cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ecological Restoration in a Changing Biosphere

Restoration efforts will affect large areas of the planet and hundreds of millions of people over the coming decades, but what will these actions look like, and what will they achieve? Debate continues about what constitutes appropriate restoration targets in our human-dominated and ever more rapidly changing world, and the outcome of this debate will impact the actions taken to conserve biodiversity, sequester carbon, and improve human livelihoods at large spatial scales. This special issue brings together eight scientific, historical, and journalistic perspectives to address these two critical questions about ecological restoration in a rapidly changing biosphere.
A Hybrid Machine Learning Method for Finding Depression Related Publications by Eliminating Outlier Publications

Outlier detection is a primary step in many data mining applications. An outlier is an abnormal individual from a population, which usually leads poor accuracy in models. Medical literatures are the most reliable resources for researchers to know the progress in their research areas and latest contributions from others. Traditional keyword search retrieves all the text data that contain the keywords you have specified. That is great as far as it goes, but people still have to read all those literatures to find out whether they actually contain any information that is relevant to your search. While text mining is aware of real text meanings to identify facts, relationships and assertions that would otherwise remain buried in a mass of all literatures. Therefore, a strategy is planned that using keywords to collect as many keywordrelated literatures as possible, and then applying our proposed algorithm to eliminate the outlier literatures so that the data quality is improved. Experiments show that up to 80% outliers literatures are detected from the normal literatures.
Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy and Nipple Ischemia

Nipple-sparing mastectomy has rapidly gained acceptance because of its perceived aesthetic benefits and patient satisfaction. The technical aspects of the procedure continue to evolve as the rate of nipple ischemia approaches 15% in most series. Blood supply to nipple-areolar complex (NAC) comes mainly from perforating branches off the internal mammary artery. Knowledge of their course is necessary to preserve the blood supply to the NAC. Identifications of predisposing factors are paramount to reducing these complications. These include morphological factors (large breasts, ptosis), periareolar incisions, radiation, tobacco smoking, and oncological resections.
Copula–entropy theory for multivariate stochastic modeling in water engineering

The copula–entropy theory combines the entropy theory and the copula theory. The entropy theory has been extensively applied to derive the most probable univariate distribution subject to specified constraints by applying the principle of maximum entropy. With the flexibility to model nonlinear dependence structure, parametric copulas (e.g., Archimedean, extreme value, meta-elliptical, etc.) have been applied to multivariate modeling in water engineering. This study evaluates the copula–entropy theory using a sample dataset with known population information and a flood dataset from the experimental watershed at the Walnut Gulch, Arizona. The study finds the following: (1) both univariate and joint distributions can be derived using the entropy theory. (2) The parametric copula fits the true copula better using empirical marginals than using fitted parametric/entropy-based marginals. This suggests that marginals and copula may be identified separately in which the copula is investigated with empirical marginals. (3) For a given set of constraints, the most entropic canonical copula (MECC) is unique and independent of the marginals. This allows the universal solution for the proposed analysis. (4) The MECC successfully models the joint distribution of bivariate random variables. (5) Using the “AND” case return period analysis as an example, the derived MECC captures the change of return period resulting from different marginals.
Early-Onset Sepsis

Early-onset sepsis (EOS) remains a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Even in the era of universal group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, EOS due to GBS and gram-negatives such as Escherichia coli is common. Both maternal and neonatal risk factors can be used to guide decisions regarding diagnostic evaluations and empiric antibiotic therapy for EOS. Prevention can be optimized by providing adequate prenatal care, reducing preterm deliveries, and providing intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis when warranted.
Global Smoothness Preservation and Simultaneous Approximation by Multivariate General Singular Integrals

In this chapter, we continue with the study of multivariate smooth general singular integral operators over R N , N ≥ 1, regarding their simultaneous global smoothness preservation property with respect to the L p norm, 1 ≤ p ≤ ∞, by involving multivariate higher order moduli of smoothness. Also, we present their multivariate simultaneous approximation to the unit operator with rates. The derived multivariate Jackson-type inequalities are almost sharp containing elegant constants, and they reflect the high order of differentiability of the engaged function. In the uniform case of global smoothness we prove optimality. At the end we list the multivariate Picard, Gauss–Weierstrass, Poisson–Cauchy and Trigonometric singular integral operators as applicators of this general theory. This chapter relies on [4].
Osunality, or African Sensuality: Going Beyond Eroticism

So what is African sensuality-sexuality as distinct from Western eroticism? What is it before the impact of Western hegemonic influences? This article addresses these questions not just to provide a baseline for analyzing Africa's contemporary ideas and attitudes towards sex, and for understanding the different ways of thinking about sexuality within the African spatial universe, but also for revealing the logic of those practices.
Toxic-shock syndrome: A commentary and review of the characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus strains

Toxic-shock syndrome (TSS) was first identified in 1978 in children as a toxin-mediated illness associated withStaphylococcus aureus. Extensive publicity ensued when the strong association of this disease with menses and tampon use was recognized in 1980. Since that time, investigation into the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and pathogenesis of TSS has coincided with a decreasing incidence of disease. A unique exotoxin has been isolated under varying physico-chemical conditions from TSS-associated strains ofS. aureus and its effect on immune function and other parameters bothin vitro andin vivo described. In addition, TSS-associatedS. aureus strains have been found to have characteristic heavy metal susceptibility patterns, to be lysogenized and to show decreased hemolysis on sheep blood agar. Preliminary results of the prevalence of TSS-associated strains ofS. aureus and of the theories of pathogenesis are reviewed.
Benchmarks of Duration and Magnitude of Opioid Consumption After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Database Analysis of 69,368 Patients.

Abstract Background Opioid prescribing after orthopedic surgeries varies widely, and there is little consensus establishing proper standards of care. This retrospective cohort study examines opioid prescribing trends following total hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty and evaluates preoperative opioid use as a predictor of duration and magnitude of postoperative opioid use. Methods Patients who underwent THA or TKA in a nationwide insurance database were stratified by preoperative opioid use. Naive, sporadic, and chronic users were defined as 0, 1, or 2+ prescriptions filled 6 months before surgery. Patients were excluded for readmission or subsequent surgery. Duration of opioid use was defined as time between the procedure and the last opioid prescription record, and magnitude of opioid use was defined as quantity of pills filled by 30 days postop. Results Naive patients were less likely than chronic users to fill any opioid prescription after surgery (THA: 61.5% naive vs 90.4% chronic, TKA: 72.0% naive vs 95.9% chronic), and they obtained fewer pills (THA: 73 pills naive vs 126 pills chronic, TKA: 86 pills naive vs 126 pills chronic, 5-mg oxycodone equivalent). Between 10% (THA) and 13% (TKA) of naive and between 47% (THA) and 62% (TKA) of chronic users continued opioid use at 1 year postop. Conclusion Chronic users obtain more opioids postoperatively and continue filling prescriptions for longer than naive patients. This work benchmarks norms regarding opioid use and furthermore these data highlight the powerful effect of opioid exposure during surgery as 10%-13% of naive patients continued opioids at 1 year postop.
New drugs for pharmacological extension of replicative life span in normal and progeroid cells

A high-throughput anti-aging drug screen was developed that simultaneously measures senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity and proliferation. Applied to replicatively pre-aged fibroblasts, this screen yielded violuric acid (VA) and 1-naphthoquinone-2-monoxime (N2N1) as its top two hits. These lead compounds extended the replicative life spans of normal and progeroid human cells in a dose-dependent manner and also extended the chronological life spans of mice and C. elegans. They are further shown here to function as redox catalysts in oxidations of NAD(P)H. They thus slow age-related declines in NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H ratios. VA participates in non-enzymatic electron transfers from NAD(P)H to oxidized glutathione or peroxides. N2N1 transfers electrons from NAD(P)H to cytochrome c or CoQ10 via NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone) 1 (NQO1). Our results indicate that pharmacologic manipulation of NQO1 activity via redox catalysts may reveal mechanisms of senescence and aging.
Ovine Hemisection Model of Spinal Cord Injury.

Introduction: We are developing ovine models of spinal cord injury to test novel neuromodulation-based methods on spasticity. The hemisection has been reported in a number of large animal studies. ...
Cholestatic liver disease results increased production of reactive aldehydes and an atypical periportal hepatic antioxidant response

Cholangiopathies such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are chronic liver diseases characterized by increased cholestasis, biliary inflammation and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of cholestatic injury on oxidative stress-related factors. Using hepatic tissue and whole cell liver extracts (LE) isolated from 11-week old C57BL/6J (WT) and Mdr2KO mice, inflammation and oxidative stress was assessed. Concurrently, specific targets of carbonylation were assessed in LE prepared from murine groups as well as from normal and human patients with end-stage PSC. Identified carbonylated proteins were further evaluated using bioinformatics analyses. Picrosirius red staining revealed extensive fibrosis in Mdr2KO liver, and fibrosis colocalized with increased periportal inflammatory cells and both acrolein and 4-HNE staining. Western blot analysis revealed elevated periportal expression of antioxidant proteins Cbr3, GSTμ, Prdx5, TrxR1 and HO-1 but not GCLC, GSTπ or catalase in the Mdr2KO group when compared to WT. From immunohistochemical analysis, increased periportal reactive aldehyde production colocalized with elevated staining of Cbr3, GSTμ and TrxR1 but surprisingly not with Nrf2. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed an increase in carbonylated proteins in the Mdr2KO and PSC groups compared to respective controls. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analysis of carbonylated proteins revealed a propensity for increased carbonylation of proteins broadly involved in metabolic processes as well more specifically in Rab-mediated signal transduction, lysosomes and the large ribosomal subunit in human PSC. Western blot analysis of Rab-GTPase expression revealed no significant differences in Mdr2KO mice when compared to WT livers. In contrast, PSC tissue exhibited decreased levels of Rabs 4, 5 and increased abundance of Rabs 6 and 9a protein. Results herein reveal that cholestasis induces stage-dependent increases in periportal oxidative stress responses and protein carbonylation, potentially contributing to pathogenesis in Mdr2KO. Furthermore, during early stage cholestasis, there is cell-specific upregulation of some but not all, antioxidant proteins.
Length of stay control: Is it a fair inventory management strategy in hotel market?:

According to past revenue management (RM) research, length of stay control (LOSC) plays a significant role in building effective RM systems and increasing revenues in the hotel industry. While LOSC...
Optimization of planting dates of Jalapeno pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Jalapeño' L.) and cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Ser.) relay cropped with strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne).

Florida strawberry growers frequently relay-crop (RC) vegetables with strawberry to offset high input costs. Relay-cropping consists of planting two crops at different times on the same raised bed which helps growers' lower risk due to diversification and maximize economic returns. Four separate experiments on relay cropping strawberry with jalapeno pepper and cantaloupe were conducted at Balm, Florida, in 2016-17 and 2017-18. The objective was to a) determine the effects of relay-cropping on crop yields, b) optimize pepper and cantaloupe planting date, and c) optimize the strawberry termination date when relay cropping with vegetables. Strawberry yields were unaffected by the presence of vegetables. Pepper yields were unaffected by the presence of strawberries, but cantaloupes yields were significantly (p = 0.0250) lower when planted with strawberry. Early January to early-February were the optimum dates to transplant pepper with strawberries transplanted in October but date of planting did not affect cantaloupe yield. Early January to early-February transplant dates for pepper resulted in net profits of around $23000-38000/ha in 2016-17 compared to the baseline treatment (strawberries alone). However, in 2017-18 all of the planting dates of pepper with strawberry except January 4 resulted in losses of $2000-18000/ha. In 2016-17, cantaloupes planted in late January and early February resulted in profits of $2986.3 and 2705.1/ha, respectively. All other planting dates resulted in loses compared to baseline treatment. In 2017-18, all the planting dates resulted in net profits of around $6700-14500/ha. In conclusion, cantaloupe and jalapeno pepper can be relay cropped with strawberry with no negative effects on strawberry yield. However, early planting dates tend to maximize economic return.
Promoting Preservice STEM Education Teachers' Metacognitive Awareness: Professional Development Designed to Improve Teacher Metacognitive Awareness.

This quantitative portion of a convergent complementarity, mixed-methods, exploratory study describes the design and implementation of a 5-week preservice teacher professional development (PD) experience and the associated Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) measures before and after the experience. The PD experience was designed to explicitly address participants’ domain-general and domain-specific knowledge and regulation of cognition through a highly integrated academic and clinical preparation regimen centered on a cognitive coaching model. The study participants comprised preservice STEM education teachers (N = 11) enrolled in a dual teaching certification and Master’s in Education program. The findings showed an increase in participants’ regulation of cognition based on all utilized factor structures of metacognitive awareness, but not all factor structures indicated a change in participants’ knowledge of cognition over the study period.
The Dangers of Ignoring History Lessons During a Pandemic

Mooney discusses Staub et al's observations of the response to the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic in Bern canton Switzerland, in which they suggest that the effectiveness of the US response in 1918-1919 was not exceptional A noteworthy aspect of Staub et al's analysis is its focus on morbidity, whereas other historical epidemiologic studies of the influenza pandemic have examined mortality The authors provide a detailed temporal and spatial account of how influenza stalked the people of Bern Nonpracticing physicians were forced back to work, and emergency hospitals were pressed into action Similar nonpharmaceutical interventions have been common during COVID-19, but in 1918-1919 Bern, there were no mask mandates and all businesses were allowed to operate Nevertheless, the canton-wide preventive actions taken in Bern in the summer of 1918 were associated with the containment of morbidity
Recurrent Emergence of an Antiviral Defense through Repeated Retrotransposition and Truncation of CHMP3

Most restriction factors directly recognize specific virus features to execute antiviral functions. In contrast, we recently discovered an antiviral protein, retroCHMP3, that instead impairs the host endosomal complexes required for transport (ESCRT) pathway to inhibit budding of diverse enveloped viruses, including HIV-1. The ESCRT pathway performs essential cellular functions, so ESCRT inhibition creates the potential for cytotoxicity. Here, we chart independent evolutionary courses of retroCHMP3 emergence and reduction of cytotoxicity in New World monkeys and Old World mice using ancestral reconstructions and functional analyses. Overexpression of full-length CHMP3 results in modest antiviral activity, which is enhanced by truncating mutations that eliminate an autoinhibitory domain but also increase cytotoxicity. We show that retroCHMP3 from squirrel monkeys acquired ancient missense mutations that mitigated cytotoxicity before gaining the activating truncation. In contrast, a truncating mutation arose soon after the independent appearance of murine retroCHMP3, but the variant also exhibits regulated expression by interferon signaling, illustrating distinct paths in the emergence of an antiviral function. Our identification of additional full-length, truncated, and degraded copies of mammalian retroCHMP3 genes reveals how retrogenes can repeatedly emerge in different species to independently create new immune functions.
Effects of Spectral Envelope and Fundamental Frequency Shifts on the Perception of Foreign-Accented Speech:

To investigate the role of spectral pattern information in the perception of foreign-accented speech, we measured the effects of spectral shifts on judgments of talker discrimination, perceived nat...
Vasoactive-Inotropic Score and Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal Score as Outcome Predictors for Children on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

We aimed to determine the association of Vasoactive-inotropic Score (VIS) and Vasoactive-Ventilation- Renal (VVR) score with in-hospital mortality and functional outcomes at discharge of children who receive ECMO. A sub-analysis of the multicenter, prospectively collected data by the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network (CPCCRN) for Bleeding and Thrombosis on ECMO (BATE database) was conducted. Of the 514 patients who received ECMO across eight centers from December 2012 to February 2016, 421 were included in analysis. Patients > 18 years of age, patients placed on ECMO directly from cardiopulmonary bypass or as an exit procedure, or patients with an invalid or missing VIS score were excluded. Higher VIS (OR=1.008, 95% CI: 1.002-1.014, p=0.011) and VVR (OR: 1.006, 95% CI: 1.001-1.012, p=0.023) were associated with increased mortality. VIS was associated with worse Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) (OR=1.027, 95% CI: 1.010-1.044, p=0.002) and Pediatric Overall Performance Category (POPC) score (OR=1.023, 95% CI: 1.009-1.038, p=0.002) at discharge. No association was found between VIS or VVR and Functional Status Score (FSS) at discharge. Using multivariable analyses, controlling for ECMO mode, ECMO location, ECMO indication, primary diagnosis, and chronic diagnosis, extremely high VIS and VVR were still associated with increased mortality.
Whole‐Product Concept

Products and services may be thought of as having different levels of importance to those who consume them. The whole-product concept considers (i) core customer benefits, (ii) the actual product/service, and (iii) the augmented (ancillary) product/service as comprising market offerings. The ability to differentiate products and services is possible by changing the actual product/service and the augmented product/service even when competitive products provide the same or similar benefits to customers. The whole-product concept and its three levels are discussed and examples are provided. Finally, the whole-product concept is related to customer value proposition. Keywords: whole-product concept; core customer benefit; actual product/service; augmented product/service; customer value
The Taxation of Spectrum Rights: Tools for Efficiency and Distribution

This paper examines the usual equity arguments for spectrum fees and notes where they may not necessarily achieve their ostensible distributional goals. It highlights the difference between establishing transfers from commercial users to taxpayers and generating net social benefits. The paper reviews the efficiency enhancing potential of fees in a second best context. In particular, it shows how fees could make the private opportunity costs of holding spectrum rights more closely resemble the social opportunity costs in a regulatory environment of substantial transactions costs to subdividing and transferring spectrum assets to higher and better uses. Finally, it reviews instances in which spectrum fees could provide substantial efficiency gains if they replace more distortionary command and control requirements, such as build-out requirements that specify the timing and scope of wireless service deployment. An optimal timing model shows that an ad valorem spectrum tax would unambiguously accelerate the time to build-out.
Text Categorization Using Weight Adjusted k-Nearest Neighbor Classification

Text categorization presents unique challenges due to the large number of attributes present in the data set, large number of training samples, attribute dependency, and multi-modality of categories. Existing classification techniques have limited applicability in the data sets of these natures. In this paper, we present a Weight Adjusted k-Nearest Neighbor (WAKNN) classification that learns feature weights based on a greedy hill climbing technique. We also present two performance optimizations of WAKNN that improve the computational performance by a few orders of magnitude, but do not compromise on the classification quality. We experimentally evaluated WAKNN on 52 document data sets from a variety of domains and compared its performance against several classification algorithms, such as C4.5, RIPPER, Naive-Bayesian, PEBLS and VSM. Experimental results on these data sets confirm that WAKNN consistently outperforms other existing classification algorithms.
Arrhythmias Related to Cardioversion

DC countershock abolished 92 of 101 episodes of atrial fibrillation in 86 patients, an incidence of 91 per cent. Supraventricular arrhythmias were not infrequent immediately after countershock. These were transient and did not complicate the procedure nor were they hazardous to the patient. On two occasions a slow atrioventricular nodal rhythm appeared followed by recurrence of atrial fibrillation a few hours later. Sinus node activity did not return in these patients. Ventricular tachycardia, fibrillation, or standstill did not occur in this series. The following arrhythmias were observed immediately after countershock but prior to the establishment of a regular sinus rhythm: atrioventricular dissociation, 12 times; passive atrioventricular nodal rhythm, five times; atrioventricular nodal tachycardia, five times; atrial flutter or tachycardia, four times. The conversion of fibrillation to flutter by countershock implies that the effect of the electric current was merely to shorten the length of the circu...
Radiofrequency Interstitial Tissue Ablation: Wet Electrode

Minimally invasive methods for destroying tissue have been investigated for more than a decade, and growing interest has emerged in small probe or needle ablative techniques. Many energy sources that freeze or heat tissue have been studied. This paper discusses radiofrequency (RF) thermal therapy as delivered by the saline-augmented ("wet" or virtual) electrode. The technique modifies the electric field distribution and the resultant heat deposition within tissues by interstitially infusing a highly conductive electrolyte solution during the application of RF energy. We consider the mechanism of action of the saline-augmented probe, with emphasis on tissue electrical impedance, temperature distributions, and how the fluid circumvents the limitations of standard "dry" probes. If optimized for the particular application, the wet electrode can produce small to large ablation volumes quickly and controllably with a single needle stick. Because there is no desiccation or extremely high temperature, the tissue is not subjected to a phase shift of carbonization, which may reduce post-treatment inflammation and improve healing. The liquid RF electrode will find applications in the interstitial treatment of various tissues, including tumors.
Shortness of breath in the postoperative patient.

*Division of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, †Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, ‡Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, and §Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts Reprint Address: Eric S. Nadel, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115
Officer perceptions of police responses to persons with a mental illness

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore police officer perceptions of their contacts with the mentally ill and examine outcomes of an innovative police training program designed to improve police handling of cases involving the mentally ill.Design/methodology/approach – The study utilizes a sample of 126 police officer respondents from five departments in northern Indiana to understand their perceptions of important aspects of their contacts with the mentally ill.Findings – Results show the actual dispositions for the mentally ill frequently do not match the outcomes officers desire, police training on responding to the mentally ill is not sufficient, and the training component of an innovative reform holds promise for improving officers' ability to respond to situations that involve the mentally ill.Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to one community and results may not generalize to communities with distinct mental health resources. Perceptions of police contacts with the...
Project-induced displacement, secondary stressors, and health.

It has been estimated that about 15 million people are displaced by development projects around the world each year. Despite the magnitude of people affected, research on the health and other impacts of project-induced displacement is rare. This study extends existing knowledge by exploring the short-term health impact of a large scale population displacement resulting from China’s Three Gorges Dam Project. The study is theoretically guided by the stress process model, but we supplement it with Cernea’s Impoverishment Risks and Reconstruction (IRR) model widely used in displacement literature. Our panel analysis indicates that the displacement is associated positively with relocatees’ depression level, and negatively with their self-rated health measured against a control group. In addition, a path analysis suggests that displacement also affects depression and self-rated health indirectly by changing social integration, socioeconomic status, and community resources. The importance of social integration as a protective mechanism, a factor that has been overlooked in past studies of population displacement, is highlighted in this study.
The Church's Vocation in Society through the Ministry of the Laity in the Languages of Their Daily Lives

: The vocation of the priesthood of all believers is rooted in the forgiveness of sins. We are freed for ministry. Grounded biblically and by the creeds, when we begin by using the images and vocabulary of daily life we can meet people where they are in their particular human problems, responding with the good news people can then really hear, empowering them for diverse ministries in a world in need.
Product of a DMF Aminalization, Bis[bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)(dimethylamino)methane]copper(II) Perchlorate−Bis(dichloromethane)

Bis[bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)(dimethylamino)methane]copper(II) perchlorate−bis(dichloromethane), Cu(II)(1)2(ClO4)2·2CH2Cl2 , 2, is the unanticipated product of the reaction of tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methylsilane, 3, with Cu(II)(DMF)4 (ClO4)2. In the title complex, the Cu(II)(1)2 cations exhibit a tetragonal Cu(II)N6 geometry arising from coordination of four pyrazole N atoms and two tertiary amine N atoms from two bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)(dimethylamino)methane ligands, 1. The tridentate (N)3 ligands 1 coordinate copper facially with one Cu−N (pyrazole) axial [Cu−N, 2.407(4) A] and the second equatorial [Cu−N, 1.995(4) A]; the cations exhibit crystallographic 2-fold symmetry that relates one ligand to the other. Cu(II)(1)2(ClO4)2·2CH2Cl2, CuC28H46Cl6N10O8·2CH2Cl2, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c, with a = 26.278(5) A, b = 8.835(2) A, c = 20.655(4) A, β = 120.73(3)°, Z = 4, and RF (RwF2) = 0.049 (0.122) for 1979 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). Crystals of 2 are stable in...
Examination of the laser-induced variations in the chemical etch rate of a photosensitive glass ceramic

Previous studies in our laboratory have reported that the chemical etch rate of a commercial photosensitive glass ceramic (FoturanTM, Schott Corp., Germany) in dilute hydrofluoric acid is strongly dependent on the incident laser irradiance during patterning at λ=266 nm and λ=355 nm. To help elucidate the underlying chemical and physical processes associated with the laser-induced variations in the chemical etch rate, several complimentary techniques were employed at various stages of the UV laser exposure and thermal treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to identify the crystalline phases that are formed in Foturan following laser irradiation and annealing, and monitor the crystalline content as a function of laser irradiance at λ=266 nm and λ=355 nm. The XRD results indicate the nucleation of lithium metasilicate (Li2SiO3) crystals as the exclusive phase following laser irradiation and thermal treatment at temperatures not exceeding 605 °C. The XRD studies also show that the Li2SiO3 density increases with increasing laser irradiance and saturates at high laser irradiance. For our thermal treatment protocol, the average Li2SiO3 crystal diameters are 117.0±10.0 nm and 91.2±5.8 nm for λ=266 nm and λ=355 nm, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was utilized to examine the microscopic structural features of the lithium metasilicate crystals. The TEM results reveal that the growth of lithium metasilicate crystals proceeds dendritically, and produces Li2SiO3 crystals that are ∼700–1000 nm in length for saturation exposures. Optical transmission spectroscopy (OTS) was used to study the growth of metallic silver clusters that act as nucleation sites for the Li2SiO3 crystalline phase. The OTS results show that the (Ag0)x cluster concentration has a dependence on incident laser irradiance that is similar to the etch rate ratios and Li2SiO3 concentration. A comparison between the XRD and optical transmission results and our prior etch rate results show that the etch rate contrast and absolute etch rates are dictated by the Li2SiO3 concentration, which is in turn governed by the (Ag0)x cluster concentration. These results characterize the relationship between the laser exposure and chemical etch rate for Foturan, and permit a more detailed understanding of the photophysical processes that occur in the general class of photostructurable glass ceramic materials. Consequently, these results may also influence the laser processing of other photoactive materials.
About Pakistan and Bangladesh

Book reviewed in this article: A Family in Pakistan: Ailsa Scarsbrook and Alan Scarsbrook Focus on Pakistan: Mano Rumalshah Pakistan and Bangladesh: Nicholas Nugent
Characterization of the pH-mediated solubility of Bacillus thuringiensis var. san diego native δ-endotoxin crystals

Native crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis var. san diego, a coleopteran-specific delta-endotoxin, were metabolically labelled with [35S]methionine. Specific activity was 82,000 CPM/micrograms (2.44 Ci/mmol). Using a universal buffer formulated with the same ionic strength at every pH, we determined that native crystals dissolve above pH 10 and below pH 4. At the acidic pH, the rate of solubilization was substantially slower than at the alkaline pH. Recrystallization rates for the toxin were similar regardless of solubilization conditions. The banding patterns in denatured polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were unaffected by solubilization conditions. Toxicity was higher for soluble toxin compared to crystal toxin, but virtually identical for the acidic and alkaline produced solutions. Acid solubilization is significant because of the acidic midgut of susceptible Coleoptera.
A General Database for DNA Sequence Changes Induced by Mutagenesis of Several Bacterial and Mammalian Genes

This electronic database is a collection of 225 sets of data on mutations in more than twenty-three thousand mutants (October, 1995) in eleven bacterial genes, five mammalian genes and one gene in yeast cells. Each dataset consists of the changes in DNA sequence in the mutants, typically tens to hundreds, induced by mutagenesis of a particular cell line under specific conditions. The database is available on the Internet and on diskettes, and is periodically updated. Researchers are invited to submit additional data. A data entry program, MUTSIN, is available that diagrams each mutation on the computer screen as entered and alerts the user to any inconsistency between the entry and the wild type gene sequence.
Role of Ser-53 phosphorylation in the activity of human translation initiation factor eIF-4E in mammalian and yeast cells

Abstract Eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF-4E is essential for protein synthesis and cell viability. eIF-4E participates in formation of an m7GTP-cap binding protein complex that mediates association of 40S ribosomal subunits with mRNAs, which occurs only when eIF-4E is phosphorylated. Regulation of eIF-4E by phosphorylation was thought to occur on Ser53, although results potentially inconsistent with phosphorylation of this site have been reported. To resolve whether Ser53 is phosphorylated, and if so whether it regulates eIF-4E activity, we directly examined whether Ser53 is a site for phophorylation of mammalian eIF-4E in human and yeast cells. Wild-type (wt) human eIF-4E protein variants, Ser53→Asp53 or Ser53→Ala53, were constructed and analyzed by overproduction in transfected human 293/T-Ag cells, or in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in which the endogenous eIF-4E gene was disrupted. Wt eIF-4E and Ser53 mutants functioned equally well in protein synthesis in both systems, and were phosphorylated to the same extent. Most importantly, the wt and Ser53 mutants of human eIF-4E produced identical tryptic phophopeptide patterns in human cells, and identical but more complicated patterns in yeast. These data demonstrate that Ser53 is not a requisite activating site for phosphorylation of mammalian eIF-4E in human or yeast cells, under conditions in which it participates in protein synthesis.
Surface-catalyzed growth of polymethylene-rich copolymer films on gold.

We report the preparation of a new class of copolymer films that consist of polymethylene (PM) with a low percentage (∼1−4%) of randomly distributed ethyl ester side groups, consistent with poly(methylene-co-ethyl acetate). The films are prepared through a surface-catalyzed polymerization on gold surfaces upon exposure to a dilute solution of diazomethane (DM) and ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) in ether at 0 °C. While EDA alone does not polymerize at gold surfaces but DM does decompose on gold to grow PM films, the combined presence of EDA and DM results in dramatic enhancements in film growth and promotes an alternative mechanism for propagation as compared with that for the PM homopolymerization. The rate of copolymer film growth is constant over a ∼24 h period, consistent with a controlled polymerization in which chain terminations are minimized. Carefully controlled experiments indicate that chain propagation does not occur at the outer film−solvent interface, but more likely, at the film−metal interface, s...
Temperature control for aerospace test systems - modeling, simulation and design case study

Temperature testing of aerospace surfaces and materials requires raising the temperature via air heat transfer to over 2,500 F°. Quarts lamps or graphite heating elements emit infrared waves that create the needed heat flux at the surface of the specimen that is usually divided into zones for different desired heating profiles. Heating elements activation pattern, arrangement of the elements and the shape and material of the specimen influence the temperature at its surface at a given time. Transfer of heat by convection between zones, radiation from neighboring heating elements, dynamics of heat flux and air turbulences pose significant challenges when designing a universal test cell. The heating test usually follows a ramping up/down profile, which calls for implementing a tracking control system. This paper presents mathematical modeling, simulation and control system design practices in a case study format where typical test data are utilized. Inherent system non-linearity and practical implementation aspects are addressed.
On the Photodisintegration of Beryllium and Deuterium

High voltage x-rays have been used to redetermine the thresholds for the photodisintegration of beryllium and deuterium nuclei, giving 1.627\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.010 Mv and 2.183\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.012 Mv, respectively. The ratio of the two cross sections ($\frac{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{Be}}}{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{D}}}$) at 15 kv above the threshold voltage is approximately 10. The angular distribution of the neutrons from the photodisintegration of deuterium has been investigated, with x-rays of 2.43 Mev maximum energy, and found to be approximately isotropic. On the basis of these data, the value of the ratio of the photomagnetic to photoelectric cross section is estimated to be 6 to 1.
Vitamin D metabolism in chronic childhood hypoparathyroidism: Evidence for a direct regulatory effect of calcium

We noted the presence of elevated, levels of circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (83 pg/ml (200 pmol/L)), with low total serum calcium concentration (6.5 mg/dl (1.88 mmol/L)), in an untreated adolescent boy with hypoparathyroidism. Furthermore, an inverse relationship between total serum calcium and circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels was evident during treatment with 1,25-dihydoxyvitamin D 3 . We examined this relationship with a 33-hour intravenous infusion of calcium gluconate in the absence of exogenous 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 therapy. The infusion was accompanied by a gradual increase of both total serum calcium and blood ionized calcium concentrations from hypocalcemic to normocalcemic ranges, and produced a 50% reduction ciruulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D values, with minimum changes in circulating phosphorus, magnesium, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D values. These results suggest that calcium-dependent, parathyroid hormone-independent regulation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D production may exist in human beings.
Synthesis of concurrent object manipulation tasks

We introduce a physics-based method to synthesize concurrent object manipulation using a variety of manipulation strategies provided by different body parts, such as grasping objects with the hands, carrying objects on the shoulders, or pushing objects with the elbows or the torso. We design dynamic controllers to physically simulate upper-body manipulation and integrate it with procedurally generated locomotion and hand grasping motion. The output of the algorithm is a continuous animation of the character manipulating multiple objects and environment features concurrently at various locations in a constrained environment. To capture how humans deftly exploit different properties of body parts and objects for multitasking, we need to solve challenging planning and execution problems. We introduce a graph structure, a manipulation graph, to describe how each object can be manipulated using different strategies. The problem of manipulation planning can then be transformed to a standard graph traversal. To achieve the manipulation plan, our control algorithm optimally schedules and executes multiple tasks based on the dynamic space of the tasks and the state of the character. We introduce a "task consistency" metric to measure the physical feasibility of multitasking. Furthermore, we exploit the redundancy of control space to improve the character's ability to multitask. As a result, the character will try its best to achieve the current tasks while adjusting its motion continuously to improve the multitasking consistency for future tasks.
FLORAL ONTOGENY IN CYCLAMEN PERSICUM ‘F-1 ROSEMUNDE ROSE’ (PRIMULACEAE)

Floral ontogeny was examined in Cyclamen persicum 'F-1 Rosemunde Rose' using a combination of light and scanning electron microscopy. The leaf plastochron index (LPI), earlier calculated for leaf elongation, was used to determine the length of each stage of floral development. LPI will provide a useful tool for selecting flowers of a given stage from large plant populations or from plants where flowers are small or inaccessible during early ontogenetic stages. Most features of floral development are similar to those previously described for other primulaceous genera. The petal-stamen relationship, however, is unusual; stamens arise through periclinal cell divisions in the adaxial surface layers of common petal-stamen primordia. Anatomical evidence suggests that the placenta is formed both by appendicular initials which give rise to the ovules and ventral carpellary bundles, and receptacular cells which form some, if not all- of the central axis. FLORAL ONTOGENY in the Primulaceae is of interest particularly because of the atypical petal-stamen relationship and because of the free-central placenta. In this family the stamens have been described as being initiated prior to the petals with the latter organs arising from the abaxial surface of the former. This relationship was first described by Duchartre (1844) and confirmed by Gressner (1874) in
The safety of flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing (FEESST): an analysis of 500 consecutive evaluations.

We assessed the safety of a new office or bedside method of evaluating both the motor and sensory components of swallowing called flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing (FEESST). FEESST combines the established endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with a technique that determines laryngopharyngeal sensory discrimination thresholds by endoscopically delivering air-pulse stimuli to the mucosa innervated by the superior laryngeal nerve. Endoscopic assessment of laryngopharyngeal sensory capacity followed by endoscopic visualization of deglutition was prospectively performed 500 times in 253 patients with dysphagia over a 2.5-year period in a tertiary care center. The patients had a variety of underlying diagnoses, with stroke and chronic neurological disease predominating (n= 155). To determine the safety of FEESST, the presence of epistaxis, airway compromise, and significant changes in heart rate before and after the evaluation were assessed. Patients were also asked to rate the level of discomfort of the examination; 498 evaluations were completed. There were three instances of epistaxis that were self-limited. There were no cases of airway compromise. There were no significant differences in heart rate between pre- and posttest measurements (p > 0.05). Eighty-one percent of patients noted either no discomfort or mild discomfort as a result of the examination. In conclusion, FEESST is a safe method of evaluating dysphagia in the tertiary care setting and may also have application for the chronic care setting.
Note on Virtual Phonon Processes in Thermal Accommodation

It is shown that the effect of the inclusion of virtual phonon processes accompanying a real single-phonon emission or absorption in calculating the accommodation coefficient for noble-gas atoms impinging on a metal surface is negligible. This result contradicts the conclusion of a recently published calculation.
Prison sexology: Two personal accounts of masturbation, homosexuality, and rape

Abstract As revealed in two unrelated reports from prison inmates, the sexology of all‐male incarceration subdivides into masturbation, wet dreams, and partner contacts in association with heterosexual imagery; consenting homosexual pairing with one partner exclusively androphilic and the other bisexual; coercive partnerships with one partner dominating but not injuring the other and neither being permanently and exclusively androphilic; and violent homosexual rape. The long‐term outcomes of prison celibacy and homosexuality are not presently known. These outcomes need to be studied systematically and prospectively. It is suggested that it is illogical to punish sex offenders by incarcerating them in an environment that breeds sex offending. A system of conjugal visitation, and possibly of family living in prison, is a more logical, and probably the only alternative to institutionalized sexual brutality and homosexuality that is situationally evoked.
Coping Mechanisms as Antecedents of Justice and Organization Citizenship Behaviors: A Multi-Focal Perspective of the Social Exchange Relationship

The purpose of this study was to examine approach and avoidance coping strategies in the context of a natural disaster as antecedents of justice and organizational citizenship behavior. Using a multi-focal perspective of social exchange theory, the study uses both reciprocity and rationality to enhance the theoretical underpinnings of behavior in a justice context. Survey data was collected from full-time employees who had experienced a hurricane three weeks earlier (n = 255). The differences between approach and avoidance coping are clear in the results suggesting that coping strategy helps account for individual differences in justice perceptions. Findings demonstrated that employees who use approach coping strategies had higher perceptions of justice and higher levels of organizational citizenship behavior while employees who use avoidance coping strategies had lower perceptions of justice and lower levels of organizational citizenship behavior. This has implications for employers who could introduce coping skills training as a practical means of assisting employees in a disaster situation.