cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Performance of the World Health Organization's WHOQOL-BREF in Assessing the Quality of Life of Thai College Students.

The purpose of this study was to examine the performance of the Thai-version of WHOQOL-BREF in assessing the quality of life (QoL) among Thai college students. The psychometric properties of WHOQOL-BREF were assessed in this study. The self-administered WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was applied. A total of 407 Thai college students (male age = 20.5 ± 1.2; female age = 20.5 ± 1.2) participated in this study. Item-response distributions, internal consistency reliability, discriminant validity, criterion-related validity and construct validity through confirmatory analysis were analyzed. The findings indicate that the WHOQOL-BREF had acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.73–0.83 across four domains), all items highly correlated with corresponding domain scores (r = 0.53–0.80), the indices of a two-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) demonstrate that the data fit the model well with allowing covary of error variances of some items, all items had good property of criterion-related validity and item discrimination and, all three domain scores except the social relationship domain had significant associations with overall QoL or general health. The results suggest that the WHOQOL-BREF was reliable and valid to health professionals in the assessment of the QoL of college-based Thai youth, but some unsuitable items may be deleted in future studies.
The State of the Art and Science in Child Psychiatry

A review of the changes in child psychiatry over the past two decades would suggest that although some minor shifts in attitude and orientation have occurred putting an emphasis on different issues, the practice has remained relatively unaffected apart from the trial of different therapeutic maneuvers. The minimal research that has emerged in this period has had little impact on the establishment of a scientifically based body of knowledge. Child psychiatry remains as service oriented as ever and its training programs are designed to produce new service-oriented child psychiatrists to carry on the tradition. The therapeutic skills developed with experience are impressive although their efficacy remains to be rigorously evaluated. In fact, the art has flourished but the science has stood still. A tentative blueprint for future development is presumptuously offered although there is ground for skepticism, based on past performance, that this will bridge the chasm between the science and the art. Efforts of this nature, nevertheless, need to be made if this fragile discipline is to be salvaged from its present predicament.
Machine learning approach to fusion of high and low resolution imagery for improved target classification

This work utilizes high resolution images in order to improve the classification accuracy on low resolution images. The approach is based on the machine learning paradigm called LUPI - “Learning Using Privileged Information”. In this contribution, the LUPI paradigm is demonstrated on images from the Caltech 101 dataset.
Co-occurence of substance abuse with conduct, anxiety, and depression disorders in juvenile delinquents☆

The purpose of the current study was to examine the co-occurrence of substance abuse and three other psychiatric disorders (conduct disorder, depression, anxiety) in an incarcerated juvenile delinquent sample. Diagnostic interviews were utilized to place participants in one of three groups: No substance abuse, alcohol/marijuana abuse, or polysubstance abuse. Frequency of diagnosis and number of symptoms of three psychiatric disorders were then examined. The results indicated that the diagnosis of conduct disorder increased significantly with the occurrence of substance abuse. Also, the number of symptoms for conduct disorder, anxiety, and depression increased with substance abuse. With polysubstance abuse the probability of having more than one of the other psychiatric diagnoses was above 50%. Potential explanations for the findings, focusing on the developmental trajectory for conduct problems and self-medication for internalizing disorders, are discussed.
New Pressure Swing Adsorption Cycles for Carbon Dioxide Sequestration

A rigorous pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process simulator was used to study a new, high temperature PSA cycle, based on the use of a K-promoted HTlc adsorbent and a simple, 4-step, Skarstrom-type, vacuum swing cycle designed to process a typical stack gas effluent at 575 K containing (in vol%) 15% CO2, 75% N2 and 10% H2O. The effects of the purge-to-feed ratio (γ), cycle step time (t s ) (with all four steps of equal time), and pressure ratio (π T ) on the process performance was studied in terms of the CO2 recovery (R) and enrichment (E) at a constant throughput θ of 14.4 L STP/hr/ kg. R increased with increasing γ and π T and decreasing t s , while E increased with increasing t s and π T and decreasing γ. The highest E of 3.9 was obtained at R = 87% and π T = 12, whereas at R = 100% the highest E of 2.6 was obtained at π T = 12. These results are very encouraging and show the potential of a high temperature PSA cycle for CO2 capture.
Trapping a Diradical Transition State by Mechanochemical Polymer Extension

Transition state structures are central to the rates and outcomes of chemical reactions, but their fleeting existence often leaves their properties to be inferred rather than observed. By treating polybutadiene with a difluorocarbene source, we embedded gem-difluorocyclopropanes (gDFCs) along the polymer backbone. We report that mechanochemical activation of the polymer under tension opens the gDFCs and traps a 1,3-diradical that is formally a transition state in their stress-free electrocyclic isomerization. The trapped diradical lives long enough that we can observe its noncanonical participation in bimolecular addition reactions. Furthermore, the application of a transient tensile force induces a net isomerization of the trans-gDFC into its less-stable cis isomer, leading to the counterintuitive result that the gDFC contracts in response to a transient force of extension.
Mechanistic model of line edge roughness

Physically-based photoresist models, such as those in PROLITH, have been very successful in describing photolithography from a continuum standpoint. These models allow engineers to accurately predict the final resist CD on the wafer and to analyze process robustness, such as calculation of focus-exposure process windows. However, as feature sizes continue to shrink, we are beginning to see yield-limiting phenomena that are due to the molecular nature of photoresist materials. One example of this is line-edge roughness (LER). LER is believed to be due to fluctuations during the exposure process (shot noise) and post-exposure bake (thermal diffusion and reaction). We present a model that explicitly takes into account the molecular nature of the photoresist during the exposure and post-exposure bake processes. We do this by writing a master equation that describes the probability that acid molecules are generated during exposure, and then describes the evolution of the acid, quencher, and blocking-group probability distributions during the bake process. We show how all the parameters in this model can be simply derived from the parameters in a calibrated PROLITH continuum model. Finally, we demonstrate prediction of LER from an accurately tuned PROLITH continuum model and compare the LER predictions with experimental results.
Robust control of a magnetostrictive actuator

Applications utilizing smart materials are rapidly increasing and include high speed milling and hybrid motor design. Such application utilize magnetostrictive transducers operating in hysteretic and nonlinear regimes. To achieve the high performance capabilities of these transducers, models and control laws must accommodate the nonlinear dynamics in a manner which is robust and facilitates real-time implementation. To this end, the models and control algorithms must utilize known physics to the highest degree possible, be low order, and be sufficiently robust to operate under realistic conditions. In this paper we consider the robust control of a smart structure with disturbances due to inherent hysteresis and sensor noise. We dmeonstrate the techniques on a magnetostrictive transducers but they are sufficiently general to be utilized on several commonly used smart materials. The performance of the control strategies are illustrated through numerical examples.
Tribological and mechanical behavior of nanostructured Al/Ti multilayers

Abstract Al/Ti nanostructured metallic multilayers (NMMs) with individual layer thicknesses of 2.5 and 30 nm were sputter-deposited on Si substrate. The mechanical and tribological properties of the Al/Ti NMMs were studied by nanoidentation and nanowear tests. Microstructures of the NMMs were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscattered orientation mapping, and transmission electron microscopy before and after the tests. Decreasing the layer thickness from 30 to 2.5 nm led to an increase of hardness from 3.13 to 4.94 GPa. For both NMMs, the wear rate increased with applied load and decreased with hardness. Nanoindentation tests on the worn surface revealed significant work hardening of the subsurface material. The deformation mechanisms of NMMs were found to strongly depend on layer thickness and interface structure.
Testing a theoretical climate-soil-leaf area hydrologic equilibrium of forests using satellite data and ecosystem simulation

We hypothesize that a necessary equilibrium exists between climate, soil water-holding capacity and maximum leaf area in water limited coniferous forest ecosystems. To test this hypothesis over a large range of forests in Montana, spectral reflectance data from two different satellite sensors, Landsat/Thematic Mapper and NOAA/AVHRR, were combined with leaf area index (LAI) measured or simulated from a forest ecosystem model, FOREST-BGC. Transpiration simulated by the model with representative climatic and soil data was used to calculate equilibrium leaf area index of 20 mature conifer forest stands across Montana. A strong correlation was found between calculated and field measured of leaf area index, R2 = 0.87. To test if satellite data can estimate LAI, measured leaf area index was correlated with spectral reflectance data from TM computed as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for 17 stands (R2 = 0.58). Then, LAI for 53 conifer stands across Montana was estimated using our equilibrium concept and related to AVHRR/NDVI at 1.1 km scale (R2 = 0.88). Species composition was found to be important only at the TM pixel scale of 30 m. AVHRR/NDVI provided an initial validation of our hydrologic equilibrium theory at regional scales. A quantitative relationship between climate defined simply as precipitation/potential evaporation, soil water-holding capacity and leaf area was developed using the model simulations. This relationship allows the prediction of either equilibrium leaf area index or soil water-holding capacity if the other is known.
A performance model of partial packet discard and early packet discard schemes in ATM switches

In this paper, we develop a concise performance model of partial packet discard (PPD) and early packet discard (EPD) schemes in ATM switches. We study the performance of PPD and EPD with heterogeneous traffic sources. The sources included Poisson, and ON-OFF with long-tailed sojourn time distribution, which is approximated by a hyperexponential distribution. The fairness of EPD is investigated. We automatically generate and numerically solve the underlying Markov chain using a high-level graphical paradigm known as the stochastic reward net. Our numerical results reveal that: (1) the benefit of PPD and EPD is not significant when the queuing system is underloaded with Poisson sources; (2) PPD and EPD can increase the goodput when the system is overloaded or loaded with ON-OFF sources; (3) in All Poisson case, PPD and EPD provide nearly fair service to the sources; (4) the ON-OFF source gets higher goodput than the Poisson source. Because the burstiness of a source will be alleviated by the statistical multiplexing of ATM switches, the ON-OFF source may be viewed as the source that just enters the network, and the Poisson source may be viewed as the source being far away from the network node we are considering and has been regulated and smoothed by the switches it traversed. Therefore, the queuing system with EPD algorithm gives a higher goodput to the sources near it. And the sources far away from the system will have lower goodput. One of our principal conclusions is that per-VC-based scheme is not needed at the core of large ATM networks because the traffic is less bursty at the core of the networks and PPD and EPD are fair under this kind of environment. A per-VC-based scheme may be used at the edge of the ATM cloud. Such a configuration can make the core of the ATM network work at high speed.
Thermal fracture mechanisms in ceramic thermal barrier coatings

Ceramic thermal barrier coatings represent an attractive method of increasing the high temperature limits for systems such as diesel engines, gas turbines and aircraft engines. However, the dissimilarities between ceramics and metal, as well as the severe temperature gradients applied in such systems cause thermal stresses which can lead to cracking and ultimately spalling of the coating. This paper reviews the research which considers initiation of surface cracks, interfacial edge cracks and the effect of a transient thermal load on interface cracks. The results of controlled experiments together with analytical models are presented. The implications of these findings to the differences between diesel engines and gas turbines are discussed. The importance of such work for determining the proper design criteria for thermal barrier coatings is underlined.
Kinetics and mechanism of formation and destruction of N-nitrosodimethylamine in water – A review

Abstract This paper presents an overview on the current knowledge of the mechanism of formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in water. The kinetics of the reactions of NDMA precursors (amines and dimethylsulfamide) with disinfectants (ClO2, O3, OH, and Fe(VI)) is presented. The second-order rate constants were determined as 10−2–108, 10−1–109, 10−1–>106, and 108–1010 M−1 s−1 for reactions with ClO2, O3, OH, and Fe(VI), respectively, at pH 7.0. The rate constants for reactions with most of the secondary and tertiary amines were of the order of 102–1010 M−1 s−1, which suggest that the moieties of dimethylamine (DMA) and tertiary amine in nitrogen-containing precursors may largely be the sources of the NDMA formation potentials (NDMA-FPs) in treated water. The proposed mechanisms of the reactions involve one-electron transfers in the initial step in the case of ClO2, O3, and OH as oxidants while Fe(VI) prefers a two-electron transfer (oxygen atom transfer) step. NDMA destruction methods include biodegradation, reduction, and oxidation (photolytic, photocatalytic, chemical, and electrochemical). Current concepts of the proposed mechanisms of NDMA transformations are briefly described.
Synthesis of the 7-Hydroxy Metabolites of Methotrexate and 10-Ethyl-10-Deazaaminopterin

The potent folate antagonists methotrexate and 10-ethyl-10-deazaaminopterin are oxidized in vivo to their 7-hydroxy derivatives. A specific cyanation at the C-7 position of the pteridine ring system using diethyl phosphorocyanidate converted the dimethyl esters of methotrexate and 10-ethyl-10-deazaaminopterin to the corresponding 7-cyano dimethyl ester derivatives, which were hydrolyzed to the 7-hydroxy metabolites.
Malakoplakia of bladder in childhood

Malakoplakia is a granulomatous inflammatory disease affecting the genitourinary tract. It is rare in childhood. We report a case of malakoplakia presenting as multiple bladder polyps in an 11-year-old boy. The child did not respond to long-term antibiotic treatment, and subsequent surgical excision of the polyps resolved his problems. We propose surgical excision as an alternative form of management of this rare lesion.
Violation of unitarity in a finite quantum electrodynamics.

By explicit calculations, we show the violation of unitarity in a recently proposed theory of finite quantum electrodynamics on the basis of a limiting procedure. The failure can be traced back to the mathematical nonexistence of the limit upon which the theory is built.
The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study: Opportunities for Rehabilitation Research

The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) is a longitudinal observational study of the effects of biomechanical, bone and joint structural, and nutritional factors on the incidence and progression of knee symptoms and radiographic and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). It is the first large-scale epidemiologic study to focus on symptomatic knee OA in a community-based sample of adultswith or at high risk for knee OA, based on thepresence of knee symptoms, history of knee injury or surgery or being overweight. Beginning in 2003, 3026 individuals (60.1% women) age 50-79 years were enrolled. Examinations at baseline, and 15, 30, 60, 72 and 84 months later included assessment of risk factors, disease characteristics, body functions and structure, and measures of physical activity and participation. The wealth of data from this longitudinal cohort of community-dwelling older adults affords valuable opportunities for rehabilitation researchers.
New Principle for Focusing a High-Power Microscope and Means for Accomplishing the Focusing Automatically and with Great Accuracy*

A new principle for appraising and correcting the focus of a high-power microscope is described. Besides affording greater precision than is achieved visually, the principle lends itself readily to fully automatic operation, including “tracking” a moving slide. A servo system employing this principle has been built and been operated routinely for over a year. It maintains correct focus within about 0.1 μ and does so over a period of several days if necessary. The equipment operates irrespective of changes in thickness and index of cover slip, index of immersion fluid, thickness and flatness of specimen slide, temperature effects in the various optical and mechanical components. It operates even when the specimen slide area in question is blank (i.e., unoccupied).The principle is well suited to microscope systems that employ photoelectric or photographic detection and that call for the greatest possible accuracy of focus. It may be used with UV, visible, or IR radiation, and hence it is applicable to UV and IR microscopy as well as visual range microscopy.Besides assisting focusing, the new principle can be used to explore the surface topography of microscopically “stepped” surfaces; unlike various other methods it should be applicable even if the steps have an area as small as one square micron. It has been found effective also in evaluating longitudinal chromatic aberration in high quality objectives.
The performance measurement of corporate real estate portfolio management

In today’s highly charged economic environment, all organisations have to make the most of all of the resources and assets at their disposal. Within corporate real estate this increasingly means adopting a portfolio approach to the management function. This paper assesses the adoption of performance management processes at this level through the review of practising leading corporate real estate teams. In documenting the measures deployed and how they are used, it identifies shortcomings and proposes an improved approach. The practical application of this is illustrated using a hypothetical case example, together with a list of potential measures.
An air monitoring network using continuous particle size distribution monitors: Connecting pollutant properties to visibility via Mie scattering calculations

Aerosol size distribution data collected by the Southern California Air Quality Study (SCAQS) air monitoring network have been combined with values of the aerosol refractive index estimated from filter-based determinations of aerosol chemical composition. The resulting data have been used to calculate the aerosol light scattering coefficient values in time series at four air monitoring sites via Mie theory. It was found that the time series of the measured light scattering coefficient values could be reproduced well by the visibility model in those cases where redundant nephelometer measurements were available to assure that the measured light scattering coefficient values were not in doubt. Based on this study, it appears practical to maintain a network of monitoring sites that can be used to acquire size-distributed aerosol data simultaneously over a large geographic region. Such data will be needed in the near future for evaluation and testing of grid-based air quality models for the formation and transport of size-distributed particulate matter. Such data can be used at present to connect pollutant properties to visual range via modeling calculations based on Mie theory.
Carcinoid diathesis of the ileum

An unusually large number (108) of carcinoids was discovered in the ileum of a 63-year-old male. The clustering and size distribution of tumor nodules suggests that the phenomenon reflects mucosal metastasis from a dominant parent tumor rather than multicentric neoplastic foci. A predilection for the antimesenteric mucosa was also observed and may be related to mucosal lymphatic spread of the carcinoid tumor.
SEEKING A MEASURE OF GENERAL EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT: THE BENTEE1

An urgent need is for some overall unit of educational benefit, and it is here proposed that such be established by certain scaling techniques. Groups of judges are asked to render overall evaluations on “students” of specified characteristics. Their evaluations are studied for correlation with the student traits, and the resultant coefficients, loaded with latent and applied values, become defensible weights to describe other students' overall educational advancement. The general unit so developed, when normalized for the target population, may be termed a “benefit T-score”, or more simply “bentee”. Recursive features of the scaling process, applicable at different levels of generality, should provide for a shift from value-space to test-space, and from societal to expert opinion. Discovered weightings should illuminate differing values of lay and professional groups within society. And the bentee could provide an objective function suitable for optimizing in management-science techniques, now largely neglected in curriculum and administration.
Raman spectroscopic elucidation of DNA backbone conformations for poly(dG‐dT) · poly(dA‐dC) and poly(dA‐dT) · poly(dA‐dT) in CsF solution

Raman spectra have been recorded for poly(dG-dT) · poly(dA-dC) and poly(dA-dT) · poly(dA-dT) in low salt and at high concentrations of CsF. Poly(dG-dT) · poly(dA-dC) shows no change in the 682-cm−1 guanine mode, demonstrating the absence of the Z-structure at high salt. The 790-cm−1 phosphodiester symmetric stretch, however, shifts up 5 cm−1 in 4.3M CsF, suggesting a slight conformational change, associated with ion binding or hydration changes. Poly(dA-dT) · poly(dA-dT) shows an additional broad band at 816 cm−1, attributed to the phosphodiester modes associated with the C3′-endo deoxyribose units in the alternating B-structure. In this case, both the 841- and the 816-cm−1 asymmetric phosphodiester stretches, associated with the C2′- and C3′-endo units, shift down on addition of CsF in a sequential manner. Correlation of this sequence with that previously observed for the two 31P-nmr resonances, establishes that the phosphodiester stretching frequencies depend on the conformation of the 5′-sugar, and not on the 3′-sugar.
Definition and Formulation of Scientific Prediction and Its Role in Inquiry-Based Laboratories

The formulation of a scientific prediction by students in college-level laboratories is proposed. This activity will develop the students’ ability to apply abstract concepts via deductive reasoning. For instances in which a hypothesis will be tested by an experiment, students should develop a prediction that states what sort of experimental outcome is expected, consistent with the hypothesis being tested. The concept of a scientific prediction is presented and distinguished from common usage of the term. Using one of Lavoisier’s experimental tests of the oxygen and phlogiston theories as an example, reasoning with the use of prediction and without the use of prediction is presented in a classic crucial experiment. This approach enables students to compare data and prediction directly prior to reaching a conclusion. Finally, three typical conclusions are presented based on whether data and prediction agree.
High pressure phase relations of primitive high-alumina basalts from Medicine Lake volcano, northern California

Anhydrous phase relations were determined at 1 atm and 10 to 15 kbar for primitive high-alumina basalts (79–35g and 82–72f) from Giant Crater at Medicine Lake volcano. These compositions are multiply saturated with olivine+augite+plagioclase+spinel+/-orthopyroxene near the liquidus at about 11 kbar. Experiments on mixtures of sample 79–35g with orthopyroxene and olivine determined the location of the multiple saturation boundaries where liquid coexists with the assemblage olivine+augite+orthopyroxene+plagioclase at 10 kbar and olivine+augite+orthopyroxene+spinel at 15 kbar. The mix experiments showed that primitive Medicine Lake high alumina basalts (HABs) are close in composition to liquids in equilibrium with a mantle lherzolite source containing olivine+augite+ orthopyroxene+spinel+plagioclase at 11 kbar. Orthopyroxene observed as a near liquidus phase in an 11 kbar experiment on sample 82–72f supports this conclusion. The most primitive HABs from Medicine Lake are low in K2O (0.07 wt.%), high in MgO (>10 wt.%) and Ni (231 ppm), and have light-rare earth element depletions and large ion lithophile element enrichments. A model for the origin of these near-primary high-alumina basalts is that they are partial melts of a MORB-like mantle lherzolite source that has been enriched by a fluid component derived from the subducted slab. The HAB magma segregated from its mantle residue just below the base of the crust near the crust-mantle boundary.
Galvanometric potentials of the extremities and of the thorax in congenital dextrocardia

Abstract The results indicate that the electrical field of the heart in cases of dextrocardia is, in effect, a mirror image of the electrical field in the normal subject. That excitation reaches the surface of the thorax near the left ventricle later than it reaches the surface of the thorax near the right ventricle, in the human subject, irrespective of the location of these chambers, may be attributed to factors other than the difference in the thickness of the ventricular walls. The one that comes to mind first is the variation in conductivity of the several components comprising the surrounding medium. At present, there is no direct way of measuring the effect of this on electrical phenomena in the human subject, but the fact that the intrinsicoid deflection is abnormally late in midthoracic leads (V 1 , V 2 , V E ) in cases of right ventricular hypertrophy and right bundle branch block, 2, 4, 10 and in leads from the left side of the chest in cases of left ventricular hypertrophy and left bundle branch block 2, 4 suggests, that, however heterogeneous the conducting medium may be, it has no significant influence.
Exploring design as a research activity

Design research is a knowledge generating activity, yielding a valuable resource for a science of design. It extrapolates this knowledge in the form of design criteria, criteria weighting, design alternatives, and general rules for choosing between alternatives and deciding on criteria. Unlike the disciplines that have traditionally informed design research, design research as a field of its own has no agreed upon methods for evaluating its own work. Taken a step further, the criteria for what is and is not design research itself is vague at best.
Nonmedicinal therapy in the management of ankle arthritis.

Purpose of review The incidence of ankle osteoarthritis has increased in recent years, in part, secondary to vehicular trauma. This review describes conservative and operative intervention strategies along with current research related to the management of ankle osteoarthritis. Recent findings Self-reported physical function in patients with ankle osteoarthritis is equivalent to or worse than that of patients with endstage kidney disease, congestive heart failure, or cervical-spine pain and radiculopathy. Nonoperative-intervention strategies such as assistive devices, orthoses, and viscosupplements are frequently used in this clinical population. However, limited objective data are available examining outcomes following nonoperative intervention. Ankle fusion serves as a standard-surgical treatment for end-stage ankle osteoarthritis. The limitations of ankle fusion include prolonged immobilization, a relatively high risk of nonunion, and adjacent joint arthritis. Increasing evidence supports the safety and efficacy of total-ankle arthroplasty (TAA). Current (third generation) TAA prostheses feature cementless design and ligament preservation with reduced bone resection and improved instrumentation. Summary Limited objective evidence exists to guide clinical decision-making related to nonoperative choices such as assistive devices, orthoses, and viscosupplements. Outcomes from prospective clinical trials indicate that newer total ankle-arthroplasty designs provide substantial pain relief in patients with end-stage ankle osteoarthritis.
Lipid remodeling in Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE‐1 upon loss of hopanoids and hopanoid methylation

The sedimentary record of molecular fossils (biomarkers) can potentially provide important insights into the composition of ancient organisms; however, it only captures a small portion of their original lipid content. To interpret what remains, it is important to consider the potential for functional overlap between different lipids in living cells, and how the presence of one type might impact the abundance of another. Hopanoids are a diverse class of steroid analogs made by bacteria and found in soils, sediments, and sedimentary rocks. Here, we examine the trade-off between hopanoid production and that of other membrane lipids. We compare lipidomes of the metabolically versatile α-proteobacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 and two hopanoid mutants, detecting native hopanoids simultaneously with other types of polar lipids by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. In all strains, the phospholipids contain high levels of unsaturated fatty acids (often >80 %). The degree to which unsaturated fatty acids are modified to cyclopropyl fatty acids varies by phospholipid class. Deletion of the capacity for hopanoid production is accompanied by substantive changes to the lipidome, including a several-fold rise of cardiolipins. Deletion of the ability to make methylated hopanoids has a more subtle effect; however, under photoautotrophic growth conditions, tetrahymanols are upregulated twofold. Together, these results illustrate that the ‘lipid fingerprint’ produced by a micro-organism can vary depending on the growth condition or loss of single genes, reminding us that the absence of a biomarker does not necessarily imply the absence of a particular source organism.
Biological vs. social, economic and political priority-setting in conservation

The most influential conservation priority-setting approaches emphasize biodiversity and threats when deciding where to focus investment. However, socio-economic and political attributes of nations influence the effectiveness of conservation actions. A combination of biological and sociological variables in the context of a ‘return on investment’ framework for establishing conservation priorities was explored. While there was some overlap between megadiversity nations and return on investment priorities, only a few countries emerged as high priorities irrespective of which factors were included in the analysis. Conversely, some countries that ranked highly as priorities for conservation when focusing solely on biological metrics, did not rank highly when governance, population pressure, economic costs and conservation needs were considered (e.g. Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia and Venezuela). No priority-setting scheme is a priori superior to alternative approaches. However, the analyses suggest that attention to governance and return on investment may alter biocentric assessments of ideal conservation investments.
Linking calorie restriction to longevity through sirtuins and autophagy: any role for TOR.

In this issue of Cell Death & Disease, Morselli et al. described that calorie restriction (CR) and resveratrol activate autophagy through sirtuin-1 and, most importantly, autophagy is required for the life extending effect of CR (Figure 1a). This paper touches upon three hot topics, entering into three debated fields. Let us discuss this in a broader context. In almost all species from yeast to primates, CR increases both median and maximal lifespan. Still the topic remains highly controversial. Why? As I recently analyzed, the antiaging effect of CR rules out the most intuitive theory of aging (see for reference, Blagosklonny1). According to the current dogma, aging is caused by lifelong accumulation of molecular damage. This damage is not repaired completely because energetic resources are limited in the wild.2 This must predict that the fewer the resources (CR), the less resources could be spend for repair (and the faster aging). Yet we know that CR slows down aging. To reconcile this fact with the theory, it was suggested that an organism allocates more resources to fight aging during famine or CR, in order to live longer and to reproduce later,2 even though aging does not limit lifespan in the wild. This suggestion leads to unfathomable paradoxes, forcing us to reconsider the origin of aging.1 In fact, recent discoveries reveal that aging is genetically regulated.3 For example, inhibition of TOR (target of rapamyin) or activation of sirtuins prolongs lifespan. And CR both deactivates TOR and activates sirtuins. But here is a second debate: which is indispensable for prolonged lifespan by CR, inhibiting TOR or activating sirtuins?
Lower median nerve block impairs precision grip.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate precision grip impairment caused by a lower median nerve block at the wrist. The median nerve block was achieved by injecting bupivacaine hydrochloride into the carpal tunnel, which acutely simulated a median neuropathy. Seven healthy male subjects were instructed to grip, lift, and hold an instrumented handle within 60s using precision grip. The same tasks were performed before and after the nerve block. Force and torque data were recorded using two miniature 6-component force/torque transducers. The precision grip was quantified by the safety margin (i.e. the difference between the actual grip force and the minimal grip force to keep the object from dropping), the variation of grip force, and the migration area of center of pressure (i.e. the area defined by the center of pressure at a digit-transducer surface while holding the handle). Two subjects were unable to complete the precision grip tasks after the nerve block, and their data were excluded from the analyses. The median nerve block caused significant increases ( P 50%), the grip force variation (>80%), and the area of center of pressure migration (>250%). Median nerve block at the wrist impairs the fine motor control during precision grip. Our results corroborate the important role played by sensory function in hand fine motor control. Clinically, the measures related to precision grip have the potential to quantify impairment of hand function caused by neuromuscular disorders, to monitor the progress of a hand disorder, and to evaluate the efficacy of a treatment or rehabilitation procedure.
Deveiling body stories: Muslim girls negotiate visual, spatial, and ethical hijabs

This article describes a collaborative research project that took place in two south‐western US border towns and sought to understand how four muslim 1 girls (age 14–17) expressed and negotiated their bodily learning experiences. Drawing on both the work of arab–muslim critical feminist Fatima Mernissi who utilized classical Islamic tools of research and my positionalities as arabyyah‐muslimah, I used insider’s methods to discuss how three hijabs (veils) – the visual, spatial, and ethical – acted as a central genderizing discourse that challenged the girls’ learning opportunities. This article shows how the girls’ parents enforced these three hijabs; how the girls questioned and deveiled the hijabs in their dress, mobility in public places, and physical behavior around boys. This inquiry is a call for critical feminist researchers and educators to recognize how these three hijabs form a key genderizing discourse in the lives of muslim girls. It also presents the importance of: (1) working with muslim girl...
A natural potential surface dissection technique for molecular scattering

This paper is concerned with the dissection of general potential scattering surfaces in a way that takes into account their natural contour structure. In this fashion, the scattering problem can be broken into a set of pieces based on the slowly varying nature of the potential surface along its natural contours. The boundary integral method is used to represent the solution in each subregion in terms of its value and normal derivative along the subregion boundaries. A simple illustrative example was considered based on direct numerical solutions of the resulting algebraic equations. For efficient treatment of realistic problems, we also show how previously developed R‐matrix theory ideas may be readily applied in the present circumstances.
Measuring dissociation constants of RNA and aminoglycoside antibiotics by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) has been used to determine the dissociation constants (K(D)s) and binding stoichiometry for tobramycin and paromomycin with a 27-nucleotide RNA construct representing the A-site of the 16S ribosomal RNA. K(D) values determined by holding the ligand concentration fixed are compared with K(D) values derived by holding the RNA target concentration fixed. Additionally, the effect of solution conditions such as the amount of organic solvent present and the amount of salt present in the solution on the K(D) measurement is investigated. It is shown that the preferred method for determining dissociation constants using ESI-MS is holding the RNA target concentration fixed below the expected K(D) and titrating the ligand. K(D) measurements should also be carried out at as high as possible salt concentration to minimize nonspecific binding due primarily to electrostatic interactions. For tobramycin, two nonequivalent binding sites were found with K(D1) = 352 nM and K(D2) = 9 microM. For paromomycin, there is only one binding site with K(D) = 52 nM.
Mitochondria, magnesium and migraine

The evidence for disordered mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and reduced intracellular free magnesium in brain and body tissue of migraine sufferers both between and during an attack is reviewed. We propose that between attacks these metabolic shifts cause instability of neuronal function which enhances the susceptibility of brain to develop a migraine attack.
Mitigating global supply chain risks through corporate social responsibility

This paper presents a decision model that captures supply-side disruption risks, social risks, and demand-side uncertainty within an integrated global supply chain and corporate social responsibility (CSR) modelling and analysis framework. The global supply chain decision-makers must decide on the level of investment in CSR activities and the choice of trading partners (manufacturer or retailer) given their CSR consciousness and perceived riskiness in order to maximise profit and minimise their overall risk. The model incorporates individual attitudes towards disruption risks among the manufacturers and the retailers, with the demands for the product associated with the retailers being random. The model allows one to investigate the effects of heterogeneous CSR activities in a global supply chain and to compute the resultant equilibrium pattern of product outputs, transactions, product prices, and levels of social responsibility activities. The results show that CSR activities can potentially be used to m...
Great Lakes Air Temperature Trends For Land Stations, 1901–1987

Abstract An examination of g ridded data developed from quality controlled land station temperature data for the 1901-1987 period for the Great Lakes basin reveals temperature trends not previously reported. On an annual basis, from early 1900 through the mid 1950s, a 5-year moving average shows that overall basin temperatures increased. A cooler regime prevailed for the remainder of the period of record. Seasonal 5-year moving averages show that spring temperatures increased throughout the period. Summer temperatures were highly variable, but with an early upward trend through the mid 1940s and a recent downward trend for the remainder of the period. Fall temperatures slowly warmed from the early 1900s until the mid 1960s, but have recently shown a cooling trend. Winter temperatures show an upward trend with intermittent wide swings from the early 1900s through the mid 1950s after which a lower temperature regime has prevailed. Temperature differences between a warm and a cool year and the long term mean show markedly varying patterns.
Trajectories of Life Satisfaction During Middle School: Relations to Developmental‐Ecological Microsystems and Student Functioning

The middle-school years have been associated with declines in functioning and family, peer, and teacher relationships. Yet, trajectory analyses indicate variation in this pattern. Prior focus of trajectory studies has been primarily about problematic functioning. This study brings a positive youth development perspective to how life satisfaction trajectories relate to family, peer, and teacher relationships and functioning. Students in 25 middle schools were tracked to end of eighth grade to identify three life satisfaction trajectories: high maintainers (78%), decliners (12%), and improvers (10%). High maintainers evidence better relationships, more positive functioning, and fewer problems, with specific differences distinguishing improvers from decliners. Findings suggest the value in focusing on positive development as well as trajectories in understanding middle-school development.
Advances in high-power harmonic generation: Q-switched lasers with electronically adjustable pulse width

We demonstrate a variable pulse width, internally-frequency-converted, near-diffraction-limited Nd:YAG laser with output power up to 40 Watts at 532 nm and pulse widths electronically adjustable over a 40-300 ns range. The variable pulse width is achieved by clipping the pulse decaying edge with the Q-switch in a laser cavity optimized for post-pulse gain insensitivity. This approach makes possible frequency converted lasers with pulse width and output power substantially independent of repetition rate.
Resolution and reconstitution of soluble components of rat liver microsomal vitamin D3-25-hydroxylase.

Abstract Solubilized components of the vitamin D 3 -25-hydroxylase, isolated from intact rat liver microsomes known to catalyze the C-25 oxidation of vitamin D 3 in vitro , have been separated into two submicrosomal fractions enriched in detergent-solubilized NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome P -450 or P -448. The P -450 hemoprotein-containing fraction was obtained by solubilization with cholic acid followed by treatment with the nonionic detergent, Emulgen 911, yielding a final preparation with a specific content of 7.25 nmol/mg microsomal protein. The reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide-dependent cytochrome P -450 reductase activity, as detected by its ability to reduce the artificial electron acceptor, cytochrome c , was isolated free of cytochromes b 5 or P -450 by solubilization with deoxycholate and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The reductase component was found to exhibit kinetic properties with Michaelis constants: K m (NADPH) = 3.14 μ M, K m (NADH) = 31.25 μ M, and K m (cyt c ) = 12.34 μ M. The NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity was sensitive to NADPH-reversible inhibition by NADP, but not rotenone or cyanide. When the isolated components were incubated in the presence of an NADPH-generating system and carbon monoxide under anaerobic conditions, enzymatic reduction of the P -450 hemoprotein was measured by the appearance of characteristic absorbances at 420 and 450 nm of the reduced carbon monoxide vs. reduced difference spectrum. Furthermore, when the soluble submicrosomal components were reconstituted with excess reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide, 3 H-labeled vitamin D 3 , and soluble cytosolic supernatant, full vitamin D 3 -25-hydroxylase activity was restored at rates of up to 7.68 pmol/h/mg protein, with an apparent turnover number of cytochrome P -450 of 1.16 to 1.20 under conditions where the concentrations of the hemoprotein were rate limiting for net product formation. These results strongly support the hypothesis that the rat liver microsomal mixed-function oxidase, vitamin D 3 -25-hydroxylase, consists of at least two membrane-bound protein components, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and a cytochrome P -450 terminal oxidase, for the catalytic conversion of vitamin D 3 to 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 .
The effects of adenosine and 2′-deoxycoformycin on sleep and wakefulness in rats

The effects of adenosine (12.5 nmol/rat, i.c.v.) and 2'-deoxycoformycin (2.0 mumol/kg, i.p.) on sleep and wakefulness were examined in rats. Adenosine significantly decreased wakefulness and increased both deep slow-wave sleep and total sleep. 2'-Deoxycoformycin, a potent inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, was administered at a dose which did not produce significant sedative and hypnotic effects, when given alone (although a 4-fold greater dose of this drug has been shown to be hypnogenic in rats) in order to examine the possible potentiation of exogenously administered adenosine. No such potentiation was observed, since treatment with both drugs produced effects qualitatively similar, although not statistically significant, to those of adenosine alone. These data clearly indicate that adenosine is a hypnogenic substance in rats and suggest that these effects may involve adenosinergic receptor-mediated modulation of the activity of central adenylate cyclase.
Atmospheric transmittance from spacecraft using multiple view angle imagery

A procedure for determining atmospheric transmittance using surface images acquired at several view angles from space is presented. Fourier filtering of the image data is used to mitigate the effects of atmospheric path radiance and instrument noise. Although it is essential for some contrast to be present in the images, knowledge of the atmospheric scattering phase function or the surface bidirectional reflectance function is not required. The method appears to provide absolute transmittances with an accuracy of better than 10 percent, which is useful in some applications.