cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phosphate is not an absolute requirement for the inhibitory effects of cyclosporin A or cyclophilin D deletion on mitochondrial permeability transition

CypD (cyclophilin D) has been established as a critical regulator of the MPT (mitochondrial permeability transition) pore, and pharmacological or genetic inhibition of CypD attenuates MPT in numerous systems. However, it has recently been suggested that the inhibitory effects of CypD inhibition only manifest when P(i) (inorganic phosphate) is present, and that inhibition is lost when P(i) is replaced by As(i) (inorganic arsenate) or V(i) (inorganic vanadate). To test this, liver mitochondria were isolated from wild-type and CypD-deficient (Ppif-/-) mice and then incubated in buffer containing P(i), As(i) or V(i). MPT was induced under both energized and de-energized conditions by the addition of Ca2+, and the resultant mitochondrial swelling was measured spectrophotometrically. For pharmacological inhibition of CypD, wild-type mitochondria were pre-incubated with CsA (cyclosporin A) before the addition of Ca2+. In energized and de-energized mitochondria, Ca2+ induced MPT regardless of the anion present, although the magnitude differed between P(i), As(i) and V(i). However, in all cases, pre-treatment with CsA significantly inhibited MPT. Moreover, these effects were independent of mouse strain, organ type and rodent species. Similarly, attenuation of Ca2+-induced MPT in the Ppif-/- mitochondria was still observed irrespective of whether P(i), As(i) or V(i) was present. We conclude that the pharmacological and genetic inhibition of CypD is still able to attenuate MPT even in the absence of P(i).
Faulting of gas-hydrate-bearing marine sediments -- contribution to permeability

Extensive faulting is observed in sediments containing high concentrations of methane hydrate off the southeastern coast of the United States. Faults that break the sea floor show evidence of both extension and shortening; mud diapirs are also present. The zone of recent faulting apparently extends from the ocean floor down to the base of gas-hydrate stability. The authors infer that the faulting resulted from excess pore pressure in gas trapped beneath the gas hydrate-bearing layer and/or weakening and mobilization of sediments in the region just below the gas-hydrate stability zone. In addition to the zone of surface faults, they identified two buried zones of faulting that may have similar origins. Subsurface faulted zones appear to act as gas traps.
Anxiety, feedback, and self-reference in face recognition

During an incidental learning phase, high and low test-anxious subjects made judgments about people in facial photographs, comparing the person to either themselves (self-reference) or absolute (nonself) standards with regard to intelligence or dependability. On a subsequent unannounced recognition test, feedback emphasized either correct or incorrect responses. Low-anxiety subjects benefited somewhat from both types of feedback, relative to no feedback, whereas anxious subjects were not affected by error-oriented feedback and somewhat hindered by success-oriented feedback. There was no evidence for a relationship between anxiety and self-reference, and no evidence for facilitation from self-reference relative to nonself processing. The results are discussed in terms of Zajonc's (1980) analysis of the role of affect in memory and test-anxiety theories of self-monitoring.
Metal carbonyl catalysis of carbon monoxide and formate reactions

The water gas shift reaction (CO + H2O = CO2+ H2) is catalyzed by aqueous metal carbonyl systems derived from simple mononuclear carbonyls such as Fe(CO)5 and M(CO)6 (M = Cr, Mo, and W) and bases in the 140–200 °C temperature range. The water gas shift reaction in a basic methanol-water solution containing Fe(CO)5 is first order in [Fe(CO)5], zero order in [CO], and essentially independent of base concentration and appears to involve an associative mechanism with a metallocarboxylate intermediate [(CO)4Fe-CO2H]−. The water gas shift reactions using M(CO)6 as catalyst precursors are first order in [M(CO)6], inverse first order in [CO], and first order in [HCO2−] and appear to involve a dissociative mechanism with formatometallate intermediates [(CO)5M-OCHO]−.
The patient with candidemia: Treatment choices and algorithms

Candidemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis have become increasingly important health care-associated infections. Risk factors are easily identified in patients with this disease, and about one half are residents of an ICU. In recent years, the treatment of candidemia and invasive candidiasis has significantly evolved from amphotericin B-based regimens to the echinocandins and fluconazole. A strategy of “step-down” therapy from an echinocandin to fluconazole in selected non-neutropenic patients with candidemia has been commonly practiced but not well studied. The approach to candidemia in the neutropenic patient is similar, but a lipid formulation of amphotericin B or voriconazole is often preferred because of the risk of concomitant mold infection. The biggest therapeutic challenge remaining to clinicians is the intensive care unit patient with multiple risk factors and a clinical suspicion of invasive candidiasis. Because optimal therapy in these patients is unknown, well-designed clinical trials and the continued development of non-culture-based diagnostic assays are crucial.
The power series ring over an Ore domain need not be Ore

A ring R satisfies the right Ore condition iff for all nonzero divisors, r, s E R, rR f? sR f 0. If5 in addition to satisfying the right Ore condition, R has no zero divisors, then R is said to be a right Ore domain. Ore’s famous theorem states that R satisfies the right Ore condition iff R has a right quotient ring. It has long been an open question whether the property of being a right Ore domain iifts to the power series ring. This is known to hold if the right Ore domain is right Noetherian or if it satisfies a polynomial identity. In this paper we construct a right Ore domain R such that its power series ring Rijtj fails to satisfy the right Ore condition. It is well known that all polynomial rings and matrix rings over a right Ore domain satisfy the right Ore condition (see [3, p. 439j). To gain insight into the construction of our example, we next review the proof for the polynomial ring R[t] over a right Ore domain R. Let Q be the quotiem division ring of R. Using the division algorithm we see that Q[r] is a right Ore domain. Let q(t) be an arbitrary polynomial in Q[t]. Because R satisfies the right Ore condition, the coefficients of q(f) have a common denominator. Hence q(r) has the form r(t) SC’, where r(t) E R[t], s E R. Let ,f(,rj, g(i) br polynomials in R[t]. Then, because Q[t] is a right Ore domain? there exist q!(r) = rl(tj s;‘, qz(t) = Y~(~)s;~ in Q[l] such that f(t) r,(i) ST” = g(r) P?(L) s; ‘. Using that R satisfies the right Ore condition, we immediately have S(t) R[t] 9 g(t) R[t] # 0. Hence, R[t] is a right Ore domain. A similar approach yields a proof for the satisfaction of the right Ore condition by the matrix rings over a right Ore domain. Heavily used in the preceding argument is the finite number of coefficients in q(t). In a power series ring we lose this finiteness. Our example exploits that fact. Of crucial importance for the construction of our example is Cohn’s theorem which states that every fir is embeddable in a division ring [Z]. Recall that the free product of any family of division rings over a common subdivision ring is a fir [ 11. We construct the power series ring example by
Dynamic complexity of the microglial activation response in transgenic models of amyloid deposition: implications for Alzheimer therapeutics.

The presence of activated microglia in postmortem Alzheimer disease specimens is used to support the argument that inflammation contributes to Alzheimer pathogenesis. Transgenic mice overexpressing the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene form amyloid plaques that are accompanied by local activation of microglia/macrophages in a manner similar to the human disease. Many markers of microglial activation and inflammation increase in an age-dependent manner in these mice. However, manipulation of these inflammatory reactions can lead to unexpected outcomes with several instances of reduced pathology when microglia/macrophages are activated further. In particular, anti-Aβ immunotherapy in amyloid-depositing transgenic mice causes a complex series of changes in microglial markers, negating the implicit belief that such activation is monotonic and represented equally well by any of several “activation” markers. A survey of the peripheral macrophage literature identifies at least 2 distinct activation states of macrophages with different consequences for the surrounding tissue. These different activation states can often be distinguished by the markers that are expressed. Several markers are identified from studies outside the brain that neuroscientists might consider evaluating when attempting to more definitively describe the activation state of the monocyte-derived cells in the brain.
Inorganic–organic hybrid materials: synthesis and crystal structures of the layered solids [{M(H2O)(2,2′-bipy)}V2O6] (M=Co, Ni)

Abstract Two novel inorganic–organic hybrids [Co(H 2 O)(2,2′-bipy)V 2 O 6 ] ( 1 ) and [Ni(H 2 O)(2,2′-bipy)V 2 O 6 ] ( 2 ) have been prepared in 70–78% yields by the hydrothermal reactions of V 2 O 5 , LiOH·H 2 O, 2,2′-bipyridine (2,2′-bipy), MSO 4 · x H 2 O (M=Co, x =7, 1 ; M=Ni, x =6, 2 ), and H 2 O carried out in Teflon-lined autoclaves at 160 °C for 96 h. The new solids have been characterized by single crystal X-ray structure analyses, manganometric titration, elemental and thermogravimetric analysis, and IR spectroscopic studies. The isomorphous structures of 1 – 2 are comprised of {M/V/O} layers-perpendicular to the b -axis- composed of corner-sharing {VO 4 } tetrahedra and {CoN 2 O 4 } octahedra. The mixed-metal oxide layers contain [V 2 O 6 2− ] n motifs made up of corner-sharing {VO 4 } tetrahedra. The 2,2′-bipyridyl groups, bonded to the M centers in the layers, are projecting outward to occupy regions in between the successive metal oxide layers. Crystal data: 1 , C 10 H 10 CoN 2 O 7 V 2 , orthorhombic space group Pca 2(1), a =9.1870(4), b =10.5451(5), c =14.3487(6) A, V =1390.07(11) A 3 , Z =4, ρ calc =2.059 Mg m −3 , R 1 =0.0167; 2 , C 10 H 10 NiN 2 O 7 V 2 , orthorhombic space group Pca 2(1), a =9.1445(4), b =10.5076(5), c =14.3123(6) A, V =1375.22(11) A 3 , Z =4, ρ calc =2.081 Mg m −3 , R 1 =0.0214.
Treatment of food refusal in a two-year-old child

Abstract This article presents a case study of the successful modification of solid food eating in a two-year old child. The treatment paradigm rested on the pairing of a high incidence behavior (liquid ingestion) with a low incidence behavior (solid food ingestion). The mother of the child was also seen during the treatment period for directive instruction in behavior modification and for supportive counseling. The entire treatment period spanned 13 weeks, and was managed in a psychiatric inpatient milieu. Follow-up weights at one, two and three months, and at two years are reported.
Baclofen produces dose-related working memory impairments after intraseptal injection

Altering the activity of the septohippocampal pathway can impair spatial memory in rats. Pharmacological manipulation of septal GABA-A receptors with the agonist, muscimol, or the benzodiazepine agonist, chlordiazepoxide, also impairs spatial memory and depresses hippocampal cholinergic activity. The present experiment examined the effects of intraseptal infusion of the GABA-B agonist baclofen on the performance of rats on a working memory radial arm maze (RAM) task. Post-training administration of baclofen (3 nmol, but not 1.5 or 0.75 nmol) produced a significant impairment of RAM performance. Baclofen significantly reduced the number of correct choices and increased the number of errors committed during testing without affecting latency per arm choice or the ability of the rats to navigate the maze and consume food pellets. The data suggest that baclofen impaired retention of the task without producing proactive performance deficits. Furthermore, the present data are consistent with the hypothesis that a GABAergic mechanism in the medial septum modulates the maintenance or retrieval of spatial working memory.
Enhanced High-Performance Detectors for Astronomy, Planetary and Terrestrial Applications

Antireflection coatings are grown directly onto detector surfaces by atomic layer deposition. Through careful design of single- and multi-layer coatings, optical performance can be optimized for specific applications.
A Morphology Map Based on Phase Evolution in Polymer Blend Films

We present a novel morphology map based on pattern development mechanisms in polymer blend films. Six distinct mechanism are found for poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA):poly(styrene-ran-acrylonitrile) (SAN) films for thickness values and bulk compositions between 50−1000 nm and φPMMA = 0.3−0.8, respectively. In regime A (φPMMA = 0.3), PMMA is completely depleted from the midlayer by preferential wetting, resulting in a stable PMMA/SAN/PMMA trilayer. With increasing φPMMA (0.4−0.7), pattern development is driven by phase separation in the midlayer, which produces circular domains, irregular domains, and bicontinuous patterns denoted as regimes B, C, and D, respectively. Here, shape factors are used for the first time to quantitatively distinguish these regimes. In regime E (φPMMA = 0.8), the SAN phase is the minority component in the midlayer and breaks up into droplets in a smooth PMMA film. In regime F (φPMMA = 0.4 or 0.5; d < 80 nm), films initially develop a trilayer structure, which then ruptures upon ...
Nonlinear Aerodynamic Characteristics of Sounding Rockets J

Sounding rockets nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics from full scale and supersonic wind tunnel free flight data, using wobble analysis
Muscle endurance and mitochondrial function after chronic normobaric hypoxia: contrast of respiratory and limb muscles.

Skeletal muscle adaptation to chronic hypoxia includes loss of oxidative capacity and decrease in fiber size. However, the diaphragm may adapt differently since its activity increases in response to hypoxia. Thus, we hypothesized that chronic hypoxia would not affect endurance, mitochondrial function, or fiber size in the mouse diaphragm. Adult male mice were kept in normoxia (control) or hypoxia (hypoxia, FIO2 = 10%) for 4 weeks. After that time, muscles were collected for histological, biochemical, and functional analyses. Hypoxia soleus muscles fatigued faster (fatigue index higher in control, 21.5 ± 2.6% vs. 13.4 ± 2.4%, p < 0.05), but there was no difference between control and hypoxia diaphragm bundles. Mean fiber cross-sectional area was unchanged in hypoxia limb muscles, but it was 25% smaller in diaphragm (p < 0.001). Ratio of capillary length contact to fiber perimeter was significantly higher in hypoxia diaphragm (28.6 ± 1.2 vs. 49.3 ± 1.4, control and hypoxia, p < 0.001). Mitochondrial respiration rates in hypoxia limb muscles were lower: state 2 decreased 19%, state 3 31%, and state 4 18% vs. control, p < 0.05 for all comparisons. There were similar changes in hypoxia diaphragm: state 3 decreased 29% and state 4 17%, p < 0.05. After 4 weeks of hypoxia, limb muscle mitochondria had lower content of complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase), while diaphragm mitochondria had higher content of complexes IV and V (F1/F0 ATP synthase) and less uncoupling protein 3 (UCP-3). These data demonstrate that diaphragm retains its endurance during chronic hypoxia, apparently due to a combination of morphometric changes and optimization of mitochondrial energy production.
Contribution of a Mesocorticolimbic Subcircuit to Drug Context-Induced Reinstatement of Cocaine-Seeking Behavior in Rats

Cocaine-seeking behavior triggered by drug-paired environmental context exposure is dependent on orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)–basolateral amygdala (BLA) interactions. Here, we present evidence supporting the hypothesis that dopaminergic input from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the OFC critically regulates these interactions. In experiment 1, we employed site-specific pharmacological manipulations to show that dopamine D1-like receptor stimulation in the OFC is required for drug context-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior following extinction training in an alternate context. Intra-OFC pretreatment with the dopamine D1-like receptor antagonist, SCH23390, dose-dependently attenuated cocaine-seeking behavior in an anatomically selective manner, without altering motor performance. Furthermore, the effects of SCH23390 could be surmounted by co-administration of a sub-threshold dose of the D1-like receptor agonist, SKF81297. In experiment 2, we examined effects of D1-like receptor antagonism in the OFC on OFC-BLA interactions using a functional disconnection manipulation. Unilateral SCH23390 administration into the OFC plus GABA agonist-induced neural inactivation of the contralateral or ipsilateral BLA disrupted drug context-induced cocaine-seeking behavior relative to vehicle, while independent unilateral manipulations of these brain regions were without effect. Finally, in experiment 3, we used fluorescent retrograde tracers to demonstrate that the VTA, but not the substantia nigra, sends dense intra- and interhemispheric projections to the OFC, which in turn has reciprocal bi-hemispheric connections with the BLA. These findings support that dopaminergic input from the VTA, via dopamine D1-like receptor stimulation in the OFC, is required for OFC–BLA functional interactions. Thus, a VTA–OFC–BLA neural circuit promotes drug context-induced motivated behavior.
Forming nanostructured cubic trialuminide/carbide composites by mechanical milling followed by thermal processing

Milling titanium trialuminide and titanium powders with an organic process control agent (PCA) followed by annealing forms nanostructured (Al,Cr)3Ti/Ti2AlC composites. Composition of charge, milling time and PCA control final microstructure. Product is useful as thermal spray feedstockfor oxidation and wear resistant composite coatings. 2003 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Phenomenology of Flute‐Like Perturbations in the Divertor Region

A very strong squeezing of the flux-tube passing near the divertor X-point should make impossible existence of flute-like perturbations connecting the divertor plate and the median part of the SOL. On the other hand, some of the current experimental observations imply that such perturbations do exist. In the present paper we consider possible resolutions of this apparent paradox for some specific experimental situations: short divertor legs; presence of a sold plasma in the divertor legs; and excitation of the modes with small toroidal wave numbers.
Kinetic analysis of specificity of duplex DNA targeting by homopyrimidine peptide nucleic acids

A simple theoretical analysis shows that specificity of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) targeting by homopyrimidine peptide nucleic acids (hpyPNAs) is a kinetically controlled phenomenon. Our computations give the optimum conditions for sequence-specific targeting of dsDNA by hpyPNAs. The analysis shows that, in agreement with the available experimental data, kinetic factors play a crucial role in the selective targeting of dsDNA by hpyPNAs. The selectivity may be completely lost if PNA concentration is too high and/or during prolonged incubation of dsDNA with PNA. However, quantitative estimations show that the experimentally observed differences in the kinetic constants for hpyPNA binding with the correct and mismatched DNA sites are sufficient for sequence-specific targeting of long genomic DNA by hpyPNAs with a high yield under appropriate experimental conditions. Differential dissociation of hpyPNA/dsDNA complexes is shown to enhance the selectivity of DNA targeting by PNA.
Crystal structure of human bleomycin hydrolase, a self-compartmentalizing cysteine protease

Abstract Background: Bleomycin hydrolase (BH) is a cysteine protease that is found in all tissues in mammals as well as in many other eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Although its conserved cellular function is as yet unknown, human bleomycin hydrolase (hBH) has clinical significance in that it is thought to be the major cause of tumor cell resistance to bleomycin chemotherapy. In addition, it has been reported that an allelic variant of hBH is genetically linked to Alzheimer's disease. Results: We have determined the crystal structures of wild-type hBH and of a mutant form of the enzyme. The overall structure is very similar to that of the previously determined yeast homolog, however, there is a striking difference in the charge distribution. The central channel, which has a strong positive electrostatic potential in the yeast protein, is slightly negative in hBH. We have determined that hBH does not have the DNA-binding activity of the yeast protein and that the enzyme is localized to the cytoplasm. Conclusions: The difference in charge distribution between the yeast and human BH enzymes is most likely responsible for the difference in DNA-binding activity. Nevertheless, the C-terminal autoprocessing activity and the role of the C terminus as a determinant for peptidase activity are conserved between the yeast and human forms. The structure of hBH suggests that the putative Alzheimer's disease linked variation does not directly after the intrinsic peptidase activity. Rather, the position of the mutation suggests that it could affect interactions with another protein, which may modulate peptidase activity through repositioning of the C terminus.
Fast and lean self-stabilizing asynchronous protocols

We consider asynchronous general topology dynamic networks of identical nameless nodes with worst-case transient faults. Starting from any faulty configuration, our protocols self-stabilize any computation in time polynomial in the (unknown) network diameter. This version sacrifices some diversity of tasks and efficiency for simplicity and clarity of details. Appendix gives more efficient procedures in less detail. >
The magnitude of an adiabatic invariant of quantum mechanics

Abstract : The adiabatic invariant of quantum mechanics for a system with finitely many states is asymptotically calculated with particular attention to its dependence on the smoothness of the Hamiltonian. (Author)
General Formalism for Singly-Thermostated Hamiltonian Dynamics

A general formalism is developed for constructing modified Hamiltonian dynamical systems which preserve a canonical equilibrium distribution by adding a time evolution equation for a single additional thermostat variable. When such systems are ergodic, canonical ensemble averages can be computed as dynamical time averages over a single trajectory. Systems of this type were unknown until their recent discovery by Hoover and colleagues. The present formalism should facilitate the discovery, construction, and classification of other such systems by encompassing a wide class of them within a single unified framework. This formalism includes both canonical and generalized Hamiltonian systems in a state space of arbitrary dimensionality (either even or odd) and therefore encompasses both few- and many-particle systems. Particular attention is devoted to the physical motivation and interpretation of the formalism, which largely determine its structure. An analogy to stochastic thermostats and fluctuation-dissipation theorems is briefly discussed.
Formation of a WIP-, WASp-, actin-, and myosin IIA–containing multiprotein complex in activated NK cells and its alteration by KIR inhibitory signaling

The tumor natural killer (NK) cell line YTS was used to examine the cytoskeletal rearrangements required for cytolysis. A multiprotein complex weighing ∼1.3 mD and consisting of WASp-interacting protein (WIP), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp), actin, and myosin IIA that formed during NK cell activation was identified. After induction of an inhibitory signal, the recruitment of actin and myosin IIA to a constitutive WIP–WASp complex was greatly decreased. Both actin and myosin IIA were recruited to WIP in the absence of WASp. This recruitment correlated with increased WIP phosphorylation, which was mediated by PKCθ. Furthermore, the disruption of WIP expression by WIP RNA interference prevented the formation of this protein complex and led to almost complete inhibition of cytotoxic activity. Thus, the multiprotein complex is important for NK cell function, killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor inhibitory signaling affects proteins involved in cytoskeletal rearrangements, and WIP plays a central role in the formation of the complex and in the regulation of NK cell activity.
Multi-level Low-rank Approximation-based Spectral Clustering for image segmentation

Spectral clustering is a well-known graph-theoretic approach of finding natural groupings in a given dataset, and has been broadly used in image segmentation. Nowadays, High-Definition (HD) images are widely used in television broadcasting and movies. Segmenting these high resolution images presents a grand challenge to the current spectral clustering techniques. In this paper, we propose an efficient spectral method, Multi-level Low-rank Approximation-based Spectral Clustering (MLASC), to segment high resolution images. By integrating multi-level low-rank matrix approximations, i.e., the approximations to the affinity matrix and its subspace, as well as those for the Laplacian matrix and the Laplacian subspace, MLASC gains great computational and spacial efficiency. In addition, the proposed fast sampling strategy make it possible to select sufficient data samples in MLASC, leading to accurate approximation and segmentation. From a theoretical perspective, we mathematically prove the correctness of MLASC, and provide detailed analysis on its computational complexity. Through experiments performed on both synthetic and real datasets, we demonstrate the superior performance of MLASC.
Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Prosthetic Joint Infection Caused by Small Colony Variant Staphylococci

ABSTRACT Small colony variants (SCVs) are naturally occurring subpopulations of bacteria. The clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with prosthetic joint infection (PJI) caused by staphylococcal SCVs are unknown. This study was a retrospective series of 113 patients with staphylococcal PJI, with prospective testing of archived sonicate fluid samples. SCVs were defined using two-investigator review. Treatment failure was defined as (i) subsequent revision surgery for any reason, (ii) PJI after the index surgery, (iii) prosthesis nonreimplantation due to ongoing infection, or (iv) amputation of the affected limb. There were 38 subjects (34%) with SCVs and 75 (66%) with only normal-phenotype (NP) bacteria. Subjects with SCVs were more likely to have been on chronic antimicrobials prior to surgery ( P = 0.048), have had prior surgery for PJI ( P = 0.03), have had a longer duration of symptoms ( P = 0.0003), and have had a longer time since joint implantation ( P = 0.007), compared to those with only NP bacteria. Over a median follow-up of 30.6 months, 9 subjects (24%) with SCVs and 23 (32%) with only NP bacteria experienced treatment failure ( P = 0.51). Subjects infected with Staphylococcus aureus were more likely to fail than were those infected with Staphylococcus epidermidis (hazard ratio [HR], 4.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.80 to 9.04). While frequently identified in subjects with PJI and associated with several potential predisposing factors, SCVs were not associated with excess treatment failure compared to NP infections in this study, where they were primarily managed with two-stage arthroplasty exchange. IMPORTANCE Bacteria with the small colony variant (SCV) phenotype are described in small case series as causing persistent or relapsing infection, but there are insufficient data to suggest that they should be managed differently than infection with normal-phenotype bacteria. In an effort to investigate the clinical importance of this phenotype, we determined whether SCVs were present in biofilms dislodged from the surfaces of arthroplasties of patients with staphylococcal prosthetic joint infection and assessed the clinical outcomes associated with detection of SCVs. We found that prosthetic joint infection caused by SCV staphylococci was associated with a longer duration of symptoms and more prior treatment for infection but not with an increased rate of treatment failure, compared to infection caused by normal-phenotype staphylococci.
Should International Accounting Standards Prescribe the Capitalization of Intangible Assets

Balance sheet figures must be reliable and need not necessarily be value relevant. In order to protect the company's creditors, and to safeguard the investing public against the possibility of earnings management, intangible assets should only be recognized when the most stringent of standards are satisfied. According to this line of reasoning, the efforts to make the capitalization of intangibles mandatory appear rather misguided.
Pikaia gracilens Walcott: Stem Chordate, or Already Specialized in the Cambrian?

For the past 35 years, the Cambrian fossil Pikaia gracilens was widely interpreted as a typical basal chordate based on short descriptions by Conway Morris. Recently, Conway Morris and Caron (CMC) (2012, Biol Rev 87:480-512) described Pikaia extensively, as a basis for new ideas about deuterostome evolution. This new Pikaia has characters with no clear homologues in other animals, so they could be phylogenetically uninformative autapomorphies. These characters include a dorsal organ, posterior ventral area, posterior fusiform structure, and anterior dorsal unit. Yet CMC interpret most of the unusual characters as primitive for chordates, thereby interpreting Pikaia as an even more convincing stem chordate than before. Moreover, they claim that segment (myomere) shape is a reliable guide for defining a chordate and even for assigning animals to their correct place in deuterostome phylogeny. By defining sigmoidal segments as a basal chordate character, they situate Pikaia at the base of the chordates and banish fossil yunnanozoans (which have straight segments) to a position deep within the deuterostomes. In addition, they consider amphioxus, with its conspicuously chevron-shaped segments, to be so highly derived that it is of little use for reconstructing the first chordates. We question their overemphasis on the phylogenetic value of segment shape and their marginalizing of amphioxus. We deduce that Pikaia, not amphioxus, is specialized. We performed a cladistic analysis that showed the character interpretations of CMC are consistent with their wide-ranging evolutionary scenario, but that these interpretations leave unresolved the position of Pikaia within chordates.
Accelerating Geospatial Applications on Hybrid Architectures

Accelerators have become critical in the process to develop supercomputers with exascale computing capability. In this work, we examine the potential of two latest acceleration technologies, Nvidia K20 Kepler GPU and Intel Many Integrated Core (MIC) Architecture, for accelerating geospatial applications. We first apply a set of benchmarks under 3 different configurations, i.e., MPI+CPU, MPI+GPU, and MPI+MIC. This set of benchmarks include embarrassingly parallel application, loosely communicating application, and intensely communicating application. It is found that the straightforward MPI implementation on MIC cores can achieve the same amount of performance speedup as hybrid MPI+GPU implementation when the same number of processors are used. Further, we demonstrate the potentials of hardware accelerators for advancing the scientific research using an urban sprawl simulation application. The parallel implementation of the urban sprawl simulation using 16 Tesla M2090 GPUs can realize a 155x speedup compared with the single-node implementation, while achieving a good strong scalability.
Autonomic self-optimization according to business objectives

A central challenge in the runtime management of computing environments is the necessity to keep these environments continuously optimized. In this paper we introduce a new paradigm, which focuses on self-optimization according to high-level business objectives such as maximizing revenues. It replaces the more traditional optimizations that are based upon IT measures such as resource availability. A general, autonomous process is defined to enable such optimizations, and a set of technologies and methodologies is introduced to support the implementation of such a process. The paper concludes with two types of validation tests carried out on an eCommerce site, that demonstrate the value and applicability of this approach.
Age-related voice measures among adult women

During the twentieth century there has been a substantial increase in the number of older people living in the United States (1). This increase has stimulated a greater interest in the study of the aging process. Experts in human communication are among those who have focused more attention on the elderly voice (2). The concern for the effects that aging may have on verbal communication is undeniably an important one. Although relatively little data are available which relate loss of communicative skills to the aging process, there are considerable reports in the geriatric literature that substantiate certain physiological changes that could disrupt the normal process of speech and voice production. The most commonly reported, and apparently the most potentially serious, are reductions in vital capacity (3-6), osteoporosis of the boney framework of the ribs and spinal column (7), ossification of the laryngeal cartilages (8,9), and atrophy as well as other age-related changes in respiratory, laryngeal, and facial musculature and mucosa (8,10-13). Any one, or a combination, of these changes associated with aging could be detrimental to speech and voice, and ultimately could reduce the communicative effectiveness of the elderly speaker. Given the aforementioned age-related differences, the parameters of speech and voice that would appear to be most affected are speech timing and vocal power. For speech timing, age-related effects may be present due to reductions in rates of neurotransmission, muscle strength, and mucosal elasticity which ultimately could have a negative effect on the speed of speech mechanism activity. Alterations in speech timing could have a major impact on the integrity of the signal produced, since
Double insurance atlantoaxial fixation.

Abstract Background An alternative technique of atlantoaxial fixation is described, which combines the trans-articular method of fixation described by Magerl in 1982 and the interarticular technique described by us in 1988. Methods Between January 2001 and January 2005, 18 patients underwent the discussed method of fixation at the Department of Neurosurgery at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India. Fifteen patients had congenital craniovertebral anomaly and 3 patients had posttraumatic atlantoaxial instability. Fourteen patients had basilar invagination with “fixed” atlantoaxial dislocation, and 4 patients had mobile and reducible atlantoaxial dislocation. The mean follow-up period was 22 months (range, 3-50 months). Results Successful atlantoaxial stabilization was achieved in all patients and was documented with dynamic radiography. There was no incidence of implant rejection. There were no neurological, vascular, or infective complications. Conclusion The described method of atlantoaxial fixation that incorporates the advantages of the 2 currently more frequently used techniques of lateral mass fixation could be an alternative method of fixation.
How Neuroticism Affects Responses to Anti-Smoking Messages

The effect of trait neuroticism on college students' (n=200) responses to anti-smoking public service announcements (PSAs) was examined using a 2 (neuroticism: high vs. low) × 3 (message type: personal testimony, secondhand smoke, and informative) × 3 (message: nested within message type) design. We hypothesized that those high in neuroticism would be avoidant toward anti-smoking messages, have quicker and stronger negative reactions and perceive the messages as more biased and less involving. As hypothesized, those high in neuroticism were more likely to want to avoid thinking about smoking as a function of viewing the messages and more likely to see messages as biased; however, neuroticism did not affect judgments of message involvement. Tobacco use and gender also affected message bias and avoidance. Those scoring high in neuroticism also responded quicker to negative emotion assessments to messages. Implications for the importance of neuroticism in message design and message processing research are discussed.
Interpretation of AIRS Data in Thin Cirrus Atmospheres Based on a Fast Radiative Transfer Model

A thin cirrus cloud thermal infrared radiative transfer model has been developed for application to cloudy satellite data assimilation. This radiation model was constructed by combining the Optical Path Transmittance (OPTRAN) model, developed for the speedy calculation of transmittances in clear atmospheres, and a thin cirrus cloud parameterization using a number of observed ice crystal size and shape distributions. Numerical simulations show that cirrus cloudy radiances in the 800–1130-cm 1 thermal infrared window are sufficiently sensitive to variations in cirrus optical depth and ice crystal size as well as in ice crystal shape if appropriate habit distribution models are selected a priori for analysis. The parameterization model has been applied to the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on board the Aqua satellite to interpret clear and thin cirrus spectra observed in the thermal infrared window. Five clear and 29 thin cirrus cases at nighttime over and near the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program (ARM) tropical western Pacific (TWP) Manus Island and Nauru Island sites have been chosen for this study. A 2 -minimization program was employed to infer the cirrus optical depth and ice crystal size and shape from the observed AIRS spectra. Independent validation shows that the AIRS-inferred cloud parameters are consistent with those determined from collocated ground-based millimeter-wave cloud radar measurements. The coupled thin cirrus radiative transfer parameterization and OPTRAN, if combined with a reliable thin cirrus detection scheme, can be effectively used to enhance the AIRS data volume for data assimilation in numerical weather prediction models.
Pediatric hyperlipidemia: child and adolescent disease understandings and perceptions about dietary adherence.

PURPOSE. Pediatric hyperlipidemia increases cardiovascular disease risk. The cornerstone of treatment is a restrictive, lipid-lowering diet. Child disease understandings and perceptions of dietary adherence were explored, a secondary aim of the Endothelial Assessment of Risk from Lipids in Youth trial. DESIGN AND METHODS. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with participants, ages 9–20 years (n = 50). Data were thematically analyzed. FINDINGS. Adherence is influenced by individual characteristics (developmental level, knowledge), in the context of social interactions (family modeling, peer relationships, school). PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS. Dietary practices are developed within social interactions. Interventions promoting adherence must consider children within their social contexts.
Sexual Dimorphism, Brain Morphology, and Schizophrenia

The study of sexual dimorphism in brain morphology may help delineate subtypes of schizophrenia based, in part, on sex; yield insight into the relationship between brain structure and behavior; and provide a neurodevelopmental context for studying the ontogenesis of schizophrenia. Preliminary findings from an ongoing study of sex differences in brain morphology and neuropsychological performance in schizophrenia suggest that schizophrenic males are characterized by multiple morphological deviations; this may represent an extreme form of normal sexual dimorphism in brain morphology. The role of brain morphology deviation in the ontogenesis of schizophrenia is discussed.
Learning From Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Leads in Children

If you want to break something, give it to your kid. That truism applies to many items from toys to technology. The paper describing the results of the PLEASE study (Pediatric Lead Extractability and Survival Evaluation Study) from Berul et al in this issue of Circulation provides sobering but important evidence that this also applies to implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads.1 Most ICD systems are implanted in adults, but many are implanted in children. These pediatric patients with ICD systems now participate in larger ICD registries,2 but an earlier specific pediatric registry is the target of this study. This study encompasses 874 patients and 965 ICD leads, spanning 24 centers. The initial ~1/5th of the patients were enrolled in a randomized study comparing two specific lead designs: the smaller Medtronic Fidelis lead, and a larger but ePTFE coated Boston Scientific alternative. This portion of the study was terminated when concerns about Fidelis lead performance surfaced, and these and all subsequent patients entered into a registry, with more patients and nearly inclusive entry for the latter portion of the enrollment. Although not pre-specified, I think this flexibility was laudatory, allowing the salvage of useful and generalizable information, and does not appear to be an obvious source of bias or scientific compromise. The study design however is essentially that of a registry rather than a randomized study.
Design of a CNTFET-Based SRAM Cell by Dual-Chirality Selection

This paper proposes a new design of a highly stable and low-power static RAM (SRAM) cell using carbon nanotube FETs (CNTFETs) that utilizes different threshold voltages for best performance. In a CNT, the threshold voltage can be adjusted by controlling the chirality vector (i.e., the diameter). In the proposed six-transistor SRAM cell design, while all CNTFETs of the same type have the same chirality, n-type and p-type transistors have different chiralities, i.e., a dual-diameter design of SRAM cell. As figures of merit, stability, power dissipation, and write time are considered when selecting the chirality for the best overall performance. A new metric, denoted as ?SPR,? is proposed to capture these figures of merit. This metric shows that a CNTFET-based SRAM cell provides an ?SPR? that is four times higher than for its CMOS counterpart that has the same configuration, thus attaining superior performance. Finally, the sensitivity of the CNTFET SRAM design to process variations is assessed and compared with its CMOS design counterpart. Extensive simulations have been performed to investigate the distribution of the power and delay of the CNTFET-based SRAM cell due to variations in the diameter, supply voltage, and temperature of the CNTFETs. The CNTFET-based SRAM cell demonstrates that it tolerates the process, power supply voltage, and temperature variations significantly better than its CMOS counterpart.
Understanding Mechanisms in Organizational Research Reflections From a Collective Journey

Social mechanisms are theoretical cogs and wheels that explain how and why one thing leads to another. Mechanisms can run from macro to micro (e.g., explaining the effects of organizational sociali...
Interpretation of Moire Patterns

A description of several of the basic properties of moire patterns used in strain analysis is presented. The uniqueness and continuity of displacements are noted, compared with topological elevations, and the ordering of fringes is demonstrated to follow. The meaning of lines of zero slope in the pattern is shown to be an aid in strain analysis. Singular points of the elliptical, hyperblic, and double-tangent type are described. Singular lines are noted as an extension of singular points. The effect on the moire pattern of rotation of the master and model grid systems is presented in terms of Mohr’s circle. The use of symmetry in order to obtain additional information from the pattern is demonstrated, including an example of a complete analysis from one pattern, wherein the proper regard is given to symmetry. The description is illustrated with patterns from a ring and a disk under diametral load, a strip with a hole subjected to uniaxial tension, a plate with two concentrated loads on one edge, and a disk subjected to four-point loading.
A Supervised Learning Technique and Its Applications to Computational Biology

The problem of classifying data in spaces with thousands of dimensions have recently been addressed in literature for its importance in computational biology. An example of such applications is the analysis of genomic and proteomic data. Among the most promising techniques that classify such data in lower dimensional subspace, Top Scoring Pairs has the advantage of finding a two-dimensional subspace with a simple decision rule. In the present paper we show how this technique can take advantage from the utilization of incremental generalized eigenvalue classifier to obtain higher classification accuracy with a small training set.
G36(P) Evaluation of current practice guidelines and follow-up of outcomes among emergency department visits for head injuries in a cohort of infants less than 6 months of age

Background The incidence of abusive head injury in children is highest in infancy with nearly 80% of abusive head trauma occurring in children by 2 years. Physical abuse represents a leading cause of traumatic brain injury and has been implicated as an underreported cause of infant mortality. Sensitivity when assessing children for features suggestive of NAI is paramount particularly in the age group less than 2 years. Current practice All infants below 6 months are admitted following presentation with head injury regardless of the extent or mechanism of injury described. Aim The purpose of this study was to describe the outcomes of children admitted through one of Ireland’s busiest emergency departments under these guidelines analysing medical, radiological and social outcomes. Method A retrospective review of patient data using ED Clinical Information systems was performed to establish the number of cases of head injury which led to hospital admission. An extensive chart review, radiological outcome analysis as well as national social worker register review for social outcomes was studied in an effort to ascertain the number of cases of NAI identified. Results There were 49156 patients seen in ED from 01/06/12 to 31/05/13. 2610 (5.3%) had a diagnosis of head injury; 50 patients (2%) were Conclusion At 16% of children having positive radiological findings at 6 months the current guidelines are supported by the imaging outcomes. In addition to the above 3 patients were subject to care orders as a child protection measure, further establishing the need to consider admission for this group who are at-risk of NAI.
The Changing Role of Marketing in the Eastern European Socialist Economies

The socialist nations of Eastern Europe are moving toward more market-oriented economies. Problems have arisen because of unfamiliarity with marketing concepts and the conflict of some concepts with established socialist ideology. This article examines problems of introducing marketing into a planned economy and concentrates on the experience of Hungary.
Lifestyle-Routine Activities and Crime Events:

This article presents a review of the theoretical and empirical status of lifestyle-routine activities theory, along with a discussion of its utility for policy and practice. The article covers mul...