cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electron microscopy studies of α2-Macroglobulin Conformational Intermediates Obtained by Derivatization with cis-Dichlorodiammineplatinum (II)

Abstract The structure of human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) after reaction with cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (II) (cis-DDP) was studied by electron microscopy. The cis-DDP stabilized a novel conformation of the native inhibitor resembling a doughnut surrounded by two, three, of four well defined spherules. When only two spherules were present, these structures were usually oriented on opposite sides of the doughnut. The protein region joining a spherule to the central structure did not include sufficient mass to exclude stain and was, therefore, invisible. Other images showed spherules that were partially superimposed on the doughnut. A comparison of many molecules suggested great flexibility of the peripheral spherules relative to the central structure. The cis-DDP prevented complete conformational change when the alpha 2M was reacted with trypsin. The products of this reaction included apparent conformational intermediates. These intermediates most closely resembled either native alpha 2M or the well established "H" structure of alpha 2M-proteinase, depending on the initial conditions used to modify the alpha 2 M with cis-DDP. When cis-DDP-treated alpha 2M was reacted with trypsin, purified by chromatography and subsequently treated with diethyldithiocarbamate, complete conformational change was observed. Based on an analysis of the alpha 2M structural intermediates obtained using the chemical modification procedures described here, a new model of alpha 2M conformational change was developed. We postulate that conformational change initially involves contraction of the peripheral spherules towards the central doughnut. These spherules then unfold and elongate in the perpendicular direction to form the lateral walls of the proteinase transformed alpha 2M H structure.
Abstract 13222: Hax1 Overexpression Promotes Sca1+ Cardiac Stem Cell Proliferation and Protects Against Hypoxia-induced Apoptosis

Background: HCLS-associated protein X-1 (HAX1) has been reported to regulate cell proliferation and improve cell survival. Here, we investigate whether HAX1 overexpression can promote the capacity for self-renewal and elicit anti-apoptotic effects on sca1+ cardiac stem cells (CSCssca1+). Methods and Results: CSCssca1+ were isolated from mouse hearts and sorted by flow cytometry. The murine HAX1-encoding gene was constructed into a lentivirus (Lenti-HAX1), and then transduced into CSCssca1+. Lentivirus containing non-encoding DNA sequence (Lenti-Null) served as the control. HAX1 expression level increased by 2.3-fold in the Lenti-HAX1 group, without changing CSCssca1+ characteristics (Fig.1A). Flow cytometry cell cycle analysis revealed that the proportion of cells in S-phase was increased by nearly 6 fold in Lenti-HAX1 CSCssca1+ (46%) than in the Lenti-Null group (8%) (Fig. 1B), which was attributed to retinoblastoma protein hyperphosphorylation (Fig. 1C). The number of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-label...
Experiments in chaotic dynamics

The discovery of deterministic chaotic vibrations in nonlinear dynamical systems has led to new mathematical ideas and analytical techniques in nonlinear dynamics. Along with these new ideas has come a host of new experimental tools to analyze vibrations in physical systems including Poincare maps, bifurcation diagrams, chaos criteria diagrams, Lyapunov exponents and fractal dimensions. Some of these new experimental methods are reviewed in these notes, particularly as they apply to nonlinear mechanical systems.
Vibration of Gates during Overflow and Underflow

Violent vibrations may occur at dam or weir gates being subjected simultaneously to overflow and underflow; model studies have been made to evaluate frequency and magnitude of exciting forces for different types of gates and aprons; design criteria and basic mechanism of excitation are presented.
Addiction and the science of history.

Aims To discuss the contributions historians have made to the addiction field, broadly construed to include licit and illicit drug use, drug policy, drug treatment and epidemiological and neuroscientific research. Methods Review of literature, highlighting specific contributions and controversies from recent research on the United States, the United Kingdom, China and world history. Findings and conclusions At the bar of addiction knowledge, historians make for excellent companions—until they turn quarrelsome. Historians' companionability arises from their ability to tell a particularly rich kind of story, one that blends structure, agency and contingency in a contextualizing narrative. Historians' occasional quarrelsomeness arises from their skepticism about the ascendant brain-disease paradigm, the medical and pharmaceutical establishments and the drug war, especially in its US incarnation. These enterprises have put some historians in a polemical frame of mind, raising doubts about the objectivity of their work and questions about the political orientation of historical scholarship (and, more generally, of social science research) in the field.
A K3 surface associated to certain integral matrices with integral eigenvalues

In this article we will show that there are infinitely many symmetric, integral 3 x 3 matrices, with zeros on the diagonal, whose eigenvalues are all integral. We will do this by proving that the rational points on a certain non-Kummer, singular K3 surface are dense. We will also compute the entire Neron-Severi group of this surface and find all low degree curves on it.
Novel scheme for design of adaptive printed antenna elements

Previously, we presented an adaptive printed antenna element by placing diode-loaded parasitic metallic strips along the radiating edges of a linearly polarized patch antenna to modify the E-plane radiation pattern while slightly affecting the H-plane radiation pattern. We extend that idea to the design of adaptive printed antenna elements that are linearly or circularly polarized. The basic idea is based on the modification of the EM propagation characteristics (surface waves) of the dielectric substrate by using diode-loaded parasitic metallic strips. The radiation patterns can be changed by turning the diodes on or off. It is shown that the configuration of the metallic strips is dependent on the polarization of the antenna. Thus, two designs are presented for linear and circular polarization, respectively. An adaptive linearly polarized antenna is obtained by using four strips near all four edges of the antenna. This allows us to modify the pattern in the E- as well as H-plane. On the other hand, the circularly polarized antenna requires a ring completely surrounding the antenna element.
Effect of acute unloaded arm versus leg cycling exercise on the soleus H-reflex in adults with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract This study compared the effect of acute bouts of unloaded arm versus leg cycling exercise on spasticity of the lower legs in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and then examined post-activation depression (PAD) as a possible mechanism for the anti-spastic effects of acute exercise. Participants (N = 10) had relapsing-remitting MS, slight to moderate spasticity of the soleus muscle, and were independently ambulatory. Spasticity was measured in the soleus muscle using the H-reflex and modified Ashworth scale (MAS). PAD was measured in the soleus muscle based on a simple, standardized protocol for modifying the parameters for evoking the H-reflex. In three separate sessions participants undertook 20 min of either unloaded arm cycling exercise, unloaded leg cycling exercise, or control (quiet sitting) conditions in a random order, and data were collected before and after all three conditions. The H-reflex and MAS were significantly decreased after both unloaded arm and leg cycling exercise and significantly increased after quiet sitting. There was no change over time in PAD among the conditions. The reduction in the H-reflex was ∼50% larger after leg than arm cycling exercise, whereas the reduction in MAS scores was ∼20% larger after leg than arm cycling exercise. Such findings provide support for anti-spastic potential of both arm and leg cycling exercise on spasticity of the legs, but indicate that the effect is larger for the musculature that is activated during cycling and not explained by PAD.
Entanglement between light and an optical atomic excitation

The generation, distribution and control of entanglement across quantum networks is one of the main goals of quantum information science. In previous studies, hyperfine ground states of single atoms or atomic ensembles have been entangled with spontaneously emitted light. The probabilistic character of the spontaneous emission process leads to long entanglement generation times, limiting realized network implementations to just two nodes. The success probability for atom-photon entanglement protocols can be increased by confining a single atom in a high-finesse optical cavity. Alternatively, quantum networks with superior scaling properties could be achieved using entanglement between light fields and atoms in quantum superpositions of the ground and highly excited (Rydberg) electronic states. Here we report the generation of such entanglement. The dephasing of the optical atomic coherence is inhibited by state-insensitive confinement of both the ground and Rydberg states of an ultracold atomic gas in an optical lattice. Our results pave the way for functional, many-node quantum networks capable of deterministic quantum logic operations between long-lived atomic memories.
Quantification and Compensation of Nonspecific Analyte Aggregation in Electrospray Sampling

Electrospray (ES) sources are commonly used to introduce nonvolatile materials (e.g., nanoparticles, proteins, etc.) to the gas phase for characterization by mass spectrometry or ion mobility. Recent studies in our group using ES ion mobility to characterize protein aggregation in solution have raised the question as to whether the ES itself induces aggregation and thus corrupts the results. In this article, we develop a statistical model to determine the extent to which the ES process induces the formation of dimers and higher-order aggregates. The model is validated through ES differential mobility experiments using gold nanoparticles. The results show that the extent of droplet-induced aggregation is quite severe and previously reported cutoff criterion is inadequate. We use the model in conjunction with experiment to show the true dimer concentration in a protein solution as a function of concentration. The model is extendable to any ES source analytical system and to higher aggregation states. For us...
Roles of Ephrin-As and Structured Activity in the Development of Functional Maps in the Superior Colliculus

The orderly projections from retina to superior colliculus (SC) preserve a continuous retinotopic representation of the visual world. The development of retinocollicular maps depend on a combination of molecular guidance cues and patterned neural activity. Here, we characterize the functional retinocollicular maps in mice lacking the guidance molecules ephrin-A2, -A3, and -A5 and in mice deficient in both ephrin-As and structured spontaneous retinal activity, using a method of Fourier imaging of intrinsic signals. We find that the SC of ephrin-A2/A3/A5 triple knock-out mice contains functional maps that are disrupted selectively along the nasotemporal (azimuth) axis of the visual space. These maps are discontinuous, with patches of SC responding to topographically incorrect locations. The patches disappear in mice that are deficient in both ephrin-As and structured activity, resulting in a near-absence of azimuth map in the SC. These results indicate that ephrin-As guide the formation of functional topography in the SC, and patterned retinal activity clusters cells based on their correlated firing patterns. Comparison of the SC and visual cortical mapping defects in these mice suggests that although ephrin-As are required for mapping in both SC and visual cortex, ephrin-A-independent mapping mechanisms are more important in visual cortex than in the SC.
High potency of bombesin for stimulation of human gastrin release and gastric acid secretion

Abstract Dose-response studies were performed in 6 human volunteer subjects to determine the threshold and optimal doses of intravenous bombesin for stimulation of gastric acid secretion and gastrin release. A significant stimulation of both acid and gastrin was obtained with a very low dose, 3 pmol · kg −1 · h −1 . Peak stimulation of acid secretion (67% of pentagastrin PAO) was obtained at 12.5 pmol · kg −1 · h −1 . Serum gastrin response to this dose of bombesinn was similar to that obtained after a high protein meal. Higher doses of bombesin caused further increases in serum gastrin but not in acid secretion. Since very low doses of bombesin, too small to produce detectable increases in immunoreactive serum bombesim, caused parallel increases in gastrin and acid secretion, it is possible that the bombesin-like peptides present in human gastrointestinal tissues contribute to regulation of human gastric secretion.
Specificity of human alcohol dehydrogenase 1C*2 (γ2γ2) for steroids and simulation of the uncompetitive inhibition of ethanol metabolism

Abstract The steady-state kinetics of the recombinant human alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) 1C*2 with steroids were studied in order to determine substrate and inhibitor specificity. The assays were carried out under conditions of pH and temperature that are similar to those found in vivo. The enzyme has measurable activity on 5β-androstan-17β-ol-3-one, 5β-androstan-3β-ol-17-one, 5β-pregnan-3β-ol-20-one and 5β-pregnan-3,20-dione, but much less activity with 5β-cholanic acid-3-one or 5α-pregnan-3β-ol-20-one. The determinants of specificity appear to include a 5β configuration (cis A/B ring fusion) and a 3β-hydroxy or 3-keto group. None of the reactive steroids has a known function in vivo. The activities with the human ADH1C*2 are
Cytomegalovirus Retinitis After Intravitreous Triamcinolone in an Immunocompetent Patient

Purpose To report the case of a 75-year-old man with diabetes who developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis after intravitreous injection of triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA). Design Observational case report. Methods Review of medical records. Results A 75-year-old man with diabetic macular edema developed arcuate retinal whitening after IVTA. A presumptive diagnosis of viral retinitis was made, and a vitrectomy was performed. Polymerase chain reaction of the vitreous was positive for CMV DNA. An infectious disease consultant found no signs of systemic CMV infection, and laboratory examination revealed that the patient was HIV negative. The patient responded well to intravitreal ganciclovir and oral valganciclovir, but when therapy was discontinued, the retinitis recurred and CMV DNA was again detected in the vitreous. The retinitis once again responded to antiviral therapy. Conclusions CMV retinitis can occur after local immunosuppression with IVTA. Clinicians should be aware of this rare complication of IVTA.
Velocity Guidelines for Avoiding Erosion-Corrosion Damage in Sweet Production With Sand

CO{sub 2} corrosion in carbon steel piping systems can be severe depending on a number of factors including CO{sub 2} content, water chemistry, temperature, and percent water cut. For many oil and gas production conditions, corrosion products can form a protective scale on interior surfaces of the piping. In these situations, metal loss rates can reduce to below design allowances. But, if sand is entrained in the flow, sand particles impinging on pipe surfaces can remove the scale or prevent it from forming at localized areas of particle impingement. This process is referred to as erosion-corrosion and can lead to high metal loss rates. In some cases, penetration rates can be extremely high due to pitting. This paper combines laboratory test data on erosion-corrosion with an erosion prediction computational model to compute flow velocity limits (threshold velocities) for avoiding erosion-corrosion in carbon steel piping. Also discussed is how threshold velocities can be shifted upward by using a corrosion inhibitor.
Plasmodium berghei: Resistance to infection in group and individually housed mice

Abstract Female mice housed alone (A) or in groups of five (G) were infected with Plasmodium berghei 2 weeks after splenectomy or sham surgery. Intact (sham-operated) A mice died later than intact G mice, but splenectomized A and G mice died at the same rate. In Expermient II, spleen weights and resting plasma corticosterone concentrations of male A and G mice increased over the first 6 days of infection. G mice had heavier spleens than A mice, but housing did not affect corticosterone levels. In an experiment with female mice, housing conditions were reversed on the day of infection for some animals. Higher spleen weights were found in mice housed in groups after infection, regardless of preinfection conditions. As with the males, plasma corticosterone levels increased over the first week of infection.
A Study of the San Fernando Valley: Rainfall-Can it be Predicted over the Long Term?

(1981). A Study of the San Fernando Valley: Rainfall-Can it be Predicted over the Long Term? Weatherwise: Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 66-70.
Serous Cystadenoma of the Pancreas with Endoscopic Ultrasound Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy and Surgical Correlation

Objectives: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies are commonly used to diagnose tumors of the pancreas. Serous cystadenoma (SCA) is a benign neoplasm that is uncommon and accounts for 1-2% of all pancreatic neoplasms. Study Design: Surgically excised SCAs with preoperative EUS FNA biopsy over a 10-year span were identified. Clinical data were collected, and cytomorphologic features reviewed retrospectively and correlated with surgical excision data. Original cytopathologic diagnoses and retrospectively reviewed cytomorphology features were recorded. Results: Seventeen patients were identified. Original EUS FNA interpretation included 1 ‘unsatisfactory', 9 ‘negative for malignancy' and 7 ‘atypical' or greater; however, all cases were categorized as benign/negative or nondiagnostic on retrospective review. The cases were hypocellular and possessed variable (rare to few-moderate) groups of bland cuboidal epithelial cells embedded in granular debris. Mucosal sampling was present (7/17) and cell blocks were acellular (5/17). Conclusion: This is a large series of pancreas SCAs subjected exclusively to EUS FNA biopsy where all cases had surgical excision confirmation. The 17 cases had hypocellular aspirate smears with the majority showing few bland epithelial cells; however, this can limit definitive diagnosis based on the cytomorphologic evaluation alone. The aspirate smear pattern of EUS FNA of SCAs of the pancreas supports a benign/negative or nondiagnostic categorization.
Design considerations for large public sector defined contribution plans

Abstract The paper identifies differences between private (401 (k)) plans, which have evolved under ERISA and existing public plans, which have not. Examination of model legislation reveals that public plans should largely conform to ERISA going forward and reflect best practices in the private sector. Empirical analysis of equity mutual funds with $1.8 trillion in assets and institutional equity accounts with $98 billion in assets demonstrates efficiencies in separately procured institutional investment, administrative and educational services relative to retail investment products. The analysis points to tension between the duties of trustees and the demands of participants requesting large numbers of retail investment options.
Color shift reduction of a multi-domain IPS-LCD using RGB-LED backlight

Color gamut and static and dynamic color shifts of a multi-domain in-plane-switching liquid crystal display (IPS LCD) are calculated quantitatively using RGB (red, green, and blue) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlights. Simulation results indicate that the LED backlight exhibits a wider color gamut, better angular color uniformity, and 2-4X smaller static and dynamic color shifts than the CCFL system.
The State of American Federalism, 2005: Federalism Resurfaces in the Political Debate

After several years during which federalism was rarely a prominent or explicit issue in political debates, it was in several ways thrust into the public consciousness in 2005. It was not that the president or Congress ceased sacrificing state and local interests to substantive policy goals, as shown by the costly REAL ID Act, stringent new federal requirements in the Temporary Aid to Needy Families reauthorization, and congressional intervention in the Terri Schiavo case. However, Hurricane Katrina, and particularly the delayed and ineffective intergovernmental response, generated substantial debate about the appropriate federal role in disaster relief. In addition, state and local governmental opposition to the No Child Left Behind Act intensified and generated significant attention during the year, particularly as a result of a Utah statute asserting the precedence of state over federal law and a Connecticut lawsuit against the act. Meanwhile, state governments continued to address a number of policy problems that federal officials were unable or unwilling to confront, especially regarding environmental, health-care, and labor issues. Finally, although the Supreme Court in 2005 continued its recent (2003--2004) trend of pulling back somewhat from its late-1990s Congress-curbing decisions, federalism issues figured quite prominently in the senate confirmation hearings for Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito. Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.
Transdermal estradiol and testosterone transfer in man: existence, models, and strategies for prevention.

Transdermal hormone application allows delivery of a clinically relevant hormone dose with less systemic exposure as compared to oral administration, thus decreasing many of the side effects associated with first-pass metabolism, gastrointestinal absorption, and peak plasma drug concentrations. The positive clinical benefits of transdermal estradiol and testosterone have been validated. Additionally, transdermal delivery may be a good option for older individuals who are often polymedicated. Transdermal dosing is often available through different vehicles including patch, gel, emulsion, and spray preparations. While hormone patches may provide a protective covering to the dosed chemical, other formulations are applied directly to the skin and may increase the risk of transfer to another person via interpersonal contact.
Human immunodeficiency virus-associated changes in signal transduction.

It is well established that the activation of T lymphocytes by mitogen/antigen is accompanied by a rise in intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i), changes in membrane potential, metabolism of inositol phospholipid, and activation of protein kinase C. Theseearly events of signal transduction culminate inlate events of lymphocyte activation, namely, DNA synthesis, lymphokine production, and cellular proliferation. In this study we examined the effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on changes in membrane potential and [Ca2+]i levels. The membrane potentials were markedly decreased (depolarized) in T cell lines infected with HIV (H9/HTLV IIIb) and did not respond normally to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or anti-T3 (anti-CD3) monoclonal antibody compared to uninfected H9 cell line. The basal [Ca2+]i levels in H9/HTLV IIIb cells were increased in comparison to those in H9 cells; however, there was very little further increase in [Ca2+]i in H9/HTLV IIIb cells following activation with PHA or anti-T3 monoclonal antibody. This is in contrast to a significant rise in [Ca2+]i in H9 cells following similar stimulation. These data demonstrate abnormalities in the plasma membrane potential and [Ca2+]i levels in chronically infected T cells with HIV. These abnormalities in signal transduction of the T-cell activation pathway could be responsible for T-cell dysfunction in patients with HIV infection.
Physiological characteristics and production of mixed layer and chlorophyll maximum phytoplankton populations in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Phytoplankton photosynthetic rates and relative and absolute growth rates were estimated using 14 C techniques at five stations in the Carribean Sea and two stations in the western Atlantic. Integral photosynthetic rates at the Caribbean stations averaged (±1 S.D.) 633 ± 77 mg C m −2 d −1 . Light-saturated growth rates were about 0.6 d −1 . Relative growth rates averaged 85% in the surface mixed layer and 93% in the lower euphotic zone. Uptake of 14 C at night accounted for 26% of the integral production at the Caribbean stations. The specific activity of Chl a carbon increased at night, and growth rates inferred from this increase were highly correlated with nocturnal 14 C uptake. Based on the Chl a carbon specific activity data, about 76% of the nocturnal 14 C uptake was attributed to phytoplankton. This uptake may have represented assimilation of labeled DOC excreted during the photoperiod. Over 80% of the Chl a in the chlorophyll maximum layers fell in the picoplankton size range. Incubation of these populations at higher irradiance levels revealed no indication of light adaptation over a 24 h period, a result consistent with recent studies of Synechococcus . Chlorophyll maximum populations occurred at about the 3% light level and were estimated to be growing with a doubling time of a little over 2 days. Estimated phytoplankton carbon concentrations were virtually identical in the mixed layers and chlorophyll maxima. The latter were therefore the result of adaptation of the phytoplankton to low irradiance levels and did not represent biomass maxima.
Unstructured Cartesian Grid Methodology for Inviscid Nonequilibrium Hypersonic Flows

In this work, a solution-adaptive unstructured Cartesian grid solver for thermochemical nonequilibrium hypersonic flows with a two-temperature model is developed. The Cartesian grid methodology offers the convenience of automatic grid generation over three-dimensional complex geometries with minimum user intervention. At the same time, an accurate higher-order flux calculation over unstructured-grid topologies is provided. To avoid convergence problems in the explicit flow solver, a point-implicit method is adopted to discretize the source terms. The AUSMPW+ numerical scheme with MUSCL data reconstruction is used, preventing nonphysical oscillations and carbuncle phenomena. The accuracy of the present methodology was verified against DPLR (NASA Ames Research Center's structured-grid nonequilibrium flow solver), showing a good agreement between the two codes. As expected, the AUSMPW+ scheme effectively resolved the large gradients of the flow properties at the shock waves. In parallel, the point-implicit technique used for the source terms allows the original Courant-Friedrichs- Lewy constraints of the explicit solver to be maintained.
Comparison of the PAD and PANAS as Models for Describing Emotions and for Differentiating Anxiety from Depression

Positive (PA) and Negative (NA) Affect scales were analyzed using the Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance (PAD) Emotion Model. PA was weighted by high arousal, pleasure, and dominance (listed in order of beta weights), thus approximating exuberance in PAD space. NA and markers of somatic anxiety were weighted by displeasure, high arousal, and submissiveness, approximating anxiety in PAD space. PA (or exuberance) represented only one of four basic variants of positive affect (exuberant, relaxed, dependent, docile) and NA (or anxiety) represented only one of four basic categories of negative affect (hostile, anxious, disdainful, bored). Thus, PA and NA lacked validity as general and balanced measures of positive and negative affect, respectively. Indeed, the counterintuitive mutual independence of PA and NA was possible only because PA (and NA) dealt narrowly with selective aspects of positive (negative) affect. The PAD alternative to the “tripartite” model showed anxiety and depression shared unpleasant and submissive temperament characteristics but differed because anxiety involved more arousability than depression.
Nucleotide sequence of a small plasmid isolated from Acetobacter pasteurianus.

Abstract A 1440-bp plasmid named pAP12875 was isolated from Acetobacter pasteurianus and its nucleotide sequence determined. An open reading frame was found capable of coding for a protein that has similarity with the replication protein of pVT736-1 from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and the 32-kDa protein of phage Pf3 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Combination of oral non-absorbable and intravenous antibiotics versus intravenous antibiotics alone in the prevention of surgical site infections after colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background Oral non-absorbable antibiotics work by decreasing intraluminal bacterial content after mechanical bowel preparation. The advantage of adding oral non-absorbable antibiotics to intravenous antibiotics to decrease surgical site infection (SSI) after colorectal surgery is not well known. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing the effectiveness of combined oral non-absorbable and intravenous antibiotics versus intravenous antibiotics alone in reducing the incidence of SSI following colorectal surgery.
Examination of Faculty Self-efficacy Related to Online Teaching

Through this study we sought to gain understanding of the challenges professors face as they make the transition to teaching online. We measured professors’ online teaching self-efficacy using survey research methods. Results showed that online teaching self-efficacy was high among the professors surveyed with no self-efficacy scores lower than 3.69 out of 5. The perception of student learning was the independent variable with the greatest impact on self-efficacy. Other variables that had a significant relationship with self-efficacy sub-scales were semesters taught online, future interest in teaching online, gender, satisfaction with teaching online, and academic discipline. The results suggest directions for faculty development interventions such as training and support structures.
Rated importance of personal qualities across four relationships.

Are there stable personal qualities that people value in others across a range of personal and professional relationships? For 4 relationship types that varied across social and professional associations (those of "close friend," "romantic partner," "an employee of yours," and "your boss"), participants rated each of 34 personal qualities on the basis of how important it would be in selecting someone for the relationship. The author factor-analyzed the ratings of importance and created composite scores to represent the 4 factors identified (intimacy, dependability, achievement, and kindness). The author found no difference that was due to relationship type for the factor of kindness. The relationship of romantic partners received the highest ratings on the factor of intimacy. Participants rated the relationship of close friends lower than the other 3 relationships for both of the factors of dependability and achievement. The results indicated that people value some qualities the same regardless of the rel...
Evidence of phosphorous segregation in grain boundaries in electroless-plated Co-P thin film

Abstract Co thin films prepared by an electroless deposition technique were analyzed by X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy in the transmission electron microscope. The overall composition of the deposited film was determined to be approximately Co-4.1 wt%P (Co-7.5 at%P). The spectra taken from the center of the individual grains did not show any evidence of phosphorous. However, when the electron beam was located at the triple point of grain boundaries, a phosphorous peak was detected. Thus, this establishes that the grains are essentially pure Co and that the phosphorous is significantly segregated to the grain boundaries. This may be the cause of the magnetic isolation of the grains.
Effect of probenecid on riboflavin absorption and excretion in man

An oral dose of probenecid given 1 hr. prior to oral administration of riboflavin or riboflavin-5′-phosphate (FMN) to normal humans produced a marked decrease in the excretion rate of the vitamin during the early excretion phase but had no significant effect during the later (post-absorptive) phase. Oral administration of probenecid prior to intramuscular injection of FMN increased the apparent “half-life” of the initial rapid phase of riboflavin excretion. The urinary recovery of riboflavin following oral or intramuscular administration of the vitamin was usually somewhat decreased by probenecid. These results are consistent with our earlier suggestion that riboflavin is excreted in part by renal tubular secretion. It appears that probenecid also inhibits the specialized transport process responsible for the intestinal absorption of riboflavin in man. The complex kinetics of riboflavin distribution and elimination in man are discussed and additional evidence is presented in support of enterohepatic cycling of the vitamin.
A Stochastic Methodology for Regional Wind-Field Modeling

Abstract Three-dimensional, regional scale (≈1000 km) air-quality simulation models require hourly inputs of U and V wind components for each vertical layer of the model and for each grid cell in the horizontal. The standard North American meteorological observation network is used to derive the wind-field inputs for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Regional Oxidant Model (ROM) and other regional models. While a fairly dense surface network with hourly observations exists, upper-air data are obtained only twice per day at monitoring sites typically separated by distances of 300–500 km. Using these data to derive the more spatially and temporally resolved gridded wind fields needed by the ROM introduces uncertainties and errors into the model. We present a method of developing gridded wind fields for the ROM that accounts for these nondeterministic features. The method produces a family of potential gridded wind fields that allows for the stochastic nature of the interpolation process. Examples o...
Marketing and reputation aspects of neonatal safeguards and hospital-security systems.

Technological advancements have migrated from personal-use electronics into the healthcare setting for security enhancements. Within maternity wards and nurseries, technology was seen as one of best way to protect newborns from abduction. The present study is a focus on what systems and methods are used in neonatal security, the security arrangements, staff training, and impacts outside the control of the hospital, customer satisfaction and customer relations management. Through hypothesis-testing and exploratory analysis, gender biases and extremely high levels of security were found within a web-enabled and professional sample of 200 respondents. The factor-based constructs were found to be, in order of the greatest explained variance: security concerns, personal technology usage, work technology applications, and demographic maturity concerns, resulting in four factor-based scores with significant combined variance of 61.5%. It was found that through a better understanding on the importance and vital n...
Assessing the Success and Failure of Navajo Relocation

This paper analyzes forced relocation in the United States and compares it with international standards. It focuses on assessing relative success or failure of forced Navajo relocation in relationship to the two major analytical frameworks: Cernea's World Bank guidelines for planned relocation projects and Scudder's four-stage relocation model. The assessment demonstrates and explains why the relocating agency and, subsequently, the relocation process do not live up to the World Bank guidelines and to Scudder's four-stage relocation model. In addition, it also reveals that the United States' inadequate policies vis-a-vis Native Americans continue today.
Acceleration-based joint stability parameters for total knee arthroplasty that correspond with patient-reported instability:

There is no universally accepted definition of human joint stability, particularly in nonperiodic general activities of daily living. Instability has proven to be a difficult parameter to define and quantify, since both spatial and temporal measures need to be considered to fully characterize joint stability. In this preliminary study, acceleration-based parameters were proposed to characterize the joint stability. Several time-statistical parameters of acceleration and jerk were defined as potential stability measures, since anomalous acceleration or jerk could be a symptom of poor control or stability. An inertial measurement unit attached at the level of the tibial tubercle of controls and patients following total knee arthroplasty was used to determine linear acceleration of the knee joint during several activities of daily living. The resulting accelerations and jerks were compared with patient-reported instability as determined through a standard questionnaire. Several parameters based on accelerations and jerks in the anterior/posterior direction during the step-up/step-down activity were significantly different between patients and controls and correlated with patient reports of instability in that activity. The range of the positive to negative peak acceleration and infinity norm of acceleration, in the anterior/posterior direction during the step-up/step-down activity, proved to be the best indicators of instability. As time derivatives of displacement, these acceleration-based parameters represent spatial and temporal information and are an important step forward in developing a definition and objective quantification of human joint stability that can complement the subjective patient report.
The Stories They'd Tell: Pre-Service Elementary Teachers Writing Stories to Demonstrate Physical Science Concepts.

Preservice teachers enrolled in a science content-based course wrote stories that could help their future students understand a science concept. First, participants chose their topic and wrote the story with few guidelines to establish a baseline. In the next part, a different set of students were given a choice of three topics (based on force, electricity, and heat misconceptions), and collaborated to write stories with guidance from the instructor. Stories were analyzed for narrative and science units, and test scores examined. Without guidance, many students struggled to find ways to integrate science within a story. With guidance, participants wrote stories that included more narrative elements overall, and participants felt the stories helped them understand the concepts.
A Molecular Basis for Inositol Polyphosphate Synthesis in Drosophila melanogaster

Metabolism of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (I(1,4,5)P3) results in the production of diverse arrays of inositol polyphosphates (IPs), such as IP4, IP5, IP6, and PP-IP5. Insights into their synthesis in metazoans are reported here through molecular studies in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Two I(1,4,5)P3 kinase gene products are implicated in initiating catabolism of these important IP regulators. We find dmIpk2 is a nucleocytoplasmic 6-/3-kinase that converts I(1,4,5)P3 to I(1,3,4,5,6)P5, and harbors 5-kinase activity toward I(1,3,4,6)P4, and dmIP3K is a 3-kinase that converts I(1,4,5)P3 to I(1,3,4,5)P4. To assess their relative roles in the cellular production of IPs we utilized complementation analysis, RNA interference, and overexpression studies. Heterologous expression of dmIpk2, but not dmIP3K, in ipk2 mutant yeast recapitulates phospholipase C-dependent cellular synthesis of IP6. Knockdown of dmIpk2 in Drosophila S2 cells and transgenic flies results in a significant reduction of IP6 levels; whereas depletion of dmIP3K, either α or β isoforms or both, does not decrease IP6 synthesis but instead increases its production, possibly by expanding I(1,4,5)P3 pools. Similarly, knockdown of an I(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase results in significant increase in dmIpk2/dmIpk1-dependent IP6 synthesis. IP6 production depends on the I(1,3,4,5,6)P5 2-kinase activity of dmIpk1 and is increased in transgenic flies overexpressing dmIpk2. Our studies reveal that phosphatase and kinase regulation of I(1,4,5)P3 metabolic pools directly impinge on higher IP synthesis, and that the major route of IP6 synthesis depends on the activities of dmIpk2 and dmIpk1, but not dmIP3K, thereby challenging the role of IP3K in the genesis of higher IP messengers.
Targeted cancer therapy with novel high drug‐loading nanocrystals

A novel nanocrystal formulation of hydrophobic drugs has been developed for cancer therapy. The new method, called a three-phase nanoparticle engineering technology (3PNET), includes three phases: phase 1, amorphous precipitate; phase 2, hydrated amorphous aggregate; and phase 3, stabilized nanocrystal. The 3PNET has been applied to two anticancer drugs, paclitaxel (PTX) and camptothecin (CPT), using Pluronic F127 (F127) polymer as a single excipient. The nanocrystals encapsulated over 99% of the drug with a high ratio of drug to excipient. The nanocrystal formulation of PTX did not induce hemolysis at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. Antitumor activity in two tumor models, human lung cancer and murine breast cancer, demonstrated that intravenously injected nanocrystals significantly inhibited the tumor growth. The nanocrystals also showed significant therapeutic effects via oral administration. In addition, the nanocrystals could be further modified for targeted delivery of PTX by conjugating a folate ligand to F127. The new nanomedicine formulations show clear potential for clinical development because of the excellent antitumor activity, low toxicity, and the ease of scale-up manufacture. The formulation method may apply to other hydrophobic drugs.
Performance characteristics of a low heat rejection direct-injection military diesel engine retrofitted with thermal barrier coated pistons

A special two-cylinder military specific power plant was employed to evaluate the effect of thermal barrier coated pistons on overall engine performance at simulated low heat rejection-type operating conditions. This study focused on three combustion systems including a noncoated baseline ductile iron piston along with zirconia and chrome-oxide sealed zirconia coated analogs. For the test matrix encompassing ten full and half-load operating conditions, both coated piston combustion systems yielded a detrimental effect on fuel economy in comparison to the baseline combustion system at constant fueling and air consumption rates. These performance differences were attributed to a combination of combustion phasing modulations, injection timing discrepancies, and sluggish combustion associated with the zirconia coated piston configurations.
Inverse scattering theory: Inverse scattering series method for one dimensional non-compact support potential

The reversion of the Born-Neumann series of the Lippmann-Schwinger equation is one of the standard ways to solve the inverse acoustic scattering problem. One limitation of the current inversion methods based on the reversion of the Born-Neumann series is that the velocity potential should have compact support. However, this assumption cannot be satisfied in certain cases, especially in seismic inversion. Based on the idea of distorted wave scattering, we explore an inverse scattering method for velocity potentials without compact support. The strategy is to decompose the actual medium as a known single interface reference medium, which has the same asymptotic form as the actual medium and a perturbative scattering potential with compact support. After introducing the method to calculate the Green’s function for the known reference potential, the inverse scattering series and Volterra inverse scattering series are derived for the perturbative potential. Analytical and numerical examples demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this method. Besides, to ensure stability of the numerical computation, the Lanczos averaging method is employed as a filter to reduce the Gibbs oscillations for the truncated discrete inverse Fourier transform of each order. Our method provides a rigorous mathematical framework for inverse acoustic scattering with a non-compact support velocity potential.
A successful algorithm for solving directed Hamiltonian path problems

In this paper we present a graph-theoretic polynomial algorithm which has positive probability of finding a Hamiltonian path in a given graph, if there is one; if the algorithm fails, it can be rerun with a randomly chosen starting solution, and there is again a positive probability it will find an answer. If there is no Hamiltonian path, the algorithm will always terminate with failure. We call this a Successful Algorithm because it has high (close to 1) empirical probability of success and it works in polynomial time. Some basic theoretical results concerning spanning arborescences of a graph are given. The concept of a ramification index is defined and it is shown that ramification index of a Hamiltonian path is zero. The algorithm starts with finding any spanning arborescence and by suitable pivots it endeavors to reduce the ramification index to zero. Probabilistic properties of the algorithm are discussed. Computational experience with graphs up to 30 000 nodes is included.
Traumatic tracheal injury in children: A case series supporting conservative management

Abstract Objectives Injuries to the tracheobronchial region are rare, but have the potential for rapid progression and can become life-threatening. Etiologies of non-penetrating tracheobronchial injuries include blunt cervical trauma, endotracheal intubation, and other iatrogenic causes. Several options for treatment ranging from conservative to surgical exist, but no single treatment has been implemented with consensus. While early surgical repair was once considered the cornerstone of therapy, evidence supporting conservative treatment continues to gain strength. Methods All pediatric patients who suffered from non-penetrating injuries to the tracheobronchial tree who were treated by the Otolaryngology Service at a tertiary children's hospital from May 2012 through March 2014 were recorded. A total of 8 patients were identified. The cases were collected from the patients treated by the Otolaryngology Department based on retrospective review. The available electronic medical records were reviewed for each patient. Data including type of injury, endoscopic assessment of injury, treatment received, and follow-up were collected. Results The ages ranged from 2 to 15 years old, with a mean of 9.25 years old. Six of the eight patients had injuries related to endotracheal intubation. Each patient was taken to the operating suite for diagnostic direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy, and treated with initial conservative management. All but one of the patients was treated with endotracheal intubation, and the average length of intubation was 11.71 days. All of the injuries healed spontaneously without requiring initial open surgery. Five patients (62.5%) developed some degree of tracheal stenosis. Three patients (37.5%) required further surgery; one received a tracheostomy and two patients required balloon dilation. Conclusions This case series is the largest to date documenting the outcomes of conservative treatment of non-penetrating traumatic tracheal injuries in children. By using initial conservative therapy, we were able to avoid open surgical procedures in many of our patients. We believe that this case series provides further support for conservative management for children with tracheobronchial injuries.