cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transworld Depravity and Unobtainable Worlds

The free will defense attempts to show that the existence of God is logically compatible with the existence of evil, and it received its most sophisticated development in the work of Alvin Plantinga (1974). Many philosophers believe that Plantinga's free will defense conclusively demonstrates the logical compatibility of God and evil. Philosophers such as W. Alston, R. Adams, and W. Rowe have written that Plantinga's version of the free will defense solves the deductive problem of evil.1 An integral part of Plantinga's free will defense is the concept of transworld depravity. If every essence suffers from transworld depravity, God could not create a morally perfect world, i.e., a world containing moral good but no moral evil. Thus, if every essence suffers from transworld depravity, God has a reason for creating a world containing evil. Since Plantinga is giving a free will defense and not a theodicy, he does not claim that all essences have transworld depravity.2 Instead, he claims that it is possible that all essences suffer from transworld depravity; let us call this the hypothesis of universal transworld depravity. Recently some philosophers have argued that Plantinga has not proved that universal transworld depravity is logically possible. It has
A new method of calculating circuits

A “short-circuit current solution” for calculating the currents and voltages in an electrical network has recently been discovered. It is applicable to both d-c and a-c circuits, and reduces the labor of calculations considerably.
Formation of a stabilized cysteine sulfinic acid is critical for the mitochondrial function of the parkinsonism protein DJ-1

The formation of cysteine-sulfinic acid has recently become appreciated as a modification that links protein function to cellular oxidative status. Human DJ-1, a protein associated with inherited parkinsonism, readily forms cysteine-sulfinic acid at a conserved cysteine residue (Cys106 in human DJ-1). Mutation of Cys106 causes the protein to lose its normal protective function in cell culture and model organisms. However, it is unknown whether the loss of DJ-1 protective function in these mutants is due to the absence of Cys106 oxidation or the absence of the cysteine residue itself. To address this question, we designed a series of substitutions at a proximal glutamic acid residue (Glu18) in human DJ-1 that alter the oxidative propensity of Cys106 through changes in hydrogen bonding. We show that two mutations, E18N and E18Q, allow Cys106 to be oxidized to Cys106-sulfinic acid under mild conditions. In contrast, the E18D mutation stabilizes a cysteine-sulfenic acid that is readily reduced to the thiol in solution and in vivo. We show that E18N and E18Q can both partially substitute for wild-type DJ-1 using mitochondrial fission and cell viability assays. In contrast, the oxidatively impaired E18D mutant behaves as an inactive C106A mutant and fails to protect cells. We therefore conclude that formation of Cys106-sulfinic acid is a key modification that regulates the protective function of DJ-1.
The role of eosinophils in airway tissue remodelling in asthma.

There is an increasing evidence that airway structural change (termed remodelling) is associated with the severity and chronicity of asthma. Recent studies support an important role for eosinophils in the remodelling process. In particular eosinophil depletion studies have demonstrated that several aspects of remodelling are attenuated. Eosinophils have been confirmed as an important source of TGF-β 1 as well as other important cytokines that can lead to the direct activation of epithelium and mesenchymal cells that are considered to drive airway remodelling. The current studies that support a role for eosinophils in airway remodelling are reviewed in article.
Inflammation and taste disorders: mechanisms in taste buds

Taste disorders, including taste distortion and taste loss, negatively impact general health and quality of life. To understand the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms, we set out to identify inflammation-related molecules in taste tissue and to assess their role in the development of taste dysfunctions. We found that 10 out of 12 mammalian Toll-like receptors (TLRs), type I and II interferon (IFN) receptors, and their downstream signaling components are present in taste tissue. Some TLRs appear to be selectively or more abundantly expressed in taste buds than in nongustatory lingual epithelium. Immunohistochemistry with antibodies against TLRs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 confirmed the presence of these receptor proteins in taste bud cells, of which TLRs 2, 3, and 4 are expressed in the gustducin-expressing type II taste bud cells. Administration of TLR ligands, lipopolysaccharide, and double-stranded RNA polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, which mimics bacterial or viral infection, activates the IFN signaling pathways, upregulates the expression of IFN-inducible genes, and downregulates the expression of c-fos in taste buds. Finally, systemic administration of IFNs augments apoptosis of taste bud cells in mice. Taken together, these data suggest that TLR and IFN pathways function collaboratively in recognizing pathogens and mediating inflammatory responses in taste tissue. This process, however, may interfere with normal taste transduction and taste bud cell turnover and contributes to the development of taste disorders.
On the nonoccurrence of two paradoxes in the measurement scheme of stochastic quantum mechanics

The internal paradoxes in the quantum measurement scheme related to violation of conservation laws, changes in entropy, absence of a dynamic description of collapse, Wigner's friend, as well as the paradox of violation of causality in the EPR experiment are shown to be partially circumvented in the measurement scheme of stochastic quantum mechanics.
Determination of Immunity to Varicella-Zoster Virus by Means of an Intradermal Skin Test

An intradermal varicella skin test, utilizing heat-inactivated noninfectious viral antigen, was evaluated in 16 adults known to be immune or susceptible to varicella and in 109 adults with no history of varicella. The skin test was well tolerated, compared favorably with established methods of determining immunity to varicella, and accurately predicted which subjects would develop clinical varicella after close exposure.
3'-Methoxy-4'-nitroflavone, a reported aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist, enhances Cyp1a1 transcription by a dioxin responsive element-dependent mechanism

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, regulating expression of a group of specific genes including cytochrome P450 1A1 (Cyp1a1). Stably transfected luciferase with dioxin responsive elements (DRE) in its promoter region has been commonly used as a reporter gene to study the mechanism of AhR signaling and compare potencies of TCDD and related compounds. However, how these two genes might respond to structurally diverse AhR ligands was unknown. This study investigates their expression in the same cells in response to TCDD, the most potent agonist, and 3′M4′NF, a reported potent antagonist. Our data suggest that these two compounds appear to play different roles in regulating these genes. While TCDD enhanced transcription of both genes, 3′M4′NF induced the endogenous Cyp1a1, but not the reporter gene. Mechanistic studies indicated that the increase in induction of CYP1A1 protein by 3′M4′NF was mediated by AhR-dependent transcriptional activation. Further analysis of the Cyp1a1 promoter sequence did not reveal any 3′M4′NF-specific responsive elements other than DREs. Rather, the interaction between the 3′M4′NF-bound receptor complex and DREs was confirmed by the observation that a single nucleotide mutation in DRE core sequences obliterated AhR enhancer activity in response to both TCDD and 3′M4′NF. Together these data suggest that 3′M4′NF, a weak AhR agonist, activates the AhR to recognize and interact with the same DREs as TCDD. However, depending on its concentration as well as the promoter context of a particular gene, the ability of 3′M4′NF to act as an AhR antagonist or agonist may appear different for various genes.
Adaptation of the AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care to Critical Care Transport

Today's health care delivery system relies heavily on interhospital transfer of patients who require higher levels of care. Although numerous tools and algorithms have been used for the prehospital determination of mode of transport, no tool for the transfer of patients between hospitals has been widely accepted. Typically, the interfacility transport decision is left to the discretion of the referring provider, who may or may not be aware of the level of care provided or the means of transport available. A need exists to determine the appropriate level of care required to meet the needs of patients during transport. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Synergy Model for Patient Care is a patient-centered model that focuses on optimizing patient care by matching the characteristics of the patient with the competencies of the nurse. This model shows significant promise in providing the theoretical backing to guide the decision on the level of care necessary to complete interfacility transfers safely and effectively. This article describes a new tool inspired by the AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care to determine the appropriate level of care required for interfacility transport.
A sensitive radioimmunoassay for a component of mouse casein.

Mouse casein (m.w. 22,000 daltons) has been purified by employing Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-cellulose column chromatographies. A sensitive radioimmunoassay method has been developed by using [125I]-labelled casein and antiserum elicited in rabbits after injection of glutaraldehyde-treated casein. The assay method is capable of detecting as little as 0.1 ng of casein. The use of the present radioimmunoassay method in detecting casein production in cultured mouse mammary explants has also been demonstrated.
Lactones in 193 nm resists: What do they do?

Lactones are almost ubiquitously employed in 193 nm resists to increase the polarity of hydrophobic alicyclic polymers. What else do lactones do in 193 nm resists? We studied the behavior of methacrylate (MA) resists consisting of different protecting groups, hexafluoroalcohols, and norbornane lactone methacrylate (NLM, 2-oxo-3-oxatricyclo[4.2.1.04,8]nonan-5-yl methacrylate). When the protecting group is large [ethylcyclooctyl (ECO) and methyladamantyl (MAd)], thinning of the resist film that occurs in highly exposed areas upon postexposure bake (PEB) is significantly smaller than what is expected from the polymer composition. When the concentration of isopropylhexafluoroalcohol methacrylate (iPrHFAMA) is increased in the ECOMA-NLM polymer, the thinning increases and reaches 100% of theory and the ECOMA-norbornenehexafluoroalcohol methacrylate (NBHFAMA) resist loses quantitative thickness in highly-exposed areas upon PEB at 90 °C. This indicates that small lactones which are more basic than esters can trap deprotection fragments especially when the protecting group is large. Such entrapment was detected by IR spectroscopy and also observed at temperatures as high as 200 °C in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Incorporation of lactone appears to decrease the bake temperature sensitivity and the sensitivity of the resist perhaps due to trapping of photochemically generated acids by basic lactone. The lactone ring can be hydrolyzed during aqueous base development but does not seem to affect the dissolution rate, indicating that hydrolysis occurs in aqueous base solution after dissolution. Poly(methacrylic acid-NLM) dissolves as fast as poly(methacrylic acid) in 0.26 N tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) aqueous solution. While exposed P(ECOMA47-NLM53) resist dissolves in 0.26 N developer at about the same rate as authentically prepared poly(methacrylic acid47-NLM53), the dissolution rate of highly-exposed P(MAdMA44-NLM56) resist is much slower, indicating that the deprotection fragment from the former does not interfere with the development but that from the latter does. When the NLM concentration is increased to 75 %, highly exposed P(ECOMA-NLM) resist dissolves slowly at ca. 600 A/sec and swells significantly, indicating that NLM can be a dissolution inhibitor and swelling enhancer when its concentration is high. Low activation energy protecting groups such as ethylcyclooctyl allows imaging at temperatures as low as 60 °C. However, the temperature dependence of the dose to clear is very large and the chemical contrast is quite small in the low temperature range. Thus, for PEB temperature stability and contrast enhancement, baking 20-30 °C above the lowest practical temperature is recommended.
VULCAN: A Tool for Automatically Generating Code from Design Patterns

This paper presents a prototype tool called VULCAN that aims to assist with the creation of high quality code through the use of design patterns. This tool comes in the form of a plug-in for the popular Eclipse software development environment. VULCAN facilitates high quality code creation through the automatic generation of design pattern code templates, customized with user input, and integrated into pre-existing projects. This paper also provides a description of the tool VULCAN and its implementation. By automating the design pattern generation process through the application of a practical and easily usable tool, the adoption of a model-driven engineering approach using design patterns can be substantially mitigated, resulting in improved system quality.
Structure of cell coats during initial stages of synapse formation on isolated cultured sympathetic neurons

The mordant tannic acid was applied after routine aldehyde and osmium fixation in order to study the ultrastructure of membrane coat material during synaptogenesis in combination cultures of superior cervical ganglion neurons and spinal cord explants. All contact between cultured neurons was mediated by coat material; apposition of outer membrane leaflets never occurred. In most areas, the contact found between membrane coat material lacked special arrangement, but in areas of contact between spinal cord growth cones and sympathetic ganglion neurons, distinct patches of bilateral membrane specialization were seen. Here apposed coat material interdigitated across the intracellular gap, outer membrane leaflets were parallel and dense material was evident in the adjacent cytoplasm. These ‘differentiated’ contacts were seen both prior to and simultaneously with the appearance in the same area of other synaptic organelles; they did not appear to be precursors of synaptic active zones. Findings suggest that a mosaic of specificities in neuronal coat material may determine the site of ‘differentiated’ contacts and that these contacts may be relevant to the subsequent formation of a synaptic active zone.
Predictors of failure to complete treatment for latent tuberculosis infection

Summary Objective Low rates of completion of treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) limit its usefulness as a strategy for elimination of tuberculosis (TB) in the United States. This retrospective cohort study assessed predictors of completion of LTBI treatment among patients seen at an urban United States TB clinic in 1998. Methods A retrospective cohort study of acceptance and completion of LTBI treatment among patients first seen in a TB clinic in 1998 was performed. Results Of 2621 persons with a positive tuberculosis skin test (TST), 1723 were offered treatment and 1572 (91.2%) accepted. Of the 1572 who accepted, treatment was completed by 607 (38.6%). Of those persons who failed to complete treatment, 517/965 (54%) dropped out before the end of the first month of the course. Among 1375 persons under 35years of age who initiated LTBI treatment, failure to complete was associated with birth in Haiti (OR=2.17, CI 95% 1.49–3.17) or the Dominican Republic (OR=1.93, CI 95% 1.08–3.43). Conclusion These results suggest that country-specific cultural and behavioral factors may contribute to failure to complete LTBI treatment, and that interventions to increase completion should focus on the first month after initiation.
Left-sided ulcerative colitis

Left-sided ulcerative colitis is not a distinct entity, but a less extensive form of pancolitis. The epidemiologic and genetic characteristics are thought to be analogous. The rate of colorectal cancer, however, seems to be proportional to the extent of disease. Primary treatment for left-sided disease is topical 5-aminosalicyclic acid (5ASA) agents. In patients who do not respond to topical therapy, oral 5ASA agents of differing delivery methods to the distal bowel can be used. There is much debate pertaining to the clinical superiority of the oral 5ASA agents.
A-PEX: A Case-Based Integrated Physical Diagnosis/Anatomy Program for First Year Medical Students

To better prepare first year students to apply physical examination in clinical clerkships we created A-PEX, a case-based program integrated into both their physical diagnosis and anatomy courses. In these two different but mutually reinforcing contexts students applied physical examination to differential diagnosis and simulated procedures to solve clinical problems.
Catalytic cycle of ATP hydrolysis by P-glycoprotein: evidence for formation of the E.S reaction intermediate with ATP-gamma-S, a nonhydrolyzable analogue of ATP.

Structural and biochemical studies of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters suggest that an ATP-driven dimerization of the nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) is an important reaction intermediate of the transport cycle. Moreover, an asymmetric occlusion of ATP at one of the two ATP sites of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) may follow the formation of the symmetric dimer. It has also been postulated that ADP drives the dissociation of the dimer. In this study, we show that the E·S conformation of Pgp (previously demonstrated in the E556Q/E1201Q mutant Pgp) can be obtained with the wild-type protein by use of the nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue ATP-γ-S. ATP-γ-S is occluded into the Pgp NBDs at 34 °C but not at 4 °C, whereas ATP is not occluded at either temperature. Using purified Pgp incorporated into proteoliposomes and ATP-γ-35S, we demonstrate that the occlusion of ATP-γ-35S has an Eact of 60 kJ/mol and the stoichiometry of ATP-γ-35S:Pgp is 1:1 (mol/mol). Additionally, in the conserved Walker B mutant (E556Q/E1201Q) ...
Trends in reported resident surgical experience in hysterectomy.

Abstract Study Objective To compare differences in trends in reported surgical experience of residents in obstetrics and gynecology in the United States insofar as abdominal, vaginal, and laparoscopic hysterectomy. Design Retrospective analysis of the national case log reports from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for obstetrics and gynecology cases logged as “surgeon” from 2002 to 2012 (Canadian Task Force classification III). Setting AGCME-accredited residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology. Participants Eleven thousand five hundred and eight graduating residents in obstetrics and gynecology (n = 11 508). Measurements and Main Results Since 2008, when the ACGME began reporting the 4-year cumulative hysterectomy case load statistics for graduating residents in obstetrics and gynecology, there has been no significant change in the mean (SD) number of hysterectomies performed by residents from 118.1 (38.0) cases in 2008–2009 to 116.1 (31.0) cases in 2011–2012 (p = .16; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.78 to 4.78). During the past decade, however, the total number of reported abdominal hysterectomies consistently decreased from 89.1 (34.2) cases in 2002–2003 to 59.1 (21.0) cases in 2011–2012 (28% decrease; p Conclusions Although the overall number of hysterectomies reported by residents has remained stable since 2008, the predominant modes of hysterectomy during the past decade have changed substantially, with laparoscopic hysterectomy comprising an increasingly large proportion of resident experience. As laparoscopic hysterectomy has become more common, reported cases of abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies have decreased. Additional statistics on the percentage of laparoscopic hysterectomies performed using robotic assistance would be valuable to additionally analyze the effect of this new technology on resident training.
Investigating Toll-Like Receptor Agonists for Potential To Treat Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key mediators of innate immunity, and their activation by microbial components leads to the production of cytokines and interferons. Recombinant alpha interferon has been used to treat several viral diseases and is the current standard of care for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Recently, agonists of TLR7 and TLR9 have been shown to have clinical efficacy in HCV patients, and this is correlated with their ability to induce endogenous type I interferon production. We have carried out a comprehensive study of agonists of TLRs 1 to 9 to determine if any additional TLRs can induce antiviral molecules from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The agonists were incubated with PBMCs, and the supernatant was then removed and added to HCV replicon cells to assess antiviral activity. Agonists of TLRs 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 were found to be potent inducers of antiviral activity in PBMC supernatants, and the activity correlated with the induction of alpha interferon and the interferon-induced antiviral biomarker 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthase. Antiviral activity of TLR7 and TLR8 agonists was blocked by an antibody that binds to the type I interferon receptor, confirming that the antiviral activity results from type I interferon induction. TLR4 and TLR8 agonists were found to strongly induce the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha at concentrations similar to those inducing antiviral activity. This raises concerns about adverse side effects if these were to be used as antiviral agents. We therefore conclude that TLRs 3, 7, and 9 represent the most attractive targets for the development of new HCV therapies.
In-situ multispectral and bathymetric measurements over a supraglacial lake in western Greenland using a remotely controlled watercraft

Abstract. Supraglacial lakes form from meltwater on the Greenland ice sheet in topographic depressions on the surface, affecting both surface and sub-glacial processes. As the reflectance in the visible and near-infrared regions of a column of water is modulated by its height, retrieval techniques using spaceborne remote sensing data (e.g. Landsat, MODIS) have been proposed in the literature for the detection of lakes and estimation of their volume. These techniques require basic assumptions on the spectral properties of the water as well as the bottom of the lake, among other things. In this study, we report results obtained from the analysis of concurrent in-situ multi-spectral and depth measurements collected over a supraglacial lake during early July 2010 in West Greenland (Lake Olivia, 69°36'35" N, 49°29'40" W) and aim to assess some of the underlying hypotheses in remote sensing based bathymetric approaches. In particular, we focus our attention on the analysis of the lake bottom albedo and of the water attenuation coefficient. The analysis of in-situ data (collected by means of a remotely controlled boat equipped with a GPS, a sonar and a spectrometer) highlights the exponential trend of the water-leaving reflectance with lake depth. The values of the attenuation factor obtained from in-situ data are compared with those computed using approaches proposed in the literature. Also, the values of the lake bottom albedo from in-situ measurements are compared with those obtained from the analysis of reflectance of shallow waters. Finally, we quantify the error between in-situ measured and satellite-estimated lake depth values for the lake under study.
SIR 2004 film panel case: Multicentric granular cell tumor with biliary, subcutaneous, and breast involvement.

A 36-year-old woman presents with jaundice. She has no history of surgery or other medical condition. Initial laboratory evaluation reveals elevated bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels. Physical examination revealed a breast mass as well as an anterior abdominal wall mass. The patient underwent computed tomography (CT) and, 2 days later, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Alzheimer’s Disease and Environmental Exposure to Lead: The Epidemiologic Evidence and Potential Role of Epigenetics

Several lines of evidence indicate that the etiology of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) is complex, with significant contributions from both genes and environmental factors. Recent research suggests the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in defining the relationship between environmental exposures and LOAD. In epidemiologic studies of adults, cumulative lifetime lead (Pb) exposure has been associated with accelerated declines in cognition. In addition, research in animal models suggests a causal association between Pb exposure during early life, epigenetics, and LOAD. There are multiple challenges to human epidemiologic research evaluating the relationship between epigenetics, LOAD, and Pb exposure. Epidemiologic studies are not well-suited to accommodate the long latency period between exposures during early life and onset of Alzheimer’s disease. There is also a lack of validated circulating epigenetics biomarkers and retrospective biomarkers of Pb exposure. Members of our research group have shown bone Pb is an accurate measurement of historical Pb exposure in adults, offering an avenue for future epidemiologic studies. However, this would not address the risk of LOAD attributable to early-life Pb exposures. Future studies that use a cohort design to measure both Pb exposure and validated epigenetic biomarkers of LOAD will be useful to clarify this important relationship.
Patterns of Inhibition to the Unfamiliar in Children of Normal and Affectively Ill Mothers

Patterns of 2-3 1/2-year-old children's inhibition and their well and depressed mothers' behaviors in nonsocial and social unfamiliar situations were examined in 88 dyads. Type of unfamiliarity was associated with 2 forms of children's inhibition. 4 more specific patterns were identified: in the nonsocial situation, Inhibition to New Environment with Proximity to Mother; in the social situation, Retreat to Mother, Passivity/Withdrawal from a Stranger, and Wary/Timid Response. The unipolar depressed mothers, particularly those who were recently symptomatic and had a history of the most serious illness, had children who were most inhibited. Serious affective impairment was also associated with the least maternal facilitation of the children's approach to the unfamiliar. Boys were more inhibited to a new environment and girls were more inhibited to a new person. Relations between child inhibition and maternal behaviors suggested that for toddlers and their mothers, encounters with the unfamiliar are interactive events.
Mechanical Responses and Viscoelastic Properties of Asphalt Mixtures Under Heavy Static and Dynamic Aircraft Loads

The introduction of larger aircraft on flexible airfield pavements has led to a need for asphalt mixtures capable of sustaining such heavy loads. This laboratory and analytical study investigated the mechanical responses of a number of modified asphalt mixtures to identify their potential for use in airfield aprons and taxiways that were subjected to heavy, static, or slow-moving aircraft loads. The airfield flexible pavement section constructed at the FAA's National Airport Pavement Test Facility Construction Cycle 1 was modeled by using the three-dimensional finite element analysis software ABAQUS. Laboratory-compacted specimens of each modified asphalt mixture were tested by using AASHTO standards to determine volumetric properties and mechanical responses. The effects of static and dynamic aircraft loading were evaluated in ABAQUS with the material properties of the mixtures determined in the laboratory. On the basis of the findings of this study, it appears that several mixtures more commonly used in...
Landscape evolution within a retreating volcanic arc, Costa Rica, Central America

Subduction of hotspot-thickened seafloor profoundly affects convergent margin tectonics, strongly affecting upper plate structure, volcanism, and landscape evolution. In southern Central America, low-angle subduction of the Cocos Ridge and seamount domain largely controls landscape evolution in the volcanic arc. Field mapping, stratigraphic correlation, and 4 0 Ar/ 3 9 Ar geochronology for late Cenozoic volcanic rocks of central Costa Rica provide new insights into the geomorphic response of volcanic arc landscapes to changes in subduction parameters (slab thickness, roughness, dip). Late Neogene volcanism was focused primarily along the now-extinct Cordillera de Aguacate. Quaternary migration of the magmatic front shifted volcanism northeastward to the Caribbean slope, creating a new topographic divide and forming the Valle Central basin. Stream capture across the paleo-Aguacate divide led to drainage reversal toward the Pacific slope and deep incision of reorganized fluvial networks. Pleistocene caldera activity generated silicic ash flows that buried the Valle Central and descended the Tarcoles gorge to the Orotina debris fan at the coast. Growth of the modern Cordillera Central accentuated relief along the new divide, establishing the Valle Central as a Pacific slope drainage basin. Arc migration, relocation of the Pacific-Caribbean drainage divide, and formation of the Valle Central basin resulted from slab shallowing as irregular, hotspot-thickened crust entered the subduction zone. The geomorphic evolution of volcanic arc landscapes is thus highly sensitive to changes in subducting plate character.
Entropy of a convecting water‐air system and the interpretation of cloud morphogenesis

Cloud-top entrainment in the stratocumulus-to-cumulus transition can be viewed as an entropy-decreasing, self-organizing process. an expression is derived for the entropy of a two-phase convecting water-air system which locates the entropy deficit in the region of the convection itself, generalizing a similar formulation of Dutton's for the one-component case. This expression is applied to a buoyancy-reversal model that simulates entrainment through convection driven by evaporative cooling. the overall entropy budget suggests that the evaporation/precipitation cycle is an essential ingredient of the stratocumulus-to-cumulus transition, underlying the difference between the behaviour of this system and that of the buoyancy-reversal system. the cumulus cloud system is thus rendered as a dissipative structure. the class of dynamical mechanisms that can explain the stratocumulus-to-cumulus transition, together with the associated high entrainment rates, is restricted to those which depend on the water cycle. the relocalized entropy expression, in conjunction with the second law of thermodynamics, implies an upper bound on the possible extent of change in cloud form for given flux of water substance through the evaporation/precipitation cycle over the history of cloud morphogenesis.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met genotype in healthy and personality disorder individuals: Preliminary results from an examination of cognitive tests hypothetically differentially sensitive to dopamine functions.

A functional polymorphism of the gene coding for Catechol-O-methyltrasferase (COMT), an enzyme responsible for the degradation of the catecholamine dopamine (DA), epinephrine, and norepinephrine, is associated with cognitive defi cits. However, previous studies have not examined the effects of COMT on context processing, as measured by the AX-CPT, a task hypothesized to be maximally relevant to DA function. 32 individuals who were either healthy, with schizotypal personality disorder, or non-cluster A, personality disorder (OPD) were genotyped at the COMT Val158Met locus. Met/Met (n = 6), Val/Met (n = 10), Val/Val (n = 16) individuals were administered a neuropsychological battery, including the AX-CPT and the N-back working memory test. For the AX-CPT, Met/Met demonstrated more AY errors (refl ecting good maintenance of context) than the other genotypes, who showed equivalent error rates. Val/Val demonstrated disproportionately greater deterioration with increased task diffi culty from 0-back to 1-back working memory demands as compared to Met/Met, while Val/Met did not differ from either genotypes. No differences were found on processing speed or verbal working memory. Both context processing and working memory appear related to COMT genotype and the AX-CPT and N-back may be most sensitive to the effects of COMT variation.
Adaptation to novel accents by toddlers.

Word recognition is a balancing act: listeners must be sensitive to phonetic detail to avoid confusing similar words, yet, at the same time, be flexible enough to adapt to phonetically variable pronunciations, such as those produced by speakers of different dialects or by non-native speakers. Recent work has demonstrated that young toddlers are sensitive to phonetic detail during word recognition; pronunciations that deviate from the typical phonological form lead to a disruption of processing. However, it is not known whether young word learners show the flexibility that is characteristic of adult word recognition. The present study explores whether toddlers can adapt to artificial accents in which there is a vowel category shift with respect to the native language. Nineteen-month-olds heard mispronunciations of familiar words (e.g. vowels were shifted from [a] to [ae]: ‘dog’ pronounced as ‘dag’). In test, toddlers were tolerant of mispronunciations if they had recently been exposed to the same vowel shift, but not if they had been exposed to standard pronunciations or other vowel shifts. The effects extended beyond particular items heard in exposure to words sharing the same vowels. These results indicate that, like adults, toddlers show flexibility in their interpretation of phonological detail. Moreover, they suggest that effects of top-down knowledge on the reinterpretation of phonological detail generalize across the phono-lexical system.
The Effect of Cultural Distance on Overseas Travel Behaviors

The impact of national cultural differences on overseas travel behavior was the focus of this study. Drawing from a sample composed of 302 U.S. residents traveling abroad for the first time for leisure related purposes, this study tested two competing propositions that not only took into account the cultural orientation of the visitor’s home country but also that of the host culture. Though cultural distance as measured proved only moderately effective in explaining behavior, the research put forth several tenets and measurement strategies that are arguably more reflective as to what consumers take into account when planning international trips. Implications for future research are discussed.
The arabidopsis 14-3-3 family of signaling regulators.

The 14-3-3 family of proteins has received much attention in the literature during the last 10 years. The current interest is not surprising given the number of diverse organisms in which 14-3-3s have been identified and the important role that they play in signal transduction. Moore and Perez
Ten caveats in keratorefractive surgery.

Abstract Topographic shifts in the cornea are associated with refractive changes as follows: (1) The normal cornea flattens over any incision. (2) Radial incisions flatten the adjacent cornea and the cornea 90° away. (3) The cornea flattening effect increases as incisions approach the visual axis. (4) The cornea flattens directly over any sutured incision. (5) The cornea flattens adjacent to loose sutures and flattens 180° away, and steepens 90° away. (6) The cornea steepens adjacent to tight sutures and steepens 180° away, and flattens 90° away. (7) The cornea flattens over wedge resection or tucks. (8) The cornea steepens anterior to wedge resections or tucks. (9) Tissue removal produces corneal flattening over the site of tissue removal, whether traumatic or surgically induced. (10) Full-thickness corneal tissue addition produces corneal steepening over the site of the tissue addition and flattens the adjacent cornea.
The evolution of decision-making under risk: Framing effects in monkey risk preferences

Abstract When making choices between risky options, human decision-makers exhibit a number of framing effects. One of the most prominent framing effects is the tendency for decision makers to evaluate gambles relative to a reference point, and to act risk-seeking when prospects are framed as losses but risk-averse when identical prospects are framed as gains. This tendency for risk-preferences to reverse between loss and gain frames has been termed the reflection effect, and is one of the primary predictions of Prospect Theory. Here, we explore whether non-human primates exhibit a similar reflection effect. Using a token-trading task, we show that capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) exhibit an analogous reversal of risk preferences depending on whether outcomes are presented as gains or losses, suggesting that similar framing effects also influence choice in non-human primates. This finding suggests that the mechanisms that drive framing effects in humans may be evolutionarily ancient, extending broadly across the primate order.
The Nature and Characterization of Nanoparticles

Nanosize particles are of fundamental and practical interest for developing advanced materials and devices and micro and nanostructures. As feature sizes shrink, nanoparticle contamination is also becoming increasingly important to achieve and maintain high product yields. In order to employ appropriate material and product development strategies, or institute preventive assembly and remediation strategies to control nanoparticle contamination, it is essential to understand the nature of nanoparticles and to characterize these particles. Particles in the size range 0.1 nm to 100 nm present unique challenges and opportunities for their imaging and characterization. Critical information for this purpose is the number and size of the particles, their morphology, and their physical and chemical structure. Because of this importance, many advances and new developments have been made in qualitative and quantitative characterization techniques for particles in this size range, including neutron holography, three dimensional atom probe imaging, ultrafast microscopy and crystallography, magnetic resonance force microscopy, and high-resolution x-ray crystallography of non-crystalline structures. It is now possible to completely characterize nanoparticles from 0.1 nm to 100 nm size. A brief review of the nature of nanoparticles is presented and recent developments in selected characterization techniques are described.
Methodological Considerations in Measuring Paternal Identity

This study discusses methodological considerations in assessing paternal identity with scale versus pie chart measures as they relate to paternal involvement. Additionally, it compares data on paternal identity and behavior at the role level (father) versus the domain level (more specific aspects of fathering, such as caregiving). Results indicate that pie chart and scale measures of identity both are positively correlated with measures of involvement. Further, domain-level measures of identity are more frequently correlated with measures of involvement than role-level measures of identity are. Findings suggest that domain-level pie chart measures of identity may be a viable alternative to scale measures of identity.
Heterozygote Detection Using Automated Fluorescence‐Based Sequencing

Point mutations are the most common type of polymorphism. These mutations can occur in one allele, while the other allele retains the normal sequence; detecting such sequence variants in a heterozygous individual's DNA, carrying both the normal allele and the mutant allele, can be difficult. In this unit, a strategy is presented for detecting such sequence variation using automated fluorescence-based sequencing traces, and analysis with software tools that assist with the identification of sequence variation. A protocol is given that has been used to identify heterozygote mutations in TSC1 and TSC2, the causative genes for the autosomal dominant disorder tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), as well as for a number of other inherited disorders in humans. Common genetic diseases like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are caused by autosomal dominant mutations in a subset of sarcomere proteins. An alternate protocol describes an approach for large-scale sequencing adapted for serial screening for HCM mutations.
L∞-Norm path flow estimator for handling traffic count inconsistencies: Formulation and solution algorithm

Path flow estimator PFE is a single-level network observer proposed to estimate path flows and origin-destination flows from traffic counts in a transportation network. The PFE model handles the traffic count inconsistency problem by allowing user to specify appropriate error bounds or confidence interval on the traffic counts. This approach, although flexible, introduces a systematic bias in underestimating the total demand when improper error bounds are specified. This paper presents an L-norm PFE model that minimizes the systematic bias of the total demand estimate encountered in the PFE model by determining the least maximum absolute error needed to accommodate measurement errors and traffic count inconsistencies within the estimation process. A solution algorithm based on the dual formulation combined with a column generation procedure is developed for solving the proposed L-norm PFE model. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the features and applicability of the proposed L-norm PFE model and solution algorithm.
Ocean Response to Surface Heat Anomalies.

An ocean general circulation model (OGCM) is used to study the response of ocean heat and mass transport to positive and negative heat flux anomalies at the ocean surface. As expected, tropical and low-latitude mixed layers respond rapidly (e-folding time about 50-70 years) to external forcing, while the response of the high-latitude mixed layer, especially the Southern Ocean and northern North Atlantic, is very slow (e-folding time greater than 300 yr). The overall response is faster for negative than positive heat flux anomaly at the surface. The meridional heat transport changes by 15% in the first 50 yr in the southern high latitudes. Surprisingly, for the next 400-500 yr the change is very small. The analysis shows that the meridional mass transport intensifies in response to a negative surface heat flux anomaly but weakens in response to a positive heat flux anomaly. For example, at model year 100 the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) is reduced from about 18 Sv to about 10 Sv for the positive heat flux experiment but increased to about 26 Sv for the negative heat flux experiment.
Note Taking on Trial: A Legal Application of Note-Taking Research

This article is about note taking, but it is not an exhaustive review of note-taking literature. Instead, it portrays the application of note-taking research to an unusual and important area of practice—the law. I was hired to serve as an expert witness on note taking in a legal case that hinged, in part, on the completeness and accuracy of handwritten meeting notes. Based on my own research and that of others, I rendered three opinions about handwritten notes: (a) They omit most of what is said, (b) they omit details, context, and essential qualifiers, and (c) they contain inaccuracies or vague statements. This article tells the story of how I came to investigate note taking, become an expert witness, and render those three opinions. It concludes with a call to investigate note taking in non-academic settings such as meetings and to uncover ways to boost and improve note-taking methods.
Targeting Structural Change for HIV Prevention A Process and Tool for Community Application

To address the persistent HIV epidemic in the United States, prevention efforts are focusing on social determinants related to HIV risk by targeting systems and structures, such as organizational and institutional policies, practices and programs, and legislative and regulatory approaches to modify features of the environment that influence HIV risk. With limited evidenced-based examples, communities can benefit from strategic planning resources that help them consider developing structural-level changes that target root causes of HIV risk. In this article, we present the Connect to Protect® project that outlines a process and a tool to move from general ideas to specific structural changes. Examples from 14 coalitions are also provided. Using the process and tools presented here can provide a launching pad for other coalitions seeking to build an HIV prevention agenda and for practitioners seeking to incorporate structural changes for community health promotion.
Application And Development of ALERT Protocol in Hydrological Forecasting System

The characteristics and related industry application of ALERT protocol are introduced. The limitations of ALERT protocol and the update state of ALERT-2 protocol are discussed, the improved ALERT-2 is proposed, and the application prospect of the protocol is put forward.
Complications of the Miami Pouch

AbstractThe Miami pouch, a continent colonic urinary reservoir, was constructed in 75 patients after cystectomy for invasive bladder tumor (44), gynecological tumor (25), neurogenic bladder (4) and conversion of an ileal conduit (2). Continence was achieved by tapering the distal ileum over a 14F catheter and reinforcing the ileocecal valve with 3 circumferential silk sutures in a pursestring fashion. Ureterocolonic anastomosis was performed in a nontunneled fashion. There were 5 perioperative deaths. One or more early (perioperative) complications occurred in 19 patients (26%). Late complications (beyond 6 weeks) were found in 16 patients (23%). Total continence rate was 98.6% and the success rate of the ureterocolonic anastomosis was 90%. Followup was 7 to 69 months. We present a review of the technical aspects of the construction of the Miami pouch, and the early and late complications associated with this procedure.
Nutritional support for the patient with renal failure.

Renal failure presents patients and caregivers alike with numerous dilemmas in nutritional management. Too much protein, phosphate, or electrolytes, and the patient's renal failure becomes more symptomatic; too little of these nutrients and the patient is at great risk of developing fluid and electrolyte imbalances and of becoming protein-calorie malnourished. Dietary manipulation and often vigorous nutritional intervention (i.e., parenteral nutrition) are a must for these patients' survival. The nurse needs to understand the rationales behind nutritional care choices made by the physician and dietitian, and to be able to convey these rationales to the patient. The nurse also needs to be aware that the patient will use food, eating, and diet as a focus for acting out anxiety, fear, hopelessness, and anger. The nurse should also realize that these emotions are due, in part, to the metabolic derangements induced by the renal disease itself.