cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parent Experience of Communication about Children's Surgery: A Qualitative Analysis.

Parent experience is a core component of the quality of pediatric care and an increasingly common focus of quality improvement initiatives. However, the parent experience of communication in the pediatric surgical setting remains unexplored. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 parents of children undergoing surgery. Interviews were analyzed using directed qualitative content analysis. Results Content analysis revealed 3 overarching themes. The theme of "provider-parent communication" included interpersonal behaviors and communication-originating skills of the surgeon. Parents valued surgeons incorporating multimodal information-sharing techniques, recognizing children's psychological needs, providing reassurance, engaging in teamwork, and including parents. The theme of "parental emotional experiences" included domains of parent worry, intimidation, offense, self-doubt, mistrust, and strength surrounding their child's surgery. Parents felt simultaneously responsible for their child's welfare and for understanding medical information. The theme of "process improvement" included preparation for surgery, efficiency, managing delays, anesthesia induction, emergence from anesthesia, privacy, and preparation for recovery. Conclusions Themes identified through these parental narratives and proposed solutions inform quality improvement efforts related to surgeon communication strategies and facilitate family-centered surgical care for children. Parents often provided solutions after they described concerns, which attests to the utility of parent perspectives.
Dry Powders for Inhalation Containing Monoclonal Antibodies Made by Thin-Film Freeze-Drying

Thin-film freeze-drying (TFFD) is a rapid freezing and then drying technique used to prepare inhalable dry powders from the liquid form for drug delivery to the lungs. We report the preparation of aerosolizable dry powders of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by TFFD. We first formulated IgG with lactose/leucine (60:40 w/w) or trehalose/leucine (75:25). IgG 1% (w/w) formulated with lactose/leucine (60:40 w/w) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (IgG-1-LL-PBS) and processed by TFFD was found to produce the powder with the most desirable aerosol properties. We then replaced IgG with a specific antibody, anti-programmed cell death protein (anti-PD-1 mAb), to prepare a dry powder (anti-PD1-1-LL-PBS), which performed similarly to the IgG-1-LL-PBS powder. The aerosol properties of anti-PD1-1-LL-PBS were significantly better when TFFD was used to prepare the powder as compared to conventional shelf freeze-drying (shelf FD). The dry powder had a porous structure with nanoaggregates. The dry powder had a Tg value between 39-50 degree Celsius. When stored at room temperature, the anti-PD-1 mAb in the TFFD powder was more stable than that of the same formulation stored as a liquid. The addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K40 in the formulation was able to raise the Tg to 152 degree Celsius, which is expected to further increase the storage stability of the mAbs. The PD-1 binding activities of the anti-PD-1 mAbs before and after TFFD were not different. While protein loss, likely due to protein binding to glass or plastic vials and the TFF apparatus, was identified, we were able to minimize the loss by increasing mAb content in the powders. Lastly, we show that another mAb, anti-TNF-alpha;, can also be converted to a dry powder with a similar composition by TFFD. We conclude that TFFD can be applied to produce stable aerosolizable dry powders of mAbs for pulmonary delivery.
‘Adapting’ Education to Student Needs

International educational stakeholders–United Nations agencies, international nongovernmental organizations, donor agencies, and national Ministries of Education–have committed themselves to achieving access to quality education for all, embedded in the Education for All (EFA) declaration (UNESCO, 2005) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (United Nations, 2007).
The importance of neural aromatization in the acquisition, recall, and integration of song and spatial memories in passerines

Abstract This article is part of a Special Issue “Estradiol and cognition”. In addition to their well-studied and crucial effects on brain development and aging, an increasing number of investigations across vertebrate species indicate that estrogens like 17β-estradiol (E2) have pronounced and rapid effects on cognitive function. The incidence and regulation of the E2-synthesizing enzyme aromatase at the synapse in regions of the brain responsible for learning, memory, social communication and other complex cognitive processes suggest that local E2 production and action affect the acute and chronic activity of individual neurons and circuits. Songbirds in particular are excellent models for the study of this “synaptocrine” hormone provision given that aromatase is abundantly expressed in neuronal soma, dendrites, and at the synapse across many brain regions in both sexes. Additionally, songbirds readily acquire and recall memories in laboratory settings, and their stereotyped behaviors may be manipulated and measured with relative ease. This leads to a rather unparalleled advantage in the use of these animals in studies of the role of neural aromatization in cognition. In this review we describe the results of a number of experiments in songbird species with a focus on the influence of synaptic E2 provision on two cognitive processes: auditory discrimination reliant on the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM), a telencephalic region likely homologous to the auditory cortex in mammals, and spatial memory dependent on the hippocampus. Data from these studies are providing evidence that the local and acute provision of E2 modulates the hormonal, electrical, and cognitive outputs of the vertebrate brain and aids in memory acquisition, retention, and perhaps the confluence of memory systems.
TRADING COSTS, THE EXPANSION OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN PRE-INDUSTRIAL EUROPE*

In pre-industrial Europe, growth was driven by the expansion of trade, and the expansion of trade was driven by falling trading costs. This paper discusses the mechanisms linking these processes-profit-seeking behavior by merchants, changes in the organization of production, technological progress, and urbanization. It then reviews the fluctuations in European economic growth between 1000 and 1600 and argues that these can best be understood in terms of changing trading costs.
Lipoproteins in human atherosclerotic vessels. II. Biochemical properties of the major apolipoproteins of arterial low density and very low density lipoproteins.

Abstract The biochemical behavior of the major apoproteins of low density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) isolated from human atheroslerotic arteries was examined. On Sephadex G-150, delipidated arterial LDL behaved like delipidated serum LDL and eluted as a single peak (apoLDL) at the void volume. The apoLDL fractions migrated as a single band when examined by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate or acrylamide gel and had a mean sedimentation coefficient of 3.2. Upon double immunodiffusion arterial apoLDL formed immunopreciptin lines of complete identity with serum apoLDL, when reacted against antisera to either human serum apoLDL or LDL. However the amino acid composition of arterial and serum apoLDL was significantly different. When delipidated arterial VLDL was examined on Sephadex G-150, it separated into two major apoprotein fractions, SF-1 and SF-3, and into a minor SF-2 fraction. These fractions appeared to have similar elution volumes and immunochemical reactivity as the corresponding Sephadex fractions of delipidated serum VLDL. Arterial and serum SF-1, SF-2, and SF-3, when reacted respectively against apoLDL antisera, HDL antisera and apo C-III antisera, formed immunoprecipitin lines of complete identity. The sedimentation coefficients of arterial and serum SF-1 appeared similar, as were the coefficients of arterial and serum of SF-3. However the amino acid composition of arterial SF-1 and SF-3 was clearly distinguishable from that of their corresponding serum apoprotein fractions. When examined by acrylamide electrophoresis arterial and serum SF-3 showed a similar band pattern but with different electrophoretic mobility. SF-1 of arterial apoVLDL behaved much like apoLDL from arterial LDL as indicated by electrophoretic and immunochemical behavior and amino acid composition. Although the mean sedimentation coefficients of these apoprotein fractions were similar, the analytical pattern suggested SF-1 of arterial apoVLDL to be more polydisperse in its composition. The present studies indicate that major differences exist between the arterial and serum apoproteins especially in regard to their amino acid composition. They also suggest that arterial LDL and VLDL contain apoproteins which have some characteristics that are similar to the apoB and apoC proteins contained in serum LDL and VLDL.
Adaptive estimation in weighted group testing

We consider a generalization of the problem of estimating the support size of a hidden subset S of a universe U from samples. This framework falls under the group testing [1] and the conditional sampling models [2, 3]. In group testing, for a query set, we are told if it intersects with the set S. We propose a generalization of this problem, where each element has a non-negative weight, and the objective is to estimate the total weight of the universe. In contrast to the regular group testing, we consider stronger access models, where each query outputs an element (with an appropriate probability), and reveals its weight. We show that in this natural generalization of the problem can be solved with only polylogarithmically many queries, and also discuss some lower bounds for the problem.
Partial cloning and characterization of Slc12a2: the gene encoding the secretory Na+-K+-2Cl−cotransporter

The Slc12a2 gene encodes a widely expressed bumetanide-sensitive Na+-K+-2Cl−cotransporter that participates in various functions such as Cl− secretion and cell volume regulation. We isolated and ch...
When Is It Better to Learn Together? Insights from Research on Collaborative Learning

Although collaboration is often considered a beneficial learning strategy, research examining the claim suggests a much more complex picture. Critically, the question is not whether collaboration is beneficial to learning, but instead how and when collaboration improves outcomes. In this paper, we first discuss the mechanisms hypothesized to support and hinder group learning. We then review insights and illustrative findings from research in cognitive, social, and educational psychology. We conclude by proposing areas for future research to expand theories of collaboration while identifying important features for educators to consider when deciding when and how to include collaboration in instructional activities.
Dietary protein and phosphorus do not affect calcium absorption

Background: Variation in absorption efficiency explains more of the variability in calcium balance than does actual calcium intake. Several investigators have suggested that the relatively high phosphorus and protein intakes of the diets of industrialized nations reduce calcium absorption and thereby aggravate the problem of calcium deficiency. Objective: My objective was to test whether variation in phosphorus and protein intakes is associated with variation in calcium absorption. Design: One hundred ninety-one Roman Catholic nuns aged 48.7 ± 7.0 y were studied 3 times each over a >20-y period with a full metabolic balance regimen; controlled, chemically analyzed diets; and double-tracer measurement of calcium absorption. Results: Although the expected associations with absorption were found for age, calcium intake, and estrogen status, no association was observed for intakes of either phosphorus or protein. Conclusion: Phosphorus and protein intakes do not contribute to the wide variability in calcium absorption efficiency.
TIME‐RESOLVED FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF THE BACTERIORHODOPSIN MUTANT TYR‐185→E: ASP‐96 REPROTONATES DURING O FORMATION; ASP‐85 AND ASP‐212 DEPROTONATE DURING O DECAY

The protonation state of key aspartic acid residues in the O intermediate of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) has been investigated by time-resolved Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) difference spectroscopy and site-directed mutagenesis. In an earlier study (Bousche et al., J. Biol Chem. 266, 11063-11067, 1991) we found that Asp-96 undergoes a deprotonation during the M-->N transition, confirming its role as a proton donor in the reprotonation pathway leading from the cytoplasm to the Schiff base. In addition, both Asp-85 and Asp-212, which protonate upon formation of the M intermediate, remain protonated in the N intermediate. In this study, we have utilized the mutant Tyr-185-->Phe (Y185F), which at high pH and salt concentrations exhibits a photocycle similar to wild type bR but has a much slower decay of the O intermediate. Y185F was expressed in native Halobacterium halobium and isolated as intact purple membrane fragments. Time-resolved FTIR difference spectra and visible difference spectra of this mutant were measured from hydrated multilayer films. A normal N intermediate in the photocycle of Y185F was identified on the basis of characteristic chromophore and protein vibrational bands. As N decays, bands characteristic of the all-trans O chromophore appear in the time-resolved FTIR difference spectra in the same time range as the appearance of a red-shifted photocycle intermediate absorbing near 640 nm. Based on our previous assignment of the carboxyl stretch bands to the four membrane embedded Asp groups: Asp-85, Asp-96, Asp-115 and Asp-212, we conclude that during O formation: (i) Asp-96 undergoes reprotonation. (ii) Asp-85 may undergo a small change in environment but remains protonated. (iii) Asp-212 remains partially protonated. In addition, reisomerization of the chromophore during the N-->O transition is accompanied by a major reversal of protein conformational changes which occurred during the earlier steps in the photocycle. These results are discussed in terms of a proposed mechanism for proton transport.
Creating seamless connections: Intersecting social and academic lives of students

The contributions on this topic are based on a presentation we made at a colloquium organised by the Centre for Student Support Services at the University of the Western Cape and attended by participants from various universities. There is growing interest in the topic amongst student affairs professionals in South Africa, and we believe that the topic is of interest to student affairs professionals throughout the continent. In the presentation we explored the links between co-curricular activities and students’ academic lives. Our starting point is that planned and organised activities that allow for the intersection of the social lives and academic lives of students contribute to the holistic development of students. There are great strides made in intersecting academic and social lives of students in some of the universities and colleges in the USA. This presentation draws some lessons from those experiences as we explore the role of a co-curriculum in the African context and outline lessons to be learned from others’ experiences. We begin by identifying common features between the US and African universities. The first is that higher education systems in both the US and African universities comprise of large undergraduate education programmes. The second is that the systems have some elements of their colonial legacies of university lives that combined living and learning arrangements. Historically, such arrangements were made mainly for convenience because there were fewer institutions and the students came from various parts of the country or beyond their own countries to study and learn from scholars who were masters of their disciplines. In Africa, most countries had one university for the entire country, and some did not have universities at all and therefore sent their students to neighbouring countries for university education. Various arrangements were made to provide university education between countries on a regional basis, as was the case in east Africa, or made arrangements to split one university into segments offered in different countries, as was the case with the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland as one entity. Students had to leave their homes and stay in halls of residence, which in the past were referred to as hostels or dormitories. Housing in general was organised and regarded as a mere convenience where
Charged particle spectra of palladium thin films during low energy deuterium ion implantation

An effort was made to create cold fusion in thin films of palladium under low energy bombardment with high currents of deuterium ions in a vacuum chamber. Samples were monitored with a silicon surface barrier detector in order to detect any massive energetic reaction products. The films were deposited by sputtering onto smooth silicon substrates, and consisted of approximately 130 A of palladium sandwiched by thin layers of high chrome stainless steel. These films were bombarded with deuterium ions at an energy of 1.5 keV with a current density of about 0.5 mA/cm2. The sample temperature was monitored during implantation, and was subject to some measure of control using a combination of beam heating and cooling with flowing liquid nitrogen. Several counts were observed to appear in the high energy region of the spectra which did not appear during an extended background spectrum, however, the source of these counts is unclear at this time.
Compressive light field imaging

Light field imagers such as the plenoptic and the integral imagers inherently measure projections of the four dimensional (4D) light field scalar function onto a two dimensional sensor and therefore, suffer from a spatial vs. angular resolution trade-off. Programmable light field imagers, proposed recently, overcome this spatioangular resolution trade-off and allow high-resolution capture of the (4D) light field function with multiple measurements at the cost of a longer exposure time. However, these light field imagers do not exploit the spatio-angular correlations inherent in the light fields of natural scenes and thus result in photon-inefficient measurements. Here, we describe two architectures for compressive light field imaging that require relatively few photon-efficient measurements to obtain a high-resolution estimate of the light field while reducing the overall exposure time. Our simulation study shows that, compressive light field imagers using the principal component (PC) measurement basis require four times fewer measurements and three times shorter exposure time compared to a conventional light field imager in order to achieve an equivalent light field reconstruction quality.
An algorithm for shifting MLC shapes to adjust for daily prostate movement during concurrent treatment with pelvic lymph nodes.

Concurrent treatment of the prostate and the pelvic lymph nodes encounters the problem of the prostate gland moving independently from the pelvic lymph nodes on a daily basis. The purpose of this study is to develop a leaf-tracking algorithm for adjustment of IMRT portals without requirement of online dose calculation to account for daily prostate position during concurrent treatment with pelvic lymph nodes. A leaf-shifting algorithm was developed and programmed to adjust the positions of selected MLC leaf pairs according to prostate movement in the plane perpendicular to each beam angle. IMRT plans from five patients with concurrent treatment of the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes were selected to test the feasibility of this algorithm by comparison with isocenter-shifted plans, using defined dose endpoints. When the prostate moved 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm along the anterior/posterior direction, the average doses to 95% of the prostate (D{sub 95%}) for the iso-shift plans were similar to the MLC-shift plans, (54.7, 54.4, and 54.1 Gy versus 54.5, 54.3, and 53.9 Gy, respectively). The corresponding D{sub 95%} averages to the pelvic lymph nodes were reduced from the prescription dose of 45 Gy to 42.7, 38.3, and 34.0 Gy for iso-shift plans (p=0.04 for eachmore » comparison), while the D{sub 95%} averages for the MLC-shift plans did not significantly differ from the prescription dose, at 45.0, 44.8, and 44.5 Gy. Compensation for prostate movement along the superior/inferior direction was more complicated due to a limiting MLC leaf width of 1.0 cm. In order to concurrently treat the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes with the prostate moving independently, shifting selected MLC leaf pairs may be a more practical adaptive solution than shifting the patient.« less
GaAs optoelectronic neuron arrays.

A simple optoelectronic circuit integrated monolithically in GaAs to implement sigmoidal neuron responses is presented. The circuit integrates a light-emitting diode with one or two transistors and one or two photodetectors. The design considerations for building arrays with densities of up to 10^4 cm^-2 are discussed.
Thermally activated martensite in copper alloys

The mechanisms of the thermally induced f c c-h c p transformation in Cu-Ge alloys have been investigated by hot-stage microscopy and TEM techniques. The growth and thickening processes for the transformation are best described in terms of isothermal martensite growth in which the h c p phase formation is controlled by the rapid propagation of fine platelets having thicknesses ranging from 5 to 30 nm. The transformation progresses by the repeated nucleation of thin platelets often in close proximity to existing platelets, thereby leading to a morphology termed “fault bundles” by other investigators. Individual h c p plates form by the rapid movement of a transformation interface defined by groups of partial dislocations emanating from grain boundaries and non-coherent twin boundaries, and gliding parallel to a given {1 1 1} matrix orientation. The nucleation kinetics are controlled by the thermally activated propagation of partial dislocations originating from boundary networks. It is concluded that short-range diffusion is necessary for the h c p phase to achieve an equilibrium composition, but does not control the rate at which platelets nucleate or propagate.
An integrated microfluidic biosensor for the rapid screening of foodborne pathogens by surface plasmon resonance imaging

The rapid detection of foodborne pathogens is of vital importance to keep the food supply rid of contamination. Previously we have demonstrated the design of a hybrid optical device that performs real-time surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and epi-fluorescence imaging. Additionally we have developed a biosensor array chip that is able to specifically detect the presence of two known pathogens. This biosensor detects the presence of the pathogen strains by the selective capture of whole pathogens by peptide ligands functionalized to the spots of the array. We have incorporated this biosensor array into a self contained PDMS microfluidic chip. The enclosure of the biosensor array by a PDMS microfluidic chip allows for a sample to be screened for many strains of pathogens simultaneously in a safe one time use biochip. This disposable optical biochip is inserted into with the hybrid SPR/epi-fluorescence imaging device to form an integrated system for the detection of foodborne pathogens. Using this integrated system, we can selectively detect the presence of E. coli 0157:H7 or S. enterica in a simultaneously in real-time. Additionally, we have modeled the mechanical properties of the microfluidic biochip in order to manipulate the flow conditions to achieve optimal pathogen capture by the biosensor array. We have developed an integrated system that is able to screen a sample for multiple foodborne pathogens simultaneously in a safe, rapid and label-free manner.
Preeclampsia and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke Among Young Women Results From the Stroke Prevention in Young Women Study

Background and Purpose— Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific systemic syndrome of unknown cause that affects 3% to 8% of pregnancies in the United States. Although preeclampsia is known to be an important risk factor for pregnancy-associated stroke, few data exist with regard to its association with stroke not occurring during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Methods— Using data from the Stroke Prevention in Young Women Study (SPYW), a population-based case-control study of risk factors for ischemic stroke in women aged 15 to 44 years (recruitment period: 1992 to 1996, SPYW-1; 2001 to 2003, SPYW-2), we examined the independent association between a history of preeclampsia and the likelihood of ischemic stroke. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were estimated using logistic regression. Cases (n=261) were women with stroke in the greater Baltimore-Washington area, and controls (n=421) were women free of a history of stroke identified by random digit dialing. Women who were pregnant at the time of stroke, those whose stroke occurred within 42 days postpartum, and nulligravida women were excluded from the analysis. Results— The prevalence of preeclampsia among cases and controls was 15% (SPYW-1: 16%; SPYW-2: 15%) and 10% (SPYW-1: 10%; SPYW-2: 11%), respectively. Preeclampsia was associated with an increased likelihood of ischemic stroke (crude OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.00 to 2.52). After multivariable adjustment for age, race, education, and number of pregnancies, women with a history of preeclampsia were 60% more likely to have a nonpregnancy-related ischemic stroke than those without a history of preeclampsia (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.62). Similar patterns were observed for women who reported symptoms of preeclampsia (elevated blood pressure and proteinuria). Conclusion— These results suggest an association between a history of preeclampsia and ischemic stroke remote from pregnancy. If these results are confirmed in other studies, evaluation of the importance of targeting women with preeclampsia for close risk factor monitoring and control beyond the postpartum period may be warranted.
T-lymphocyte polyclonal proliferation: effects of stress and stress response style on medical students taking national board examinations.

Abstract This study investigated the effects of stress and stress response style on T-lymphocyte polyclonal proliferation (TLPP). The TLPP levels of 15 medical students taking NBME Part I were compared to those of a matched (on age and sex) sample of students not taking exams and hospital employees. All subjects completed the Impact of Events Scale to measure recent stress levels and style of responding to stress. TLPP data for both experimental and control groups, pre- and post-boards, were analyzed via a 2 × 2 factorial analysis of variance. Results indicated a singificant main effect for the NBME stress vs control conditions and a significant interaction between stress response style (avoidance vs intrusion) and NBME stress vs control conditions. TLPP levels were significantly depressed (relative to the controls) for the NBME stress group 1 week after examinations. Furthermore, those students whose stress response style was characterized by intrusion were significantly more immunosuppressed than those characterized by an avoidance stress response style. Four- and six-week follow-up measures of TLPP were taken on 10 and 11 NBME group students, respectively. Follow-up results, analyzed via t tests, indicated that TLPP levels were significantly suppressed for 4 weeks but returned to initial normal levels at 6 weeks. Results are discussed in terms of needed research examining the mechanism of stress intruders' susceptibility to stress-induced immunosuppression and the possible clinical significance of brief periods of stress-induced decrements in TLPP levels.
Sensitive Carbohydrate Detection using Surface Enhanced Raman Tagging

Glycomic analysis is an increasingly important field in biological and biomedical research as glycosylation is one of the most important protein post-translational modifications. We have developed a new technique to detect carbohydrates using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) by designing and applying a Rhodamine B derivative as the SERS tag. Using a reductive amination reaction, the Rhodamine-based tag (RT) was successfully conjugated to three model carbohydrates (glucose, lactose, and glucuronic acid). SERS detection limits obtained with a 633 nm HeNe laser were ∼1 nM in concentration for all the RT−carbohydrate conjugates and ∼10 fmol in total sample consumption. The dynamic range of the SERS method is about 4 orders of magnitude, spanning from 1 nM to 5 μM. Ratiometric SERS quantification using isotope-substituted SERS internal references allows comparative quantifications of carbohydrates labeled with RT and deuterium/hydrogen substituted RT tags, respectively. In addition to enhancing the S...
Effect of sulfathalidine and sulfamethazine on gaseous distention in the obstructed small intestine of cats.

ConclusionsGas formation from malted milk in the occluded gastrointestinal tract is significantly depressed by sulfathalidine and sulfamethazine.
Teratological and toxicological studies of alkaloidal and phenolic compounds from Solanum Tuberosum L.

The teratologic and toxicologic effects of alkaloidal (alpha-chaconine alpha-solanine total glycoalkaloidal extract (TGA-extract)) and phenolic compounds (chlorogenic and caffeic acid) derived from Solanum Tuberosum L. were studied in pregnant and nonpregnant female rats. At the 95% confidence limit there was no marked difference in the potencies of alpha-chaconine alpha-solanine and the TGA-extract. The chronic administration of alpha-chaconine alpha-solanine and the TGA-extract to nonpregnant animals in a dose of 40 mg/kg/day for 2 days and in a dose of 20 mg/kg/day for 8 days had fatal effects in 40 and 42% of the animals respectively. 8 injections of alpha-chaconine (5-20 mg/kg/day) on Days 5-12 of pregnancy or 2 injections (40 mg/kg/day) on Days 5 and 6 of pregnancy resulted in a maternal mortality rate of 40-66% and a fetal mortality rate of 15-100%. However a similar schedule of treatment with alpha-solanine and the TGA-extract was lethal only to the fetus. Maternal or fetal death did not occur as the result of 8 daily injections of chlorogenic (5-500 mg/kg) and caffeic acid (40-187.5 mg/kg) on Days 5-12 of pregnancy. Neural tube defects did not occur as a result of any of the treatments though some 21-day-old fetuses had rib abnormalities.
From Picas to Pixels: Life in the Trenches of Print and Web Publishing: An Interview with Rick and Andy Alfaro, Editors of FILE Magazine

“They Might Be Giants” gets a facelift, tackles a new medium and welcomes a co-editor. Michael Brown and Jessica Teeter bring you this first installment of “From Picas to Pixels: Life in the Trenches of Print and Web Publishing.” This installment features an interview with the publishers of a Web magazine called FILE Magazine, A Collection of Unexpected Photography.
Cognitive and neurobiological findings in obsessive–compulsive disorder

The behavioral disturbances seen in OCD patients likely are related to abnormalities in the frontal striatal systems, with complex involvement of other brain regions. This is suggested by data from various modalities. Executive deficits are seen on neuropsychological assessments, which may contribute to poor performance on tasks designed to test other domains. Studies of neurological illness in which obsessive and compulsive symptoms are seen with increased frequency and results of neuroimaging studies are also indicative of frontal-striatal dysfunction. Some neuroimaging studies specifically implicate the OFC, along with other regions such as the anterior cingulate cortex and caudate nucleus. Data from studies of neurological soft signs are less specific and suggest pathology that may be common to other psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia. Although data from these various modalities do not give clear guidance on treatment, future work may show usefulness of adding these assessments to a clinical evaluation,especially with respect to predicting treatment response in subtypes of OCD.
Death and jackpot: Why do individual investors hold overpriced stocks?

Abstract Campbell, Hilscher, and Szilagyi (2008) show that firms with a high probability of default have abnormally low average future returns. We show that firms with a high potential for default (death) also tend to have a relatively high probability of extremely large (jackpot) payoffs. Consistent with an investor preference for skewed, lottery-like payoffs, stocks with high predicted probabilities for jackpot returns earn abnormally low average returns. Stocks with high death or jackpot probabilities have relatively low institutional ownership and the jackpot effect we find is much stronger in stocks with high limits to arbitrage.
The geopolitics of Arctic melt

The rapidity of Arctic melt is no longer the phantasmagoria of B-grade movies, such as the ‘Day after tomorrow’, but is occurring at a rate unimaginable just a few years ago. In 2007, more than one million square miles of ice melted, leaving the region with only half the ice that existed in 1950. The Arctic has been propelled into the centre of geopolitics as global climate change has transformed the region into a maelstrom of competing commercial, national security and environmental concerns with profound implications for the international legal and political system. The prospect of longer ice-free periods in the Arctic has momentous implications for the region's commercial development, in itself a further risk to melting Arctic ice. This article argues that Arctic melt does and will continue to pose economic, military and environmental challenges to the governance of the region and explores the role of technological factors as both a barrier and an enabler of access. Working within existing institutions and building capacity is preferable to the proliferation of new institutions, although the full structure and scope of the legal and regulatory frameworks that may be needed are, at present, unclear. But what is clear, is that Arctic melt is on the increase.
Identification of Drivers from Cancer Genome Diversity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers with a dismal outcome. The complicated molecular pathogenesis of HCC caused by tumor heterogeneity makes it difficult to identify druggable targets useful for treating HCC patients. One approach that has a potential for the improvement of patient prognosis is the identification of cancer driver genes that play a critical role in the development of HCC. Recent technological advances of high-throughput methods, such as gene expression profiles, DNA copy number alterations and somatic mutations, have expanded our understanding of the comprehensive genetic profiles of HCC. Integrative analysis of these omics profiles enables us to classify the molecular subgroups of HCC patients. As each subgroup classified according to genetic profiles has different clinical features, such as recurrence rate and prognosis, the tumor subclassification tools are useful in clinical practice. Furthermore, a global genetic analysis, including genome-wide RNAi functional screening, makes it possible to identify cancer vulnerable genes. Identification of common cancer driver genes in HCC leads to the development of an effective molecular target therapy.
Surface Chemistry of Mercaptan and Growth of Pyridine Short-Chain Alkoxy Silane Molecular Layers

The use of molecular layers to modify the surface and interfaces of solid-state materials while retaining their bulk properties offers great potential. Despite the widespread interest, little work has been undertaken to characterize the growth and surface chemistry of the short-chain alkoxy silane molecular layers. Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are used to undertake the work in the present study. Results indicate that 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane and 2-(trimethoxysilylethyl)pyridine are both unique among the short-chain alkoxy silanes and grow multilayer films in a toluene solution on hydroxylated SiO2 surfaces. In particular, the mercaptan molecular layers show evidence of a changing surface chemistry as a function of growth time. Further, added surface moisture on mercaptan molecular layers yields thicker films of a higher density with more reduced surface sulfur when subsequent growth is resumed as compared to a control sam...
Executive Compensation Structure and Corporate Equity Financing Decisions

Building on Myers and Majluf's (1984) model, we propose that the magnitude of the market response to seasoned equity offering (SEO) announcements depends on the degree of alignment between the goals of managers and existing shareholders. We document a negative relation between the stock market response to SEO announcements and equity-based compensation (EC) awarded to issuing firm managers. The evidence suggests that the market perceives high EC managers as issuing more-overvalued equity (relative to low EC managers), which benefits existing shareholders and exacerbates the adverse selection problem for potential new shareholders. The relation between EC and the market reaction to SEOs varies cross-sectionally with (a) information asymmetry, (b) investment opportunities, (c) pre-issue stock price run-up, and (d) managerial ownership. Our study highlights the importance of a cohesive executive compensation policy and corporate financing policy.
Geophysical and geotechnical properties of near-seafloor sediments in the northern Gulf of Mexico gas hydrate province

Abstract Relatively few studies have focused on the geotechnical properties of near-seafloor (uppermost 10 m) sediments that are encountered during shallow coring or the initial phases of seafloor drilling. Such sediments are of particular interest in areas strongly affected by salt tectonics or the occurrence of shallow gas hydrates. Using sediment cores obtained at three gas hydrate and/or mud volcano sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico (Garden Banks GB425, Mississippi Canyon MC852, and Green Canyon GC185), we report on visual observations of gas hydrate, oil, and authigenic carbonates; index properties (grain size characteristics, specific surface, pH, Atterberg limits, water content/porosity); small-strain (shear wave velocity) and large-strain (undrained shear strength) mechanical properties; and electrical properties (dielectric permittivity, electrical conductivity). At all sites, sediments are dominated by clay minerals (probably illite) and the highest proportion of carbonate (up to 72%) occurs near the apparent central vent of the mud mound at MC852. Based on the synthesis of several types of data, we conclude that the strength, stiffness, and porosity of the near-seafloor sediments are governed not by overburden vertical effective stress, but rather by interparticle forces arising from the interaction of the ionic pore fluid with the high specific surface (53 to 76 m2 g− 1) sediment grains. In some of the shallow sediments, pore water ionic concentrations significantly exceed seawater, suggesting transport of brines from deeper salt bodies. Particle-level processes, including those associated with these high ionic concentrations, lead to a mechanistic explanation for the moussey sediment texture widely observed in cores that have experienced the dissociation of gas hydrates. Electrical conductivity measurements acquired at millimeter resolution near dissociating gas hydrate indicate that, prior to hydrate dissociation, the pore fluids are in equilibrium with those distal from the hydrate.
The internal representation of information in the form of hierarchies

An issue of considerable interest to perceptual and cognitive psychology concerns the internal representation of information in the form of hierarchies. Strong evidence has accumulated for the encoding of visual scenes as hierarchies of subscenes (Bower & Glass, 1976; Hanson & Riseman, 1978; Navon, 1977; Palmer, 1977; Winston, 1973). Sophisticated hierarchical models of the representation of sentence structure have been advanced (Chomsky, 1963; Miller & Chomsky, 1963; Yngve, 1960). The hierarchical structure of tonal music has been the subject of considerable analysis (Lerdahl & Jackendoff, 1977; Meyer, 1956, 1973; Narmour, 1977; Salzer, 1962; Schenker, 1956, 1973). It has been shown that, when presented with hierarchically organized serial patterns, subjects' encodings of these patterns reflect pattern structure (Bjork, 1968; Kotovsky & Simon, 1973; Restle, 1970; Restle & Brown, 1970; Simon & Kotovsky, 1963; Simon & Sumner, 1968; Vitz & Todd, 1967, 1969). In considering how hierarchically structured information is internally represented, models utilizing hierarchies of operators have proved particularly useful (Greeno & Simon, 1974; Restle, 1970). Recently, I, together with the mathematician John Feroe, have proposed a model for the internal representation of pitch sequences in tonal music that utilizes this approach (Deutsch & Feroe, 1981). This model, which is also briefly described in Deutsch (1980), has recently been seriously misdescribed by Jones (1981). The major purpose of the present note is to dispel any misconceptions about the model that may have arisen as a result of this erroneous description. 1 In the model of Deutsch and Feroe (1981), pitch sequences are assumed to be represented as hierarchical networks. At each level of the hierarchy, elements are organized as structural units in accordance with laws of figural goodness such as proximity and good continuation. Elements at each hierarchical level are elaborated by further elements so as to form structural units at the next-lower level, until the lowest level is attained. At each level of the hierarchy, there exists a set of
Initiation of folding and boudinage in wrench shear and transpression

Abstract A linear stability analysis is performed on a deforming layered three-dimensional linear viscous system. The system consists of a single layer of viscosity μ embedded in a medium of viscosity μ′. The layer is oriented normal to the z-axis and both the layer and medium are subjected to uniform simple shearing parallel to the y-axis (wrench shear) with superposed uniform shortening parallel to x and extension parallel to z (transpression). The stability of cylindrical perturbations of the form ζ = A (t) cos (ax − βy) is examined. It is found that fold-type perturbations are unstable and pinch-and-swell disturbances are unstable in some cases. For the case of wrench shear alone the fastest growing buckling disturbances are oriented at 45° to the positive y-axis, while the fastest growing pinch-and-swell disturbances have positive growth rates and are oriented 90° to the fold axes. Additional shortening parallel to the x-axis (transpression) causes the fold axes to initiate at lower angles to the y-axis. Pinch-and-swell disturbances may or may not be unstable in transpression depending on the magnitude of stretching parallel to the z-axis.
Salmonella Uses Energy Taxis to Benefit from Intestinal Inflammation

Chemotaxis enhances the fitness of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) during colitis. However, the chemotaxis receptors conferring this fitness advantage and their cognate signals generated during inflammation remain unknown. Here we identify respiratory electron acceptors that are generated in the intestinal lumen as by-products of the host inflammatory response as in vivo signals for methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs). Three MCPs, including Trg, Tsr and Aer, enhanced the fitness of S. Typhimurium in a mouse colitis model. Aer mediated chemotaxis towards electron acceptors (energy taxis) in vitro and required tetrathionate respiration to confer a fitness advantage in vivo. Tsr mediated energy taxis towards nitrate but not towards tetrathionate in vitro and required nitrate respiration to confer a fitness advantage in vivo. These data suggest that the energy taxis receptors Tsr and Aer respond to distinct in vivo signals to confer a fitness advantage upon S. Typhimurium during inflammation by enabling this facultative anaerobic pathogen to seek out favorable spatial niches containing host-derived electron acceptors that boost its luminal growth.
A learning object repository in support of introductory IT courses

The recently proposed IT model curriculum identifies a set of knowledge areas appropriate for undergraduate IT programs, each consisting of of knowledge units, which in turn consist of topics and learning outcomes indicating the depth to which the topics are to be covered. Because the discipline is so new, and also because of the flexibility in particular curricular design that is allowed by the learning outcomes approach adopted in the curriculum standards, textbooks supporting some of the knowledge areas in the body of knowledge may be slow to appear. Further, as textbooks often codify a particular way to teach a particular course, the absence of textbooks may actually complicate the design of IT programs. One way to alleviate these potential problems may be through the provision of online learning objects. The focus of this paper is the creation of one set of such materials, particularly a learning object repository to support components of the first year of an IT program.
Managing Up in the Multi‐national Firm

When multinationals bring together individuals within the organisation who are from different cultural bases, interpersonal behaviour is an issue of major importance, particularly in superior/subordinate relationships. The best and probably most productive interpersonal relationships occur when two styles become complementary, the strengths of one compensating for the weaknesses of the other. The role of social style as a technique to manage up in the multinational is analysed, incorporating the concept of social style, its major behavioural dimensions, social types and strengths and weaknesses of each style. Primary back‐up social styles are also analysed along with the importance of style flex.
Use of triphenylmethyl (trityl) amino protecting group in the synthesis of ketomethylene analogues of peptides

The Grignard reagents of 2-(2-bromoethyl)-1,3-dioxane and 2-(2-bromoethyl)-1,3-dioxolane readily reacted with the 2-thiopyridyl ester of N-triphenylmethyl-l-leucine to give the ketone adducts 2-[3-oxo-4(S)-(triphenylmethyl) amino-6-methylheptyl]-1,3-dioxane (8a) and 2-[3-oxo-4(S)-(triphenylmethyl) amino-6-methylheptyl]-1,3-dioxolane (8b) in near quantitative yield. When 1 equiv. of the Grignard reagent of 2-(2-bromoethyl)-1,3 dioxane was used, the desired ketone adduct 8a was formed slowly but quantitatively. In contrast, when 2 equiv. of the Grignard reagent were used, the formation of ketone 8a was instantaneous. The triphenylmethyl protecting group was easily removed from 8a using dilute acid to give the amino ketone 2-[3-oxo-4(S)-amino-6-methylheptyl]-1,3-dioxane oxalate salt (9). This material served as a useful intermediate in the synthesis of the ketomethylene analogues of the peptides, Z-Pro-Leu-Gly-OH and Leu-Gly-Val-Phe-OCH3.
A design automation and power estimation flow for RFID systems

While RFID has become a ubiquitous technology, there is still a need for RFID systems with different capabilities, protocols, and features depending on the application. This article describes a design automation flow and power estimation technique for fast implementation and design feedback of new RFID systems. Physical layer features are described using waveform features, which are used to automatically generate physical layer encoding and decoding hardware blocks. RFID primitives to be supported by the tag are enumerated with RFID macros and the behavior of each primitive is specified using ANSI-C within the template to automatically generate the tag controller. Case studies implementing widely used standards such as ISO 18000 Part 7 and ISO 18000 Part 6C using this automation technique are presented. The power macromodeling flow demonstrated here is shown to be within 5p to 10p accuracy, while providing results 100 times faster than traditional methods. When eliminating the need for certain features of ISO 18000 Part 6C, the design flow shows that the power required by the implementation is reduced by nearly 50p.