In their theoretical analyses, they show in the context of a simple stochastic growth model that in theory (1) risk matters and (2) a “riskier” economy has a lower interest rate, lower investment, in general, and lower consumption given that γ < 0, where γ is the parameter in their constant relative risk-aversion utility function, U(C) = Cγ/γ. These are valuable theoretical results illustrating the importance of taking account of risk in macroeconomic models. They then proceed to consider the theoretical motivation for three different measures of risk in the financial economic literature, the mean-variance single-β approach, the multiple-β approach, and the consumption-β approach, and consider the extent to which these approaches have been successful in explaining asset returns, both in past studies and in their current study of returns on Treasury bonds of differing maturities following the 1979 change in the Fed’s operating procedures.
Late Cretaceous–Cenozoic sequence stratigraphic and paleogeographic controls on petroleum system elements of the Nicaraguan platform, western Caribbean Sea

Late Cretaceous–to–present-day mixed carbonate–clastic deposition along the Nicaraguan platform, western Caribbean Sea, has evolved from a tectonically controlled, rifted upper Eocene shallow–to–deep-marine carbonate–siliciclastic shelf to an upper Miocene–to–present-day tectonically stable shallow-marine carbonate platform and passive margin. By integrating subsurface data of 287 two-dimensional seismic lines and 27 wells, we interpret the Cenozoic stratigraphic sequence as 3 cycles of transgression and regression beginning with an upper Eocene rhodolitic–algal carbonate shelf that interfingered with marginal siliciclastic sediments derived from exposed areas of Central America bordering the margin to the west. During the middle Eocene, a carbonate platform was established with both rimmed reefs and isolated patch reefs. A late Eocene forced regression produced widespread erosion and subaerial exposure across much of the platform and was recorded by a regional unconformity. The Oligocene–upper Miocene sedimentary record includes a southeastward prograding delta of the proto-Coco river, which drained the emergent area of what is now northern Nicaragua. The late Miocene–to–present-day period marks a period of strong subsidence with the development of small pinnacle reefs. We describe favorable petroleum system elements of the Nicaraguan platform that include (1) Eocene fossiliferous limestone source rocks documented as thermally mature in vintage exploration wells and seen as active gas chimneys emanating from inferred carbonate reservoirs; (2) upper–to–middle Eocene reservoirs in patch and pinnacle reefs, middle Eocene calcareous slumps, and Oligocene fluvial-deltaic facies documented in wells; and (3) regional seal intervals that consist of both regional unconformities and Eocene–Oligocene intraformational shale.
How Long Does It Take to Develop and Build Up a New Technology

The following two points summarize those discussed so far in this book: 1. The energy supply is as important to a technological people, an affluent people, as the air supply to biological man. Seriously decreasing the consumption per person would cause economic depression, then disorganization, and, if the decrease were sufficient, disaster. A significant decline in the standard of living (rise in unemployment, increase in inflation, decrease in real income), compared with that of 1973, was already visible in the second half of the 1970s in several Western world countries. One of its causes was the increase in the price of energy which was occurring because of the exhaustion phase entered by the world oil resources. 2. We are running out of the sources of energy which we now use, and these will be exhausted within two to three decades. After that, we could burn all our coal (despite pollution, increased mining difficulties, and costs, etc.) which would extend the lifetime of the affluent and expanding economies a few decades more.
The Transformative Professor: Adapting and Fostering Positive Change:

Business school faculty can play a critical role in fostering resilience and change in their institutions. This article describes what it means to be a transformative professor and a catalyst for p...
How Secondary Mathematics Preservice Teachers Grapple with Enacting Culturally Responsive Practices at Placement Sites

Many scholars call for teacher educators to provide experiences that can lead prospective teachers to adopt and implement culturally responsive pedagogy in mathematics classrooms. This qualitative investigation analyzed interviews from preservice secondary mathematics teachers using Hernandez, Shroyer, and Morales framework for culturally responsive mathematics teaching. Analysis of the data demonstrates how preservice teachers grapple with enacting a culturally responsive framework at practicum sites. Findings reveal that while some participants reported comfort implementing some aspects of culturally responsive practices at placement sites, others reported apprehension. The data suggests strategies for teacher educators interested in supporting culturally responsive teacher-learners through professional modeling.
Development of a scoring system to predict a positive diagnosis on video capsule endoscopy for suspected small bowel bleeding

Abstract Background In stable patients, video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is the recommended first test for patients presenting with suspected small bowel bleeding (SSB). The aim of this study is to develop a scoring system to aid clinicians in deciding which patients with SSB would benefit from VCE. A multicenter database of patients who underwent VCE for SSB was created. Methods A multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized on a developmental cohort to determine independent predictors of a positive diagnosis on VCE and develop the scoring system. Receiver operating characteristic analysis compared the performance of the scoring system between the developmental cohort and the validation cohort. Results Three hundred fourteen patients underwent VCE for SSB. Multivariable analysis revealed 3 variables—age less than 54 years old (odds ratio [OR] 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11-0.58), inpatient status with overt bleeding (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.05-5.39), and hemoglobin less than 6.4 g/dL (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.11-6.48) as independent predictors of a diagnosis on VCE. The performance of the scoring system in the developmental cohort (C-statistic 0.70; 95% CI 0.62-0.77) and the validation cohort (C-statistic 0.69; 95% CI 0.61-0.75) was not significantly different (P = 0.91). Conclusions For patients with suspected small bowel bleeding, age older than 54 years, hemoglobin
Hypoxic preconditioning attenuates ischemia-reperfusion injury in young healthy adults.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury induced by restoration of blood flow following occlusion impairs flow-mediated dilation, a marker of endothelium-dependent vasodilation. In young healthy adults, exposur...
Differentiating contributions of self-objectification and self-sexualization to young women's sexual agency.

Abstract Findings consistently illustrate the negative association between women’s sexual objectification and their sexual functioning. At the same time, some scholars argue that sexualized self-presentation may be a way to embrace one’s sexuality and may signify empowerment. To date, no studies have explicitly explored the potential differential contributions of self-objectification and self-sexualization to multiple aspects of women’s sexual agency. Towards this end, we surveyed 556 undergraduate women to examine how body surveillance, self-objectification, and self-sexualization differentially predict women’s sexual assertiveness, sexual satisfaction, feelings of entitlement to sexual pleasure, condom use self-efficacy, and sexual esteem. Path analysis demonstrated consistent negative links between body surveillance, one behavioral manifestation of self-objectification, and sexual agency outcomes, but revealed both negative and positive links between measures of sexualization and sexual agency. This complex set of associations highlights the value of studying self-objectification and self-sexualization both in tandem and separately, so that researchers can develop a better understanding of the implications of each for women’s sexual agency.
Unintended Institutional Interactions: Presidential Coattails and Gender Parity Quotas:

Democratic institutions provide incentives for voters and candidates. When reformers tinker with multiple institutions, the likely effect of each individual change may be well understood, but their...
The feasibility and acceptability of a pilot randomized controlled trial testing pharmacy-based HPV vaccine completion.

Abstract Objective Immunizing pharmacists can administer vaccines; however, they are less likely to administer adolescent vaccines such as vaccines that protect against human papillomavirus (HPV). Although past research has recommended incorporating pharmacists to increase adolescent vaccination, few intervention studies have tested healthcare delivery models that incorporate pharmacists to aid in vaccine series completion. This research explored the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention in which pharmacists administered booster doses of the HPV vaccine series. Methods Between April 2019 and February 2020, the research team recruited participants for a pilot randomized controlled trial hosted in one federally qualified health center (FQHC) clinic. Researchers asked intervention group participants to complete the HPV vaccine series with their community pharmacists and control group participants to complete the series at their FQHC. We conducted a pre- and post-intervention surveys and in-depth interviews with both intervention and control group participants. Results A total of 33 parents of children who received the first dose of the HPV vaccine enrolled in the study of whom 8 intervention and 11 control group participants completed post-intervention data collection. Although there were no statistically significant changes in vaccine completion and in psychometric variables, we did find that pharmacist-delivered HPV vaccination was acceptable, due, primarily, to convenience. Barriers to receiving pharmacist-administered vaccines included pharmacies’ lack of stocking the vaccine and insurance-related barriers to care. Conclusion Although a promising and acceptable healthcare delivery approach, there are still barriers for caregivers to have their children vaccinated against HPV at their community pharmacies.
Surface Reactions and Fatigue Crack Growth

Recent fracture mechanics and surface chemistry studies of environment assisted crack growth in gaseous environments1–4 have shown that crack growth may be controlled in some systems by the rate of surface reactions and in others by the rate of transport of the aggressive environment to the crack tip. Based on considerations of surface reactions and gas transport, a model for surface reaction and transport controlled fatigue crack growth in single component gaseous environments was proposed and experimentally verified.5–8This model is able to account for the influences of gas pressure and cyclic load frequency on the rate of fatigue crack growth. In practice, however, there is usually more than one gas in a given environment. The various component gases can compete for surface reaction sites and therefore alter the fatigue crack growth response. The effect of this competition needs to be considered. In this paper, the development of the model for surface reaction and transport controlled fatigue crack growth in single component gaseous environments is briefly reviewed. Extension of the same considerations to fatigue crack growth in a binary gas mixture, in which one of the components acts as an inhibitor, is described. Quantitative application of this model to the consideration of oxygen on fatigue crack growth in humid air is discussed.
Regulation to deregulation: the telecommunications sector and industrialization: Evidence from the Pacific rim and basin

Abstract Evidence from the Pacific and elsewhere suggests that countries deregulate their telecommunications sectors as economic development proceeds. Theoretical considerations support this, since arguments for (against) deregulation are mostly applicable to industrialized (developing) countries. Several such arguments are surveyed. Actual instances of telecommunications deregulation in Pacific countries are also cited to confirm this hypothesis. The scarcity and simplicity of telecommunications in early development stages favour cooperative, regulated solutions; as technological progress makes services more abundant and varied, competitive, deregulated approaches become more attractive.
Treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Combination or component therapy?

Calverley P, Pauwels R, Vestbo J, Jones P, Pride N, Gulsvik A, et al, for the TRISTAN (TRial of Inhaled STeroids ANd long-acting β 2 agonists) study group. Combined salmeterol and fluticasone in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2003;361
Sequence studies of poliovirus RNA. III. Polyuridylic acid and polyadenylic acid as components of the purified poliovirus replicative intermediate.

Abstract Minus strands and RNA with plus strand polarity of the poliovirus replicative intermediate were exhaustively digested with RNAase T 1 or RNAase A and the products analyzed for homopolyribonucleotides by affinity and ion-exchange chromatography. Minus strands were found to contain poly(U) covalently linked to the RNA; plus strand RNA of different chain length was found to contain poly(A). The homopolyribonucleotides do not originate from contaminating free single-stranded polio RNA or polio replicative form, as shown by sucrose gradient centrifugation and gel electrophoresis. The chain length of the poly(U) (60 to 120 nucleotides) is heterogeneous and similar to that of poly(A) of virion RNA, suggesting a mechanism of transcription for poly(A). Whether or not the poly(A)-linked plus strands in the replicative intermediate are a structural component of this intermediate or an artifact of isolation procedures remains unknown. In this respect the “single-stranded” and “double-stranded” models for the replicative intermediate are discussed.
I/O strategies for parallel rendering of large time-varying volume data

This paper presents I/O solutions for the visualization of time-varying volume data in a parallel and distributed computing environment. Depending on the number of rendering processors used, our I/O strategies help signifi- cantly lower interframe delay by employing a set of I/O processors coupled with MPI parallel I/O support. The targeted application is earthquake modeling using a large 3D unstructured mesh consisting of one hundred millions cells. Our test results on the HP/Compaq AlphaServer operated at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center demonstrate that the I/O strategies effectively remove the I/O bottlenecks commonly present in time-varying data visualization. This high-performance visualization solution we provide to the scientists allows them to explore their data in the temporal, spatial, and visualization domains at high resolution. This new high-resolution explorability, likely not presently available to most computational science groups, will help lead to many new insights.
Open access in scholarly publishing: : Embracing principles and avoiding pitfalls

Open Access (OA) in scholarly publishing has gained momentum over the past decade, expanding in advocacy and application. While there is consensus around the intent and goals of the open access movement, the various stakeholders, such as scholars, researchers, publishers, academic institutions, scholarly societies, and librarians, all offer different approaches to that end. This article traces some of the literature assessing different models of OA publishing; considers how the current status of OA compares to the initial goals set forth in the Budapest Open Access Initiative; and explores ways academic libraries can move beyond reiterating the ideals of OA to educating researchers and helping them navigate the realities of OA publishing.
Crystal structure of human parathyroid hormone 1-34 at 0.9-A resolution.

Abstract The N-terminal fragment 1–34 of parathyroid hormone (PTH), administered intermittently, results in increased bone formation in patients with osteoporosis. PTH and a related molecule, parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP), act on cells via a common PTH/PTHrP receptor. To define more precisely the ligand-receptor interactions, we have crystallized human PTH (hPTH)-(1–34) and determined the structure to 0.9-A resolution. hPTH-(1–34) crystallizes as a slightly bent, long helical dimer. Analysis reveals that the extended helical conformation of hPTH-(1–34) is the likely bioactive conformation. We have developed molecular models for the interaction of hPTH-(1–34) and hPTHrP-(1–34) with the PTH/PTHrP receptor. A receptor binding pocket for the N terminus of hPTH-(1–34) and a hydrophobic interface with the receptor for the C terminus of hPTH-(1–34) are proposed.
Efficient, Indirect Adaptive Pole Placement for Linear, Multivariable Systems

A computationally efficient, globally stable, indirect adaptive pole placement scheme for linear, multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) systems is presented here. It is based upon integration of the ideas associated with Canonical Diophantine equations and block processing of input-output data. The global stability result is established under the assumption that the external reference signal consists of a sum of distinct sinusoidal components.
Fabrication of a Multifiber Optical Inclinometer

A new approach to multidimensional sensing is proposed, utilizing the individual fibers assembled along their length to form a multifiber bundle. The device allows for easy access to the individual fibers while offering similar properties to multicore optical fiber. To demonstrate, a two-axis inclinometer is rapidly developed and evaluated for its performance. In this example, three fibers containing fiber Bragg gratings written in single-mode fiber are metalized and attached to each other using a low-temperature indium-based solder. Using interferometric demodulation, an average inclination error of ±0.25° is obtained (at constant temperature) during each measurement cycle.
Interstitial carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity in brain is attributable to membrane-bound CA type IV.

We tested the hypothesis that extracellular membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase (CA) type IV is responsible for the regulation of interstitial pH (pHo) transients in brain. Rat hippocampal slices were incubated in phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), which cleaves the link of CA IV to the external face of plasma membranes. Then evoked alkaline pHo shifts were studied in a recording chamber, using pH microelectrodes. Incubation fluid was saved for later analysis. The ability to buffer a rapid alkaline load was reduced markedly in PI-PLC-treated tissue as compared with adjacent, paired control slices. The effect of benzolamide (a poorly permeant CA inhibitor) on evoked pHo shifts was diminished greatly in the PI-PLC-treated tissue, consistent with the washout of interstitial CA. Treatment of the incubation fluid with SDS abolished nearly all of the CA activity in fluid from controls, whereas an SDS-insensitive component remained in the fluid from PI-PLC-treated slices. These data suggested that CA type II (which is blocked by SDS) leaked from injured glial cells in both slice preparations, whereas CA type IV (which is insensitive to SDS) was liberated selectively into the fluid from PI-PLC-treated tissue. Western blot analysis was consistent with this interpretation, demonstrating a predominance of CA IV in the incubation fluid from PI-PLC-treated tissue and variable amounts of CA II in fluid from PI-PLC-treated and control slices. These results demonstrate that interstitial CA activity brain is attributable principally to membrane-bound CA IV.
National Trends in Hospitalizations for Patients With Single-Ventricle Anatomy.

Patients with single-ventricle (SV) anatomy now live to adulthood. Little is known about the cost of care and outcomes for patients with SV anatomy, especially those who develop heart failure (HF) cared for in adult hospitals in the United States. We analyzed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2000 to 2011 for patients >14 years admitted to adult hospitals with the International Classifications of Diseases, Ninth Revision , codes for SV anatomy. Demographics, outcomes, co-morbidities, and cost were assessed. From 2000 to 2011, the number of SV admissions was stable with a trend toward increased cost per admission over time. Coexistent hypertension, obesity, and liver, pulmonary, and renal diseases significantly increased over time. The most common reason for admission was atrial arrhythmia followed by HF. Patients with SV with HF had significantly higher inhospital mortality, length of stay, and more medical co-morbidities than those with SV and without HF. In conclusion, the cohort of patients with SV admitted to adult hospitals has changed in the modern era. Patients with SV have medical co-morbidities including renal and liver diseases, hypertension, and obesity at a surprisingly young age. Aggressive and proactive management of HF and arrhythmia may reduce cost of care for this challenging population. Patients with SV with HF have particularly high mortality, more medical co-morbidities, and increased cost of care and deserve more focused attention to improve outcomes.
Global dimensions and dynamics of the nutrition transition

Two historic processes of change occur simultaneously with or precede the nutrition transition. One is the demographic transition -- the shift from a pattern of high fertility and mortality to one of low fertility and mortality (typical of modern industrialised countries). The second is the epidemiological transition: the shift from a pattern of high prevalence of infectious disease associated with malnutrition periodic famine and poor environmental sanitation to one of high prevalence of chronic and degenerative disease associated with urban-industrial lifestyles. The nutrition transition is closely related to the other two transitions. In particular in the last one or two decades of the 20th century large shifts have occurred in diet and in physical activity patterns. Modern societies seem to be converging on a diet high in saturated fats sugar refined foods low in fibre -- often termed the Western diet -- and on lifestyles characterised by lower levels of activity. These changes are reflected in nutritional outcomes such as changes in average stature body composition and morbidity. (excerpt)
Studies On the Effects of Two Procaine Preparations On Caenorhabditis Briggsae

Concentrations below 0.36 mM procaine had no significant effect on several developmental parameters of Caenorhabditis briggsae; growth, fecundity, time of inception of the reproductive period and duration of the reproductive period. In old C. briggsae, significant differences in osmotic fragility occurred to concentrations as low as 0.18 mM. Using cationized ferritin for evaluating membrane negative surface charge, at 33 mM partial lysis of the cuticle surface membrane occurred and negative charge was lost from unlysed areas. At 7.2 mM the negative charge was present in some areas of the membrane but not in others, while at 0.18 mM negative charge density did not differ significantly from that of untreated nematodes. Since the osmotic fragility effect persisted at procaine concentrations which did not affect surface charge, these results suggest two separate modes of action of procaine on membranes.
Interactions and Predicted Host Membrane Topology of the Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Translocator Protein EspB

Type 3 secretion systems (T3SSs) are critical for the virulence of numerous deadly Gram-negative pathogens. T3SS translocator proteins are required for effector proteins to traverse the host cell membrane and perturb cell function. Translocator proteins include two hydrophobic proteins, represented in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) by EspB and EspD, which are thought to interact and form a pore in the host membrane. Here we adapted a sequence motif recognized by a host kinase to demonstrate that residues on the carboxyl-terminal side of the EspB transmembrane domain are localized to the host cell cytoplasm. Using functional internal polyhistidine tags, we confirm an interaction between EspD and EspB, and we demonstrate, for the first time, an interaction between EspD and the hydrophilic translocator protein EspA. Using a panel of espB insertion mutations, we describe two regions on either side of a putative transmembrane domain that are required for the binding of EspB to EspD. Finally, we demonstrate that EspB variants incapable of binding EspD fail to adopt the proper host cell membrane topology. These results provide new insights into interactions between translocator proteins critical for virulence.
Using parallel banded linear system solvers in generalized eigenvalue problems

Subspace iteration is a reliable and cost effective method for solving positive definite banded symmetric generalized eigenproblems, especially in the case of large scale problems. This paper discusses an algorithm that makes use of two parallel banded solvers in subspace iteration. A shift is introduced to decompose the banded linear systems into relatively independent subsystems and to accelerate the iterations. With this shift, an eigenproblem is mapped efficiently into the memories of a multiprocessor and a high speedup is obtained for parallel implementations. An optimal shift is a shift that balances total computation and communication costs. Under certain conditions, we show how to estimate an optimal shift analytically using the decay rate for the inverse of a banded matrix, and how to improve this estimate. Computational results on iPSC/2 and iPSC/860 multiprocessors are presented.
Asymptotics of McKay numbers for Sn

Abstract For a partition Λ of n, let H ( Λ ) denote its hook product. If l is prime and a ⩾ 0 an integer, then define p l ( a ; n ) = | { Λ : | Λ | = n , a = ord l ( H ( Λ ) ) } | . These numbers are simply related to the McKay numbers in the representation theory of the symmetric group. Using a generating function of Nakamura and the “circle method,” we determine asymptotic properties of p l ( a ; n ) and ∑ a ( − 1 ) a p l ( a ; n ) , resolving questions of Ono. In particular we show that for fixed l and n, p l ( a ; n ) roughly fits a given distribution that is dependent on l, is centered near n − c 1 n log n and has width c 2 n . We also give an asymptotic formula for ∑ a ( − 1 ) a p l ( a ; n ) that is valid whenever n is not, for any k, within a multiplicative factor of c log l of l k . This formula is of the form ± c ( n ) / n exp ( κ ( n ) n ) where c and κ are specific functions of n and the sign is determined by n.
Problems of realizing a long pulse length, high duty cycle p-Ge landau level fir laser

The hot-hole p-Ge laser, which requires a large power density ( $$\overline J \bullet \overline E $$ ≅ 105 watts/cm3) for excitation, has fundamental heat dissipation and lattice temperature constraints that limit the laser pulse length and duty cycle that can be achieved. This paper presents a two-dimensional heat equation analysis of the p-Ge laser bar configuration along with consideration of constraints of resonator size, heat sink dissipation limits, and temperature cut-off limits (∼20°K). In order to realize a CW p-Ge laser, the present bar sizes (typically 3×4×50 mm), would need to be decreased by over an order of magnitude and the heat sink dissipation capability appreciably increased. The detailed graphs and equations presented provide design data for future p-Ge lasers and optimization data with respect to laser pulse length and duty cycle for existing lasers.
Mood Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Childhood mood disorders such as major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder have been found to be highly prevalent among children and adolescents. The emotional and behavioral dysfunction associated with these mood disorders can cause impairments across areas of functioning, including academic and social arenas. This article reviews the course, possible causes, assessment, and treatment of this group of disorders in youth and concludes by examining the implications for nurses and other health care providers of youth with mood disorders.
Facile Hydrogenation of N2O by an Operationally Unsaturated Osmium Polyhydride

Reaction of (PNP)Os(H)3 (PNP = (tBu2PCH2SiMe2)2N-) with N2O forms (PNP)OsH(N2) and H2O in 1 h at 22 °C. The mechanism of this reaction is probed with DFT (B3LYP) calculations. (PNP)OsH(N2) forms a 1:1 adduct with CO and with HCCH and is protonated (by triflic acid) to [PN(H)P]OsH(N2)+, which only slowly transforms to (PNP)Os(H)2(OTf) by liberation of N2.
Toxicity of Santa Barbara seep oil to starfish embryos: Part 2—the growth bioassay

Abstract The asteroid Patiria miniata was used to develop a static bioassay for various crude oil water-soluble fractions (WSF). The criterion used is the size of 48-h exposed embryos. The reasons for choosing this species and the growth criterion are discussed. Experiments show that the body length of 48-h exposed embryos is inversely proportional to hydrocarbon concentration of the WSF and the time of exposure. It is also shown that the toxicity of the WSF decreases with the age of the preparation and that the first 12 h following fertilisation are most sensitive to the effects of WSF.
Heterosexual and homosexual activity among gay males

Abstract A total of 150 adult self‐professed homosexual men, age 20 to 40, living in three locales‐Manhattan, Suffolk County, (N.Y.), and Minneapolis‐were interviewed, in part to determine their heterosexual and homosexual activities. About two‐thirds (65%) said they had experienced intercourse with a woman at least once, but only 6% had done so in the year prior to the survey. The respondents with heterosexual experience (especially with several women) were more homosexually active currently than were those without it. This pattern holds true even when residence, age, bargoing, and education are controlled. The authors speculate that “action seeking” and sexual desirability account for the observed relationships. Even prior to taking on a homosexual identity, some men are more sexually active and seek out sexual “action” and are, in addition, sought out sexually. In a heterosexual sphere their activities will be heterosexual, but in a homosexual sphere their activities will be homosexual.
A Study of Sixth Graders' Comprehension of Specially-Prepared Materials on Broad Social Conflicts

AbstractA set of stories and an accompanying test was developed for the purpose of assessing sixth graders, comprehension of social conflict. The test, consisting of 125 multiple-choice items, was designed to measure six types of ability to comprehend with emphasis on the “higher mental processes.” The sample consisted of 481 sixth graders; and for comparative purposes, nine fifth-grade classrooms, seven seventh-grade groups, and seven ninth-grade classes. Seventy-nine percent of the sixth graders succeeded on half or better of the test items. Comprehension increased sharply from the fifth to the sixth grade, but only gradually above the sixth. In light of the successful reading and the generally high interest shown, the conclusion is that such materials could be a part of the sixth grade curriculum.
Loneliness in veterans with AIDS and its relationship to the development of infections

Abstract The purposes of this study were to examine loneliness in men with AIDS over a 6-month period and relate the extent of loneliness to the development of infections. Psychoneuroimmunology theory suggests that emotional distress alters immune response. It was believed that loneliness would increase vulnerability to infection. A convenience sample of 31 veterans participated in the study. Although there were no significant changes in loneliness over the 6-month period for the total sample, gay men had a significant increase (P > .03) in loneliness related to romantic sexual attachment. Despite an average of 3.4 infections over the 6-month period, there was no relationship between development of infection and loneliness. Factor analysis was performed for the demographic and study variables. The three factors identified from the study variables were loneliness, social support, and vitality.
Micro-spec: an Integrated Direct-detection Spectrometer for Far-infrared Space Telescopes

ABSTRACT The far-infrared and submillimeter portions of the electromagnetic spectrum provide a unique view of the astro-physical processes present in the early universe. Our ability to fully explore this rich spectral region has beenlimited, however, by the size and cost of the cryogenic spectrometers required to carry out such measurements.Micro-Spec (  -Spec) is a high-sensitivity, direct-detection spectrometer concept working in the 450{1000  mwavelength range which will enable a wide range of ight missions that would otherwise be challenging due tothe large size of current instruments with the required spectral resolution and sensitivity. The spectrometer de-sign utilizes two internal antenna arrays, one for transmitting and one for receiving, superconducting microstriptransmission lines for power division and phase delay, and an array of microwave kinetic inductance detectors(MKIDs) to achieve these goals. The instrument will be integrated on a  10 cm 2 silicon chip and can thereforebecome an important capability under the low background conditions accessible via space and high-altitudeborne platforms. In this paper, an optical design methodology for  -Spec is presented, with particular attentiongiven to its two-dimensional di ractive region, where the light of di erent wavelengths is focused on the di erentdetectors. The method is based on the maximization of the instrument resolving power and minimization of theRMS phase error on the instrument focal plane. This two-step optimization can generate geometrical con gu-rations given speci c requirements on spectrometer size, operating spectral range and performance. Two pointdesigns with resolving power of 260 and 520 and an RMS phase error less than  0:004 radians were developedfor initial demonstration and will be the basis of future instruments with resolving power up to about 1200.Keywords: Far-infrared, submillimeter, spectroscopy
Closure of the subcutaneous dead space and wound disruption after Cesarean delivery

Objective: To determine whether suture closure of subcutaneous dead space decreases wound disruption after Cesarean delivery. Methods: All patients undergoing Cesarean delivery at the New England Medical Center from September 1995 to June 1997 were eligible. One group (162 patients) was randomly assigned to have the subcutaneous fat layer closed with a running 3-0 plain suture. The other group (165 patients) had this layer left unclosed. Both groups had careful hemostasis of this layer with cautery and copious irrigation. All laboring and ruptured patients received prophylactic antibiotics. The patients were followed for 6 weeks after delivery for wound disruption. Results: No significant differences were noted between the two groups with respect to demographic, obstetric, or surgical characteristics or loss to follow-up. Excluding those lost to follow-up (27 closed vs. 22 unclosed), there was no difference in wound infection (11 (8.1%) closed vs. 13 (9.1%) unclosed, RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.14, 2.08). There wer...
Surgical management of clinoidal meningiomas.

Objective Surgical outcome has been less than desirable in the management of patients with clinoidal meningiomas in the past, and little attention has been directed at improving their visual function. The purpose of this article is to advocate an available cranial base technique for removing these difficult tumors and to delineate the technique's advantages that aid in achieving an improved extent of tumor resection and enhancing the patients' overall outcome, particularly their visual outcome. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 15 consecutive patients with clinoidal meningiomas (including a patient with hemangiopericytoma) who underwent surgical resection at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation between June 1995 and January 2000. A cranial base technique consisting of extradural anterior clinoidectomy, coupled with optic canal unroofing and optic sheath opening, was used in 13 patients, and standard pterional craniotomy was used in 2. Eight of 15 patients had significant visual deficits preoperatively. All patients had thorough preoperative and postoperative ophthalmological evaluations. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 60 months (mean, 37.2 mo). Results Total resection was achieved in 13 (86.7%) of the 15 patients in this series, and the majority of the patients with preoperative visual impairment experienced significant improvement (6 of 8 patients; 75%). Conclusion In the majority of patients with clinoidal meningiomas, total resection may be achieved with minimal complications. For large tumors encasing the optic nerve and internal carotid artery, or for those tumors causing preoperative visual impairment, use of the cranial base technique delineated in this study may lead to significant improvement in the patients' visual and overall outcomes.
Confirmation of Excited-State Proton Transfer and Ground-State Heterogeneity in Hypericin by Fluorescence Upconversion

Fluorescence upconversion measurements of hypericin and its methylated analog, O-hexamethoxyhypericin, which possesses no labile protons, confirm excited-state proton (or hydrogen atom) transfer as the primary photophysical event in hypericin. The presence of a rising component in the time-resolved fluorescence of hypericin and the absence of such a component for the hexamethoxy analog are consistent with our assignment of excited-state proton or atom transfer as the primary photophysical process in the light-activated antiviral compound, hypericin. The results using the fluorescence upconversion technique, which detects only emission from the excited state, are in good agreement with our previous transient absorbance measurements. The results are also consistent with a heterogeneous ground state of hypericin.
Cross-modal correlations of the perceived durations of auditory and visual stimuli

Ratings of duration were obtained for auditory and visual signals ranging, from 1 to 5 sec. The inter-modal correlations were moderately large and of an order of magnitude comparable to the intra-modal correlations. Results were considered to support the notion of mechanisms for judgment of time common to various sensory modalities.
Norepinephrine elicits both excitatory and inhibitory responses from Purkinje cells in the in vitro rat cerebellar slice

Superfusion of Purkinje neurons in the in vitro rat cerebellar slice with norepinephrine caused increases and decreases of spontaneous Purkinje cell firing. Excitations were evoked by low concentrations of norepinephrine (0.5-10 microM) and by the beta receptor agonist isoproterenol (0.1-5 microM). These excitations were reduced by timolol (1-2 microM), a beta receptor antagonist. Perfusion with higher concentrations of norepinephrine (greater than 16 microM), caused a depression of Purkinje neuron spontaneous activity. This inhibitory response was blocked by the alpha receptor antagonist phentolamine. The alpha 1 selective agonist phenylephrine had no effect on spontaneous activity at concentrations up to 100 microM, but the alpha 2 selective agonist clonidine (1-50 microM) elicited decreases in firing rate. These responses appeared to be due to a direct action on Purkinje cells, because neither the excitation nor the depression of Purkinje neuron activity elicited by norepinephrine was substantially altered when tested in a medium which substantially blocked synaptic transmission within the slice. Under these in vitro conditions, norepinephrine appears to increase the firing rate of Purkinje neurons via an interaction with beta adrenergic receptors, while norepinephrine induced depressions may be linked to alpha adrenergic receptor interactions; both receptors appear to be located directly on the Purkinje neurons.