cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Form + Function + Algebra = Feature Grammars

Much of the current research and development in feature-based design of discrete objects is both pragmatic in nature and opportunistic in approach. We develop a formalism for features that is consistent in both enumeration and recognition as well as extensible enough to handle the complex relationships between function and form. Using the descriptive, parametric shape grammars, this paradigm is easily expanded to exploit feature set descriptions and manufacturing process planning in a unified and formal framework.
FROM SODIUM BOROHYDRIDE TO 1,2-DICARBA-closo-DODECABORANES

Abstract The syntheses of 1,2 dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes from sodium borohydride have been studied. Major steps in the syntheses are (1) the conversion of NaBH4 to R4NBH4 (R = Alkyl), (2) the pyrolyses of R4NBH4 to [R4N]2B10H10, (3) the conversion of [R4N]2B10H10 to Li2B10H10, (4) the cage opening of B10H10-2 to B10H12L2 (L = Lewis Base) and (5) the reaction of B10H12L2 with acetylenes. Yields of steps 1,3 and 4 are greater than 85% while the yield of step 5 varies with acetylene from 0–90%. Yields of step (2) are highly variable (0–90%) depending on a number of factors some of which have been elucidated.
Retention in service of recruits assigned to the army physical fitness test enhancement program in basic combat training.

Recruits are assigned to the Army Physical Fitness Test Enhancement Program (APFTEP) if they are unable to pass the final Army physical fitness test at the end of basic combat training (BCT). The U.S. Army Medical Command tasked the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine to examine the retention in service of individuals completing this program. To accomplish this tasking, the following data were obtained: a list of APFTEP recruits at Fort Jackson, South Carolina between January 1999 and June 2001; a list of BCT graduates from the Army Training Requirements and Resources System; and a comparison group of non-APFTEP recruits matched 3 to 1 on the basis of age, gender, Army entry date (+/- 30 days), BCT location, and active Army status from the Army Medical Surveillance Activity. We found that the proportion of recruits who successfully completed the APFTEP and graduated from BCT (85% of men, 80% of women) was lower than documented graduation rates for all recruits (93% of men, 87% of women). Retention in service after 1 year was also lower for APFTEP recruits than for non-APFTEP recruits among both men (74% vs. 92%, p < 0.01) and women (63% vs. 84%, p < 0.01). Despite the lower BCT graduation success and retention in service for APFTEP recruits, the program does assist in retaining soldiers who would otherwise be discharged for failing the Army physical fitness test. Thus, the program may be a useful tool for limiting attrition.
Introduction to Substance Use Disorders for the Eating Disorder Specialist

Substance use disorders and eating disorders co-occur frequently; however, currently, there are no evidence-based treatments to guide the practitioner faced with this comorbid condition. Very few eating disorder programs have incorporated substance abuse protocols into their programs, and likewise, few substance abuse programs can effectively treat the patient with a serious eating disorder. Consequently, clinicians presented with these patients tend to focus on their area of specialty without addressing directly the other comorbid condition. Inadvertently, this can prolong the patient’s suffering as they vacillate between their substance use disorder and their eating disorder. The intention of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of substance use disorders for students, clinicians, and researchers in the health and mental health field. It was specifically designed for the eating disorder specialist that has limited knowledge of the psychoactive properties of drugs of abuse, the clinical characteristics of individuals with alcohol and drug abuse problems, the philosophy and/or vernacular of abstinence-based models (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous [AA], Narcotics Anonymous [NA], or Cocaine Anonymous [CA]), and other evidence-based models/approaches for the treatment of substance use disorders.
Component Restoration in the Unilateral Intermediate Cleft Tip Rhinoplasty: Technique and Long-Term Outcomes.

Background The intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty is performed in childhood to address residual tip asymmetries during the most critical period of psychosocial development. The authors describe and evaluate long-term outcomes of that approach for the unilateral cleft lip and palate patient based on the concept of individual restoration of each abnormal anatomical component. Methods Photomorphometric analyses of unilateral cleft lip and palate patients (n = 50) who underwent intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty using the component restoration technique were evaluated preoperatively (time 0) and postoperatively at less than 1 year (time 1), 1 to 3 years (time 2), and more than 3 years (time 3) and compared to age-matched unilateral cleft lip and palate control patients. Nasal relationships (alar symmetry, nasal tip protrusion-to-alar base width ratio, and height-to-width dimensions for the cleft and noncleft nostrils) were compared over time using a linear mixed-effect model. Results At time 0, both groups demonstrated similar nasal relationships, with the exception of a wider cleft-side nostril in relationship to height in the rhinoplasty group. The component restoration technique improved all four nasal relationships at all postoperative time points compared with time 0 in a statistically significant manner, whereas control patients did not demonstrate significant changes at the corresponding ages. Long-term differences at time 3 revealed a trend toward improved alar symmetry and cleft-side and non-cleft-side nostril dimensions, and a significant improvement in the nasal tip protrusion-to-alar base width ratio in intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty-treated versus control patients (p = 0.002). Conclusion The component restoration technique for the unilateral intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty improves nasal relationships toward normal immediately and in a sustained manner for at least 3 years. Clinical question/level of evidence Therapeutic, III.
Tetramer formation by the caspase-activated fragment of the Par-4 tumor suppressor

The prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) tumor suppressor can selectively kill cancer cells via apoptosis while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Full length Par-4 has been shown to be predominantly intrinsically disordered in vitro under neutral conditions. As part of the apoptotic process, cellular Par-4 is cleaved at D131 by caspase-3, which generates a 24 kDa C-terminal activated fragment (cl-Par-4) that enters the nucleus and inhibits pro-survival genes, thereby preventing cancer cell proliferation. Here, the structure of cl-Par-4 was investigated using CD spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence, and size exclusion chromatography with mutli-angle light scattering. Biophysical characterization shows that cl-Par-4 aggregates and is disordered at low ionic strength. However, with increasing ionic strength, cl-Par-4 becomes progressively more helical and less aggregated, ultimately forming largely ordered tetramers at high NaCl concentration. These results, together with previous results showing induced folding at acidic pH, suggest that the in vivo structure and self-association state of cl-Par-4 may be strongly dependent upon cellular environment.
The Sibling Relationship in Ecocultural Context

For most people, the sibling relationship is the longest-standing relationship they will ever have, yet the sibling relationship cannot be taken for granted as being the same across cultural settings. The study of sibling relationships is an opportunity to examine socio-emotional and cognitive processes of development, as well as cultural values that shape the ways that siblings relate to one another and to their families and communities. Expectations for care, obedience, and helpfulness between or among siblings all vary across cultural groups. The level of emphasis on the sibling relationship is another part of a sociocultural complex of relationships. Rivalry develops out of competitiveness and a focus on independence. Sibling nurturance develops out of cooperation and a focus on interdependence and independence. Cultural expectations for the role of siblings after early childhood also vary, and these expectations are socialized in early childhood. The sibling relationship should be seen as culturally-embedded—shaped by and reflective of the cultural setting in which it develops.
A Conjoint Analysis of the Acceptability of Targeted Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy Among Persons Living with HIV in the U.S.

With long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy likely to be a treatment option for people living with HIV (PLWH), it is critical to assess its acceptability among potential end-users. Based on formative qualitative work and our own ongoing development of targeted long-acting products in nanosuspension formulations, we created eight hypothetical medication scenarios varying along six dichotomous attributes: administration location (home versus [vs.] clinic), dosing frequency (every 2 weeks vs. 1 week), injections per dose (one vs. two), injection pain (mild vs. moderate), injection site reaction (mild vs. moderate), and effectiveness (better vs. same as pills). PLWH from three outpatient care clinics in Seattle, WA and Riverside, CA rated acceptability (i.e., willingness to try each hypothetical medication) from 0 (very unlikely) to 100 (very likely). In conjoint analyses, we examined level and correlates of acceptability, the impact of each attribute on overall acceptability, and moderators of this effect. Participants (median age 52 years; 71% male, 34% White, 36% Black/African American, 20% Hispanic) rated acceptability of the 8 scenarios from 47.8 (standard deviation [SD] = 37.0) to 68.8 (SD = 34.1), with effectiveness (impact score = 7.3, SD = 18.7, p = 0.005) and dosing frequency (impact score = 5.7, SD = 19.6, p = 0.034) the only attributes with a significant impact on acceptability. There were no statistically significant differences in overall acceptability according to any participant socio-demographic or other characteristic; however, gender, education, employment status, and experience with and hatred/avoidance of injections moderated some effects. Overall acceptability for targeted long-acting antiretroviral treatment as proposed was modest, with superior effectiveness and lower dosing frequency most impactful on acceptability. Future acceptability research should continue to evaluate specific products in development with a full range of conjoint analytic and other techniques.
Las comunicaciones por videoconferencia de los internos con el abogado defensor o con el abogado expresamente llamado en relación con asuntos penales

The use of videoconferencing in the Spanish Administration of Justice, and more specifically, in the Spanish criminal process, is not something new, not even in prisons, where for more than a decade this technology has been used to facilitate the practice of some judicial proceedings. However, its use for other purposes is complete or practically non-existent, although it may be very appropriate, among other things, to facilitate communications between the inmate and his family, to provide the inmate with medical assistance, or for videoconferencing of inmates with the defence lawyer or with the lawyer expressly called in relation to criminal matters. Precisely, this work focuses on the latter possibility when analysing whether this type of communication is currently regulated or not in the Spanish penitentiary regulations, if there are antecedents in this respect in our country, what advantages and disadvantages does it present, how it must be developed and what guarantees it must have.
Non-Contact laser ultrasound (N-CLUS) system for medical imaging and elastography

MIT Lincoln Laboratory, the Medical Device Realization Center (MEDRC) at MIT, and the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) are collaboratively developing a novel optical system that acquires ultrasound images within the human body without physical contact to the patient. The system is termed, non-contact laser ultrasound (N-CLUS) and yields anatomical images in tissue and bone and can also measure elastographic properties, in-vivo, all from an operational standoff of a few inches to several meters as desired. N-CLUS employs a pulsed laser that converts optical energy into ultrasonic waves at the skin surface via photoacoustic mechanisms, while, a laser Doppler vibrometer measures reflected-emerging ultrasonic waves from tissue at depth at the skin surface. The key of the N-CLUS approach is driven by shallow optical absorptivity that creates an acoustic source that enables ultrasound propagation deeper into the tissue.We discuss the motivation of the non-contact laser concept, its development path involving signal generation, skin and eye safe laser measurement, and system design perspectives. Elastogrphic measurements are then demonstrated with determination of bone elastic moduli for beef rib within tissue. N-CLUS images from soft tissue specimens are also compared with commercial ultrasound, showing that the noncontact optical approach may have potential as a viable method in medical ultrasound.
Youth Vaping and Tobacco Use in Context in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

Introduction According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), youth e-cigarette use (vaping) rose between 2017-2018. Frequency of vaping and concurrent past 30-day (p30d) use of e-cigarettes and tobacco products have not been reported. Methods We analyzed the 2018 NYTS (N=20,189) for vaping among all students (middle and high school; 6-12th grades; 9-19 years old) by frequency of vaping, exclusive vaping, p30d poly-product use (vaping and use of one or more tobacco product), and any past tobacco product use. Results In 2018, 81.4% of students had not used any tobacco or vapor product in the p30d, and 86.2% had not vaped in the p30d. Among all students, of the 13.8% vaped in the p30d, just over half vaped on ≤5 days (7.0%), and roughly a quarter each vaped on 6-19 days (3.2%) and on 20+ days (3.6%). Almost three quarters of p30d vapers (9.9%) reported past or concurrent tobacco use and the remainder (3.9%) were tobacco naive. 2.8% of students were tobacco naive and vaped on ≤5 days; 0.7% were tobacco-naive and vaped on 6-19 days, and 0.4% were tobacco-naive and vaped on 20+ days. Conclusions Vaping increased among US youth in 2018 over 2017. The increases are characterized by patterns of low p30d vaping frequency and high poly-product use, and a low prevalence of vaping among more frequent but tobacco naive vapers. Implications Results underscore the importance of including the full context of use patterns. The majority of vapers (60.0% - 88.9% by use frequency) were concurrent p30d or ever tobacco users. About 4% of students were tobacco naive and vaped in the p30d, but few (0.4%) vaped regularly on 20 or more days. Reporting youth vaping data with frequency and tobacco product co-use will give public health decision-makers the best possible information to protect public health.
Promoting satisfaction and reducing fatigue: Understanding the impact of trauma-informed organizational culture on psychological wellness among Direct Service Providers.

Background Organizations supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are challenged with maintaining a viable workforce of direct support professionals (DSPs). Amid multiple factors, organizational culture based on trauma-informed care may promote DSP retention through increased satisfaction and decreased fatigue. Method An online survey was used to gather data from DSPs (n = 380) across seven agencies and two online social media groups. Data were analysed using stepwise regression to identify the relationship between trauma-informed organizational culture and professional quality of life (i.e., satisfaction, burnout and secondary traumatic stress). Results Trauma-informed organizational culture was associated with increased DSP psychological wellness. Regression models explained 7.3%-40.5% of the variance in professional quality of life. Conclusions Although trauma-informed initiatives have lagged in IDD services, this study provides preliminary evidence to bolster its justification, highlighting it as a possible partial response to the current workforce challenges.
InSight’s first look inside Mars

The first results reported from NASA’s InSight mission on Mars include evidence for locally strong crustal magnetization, unexpected atmospheric processes, and marsquakes from distant, enigmatic sources. Some of the marsquakes detected by Insight’s seismometer can be traced to Cerberus Fossae, a region that may be tectonically active. Together, InSight’s geophysical measurements provide information about Mars’s interior structure and evolution.
Amici Curiae Brief, Pine Mountain Preserve, LLP V. Commissioner, Filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Amici Curiae Brief of Law Professors et al., filed in support of the government in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Pine Mountain Preserve, LLP v. Commissioner, on appeal from U.S Tax Court No. 8956-13, 151 T.C. 247 (2018).
Alterations in Insulin Levels in Adults with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure.

OBJECTIVE Evidence suggests that prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) may adversely impact insulin production and signaling but there is limited information on the range of these effects and their future health consequences. METHOD A prospective cohort of predominantly African-American individuals identified while in utero and followed into adulthood were used to evaluate differences in various indicators of diabetes, including fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and insulin levels. The homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was also computed. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and normal defined as < 25 kg/m2 . Participants were categorized as having PAE (n = 39) if their mothers drank at least 1 ounce of absolute alcohol per week or more during the 1st trimester of pregnancy and as Controls (n = 22) if their mothers reported abstaining from alcohol consumption during pregnancy. RESULTS Mean age of the sample was 36.0 ± 1.5 years. Indices of glucose metabolism, including fasting plasma glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels, did not vary by group status but insulin levels and HOMA-IR values varied by group status and BMI level. PAE individuals with a normal BMI had lower insulin levels than Controls. However, in PAE subjects, there was a steeper increase in insulin levels relative to their BMI than in Control subjects. A cluster of 5 PAE cases had low levels of insulin and 4 of the 5 had severe cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS The bidirectional effects on insulin level and insulin resistance associated with PAE may indicate differential rates of diabetes disease impact or differential PAE impact in the brain and peripheral areas involved in insulin production and signaling. These alterations may contribute to the metabolic disease risk associated with PAE.
In silico Exploration of Inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2's Papain-Like Protease

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), with very limited treatments so far. Demonstrated with good druggability, two major proteases of SARS-CoV-2, namely main protease (Mpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro) that are essential for viral maturation, have become the targets for many newly designed inhibitors. Unlike Mpro that has been heavily investigated, PLpro is not well-studied so far. Here, we carried out the in silico high-throughput screening of all FDA-approved drugs via the flexible docking simulation for potential inhibitors of PLpro and explored the molecular mechanism of binding between a known inhibitor rac5c and PLpro. Our results, from molecular dynamics simulation, show that the chances of drug repurposing for PLpro might be low. On the other hand, our long (about 450 ns) MD simulation confirms that rac5c can be bound stably inside the substrate-binding site of PLpro and unveils the molecular mechanism of binding for the rac5c-PLpro complex. The latter may help perform further structural optimization and design potent leads for inhibiting PLpro.
Mechanisms of Nonretroviral Resistance

The development of the nucleoside analogues acyclovir and penciclovir was a milestone in antiviral therapy. Their success in treating herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) demonstrated the potential of drug therapy in the management of viral infections. The subsequent development of the nucleoside analogue ganciclovir, and its prodrug valganciclovir, provided effective antiviral therapy against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. Newer agents such as the pyrophosphate analogue foscarnet and nucleotide analogue cidofovir, that bypassed the need for viral protein kinase phosphorylation for activation, offered an even wider antiviral spectrum of activity. Since the introduction of these groundbreaking antiviral medications, drug-resistant isolates of HSV and VZV have been reported, primarily among severely immunocompromised patients such as transplant recipients and patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Other antiviral agents, developed to treat a variety of additional viruses, are now in widespread use, but their success has also been challenged by the emergence of drug resistance. In this chapter, we review antiviral therapies for HSV and VZV, mechanisms of drug resistance, and strategies for managing skin infections with resistant strains. We also briefly discuss the influenza virus and its mechanism of resistance to drug therapy.
Understanding Constraints on Submersed Vegetation Distribution in a Large, Floodplain River: the Role of Water Level Fluctuations, Water Clarity and River Geomorphology

Aquatic vegetation is a key component of large floodplain river ecosystems. In the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS), there is a long-standing interest in restoring aquatic vegetation in areas where it has declined or disappeared. To better understand what constrains vegetation distribution in large river ecosystems and inform ongoing efforts to restore submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV), we delineated areas in ~1200 river km of the UMRS where the combined effects of water clarity, water level fluctuation, and bathymetry appeared suitable for establishment and persistence of SAV based on a 22-year dataset for total suspended solids (TSS), water surface elevation, and aquatic vegetation distribution. We found a large increase in suitable area downstream from a large natural riverine lake near the northern end of the UMRS (river km 1230) that functions as a sink for suspended material. Downstream from river km 895, there was much less suitable area due to decreased water clarity from tributary input of suspended material, changes in river geomorphology, and increased water level fluctuation. A hypothetical scenario of 75% reduction in TSS resulted in only minor increases in suitable area in the southern portion of the UMRS, indicating limitations by water level fluctuation and/or bathymetry (i.e., limited shallow area). These results improve our understanding of the structure and function of large river systems by illustrating how water clarity, fluctuations in water level, and river geomorphology interact to create complex spatial patterns in habitat suitability for aquatic species and may help to identify locations most and least likely to benefit from management and restoration efforts.
Hormonal control of motivational circuitry orchestrates the transition to sexuality in Drosophila .

Newborns and hatchlings can perform incredibly sophisticated behaviors, but many animals abstain from sexual activity at the beginning of life. Hormonal changes have long been known to drive both physical and behavioral changes during adolescence, leading to the largely untested assumption that sexuality emerges from organizational changes to neuronal circuitry. We show that the transition to sexuality in male Drosophila is controlled by hormonal changes, but this regulation is functional rather than structural. In very young males, a broadly acting hormone directly inhibits the activity of three courtship-motivating circuit elements, ensuring the complete suppression of sexual motivation and behavior. Blocking or overriding these inhibitory mechanisms evokes immediate and robust sexual behavior from very young and otherwise asexual males. Similarities to mammalian adolescence suggest a general principle in which hormonal changes gate the transition to sexuality not by constructing new circuitry but by permitting activity in otherwise latent motivational circuit elements.
Direct Metatranscriptomic Survey of the Sunflower Microbiome and Virome

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) are susceptible to multiple diseases in field production. In this study, we collected diseased sunflower leaves in fields located in South Dakota, USA, for virome investigation. The leaves showed visible symptoms on the foliage, indicating phomopsis and rust infections. To identify the viruses potentially associated with the disease diagnosed, symptomatic leaves were obtained from diseased plants. Total RNA was extracted corresponding to each disease diagnosed to generate libraries for paired-end high throughput sequencing. Short sequencing reads were assembled de novo and the contigs with similarities to viruses were identified by aligning against a custom protein database. We report the discovery of two novel mitoviruses, four novel partitiviruses, one novel victorivirus, and nine novel totiviruses based on similarities to RNA-dependent RNA polymerases and capsid proteins. Contigs similar to bean yellow mosaic virus and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum hypovirulence-associated DNA virus were also detected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of direct metatranscriptomics discovery of viruses associated with fungal infections of sunflowers bypassing culturing. These newly discovered viruses represent a natural genetic resource from which we can further develop potential biopesticide to control sunflower diseases.
Evaluation of neuropathic pain

Normally, the experience of pain results from activation of neural transducers sensitive to actual or impending tissue damage from mechanical, chemical, thermal, and other physical insults. These transducers, termed nociceptors by Sherrington [1], form the end of an extensive wiring harness that transmits information to the brain, leading to the perception of pain. This “nociceptive” pain is associated with physical harm and, in most cases, can be treated by analgesics. In contrast, “neuropathic pain” does not reflect transduction by nociceptors but damage to the wiring system. Neural injury can create the impression of pain in an undamaged region innervated by the nerve. Input from damaged nerves can also initiate processes of central sensitization that result in pain and tenderness in neighboring undamaged regions. Neuropathic pain is generally more difficult to treat than nociceptive pain. Clinicians typically treat all pains initially as nociceptive and only when these treatments fail do they ask the question, “Could the etiology be neuropathic?”
Drawing Graphs by Example Efficiently: Trees and Planar Acyclic Digraphs

Constraint-based graph drawing systems provide expressive power and flexibility. Previously proposed approaches make use of general constraint solvers, which are inefficient, and of textual specification of constraints, which can be long and difficult to understand. In this paper we propose the use of a constraint-based visual language for constructing planar drawings of trees, series-parallel graphs, and acyclic digraphs in linear time. A graph drawing system based on our approach can therefore provide the power of constraint-based graph drawing, the simplicity of visual specifications, and the computational efficiency that is typical of the algorithmic-based approaches.
Religious Lawyering in a Liberal Democracy: A Challenge and an Invitation

In the past decade, increasing numbers of lawyers have been turning to religion to find meaning in their work. This article traces the history and development of the "religious lawyering movement," and how it challenges professional images of lawyers as neutral and fungible, or as "hired guns" in the adversarial system. It then discusses how the religious lawyering movement might respond to three common objections: that religion adds nothing to already commonly recognized secular values; that religious lawyers will unfairly impose their views on clients; and that religious approaches to lawyering are dangerous for democracy. The article proposes an approach to legal practice that both encourages lawyers to draw on the substantive critiques and contributions of their religious traditions, and respects the basic values of liberal democracy. It invites the legal profession to allow room for lawyers to integrate religious values into their professional lives, so that, as Martin Luther King might put it, "the host of heaven and earth might pause to say, here lived great lawyers who did their job well."
Reaeration Coefficients of Streams—State-of-the-Art

Techniques for measuring and equations for predicting the natural reaeration coefficients of streams were reviewed. The three basic procedures for measuring the reaeration coefficient of streams are the dissolved-oxygen balance, the disturbed equilibrium, and the tracer techniques. The tracer technique has the advantage that it does not require the measurement of any of the sources and sinks of dissolved oxygen in the stream. The various predictive equations available in the literature give a wide range of predicted coefficients for a specific set of hydraulic conditions. Application of these equations to five streams for which reaeration coefficients had been measured with the tracer technique showed that no one equation is best for all the streams. Progress is being made in the development of techniques for measuring and predicting reaeration coefficients of streams, however, further research is needed.
An expedient synthesis of substituted indoles

Abstract Condensation of carboxylic acid esters with organodilithium reagents derived from N-trimethylsilyl-o-toluidine or N-trimethylsilyl-o-ethyl aniline affords substituted indoles.
Urgent-Start Peritoneal Dialysis: A Quality Improvement Report

Background Compared with hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a cost-effective and patient-centered option with an early survival advantage, yet only 7% of patients with end-stage renal disease in the United States receive PD. PD underutilization is due in part to nephrologists' unfamiliarity with directly starting PD in patients who present with kidney failure requiring urgent initiation of dialysis. Design Quality improvement report. Setting & Participants Single-center study whereby 18 patients who presented urgently with chronic kidney disease stage 5 without a plan for dialysis modality were offered PD as the initial modality of dialysis. Concurrently, 9 patients started on PD therapy nonurgently were included as the comparative group. Quality Improvement Plan An urgent-start PD program was developed to support and standardize the process by which patients without a plan for dialysis modality were started on PD. This included rapid PD access placement, PD nursing education, and administrative support. Standardized protocols were created for modality selection, initial prescription, and prevention and management of complications. Measures Short-term (90-day) clinical outcomes (Kt/V, hemoglobin, iron saturation, parathyroid hormone, phosphorus, calcium, and albumin) and complications (peritonitis, exit-site infections, leaks, and catheter malfunction) were compared between the urgent-start and non–urgent-start PD groups. Results Short-term clinical outcomes were similar between the 2 groups for all parameters except uncorrected serum calcium level, which was lower in the urgent-start group ( P = 0.02). Peritonitis, exit-site infection, catheter-related complications, and other complications were similar between the 2 groups, although the number of minor leaks was higher in the urgent-start group. Limitations This is a single-center nonrandomized study with a small sample size. Conclusions Our structured program shows safety and feasibility in starting PD in patients with kidney failure who present without a plan for dialysis modality. The steps laid out in this report can provide the framework for creating local urgent-start PD programs.
In vitro photoelectrochemical model of the Z scheme in green plant photosynthesis

Abstract In this paper we describe the construction of an in vitro photoelectrochemical model of the Z scheme in green plant photosynthesis. PS I- and PS II-enriched particles from spinach chloroplasts are used in a three-compartment photoelectrochemical cell. Specific acceptors and donors for the two photosystems are employed in this cell in order to reproduce in each compartment the reactions occurring in the different branches of the Z scheme. The three-cell compartments respectively correspond to the branches: 1. the dark oxidation of water by P680 + to evolve oxygen: 2. the photoreduction of an electron acceptor by the P680 light reaction followed by 3. the dark oxidation of an electron donor by P700 + , and 4. the photoreduction of NADP + by the P700 hght reaction. The reaction sequences 1–2a and 2b–3 can occur independently in the presence of suitable acceptors and donors. However, the photochemical yields are shown to improve significantly when the two light reactions are allowed to operate in series.
Neurotensin: A new ‘reward peptide’

oeurotensin (NT) is a tridecapeptide which is thought to bind to receptors located on dopamine cells in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Rats with cannulas implanted in the VTA showed a significant increase in time spent in an environment in which they had received bilateral injections of neurotensin on previous days. This is indicative of conditioned reinforcement in which the neuropeptide was the primary reinforcer. In order to determine the specificity of neurotensin receptor interactions, 3 fragments of the peptide were examined at 2 doses. NT1-8 and NT8-13 were found to be inactive while NT1-11 demonstrated significant activity. The results suggest that NT in the VTA is capable of inducing reinforcing effects. This is the first evidence for a non-opiate 'reward peptide'.
Liver trauma in children

Abstract Of 40 children suffering liver trauma, blunt trauma caused 92.5%, including 22 automobile accident victims. Associated injuries to chest, bone, head, retroperitoneal area, and kidney occurred in 67.5%. Shock, low hematocritis, and leukocytosis were frequent findings. Physical findings aided diagnosis, but radiography did not. Peritoneal taps, positive in 13 of 15 patients (86.7%), were useful diagnostically. Twenty-eight patients had liver lacerations, and seven had liver ruptures. Methods of surgical repair varied considerably, but T-tube choledochostomy did not affect results. Postoperative complications in ten of 35 survivors (28.6%) consisted of right pleural effusion, atelectasis, abscesses, and wound infections. Five patients (12.5%) died. Although deaths in adults with liver trauma are usually due to hemorrhage from thoracoabdominal structures other than liver, in our series two patients died from severe brain damage and three from exsanguinating liver tears. Pedestrians and automobile passengers had the highest rate of associated injuries, shock, severe liver pathology, complications, and the only mortalities. In contrast to our findings, adult liver injury is usually due to penetrating trauma. Children with blunt liver injury do considerably better than adults with similar etiology and extent of injury.
Genetics of Acid Adaptation in Oral Streptococci

A growing body of information has provided insights into the mechanisms by which the oral streptococci maintain their niches in the human mouth. In at least one case, Streptococcus mutans, the organism apparently uses a panel of proteins to survive in acidic conditions while it promotes the formation of dental caries. Oral streptococci, which are not as inherently resistant to acidification, use protective schemes to ameliorate acidic plaque pH values. Existing information clearly shows that while the streptococci are highly related, very different strategies have evolved for them to take advantage of their particular location in the oral cavity. The picture that emerges is that the acid-adaptive regulatory mechanisms of the oral streptococci differ markedly from those used by Gram-negative bacteria. What future research must determine is the extent and complexity of the acid-adaptive systems in these organisms and how they permit the organisms to maintain themselves in the face of a low-pH environment and the microbial competition present in their respective niches.
Phase transitions of a quasiperiodic Josephson-junction array in magnetic fields.

We have studied both analytically and numerically the phase transitions of a quasiperiodic array of Josephson junctions in transverse magnetic fields. The lattice we consider has Fibonacci quasiperiodicity in one direction and is periodic in the other. Monte Carlo simulation as well as analytical arguments suggest that the phase transition is of the Kosterlitz-Thouless type at certain special magnetic fields. The ground-state configuration is found to be ferromagnetically ordered at these fields, which corresponds to especially weak frustration.
Thin-walled curved hexagonal beams in crashes – FEA and design

This paper focuses on the crashworthiness analysis and crash responses of thin-walled curved beams with hexagonal cross sections. An optimal design of hexagonal cross-sectional profile of such curved beams are obtained based on the observations of typical crash responses of a series of thin-walled curved hexagonal beam samples. The optimised curved beam achieves maximum energy-absorption capability. Detailed finite element (FE) models and finite element analysis (FEA) method are employed to investigate the crash behaviour of the curved hexagonal beams and provide the observations for the optimum design. In this design optimisation problem, the specific energy absorption is set as the objective, and the cross-sectional side length and wall thickness are selected as two design variables. The design samples are selected from design space using factorial design method, and the design problem is formulated based on the FEA results of the design samples, by the use of design of experiments method. Afterwards, s...
Early growth decisions of entrepreneurs: The influence of competency and prior performance under changing market conditions

The transition between the founding of firms and their first steps toward growth represents a critical juncture in the life cycle of new firms. An experimental study was conducted among a sample of 103 owner-operators of independent hardware stores, in order to examine the effects of their competency and their store's prior performance on their decisions to grow their business under changing market conditions. The results of the study indicate that prompt and vigorous actions to grow the business in response to market changes are more likely under the following conditions: A high level of competence in the firm combined with poor prior performance A low level of competence in the firm, combined with good prior performance These findings attest to the critical importance of competency building in new and small firms, as competency appears to facilitate responsive behavior to changing market conditions when the firm's performance has not been favorable. Such competencies may go beyond technical competencies and may include the ability of firms to build relationships with current and prospective customers, which may help the firm anticipate and better understand customer needs. The results also indicate that the folklore about the vigorous responsiveness of entrepreneurs across all kinds of situations, and in the face of all sorts of adversity, may be misplaced or inaccurate. The varying patterns of responsiveness found in our study should provide food for thought, particularly for entrepreneurs who are fortunate to find themselves in positions in which the firm's competencies are high and its prior performance good. Under such circumstances, our results show that a “fat cat” syndrome is likely to set in and undermine the responsiveness of the firm to changing market conditions. For public policy-makers, our results suggest that programs which support competence-building among entrepreneurs whose firms are struggling may play an important role in assisting them to respond to the changes they so frequently face in today's markets. Such programs, which may enhance survival rates of firms already in existence as well as encourage them to grow, may aid in job creation and in maintaining a robust economic environment.
Alterations in Numbers of Circulating Platelets Following Surgical Operation and Administration of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

The factors influencing alterations in circulating platelets following surgical operations are analyzed. There is probably no bone marrow depression following surgery which might be responsible for the early thrombocytopenia, nor is operative hemorrhage sufficient to do so. Evidence procuredfrom administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone suggests that adrenal hyperactivity, a result of the stress of operation, may play an important part in the early postoperative thrombocytopenia. The later thrombocytosis was, however, not observed following administration of this drug.
Sustainable predictive storage management: on-line grouping for energy and latency reduction

The divergence of processor and storage system speeds is one of the most intensely investigated problems in computing. Yet the performance disparity remains, and further, storage energy consumption is rapidly becoming a new critical problem. While smarter caching and predictive techniques do much to alleviate this disparity, the problem persists, and data storage remains a growing contributor to latency and energy consumption. We present an online, block-level, context-based predictive engine utilizing opportunistic replication. We test this predictive engine on real-world workloads, gathering all necessary predictive metadata on the fly without any warm-up period, and show reductions of total disk activity by up to 65%. This reduction in logical movement equates to a reduction in physical mechanical movement of the drive by 80%, a reduction of perceived latency by up to 63%, and a reduction in measured energy consumed by mechanical acticvity of 52--71% on live hardware.
Genre recognition of history and fiction

Abstract This paper describes an experiment testing the ability of readers to recognize the genre of a work given very small samples (5 to 15 words) of randomly selected passages of history or fiction. The high degree of accuracy - 79.2% correct responses at 5 words, for example - suggests that genre is deeply embedded in the work and recognizable at the micro-level of the text. The ability to recognize genre was found to be independent of the subject's educational level, but dependent on the genre itself: fiction was more recognizable than history. A second run of the experiment was coupled with a survey seeking to determine what subjects look for in guessing genre. The second run validated the results of the first experiment; the survey found tone to be a najor factor in the decision processes of the subjects.
Photoluminescence and Charge-Transfer Complexes of Calixarenes Grafted on TiO2 Nanoparticles

Calix[4]arenes and thiacalix[4]arenes, cyclic tetramers of phenol, are synthesized with para position (upper rim) tert-butyl, Br, and NO2 groups and grafted covalently onto surfaces of TiO2 nanoparticles up to a geometrical maximum surface density of 0.30 nm-2. Grafted calixarenes are hydrolytically stable and are shown to exist in their ‘cone' conformation from comparison with model materials synthesized by grafting preformed calixarene−Ti complexes. Individually, protonated calixarenes and TiO2 absorb only UV light, but calixarene−TiO2 hybrid organic−inorganic materials absorb light at significantly lower energies in the visible range (>2.2 eV, <560 nm), reflecting ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) between calixarene and Ti centers on surfaces of TiO2 nanoparticles. These absorption energies do not depend on the identity and electron-withdrawing properties of upper rim groups in calixarenes. However, the steady-state photoluminescence emission of the calixarene−TiO2 hybrid material is weakened unif...
Early detection of octopine in crown-gall tumors of Jerusalem artichoke

Abstract The minimum time for transformation of cells in Jerusalem artichoke tuber slices is approximately 18 h after inoculation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens virulent strain 15955, based on the observation that slices shifted from 27°C to 33°C at any time before 18 h after excision and inoculation rarely form tumors. The crown-gall specific arginine derivative, octopine, can be detected in the tissue as early as 29 h after slice excision and bacterial inoculation. The first wound cell divisions have been completed at about that time. Octopine was identified by radiolabeling the tissue with [3H] arginine followed by elution of the compounds which cochromatograph or co-electrophorese with authentic octopine and hydrolysis with octopine oxidase. Sterile control slices produce a product which cochromatographs with authentic octopine in all the chromatographic systems used, but which is not degraded by octopine oxidase.
Inhibition of nuclear protein kinases by adenosine analogues

Abstract Two cyclic AMP-independent protein kinases from rat liver nuclei were inhibited competitively by adenosine and a variety of its analogues: cardycepin, tubercidin, 6-mercaptopurine riboside, 6-methylaminopurine riboside, 6-dimethylaminopurine riboside, and 2'-deoxyadenosine. Neither enzyme was inhibited by 6-methoxypurine riboside. Kinase NI was more sensitive to cordycepin, tubercidin, 6-methylaminopurine riboside,, 2'-deoxyadenosine, and adenosine than was kinase NII. Although the effects of all analogues tested were reversed by increasing the concentration of ATP, kinases NII and NI exhibited marked differences in their affinities for adenosine. The results presented here suggest that 1) differences in the catalytic properties of nuclear protein kinases can be detected by inhibitor studies and 2) modifications in the purine ring and sugar moiety of an adenosine analogue can alter its ability to inhibit nuclear protein kinases.