cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strategic Disclosure of Supplemental Information: Evidence from Book-to-Bill Ratios

We test for strategic disclosure by investigating the association between the change in next year’s earnings and the decision to disclose forward looking information. We find that managers disclose book-to-bill ratios (BTB) more frequently when future earnings will increase. In contrast, we find firms issue managerial forecasts more frequently when future earnings will decrease. We find a significantly different associations between the issuance of each disclosure and the change in future earnings, suggesting properties of disclosure interact with managerial incentives to produce different strategies for different disclosures. Our pricing tests and tests examining managers’ qualitative characterizations of BTB suggest managers strategically disclose to reduce the salience of bad news rather than obfuscate. We find less frequent strategic disclosure when BTB information has less impact on market value, consistent with communication frictions allowing strategic withholding.
Is the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis possible

Preclinical phases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been described, genetic and environmental risk factors for RA development have been identified, and several biomarkers of RA have been detected long before the clinical onset of the disease; all of which have opened the possibility for preventive interventions. Several studies are currently exploring pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to prevent the development of RA. We will review the evidence for prevention of RA and discuss key challenges for preventive interventions, including identification of the adequate target population, the risks of applying potentially harmful and expensive therapies to asymptomatic at-risk individuals, and the importance of taking into account the preferences of individuals at risk regarding preventive treatment options.
"I know best:" women caring for kin with dementia.

Abstract The dementia care literature in the home is vast, particularly in the health sciences where the focus remains on intervention to address carer emotional distress and burden. The sociological literature on dementia care has primarily utilized the illness disruption and (bio)medicalization models to show how meaning and practices are negotiated in the non-expert setting. Instead, I apply a feminist labor process perspective to examine the question of why women dementia kin carers resist relinquishing care responsibilities to others. This qualitative grounded theory study is based on seven waves of interviews (total = 98) conducted over approximately five years with 15 Latina dementia kin carers recruited through clinic and community sites in Northern California. Findings show how Latina kin carers exercise a degree of control and autonomy over the care process because they have developed tacit knowledge and skills to craft quality care of kin. In facing the dilemma of ceding care to others they perceive as unprepared, they reject available help. This study reveals how carers maintain quality care with dignity and comfort for the care recipient and themselves.
Understanding Metal-Semiconductor Interfaces in the atomically thin limit

Metal-semiconductor contacts have been the subject of intense investigation and study for several decades. With the advent of atomically-thin semiconductors new opportunities have emerged in investigating these mysterious yet, critical buried interfaces. In this talk we will show our recent advances in probing the nature of these contacts by a variety of scanning probe techniques. The primary model system will be that a bulk noble metal such as gold or silver and a 2D chalcogenides semiconductor such a molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). We will discuss impact of contact type and evaporation technique on the electrical and optical properties of the junction and suggest ways to make idealized contacts. We will then extend our analysis to looking at the same interface from an optical perspective and investigating hybrid states of excitons and plasmons observed via near-field photoluminescence micro-spectroscopy.
Nitrone and Alkyne Cascade Reactions for Regio‑ and Diastereoselective 1‑Pyrroline Synthesis

The synthesis of 1-pyrrolines from N-alkenylnitrones and alkynes has been explored as a retrosynthetic alternative to traditional approaches. These cascade reactions are formal [4+1] cycloadditions that proceed through a proposed dipolar cycloaddition and N-alkenylisoxazoline [3,3']-sigmatropic rearrangement. A variety of cyclic alkynes and terminal alkynes have been shown to undergo the transformation with N-alkenylnitrones under mild conditions to provide the corresponding spirocyclic and densely substituted 1-pyrrolines with high regio- and diastereoselectivity. Mechanistic studies provide insight into the balance of steric and electronic effects that promote the cascade process and control the diastereo- and regioisomeric preferences of the 1-pyrroline products. Diastereoselective derivatization of the 1-pyrrolines prepared by the cascade reaction demonstrate the divergent synthetic utility of the new method.
In-Operando Characterization of P-I-N Perovskite Solar Cells Under Reverse Bias

A solar module is often exposed to a variety of intensity and uniformity illumination conditions throughout a day. In the field, objects or dirt can block light from hitting the module creating a partial shading event. When a partial shading event occurs the module power point tracking system will typically push the shaded cells into reverse bias in order to avoid the current loss from the other series connected illuminated cells. When perovskite solar cells are operated in reverse bias, electrochemical reactions can occur, leading to both reversible and irreversible performance losses. Excess holes generated by reverse bias cause and push the oxidation reaction of halide ions from the lattice to neutral halogen interstitial. Small interstitial halogen atoms can diffuse across the device and potentially move from the perovskite layer and into the transport layers, shifting the fermi levels in the devices. In this investigation we utilize cross-sectional kelvin probe atomic force microscopy to map the band energetics of perovskite solar cells during reverse bias. We observe a 150 meV decrease in the work function of the C 60 . This leads to a decrease of 150 mV and 4 mA/cm2 in V oc and in J sc respectively. Finally, we discuss methods to prevent this irreversible degradation after a perovskite device is held under reverse bias.
Crystal growth of Sr2IrxRu1-xO4 for x⩽0.4

Abstract We describe the synthesis of crystalline Sr2IrxRu1-xO4 via a floating zone growth technique. We find that the use of a high pressure gas environment (70 bar mixed O2 and Ar) greatly decreases the volatility and loss of the IrO2 and RuO2 reactants. The resultant gram-sized samples are more uniform in composition than comparable flux-grown crystals.
Learning from the past

When it comes to safety, the jury's still out on which nanoparticle characteristics we should be measuring. But, as Andrew D. Maynard explains, there's a rich history dating back over a hundred years on how we measure them.
Effect of hydroxychloroquine on insulin sensitivity and lipid parameters in rheumatoid arthritis patients without diabetes mellitus: a randomized, blinded crossover trial.

Objective Observational studies suggest that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) may reduce the risk of developing diabetes mellitus in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined the effect of HCQ on insulin resistance in subjects without diabetes mellitus with stable RA. Methods Twenty-three RA subjects not currently using HCQ completed a 16-week, double-blind crossover study. Subjects were randomly allocated to receive HCQ (6.5 mg/kg/day) or placebo for the first 8 weeks, followed by crossover to the other arm for the final 8 weeks. Subjects underwent oral glucose tolerance testing and fasting lipid measurements at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks. The change ± SD from baseline in insulin sensitivity index (ISI), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and lipid parameters were compared between placebo and HCQ using linear regression. Results The mean patient age was 56 years, with 96% women, and the median body mass index was 26.0 kg/m2. After 8 weeks of HCQ, the mean ± SD ISI increase was 0.4 ± 2.9 compared with a small increase during placebo of 0.14 ± 3.1 (adjusted P = 0.785), and the mean ± SD HOMA-IR decrease was 0.3 ± 1.5 during HCQ versus a decrease of 0.42 ± 1.4 during placebo (adjusted P = 0.308). Small decreases in total cholesterol (12.7 mg/dl) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (12.4 mg/dl) were observed during the HCQ treatment periods (both adjusted P < 0.05 compared to placebo). Conclusion HCQ use for 8 weeks in patients without diabetes mellitus with stable RA produced no significant change in insulin resistance. We observed small and statistically significant improvements in total and LDL cholesterol during HCQ treatment.
Race and Citizen Identity in the Classical Athenian Democracy

1. Theorizing citizen identity 2. Rhetorics of racialism and reproduction 3. Euripides' Ion and the family romance of Athenian racialism 4. Athenian identity in history and as history 5. Trials of citizen identity: policing and producing the racial frontier 6. Myths and realities of racial citizenship.
Half-cycle pulses in quantum information science

Half-cycle pulses (HCP'S) can manipulate quantum information in Rydberg wavepacket data registers. This paper summarizes recent experiments to control and measure wavepacket structure and quantum coherence using HCP interactions.
Cultural values and secondary prevention of breast cancer in african american women.

Background: Improving mammography initiation and maintenance among African American women has been suggested as a strategy for reducing breast cancer mortality in this population. Methods: We examined cultural values in relation to self-reported breast cancer screening among 572 low-income, urban, African American women. Cultural values examined included time orientation, family authority, employment aspirations, value of past vs modern life, and reliance on medical professionals. Also, implications for continued development of culturally tailored health interventions and opportunities for the consideration of cultural values in health communication are discussed. Results: Bivariate analyses showed that more traditional values were associated with worse screening histories and lower intentions for future screening. In multivariate analyses, two interactions were observed between cultural values and age: for younger women, more traditional values were associated with lower odds of having ever received a mammogram, and for older women, more traditional values were associated with lower odds of intentions to receive a mammogram in the next 2 years. Conclusions: This study adds to the evidence that cultural constructs, such as values, are associated with secondary prevention of breast cancer and supports the consideration of cultural constructs as important in increasing mammography and reducing breast cancer disparities for African American women.
Investigating Rate Integrity in Convention Cities

Abstract Yield Management (YM) is the utilization of tactics to align a consumer product within the market for profit maximization. By evaluating how rates are quoted to consumers, the effectiveness of YM tactics can be delineated. This study compared central reservation (CR) telephone and Internet room rates by city. The CR centers for full-service hotels in 19 different cities were contacted by telephone to request a room. The CR rates were compared to rates obtained from the hotels' Internet sites. The data analysis found significant differences in reservation rates by city and by size of the lodging property. Hoteliers can use the information to evaluate the effectiveness of their YM systems.
The glutamate uptake inhibitor L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate depresses excitatory synaptic transmission via a presynaptic mechanism in cultured hippocampal neurons

Sodium-dependent high-affinity uptake of glutamate is thought to play a major role in the maintenance of very low extracellular concentrations of excitatory amino acids (EAA), and may modulate the actions of released transmitter at G-protein-coupled receptors and extrasynaptic receptors that are activated over a longer distance and time course. We have examined the effects of the recently developed uptake inhibitor L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (L-trans-PDC) on monosynaptically evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in very-low-density cultures of hippocampal neurons. L-Trans-PDC produced a decreased amplitude of both the non-NMDA and NMDA receptor-mediated components of monosynaptically evoked EPSCs. Examination of miniature EPSCs (mEPSCs) indicated that changes in the sensitivity of postsynaptic non-NMDA receptors did not underline the decrease in evoked EPSC amplitudes. The metabotropic receptor agonist (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD) also depressed both components of the EPSC. The competitive metabotropic receptor antagonist (RS)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG) blocked the depression of EPSC amplitude induced by 1S,3R-ACPD and also blocked the effects of L-trans-PDC. Finally, low concentrations of L-glutamate (2 microM) mimicked the effects of L-trans-PDC on EPSC amplitude. From these results we conclude that the application of L-trans-PDC to cultured hippocampal neurons results in the activation of presynaptic metabotropic receptors, leading to a decrease in synaptic transmission. We propose that this effect is due to an increase in ambient glutamate concentrations following inhibition of glutamate uptake, resulting in presynaptic inhibition of excitatory synaptic transmission.
Surficial permeability of the axial valley seafloor: Endeavour Segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge

[1] Hydrothermal systems at mid-ocean spreading centers play a fundamental role in Earth's geothermal budget. One underexamined facet of marine hydrothermal systems is the role that permeability of the uppermost seafloor veneer plays in the distribution of hydrothermal fluid. As both the initial and final vertical gateway for subsurface fluid circulation, uppermost seafloor permeability may influence the local spatial distribution of hydrothermal flow. A method of deriving a photomosaic from seafloor video was developed and utilized to estimate relative surface permeability in an active hydrothermal area on the Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. The mosaic resolves seafloor geology of the axial valley seafloor at submeter resolution over an area greater than 1 km2. Results indicate that the valley walls and basal talus slope are topographically rugged and unsedimented, providing minimal resistance to fluid transmission. Elsewhere, the axial valley floor is capped by an unbroken blanket of low-permeability sediment, resisting fluid exchange with the subsurface reservoir. Active fluid emission sites were restricted to the high-permeability zone at the base of the western wall. A series of inactive fossil hydrothermal structures form a linear trend along the western bounding wall, oriented orthogonal to the spreading axis. High-temperature vent locations appear to have migrated over 100 m along-ridge-strike over the decade between surveys. While initially an expression of subsurface faulting, this spatial pattern suggests that increases in seafloor permeability from sedimentation may be at least a secondary contributing factor in regulating fluid flow across the seafloor interface.
The Current Status of Hepatic Transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh

Tacrolimus is a more potent and satisfactory immunosuppressant than CyA for combination therapy with prednisone. In randomized trials comparing the 2 drugs, the ability of tacrolimus to rescue intractably rejecting grafts on the competing CyA arm allowed equalization of patient and graft survival on both arms when the intent-to-treat analytic methodology was applied. The ability of tacrolimus to systematically rescue the treatment failures of CyA suggested, as a matter of common sense, that it is the preferred baseline drug for hepatic transplantation. This conclusion was supported by analysis of secondary end points, including the ability to prevent rejection. Hepatic-intestinal, multivisceral and isolated intestinal transplantation became feasible on a practical basis only after the advent of tacrolimus. Nevertheless, better management strategies must be devised before intestinal transplantation, alone or with other abdominal viscera, will meet its potential. One such strategy is based on the discovery of the presence of previously unsuspected, low-level donor leukocyte chimerism in long-surviving allograft recipients. We believe that this chimerism is the essential explanation for the feasibility of organ transplantation and a link to the acquired neonatal tolerance demonstrated by Billingham, Brent and Medawar (32). The hematolymphopoietic chimerism in organ recipients explains why weaning to a drug-free state in selected long-term survivors is frequently feasible and particularly if the allograft is a liver. Weaning should never be attempted without a stepwise protocol and careful monitoring of graft function. Recognition of the natural chimerism that develops after whole organ transplantation has led to efforts to augment it with perioperative donor BM infusion. This procedure has been shown to be free of significant complications (including GVHD) in all kinds of whole organ recipients, including those given intestine. The prospects of clinical xenotransplantation must be evaluated in the same context of chimerism as that delineated for allotransplantation with the discovery of spontaneous chimerism. Before addressing chimerism-related questions in xenotransplantation, the additional barrier of the complement activation syndromes that cause hyperacute rejection will have to be surmounted. Although measures to effectively transplant xenografts have so far eluded us, the availability of the more potent drug, tacrolimus, and recognition of the seminal basis of allograft (or xenograft) acceptance via chimerism has inserted an element of reality into the largely wishful thinking that has been evident in discussions about the future of xenotransplantation.
Endothermic proton transfer reactions from three [C6H6]+˙ isomers

A triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used to establish the proton affinities of phenyl, CH3CCCCCH3 and HCCCH2CCCH radicals as 870±29, 824±25, and 757±21 kJmol−1, respectively, from the kinetic energy of benzene, 2,4-hexadiyne, and 1.5-hexadiyne molecular ions at which the onset of proton transfer to less basic species occurs in the second rod assembly. These values were confirmed by other triple quadrupole experiments involving bracketing of exothermic proton transfers.
Gene variations of ROCKs and risk of ischaemic stroke: the Women’s Genome Health Study

Recent animal and human studies have demonstrated the importance of the ROCK (RhoA/Rho-associated kinase) pathway in IsST (ischaemic stroke). Whether the genetic variation within ROCK-associated genes modulates the risk of IsST remains elusive. The association between 66 tSNPs [tagging SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms)] of three ROCK-associated genes [ROCK1, ROCK2 and ARHGEF10 (Rho guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor 10)] and the incidence of IsST was investigated in 23 294 Caucasian female participants of the prospective WGHS (Women’s Genome Health Study). All were free of known cancer and cardiovascular disease at baseline. During a 15-year follow-up period, 323 participants developed their first ever IsST. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between genotypes and risk of IsST assuming an additive genetic model. Haplotype-block analysis was also performed. A total of ten tSNPs were associated with the risk of IsST (three in ARHGEF10 and seven in ROCK1; P < 0.050). Further investigation using the haplotype-block analysis revealed a similar significant association of pre-specified haplotypes of ROCK1 with the risk of IsST (P = 0.005). If corroborated in other large prospective studies, the findings of the present study suggest that genetic variation within the ROCK-associated pathway gene loci examined, and in particular ROCK1 gene variation, may influence the risk of IsST.
Mediatizing the network model of cultural capital: Network diversity, media use, and cultural knowledge along and across ethnic boundaries

Abstract Existing studies have paid limited attention to how media use and network diversity are related to cultural capital along or across ethnic boundaries. Extending the network model to a mediated network model of cultural capital, this research examines cultural knowledge as a function of media use and network diversity and whether media use moderates or mediates the relationship between network diversity and cultural knowledge. Data were drawn from a random sample survey on Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs in Toronto. Results showed that media use was a stronger predictor of cultural knowledge than network diversity. It also moderated and mediated the relationship between network diversity and cultural knowledge along and across ethnic boundaries.
Role of early adjuvant hormonal therapy after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

Purpose: Recent prospective randomized studies have shown that adjuvant hormonal therapy combined with local treatment can significantly improve overall survival in patients with locally advanced disease. This finding challenges the previous belief that adjuvant hormonal therapy may not be beneficial for minimal stages TxN + M0 or less prostate cancer, particularly when combined with local treatment. We reviewed the benefits of adjuvant hormonal therapy in patients at risk for disease progression, especially when administered after radical prostatectomy.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the current literature and evaluated clinical information on stage pT3b cancer from a large single institution prostate cancer database to determine the current role of adjuvant hormonal therapy after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.Results: Retrospective experimental and clinical studies have proved the impact of adjuvant hormonal therapy for decreasing prostate specific antigen (PSA) and clinic...
In Situ determination of the kinetics of reaction between lithium and fast-ion conducting lithium borate glasses

Abstract A novel electrochemical technique based on coulometric titration in cells of the type: LiAl-Al/Glass/LiA1A1 or LiSnSn was used to determine the chemical stability and kinetics of reaction between Li and lithium borate glass electrolytes. A Li 2 O.B 2 0 3 glass was found to be an ideal Li electrolyte over a wide Li activity range (10 −17 - 0.06 at 380 ° C ) 2 . A chlorine containing glass of nominal composition Li 4 B 7 O 12 Cl was found to react at very low activities of Li ( −9 ) to form a predominantly ionic crystalline reaction layer composed mainly of 3Li 2 O.B 2 O 3 . The rate limiting step in the corrosion process was found to be the electron diffusivity, D e . The chemical diffusion coefficient was found to be about 5 × 10 −10 cm 2 / sec at 380°C with an activation energy equal to 0.86 eV.
A Bartonella vinsonii berkhoffii typing scheme based upon 16S-23S ITS and Pap31 sequences from dog, coyote, gray fox, and human isolates.

Abstract Since the isolation of Bartonella vinsonii subspecies berkhoffii from a dog with endocarditis in 1993, this organism has emerged as an important pathogen in dogs and as an emerging pathogen in people. Current evidence indicates that coyotes, dogs and gray foxes potentially serve as reservoir hosts. Based upon sequence differences within the 16S–23S ITS region and Pap31 gene, we propose a classification scheme that divides B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii isolates into four distinct types. Two conserved sequences, of 37 and 18 bp, respectively, are differentially present within the ITS region of each of the four B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii types. To date, B. vinsonii berkhoffii types I, II, and III have been identified in the US, type III in Europe and type IV in Canada. Based upon the proposed genotyping scheme, the geographic distribution of B. vinsonii berkhoffii types needs to be more thoroughly delineated in future molecular epidemiological studies involving Bartonella infection in coyotes, dogs, gray foxes, human beings and potentially other animals or in arthropod vectors. Strain typing may help to better define the reservoir potential, carriership patterns, modes of transmission, and geographic distribution for each B. vinsonii berkhoffii type.
The role of dopamine and serotonin in the prolongation of post-decapitation convulsions in mice.

Abstract L-DOPA (320 mg/kg, i.p.) increased the duration of the clonic phase of post-decapitation convulsions (PDC) by 60% in mice pretreated with the peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor, Ro 4-4602 (50 mg/kg, i.p.). Assays of brains at the time of decapitation showed a 300% increase in dopamine (DM), an 80% reduction in serotonin (5-HT) and no change in norepinephrine (NE) levels. The effect of L-DOPA on PDC was not blocked by haloperidol (0.5 – 5.0 mg/kg), a blocker of DM receptors, nor by diethyldithiocarbamate (400 mg/kg) an inhibitor of NE synthesis. Parachlorophenylalanine (300 mg/kg × 3 days) produced an 80% reduction in 5-HT and a prolongation of PDC similar to that observed after L-DOPA. Prolongation of PDC was also seen after the 5-HT antagonists methysergide (5 mg/kg) and cinanserin (10 mg/kg), but not after cyproheptadine (10 mg/kg). The 5-HT precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (100 mg/kg), produced no change in PDC when used alone but inhibited L-DOPA's prolongation of PDC. The results suggest that L-DOPA acts by depleting 5-HT in bulbospinal pathways and thus enhancing reflex activity in the spinal cord.
Nonparametric Inference for Periodic Sequences

This article proposes a nonparametric method for estimating the period and values of a periodic sequence when the data are evenly spaced in time. The period is estimated by a “leave-out-one-cycle” version of cross-validation (CV) and complements the periodogram, a widely used tool for period estimation. The CV method is computationally simple and implicitly penalizes multiples of the smallest period, leading to a “virtually” consistent estimator of integer periods. This estimator is investigated both theoretically and by simulation. We also propose a nonparametric test of the null hypothesis that the data have constant mean against the alternative that the sequence of means is periodic. Finally, our methodology is demonstrated on three well-known time series: the sunspots and lynx trapping data, and the El Nino series of sea surface temperatures.
The Legacies of a Hawaiian Generation: from territorial subject to American citizen

Anthropologist Judith Schachter has written a valuable book that accomplishes a rare feat: it engages a scholarly audience from a variety of disciplines in a manner accessible to an interested gene...
Development of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay for diagnosis of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection and its use in a prospective surveillance study.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), which is one of several arenaviruses that are pathogenic for humans, causes encephalitis and meningitis in man. In this study, single-stage and nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were developed that targeted the GPC and N genes of LCMV. Both assays detected <1 TCID50 unit of LCMV. These assays were used to measure the incidence of LCMV infection by testing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples with ⩾10 leukocytes/μI collected over 1 year from patients undergoing lumbar puncture for diagnostic reasons at two Birmingham hospitals. Samples were tested for the presence of LCMV RNA by using the RT-PCR assay and for LCMV-specific IgM antibody by using an ELISA assay. None of the specimens collected from 813 patients was positive by either assay. Although no cases of acute infection were detected, 4% (11/272) of serum collected from a subset of patients was positive for LCMV-specific IgG. A significantly greater rate of seropositivity was found among subjects over 60 years of age (9.4%; P < 0.025) than was found in younger subjects (2.4% at 30–59 years of age; 0% at <30 years of age). These data suggest that serious central nervous system disease due to LCMV infection is not common in this population. The high rate of seropositivity in those over 60 years of age suggest that infection was once more common. J Med Virol 51:107–114, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An Automated Device for Provoking and Capturing Wildlife Calls

Some animals exhibit call-and-response behaviors that can be exploited to facilitate detection. Traditionally, acoustic surveys that use call-and-respond techniques have required an observer's presence to perform the broadcast, record the response, or both events. This can be labor-intensive and may influence animal behavior and, thus, survey results. We developed an automated acoustic survey device using commercially available hardware (e.g., laptop computer, speaker, microphone) and an author-created (JS) software program (“HOOT”) that can be used to survey for any animal that calls. We tested this device to determine 1) deployment longevity, 2) effective sampling area, and 3) ability to detect known packs of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Idaho, USA. Our device was able to broadcast and record twice daily for 6–7 days using the internal computer battery and surveyed an area of 3.3–17.5 km2 in relatively open habitat depending on the hardware components used. We surveyed for wolves at 2 active rendezvous sites used by closely monitored, radiocollared wolf packs and obtained 4 responses across both packs over 3 days of sampling. We confirmed reproduction in these 2 packs by detecting pup howls aurally from the resulting device recordings. Our device can broadcast and record animal calls and the computer software is freely downloadable. This automated survey device can be used to collect reliable data while reducing the labor costs traditionally associated with acoustic surveys. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Separation mechanism and determination of flavanones with capillary electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract To probe separation mechanism and determination with capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and liquid chromatography (LC), nine compounds with identical flavanone skeleton were studied. Optimum separation of LC was attained with gradient of acetonitrile and 5 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.9). For CE, electrolyte buffer was 4.5 mM SDS in 32 mM sodium tetraborate buffer (pH 9.2). The distinguishing feature in this work was successful separation of monohydroxyl stereoisomers by CZE. Polarity is generally increased with hydroxyl groups. In a separation mechanism study, polarity would be reduced by intramolecular hydrogen bond between hydroxyl of C5 and carbonyl group of C4. Comparison of the retention results among monohydroxyl flavanones shows polarity with hydroxyl at C6 the least, and that at C4′ and C7 nearly equal. Also, elution order of flavones and flavanones would be adverse due to the hydroxyl at C3 in LC. From the numerical value p K a of flavanone, the C7-OH is the smallest, and two hydroxyl groups in an adjacent position is always less than the unique one caused by forming a stable 5-membered ring. Investigation of separation mechanism yield only the effect of constituent but also reasonable explanation for contradictory results between Wulf and our laboratory, this due to the hydroxyl at C3.
siRNA-mediated depletion of endogenous protein phosphatase 2Acα markedly attenuates ceramide-activated protein phosphatase activity in insulin-secreting INS-832/13 cells

The sphingolipid ceramide (CER) and its metabolites have been recognized as important mediators of signal transduction processes leading to a variety of cellular responses, including survival and demise via apoptosis. Accumulating evidence implicates key regulatory roles for intracellularly generated CER in metabolic dysfunction of the islet beta cell. We have previously reported localization of an okadaic (OKA)-sensitive CER-activated protein phosphatase (CAPP) in the islet beta cell. We have also reported immunological identification of the structural A subunit, the regulatory B56alpha subunit, and the catalytic C subunit for CAPP holoenzyme complex in insulin-secreting INS-1 cells. Herein, we provide the first evidence to suggest that siRNA-mediated knockdown of the alpha isoform of the catalytic subunit of PP2Ac (PP2Acalpha) markedly reduces the CAPP activity in INS 832/13 cells. Potential significance of the functional activation of CAPP holoenzyme in the context of lipid-and glucose-induced metabolic dysfunction of the islet beta cell is discussed.
Spectrophotometric investigation of vanadyl phosphate equilibria in acid media

Abstract The formation of vanadyl phosphate complexes in acidic LOM NaClO 4 solution was studied by spectrophotometry in the charge-transfer region of the optical spectrum. In the [H + ] range studied, 0.4–13 mM, the principal species appear to be VO(H 2 PO 4 ) + and VO(H 2 PO 4 ) 2 , formed with logarithmic stepwise formation constants of approximately 3.2 and 2.0, respectively. Both species are weakly acidic, ionizing to give VO(HPO 4 ) and VO(H 2 PO 4 )(HPO 4 ) − with pK a values on the order of 3–4. Results obtained for [H + ] = 13 mM are anomalous and are not explained by these equilibrium constants.
Adaptation of acyl-enzyme kinetic theory and an experimental method for evaluating the kinetics of fast-acting, irreversible protease inhibitors.

The theory of acyl-enzyme kinetics (Bender, M.L., Kezdy, F.J. and Wedler, F.C. (1967) J. Chem. Educ. 44, 84-88) has been adapted for use in evaluating the kinetics of inhibition of serine proteases by both natural and synthetic irreversible inhibitors. The new theory is based upon formal analysis of the case of an irreversible, active-site-directed inhibitor competing with an irreversible, active-site-directed substrate for the active site of a serine protease. From this theory, an experimentally simple and accurate method is described to obtain a second-order rate constant that is characteristic of the efficiency with which an irreversible inhibitor reacts. The experimental method is particularly useful for characterizing fast-acting, irreversible inhibitors. The theory and method which are applicable to a wide variety of enzymes are verified by analysis of the inhibition of bovine trypsin by three model inhibitors, p-nitrophenyl p'-guanidinobenzoate, soybean trypsin inhibitor and alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor as well as by human antithrombin III in the presence of heparin and by bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor.
Setting people up for success: How the Portman Ritz‐Carlton hotel gets the best from its people

In China, where many multinational companies face a constant shortage of talent and high employee turnover, the Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel has been able to attract, develop, and retain high-quality talent to deliver excellent customer service and ensure profitable growth. Under the leadership of Mark DeCocinis since 1998, the Portman Ritz-Carlton has not only been named as the “Best Employer in Asia” by Hewitt Associates three consecutive times, but has also rated the highest in employee satisfaction among all of the Ritz-Carlton's 59 hotels worldwide for five consecutive years. How can DeCocinis and his leadership team achieve such remarkable results? In his interview with Arthur Yeung, Mark DeCocinis, general manager of the Port-man Ritz-Carlton and regional vice president, Asia-Pacific, of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, shares his philosophy and practices on talent management in China and elsewhere. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Monitoring unrest in a large silicic caldera, the long Valley-inyo craters volcanic complex in east-central California

Recent patterns of geologic unrest in long Valley caldera in east-central California emphasize that this large, silicic volcanic system and the adjacent, geologically youthful Inyo-Mono Craters volcanic chain are still active and capable of producing locally hazardous volcanic eruptions. A series of four magnitude -6 earthquakes in May 1980 called attention to this current episode of unrest, and subsequent activity has included numerous earthquake swarms in the south moat of the caldera accompanied by inflation of the resurgent dome by more than 50 cm over the last five years. The seismicity associated with this unrest is currently monitored by a network of 31 telemetered seismic stations with an automatic processing system that yelds hypocentral locations and earthquake magnitudes in near-real time. Deformation of the ground is monitored by a) a series of overlapping trilateration networks that provide coverage ranging from annual measurements of regional deformation to daily measurements of deformation local to the active, southern section of the caldera, b) a regional network of level lines surveyed annually, c) a regional network of precise gravity stations occupied annually, d) local, L-shaped level figures surveyed every few months, and e) a network of fourteen borehole tiltmeter clusters (two instruments in each cluster) and a borehole dilatometer, the telemetered signals from which provide continuous data on deformation rates. Additional telemetered data provide continuous information on fluctuations in the local magnetic field, hydrogen gas emission rates at three sites, and water level and temperatures in three wells. Continuous data on disharge rates and temperatures from hot springs and fumaroles are collected by several on-site recorders within the caldera, and samples for liquid and gas chemistry are collected several times per year from selected hot springs and fumaroles.
Gabapentin in bipolar disorder: A placebo-controlled trial of adjunctive therapy

OBJECTIVES [corrected] To assess efficacy and safety of gabapentin in the treatment of bipolar disorder. METHODS This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of adjunctive gabapentin (dosed flexibly between 900 and 3,600 mg/day). Patients with a lifetime diagnosis of bipolar disorder (type I), and who were currently suffering from symptoms of either mania, hypomania or a mixed state despite ongoing therapy with lithium, valproate, or lithium and valproate in combination were eligible for inclusion. The primary efficacy measures were the baseline to endpoint change in total score on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). RESULTS Both treatment groups had a decrease in total YMRS from baseline to endpoint, but this decrease was significantly greater in the placebo group (-9) than the gabapentin group (-6) (p < 0.05). No difference between treatments was found for the total score on the HAM-D. Secondary efficacy measures were not different between treatment groups. More patients in the placebo group had changes made to their ongoing lithium therapy (n = 12) compared to the gabapentin group (n = 4). When these patients are removed from the efficacy analysis, the YMRS treatment difference still favors placebo, but is no longer statistically significant. Based on gabapentin plasma levels at termination, some patients did not take the study drug as prescribed. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study did not demonstrate that gabapentin is an effective adjunctive treatment when administered to outpatients with bipolar disorder.
The Gulf Region Health Outreach Program – An integrated public health response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

ABSTRACT We describe the Gulf Region Health Outreach Program (GRHOP), a series of four integrated community-based projects designed to be embedded in and to complement the existing efforts undertak...
A numerical model for nonaxisymmetric MHD instabilities

Abstract A method is described for studying the stability of two-dimensional equilibria of magnetically confined plasmas. The equations of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) are linearized and the resulting time-dependent first-order system of equations is solved. Unstable equilibria result in exponentially growing solutions. The plasma is assumed to be incompressible and resistivity is included in the model. The equations are solved in cylindrical coordinates and the perturbations vary as f 1 ( r , z , t )exp( inτ ). Nonaxisymmetric modes ( n ≠0) are considered. Tearing mode results for one-dimensional analytic equilibria are compared with earlier work. A numerically generated equilibrium, modeling the field reversed theta pinch experiment, is shown to be unstable to the n =1 tilting mode.
Structural Equation Modeling With Robust Covariances

Existing methods for structural equation modeling involve fitting the ordinary sample covariance matrix by a proposed structural model. Since a sample covariance is easily influenced by a few outlying cases, the standard practice of modeling sample covariances can lead to inefficient estimates as well as inflated fit indices. By giving a proper weight to each individual case, a robust covariance will have a bounded influence function as well as a nonzero breakdown point. These robust properties of the covariance estimators will be carried over to the parameter estimators in the structural model if a technically appropriate procedure is used. We study such a procedure in which robust covariances replace ordinary sample covariances in the context of the Wishart likelihood function. This procedure is easy to implement in practice. Statistical properties of this procedure are investigated. A fit index is given based on sampling from an elliptical distribution. An estimating equation approach is used to develo...
Wood products and wood protection in China

m3 in 2010 (Guan 1997). The forestry coverage in China is limited, and wood deterioration, caused by animals, insects, microorganisms, climate and other environmental circumstances decrease the durability of wood. The study of wood protection in China is called for to find ways and means to increase the service life of wood in use and therefore decrease the pressure on the wood fiber demand.
Benefits of scenario ground motion maps

Abstract Earthquake hazards can be communicated with both probabilistic seismic hazard maps and “deterministic” maps showing estimated ground motions expected from a subset of the possible earthquakes. This paper describes the latter class of maps as “scenario” ground motion maps. The principle behind the scenario maps is to portray a median estimate of ground motions from events that are reasonable, and regionally the most significant. The intent is that the scenario map answers the common question: “If the fault ruptures, what do you expect?” This paper proposes rules for construction of scenario maps, argues that a parallel map (a scenario probability map) should be constructed giving estimates of the annual recurrence rates of the scenario ground motions, and compares probabilistic and scenario ground motions for areas with high and moderate seismic hazards. Uses for scenario maps include educating the public about the earthquake hazards, some engineering applications and hazard response planning.
Coupled-channel meson-exchange NN model with a separable short-range interaction

We present an approach for constructing meson-exchange coupled-channel NN models that include a separable parametrization of the short-range interactions. The developed numerical method has been applied to obtain a model for describing the T = 1 NN scattering below 1 GeV laboratory energy.
Near-Infrared Microspectroscopic Analysis of Rat Skin Tissue Heterogeneity in Relation to Noninvasive Glucose Sensing

Background Noninvasive glucose measurements are possible by analysis of transmitted near-infrared light over the 4000- to 5000-cm(-1) spectral range. Such measurements are highly sensitive to the exact position of the fiber-optic interface on the surface of the skin sample. A critical question is the degree of heterogeneity of the major chemical components of the skin matrix in relation to the size of the fiber-optic probed used to collect noninvasive spectra. Microscopic spectral mapping is used to map the chemical distribution for a set of excised sections of rat skin. Method A Fourier transform near-infrared microspectrometer was used to collect transmission spectra from 16 tissue samples harvested from a set of four healthy Harlan-Sprague male rats. A reference point in the center of the tissue sample was probed regularly to track dehydration, changes in tissue composition, and changes in instrument performance. Amounts of the major skin constituents were determined by fitting microspectra to a set of six pure component absorbance spectra corresponding to water, type I collagen protein, keratin protein, fat, an offset term, and a slope term. Results Microspectroscopy provides spectra with root mean square noise levels on 100% lines between 418 and 1475 microabsorbance units, which is sufficient for measuring the main chemical components of skin. The estimated spatial resolution of the microscope is 220 microm. The amounts of each tissue matrix component were determined for each 480 x 360-microm(2) location of a 4.8 x 3.6-mm(2) rectangular block of skin tissue. These spectra were used to generate two-dimensional distribution maps for each of the principal skin components. Conclusions Distribution of the chemical components of rat skin is significant relative to the dimensions of noninvasive glucose sensing. Chemical distribution maps reveal that variations in the chemical composition of the skin samples are on the same length scale as the fiber-optic probe used to collect noninvasive near-infrared spectra. Analysis of variance between tissue slices collected for one animal and analysis of variations between animals indicate that animal-to-animal variation for all four chemical components is significantly higher than variations between samples for a given animal. These findings justify the collection and interpretation of near-infrared microspectroscopic maps of human skin to establish chemical heterogeneity and its impact on noninvasive glucose sensing for the management of diabetes.
A method for determining void arrangements in inverse opals.

The periodic arrangement of voids in ceramic materials templated by colloidal crystal arrays (inverse opals) has been analysed by transmission electron microscopy. Individual particles consisting of an approximately spherical array of at least 100 voids were tilted through 90 degrees along a single axis within the transmission electron microscope. The bright-field images of these particles at high-symmetry points, their diffractograms calculated by fast Fourier transforms, and the transmission electron microscope goniometer angles were compared with model face-centred cubic, body-centred cubic, hexagonal close-packed, and simple cubic lattices in real and reciprocal space. The spatial periodicities were calculated for two-dimensional projections. The systematic absences in these diffractograms differed from those found in diffraction patterns from three-dimensional objects. The experimental data matched only the model face-centred cubic lattice, so it was concluded that the packing of the voids (and, thus, the polymer spheres that composed the original colloidal crystals) was face-centred cubic. In face-centred cubic structures, the stacking-fault displacement vector is a/6 . No stacking faults were observed when viewing the inverse opal structure along the orthogonal -type directions, eliminating the possibility of a random hexagonally close-packed structure for the particles observed. This technique complements synchrotron X-ray scattering work on colloidal crystals by allowing both real-space and reciprocal-space analysis to be carried out on a smaller cross-sectional area.