cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fresh Start for Families: A Collaboratively-built Community-based Program for Families that are Homeless

This article describes the development of a collaboratively-built, community-based program for families that are homeless. Families living in shelters due to homelessness participate in a collaborative community-based program, which privileges their expertise at every level of program design, development, refinement and evaluation. Fresh Start is organized around a nine-week multiple-family discussion group that combines conversation about challenges and coping approaches through a variety of activities. All aspects of the program are guided by the Collaborative Family Program Development Approach (CFPD) developed by Fraenkel (2003, 2005), which privileges the expertise of families rather than mental health professionals. Ten steps of the CFPD approach are described with specific attention to collaboration and cultural phenomena, including space for open discussion of the overall social context of injustice. Personal perspectives of the professional staff, program innovator, and families are essential elements and are described. Supportive outcome data are provided.
Efficient electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction on a three-phase interface

Electrochemical CO2 reduction is a critical approach to reducing the globally accelerating CO2 emission and generating value-added products. Despite great efforts to optimize catalyst activity and selectivity, facilitating the catalyst accessibility to high CO2 concentrations while maintaining electrode durability remains a significant challenge. Here, we designed a catalytic system that mimics the alveolus structure in mammalian lungs with high gas permeability but very low water diffusibility, enabling an array of three-phase catalytic interfaces. Flexible, hydrophobic, nanoporous polyethylene membranes with high gas permeability were used to enable efficient CO2 access and a high local alkalinity on the catalyst surface at different CO2 flow rates. Such an alveolus-mimicking structure generates a high CO production Faradaic efficiency of 92% and excellent geometric current densities of CO production (25.5 mA cm−2) at −0.6 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, with a very thin catalyst thickness of 20−80 nm. The efficient design of electrochemical CO2 reduction catalysts requires high CO2 concentrations on the catalyst surface. Here, Cui and co-workers make use of flexible, hydrophobic, nanoporous polyethylene membranes with good gas permeability to design a catalytic set-up that mimics the alveolus structure in mammalian lungs, achieving high activity and selectivity to CO.
Predictors of mucosal melanoma survival in a population-based setting

Background Mucosal melanomas are rare and aggressive neoplasms, with little published population-based data on predictors of survival. Objective We sought to assess the influences of race/ethnicity, sex, tumor stage, tumor thickness, and anatomic site on mucosal melanoma survival estimates. Methods We analyzed 132,751 cases of melanoma, including 1824 mucosal melanomas, diagnosed between 1994 and 2015 and reported to the California Cancer Registry. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the prognostic variables. Results The 5-year relative survival for mucosal melanomas (27.64% [95% confidence interval {CI} 25.42-29.91) was significantly lower than for cutaneous melanomas (76.28% [95% CI 76.03-76.53]). Stage independently influenced survival, and thickness did not predict survival for neoplasms of known depth. Less common anatomic sites conferred worse prognoses (hazard ratio 1.93 [95% CI 1.41-2.64]). Limitations The lack of a standardized staging system may have resulted in misclassification of stage for some neoplasms. The influence of genetics is unknown because our database did not contain genetic characteristics. Conclusions Stage and anatomic site, but not thickness (ie, Breslow depth), race, or ethnicity, determine the prognosis of mucosal melanomas. Considering the poor prognosis for all stages of mucosal melanoma, dermatologists should incorporate examination of the oropharynx and genitalia in the full body skin examination.
Novel pharmacotherapy for burn wounds: what are the advancements.

Introduction: The prognosis for severe burns has improved significantly over the past 50 years. Meanwhile, burns have become an affliction mainly affecting the less well-developed regions of the wo...
Interstitial Stereotactic Laser Anterior Corpus Callosotomy: A Report of 2 Cases with Operative Technique and Effectiveness.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Corpus callosotomy is an effective palliative treatment for medically intractable Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) that disrupts the interhemispheric synchronization of epileptiform discharges. However, traditional open corpus callosotomy carries a significant risk of surgical complications associated with craniotomy and a parafalcine approach to the corpus callosum. Here, we report 2 cases of anterior corpus callosotomy using MRI-guided stereotactic laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) as a minimally invasive technique for mitigating the risks of craniotomy while achieving favorable outcomes. CLINICAL PRESENTATION Two patients with medically intractable LGS underwent stereotactic laser anterior corpus callosotomy using a 2 laser-fiber approach. Ablation of 70%-80% of the corpus callosum was confirmed by postoperative MRI diffusion tensor imaging and volumetric analysis. Marked reduction of epileptiform activity was observed in both patients during postoperative video-EEG studies as compared to preoperative video-EEG studies. Freedom from disabling seizures including drop attacks was achieved in 1 patient for 18 mo, and more than a 90% reduction of disabling seizures was achieved in the other patient for 7 mo with cognitive improvement and without surgical complications. CONCLUSION These early data demonstrate the technical feasibility, safety, and favorable outcomes of MRI-guided stereotactic laser anterior corpus callosotomy in patients with LGS, making it a potentially safe and effective alternative to traditional open corpus callosotomy and other stereotactic methods including radiofrequency ablation and radiosurgery due to the ability to monitor the ablation in real time with MRI.
The phenylcarbene rearrangement as a source of real carbenes

Abstract The phonylcarbene rearrangement is used to produce carbenes that are compared to the intermediates formed on photolysis and pyrolysis of diazo compounds.
Cost effectiveness of school-located influenza vaccination programs for elementary and secondary school children

Studies have noted variations in the cost-effectiveness of school-located influenza vaccination (SLIV), but little is known about how SLIV’s cost-effectiveness may vary by targeted age group (e.g., elementary or secondary school students), or vaccine consent process (paper-based or web-based). Further, SLIV’s cost-effectiveness may be impacted by its spillover effect on practice-based vaccination; prior studies have not addressed this issue. We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis on two SLIV programs in upstate New York in 2015–2016: (a) elementary school SLIV using a stepped wedge design with schools as clusters (24 suburban and 18 urban schools) and (b) secondary school SLIV using a cluster randomized trial (16 suburban and 4 urban schools). The cost-per-additionally-vaccinated child (i.e., incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER)) was estimated by dividing the incremental SLIV intervention cost by the incremental effectiveness (i.e., the additional number of vaccinated students in intervention schools compared to control schools). We performed deterministic analyses, one-way sensitivity analyses, and probabilistic analyses. The overall effectiveness measure (proportion of children vaccinated) was 5.7 and 5.5 percentage points higher, respectively, in intervention elementary (52.8%) and secondary schools (48.2%) than grade-matched control schools. SLIV programs vaccinated a small proportion of children in intervention elementary (5.2%) and secondary schools (2.5%). In elementary and secondary schools, the ICER excluding vaccine purchase was $85.71 and $86.51 per-additionally-vaccinated-child, respectively. When additionally accounting for observed spillover impact on practice-based vaccination, the ICER decreased to $80.53 in elementary schools -- decreasing substantially in secondary schools. (to $53.40). These estimates were higher than the published practice-based vaccination cost (median = $25.50, mean = $45.48). Also, these estimates were higher than our 2009–2011 urban SLIV program mean costs ($65) due to additional costs for use of a new web-based consent system ($12.97 per-additionally-vaccinated-child) and higher project coordination costs in 2015–2016. One-way sensitivity analyses showed that ICER estimates were most sensitive to the SLIV effectiveness. SLIV raises vaccination rates and may increase practice-based vaccination in primary care practices. While these SLIV programs are effective, to be as cost-effective as practice-based vaccination our SLIV programs would need to vaccinate more students and/or lower the costs for consent systems and project coordination. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02227186 (August 25, 2014), updated NCT03137667 (May 2, 2017).
What Is Remembered (Book Review)

Approximately four decades into mass incarceration, it is increasingly unlikely that contemporary scholars will remember firsthand a time when criminal law was not “in crisis.” At the same time, a sense of present crisis can create a temptation toward nostalgia. When we do think of criminal law’s history, we might imagine it as egalitarian, humane, or effective even if it never was any of those things. One of the many virtues of Sarah Seo’s Policing the Open Road: How Cars Transformed American Freedom is its effort to correct a specific type of nostalgia common among criminal procedure scholars—nostalgia for the Warren Court and its supposedly revolutionary efforts to discipline police officers. Seo tells an alternative story in which the Supreme Court repeatedly interpreted the Fourth Amendment to endorse police discretion rather than constrain it. Seo helps us see canonical Supreme Court decisions as accommodations of police authority rather than pronouncements of revolutionary change. But Policing the Open Road offers its own story of revolution, or rather of radical transformation: it claims that the arrival of the automobile was a unique disruption that “transformed American freedom,” produced the modern police force, and eventually generated the regimes of racialized law enforcement all too familiar today. This review essay suggests reasons to doubt this story of automotive transformation. Though the nineteenth century is nearly absent from Policing the Open Road, histories of that era suggest that police discretion, and racialized law enforcement, arose well before the United States became an automotive society. And even in the twentieth century, the judicial endorsement of police discretion was likely less influenced by the specific technology of the automobile, and less blind to the prospect of racialized enforcement, than Seo suggests. It matters which way we tell the story, for the choices we make about criminal law in the twenty-first century will depend on our account of when and how criminal law’s problems originated.
Telomere length analysis from minimally-invasively collected samples: Methods development and meta-analysis of the validity of different sampling techniques: American Journal of Human Biology.

Objectives Telomeres are the protective caps of chromosomes. They shorten with cell replication, age, and possibly environmental stimuli (eg, infection and stress). Short telomere length (TL) predicts subsequent worse health. Although venous whole blood (VWB) is most commonly used for TL measurement, other, more minimally invasive, sampling techniques are becoming increasingly common due to their field-friendliness, allowing for feasible measurement in low-resource contexts. We conducted statistical validation work for measuring TL in dried blood spots (DBS) and incorporated our results into a meta-analysis evaluating minimally invasive sampling techniques to measure TL. Methods We isolated DNA extracts from DBS using a modified extraction protocol and tested how they endured different shipping conditions and long-term cryostorage. We then included our in-house DBS TL validation statistics (correlation values with VWB TL and age) in a series of meta-analyses of results from 24 other studies that published similar associations for values between TL measured in DBS, saliva, and buccal cells. Results Our modified DBS extraction technique produced DNA yields that were roughly twice as large as previously recorded. Partially extracted DBS DNA was stable for 7 days at room temperature, and still provided reliable TL measurements, as determined by external validation statistics. In our meta-analysis, DBS TL had the highest external validity, followed by saliva, and then buccal cells-possibly reflecting similarities/differences in cellular composition vs VWB. Conclusions DBS DNA is the best proxy for VWB from the three minimally-invasively specimen types evaluated and can be used to expand TL research to diverse settings and populations.
Machine Learning in Cyber Trust: Security, Privacy, and Reliability

Many networked computer systems are far too vulnerable to cyber attacks that can inhibit their functioning, corrupt important data, or expose private information. Not surprisingly, the field of cyber-based systems is a fertile ground where many tasks can be formulated as learning problems and approached in terms of machine learning algorithms. This book contains original materials by leading researchers in the area and covers applications of different machine learning methods in the reliability, security, performance, and privacy issues of cyber space. It enables readers to discover what types of learning methods are at their disposal, summarizing the state-of-the-practice in this significant area, and giving a classification of existing work. Those working in the field of cyber-based systems, including industrial managers, researchers, engineers, and graduate and senior undergraduate students will find this an indispensable guide in creating systems resistant to and tolerant of cyber attacks.
Long-standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: How do You Perform it?

Catheter ablation of long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) presents unique challenges and the lack of large body of evidence surrounding management makes for disagreement and different approaches for treatment. Outlined is a case example that offers a comprehensive approach to ablation in patients with LSPAF that consists of risk factor management, an ablation strategy, a rigorous trigger protocol and follow-up rhythm monitoring. The case presented highlights management of this difficult population as best guided by current evidence and our experience. Ablation treatment and management strategies will continue to evolve with further randomized data and the advent of improved ablation technologies.
DISTRIBUTIONS OF SHORT-LIVED RADIOACTIVE NUCLEI PRODUCED BY YOUNG EMBEDDED STAR CLUSTERS

Most star formation in the Galaxy takes place in clusters, where the most massive members can affect the properties of other constituent solar systems. This paper considers how clusters influence star formation and forming planetary systems through nuclear enrichment from supernova explosions, where massive stars deliver short-lived radioactive nuclei (SLRs) to their local environment. The decay of these nuclei leads to both heating and ionization, and thereby affects disk evolution, disk chemistry, and the accompanying process of planet formation. Nuclear enrichment can take place on two spatial scales: (1) within the cluster itself (l ~ 1 pc), the SLRs are delivered to the circumstellar disks associated with other cluster members. (2) On the next larger scale (l ~ 2-10 pc), SLRs are injected into the background molecular cloud; these nuclei provide heating and ionization to nearby star-forming regions and to the next generation of disks. For the first scenario, we construct the expected distributions of radioactive enrichment levels provided by embedded clusters. Clusters can account for the SLR mass fractions inferred for the early Solar Nebula, but typical SLR abundances are lower by a factor of ~10. For the second scenario, we find that distributed enrichment of SLRs in molecular clouds leads to comparable abundances. For both the direct and distributed enrichment processes, the masses of 26Al and 60Fe delivered to individual circumstellar disks typically fall in the range 10-100 pM ☉ (where 1 pM ☉ = 10–12 M ☉). The corresponding ionization rate due to SLRs typically falls in the range ζSLR ~ 1-5 × 10–19 s–1. This ionization rate is smaller than that due to cosmic rays, ζCR ~ 10–17 s–1, but will be important in regions where cosmic rays are attenuated (e.g., disk mid-planes).
Law and the Invisible Hand: A Theory of Adam Smith's Jurisprudence

A contemporary interpretation of Adam Smith's work on jurisprudence, revealing Smith's belief that progress emerges from cooperation and a commitment to justice. In Smith's theory, the tension between self–interest and the interests of others is mediated by law, so that the common interest of the community can be promoted. Moreover, Smith informs us that successful societies do at least three things well. They promote the common interest, advance justice through the rule of law, and they facilitate our natural desire to truck, barter, and exchange. In this process, law functions as an invisible force that holds society together and keeps it operating smoothly and productively. Law enhances social cooperation, facilitates trade, and extends the market. In these ways, law functions like Adam Smith's invisible hand, guiding and facilitating the progress of humankind.
Correlates of “Coddling”: Cognitive distortions predict safetyism-inspired beliefs, belief that words can harm, and trigger warning endorsement in college students

Abstract In their book, The Coddling of the American Mind, Lukianoff and Haidt (2018) contended that the rise of “safetyism” within American society has inspired beliefs and practices that hinder college students' socioemotional development. One of their most controversial claims was that college students' safetyism-inspired beliefs (e.g., emotional pain or discomfort is dangerous) are rooted in and supported by cognitive distortions, or negatively biased patterns of thought (e.g., emotional reasoning). Citing evocative anecdotes, they argued that such distortions emerge in students' perceptions of offensive or ideologically-challenging experiences as disproportionately harmful or traumatic. However, no empirical work has substantiated an association between cognitive distortions and safetyism-inspired beliefs or practices. In a large (N = 786), ethnically and economically diverse sample of college students, we conducted the first examination of the relationship between these variables. Aligning with Lukianoff and Haidt's assertions, we found that students' self-reported prevalence of cognitive distortions positively predicted their endorsement of safetyism-inspired beliefs, the belief that words can harm, and support for the broad use of trigger warnings. Considering our exploratory results, we argue that greater empirical scrutiny of safetyism-inspired beliefs and practices is warranted before such customs become more widely adopted.
A Case of Pott's Puffy Tumor from Odontogenic Source

Pott's puffy tumor (PPT) is a known complication of frontal sinusitis. Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis can seldomly spread to involve the frontal sinus but has not been implicated in the development of PPT. Herein, we describe a case of frontal sinusitis originating from an odontogenic source and culminating in PPT.
A primary care first (PCP-first) model to screen and treat depression: A VitalSign6 report from a second cohort of 32,106 patients

Abstract Purpose This report from VitalSign6 project describes treatment selection, follow-up rates and remission outcomes by initial depression severity using the PCP-FIRST model. Methods This retrospective analysis included 32,106 patients aged ≥12 years screened with the Patient Health Questionnaire 2-item (PHQ-2) from November 2016 to July 2019 across 37 primary care clinics. PHQ-2 positive-screen patients (PHQ-2 ≥ 3) received 9-item PHQ (PHQ-9) and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scales, clinician assessments, and evaluation for pharmacotherapy management with measurement-based care (MBC). Results Of PHQ-2 screened patients, 18.7% (5994/32,106) were positive and received a PHQ-9. Of 5994 patients with PHQ-9, 2571 received a clinical diagnosis of depression of whom, 333 had none-mild depression (PHQ-9 Conclusions Despite this being a real-world, usual care sample, remission outcomes exceed real world remission rate expectations of 6% in primary care.
The nature of the RS-T segment displacement as studied with esophageal leads: Left ventricular hypertrophy

Abstract 1. 1. Eleven cases of left ventricular hypertrophy were studied with simultaneous standard, unipolar extremity, precordial, and esophageal leads. The magnitude and the direction of the ventricular gradient were determined in each case. 2. 2. In left ventricular hypertrophy, the RS-T segment depressions seen in the standard, left precordial, and lower esophageal leads reflecting posterior surface potentials are regularly associated with RS-T segment elevations in esophageal leads reflecting left ventricular cavity potentials. 3. 3. The T waves recorded in esophageal leads reflecting left ventricular cavity potentials are opposite in direction to those seen in the standard, left precordial, and lower esophageal leads. 4. 4. The nature of the RS-T segment deviations in left ventricular hypertrophy is discussed.
MODELING OF ICRF HEATING IN PLT

Significant heating with the fast magnetosonic wave near the ion cyclotron frequency has been demonstrated in the present generation of tokamaks. Effective wave absorption and heating can be achieved either by using the second harmonic or by heating at the fundamental of a minority ion component. Recent experiments in PLT have facilitated the refinement of a heating model which both shows good agreement with experiment and predicts favorable scaling to hotter, denser plasmas. Details of the model, including full wave theory, power deposition, Fokker-Planck theory, and scaling are discussed.
Shostak's Congruence Closure as Completion

Shostak's congruence closure algorithm is demystified, using the framework of ground completion on (possibly nonterminating, non-reduced) rewrite rules. In particular, the canonical rewriting relation induced by the algorithm on ground terms by a given set of ground equations is precisely constructed. The main idea is to extend the signature of the original input to include new constant symbols for nonconstant subterms appearing in the input. A byproduct of this approach is (i) an algorithm for associating a confluent rewriting system with possibly nonterminating ground rewrite rules, and (ii) a new quadratic algorithm for computing a canonical rewriting system from ground equations.
How Sex Became a Civil Liberty. By Leigh Ann Wheeler.

In her provocative study of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), historian Leigh Ann Wheeler provides an eye-opening look at the construction of sex as a civil liberty over the course of the ...
Critical aspect ratio dependence in deep reactive ion etching of silicon

Aspect ratio dependent etching and microloading effects are two mechanisms leading to non-uniformities in the etching of silicon using deep reactive ion etching technology. This paper focuses on the apparent presence of a critical aspect radio when etching three-dimensional MEMS structures. A mask designed to separate the effects of microloading from aspect radio dependent etching was made, and various sizes of features (3 to 1000 /spl mu/m) are etched simultaneously for different etching times (10 to 180 min) using a Bosch etching process. Experimental data exhibiting three distinct regimes for the etch rate, the corresponding critical aspect ratios, and the dependence on microloading effects are presented. Possible mechanisms governing these regimes are also postulated.
The lactose permease meets Frankenstein

The lactose permease (lac) of Escherichia coli is a paradigm for membrane transport proteins. Encoded by the lacY gene, the permease has been solubilized, purified to homogeneity, reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles and shown to catalyse the coupled translocation of beta-galactosides and H+ with a stoichiometry of unity. Circular dichroism and other spectroscopic approaches demonstrate that the purified permease is about 80% helical. Based on hydropathy analysis of the primary amino-acid sequence, a secondary structure has been proposed in which the protein has 12 hydrophobic domains in alpha-helical conformation that traverse the membrane in zigzag fashion connected by hydrophilic loops. A variety of other approaches are consistent with the model and demonstrate that both the N and C termini are on the inner surface of the membrane, and studies on an extensive series of lac permease/alkaline phosphatase fusion proteins provide exclusive support for the topological predictions of the 12-helix motif. This presentation concentrates on the use of site-directed fluorescence spectroscopy to study structure-function relationships in the permease.
The forgotten 'uncore': on the energy-efficiency of heterogeneous cores

Heterogeneous multicore processors (HMPs), consisting of cores with different performance/power characteristics, have been proposed to deliver higher energy efficiency than symmetric multicores. This paper investigates the opportunities and limitations in using HMPs to gain energy-efficiency. Unlike previous work focused on server systems, we focus on the client workloads typically seen in modern end-user devices. Further, beyond considering core power usage, we also consider the 'uncore' subsystem shared by all cores, which in modern platforms, is an increasingly important contributor to total SoC power. Experimental evaluations use client applications and usage scenarios seen on mobile devices and a unique testbed comprised of heterogeneous cores, with results that highlight the need for uncore-awareness and uncore scalability to maximize intended efficiency gains from heterogeneous cores.
Chromosome structure: DNA nucleotide sequence elements of a subset of the minichromosomes of the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei.

Abstract The genome of the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei contains a set of about 100 minichromosomes of about 50 to 150 kb in size. The small size of these chromosomes, their involvement in antigenic variation, and their mitotic stability make them ideal candidates for a structural analysis of protozoan chromosomes and their telomeres. We show that a subset of the minichromosomes is composed predominantly of simple-sequence DNA, with over 90% of the length of the minichromosome consisting of a tandem array of 177-bp repeats, indicating that these molecules have limited protein-coding capacity. Proceeding from the tip of the telomere to a chromosome internal position, a subset of the minichromosomes contained the GGGTTA telomere repeat, a 29-bp telomere-derived repeat, a region containing 74-bp G + C-rich direct repeats separated by approximately 155 bp of A + T-rich DNA that has a bent character, and 50 to 150 kb of the 177-bp repeat. Several of the minichromosome-derived telomeres did not encode protein-coding genes, indicating that the repertoire of telomeric variant cell surface glycoprotein genes is restricted to some telomeres only. The telomere organization in trypanosomes shares striking similarities to the organization of telomeres and subtelomeres in humans, yeasts, and plasmodia. An electron microscopic analysis of the minichromosomes showed that they are linear molecules without abnormal structures in the main body of the chromosome. The structure of replicating molecules indicated that minichromosomes probably have a single bidirectional origin of replication located in the body of the chromosome. We propose a model for the structure of the trypanosome minichromosomes.
The light quark masses

Abstract I discuss the improvement program for obtaining the physical, short-distance light quark masses from experiment using lattice methods.
Expansive homeomorphisms and plane separating continua

Abstract A homeomorphism h : X → X is expansive provided that there exists a constant c > 0 and for every x , y ∈ X there exists an integer n , dependent only on x and y , such that d ( h n ( x ) , h n ( y ) ) > c . It is shown that if X is a 1-dimensional continuum that separates the plane into 2 pieces, then h cannot be expansive.
THE RELATION OF THE THYROID GLAND TO THE SURFACE TENSION OF THE BLOOD PLASMA : II. THE EFFECT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THYROID EXTRACT AND THYROXIN.

1. Determinations of the surface tension of blood plasma from guinea pigs, before and after feeding thyroxin, showed in most cases a definite decrease. Out of twenty-seven experimental animals, twenty showed a depression in the surface tension which ranged from 1.9 to 13.9 dynes, with an average of 5 dynes. Six animals showed variations hardly exceeding the limits of experimental error, while one showed an elevation of 1.1 dynes. 2. Six normal control animals, bled on the same days and kept under identical conditions, showed differences in the two determinations which ranged from a decrease of 0.5 to an increase of 0.6 of a dyne. One other control showed a drop of 1 dyne. 3. Two animals which had been fed large quantities of thyroid extract over a period of 10 days, gave values considerably below normal. One of these animals survived, and after 11 days during which no thyroid extract was given, the surface tension was found again to be within normal limits. 4. The hypothesis is advanced that these changes are due to an increase in the amount of certain normally occurring surface-active constituents, which are produced as a result of increased cellular metabolism.
Use of Cystoseira and Sargassum embryonic sporophytes for testing toxicity effects

Laminarian gametophytes and early sporophytes have been used extensively in studies of growth rates, nutritional requirements, responses to sedimentation, light and temperature, and for toxicity testing (Hsiao & Druehl, 1973; Luning & Neushul, 1978; Devinny & Volse, 1978; Luning, 1980; Kuwabara & North, 1980; TERA Corp., 1982; Deysher & Dean, 1984; James et al., 1987). The fucalean egg has been used for cellular and developmental studies and Deysher (1984) used shed embryos of Sargassum muticum to assess environmental requirements of this species. Nonetheless, compared to Laminariales, microscopic phases in the life cycles of subtidal Fucales have seen relatively little use for assessing environmental quality as well as requirements for survival and growth. We report herein on possibilities for utilizing embryonic plants of two fucalean genera, Sargassum and Cystoseira, for toxicological studies. There is also good potential for using these embryos for investigating other physiological factors and relationships.
Time-voltage area of the QRS for the identification of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Abstract Standard electrocardiographic criteria have exhibited poor sensitivity for left ventricular hypertrophy at acceptable levels of specificity and perform less well in women than men, even when sex-specific criteria are used. The time-voltage integral of the horizontal plane vector QRS complex can improve identification of hypertrophy in men, but performance of this approach in women and the effect of sex-specific criteria on accuracy have not been examined. To evaluate the accuracy of the time-voltage integral of the QRS complex for the identification of left ventricular hypertrophy in women and to examine the effect of sex- and non–sex-specific criteria on test performance, we obtained standard 12-lead and orthogonal-lead signal-averaged electrocardiograms and echocardiograms in 175 control subjects without hypertrophy (43 women and 132 men) and 75 patients with hypertrophy (26 women and 49 men) defined by echocardiographic criteria (indexed left ventricular mass >110 g/m 2 in women and >125 g/m 2 in men). Voltage of the QRS complex was integrated over the total QRS duration in leads X and Z for calculation of the time-voltage integral of the horizontal plane vector complex. With the use of a partition of 99.2 μV·s with a specificity of 98% in the entire normal group, sensitivity of the horizontal plane vector integral was significantly lower in women than men (31% versus 71%, P P
Emerging Asia Equity Home Bias and Financial Integration

Equity home bias remains a phenomenon and a puzzle. Recent studies show the importance of financial integration in explaining the observed decline of equity home bias in advanced economies. This paper takes a step in understanding this relationship in the context of Emerging Asia. Stock market ratios and the mean-variance approach are used to construct measures of equity home bias; while foreign direct investments and time-varying global betas are used to derive measures of financial integration. These measures provide evidence that equity home bias has declined in recent years and progress has been made toward greater financial integration in the region. Fixed-effects panel regression was used to determine whether the factors that contribute to the decline of the bias in advanced economies – including financial integration – are relevant for Emerging Asia. Results show that a higher initial level of equity home bias and a greater financial integration lower the bias; while a larger stock market raises it...
A Fast Fourier Transform Accelerated Marching-on-in-Time Algorithm for Electromagnetic Analysis

A fast algorithm is presented for solving a time-domain electric field integral equation (EFIE) pertinent to the analysis of scattering from uniformly meshed, perfectly conducting structures. The marching-on-in-time (MOT) scheme that results from discretizing this EFIE is accelerated by using the fast Fourier transform to perform spatial convolutions. The computational cost and storage requirements of this algorithm scale as O(NtNs 1.5) and O(Ns 1.5), respectively, as opposed to O(NtNs 2) and O(Ns 2) for classical MOT methods. Simulation results demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the approach and suggestions for extending the technique are proffered.
Mapping of the Interaction Interface of DNA Polymerase β with XRCC1

Abstract Residues of DNA polymerase β (β-Pol) that interact with the DNA repair protein XRCC1 have been determined by NMR chemical shift mapping (CSM) and mutagenesis. 15 N/ 13 C/ 2 H/ 1 H, 13 C-methyl Leu,Ile,Val -labeled β-Pol palm-thumb domain was used for assignments of the 1 H, 15 N, and 13 C resonances used for CSM of the palm-thumb on forming the 40 kDa complex with the XRCC1 N-terminal domain (NTD). Large chemical shift changes were observed in the thumb on complexation. 15 N relaxation data indicate reduction in high-frequency motion for a thumb loop and three palm turn/loops, which showed concomitant chemical shift changes on complexation. A ΔV303–V306 deletion and an L301R/V303R/V306R triple mutation abolished complex formation due to loss in hydrophobicity. In an updated model, the thumb-loop of β-Pol contacts an edge/face region of the β sheet of the XRCC1 NTD, while the β-Pol palm weakly contacts the α2 helix.
Structure and mechanism of proton transport through the transmembrane tetrameric M2 protein bundle of the influenza A virus.

The M2 proton channel from influenza A virus is an essential protein that mediates transport of protons across the viral envelope. This protein has a single transmembrane helix, which tetramerizes into the active channel. At the heart of the conduction mechanism is the exchange of protons between the His37 imidazole moieties of M2 and waters confined to the M2 bundle interior. Protons are conducted as the total charge of the four His37 side chains passes through 2+ and 3+ with a pKa near 6. A 1.65 Å resolution X-ray structure of the transmembrane protein (residues 25–46), crystallized at pH 6.5, reveals a pore that is lined by alternating layers of sidechains and well-ordered water clusters, which offer a pathway for proton conduction. The His37 residues form a box-like structure, bounded on either side by water clusters with well-ordered oxygen atoms at close distance. The conformation of the protein, which is intermediate between structures previously solved at higher and lower pH, suggests a mechanism by which conformational changes might facilitate asymmetric diffusion through the channel in the presence of a proton gradient. Moreover, protons diffusing through the channel need not be localized to a single His37 imidazole, but instead may be delocalized over the entire His-box and associated water clusters. Thus, the new crystal structure provides a possible unification of the discrete site versus continuum conduction models.
Wire Contact Resistance Effects in a Multiwire Z-Pinch

Summary form only given. Investigations of the effect of initial wire contact-resistance on wire ablation dynamics are being conducted. Experiments utilize a 120 kV, 20 kA pulser with 140 ns rise-time, which drives a two-wire z-pinch load. Diagnostics for the experiment include laser shadowgraphv, streak camera images, and time-gated ICCD visible-UV wavelength spectroscopy. Both aluminum and stainless steel wires of 19-30 mum diameter have been studied. UM wire holders utilize slots and weights similar to those employed on Sandia's Z-Machine. Both precision DC-AC low current measurements and 20 kA pulsed experiments have been performed and compared. Typical wire contact resistances for this wire-holder design account for more than 85 percent of the total resistance of the load. Variations in contact resistance between two wires were observed for wires strung in a nearly identical fashion. DC experiments have shown that initial differences in the contact resistance between two wires results in one wire continually drawing more current than the other. Streak camera images with 20 kA pulses have shown that the wire with lower contact resistance draws more current prior to wire explosion, and that the wire drawing greater current exhibits a higher plasma expansion velocity. In a large number wire array, a difference in plasma expansion velocities between wires might be expected to lead to a non-uniform plasma shell, which would negatively affect plasma implosion dynamics. Ongoing experiments are aimed at characterizing the relationship between plasma expansion velocity and contact resistance between wires using both streak camera images and laser shadowgraphy. Spectroscopic measurements will examine variations in plasma temperature between the two plasmas. Methods will be explored to reduce variations in wire contact resistance, as well as to reduce the overall contact resistance of the wires.
An approach for assessing individual versus group effects in performance evaluations

A source of bias in performance evaluations is a rater's inability to differentiate an individual's (subordinate's) performance from his or her work group's performance. This paper describes an approach for specifying and assessing individual versus work group effects in performance evaluations. Multiple indicators of self- and supervisor ratings of performance were examined in two field samples. Study results suggest that the self- and supervisor ratings of individuals' performances were not biased by work group membership and that individual effects were present.
Dynamic models of metabolism: Review of the cybernetic approach

The cybernetic approach to metabolic modeling tracing its progress from its early beginnings to its current state with regard to its relationship to other modeling approaches, applications to bioprocess modeling, metabolic engineering, and future prospects are described. The framework is shown to handle large metabolic networks in making dynamic predictions from limited data with looming prospects of extending to genome scale networks. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012
Soil amendment effects of rape (Brassica napus) residues on pea rhizosphere bacteria

Abstract Rhizosphere bacteria were isolated from pea (Pisum sativum) plants grown in soil amended with a green manure of high-glucosinolate rape (Brassica napus ‘Dwarf Essex’), and from pea plants grown in soil without amendment. Total viable counts of bacteria and fluorescent Psuedomonas spp., and proportionate representation of actinomycetes and Gram-negative bacteria in the pea rhizosphere community were not significantly different for amended and non-amended pea. Carbon substrate utilization patterns obtained from Biolog GN microplates were compared. Rhizosphere isolates from the two treatments, that differed by less than 50% in utilization of specific carbon substrates, were considered to use those substrates in a similar manner. Cluster analysis was used to evaluate relationships of strains according to their abilities to utilize the different carbon substrates. Non-amended pea and amended pea isolates used 88% of the carbon substrates in a similar manner, and cluster patterns were similar for the amended and non-amended pea strains. The number of nodules formed on amended and non-amended pea roots by Rhizobium leguminosarum were not significantly different. Amendment of soil with rape residues did not appear to significantly alter the pea rhizosphere population and community attributes measured.
Seroprevalence and Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from Free-Range Chickens in Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Poland, and Vietnam

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging chickens (Gallus domesticus) is a good indicator of the prevalence of the parasite's oocysts in soil because chicken feed from the ground. The prevalence of T. gondii in free-range chickens from Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Poland, and Vietnam was determined using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 41 (64%) of 64 chickens from Ghana, 24 (24.4%) of 98 chickens from Indonesia, 10 (12.5%) of 80 chickens from Italy, 6 (30%) of 20 chickens from Poland, and 81 (24.2%) of 330 chickens from Vietnam. Hearts and brains of chickens were bioassayed for T. gondii. Viable T. gondii was isolated from 2 chickens from Ghana, 1 chicken from Indonesia, 3 chickens from Italy, 2 chickens from Poland, and 1 chicken from Vietnam. Toxoplasma gondii isolates from 9 chickens were genotyped using 10 PCR-RFLP markers including SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico. A total of 7 genotypes was identified; the 3 isolates from chickens from Italy were clonal type II, and the others were nonclonal. This is the first report of genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from animals from these countries.
The Predictive Utility of Early Childhood Disruptive Behaviors for School-Age Social Functioning

Research suggests that school-age children with disruptive behavior (DB) problems frequently demonstrate impaired social skills and experience rejection from peers, which plays a crucial role in the pathway to more serious antisocial behavior. A critical question is which DB problems in early childhood are prognostic of impaired social functioning in school-age children. This study examines the hypothesis that aggression in early childhood will be the more consistent predictor of compromised social functioning than inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or oppositional behavior. Participants included an ethnically diverse sample of 725 high-risk children from 3 geographically distinct areas followed from ages 2 to 8.5. Four latent growth models of DB from child ages 2 to 5, and potential interactions between dimensions, were used to predict latent parent and teacher ratings of school-age social dysfunction. Analyses were conducted in a multi-group format to examine potential differences between intervention and control group participants. Results showed that age 2 aggression was the DB problem most consistently associated with both parent- and teacher-rated social dysfunction for both groups. Early starting aggressive behavior may be particularly important for the early identification of children at risk for school-age social difficulties.
Saponins from Glycine max Merrill (soybean)

Saponins are a diverse group of plant secondary metabolites with a wide array of activities, as well as a significant role in nutrition and health. Saponins occur as multi-component mixtures of compounds with very similar polarities. Soysaponins are a special group of saponins. These represent the main source of saponins in Glycine max (soybeans, Fabaceae). In a study of the chemical profiling of plants, to investigate the possible misidentification and authentication of dietary supplements, the hydro-alcoholic extract of G. max was investigated. Three new saponins, designated as soysaponins M1 (1), M2 (2) and M3 (3) along with seven known soysaponins (4-10) were isolated by normal and reverse phase liquid chromatography. All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic techniques including 2D NMR spectroscopy.
Gold nanorods surface modified with poly(acrylic acid) as a template for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) surface-modified gold nanorods, contained in deionized ultra filtered (DIUF) water, served as templates for the formation of gold (Au), palladium (Pd), and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles upon reduction with NaBH4. This provided nanoparticles with respective diameters of 7.0 ± 0.7, 4.1 ± 0.4, and 5.1 ± 0.5 nm. Varying amounts of Pt metal salt were used in EG, which acts as both a solvent and a reducing agent, ranging from 0.1, 0.2, and 1.0 mg/mL, to provide control over nanoparticle diameters of 2.0 ± 0.5 nm, to 4.0 ± 0.5 nm, and 6.2 ± 1.9 nm, respectively. Nanoparticle diameter was also controlled in DIUF water by varying the amount of Pt metal salt from 0.1, 0.2, and 1.0 mg/mL, producing Pt particle diameters, respectively, increasing from 2.7 ± 0.3 nm to 4.1 ± 0.5 nm, and 6.0 ± 0.6 nm.
Stem Cell Collection and Gene Transfer in Fanconi Anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic syndrome characterized by progressive bone marrow failure (BMF), congenital anomalies, and a predisposition to malignancy. Successful gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) could reverse BMF in this disease. We developed clinical trials to determine whether a sufficient number of CD34+ stem cells could be collected for gene modification and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of HSC-corrective gene transfer in FA genotype A (FANCA) patients. Here, we report that FA patients have significant depletion of their BM CD34+ cell compartment even before severe pancytopenia is present. However, oncoretroviral-mediated ex vivo gene transfer was efficient in clinical scale in FA-A cells, leading to reversal of the cellular phenotype in a significant percentage of CD34+ cells. Re-infusion of gene-corrected products in two patients was safe and well tolerated and accompanied by transient improvements in hemoglobin and platelet counts. Gene correction was transient, likely owing to the low dose of gene-corrected cells infused. Our early experience shows that stem cell collection is well tolerated in FA patients and suggests that collection be considered as early as possible in patients who are potential candidates for future gene transfer trials.