cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Reinforced, Magnet-Coil Support Shells for the NHMFL 100 Tesla Non-Destructive Magnet

The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) at Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Tallahassee, Florida has undertaken an effort to design and build a 100 T non-destructive magnet. The magnet will be located in Los Alamos and will be used for studying properties of materials at high magnetic fields. The goal for the 100 T magnet is a duration of 15 ms above 80 T in a 24-mm bore. The pulsed magnet will be cooled to 80K prior to each shot. The magnet will consist of a relatively small, capacitor-driven magnet at the center (called the 'insert') specifically designed to operate within a large "platform" magnetic field. Located around the small capacitor-driven magnet is an outer set of seven nested coils (called the 'outsert') driven by energy stored in a motor/generator. Each of these seven coils in the outsert is supported by a cylindrical reinforcing shell. The reinforcing shells for the inner four coils of the outsert have a unique design. These four shells are constructed of Nitronic 40 'bobbins' that are over- wrapped with high-strength 301SS. This paper describes the design, analysis, and testing of these reinforced, magnet-coil support shells.
Reconceptualizing nuclear risks: Bringing deliberate nuclear use back in

ABSTRACTAccording to a widespread conventional wisdom in the scholarly literature, the threat of nuclear weapons resides largely in the risk of accident, inadvertent use, and nuclear terrorism. In this article, we argue that this conventional wisdom is inconsistent with the increasing danger of nuclear use by leaders intentionally employing nuclear weapons as tools of statecraft. This article identifies the theoretical processes that could give rise to deliberate nuclear use. Next, it marshals empirical evidence through an examination of developments in several salient geopolitical rivalries between nuclear-armed actors in the world today, demonstrating that deliberate nuclear use may be becoming increasingly likely. Finally, it offers concluding remarks regarding the steps world leaders can take to deter and prevent intentional nuclear strikes. This article seeks to bring back in an appreciation of deliberate nuclear use to academic studies of nuclear deterrence and instructs policymakers on the appropri...
Cranial Nerves and Brainstem

There are 12 cranial nerves that provide motor and sensory innervation. All but two originate from the brain stem, which also holds a ventricular system and ascending/descending white matter tracts. In this chapter, we present some of the common pathologies regarding the cranial nerves and brain stem including trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, vestibular schwannomas, brain stem cavernous malformations, and Chiari malformation. The pathophysiology, clinical presentation, surgical/nonsurgical treatments, and advances in clinical imaging are discussed. The conditions included share the common theme of offending vascular structures, tumors, or connective tissue causing compression of cranial nerves and other components of the brain stem. Impingement of key nerve fibers is believed to cause generation of abnormal potentials resulting in symptoms. Improvements in magnetic resonance imaging and fiber tractography have provided a better understanding of anatomical complications resulting from these pathologies and allowed for more patient specific–treatment options.
A photonic integrated resonant accelerometer

We demonstrate a novel photonic integrated accelerometer having 6 μg/√Hz sensitivity. The device was realized by integrating millimeter-scale mechanical structures with sub-micron silicon photonics using a 200-mm silicon toolset. We review our initial results and discuss the potential realization of nano-g level performance in a chip-scale device.
Photodissociation of CF3NO: observation of NO (υ=1)

Abstract That excitation of CF 3 NO with wavelengths between 580 and 660 nm yields CF 3 + NO has been shown by two direct techniques. In the first, the CF 3 and NO radicals have been scavenged by their reaction with Cl 2 to yield CF 3 Cl and NOCl. as detected by both infrared and mass spectrometry. In the second technique, NO (υ=1) vibrational fluorescence has been observed following tunable dye laser excitation of CF 3 NO. The rate of vibrational relaxation of NO (υ=1) in collisions with CF 3 NO has been found to be (2.19 ± 0.19) × 10 3 s −1 torr −1 .
Ceftriaxone Etest non-susceptible methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus time-kill responses

We determined the correlation between Etest and BMD MICs with bactericidal activity in MSSA blood isolates. Ceftriaxone was bactericidal in 36% and 9% of isolates exposed to the Etest and BMD MIC, respectively. With the sub-optimal activity of ceftriaxone, the Etest MIC may be a conservative method in identifying clinical utility.
First described case of prosthetic joint infection with Clostridium disporicum.

An orthopedic hardware infection with Clostridium disporicum is described. C. disporicum is a gram positive anaerobic bacillus which can contain two subterminal spores. C. disporicum had not previously been reported in musculoskeletal infections. Gram stains demonstrating gram positive bacilli with two subterminal spores should alert practitioners to the possibility of C. disporicum infection.
Body size influences urinary posture but not hindlimb laterality in shelter dogs

Abstract Motor laterality is the preferential use of structures on one side of the body. Although domestic dogs are commonly used in laterality research, few studies have examined hindlimb motor tasks, and no study, to our knowledge, has examined the effects of body size on measures of laterality. First, we observed 659 dogs during walks at 2 animal shelters to assess likelihood of raising a hindlimb during urination in relation to body size, age class (juvenile, adult, and senior), reproductive status (intact vs. spayed or neutered), shelter, and time spent at shelters; males and females were analyzed separately, and we excluded juveniles from statistical analyses because no female in this age class raised a hindlimb. Second, we observed a subset of the adult and senior dogs (n = 46) over multiple walks to determine if they exhibited side preferences with respect to hindlimb raised during urination. We looked for individual biases and a population bias and analyzed hindlimb preferences with respect to body size. For both males and females, small dogs were more likely than medium and large dogs to raise a hindlimb during urination. Intact males (96%) were more likely than neutered males (83%) to have a predominant urinary posture with a raised hindlimb. Time spent at the shelters influenced urinary posture in mature males: with each additional day spent at the shelter, the odds of a male having a predominant urinary posture with a raised hindlimb increased by 2%. We found the following distribution of hindlimb preferences in the subset of dogs studied for laterality: right preferent, 19.6%; left preferent, 30.4%; and ambilateral, 50.0%. There was no evidence of a population-wide bias for hindlimb raised. Body size did not influence laterality strength or whether a dog was hindlimb preferent (right or left) versus ambilateral. Thus, the likelihood of raising a hindlimb when urinating, but not laterality with respect to hindlimb raised, can be added to the growing list of behavioral differences between small dogs and larger dogs. Previous studies have reported that under stressful conditions, mature male dogs may temporarily revert to the juvenile urinary posture in which no hindlimb is raised. Our finding for adult and senior males that likelihood of raising a hindlimb during urination increased with time spent at the shelters suggests that male urinary posture could potentially serve as a behavioral indicator of adjustment to shelter conditions.
Intubation, Airway, and Mechanical Ventilation

What was the airway grade on that intubation? You can now have a quick look at airway scoring as well as preparation for the difficult airway in a high-yield format.
A framework for evaluating the analytic maturity of an organization

Abstract We introduce a framework called the Analytic Processes Maturity Model (APMM) for evaluating the analytic maturity of an organization. The APMM identifies analytic-related processes in six key process areas: i) building analytic models; ii) deploying analytic models; iii) managing and operating analytic infrastructure; iv) protecting analytic assets through appropriate policies and procedures; v) operating an analytic governance structure; and vi) identifying analytic opportunities, making decisions, and allocating resources based upon an analytic strategy. Based upon the maturity of these processes, the APMM divides organizations into five maturity levels: 1) organizations that can build reports; 2) organizations that can build and deploy models; 3) organizations that have repeatable processes for building and deploying analytics; 4) organizations that have consistent enterprise-wide processes for analytics; and 5) enterprises whose analytics is strategy driven. The APMM is broadly based upon the Capability Maturity Model that is the basis for measuring the maturity of processes for developing software.
TCT-400 Pre-existing Atrial Fibrillation Increases Mortality After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Meta-Analysis

Atrial fibrillation(AF) has been known to increase complications after medical procedures. We aim to determine the effect of pre-existing atrial fibrillation on patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Databases were searched from inception through June 2017. The
Early prenatal vitamin D concentrations and social-emotional development in infants.

Background: Many pregnant women in the United States have suboptimal vitamin D, but the impact on infant development is unclear. Moreover, no pregnancy-specific vitamin D recommendations have been ...
Influence of study approaches and course design on academic success in the undergraduate anatomy laboratory.

Many pre-health professional programs require completion of an undergraduate anatomy course with a laboratory component, yet grades in these courses are often low. Many students perceive anatomy as a more challenging subject than other coursework, and the resulting anxiety surrounding this perception may be a significant contributor to poor performance. Well-planned and deliberate guidance from instructors, as well as thoughtful course design, may be necessary to assist students in finding the best approach to studying for anatomy. This article assesses which study habits are associated with course success and whether course design influences study habits. Surveys (n = 1,274) were administered to students enrolled in three undergraduate human anatomy laboratory courses with varying levels of cooperative learning and structured guidance. The surveys collected information on potential predictors of performance, including student demographics, educational background, self-assessment ability, and study methods (e.g., flashcards, textbooks, diagrams). Compared to low performers, high performers perceive studying in laboratory, asking the instructor questions, quizzing alone, and quizzing others as more effective for learning. Additionally, students co-enrolled in a flipped, active lecture anatomy course achieve higher grades and find active learning activities (e.g., quizzing alone and in groups) more helpful for their learning in the laboratory. These results strengthen previous research suggesting that student performance is more greatly enhanced by an active classroom environment that practices successful study strategies rather than one that simply encourages students to employ such strategies inside and outside the classroom. Anat Sci Educ 11: 496-509. © 2018 American Association of Anatomists.
Effect of intensive blood pressure control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus over 9 years of follow-up: A subgroup analysis of high-risk ACCORDION trial participants

Although guidelines recommend strict blood pressure (BP) control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and elevated cardiovascular risk, the long-term effects of this approach are unknown. We investigated the effect of intensive BP control on clinical outcomes in patients with T2DM over 9 years of follow-up. We included Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes - Blood Pressure participants in the standard glucose control arm who had established cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, were ≥75 years of age or who had a 10-year coronary heart risk ≥15%. Participants were randomized to either intensive (systolic BP < 120 mm Hg) or standard (systolic BP < 140 mm Hg) BP control for an average of 5 years. Observational follow-up occurred for an average of 4 years thereafter. After an average total follow-up of 9 years, intensive BP control reduced the composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction and nonfatal stroke by 25% (hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.60-0.95; P = .02). The overall benefit was driven by a reduction in nonfatal myocardial infarction (P = .01). In this post-hoc analysis, the benefits of a fixed-duration intensive BP control intervention in patients with T2DM persisted throughout 9 years of follow-up.
Keeping a Low Profile?: Technology, Risk and Privacy among Undocumented Immigrants

Undocumented immigrants in the United States face risks of discrimination, surveillance, and deportation. We investigate their technology use, risk perceptions, and protective strategies relating to their vulnerability. Through semi-structured interviews with Latinx undocumented immigrants, we find that while participants act to address offline threats, this vigilance does not translate to their online activities. Their technology use is shaped by needs and benefits rather than risk perceptions. While our participants are concerned about identity theft and privacy generally, and some raise concerns about online harassment, their understanding of government surveillance risks is vague and met with resignation. We identify tensions among self-expression, group privacy, and self-censorship related to their immigration status, as well as strong trust in service providers. Our findings have implications for digital literacy education, privacy and security interfaces, and technology design in general. Even minor design decisions can substantially affect exposure risks and well-being for such vulnerable communities.
Extensive postoperative epidural hematoma after full anticoagulation: case report and review of the literature.

Background/Objective: A 67-year-old man with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and a medical history significant for coronary artery disease underwent routine lumbar surgical decompression. The o...
Abstract B048: Proteomic approaches for the identification of druggable protein and epigenetic targets to complement melanoma immunotherapy

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown encouraging success for treatment of melanoma; however, approximately half of patients with advanced melanoma have primary ICI resistance and sub-populations of initially responding patients develop secondary resistance. To help address this, our group has used quantitative proteomic workflows to identify druggable molecular pathways in these non-responders. Specifically, we are targeting the identification of protein pathways involved in regulation of gene transcription and chromatin modification as these are upstream events in cellular programming. Experimental Procedures: We have used cutting-edge proteomic workflows to identify proteins and histone post-translational modifications that are dysregulated in ICI nonresponsive patient melanoma. Proteins were isolated from FFPE patient melanomas and analyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry with a Thermo Fusion Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Mass spectrometric data was searched for proteins and histone post-translational modifications dysregulated in ICI nonresponding melanomas. Pathway analysis provided for the identification of molecular pathways dysregulated in ICI nonresponders. New Data: We have published a smaller-scale version of this proteomic study comparing 4 responding and 4 nonresponding melanomas (Sci Reports 2017;7:807). In new data, we have increased the sample size of this comparison to provide increased power and significance. We have also expanding our quantitative proteomic analysis by incorporating the use of Thermo Tandem Mass Tagging with FFPE samples. Furthermore, we present new workflows using fresh melanoma tumors that provide for specific enrichment of melanoma cells from human tumors. Conclusions: We have identified protein and histone epigenetic pathways that are dysregulated in ICI nonresponsive patient melanomas. These molecular pathways could be prime targets for therapeutic development for increasing responsiveness to ICI therapy. Furthermore, we have extended our proteomic capabilities to the analysis of enriched populations of melanoma cells isolated from fresh human tumors, which will provide for cell type-specific proteomic studies. Citation Format: Alan Tackett. Proteomic approaches for the identification of druggable protein and epigenetic targets to complement melanoma immunotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B048.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Characterization of Water Soluble Organic Carbon of Atmospheric Aerosol Types

The water soluble organic carbon of the prevalent atmospheric aerosol sources (traffic exhausts, paved road dust, agricultural soil, native soil, wood combustion, epicuticular waxes from pine and b...
Minor Marks and Modifications: Foot Traffic

This contribution is part of a larger project that explores graffiti and other non-official and often illicit acts of public marking outside of the usual juridicial frameworks. The project focuses on the phenomenology of looking, on the emplaced and embodied act of seeing in the world. This specific bit of writing is a companion piece to a long-term photo project on street art that occurs on the street itself (rather than walls). This project, called "Foot Traffic," is distinguished by a square format and the prominent inclusion of the photographer's feet. This playful use of what is typically read as an unintentional inclusion functions to draw attention to positionally and spectatorship. The feet tie the image of the subject (the graffiti) to the location of the pedestrian spectator.
Temsirolimus versus Pazopanib (TemPa) in Patients with Advanced Clear-cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and Poor-risk Features: A Randomized Phase II Trial.

Abstract Background Temsirolimus has level 1 evidence for initial treatment of poor-risk patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), but its efficacy has not been directly compared with an antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor [VEGFR TKi]) in this setting. Objective To evaluate temsirolimus versus pazopanib as first-line therapy in patients with mRCC, predominant clear-cell features, and clinical characteristics of a poor prognosis. Design, setting, and participants A randomized (1:1) phase II trial in 69 treatment-naive mRCC patients and with three or more predictors of short survival for temsirolimus was conducted during 2012–2017 in a single academic cancer center. Crossover to the alternative treatment upon discontinuation of the first-line agent was permitted. Intervention Mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor temsirolimus and VEGFR TKi pazopanib. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), safety, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Radiographic response was assessed by blinded radiologists. Efficacy outcomes were adjusted by prior nephrectomy status, prior interleukin-2 treatment, and the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) score. Results and limitations Thirty-five patients received temsirolimus and 34 received pazopanib upfront; 72% overall had poor risk by IMDC. Median PFS in the first line was 2.7mo with temsirolimus and 5.2mo with pazopanib (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84–2.22; p=0.210). Median OS was 7.1mo with temsirolimus and 11.9mo with pazopanib (adjusted HR 1.16, 95% CI 0.70–1.93; p=0.558), and ORRs were 5.9% and 21.2%, respectively (adjusted odds ratio 5.2, 95% CI 0.9–29.3; p=0.062). PRO measures favored pazopanib. Five patients discontinued first-line therapy due to adverse events. Conclusions Temsirolimus and pazopanib had modest activity in patients with poor-risk clear-cell mRCC, and therefore their use should be discouraged in this setting. Patient summary We evaluated outcomes of advanced renal cell carcinoma patients presenting with aggressive features when treated with temsirolimus or pazopanib as first-line therapy. Survival was
CFD modeling of the OSU High Temperature Test Facility inlet plenum flow distribution during normal operation

Abstract This paper investigates the fundamental physical phenomena associated with internal coolant flow distribution in the upper plenum of a prismatic Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) during normal operation. Previous studies have revealed the importance of complex flow distribution in the inlet plenum with the potential to generate low velocity or stagnation zones that can subsequently lead to the formation of hot spots in the reactor core and hot streaks in the lower plenum. It is therefore of interest to ensure that coolant is evenly distributed when entering multiple reactor coolant channels. Non-uniformity in the flow distribution is assessed for the reference Oregon State University High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF) case. The HTTF is a reduced scale model (1:4 in height and diameter) of the Modular High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (MHTGR). The developed CFD model reflects complete and detailed geometry of the HTTF upper plenum along with upcomer and metallic core support structure (MCSS). CFD results include parametric studies performed for circulator mass flow rate variation and mesh sensitivity analysis, generated using Siemens Starccm+ software. Outcomes also include variable pressure and temperature boundary conditions impact on the flow distribution.
The associations between traditional and social media and the growth of non-normative sports

This study examines relationships between media and the growth of disc golf. Using the 50 United States as units of analysis, four indicators of disc golf activity are measured. The volume of cover...
Maya cartographies: Two maps of Punta Laguna, Yucatan, Mexico:

It is common to view maps as simple reflections of the world. Maps, however, are more complex and dynamic. They are a potent form of spatial imagination and a powerful means of producing space. Thi...
DYNAMICS AND MECHANICS OF NEUROPLASMIC FLOW

In the frame of a condensed review of the relevant features of axonal flow, studied by the author and his coworkers in the last three decades, recent progress in the elucidation of the underlying motile mechanism is described, with indications of its possible relation to a general principle of cell surface pulsation, based on circling intracellular pH rhythms.
Recursive sequence generation in monkeys, children, U.S. adults, and native Amazonians

The question of what computational capacities, if any, differ between humans and nonhuman animals has been at the core of foundational debates in cognitive psychology, anthropology, linguistics, and animal behavior. The capacity to form nested hierarchical representations is hypothesized to be essential to uniquely human thought, but its origins in evolution, development, and culture are controversial. We used a nonlinguistic sequence generation task to test whether subjects generalize sequential groupings of items to a center-embedded, recursive structure. Children (3 to 5 years old), U.S. adults, and adults from a Bolivian indigenous group spontaneously induced recursive structures from ambiguous training data. In contrast, monkeys did so only with additional exposure. We quantify these patterns using a Bayesian mixture model over logically possible strategies. Our results show that recursive hierarchical strategies are robust in human thought, both early in development and across cultures, but the capacity itself is not unique to humans.
Biophysical and Physiological Principles of T1 and T2

Abstract Of the various clinical and diagnostic imaging methods available, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is unique with respect to its versatility and breadth of clinical application that spans disorders of tissue structure, function, metabolism, and physiology. This versatility stems directly from the ability to preferentially sensitize the MRI signal to various aspects of a tissue's structural, mechanical, metabolic, and chemical properties, as well as physiological processes such as flow. With respect to many of these applications, the process of relaxation underlies the differential tissue contrast that allows us to identify pathological tissue, detect changes in brain activation, or quantify blood flow. By understanding and exploiting the processes of relaxation, and their biological and biophysical basis, novel imaging sequences can be devised and optimized to preferentially null particular signals, probe tissue microstructure, and generate novel tissue contrast. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the biophysical and physiological bases of relaxation, focusing specifically on the T1, T2, and T2* relaxation times, which lie at the heart of nearly every clinical MRI acquisition. With this knowledge in hand, we will then examine how tissue contrast may be manipulated, and how MRI may be used to more vigorously examine aspects of tissue macro and microstructure, organization, and physiology and function.
The Economics of Parasite Control for Beef Cattle

This paper will examine the economic feasibility of controlling gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle in North America, but the coverage will not be limited to monetary inputs and outcomes. A preliminary section will review the biology of target parasites and host responses, register concerns about the economic viability of current recommendations, and discuss realistic expectations for deworming programs. A discussion of the parasitologic characteristics of individual classes of beef cattle will follow, recommendations for optimal parasite control of each class will be offered, and the requirements for cost-benefit estimated.
Inclusive Education Strategies for Diversity in Smart Workforce

We review the situation of women in computing professions and note that there is a mismatch between the percentage of women in computing jobs on one hand and their percentage in the population on the other. The absence of women in the computing workforce is to their detriment and the detriment of employers. Companies face difficulties when trying to fill open software positions with qualified applicants. Product teams are missing out on design input from ”50% of the population.” Women are denied the social mobility that well-paying computing jobs provide. Thus, improving the percentage of women in the computing workforce would be beneficial to the companies in multiple ways, to the women, and to society as whole, making it more equitable. Unfortunately, achieving this goal is a problem that has resisted decades of efforts. Only a multi-pronged approach spanning all levels of education, government and industry can lead to a breakthrough. It is especially urgent to overcome the shortage of qualified and certified middle and high school teachers. We present ongoing activities at one college to bring women into computing and to keep them in the program, and suggestions how governments at the federal and state levels can contribute to overcoming the computing teacher shortage, creating a pipeline to CS programs in colleges.
Factors Affecting Analgesic Use and Attitudes about Analgesia in Cattle Among Bovine Practitioners in the United States

Information on current analgesic use and attitudes about analgesia is an indication of animal welfare concerns among bovine practitioners. Such information has not previously been available in the United States (US).
Cell density, alignment, and orientation correlate with C-signal-dependent gene expression during Myxococcus xanthus development.

Starving Myxococcus xanthus bacteria use short-range C-signaling to coordinate their movements and construct multicellular mounds, which mature into fruiting bodies as rods differentiate into spherical spores. Differentiation requires efficient C-signaling to drive the expression of developmental genes, but how the arrangement of cells within nascent fruiting bodies (NFBs) affects C-signaling is not fully understood. Here, we used confocal microscopy and cell segmentation to visualize and quantify the arrangement, morphology, and gene expression of cells near the bottom of NFBs at much higher resolution than previously achieved. We discovered that “transitioning cells” (TCs), intermediate in morphology between rods and spores, comprised 10 to 15% of the total population. Spores appeared midway between the center and the edge of NFBs early in their development and near the center as maturation progressed. The developmental pattern, as well as C-signal–dependent gene expression in TCs and spores, were correlated with cell density, the alignment of neighboring rods, and the tangential orientation of rods early in the development of NFBs. These dynamic radial patterns support a model in which the arrangement of cells within the NFBs affects C-signaling efficiency to regulate precisely the expression of developmental genes and cellular differentiation in space and time. Developmental patterns in other bacterial biofilms may likewise rely on short-range signaling to communicate multiple aspects of cellular arrangement, analogous to juxtacrine and paracrine signaling during animal development.
A Review of “Body Shots: Hollywood and the Culture of Eating Disorders”

Body Shots presents an in-depth analysis of how Hollywood becomes a carrier of body disorder culture. Emily Fox-Kales's experiences as a clinical psychologist specializing in eating disorders and b...
ANALYSIS FOR MAGNESIUM IN HIGH-PURITY ALUMINIUM

ALTHOUGH there are several methods for determining magnesium in aluminium, very few of these can be used successfully in the low concentration range. High-purity aluminium, as supplied by most aluminium manufacturers, usually contains magnesium in the range 1–50 p.p.m. Pohl1 has developed a chemical method for concentrating the impurities and afterwards analysing by spectroscopy. We have developed a distillation method to concentrate the impurities which is more specific than that of Pohl; after the concentration the analysis can be completed by any convenient method.
The RNA Helicase DeaD Stimulates ExsA Translation To Promote Expression of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type III Secretion System

ABSTRACT The Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III secretion system (T3SS) is a primary virulence factor important for phagocytic avoidance, disruption of host cell signaling, and host cell cytotoxicity. ExsA is the master regulator of T3SS transcription. The expression, synthesis, and activity of ExsA is tightly regulated by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic regulation consists of the well-characterized ExsECDA partner-switching cascade, while extrinsic factors include global regulators that alter exsA transcription and/or translation. To identify novel extrinsic regulators of ExsA, we conducted a transposon mutagenesis screen in the absence of intrinsic control. Transposon disruptions within gene PA2840, which encodes a homolog of the Escherichia coli RNA-helicase DeaD, significantly reduced T3SS gene expression. Recent studies indicate that E. coli DeaD can promote translation by relieving inhibitory secondary structures within target mRNAs. We report here that PA2840, renamed DeaD, stimulates ExsA synthesis at the posttranscriptional level. Genetic experiments demonstrate that the activity of an exsA translational fusion is reduced in a deaD mutant. In addition, exsA expression in trans fails to restore T3SS gene expression in a deaD mutant. We hypothesized that DeaD relaxes mRNA secondary structure to promote exsA translation and found that altering the mRNA sequence of exsA or the native exsA Shine-Dalgarno sequence relieved the requirement for DeaD in vivo. Finally, we show that purified DeaD promotes ExsA synthesis using in vitro translation assays. Together, these data reveal a novel regulatory mechanism for P. aeruginosa DeaD and add to the complexity of global regulation of T3SS. IMPORTANCE Although members of the DEAD box family of RNA helicases are appreciated for their roles in mRNA degradation and ribosome biogenesis, an additional role in gene regulation is now emerging in bacteria. By relaxing secondary structures in mRNAs, DEAD box helicases are now thought to promote translation by enhancing ribosomal recruitment. We identify here an RNA helicase that plays a critical role in promoting ExsA synthesis, the central regulator of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III secretion system, and provide additional evidence that DEAD box helicases directly stimulate translation of target genes. The finding that DeaD stimulates exsA translation adds to a growing list of transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms that control type III gene expression.
Cultural warfare and trust: fighting the Mafia in Palermo

Carina Gunnarson's Cultural Warfare and Trust: Fighting the Mafia in Palermo does not achieve as much as the title promises. This important Sicilian city, the regional capital, has indeed been the ...
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to alcohol pictures predicts subsequent transition to heavy drinking in college students.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Young adults show the highest rates of escalating drinking, yet the neural risk mechanisms remain unclear. Heavy drinkers show variant functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response to alcohol cues, which may presage increasing drinking. In this longitudinal study, we ascertained whether BOLD response to alcohol pictures predicted subsequent heavy drinking among college students. METHODS: Participants were forty-three 18- to 21-year-olds in the United States who underwent BOLD scanning and completed monthly substance use surveys over the following year. Participants were categorized according to baseline and follow-up drinking into 13 continuously moderate drinkers, 16 continuously heavy drinkers, and 14 transitioners who drank moderately at baseline but heavily by follow-up. During fMRI scanning at baseline, participants viewed alcohol and matched non-alcohol beverage images. RESULTS: We observed group differences in alcohol cue-elicited BOLD response in bilateral caudate, orbitofrontal cortex, medial frontal cortex/anterior cingulate and left insula (clusters>2619ml, voxel-wise F(2,40)>3.23, p Language: en
Impregnated bed nets for malaria control: biological success and social responsibility.

Abstract Malaria is a serious public health problem in numerous countries of the world. In Africa alone, it is estimated that more than a million children less than five years of age die each year from this disease. The problem has become more critical with the development of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to chloroquine, the high cost of replacement antimalarials, and vector resistance to the cheaper insecticides such as DDT. Emphasis now is on sustainable control programs that can be implemented by communities with assistance from primary health care providers. This has led to a re-examination of impregnated bed nets (IBNs) that serve as a physical barrier to break human-vector contact. Over the last decade, bed nets impregnated with cheap and long-lasting pyrethroids used in Africa and Asia have shown their utility in reducing human-vector contact, inoculation of humans with sporozoites, clinical episodes of fever, and high levels of parasitemia. One study in The Gambia demonstrated that mortality in young children was significantly reduced, and the results of that study have led to the initiation of large-scale mortality studies in different epidemiologic areas in Africa. This paper reviews current bed net materials, recommended insecticides, an impregnation technique, costs, and the importance of community participation. As a malaria control option IBNs appear to be very promising, but further entomologic and epidemiologic assessments, including mortality studies, are needed. Future use of IBNs should be considered as part of a larger program that includes other vector control measures, proper case management, appropriate use of antimalarials for prevention in specific target groups, surveillance, and program monitoring with attention to changing epidemiologic situations and developing technology.
Reliability of fault-tolerant software based on a system architecture with a recovery metaprogram

The concept of recover metaprogram (RMP) has been proposed as a software unit capable of coordinating the execution of a fault-tolerant software system and performing recovery actions. To evaluate the effectiveness of the RMP in supporting the underlying fault-tolerance mechanism, two well-known fault-tolerant software approaches, N-version programming and recovery blocks, are considered. Markov models are developed to quantify the reliability of the system with or without the presence of the RMP. Preliminary results show that the RMP is capable of improving the reliability of a fault-tolerant software system provided that its intended functionalities are properly used. >
A Study of the Human Decomposition Sequence in Central Texas

Decomposition studies utilizing nonhuman subjects as human analogues are well established, but fewer studies utilizing intact human remains exist. This study provides data from a controlled decomposition study involving human remains in Central Texas. A 63.5-kg unmodified cadaver was placed in an open-air site and observed over a 10-week period from April 11 through June 19, 2008. A wire enclosure restricted scavenger access. State of decomposition and environmental conditions were recorded daily for the first 36 days and then every 2 weeks thereafter. Results indicated a high degree of correlation with other decomposition studies originating in the southwestern United States, although slight deviations for the average duration of early events were noted. The data were also utilized to test a quantitative method for estimating the postmortem interval. Results indicated preliminary support for a quantitative approach. Additional research is encouraged to further establish the human decomposition data set for Central Texas.
A study of the quantitative measurement of certain metabolic acids by gas-liquid chromatography.

Abstract Various factors in the quantitative measurement of metabolic organic acids by GLC were studied. Conditions were established for quantitatively converting lactic, oxalic, malonic, fumaric, succinic, malic, α-ketoglutaric, and citric acids to their methyl esters using methanol and concentrated HCl, and the esters were measured by GLC using a DEGS column. Not all of the esters gave a linear response with increasing concentration levels, and the non-linearity appeared to be an effect of the GLC system. Lyophilization was suitable for dehydrating aqueous samples. This method of drying represents a convenient means of adapting the GLC method to the analysis of biological samples or aqueous extracts.
Catabolism of (2E)-4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal via ω- and ω-1-Oxidation Stimulated by Ketogenic Diet

Oxidative stress triggers the peroxidation of ω-6-polyunsaturated fatty acids to reactive lipid fragments, including (2E)-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE). We previously reported two parallel catabolic pathways of HNE. In this study, we report a novel metabolite that accumulates in rat liver perfused with HNE or 4-hydroxynonanoic acid (HNA), identified as 3-(5-oxotetrahydro-2-furanyl)propanoyl-CoA. In experiments using a combination of isotopic analysis and metabolomics studies, three catabolic pathways of HNE were delineated following HNE conversion to HNA. (i) HNA is ω-hydroxylated to 4,9-dihydroxynonanoic acid, which is subsequently oxidized to 4-hydroxynonanedioic acid. This is followed by the degradation of 4-hydroxynonanedioic acid via β-oxidation originating from C-9 of HNA breaking down to 4-hydroxynonanedioyl-CoA, 4-hydroxyheptanedioyl-CoA, or its lactone, 2-hydroxyglutaryl-CoA, and 2-ketoglutaric acid entering the citric acid cycle. (ii) ω-1-hydroxylation of HNA leads to 4,8-dihydroxynonanoic acid (4,8-DHNA), which is subsequently catabolized via two parallel pathways we previously reported. In catabolic pathway A, 4,8-DHNA is catabolized to 4-phospho-8-hydroxynonanoyl-CoA, 3,8-dihydroxynonanoyl-CoA, 6-hydroxyheptanoyl-CoA, 4-hydroxypentanoyl-CoA, propionyl-CoA, and acetyl-CoA. (iii) The catabolic pathway B of 4,8-DHNA leads to 2,6-dihydroxyheptanoyl-CoA, 5-hydroxyhexanoyl-CoA, 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, and acetyl-CoA. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that HNE can be catabolically disposed via ω- and ω-1-oxidation in rat liver and kidney, with little activity in brain and heart. Dietary experiments showed that ω- and ω-1-hydroxylation of HNA in rat liver were dramatically up-regulated by a ketogenic diet, which lowered HNE basal level. HET0016 inhibition and mRNA expression level suggested that the cytochrome P450 4A are main enzymes responsible for the NADPH-dependent ω- and ω-1-hydroxylation of HNA/HNE.
The Role of Social and Behavioral Science in Policymaking for Television

Social and behavioral science has the potential of playing a major role in policymaking for television, which involves such varied actors as the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Congress, the public, and the television industry. In the regulatory sphere, it can provide critical evidence on the newly emerging issue of children and television advertising and can assist in evaluating regulatory effectiveness, future regulatory options, and industry practices where regulatory intervention might be appropriate. Its most significant role, however, is in the nonregulatory sphere, where the principal actor is the industry. It has had a major influence in regard to television violence and controversial “family viewing,” and it can further guide the industry by empirically testing the validity of the many self-regulatory prohibitions applied to programming. It conceivably could also provide evidence that would help the industry present entertainment and public affairs broadcasting consistent with the public's needs, and in this area the greatest need at present is for research that would contribute to improving the service provided by national television news.
Solar oscillations in strong and weak fraunhofer lines over a quiet region

We have analyzed a 35-min-long time sequence of spectra in CaII H-line, NaI D1 and D2-lines,.
4-oxo-2-nonenal is both more neurotoxic and more protein reactive than 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal

Electrophilic aldehydes, generated from oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acyl chains under conditions of oxidative stress, bind to proteins and polynucleotides and can lead to cell death. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) and 4-oxo-2-nonenal (ONE) have been shown here to be toxic to human neuroblastoma cells in culture at low micromolar concentrations. ONE is 4-5 times more neurotoxic at concentrations near the threshold of lethality. The reactions of these two aldehydes with two model proteins, ribonuclease A and beta-lactoglobulin, and their Lys epsilon-dimethylamino derivatives, have been followed spectrophotometrically. On the basis of t(1/2) measurements for the disappearance of the alpha,beta-unsaturated chromophore, ONE is 6-31 times more reactive with these proteins. The fastest reaction of ONE with proteins involves Schiff base formation at Lys epsilon-amino groups, whereas Schiff base formation is not spectroscopically apparent for HNE. Detailed kinetic studies of the initial reactions of HNE and ONE have been carried out with amino acids and amino acid surrogates. Whereas the reactions with imidazole and thiol nucleophiles involve straightforward Michael adduct formation, kinetics analyses reveal the reversibility of both the HNE Michael adduction of amines and the ONE Schiff base adduction of amines. Although ONE is more reactive than HNE toward conjugate addition of imidazole and thiol nucleophiles, it is less reactive than HNE toward Lys/amine Michael adduction. The greater neurotoxicity of ONE could reflect in part the different reactivity characteristics of ONE as compared to HNE.
The July Phenomenon Revisited: Are Hospital Complications Associated with New House Staff?

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the clinical experience of resident physicians and quality of care. This investigation was done by examining the month of the year when patients were treated by resident physicians and a comprehensive set of quality indicators. Quality of care was assessed by a severity-weighted index of adverse events consisting of 47 quality indicators that were screened from 28,541 medical records during a 12-month period. Hospital-wide results indicate that there was no overall relationship between the house officers experience and severity-adjusted adverse events, with the exception of one surgical department that had a higher index of adverse events in the first part of the academic year. Although this study finds no support for a "July Phenomenon" in terms of quality of clinical care, house officers were found to be more likely to have poor documentation practices earlier in the academic year.
THE EFFECTS OF DIALECTICAL SIMILARITY, STEREOTYPING, AND MESSAGE AGREEMENT ON INTERPERSONAL PERCEPTION

This project was undertaken to investigate the interrelationships among three variables—dialectical similarity, stereotyping, and message agreement—and their effect on the speaker evaluation variables of source competence, character appeal, interpersonal attraction and message coherence. The main experiment consisted of four stimulus conditions; two levels of dialect (Southern and Midwestern); and two messages (one relevant and one irrelevant to the Southern stereotype). The results of the study indicated that (1) the relationship between dialectical similarity and stereotyping was contingent on message context; (2) an interaction occurred between the message relevant to the stereotype and the dialect associated with the stereotype producing disproportionately low means; and (3) stereotyping appeared to be more strongly associated with the dependent variables than message agreement, but dialectical similarity was less strongly associated than message agreement.
Traumatic brain injury: A case-based review

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injuries are common and costly to hospital systems. Most of the guidelines on management of traumatic brain injuries are taken from the Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines. This is a review of the current literature discussing the evolving practice of traumatic brain injury.
Partnerships – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Academic libraries can advance their mission and goals by forging strategic alliances and partnerships with various key campus constituencies, such as faculty members, athletic coaches, and computing professionals. As libraries continue to experience changes in their services, collections and facilities, these partnerships become more important than ever.