cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determinants of in-hospital death after acute spinal cord injury: a population-based study.

First, to evaluate the influence of comorbid diseases and concomitant injuries on the risk of in-hospital death after traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Second, to identify the risk characteristics of TSCI patients with likelihood of death. Population-based retrospective cohort study. Sixty-two acute care hospitals in South Carolina, USA. Records of 3389 TSCI patients hospitalized with acute TSCI were evaluated. Days elapsing from the date of injury to date of death established the survival time (T). Cox regression examined risk of in-hospital death as a function of counts of comorbid conditions and injuries along with their joint effects controlling for other covariates. Counts of comorbid conditions and injuries showed dose-dependent risk of death while in-hospital independent of demographical and clinical covariates. Hazard ratios (HR) for counts 3+, 2 and 1 comorbid conditions were 2.19 (P<0.001), 1.73 (P=0.005) and 1.20 (P=0.322), respectively. For counts of 4+, 3 and 2 other injuries were 1.85 (P<0.001), 1.81 (P<0.001) and 1.46 (P=0.022), respectively. The joint effect of the two was transadditive with statistically significant HR ranging from 1.72–3.14. Counts of comorbid conditions and injured body regions strongly indicate risk of in-hospital death after TSCI and their joint effects elicited dose-dependent gradient independent of demographical and clinical covariates. Assessing risk of in-hospital death based on joint use of counts of comorbid diseases and injuries is highly informative to target TSCI patients at high risk of dying.
Investigation of the Characteristics of Ferroelectric Thin Films Deposited by Pulsed Laser Ablation

Ferroelectric thin films of barium strontium titanate (BSTO) have been deposited on bare and metallized substrates by pulsed laser ablation method under different oxygen ambients (150 mT and 50 mT). Under an oxygen pressure of 150 mT, the film composition was similar to that of its ablation target composition, viz. Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3. However, when the films were deposited under the lower oxygen pressure, x-ray diffraction studies showed the presence of a secondary phase. The electrical characteristics of the films were measured to examine the effect of the stoichiometry on the dielectric constant and tunability. The results of this study will be presented.
Mobile components security

Secure communications among mobile components, like wireless sensors and RFID tags, emerge as a fundamental branch of network security, needing message confidentiality, integrity and authentication. That is: protecting the content of transmitted information, assuring that it was not altered during transmission, and proving that it was sent by an approved identified source. Object integrity is another very relevant security application. Here, the purpose is to prove that an object, having storage and transmission facilities, is not cloned. We treat the hardware implementation of security measures in mobile components while considering two major issues: Resource constraints: Such components operate under highly constrained conditions, posing a demand for minimal logic hardware while providing for approved and recognized security level. Memory security: Wireless Sensors and RFID tags are deployed in hostile environments, enhancing a need for tamper-proof storage of their secret keys. The contribution of the paper is 3-fold: -- We present a novel approach to hardware minimization, serving message security while relying on approved security levels.- We show that memory security is not merely a physical problem, apparently independent of the served applications. This observation can be made general. -- Attention is devoted to recently announced logic gates fabrication techniques, and their relation to the devised approach, as well as their potential contribution to general security applications.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Young People: In Reply

ARTICLE In Reply .— We thank Dr Folmer for his insightful comments. A paradoxical issue with concerts (personal listening devices, clubs, and other musical venues) is that loud musical sound is marvelous …
Effect of pp120 on Receptor-mediated Insulin Endocytosis Is Regulated by the Juxtamembrane Domain of the Insulin Receptor

pp120, a substrate of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, does not undergo ligand-stimulated phosphorylation by the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor. However, replacement of the C-terminal domain of the IGF-1 receptor beta-subunit with the corresponding segment of the insulin receptor restored pp120 phosphorylation by the chimeric receptor. Since pp120 stimulates receptor-mediated insulin endocytosis when it is phosphorylated, we examined whether pp120 regulates IGF-1 receptor endocytosis in transfected NIH 3T3 cells. pp120 failed to alter IGF-1 receptor endocytosis via either wild-type or chimeric IGF-1 receptors. Thus, the effect of pp120 on hormone endocytosis is specific to insulin, and the C-terminal domain of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor does not regulate the effect of pp120 on insulin endocytosis. Mutation of Tyr960 in the juxtamembrane domain of the insulin receptor abolished the effect of pp120 to stimulate receptor endocytosis, without affecting pp120 phosphorylation by the insulin receptor. These findings suggest that pp120 interacts with two separate domains of the insulin receptor as follows: a C-terminal domain required for pp120 phosphorylation and a juxtamembrane domain required for internalization. We propose that the interaction of pp120 with the juxtamembrane domain is indirect and requires one or more substrates that bind to Tyr960 in the insulin receptor.
Monodispersed microfluidic droplet generation by shear focusing microfluidic device

A microfluidic device designed to generate monodispersed picoliter to femtoliter sized droplet emulsions at controlled rates is presented. This PDMS microfabricated device utilizes the geometry of the channel junctions in addition to the flow rates to control the droplet sizes. An expanding nozzle is used to control the breakup location of the droplet generation process. The droplet breakup occurs at a fixed point due to the focused velocity gradient created by the nozzle shape geometry. The system not only creates monodispersed primary droplets with sizes controlled by the applied flow rates, but also generates monodispersed submicron droplets. Droplets with radii as less than 100 nm can be produced without use of surfactants. Numerical results relating flow rates to the size of primary droplets, satellite droplets and generation rates are reported.
The role of monolithic transmission lines in high-speed integrated circuits

This paper describes the role of transmission lines amenable to integration in VLSI technologies and their important circuit implications. First, an overview of microstrips, coplanar lines, and striplines is given and their performance limitations are quantified. Next, modeling and simulation issues are addressed and the role of transmission lines as circuit elements is discussed. Finally, examples of circuits that benefit from monolithic transmission lines are presented.
Postmodernism and HRD Theory: Current Status and Prospects

With posttraditionalism and postmodern frames of reference firmly established in social theory and many of the applied social sciences, including management, the question of the role of postmodernism in human resource development (HRD) theory needs to be asked. The purpose of the article is to explicate the contribution of postmodernism to HRD, distinguish posttraditionalism from the recently emerged stream of critical perspectives on HRD, and to argue for the contribution of postmodern readings of HRD theory to better understand the complex landscape of contemporary organizations, employees, and learning and development functions. Starting with a historical analysis of the meaning of the Enlightenment, and various modernist perspectives, the article describes the central tenets of postmodern theory and their implications for the theory and practice of HRD and argue for its important role in broadening and enriching the field of HRD.
THE BASIC PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF A GALACTIC MAGNETIC FIELD

It seems worthwhile, in this study of the distant active galaxies, to consider for a moment what is known of the origin and nature of the magnetic field of our own. It serves as a starting point for the development of the basic theoretical properties of magnetic fields of other galaxies.
Nitrative Inactivation of Thioredoxin-1 and Its Role in Postischemic Myocardial Apoptosis

Background— Intracellular proteins involved in oxidative stress and apoptosis are nitrated in diseased tissues but not in normal tissues; definitive evidence to support a causative link between a specific protein that is nitratively modified with tissue injury in a specific disease is limited, however. The aims of the present study were to determine whether thioredoxin (Trx), a novel antioxidant and antiapoptotic molecule, is susceptible to nitrative inactivation and to establish a causative link between Trx nitration and postischemic myocardial apoptosis. Methods and Results— In vitro exposure of human Trx-1 to 3-morpholinosydnonimine resulted in significant Trx-1 nitration and almost abolished Trx-1 activity. 3-morpholinosydnonimine–induced nitrative Trx-1 inactivation was completely blocked by MnTE-2-PyP5+ (a superoxide dismutase mimetic) and markedly attenuated by PTIO (a nitric oxide scavenger). Administration of either reduced or oxidized Trx-1 in vivo attenuated myocardial ischemia/reperfusion inju...
Integration in software intensive systems

Abstract This article is concerned with systems integration and its impact on software intensive projects. It contains a review and a taxonomy of integration concepts as applied to software intensive systems. We identify pertinent technical integration issues and review and classify integration models, strategies, mechanisms and architectures. We argue that integration is part of the design activity and propose existing best integration practice for project management and engineering of large software intensive systems.
Calibration of the CCFR Target Calorimeter

Abstract The techniques used to calibrate and monitor the energy response of the CCFR (Lab E) iron-scintillator target calorimeter for a precision measurement of shower energies are described. Measurements on the energy response of the calorimeter to hadrons, electrons, and minimum ionizing muons (from range outs) are presented. The calorimeter's energy response and resolution for hadrons and electrons are obtained using a test beam with energies between 15 and 450 GeV.
The efficiency of depth‐integrating suspended‐sediment sampling

Because of the physical shape of the depth-integrating sampler, it is impossible to sample down to the bed. Only part of the total sediment load moving across the vertical will be caught by the sampler. Based on the suspended-load theory and bed-load function, this part of the total sediment load is analytically determined. The result is illustrated in graphical form, and its significance and possible errors are pointed out.
Light-induced inhibition of chymotrypsin using photocleavable monolayers on gold nanoparticles

Positively charged gold nanoparticles featuring photocleavable units within their surrounding monolayer are switched from non-interacting species to inhibitors of chymotrypsin through UV irradiation.
Foliar application of 137Cs on understory species of mesic forest

Abstract Foliar application to the understory in a Liriodendron forest of 35 μCi/m2 of 137Cs diluted in 1 l/m2 water showed 18 per cent retention of the isotope on foliage after 2 hr, 9,8 and 7 per cent after 2, 4, and 6 weeks; the major part of the applied solution dripped onto the litter layer. Approximately 22 cm of rain during the test period accounted for most of the reduction in isotope in the foliage, as well as for transfer through the litter to the top 5 cm of soil (23 per cent of application) by the end of the sixth week. Less than 4 per cent was absorbed and translocated to stem and roots. Differences between species are probably related to leaf surface structure, mass/area ratio, and leaf orientation.
Assessing the visual quality of rural landscapes

This paper presents a methodology for assessing the visual quality of agricultural landscapes through direct and indirect techniques of landscape valuation. The first technique enables us to rank agricultural landscapes on the basis of a survey of public preferences. The latter weighs the contribution of the elements and attributes contained in the picture to its overall scenic beauty via regression analysis. An application based on two Mediterranean rural areas in Andalusia in Southern Spain is presented. The photos used in the survey included man-made elements, positive and negative, agricultural fields, mainly of cereals and olive trees, and a natural park. There were 10 panels, each containing 16 photos, and 226 participants ranked the best four and worst four pictures of each panel. Each participant ranked an average of 7.3 panels. The results show that perceived visual quality increases, in decreasing order of importance, with the degree of wilderness of the landscape, the presence of well-preserved man-made elements, the percentage of plant cover, the amount of water, the presence of mountains and the colour contrast. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Role of Tec1 in the Development, Architecture, and Integrity of Sexual Biofilms of Candida albicans

MTL-homozygous ( A: / A: or α/α) white cells form a complex sexual biofilm that exhibits the same architecture as that of MTL-heterozygous ( A: /α) pathogenic biofilms. However, the former is regulated by the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway, while the latter is regulated by the Ras1/cyclic AMP (cAMP) pathway. We previously demonstrated that in the formation of an MTL-homozygous, mature (48 h) sexual biofilm in RPMI 1640 medium, the MAP kinase pathway targets Tec1 rather than Cph1, the latter of which is the target of the same pathway, but for the opaque cell mating response. Here we continued our analysis of the role of Tec1 by comparing the effects of deleting TEC1 on initial adhesion to silicone elastomer, high-resolution confocal microscopy assessments of the stages and cellular phenotypes during the 48 h of biofilm development, human white cell penetration, and biofilm fragility. We show that although Tec1 plays only a minor role in initial adhesion to the silicone elastomer, it does play a major role in the growth of the basal yeast cell polylayer, vertical extension of hyphae and matrix deposition in the upper portion of the biofilm, final biofilm thickness, penetrability of human white blood cells, and final biofilm integrity (i.e., resistance to fluid flow). These results provide a more detailed description of normal biofilm development and architecture and confirm the central role played by the transcription factor Tec1 in the biofilm model employed here.
New opportunities and proven approaches in complementary and alternative medicine research at the National Institutes of Health.

This presentation describes some of the issues that arise when applying the clinical-trial approach of conventional medicine to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities. Conventional...
An iterative learning design for repeatable runout cancellation in disk drives

In this paper, we consider the iterative learning control (ILC) framework to design a reference signal that directly cancels periodic disturbances in a feedback measurement. Cancellation of periodic disturbances is useful in reducing undesirable repeatable tracking errors in applications such as the two-stage servo track writing process for disk drives. A general problem description is given for a linear discrete-time periodic system and convergence results for the learning system are derived. A learning filter is designed with the use of a finite-impulse response model approximation for the inverse of the closed-loop sensitivity such that convergence is achieved in learning a reference signal that provides cancellation with periodic perturbations affecting the system measurement. The ILC algorithm is applied to a disk drive system where experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in reducing periodic measurement disturbances.
The Effect of Pregnancy on the Body Weight of Dairy Cows

Summary 1. A study was made of the effect of pregnancy on the body weights of 56 Ayrshire cows during the first three periods of gestation. 2. The body weights showed a definite pattern of increase as the stage of pregnancy advanced. 3. The gain in weight over and above normal weights was not great before the fifth month of pregnancy. From 75 per cent to 85 per cent of the gain came in the last four months of pregnancy. 4. The gain in weight from month to month was much more uniform with first-calf heifers than with the older animals. This was probably because the heifers were still growing and not producing milk. 5. The average monthly gains made during the eighth month of pregnancy was less than in the months immediately preceding and following. 6. The animals in the last month of pregnancy were on the average 151 pounds heavier than open heifers at the same age. During the first pregnancy they were 142 pounds heavier; during the second pregnancy, 148 pounds heavier; and during the third pregnancy, 162 pounds heavier.
Social Biomimicry: what do ants and bees tell us about organization in the natural world?

The social insects serve as exemplars for social biomimicry, the search for social design inspiration from the natural world. Although their group members are individually much simpler than humans, social insect colonies provide elegant tutorials on the large-scale outcomes that can be achieved by social interactions and self-organizational processes. These range from complex physical structures built by collective effort; to exemplars of flexible work organization; to effective consensus building in group decisions. This special issue highlights examples of the lessons to be learned from the bees and ants, providing ways to think about how humans can (and in some cases should not) borrow from social insect rules of organization and their collective outcomes.
Transoral robotic surgery for pharyngeal stenosis

Background Pharyngeal stenosis is a complication of head and neck cancer and sleep apnea treatment that results in functional impairment. Due to the location of the stenosis and tendency to recur, surgical management is challenging. Robotic surgery may allow these areas to be treated with surgical technique that would be difficult using traditional approaches. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients who underwent transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for pharyngeal stenosis at a tertiary hospital system. Results Five patients were identified, ages 8–75 years. Length of follow-up ranged from 1–12 months. There was one failure, a 74 year old male with a history of chemoradiation to the area who has required additional procedures. Conclusion TORS may offer improved surgical access to the pharynx in patients who require complex reconstruction that would otherwise be very difficult. Appropriate patient selection is necessary and long-term follow-up is warranted for the selected cases. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Endothelial cells adhere to the RGD domain and the fibrinogen-like terminal knob of tenascin

We have found that endothelial cells adhere much more strongly than fibroblasts to domains of tenascin and fibronectin. Endothelial cells adhered weakly, without spreading, to bacterial expression proteins corresponding to the tenth fibronectin type III (FN-III) domain of fibronectin, which contains the RGD. A larger fibronectin protein, containing this domain and the three amino-terminal 'synergy' domains gave strong adhesion and spreading. Two widely separated domains of tenascin gave adhesion. The third FN-III domain, TNfn3, which contains an RGD sequence in human and chicken tenascin, gave very strong adhesion and spreading of endothelial cells when tested as an isolated domain. Larger segments containing TNfn3 and the adjacent TNfn2 gave weaker adhesion, probably because the RGD sequence is partially blocked. Adhesion to this domain required divalent cations, was exquisitely sensitive to soluble GRGDSP peptide, and was blocked by antisera to the integrin alpha v beta 3. The second tenascin adhesion domain was the fibrinogen-like C-terminal knob, TNfbg. Cells adhered to but did not spread on this domain. This adhesion required divalent cations and was also sensitive to GRGDSP peptide, so it may be mediated by an integrin receptor. We have explored a range of conditions for preparing the adhesion substratum, and our results may resolve the controversy over whether tenascin can act as a substratum adhesion molecule. When coated for short times (1-2 hours) on plastic, tenascin had no adhesion activity, in contrast to fibronectin and the expression proteins, which gave strong adhesion under these conditions. When coated for longer times (12-24 hours) on plastic, the tenascin substratum supported good adhesion, but not spreading, of endothelial cells. Tenascin coated on nitrocellulose gave substantially stronger adhesion than on plastic, but still required long coating times for maximal activity. Adhesion of endothelial cells to native TN was inhibited by GRDGSP peptide. The cell adhesion activity demonstrates the presence on endothelial cells of tenascin receptors, which may play a supportive role in angiogenesis, in the structure of blood vessels, or in binding tenascin to the cell surface to elicit or enhance a signalling function.
Analysing US State Legislative Resolutions on Immigrants and Immigration: The Role of Immigration Federalism***

Immigration in the United States is traditionally thought of as a federal-level policy, but in recent years, states have been exceedingly active in this domain. We analyse the context and discourse of immigration-related legislative resolutions from Southern border-states, recipients of the heaviest immigration flows, and find that states do not respond in the same way to immigration challenges, and these differences occur over time and space. Some states seek to federalize the issue and push Congress to take action, while others are slowly incorporating immigrants into domestic politics and have begun to treat them as yet another state constituency. These findings have significant implications both for federal-state relations in the immigration realm, and for immigrants themselves.
The Southern Shift in Memphis, Tennessee

This article investigates the Southern Vowel Shift—a possibly interrelated series of rotations in vowel space currently affecting the dialects of southern speakers—in terms of examining its classification as a chain-shift process and, more generally, providing a descriptive account of the phonetic character of the changes in each individual vowel class. Based on the work of Labov (1991, 1994) and Feagin (1986), it has been suggested that the Southern Shift involves changes in both the front vowels and the back vowels, with the tense and lax front vowel nuclei essentially switching places and the back vowels moving forward. The relationship of these changes in the front vowels and those in the back vowels has not been firmly established, but they appear to be driven by different social and linguistic forces. What is happening to the low front, the mid, and the low back vowel classes in the Southern Shift has only been superficially explored. A detailed instrumental analysis of the vowel systems of 25 native Memphians of selected ages, socioeconomic classes, and genders is presented, revealing the movement of vowel classes which seem to be playing an important role in the instigation or perpetuation of the Southern Shift. This analysis points out discrepancies about how previously cited vocalic changes are embedded in mid-southern speech and provides a picture of how these changes are affecting other changes in the system. The results suggest that, while many of the changes cited in the literature are indeed present in the sample, the interrelatedness of these changes and their prognosis to move to completion are not so clear.
The effect of sertraline on methadone plasma levels in methadone-maintenance patients.

The authors examine methadone plasma levels in 31 depressed methadone-maintained opiate addicts enrolled in a 12-week placebo-controlled, double-blind study of sertraline. Between baseline and week 6, patients on sertraline showed a mean increase in methadone plasma level/dose (P/D) ratio of 26% (SD = 43%, range-32% to +118%), while patients on placebo showed a mean decrease of 16% (SD = 27%, range-62% to +50%). This difference was significant (p < 0.02). The sertraline and placebo groups did not differ in reported side effects or methadone dose adjustments. Between weeks 6 and 12, methadone P/D in the sertraline group decreased back towards baseline, and the treatment groups did not differ significantly at week 12. The results suggest sertraline may produce a modest increase in methadone serum levels over the first six weeks of treatment. Depression and anxiety disorders are common in methadone-maintained patients. Serotonin uptake inhibitors are attractive choices for treatment due to their low toxicity...
The Blasticidin S Biosynthesis Gene Cluster from Streptomyces griseochromogenes: Sequence Analysis, Organization, and Initial Characterization

Blasticidin S is a potent antifungal and cytotoxic peptidyl nucleoside antibiotic from Streptomyces griseochromogenes. The mixed biosynthesis of the compound is evident from the three distinct structural components: a cytosine base, an amino deoxyglucuronic acid, and N-methyl beta-arginine. The blasticidin S biosynthesis gene cluster was cloned from S. griseochromogenes and the pathway heterologously expressed in S. lividans from a cosmid harboring a 36.7-kb fragment of S. griseochromogenes DNA. The complete DNA sequence of this insert has now been determined and evidence suggests a contiguous 20-kb section defines the blasticidin S biosynthesis cluster. The predicted functions of several open reading frames are consistent with the expected biochemistry and include an arginine 2,3-aminomutase, a cytosylglucuronic acid synthase, and a guanidino N-methyltransferase. Insight into other steps in the assembly of blasticidin S was evident from sequence homology with proteins of known function and heterologous expression of fragments of the cluster. Additionally, the gene that directs the production of free cytosine, blsM, was subcloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Characterization of BlsM revealed that cytidine monophosphate serves as the precursor to cytosine.
A two-question method for assessing gender categories in the social and medical sciences.

Three studies (N = 990) assessed the statistical reliability of two methods of determining gender identity that can capture transgender spectrum identities (i.e., current gender identities different from birth-assigned gender categories). Study 1 evaluated a single question with four response options (female, male, transgender, other) on university students. The missing data rate was higher than the valid response rates for transgender and other options using this method. Study 2 evaluated a method of asking two separate questions (i.e., one for current identity and another for birth-assigned category), with response options specific to each. Results showed no missing data and two times the transgender spectrum response rate compared to Study 1. Study 3 showed that the two-question method also worked in community samples, producing near-zero missing data. The two-question method also identified cisgender identities (same birth-assigned and current gender identity), making it a dynamic and desirable measurement tool for the social and medical sciences.
Maximum likelihood estimation of incomplete genomic spectrum from HTS data

High-throughput sequencing makes possible to process samples containing multiple genomic sequences and then estimate their frequencies or even assemble them. The maximum likelihood estimation of frequencies of the sequences based on observed reads can be efficiently performed using expectation-maximization (EM) method assuming that we know sequences present in the sample. Frequently, such knowledge is incomplete, e.g., in RNA-seq not all isoforms are known and when sequencing viral quasispecies their sequences are unknown. We propose to enhance EM with a virtual string and incorporate it into frequency estimation tools for RNA-Seq and quasispecies sequencing. Our simulations show that EM enhanced with the virtual string estimates string frequencies more accurately than the original methods and that it can find the reads from missing quasispecies thus enabling their reconstruction.
Radiocarbon and tritium-labeled cholesterol in alpha and beta lipoproteins after oral administration to human subjects.

Abstract An electrophoretic method has been described for the determination of α- and β-lipoprotein cholesterol turnover after the oral administration of H 3 -cholesterol and C 14 -cholesterol. No difference in the turnover times of these fractions was detected in a small number of patients studied with atherosclerosis and "normal" individuals. Similar turnover times were observed for tritium and radiocarbon-labeled cholesterol administered simultaneously in the same patients. Survivors of a myocardial infarction had only 7.3 per cent of the total α- and β-radioactivity in the α-lipoprotein fraction as compared with 14.2 per cent in this fraction in control individuals. Patients with hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis exhibit an increased turnover rate as opposed to a similar turnover time when compared with patients having normal serum cholesterol levels. This suggests a difference in cholesterol synthesis and distribution between these 2 groups.
Maximum entropy modeling of vibrational-translational energy exchange in O2+O collisions

This work proposes a vibrational-translational energy exchange model based on quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) calculations of O2 + O and Maximum Entropy (ME) considerations. QCT calculations show that collisions favor small vibrational transitions. This favoring drops off first exponentially and then linearly as ∆v increases. Such trends are captured by the new ME-QCT-VT model. The model is verified by comparing its stateto-state cross sections and rates to those calculated directly by QCT. The state-to-state rates match within 30% using 11 fitted parameters for the O2 +O system that has approximately 3,000 ro-vibrational states. In addition, the implementation of the model in direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is discussed. Adiabatic DSMC calculations show that the model satisfies detailed balance. The vibrational temperatures and distribution functions predicted by DSMC calculations with the ME-QCT-VT model match masterequation calculations with the complete set of state-to-state rates. The proposed model makes it feasible to upscale ab-initio simulation to DSMC and CFD calculations of a full flowfield.
They Get Better Looking at Closing Time around Here, Too:

As part of an attempt to replicate and extend a portion of an earlier study of Pennebaker, et al., male patrons of two bars rated the attractiveness of their female counterparts at three different ...
Assessing Nonprofit Rule Interpretation and Compliance

Nonprofit organizations operate within the confines of formalized agreements structured by parent organizations, funders, and partners. Compliance with the rules comprising these agreements leads t...
Early Weightbearing After Operatively Treated Ankle Fractures: A Biomechanical Analysis.

Background:No consensus exists regarding the timing of weightbearing after surgical fixation of unstable traumatic ankle fractures. We evaluated fracture displacement and timing of displacement with simulated early weightbearing in a cadaveric model.Methods:Twenty-four fresh-frozen lower extremities were assigned to Group 1, bimalleolar ankle fracture (n=6); Group 2, trimalleolar ankle fracture with unfixed small posterior malleolar fracture (n=9); or Group 3, trimalleolar ankle fracture with fixed large posterior malleolar fracture (n=9) and tested with axial compressive load at 3 Hz from 0 to 1000 N for 250 000 cycles to simulate 5 weeks of full weightbearing. Displacement was measured by differential variable reluctance transducer.Results:The average motion at all fracture sites in all groups was significantly less than 1 mm (P < .05). Group 1 displacement of the lateral and medial malleolus fracture was 0.1±0.1 mm and 0.4±0.4 mm, respectively. Group 2 displacement of the lateral, medial, and posterior...
Patterns of Rebellion in Multi-Ethnic States: How Pre-War Elite Ties Drive Insurgent Mobilization

What happens to the political goals and strategies of groups in multiethnic states when centralized political order breaks down? Why do some groups respond to internal conflict and anarchy by mobilizing armed fighters to capture power in the capital city, while others seek only to shield themselves from predation and build local-level political order? In this paper I argue that differences in the way sub-national groups mobilize under conditions of political disorder are explained by variation in the skills, networks and personal motivations of group leaders, which in turn are strongly shaped by groups’ prior participation in pre-war central governments. Highly connected leaders are able to translate networks and resources acquired during their government tenure into mobilization capacity against the center, and are more likely to be socialized into seeing themselves and their group as legitimate contenders for central state power. Elites who lack close pre-war connections to the central government, by contrast, even when they control a similar stock of men and guns, are more likely to prefer survival strategies that emphasize restraint and operations within a limited territorial sphere of influence. I illustrate and test this argument using cross-group and within-group comparisons of several sub-national groups in the Central African Republic (CAR), and quantitative analysis of a larger sample of ethnic groups in thirteen African civil wars.
T matrix method for single and multiple scattering of elastic waves

The T matrix method used for single and multiple scattering of elastic waves is studied in this paper.Firstly,the specific expressions of elements in the T matrix for circular cylinder are derived from the interior and exterior Helmholtz equations.Next,the multiple scattering in the random medium with random distributed parallel circular cylinders is analyzed.The definition of coherent waves with statistical average viewpoint and the equations to estimate the velocities and attenuation of coherent waves are given.At last,the numerical computation is carried out for composite Ge/Al and SiC/Al.The scattering cross-section of a cylinder and the velocity and attenuation of coherent waves propagating through a random inhomogeneous medium are computed.The dispersive characteristics of coherent waves in random medium are discussed.
Electrophysiological effect of volume load in isolated canine hearts

In isolated isovolumic ventricles and in in situ ventricles under nonsteady-state conditions, alterations in load have been shown to affect electrophysiological properties via contraction-excitation feedback. However, the effect of alterations in loading conditions on electrophysiological properties in normal ventricles under physiological loading conditions remains unknown. Furthermore, the arrhythmogenic significance of these load-induced electrophysiological changes is uncertain. We increased end-diastolic volume (27 +/- 4 ml vs. 51 +/- 6 ml) and assessed conduction, refractoriness, ventricular fibrillation thresholds (VFTs), and inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias in 14 isolated blood-perfused ejecting canine ventricles under steady-state conditions. We also examined the effect of increased end-diastolic volume on refractoriness and monophasic action potential (MAP) duration and contour under isovolumic versus ejecting conditions. Under ejecting conditions, increased end-diastolic volume resulted in very small (less than 1.5%) changes in the absolute refractory period (10 mA) and in local activation time but no change in local electrogram duration, overall dispersion of refractoriness, MAP duration or contour, VFT, or inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias. Increased volume loading under isovolumic conditions resulted in a very slight (less than 1%) shortening of MAP duration and refractoriness but had no effect on the MAP contour. These findings provide strong evidence that alterations in volume load are of little electrophysiological or arrhythmogenic importance in normal canine ventricles under physiologically loaded conditions (contraction-excitation feedback, load and arrhythmias, volume load).
Implementing the ACA: The Influence of Nurse Practitioner Regulatory Policies on Workforce, Access to Care, and Primary Care Health Outcomes

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act P.L. 111–148 (ACA) was projected to expand health insurance to about 32 million people by 2014. This influx presents significant pressures for primary health care providers (PCP) at a time when there is already a PCP shortage. The associations among prevention, equity, healthy environments, nurse practitioner (NP) regulatory policies, and access to primary care are well documented in the literature. This article presents relationships among NP scope of practice regulations in the 50 states and the District of Columbia and their potential impact on population health outcomes. Utilizing correlation and multiple regression analyses, this study identifies modest but significant associations. In accordance with Institute of Medicine (2011) recommendations, the authors suggest successful implementation of the ACA requires modernization and standardization of existing NP practice regulatory policies in order to build primary care capacity, increase access, and improve population health.
Computational insights into CdSe quantum dots' interactions with acetate ligands

Using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT), we investigate the effects of carboxylate groups on the electronic and optical properties of CdSe quantum dots (QDs). We specifically focus on the mechanisms of the binding of the acetate anion to the QD surface with and without excess of Cd2+ cations. Our calculations show that the most stable ligated conformations are those where an acetate is attached to extra Cd2+ ion forming a [Cd2+(CH3COO−)] at the QD's surface, while also accompanied by an acetate attached nearby at the surface balancing the overall neutral charge of the system. In contrast, formation of a neutral metal–acetate complex [Cd2+(CH3COO−)2] at the QD surface is found to be the least energetically preferable. A strength of the QD–ligand interaction depends on the solvent, the facet of the QD to which the ligands are attached, and the binding mode – with the bridging mode found to be the most stable conformation for both acetate and cadmium acetate ligands. The cadmium acetate ligands introduce electron trap states at the edge of the conduction band – unoccupied orbitals predominately localized on Cd2+ ion – that are extremely sensitive to the ligand position and the solvent polarity. Polar solvents like acetonitrile delocalize the electronic density over the entire system and, thus, eliminate trap states. As a result, mixed passivation of the CdSe QDs by pairs of cadmium acetate and acetate ligands provides optimal optical properties with minimal contributions of the ligand-related trap states and optically bright lowest energy transitions.
Enhanced Recovery of Listeria from Dairy-Plant Processing Environments through Combined Use of Repair Enrichment and Selective Enrichment/Detection Procedures.

The efficacy of using a repair step to increase sensitivity of recovery of injured Listeria from environmental sources in dairy processing plants was investigated. The USDA-FSIS Listeria isolation protocol using UVM-modified Listeria enrichment broth medium University of Vermont (UVM) for primary enrichment was the standard method chosen for comparison. UVM broth was used in conjunction with rapid methods (Organon Teknika and Gene-Trak™), following manufacturer's guidelines. Listeria Repair Broth (LRB) was used as the repair enrichment medium in modified protocols of the standard and rapid procedures. LRB employs a nonselective period (2–5 hours) for repair of injured Listeria prior to selective-agent addition. Of 80 environmental sites positive by any method, UVM and LRB showed similar recovery rates (87.5% and 88.8%, respectively). Thus LRB provided little advantage over current procedures for use in contaminated sites. UVM was superior when used in conjunction with either rapid method. The USDA and mod...
Regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) uptake: endocoid modulators and the action of imipramine

The monoamine hypothesis of affective disorders (Schildkraut, 1965; Van Praag, 1978) was initiated and fostered by extrapolation from animal experimentation (Brodie et al., 1956; Brodie & Shore, 1957; Costa et al., 1960). It is surprising how the doctrinality of this hypothesis has promoted the popularity of this theory despite the fact that no one has ever succeeded in providing convincing evidence that an altered amine metabolism is present in manic depressive illness. Though many antidepressants, both tricyclic and monoamine oxidase inhibitors potentiate the action of biogenic amines in the CNS by blocking one of the two major pathways for monoamine inactivation (Carlsson et al., 1959; Quitkin et al., 1979) there are a number of antidepressants (Leonard, 1982; Sulser, 1982), which do not potentiate the central effects of biogenic amines. Moreover, there are potent inhibitors of catecholamine uptake (Post et al., 1979) which are poor anti-depressants.
Correction to ‘Using genetic information to test causal relationships in cross-sectional data’

The authors regret that the coding of the attitude items in the manuscript ‘Using genetic information to test causal relationships in cross-sectional data’ was exactly reversed. The codebook that we were working from for the original paper was the opposite of the actual coding of the raw variables. The purpose of the paper was to present an empirical model for testing causal hypotheses using cross-sectional twin data. The data were used to present readers with an example of how to use the method. Accordingly, the impact of the coding error on the conclusions is minimal. Of course, this has the potential to cause confusion for individuals who are focused on the sign of the relationship between personality and sex attitudes and not on the causal structure.
Modeling Integration and Reuse of Heterogeneous Terminologies in Faceted Browsing Systems

We integrate heterogeneous terminologies into our category-theoretic model of faceted browsing and show that existing terminologies and vocabularies can be reused as facets in a cohesive, interactive system. Commonly found in online search engines and digital libraries, faceted browsing systems depend upon one or more taxonomies which outline the structure and content of the facets available for user interaction. Controlled vocabularies or terminologies are often externally curated and are available as a reusable resource across systems. We demonstrated previously that category theory can abstractly model faceted browsing in a way that supports the development of interfaces capable of reusing and integrating multiple models of faceted browsing. We extend this model by illustrating that terminologies can be reused and integrated as facets across systems with examples from the biomedical domain.
Area-based fuzzy membership forest cover comparison between MODIS NPP and Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) across eastern U.S. forest

This research assessed the accuracy of the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer’s (MODIS) land cover classification of softwood and hardwood using a fuzzy-based approach for 31 easternmost states in the U.S. Our main objective was to quantitatively evaluate spatially explicit land cover classifications of MODIS net primary product (NPP) scheme using the USDA Forest Service’s (FS) field-based, tree-specific Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA). We used a grid of 648 km2 hexagons as base mapping units and interpreted our results at the USDA FS level IV ecological regions. Forest area was calculated for both MODIS and FIA and were found to be strongly correlated (Pearson’s r = 0.875, p < 0.01), which suggests the two classifications are comparable. Area-based fuzzy memberships of softwood and hardwood forest were determined for both MODIS and FIA for each hexagon. We used cross-entropy (H c) to evaluate the accuracy of the MODIS classification. Our results determined that the accuracy of MODIS forest cover classification was not uniform for all ecological regions. Tree species importance values (IV) and Shannon’s diversity index (H s) were calculated to examine species abundance and heterogeneity, which may partially explain discrepancies between MODIS and FIA classifications. The greatest misclassifications were due to (1) MODIS underestimating softwood forest cover and (2) MODIS confusing forest cover with other land covers such as grassland, cropland, or woody savanna. Our results provide a guideline for users to understand the degree of uncertainty of MODIS forest cover classifications in the eastern USA.
Dynamic Studies of Sweet Family Sugar Transporters through NMR Spectroscopy

Sugar is a primary carbon source for prokaryotes, plants, and humans. Recently, a new family of sugar transporters called SWEETs was discovered and found to transport a variety of mono- and disaccharides across the cell membrane. These proteins exist in all eukaryotic kingdoms including plants, fungi, and animals. SWEETs have ubiquitous expression throughout human cell lines and have been proposed to help mediate vesicular glucose efflux from intestine and liver cells. Mutations in sugar transporters lead to a variety of diseases related to homeostatic imbalance of sugars. Therefore, elucidating the sugar transport mechanism of this family of proteins is essential for developing therapeutic drugs for treatment of diseases related to the homeostatic imbalance of sugars. To date, the transport mechanism has been challenging to study due to the relatively weak binding affinity and difficulties associated with capturing a substrate bound structure of SWEET transporters. To provide atomic scale insight under functional conditions, a combination of solid-state and solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to probe conformational dynamics of this family of transporters upon substrate binding. Solid-state NMR experiments in native E. coli lipid bilayers were utilized to study the interactions between sugar substrates and the binding pocket of SWEETs. In addition, solution NMR in native-like lipid nanodiscs were used for analyzing conformational dynamics in this family of membrane proteins. The site-specific resolution available from NMR provided insights into protein dynamics, the nature of protein-substrate specificity, and the transport mechanism of the SWEET family.
Cerebral microhemorrhages: mechanisms, consequences, and prevention

The increasing prevalence of multifocal cerebral microhemorrhages (CMHs, also known as “cerebral microbleeds”) is a significant, newly recognized problem in the aging population of the Western worl...
Eileen Johnson's legacy of research

The discussion begins where her career, on a national and international basis, began, at Lubbock Lake. That starting point lead to significant broadening of her research, both intellectually and geographically, and was reflected in the work of her collaborators and students: in Paleoindian archaeology; in all other archaeological time periods and traditions on the Southern Plains; in the method and theory of zooarchaeology and Quaternary vertebrate paleontology; work beyond the High Plains; and sustained long-term research programs both on and beyond the Southern Plains.