cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The association between serum inflammatory biomarkers and incident hypertension among postmenopausal women in the Buffalo OsteoPerio Study.

Several serum inflammatory biomarkers have been associated with blood pressure and hypertension prevalence in cross-sectional studies. Few of these associations have been evaluated prospectively. We examined associations for 10 serum inflammatory biomarkers with incident hypertension among 471 postmenopausal women (mean age = 65) in the Buffalo OsteoPerio Study. Concentrations of C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, adiponectin, and leptin were measured using multiplexed sandwich immunoassays on fasting serum samples collected at baseline (1997-2001). Incident hypertension (195 cases) was defined as physician-diagnosed hypertension and treatment with medication identified on annual mailed health surveys during follow-up (mean 10 years). Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) between log-transformed biomarkers (per 1-SD) and hypertension. When adjusted for age, leptin was significantly associated with hypertension risk (HR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.29), however, the association was attenuated and not significant after adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors, including BMI. Significant (P < 0.10) interactions were observed for smoking (never, ever) with CRP (HR: never, 1.31; ever, 0.91; P = 0.06) and MCP-1 (HR: never, 0.59; ever, 5.11; P = 0.004); for BMI (<25, ≥25) with MCP-1(HR: <25, 3.45; ≥25, 0.95; P = 0.07); for systolic BP with IL-10 (HR: <120, 0.85; 120-139, 1.11; P = 0.07); and for diastolic BP with MCP-1 (HR: <80, 1.29; 80-89, 0.84; P = 0.03) and with adiponectin (HR: <80, 0.86; 80-89, 1.50; P = 0.03). This study adds needed understanding on prospective associations between several serum inflammatory biomarkers and hypertension risk in older postmenopausal women, among whom hypertension burden is substantial.
Spatially and spectrally resolved defects in polycrystalline CdTe thin films revealed by quantitative cathodoluminescence

Increasing the grain size is a potential strategy to reduce grain-boundary recombination and improve performance of thin-film solar cells. Here, CdTe thin films with a range of grain sized were produced by varying the CdC12 post-deposition treatment temperature. We use high-resolution cathodoluminescence (CL) microscopy to study recombination and shallow defect levels in detail. Intensities from room temperature CL maps were compared across samples. We find that the CL intensity initially increases with grain size, as expected, but then plateaus as the grain size is increased further. The plateau is correlated with a decrease in the characteristic length-related to the carrier diffusion length-determined from CL intensity profiles near grain boundaries. In addition, low-temperature CL measurements demonstrate the evolution of the defect levels with CdC12 temperature.
Abstract 17355: Rural-Urban Differences in the Association of Change in County-Level Physician Density With Cardiovascular Disease Mortality

Introduction: Rural areas face greater challenges in access to cardiovascular care related to lower physician density compared with urban areas. However, whether the association between recent chan...
Cases of Sexual Assault Prevented in an Athletic Coach-Delivered Gender Violence Prevention Program

Sexual violence (SV) is pervasive and economically burdensome in the USA. According to the CDC, SV prevention could avert $122,461 in costs per victim of rape, totaling an estimated $3.1 trillion. Coaching Boys into Men (CBIM) is an evidence-based dating abuse and SV prevention program found to reduce dating abuse and SV perpetration among male high school athletes and dating abuse among middle school athletes. This secondary data analysis of CBIM’s high school (N = 1520) and middle school (N = 973) RCTs estimated the incidence of dating abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual assault that CBIM could prevent as well as the potential cost savings. Ten items measured dating abuse, with a subset measuring sexual assault and sexual harassment, among participants who had ever dated a female. Perpetration measures were dichotomized as present or absent. Maximum likelihood estimates of Poisson-distributed event rates allowed for possible multiple incidents of perpetration per athlete. Among high school athletes, CBIM was associated with a relative reduction of 85 incidents of dating abuse (95%CI 24, 146), 48 incidents of sexual harassment (95%CI 3.8, 92), and 20 incidents of sexual assault (95%CI 1.7, 38) per 1,000 athletes. Results among middle school athletes demonstrated similar, albeit non-significant, trends. Based on the reduction of sexual assaults among high school athletes alone, CBIM may have resulted in $2.4 million reduction in costs per 1000 athletes exposed. CBIM may be associated with significant sexual assault-related cost reductions. Given the low costs and time needed to implement the program, sexual and dating violence prevention programs like CBIM may result in substantial economic benefits.
Resting state functional connectivity in the default mode network: Relationships between cannabis use, gender, and cognition in adolescents and young adults

Abstract Introduction Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance in the United States, and nearly 1 in 4 young adults are current cannabis users. Chronic cannabis use is associated with changes in resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) in the default mode network (DMN) in adolescents and young adults; results are somewhat inconsistent across studies, potentially due to methodological differences. The aims of the present study were to examine potential differences in DMN RSFC between cannabis users and controls, and to examine, as an exploratory analysis, if gender moderated any findings. We further examined whether differences in RSFC related to differences in performance on selected neuropsychological measures. Materials and methods Seventy-seven 16–26-year-old participants underwent an MRI scan (including resting state scan), neuropsychological battery, toxicology screening, and drug use interview. Differences in DMN connectivity were examined between groups (cannabis vs. control) and with an exploratory group by gender interaction, using a left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) seed-based analysis conducted in AFNI. Results Cannabis users demonstrated weaker connectivity than controls between the left PCC and various DMN nodes, and the right Rolandic operculum/Heschl’s gyrus. Cannabis users demonstrated stronger connectivity between the left PCC and the cerebellum and left supramarginal gyrus. The group by gender interaction was not significantly associated with connectivity differences. Stronger left PCC—cerebellum connectivity was associated with poorer performance on cognitive measures in cannabis users. In controls, intra-DMN connectivity was positively correlated with performance on a speeded selective/sustained attention measure. Discussion Consistent with our hypotheses and other studies, cannabis users demonstrated weaker connectivity between the left PCC and DMN nodes. Chronic THC exposure may alter GABA and glutamate concentrations, which may alter brain communication. Future studies should be conducted with a larger sample size and examine gender differences and the mechanism by which these differences may arise.
Clear Financial Wellness Communication During the COVID-19 Crisis (Presentation Slides)

As COVID-19 is presenting college campuses with considerable challenges, financial wellness programs on these campuses must maintain clear communications with students during this crisis. Students and other stakeholders are likely stressed, financially vulnerable, and eager to return to normalcy. This webinar will outline best practices for crisis communication with students and how financial wellness programs can 1.) communicate effectively with students, 2.) share high-quality resources in culturally-responsive ways, and 3.) avoid information overload. The webinar will conclude with an open discussion to bring practitioners together and share ideas, resources, and narratives.
On eigensystem assignment with output feedback

A new approach for the eigenvalue assignment of linear, first-order, time-invariant systems using output feedback is developed. The approach can assign the maximum allowable number of closed-loop eigenvalues through output feedback provided that the system is fully controllable and observable, and both the input influence and output influence matrices are full rank. First, a collection of bases for the space of attainable closed-loop eigenvectors is generated using the Singular Value Decomposition or QR Decomposition techniques. Then, an algorithm based on subspace intersections is developed and used to compute the corresponding coefficients of the bases, and the required output feedback gain matrix. Moreover, the additional freedom provided by the multi-inputs and multi-outputs beyond the eigenvalue assignment is characterized for possible exploitation. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the viability of the proposed approach.
Hospital Ownership, Geographic Region, Patient Age, Comorbidities and Insurance Status Appear to Influence Patient Selection Robotic-Assisted Ureteral Reimplantation for Benign Disease: A Population-Based Analysis.

Background: Robotic-assisted ureteral reimplantation (RAUR) is a relatively new minimally-invasive surgery. As such, research is lacking, and the largest adult cohort studies include fewer than 30 ...
Intrinsically Switchable Ferroelectric Scandium Aluminum Nitride Bulk Acoustic Wave Resonators

This paper reports, for the first time, on the high quality factor (Q) two-port scandium aluminum nitride bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators with intrinsic ferroelectric switchability. Scandium aluminum nitride films with 22% scandium atomic content (Sc 0 .22Al 0 . 78 N) are used to create in-plane and thickness extensional BAW resonators. The ferroelectric behavior of the SC 0.22 Al 0 . 7 8N film is used to switch resonators through pulsed depolarization of the films. The two-port resonators are measured upon application of different numbers of pulses, clearly manifesting the evolution of the transmission amplitude and phase depolarization and complete polarization switching of the film. 445 MHz and 5.8 GHz SCo.22Alo. 78 N resonator prototypes are presented with Qs as high as 901 and insertion losses as low as 3dB. A transmission attenuation exceeding 15dB is measured by proper depolarization of the film. Upon complete polarization switching states, a 180° shift in transmission is clearly observed, while the transmission magnitude remains nearly independent from polarization direction.
A Methodology for Developing New Interaction Techniques

Abstract We present a methodology for inventing, implementing, and evaluating new interaction techniques. We illustrate use of this methodology using examples of some of the more interesting issues we encountered in developing a new interaction technique for head-coupled panning and zooming, called pre-screen projection.
Studies on the adaptive formation of photosynthetic structures in Rhodopseudomonas spheroides. II. Nucleotide compositions during adaptation.

Abstract 1. 1. Nucleotide compositions of total RNA isolated from Rhodopseudomonas spheroides were identical for cells grown under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and during the adaptation period from aerobic-dark to anaerobic-light conditions. 2. 2. Studies employing proflavine showed that with increasing times of [14C]-uracil incorporation a greater proportion of radioactivity was in the form of stable RNA, while at short time periods of incorporation (6 min), over 80 % of the RNA formed was unstable. 3. 3. Nucleotide compositions of rapidly labelled RNA are different from total RNA but showed no variation during the adaptation period from aerobic-dark to anaerobic-light conditions. 4. 4. It is concluded that if specific changes in the kind or amount of RNA species are occurring as R. spheroides responds to adaptive changes, they must be relatively minor in character and undetectable by the methods employed in the present studies.
Cyclic [beta]-1,6-1,3-Glucans of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110 Elicit Isoflavonoid Production in the Soybean (Glycine max) Host.

High levels of cyclic [beta]-1,6–1,3-glucans (e.g. 0.1 mg mg-1 of total protein) are synthesized by free-living cells as well as by bacteroids of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110 (K.J. Miller, R.S. Gore, R. Johnson, A.J. Benesi, V.N. Reinhold [1990] J Bacteriol 172: 136–142; R.S. Gore and K.J. Miller [1993] Plant Physiol 102: 191–194). These molecules share structural features with glucan fragments isolated from the mycelial cell wall of the soybean (Glycine max) pathogen Phytophthora megasperma. These latter glucans have been shown to be potent elicitors (at nanogram levels) of the phytoalexin glyceollin in G. max. Using the well-characterized soybean cotyledon bioassay, we now show that the cyclic [beta]-1,6–1,3-glucans of B. japonicum USDA 110 are also biologically active elicitors of glyceollin production (but at microgram levels). We further show that both classes of [beta]-glucans elicit the production of the isoflavone daidzein within soybean cotyledon wound droplets.
Meshless modeling framework for fiber reinforced concrete structures

A meshless framework enhances modeling of fiber reinforced concrete considerably.Modeling of bond between fibers and cementitious matrix is indirectly incorporated.Semi-discrete fiber modeling yields a good agreement with empirical results.Modeling of discrete cracks and crack growth is considerably enhanced. In this study, a meshless analysis framework based on the non-ordinary state-based peridynamic method is proposed to predict the response of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) structures. The approach includes a semi-discrete method in modeling the fiber reinforcement. With this approach, additional degrees of freedom from fibers are not present, and thus the computational efficiency is enhanced. Furthermore, there is no need to monitor concrete crack paths as the crack initiation, growth, and coalescence are an inherent outcome of the proposed framework. This is demonstrated through several examples. The accuracy is maintained for a failure analysis of FRC beams under bending.
Cultural Meaning of Retail Institutions

Abstract Is a retail institution more than a place to shop? A tradition-based cultural approach is used to explore the meaning of a long established retail institution in a tradition-based culture. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with both marketplace buyers and sellers in Jordan's central marketplace in Amman. Four themes relating to the central marketplace were identified from the exploratory research: (1) self-identification, (2) personification, (3) societal organization, and (4) social function. This research highlights the importance of cultural integration of retail establishments and indicates a potential for resistance to adoption of new retail institutions. Implications for global marketing managers are discussed.
Tort Liability and the Original Meaning of the Freedom of Speech, Press, and Petition

Does the First Amendment limit common-law tort liability? New York Times Co. v. Sullivan said yes, but some argue this is a modern innovation. The Court’s turn to original meaning, including in free speech cases, may make the issue significant again. This short article argues that constitutional constraints on speech-based civil liability have deep roots, going back to the Framing era. That aspect of the New York Times v. Sullivan holding is entirely consistent with original meaning. The Framers likely did view the proper scope of libel liability more broadly than recent First Amendment precedents allow. But this was because of a substantive judgment about which speech restrictions (civil or criminal) should be permitted -- not because of a judgment that civil liability simply didn’t constitute state action, or that tort law was categorically immune from First Amendment scrutiny.
The effect of adding relevance information in a relevance feedback environment

The effects of adding information from relevant documents are examined in the TREC routing environment. A modified Rocchio relevance feedback approach is used, with a varying number of relevant documents retrieved by an initial SMART search, and a varying number of terms from those relevant documents used to expand the initial query. Recall-precision evaluation reveals that as the amount of expansion of the query due to adding terms from relevant documents increases, so does the effectiveness. There appears to be a linear relationship between the log of the number of terms added and the recall-precision effectiveness. There also appears to be a linear relationship between the log of the number of known relevant documents and the recall-precision effectiveness.
Reversibility of lipofuscin accumulation caused by protein malnutrition in the motor cortex of squirrel monkeys, Saimiri scireus

Lipofuscin pigment has been demonstrated histochemically in the motor cortex by the use of several histochemical and cytochemical methods in the healthy (maintained on a diet with 25% protein content) and protein malnourished (maintained on a diet with 2% protein content) adult animals. 4 animals in the latter category were rehabilitated over a period of 11 months and various histochemical techniques were repeated on the motor cortex of these animals. The healthy animals showed a somewhat uniform distribution of lipofuscin pigment in the neuronal perikarya with the perineuronal glia showing only slight occurrence of pigment bodies. The malnourished animals exhibited a significantly larger number of lipofuscin bodies in the neuronal as well as glial perikarya. The neurons, especially, showed aggregations of lipofuscin bodies characterized by a large increase in the activity of acid phosphatase and simple esterases. The rehabilitated animals, however, showed a decrease of lipofuscin pigment in the neuronal perikarya with a concomitant loss of lysosomal enzymes, while a significant increase of these bodies was observed in the perineuronal glial cells. It is evident that the formation of lipofuscin pigment gets accelerated under the extrinsic influence of dietary protein deprivation in the adult animals, but the process is reversed at least to some extent by halting the dietary deficiency or its correction by rehabilitation. The perineuronal glial cells appear to play a significant role in the removal of lipofuscin bodies from the neuronal perikarya. The significance of these observations has been discussed.
The Role of agonist-independent conformational transformation (AICT) in IP3 cluster behavior

Abstract Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor is a central unit in intracellular Ca2+ signaling. Regulation of the IP3 receptor by calcium is well characterized. High open probability values are reported for a single IP3 receptor in nuclear patch clamp experiments. These experimental observations are in contrast with the lower open probability values of the lipid bilayer experiments. Most theoretical models do not account for high open probabilities of the receptor. But more recently, new models of the IP3 receptor have been put forward which are constrained by single-channel nuclear patch clamp recordings, which generate the larger open probability with the aid of an additional agonist-independent conformational transformation (AICT)—‘active’ state. The main aim of this work is to constrain the AICT models with a wealth of experimental data characterizing calcium release from IP3 receptor clusters. Our results suggest that consistency of cluster release between theory and experiments constrains the kinetics of the agonist-independent conformational transition rates (AICT) to values which lead to small open probabilities for the IP3 receptor inconsistent with nuclear patch clamp experimental data.
Mitochondrial DNA mutations activate the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and cause dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective: To determine whether low frequency mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are pathogenic. Methods: We studied mice that express a proofreading-deficient mitochondrial DNA polymerase in the heart and develop cardiac mtDNA mutations. Results: At 4 weeks of age, when point mutation levels had risen to on average two per mitochondrial genome, these mice developed severe dilated cardiomyopathy. Interstitial fibrosis first became apparent at 4 weeks of age and progressed with age. Sporadic myocytic death occurred in all regions of the heart, apparently due to apoptosis as assessed by histological analysis and TUNEL staining. The frequency of TUNEL-positive cells peaked at 4–5 weeks of age and then gradually declined. While mitochondrial respiratory function, ultrastructure, and number remained normal, cytochrome c was released from mitochondria, a known apoptotic signal. Conclusion: mtDNA mutations therefore are pathogenic, and seem to trigger apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway.
Ovarian tumors of low malignant potential: Correlation of DNA index and S‐phase fraction with histopathologic grade and clinical outcome

Background DNA ploidy and/or S-phase fraction have been used as biologic predictors of aggressive behavior in a variety of solid tumors, including ovarian carcinomas. Recently, attention has focused on borderline lesions to determine if flow cytometry plays a role in separating potentially aggressive tumors from those which will pursue a more innocuous course. Methods Paraffin-embedded tissue from 42 tumors with low malignant potential (LMP) were analyzed by flow cytometry (FC) to determine the DNA index (DI) and S-phase fraction (SPF). These result were then correlated with conventional pathologic parameters (size, nuclear grade, architecture, and mitotic index) and with clinical parameters (stage and age). Statistical analysis was carried out using the Fisher's Exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results Thirty-five cases (83.3%) were diploid, while 7 cases (16.7%) showed aneuploid stemlines, with a mean DI of 1.2 (range: 1.1-1.4). The mean SPF was 3.5% for the diploid tumors and 4.5% for the aneuploid tumors. Serous tumors comprised 74% of our cases; the remainder were either mucinous or endometrioid tumors. Complex solid architectural patterns were found in 29 tumors whereas high nuclear grade was seen in 24. A mitotic rate (MR) of 0-3/10 high power fields was seen in 29 tumors (69%), with only 5 having 10 or more mitotic figures. Aneuploidy statistically correlated with higher stage (P Conclusions DI and SPF correlated with some of the histologic parameters we evaluated. DI and SPF, however, could not predict which tumor(s) would behave in a more aggressive fashion.
MUSE: reviving memories using email archives

Email archives silently record our actions and thoughts over the years, forming a passively acquired and detailed life-log that contains rich material for reminiscing on our lives. However, exploratory browsing of archives containing thousands of messages is tedious without effective ways to guide the user towards interesting events and messages. We present Muse (Memories USing Email), a system that combines data mining techniques and an interactive interface to help users browse a long-term email archive. Muse analyzes the contents of the archive and generates a set of cues that help to spark users' memories: communication activity with inferred social groups, a summary of recurring named entities, occurrence of sentimental words, and image attachments. These cues serve as salient entry points into a browsing interface that enables faceted navigation and rapid skimming of email messages. In our user studies, we found that users generally enjoyed browsing their archives with Muse, and extracted a range of benefits, from summarizing work progress to renewing friendships and making serendipitous discoveries.
Incomplete self-similarity and fatigue-crack growth

The Paris power law, which relates fatigue-crack growth rates to the applied stress-intensity range, is an example of a scaling law with the inherent property of incomplete similarity. Previous considerations of dimensions and self-similarity have suggested that the assumed 'materials constants' in this law are also a function of specimen size. In this note, the question of the size-dependence of the Paris law is re-examined, and through comparison to a larger body of fatigue-crack growth data in steels, physical explanations why such scaling effects may exist are deduced.
Maternal periodontal disease is associated with an increased risk for preeclampsia

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To determine if maternal periodontal disease is associated with the development of preeclampsia. METHODS: A cohort of 1115 healthy pregnant women were enrolled at less than 26 weeks’ gestation and followed until delivery. Maternal demographic and medical data were collected. Periodontal examinations were performed at enrollment and within 48 hours of delivery to determine the presence of severe periodontal disease or periodontal disease progression. Preeclampsia was defined as blood pressure greater than 140/90 on two separate occasions, and at least 1+ proteinuria on catheterized urine specimen. The potential effects of maternal age, race, smoking, gestational age at delivery, and insurance status were analyzed, and adjusted odds ratios for preeclampsia were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: During the study period, 763 women delivered live infants and had data available for analysis. Thirty-nine women had preeclampsia. Women were at higher risk for preeclampsia if they had severe periodontal disease at delivery (adjusted odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.1, 5.3), or if they had periodontal disease progression during pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.0, 4.4). CONCLUSION: After adjusting for other risk factors, active maternal periodontal disease during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for the development of preeclampsia.
Non-ideal quantum feedback of a solid-state qubit

We have analyzed the operation of the Bayesian quantum feedback of a solid-state qubit, designed to maintain perfect coherent oscillations in the qubit for arbitrarily long time. In particular, we have studied the feedback efficiency in presence of dephasing environment and detector nonideality. Also, we have investigated the effect of qubit parameter deviation.
Microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity at DNA mismatch repair gene loci occurs during hepatic carcinogenesis

DNA mismatch repair is an important mechanism involved in maintaining the fidelity of genomic DNA. Defective DNA mismatch repair is implicated in a variety of gastrointestinal and other tumors; however, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been assessed. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival pathology tissues from 46 primary liver tumors were studied by microdissection and microsatellite analysis of extracted DNA to assess the degree of microsatellite instability, a marker of defective mismatch repair, and to determine the extent and timing of allelic loss of two DNA mismatch repair genes, human Mut S homologue-2 (hMSH2) and human Mut L homologue-1 (hMLH1), and the tumor suppressor genes adenomatous polyposis coli gene (APC), p53, and DPC4. Microsatellite instability was detected in 16 of the tumors (34.8%). Loss of heterozygosity at microsatellites linked to the DNA mismatch repair genes, hMSH2 and/or hMLH1, was found in 9 cases (19.6%), usually in association with microsatellite instability. Importantly, the pattern of allelic loss was uniform in 8 of these 9 tumors, suggesting that clonal loss had occurred. Moreover, loss at these loci also occurred in nonmalignant tissue adjacent to 4 of these tumors, where it was associated with marked allelic heterogeneity. There was relatively infrequent loss of APC, p53, or DPC4 loci that appeared unrelated to loss of hMSH2 or hMLH1 gene loci. Loss of heterozygosity at hMSH2 and/or hMLH1 gene loci, and the associated microsatellite instability in premalignant hepatic tissues suggests a possible causal role in hepatic carcinogenesis in a subset of hepatomas.
Spatial mixed effects model for compositional data with applications to coal geology

Abstract We analyze data on the geochemical make-up of coal samples throughout the state of Illinois. The goal is to estimate the geochemical properties at unobserved locations over a specified region. Multivariate spatial modeling requires characterization of both spatial and cross-spatial covariances. Reduced rank spatial models are popular in analyzing large spatial datasets. We develop a multivariate spatial mixed effects model for log-normal processes and show how to implement with compositional data to predict on point locations, as well as the average prediction over a finite area. We use log-normal kriging for the components of compositional data, and show how to obtain estimates and measures of precision in isometric log-ratio coordinates.
The structure and solubility of carbonated hydroxyl and chloro lead apatites

Abstract The properties of carbonated hydroxyl and chloro lead apatites, Pb 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 and Pb 10 (PO 4 ) 6 Cl 2 , serve as models for the incorporation of carbonate into their medically important calcium analogs, and there is likely incorporation of carbonate in an insoluble lead phosphate phase during lead remediation. We have synthesized a series of carbonated lead hydroxyl- and lead chloro-apatites at 60–80 °C. The incorporation of carbonate into the apatite structure was documented by X-ray powder diffraction, IR and Raman spectroscopy, 207 Pb solid state NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The carbonate content was determined by combustion analysis and confirmed by Raman spectroscopic analysis. As carbonate content increases in hydroxyl lead apatite, Raman spectra show changes in the phosphate stretching modes at 925 and 950 cm −1 , an increase in intensity and downshift of a new peak at 1050 cm −1 , and changes in the spectral features of the O–H stretch at about 3560 cm −1 . The variation in unit cell parameters for the chloro lead apatite as a function of carbonate content is similar to that documented for B-type substitution in calcium apatites. The 207 Pb NMR spectra corroborate B-type substitution. For the hydroxyl lead apatite, the changes in cell parameters suggest a combination of A- and B-type substitution. Solubilities of the carbonated lead apatites, determined by ICP-MS, increase slightly at low to moderate carbonate content, but more strongly at ca. 5.0 wt.% carbonate content. K sp values extrapolated to zero carbonate content reveal that the chloro lead apatite is indeed less soluble than the hydroxyl analog.
The calculation of the cytoplasmic free [NADP+]/[NADPH] ratio in brain: Effect of electroconvulsive seizure

Abstract This study has investigated the feasibility of calculating the cytoplasmic free [NADP + ]/[NADPH] ratio in rat brain. The time course of the change in the substrate ratios of the malate dehydrogenase (decar☐ylating) [E.C. 1.1.1.40], NADP + -isocitrate dehydrogenase (decar☐ylating) [E.C. 1.1.1.42] and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (decar☐ylating) [E.C. 1.1.1.44] reactions was followed for up to 10 min after a single, unmodified electroconvulsive seizure. From the results it has been concluded that during periods of low flux, the direction and magnitude of the change in the cytoplasmic free [NADP + ]/[NADPH] ratio can, in fact, be reasonably determined even though ther is some uncertainty in the absolute value of the ratio itself. It is recommended that reliance not be placed on a single enzyme system but that one or both of the other systems also be observed under a given experimental condition to increase confidence in the determination. The results also demonstrate that seizure and anoxia have a far lesser effect on the cytoplasmic free [NADP + ]/[NADPH] ratio than on the free [NAD + ]/[NADH] ratio in the same compartment. These results suggest that the pathways using the nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate system are relatively protected from the rapid fluctuations that seizure and anoxia can produce.
Effects of sucrose on interactions of calf lens soluble proteins.

Abstract Sucrose was used to simulate the dense in vivo environment during the extraction and isolation of soluble proteins (crystallins) from the cortical and nuclear regions of the calf lens. Addition of sucrose to the eluting buffer markedly affects the βH-crystallin region during gel filtration with Sepharose 6B-CL in a Tris buffer alone: the region is progressively diminished by levels of 0·25 m and 0·50 m -sucrose and disappears completely in buffered 1·0 m -sucrose. Concomitantly, decreases in the βH-crystallin region are accompanied by increases in the βL-crystallin region of the chromatogram developed with the Tris buffer alone. Compared to 10% of the total weight of proteins that elute as γ-crystallin in Tris buffer, only 3% are recovered in the presence of 0·25 m -sucrose. A poorly resolved peak immediately preceding the γ-crystallin region and a small increase in α-crystallin are observed with 1·0 m -sucrose. The changes in the crystallins were further characterized and demonstrated by equilibrium ultracentrifugation as well as by polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses in the presence and absence of urea. Weight average molecular weights ( M w) determined in Tris buffer containing 1·0 m -sucrose used for isolation of the three major cortical crystallin fractions gave values of 840 000, 55 000 and 23 500 daltons. They correspond, respectively, to those for α-, βL- and γ-crystallins isolated with Tris buffer alone. Results from gel electrophoresis in 7·0 m -urea indicate that the β-crystallin fraction isolated in 1·0 m -sucrose contains the sum of polypeptides present in βH- and βL-crystallins. In the absence of urea, however, polyacrylamide gel pattern of the native, undissociated sucrose β-crystallin fraction is distinetly different from and cannot be accounted for by a combination of those of βH- and βL-. With or without urea present the gel patterns for α- and γ-crystallin fractions isolated in buffered 1·0 m -sucrose are indistinguishable from those for the respective crystallins obtained in the Tris buffer alone. The observed changes in βH- and γ-crystallins upon the introduction of sucrose are shown to be reversible upon the removal of the reagents. These results suggest that the interaction or aggregation of lens proteins in a dense medium of reduced activity of water is different from that in a dilute buffer.
Personality and action control: BAS Reward predicts motor control accuracy

Theoretically, the processes involved in approach motivation and action control should overlap. In both cases, a person must commit to a goal, identify a goal target, and seek to reduce discrepancies between the self and this goal target on a somewhat continuous basis. These ideas motivated three studies (total N = 253) in which personality differences in the behavioral approach system (BAS) and the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) were assessed as potential predictors of performance in an objective motor control task. People high in BAS Reward had markedly better motor control (i.e., smaller distances from targets) than people low in BAS Reward. This was true across a variety of affective priming conditions. The other components of BAS and BIS, by contrast, were inconsistent predictors. The results support both reward-based and functional perspectives of the BAS in the context of a cybernetic view of how self-regulation by approach operates.
A rationale for studying the transmissibility of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract —Despite extensive chemical, epidemiological, histopathological and pharmacological investigations of Alzheimer's disease (AD), its etiology remains elusive. This article describes studies supporting a rationale for exploring a transmissible slow viral etiology of at least some forms of AD. To date, a major limitation in these studies has been reliance upon induction of AD hispathology as the outcomes measure of successful transmission. Future studies should consider novel outcome measures for the detection of success although hispathologically inapparent, transmissible infection. In addition, the need to inoculate a diverse variety of rationally selected, potential hosts is stressed.
Microtubule motor Ncd induces sliding of microtubules in vivo.

The mitotic spindle is a microtubule (MT)-based molecular machine that serves for equal segregation of chromosomes during cell division. The formation of the mitotic spindle requires the activity o...
Web-based portfolios for pharmaceutical care plans during advanced pharmacy practice experiences.

Objective. To implement and assess a Web-based patient care portfolio system for development of pharmaceutical care plans by students completing advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) throughout a statewide preceptor network. Design. Using a Web database, students in APPEs documented 6 patient cases within 5 disease state categories. Through discussion of the disease states and inclusion of patient information such as problems, desired outcomes, and interventions, a complete pharmaceutical care plan was developed for each patient. Assessment. Student interventions were compared by geographical regions to assess continuity of patient care activities by students. Additionally, students completed an evaluation of the portfolio course to provide feedback on the portfolio process. Students documented an average of 1.8 therapeutic interventions per patient case and documented interventions in all geographical regions. The majority of students indicated that the portfolio process improved their ability t...
Clique, chromatic, and Lovász numbers of certain circulant graphs

Abstract In this paper we first study some properties of circulant graphs of degree four. In particular, we determine their clique and chromatic numbers and address issues related to their Lovasz theta function. We also consider generalizations of circulant graphs, called generalized circulants, that possess certain interesting properties, such as high connectivity and comparatively small clique number. Classes of generalized circulants may have an arbitrarily large gap between the clique and the chromatic number.
Extraordinary ESR absorption line widths of NaPbNH3

Abstract The ESR absorption for the NaPbNH 3 system has been studied. Extremely sharp ESR absorptions are observed both in solution and in blue amorphous and grey precipitates formed by these solutions. For metal concentrations leading to mole ratios R = [NH 3 ]/[Na] of 10±25% and r = [Na]/[Pb] of 2±25%, extremely narrow fast passage ESR absorptions have been observed at room temperature and at −12°C. The spectra are characteristic of longitudinal and transverse relaxation times within the limits T 1 ⪢ 10 −2 sec ⪢ T 2 ≥ 10 −5 sec. The ESR spectra recorded at high modulation frequency ( μ m = 10 5 Hz) are sideband absorptions. The analysis of the sideband technique in ESR is given. For fast modulation ( ω m T 1 ⪢ 1) at μ m = 80 to 400 Hz the spectra show characteristic phase shifts due to saturation effects, resonance line shifts due to intermediate passage effects and anomalous skin depth effects. Negative Day shifts are evident at −12°C. It has been proposed that a metal-nonmetal transition induced by the formation of high negatively charged lead polyanions (e.g., Pb 7 4− and Pb 9 4− ) which reduce the electron pair correlation term ϵ 2 / κr (where r is the separation between two free electrons and κ is the dielectric constant), is responsible for the very long T 1 observed for the above system.
Cavity Q for ergodic eigenmodes

The Q of an overmoded (wavelength much less than cavity size) irregular cavity is calculated by making use of the ergodic theorem.
The synthesis and cellular roles of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (Ptdlns 4,5-P2) is a membrane phospholipid found in all eukaryotic cells which regulates many important cellular processes, including organization of the cytoskeleton, vesicular trafficking and platelet activation. Ptdlns 4,5-P2 can either act as a substrate for lipid kinases and phosphatases, or directly interact with proteins. Recent work has focused on the characterization of the enzymes that regulate Ptdlns 4,5-P2 levels in the cell. The discovery of proteins whose activities are modified by interaction with Ptdlns 4,5-P2 has helped to redefine the role of this lipid in cell biology.
A new rigid asymmetric-rotor model description of the heavy transitional nuclei

Abstract Hexadecapole shape components have been added to the usual Davydov-Filippov asymmetricrotor model and this extended model has been applied to the nuclei 184, 186 W, 186, 188, 190, 192 Os, 192, 194, 196 Pt, and 198, 200 Hg. This model provides a much improved description of the E2 properties and in addition predicts correctly the known E4 properties. E2 properties previously thought to be anomalous (phases and magnitudes of matrix elements involving the second 2 + states) are correctly predicted.
Antiphospholipid syndrome with catastrophic bleeding and recurrent ischemic strokes as initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Summary:Bleeding is a rare manifestation of lupus anticoagulant-antiphospholipid syndrome unless associated with coagulation factor deficiency, thrombocytopenia, or intrinsic vascular defect. The authors report the clinical and laboratory findings in a 16-year-old boy with potent lupus anticoagulant
Comparison of a new modal transfer matrix method with coupled-mode theory for simulation of long-period grating fiber sensors

The modal transfer matrix method (MTMM) is a new general- purpose technique developed by the authors as an alternative to coupled mode theory (CMT) to study complex optical waveguide systems. It is applied here to overcome the numerical accuracy limitation of the beam propagation method (BPM) when simulating long-period gratings (LPG). Simulation of a LPG optical fiber sensor with a broad-wavelength source using the MTMM is compared with analytical results based on CMT. A simple grating parameter study shows that both methods are in agreement, indicating that the MTMM is a promising method of analysis. In addition, the results reveal the potential effect of combined variation in grating amplitude, spatial wavelength, and length on sensor performance. By discretizing the waveguide into small elements, the MTMM reduces the problem domain size and makes use of proven electromagnetic numerical simulation methods. An appropriate numerical method, in this case the BPM, is selected to compute each element's modal transfer matrix. The elements are then combined to predict the output from the overall waveguide system.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Mobile Application Development Experiences on Apple¿s iOS and Android OS

Mobile application deployment and use has exploded since Apple's deployment of the iPhone and the release of Google's Android operating system. The development of these applications is much easier than earlier mobile application development platforms but still carries some of the same complexities and issues. This article details recent experiences in developing an official IEEE mobile application on both Apple's iOS as well as the Android operating system. Some history of mobile application development is included. The mobile application developed starts with leveraging IEEE.tv content, but the vision is to expand the application to a more engaging application that IEEE members will enjoy and use.
Thermal niche partitioning in the grasshoppers Arphia conspersa and Trimerotropis suffusa from a montane habitat in central Colorado

. 1 Two species of grasshoppers, Arphia conspersa and Trimerotropis suffusa, coexist in a montane habitat in central Colorado. 2 Field-recordings of body temperature revealed that A.conspersa has a significantly lower mean body temperature (Tb), sexual display temperature (Td) and minimum flying temperature (MFT) than T.suffusa. 3 A test of the maximum voluntarily tolerated temperature (MVT) showed that T.suffusa has a higher MVT than A.conspersa. 4 Thermal niche breadth, as indexed by the difference between MVT and MFT and the range of environmental temperatures over which each species is active, is broader in the eurythermic A.conspersa than in the stenothermic T. suffusa. 5 Thermoregulatory ability, as evaluated by regression analysis of Tb on Ta, was shown to be better in T.suffusa than in A.conspersa and in displaying grasshoppers of both species than in non-displaying ones. The significance of these findings with respect to a cost-benefit model of behavioural thermoregulation in ectotherms is discussed. 6 Based on these data and observations it was concluded that A.conspersa and T.suffusa occupy different thermal niches and that thermal considerations may be importantly related to habitat preference, daily activity patterns, and consequent ecological separation.
Angular focussing in strongly damped heavy ion collisions

Abstract A classical model has been applied to study the influence of assumptions about the ion-ion potential on the differential cross section of strongly damped heavy ion collisions. Consideration is given to the observed angular focussing. Different potentials in the entrance and exis channels are introduced.