cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Repeated-dose oral N-acetylcysteine: Effect on brain and blood glutathione concentrations

CO RR EC TE D P RO OF practice in patients with MPS II. The records of twenty-one children with MPS II currently in our clinic were reviewed and the presence/ absence of the 7 key clinical markers of neurological function was noted (increased activity, behaviour difficulties, seizure-like behaviours, sleep problems, bladder training, bowel training and perseverative chewing). The score was repeated at sequential reviews from age at diagnosis until age 7 years or neurological involvement was obvious or until most recent assessment. Thirteen (65%) children developed CNS involvement. Median age at diagnosis due to symptoms was 30 months (range 10 to 72 months). Four children were diagnosed between birth and 8 months due to family history. Of the key clinical markers, behaviour and increased activity were the most frequently reported symptoms. The earliest features suggestive of neurological sub-type were sleep disturbance and aggressive behaviour. Increased activity and late bladder and bowel control were only observed in the neurological group. Abnormal chewing behaviour was never reported by parents. There were no seizure-like episodes in the whole cohort. This tool discriminated well between MPS II with and without neurological involvement in our patient cohort, however, the neurological phenotype was never diagnosed with clinical certainty before 3 years of age and more usually at 4 years. The presence of aggressive behaviour is likely a good indicator of impending neurological problems in MPS II. On the other hand several of the key factors of the scoring system such as seizure-like behaviour or bladder and bowel training were less helpful. Perseverative chewing was not present but this feature may not have been directly sought in the history. This study is limited by its historical review methodology and the scoring system should be tested prospectively. A scoring system does allow the paediatrician to make a focussed assessment of a newly diagnosed child. However, even with this focus it appears difficult to diagnose neurological MPS II clinically with any certainty before 3 years of age. Ultimately in order to benefit from new treatments aimed at the CNS, it is preferable that a biomarker is found. Holt J, Poe MD, Escolar ML: Early clinical markers of central nervous system involvement in mucopolysaccharidosis type II.: J Pediatr. 2011 Aug; 159(2): 320–6.
Drivers of long-haul air transport route development

Abstract An analysis of long-haul routes identifies trends and patterns underlying their development. Five distinct perspectives: geography, regulation, manufacturers, passengers and airlines are taken to investigate the drivers of long-haul route development. From the insights gained it is inferred that the demand for long-haul aircraft is a complex function thereof, whereby long-haul routes are operated between cities with strong business and social connections as influenced by the dynamics of change and underlying geography.
Calcium-binding proteins in electroplax and skeletal muscle comparison of the parvalbumin and phosphodiesterase activator protein of Electrophorus electricus

A soluble calcium-binding protein has been isolated from the red skeletal muscle of the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus). The purification procedure involved ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 in the presence of 45Ca2+, and chromatography on QAE-Sephadex. This procedure resulted in the isolation of a protein which was homogeneous upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The calcium-binding protein was found to be a typical parvalbumin by the following criteria: (1) molecular weight of 11 000; (2) pl of 4.7; (3) 1.9 mol Ca2+ bound per mol protein; Kd of approx. 10−7 M; (4) no detectable phosphorus; (5) amino acid composition included nine residues of phenylalanine, single arginine, and no tyrosine or tryptophan; (6) emax at 259 nm; (7) 260 nm:280 nm absorbance ratio of 4.78. Only one parvalbumin could be detected in muscle. Immunoprecipitation assay revealed that the parvalbumin was a major soluble component of skeletal muscle (0.10 mg/mg soluble protein), but could not be detected in liver, kidney, brain, spleen, heart or electroplax. Comparison of the parvalbumin with a calcium-binding protein previously isolated from electroplax revealed that the two proteins were different as judged by a variety of chemical criteria. These results suggest that during embryological development of electroplax the parvalbumin is lost and that it is not required for the function of electric tissue.
Local and non-local interactions of fluxes mediated by the glucose and galactoside permeases of Escherichia coli

Abstract 1. 1. When α-methyl glucoside is transported via the glucose permease of Escherichia coli , there are two levels of effects on the transport of galactosides via the galactoside permease. The first is direct because it is immediate and responds to the external concentration and not to the instantaneous internal concentrations and appears to result from competition for some membrane component common to the transport via the glucose and galactoside permeases. The second effect acting in addition to the first is indirect in that it requires several minutes for the full inhibition to be observed when low concentrations are used and responds to the internal concentration. Glucose gives the first response, but does not give the second as quickly as does α-methyl glucoside. Neither azide nor succinate aid or prevent this second effect. 2. 2. Under the usual growth conditions that result in high glucose permease, i.e. growth on glucose, galactosides have little inhibitory effect on α-methyl glucoside uptake although α-methyl glucoside effectively inhibits galactoside transport. However, under chemostat growth with glucose limitation, inhibitions are readily demonstrated. Having high levels of both permeases is not the sole requirement for observing interaction between fluxes because chemostat growth at fast dilution in a limiting mixture of glucose plus succinate results in bacteria with high levels of both permeases, but little interaction of either flux with the other.
Improved method for growing II-VI crystals from the vapor phase

Abstract The authors describe a vapor transport method of growing ZnSe and ZnTe which permits more rapid growth, convenient doping by volatile compounds, and better control of stoichiometry.
Characteristics of child abuse in immigrant Korean families and correlates of placement decisions.

Abstract Objective This study examined the characteristics and patterns of child abuse among immigrant Korean families in Los Angeles and critical variables that contribute to the type of placement made by the child protective services (CPS) system. Method Data were obtained from reviewing and analyzing 170 active Korean case files maintained by the Asian Pacific Unit (APU) of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (LAC-DCFS) during July through September, 2001. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the odds of children being kept in or removed from the home. Results Some of the major findings from this study include: (1) immigrant Korean families are more likely to be charged with physical abuse (49.4%) and less likely to be charged with neglect (20.6%) in comparison with all other groups in Los Angeles (13.2% and 27.1%, respectively); (2) the circumstance under which physical abuse occurred most frequently was corporal punishment used by Korean parents with an intention to discipline their children; and (3) the context under which emotional abuse occurred among the Korean families was likely to be children's witnessing domestic violence. In addition, the logistic regression showed that response status, referral source, living arrangement, victim's relationship to perpetrator, and chronicity of abuse were significant in predicting out-of-home placement. Conclusions An analysis of Korean child abuse cases reported to child protective service revealed that culture and child rearing practices shaped the patterns of child maltreatment. A culturally sensitive approach is strongly suggested for effective child abuse prevention and intervention services with this group by CPS agencies.
SYSTEMATICS OF TRIPSACUM DACTYLOIDES (GRAMINEAE)

Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L. extends across the range of this genus from about 42?N to 240S latitude in the New World. It is recognized to include T. dactyloides var. dactyloides (North America), var. meridonale deWet et Timothy (South America), var. hispidum (Hitchc.) deWet et Harlan comb. nov. (Mesoamerica) and var. mexicanum deWet et Harlan var. nov. (Mesoamericana). The genus is divided into sections Tripsacum and Fasciculatum. Mesoamerican members of section Tripsacum are classified into T. bravum Gray, T. dactyloides (L.) L., T. intermedium deWet et Harlan spec. nov., T. latifolium Hitchc., T. manisuroides deWet et Harlan spec. nov. and T. zopilotense Hern. et Randolph. A key to the species of section Tripsacum is presented. TRIPSACUM L. is a New World grass genus of some 15 species (Cutler and Anderson, 1941; deWet, Gray and Harlan, 1976; deWet et al., 1981). Species limits are not clearly defined, and several taxa grade into one another on the basis of some key morphological characters (Randolph, 1970). The most variable species is T. dactyloides (L.) L. It occurs in various habitats from about 42?N to about 24?S latitude across much of the Americas and the Caribbean islands. The species is characterized by functional diploid (2n = 36), triploid (2n = 54) and tetraploid (2n = 72) races, with the polyploids frequently reproducing as gametophytic apomicts. In Florida, T. dactyloides is sympatric with T.floridanum Porter ex Vasey (2n = 36), in Mesoamerica its range and habitats are similar to those of several tropical species, and it occurs sympatrically with T. australe Cutler and Anderson (2n = 36) and T. cundinamarce deWet and Timothy (2n = 36) in South America. Tripsacum dactyloides was collected from across its range and studied in systematic detail.
Light-matter interaction processes behind intracavity mode-locking devices

Non-interacting Boson-like properties of light beams imply that superposed light beams by themselves cannot re-organize or re-distribute their energies either in spatial or in the time domain. Yet, we explain short pulse generation by lasers with intra-cavity devices as due to phase locking of the longitudinal modes of the laser cavity, irrespective of whether the lasing material has homogeneously or in-homogeneously broadened spectral characteristics. Most short pulse generating "mode locked" lasers use homogeneously broadened gain media that always tend to run in a single frequency at the gain line center that has the highest gain under CW condition. Can a passive intra-cavity saturable absorber or a Kerr medium switch the spectral characteristics of a homogeneously broadened gain medium into an in-homogeneously broadened gain medium to make the laser run in multiple longitudinal modes? We believe that the lasing medium runs in a single mode (frequency) at the center of the gain medium and the intra-cavity saturable absorber or the Kerr medium simply plays the role of fast time gating (switching). This implies that "transform limited" "mode-locked" laser pulses, in reality, contain only a single carrier frequency. We will present the appropriate mathematical representation for the spectral analysis of such "mode-locked" pulses. We will also discuss models for the physical process that give rise to the generation of short (nanosecond class) pulses even in the absence of multiple longitudinal modes and then use the concepts for generating shorter (picosecond and femtosecond) pulses.
Design of a Plane-Type Bidirectional Thermal Diode

The design of a plane-type, bidirectional thermal diode is presented. This diode is composed of two vertical plates and several fluid-filled loops with their horizontal segments soldered to the vertical plates. This invention is simple in construction and low in cost. The direction of heat transfer in the invented thermal diode can be easily reversed. These features of the present invention make it very attractive to solar energy utilization. Natural convection analysis for thermosyphon operations was adopted for heat transfer calculations of the fluid-filled loops. A one-dimensional heat transfer analysis was employed to estimate the heat transfer rate and ratio of heat transfer rates of the diode under forward and reverse bias.
Molecular physiology of syndromic obesities in humans

Obesity has become an increasingly prevalent public health problem and represents the complex interaction of genetic, developmental, behavioral and environmental influences. Although rare, the study of syndromic forms of obesity provides insight into underlying molecular and physiological mechanisms by which adiposity is regulated through food intake, energy expenditure and partitioning of stored calories.
Treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma xenografts with the HB22.7 anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody and phosphatase inhibitors improves efficacy

To examine the role of phosphatase inhibition on anti-CD22, HB22.7-mediated lymphomacidal effects. CD22 is a cell-surface molecule expressed on most B cell lymphomas (NHL). HB22.7 is an anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody that binds a unique CD22-epitope, blocks ligand binding, initiates signaling, and has demonstrated lymphomacidal activity. The SHP-1 tyrosine phosphatase is associated with the cytoplasmic domain of CD22. Sodium orthovanadate (NaV) is a phosphatase inhibitor. The SHP-1-CD22 interaction presents an opportunity to manipulate CD22-mediated signaling effects. In vitro cell culture assays and in vivo human NHL xenograft studies were used to assess the effects of phosphatase inhibition. NaV caused dose dependent killing of NHL cells in vitro; when HB22.7 was given with NaV, antibody-mediated cell death was augmented. Flow cytometry showed that NaV-pretreatment resulted in less CD22 internalization after ligation with HB22.7 than did control cells. Studies in mice bearing Raji NHL xenografts showed that the combination of NaV and HB22.7 shrank NHL tumors more rapidly, had a higher complete response rate (80%), and produced the best survival compared to controls; no toxicity was detected. Studies using Raji cells stably transfected with SHP-1DN confirmed that these observations were due to SHP-1 inhibition. The relatively specific association of SHP-1 with CD22 suggests that CD22-specific signal augmentation by phosphatase inhibitors can improve the clinical outcome of anti-CD22 based immunotherapy.
FTIR studies of the contributions of plant polymers to coal formation

Abstract In order to clarify the contribution of the plant polymers to coalification, some representative peats from the Florida Everglades and the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia, have been examined utilizing FTIR spectroscopy. The complex spectra of these peats may be viewed in terms of a few characteristics, which change fairly systematically as a function of depth of burial. These four components are sets of bands due to the contribution of polysaccharides, lignin, certain oxygen-containing functional groups (principally carbonyl and carboxylic acid), and aliphatic CH groups. Generally, the polysaccharide bands rapidly disappear with depth in all cores and the spectra increasingly resemble that of lignin, though with some modification. There is a significant contribution, however, from bands in the 1650–1750 cm −1 range, assigned to carboxylic acids and conjugated carbonyl groups, suggesting oxidative modification. In a few specific cores, there is also an increase in the intensity of bands near 2900 cm −1 , assigned to long chain alkanes.
Lossless coding for sources of floating-point and fixed-precision numbers

A procedure for constructing binary models for sources of floating-point and fixed-precision numbers is given and used together with the minimum description length principle to find optimal models. These models are used to design noiseless source codes which take into consideration the practical tradeoff between minimizing memory cost and expected code length. As an example, the authors show the impossibility of compressing the Gaussian source of floating-point numbers beyond a certain point regardless of the variance. >
Systemic lupus erythematosus and gouty arthritis: an uncommon association

Objective To examine the frequency of gouty arthritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and elucidate the clinical factors that predispose to this occurrence. Methods A chart review of in-patients (1989-2001) and out-patients (1999-2001) with ICD9 billing codes for gouty arthritis/tophaceous gout and SLE was performed. Twenty-six patients were identified. Patients meeting American College of Rheumatism criteria for SLE and crystal-proven gout or a self-limited inflammatory arthritis felt to be crystal-induced (i.e. definite gout) were included. Results Ten patients were identified. Their mean age was 46.5 yr; 80% were African-American and 70% were women. Nine of the ten had lupus nephritis and four had undergone renal transplantation. An acute worsening of renal function unrelated to lupus activity preceded almost all gout flares. Lupus activity at the time of the first gout attack as measured by the Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM) was low. Eight patients were on prednisone (mean dose 8 mg/day) for their SLE at the time the attack of gout occurred. Conclusions Gouty arthritis is uncommon in SLE; it occurs primarily in patients with long-standing SLE and nephritis. Worsening renal function usually preceded gout attacks, but SLE disease activity was minimal. Crystal-induced arthritis should be included in the differential diagnosis of a lupus patient presenting with acute inflammatory arthritis because the long-term treatment of the two conditions differs substantially.
Synganglion transcriptome and developmental global gene expression in adult females of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae)

454 Pyrosequencing was used to characterize the expressed genes from the synganglion and associated neurosecretory organs of unfed and partially fed virgin and mated replete females of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis. A total of 14 881 contiguous sequences (contigs) was assembled, with an average size of 229 bp. Gene ontology terms for Level 2 biological processes were assigned to 4366 contigs. Seven acetylcholinesterases, a muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor, two nicotinic ACh receptor β-subunits, two ACh unc-18 regulators, two dopamine receptors, two gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, two GABA transporters, two norepinephrine transporters and an octopamine receptor are described. Microarrays were conducted to examine global gene expression and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to verify expression of selected neuropeptides. Hierarchical clustering of all differentially expressed transcripts grouped part-fed and replete ticks as being more similar in terms of differentially expressed genes with unfed ticks as the outgroup. Nine putative neuropeptides (allatostatin, bursicon-β, preprocorazonin, glycoprotein hormone α, insulin-like peptide, three orcokinins, preprosulphakinin) and a gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor were differentially expressed, and their developmental expression and role in reproduction was investigated. The presence of eclosion hormone, corazonin and bursicon in the synganglion, which in insects regulate behaviour and cuticle development associated with moulting, suggest that this system may be used in ticks to regulate blood feeding, cuticle expansion and development related to female reproduction; adult ticks do not moult.
Development of an optical approach for noninvasive imaging of Alzheimer’s disease pathology

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of aggregates of the amyloid-b (Ab) peptide in the brain. These aggre- gates manifest themselves as senile plaques and cerebrovascular amy- loid angiopathy (CAA). While traditional histochemical approaches can easily identify these deposits in postmortem tissue, only recently have specific ligands been developed to target Ab in living patients using positron emission tomography (PET). Successful detection of Ab pathology in patients will enable definitive preclinical diagnosis of AD, and enable quantitative evaluation of the efficacy of anti-Ab therapeutics developed to treat the disease. PET scanning, however, has several disadvantages including high cost, low availability, and the requirement for radioactive tracers. We describe recent progress in the development of techniques for imaging Ab deposits noninvasively using optical approaches. Successful development of an optical de- tection platform would enable inexpensive, accessible, nonradioac- tive detection of the Ab deposits found in AD. © 2005 Society of Photo- Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (DOI: 10.1117/1.1846075)
Portfolio Risk in Multiple Frequencies

Portfolio risk, introduced by Markowitz in 1952, and defined as the standard deviation of the portfolio return, is an important metric in the Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). A popular method for portfolio selection is to manage the risk and return of a portfolio according to the cross-correlations of returns for various financial assets. In a real world scenario, estimated empirical financial correlation matrix contains significant level of intrinsic noise that needs to be filtered prior to risk calculations. In this paper, we present basic concepts of risk engineering in finance applications. Then, we extend our discussion to the eigenfiltering of measurement noise for hedged portfolios. Moreover, we extend risk measurement methods for trading in multiple frequencies. Finally, three novel risk management methods are proposed as an independent overlay of the underlying investment decision mechanism, i.e. the trading strategy. We highlight performance and merit of the risk engineering techniques introduced by presenting the back-testing results of an investment strategy for the stocks listed in the NASDAQ 100 index. It is shown in the paper that managing portfolio risk more intelligently may offer advantages for improved return on investment.
Diesel exhaust particles modify natural killer cell function and cytokine release

Natural killer (NK) cells are an important lymphocyte population in the nasal mucosa and play important roles in linking the innate and the adaptive immune response. Their two main functions are direct cell-mediated cytotoxicity and the release of cytokines. They are important during viral infections and cancer. Due to their location in the nasal mucosa, NK cells are likely exposed to inhaled pollutants, such as diesel exhaust. Whether and how exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) affects NK cell function in the context of viral infections has not been investigated. NK cells were isolated from peripheral blood obtained from normal healthy volunteers and subsequently stimulated with the viral mimetic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (pI:C), DEP, or pI:C+DEP for 18 hours. NK cells were subsequently analyzed for changes in surface marker expression, cytokine production, gene expression changes, and cytotoxic function using flow cytometry, ELISA, qRT-PCR, and cell-mediated cytotoxicity assay, respectively. Stimulation of NK cells with pI:C and pI:C+DEP, but not DEP alone, increased the release of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IFN-γ and TNF-α. As compared to pI:C alone or pI:C+DEP, the release of IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α was significantly lower after DEP stimulation alone. Stimulation with pI:C alone increased the gene and protein expression of granzyme B and perforin, which was completely blunted by adding DEP. Addition of DEP further reduced CD16 expression in pI:C stimulated cells. Similarly, cell-mediated cytotoxicity was significantly reduced by the addition of DEP. In the context of viral infection, DEP potentially reduces NK cells' ability to kill virus-infected host cells, in spite of normal cytokine levels, and this may increase susceptibility to viral infections . This reduction in the potential ability of NK cells to kill virus-infected host cells may increase the susceptibility to viral infections after DEP exposure.
Porous Organosilicates for On-Chip Dielectric Applications

Porous organosilicates useful for on-chip insulator applications can be prepared by templating the vitrification of low molecular weight silsesquioxanes (SSQs) using highly branched, thermally labile macromolecules which are subsequently removed in a thermal process to generate porosity. The process involves spin coating a mixture of the matrix material and the porogen (pore generator) followed by thermal curing to initiate vitrification and decomposition of the porogen. The morphology is fixed during the formation of the nanoscopic inorganicorganic hybrid and is maintained during foaming. This process generates controllable and stable morphologies where the void volume is determined by the porogen loading level. The porous materials are thermally robust and intrinsically hydrophobic without subsequent chemical treatment. Dielectric constants of < 2.2 are easily achieved for pore volumes of only 20%, and this porosity appears to be predominately closed cell in nature. These materials display a number of thermal mechanical and electric properties consistent with the requirements for on-chip insulator applications.
Validation Studies: Matters Of Dimensionality, Accuracy, And Parsimony With Predictive Discriminant Analysis And Factor Analysis

Two studies were used as examples that examined issues of dimensionality, accuracy, and parsimony in educational research via the use of predictive discriminant analysis and factor analysis. Using a two-group problem, study 1 looked at how accurately group membership could be predicted from subjects? test scores. Study 2 looked at the dimensionality structure of an instrument and if it developed constructs that would measure theorized domains.
Implementation of the ORIC Magnetic Field Measurements

The experimental details and methods employed in an extensive remapping of the magnetic field of the Oak Ridge Isochronous Cyclotron (ORIC) were reported previously. The medium- to high-field data (from 12 to 20 kgauss) have been Fourier analyzed and each of the coefficients parameterized in terms of the currents in the main coil, trim, harmonic and valley coils and the average field at each of the radii at which measurements were made. By inclusion of the average field in the formulation, the nonlinear effects of the iron are implicitly taken into account. This procedure has reduced the overall size of the data base by a factor of 100. Synthesis of the field from this parameterization reproduces the absolute field to within 10 gauss and the relative field to within 5 gauss. A field optimization program, which incorporates these results, is currently under development in an effort to enhance the heavy ion acceleration capabilities of the cyclotron and as an aid in the development of new beams.
intra-cultural diversity: some theoretical issues1

Recent anthropological research includes a growing number of studies which focus directly on issues of intra-cultural and intra-community diversity, rather than simply recording passing mention of “deviations” from norms or cultural patterns that are presumed to be standardized. Studies of behavioral and cognitive diversity are essential for understanding differential processes of social change, as well as other theoretical problems. We suggest that intra-group diversity in behavioral repertoires and cognitive orientations, like genetic diversity within populations, is of great significance for on-going processes of human adaptation.
Joint Source-Channel Coding at the Application Layer

The multicasting of an independent and identically distributed Gaussian source over a binary erasure broadcast channel is considered. This model applies to a one-to-many transmission scenario in which some mechanism at the physical layer delivers information packets with losses represented by erasures, and users are subject to different erasure probabilities. The reconstruction signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) region achieved by concatenating a multiresolution source code with a broadcast channel code is characterized and four convex optimization problems corresponding to different performance criteria are solved. Each problem defines a particular operating point on the dominant face of the SNR region. Layered joint source-channel codes are constructed based on the concatenation of embedded scalar quantizers with binary raptor encoders. The proposed schemes are shown to operate very close to the theoretical optimum.
Sediment chemical contamination and toxicity associated with a coastal golf course complex

The increasing density of golf courses represents a potential source of sediment contamination to nearby coastal areas, the chemical and biological magnitude of which is almost unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of contaminants and toxicities of sediments impacted by a coastal golf course complex. Sediment contaminant concentrations were determined at least twice during the two-year study period at 14 sampling stations. In addition, a combination of acute and chronic bioassays were conducted exposing four invertebrate test species to whole sediments and associated pore waters. Overall, the Florida, USA, golf course complex had a measurable impact on sediment chemical quality, particularly in near-field areas. Higher concentrations of several trace metals and organochlorine pesticides were detected in many golf course-associated sediments compared with reference areas; however, concentrations decreased seaward and only a few, primarily chlorinated pesticides, exceeded proposed sediment quality guidelines. Chromium, zinc, and mercury were detected more frequently than other trace metals. The DDT and associated metabolites, dieldrin and chlordane, were the more commonly detected organic contaminants. Acute toxicity was uncommon and occurred consistently for sediment collected from one coastal location. In contrast, chronic toxicity occurred at several study sites based on the response of Mysidopsis bahia. It was concluded that the impact of golf course runoff on sediment quality may be subtle and sensitive biological assessment methods, such as chronic toxicity tests, will be needed to detect adverse effects.
OBSERVATIONS ON COURTSHIP AND COPULATION OF THE WOLF SPIDER RABIDOSA SANTRITA (ARANEAE, LYCOSIDAE)

Abstract In this note, I describe courtship and mating behavior of the wolf spider Rabidosa santrita (Chamberlin & Ivie 1942) from riparian habitat in southeastern Arizona. Males responded to substrate-borne cues of females with several distinctive behaviors: they walked slowly, following female web draglines; with their palps, they plucked the dragline and/or tapped on the substrate near the dragline; and they performed raises and extensions of legs I, “tapping” the tips while in midair. On substrate previously occupied by another male, these behaviors were either not done or males performed them more rapidly, and for a shorter duration. Males initiated courtship, which consisted of taps or short strokes of legs I of the female by the male's legs I. Copulation was similar to that described for other species of Rabidosa. Males inserted one palp at a time, performed one hematodochal expansion per insertion, moistened the palp following insertion, and alternated palps for each insertion. Copulation lasted f...
Formation of C3H6 from the Reaction C3H7 + O2 and C2H3Cl from C2H4Cl + O2 at 297 K

The generation of conjugate olefins from the reactions of propyl (reaction 1) or chloroethyl (reaction 2) radicals with O2 has been investigated as a function of total pressure (0.4−700 Torr) at 297 ± 2 K. The experiments were carried out by UV irradiation of mixtures of propane (or ethyl chloride), Cl2, and O2 to generate alkyl radicals. Propylene from reaction 1 was measured by FTIR spectroscopy, while vinyl chloride from reaction 2 was monitored by both FTIR and gas chromatographic analysis. At pressures where the formation of propylperoxy radicals is near the high-pressure limit, the propylene yield from reaction 1 was inversely dependent on total pressure (YC3H6 ∝ P-0.68±0.03), proving that it is formed via rearrangement of an excited propylperoxy adduct that can also be stabilized by collision. The vinyl chloride yield decreased from 0.3 ± 0.1% at 1 Torr to <0.1% at 10 Torr. Because the formation of chloroethylperoxy radicals is in the fall-off region over this pressure range, the vinyl chloride yie...
Adoption Tax Benefits: Policy Considerations

In this article, Smith summarizes portions of the legislation which provides a tax credit for adoption expenses and an exclusion from an employee's gross income for employer-paid adoption expenses. He reviews some of the ironies, complications, and difficulties that can arise from the current law. He then suggests some guiding principles that should be applied in writing future adoption tax benefit legislation. He also discusses some specific tax policy options relating to these principles and possible behavioral implications.
Accounting Standards Enforcement in an International Setting: Testing the Impact of Cultural, Religious, Political and Legal Environment on National Regulatory Efforts

As the world has become more connected through advancements in technology and expansions of multinational corporations, the call has grown louder for a global set of financial reporting standards to help compare the financial results of companies conducting business internationally to better measure performance in comparison with competitors from countries using diverse sets of local or international accounting standards. Although in theory a global set of reporting standards creates a more cohesive and comparable financial reporting environment, this argument fails to take into account how the underlying differences in the culture, political, and legal environments across nations impacts the enforcement of these standards. If the enforcement efforts of accounting standards do vary as a result of national characteristics, it adds an important dimension to the arguments for and against the globalization of accounting standards for the purposes of improved comparability and standardization, because it has implications for the comparability of financial reports across nations with differing levels of enforcement. This study evaluates whether the accounting standards enforcement efforts vary as a result of underlying differences in cultural, religious, political and legal environments. Whereas there is a body of literature focusing on the adoption of IFRS and the quality of financial reporting, this study provides a new and important contribution to the literature seeking to understand whether the often advocated widespread adoption of any set of international standards can provide the link in comparability across nations that proponents have been calling for. Rather than focusing on the standards themselves, this study focuses on the hypothesized determinants of variation in enforcement efforts across nations. The results indicate that there are systematic differences in enforcement based on underlying cultural, religious, political and legal environment differences.
Neither Seen Nor Heard: Children's Citizenship in Democracies

Children occupy an uncertain place in democratic politics, as either vehicles to replicate adult values or unrepresented wards of adults as women were under coverture. This article discusses the conflict between parents and the state and how it shapes the semi-citizenship of children.
'A Choice of Weapons': The X-Men and the Metaphor of Black Power versus Integrationism

During the 20th Century, the competing ideals and methodologies of the Integrationist and Black Power movements took center stage in African American's quest for social justice and racial equality. There has long been an assumption that the Civil Rights Movement and appeals for integration and to the moral character of whites lead to sweeping social change around issues of race in America. The counter-narrative is that demands for black power forced the hand of the white power structure, that there would be no civil rights without the threat of black power. In his comic book, The X-Men, Stan Lee has taken up this metaphor over the course of several decades. In this work, the author explores this metaphor in an attempt to answer the question: which approach got it right--Magneto or Professor Xavier, Black Power or Integrationism?
Bayesian inference for intratumour heterogeneity in mutations and copy number variation.

Tumor samples are heterogeneous. They consist of different subclones that are characterized by differences in DNA nucleotide sequences and copy numbers on multiple loci. Heterogeneity can be measured through the identification of the subclonal copy number and sequence at a selected set of loci. Understanding that the accurate identification of variant allele fractions greatly depends on a precise determination of copy numbers, we develop a Bayesian feature allocation model for jointly calling subclonal copy numbers and the corresponding allele sequences for the same loci. The proposed method utilizes three random matrices, L , Z and w to represent subclonal copy numbers ( L ), numbers of subclonal variant alleles ( Z ) and cellular fractions of subclones in samples ( w ), respectively. The unknown number of subclones implies a random number of columns for these matrices. We use next-generation sequencing data to estimate the subclonal structures through inference on these three matrices. Using simulation studies and a real data analysis, we demonstrate how posterior inference on the subclonal structure is enhanced with the joint modeling of both structure and sequencing variants on subclonal genomes. Software is available at http://compgenome.org/BayClone2.
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Microscopy with Computational Adaptive Optics for High-Resolution Tomography of Scattering Tissue

Interferometric synthetic aperture microscopy (ISAM) is a computed imaging technique to overcome the depth-of-field limitations in optical coherence tomography/microscopy (OCT/OCM). However, the presence of optical aberrations (which typically increase with NA) can degrade the resolution of ISAM reconstructions. We demonstrate a computational adaptive optics (CAO) method to correct aberrations of a virtual (or computed) pupil. Three-dimensional datasets in rabbit muscle tissue show that ISAM with CAO astigmatism correction results in a higher resolution reconstruction than uncorrected ISAM or standard OCT/OCM. We also present our work on high-speed 2D and pseudo-3D ISAM reconstruction using a graphic processing unit (GPU). These results demonstrate ISAM with computational aberration correction in highly scattering tissue. They also demonstrate that with precise high-speed scanning, volumetric ISAM can be performed without phase noise correction, and suggest that with GPU-based processing, real-time volumetric ISAM is feasible.
Hardware Security Threats and Potential Countermeasures in Emerging 3D ICs

New hardware security threats are identified in emerging three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (ICs) and potential counter-measures are introduced. Trigger and payload mechanisms for future 3D hardware Trojans are predicted. Furthermore, a novel, network-on-chip based 3D obfuscation method is proposed to block the direct communication between two commercial dies in a 3D structure, thus thwarting reverse engineering attacks on the vertical dimension. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively obfuscates the cross-plane communication by increasing the reverse engineering time by approximately 5× as compared to using direct through silicon via (TSV) connections. The proposed method consumes approximately one fifth the area and power of a typical network-on-chip designed in a 65 nm technology, exhibiting limited overhead.
Conformational Selection and Submillisecond Dynamics of the Ligand-binding Domain of the N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptor.

The N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are heteromeric non-selective cation channels that require the binding of glycine and glutamate for gating. Based on crystal structures, the mechanism of partial agonism at the glycine-binding site is thought to be mediated by a shift in the conformational equilibrium between an open clamshell and a closed clamshell-like structure of the bilobed ligand-binding domain (LBD). Using single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) and multiparameter fluorescence detection, which allows us to study the conformational states and dynamics in the submillisecond time scale, we show that there are at least three conformational states explored by the LBD: the low FRET, medium FRET, and high FRET states. The distance of the medium and low FRET states corresponds to what has been observed in crystallography structures. We show that the high FRET state, which would represent a more closed clamshell conformation than that observed in the crystal structure, is most likely the state initiating activation, as evidenced by the fact that the fraction of the protein in this state correlates well with the extent of activation. Furthermore, full agonist bound LBDs show faster dynamic motions between the medium and high FRET states, whereas they show slower dynamics when bound to weaker agonists or to antagonists.
Monoclonal antibodies to platelet glycoproteins Ib and IIb IIIa inhibit adhesion of platelets to purified solid-phase von Willebrand factor

Platelet membrane glycoproteins Ib (GPIb) and IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) bind soluble von Willebrand factor (vWf) after stimulation with ristocetin (GPIb) or with thrombin or ADP (GPIIb/IIIa). In fluid-phase, vWf does not bind to these platelet receptors without stimulation. In contrast, platelets adhere to solid-phase vWf without stimulation by ristocetin, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), or thrombin, and adhesion increases after stimulation by these agonists. The effect of monoclonal antibodies specific for GPIb (6D1) and GPIIb/IIIa (10E5 and HP1-1D) on platelet adhesion to solid-phase vWF was studied. Adhesion of radiolabeled, washed platelets (with washed red blood cells) aspirated at a constant wall shear rate of 1000 sec-1 through glass capillary tubes coated with purified human vWf was quantified. Unstimulated platelet adhesion was decreased 80% to 90% by blocking either the GPIb site or the GPIIb/IIIa site with 6D1 or 10E5, respectively, or with 6D1 and 10E5 together. Adhesion was not reduced significantly by HP1-1D (anti-GPIIb/IIIa). After stimulation with ADP or thrombin, the platelet adhesion was reduced by prior incubation with saturating concentrations of either 6D1 (61% reduction) or 10E5 (80% reduction), as well as with both 6D1 and 10E5 (80% reduction). After stimulation with ristocetin, the adhesion was reduced with either 6D1 (90% reduction) or 10E5 (90% reduction) or both 6D1 and 10E5 (90% reduction). Prior incubation with HP1-1D had minimal effect on platelet adhesion to vWF after stimulation with thrombin, ADP, or ristocetin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Psychiatric manifestations as initial presentation for pediatric CNS germ cell tumors, a case series

Background Central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors account for 3 % of all pediatric brain tumors in the USA. Presenting symptoms are typically location based with pineal tumors presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus and suprasellar tumors with hypothalamic/pituitary dysfunction and ophthalmologic abnormalities. Psychiatric manifestations such as psychosis and behavioral changes are atypical presentations of CNS germ cell tumors, with only 11 previously reported cases.
Current and novel therapeutic strategies in celiac disease

ABSTRACTIntroduction: A gluten free diet (GFD) is the only available treatment for celiac disease (CD). However many patients fail to respond fully clinically or histologically. Several surveys highlight the psychosocial implications of adherence to a GFD. Hence, efforts are ongoing to develop therapeutic strategies beyond a GFD.Areas covered: We conducted a search of PubMed and clinicaltrials.gov to extract articles on CD using keywords including ‘celiac disease’ and ‘refractory celiac disease’ (RCD) and focused on articles conducting pathophysiologic and therapeutic research in/ex-vivo models and human trials. We highlight novel therapeutics that manipulate these mechanisms including tight junction regulators, glutenases, gluten sequestrants and immunotherapy using vaccines, nanoparticles that may serve as adjuncts to a GFD or more ambitiously to allow for gluten consumption. We also highlight the role of anti-inflammatories, immunosuppressants and monoclonal antibodies in RCD.Expert commentary: Therape...
Switchable diffractive optics using patterned PEDOT:PSS based electrochromic thin-films

Abstract We demonstrate switchable, thin film diffractive optical gratings and Fresnel zone plate lenses fabricated using a micro-patterned electrochromic polymer and gel electrolyte. Electrochemically switching the conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS causes the patterned layer to change between a low-absorption to high absorption state, acting as an amplitude diffractive optical element. The switchable lens and gratings were fabricated using a lithographically patterned electrochromic polymer, a gel electrolyte, and an ITO-coated glass substrate. Within an applied voltage of −1 V to 1 V, the diffraction efficiency of the switchable lens can be varied 4.1-fold between the ‘on’ and ‘off’ states. Due to their low actuation voltage and biocompatibility, electrochemically actuated diffractive optics have potential applications in low power and implantable biomedical devices.
THE MIND OF CHILD AND ADULT

This chapter discusses the mind of a child and an adult. A child is considered as an undeveloped adult. The structure of the child is different from that of the adult both quantitatively and qualitatively. The difference between the child's behavior and that of pathological adults is that the child's activities form part of his learning process, which gradually becomes patterned until fixed relationships and sequences develop. The source of greatest confusion is for the child to differentiate between reality and imagination. The young child cannot differentiate between the fantasy of fairy tale books or cartoons and real happenings. The child's own dreamworld mingles realistic and unrealistic images; the latent potentialities of objects, such as fire in the match, voices in the radio, and create distrust of the appearance of things. The more experiences the child has, the more he is able to establish relationships, thus, differentiating the world within from the world without.