cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sources of moral injury among war veterans: A qualitative evaluation

Objective Service members deployed to war are at risk for moral injury, but the potential sources of moral injury are poorly understood. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the types of events that veterans perceive as morally injurious and to use those events to develop a categorization scheme for combat-related morally injurious events. Method Six focus groups with US war veterans were conducted. Results Analysis based on Grounded Theory yielded two categories (and eight subcategories) of events that putatively cause moral injury. The two categories were defined by the focal attribution of responsibility for the event: Personal Responsibility (veteran's reported distress is related to his own behavior) versus Responsibility of Others (veteran's distress is related to actions taken by others). Examples of each type of morally injurious event are provided. Conclusions Implications for the further development of the moral injury construct and treatment are discussed.
Scaling VCSEL-MMF Links to 1 Tb/s Using Short Wavelength Division Multiplexing

We demonstrate a path to 1-Tb/s VCSEL-based links using a wideband multimode fiber (WBMMF/OM5), which provides an extended effective modal bandwidth ranging from 844 to 948 nm. Using 850-, 880-, 910-, and 940-nm vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), we quantify the benefits of electronic pulse-shaping and channel equalization for both pulse-amplitude modulations (PAMs), i.e., PAM-2 and PAM-4. We demonstrate that all these VCSELs support an error-free performance (bit error rate <10−12) at 54 Gb/s for PAM-2 and at 84 Gb/s for PAM-4 over 100 m of OM5 without forward error-correction (FEC) or receiver equalization. Furthermore, all VCSELs support 100-Gb/s PAM-4 transmission over 100 m of OM5 with FEC and receiver equalization. Importantly, all signal filtering investigated is readily implemented in SiCMOS.
Study on Bohai sea ice based on MODIS data

Based on MODIS L1B data, we identify information of sea ice area, peripheral line and density, and also use Landsat data with higher resolution to verify the results obtained from MODIS data. Using pseudo color processing technology is more intuitive and more clear to show the various information of the Bohai sea. The whole process of sea ice information extraction is described in detail from MODIS data downloads to image processing and analysis. The selected data basically cover the entire process from the initial ice age, the peak ice age to the final ice age. The ideal results are obtained, and it also shows that the MODIS satellite data is feasible to monitor sea ice, which provides a reference for the establishment of monitoring sea ice model.
Choriodecidual Haemosiderin Staining

Choriodecidual haemosiderin staining is defined as the presence of iron, preferably confirmed by using histochemical stains, in the amniochorial membranes or the basal plate. Placental haemosiderosis is a wider term which includes also the villous haemosiderosis. Haemosiderin staining can be graded as mild, moderate or severe, based on the extent and density of haemosiderin deposition. It is a typical association of placental chronic abruption but it can be also seen in asymptomatic patients, particularly when iron stain is used. In this latter situation, its significance and other associations remain to be determined.
Constraint management on distributed design configurations

Architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) design processes involve the participation of many designers who may work independently in geographically distinct locations. Independent designs evolve owing to changes made by the designers and discipline-specific CAD applications, and these changes need to be evaluated and configured with respect to a set of project constraints for overall design consistency. In addition, each designer needs to be informed about the relevant changes made by other designers. Most rework orders result from inadequate sharing of the evolving design information between various participants in the design process. The awareness of important changes through automatedconstraint management can avoid expensive reworks at the later stages of the projects. In this paper, we present an incremental approach to constraint checking in AEC design configurations. A configuration represents a design state stored in multiple databases: each configuration has a set ofdiscipline-specific databases and an associated set ofinter-disciplinary constraints. The constraints are evaluated on the databases to give the third component of configurations: a set ofviolations. Including violations in the configuration definition allows us to support partially consistent configurations. Partially consistent configurations are important from a practical standpoint since all the design information may not be available, or may not be consistent, at all stages of the AEC design process. We provide a formal description ofconfigurations and the semantics of changes on configurations. This framework facilitates incremental constraint checking to support the notions ofpersistent andwhat-if configurations. We also provide a classification of constraints that is helpful in selective evaluation of constraints.
Applying Key Principles of Motor Skill Learning and Assessment to Your Physical Education Program

Although physical educators may differ on teaching philosophy, individual style or specific drills chosen for instruction, each practitioner should strive to utilize evidence-based practices that h...
Actinomyces turicensis Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infection of the Thigh in a Diabetic Male.

Abstract Background: Necrotizing soft-tissue infections are a devastating infection that is rarely caused by Actinomyces spp. Case Report: A 45-year-old obese previously healthy male presented to t...
Herbicide programs for the termination of grass and broadleaf cover crop species

The use of cover crops in soybean production systems has increased in recent years. There are many questions surrounding cover crops—specifically about benefits to crop production and most effective herbicides for spring termination. No studies evaluating cover crop termination have been conducted across a wide geographic area, to our knowledge. Therefore, field experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 in Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Wisconsin for spring termination of regionally specific cover crops. Glyphosate-, glufosinate-, and paraquat-containing treatments were applied between April 15 and April 29 in 2016 and April 10 and April 20 in 2017. Visible control of cover crops was determined 28 days after treatment. Glyphosate-containing herbicide treatments were more effective than paraquat- and glufosinate-containing treatments, providing 71% to 97% control across all site years. Specifically, glyphosate at 1.12 kg ha–1 applied alone or with 2,4-D at 0.56 kg ha–1, saflufenacil at 0.025 kg ha–1, or clethodim at 0.56 kg ha–1 provided the most effective control on all grass cover crop species. Glyphosate-, paraquat-, or glufosinate-containing treatments were generally most effective on broadleaf cover crop species when applied with 2,4-D or dicamba. Results from this research indicate that proper herbicide selection is crucial to successfully terminate cover crops in the spring.Nomenclature: 2,4-D; clethodim; dicamba; glufosinate; glyphosate; paraquat; saflufenacil
A single episode of early-life status epilepticus impacts neonatal ultrasonic vocalization behavior in the Fmr1 knockout mouse.

Abstract Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic disorder caused by a trinucleotide (CGG) expansion mutation in the Fmr1 gene located on the X chromosome. It is characterized by hyperactivity, increased anxiety, repetitive-stereotyped behaviors, and impaired language development. Many children diagnosed with FXS also experience seizures during their lifetime. However, the underlying etiology of the relationship between FXS and epilepsy is not fully understood. Ultrasonic vocalizations (UVs) are one tool that may be used to measure early behavioral changes in mouse pups. In the present study, neonatal UVs were analyzed as a measure of communicative behavior in a mouse model of FXS, both with and without early-life seizures (ELSs). On postnatal day (PD) 10, status epilepticus (SE) was induced via intraperitoneal injections of 0.5% kainic acid (2.0 mg/kg) in male Fmr1 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. On PD 12, all pups were temporarily isolated from their dam and UVs were recorded. Significant alterations were found in both spectral and temporal measures across genotype and seizure groups. Early-life seizure experience resulted in a significant increase in the quantity of UVs only in WT animals (p
Burst Detector Sensitivity: Past, Present & Future

I compare the burst detection sensitivity of CGRO's BATSE, Swift's BAT, the GLAST Burst Monitor (GBM) and EXIST as a function of a burst's spectrum and duration. A detector's overall burst sensitivity depends on its energy sensitivity and set of accumulations times Delta t; these two factors shape the detected burst population. For example, relative to BATSE, the BAT's softer energy band decreases the detection rate of short, hard bursts, while the BAT's longer accumulation times increase the detection rate of long, soft bursts. Consequently, Swift is detecting long, low fluence bursts (2-3x fainter than BATSE).
Residential Solar-Adopter Income and Demographic Trends: 2021 Update

Author(s): Barbose, Galen L; Forrester, Sydney; O’Shaughnessy, Eric; Darghouth, Naim R | Abstract: The report describes income, demographic, and other socio-economic trends among U.S. residential rooftop solar adopters. The report is based on data for roughly 1.9 million residential rooftop solar systems installed through 2019, representing 82% of all U.S. systems. With its unique size, geographic scope, and level of detail, this report is intended to serve as a foundational reference document for policy-makers, industry stakeholders, and researchers. Key findings include the following: -Solar adopters generally skew towards higher incomes, though that trend continues to diminish over time. -Solar adopter incomes vary considerably and encompass many low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. -Solar-adopter incomes are consistently higher for systems paired with battery storage, for host-owned systems, and for systems installed on single-family homes. -Solar adopters differ from the broader U.S. population in terms of a variety of other demographic and socioeconomic measures. -State-level comparisons indicate that solar-adopters tend to live in neighborhoods with relatively high non-Hispanic White and Asian populations, and with relatively low Hispanic and Black populations.
Not All (Brand) Changes are Made Equal: Understanding Which Changes Impact Brand Loyalty

Some changes that brands make seem to impact brand loyalty, while other seem to have little influence. We propose that when a consumer is loyal to a brand, the consumer’s beliefs about the cause-effect relationships that exist among that brand’s features influence which changes will negatively impact brand loyalty. Specifically, brand loyalty is more harmed by changes to features that are perceived as more causally connected to other important features of a brand (i.e., more causally central), compared to changes in more causally peripheral features. Across six studies, we demonstrate that changes to features impact brand loyalty to the extent that the feature is seen as causally central. We show that manipulations that make a feature more causally peripheral decrease the impact of a change to that feature on brand loyalty. Further, we demonstrate that the impact of causal centrality on the brand loyalty response to change is mediated by perceived disruption to brand identity. Our results provide a new perspective on consumer loyalty, suggesting that maintaining brand identity is key to maintaining brand loyalty.
Closures of K-orbits in the Flag Variety for \(\mathrm {Sp}(2n,\mathbb {R})\)

We give a pattern avoidance criterion to classify the orbits of \(\mathbb {GL}(n,{\mathbb C})\) on the flag variety of \(\mathrm {Sp}(2n,{\mathbb C})\) with smooth or rationally smooth closure, showing that orbits whose clans avoid the bad patterns have closures which fiber in a nice way over an orbit closure in a smaller flag variety.
A Lifecourse Perspective on Female Sex-Specific Risk Factors for Later Life Cognition

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is greater in women compared to men. We provide a review of female sex-specific risk factors across the lifecourse for cognition in older adulthood, highlighting areas that need further study. Pregnancy may affect late-life cognition, with adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline but parity providing a protective effect. Cumulative estrogen exposure, influenced by age of menarche, menopause, and exogenous estrogen use, may modify a woman’s risk for dementia. Menopause transition-associated symptoms may impact cognitive health at the time of the symptoms, but long-term effects remain unknown. As compared to natural menopause, surgical menopause seems to increase the risk for cognitive impairment. Studies that have assessed the association between women’s reproductive health and cognition have produced conflicting results. Future studies that address these inconsistencies among diverse populations are needed to better care for women throughout their lives.
Service Interruption: Managing Commitment to Community Partners During a Crisis

While the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic is the most widespread and longest lasting educational disruption of the modern era, it joins a host of other natural and human-made crises affecting university education, such as Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico (2017), the Islamic State's closure of Al-Furat University in Syria (2014), Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans (2005), and many others. For service learning classes, generally defined as students learning as they provide service to a community partner, these large scale disruptions create special challenges even when it is possible to move classes online. The COVID-19 pandemic seriously affected the active involvement of community partners, including non-profit organizations, local schools and hospitals, and local governments. Many community organizations struggled to meet increased demand for their assistance while simultaneously cutting personnel due to budget shortfalls. In this paper, we report results from 34 survey respondents who offered service learning classes in undergraduate computer and information science during spring 2020. Despite the turmoil, only three faculty respondents lost their community partner entirely. In response to disruption, nearly half of faculty removed some of the assignments’ requirements, while others made the service project optional or removed it completely. Going online negatively affected students’ ability to collaborate with each other and interact with community partners, activities that are considered important for reaching learning outcomes for service learning. Nevertheless, about two-thirds of faculty reported that their students completed their service assignments and described conditions that led to or detracted from their success. Based on the findings, the authors present several implications for development of future computer and information science service learning offerings that are resilient during times of crisis.
Enhancement of the spin-glass transition temperature through p d -orbital hybridization in Zn 1 − x Mn x Te

To gain insight into the spin-glass state of diluted magnetic semiconductors, we have examined the magnetic and electronic properties of ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{x}\mathrm{Te}$ using density-functional theory as well as performed magnetization measurements on the $x=0.43$ and 0.55 systems to demonstrate a clear spin-glass transition consistent with previous literature. Using a generalized gradient approximation, we investigate the electronic and magnetic properties for $x=0$, 0.075, 0.15, 0.25, and 0.50 doping levels using the magnetic moment of ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ as guide for the dependence of the Hubbard onsite potential on the electronic structure. Simulations on both ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) configurations yield a distinct AFM ground-state preference, which is consistent with a zero-magnetic-moment spin-glass state. Here an onsite potential of up to 8 eV on the Mn $3d$ orbitals is needed to harden the magnetic moment toward $S=5/2$. From our analysis of the electronic structure evolution with doping and onsite potential, we confirm the semiconducting state of the Mn-doped ZnTe as well as show that the presence of Mn incorporated into the ZnTe matrix at the Zn lattice site produces magnetic interactions through the Te ions with a distinct Te-Mn $pd$-orbital hybridization. Furthermore, we show that this hybridization is activated with the Mn doping above 0.25 concentration, which corresponds to the doping level in which the spin-glass transition begins to rise. Therefore, it is likely that the coupling of $pd$-orbital hybridization of the Mn and Te $p$ orbitals is a precursor to the enhancement of the spin-glass transition temperature.
Bittker's Pendulum and the Taxation of Multinationals

Recent calls for increased entity-level corporate income taxation of multinationals, on both a source and a residence basis, have a distinctly back-to-the-future cast. At least as to the bottom line, they have far more in common with 1986-era thinking than with which has often prevailed in more recent decades. However, their intellectual basis has substantially changed, reflecting the evolution of economic thinking to reflect twenty-first century trends. This historical back-and-forth has ample parallels in other areas, and precedents from earlier eras. In corporate and international tax policy, as well with regard to taxing capital income and addressing high-end inequality more generally, the rise of standard neoclassical Econ 101 precepts that, in the preceding period, had been underappreciated was succeeded by a growing awareness of what those precepts leave out. Meanwhile, the popular back-and-forth has reflected fluctuating public perceptions regarding, not just the importance of distributional issues, but also unfettered free market capitalism’s merits and performance.
Parkin mutation dosage and the phenomenon of anticipation: a molecular genetic study of familial parkinsonism.

Background parkin mutations are a common cause of parkinsonism. Possessing two parkin mutations leads to early-onset parkinsonism, while having one mutation may predispose to late-onset disease. This dosage pattern suggests that some parkin families should exhibit intergenerational variation in age at onset resembling anticipation. A subset of familial PD exhibits anticipation, the cause of which is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if anticipation was due to parkin mutation dosage.
Effect of Small Load Fluctuations on Power System Voltage Stability Studies

The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between small-magnitude load fluctuations and their relative intensities to the voltage collapse in a power system. Based on this examination, an indicator is derived to determine the system's relative time to collapse at various buses. This indicator is represented by the mean first passage time of a power system which is perturbed by small load fluctuations, from the domain of attraction of its stable operating point at the incidence of the voltage collapse. This time is indicative of the often on-field reported relatively long period of uncertainty, before the voltage collapse occurs. A relatively simple power system model is used in this study because the main idea is to test the viability of the proposed indicator in system dynamics representation. Since voltage collapse is a local problem, imminent critical buses or areas within the power system will be identified by this method. Computationally, the method will provide various means for its eventual on-line implementation in a large-scale power system environment. Among the many questions that this project will answer are how the size of the region of attraction, the structure of the system dynamics, and properties of various disturbances would influence the voltage collapse indicator.
Taking the 'task' out of task analysis

Task analysis is a well-accepted component of user-centered design. It is often left out of the design process, however, due to a lack of practical methods, the difficulty in predicting the amount of resource required to perform it, and a short supply of people with the appropriate skills. A solution to these problems is a structured set of activities that compose a task analysis and relate to the overall design process.The general framework into which these activities fit has three phases: Data Collection, Data Analysis, and Design. During the Data Collection phase, user and task data are collected and validated. The Data Analysis phase requires analyzing the user and task data in a way that results in suggestions for information representation, navigation, terminology, and consistency. Finally, the Design phase requires translating the suggestions from the Data Analysis phase into a viable product.A prototype task analysis workbook was developed to assess the feasibility of the structured approach to ta...
Structural Adaptability Facilitates Histidine Heme Ligation in a Cytochrome P450

Almost all known members of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily conserve a key cysteine residue that coordinates the heme iron. Although mutation of this residue abolishes monooxygenase activity, recent work has shown that mutation to either serine or histidine unlocks non-natural carbene- and nitrene-transfer activities. Here we present the first crystal structure of a histidine-ligated P450. The T213A/C317H variant of the thermostable CYP119 from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius maintains heme iron coordination through the introduced ligand, an interaction that is accompanied by large changes in the overall protein structure. We also find that the axial cysteine C317 may be substituted with any other amino acid without abrogating folding and heme cofactor incorporation. Several of the axial mutants display unusual spectral features, suggesting that they have active sites with unique steric and electronic properties. These novel, highly stable enzyme active sites will be fruitful starting points for investigations of non-natural P450 catalysis and mechanisms.
Toward better software test estimates and requirement tracking

Estimating the effort and cost, and developing the project schedule are very important for building a successful software project. But estimation is hard. There is always pressure from project sponsor and management for software development team to commit to shorter schedule and lower cost. It is no exception for testing. Test is a key activity for software quality. Some of the main challenges in testing today are to match the test cases with requirements correctly, and to provide accurate estimates and track the test progress accordingly. In this paper, we present a parametric model for software test estimate along with a test graph for matching test cases with requirements and test cases analysis to aid in producing a more accurate estimates and tracking. The model and the test graph can be used jointly or individually. The model and the test graph have been used by multi-million-dollar software projects for more than three years. It is shown that they produced very accurate estimations, within 10% of deviation, even with very high requirement volatility.
Second generation 2-aminoimidazole based advanced glycation end product inhibitors and breakers

The formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) as a result of the action of reducing sugars on host macromolecules plays a role in increased morbidity of diabetic patients. There are currently no clinically available therapeutics for the prevention or eradication of AGEs. Following our previous identification of 2-aminoimidazole (2-AI) based AGE inhibitors and breakers, we now report the use of a rapid, scalable, two-step procedure to access a second generation of 2-AI based anti-AGE compounds from commercially available amino acids. Several second generation compounds exhibit increased AGE inhibition and breaking activty compared to the first generation compounds and to the known AGE inhibitor aminoguanidine.
Synthesis gas formation by direct oxidation of methane over Pt monoliths

Abstract The production of H2 and CO by catalytic partial oxidation of CH4 in air at atmospheric pressure has been examined over Pt and Pt-Rh coated monoliths at residence times between 10−4 and 1−2 sec. With these short contact times, the direct oxidation reaction can be studied independent of reforming reactions. We observe high conversions to H2 and CO, which strongly suggests that the primary surface reaction is methane pyrolysis, CH4 → C + 4H, from which H2 desorbs and C is oxidized to CO. With room-temperature feeds using air, the optimal feed composition for H2 and CO occurs between 15 and 20% CH4 with optimal selectivities of up to SH2 ≈ 0.5 and Sco ≈ 0.95 at 80% conversion of the CH4 at ≈100°C. Increasing the adiabatic reaction temperature by preheating the reactant gases or by using O2 instead of air improves SH2 to as much as 0.7 for a Pt catalyst and shifts the optimal feed composition toward the stoichiometric feed composition for H2 and CO production. By examining several catalyst configurations, including Pt-10% Rh woven gauzes and Pt-coated ceramic foam and extruded monoliths, several reaction and reactor variables in producing H2 and CO have been examined. These experiments show that the selectivity is improved by operating at higher gas and catalyst temperatures, by maintaining high rates of mass transfer through the boundary layer at the catalyst surface, and by using catalysts with high metal loadings. At flow rates high enough to minimize mass-transfer limitations, the gauze, foam monoliths, and extruded monoliths all give similar selectivities and conversions, but with important differences resulting from different catalyst geometries and thermal conductivities.
Variational method without wave functions in the nuclear many-body problem

Abstract Expectation values of the Hamiltonian, expressed as sum rules in terms of physically observable transition elements, are considered as variational expressions subject to sum rule constraints. The latter are derived from the Lie algebra of the transition operators and from Pauli principle restrictions. The power and flexibility of the method is illustrated by an example.
A thermodynamic model for subsolidus equilibria in the system CaOMgOAl2O3SiO2

It is shown that the high temperature enthalpy of solution data for pure phases and solid solutions in the CMAS system are, for 'gabbroic' and 'peridotitic' compositions, consistent with available phase equilibrium data for the MAS, CAS and CMAS systems. A refined set of values of thermodynamic properties for these phases and solid solutions is tabulated. The small differences between the new data set and that of Helgeson et al. (1978) arise from new data on heat capacity and enthalpy being incorporated. The important constraints applied and the major difficulties in fitting which arose are summarized.
Quasi-electrostatic trap for neutral atoms☆

We show that it is possible to trap any neutral atom using a focused high power infrared laser. The trap could hold several different species of atoms simultaneously. Small photon scattering and heating rates allow the possibility of long trap lifetimes.
Adjunct prenatal testing: patient decisions regarding ethnic carrier screening and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Little has been reported regarding how women make decisions about genetic carrier screening for Ashkenazi Jewish genetic disease and cystic fibrosis (CF), and for fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) during pregnancy. Thirty-seven women who underwent genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis were interviewed about their prenatal decision making. Respondents were largely Caucasian (95%), and undergoing prenatal diagnosis because of maternal age (78%). Sixty-three percent of those who reported having genetic carrier screening correctly defined it; 83% felt positively about it. Primary reasons reported for electing screening were: to get information, to be prepared, perception of risk, wanting peace of mind and percieved inability to care for an affected child. Women who declined screening felt they had very little or no risk, and some were deterred by cost. Ninety-five percent of respondents elected to have FISH; most were motivated by its speed in providing information and peace of mind or by timing of when the procedure was performed. Those who declined FISH reported being less concerned about having an affected child, receiving bad news, or waiting 2 weeks for results and slightly less affected by their “feelings toward medical testing” or physician's suggestion. These findings suggest decision-making factors differ between those electing and declining adjunct prenatal testing and increased knowledge about these factors may impact the way in which these services are offered by health care professionals. Prospective research with a larger population will be useful in further delineating the factors that influence prenatal decisions about adjunct testing measures.
The impact of institutional sources of capital upon the minority-oriented venture capital industry

Venture capital (VC) funds specializing in investing equity capital in minority-owned businesses have grown rapidly over the past decade, fueled by the willingness of major institutional investors to support this traditionally neglected niche. We investigate impacts of public pension funds upon the minority VC sector. These funds, providing over half of all capital invested in minority VCs, selectively invest, seeking to fund only those VCs likely to generate high returns. Although they attempt to pick the winners, our findings indicate that they have failed to do so. The influence of public pension funds upon the minority VCs is nonetheless real, skewing investing away from traditional practices and toward those of the venture capital mainstream. In the process, minority VCs funded by pension fund money invest in high-tech fields more than other minority-oriented VC funds do. Further, they are less likely to fund minority-owned small firms, focusing increasingly upon firms owned by nonminority Whites. Neither of these trends has resulted in increased returns. Rather, diverting minority-oriented VCs away from their traditional mission of investing in minority firms operating in a broad range of industries has resulted in lower returns over the years studied.
Tryptophan degradation in women with breast cancer: a pilot study

Background Altered tryptophan metabolism and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity are linked to cancer development and progression. In addition, these biological factors have been associated with the development and severity of neuropsychiatric syndromes, including major depressive disorder. However, this biological mechanism associated with both poor disease outcomes and adverse neuropsychiatric symptoms has received little attention in women with breast cancer. Therefore, a pilot study was undertaken to compare levels of tryptophan and other proteins involved in tryptophan degradation in women with breast cancer to women without cancer, and secondarily, to examine levels in women with breast caner over the course of chemotherapy.
The repair of the tobacco specific nitrosamine derived adduct O6-[4-Oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyl]guanine by O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase variants.

The tobacco specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), a potent pulmonary carcinogen, both methylates and pyridyloxobutylates DNA. Both reaction pathways generate promutagenic O 6 -alkylguanine adducts. These adducts, O 6 -methylguanine (O 6 -mG) and O 6 -[4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyl]guanine (O 6 -pobG), are repaired by O 6 -alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT). In this report, we demonstrate that pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts are repaired by AGT in a reaction that results in pyridyloxobutyl transfer to the active site cysteine. Because minor changes within the binding pocket of AGT can alter the ability of this protein to repair bulky O 6 -alkylguanine adducts relative to O 6 -mG, we explored the ability of AGTs from different species as well as several human AGT variants and mutants to discriminate between O 6 -mG or O 6 -pobG adducts. We incubated proteins with equal molar amounts of oligodeoxynucleotides containing site specifically incorporated O6-mG or O6-pobG and measured repair. Bacterial AGTs poorly repaired O 6 -pobG. Mouse and rat AGT repaired both adducts at comparable rates. Wild-type human AGT, variant I143V/K178R, and mutant N157H repaired O 6 -mG approximately twice as fast as O 6 -pobG. Human variant G160R and mutants P140K, Y158H, G156A, and E166G did not repair O 6 -pobG until all of the O 6 -mG was removed. To understand the role of adduct structure on relative repair rates, the competition experiments were repeated with two other bulky O 6 -alkylguanine adducts, O 6 -butylguanine (O 6 -buG) and O 6 -benzylguanine (O 6 -bzG). The proteins displayed similar repair preference of O 6 -mG relative to O 6 -buG as observed with O 6 -pobG. In contrast, all of the mammalian proteins, except the mutant P140K, preferentially repaired O 6 -bzG. These studies indicate that the rate of repair of O 6 -pobG is highly dependent on protein structure. Inefficient repair of O 6 -pobG by bacterial AGT explains the high mutagenic activity of this adduct in bacterial systems. In addition, differences observed in the repair of this adduct by mammalian proteins may translate into differences in sensitivity to the mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of NNK or other pyridyloxobutylating nitrosamines.
Electron confinement and heating in microwave-sustained argon microplasmas

We systematically measure and model the behavior of argon microplasmas sustained by a broad range of microwave frequencies. The plasma behavior exhibits two distinct regimes. Up to a transition frequency of approximately 4 GHz, the electron density, directly measured by Stark broadening, increases rapidly with rising frequency. Above the transition frequency, the density remains approximately constant near 5 × 1020 m–3. The electrode voltage falls with rising frequency across both regimes, reaching approximately 5 V at the highest tested frequency. A fluid model of the plasma indicates that the falling electrode voltage reduces the electron temperature and significantly improves particle confinement, which in turn increases the plasma density. Particles are primarily lost to the electrodes at lower frequencies, but dissociative recombination becomes dominant as particle confinement improves. Recombination events produce excited argon atoms which are efficiently re-ionized, resulting in relatively constant ionization rates despite the falling electron temperature. The fast rates of recombination are the result of high densities of electrons and molecular ions in argon microplasmas.
Excited state prototropic equilibria of some quinolinols

Abstract The prototropic equilibrium constants for the first excited singlet states of the cation-zwitterion equilibria of a series of quinolinols and 5-isoquinolinol have been determined by fluorescence as well as absorption measurements. The results obtained by the two methods are not in good agreement and the reasons for this are discussed. Huckel MO calculations have been carried out on the molecules studied. The protonation energies and the one electron charge densities on the oxygen atoms can be qualitatively correlated with the excited state equilibrium constants.
Multiple-fluid models for plasma wake-field phenomena.

In this paper we present various treatments of plasma wake-field phenomena which employ multiple-fluid models. These models generalize the one-dimensional, nonlinear, relativistic single-fluid model which has been used extensively in previous plasma wake-field calculations. Using a two-fluid model, we discuss the interaction of a low-energy continuous electron beam with wake-field-generated plasma waves. The phenomena of continuous-beam modulation and wave period shortening are discussed. The relationship between these effects and the two-stream instability is also examined. Also, using a three-fluid model, effects due to plasma electron temperature in nonlinear plasma wake-fields are examined and compared to previous work. Finally, the consequences of ion motion induced by large-amplitude electron plasma waves are calculated by including the fluid behavior of the ions.
Soiling patterns on a tall limestone building: Changes over 60 years

Soiling of limestone caused by air pollution has been studied at the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus. The Cathedral was constructed in the 1930s during a period of heavy pollution in Pittsburgh, PA. Archival photographs show that the building became soiled while it was still under construction. Reductions in air pollutant concentrations began in the late 1940s and 1950s and have continued to the present day. Concurrent with decreasing pollution, soiled areas of the stone have been slowly washed by rain, leaving a white, eroded surface. The patterns of white areas in archival photographs of the building are consistent with computer modeling of rain impingement showing greater wash off rates at higher elevations and on the corners of the building. Winds during the rainstorms are predominantly from the quadrant SW to NW at this location, and wind speeds as well as rain intensities are greater when winds are from this quadrant as compared with other quadrants; the sides of the building facing these directions are much less soiled than the opposing sides. Overall, these results suggest that rain washing of soiled areas on buildings occurs over a period of decades, in contrast to the process of soiling that occurs much more rapidly.
The distribution of cardioactive agents among molluscan species and tissues.

1. 1. In addition to acetylcholine (ACh) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT), five cardioactive substances—peaks A, B, B0, C, and D—have been separated from ganglion and non-nervous tissue extracts obtained from representatives of the four major classes of Mollusca. 2. 2. The nervous tissues always had a greater number of active substances than did the non-nervous ones. All ganglion extracts contained peaks A, B0, ACh, and C. 5HT, D, and B were each missing from only one species. 3. 3. All of the substances had their highest activities in ganglion extracts. However, the degree of localization varied; peak C was strongly restricted to nervous tissue, while the activity of A was the most evenly distributed. 4. 4. Peaks C and B0 are widely distributed in molluscan ganglia; they are also powerful pharmacological agents. The action of peak B0, described here for the first time, is similar to that of dopamine. 5. 5. Peaks C and B0 have been partially purified. Peak C activity is produced by a small, positively charged molecule which is not a polypeptide. B0 resembles a catecholamine in its fluorescence characteristics but is neither adrenaline, noradrenaline, nor dopamine.
A Comparison of Cohort Analysis and Catch per Unit Effort for Dover Sole and English Sole

Abstract Indices of year-class strength, stock size, and surplus production of female Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus) and female English sole (Parophrys vetulus) were calculated by two methods: Catch per unit effort (CPUE) and cohort analysis. For each species we derived two CPUE indices and two cohort analysis indices based on different age-groups. For Dover sole, both CPUE indices show strong year classes in the early and mid-1940's, declining recruitment in the late 1940's and early 1950's and an increase in strength up to 1962; however, the year by year correlation of the two CPUE indices with each other was not significant. A similar correlation between cohort analysis estimates was significant, however. Both sets of cohort analysis estimates show a gradual decline in female stock size during the 1950's, and a leveling out at a lower level in the 1960's. Catch per unit effort indicates that stock size has increased in the 1970's. These trends in stock size seem to lag behind parallel trends in rec...
Economics of diabetes—cost impactof not treating diabetes early and intensively

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) has become epidemic in Western society. The direct and indirect medical costs of caring for patients with type 2 DM and its complications are staggering and will continue to grow with the increasing incidence of the disease. Studies show that preventive treatment, such as lifestyle changes and potentially pharmacologic therapy, may reduce the risk for diabetes and its complications, potentially reducing the costs of the disease.
Thermo-Mechanical Contact and Micro-Wear in Head Disk Interface

Thermo-mechanical contact and micro-wear of head disk interface (HDI) are investigated using the improved HDI contact model and theories of frictional heat generation and heat transfer. In analytical simulations, dynamic contact parameters such as material properties, sliding velocity, and surface interference are based on actual HDI design and operation. The resulting contact pressure and temperature distribution show that the micro-wear on the carbon film of a head slider would be significantly attributed to the degradation of carbon material caused by frictional heat generation during sliding contact.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission research for primary system integrity regulations

Abstract Research at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Nrc) on the integrity and inspection of light water reactor (LWR) primary system materials and components, and on structural analysis, grew out of programs under way in the Atomic Energy Commission from the 1950s to the early 1970s. The research program was focused to provide a confirmatory and independent technical basis for rules, regulatory guidance and industry codes and standards that applied to the fabrication, inspection, analysis and safe operation of the materials and components of the primary systems in US LWRs. This paper provides an overview of the technical and regulatory issues dealt with over the 20 years of the Nrc's existence, with references to the detailed research which formed the technical underpinnings for the resulting regulations and regulatory guidance, and its impact on US codes and standards.
Computational identification and analysis of orphan assembly-line polyketide synthases

The increasing availability of DNA sequence data offers an opportunity for identifying new assembly-line polyketide synthases (PKSs) that produce biologically active natural products. We developed an automated method to extract and consolidate all multimodular PKS sequences (including hybrid PKS/non-ribosomal peptide synthetases) in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, generating a non-redundant catalog of 885 distinct assembly-line PKSs, the majority of which were orphans associated with no known polyketide product. Two in silico experiments highlight the value of this search method and resulting catalog. First, we identified an orphan that could be engineered to produce an analog of albocycline, an interesting antibiotic whose gene cluster has not yet been sequenced. Second, we identified and analyzed a hitherto overlooked family of metazoan multimodular PKSs, including one from Caenorhabditis elegans. We also developed a comparative analysis method that identified sequence relationships among known and orphan PKSs. As expected, PKS sequences clustered according to structural similarities between their polyketide products. The utility of this method was illustrated by highlighting an interesting orphan from the genus Burkholderia that has no close relatives. Our search method and catalog provide a community resource for the discovery of new families of assembly-line PKSs and their antibiotic products.
Intraluminal Pressure of the Small Intestine of the Unanesthetized Dog

Intraluminal pressure recordings have been performed in 14 unanesthetized dogs via a Mann-Bollman fistula by means of an air-filled balloon catheter system and a water-filled catheter system. The dynamic response is adequate for studying intraluminal pressures of the small intestine. Resting pressures in the proximal, middle and distal jejunum averaged approximately 6 mm Hg above atmosphere and no appreciable differences were noted between the different areas. The contraction time of simple, monophasic waves was fairly constant (approximately 1.0 s in duration) and usually unrelated to amplitude of the wave. Propulsion of intraluminal contents occurred in the absence of complex (type III) waves. A pressure wave in a proximal segment of jejunum was temporally related to a wave occurring 5 cm distally. The mean intervals between the proximal and distal contractions were: 0.42 s in the proximal jejunum; 0.74 s in the middle jejunum; 1.56 s in the distal jejunum; 2.79 s in the ileum. These time lags have a log normal distribution. The length of the physiologic segment in the jejunum of the dog varied from 1.0-8.0 cm and was usually 2-4 cm.
Malingering, coaching, and the serial position effect

The normal pattern of performance on list-learning tasks is to recall more words from the beginning (primacy) and end (recency) of the list. This pattern is also seen in patients with closed head injury, but malingerers tend to recall less words from the beginning of word lists, leading to a suppressed primacy effect. The present study examined this pattern on both learning trials and delayed recall of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) in 34 persons performing with normal effort, 38 naive malingerers, 33 warned malingerers, and 29 head-injured patients. Both malingering groups had lower scores on the primacy portion of the list during learning trials, while normals and head-injured patients had normal serial position curves. During delayed recall, normals and head-injured patients did better than the two malingering groups on middle and recency portions of the list. Findings suggest that the serial position effect during learning trials may be a useful pattern of performance to watch for when suspicious of malingering.