cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outside the Lanes: Supporting a Non-normative League of Legends Community

This chapter reports on an ongoing ethnography of a campus-based League of Legends (League) gaming club. Deliberately addressing League’s reputation for toxicity between players, particularly along lines of gender and sexuality, the club’s leaders work to provide a space where inclusivity—articulated in terms of both skill level and social position—is championed. The authors document their attempts to enact a “safer space” for competitive gameplay and consider how a diversity of activities and skill levels helps support inclusion. At the same time, this chapter argues that this work is carried out primarily by women and people of color, re-creating problematic conditions in gaming cultures more broadly in which intensive play is supported by the labor of marginalized (and often invisible) people.
Oxygen and Ozone—Products and Protectors of LifeOpen image in new window

Diatonic oxygen (O2) and triatomic oxygen (O3, ozone) are very unusual gases to find in a planetary atmosphere.
Customer Satisfaction with Personal Service and the Service Setting

This paper develops a Customer Satisfaction Survey instrument to help organizations measure satisfaction with their service. An eight stage process was used to develop the instrument. Following pilot studies, a preliminary instrument of 25 items was administered to customers of a variety of business firms and government agencies providing service to their customers or clients. After item purification, a further instrument was developed consisting of 18 items. Then, following additional analysis and further purification, it was possible to arrive at a final version of the Customer Satisfaction Survey, based on two factors: Satisfaction with the Personal Service (SatPers) and Satisfaction with the Service Setting (SatSett). The SatPers scale included five statements, concerning provider courtesy, competence, and treatment, among others. The SatSett scale included four statements concerning customer feelings of personal security and the cleanliness of the service setting, among others. In addition, customers rated their the service in terms of its overall quality.
Biostratigraphy, Microfacies and diagenesis of tertiary carbonates from the South China Sea (Dangerous Grounds—Palawan, Philippines)

This study is based on dredged carbonate samples from the Dangerous Grounds (South China Sea). They cover an area of approximately 130 000 km2. Carbonate samples from wells at the NW-shelf of Palawan and from the St. Paul's complex exposed on the island of Palawan are compared.
“Set your minds on things above”: shifting from trauma-based ruminations to ruminating on God

In this study, the authors investigated the relationship between trauma-based “Christian rumination,” mindfulness, and focusing on God among an online sample of Christian adults (N = 234) from the ...
Syntax-Guided Rewrite Rule Enumeration for SMT Solvers

The performance of modern Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) solvers relies crucially on efficient decision procedures as well as static simplification techniques, which include large sets of rewrite rules. Manually discovering and implementing rewrite rules is challenging. In this work, we propose a framework that uses enumerative syntax-guided synthesis (SyGuS) to propose rewrite rules that are not implemented in a given SMT solver. We implement this framework in cvc4, a state-of-the-art SMT and SyGuS solver, and evaluate several use cases. We show that some SMT solvers miss rewriting opportunities, or worse, have bugs in their rewriters. We also show that a variation of our approach can be used to test the correctness of a rewriter. Finally, we show that rewrites discovered with this technique lead to significant improvements in cvc4 on both SMT and SyGuS problems over bit-vectors and strings.
The effects of parthenogenesis on wheat embryo formation and haploid production with and without maize pollination

Doubled haploid (DH) lines are important in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding, and haploids produced via maize pollination precede DH line development. Although maize pollination has proven reliable and broadly applicable to wheat, its success is determined by the wheat and maize genotypes employed. A wheat genotype consisting of nuclear and cytoplasm components predisposing it to parthenogenesis was compared with three other genotypes, each possessing only one or neither component necessary for parthenogenesis. In a glasshouse experiment, each genotype was pollinated with maize and subsequently treated with a2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D) solution to determine if parthenogenesis affected embryo formation frequency (EFF)and haploid formation efficiency (HFE). Wheat genotypes were also treated with the2,4-D solution alone to determine if embryos and haploid plants could be produced in vivo without maize pollination. ‘Salmon(K)’, a parthenogenetic genotype consisting of a Salmon 1BL.1RS nucleus in a Ae. kotschyii cytoplasm, had a mean EFF of 32%; whereas, the non-parthenogenetic genotypes had mean EFF calculations ranging from 7 to 21%. Mean HFE for Salmon(K) was not significantly different than the mean HFE for non-parthenogenetic Salmon; however, EFF and HFE calculations for Salmon(K) and Salmon, each with a 1BL.1RS translocation, were generally higher than calculations for genotypes without the translocation. Salmon(K) was the only genotype to produce a 3% or higher EFF and HFE after treatment with 2,4-D alone. Parthenogenesis significantly affected the frequency at which embryos were produced after pollination with maize and the frequency at which embryos and haploid plants were produced after treatment with 2,4-D alone.
Metallic quantum films and its applications (Conference Presentation)

Plasmonics that utilizes the interaction of light with charged particles, such as electrons in metals, has been an area of interest for decades. As the dimensions of the plasmonic device have been shrunk into the nanoscale, the quantum confinement effects need to be considered within such small devices. Here, we choose the ultra-thin metallic film to study the quantum confinement effect on the nonlinear properties. Due to the quantum confinement, fruitful intersubband transitions (ISBT) exist in this metallic quantum well (MQW). The dipole transition elements associated to these ISBT are on the order of enanometer, which is much larger than those of the traditional nonlinear crystals. Therefore, giant third-order nonlinearity has been achieved in the 3 nm Au quantum well. The χ(3) reaches up to (0.49 + 2.0i) × 10-15 m2V-2, which is almost four-order of magnitude higher than the case of the bulk film. Furthermore, by using epitaxial-growth method of the TiN/Al2O3 heterostructures, coupled MQW (cMQW) has been utilized to support the large second-order susceptibility up to 1500 pm/V. With such ultrahigh nonlinearities and atomic-flat quality of the TiN MQW, TiN/Al2O3 heterostructures based hyperbolic metamaterials has been implemented for the applications of the pulse limiter. In addition, when combined with the nano-photonic waveguides, such as photonic crystals, on-chip super-continuum light sources and/or frequency comb can be realized. Last but not least, due to the ultrafast response of both χ(2) and χ(3), tunable metasurface and/or on-chip optical modulators with exceptional performance are on the horizon. Implementing the MQW opens a new regime for engineering extraordinary optical nonlinearities and novel applications.
Association Between Polymorphisms in DNA Damage Repair Genes and Radiation Therapy-Induced Early Adverse Skin Reactions in a Breast Cancer Population: A Polygenic Risk Score Approach.

Purpose Genetic variations in DNA damage repair (DDR) genes may influence radiation therapy (RT)–induced acute normal tissue toxicity in patients with breast cancer. Identifying an individual or multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with RT–induced early adverse skin reactions (EASR) is critical for precision medicine in radiation oncology. Methods and Materials At the completion of RT, EASR was assessed using the Oncology Nursing Society scale (0-6) in 416 patients with breast cancer, and Oncology Nursing Society score ≥4 was considered RT-induced EASR. PLINK set-based tests and subsequent individual SNP association analyses were conducted to identify genes and SNPs associated with EASR among the 53 DDR genes and 1968 SNPs. A weighted polygenic risk score (PRS) model was constructed to ascertain the association between the joint effect of risk alleles and EASR. Results The study population consisted of 264 Hispanic whites, 86 blacks or African Americans, 55 non-Hispanic whites, and 11 others. A total of 115 patients (27.6%) developed EASR. Five genes (ATM, CHEK1, ERCC2, RAD51C, and TGFB1) were significantly associated with RT-induced EASR. Nine SNPs within these 5 genes were further identified: ATM rs61915066, CHEK1 rs11220184, RAD51C rs302877, rs405684, TBFB1 rs4803455, rs2241714, and ERCC2 rs60152947, rs10404465, rs1799786. In a multivariable-adjusted PRS model, patients in a higher quartile of PRS were more likely to develop EASR compared with patients in the lowest quartile (ORq2 vs.q1 = 1.94, 95% CI, 0.86-4.39; ORq3 vs.q1 = 3.46, 95% CI, 1.57-7.63; ORq4 vs.q1 = 8.64, 95% CI, 3.92-19.02; and Ptrend Conclusions We newly identified the associations between 9 SNPs in ATM, CHEK1, RAD51C, TGFB1, and ERCC2 and RT-induced EASR. PRS modeling showed its potential in identifying populations at risk. Multiple SNPs in DDR genes may jointly contribute to interindividual variation in RT-induced EASR. Validation in an independent external cohort is required to determine the clinical significance of these predictive biomarkers.
Morphological causatives are Voice over Voice

Causative morphology has been associated with either the introduction of an event of causation or the introduction of a causer argument. However, morphological causatives are mono-eventive, casting...
Quantum Computer Systems : Research for Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum Computers

This book targets computer scientists and engineers who are familiar with concepts in classical computer systems but are curious to learn the general architecture of quantum computing systems. It gives a concise presentation of this new paradigm of computing from a computer systems' point of view without assuming any background in quantum mechanics. As such, it is divided into two parts. The first part of the book provides a gentle overview on the fundamental principles of the quantum theory and their implications for computing. The second part is devoted to state-of-the-art research in designing practical quantum programs, building a scalable software systems stack, and controlling quantum hardware components. Most chapters end with a summary and an outlook for future directions. This book celebrates the remarkable progress that scientists across disciplines have made in the past decades and reveals what roles computer scientists and engineers can play to enable practical-scale quantum computing.
The Burden of Chronic Disease and the Role of Lifestyle Medicine

Since the publication of our first book, Lifestyle Medicine: A Manual for Clinical Practice, the interest in lifestyle medicine had continued to expand. Supporting this growth has been the increasing number of publications of evidence-based, basic science, and clinical outcome data that support the role of health-promoting habits on the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. The role of social determinants of health has also become apparent as a significant contributor to the disparities seen among patients and their lifestyle behaviors. At the same time, strides have been made in applying the concept of precision medicine in the understanding and application of lifestyle medicine in clinical care. The update of multiple prevention and treatment guidelines continues to include aspects of personal behavior that focus on diet, physical activity, healthy body weight, and smoking cessation. Two additional aspects of health that are not routinely included in the guidelines, sleep and stress, have emerged as important components of lifestyle medicine.
Multisite Seasonal Monitoring of Pecan Aphids and Their Parasitoid in Commercial Pecan Orchards

Aphids are important pests of pecans in Georgia. Although previous studies conducted seasonal monitoring of pecan aphids, these studies were done at a single experimental site. In addition, only a few seasonal monitoring studies have tracked pecan aphid mummies parasitized by the aphid parasitoid, Aphelinus perpallidus Gahan. The objective of this study was to assess the seasonal phenology of yellow pecan aphid (Monelliopsis pecanis Bissell), blackmargined aphid [Monellia caryella (Fitch)], black pecan aphid [Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Davis)], aphid mummies, and adult A. perpallidus in four Georgia commercial orchards, with varying aphid management regimes, in 2019 and 2020. Comparison of overall aphid and parasitoid numbers between sites revealed few consistent annual patterns in both years. Aphid seasonal trends were consistent among sites and followed the patterns seen in previous studies, with the yellow aphid complex peaking in May, June, September, and October and black pecan aphids peaking in late September and October. Despite varying levels of insecticide application between sites, aphid phenology followed a similar seasonal pattern and remained low, throughout both growing seasons. This may indicate that growers can apply low frequencies of insecticides and still achieve pecan aphid control. Parasitism numbers were highest in the low insecticide frequency site compared with the other three sites. Mummies varied in their correlation with yellow aphid complex and black pecan aphid numbers. Parasitoid numbers typically followed the cycle of their host throughout the season.
Canaries in the Litigation Coal Mine

Although litigation provides many vitally important benefits for individuals and society, it can harm everyone it touches, including litigators. Collaborative lawyers offer clients the collaborative process, which consists solely of negotiation. Because these lawyers find litigation to be extremely traumatic, they value the opportunity to handle collaborative cases, in which they are precluded from litigating by virtue of an enforceable “disqualification agreement.” These lawyers are like canaries in the “litigation coal mines,” warning of dangers that litigation can cause. This article highlights traumas that litigation can cause law students, lawyers, and parties. It describes the benefits that collaborative practice can provide for lawyers and parties – as well as challenges in collaborative practice. However, relatively few parties use collaborative practice, especially in non-family law cases. This article emphasizes the importance of all lawyers helping clients manage their conflicts as well as possible while minimizing the harm to clients, people in their lives, and themselves (i.e., the lawyers). It includes links to practical resources to help lawyers do so, especially when they need to litigate.
Synthesis of Biomimetic Melanin-Like Multifunctional Nanoparticles for pH Responsive Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Photothermal Therapy

The design and development of multifunctional nanoparticles have attracted great interest in biomedical research. This study aims to prepare pH-responsive melanin-like nanoparticles for T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photothermal therapy. The new multifunctional nanoparticles (amino-Fe-PDANPs) are synthesized by copolymerization of dopamine and its derivative amino-N-[2-(diethylamino) ethyl]-3,4-dihydroxy-benzenepropanamide (N-Dopa) at room temperature. The size of nanoparticles can be controlled by NaOH concentration. The incorporation of N-Dopa is characterized by NMR and FT-IR. From transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the nanoparticles exhibit excellent dispersion stability in water and are spherical in shape. The MRI measurement has demonstrated that amino-Fe-PDANPs have a significant signal enhancement in responding to the acidic solution. Confirmed by the photothermal study, the nanoparticles exhibit a high photothermal conversion efficiency. The melanin-like multifunctional nanoparticles integrate both diagnosis and therapeutic functionalities, indicating the potential for theranostic application.
Linear Relations of Siegel Poincare Series and Nonvanshing of the Central Value of Spinor L-functions.

In this paper, we will first investigate the linear relations of a one parameter family of Siegel Poincar\'e series. Then we give the applications to the non-vanishing of Fourier coefficients of Siegel cusp eigenforms and the central values.
Tumor Volume in Prostate Cancer and Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen

Many have observed poor correlations between serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and tumor volume, and this noise undoubtedly reduces the diagnostic specificity of PSA. To explore this phenomenon, we addressed the problem from a theoretical viewpoint. Specifically, we used a compartmental model and first-order kinetics to develop the mathematics necessary to relate serum PSA to tumor volume. We found that the resulting model fit well the observed kinetic data of PSA measured after biopsy or prostatectomy. The model also predicted a linear relationship between PSA and the sum of volumes of benign and malignant tissues, but the coefficients for this linear equation are more complex than previously thought. They reflect not only how much PSA may be present in each tissue but also 3 rate parameters and the volume of serum. Much of the noise in the linkage between PSA and tumor volume is due to individual patient differences in the 3 rate parameters and in serum volume. Our model predicts that without ways to directly measure the several involved rate parameters, we will not be able to accurately predict tumor volume from PSA. Nevertheless, surrogates for the missing parameters may exist and could lead to statistical models that could improve the prediction of tumor volume.
Managing issues through the lifecycle of IT service offshoring projects

Western countries' information technology and software intensive firms are increasingly producing software and IT services in developing countries. With this swift advancement in offshoring, there are many issues that can be investigated to enable companies to maximize their benefit from offshoring. However, significant challenges can happen throughout the lifecycle of offshoring IT service projects which turn the potential benefits into losses. This research investigated CMM/CMMI best practices and their effect on managing and mitigating critical issues associated with offshore development.
Purification and properties of a periplasmic glutamate-aspartate binding protein from Escherichia coli K12 strain W3092.

A protein which binds both glutamate (K-D = 0.8 muM) and aspartate (K-D = 1.2 muM) has been purified to homogeneity (290-fold) from the periplasmic fraction released from Escherichia coli W3092 by the cold osmotic shock procedure. The apparent molecular weight of the glutamate-aspartate binding protein is approximately 31,000 as judged by gel electrophoresis, gel filtration, and sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation; and the protein has a pI of 9.69. This protein contains 2 half-cystine residues and is dependent on a dithiothreitol-sensitive component for renaturation to an active conformation following urea or guanidine treatment. Of the natural amino acids only the L isomers of glutamate, aspartate, glutamine, asparagine, and alanine were inhibitors of either [C]glutamate or [14C]aspartate binding and the inhibitions were competitive. Only one binding site is indicated per molecule of protein. Antibody prepared against the glutamate-asparate binding protein does not cross-react with purified glutamine binding protein or any other component of osmotic shock fluid. The antibody does cross-react with osmotic shock fluids obtained from E. coli strains B and W and Salmonella typhimurium OT2. The glutamate-aspartate binding protein-antibody complex does not bind either glutamate or aspartate. The protein may be similar to the glutamate binding activity detected in the periplasmic fraction released from E. coli strain B (Miner, K.M., and Frank, L. (1974) J. Bacteriol. 117, 1093-1098) and strain K12 CS (Barash, H., and Halpern, Y.S. (1971) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 45, 681-688). This protein appears to function in the transport of glutamate by E. coli strain W cultured in minimal medium with succinate as the carbon source (Willis, R.C., and Furlong, C.E. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 2581-2586.
Dielectric studies of solder paste fluxes and applications to no-clean paste formulations

Ionic mobility is monitored using a 12.5- mu m interdigitated electrode to monitor conductivity, loss factor, and permittivity of solder flux, solder vehicle, and solder residue. Maximum ionic mobility is achieved at the temperature for minimum viscosity (87 degrees C) and other increases can be seen at the melting point of abietic acid. Ionic mobility is shown to be dependent on the amount of plasticizer in the resin material which is correlated to the material's glass transition and viscosity. Differences in the particle size of metal particles in neat solder pastes have been correlated to the permittivity in this system. Measurements were made using a ceramic sensor with a 10-mil interdigitated electrode pattern. A linear relationship between particle size/relative surface area of the metal particles and permittivity has been observed. Flocculation has been observed by this method in pastes containing small particle size metal particles. >
Sonographic evaluation of the endometrium in patients with a history or an appearance of polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence and significance of a thick, cystic-appearing endometrium in association with a history or an ovarian appearance of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Methods An Institutional Review Board-approved, retrospective medical record review of sonographic studies from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2005, found 245 patients with clinical features, a characteristic sonographic appearance of the ovaries, hormonal abnormalities, or a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome. The sonographic thickness and appearance of the endometrium (homogeneous or heterogeneous) and histologic findings on biopsy were obtained. Results Two hundred twenty-seven patients had a homogeneous endometrium in the range of 1 to 17 mm (mean +/- SD, 6.4 +/- 3.1 mm); 18 patients had a heterogeneous endometrium in the range of 4 to 23 mm (mean, 13.2 +/- 5.6 mm). Of the 18 patients with a heterogeneous endometrium, 9 also had a sonographic finding of tiny cystic foci within the endometrium. Of these, 5 had endometrial biopsy, resulting in 2 cases of a proliferative endometrium and 1 case each of simple hyperplasia, hyperplasia with atypia, and scant tissue. No cases of hyperplasia were present in the patients with a homogeneous endometrium. Conclusions A heterogeneous cystic endometrium is associated with the prolonged proliferative phase from chronic anovulation as well as endometrial hyperplasia.
The global and local dynamics of direct-drive brushless DC motors

The dynamic characteristics of direct-drive brushless DC motors (BLDCMs) are investigated. A model for BLDCMs which is governed by a set of nonlinear differential equations is presented. Both global and local characteristics are presented. Since most users of BLDCM incorporate linear control laws to control their nonlinear dynamic characteristics, the local dynamics are specially useful. The results presented provide guidelines for designing controllers for BLDCM systems. As an alternative to the use of linear current control loops, a nonlinear control law is presented which, while being more complex in terms of implementation, will work in a global sense. >
Answers and evasions

This article provides an overview of the dynamics of answering and resisting or evading questions in broadcast news interviews. After a preliminary examination of the practices through which answers are recognizably constructed, the analysis turns to the practices through which interviewees manage responses that resist the agenda of an interviewer's question. When resisting overtly, interviewees engage in various forms of “damage control.” When resisting covertly, interviewees take steps to render the resistance less conspicuous. Both sets of practices facilitate resistant responses by reducing the negative consequences that might otherwise follow. Such practices demonstrate that, although interviewees have developed practices for resisting questions, the norm of answering remains a salient feature of the contemporary broadcast news interview.
The role of ultrasound biomicroscopy in ocular trauma.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the usefulness of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in detecting and localizing small ocular foreign bodies. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of the records of 555 consecutive patients evaluated by UBM by the Visual Physiology Unit of the Wills Eye Hospital from August 1994 to November 1997. RESULTS: In 9 patients, a foreign body was identified. In 6 patients, the history suggested the presence of a foreign body, but one could not be detected by clinical examination. In 2 patients, the referring physicians requested UBM to determine whether or how deep a known foreign body had penetrated the globe. In 1 patient, the foreign body was not suspected clinically. In regard to other diagnostic techniques, CT failed to identify the foreign body in 1 patient. In another, contact B-scan ultrasonography failed. In a third, both CT and contact B-scan ultrasonography failed. The foreign body was intracorneal in 2 eyes, subconjunctival in 2, intrascleral in 3, and intraocular in 2. Six were nonmetallic. Two were metallic. In one case, the foreign body was lost and its composition is unknown. In 5 cases, the UBM findings altered the patient's management. CONCLUSIONS: UBM is a valuable adjunct in the evaluation of small, anteriorly located foreign body that may not be detectable by other methods. UBM may be especially useful for finding nonmetallic foreign bodies. Language: en
Derivative Absorbance Spectroscopy and Protein Phase Diagrams as Tools for Comprehensive Protein Characterization: A bGCSF Case Study

Abstract In protein and macromolecule pharmaceutical formulation development, the amount of information initially gathered about a drug's physical and chemical properties under different conditions is often quite limited. This generally requires more intensive studies using a variety of techniques if problems arise later in the development process. We propose a supplementary approach involving a comprehensive examination of a protein by derivative absorbance spectroscopy in conjunction with other methods and the subsequent construction of a phase diagram that permits the determination of optimal formulation conditions. Using bovine granulocyte colony stimulating factor (bGCSF) as a model protein, a thorough characterization is performed using high-resolution second-derivative absorbance spectroscopy. Derivative ultraviolet absorbance data are used to construct an empirical phase diagram for bGCSF using a multidimensional phase space approach. Between pH 2 and 7, and from 10° to 90°C, bGCSF is found to adopt more than six distinct structural phases. Surprisingly, the combination of the phase diagram approach with derivative absorbance data identifies phase boundaries that are not apparent upon initial examination of complementary biophysical data (previous article in this issue). The simplicity and pharmaceutical utility of this approach are discussed. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.
Identification of Enzyme−Substrate and Enzyme−Product Complexes in the Catalytic Mechanism of Glucoamylase from Aspergillus awamori

Intermediates in the catalytic mechanism of Aspergillus awamori glucoamylase (GA) were identified by studying pre-steady-state and steady-state kinetics of the wild-type GA/maltose and Trp120 -->Phe GA/maltotriose reactions in H2O and D2O. Pre-steady-state fluorescence signal analysis was carried out to ascertain the relative intrinsic fluorescence of the enzyme intermediates. A three-step minimal pathway for oligosaccharide hydrolysis represented by E + Gx (k1) reversible (k-1) EGX (k2)reversible(k-2) EP (kcat)--> E + P is proposed. The first step, represented by the association constant K1 (k1/k-1), depicts the fast formation of enzyme-substrate complex and is the primary factor in fluorescence quenching. A 2.7-fold increase in K1 with D2O as solvent is observed with both enzymes due to the cumulative effect of deuterium on complex hydrogen bonding at the active site. The second step further quenches the enzyme fluorescence and is identified as the hydrolytic step, forming an enzyme-product complex. Both k2 and k-2 values show similar 2-fold decreases in D2O for both enzymes, consistent with the microscopic reversibility of the hydrolytic reaction. The solvent isotopic effect on the hydrolytic step is likely due to either abstraction of an exchangeable proton from the general acid Glu179 or directed addition of water to the oxocarbonium ion intermediate by the general base Glu400. No significant isotope effect was observed on the steady-state kcat value for wild-type GA with maltose, indicating a ronhydrolytic step as rate-limiting. The third step, a posthydrolytic rate-determining step, is the product release as evident from steady-state kinetics with wild-type and Trp120-->Phe GAs using alpha-D-glucosyl fluoride.
The role of PdZn alloy formation and particle size on the selectivity for steam reforming of methanol

Abstract Pd/ZnO has been shown in recent years to have high selectivity toward CO 2 during methanol steam reforming. It is commonly assumed that PdZn alloy formation is essential to achieve high selectivity toward CO 2 . The simplest method for forming a PdZn alloy is to treat a Pd/ZnO catalyst at elevated temperatures in H 2 , generally >350 °C. The high-temperature treatment, while transforming Pd to PdZn, also leads to particle growth. This makes it difficult to independently assess the role of particle size and composition on selectivity. In this work, we have used alternative activation treatments to vary independently the particle size and extent of alloy formation. XRD and TEM were used to obtain estimates of average crystallite size and composition. We found that even without any pretreatment, PdZn alloy particles were formed after reaction at 250 °C, due to the facile reduction of ZnO in the presence of Pd and H 2 . Samples treated at low temperatures in H 2 showed the coexistence of monometallic Pd and PdZn alloy particles. Higher-temperature reduction led to complete transformation of Pd into the PdZn alloy. However, the selectivity toward CO 2 did not increase monotonically with the extent of alloy formation. Samples with low alloy content also showed CO 2 selectivity comparable to those with complete alloy formation. In each case, lower CO 2 selectivity was exhibited by samples containing small particles (∼1.5 nm). We conclude that one consequence of high-temperature reduction is elimination of these small particles, leading to improved selectivity. It was also surprising that an increase in PdZn alloy crystallite size with increasing reduction temperature had no adverse impact on catalyst reactivity.
Designing a mobile application to support the indicated prevention and early intervention of childhood anxiety

This paper presents the design of an mHealth application for prevention and early intervention of childhood anxiety. The application is based on REACH, a preventative-early intervention protocol for childhood anxiety. This paper describes the multidisciplinary design process, sharing lessons learned in developing an effective mHealth application. This mHealth application is unique due to participant age, preventive-early intervention focus, and utilization of mobile technology in a situated manner. A design process inspired by user-centered leveraging key informant interviews was used to identify application features, including game based strategies and an animated motivational avatar. Validation was performed through external review and a usability study performed with target end users of the application. Results suggest overall satisfaction, ease of use, and increased motivation.
Interaction of Phosducin-like Protein with G Protein βγ Subunits

Phosducin-like protein (PhLP), a widely expressed ethanol-responsive gene (Miles, M. F., Barhite, S., Sganga, M., and Elliott, M. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 90, 10831-10835), is a homologue of phosducin, a known major regulator of Gbetagamma signaling in retina and pineal gland. However, although phosducin has a well characterized role in retinal phototransduction, function of the PhLP remains unclear. In this study we examine the ability of PhLP to bind Gbetagamma dimer in vitro and in vivo. Using PhLP glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins, we show that PhLP directly binds Gbetagamma in vitro. Studies with a series of truncated PhLP fusion proteins indicate independent binding of Gbetagamma to both the amino- and C-terminal halves of PhLP. Protein-protein interactions between Gbetagamma and PhLP are inhibited by the alpha subunit of Go and Gi3, suggesting that PhLP can bind only free Gbetagamma. Finally, we show that PhLP complexes, at least partially, with Gbetagamma in vivo. Following overexpression of epitope-tagged PhLP together with Gbeta1gamma2 proteins in COS-7 cells, a PhLP-Gbetagamma complex is co-immunoprecipitated by monoclonal antibody directed against the epitope tag. Similarly, polyclonal anti-PhLP antibody co-precipitates endogenous PhLP and Gbetagamma proteins from NG108-15 cell lysates. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that PhLP is a widely expressed modulator of Gbetagamma function. Furthermore, because alternate forms of the PhLP transcript are expressed, there may be functional implications for the existence of two Gbetagamma-binding domains on PhLP.
RNA evolution and the origins of life

The evolution of RNA is likely to have played an important role in the very early history of life on Earth but it is doubtful that life began with RNA. Consideration of what came before RNA must take into account relevant information from geochemistry, prebiotic chemistry and nucleic acid biochemistry.
Wasted Words: The Written Collection Development Policy and the Academic Library.

Abstract Written collection development policies in the academic library are unnecessary. The widespread endorsement of written policies in the literature represents librarianship's acceptance of unchallenged assumptions. Instead of writing policies that quickly become irrelevant and outdated, bibliographers should concentrate on selection and evaluation of their collections.
Two-photon absorption spectrum of ZnS

Abstract Two-photon absorption spectra of ZnS near the band gap are reported. It is asserted that the high density of stacking faults in vapor-grown ZnS crystals results in the discrepancies between the experimental measurements and the theoretical predictions regarding the excitonic transitions and the valence band splitting.
Variation in antimicrobial prescribing for otitis media by race: different wrinkle in disparity?

* Abbreviation: AOM — : acute otitis media Acute otitis media (AOM) is an almost universal occurrence during childhood, with at least 90% experiencing ≥1 episode by age 7 years.1 Multiple studies through the early 2000s noted a lower frequency of AOM among black children compared with white children.2,3 Other studies suggested that rates of middle ear effusion4,5 and clinical diagnoses of AOM3 did not differ between black and white children. The apparent rate difference in many studies more likely reflected differences in access to care and possibly differences in diagnosis and management by health care providers, rather than differences in genetic predisposition. In a recent study in the Philadelphia area, primary care physicians were less likely to diagnose AOM in black children versus non-black children; they were more likely, however, to prescribe recommended narrow-spectrum amoxicillin than broader-spectrum antimicrobial agents when they diagnosed AOM in black children versus non-black children.6 In this issue of Pediatrics , Fleming-Dutra et al7 present their results on this topic from analyses of the National Ambulatory Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey databases from 2008–2010. AOM diagnoses in these databases were assigned by the treating physician, although not necessarily confirmed with the level of rigor required of a prospective clinical trial. The sample size … Address correspondence to Charles R. Woods, MD, MS, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 571 S. Floyd St, Suite 321, Louisville, KY 40202. E-mail: charles.woods{at}louisville.edu
Phylogenetic inference rejects sporophyte based classification of the Funariaceae (Bryophyta): rapid radiation suggests rampant homoplasy in sporophyte evolution.

The moss family Funariaceae, which includes the model systems Funaria hygrometrica and Physcomitrella patens, comprises 15 genera, of which three accommodate approximately 95% of the 250–400 species. Generic concepts are drawn primarily from patterns in the diversity of morphological complexity of the sporophyte. Phylogenetic inferences from ten loci sampled across the three genomic compartments yield a hypothesis that is incompatible with the current circumscription of two of the speciose genera of the Funariaceae. The single clade, comprising exemplars of Funaria with a compound annulus, is congruent with the systematic concept proposed by Fife (1985). By contrast, Entosthodon and Physcomitrium are resolved as polyphyletic entities, and even the three species of Physcomitrella are confirmed to have diverged from distinct ancestors. Although the backbone relationships within the core clade of the Funariaceae remain unresolved, the polyphyly of these genera withstands alternative hypothesis testing. Consequently, the sporophytic characters that define these lineages are clearly homoplasious suggesting that selective pressures (or their relaxation) are in fact driving the diversification rather than the conservation of sporophytic architecture in the Funariaceae.
Kinetics and modeling study of a Mg(BH4)2/Ca(BH4)2 destabilized system

Abstract Borohydrides such as Mg(BH4)2 and Ca(BH4)2 continue to attract attention as potential hydrogen storage materials because of their high hydrogen content. In this study the desorption kinetics of Mg(BH4)2, Ca(BH4)2 and a 5Mg(BH4)2/Ca(BH4)2 mixture of the two were compared in the two-phase region at the same temperature and at a constant pressure thermodynamic driving force. The rate of hydrogen desorption from the two-phase region in the 5Mg(BH4)2/Ca(BH4)2 mixture was faster than that from either of the constituents. This indicated that Ca(BH4)2 was able to serve as a destabilizing agent for Mg(BH4)2. The results also showed that the desorption rates from the two-phase region were much faster than those from the single phase region. Modeling studies showed that the rate of hydrogen release from Mg(BH4)2, during the first 80% of the reaction, is diffusion controlled while in Ca(BH4)2 the reaction rate is phase boundary controlled. In the mixture the rate appears to be under the mixed control of both processes.
Differential conditioning along two dimensions and stimulus generalization of the rabbit’s nictitating membrane response

Rabbits received classical differential conditioning of the nictitating membrane response to tones differing in both frequency and intensity. Subsequent tests of stimulus generalization along the frequency dimension (at the intensity of CS+) indicated significant suppression of responding to the CS-frequency compared with control groups conditioned to CS+ alone. These results are consistent with Hullian (gradient interaction) theories of discrimination learning.
A Digest of Listservs of Interest to Access Services, May―December 2008

This article summarizes discussions on listservs. Topic covered are circulation policies regarding patrons from other colleges, the shelving of sacred books, laptop circulation, Ariel vs email attachment for interlibrary loan, best software for remote instruction, paper copies of ereserves, interlibrary loan privileges for alumni and policies regarding the loaning of new books.
Landslide subsurface slip geometry inferred from 3-D surface displacement fields

The stability of many large landslides is determined in part by deformation along buried, often inaccessible, slip surfaces. Factors such as infiltrating rainfall on the slip surface lead to stability changes. Yet characterizing the depth and shape of this slip surface is challenging. Here we examine the hypothesis that the subsurface slip geometry can be constrained by ground surface displacements in concert with two, mechanically distinct, forward models. We estimate a 3-D ground displacement field for the slow-moving Cleveland Corral landslide in California using repeat terrestrial laser scanner data. We test the efficacy of two models to estimate slip depth and slip magnitude of the slide—a 2-D balanced cross-section method and an elastic dislocation model. The estimated slip surface depth using both methods matches in situ observations from shear rods installed in the slide within the ±0.45 m misfit indicating that these are valuable approaches for investigating landslide geometry and slip behavior.
Probiotics, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Probiotics are live, microbial food supplements that benefit the host animal by improving intestinal microbial balance. Their major role in preventing and treating gastrointestinal disease appears to be from their effect on the immune process, protection against abnormal invasive bacteria, and in the production of short-chain fatty acids from starch and non-starch polysaccharides. Probiotic microorganisms are administered in food supplements and yogurts. They are also now sold in the form of capsules and powders. There is great variation in the microorganisms in the various supplements. It is important to understand that all probiotic products are different. Some contain a single organism and others contain multiple organisms. Therapeutic results have been achieved with various probiotics in different diseases. In the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), success has been reported with Escherichia coli Nissle strain in ulcerative colitis, and with a multiple organism product, VSL#3 (VSL Pharmaceuticals, Fort Lauderdale, FL), in Crohn’s disease and pouchitis. Initial reports in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have resulted in encouraging results with the use of E. coli Nissle strain, and recently with multiple organism probiotic supplements. However, caution must still apply to the use of probiotics in IBD and IBS because the reports and the number of patients treated are limited.
Adjacent segment disease after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: clinical outcomes after first repeat surgery versus second repeat surgery.

Study design Retrospective clinical study. Objective To study the long-term effects of repeat cervical fusion after development of adjacent segment disease (ASD). Summary of background data ASD is a well-recognized development after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Although there are data on the development of ASD after ACDF, the incidence of ASD after repeat ACDF has not been well established. Methods We collected 888 consecutive patients who underwent ACDF for cervical degenerative disease during a 20-year period at a single institution. Patients were followed for an average of 94.0 ± 78.1 months after the first ACDF. Results Of the 888 patients who underwent ACDF, 108 patients developed ASD, necessitating a second cervical fusion. Among these 108 patients, 27 patients later developed recurrent ASD, requiring a third cervical fusion. Thus, in this series, the incidence of ASD after ACDF is 12.2%, statistically increasing to 25% after a second cervical fusion (P = 0.0002). Notably, ASD occurred 47.0 ± 44.9 months after the first ACDF and statistically decreased to 30.3 ± 24.9 months after a second cervical fusion (P = 0.01). Of the 77 patients who underwent a second cervical fusion via an anterior approach, 23 developed recurrent ASD requiring a third cervical fusion. In contrast, of the 31 patients who had a posteriorly approached second cervical fusion, only 4 developed recurrent ASD requiring a third cervical fusion. Conclusion We present a cohort of patients undergoing multiple sequential operations due to ASD during a 20-year period. In this series of 888 patients, the incidence of ASD development is lowest after the first ACDF. Patients who undergo a second cervical fusion develop ASD at both higher and faster rates. Moreover, patients who had a second cervical fusion via an anterior approach had a higher chance of developing recurrent ASD versus patients who had a posterior approach. Level of evidence 3.
Glucose Metabolism in Brains of Diabetic Rats

Metabolism of glucose-U-14C was studied in brains of rats 1) 2 days after alloxan treatment,2) 2 hr after D-mannoheptulose injection, or 3) 2 hr after evisceration (including pancreatectomy) followed by infusion with glucose (50 mg/100 g/hr). Glucose concentrations were 3 times normal in blood and 6 times normal in brains in these rats. Uptake of radioactive glucose in brain during the first 15 min after its injection was greater in 1) and 2) than in normal rats (blood glucose equivalent in brain was 11.9 and 9.9 μmoles/g in 1) and 2) compared to 6.52 in normal rats). The percentages of brain 14C found in glucose were greatly increased in 1) and 2) but the amount of glucose which was converted to glutamate, other amino acids and lactate was similar to that in normal rats. In 3), glucose concentrations were high in blood and brain but brainuptake of glucose was no greater than in normal rats. The percentage of brain 14C in glucose was high in 3) but the conversion of glucose to its metabolites in brain was...
Characterization and structures of the 2,2,7-trimethyl-3,5-octanedionate chelates of cerium(IV) and terbium(III)

Abstract The complexes Ce(tod)4 and Tb2(tod)6 were synthesized using hydrated metal nitrates and the β-diketone ligand H(tod), (tod=2,2,7-trimethyl-3,5-octanedione) with base neutralization. The metal complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The structure of Ce(tod)4 represents a new polymorph for tetrakis cerium chelates and Tb2(tod)6 is the first reported dimeric β-diketonate structure for terbium. These materials are promising precursor sources of cerium and terbium for thin film deposition, and are highly soluble in supercritical carbon dioxide, making them surrogates for hazardous waste remediation using supercritical fluid extraction.
Celecoxib is associated with reduced chronic gastrointestinal (GI) blood loss relative to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Celecoxib is associated with reduced chronic gastrointestinal (GI) blood loss relative to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)