cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does Nursing Home Ownership Change Affect Family Ratings on Experience with Care

Person-centeredness may suffer in nursing homes (NHs) with recent ownership changes. This study identifies associations between ownership change and reported care experiences, important measures of person-centered care for long-term residents in Maryland NHs. Care experience measures and ownership change data were collected from Maryland Health Care Commission reports, which reported data on 220 Maryland NHs from 2011 and 2012. Facility and market covariates were obtained from 2011 NH Compare and Area Health Resource Files. Linear regression was used to examine whether ownership change in 2011 was associated with lower care experience ratings reported during April to June 2012. Dependent variables were overall care rating (scale 1–10), percentage of respondents answering that they would recommend the NH, and assessments of five care and resident life domains (scale 1–4). Care experiences reported in 2012 were high; however, after controlling for covariates, ownership change was associated with significant...
Decentralized Water Systems for Sustainable and Reliable Supply

Abstract The water utility industry is under enormous pressure to meet the challenges of increasing demands due to population growth and lifestyle changes, and depleting freshwater resources. Deteriorating supply infrastructure makes the task of meeting water demands even more challenging. The combination of source and supply challenges encouraged the consideration of sustainable and reliable alternatives for future water supply management. On-site greywater reuse is one such alternative that is becoming increasingly popular for its sustainable benefits such as ready availability, energy savings, reduced freshwater withdrawals and less effluent runoff. While the treatment technologies for making it economically viable are currently being investigated by other researchers, this paper investigates the improvement in supply reliability when traditional water supply systems are complemented by on-site greywater reuse. A robust computational model is developed for quantifying reliabilities of traditional and on-site greywater reuse systems for a given study area. The results revealed that there is up to 17% of improvement in supply reliability due to the on-site greywater reuse systems. A one-way sensitivity analysis conducted on the results indicated that the observed reliability improvement is sensitive to system age, pipeline roughness, treatment efficiency and allowable use of reclaimed water. Further research is needed to investigate the value of this reliability improvement by considering the life cycle cost and energy implications of on-site greywater reuse alternative.
Stable direct adaptive periodic control of nonminimum-phase systems

This paper shows that stable direct adaptive control of an LTI plant is possible using knowledge of only the plant order. The approach is based on periodic control, which relocates system zeros. No prior knowledge of the plant high-frequency gain or relative degree is used, and persistent excitation is not required. More importantly, no assumption or knowledge is required as to whether the plant is minimum or nonminimum phase. >
Understanding brownfields regeneration in the US

Abstract Federal, state and local initiatives have emerged in the United States over the last decade to address the increasing number of ‘brownfield’ properties that are perceived to be contaminated. These initiatives are based on the beliefs that the social and financial benefits provided by redevelopment exceed the costs imposed by the interventions and that the reuse of sites can further local sustainability objectives by reducing growth pressures in undeveloped areas. This paper provides an examination of the current state of the practice of brownfields within which these interventions should be based. We summarize brownfields problems and federal, state and local efforts to address these problems. We then present ten stylized propositions about brownfields and draw on a range of surveys of the public and private sectors and other sources to explore the reality behind these. Finally we use the propositions to tie brownfields regeneration to sustainable local development through an area wide approach t...
Metaphor Interpretation as Embodied Simulation

Abstract: Cognitive theories of metaphor understanding are typically described in terms of the mappings between different kinds of abstract, schematic, disembodied knowledge. My claim in this paper is that part of our ability to make sense of metaphorical language, both individual utterances and extended narratives, resides in the automatic construction of a simulation whereby we imagine performing the bodily actions referred to in the language. Thus, understanding metaphorical expressions like ‘grasp a concept’ or ‘get over’ an emotion involve simulating what it must be like to engage in these specific activities, even though these actions are, strictly speaking, impossible to physically perform. This process of building a simulation, one that is fundamentally embodied in being constrained by past and present bodily experiences, has specific consequences for how verbal metaphors are understood, and how cognitive scientists, more generally, characterize the nature of metaphorical language and thought.
Effects of prednisolone on the thermal sensitivity and pulpal reactions of silicate-restored teeth

Abstract A combined clinical and histologic study was carried out to determine the effects of prednisolone on the postoperative thermal sensitivity and pulpal reactions of teeth restored with Class V silicate cement restorations. Blinded and coded determinations of sensitivity to heat and cold, vitality tests, and histologic examinations of serial sections were performed. Based on a comparison between pairs of experimental and control teeth within the same patients, prednisolone was more effective in reducing thermal sensitivity than a placebo, and also resulted in a milder inflammatory reaction in the pulp. The use of prednisolone to reduce postoperative sensitivity should be an adjunct and not a substitute for other means of pulpal protection usually employed in restorative dentistry. The histologic portion of this study was carried out with the technical assistance of Miss Edna M. Preader.
Factors affecting the miscibility of simultaneous IPNs and pseudo-IPNs

We present experimental data in support of the principal factors promoting enhanced miscibility of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). These are the match of rates of the crosslinking reactions producing the IPNs, and minimizing the difference in solubility parameter and glass transition temperature of the linear chain components. Long-lived, metastable pseudo-IPNs can be produced if the concentration of the linear component is not too large and the molecular weight is sufficiently large. We also briefly describe the behavior of crystalline linear, syndiotactic polystyrene (syn-PS) and linear isotactic PS as components in pseudo-IPNs of crosslinked atactic PS and poly(methyl methacrylate).
Multiphase behavior in ternary fluid mixtures: a case study of the isopropanol-water-CO2 system at elevated pressures

Phase behavior involving three and four fluid phases is predicted for ternary mixtures of isopropanol, water and CO2 at temperatures and pressures near the critical point of CO2. These predictions are based on the Peng-Robinson equation of state and selected experimental measurements of phase compositions for the L1L2G, L1L2L3 and L1L2L3G equilibria for the ternary mixture. The calculated results show that this equation of state can describe several unique features of the phase diagram. These features include tricritical points, secondary critical endpoints, and a four-phase L1L2L3G equilibrium. Although quantitative agreement with measured phase compositions was not obtained, the Peng-Robinson equation did predict all the regions of multiple equilibrium phases that were observed in the experiments including those regions not used to obtain the equation-of-state parameters.
Machine learning methods applied to DNA microarray data can improve the diagnosis of cancer

The morbidity rate of cancer victims varies greatly for similar patients who receive similar treatments. It is hypothesized that this variation can be explained by the genetic heterogeneity of the disease. DNA Microarrays, which can simultaneously measure the expression level of thousands of different genes, have been successfully used to identify such genetic differences. However, microarray data typically has a large number of features and relatively few observations, meaning that conventional machine learning tools can fail when applied to such data. We describe a novel procedure called "nearest shrunken centroids" that has successfully detected clinically relevant genetic differences in cancer patients. This procedure has the potential to become a powerful tool for diagnosing and treating cancer.
Characterization of a 12 kDa thermal-stable antigenic protein in bovine blood.

: We have previously developed an immunoassay based on monoclonal antibody (MAb) Bb1H9 for quantitative detection of ruminant blood in processed food and feedstuffs. The purpose of this study was to characterize the unknown 12 kDa thermal-stable ruminant-specific antigenic protein recognized by MAb Bb1H9 in order to better define the application scope of the developed assay. Extracts obtained from raw and heat-treated bovine blood-derived products were analyzed with indirect ELISA and Western blot. Target proteins resolved by 2D electrophoresis were subjected to N-terminal sequencing. Results indicated that the 12 kDa protein is a monomer of the tetrameric hemoglobin molecule (64.5 kDa) and that the heme group is not required for its binding with MAb Bb1H9. This MAb can be utilized as a probe for red blood cell derived products of ruminant origin in raw or processed food and feedstuffs to enforce labeling regulations and to address consumer concerns. Practical Application: MAb Bb1H9 represents the first antibody with the capacity to recognize bovine hemoglobin both in the absence and presence of the heme group, regardless of the heat treatment. MAb Bb1H9 can therefore be utilized in immunoassays by manufacturers and regulators to detect any ingredients containing hemoglobin or globin (hemoglobin without the heme group) in both raw and processed food and feed materials for product quality control and labeling law enforcement.
Interactions between a Supercell and a Quasi-Stationary Frontal Boundary

Abstract The case presented here is submitted as an example of a previously undocumented type of interaction between a supercell thunderstorm and a frontal boundary. During the afternoon of 8 June 1995, a supercell thunderstorm formed near a quasi-stationary frontal boundary and then moved northeast across Beaver County in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Its motion took it away from the boundary and deeper into the cool air. As the storm matured and strengthened, a portion of the boundary to the south of the supercell moved northward and briefly became entrained in the low-level circulation of the storm. This northward advance of the boundary was subsequently followed by a southward motion back to near its original location. High-density spatial and temporal observations from the Oklahoma Mesonet and the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX) Mobile Mesonetwork are presented to document the northward advance of the boundary into the supercell circulation.
Iron transformations induced by an acid-tolerant Desulfosporosinus species.

The mineralogical transformations of Fe phases induced by an acid-tolerant, Fe(III)- and sulfate-reducing bacterium, Desulfosporosinus sp. strain GBSRB4.2 were evaluated under geochemical conditions associated with acid mine drainage-impacted systems (i.e., low pH and high Fe concentrations). X-ray powder diffractometry coupled with magnetic analysis by first-order reversal curve diagrams were used to evaluate mineral phases produced by GBSRB4.2 in media containing different ratios of Fe(II) and Fe(III). In medium containing Fe predominately in the +II oxidation state, ferrimagnetic, single-domain greigite (Fe3S4) was formed, but the addition of Fe(III) inhibited greigite formation. In media that contained abundant Fe(III) [as schwertmannite; Fe8O8(OH)6SO4 · nH2O], the activities of strain GBSRB4.2 enhanced the transformation of schwertmannite to goethite (α-FeOOH), due to the increased pH and Fe(II) concentrations that resulted from the activities of GBSRB4.2.
Tetra-tert-butyltetrahedrane has T symmetry

Abstract Calculations using a variety of force fields indicate that tetra-tert-butyltetrahedrane has ground state T symmetry and is therefore chiral.
Measurement of mixing fluid flows with optical tomography

We present what is, to our knowledge, the first instantaneous optical tomographic reconstruction of a nonstationary fluid flow. Holographic interferometry is used to measure optical path length through a coflowing helium jet in air along several views. The spatial distribution of the helium concentration is determined from these measurements. Eighteen views through a 7-cm-diameter, 7-cm-high cylindrical volume are recorded, yielding a spatial resolution of 3 mm with an error of less that 3%. When a 1-W argon-ion laser is used, the temporal resolution is 300 μsec.
Structure & bonding of the gold-subhalide cluster I-Au144Cl60[z]

The structure and bonding of the gold-subhalide compounds Au144Cl60[z] are related to those of the ubiquitous thiolated gold clusters, or Faradaurates, by iso-electronic substitution of thiolate by chloride. Exact I-symmetry holds for the [z] = [2+,4+] charge-states, in accordance with new electrospray mass spectrometry measurements and the predicted electron shell filling. The high symmetry facilitates analysis of the global structure as well as the bonding network, with some striking results.
Playing it cool: Temperament, emotion regulation, and social behavior in preschoolers

Abstract The contributions of temperamental styles and emotional coping strategies to the development of preschoolers' social competence and behavior problems were investigated. The ability to cope with emotion was found to be more important than temperament alone in the development of prosocial behavior. Our results indicate that the use of passive coping strategies may play a significant role in the development of maladaptive behaviors in young children. Specifically, the use of passive coping strategies was found to moderate the relationship between temperament dimensions in predicting externalizing and internalizing maladaptive behaviors. When combined with extremely negative temperamental dispositions, just facing the problems was discovered to be beneficial for preschoolers, which encourages the use of preventative or interventional strategies in the classroom to develop constructive emotion regulation skills in young children.
Hydrogen Bonding Induced Supramolecular Self‐Assembly of Linear Doubly Discotic Triad Supermolecules

A series of linear doubly discotic triad supermolecules based on a porphyrin (P) core and two triphenylene (Tp) arms linked by amide bonds are synthesized. The samples are denoted as P(Tp)(2). Hydrogen bonding along the P stacks is the primary driving force for the supramolecular self-assembly of P(Tp)(2) triad supermolecules. Meanwhile, the degree of coupling between P and Tp disks also plays an important role. For samples with the spacer lengths longer than or similar to the alkyl chain lengths in the Tp arms, P and Tp are decoupled to a large degree. This decoupling result in non-uniform tilt angles for P and Tp disks along both the a- and c-axes. Therefore, large unit cells are observed with eight P(Tp)(2) supermolecules per cell. For a sample with the spacer length much shorter than the alkyl chains in the Tp arms, P and Tp are strongly coupled. Therefore, both P and Tp have uniform tilt angles along the a- and c-axes. A small unit cell is obtained with only one P(Tp)(2) supermolecule per cell.
Application of Wavelets in Modeling Stochastic Dynamic Systems

This paper presents a wavelet based model for stochastic dynamic systems. In this model, the state variables and their variations are approximated using truncated linear sums of orthogonal polynomials, and a modified Hamilton's law of varying action is used to reduce the integral equations representing dynamics of the system to a set of algebraic equations. For deterministic systems, the coefficients of the polynomials are constant, but for stochastic systems, the coefficients are random variables. The external forcing functions are treated as stationary Gaussian processes with specified mean and correlation functions. Using Karhunen-Loeve (K-L) expansion, the random input processes are represented in terms of linear sums of finite number of orthonormal eigenfunctions with uncorrelated random coefficients. A wavelet based technique is used to solve the integral eigenvalue problem. Application of wavelets and K-L expansion reduces the infinite dimensional input force vector to one with finite dimensions. Orthogonal properties of the polynomials and the wavelets are utilized to make the algebraic equations sparse and computationally efficient. A method to compute the mean and the variance functions for the state processes is developed. A single degree of freedom spring-mass-damper system subjected to a random forcing function is considered to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the formulation. Studies show that the results of this formulation agree well with those obtained using other schemes.
Prisoners of hate.

The terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001 as well as domestic terrorism in the United States and elsewhere in the world has prompted an analysis of the psychology of the terrorist. The perpetrators' profound sense of being wronged--their values undermined by foreign powers or a corrupt domestic power structure--has cried out for revolution and revenge. The fanatic ideology of the perpetrators has provided the matrix for a progressively more malevolent representation of the oppressors: the Image of the Enemy. Retribution against the Enemy in the form of mass murder of anonymous civilians becomes an imperative. The counterpart of the image of the Enemy is the idealized collective self-image of members of the movement, faction, or cult. The group narcissism of the white supremacists in the United States, the Aum Shinrikyo in Japan, and the Islamic extremists enhance their collective self-image as pure, righteous, and united. While the foot soldiers, as in any war, gain glory through martyrdom, the instigators and leaders have their own personal narcissistic goals (power and prestige) and plan. For the extremist Islamists the ultimate goal has been overthrow of the moderate Islamic governments; for the domestic terrorists, destabilization of the national government and reinstitution of the traditional values.
COPPER: Communities of Practice: Pooling Educational Resources to Foster the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Redefining the community college's historical commitment to open access requires an analysis of the community college within the larger system of higher education. The work in the COPPER group focu...
Revisiting demographic paradigms comments on sergio dellapergola “Thoughts of a Jewish Demographer in the Year 2000”

Demographic documentation is the unsung heroic work of a few in the field of demography. Social scientists and observers of Jewish communities around the world depend on the systematic documentation and rich data-based portraits of Jewish communities to build up our understanding of the similarities and differences of communities and to identify their changes over time. They need these data to assess how these patterns fit into our broader understanding and interpretation of changes and continuities. We cannot proceed beyond ideology and abstract theory unless we have that systematic documentation. That acknowledged, we honor here today someone who has devoted his career to that complex set of goals, comparatively, cross-nationally and empirically. We also acknowledge that the documentation of demographic data is the basis of addressing analytic questions, of interpreting, with carefully crafted evidence, the portraits that we paint with the data that document the patterns we identify. We all recognize that demographic data are the building blocks of our analysis and not an end in themselves. Therefore, we focus not only on the narrowly defined demographic processes illuminated by our demographic data collection systems but also on the corollary social, economic, political and cultural data. Together, the demographic and the corollaiy data that we collect are critical in helping us understand the demographic processes that we study. And to Professor DellaPergola's enormous credit, he has systematically included these powerful corollary data within the demographic surveys that he has organized and reviewed and that define his lifetime of work and achievement.
On the global optimum of planar, range-based robot-to-robot relative pose estimation

In this paper, we address the problem of determining the relative position and orientation (pose) of two robots navigating in 2D, based on known egomotion and noisy robot-to-robot distance measurements. We formulate this as a weighted Least Squares (WLS) estimation problem, and determine the exact global optimum by directly solving the multivariate polynomial system resulting from the first-order optimality conditions. Given the poor scalability of the original WLS problem, we propose an alternative formulation of the WLS problem in terms of squared distance measurements (squared distances WLS or SD-WLS). Using a hybrid algebraic-numeric technique, we are able to solve the corresponding first-order optimality conditions of the SD-WLS in 125 ms in Matlab. Both methods solve the minimal (3 distance measurements) as well as the overdetermined problem (more than 3 measurements) in a unified fashion. Simulation and experimental results show that the SD-WLS achieves performance virtually indistinguishable from the maximum likelihood estimator, and significantly outperforms current algebraic methods.
On shear band formation: II. Simulation using finite element method

Abstract A dual yield constitutive model involving both the J 2 -flow and a threshold-shear-stress based flow, described in the accompanying article, is incorporated in a finite element program, and a simulation of shear band localization occurring in a uniaxially loaded plane strain specimen is carried out. The FEM takes into account the finite strains and the rotations involved in the formation of the shear band. These numerical experiments not only validate the postulated constitutive equation, but also aid in investigating the effect of the material hardening exponent, the aspect ratio of the specimen, and the mesh morphology on the formation of the shear band.
Clinical Safety of Dexamethasone in Mares during Pregnancy

UMMARY Twenty-six mares were given dexamethasone intravenously and intramuscularly during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Dosages varied, but tended to be confined to levels possibly used in clinical practice. Dexamethasone injections did not appear to alter the gestation length or induce parturition in the mares. RESUME Vingt-six juments ont recu de la dexamethasone par voie intraveineuse et par voie intramusculaire durant le deuxieme et durant le troisieme trimestre de la gestation. Les dosages utilises variaient dans des limites comparables a celles utilisees en therapeutique courante. L'injection de dexamethasone ne parut ni influencer la duree de la gestation ni provoquer la mise bas chez la jument. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG 26 Stuten erhielten Dexamethason intramuskular und intravenos wahrend des zweiten und dritten Trachtigkeitstrimesters. Die Dosierung variierte, aber es wurde versucht, sie auf dem Niveau zu halten, das in der klinischen Praxis am meisten verwendet wird. Dexamethason scheint die Trachtigkeitsdauer nicht zu beeinflussen und die Geburt bei der Stute nicht auszulosen.
The Geochemistry of Petroleum Migration and Accumulation: ABSTRACT

Small quantities of a large variety of organic compounds enter the Recent marine sediments before burial. Petroleum, the only major organic and fluid substance in the consolidated rocks, however, contains mainly End_Page 406------------------------------ hydrocarbons. Experiments indicate that hydrocarbon compounds may travel through the sediments with the least restraint during intrastratal fluid flow. Most of the non-hydrocarbon compounds may be removed from the flowing phase by a selective filtration, i.e., chromatographic process. Chromatography is a physical-chemical method of separation of fluid mixtures in which the components to be separated are distributed between two phases. One is a stationary phase of a large surface area and the other one is the fluid phase that percolates through the stationary phase. Fine-grained mineral particles, organic inclusions and (or) immiscible liquid droplets in sedimentary rocks may constitute the stationary phase. The Martin and Synge chromatographic theory is applied for tracing fluid flow through the sedimentary rock strata. Petroleum contains colloidal particles, some of which are too large to have flowed through the smaller pore openings. Experiments show that oxidation and some other chemical reactions, taking effect after accumulation, may be responsible for the development of a part of the petroleum colloids. A regional study of the distribution patterns of organic constituents, combined with geological and geophysical data, can be useful information to the exploration geologist. End_of_Article - Last_Page 407------------
Sertraline in the treatment of minor depression in nursing home residents: a pilot study.

'Minor' depression affects up to 50% of residents in long-term care facilities and is associated with considerable discomfort, disability and risk of morbidity. Despite the prevalence of this problem, few studies addressing the treatment of these patients have been conducted. In an open clinical trial, 12 nursing home residents who met the DSM-IV description for minor depressive disorder were treated with sertraline for 6 weeks. Adverse effects and clinical response were monitored. All residents tolerated their medication without any significant side-effects. At the completion of the study, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Global Assessment Scale change scores both indicated significant improvement and 75% of the residents met criteria for 'remission'. This preliminary study provides evidence that nursing home residents with minor depression tolerated treatment with sertraline and improved clinically.
Exploiting tree shadows on snow for estimating forest basal area using Landsat data

Abstract Basal area (BA) is a basic structural and ecological attribute of forests that is often used to describe forest composition, estimate volume of wood, and guide management decisions. BA is the sum of cross-sectional area of trees measured at 1.37 m above ground surface, per unit area, and is most commonly measured in-situ . The objective of this study was to supply estimates of BA for oak woodlands and savannas on the 12,828.5 ha Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Central Minnesota to guide management efforts. We used winter and summer Landsat imagery, combined with field measurements, to assess the potential for improving forest BA estimates by taking advantage of the high spectral contrast between sunlit snow, forest canopy elements, and shadows projected onto snow ground cover. We explained up to 90% of measured variation in BA using partial least squares regression models calibrated using single- and multiple-date winter Landsat data (R 2 = 0.898, RMSE = 2.79 m 2 ha − 1 ), which performed better than models calibrated using summer imagery (R 2 = 0.762, RMSE = 3.85 m 2 ha − 1 ). Success of the winter-based BA models may be driven, in part, by potential geometric/allometric relationships between cast shadow and forest BA, but definitive proof of this is a topic for future research. This method of BA estimation is not refuge-specific and may be extended for regional use to manage oak forest wherever winter snow coverage is consistent. Additional research is needed to determine the degree of robustness to variations in the empirical relationship between BA and tree shading patterns across different forest functional types.
Effect of pregneninolone (ethinyl testosterone) upon human cervical secretion

Abstract 1. 1. Pregneninolone (pranone) was given to six patients who had a negative semen penetration test and a hydrogen ion concentration of cervical mucus ranging from 5 to 6; the hydrogen ion concentration in one of the cases, however, was 8. 2. 2. The acidity of the cervical mucus was changed to a hydrogen ion concentration of 7 or 8 and semen penetration test became positive in five cases. 3. 3. Three of these patients subsequently became pregnant. 4. 4. There was no change in one case.
A web-integrated verifying compiler for RESOLVE: a research perspective

RESOLVE is an integrated language that combines imperative programming and mathematical specifications for full functional verification of component-based programs. From a researcher's perspective, this paper summarizes the elements of RESOLVE's web IDE that includes a verifying compiler. We use a variety of in-language examples to demonstrate the following: Extensible mathematical units that contain definitions and results, higher-order specifications of generic components that use those mathematical units, alternative implementations of specifications, and automated generation of verification conditions and proofs for implementation correctness. While verification and research are the focus of this paper, it's worth mentioning that the compiler translates RESOLVE code to Java (or C) for execution, and has been utilized in a variety of computer science classes at multiple institutions over the last five years.
Antiferromagnetic order and high-temperature superconductivity

The nearly half-filled Hubbard model with strong on-site repulsion is used as a model for the recently discovered copper oxide high-temperature superconductors. The onset of superconductivity upon doping the half-filled lattice of La$_{2}\mathrm{Cu}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ is explained in terms of the Bose-Einstein condensation of effective mass $O({m}_{e})$. These holes move freely over an antiferromagnetic background. The mechanism is very different from the BCS mechanism. A fit to data is obtained by adjusting the interplane hopping amplitude, which turns out to be extremely small, though necessary.
Oversummer survival of inoculum for Colletotrichum crown rot in buried strawberry crown tissue

Urena-Padilla, A. R., Mitchell, D. J., and Legard, D. E. 2001. Oversummer survival of inoculum for Colletotrichum crown rot in buried strawberry crown tissue. Plant Dis. 85:750-754. The oversummer survival of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in strawberry crown tissue under field conditions was investigated in 1998 and 1999. Strawberry crowns infected naturally with C. gloeosporioides were placed inside cloth bags containing field soil, buried in the field at 5 or 13 cm, then recovered over 6 months of each year. The recovered crowns were plated onto a Colletotrichum spp. semiselective medium and speciated by colony, spore morphology, and molecular markers with species-specific DNA primers. Pathogenicity of selected isolates was confirmed by greenhouse bioassays on strawberry. Of the 428 isolates of Colletotrichum spp. recovered from buried crowns, 96% were C. gloeosporioides and 4% Colletotrichum acutatum. Following an initial increase in the detection of the fungus, survival of C. gloeosporioides was stable for 2 to 3 weeks, then declined. No Colletotrichum spp. were detected after burial for 56 days in 1998 and 98 days in 1999. Because the time between crop seasons is typically more than 170 days, these data support the hypothesis that inoculum of C. gloeosporioides does not survive in buried plant debris between seasons in Florida and, therefore, oversummering crop debris does not contribute inoculum for epidemics of Colletotrichum crown rot in Florida.
Notch signalling in T‐cell lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma and other haematological malignancies

Notch receptors participate in a highly conserved signalling pathway that regulates normal development and tissue homeostasis in a context- and dose-dependent manner. Deregulated Notch signalling has been implicated in many diseases, but the clearest example of a pathogenic role is found in T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma (T-LL), in which the majority of human and murine tumours have acquired mutations that lead to aberrant increases in Notch1 signalling. Remarkably, it appears that the selective pressure for Notch mutations is virtually unique among cancers to T-LL, presumably reflecting a special context-dependent role for Notch in normal T-cell progenitors. Nevertheless, there are some recent reports suggesting that Notch signalling has subtle, yet important roles in other forms of haematological malignancy as well. Here, we review the role of Notch signalling in various blood cancers, focusing on T-LL with an eye towards targeted therapeutics.
Second-Generation Difluorinated Cyclooctynes for Copper-Free Click Chemistry

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azides and activated alkynes has been used for site-selective labeling of biomolecules in vitro and in vivo. While copper catalysis has been widely employed to activate terminal alkynes for [3 + 2] cycloaddition, this method, often termed “click chemistry”, is currently incompatible with living systems because of the toxicity of the metal. We recently reported a difluorinated cyclooctyne (DIFO) reagent that rapidly reacts with azides in living cells without the need for copper catalysis. Here we report a novel class of DIFO reagents for copper-free click chemistry that are considerably more synthetically tractable. The new analogues maintained the same elevated rates of [3 + 2] cycloaddition as the parent compound and were used for imaging glycans on live cells. These second-generation DIFO reagents should expand the use of copper-free click chemistry in the hands of biologists.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a neurodegenerative disease caused by a persistent “slow virus infection” with a mutated measles virus, is endemic in much of the developing world. Its incidence will increase in the USA, not only in immigrants, but also because of the 1988–1990 measles epidemic. This report reviews the pathogenesis, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, and future perspectives in treatment and prevention.
A comprehensive treatment program for inpatient adolescents

A unit-wide behavioral program for inpatient adolescents was developed and implemented on a coeducational residential unit for six months. Significant clinical reductions were achieved in broken windows, emergency restraint usage, PRNs, medication dosages and the percent of clients receiving psychotropic medications. These reductions continued during the program's maintenance phase. Factors are discussed that appeared to have contributed to the program's success. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of left ventricular hypertrophy on detection of coronary artery disease using exercise echocardiography

Objectives. This study examined the influence of left ventricular hypertrophy on the accuracy of exercise electrocardiography and echocardiography for detection of coronary artery disease. Background. Electrocardiographic repolarization abnormalities caused by left ventricular hypertrophy compromise the diagnostic accuracy of exercise electrocardiography but not of exercise echocardiography. The relative merits of these investigations are less well defined in patients with hypertrophy but without electrocardiographic (ECG) changes. Methods. We prospectively evaluated 147 consecutive patients without prior myocardial infarction undergoing both exercise echocardiography and coronary arteriography. Coronary stenoses >50% diameter were present in 62 patients (42%). Positive test results were defined by a new or worsening wall motion abnormality or >0.1 mV of ST depression. Echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (mass >131 g/m2in men, >100 g/m2in women) was identified in 68 patients. A subgroup with clinically suspected hypertrophy was defined according to the presence of ECG evidence of hypertrophy, hypertension or aortic stenosis. Results. The overall sensitivity of exercise echocardiography exceeded that of exercise electrocardiography (71% vs. 54%, p = 0.06). Echocardiographic hypertrophy had no significant effect on the sensitivity of either test. The specificity of exercise echocardiography exceeded that of exercise electrocardiography (91 vs. 74%, p = 0.01). In patients with hypertrophy, the specificity of exercise echocardiography exceeded that of exercise electrocardiography (95% vs. 69%, p Conclusions. Exercise echocardiography is more accurate than exercise electrocardiography for the detection of coronary artery disease in patients with known or clinically suspected left ventricular hypertrophy.
Excited states in artificial atoms via equation-of-motion coupled cluster theory

Excited, ionized, and electron attached states of parabolic quantum dots (often referred to as artificial atoms) are treated with the equation-of-motion coupled cluster theory. Collective excitations are often important, implying the need for accurate inclusion of correlation effects in excitation spectra.
Urinary bisphenol A, phthalates, and couple fecundity: the Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) Study.

Objective To assess the relationship between environmental chemicals and couple fecundity or time to pregnancy (TTP). Design Prospective cohort. Setting Communities of targeted populations with reported exposure. Patient(s) 501 couples recruited upon discontinuing contraception to become pregnant, 2005–2009. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Fecundability odds ratios (FORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated for each partner's chemical concentrations adjusted for age, body mass index, cotinine, creatinine, and research site while accounting for time off contraception. Result(s) Couples completed interviews and anthropometric assessments and provided the urine specimens for quantification of bisphenol A (BPA) and 14 phthalate metabolites, which were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. Women recorded menstruation and pregnancy test results in daily journals. Couples were evaluated until a positive human-chorionic gonadotropin pregnancy test or 12 cycles without pregnancy. Neither female nor male BPA concentration was associated with TTP (FOR 0.98; 95% CI, 0.86, 1.13 and FOR 1.04; 95% CI, 0.91, 1.18, respectively). Men's urinary concentrations of monomethyl, mono-n-butyl, and monobenzyl phthalates were associated with a longer TTP (FOR 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70, 0.93; FOR 0.82, 95% CI, 0.70, 0.97; and FOR 0.77, 95% CI, 0.65 0.92, respectively). Conclusion(s) Select male but not female phthalate exposures were associated with an approximately 20% reduction in fecundity, underscoring the importance of assessing both partners' exposure to minimize erroneous conclusions.
Outcomes of unrelated cord blood transplantation in pediatric recipients.

We report results of unrelated cord blood transplants (UCBT) in 29 pediatric recipients in one center and the risk factors associated with survival. Median age: 9 years (0.5–20); diagnosis: ALL (9), AML (4), CML (1), HD (3), HLH (1), NHL (3), NBL (2); B-thal (1), FA (1), FEL (1), Krabbe (1), WAS (1), SAA (1); median follow-up: 11 months; conditioning: total body irradiation (TBI)-ablative (14), chemotherapy-ablative (6) and reduced intensity chemotherapy (9); GVHD prophylaxis: MMF/FK506 (18), cyclosporin A (CsA)+steroids±MMF (7) or CsA+methotrexate (MTX) (4); median total nucleated cells (TNC): 3.8 × 107/kg (1.1–11); median CD34+: 2.3 × 105/kg (0.2–9.9); and HLA match: 2 (6/6), 5 (5/6), 22 (4/6). Neutrophil engraftment by cumulative incidence curves 63% (median 28 (95% confidence interval (CI) 18–32)). Probability of ⩾grade II acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) by day +60 27%, ⩾grade III aGVHD 20% and chronic graft-versus-host disease 3%. Estimated 1-year overall survival (OS) 46% (95% CI 30–71) and standard risk 60% (95% CI 29–100%). Variables associated with improved survival by multivariate analysis include non-TBI-ablative conditioning (P=0.024), CD34+/kg (P=0.038) and gender (P=0.048). These results suggest that CD34/kg cell dose and non-TBI-ablative conditioning may be important variables influencing OS following UCBT in pediatric recipients. Given the small number of patients, these results should be viewed cautiously.
Toward simulation of full-scale monolithic catalytic converters with complex heterogeneous chemistry

Abstract Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling of full-scale catalytic converters with realistic chemistry has remained elusive primarily due to the extreme computational requirements. In this work, a new low-memory coupled implicit solver, based on the conservative unstructured finite-volume method, was utilized to simulate laboratory-scale catalytic converters with implicit coupling between fluid flow, heat transfer (including conjugate heat transfer), mass transfer, and heterogeneous chemical reactions. Steady-state calculations were performed for a catalytic methane–air combustion process with 24 reaction steps and 19 species (8 gas-phase species, 11 surface-adsorbed species), and for a three-way catalytic conversion process with 61 reaction steps and 31 species (8 gas-phase species, 23 surface-adsorbed species). Both calculations were conducted on a single processor for a monolith with 57 channels discretized using 354,300 control volumes. The catalytic combustion simulation was completed in 19 h and required 900 MB of memory, while the three-way conversion simulation required 6 days and 1 GB of memory, indicating that the complexity of the surface reaction mechanism dominates the overall CPU time requirements. Subsequently, the solver was parallelized, and the same catalytic combustion case was simulated for a monolith with 293 channels discretized using 1.27 million control volumes. A 4-node cluster was utilized for the parallel computations, and the parallelization efficiency was found to be about 80%.
Influence of series resistance on the photocurrent analysis of organic solar cells

The series resistance of a bulk heterojunction solar cell diode affects the measurement of the voltage dependence of the diode photocurrent, P(V). An empirical model for the effect is described and shows that P(V) can be significantly modified, particularly at high bias voltages. Experimental measurements on PCDTBT:PCBM solar cells with added series resistance demonstrate the effect and confirm the model. The model provides a method to correct the photoconductivity data using measured quantities.
Wave-spec: a preprocessing package for mass spectrometry data

Summary:Wave-spec is a pre-processing package for mass spectrometry (MS) data. The package includes several novel algorithms that overcome conventional difficulties with the pre-processing of such data. In this application note, we demonstrate step-by-step use of this package on a real-world MALDI dataset. Availability: The package can be downloaded at http://www.vicc.org/biostatistics/supp.php. A shared mailbox (ude.tlibrednav@ceps-evaw) also is available for questions regarding application of the package. Contact: ude.tlibrednav@ryhs.uy Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Amylose content of starch controls the release of encapsulated bioactive agents

Abstract Controlled release of the herbicide butylate [ S -ethyl bis(2-methylpropyl) carbamothioate] from a non-chemically modified starch matrix has been achieved. Steam injection cooking of cornstarch or mixtures of starches with varying amylose content, followed by active agent addition, drying and grinding yields encapsulated products showing controlled slow release of active agent. As the amylose content increases, the rate of release decreases due to the ability of amylose to retrograde (starch chain association). As the amylose content is reduced to about 10% the efficiency of active agent encapsulation nears 100%. Encapsulated products consisting only of starch and an active agent should be useful in a variety of applications, i.e. food, feed or agriculture.
FTIR spectra of hydroxyls and dehydroxylation kinetics mechanism in montmorillonite

The application of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to the analysis of the hydroxyl groups bands' intensities of montmorillonite from Texas shows four regions of intensity loss rate for thermally shocked samples at 290 673 K. However, what is surprising is the persistence of very weak water stretching (∼3470 cm−1) and bending (∼1628 cm−1) vibrations at 553<T<773 K. It is speculated that this water, formed because of dehydroxylation, is trapped in the hexagonal cavities of the dehydrated montmorillonite lattice. However, conclusive evidence will require surface-sensitive spectroscopic measurements as this water could also be adsorbed on the external surfaces of processed samples. In the range 773<T<823 K, the main dehydroxylation of the AlAl-OH group results, and this reaction induces structural transformations in the montmorillonite lattice. FTIR measurements at 803 K for 0<t< 25 h were used to determine the kinetics mechanism of dehydroxylation in montmorillonite from Texas. The experimental data was tested, using diffusion controlled as well as six decomposition models to ascertain the kinetics mechanism of the AlAl-OH group's dehydroxylation. It appears that the dehydroxylation process can be described by the contracting spherical movement model rather than by a diffusion controlled model, suggesting surface nucleation, growth over the surface, and then advancement of the dehydroxylated/hydroxylated interface toward the center of the montmorillonite particles.
Nitrogen deficit during soybean pod fill and increased plant biomass by vigorous N2 fixation

Abstract The N concentration of a soybean Glycine max. [(L.) Merr.] seed frequently is greater than 60 mg g −1 . Because of high seed-N demand, a soybean plant may become N-deficient during pod fill. To test the effect of N source during pod fill on seed N, plants were grown hydroponically so that N source could be controlled. From seedling stage to mid-R4, all plants were provided an excess of nitrate-N. From mid-R4 to harvest (R7), randomized sets of 20 plants were fed excess N in the form of any one of 4.0 mM KNO 3 , 2.0 mM NH 4 NO 3 , 2.0 mM KNO 3 + 1.0 mM urea, 1.0 mM KNO 3 + 1.5 mM urea, or 2.0 mM urea. The mean rate of N assimilation during pod fill for plants fed only nitrate was approximately 65% of the mean rates of plants fed the same amount, but different forms, of N during pod fill. Likewise, seed analysis showed that plants fed only nitrate during pod fill frequently produced smaller seeds that contained a lower seed-N concentration (experiment 1, 63.3 mg N g −1 vs. 67.7–73.4 mg N g −1 ; experiment 2, 61.6 mg N g −1 vs. 63.0–67.2 mg N g −1 ) than those fed other forms of N. Thus, the total N content of seeds produced by plants fed only nitrate during pod fill was approximately 77% of the mean values of plants fed the same amount, but different forms, of N during pod fill. On the other hand, nodulated plants provided a low level of nitrate or urea and fixing approximately 600 mg N 2 plant −1 frequently had a higher gain in harvested biomass (169%) than did non-inoculated plants fed excess nitrate (139%). It is concluded that rapid N 2 fixation during pod filling enhances net photosynthetic output of soybean.