cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inversion Study of Simulated and Physical Soil Moisture Profiles using Multifrequency Soop-Sources

The potentiality of Signals of Opportunity (SoOp) over land can be investigated by advanced forward and inverse modeling and simulation tools to provide viable measurements for Earth science data products over land. This research investigates various inversion techniques that can leverage SoOp sources for land-based Earth science measurements by applying them to simulated soil moisture profiles over bare- and vegetated- soils. Forward modeling is accomplished using Mississippi State University’s Signals of Opportunity Coherent Bistatic Scattering Model (SCoBi), a new, open-source electromagnetic scattering model that can determine coherent received signals at a receiving antenna through application of Maxwell’s equations at discrete scattering soil layer boundaries in conjunction with the distorted Born approximation to describe vegetation propagation and scattering. The results of the forward model are used in various inverse methods to investigate the potentiality of using multiple SoOp sources for Soil Moisture Profile (SMP) retrieval. Multiple SMPs are analyzed by SCoBi to determine the sensitivity of soil moisture variation to SoOp transmitter characteristics such as polarization and elevation angle. Simultaneously, SoOp measurements conducted at Purdue University’s Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE) are used to determine the impact that changes in both physical SMPs and vegetation canopies have on the scattered SoOp. The characteristics of the scattering surfaces, vegetation, and SMPs at the ACRE facility are modeled within SCoBi to observe patterns and relationships captured in reflectivity measurements that are caused by vegetation growth periods as well as rain and drought effects manifested by changing SMPs.
On the role of the Urey reaction in extracting carbon from the Earth's atmosphere and adding it to the continental crust

Urey (1952a,b, 1956) introduced the Urey reaction to explain the origin of carbonates in the continental crust. The reaction extracts CO2 from the atmosphere in acid rain that reacts with calcium silicates, the products are transported to the oceans where organic and inorganic processes results in the deposition of calcium carbonates. The origin of the CO2 can be (1) the early atmosphere and (2) the mantle. The reaction removes almost all the atmospheric CO2 that survived the formation of the Earth. If surface volcanism introduces more CO2 than is lost by subduction, the CO2 entering the atmosphere will be lost to the continental crust by the Urey reaction. Studies of carbon fluxes between surface reservoirs have demonstrated the importance of the Urey reaction in controlling the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. At the present time the only surface reservoir with a large mass of carbon is the continental crust. In order to to quantify the rate at which the Urey reaction removes CO2 from the atmosphere we utilize data from the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM). This was a period of elevated global temperatures (SOHT = 4 -5C) at 56 Ma attributed to a pulse of volcanism and associated CO2 in the north Atlantic. We utilize the decay time of this thermal anomaly to quantify the rate at which CO2 is extracted from the atmosphere by the Urey reaction.
Transition metal- and solvent-free double hydroboration of nitriles

A highly efficient, room temperature double hydroboration of nitriles under transition metal-free and solvent-free conditions is reported. Sodium triethylborohydride is used as a catalyst and yields up to 99% are disclosed. Mechanistic studies reveal the reaction proceeds in a stepwise manner with initial formation of a boryl-imine which undergoes a second hydroboration to afford a diborylated amine product.
State Policies That Treat Prenatal Substance Use As Child Abuse Or Neglect Fail To Achieve Their Intended Goals.

The US is experiencing a complex substance abuse crisis. Not only has opioid overdose mortality increased sharply, by 400 percent from 1999 to 2017, but opioid use during pregnancy contributed to a...
Evaluation of the prevention and control measures on coal-burning endemic fluorosis in Guizhou 2013

Objective Through investigation of children fluorosis illness,family households improved stoves and related life styles,to provide a scientific basis for sustainable control of endemic fluorosis.Methods In 2013,in Huishui County and Baiyun District,3 towns were selected in each county(district),and 3 villages were selected in each town.All 8-12 years old children in the school of these villages were checked dental fluorosis,which was diagnosed according to "Dental Fluorosis Diagnosis" (WS/T 208-2011); at the same time,10 families were selected to survey the situation of improved stoves and related life styles.Results Dental fluorosis detection rate of 8-12 years old children in Huishui and Baiyun were 2.75％ (23/836) and 2.26％ (11/487),which were all lower than 30％.Qualified rate of improved stoves and qualified stoves correct utilization rate were all 100.0％ (90/90).For human consumption,the correct rate of corn drying was 100.0％ (90/90) ; the correct rates of chili drying were 98.9％ (89/90) and 100.0％ (90/90).Conclusions The prevention effect is obvious,which has reached the control standards.We should continue to improve the long-term mechanism of comprehensive control measures,and to achieve substantial elimination of coal-burning endemic fluorosis. Key words: Fluorosis, dental; Coal; Fluoride poisoning; Stoves improvement; Data collection; Outcome evaluation
Role of Lactulose Rhamnose Permeability Test in Assessing Small Bowel Mucosal Damage in Children with Celiac Disease.

Increased gut permeability has been suggested in patients with celiac disease (CD). We aimed to compare gut permeability in children using the lactulose/rhamnose permeability test. We prospectively...
A Rare Complication of Fingolimod: Case Report of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (P4.2-016)

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurologic disorder effecting approximately 2.5 million people worldwide. With improved neuroimaging and earlier diagnosis, the use of disease-modifying therapies (DMT) is increasing. Understanding both common and rare side effects of DMTs is critical for delivering appropriate clinical care. We present a case of fingolimod-induced posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Background: Fingolimod is a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1P) modulator approved for relapsing-remitting MS. S1P receptors are found throughout the body including endothelial cells. The presence of S1P is essential in maintaining the integrity of endothelium. PRES causes changes in the endothelium of blood vessels via cytokine release, resulting in breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and vasogenic edema. This typically occurs in the posterior circulation of the intracerebral vasculature likely due to the lack of sympathetic innervation in these vessels. PRES is often associated with hypertensive crisis, renal disorders, and immunosuppressant use. There are a limited number of cases of PRES associated with fingolimod use in MS patients. Classically, PRES symptoms include headache, seizures, encephalopathy, and visual disturbances. Design/Methods: NA Results: Our patient is a 48-year-old woman who had a witnessed generalized seizure and persistent encephalopathy. Initial blood pressure was 207/110 and she required intubation for airway protection due to aspiration from the seizure and encephalopathy. MRI brain showed confluent T2 signal in bilateral parietooccipital/temporoparietal regions. With cessation of fingolimod and normalization of her BP, she remained seizure-free; her mental status and headache gradually improved. At four-month follow-up in clinic, she had continued improvement in her cognition, headache resolution and MRI brain showed significant decrease in the T2 signal previously seen and laminar necrosis in bilateral temporoparietal regions, typical finding seen with PRES. Conclusions: Though a rare complication of fingolimod use, it’s important for clinicians to be aware of PRES due to its potential reversibility if identified early and treated effectively. Disclosure: Dr. Downey Allison has nothing to disclose. Dr. Robertson has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Biogen, Celgene, Sanofi-Genzyme, Genentech, EMD Serono, Novartis, Teva Neuroscience, Acorda, EMD Serono, Mallinckrodt, and Novartis. Dr. Robertson has received research support from Actelion, Biogen, Genentech, Mallinckrodt, MedDay Pharmaceuticals, MedImmune, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Sun Pharma, PCORI, and TG Therapeutics. Dr. Casady has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Genzyme, Genentech. Dr. Maldonado has received research support from Genentech, Med-Immune.
Selection Into Advanced Courses in Middle and High School Among Low-Income, Ethnically Diverse Youth:

This study assesses the excellence gap by examining those who enroll in advanced, honors, and advanced placement (AP) classes among a low-income and a majority-Latinx population. Prospective longit...
Validation of a Novel Forecasting Method for Estimating the Impact of Switching Pneumococcal Conjugate Programs: Evidence from Belgium.

Since 2010, 10-valent (PCV10) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV13) have been available as part of infant national immunization programs. Belgium is as one of the few countries that implemented PCV13 (2007–2015), switched to PCV10 (2015–2018) and then switched back to PCV13 (2018–present) after observing increases in disease. We assessed the impacts of both historical and prospective PCV choice in the context of the Belgian health care system and used this experience to validate previously developed economic models. Using historical incidence (2007–2018) of pneumococcal disease for Belgian children aged < 16 years, observed invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) trends from surveillance data were used to estimate future disease in a given PCV13- or PCV10-based program. We compared observed incidence data with two modeled scenarios: (1) the 2015 switch to PCV10 and (2) a hypothetical continuation of PCV13 in 2015. Finally, we explored the potential impact of PCV choice from 2019 to 2023 by comparing three scenarios: (3) continued use of PCV10; (4) a switch back to PCV13; (5) a hypothetical scenario in which Belgium never switched from PCV13. Model predictions underestimated observed data from 2015 to 2018 by 100 IPD cases among ages < 16 years. Comparing observed data with scenario 2 suggests that PCV13 would have prevented 105 IPD cases from 2015 to 2018 compared with PCV10. Switching to PCV13 in 2019 would avert 625 IPD cases through 2023 compared with continuing PCV10. Scenario never switching from PCV13 would have resulted in a reduction of 204 cases from 2016 to 2023 compared with switching to PCV10 and switching back to PCV13. The findings from this study suggest that previously published modeling results of PCV13 versus PCV10 in other countries may have underestimated the benefit of PCV13. These results highlight the importance of continually protecting against vaccine-preventable pneumococcal serotypes.
When the Conditions Are the Confinement: Eighth Amendment Habeas Claims During COVID-19 (preprint)

The COVID-19 pandemic cast into harsher relief much that was already true about mass incarceration in the United States. It also cast into harsher relief much that was already true about the legal barriers confronting people seeking to make its conditions more humane. This Article offers a brief overview of the legal landscape as the COVID-19 crisis arose and then surveys eight prominent federal cases involving Eighth Amendment claims related to COVID-19 outbreaks at carceral facilities, most of which included significant litigation over whether they could secure release through habeas corpus. The Article then distills six key tensions from these cases—each a potential stumbling block for courts and litigants—and discusses their implications for future litigation and doctrine. Specifically, the Article addresses the following: (A) the relationship between habeas corpus and classic “conditions of confinement” cases; (B) the nature of Eighth Amendment “deliberate indifference” in this context; (C) the efficacy and availability of class-wide procedures for adjudicating these kinds of claims; (D) issues involving federalism and comity and how such concerns may motivate stricter enforcement of exhaustion requirements; (E) whether temporary release in the Eighth Amendment habeas context is better conceived of as preliminary or final relief; and (F) the fraught interplay between rights and remedies. The Article concludes by suggesting potential solutions for courts and legislatures.
The National Quantum Initiative

With the recent passage of the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) into law, increased levels of Quantum research and workforce development will be enabled. Undoubtedly, this work will accelerate breakthroughs in many Quantum Information Science and Technology areas. In this talk, I will briefly describe the National Photonics Initiative (NPI) and it’s linkage to the National Quantum Initiative. Further, I will describe the background of the NQI and discuss the roles, as defined in the legislation, for the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), NIST, NSF and the DOE. Finally, I will describe the next steps planned to address funding “appropriation” process associated with the $1.275B that has been allocated to the work described in the legislation.
Conditional Quantile Functions for Zero-Inflated Longitudinal Count Data

Abstract The identification and estimation of conditional quantile functions for count responses using longitudinal data are considered. The approach is based on a continuous approximation to distribution functions for count responses within a class of parametric models that are commonly employed. It is first shown that conditional quantile functions for count responses are identified in zero-inflated models with subject heterogeneity. Then, a simple three-step approach is developed to estimate the effects of covariates on the quantiles of the response variable. A simulation study is presented to show the small sample performance of the estimator. Finally, the advantages of the proposed estimator in relation to some existing methods is illustrated by estimating a model of annual visits to physicians using data from a health insurance experiment.
Prognostic significance of acquired 1q22 gain in multiple myeloma.

Gain of 1q22 at diagnosis portends poorer outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM), but the prognostic significance of acquired 1q22 gain is unknown. We identified 63 MM patients seen at Mayo Clinic from 1/2004 to 12/2019 without 1q22 gain at diagnosis who acquired it during follow up and compared them to 63 control patients who did not acquire 1q22 gain with similar follow up. We also compared outcomes in the acquired 1q22 gain group with outcomes in 126 patients with 1q22 gain present at diagnosis. The incidence of acquired 1q22 gain was 6.1% (median follow-up 6.8 years); median time to acquisition was 5.0 years (range: 0.7-11.5 years). Abnormalities on baseline fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) included trisomies (54%) and monosomy 13 (39%); 16 (25%) had high-risk (HR) translocations or del(17p). Median progression-free survival with front line therapy was 29.5 months in patients with acquired 1q22 gain, versus 31.4 months in control patients (p = .34) and 31.2 months in patients with de novo 1q22 gain (p = .04). Median overall survival (OS) from diagnosis was 10.9 years in patients with acquired 1q22 gain, versus 13.0 years in control patients (p = .03) and 6.3 years in patients with de novo 1q22 gain (p = .01). Presence of HR FISH at baseline increased risk of 1q22 gain acquisition. We demonstrate that acquisition of 1q22 gain is a significant molecular event in MM, associated with reduced OS. Among HR patients for whom this clonal evolution is determined, a risk-adapted approach and/or clinical trial should be considered.
Recovery of consolidation after sleep following experimental stroke – interaction of slow waves, spindles and GABA

Sleep is known to be important for promoting recovery after brain injuries such as stroke. Yet, it remains unclear how such injuries affect neural processing during sleep and how to precisely enhance sleep-dependent memory processing during recovery. Using an experimental model of focal cortical stroke in rats along with long-term electrophysiological monitoring of neural firing and sleep microarchitecture, here we show that sleep-dependent neural processing is altered after stroke induction. Specifically, we found that the precise coupling of spindles to global slow-oscillations (SO), a phenomenon that is known to be important for memory consolidation, appeared to be disrupted by a pathological increase in "isolated" local delta waves. The transition from this pathological to a more physiological sleep state - with both a reduction in isolated delta waves and increased spindle coupling to SO - was associated with sustained performance gains after task training during recovery. Interestingly, post-injury sleep processing could be pushed towards a more physiological state via a pharmacological reduction of tonic GABA. Together, our results suggest that sleep processing after cortical brain injuries may be impaired due to an increase in local delta waves and that restoration of physiological processing is important for recovery of task performance.
Case life of seven retail products from beef cattle supplemented with alpha-tocopheryl acetate.

Packages (n = 660) of clod, strip loin, tenderloin, bottom round, eye-of-round, and top round steaks, as well as ground beef, from beef cattle fed diets supplemented with vitamin E (500 IU/d for 100 d preharvest) were compared with packages of products derived from carcasses of beef cattle fed control diets to determine the duration of acceptable muscle color during simulated retail display. In addition, the effect of storage before steak fabrication, simulating distribution time, on the acceptability of each treatment and each cut during retail display was investigated. Dietary supplementation of animals with vitamin E increased muscle alpha-tocopherol concentrations (P < .05) in all cuts. The acceptable retail display time of ground beef from vitamin E-supplemented cattle was longer (P < .05) compared to ground beef from unsupplemented cattle by 10.2, 15.6, and 17.6 h following 7, 14, and 21 d of storage in chub packages prior to final grinding and retail display, respectively. However, length of storage in a vacuum package before retail display did not have a consistent effect on retail case life of steaks. Product drip loss during retail display was not affected by storage time or vitamin E treatment. The trained panel color score during retail display of high vitamin E strip loin, bottom round, inside round, and eye-of-round steaks remained acceptable longer (P < .05) by 11.5, 25.2, 8.4, and 29.4 h, respectively, than that of control steaks. The results demonstrated that vitamin E supplementation of cattle feed can be used as a management tool to reduce the economic losses associated with beef muscle color deterioration during retail display of products.
Glycan-dependent neutralizing antibodies are frequently elicited in individuals chronically infected with HIV-1 clade B or C.

Abstract A number of potent broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 have recently been identified that target epitopes on the viral envelope that contain N-linked glycans. It remains unknown how frequently glycan-dependent neutralizing antibodies generally arise during the course of natural infection or whether particular glycosylation sites are preferentially targeted. We tested sera with a broad range of neutralization activity from individuals infected with HIV-1 clades B or C against panels of HIV-1 Env pseudoviruses that lacked specific glycans in the outer domain glycan cluster (ODGC) or inner domain glycan cluster (IDGC) to determine the presence of glycan-dependent neutralizing antibodies. Overall, 54% of individuals were observed to have neutralizing antibodies targeting these glycan regions. Glycan-specific neutralizing antibodies were readily detected in sera that were selected for having broad, moderate, or weak neutralization potency and breadth. Our results demonstrate that glycan-spec...
Effect of Polycations, Polyanions, and Neuraminidase on the Infectivity of Trachoma-Inclusion Conjunctivitis and Lymphogranuloma Venereum Organisms in HeLa Cells: Sialic Acid Residues as Possible Receptors for Trachoma-Inclusion Conjunctivitis

The infectivity of trachoma-inclusion conjunctivitis (TRIC) organisms (TW-5) was enhanced by pretreatment of HeLa cell monolayers before inoculation with diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-dextran (30 μg/ml) and poly-l-lysine (10 μg/ml) and inhibited by dextran sulphate (250 μg/ml), fetuin (4%), ovomucoid (5%), N-acetyl neuraminic acid (0.5%), and Cholera vibrio neuraminidase (100 U/ml). The infectivity of lymphogranuloma venereum organisms (434) was not affected by DEAE-dextran, fetuin, and neuraminidase, was slightly inhibited by poly-l-lysine, and was inhibited by dextran-sulphate, ovomucoid, and N-acetyl neuraminic acid. The study suggested that sialic acid residues on the cell surface may be specific receptors for TRIC organisms. The receptors for TRIC organisms (TW-5 and TW-3) could be specifically blocked with inactivated (56 C for 30 min) TRIC organisms at the ratio of one live to 100 inactivated TRIC organisms, but not by inactivated lymphogranuloma venereum (434) or influenza virus (A2/Jap 305).
A surface plasmon dispersion relation in the presence of spatial dispersion

A dispersion relation for surface plasmons (retardation neglected) is obtained in the presence of spatial dispersion. The physical system considered is one of vacuum separated by a plane interface from a dielectric medium occupying the half-space x3 > 0, and characterized by a nonlocal dielectric function ϵ(k∥ω¦x3x'3), assumed to be symmetric in x3 and x'3. Here k∥ is a two-dimensional wave vector whose components are parallel to the interface, and ω is the frequency of the electromagnetic field in the medium. The dispersion relation has the form 1 + k∥χ(k∥ω¦x3 = 0, x′3 = 0) = 0, and an explicit prescription for obtaining the function χ(k∥ω¦x3x'3) is presented. The use of the dispersion relation is illustrated by applying it to two examples: (1) a local dielectric constant; and (2) the nonlocal dielectric function used previously by Maradudin and Mills. In both cases previously obtained results are recovered.
Study of the photodegradation of epoxy polymers with slow positron annihilation spectroscopy

The photodegradation of an amine-cured epoxy coating after exposure to accelerated UV-340 and UV-313 irradiation was investigated with an atomic-level technique, positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS), which detected and characterized the free volumes and defects as a function of the depth. Significant changes in the subnanometer defect parameters S and W were observed as a function of the exposure time near the surface. This was interpreted as due to a loss of the free volume and hole fraction resulting from photodegradation. A dead layer near the surface, resulting from UV irradiation from the surface up to a thickness of 0.4 μm, at which there was nearly no positronium formation, was observed. Correlations between physical defects from PAS in terms of the free volumes and chemical defects from electron spin resonance spectroscopy in terms of free radicals and chemical structural changes measured by ultraviolet-visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were established. A high sensitivity of PAS for detecting the early stage of degradation, on the order of hours for UV-313 and on the order of days for UV-340 irradiation, was observed.
Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma within a Previous Port-Site following Retroperitoneoscopic Radical Nephrectomy

Introduction: Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is an ac-cepted treatment option for localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in appropriately selected patients. There have been 6 previo
Integrating Retraction Modeling Into an Atlas-Based Framework for Brain Shift Prediction

In recent work, an atlas-based statistical model for brain shift prediction, which accounts for uncertainty in the intraoperative environment, has been proposed. Previous work reported in the literature using this technique did not account for local deformation caused by surgical retraction. It is challenging to precisely localize the retractor location prior to surgery and the retractor is often moved in the course of the procedure. This paper proposes a technique that involves computing the retractor-induced brain deformation in the operating room through an active model solve and linearly superposing the solution with the precomputed deformation atlas. As a result, the new method takes advantage of the atlas-based framework's accounting for uncertainties while also incorporating the effects of retraction with minimal intraoperative computing. This new approach was tested using simulation and phantom experiments. The results showed an improvement in average shift correction from 50% (ranging from 14 to 81%) for gravity atlas alone to 80% using the active solve retraction component (ranging from 73 to 85%). This paper presents a novel yet simple way to integrate retraction into the atlas-based brain shift computation framework.
The Absorption Coefficient for Slow Electrons in Cadmium and Zinc Vapors

The variation with the electron velocity of the absorption coefficient, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, or the effective collision cross-section has been measured in the vapors of cadmium and zinc and found to follow a curve of the type previously found for mercury. The cadmium curve has a maximum at about 40 volts, $\ensuremath{\alpha}=130$, and a minimum at about 25 volts, $\ensuremath{\alpha}=126$, followed by a steady rise with decreasing velocity to the limit of accurate measurements, 1 volt, $\ensuremath{\alpha}=300$. The zinc curve has a very flat maximum at about 50 volts, $\ensuremath{\alpha}=76$, a minimum at about 36 volts, $\ensuremath{\alpha}=74$, followed by a steady rise to $\ensuremath{\alpha}=500$ at 1 volt. The magnitudes of the maximums are in the order: Cd, $\ensuremath{\alpha}=130$; Zn, $\ensuremath{\alpha}=75$; and Hg, $\ensuremath{\alpha}=60$. Other related properties of these atoms, such as the molar refractivity and the critical potentials, show this same irregularity in order.
Membrane proteases: roles in tissue remodeling and tumour invasion

The coordinated control of extracellular matrix degradation on the cell surface involves three crucial elements: secreted proteases and their inhibitors, surface protease receptors and integral membrane proteases. The roles that each of these elements play in cell surface proteolysis are described. The localization of proteases to the cell surface, protease activation, and regulation of cell surface proteolysis by protease inhibitors are key issues for elucidating the role of membrane proteases in tissue remodeling and tumour invasion.
Three-Dimensional Representations of Hexagonal Ice Crystals and Hail Particles of Elliptical Cross Sections

Abstract Mathematical expressions based on earlier ideas of the author are given to describe the three-dimensional surfaces of hexagonal ice crystals and conical graupel and hail particles. In the former class, the expressions closely parallel the expression for prolate spheroid but the cross section is transformed into a hexagon by an expression designed previously. A special transformation containing a preset constant, e, is implemented so that the three-dimensional, instead of two-dimensional, surface of the crystal is described. In the case of conical particles with elliptical cross sections, the equation that describes a conical body of revolution is modified to describe conical bodies with elliptical cross sections.
Low energy electron diffraction studies of chemisorbed gases on stepped surfaces of platinum

Abstract The chemisorption of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, carbon monoxide and ethylene was studied by low-energy electron diffraction on ordered stepped surfaces of platinum which were cut at angles less than 10° from the (111) face. The chemisorption characteristics of stepped platinum surfaces are markedly different from those of low index platinum surfaces and they are also different from each other. Hydrogen and oxygen which do not chemisorb easily on the (111) and (100) crystal faces chemisorb readily and at relatively low temperatures and pressures on the stepped platinum surfaces used in this study. In contrast to the ordered adsorption of carbon monoxide and ethylene on low index faces, the adsorption was disordered on the stepped surfaces and there is evidence for dissociation of the molecule. Carbon formed several ordered surface structures and caused faceting on the stepped surface, which are not observed on low index platinum surfaces. There appears to be a much stronger interaction of chemisorbed gases with stepped surfaces than with low index planes that must be caused by the differing atomic structures at the steps. Evidence for the differing reactivities of the two stepped surfaces are also discussed.
Gene Silencing Mediated by siRNA-binding Fusion Proteins Is Attenuated by Double-stranded RNA-binding Domain Structure.

Delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted to specific cell types is a significant challenge for the development of RNA interference-based therapeutics. Recently, PTD-DRBD, a double-stranded RNA binding domain (DRBD) fused to the TAT protein transduction domain (PTD), was shown to be effective at delivering siRNA in a non-cell type-specific manner. Here, we evaluated the potential of DRBD as a general protein platform for targeted small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery. We found that a single DRBD was insufficient to stably complex siRNA when fused to targeting peptides other than PTD, which facilitated nonspecific nucleic acid binding. In contrast to PTD-DRBD, fusion proteins containing two DRBDs (2× DRBD) yielded specific and stable siRNA binding. These proteins could mediate the cellular uptake of siRNA in vitro, though compared with PTD-DRBD gene silencing was attenuated by endosomal entrapment. Our findings suggest that unlike a single DRBD, 2× DRBD inhibits siRNA escape into the cytoplasm and/or induces an internalization pathway distinct from that of PTD-DRBD. Collectively, these data indicate that while 2× DRBD retains siRNA-binding activity when fused to different cell surface-interacting peptides, the utility of 2× DRBD for cell-specific RNA interference is limited without further protein engineering to enhance the bioavailability of the delivered siRNAs.
Genetic Relationships of Arctic Grayling in the Koyukuk and Tanana Rivers, Alaska

Abstract Electrophoretic data were used to examine the stock structure of Arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus collected from the Yukon River drainage, Alaska. Arctic grayling were sampled from Grayling Lake in the Koyukuk River drainage and from three tributaries (Caribou Creek, Goodpaster River, and Volkmar River) entering a 60-km stretch of the Tanana River. Of 30 protein-coding loci examined, three (Mdh-2, Pgm-1, and Sod-2, coding for malate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucomutase, and superoxide dismutase, respectively) were polymorphic. Differences in allele frequency between the Koyukuk and Tanana drainages accounted for about 5% of the observed variability, whereas differences among the collections from the Tanana drainage accounted for less than 1%. The difference observed between collections from the Koyukuk and Tanana rivers, major tributaries to the Yukon River, suggests that genetic comparisons are useful for biogeographical studies of Alaskan Arctic grayling. The small divergence exhibited among the...
The primary structure of MEK, a protein kinase that phosphorylates the ERK gene product

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, also known as extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), are thought to act at an integration point for multiple biochemical signals because they are activated by a wide variety of extracellular signals, rapidly phosphorylated on threonine and tyrosine, and highly conserved. A critical protein kinase lies upstream of MAP kinase and stimulates the enzymatic activity of MAP kinase. The structure of this protein kinase, denoted MEK1, for MAP kinase or ERK kinase, was elucidated from a complementary DNA sequence and shown to be a protein of 393 amino acids (43,500 daltons) that is related most closely in size and sequence to the product encoded by the Schizosaccharomyces pombe byr1 gene. The MEK gene was highly expressed in murine brain, and the product expressed in bacteria phosphorylated the ERK gene product.
Integrating Treatments for Suicidal Patients into an Effective Package

Craig Bryan (2007) skillfully describes how he was able to successfully weave together several new developments in the treatment of suicidal behavior and deliver a coherent, effective treatment for AƒÂ¢A‚â‚¬A‚A“John,AƒÂ¢A‚â‚¬A‚? a military medical professional who experienced serious suicidal ideation and mixed bouts of anxiety and depression following a return from deployment in Iraq. I offer some comments about what I see as the particularly strong aspects of the intervention, and then I proceed to introduce some concepts that might have been used to facilitate greater socio-emotional awareness and a more adaptive social repertoire for the client.
Effective properties of fiber-reinforced materials: I—Bounds on the effective thermal conductivity of dispersions of fully penetrable cylinders

Abstract Third-order and fourth-order bounds on the effective transverse thermal conductivity k e of fiber-reinforced materials (statistically isotropic in the transverse plane) due to Silnutzer and to Milton, respectively, are evaluated for a distribution of fully penetrable cylinders in a matrix. Both of these bounds involve a multidimensional integral which depends upon the three-point matrix probability function of the model. For nontrivial values of the fiber volume fraction φ 2 (i.e. 0 φ 2 φ 2 ⩽ 0.3 to give quantitatively useful estimates of k e even when the conductivity of the fiber phase k 2 is as much as two orders of magnitude greater than the matrix conductivity k 1 . For 0.8 ⩽ φ 2 ⩽ 1, the Milton bounds are sufficiently restrictive to provide reasonable approximations of k e for an insulating fiber phase such that 0.01 ⩽ α ⩽ 1, where α = k 2 k 1 . The results obtained in this study for k e translate immediately into equivalent results for the axial shear modulus of fiber-reinforced materials.
Immunohistochemical localization of tumor markers in epithelial ovarian cancer

Immunohistochemical determinations of carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and human placental lactogen (hPL) were performed on tissue sections from 137 epithelial ovarian cancers. Fewer than 25% of serous cystadenocarcinomas contained detectable amounts of any marker. Carcinoembryonic antigen was present in over 50% of tumors, and was noted most frequently in mucinous, endometrioid, and clear cell carcinomas. hPL was demonstrated in 30% of endometrioid carcinomas but was rarely present in other cell types. Both alpha-fetoprotein and hCG were noted in fewer than 10% of all major cell types of epithelial ovarian cancer. Forty-five patients had serial determinations of plasma levels of carcinoembryonic antigen at the time of regular follow-up visits. Serial plasma levels of carcinoembryonic antigen accurately predicated recurrence in nine of 16 patients whose tumors contained carcinoembryonic antigen, in contrast to two of 16 patients whose tumors were devoid of antigen.
Urinary nitrogen constituents in the postsurgical preterm neonate receiving parenteral nutrition.

Minimal information is available defining urinary nitrogen constituents in preterm neonates receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). The study objective was to evaluate 24-hour urine collections for total urinary nitrogen (TUN), urinary urea nitrogen (UUN), and the nitrogen content in creatinine, ammonia, free amino acids, protein, hippuric acid, and uric acid at baseline (days 1 to 2 of PN and days 1 to 3 after surgery) and 7 days later in eight preterm, postsurgical neonates. Calculation of undetermined nitrogen was also completed. Comparisons with historic, normal data were made for each urinary nitrogen constituent. At baseline, PN provided 59 +/- 10 nonprotein kcal/kg.day-1 and 430 +/- 54 mg/kg.day-1. At day 7, PN provided 106 +/- 23 nonprotein kcal/kg.day-1 and 432 +/- 30 mg/kg.day-1. TUN, UUN, and protein nitrogen decreased significantly from baseline at day 7 (p < .05). The percentages of TUN as amino acids, creatinine, and uric acid nitrogen were calculated. Percent amino acid nitrogen (6.0 +/- 2.3% vs 8.4 +/- 1.5%, p < .05), percent creatinine nitrogen (1.6 +/- 0.5% vs 2.9 +/- 0.8%, p < .001) and percent uric acid nitrogen (1.7 +/- 0.9% vs 3.6 +/- 2.1%, p < .05) increased significantly at day 7. The observed urinary free amino acid nitrogen fraction represented a higher percentage of TUN both at baseline and at day 7 when compared with term neonatal reference data, whereas creatinine nitrogen, uric acid nitrogen, and protein nitrogen represented a lower percentage of TUN. However, amino acid and creatinine nitrogen as a percentage of TUN were similar to levels in milk formula-fed preterm infants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Systematics and biogeography of the shrike-babblers (Pteruthius): Species limits, molecular phylogenetics, and diversification patterns across southern Asia

Patterns of avian diversification in southern Asia are poorly understood due to the limited number of phylogenetic and biogeographic studies of endemic groups, mainly due to the dearth of recent tissue samples and a historical taxonomic bias underestimating avifaunal diversity. A systematic analysis of the endemic genus Pteruthius, the shrike-babblers, was undertaken in order to identify basal diagnosable taxa, analyze their phylogenetic relationships, and uncover patterns of diversification within southern Asia. Traditionally considered to be 5 species, a total of 19 distinct taxa of Pteruthius are diagnosable by fixed characters under the phylogenetic species concept-almost a four-fold increase in recognized diversity. Molecular phylogenetic analyses (85% of samples were from museum specimens) recovered a robust phylogeny that was largely congruent using parsimony, likelihood, and bayesian. Initial divergences in each major clade occurred in the early to mid-Pliocene, while the remaining majority of diversification events occurred in the Pleistocene. Within Pteruthius, timings of species divergences across similar geographic regions correspond to both single and multiple Earth history events, illustrating the complexities of continental diversification. A novel biogeographic pattern of species in peripheral areas (Java, W Himalayas, S Vietnam, Assam/Burma) diverging first from those in the core-mainland areas (E Himalayas, Yunnan, N Thailand, Indochina, Malay Peninsula) was uncovered.
Molecular Dissection of the 5q Deletion in Myelodysplastic Syndrome

The 5q-syndrome is a subtype of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with a defined clinical phenotype associated with heterozygous deletions of chromosome 5q. While no genes have been identified that undergo recurrent homozygous inactivation, functional studies have revealed individual genes that contribute to the clinical phenotype of MDS through haplo-insufficient gene expression. Heterozygous loss of the RPS14 gene on 5q leads to activation of p53 in the erythroid lineage and the macrocytic anemia characteristic of the 5q-syndrome. The megakaryocytic and platelet phenotype of the 5q-syndrome has been attributed to heterozygous deletion of miR145 and miR146a. Murine models have implicated heterozygous loss of APC, EGR1, DIAPH1, and NPM1 in the pathophysiology of del(5q) MDS. These findings indicate that the phenotype of MDS patients with deletions of chromosome 5q is due to haplo-insufficiency of multiple genes.
Translating microscopic optical nonlinearity into macroscopic optical nonlinearity: the role of chromophore chromophore electrostatic interactions

It has been commonly assumed that electrostatic interactions between chromophores that exhibit large second hyperpolarizabilities β can be neglected in estimating electro-optic and second-harmonic coefficients, which can be achieved by electric-field poling of chromophore-containing polymers. Macroscopic optical nonlinearity has been assumed to scale as μβ/molecular weight, where μ is the dipole moment. Synthesis of chromophores with μβ values of the order of 10-44 esu has led to expectations of electro-optic coefficients for organic materials that substantially exceed those of lithium niobate. Expected values have not been easily realized; thus the utility of the above-mentioned scaling factor or chromophore figure of merit has been brought into question. We demonstrate that macroscopic optical nonlinearities are attenuated at high chromophore loading for chromophores characterized by electrostatic interactions that, at close approach distances, exceed thermal energies (kT) and poling energies (μF), where F is the effective electric field.
Chest radiograph after central line placement under fluoroscopy: utility or futility?

Background Postoperative portable chest films are routinely performed after fluoroscopic placement of central venous catheters to evaluate positioning and to rule out significant complications (eg, pneumothorax). Emerging evidence in the literature has called this practice into question suggesting that routine postoperative chest x-ray is unnecessary. Therefore, we investigated our recent experience to examine the utility of these films, to examine the development of symptoms relative to therapeutic intervention, and to report a cost-benefit analysis.
Electronic Cigarettes—A Narrative Review for Clinicians

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were introduced into the US market in 2007 and have quickly become a popular source of nicotine for many patients. They are designed to simulate smoking by heating a nicotine-containing solution producing an aerosol that the user inhales. The short- and long-term effects of e-cigarette use are still unclear, but their use is increasing. Some acute effects of e-cigarettes on heart rate, blood pressure, and airway resistance are reported. Although there are some reports of improved cessation in a subset of users, there are also studies reporting decreased cessation in dual users of regular and e-cigarettes. Additionally, there is no current regulation of these devices, and this allows virtually anyone with a form of online payment to obtain them.
“Graphics standards are boring”—Discuss

Abstract Standards, of course, should be boring—if they work they just produce predictable, boringly consistent results, but this paper arises from a sense of frustration after several years of attempting to teach graphics standards in interesting ways in undergraduate programmes. The paper surveys the way in which standards are taught at universities in the UK and the practical systems used to teach graphics courses. If the authors' experiences were mirrored elsewhere the expectation would be that the results of the survey would show that graphics is generally taught using nonstandard systems and that standards occupy a smaller role, being taught from a theoretical point of view. An objective of the research is thus to discover whether this view is in fact correct and, if so, investigate the reasons for it.
Solar system: Saturn's colossal ring.

A hitherto undetected disk of debris around Saturn is the largest ever found to be orbiting a planet. This ring may hold the key to one of the most enigmatic landscapes in the Solar System.
Landslides and Mass shedding on spinning spheroidal asteroids

Abstract Conditions for regolith landslides to occur on spinning, gravitating spheroidal asteroids and their aftermath are studied. These conditions are developed by application of classical granular mechanics stability analysis to the asteroid environment. As part of our study we determine how slopes evolve across the surface of these bodies as a function of spin rate, the dynamical fate of material that exceeds the angle of repose, and an analysis of how the shape of the body may be modified based on these results. We find specific characteristics for body surfaces and shapes when spun near the surface disruption limit and develop what their observable implications are. The small, oblate and rapidly spinning asteroids such as 1999 KW4 Alpha and 2008 EV5 exhibit some of these observable traits. The detailed mechanisms outlined here can also provide insight and constraints on the recently observed active asteroids such as P/2013 P5, and the creation of asteroidal meteor streams.
Individual authentication in a collaborative environment: lessons from a single sign-on implementation

Organizations, addressing the call for individual accountability and best practices in data security, are considering the use of a single sign-on (SSO) approach for authentication and password management. However, complexities are introduced when the technology is placed in context, particularly within a healthcare environment. The difficulty emerges in trying to fit authentication that is individually oriented into an environment that is collaborative in nature. As such, there are a multitude of forces exerting tensions on the design decisions and ultimately the adoption of the authentication mechanism. These decisions must address the innate conflict between the top-down organizational policy perspective and the workflow realities. It is the focus of this field study to identify and document these tradeoffs, the decisions made, their implications to the work environment, and ultimately the technology adoption.
Galantamine improves cognition in schizophrenic patients stabilized on risperidone.

Background Cognition in schizophrenia is impaired in a variety of cognitive domains. Galantamine, a cholinesterase inhibitor with putative nicotinic agonist-like effects, improves cognition in Alzheimer's patients. Methods Sixteen schizophrenic or schizoaffective patients stabilized on risperidone were administered galantamine (n=8) or placebo (n=8) in a randomized, double-blind trial. The Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) assessed changes in cognitive performance over an eight-week treatment interval. Results Clinical symptoms improved in both groups during the trial with no evidence that galantamine exacerbated extrapyramidal symptoms. Patients treated with galantamine experienced an overall improvement in cognitive performance (RBANS Total scale score; galantamine=12.1 ± 12.8 SD, placebo=.5 ± 13.5, t = 2.32, p Conclusions Adjunctive treatment with galantamine improves memory and attention in patients with schizophrenia who are stabilized on risperidone, providing the opportunity to improve functional outcome in these patients.