cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urea analysis in coastal waters: comparison of enzymatic and direct methods

This study presents a comparison of two existing methods for the determination of urea concentration in seawater. These methods are referred to here as the enzymatic method, which is based on the use of the enzyme urease, and the direct method, which is based on the reaction of urea with diacetylmonoxime. A room temperature modification of the direct method was adapted for a single reagent and both the enzymatic and the direct method were tested in artificially prepared solutions and in natural samples from estuaries and shelf waters. We were particularly interested in the effects of salinity and humic acids on the accuracy of both methods. The effect of humic acids was negligible. In contrast, salinity ~34 caused a 15% to 40% underestimation in the urea concentrations measured by the enzymatic method and the degree of underestimation varied among enzyme batches. Urea concentrations corrected for the salt effect should, however, be considered estimations, as other factors also interfered with the enzymatic method in natural samples. The direct method as modified in this study presented a low detection limit (0.04 µM urea-N) and high precision (standard deviation: 0.02 µM urea-N; coefficient of variation: 1.1%) comparable to those of the enzymatic method. The direct method was more accurate and less salinity dependent than the enzymatic method. As urea levels could have been underestimated by the enzymatic method, our findings support previous conclusions regarding the important role of urea in the nitrogen cycle and its link with some harmful algal bloom phenomena.
Alkaline and acid phosphatase activities during growth of long bones and mandibles.

A serial longitudinal study was undertaken to determine the activities of the alkaline and acid phosphatases in the long bones and mandibles. The optimum pH of the two enzymes was recorded at 10.2 and 5.4 for alkaline and acid phosphatase, respectively. Synchronized and randomized litters of rats were killed, 1 litter daily, starting at day 1 to day 25 post partum. Samples were analyzed for protein concentration and activity of the phosphatases. A pattern of low and high activity was observed in both bony tissues, as well as a pattern of low alkaline phosphatase activity during acid phosphatase activity peaks, and vice versa.
Probing the Hexosamine Biosynthetic Pathway in Human Tumor Cells by Multitargeted Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Cancer progression is accompanied by increases in glucose and glutamine metabolism, providing the carbon and nitrogen required in downstream anabolic pathways. Fructose-6P, glutamine, and acetyl-CoA are central metabolites and substrates of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) to UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), an essential high-energy donor for protein glycosylation. Golgi and cytosolic glycosylation pathways are sensitive to UDP-GlcNAc levels, which in turn regulates metabolic homeostasis in a poorly understood manner. To study the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway in cancer cells, we developed a targeted approach for cellular metabolomics profiling by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Human cervical (HeLa) and prostate cancer (PC-3) cell lines were cultured in medium with increasing concentrations of glucose, glutamine, or GlcNAc to perturb the metabolic network. Principal component analysis indicated trends that were further analyzed as individual metabolites and pathways. HeLa cell metabolism was predominantly glycolytic, while PC-3 cells showed a greater dependency on extracellular glutamine. In both cell lines, UDP-GlcNAc levels declined with glucose but not glutamine starvation, whereas glutamine abundance increased UDP-GlcNAc levels 2-3-fold. GlcNAc supplementation increased UDP-GlcNAc 4-8-fold in both HeLa and PC-3 cells. GlcNAc supplementation in HeLa cells induced nonmonotonic changes in NADH/NAD+, NADPH/NADP+, reactive oxygen species, and reduced/oxidized glutathione. In PC-3 cells, GlcNAc supplementation also increased glucose and glutamine uptake and catabolism. Our results suggest that stimulation of the HBP in cancer cells regulates metabolism and redox potential, which might be exploited to target cancer cells.
Eddy viscosity and velocity distribution in turbulent pipe flow revisited

An algebraic expression involving three universal constants is proposed for the eddy momentum diffusivity in fully developed turbulent pipe flow that adequately simulates its variation throughout the pipe cross-section. The model permits analytical integration to provide a single universal correlation that, unlike other available expressions, smoothly and accurately describes the entire turbulent velocity distribution from the inner region in the immediate vicinity of the wall all the way to the core region near the pipe axis and compares well with the existing correlations and experimental data. Accurate values of the maximum velocity and other flow variables of engineering interest can also be calculated from the velocity profile expression.
A comparison of calculated NMR shielding probes

In a strong magnetic field, covalently bonded hydrogen nuclei located over the plane of an anisotropic π bond-containing functional group experience magnetic shielding (or deshielding) that results from the combined effect of the magnetic anisotropy of the functional group and other nearby covalent bonds plus other intramolecular shielding effects. These effects can now be calculated with reasonable accuracy using ab initio methods. We have investigated several computational probes of the magnetic shielding surface near anisotropic functional groups and compared the results to previous reports of experimental observations in example structures. GIAO-HF in Gaussian 03 was employed to calculate isotropic shielding values and to predict the net NMR shielding increment for several computational probes: methane, diatomic hydrogen, a hydrogen atom, a helium atom, or a ghost atom, each held in various positions over simple test molecules (ethene, ethyne, benzene and HCN) that contain the functional groups studied. Also, the effect of performing single point calculations versus constrained geometry-optimized calculations was examined. In addition, the effect of the angle of the orientation of the probe molecule (in the case of CH4 and H2) relative to the π bond in the test molecule was studied. Finally, the atomic charges in the molecular probes (CH4 and H2) were computed to investigate the nature of the interaction of the probe with the test molecule. The optimal, most economical computational results were obtained using single point calculations of a diatomic hydrogen probe oriented perpendicular to the surface (or axis) of the test molecule.
Kierkegaard on the Transformation of the Individual in Conversion

From at least the time of the writing of The Philosophical Fragments, Soren Kierkegaard's work takes a special interest in both the transition from unbelief to faith and the character of the life of true faith. Trained in Lutheran dogma and convinced of the radical nature of human freedom, his work on this subject demonstrates a profound concern for and grasp of Lutheran orthodoxy, as well as a remarkable degree of subtlety. After all, it is no simple task to give an account of the central features of the Christian life that is faithful to both a libertarian conception of human freedom and the doctrines of the church founded by the author of The Bondage of the Will. This paper proposes to accomplish two things: first, to state a problem that lies on the surface of Kierkegaard's account of the transformation involved in Christian conversion and second to present a resolution of the problem that is faithful to Kierkegaard's intentions.
Soil quality and profitability of biodynamic and conventional farming systems: A review

Biodynamic and organic farming are similar in that both are ecologically oriented and do not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The main difference is that biodynamic farmers add eight specific amendments, called preparations, to their soils, crops, and composts. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in biodynamic farming practices and systems because they show potential for mitigating some detrimental effects of chemical-dependent conventional agriculture. Only a few studies examining biodynamic methods or comparing biodynamic farming with other farming systems have been published in the refereed scientific literature, especially in English. This paper summarizes data from previous studies, both published and unpublished (theses), that have compared biodynamic and conventional farming systems with respect to soil quality or profitability. These studies have shown that the biodynamic farming systems generally have better soil quality, lower crop yields, and equal or higher net returns per hectare than their conventional counterparts. Two studies that included organic management treatments with and without the preparations showed that the preparations improved biological soil properties and increased crop root growth. However, more research is needed to determine whether the preparations affect soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and crop growth and, if so, their mode of action.
Advances in Characterization of Human Sirtuin Isoforms: Chemistries, Targets and Therapeutic Applications

Since the discovery in 2000 that the yeast sirtuin called “Sir2” catalyzes NAD+ dependent histone deacetylation, a wave of research has focused on evaluating the biochemical and biological functions of sirtuins. Sirtuins are activated by low calorie diets in numerous organisms and are found throughout biology in species from archaea to humans. There are seven human sirtuin isoforms called SIRT1-SIRT7. The biochemical functions of SIRT1, SIRT2, SIRT3, SIRT5 and SIRT6 have been reported and NAD+ dependent deacetylase activities confirmed. In some instances the biological target substrates for each isoform have been identified, helping to connect distinct biological processes to sirtuin regulation. This knowledge has informed potential drug design strategies that target distinct sirtuin isoforms. This review presents current knowledge of biochemical activities of SIRT1-7 in humans and the biological consequences of these sirtuin activities. Regulatory principles that govern sirtuin deacetylation activity in cells are discussed as well as strategies for how sirtuins can be targeted by small molecules. Finally, this review updates research on pharmacologic sirtuin activation and allostery on sirtuins and considers new developments for detection and isolation of sirtuins in complex mixtures.
Cortical parvalbumin interneurons and cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia

Deficits in cognitive control, a core disturbance of schizophrenia, appear to emerge from impaired prefrontal gamma oscillations. Cortical gamma oscillations require strong inhibitory inputs to pyramidal neurons from the parvalbumin basket cell (PVBC) class of GABAergic neurons. Recent findings indicate that schizophrenia is associated with multiple pre- and postsynaptic abnormalities in PVBCs, each of which weakens their inhibitory control of pyramidal cells. These findings suggest a new model of cortical dysfunction in schizophrenia in which PVBC inhibition is decreased to compensate for an upstream deficit in pyramidal cell excitation. This compensation is thought to rebalance cortical excitation and inhibition, but at a level insufficient to generate the gamma oscillation power required for high levels of cognitive control.
Adaptive wavelet collocation method simulations of Rayleigh–Taylor instability

Numerical simulations of single-mode, compressible Rayleigh–Taylor instability are performed using the adaptive wavelet collocation method (AWCM), which utilizes wavelets for dynamic grid adaptation. Due to the physics-based adaptivity and direct error control of the method, AWCM is ideal for resolving the wide range of scales present in the development of the instability. The problem is initialized consistent with the solutions from linear stability theory. Non-reflecting boundary conditions are applied to prevent the contamination of the instability growth by pressure waves created at the interface. AWCM is used to perform direct numerical simulations that match the early-time linear growth, the terminal bubble velocity and a reacceleration region.
From War-Hero to Villain: Reversal of the Symbolic Value of War and a Warrior King

Parallels are demonstrated between changes in Swedish attitudes toward peace and war, reflected in the image of the 'war-hero', Karl XII, and the increasing peacefulness of Swedish society. The value changes are documented through analyses of four literary works: those of Geijer and Tegner, who glorified Karl XII as 'war-hero', and Heidenstam and Strindberg, who described the same Karl XII as a psychopath and villain and as a scourge for his country. As Geijer and Tegner wrote at the beginning of the 19th century, whereas Heidenstam and Strindberg produced their works at the end of it, the value changes occurring during this century can be demonstrated in these literary works. Relations between changed mentalities, as reflected in the literary works, and political decisions are explored. Finally, as a resulting implication, the potential impact of critical attitudes of the electorate on a leader's election and on his license for engaging in impulsive wars is discussed.
HOW WELL DO SELECTION MODELS PERFORM? ASSESSING THE ACURACY OF ART AUCTION PRE-SALE ESTIMATES.

Art auction catalogs provide a pre-sale prediction interval for the price each item is expected to fetch. When the owner consigns art work to the auction house, a reserve price is agreed upon, which is not announced to the bidders. If the highest bid does not reach it, the item is brought in. Since only the prices of the sold items are published, analysts only have a biased sample to examine due to the selective sale process. Relying on the published data leads to underestimating the forecast error of the pre-sale estimates. However, we were able to obtain several art auction catalogs with the highest bids for the unsold items as well as those of the sold items. With these data we were able to evaluate the accuracy of the predictions of the sale prices or highest bids for all item obtained from the original Heckman selection model that assumed normal error distributions as well as those derived from an alternative model using the t2 distribution, which yielded a noticeably better fit to several sets of auction data. The measures of prediction accuracy are of more than academic interest as they are used by auction participants to guide their bidding or selling strategy, and similar appraisals are accepted by the US Internal Revenue Services to justify the deductions for charitable contributions donors make on their tax returns.
The applications of ameso optimization in supply chains

In this paper we discuss the application of a special class of discrete optimization problems the ameso programming problems. For these problems we have established elsewhere that there exits an efficient solution procedure called the Ameso Reduction Procedure (ARP). In this paper it is shown that certain multi-type vehicle shipping problems can be expressed as ameso optimization problems. We apply the ARP to solve these problems and we present detailed numerical studies. Furthermore, the complexity of the two type vehicle problem is give.
Solution Versus Gas-Phase Modification of Peptide Cations with NHS-Ester Reagents

A comparison between solution and gas phase modification of primary amine sites in model peptide cations with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester reagents is presented. In all peptides, the site of modification in solution was directed to the N-terminus by conducting reactions at pH = 5, whereas for the same peptides, a lysine residue was preferentially modified in the gas phase. The difference in pKa values of the N-terminus and e-amino group of the lysine allows for a degree of control over sites of protonation of the peptides in aqueous solution. With removal of the dielectric and multiple charging of the peptide ions in the gas phase, the accommodation of excess charge can affect the preferred sites of reaction. Interaction of the lone pair of the primary nitrogen with a proton reduces its nucleophilicity and, as a result, its reactivity towards NHS-esters. While no evidence for reaction of the N-terminus with sulfo-NHS-acetate was noted in the model peptide cations, a charge inversion experiment using bis[sulfosuccinimidyl] suberate, a cross-linking reagent with two sulfo-NHS-ester functionalities, showed modification of the N-terminus. Hence, an unprotonated N-terminus can serve as a nucleophile to displace NHS, which suggests that its lack of reactivity with the peptide cations is likely due to the participation of the N-terminus in solvating excess charge.
A Microcomputer-Based Image Database Management System

Industrial applications frequently involve manipulation and management of pictorial information. In spite of the fact that digitized images and pictorial information are becoming more significant as parts of user databases, conventional database techniques have focused primarily on numerical and textual information. The Image Database Management (IDBM) system extends these techniques to encompass images, pictures, and graphs. Designed to run in a microcomputer environment, the design of IDBM integrates efficient database algorithms and compression techniques to permit fast retrievals as well as an unusually large number of images to be set up as a single database. The support of a synonym base is another important characteristic of the IDBM system.
Business Ethics And Social Responsibility Strategies For Foreign Subsidiaries

Multinational corporations (MNC) operate in multiple, diverse and complex global environments, making it not only interesting but challenging to pursue business ethics and social responsibility strategies. They have to formulate and execute business ethics and social responsibility strategies to suit the culturally diverse and differing operating conditions of the countries in which they operate. The culturally generated social mores and values are vastly different in an MNC’s multiple country environments. The peoples of different countries have different expectations of what should be the foreign corporation’s performance of business ethics and social responsibility.
Fetuses subsequently born premature are smaller than gestational age-matched fetuses not born premature.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether singleton fetuses in pregnancies that subsequently deliver prematurely are smaller than singleton fetuses of the same gestational age who are not born premature. METHODS Our study population consisted of singleton pregnancies meeting the following criteria: at least 1 first-trimester sonogram (to ensure accurate dating), at least 1 sonogram after 24 weeks' gestation, and a known delivery date. Controlling for gestational age at sonography using analysis of covariance, we compared very premature fetuses (delivery at 24-29.9 weeks; n = 26) and moderately premature fetuses (delivery at 30-36.9 weeks; n = 306) with nonpremature fetuses (n = 1,838) with respect to the following sonographic parameters: abdominal diameter, femur length, biparietal diameter, and estimated fetal weight. RESULTS On 24- to 29.9-week sonograms, fetuses who were subsequently born very premature had significantly smaller fetal measurements than did fetuses who were not born premature (P < .05 for all parameters). Even after excluding 9 very premature fetuses with a risk factor for uteroplacental insufficiency (e.g., toxemia or hypertension), the remaining 17 fetuses had significantly smaller abdominal diameters, femur lengths, and estimated fetal weights than nonpremature fetuses (P < .05). Sonographic parameters in moderately premature fetuses were smaller than in nonpremature fetuses on 30- to 36.9-week sonograms (P < .05 for all parameters), but the only parameters that differed significantly between these 2 groups on 24- to 29.9-week sonograms were abdominal diameter and femur length. CONCLUSIONS. Singleton fetuses subsequently born premature are smaller than gestational age-matched fetuses not born premature, even in the absence of an identifiable cause of growth restriction. The lag in growth appears to occur in the last few weeks before delivery.
(n,k,t))-covering systems and error-trapping decoding (Corresp.)

The technique of error-trapping decoding for algebraic codes is studied in combinatorial terms of covering systems. Let n, k , and t be positive integers such that n \geq k \geq t > 0 . An (n, k,t) -covering system is a pair (X, \beta) , where X is a set of size n and \beta is a collection of subsets of X , each of size k , such that for all T \subseteq X of size t , there exists at least one B \in \beta with T\subseteq B . Let b(n, k, t) denote the smallest size of \beta , such that (X, \beta) is an (n, k, t) -covering system. It is shown that the complexity of an error-trapping decoding technique is bounded by b(n, k, t) from below. Two new methods for constructing small (n, k, t) -covering systems, the algorithmic method and the difference family method, are given.
Beneficence and the Aged

The present paper reexamines the modernization hypothesis, focusing principally on the issues of whether and why the relative status and prestige of old people is lower in late 20th century industrial societies than it was during the preceding century. It is argued that the status of most old people, whether considered in absolute or relative terms, is indeed higher now than earlier. No longer bound by the usual norms of reciprocity governing social interaction, old people benefit by a renascence of the norm of beneficence. The very old, in other words, receive more than they are owed under the norm of reciprocity. For the young-old, however, the norm of reciprocity continues in effect. Because of this, and the tightening in eligibility criteria for programs of social support, the position of the young-old is less a function of age than it is of social class.
Organizational Culture and Physician Satisfaction with Dimensions of Group Practice

Research Objective To assess the extent to which the organizational culture of physician group practices is associated with individual physician satisfaction with the managerial and organizational capabilities of the groups.
Moments of Hierarchy: Constructing Social Stratification by Means of Language, Food, Space, and the Body in Pohnpei, Micronesia

In this paper I examine relationships between multiple semiotic modes used to construct hierarchy, and I show the importance of going beyond our traditional notion of language to look at how social actors employ a range of semiotic resources in organizing and interpreting social relations. Using examples from Pohnpei, Micronesia, I show how notions of superior and inferior are compounded through several sign systems—spatial relations, food sharing, the body, and language. These systems act oppositionally as well as cooperatively to produce situated ideas of social inequality, ideas built out of disequilibrium of bodies in space, of referents in language, and distribution of resources, as well as contradictions in the interactions of these signs. The compounding of signs not only recruits multiple sensory modes and perspectives in the exposition of hierarchical relations, but entails a notion of the contradictory nature of status relations. Using examples from a Pohnpeian feast, I explore the creative interplay of sign systems in the construction of "moments" of hierarchy in a large, public setting and discuss how through the practice of title-giving, which virtually every adult member of the society participates in, a particular idea of social inequality, built out of multiple sign systems, is mapped onto each body, [language, interaction, politics, Oceania, social stratification, hierarchy]
Review: Rationale for combination therapy in the treatment of hypertension

The effective treatment of hypertension still poses many problems. In the last decade it has become apparent that in many patients multi-drug regimens are needed to effect blood pressure control. How best to combine medications and what might be a preferred order of initiating drugs is still open to debate and has proven the substance of many of the published guidelines on this theme. Like most matters in the clinical sector the approach to a disease ‐ in this case hypertension ‐ should remain highly individualised and cognisant of what can be significant cost considerations.
Specific Ribosomal DNA Marker for Early Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Aphelinus hordei (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and Aphidius colemani (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) from Diuraphis noxia (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Abstract To monitor aphid parasitism by Aphelinus hordei (Kurdjumov) and Aphidius colemani Viereck, we developed specific ribosomal DNA markers to distinguish them from several other cereal aphid parasitoid species and two important host species, the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), and the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani). Ribosomal DNA sequences for the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) were first cloned and sequenced from A. hordei, A. albipodus Hayat & Fatima, A. asychis Walker, A. varipes (Foerster), A. colemani, D. noxia, and S. graminum. We designed specific primers based on the ITS2 sequences. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of wasp and aphid DNA using these primers, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis, successfully distinguishes A. hordei and A. colemani from all three other Aphelinus species and two aphid species. A 411-bp nucleotide fragment and a 571-bp fragment were amplified only from A. hordei and from A. colemani, respectively, and no such fragm...
Developing An Undergraduate Student Research Conference In Business: A Model

AACSB accreditation, a student-centered mission statement, and the continuous quality improvement that most educators engage in have resulted in an increase in student research projects. This presented an opportunity to develop a venue for students to showcase their research. The paper describes a model for a student research conference in business that has resulted in increased student engagement and an increase in student-faculty research collaboration.
A monolithically integrated multi-sensor platform

The integration of multiple sensors on a single substrate is reported in this paper. A test chip was designed using the integration platform that implemented a capacitive inertial sensor, a capacitive absolute pressure sensor and a capacitive microphone. The sensors were tested after fabrication with the measured acceleration sensitivity of 10fF/g for a full scale acceleration of 2g and the pressure sensor sensitivity of 10fF/KPa for a full scale pressure of 1 atmosphere.
Legal Ethics in Decline: The Elite Law Firm, the Elite Law School, and the Moral Formation of the Novice Attorney

Why have legal ethics deteriorated in recent years? In this Article, Professor Schiltz places much of the blame on the senior lawyers working at the nation's elite law firms and on the law professors teaching at the nation's elite law schools. Whether an attorney practices law ethically depends to a substantial extent upon what she experiences during her first few years in practice. It is during those years that the professional character of a young attorney is shaped, that she becomes anchored to her professional community, and that she absorbs the values of that community; values that are not encoded in any rule book, but that are transmitted from generation to generation through informal mentoring. The experienced lawyers with whom the novice attorney works obviously play a critical role in this process. Recently, though, senior lawyers have largely abandoned their responsibility for the ethical development of young lawyers. This abandonment is the result of several recent developments in the profession; developments that are rooted in the profession's increasing materialism and that are most prevalent in elite law firms. After describing this dynamic and its impact on ethics, Professor Schiltz goes on to explore whether law schools could replace what is being lost in the profession. He argues that law schools could do so, but he points to several features of modern legal education that make it unlikely that law schools will do so. Among those features; features that are most prevalent in elite law schools; are the premium placed upon the quantity (rather than quality) of scholarship, the exclusion from law school faculties of professors with substantial experience practicing law, the disappearance of academic interest in the work of lawyers and judges, the growing pressure on professors to devote as little time and energy as possible to classroom instruction, and the strong disincentives faced by professors who seek to engage in one-on-one mentoring of students. All of these features reflect a form of materialism that is not unlike the materialism of the profession, except that its focus is the accumulation of academic prestige rather than material wealth, and it is measured in pages of scholarship published rather than in number of hours billed. Professor Schiltz concludes by proposing a number of reforms in legal education.
Comments on the Ison-Kniaz Study of Consummatory Activity

Ison and Kniaz ( 1963) have concluded that their results and those of Wike and Barrientos (1957) were due to the rat's preference for a drinking tube with a 4-mm. aperture rather than to tubes with larger and smaller apertures. This conclusion is not, however, in accord with the results of Hellyer (1954), who found faster starting speeds in a runway for Ss running to a drinking tube with a 1-mm. aperture than for Ss with 4-mm. one. Hellyer, who used reward magnitudes 0.1 cc. and 1 cc. in combination with these rwo aperture sizes, observed that performance was directly related to duration of consummatory behavior. These various conflicting results suggest the need for some specific studies. First, parametric studies of aperture size and amount of reward are needed to assess the possibility of an interaction between these variables. And second, although we have observed consistent results from studies using the differential (Wike & Barrientos, 1957) and absolute methods (Barrientos, 1957) of reward presentation, further study of this problem is in order.
Autoionization from High-Lying 3 p ( P 1 2 2 ) 5 n p ′ Levels in Argon

A beam containing argon metastable atoms is crossed by the output beam of a pulsed tunable uv laser. The resulting ion production is measured as a function of wavelength within the range $2945l\ensuremath{\lambda}l3075$ \AA{} and displays several sharp resonances. These arise from excitation of $\mathrm{Ar}(^{3}P_{0})$ metastable atoms to high-lying $3p ^{5}(^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}})n{p}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ levels which subsequently undergo autoionization. The term values of these levels are measured to an accuracy of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 6 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and are in excellent agreement with values obtained from a quantum-defect extrapolation of the known lower terms of this series. An unambiguous assignment of principal quantum numbers to the observed levels is therefore possible. The lifetimes against autoionization of these levels are longer than 2 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ sec.
The Great Chain of Being: Manifesto on the Problem of Agency in Science Communication

This manifesto presents positions arrived at after a day-long symposium on agency in science communication at the National Communication Association Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, NV, November 18, 2015. During morning sessions, participants in the Association for the Rhetoric of Science, Technology, and Medicine preconference presented individual research on agency in response to a call to articulate key problems that must be solved in the next five years to better understand and support rhetorical agency in massively automated and mediated science communication situations in a world-risk context. In the afternoon, participants convened in discussion groups around four topoi that emerged from the morning’s presentations: automation, biopolitics, publics, and risk. Groups were tasked with answering three questions about their assigned topos: What are the critical controversies surrounding it? What are its pivotal rhetorical and technical terms? And what scholarly questions must be addressed in the next five years to yield a just and effective discourse in this area? Groups also assembled capsule bibliographies of sources core to their topos. At the end of the afternoon, Carolyn R. Miller presented a reply to the groups’ work; that reply serves as the headnote to this manifesto.
Concerns about Genetic Testing for Schizophrenia among Young Adults at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis.

ABSTRACTBackground: Genetic tests for schizophrenia may introduce risks and benefits. Among young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis, little is known about their concerns and how they assess potential risks. Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with 15 young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis to ask about their concerns. Results: Participants expressed concerns about test reliability, data interpretation, stigma, psychological harm, family planning, and privacy. Participants' responses showed some departure from the ethics literature insofar as participants were primarily interested in reporting their results to people to whom they felt emotionally close, and expressed little consideration of biological closeness. Additionally, if tests showed an increased genetic risk for schizophrenia, four clinical high-risk persons felt obligated to tell an employer and another three would “maybe” tell an employer, even in the absence of clinical symptoms. Conclusions: These findings suggest...
Absolute Lymphocyte Count Recovery Predicts Superior Survival and Is Independent of the International Prognostic Index in Patients Treated with CHOP or R-CHOP Chemotherapy for Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma.

Abstract Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) recovery post-autologous stem cell transplantation has been documented as an independent predictor for survival in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The effect of ALC recovery on survival during standard CHOP or R-CHOP chemotherapy for newly diagnosed diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is unknown. To participate in the study, patients required to receive their full treatment with complete blood count determinations at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Of 1633 DLBCL cases seen at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine between February 1994 through August 2004, 212 consecutive DLBCL patients were eligible for the study. We study ALC recovery as a prognostic factor for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in DLBCL patients treated with at least 3 cycles of CHOP or R-CHOP. 57% were male and the median age was 66 years (range: 20 – 87); 42% had elevated LDH, only 11% had a PS of 2 or higher; 58% were low stage (I or II); 88% of pts achieved a complete response. ALC was evaluated at the beginning of each treatment cycle, focusing on cycles 1–3 and the 3 month post treatment sample. ALC for each of the cycles were significantly correlated with PFS and OS, with cycle 1 ALC most significantly correlated when accounting for inherent differences based on treatment (Rx) type (i.e. CHOP vs. R-CHOP) as well as high vs. low IPI (PFS: p = 0.0012; OS: p = 0.005). Also, 74 pts achieved an ALC of at least 1,000 during all three cycles, where there was no significant relationship with this incidence and Rx type; this incidence was significantly associated with higher PFS (p = 0.0007) and OS (p = 0.0006), even when accounting for Rx type and high vs. low IPI. In the 179 pts who had 3-month post-Rx ALC data, this was also significantly associated with PFS (p = 0.002) and OS (p = 0.0009), while still accounting for Rx type and IPI status. Achievement of ALC >= 1,000 post-Rx was also significant for PFS (p = 0.0014) and OS (0.003). Also of note, only cycle 1 ALC was significantly different in high vs. low IPI pts (p = 0.008). In summary, these data support the hypothesis that there is a critical role of lymphocyte (immune) recovery during CHOP/R-CHOP chemotherapy in DLBCL.
Identification and Functional Characterization of Novel Telomerase Variant Alleles in Patients with Bone-Marrow Failure Syndromes

As multiple studies have shown a link between mutations in telomerase components and the disease pathogenesis of bone-marrow failure syndromes (BMFS), we screened blood or marrow cells from patients with various forms of blood disorders for novel pathogenic mutations in the telomerase hTERC and hTERT genes. We identified several heterozygous mutations in these genes, which were observed only in patient samples and not in controls. As these mutations are predicted to affect proper telomerase function, we introduced these and other mutations identified previously in patients with other forms of blood disorders into telomerase-negative cells in order to reconstitute telomerase enzymatic activity and to assess the effect of the individual mutations on modulating a wild-type telomerase function. All disease-associated mutations disrupted telomerase function to various degrees and most modulated a wildtype telomerase enzymatic function by haploinsufficiency based on results obtained from the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP). We also tested several previously reported natural sequence changes in the promoter region of the hTERC gene for their effect on gene expression and telomerase function via luciferase-reporter assay, TRAP, and Northern blot. The results obtained from these studies appear to contradict those that have recently been reported for some of the naturally occurring hTERC-promoter associated mutations. This study, therefore, offers new insights into the mechanism of natural telomerase mutations in regulating telomere lengths and marrow stem cell renewal capacity in patients with hematological disorders.
Hospital-acquired pressure injuries: The significance of the advanced practice registered nurse's role in a community hospital.

Background and purpose Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) continue to be a persistent problem in the acute care arena. The purpose of this retrospective quality improvement study was to examine if the introduction of nurse practitioners (NPs), as wound care consultants (WCCs), without other interventions, impacted the HAPI rates in a community hospital. Methods A retrospective, comparison design was used; 48 months of HAPI data (May 2010–2014) reported on the monthly National Database for Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) survey was abstracted from hospital records. Data included the assessment of 10,752 patients and were divided into two groups for comparison: 24 months before and 24 months after NP hiring. Conclusions There was a strong, inverse correlation between the presence of NPs and number of patients with HAPIs (r = −0.73, p < .01), indicating that HAPI rates were significantly lower after NPs took on the role of WCCs. The odds of a HAPI occurring following introduction of the NP WCCs were 20% of the odds in the previous years. Implications for practice Study findings suggest that NPs assuming a leadership role as WCCs may be instrumental in decreasing HAPI rates.
179. DBS for Schizophrenia: What is the Evidence?

Overall Abstract: Schizophrenia is a common and severe neuropsychiatric disorder of unknown etiology. Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and its connection through mediodorsal thalamus have been implicated in decreased cortical dopamine and schizophrenia pathology. Negative symptoms, such as social withdrawal and general lack of motivation and engagement, are prominent in 20%–40% of patients with schizophrenia and have been attributed to aberrancies in the reward system of the ventral striatum via lowering of dopaminergic tone in nucleus accumbens (NAc). Some success has been reported in alleviating negative symptoms of schizophrenia through high-frequency repetitive magnetic stimulation of the left DLPFC. Case reports provide support for capsulotomy and deep brain stimulation of NAc in the treatment of psychosis, in the reduction of negative symptoms, and in improvement of motivation. Converging evidence supporting the targeting of NAc with reversible, modifiable deep brain stimulation, to modulate cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuitry, and thereby treat symptoms of schizophrenia, will be discussed.
Black Tar Heroin Skin Popping as a Cause of Wound Botulism.

Botulism is a rare potentially fatal and treatable disorder caused by a bacteria-produced toxin that affects the presynaptic synaptic membrane resulting in a characteristic neuromuscular dysfunction. It is caused by either the ingestion of the toxin or the bacteria, inhalation, or wound infection. We present our observations with a descriptive case series of wound botulism secondary to black tar heroin (BTH) injection. We report a retrospective single-center case series of 15 consecutive cases of wound botulism presenting to University Medical Center of El Paso. Medical records where reviewed to obtain demographic information, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome. We identified fifteen patients with mean age of 47 years: twelve men, and three women. All had administered BTH through skin popping and had abscesses in the administration areas. By history, the most common symptoms were dysphagia (66%), proximal muscle weakness of upper and lower extremity (60%), neck flexor muscle weakness (33%), ophthalmoplegia (53%), bilateral ptosis (46%), dysarthria (53%), double vision (40%), blurred vision (33%), and dry mouth (20%). During the examination, the most common features noted were: proximal muscle weakness of upper and lower extremities (73%), ophthalmoplegia (53%), ptosis (46%). In patients with documented wound botulism, the pupils were reactive in 46%. All patients required mechanical ventilation and were treated with the trivalent antitoxin. Eleven patients (73.3%) were discharged home, two were transferred to a skill nursing facility, and two were transferred to long-term acute care facility. In our patients, BTH injection, involving the action of injecting under the skin acetylated morphine derivatives (mostly 6-monoacetylmorphine and 3-monoacetylmorphine), was associated with the development of botulism. The availability of BTH at the US–Mexican border is not surprising since it is frequently produced in Latin America. Its association with the development of botulism should be recognized early to allow a prompt diagnosis and treatment with the antitoxin. A clinical feature worth noting is the presence of normal pupillary light reflex in nearly half of patients. Therefore, the presence of a normal pupillary response does not exclude the presence of wound botulism.
Influence of OH− ions on infrared absorption and ionic conductivity in lithium fluoride crystals

Abstract The presence of OH − ions in LiF crystals is found to depress the ionic conductivity by up to two orders of magnitude compared with crystals of the same doping level but which are relatively free of OH − . The presence of OH − in these crystals gives rise to two types of infrared absorption spectra: a broad line at 2.68 μ in “pure” crystals and a sharp line spectrum between 2.71 and 2.83 μ in Mg-doped crystals. The properties associated with these absorption spectra are discussed, and the results explained in terms of the formation of Mg 2+ −OH − complexes which remove vacancies from the system and thus depress the conductivity.
Effects of the c-Si/a-SiO2 interfacial atomic structure on its band alignment: an ab initio study

The crystalline-Si/amorphous-SiO2 (c-Si/a-SiO2) interface is an important system used in many applications, ranging from transistors to solar cells. The transition region of the c-Si/a-SiO2 interface plays a critical role in determining the band alignment between the two regions. However, the question of how this interface band offset is affected by the transition region thickness and its local atomic arrangement is yet to be fully investigated. Here, by controlling the parameters of the classical Monte Carlo bond switching algorithm, we have generated the atomic structures of the interfaces with various thicknesses, as well as containing Si at different oxidation states. A hybrid functional method, as shown by our calculations to reproduce the GW and experimental results for bulk Si and SiO2, was used to calculate the electronic structure of the heterojunction. This allowed us to study the correlation between the interface band characterization and its atomic structures. We found that although the systems with different thicknesses showed quite different atomic structures near the transition region, the calculated band offset tended to be the same, unaffected by the details of the interfacial structure. Our band offset calculation agrees well with the experimental measurements. This robustness of the interfacial electronic structure to its interfacial atomic details could be another reason for the success of the c-Si/a-SiO2 interface in Si-based electronic applications. Nevertheless, when a reactive force field is used to generate the a-SiO2 and c-Si/a-SiO2 interfaces, the band offset significantly deviates from the experimental values by about 1 eV.
The Interaction Between Progranulin with Sortilin and the Lysosome

Accumulating evidence suggests that progranulin is essential for proper lysosomal function. Progranulin is a lysosomal resident protein and sortilin has been demonstrated to be the lysosomal trafficking receptor for progranulin. Here we describe the methods used to study the interaction between progranulin and sortilin, as well as the critical role of sortilin in mediating the lysosomal delivery of progranulin.
Gradient Transformation Trajectory Following Algorithms for Determining Stationary Min-Max Saddle Points

For finding a stationary min-max point of a scalar-valued function, we develop and investigate a family of gradient transformation differential equation algorithms. This family includes, as special cases: Min-Max Ascent, Newton’s method, and a Gradient Enhanced Min-Max (GEMM) algorithm that we develop. We apply these methods to a sharp-spined “Stingray” saddle function, in which Min-Max Ascent is globally asymptotically stable but stiff, and Newton’s method is not stiff, but does not yield global asymptotic stability. However, GEMM is both globally asymptotically stable and not stiff. Using the Stingray function we study the stiffness of the gradient transformation family in terms of Lyapunov exponent time histories. Starting from points where Min-Max Ascent, Newton‘s method, and the GEMM method do work, we show that Min-Max Ascent is very stiff. However, Newton’s method is not stiff and is approximately 60 to 440 times as fast as Min-Max Ascent. In contrast, the GEMM method is globally convergent, is not stiff, and is approximately 3 times faster than Newton’s method and approximately 175 to 1000 times faster than Min-Max Ascent.