cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of quantum spin Hall states in quasicrystals and crystals

We theoretically study the quantum spin Hall states in an Ammann-Beenker-type octagonal quasicrystal and a periodic snub-square crystal, both sharing the same basic building blocks. Although the bulk states show significant differences in localization and transport properties, the topological phases manifest similarly in the two systems. This indicates the robustness of the topological properties regardless of symmetry and periodicity. We characterize the topological nature of the two systems with a nonzero topological invariant (spin Bott index ${B}_{s}$ and ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ invariant), robust metallic edge states, and quantized conductance. In spite of some quantitative differences, the topological phase diagram of the two systems also exhibits similar behaviors, indicating that the topological phase transition is mainly determined by similar interactions in the two systems regardless of their structural difference. This is also reflected by the observation that the transition point between the normal insulator and the quantum spin Hall state in both systems follows a universal linear scaling relation for topological phase transitions.
In Vivo Measurement of the Human Vitreous Chamber Volume Using Computed Tomography Imaging of 100 Eyes

Purpose To accurately measure the vitreous chamber volume (VCV) in humans using high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scanning techniques combined with three-dimensional analysis software. Potential relationships between age, axial length, and VCVs were also explored. Methods In this retrospective study, the eyes of 100 healthy individuals were studied. Scans were acquired during clinical care and did not show any signs of orbital pathology. Exclusion criteria included any ocular history. CT scans were acquired with a slice thickness of 0.7 mm, and volumetric analysis was carried out using the MIMICS image analysis software version 19.0 (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). Results The final sample included 100 eyes from 50 patients (30 women, 20 men). The mean age was 48.67 ± 20.72 years, and the age range was 18 to 91 years. The mean VCV was 4.649.99 ± 0.426.54 mm3 for women and 4.969.0 ± 0.465.20 mm3 for men. We found a significant correlation between age and VCV (P < 0.001), axial length and VCV (P < 0.001), and age and axial length (P < 0.005). Conclusions The VCV appears to be greater than the current consensus suggests. This work also suggests that the VCV is associated with age and axial length, indicating that it is dynamic and may change throughout adulthood. Translational Relevance This information regarding the volume of the vitreous chamber is useful for our understanding of proper dosage and behavior of agents we commonly insert into the vitreous chamber.
Conflict Resolution Interventions and Tertiary Violence Prevention Among Urban Nonintimate Adults: A Review of the Literature:

Several hundred U.S. conflict resolution and restorative justice programs are addressing community violence using neutral facilitation to help people in conflict, or those who have experienced a crime, to talk things out face-to-face and come up with self-determined solutions. Very little quantitative intervention research has been conducted on the capacity of these programs to reduce violence, violent crime, and criminal recidivism. The scientific literature pertaining to the association of conflict resolution interventions with violence prevention are identified, screened, and sorted. Study design, sampling, measurement, and analyses are assessed using objective standards. Individual criminal recidivism outcomes and neighborhood gun violence rates are charted. In the 10 included studies, disparate conflict resolution and restorative justice interventions each appears to be related to modest reductions in individual criminal recidivism for participants, when compared with standard criminal justice system treatment. Conflict interruption interventions show a decrease in neighborhood gun violence in most districts. Future studies of conflict resolution and violence should mitigate selection bias, control for possibly confounding factors, operationalize all intervention components, select the correct units of analyses, and link "what works" outcome data to "how it works" intervention data. Four key gaps include measuring self-reported violence, including victimization, studying adults, and examining "upstream" interventions.
Required Minimum Distributions

Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are an important part of individual requirement accounts and defined-contribution retirement plans including 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans. Such plans are in...
Conceptualizing the Rural Nonfarm Sector: A Critique and Reconstruction

This chapter aims to discuss the gaps in the existing literature and provide an alternative framework for understanding the issues related to the development of the rural nonfarm sector (RNFS). The chapter is divided into three main sections following the introduction and ends with a conclusion. Section 2 points out several gaps in the literature reviewed in the last chapter. Section 3 provides the elements of a basic conceptual framework for this research. The alternative framework examines the nature of capitalist class relations outside the agricultural sector but within rural spaces. The last section summarizes the main aspects dealt with in this chapter.
Abstract IA34: Distinct heterogeneous subtypes of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, associated with African Ancestry

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are molecularly heterogeneous, and the link between their aggressiveness with African ancestry is not established. We investigated primary TNBCs for gene expression among self-reported race (SRR) groups of African American and European American women. RNA sequencing data was analyzed to measure changes in genome-wide expression, and we utilized logistic regressions to identify ancestry-associated gene expression signatures. Using SNVs identified from our RNA sequencing data, global ancestry was estimated. We identified 156 African ancestry-associated genes and found that, compared to SRR, quantitative genetic analysis was a more robust method to identify racial/ethnic-specific genes that were differentially expressed. A subset of African ancestry-specific genes that were upregulated in TNBCs of our AA patients were validated in TCGA data. In AA patients, there was a higher incidence of basal-like 2 tumors and altered TP53, NFB1, and AKT pathways. The distinct distribution of TNBC subtypes and altered oncologic pathways show that the ethnic variations in TNBCs are driven by shared genetic ancestry. Thus, to appreciate the molecular diversity of TNBCs, tumors from patients of various ancestral origins should be evaluated. We created a novel tool to determine the heterogenic status of TNBC, which accounts for proportional differences multiple cell 9subtypes9. Citation Format: Melissa B. Davis, Rachel Martini, Lisa A. Newman, Olivier Elemento, Jason White, Akanksha Verma, Indrani Datta, Indra Adrianto, Yalei Chen, Kevin Gardner, Hyung-Gyoon Kim, Windy D. Coleman, Isam-Eldin Eltoum, Andra Frost, William Grizzle, Andrea Sboner, Upender Manne, Clayton Yates. Distinct heterogeneous subtypes of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, associated with African Ancestry [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr IA34.
Socioeconomic and Geographic Disparities in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Objective To identify relationships between idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and socioeconomic determinants of health, such as low-income status and proximity to healthy food. Methods This retrospective case–control study of adult female neuro-ophthalmology patients from one institution identified 223 women with and 4,783 women without IIH. Street addresses were geocoded and merged with US census data to obtain census tract–level information on income and food access. Choropleth maps visualized IIH clusters within certain neighborhoods. Logistic regression compared the proportion of patients with IIH from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, low-income census tracts, and food deserts and swamps to controls without IIH. Results In our cohort, when adjusted for age, women with IIH were more likely to be Black (odds ratio [OR] 3.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.98–5.25), Hispanic (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.14–4.36), and live in low-income tracts (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.71–2.95) or food swamps (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.15–2.07). Patients with IIH were less likely to live in food deserts than controls (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.45–0.83). The association between Black race and IIH remained significant even after adjusting for other variables. Conclusion IIH is more common among Black and Hispanic women than expected even when accounting for the demographics of a metropolitan city. Some of this relationship is driven by the association of obesity and IIH incidence with low income and proximity to unhealthy foods.
Component-based fragility analysis of transmission towers subjected to hurricane wind load

Abstract The fragility model of transmission towers is one of the key elements for the hurricane risk and resilience assessment of regional power utility infrastructure. The current methods for fragility curve assessment of transmission towers rely on either static analysis or dynamic analysis with simplified demand parameters and limit state functions. The details of tower connections, such as joint eccentricities, rotational stiffness and slippage are often overlooked in fragility analyses due to the associated complexity of modeling and large computational effort. The purpose of this study is to model the realistic performance of transmission towers under hurricanes and develop a fragility curve estimation framework balancing between accuracy and efficiency. The correlated multivariate wind load time histories on the tower are simulated, and the load transferred from the cables to the cross-arms of the tower are generated using an effective analytical model. Two types of three dimensional finite element models of transmission towers are developed in the OpenSees platform. One is a complex model with all the joint details, which requires a very large computational effort to conduct nonlinear dynamic analyses, and the other one is a simple model without all the joint details, which is more computationally efficient. A small-scale dynamic probabilistic simulation with the two models is conducted, and a method to replace the complex model with the simple model is developed and validated. Using a high-performance computing cluster, medium-scale nonlinear dynamic time history analyses are carried out to obtain the demands of individual structural members and their correlation. Component-level failures are obtained via large-scale numerical simulations and are linked to global collapse of the tower through element removal and progressive collapse analyses. A case study of two transmission towers under hurricane is carried out. The results indicate that, compared to a traditional tip displacement method, the proposed component-based method with detail driven finite element model and large-scale simulations leads to a more accurate assessment of the transmission tower fragility curve.
Axiogenesis from SU(2)R phase transition

The baryon asymmetry of the universe may be explained by rotations of the QCD axion in field space and baryon number violating processes. We consider the minimal extension of the Standard Model by a non-Abelian gauge interaction, SU(2)R, whose sphaleron process violates baryon number. Assuming that axion dark matter is also created from the axion rotation by the kinetic misalignment mechanism, the mass scale of the SU(2)R gauge boson is fixed as a function of the QCD axion decay constant, and vise versa. Significant portion of the parameter space has already been excluded by new gauge boson searches, and the high-luminocity LHC will further probe the viable parameter space.
The Relationship between Real-Time EEG Engagement, Distraction and Workload Estimates and Simulator-Based Driving Performance

Identifying potentially impaired drivers is often dependent upon using cognitive testing from a controlled environment (clinic, laboratory) to predict behavior in a dynamic and unpredictable real world driving environment. The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility, and validity, of using a wireless EEG system to ultimately differentiate between impaired and unimpaired drivers. The authors utilized the B-Alert X10 portable wireless EEG/ECG system and applied previously validated EEG algorithms estimating engagement, workload, and distraction within a sample of normal control (n = 10) and HIV seropositive individuals (n = 14). Participants underwent a 30-minute fully interactive driving simulation. Overall, the HIV+ group evidenced significantly higher distraction during the simulation. When grouped according to poor and good performers on the simulation (regardless of HIV serostatus), those performing worse on the simulation had higher distraction, with a trend for lower workload, levels. The authors then examined EEG profiles immediately preceding a crash. Prior to a crash, participants evidenced a significant increase in distraction ~ 10-14 seconds leading up to the crash; the greatest increase was seen in the HIV+ group. These preliminary data support the potential utility of using EEG data in patient populations to identify individuals who might be at risk for impaired driving.
Abnormal Child and Adolescent Psychology

Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 The Developmental Psychopathology Perspective Chapter 3 Influences and Risks in the Developmental Process Chapter 4 Research: Its Role and Methods Chapter 5 Classification, Assessment, and Treatment Chapter 6 Anxiety Disorders Chapter 7 Mood Disorders Chapter 8 Conduct Problems Chapter 9 Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Chapter 10 Language and Learning Disorders Chapter 11 Mental Retardation Chapter 12 Autism and Schizophrenia Chapter 13 Disorders of Basic Physical Functions Chapter 14 Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Condition Chapter 15 Evolving Concerns for Youth
A companion to Socrates

A companion to Socrates , A companion to Socrates , کتابخانه دیجیتال و فن آوری اطلاعات دانشگاه امام صادق(ع)
Ethical work climate as a factor in the development of person-organization fit

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between the ethical climate of the organization and the development of person-organization fit. The relationship between an individual's stage of moral development and his/her perceived ethical work environment was examined using a sample of 86 working students. Results indicate that a match between individual preferences and present position proved most satisfying. Subjects expressing a match between their preferences for an ethical work climate and their present ethical work climate indicated that they were less likely to leave their positions.
Modeling two-player games in the sigma graphical cognitive architecture

Effective social interaction and, in particular, a Theory of Mind are critical components of human intelligence, allowing us to form beliefs about other people, generate expectations about their behavior, and use those expectations to inform our own decision-making. This article presents an investigation into methods for realizing Theory of Mind within Sigma, a graphical cognitive architecture. By extending the architecture to capture independent decisions and problem-solving for multiple agents, we implemented Sigma models of several canonical examples from game theory. We show that the resulting Sigma agents can capture the same behaviors prescribed by equilibrium solutions.
Spontaneous Amplification of the Adh4 Gene in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Five spontaneous amplifications of the ADH4 gene were identified among 1,894 antimycin A-resistant mutants isolated from a diploid strain after growth at 15 degrees. Four of these amplifications are approximately 40-kb linear extrachromosomal palindromes carrying telomere homologous sequences at each end similar to a previously isolated amplification. ADH4 is located at the extreme left end of chromosome VII, and the extrachromosomal fragments appear to be the fusion of two copies of the end of this chromosome. The fifth amplification is a chromosomal amplification carrying an extra copy of ADH4 on both homologs of chromosome VII. These results suggest that the ADH system can be used to study amplification in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Nutrition in the ICU: An Evidence-Based Approach

Providing artificial nutrition is an important part of caring for critically ill patients. However, because of a paucity of robust data, the practice has been highly variable and often based more on dogma than evidence. A number of studies have been published investigating many different aspects of critical care nutrition. Although the influx of data has better informed the practice, the results have often been conflicting or counter to prevailing thought, resulting in discordant opinions and different interpretations by experts in the field. In this article, we review and summarize the data from a number of the published studies, including studies investigating enteral vs parenteral nutrition, supplementing enteral with parenteral nutrition, and use of immunonutrition. In addition, published studies informing the practice of how best to provide enteral nutrition will be reviewed, including the use of trophic feedings, gastric residual volumes, and gastric vs postpyloric tube placement.
Assessment and modification of delusional speech in an 11-year-old child: A comparative analysis of behavior therapy and stimulant drug effects

Abstract A reversal design was utilized in which differential vs non-differential adult attention was made contingent upon the delusional speech of an 11-yr-old boy. Within this design, effects of verbalizing the contingency and the use of a pharmacological treatment were also studied. The results indicated that differential adult attention only to appropriate task related statements increased such statements while decreasing delusional speech, whereas non-differential attention to any type of statement resulted in a predominance of delusional speech. A trial of methylphenidate showed no difference relative to non-differential attention. Additionally, the results suggest that verbalizing the differential attention contingency may be an effective tactic for rapid behavior change. The results are discussed in relation to the necessity for comparing possible courses of treatment as a strategy for insuring effective treatment.
Exogenous cueing and visual latency: attention, response bias or sensory facilitation?

Titchener (1908) developed his Law of Prior Entry, that attended stimuli enter consciousness more rapidly that unattended stimuli, based on multimodal experiments which seemed to show that stimuli presented to an attended modality were perceived prior to simultaneous stimuli presented to an unattended modality. More recently, Hikosaka, Miyauchi et al. (1993) and Stelmach & Herdman (1991) have shown that, within the visual modality, exogenous visual cues bias temporal order judgments in favor of the cued target, such that the cued target must be delayed relative to the uncued target in order for participants to be maximally uncertain about the order of the two targets. Jaskowski (1993) showed that the existence of the effect for endogenous cueing depends on the response options, and in any case, both Stelmach & Herdman (1991) and Shore, Spence et al. (2001) agree that the effect of endogenous cueing is smaller than for exogenous cueing. Frey (1990) and Shore, Spence et al. (2001) have shown that instructions can affect the size of the attentional effect on order judgments. From this literature it is clear that temporal order judgments can be affected by nonattentional factors. The reduction or elimination of the effect with the endogenous cues suggests that the exogenous cues may have effects on order judgments beyond simple attentional effects.
Developmental changes of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its receptor in the rat brain

The developmental changes of PACAP and its receptor in the rat brain were investigated. The levels of PACAP and its receptor in the brain were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and radioreceptor assay, respectively. The [125I]PACAP27 binding to the whole brain membrane preparations from embryonic day (E)18 rats was specific, rapid, and temperature dependent. Scatchard plot analysis revealed only a single class of receptor with Kd for PACAP27 = 1.015 +/- 0.049 nM, Kd for PACAP38 = 0.105 +/- 0.003 nM, and Bmax for both ligands = 8.64 +/- 1.29 pmol/mg protein. The Kd for PACAP38 was significantly lower than that for PACAP27. The binding site for PACAP was detected as early as E14. The Bmax for PACAP gradually increased throughout development to reach a plateau between 1 and 4 months old (MO). The content of PACAP38 in the whole brain was detected by RIA as early as E14. The concentration of PACAP38 in the whole brain, hippocampus, neocortex, and cerebellum gradually increased throughout the pre- and postnatal periods to reach a peak at 1 MO and then tended to decrease between 1 and 4 MO. On the other hand, PACAP38 concentration in the diencephalon rapidly increased between E18 and the birth (P0), and then increased more slowly throughout the postnatal period to reach a peak at 1 MO. In view of a neurotrophic activity of PACAP, these findings may support the notion that PACAP plays a regulatory role in neuronal growth and development.
Evolution of Lead Free Solder Material Behavior During Isothermal Aging

Solder materials demonstrate evolving microstructure and mechanical behavior that changes significantly with environmental exposures such as isothermal aging and thermal cycling. These aging effects are greatly exacerbated at higher temperatures typical of thermal cycling qualification tests for harsh environment electronic packaging. In the current study, mechanical measurements of thermal aging effects and material behavior evolution of lead free solders have been performed. Extreme care has been taken so that the fabricated solder uniaxial test specimens accurately reflect the solder materials present in actual lead free solder joints. A novel specimen preparation procedure has been developed where the solder uniaxial test specimens are formed in high precision rectangular cross-section glass tubes using a vacuum suction process. The tubes are then sent through a SMT reflow to re-melt the solder in the tubes and subject them to any desired temperature profile (i.e. same as actual solder joints). Using specimens fabricated with the developed procedure, isothermal aging effects and viscoplastic material behavior evolution have been characterized for 95.5Sn4.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC405) and 96.5Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305) lead free solders, which are commonly used as the solder ball alloy in lead free BGAs and other components. Analogous tests were performed with 63Sn-37Pb eutectic solder samples for comparison purposes. In our total experimental program, samples have been solidified with both reflowed and water quenching temperature profiles, and isothermal aging has been performed at room temperature (25 °C) and elevated temperatures (100 °C, 125 °C and 150 °C). In this paper, we have concentrated on reporting the results of the room temperature aging experiments. Variations of the temperature dependent mechanical properties (elastic modulus, yield stress, ultimate strength, creep compliance, etc.) were observed and modeled as a function of room temperature aging time. Microstructural changes during. room temperature aging have also been recorded for the solder alloys and correlated with the observed mechanical behavior changes.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity associated with p105 of avian sarcoma virus PRCII

A protein kinase activity was found to be associated with the transformation-specific polyprotein (p105) of avian sarcoma virus PRCII. The kinase was detected in immune complexes with antisera reactive with the gag sequences of p105. Addition of [γ-32P]ATP to these complexes resulted in phosphorylation of p105 and, with some sera, phosphorylation of immunoglobulin heavy chain. Phosphoamino acid analysis showed that phosphotyrosine was the major product of the in vitro kinase reaction and the major phosphoamino acid of p105 extracted from 32P-labeled cells. The same tryptic peptides of p105 were found to be labeled by the in vitro kinase reaction and by 32P labeling of PRCII-transformed cells. These phosphopeptides were not found in Pr76gag Thus, like Rous sarcoma virus, PRCII has an associated tyrosine-specific protein kinase which may be responsible for its transforming activity.
Metabolic engineering of cyanobacteria for 1-butanol production from carbon dioxide.

Production of chemicals and fuels directly from CO2 is an attractive approach to solving the energy and environmental problems. 1-Butanol, a chemical feedstock and potential fuel, has been produced by fermentation of carbohydrates, both in native Clostridium species and various engineered hosts. To produce 1-butanol from CO2, we transferred a modified CoA-dependent 1-butanol production pathway into a cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. We demonstrated the activity of each enzyme in the pathway by chromosomal integration and expression of the genes. In particular, Treponema denticola trans-enoyl-CoA reductase (Ter), which utilizes NADH as the reducing power, was used for the reduction of crotonyl-CoA to butyryl-CoA instead of Clostridium acetobutylicum butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase to by-pass the need of Clostridial ferredoxins. Addition of polyhistidine-tag increased the overall activity of Ter and resulted in higher 1-butanol production. Removal of oxygen is an important factor in the synthesis of 1-butanol in this organism. This result represents the first autotrophic 1-butanol production.
Pyrophyllite and talc in waters off the southeastern United States

Abstract Talc and pyrophyllite have been detected as suspended particulate in the water off the southeastern coast of the United States. The presence is attributed to industrial usage of these minerals rather than to natural erosion of the land or transport by ocean currents from the Gulf of Mexico. Loss may occur during processing by industry or the presence may be an indicator of use of the end product.
Balancing Risks: The Core of Women's Decisions About Noninvasive Prenatal Testing

Background: Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) using cell-free fetal DNA is having a significant impact on the delivery of prenatal care. Our objective was to identify how pregnant women characterize the risks and benefits of this screening test and their preferences in order to guide an informed decision-making process about its use. Methods: We conducted focus groups with women who were either pregnant or recently postpartum who received outpatient prenatal care. A moderator guide was used to elicit participants’ perspectives on noninvasive prenatal testing. Results: Despite the low chance of a false positive result, this aspect of NIPT was a key determinant in participants’ decision making about the screening test. Participants discussed how many of the drawbacks and considerations associated with prenatal screening would remain intact regardless of the accuracy of a new approach to assess fetal health. Conclusions: NIPT affects how women think about risk not only in regard to prenatal genetic screeni...
The sunlit lunar surface

Directional infrared emission from the sunlit lunar surface is determined for the thermal meridian and as a function of observer elevation and azimuth angles at three Sun elevation angles. A study of selected mare sites at full Moon suggests that brightness temperatures are relatively insensitive to changes in certain surface parameters, such as the photometric function, emissivity, and thermophysical properties of the soil. The observed deviations from predictions for an ‘average’ surface can be accounted for by changes in surface roughness.
An Experimental Study of Monopolar and Bipolar Derivations in the Human Electroencephalogram.

ConclusionsIt has been shown that the important characteristic amplitude properties of the alpha component of the normal human EEG, in the usual monopolar and bipolar derivations primarily depend on the attenuating properties of the tissue through which the potential difference is transmitted. Moreover, noting the correspondence between waveforms seen in the normal EEG and those produced by an artificial occipital electric dipole in the cadaver, it is clear that the spread of an occipital electric disturbance is an excellent model for the production of the amplitude characteristics of the basic alpha component of the normal EEG.
A method for in-situ calibration of Aanderaa oxygen sensors on surface moorings

Abstract Oxygen-based mass balance estimates of net biological production can be calculated using accurate in-situ O 2 measurements. All presently available oxygen sensors drift if deployed for periods of months in the sun-lit surface ocean and must be calibrated to maintain accuracy. We have developed an in-situ calibration system in which Aanderaa optode oxygen sensors periodically determine the pO 2 of air. In the moored application described here, the optode is housed in a subsurface chamber on a surface mooring where it alternately measures the pO 2 of the water and air. During calibration intervals, atmospheric air is pumped into the optode housing, displacing the water. Subsequent oxygen measurements of the air inside the housing provide a measurement of the atmospheric pO 2 , which can then be compared to expected atmospheric pO 2 based on measured pressure and temperature. We present calibrations for one optode in both water (against Winkler titrations) and air (against atmospheric oxygen). The optode response in lab experiments was different in air than in water, measuring low and exhibiting temperature dependence (− 1% at 20 °C and − 2.3% at 3 °C). Initial field tests in a freshwater inlet confirmed this offset and showed a drift of − 0.5% over 3 months of deployments.
Sarcolemmal KATP channels : what do we really know?

Abstract K ATP channels are present at an extremely high density in the heart, and we know from in vitro studies that channel activation causes dramatic action potential shortening and contractile failure. But, if and when this happens in vivo is still a matter of debate. Twenty one years of intense study have led to a well-developed understanding of the molecular basis of K ATP channel activity. Structure-function studies, together with cellular experiments probing regulatory molecules have told us much about the way the K ATP channel can activate, and gene-targeting and proteomic tools have further elucidated determinants of in vivo function. However, the true physiological determinants of sarcolemmal K ATP activity remain elusive, we still await full illumination of the role of the channel in the intact heart.
Insulin pretreatment facilitates recovery after dorsal hippocampal lesions.

Abstract Adult male albino rats were treated with either insulin or saline injections for 4 days prior to either dorsal hippocampal ablation or sham operation. One week after surgery they were tested in one way active avoidance acquisition and rated for freezing behavior and struggling during handling. Pretreatment with insulin markedly reduced the deficit in avoidance acquisition and reduced the amount of freezing observed during the CS-US interval but did not affect the depressed struggling scores. These results demonstrate that insulin facilitation of functional recovery after brain damage is not restricted to certain brain areas but is specific to certain symptoms of the damage.
Identification and Characterization of OscR, a Transcriptional Regulator Involved in Osmolarity Adaptation in Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae is a facultative human pathogen. In its aquatic habitat and as it passes through the digestive tract, V. cholerae must cope with fluctuations in salinity. We analyzed the genome-wide transcriptional profile of V. cholerae grown at different NaCl concentrations and determined that the expression of compatible solute biosynthesis and transporter genes, virulence genes, and genes involved in adhesion and biofilm formation is differentially regulated. We determined that salinity modulates biofilm formation, and this response was mediated through the transcriptional regulators VpsR and VpsT. Additionally, a transcriptional regulator controlling an osmolarity adaptation response was identified. This regulator, OscR (osmolarity controlled regulator), was found to modulate the transcription of genes involved in biofilm matrix production and motility in a salinity-dependent manner. oscR mutants were less motile and exhibited enhanced biofilm formation only under low-salt conditions.
Financial Management of New York's Charter Schools: A Normative, Descriptive, and Prescriptive Analysis

Surprisingly little is know about the financial management practices of charter schools. The literature offer policymakers only anecdotal answers to the following important questions: Who manages charter school finances and what educational and previous employment experiences do they bring to their positions? What do audited financial statements reveal about the fiscal management practices of charter schools? What fiscal management training opportunities do the charter business officials and trustees receive and want? This article reports on a study that provides answers to these questions. Using multiple methods to analyze data from New York charter schools, this study shows, for example, that charter officials are variously prepared and desire more professional development in certain financial practices. The implications for policy and practice of these and other are discussed.
The case for a standard system of railroad electrification for the american railroads

FOR MANY YEARS electric-traction engineers have been aware of the advantages that would accrue with system standardization in the heavy electric-traction field, but for various reasons the recognition of a uniform contact system as a standard for mainline electrification is as yet a goal to be attained.
Travel health risk perceptions and prevention behaviors of US study abroad students.

Background The number of American study abroad students increased more than 150% in the past decade, along with growth in destinations with increased health risks. This study investigated travel health risk perceptions and prevention behaviors to guide interventions that address the emerging health needs of US study abroad students. Method A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 318 American study abroad students using a Web-based survey. Results The primary source of travel health information was youth-oriented travel guidebooks (85%). The grand mean risk perception score for 18 travel health threats was 1.7 on a 1 to 4 scale, with top-rated threats being contaminated food/water, psychological distress, personal assault, and excessive sun exposure. Predeparture advice was received from primary care providers (52%) and travel health specialists (18%). Additional prevention measures were vaccines (42%) and medication (24%). Of 114 students listing their travel vaccinations, 11% described receiving a malaria vaccine and 4% a hepatitis C vaccine, although no such vaccines exist. Most respondents were confident/very confident in their ability to engage in prevention behaviors (94%). Health problems were primarily infectious disease (70%), psychological distress (10%), and injuries (8%). When asked if prior travel destinations involved areas where malaria transmission occurs, 20% responded, “Don’t know.” Conclusions Identified gaps in travel health knowledge and prevention behaviors may produce hazardous consequences when combined with low-perceived risk, reliance on travel guidebooks for health information, and high ratings for prevention self-efficacy. Future research is needed to test the effectiveness of educational interventions designed for student travelers who would benefit from guided practice with destination-specific risk appraisal and prevention planning. Web-based educational resources are a good fit for this population because they are easily updated, available in all phases of travel, and can accommodate interactive multimedia designs that actively engage and motivate students to adopt prevention behaviors.
Organization and multidisciplinary work in an olympic high performance centers in USA

Resumen The organization and methodology of providing services to athletes through Olympic high performance centers varies among the National Olympic Committees (NOC). Between NOCs, provider composition and methodology for the delivery of services differs. Services provided typically include sports medicine and sports performance. NOCs may provide service through a university-based system or high performance centers. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) provides services using multiple approaches through a hybrid model that includes three Olympic Training Centers, National Governing Bodies (NGB) high performance centers and independent specialty care centers. Some highly developed National Governing Bodies have dedicated high performance training centers that serve only their sport. The model of sports medicine and sports performance programming utilized by the USOC Olympic Training Centers is described in this manuscript.
Induction of acetylcholine receptors on cultured skeletal muscle by a factor extracted from brain and spinal cord.

Abstract Extracts of chicken brain and spinal cord increase the total number of acetylcholine receptors and the number of acetylcholine receptors and the number of receptor clusters on uninnervated skeletal myotubes in culture. The active component in these extracts may be unique to neural tissue. Spinal cord cells grown in culture contain the active factor and they secrete it into the medium. Most of the activity is associated with a small molecule possibly a peptide. Such a factor may be responsible for the clustering of receptors at newly formed nerve-muscle synapses.
A multicatalytical protease complex from pituitary that forms enkephalin and enkephalin containing peptides

Abstract The pituitary contains a high molecular weight (M.W.∼700,000) neutral endopeptidase complex that behaves in solution as a single protein, but on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under dissociating conditions shows the presence of five components with molecular weights of 24,000 to 28,000. The complex exhibits trypsinlike, chymotrypsinlike and peptidylglutamyl-peptide bond hydrolysing activities. Experiments indicate that each of these activities is associated with a separate component of the complex. The chymotrypsinlike and trypsinlike activities efficiently generate Leu-enkephalin, Leu-enkephalin-Arg 6 and Leu-enkephalin-Arg 6 -Phe 7 from a single synthetic precursor. Selective inhibition of the chymotrypsinlike activity enhances the trypsinlike activity and alters the relative proportion of opioid peptides formed.
The profitability of technical trading rules in the Asian stock markets

Abstract We assess whether some simple forms of technical analysis can predict stock price movement in Asian markets. We find the rules to be quite successful in the emerging markets of Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan. The rules have less explanatory power in more developed markets such as Hong Kong and Japan. On average for our sample, mean percentage changes in stock indices on days that the rules emit buy signals exceed means on days that the rules emit sell signals by 0.095% per day, or about 26.8% on an annualized basis. We estimate “break-even” round-trip transactions costs (which would just eliminate gains from technical trading) to be 1.57% on average. We also find that technical signals emitted by U.S. markets have substantial forecast power for Asian stock returns beyond that of own-market signals. This is consistent with the reasoning that the technical rules identify periods when global equilibrium expected returns deviate substantially from their unconditional mean.
Reaction of nuclear graphite with water vapor part I. Effect of hydrogen and water vapor partial pressures

Abstract The rate of oxidation of graphite by water vapor in the presence of hydrogen is given by: R = k 1 P H 2 O 1+k 2 P H 2 1 2 +k 3 P H 2 O which is different from that given by previous workers. A mechanism, involving the dissociative adsorption of hydrogen on graphite, is proposed which yields this expression and accounts for the experimental results. It is shown that this mechanism is compatible with results of other workers and also for conditions where hydrogen is not deliberately added to the gas stream.
Effects of ozone on indole compounds and rat lung monoamine oxidase.

Ozone reacted with tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Changes in the absorbance spectra were not distinct enough to determine stoichiometry. The reaction with ozone caused a simple decrease in the maximum fluorescence of the compounds. The reaction is such that approximately 1 mole of ozone reacted with 1 mole of indole compound when the indole compound was 0.1 mm and the ozone flow rate was about 45 nmole/minute. As the concentration of indole was lowered less indole compound/mole ozone reacted. The reaction of ozone with tryptophan generated hydrogen peroxide. The MAO activity of mitrochondria from rat lung was resistant to the effects of ozone. Ozone did decrease the sulfhydryl content of the mitochondria prepared from rat lungs.
Hard slip mechanisms in B2 CoTi

Abstract Deformation mechanisms in B2 CoTi have been examined using g · b analysis in a transmission electron microscope and in-grain misorientation axes (IGMA) obtained from electron-backscattered diffraction. The results from both techniques confirm that cube dislocations are activated at low stresses and that 〈1 0 0〉{0 1 1} and 〈1 0 0〉{0 0 1} are the dominant slip modes. However, in samples deformed beyond a transition in the strain hardening behavior, activation of a secondary deformation mechanism is confirmed. Transmission electron microscopy analysis unambiguously shows the presence of dislocations with 〈110〉 Burgers vectors, as well as the presence of dislocations which have the 〈110〉 or 〈111〉 Burgers vector. IGMA analysis indicates the activation of the 〈1 1 1〉 { 1 1 ¯ 0 } slip mode. The slip of dislocations with 〈1 1 0〉 or 〈1 1 1〉 Burgers vectors can reduce stress concentrations that could otherwise lead to premature fracture, thus providing a satisfying explanation for the anomalous ductility of CoTi and related compounds, like CoZr.
Irreducible water distribution in sandstone rock: Two phase flow simulations in CT-based pore network

Abstract A simple cutoff approach based on the capillary bundle model has become an industrial standard method to quickly obtain the irreducible water saturation from NMR T 2 distribution. However this approach is not always valid. To overcome the shortcoming of the capillary bundle model that ignores pore-pore connectivity, we have conducted a two-phase flow simulation in a CT-based pore network. The CT -based pore network is a representation of a real rock pore structure that is described by a binary X-ray tomographic data set. Simulation on such network mimics a process of the porous plate measurement. The generated capillary curve is quite reasonable. The oil accession distributions at different water saturations plotted as a function of pore size provide an insight for the immiscible displacement process in the real rock pore structure. Water is trapped not only in dead ends but also in the well-connected pores due to a pore level by-pass mechanism. At the capillary end point pressure, a plot of the trapped water distribution as a function of pore size has the same lognormal distribution as the pore size distribution, which is much different from what the simple capillary bundle model suggests.
Defective Chemokine Signal Integration in Leukocytes Lacking Activator of G Protein Signaling 3 (AGS3)

Activator of G-protein signaling 3 (AGS3, gene name G-protein signaling modulator-1, Gpsm1), an accessory protein for G-protein signaling, has functional roles in the kidney and CNS. Here we show that AGS3 is expressed in spleen, thymus, and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells, and is up-regulated upon leukocyte activation. We explored the role of AGS3 in immune cell function by characterizing chemokine receptor signaling in leukocytes from mice lacking AGS3. No obvious differences in lymphocyte subsets were observed. Interestingly, however, AGS3-null B and T lymphocytes and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells exhibited significant chemotactic defects as well as reductions in chemokine-stimulated calcium mobilization and altered ERK and Akt activation. These studies indicate a role for AGS3 in the regulation of G-protein signaling in the immune system, providing unexpected venues for the potential development of therapeutic agents that modulate immune function by targeting these regulatory mechanisms.
Functional characterization of the adipokinetic hormone in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum.

Abstract Aphids are important plant phloem-sucking pests and detailed knowledge about the hormonal control of their metabolism can potentially contribute to the development of methods for their management. The insect metabolism is predominantly controlled by neuropeptides belonging to the adipokinetic hormone/red pigment-concentrating hormone family (AKH/RPCH). The main goal of this study was to obtain the sequence of AKH transcripts and analyze its expression in all polyphenic female forms of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum . The neuropeptide is expressed in the brain of all female forms and in the ovaries of the both (wingless and winged) parthenogenetic forms. The form of active Acypi -AKH decapeptide was confirmed by the LC/MS and + ESI tandem mass spectrometry. The highest relative amount of Acypi -AKH was recorded in winged virginoparae. Furthermore, a potential role of this hormone when directly applied to the aphid was studied as well. Interestingly, no significant increase of trehalose in the wingless virginoparae after application of synthetic Acypi-AKH was detected. Yet this treatment did affect the level of protective polyol (mannitol) and furthermore led to increased activity of the detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase. The possible physiological function of AKH in A. pisum under the stress conditions is discussed.