cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sexual Orientation Self-Concept Ambiguity and Alcohol Use Disorder Symptomology: The Roles of Motivated Psychological Distancing and Drinking to Cope.

Objective:Women whose sexual identity is not exclusively heterosexual are at risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and problematic drinking. A textual analytic approach focusing on motivated psychological distancing in language style use was used to detect sexual minority women who are at greatest risk for an AUD.Method:Young adult women (N = 254) were asked to complete a self-report measure of sexual orientation self-concept ambiguity as well as free-write about their sexuality. In addition, they completed a questionnaire assessing AUD symptoms according to criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) program assessed language markers within participant-written essays that reflected acute states of aversive self-focus (i.e., fewer first-person pronouns, fewer present-tense verbs).Results:Drinking to cope with negative affectivity mediated the relationship between sexual orientation self-concept ambiguity and AUD symptom...
Maximizing revenue from electrical energy storage in MISO energy & frequency regulation markets

FERC Order 755 requires RTO/ISOs to compensate the frequency regulation resources based on the actual regulation service provided. Based on this rule, a resource is compensated by a performance-based payment including a capacity payment which accounts for its provided regulation capacity and a performance payment which reflects the quantity and accuracy of its regulation service. The RTO/ISOs have been implementing different market rules to comply with FERC Order 755. This paper focuses on the MISO's implementation and presents the calculations to maximize the potential revenue of electrical energy storage (EES) from participation in arbitrage and frequency regulation in the day-ahead market using linear programming. A case study was conducted for the Indianapolis Power & Light's 20MW/20MWh EES at Harding Street Generation Station based on MISO historical data from 2014 and 2015. The results showed the maximum revenue was primarily produced by frequency regulation.
Category representations in the brain are both discretely localized and widely distributed

Whether visual category information is localized in unique domain-specific brain regions or distributed in many domain-general brain regions is hotly contested. We resolve this debate by using mult...
Determinants of human glucokinase activation and implications for small molecule allosteric control.

Abstract Glucokinase (GK) is an enzyme that catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of glucose to form glucose-6-phosphate, and it is a tightly regulated checkpoint in glucose homeostasis. GK is known to undergo substantial conformational changes upon glucose binding. The monomeric enzyme possesses a highly exotic kinetic activity profile with an unusual sigmoidal dependence on glucose concentration. In this interdisciplinary study, which draws on small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) integrated with 250 ns of atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and experimental glucose binding thermodynamics, we reveal that the critical regulation of this glucose sensor is due to a solvent controlled “switch”. We demonstrate that the “solvent switch” is driven by specific protein structural dynamics, which leads to an enzyme structure that has a much more favorable solvation energy than most of the protein ensemble. These findings uncover the physical workings of an agile and flexible protein scaffold, which derives its long-range allosteric control through specific regions with favorable solvation energy. The physiological framework presented herein provides insights that have direct implications for the design of small molecule GK activators as anti-diabetes therapeutics as well as for understanding how proteins can be designed to have built-in regulatory functions via solvation energy dynamics.
Prospective Peer Review in Surgical Pathology

Quality assurance (QA) in surgical pathology has focused primarily on retrospective audits of randomly selected cases. The authors describe an effective method of prospective audit for a selected class of surgical specimens--diagnostic biopsies--and document the benefits, additional staff time required and impact on turnaround time. Additionally, these results were compared with a retrospective review. During a 6-month period, all diagnostic surgical pathology biopsies (n = 2,694, 55% of all cases) were reviewed by a second pathologist before release of the final report. Errors detected were subdivided into four categories: (1) major: errors in diagnosis that could directly affect patient care; (2) diagnostic discrepancies: errors in diagnosis that should not affect patient care; (3) minor: correct diagnosis rendered, but report correction required to add supportive information; (4) clerical: typographical and grammatical errors. Thirty-two major errors were found, involving 1.2% of cases reviewed. This manner of review caused an increase in overall turnaround time from 1.62 days to 1.79 days, and an increase in turnaround time for diagnostic biopsies from 1.44 days to 1.50 days. Time spent in performing prospective peer review averaged 4 hours per day. For comparison, results were included from a retrospective review performed on 480 of the 5,556 cases accessioned in a 6-month period before the institution of prospective quality assurance. This retrospective review revealed eight major errors (1.7%). In conclusion, the prospective peer review of diagnostic biopsies yields sufficient benefits in increased accuracy of diagnostic reports to justify the slight increase in additional work by pathologists.
Listening in noise.

For all animals that hear, the detection of a sound source depends on, among other things, the amount or level of the potentially interfering sounds (maskers) that exist simultaneously with the sound to be detected (“signal”). The potentially interfering sounds are generically referred to as “noise,” whereas the sound of interest to be detected is generically referred to as the “signal.” “Signals” and “noise” may be any sounds at all under the usual circumstances of a fish listening for critical environmental information. For example, the “signal” may be a noise waveform that conveys information that the fish needs to acquire to increase awareness of its surroundings so that it can behave appropriately with respect to its source. The interfering “noise” waveform may likewise be a wide band, narrow band, or a tonelike sound (e.g., a sonar sound) with an arbitrary spectrum.
Intestinal epithelial cell-specific Raptor is essential for high fat diet-induced weight gain in mice.

Abstract Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a major regulator of cell growth and proliferation through fuel sensing. Systemic inhibition of mTOR as well as manipulation of its downstream products prevent diet-induced obesity. The purpose of this study was to determine the consequences of intestine-targeted mTORC1 inhibition. To attenuate intestinal mTORC1 activity, Villin-CreER mice were crossed with Raptorflox/flox mice, creating an intestinal-specific Raptor null line (i-Raptor −/−). Mice were fed a high fat diet (HFD) and compositional changes as well as food intake levels were assessed. Over a five-week time course, i-Raptor −/− mice consistently gained less body weight on a HFD compared to wildtype (WT) mice secondary to significantly reduced food intake. Importantly, the i-Raptor −/− mice did not appear to be malnourished, demonstrated by their preservation of lean body mass. i-Raptor −/− mice also maintained a normal metabolic profile without significant changes in triglyceride or fasting glucose levels. Further investigation revealed that GDF-15 mRNA expression was significantly enhanced in i-Raptor −/− enterocytes when refed with HFD after overnight starvation. In summary, our study establishes that loss of intestinal specific-mTORC1 is protective of the development of diet-induced obesity by reducing food intake without altering the metabolic profile.
A Subgrid Algorithm for the Efficient Modeling of Plasma-Based Accelerators with Ion Motion Using Quasi-Static Particle-in-Cell Codes

Ion motion has a strong impact on the quality preservation of electron beams in plasma-based colliders. While being crucial for the advance of plasma-based accelerators, the modeling of the physics of interest is highly challenging due to the large disparity of the relevant transverse length scales. To correctly model plasma-based collider schemes with ion motion, a high transverse resolution must be employed in particle-in-cell simulations, which, conventionally, entails significant computational costs. By introducing a refined subgrid in the witness beam region in a quasi-static particle-in-cell code, significant computational savings can be achieved. This numerical approach allows for the accurate modeling of plasma-based colliders with ion motion in the blowout regime while allowing for an orders of maznitude computational speedup.
Estimating Internal Migration in Contemporary Mexico and its Relevance in Gridded Population Distributions

Given downward trends in fertility and mortality, population dynamics –and thus theestimation of spatially-explicit population dynamics and gridded population and derivativeproducts– are increasingly sensitive to mobility processes and their changes in spatiality. In thispaper, we present a procedure to produce origin-destination intermunicipal/intercounty andinterstate migration matrices, briefly discussing their use and application in gridded populationproducts. To illustrate our approach, we produce total and sex-specific matrices with informationfrom the 2000 and 2010 Mexican Census long-form 10% surveys. We share the code required toreproduce the extraction of these and for potentially at least another 122 country-periods based onharmonized publicly-available data from IPUMS International, which allow for the addition ofancillary social and economic data and individual and household levels, or IPUMS Terra, whichfurther allow for GIS-based mapping, visualization, and manipulation and for the merging ofimportant contextual, e.g., environmental, data. Besides discussing the likely limitations of thesemeasures, using official projections from the Mexican government, we illustrate howmigration/mobility data improve the estimation of spatial/gridded population dynamics. We wrapup with a call for the collection of more adequate, spatially-explicit data on residential mobility andmigration globally.
La recta provincia de Raúl Ruiz: la errancia y el conjuro de los espectros

A partir de una problematizacion de la cuestion de la “errancia cinematografica” –que para Deleuze significaba el paso de la imagen-movimiento a la imagen-tiempo-, nos proponemos interpretar una cierta produccion del cine de Raul Ruiz interesada en la representacion cinematografica del folklore chileno y latinoamericano como un modo en virtud del cual el cineasta chileno incidio en su tratamiento profundo y original de la espectralidad en el cine, en tanto via de acceso a una definicion utopica del mismo.
Busulfan Pharmacokinetics and Precision Dosing: Are Patients with Fanconi Anemia Different?

ABSTRACT It is well known that pharmacokinetics (PK)-guided busulfan (BU) dosing increases engraftment rates and lowers hepatotoxicity in patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). However, there are no published PK data in patients with Fanconi anemia (FA), who are known to have baseline DNA repair defect and related inherent sensitivity to chemotherapy. In our prospective, multi-institutional study of alternative donor HCT for FA using chemotherapy-only conditioning, we replaced the single dose of total-body irradiation with BU at initial doses of 0.8 to 1.0 mg/kg and 0.6 to 0.8 mg/kg given i.v. every 12 hours for 4 doses. Patients received the first dose of i.v. busulfan on day –8, and blood levels for PK were obtained. PK samples were drawn following completion of infusion. BU PK levels were collected at 2 hours, 2 hours and 15 minutes, and 4, 5, 6, and 8 hours from the start of infusion. The remaining 3 doses of BU were given on days –7 and –6. Thirty-seven patients with available BU PK data with a median age of 9.2 years (range, 4.3 to 44 years) are included in the final analyses. The overall BU PK profile in patients with FA is similar to non-FA patients after considering their body weight. In our cohort, a strong correlation between BU clearance and weight supports current practice of per kilogram dosing. However, not surprisingly, we show that the disease (ie, host) sensitivity related to FA is the main determinant of total dose of BU that can be safely administered to patients in this high-risk population. On the basis of our results, we propose an optimal BU concentration at steady-state level of ≤350 ng/mL (equivalent to total cumulative exposure of 16.4 mg*h/L for 4 doses over 2 days) for patients with FA undergoing HCT. To our knowledge, this is the first and largest report of prospective BU PK in patients with FA undergoing HCT, providing an optimal BU target cutoff to achieve stable donor engraftment while avoiding excessive toxicity.
China’s enterprises in Africa: Market entry strategies, implications for capacity building, and corporate social responsibility

Abstract. The quest for Africa’s natural resources can be traced when the Portuguese set foot on African soil some 600 years. This was followed by Western Europeans and now China. Africa is endowed with huge reserves of mineral and natural resources. These have been the constant attraction to foreign countries seeking to control these natural resources and trading. Globalization further made the new scramble for Africa eminent. New plays including China are developing and employing new strategies on how to enter and control these new markets. Chinese enterprises employ the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) market entry strategies to penetrate the African Market. This has alarmed the West. Keywords. China’s enterprises, Corporate social responsibility, Africa, Markets, natural resources, Export-import bank, London inter-bank offered rates, Entry strategies, One belt, One road (OBOR), Belt and road initiative (BRI), UN, West, EU, ILO. JEL. C32, C53, E44, G21.
Ocular Diseases with Aortic Involvement

Although rare, some serious aortic diseases, including aneurysms, dissection, and arteritis, can be initially discovered by a good ophthalmologic exam. This will be a brief summary of some of these examples.
Exploring Passive and Active Metamodeling-Based Reliability Analysis Methods for Soil Slopes: A New Approach to Active Training

AbstractFor geotechnical systems involving complex behaviors and significant uncertainties, metamodeling-based reliability methods based on fixed designs of experiment (passive metamodeling methods...
Utilizing Community Engagement Studios to inform patient experience in a multicenter randomized control trial.

Abstract Objective To determine whether a community engagement approach can provide feedback for implementation of valuable measures to improve the outcome of a clinical trial. Methods Review of the results from a Community Engagement Studio (CE Studio) for the ValEAR trial: an NIH-funded, multi-institutional study designed to research the efficacy of valganciclovir in the treatment of congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV)-induced hearing loss. Participants were given information about the trial then asked a series of questions to assess their input on the merits or weaknesses affecting their participation in the trial. Results Thirteen parents whose children have congenital CMV infection were recruited for the CE Studio. The overall theme from the responses was a desire to advance the field but a need to clearly understand the risks and benefits of participation. Many requested more educational resources, more printed materials, or greater access to researchers if questions arose. Many welcomed having patient stories and information displayed in a dedicated website or through social media. Conclusion This community engagement approach provided useful feedback from families similar to those expected to be potential enrollees in the CMV ValEAR trial. In response to parental comments, two educational videos were created: one on the general topic of cCMV and the other specific to the CMV ValEAR trial. Researchers who wish to optimize their clinical trial's success should consider incorporating a CE Studio into their study design.
Chapter 6 – Inlets

Publisher Summary This Chapter explains the inlet. In a jet engine, it is the first component on the engine and interacts directly with the atmosphere. An inlet must handle a wide range of mass flow, duct air to the engine with low total pressure loss and low drag, diffuse the flow over its length to high pressure and low Mach number, minimize distortions in the flow field exiting the inlet and in addition below weight, small size, and mechanically simple. Inlet mass flow performance, pressure performance, subsonic inlets, and supersonic inlets also find discussion in this chapter. Internal compression inlet operation is described with an example for the readers benefit. Additive drag, external compression inlets, external mixed compression inlets with are given with examples in some cases. Finally hypersonic flight considerations are calculated for inlets for jet engines. In summation, inlets and their significance and workings are thoroughly discussed here.
The impact of distance and the crow hop on medial elbow stress during an interval throwing program

Objectives:Rehabilitation programs following ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction include an interval throwing program in order to gradually increase stress and prevent excessive elbow valgus l...
Predictive Management of Electric Vehicles in a Community Microgrid

The charging load from Electric vehicles (EVs) is modeled as deferrable load, meaning that the power consumption can be shifted to different time windows to achieve various grid objectives. In local community scenarios, EVs are considered as controllable storage devices in a global optimization problem together with other microgrid components, such as the building load, renewable generations, and battery energy storage system, etc. Various objectives have been investigated before, such as following a given load profile, reducing load fluctuation and minimizing the total operational cost. However, the uncertainties inside the behaviors of individual drivers have tremendous impact on the cost effectiveness of microgrid operations, which have not been carefully studied. In this paper, we propose a predictive management strategy in a community microgrid, using datasets of system base load, solar generation and EV charging behaviors from real-world cases. Two stage operations are modeled for cost-effective EV management, i.e. wholesale market partition in the first stage and load profile following in the second stage. Predictive control strategies, including receding horizon control, are adapted to solve the energy allocation problem in a decentralized fashion. The experimental results indicate the proposed approach can considerably reduce the total energy cost and decrease the ramping index of total system load up to 56.3%.
Characterizing the regenerative capacity and growth patterns of the Texas blind salamander (Eurycea rathbuni)

Background Regeneration of complex patterned structures is well described amongst, although limited to a small sampling of, amphibians. This limitation impedes our understanding of the full range of regenerative competencies within this class of vertebrates, according to phylogeny, developmental life stage and age. To broaden the phylogenetic breath of this research, we characterized the regenerative capacity of the Texas blind salamander (Eurycea rathbuni), a protected salamander native to the Edwards Aquifer of San Marcos, Texas and colonized by the San Marcos Aquatic Resource Center. As field observations suggested regenerative abilities in this population, the forelimb stump of a live captured female was amputated in the hopes of restoring the structure, and thus locomotion in the animal. Tails were clipped from two males to additionally document tail regeneration. Results We show that the Texas blind salamander exhibits robust limb and tail regeneration, like all other studied Plethodontidae. Regeneration in this species is associated with wound epithelium formation, blastema formation and subsequent patterning and differentiation of the regenerate. Conclusions The study has shown that the Texas blind salamander is a valuable model to study regenerative processes, and that therapeutic surgeries offer a valuable means to help maintain and conserve this vulnerable species. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Effects of a Multicomponent Peer Mediated Intervention on Social Communication of Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The absence of direct intervention and peer and staff training can contribute to social isolation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Effective interventions are needed to realize the ...
Effect of Truvada lawsuit advertising on preexposure prophylaxis attitudes and decisions among sexual and gender minority youth and young adults at risk for HIV

Objective In 2019, US advocates reported misleading language regarding the safety of TDF/FTC (Truvada) used by lawsuit advertisements against Gilead Sciences. We sought to ascertain the reach and effects of the advertisements on preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) opinions and decisions in a cohort of youth and young adults at-risk for HIV. Design An online survey was administered to participants enrolled in Keeping it LITE, a prospective US cohort study of ethnically diverse, sexually active, cisgender and transgender persons ages 13-37. Methods Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis in SAS, and qualitative data via thematic analysis. Results Survey response rate was 51.3% (n = 1485). Mean age at baseline was 24. Previous PrEP use was reported by 43% of respondents and 32.7% reported PrEP use in the past 6 months. Almost half (48.7%) were aware of the lawsuit. Most of these participants (81.3%) reported the advertisements did not impact their PrEP use, but 13.2% decided to not to begin a Truvada-based PrEP regimen and 5.5% decided to stop taking Truvada due to the advertisements claims. Predictors of changing PrEP behavior were lower education and no previous PrEP use. The qualitative analysis revealed the advertisements increased skepticism about safety and benefit of Truvada PrEP and led to greater distrust of the pharmaceutical industry. Conclusion The advertisements reached a large, diverse US audience. Disturbingly, 18.7% of PrEP candidates who were aware of the lawsuit attributed not initiating or cessation of a Truvada-based PrEP regimen to exposure to the Truvada lawsuit advertisements.
Low Red Light:Far Red Light Inhibits Branching by Promoting Auxin Signaling

The branching trait is influenced by various environmental signals, including the Red light:Far Red light (R:FR), an indicator of competition and an inhibitor of axillary bud growth. Branch development is influenced by an array of hormones, including auxin which indirectly suppresses bud growth as a consequence of auxin transport and signaling in the main stem. The suppressive effect of auxin sourced from the shoot apex and transported basipetally is a major mechanism contributing to apical dominance, a form of correlative inhibition where superior growing points restrict the growth of those lower on the plant. The current study shows that increased apical dominance is a mechanism that suppresses the branching of plants grown in a low R:FR. The elevated apical dominance was not due to increased levels of the natural auxin IAA, but was associated with enhanced expression of auxin-induced genes both in the presence and absence of exogenous auxin. A direct test of bud sensitivity to auxin confirmed that a low R:FR promoted auxin responsiveness leading to reduced bud growth. Thus, the low R:FR enhancement of auxin sensitivity is a mechanism that contributes to the reduced branching phenotype of plants growing in competitive environments.
Tax Measures in Response to the Brain Drain

Emigration results in the loss of skilled manpower for many countries. The widespread movement of skilled workers (PTKs) from less developed countries (LDCs) to developed countries (DCs) is particularly concerning. This emigration, referred to as the “brain drain”, creates two major concerns for LDCs: (1) slowing economic development, and (2) exploitation by DCs. As a result, LDCs have a growing resentment toward DCs, which leads to irrational discussion and a lack of solutions. The absence of reliable statistics has also greatly impeded progress. This article discusses proposals for solutions to the brain drain issue. Part I addresses the problem, and analyzes two theories of the brain drain: the internationalist and nationalist theories. DC economists promote the internationalist theory, whereas the LDCs espouse the nationalist theory. Section II proposes three types of solutions to the brain drain: (1) tax incentives to encourage voluntary contributions by PTKs and their employers to LDCs, (2) a special tax on PTKs levied by either the LDCs or the United Nations, and (3) a United Nations assessment of immigration on the DCs. Section III applauds the efforts of Professor Bhagwati, and urges the consideration of a United Nations assessment on DCs and tax incentives for voluntary contributions to LDCs. The article concludes by explaining that the recent UNCTAD meeting represented an important step toward consensus between the LDCs and DCs, even if the DCs are unlikely to adopt any of the proposals.
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs): Regulation, homeostasis, and oxidative stress response

Ubiquitin signaling is a conserved, widespread, and dynamic process in which protein substrates are rapidly modified by ubiquitin to impact protein activity, localization, or stability. To regulate this process, deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) counter the signal induced by ubiquitin conjugases and ligases by removing ubiquitin from these substrates. Many DUBs selectively regulate physiological pathways employing conserved mechanisms of ubiquitin bond cleavage. DUB activity is highly regulated in dynamic environments through protein–protein interaction, posttranslational modification, and relocalization. The largest family of DUBs, cysteine proteases, are also sensitive to regulation by oxidative stress, as reactive oxygen species (ROS) directly modify the catalytic cysteine required for their enzymatic activity. Current research has implicated DUB activity in human diseases, including various cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. Due to their selectivity and functional roles, DUBs have become important targets for therapeutic development to treat these conditions. This review will discuss the main classes of DUBs and their regulatory mechanisms with a particular focus on DUB redox regulation and its physiological impact during oxidative stress.
Ionophore-mediated swelling of erythrocytes as a therapeutic mechanism in sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by sickle hemoglobin (HbS) which polymerizes under deoxygenated conditions to form a stiff, sickled erythrocyte. The dehydration of sickle erythrocytes increases intracellular HbS concentration and the propensity of erythrocyte sickling. Prevention of this mechanism may provide a target for potential SCD therapy investigation. Ionophores such as monensin can increase erythrocyte sodium permeability by facilitating its transmembrane transport, leading to osmotic swelling of the erythrocyte and decreased hemoglobin concentration. In this study, we treated thirteen blood samples from patients with SCD with 10 nM of monensin ex vivo. We measured changes in cell volume and hemoglobin concentration in response to monensin treatment, and we perfused treated blood samples through a microfluidic device that permits quantification of blood flow under controlled hypoxia. Monensin treatment led to increases in cell volume and reductions in hemoglobin concentration in most blood samples, though the degree of response varied across samples. Monensin treated samples also demonstrated reduced blood flow impairment under hypoxic conditions relative to untreated controls. Moreover, here was a significant correlation between the improvement in blood flow and the decrease in hemoglobin concentration. Thus, our results demonstrate that a reduction in intracellular HbS concentration by osmotic swelling improves blood flow under hypoxic conditions. Although the toxicity of monensin prevents it from being a viable clinical treatment, these results suggest that osmotic swelling should be investigated further as a potential mechanism for SCD therapy.
Structuring Online Communities

QA other users can then answer her question. The original asker observes all the answers and then chooses the best answer. The user who provided the chosen answer gets the reward points on the platform, while the asker gets some value from getting an answer to her question. In this paper, we focus on communities where every question has an objectively correct answer. In these communities, users participate by asking and/or answering questions. First, we analyze how users decide to participate in such communities and how their knowledge evolves in the community. We then study the stationary equilibrium of the game and the network structure that emerges in such communities. Further, we find that the community designer faces a trade-off between generating traffic on the community through increased user participation and efficiency in terms of the number of answered questions.
[Molecular-related epidemic characteristics of influenza A (H3N2) viruses in Guangzhou, 2019].

Objective: To isolate the influenza A (H3N2) viruses from different sources in Guangzhou in 2019 and analyze these viruses' evolution and variation characteristics. Methods: The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of H3N2 isolates from outpatient monitoring, influenza outbreaks, and inpatient severe cases in Guangzhou in 2019 were sequenced. Bioinformatics software analyzed the variations and evolution characteristics of HA and NA genes. Results: The epidemic peaks of influenza A (H3N2) viruses were made up of period Ⅰ (from January to August) and period Ⅱ (from November to December). The positive rate of influenza A (H3N2) in males was 13.46% (703/5 221), which was higher than that in females (11.50%, 510/4 435) (χ2=8.43,P=0.00). The group's positive rate of 10-20 years old was the highest (25.18%,665/2 641). The isolates from different sources were highly homologous and closely related to 3C.2a.1 branches, which could be further divided into three small groups of Group 1-3. Gene recombination was observed between different branches. The mutations of HA antigen sites gradually appeared from Group 1 to Group 3, leading to new antigen drift. Variations of HA antigenic sites mainly occurred in the region of A and B. The mutations of receptor binding sites of Group 1 and Group 3 viruses occurred in the anterior and posterior walls. There were two glycosylation sites lacked on region A of HA antigen observed in the isolates of Group 2-3. Conclusions: Genetic variations of H3N2 influenza viruses in Guangzhou included gene mutations and gene recombination. Under the pressure of the vaccine, the evolution of viruses was rapid. Therefore, the monitoring of molecular-related epidemic characteristics of the H3N2 influenza virus was necessary.
Does the firm size matter on firm entrepreneurship and performance?: US apparel import intermediary case

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and performance is dependent on firm size within a small and medium‐size enterprise (SME) population, using non‐manufacturing, industry‐specific empirical data.Design/methodology/approach – Survey methodology was employed, using a national sample of US apparel import intermediary (AII) SMEs. Regression analysis was performed to determine the type of the moderator variable, firm size, and to test statistical significance of the firm size effect on the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and performance measures.Findings – The paper's results suggested that the firm size effect was present on the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and SMEs' longevity performance; however, there was no statistical significance of the firm size effect on the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and SMEs' creative contribution or profitability performance.Research limitations/implications – Although...
Homocysteine Thiolactone: Metabolic Origin and Protein Homocysteinylation in Humans

Homocysteine thiolactone, an intramolecular thioester of homocysteine, is synthesized by methionyl-tRNA synthetase in an error-editing reaction that prevents translational incorporation of homocysteine into proteins. The synthesis of thiolactone occurs in all human cell types investigated. An increase in homocysteine levels leads to elevation of thiolactone levels in human cells. In cultured human cells and in human serum, homocysteine thiolactone reacts with proteins by a mechanism involving homocysteinylation of protein lysine residues. The homocysteinylation leads to protein damage. A calcium-dependent homocysteine thiolactonase, tightly associated with HDL in human serum, may prevent protein damage by detoxifying thiolactone.
Blood flukes (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) of epipelagic lamniforms: redescription of Hyperandrotrema cetorhini from basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) and description of a new congener from shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) off Alabama.

Abstract: We emend the original generic diagnosis for Hyperandrotrema Maillard and Ktari, 1978, and redescribe its type species Hyperandrotrema cetorhini Maillard and Ktari, 1978 (Digenea: Aporocotylidae Odhner, 1912), based on the holotype and 2 paratypes collected from the heart of basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus). We also describe Hyperandrotrema walterboegeri Orelis-Ribeiro and Bullard n. sp. based on light and scanning electron microscopy of 6 adult specimens collected from the heart of a shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810) captured from Viosca Knoll (29°11.70′N, 88°33.32′W; 123 km southwest of Dauphin Island, Alabama), northern Gulf of Mexico. Hyperandrotrema spp. infect lamniforms and differ from all other nominal aporocotylids at least by having a ventrolateral field of robust C-shaped spines (rather than transverse rows of minute, shaft-like spines), an inverse U-shaped intestine with extremely elongate ceca terminating near the level of the excretory bladder, and a common ...
A systems integration approach to the optimum operation and scheduling of biocide usage and discharge for seawater cooling systems

The objective of this work is to develop a systematic approach to the optimal design and integration of seawater cooling systems in industrial facilities along with the usage and discharge of biocides. Specifically, the paper will address the following tasks: 1 identification of the reaction pathways for the biocide from the mixing basin to the discharge points 2 kinetic modelling of the biocide and by-products throughout the process 3 a process integration framework to provide a holistic approach to optimising the design and operation of the seawater cooling systems, along with the dosage and discharge systems. A hierarchical procedure is developed to first identify design modifications for heat integration and energy efficiency. Then, a multi-period, multi-segment optimisation formulation is developed and solved to identify the optimal operation and scheduling of biocide usage and discharge. A case study is solved to illustrate the applicability of the devised approach.
Effect of Unsteady Blade Pitching Motion on Aerodynamic Performance of Microrotorcraft

The improvement in aerodynamic performance of microscale rotors using unsteady blade motion is investigated using numerical simulations and experimental work. The basic idea is to use dynamic blade pitching motion to delay the onset of stall, enhance the lift, and increase the envelope of operation of small-scale airfoils operating at the low Reynolds number and low Mach numbers that are typical of microrotorcraft. A 22-cm-diam twobladed microrotor system featuring piezoelectricaly actuated controllable twist rotor blades was developed and tested in hover. The piezoelectric actuation system had sufficient control authority and was able to generate up to ±2.3-deg blade unsteady tip twist deformations under rotating conditions. Excitation of the blade in torsion resulted in significant improvement in the microrotor thrust in the poststall regime. (At 24-deg rotor collective pitch, up to 11% improvement in rotor thrust was demonstrated.) The experimental measurements also showed good agreement with numerical predictions for the effect of dynamic blade pitching on the thrust output and power consumption of the microrotor.
Collateral sprouts are replaced by regenerating neurites in the wounded corneal epithelium

Following various types of wounds and subsequent denervation, the reinnervation of the rabbit corneal epithelium was found to occur in two distinct phases that overlapped in time. In the first phase large numbers of collateral sprouts originated from the unmyelinated plexus at various distances proximal to the site of transection. Light and electron microscopic observations revealed that the sprouts began to degenerate about 7 days after wounding. Collateral sprouts were replaced by an equally numerous population of regenerating neurites extending from the transected stumps of the pre-terminal axons. We conclude that, in the wounded cornea, normal neurology is reconstituted by regenerating neurites, and not by collateral sprouts, which proliferate and then degenerate early in the healing process.
Restoration of Midwestern U.S. Savannas: One Size Does Not Fit All

Lowland savannas are a rare variant of Midwestern United States savanna occurring on alluvial soils, for which reference information is sparse. To evaluate the appropriateness of using upland savanna as a surrogate source of reference information for lowland savanna, we studied a pre-Euro-American lowland savanna using original U.S. Public Land Survey data and other historical records. Historical vegetation was reconstructed and compared among upland savannas, lowland savannas, and lowland forests; we also evaluated potential disturbance dynamics maintaining these systems. We found that all three communities were dominated by members of the genus Quercus but also had extensive representation by many other tree species, especially notable for savannas in this region. There were no clear size–density relationships for species in the genus Quercus, indicating that these historical savannas were not characterized exclusively by large, scattered oak trees but rather by trees of many oak species and nonoak species in a wide range of size classes. Both upland and lowland savannas also contained a substantial shrub component. We found no evidence that lowland savannas were maintained by flooding, although the uneven-aged canopy structure suggested that periodic disturbance occurred. Restoration of lowland savanna in this region should include provisions for maintaining nonoak species and shrubs, with disturbance timed to maintain an uneven-aged canopy structure. Although the appropriateness of historical data in the face of climate change may be questionable, in this region, a warmer climate may actually help promote the “oak parkland” that was present from 8,000 BP up to Euro-American settlement.
The Social Mobility of Women: a Causal Model of Socioeconomic Success*

This paper extends the analysis of socioeconomic achievement initiated by Blau and Duncan and subsequently developed by both Jencks and Rainwater. The major extensions are the specification of mode...
Hydration-Modulated Collective Dynamics of Membrane Lipids are Revealed by Solid-State 2H NMR Relaxation

Investigations of model membranes aim to understand the atomistic interactions that can explain bulk membrane lipid properties in relation to key biological functions [1]. Solid-state 2H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy uniquely provides such information by probing structure and dynamics of membranes [2,3]. Here we examine the effect of water on the liquid-crystalline properties of amphiphilic membrane lipids using NMR relaxometry. We performed NMR longitudinal (R1Z), transverse quadrupolar-echo decay (R2QE) and quadrupolar Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (QCPMG) relaxation (R2CP) experiments on DMPC-d54 bilayers, to study membrane-lipid dynamics over time scales ranging from 10−9s to 10−3s. The plots of R1Z rates versus squared segmental order parameters (SCD2) follow an empirical square-law behavior showing the emergence of collective lipid dynamics [4]. Such a functional behavior characterizes 3-D order-director fluctuations due to the onset of membrane elasticity over atomistic dimensions [4]. The transverse relaxation rates also show similar results at low hydration. Yet at high hydration, a further enhancement versus the functional square-law plot is evident for segments deeper in the bilayers. Additional contributions from slower dynamics involving water-mediated membrane deformation are evident over mesoscopic length scales on the order of bilayer thickness. The slow dynamics at high hydration must be a consequence of modulation of elastic properties of lipid bilayer. Analysis of the QCPMG frequency dispersions as function of hydration and temperature reveals quantitative information on viscoelastic properties of the liquid-crystalline media. Similar studies in the presence of proteins and peptides give insights into optimized lipid hydration for biomembrane function. [1] A. Leftin et al. (2014) BJ. (in press). [2] K. J. Mallikarjuniah et al. (2011) BJ 100 98-107. [3] J. J. Kinnun et al. (2014) BBA (in press). [4] M. F. Brown et al. (2002) JACS 124, 8471-8484.
New nondestructive method to measure metal film thickness

We report here a new, noncontacting, and nondestructive photothermal phase microscope to measure metal film thickness in integrated circuit devices down to 150 angstroms with a 30 angstroms sensitivity. A thermal diffusion wave ranging from 3 - 500 MHz is excited with an intensity modulated laser beam. The wave is reflected by the insulating layer underneath the metal film back to the surface. A second laser beam measures the reflected thermal wave using the fact that the surface reflectance is a function of the temperature. The phase delay between the surface temperature variation and the heating beam modulation yields the thickness of the opaque film. Since the technique uses the phase of the photothermal signal, instead of amplitude, the result is not critically dependent on the surface roughness or tilt of the sample. In addition, the measurement can work with very small pads (3 micrometers X 3 micrometers ).
Estimating the leaf area index of North Central Wisconsin forests using the landsat thematic mapper

Abstract Leaf area index (LAI) is an extremely important structural characteristic of vegetation because it is directly related to the exchange of energy, CO2 and mass from plant canopies at a variety of scales. Research investigating the relationship between forest LAI and satellite data for hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood forests is lacking, however. The objective of this study was to explore the utility of Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) data for accurately estimating the LAI of conifer, hardwood, and mixed conifer-hardwood forests in north central Wisconsin. Individual bands and vegetation indices (VIs) calculated from satellite measures of exoatmospheric reflectance were related to the litterfall-estimated LAI of 24 stands. The results showed that individual bands or VIs containing at least one infrared (IR) band (either near- or mid-infrared) or a strong IR component divided data into at least two groups, with each group requiring a different regression line. The primary division was between conifer-dominated and hardwood-doin inated stands. Of the individual bands and VI.s considered, seven were strongly correlated to the LAI of conifer stands (r2=0.69–0.73). For the hardwoods, the best individual band or VI was Green/mid-IR#1 (r2=0.35), although an additional individual band and two VIs did much better using re subset of lower LAI stands (r2=0.60–0.75). For individual bands and VIs not requiring a conifer-hardwood distinction, the sixth Tasseled Cap component was most closely related to LAI (r2=0.60). Multiple-variable models (using LAI as the dependent variable) were found to offer substantial improvement over single-variable models, especially for hardwood stands. We recommend for further consideration a four-variable model for the conifers, and one four-variable and two eight-variable models for the hardwoods.
Examining human resource options: Does investment in employees pay off?

The article presents a study on four approaches to the employment relationship in an effort to learn how different relationships affect employee attitudes and performance. The first approach offers short-term financial incentives in exchange for specific tasks accomplished by the employee. The second approach requires both the employee and employer to make open-ended and long-term investments in each other. In the third approach, known as the underinvestment approach, the employee is expected to undertake a broad number of responsibilities, while the employer reciprocates with short-term and specific monetary rewards. The fourth approach, also known as overinvestment, allows the employee to focus on a few well-specified responsibilities in exchange for lucrative rewards.
Motilin stimulates growth hormone release in vitro

Abstract Motilin, a twenty two amino acid polypeptide originally isolated from duodenal extracts, has been detected recently in the mammalian hypothalamus and pituitary. We have investigated the possibility that motilin might play a role in neuroendocrine events and report here the ability of synthetic porcine motilin (10−6M) to stimulate growth hormone release from rat hemipituitaries and dispersed anterior pituitary cells in vitro. No significant effects on luteinizing hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone or prolactin release were observed. Motilin may be added therefore to the growing list of gastrointestinal hormones which can act directly at the level of the anterior pituitary to alter hormone release.