cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Influence of Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory: 1985–2000

This study utilizes citation analysis to explore the impact and standing of Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory (AJPT) both within the accounting/auditing discipline and in the context of related fields. More specifically, the citations to AJPT from other journals included in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), plus citations appearing in additional, high‐quality accounting/auditing journals (not included in the SSCI) are combined with self‐citations to yield a database of 3,102 citations for the period 1985 through 2000. This database is analyzed to observe trends and to identify journals citing AJPT most frequently. Additionally, articles and authors cited most widely are enumerated. AJPT's growing influence and stature are documented, and the results support the conclusion that the Auditing Section's journal has continued to adhere to its essential objective of promoting communication between auditing research and practice.
Vesicle association and exocytosis at ribbon and extraribbon sites in retinal bipolar cell presynaptic terminals

Synaptic vesicles release neurotransmitter by following a process of vesicle docking and exocytosis. Although these steps are well established, it has been difficult to observe and measure these rates directly in living synapses. Here, by combining the direct imaging of single synaptic vesicles and synaptic ribbons, I measure the properties of vesicle docking and evoked and spontaneous release from ribbon and extraribbon locations in a ribbon-type synaptic terminal, the goldfish retinal bipolar cell. In the absence of a stimulus, captured vesicles near ribbons associate tightly and only rarely undock or undergo spontaneous exocytosis. By contrast, vesicle capture at outlier sites is less stable and spontaneous exocytosis occurs at a higher rate. In response to a stimulus, exocytic events cluster near ribbons, but show no evidence of clustering away from ribbon sites. Together, the results here indicate that, although vesicles can associate and fuse both near and away from synaptic sites, vesicles at synaptic ribbons associate more stably and fusion is more tightly linked to stimuli.
Supporting Fourth Graders’ Ability to Interpret Graphs Through Real-Time Graphing Technology: A Preliminary Study

This study examined to what extent inquiry-based instruction supported with real-time graphing technology improves fourth grader’s ability to interpret graphs as representations of physical science concepts such as motion and temperature. This study also examined whether there is any difference between inquiry-based instruction supported with real-time graphing software and inquiry-based instruction supported with traditional laboratory equipment in terms of improving fourth graders’ ability to interpret motion and temperature graphs. Results of this study showed that there is a significant advantage in using real-time graphing technology to support fourth graders’ ability to interpret graphs.
Extracts of irradiated mature human tooth crowns contain MMP-20 protein and activity

Objectives We recently demonstrated a significant correlation between enamel delamination and tooth-level radiation dose in oral cancer patients. Since radiation can induce the synthesis and activation of matrix metalloproteinases, we hypothesized that irradiated teeth may contain active matrix metalloproteinases.
The microvascular response of the neonatal mesentery to hypertonic feedings.

ABSTRACT: Using intravital microscopy we studied the responses of the jejunal and ileal mesenteric microcirculation to hypertonic meals in neonatal piglets. Test meals were infused through a cannulated segment of proximal jejunum. The intestinal segments were observed under conditions of controlled temperature and humidity, and the velocity of red blood cells through mesenteric arterioles was measured and blood flow calculated. Jejunal flow was not altered from baseline by saline or hypertonic manitol infusion, while significant increases in flow were observed during hypertonic glucose infusion (3.8 × 10-6 versus 10.7 × 10-6 ml/s, p<0.01). Jejunal glucose infusion did not cause shunting from the ileal microcirculatory bed. We conclude that the infusion of hypertonic glucose causes an increase in jejunal blood flow, but does not result in a change in ileal flow. The increase in flow is a local phenomenon related to glucose absorption in neonatal piglets.
Germanium-Containing Heterobicyclic 10-π-Electron Ring Systems. Synthesis and Characterization of Neutral and Cationic Germanium(II) Derivatives of Aminotroponiminates

The neutral and cationic aminotroponiminate derivatives of germanium(II) have been investigated. The treatment of GeCl2·(1,4-dioxane) with [(i-Pr)2ATI]Li or [(Me)2ATI]Li in a 1:1 molar ratio gave the corresponding monochloro germanium(II) complex. Substitution of the chloride ion of [(i-Pr)2ATI]GeCl with weakly coordinating anions [CF3SO3]- and [(η5-C5H5)ZrCl2(μ-Cl)3ZrCl2(η5-C5H5)]- led to cationic germanium(II) species containing {[(i-Pr)2ATI]Ge}+ ion. Although NMR data of the cationic species show notable differences relative to their neutral analog, the solid state data show only minor changes in the C7N2Ge moiety. The Ge−N bond distances of the cations are not indicative of significant Ge−N π-bonding. These compounds feature some of the smallest N−Ge−N angles known for Ge(II) compounds. Attempted synthesis of the tetraphenylborate salt of {[(Me)2ATI]Ge}+ led to a phenyl group transfer product [(Me)2ATI]GePh·BPh3 with a Ge(II)−B bond. Details of the 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structures...
Nephrotoxin-induced renal cell injury involving biochemical alterations and its prevention with antioxidant.

Background: Although nephrotoxic agents or nephrotoxins are known to induce acute renal cell injury, their cytotoxic action is not fully elucidated. It is thus crucial to explore such a cytotoxic mechanism and the increasing volume of reports indicated a significant involvement of oxidative stress. To test this possibility, we investigated if a nephrotoxin would exert oxidative stress, leading to renal cell injury accompanied by certain biochemical alterations. We also examined if specific antioxidant might help prevent such oxidative cell injury. These studies may then help establish a prophylactic or preventive modality for renal cell injury induced by nephrotoxins. Methods: As glycerol has been commonly used for studying acute renal failure in animals, whether it would induce cellular injury was tested in renal proximal tubular OK cells in vitro . Cells were exposed to the varying concentrations of glycerol and cell number / viability was determined in 24 hours. Severity of oxidative stress was assessed by lipid peroxidation assay. Possible effects of glycerol on biochemical parameters were also examined on glyoxalase I activity and heat shock protein 90 using spectrophotometric (enzymatic) assay and Western blot analysis. Results: Glycerol (2.5%) was highly cytotoxic to OK cells, inducing 95% cell death in 24 hours. Lipid peroxidation assay indicated that nearly 3-fold greater oxidative stress was exerted by this glycerol. Concurrently, glyoxalase I activity was drastically lost by 75% and heat shock protein 90 was partially degraded following glycerol exposure. However, N-acetylcysteine, a potent glutathione-based antioxidant, was capable of almost completely preventing the glycerol-mediated adverse outcomes, such as cell death, glyoxalase I inactivation, and heat shock protein 90 degradation. Conclusions: Glycerol is cytotoxic, capable of inducing specific biochemical alterations such as inactivation of glyoxalase I and degradation of heat shock protein 90, which may reflect a breakdown of the cellular detoxification and defense systems, leading ultimately to OK cell death. Nevertheless, as N-acetylcysteine can provide full cytoprotection against such glycerol toxicity, it could be considered a prophylactic modality for nephrotoxin-induced oxidative renal cell injury and death. doi:10.4021/jocmr833w
Nanowire Array Gratings with ZnO Combs

Diffraction gratings are mainly manufactured by mechanical ruling, interference lithography, or resin replication, which generally require expensive equipment, complicated procedures, and a stable environment. We describe the controlled growth of self-organized microscale ZnO comb gratings by a simple one-step thermal evaporation and condensation method. The ZnO combs consist of an array of very uniform, perfectly aligned, evenly spaced and long single-crystalline ZnO nanowires or nanobelts with periods in the range of 0.2 to 2 μm. Diffraction experiments show that the ZnO combs can function as a tiny three-beam divider that may find applications in miniaturized integrated optics such as three-beam optical pickup systems.
Random environments and stochastic calculus

Abstract This paper investigates the use of heuristically derived stochastic differential equations (SDEs) as models in population biology. It is stressed that these equations are best viewed as approximations for more realistic, but often analytically intractable, models. A criterion is presented for determining which interpretation (e.g., Ito or Stratonovich) is likely to serve as the most useful approximation. Several limit theorems are presented which illustrate the use and implications of this criterion. In particular, it is shown that the solutions to sequences of models which approach a given SDE may converge to a diffusion process which corresponds to no solution of the SDE. However, arguing that in population biology the SDEs are generally serving as approximations to stochastic difference equations with autocorrelated noise, it is shown for a variety of models that the Ito calculus may provide a more useful approximation than the Stratonovich. Important limitations of this result and on the use of SDEs are indicated. These findings and observations are compared with those of several papers in the recent literature.
Statistical mechanics of nucleosome ordering by chromatin-structure-induced two-body interactions.

One-dimensional arrays of nucleosomes (DNA-bound histone octamers separated by stretches of linker DNA) fold into higher-order chromatin structures which ultimately make up eukaryotic chromosomes. Chromatin structure formation leads to $10\ensuremath{-}11$ base pair (bp) discretization of linker lengths caused by the smaller free energy cost of packaging nucleosomes into regular chromatin fibers if their rotational setting (defined by the DNA helical twist) is conserved. We describe nucleosome positions along the fiber using a thermodynamic model of finite-size particles with both intrinsic histone-DNA interactions and an effective two-body potential. We infer one- and two-body energies directly from high-throughput maps of nucleosome positions. We show that higher-order chromatin structure helps explains in vitro and in vivo nucleosome ordering in transcribed regions, and plays a leading role in establishing well-known $10\ensuremath{-}11$ bp genome-wide periodicity of nucleosome positions.
3D-ECT Velocimetry for Flow Structure Quantification of Gas-Liquid-Solid Fluidized Beds

The electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) velocimetry techniques, namely tomography tracking velocimetry (TTV) and tomography image velocimetry (TIV) are proposed in this study to quantify the flow structure of gas-liquid-solid fluidized beds based on the ECT images. The tomography images of the bubbles in the three-phase system are obtained from image reconstruction using the neural network multi-criteria optimization image reconstruction technique (NN-MOIRT), developed earlier by the authors. The TTV is based on an auto-correlation of tomography images in a single plane sensor to track the three-dimensional position of a bubble swarm. The TIV is based on a cross-correlation of tomography images in two plane sensors to calculate the three-dimensional velocity components of the bubble swarm. The bubble spiral motions, the fluctuations of the three-dimensional bubble swarm velocity components and fluxes in three-dimensional space are discussed along with the effect of gas superficial velocity, the presence of solid particles and the column height.
Case Report: Steroid Sparing Effect of Intravenous Gamma Globulin in a Child With Necrotizing Vasculitis

ABSTRACT This article reports the case of a boy aged 2 years 6 months, who had fever, arthritis, and necrotizing cutaneous vasculitis. Evaluation revealed no evidence of direct infectious causes. However, high anti-streptolysin and streptozyme titers during the acute phase support the possibility that streptococcal infection played an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The patient’s condition improved significantly with the administration of prednisone. However, several attempts to diminish the prednisone dose resulted in relapses. Subsequently, the prednisone was successfully tapered and discontinued after intravenous gamma globulin administration. It is recommended that intravenous gamma globulin should be considered before immunosuppressive therapy in the treatment of necrotizing vasculitis.
How are worldwide accounting standards changing

There's been a difference between U.S., GAAP, and accounting standards elsewhere in the world. But the IASB has proposed a major revision of its standards. How would things change? And what is the role of the IASB in “harmonizing” global standards? © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Six-month carbohydrate metabolism studies in women using oral contraceptives containing gestodene and ethinyl estradiol

Twenty-five women had their carbohydrate metabolism prospectively evaluated during the six months that they used a gestodene and ethinyl estradiol monophasic oral contraceptive. Serum glucose and insulin levels were measured during a 75-gram three-hour oral glucose tolerance test. At the six-month test, the three-hour glucose and the fasting and three-hour insulin values were significantly elevated. The literature on carbohydrate metabolism during gestodene oral contraceptive use is also reviewed.
Picosecond photoconductivity in trans-polyacetylene

Abstract Fast transient photoconductivity measurements of trans -polyacetylene as a function of temperature and photon energy indicate a relatively high quantum efficiency for the photoproduction of mobile, charged, nonlinear excitations. Excitation by a 20ps pulse at 590 nm with 10 15 photons/cm 2 results in a transient photoconductivity of ∼0.3 S /cm (at 50 ps) with time scale for decay similar to that measured in picosecond photoinduced absorption experiments. The temperature independence of the fast photoconductivity is interpreted in terms of the photoproduction of “hot” soliton excitations.
Shifts in magnitude of delayed and immediate reward

In a 2 by 2 factorial design, 48 albino rats were trained in a straight runway to receive either a large or a small magnitude of immediate or delayed reward, after which all groups received the large reward for an additional phase of training. The groups receiving immediate reinforcement performed more rapidly than the delayed groups throughout the experiment. The effects for reward magnitude were complex, and there was some suggestion that delayed reinforcement produced a reversal of the usual superior performance for a large reward. While delayed upshifted subjects briefly overshot the performance level of large-reward controls, group differences were not reliable, and this failure to obtain a positive contrast effect did not seem to be due to a physiological limit.
Audio-CASI - Hardware and software considerations in adding sound to a computer-assisted interviewing system

This article reviews a multimedia application in the area of survey measurement research: adding audio capabilities to a computer-assisted interviewing system. Hardware and software issues are discussed, and potential hardware devices that operate from DOS platforms are reviewed. Three types of hardware devices are considered: PCMCIA devices, parallel port attachments, and laptops with built-in sound.
Behavioral and radioligand binding evidence for irreversible dopamine receptor blockade by N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline

N-ethoxycarbonyl−2-ethoxy−1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ), an irreversible alpha adrenergic antagonist, also acts as a potent and longlasting in vivo antagonist of D-2 dopamine receptors. Rats given EEDQ 3−10 mg/kg i.p. exhibit catalepsy and greatly reduced apomorphine-induced stereotypy, behavioral effects associated with D-2 dopamine receptor blockade. These effects are apparent up to 4 days after drug administration, with scores returning to control level by day 7. In vitro receptor binding assays of striatal membrane preparations from these animals using the radioligand 3H-spiroperidol directly demonstrate that EEDQ is a potent D−2 dopamine receptor antagonist, revealing the apparent basis of the behavioral effects of EEDQ. This antagonism proceeds via a reduction in D-2 receptor Bmax, with no change in the observed KD for 3H-spiroperidol, and is resistant to extensive washing of the membrane preparation after in vivo EEDQ exposure. These observations suggest that EEDQ inhibition of D-2 receptors is irreversible. Administration of behaviorally active doses of EEDQ effect a reduction of 50−85% in D-2 receptor number. Recovery of this loss roughly parallels recovery of normal catalepsy and apomorphine stereotypy scores. These doses of EEDQ also reduce binding of 3H-flupentixol to D-1 and 3H-dopamine to D-3 type dopaminergic binding sites, putative dopamine receptors with no known behavioral correlates. Recovery of D-1 and D-3 binding also occurs with a similar timecourse. Because of the apparent covalent nature of its interaction with dopamine receptors and because of its activity after peripheral administration, EEDQ may prove useful in the study of the function and turnover of dopamine receptors.
Kinetic theory based new upwind methods for inviscid compressible flows

Two new upwind methods called the Kinetic Numerical Method (KNM) and the Kinetic Flux Vector Splitting (KFVS) method for the solution of the Euler equations have been presented. Both of these methods can be regarded as some suitable moments of an upwind scheme for the solution of the Boltzmann equation provided the distribution function is Maxwellian. This moment-method strategy leads to a unification of the Riemann approach and the pseudo-particle approach used earlier in the development of upwind methods for the Euler equations. A very important aspect of the moment-method strategy is that the new upwind methods satisfy the entropy condition because of the Boltzmann H-Theorem and suggest a possible way of extending the Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) principle within the framework of the H-Theorem. The ability of these methods in obtaining accurate wiggle-free solution is demonstrated by applying them to two test problems.
LAND DEVELOPMENT UNDER REGULATION: COMPARISON BETWEEN THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE CASCADE RANGE IN OREGON, WASHINGTON, AND CALIFORNIA

We compare how socioeconomic factors, physical landscape, profit uncertainty, and local land use policies have affected land development on the east and west sides of the Cascade Range in Oregon, Washington, and California. It is found that the west side has more actively planned and regulated land use than the east side. Consequently, the more intense land use regulations on the west side have reduced more land development than on the east side. Risks associated with alternative land uses as well as profits were important in land development decisions of both sides.
Critical dynamics of thermal conductivity at the normal-superconducting transition

We study the effect of thermal fluctuations on the critical dynamics of the three-dimensional disordered superconductor across the normal-superconducting transition. We employ a phenomenological hydrodynamic approach, and in particular find the thermal conductivity to be smooth and nonsingular at the transition.
The difference between cholesterol-and glycyrrhizin-γ-cyclodextrin complexes— an analysis by MD simulations in vacuo and in aquo and the calculation of solvation free energies with AMSOL

Abstract Glycyrrhizin forms very stable, freely water-soluble inclusion complexes with cyclodextrin. In contrast, the [cholesterol// γ -cyclodextrin] complex is very sparingly soluble in aquo. The molecular dynamics simulations and AMSOL calculations reported in this paper support these experimental findings: cholesterol is much less soluble than glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, diglucuronic acid and γ -cyclodextrin. The [glycyrrhizin// γ -cyclodextrin] complex is the most stable one. The previously reported unusually large dipole moments of cyclodextrins were only found in the simulations; AMSOL calculations suggest a dipole moment of about 2 Debye for γ -cyclodextrin. The simulations illustrate how the guest molecules become included in the cyclodextrin cavity.
Isotopic anomalies and proton irradiation in the early solar system

Nuclear cross sections relevant to the various isotopic-abundance anomalies found in solar-system objects are evaluated in an attempt to set constraints on the hypothesized mechanism of irradiation of forming planetesimals by energetic protons from the young sun. A power-law proton spectrum is adopted, attention is restricted to proton energies less than about 20 MeV, and average cross sections are calculated for several reactions that might be expected to lead to the observed anomalies. The following specific anomalies are examined in detail: Al-26, Na-22, Xe-126, I-129, Kr-80, V-50, Nb-92, La-138, Ta-180, Hg-196, K-40, Ar-36, O-17, O-18, N-15, C-13, Li, Be, and B. It is suggested that the picture of presolar-grain carriers accounts for the facts more naturally than do irradiation models.
Interactions of cooling velocity, temperature, and warming velocity on the survival of frozen and thawed yeast.

Summary The survival of cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae after freezing and thawing is markedly dependent on the cooling and warming velocity and on the minimum temperature to which the cells are cooled. However, survival is not affected by variations in the time the cells are held at a given temperature, at least not by variations between 10 and 110 min. When cells are cooled to −196°C, survival after warming is almost always higher than 10% when cooling is at 7°C per min or slower, but drops to as low as 10−6% when cooling is 45 to 4700°C per min. The extent of the drop depends both on the particular cooling rate and warming rate used. For a given cooling rate, its extent varies inversely with warming rate, and no drop occurs when warming is 48,000°C per min, the highest velocity attained. Slow warming is also more adverse to slowly cooled cells, but only when the cells are cooled to below −60°C; and even then the effect is much less than after rapid cooling. Most of the protective effect of slow cooling is evident by the time the cells have cooled to −20°C; most of the adverse effects of the slow warming of slowly cooled cells occur below −40°C. The data support the hypothesis that the major cause of injury occurs when intracellular ice forms in the cells and recrystallizes during slow warming. The lethality of rapid cooling, then, is due to its increasing the probability of intracellular freezing. The resulting crystals can, however, be innocuous if warming is fast enough to prevent changes in crystal shape prior to melting. There are suggestions that some intracellular ice may even form in cells cooled slowly to below −60°C. On the other hand, injury to cells cooled slowly to temperatures above −60°C does not appear aseribable to intracellular ice; however, the present data do not indicate to what factor it is ascribable.
Management of metadata and automation for mail-in measurements with the APS 11-BM high throughput, high-resolution synchrotron powder diffractometer.

A high-resolution and high-throughput synchrotron powder diffractometer has been automated for use with samples that are mailed in by Advanced Photon Source users. Implementation of a relational database with web interfaces for both outside users and beamline staff, which is integrated into the facility-wide proposal and safety system, allows all aspects of beamline management to be integrated. This system permits users to request kits for mounting samples, to provide sample safety information, to obtain their collected data and to provide usage information upon project completion in a quick and simple manner. Beamline staff use a separate interface to note receipt of samples, schedule and collect diffraction data, post-process and quality-check data, and dispose of samples. The design of the software and database are discussed in detail.
Maybe I Can Learn to Read in College.

Can poor student performance on high-stakes assessment, including high school exit exams, indicate gaps in school and district curriculum and instruction? How might this affect students identified ...
Reanalysis of the condensate fraction for 4He from neutron scattering data.

New data analysis has been performed on three neutron-scattering experiments that previously gave widely different values for the Bose-Einstein condensate fraction in /sup 4/He. With the new analysis, the experimentally determined values are in good agreement suggesting condensate fraction of about 10%.
Using mobile eye-tracking to assess attention to smoking cues in a naturalized environment

Abstract Introduction Attentional bias to drug cues is thought to contribute to maintenance of drug-use behavior among chronic drug users. Studies assessing this bias traditionally have assessed drug cues that are explicitly presented in a laboratory setting. This study tested the use of a mobile eye-tracking procedure to assess visual attention to smoking cues by smokers and non-smokers in a more naturalized environment. Methods A mobile eye-tracker was used to assess the number and duration of fixations made to smoking cues located in an office space environment by smokers and non-smokers while completing a sham experimental task. Smokers completed two sessions, once after 12 h of abstinence and once after smoking. Results Results indicated that smokers made significantly more fixations to the smoking cues than non-smokers, regardless of smoking condition though the mean amount of time spent fixating on the cues did not differ significantly. Smokers did not differ in the number of fixations or mean fixation duration across the two smoking conditions, suggesting in this sample that a 12-h period of abstinence did not make the smoking cues more salient in this context. Conclusion This study demonstrates the successful use of mobile eye-tracking to assess attentional biases to environmental drug cues. Results suggest that smoking cues in the environment are potentially more attention grabbing for smokers compared to non-smokers but these cues do not necessarily hold visual attention of smokers longer than that of non-smokers.
Is a low readmission rate indicative of a good hospital

Background Hospital readmissions are an increasing focus of health care policy. This study explores the association between 30-day readmissions and 30-day mortality for surgical procedures. Study Design California longitudinal statewide data from 1995 to 2009 were analyzed for 7 complex procedures: abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve replacement, bariatric surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, esophagectomy, pancreatectomy, and percutaneous coronary intervention. Hospitals were categorized based on observed-to-expected (O/E) ratios for 30-day mortality and 30-day readmissions. Hospitals were considered "high" or "low" outliers if the 95% confidence intervals of their O/E ratios excluded 1 and "expected" if they included 1. Hospitals that were outliers in at least 1 metric were classified as "discordant" if their readmission and mortality rates were not both "high" or both "low," and "poorly discordant" in the particular scenario of high mortality with "expected" or "low" readmission rates. Results A total of 1,090,071 patients and 299 hospitals were analyzed for 7 procedures, representing a total of 1,150 clinical encounters. The overall 30-day mortality was 3.79% and the 30-day readmission was 12.69%. Of the total, 729 (63.3%) had "expected" O/E ratios for both outcomes. Among outliers, 358 (85.0%) were "discordant" and 100 (23.8%) were "poorly discordant." Conclusions Hospital readmission rate alone is a limited measure of quality given the poor correlation between hospital readmission and mortality rates. In this study, 85% of hospital outliers were "discordant" for readmission and mortality. Furthermore, almost a quarter of these discordant hospitals had "expected" or "low" readmission but "high" mortality rates. Quality metrics that focus exclusively on readmission rates overlook these discrepancies.
Validity of the Slosson Intelligence Test: A Ten-Year Review.

Ten years of validity research concerning the Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) is reviewed. The equivalence of the SIT to the Stanford-Binet and the Wechsler Scales is examined and the relationship of the SIT to achievement measures is described. The importance of supplementing correlational findings with regression analysis, mean difference data, and information on misclassification is emphasized by the reviewers. Decisions concerning individuals based on SIT IQ scores are viewed as particularly risky in situations involving groups of subjects characterized by a relatively narrow range of IQ scores.
Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative functionalization of an arene C-H bond: evidence for an aryl-copper(III) intermediate.

Recent studies have highlighted the ability of CuII to catalyze the aerobic oxidative functionalization of C−H bonds; however, very little is known about the mechanisms of these reactions. Here, we describe the CuII-catalyzed C−H methoxylation and amidation of a macrocylic arene substrate with O2 as the stoichiometric oxidant. Kinetic and in situ spectroscopic studies demonstrate the involvement of three different oxidation states of Cu in the catalytic mechanism, including an aryl-CuIII intermediate. These observations establish a novel mechanistic pathway that has implications for numerous other Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidation reactions.
Do International Freedom of Association Standards Apply to Public Sector Labor Relations in the United States

Excerpt] After November 2010 elections in the United States, human rights aspects of labor policy suddenly emerged at sub-federal levels. Elections in many states brought a sharp turn to conservative Republican rule. In this new climate, conflicts over workers’ rights took shape not at the ozone layer of high international policy, but at the oozing landfill level of local labor politics. Governors and legislatures in Wisconsin, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, and other states moved to strip public employees of collective bargaining rights, blaming their wages and benefits for budget shortfalls. A vindictive North Carolina legislature made it unlawful for public school teachers voluntarily to contribute to their union’s legislative action fund through paycheck deductions (in January 2012 a state court issued an injunction blocking the North Carolina law, saying that singling out trade unions for such a prohibition violated the state constitution’s guarantee of freedom of association). The labor rights crisis provoked by state-level anti-union measures led to heightened awareness of international labor standards. In Wisconsin and Ohio in particular, and to a smaller degree in other states, Republicans’ anti-union moves galvanized trade unionists and their supporters into marches, occupations, and other forms of mass protest with slogans such as “workers’ rights are human rights” and “collective bargaining is a human right.” In Ohio, the labor movement and its allies overturned the anti-collective bargaining law in a public referendum. In Wisconsin, the law’s passage led to a movement to recall the Republican governor.
Postoperative respiratory complications and recovery in obese children following adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing: A case-control study

Objective: To compare postoperative respiratory complications in obese and nonobese children following surgery for sleep-disordered breathing.Study Design: Case-control study.Setting: Pediatric tertiary care center.Subjects and Methods: All obese children who had undergone adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing from 2002 to 2007 were compared with age- and gender-matched controls. Subjects were identified from a prospective surgical database. Length of hospital stay and the incidence, severity, and location of respiratory complications were compared. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify predictive factors.Results: Forty-nine obese children were identified (20:29, female:male). There were no differences in mean age or type of surgical procedures (P > 0.05). Overall, 37 obese children (75.5%) and 13 controls (26.5%) incurred complications (P = 0.000, OR 8.54 [95% CI 3.44-21.19]). Ten obese patients and two controls incurred major events (P = 0.012, OR 6.03 [95% CI 1.25-29.15]); 36 obe...
14-3-3 mediates histone cross-talk during transcription elongation in Drosophila.

Post-translational modifications of histone proteins modulate the binding of transcription regulators to chromatin. Studies in Drosophila have shown that the phosphorylation of histone H3 at Ser10 (H3S10ph) by JIL-1 is required specifically during early transcription elongation. 14-3-3 proteins bind H3 only when phosphorylated, providing mechanistic insights into the role of H3S10ph in transcription. Findings presented here show that 14-3-3 functions downstream of H3S10ph during transcription elongation. 14-3-3 proteins localize to active genes in a JIL-1–dependent manner. In the absence of 14-3-3, levels of actively elongating RNA polymerase II are severely diminished. 14-3-3 proteins interact with Elongator protein 3 (Elp3), an acetyltransferase that functions during transcription elongation. JIL-1 and 14-3-3 are required for Elp3 binding to chromatin, and in the absence of either protein, levels of H3K9 acetylation are significantly reduced. These results suggest that 14-3-3 proteins mediate cross-talk between histone phosphorylation and acetylation at a critical step in transcription elongation.
Estimation of single-neuron model parameters from spike train data

Estimating parameters for models of neurons requires a quantitative comparison between the model output and empirical data. The present study compares three error functions: voltage time-series (VTS), cumulative voltage integrals (CVI), and phase histograms (PH). In two test cases, predefined models were used to produce target data and to compare the efficacy of the three error functions when they were used to recover the target data. In a third example, empirical data were used to parameterize a model. VTS was found to be inferior, whereas as CVI and PH were similar and effective. Reliable parameters were derived from analyzing as few as two data sets.
Role of ion temperature anisotropy in multistage refilling of the outer plasmasphere

The refilling processes predicted by the ion temperature anisotropy (TAN) model and those of a model based on the assumption of temperature isotropy (TISO) are compared. It is noted that the TISO model predicts that a flux tube with L = 4 undergoes a substantial refilling in about 12 hours after a severe depletion, while the TAN model predicts much longer refilling time divided in two stages, with the supersonic flows from the conjugate ionospheres in the early stage, lasting over a few hours. The plasma in the flux tube develops an anisotropy causing a downward force, which balances the upward electric and pressure forces on ions keeping the flux tube depleted. The second stage starts when the temperature anisotropy begins to relax due to Coulomb collisions at high altitudes and is characterized by a subsonic flow.
On the exact Kirchhoff and Rayleigh-Sommerfeld theories for the focusing of an infinite scalar spherical wave-field

Abstract This communication discusses the exact analytic solutions to three well-known scalar diffraction theories - the Kirchhoff and first and second Rayleigh-Sommerfeld theories - for the focusing of a monochromatic spherical incident wave in an infiniteaperture system.
Functional Blindness and Visual Impairment in Older Adults from Three Communities

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the association of sociodemographic factors with functional blindness and visual impairment in an aged population. Methods: Three population-based cohorts (East Boston, MA; New Haven, CT; and Iowa and Washington Counties, IA) of persons aged 71 years and older were screened for bilateral functional near and distant vision during an in-home interview in 1988. Results: Screening was completed by 5335 participants. The prevalence of functional blindness increased with age, from 1% at age 71 to 74 years to 17% in those 90 years of age and older. Functional visual impairment increased from 7% at age 71 to 74 years to 39% in those 90 years of age and older. In multivariate analyses, residence in a nursing home, older age, glaucoma, insulin-requiring diabetes at baseline, East Boston site, history of cataract, and lower 1982 income were independent and significantly associated with both functional blindness and visual impairment. Age and nursing home residence were significantly ( P Conclusion: Functional blindness and visual impairment are quite prevalent among the oldest old and the institutionalized. The number of affected individuals will increase as the population ages and life expectancy increases. Although visual problems are associated with aging, nursing home residence, health problems, and socioeconomic conditions, they may be readily remediable and may lead to immediate improvements in quality of life.
Efficient managing large scale species range maps in a spatial database environment

Species distribution data are becoming increasingly available over the past few years and the availability is likely to increase significantly in the near future due to technological advances. While traditionally GIS are used to visualize the distributions of a limited number of species and to generate biodiversity indices in predefined regions in an offline mode, it is desirable to manage such data in a spatial database environment and allow customer applications to efficiently query the database with arbitrary dynamically defined regions. In this study, we have developed a Variable-Fanout Space Partition (VF-SP) tree structure to represent species distribution maps by extending the classic quad-tree data structures to accommodate user-defined raster tessellations. Subsequently we have developed an approach to import multiple VF-SP trees representing a large number of species distribution maps into a spatial database for efficient query processing. Experimental results using NatureServe 4000+ bird species distribution data demonstrate that the proposed approach can be 30–300 times faster than the baseline approach that manages the same data as polygons in the same spatial database with respect to the average query response time using a query window size of 0.1 degree to 1 degree at a global scale. The average response times for such queries are less than 1 second when querying more than 15 million boxes in a PostgreSQL database. The results are encouraging with respect to using stateof- the-art spatial database technologies to manage large-scale species distribution data and answer dynamic queries in generating indices that are important to biodiversity research
Loneliness, social relationships, and a broader autism phenotype in college students

Impaired social functioning is a hallmark of autism spectrum conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible relationship between social functioning and a broader autism phenotype. With a sample of non-clinical undergraduate students from a large, urban university (N = 97; mean age = 19.4 ± 2 years), characteristics associated with autism were measured as well as self-reported dating and friendship history, feelings of loneliness, and social motivation. Results indicate that those individuals with a stronger autism phenotype (e.g., rigidity, preference for sameness, high attention to detail) report significantly more loneliness (r = .52, p < 0.01) and fewer and shorter duration friendships. Also, for participants in romantic relationships, a stronger phenotype was moderately and positively correlated with length of relationship (r = .34, p < 0.05). Findings support the view that individuals with characteristics of autism and related conditions do not necessarily prefer aloneness, as once assumed, but rather experience increased levels of loneliness related to lack of social skill and understanding. Significance and limitations of these findings are discussed and future directions for research and possibilities for social skills training in this population are explored. 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
On the Subject of Solar Vehicles and the Benefits of the Technology

The face of the automotive industry is being reshaped by concerns over oil supplies, international policy and fuel costs. A wide variety of hybrid technologies are now available including discussion of hydrogen possibilities. The solar powered car, one of the oldest alternative energy vehicles, has many applications to the emerging electric vehicle market. The development of a telemetry system for a solar powered race car aids in a better understanding of the energy usage of a vehicle and the aspects applicable to electric vehicles as a whole. This paper surveys the history and future of solar and electric vehicles and provides an overview of a typical solar car.
Measuring the turnover rates of Arabidopsis proteins using deuterium oxide: an auxin signaling case study.

SUMMARY Rapid environmental responses in plants rely on endogenous signaling mechanisms, which in many cases are mediated by changes in protein turnover rates. It is therefore necessary to develop methods for measuring protein dynamics that monitor large sets of plant proteins to begin to apply a systems biology approach to the study of plant behavior. The use of stable isotope labeling strategies that are adaptable to proteomic methods is particularly attractive for this purpose. Here, we explore one example of such methods that is particularly suitable for plants at the seedling stage, where measurement of amino acid and protein turnover rates is accomplished using a heavy water labeling strategy. The method is backed by microarray evaluation to define its feasibility for specific experimental approaches, and the CULLIN-ASSOCIATED AND NEDDYLATION DISSOCIATED 1 (CAND1) and TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1 (TIR1) proteins are used to illustrate the potential utility in understanding hormonal signaling regulation. These studies provide insight not only into the potential utility of the method, but also address possible areas of concern regarding the use of heavy water labeling during plant growth. These considerations suggest a prescription for specific experimental designs that minimize interference resulting from the induction of treatment-specific gene expression in the results obtained.
An Optimal Sliding Choke Antenna for Hepatic Microwave Ablation

Microwave ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive technique increasingly used for thermal therapy of liver tumors. Effective MWA requires efficient interstitial antennas that destroy tumors and a margin of healthy tissue, in situ, while minimizing damage to the rest of the organ. Previously, we presented a method for optimizing MWA antenna designs by coupling finite element method models of antennas with a real-coded, multiobjective genetic algorithm. We utilized this procedure to optimize the design of a minimally invasive choke antenna that can be used to create near-spherical ablation zones of adjustable size (radius 1-2 cm) by adjusting treatment durations and a sliding structure of the antenna. Computational results were validated with experiments in ex vivo bovine liver. The optimization procedure yielded antennas with reflection coefficients below -30 dB, which were capable of creating spherical ablation zones up to 2 cm in radius using 100 W input power at 2.45 GHz with treatment durations under 2 min.
Clinical significance of pulmonary artery occlusion pressure

Background: Ppao values are routinely used to assess pulmonary vascular status and LV performance. Regrettably, under many common clinically relevant conditions, even when Ppao values are measured accurately, Ppao values at baseline and in response to therapy often reflect an inaccurate measure of cardiovascular status. Results and conclusions: Thus, caution should be used when applying measures of Ppao in determining therapy if changes in RV volume, hyperinflation, or LV diastolic compliance are simultaneously occurring.
Strongly consistent output only and input/output identification in the presence of Gaussian noise

Output only and input/output (I/O) system identification algorithms are developed based on a novel mean-square-error (MSE) criterion. The input is assumed non-Gaussian and the performance criterion implicitly exploits cumulant statistics to suppress the effect of additive Gaussian noise. The noise covariance need not be known, and in I/O problems both input and output (perhaps correlated) noises are allowed. Although expressed in terms of noisy data, the novel objective function is a scalar multiple of the standard MSE as if the latter was computed in the absence of noise. It yields strongly consistent parameter estimators which are obtained by solving linear equations via computationally attractive and noise insensitive recursive-least-squares and least-mean-squares algorithms. Simulations illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithms and they are compared with the conventional methods. >