cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disposal of concentrated solutions of diazinon using organic absorption and chemical and microbial degradation

Peat moss has been found to be an effective ‘organic matrix’ for the absorption and degradation of diazinon in experimental disposal pits. High concentrations of diazinon sorbed onto nutrient-enriched commercial grade peat moss were rapidly degraded. Pits treated with diazinon concentrations ranging from 4000 to 32000 mg kg−1 contained less than 1 to 7 mg kg−1 after 18 weeks. Initially, degradation probably was due to hydrolysis resulting from the effects of heat, moisture, low pH and some microbial activity. Further degradation of the hydrolysis product, IMHP, was most likely due to microbial activity. The results obtained suggest that a managed degradation pit, containing a nutrient-enriched organic matrix (peat moss), might provide a useful means for absorbing and neutralizing waste pesticide formulations because the materials used in this system are readily available and the system may be regenerative so that it can be used repeatedly.
Sublimation Pressures of n-Alkanes from C20H42 to C35H72 in the Temperature Range 308−348 K

This paper presents a new predictive method for the sublimation pressures of heavy n-alkanes from C20H42 to C35H72 in the temperature range 308−348 K. The peculiar behavior of solid n-alkanes in terms of their heats of solid transitions is reviewed briefly. Also, the behavior of heat capacities of the n-alkanes through the solid−solid transitions is discussed, and the relative importance of this behavior is evaluated. Finally, the new expression for the sublimation pressures of n-alkanes is compared with other available correlations.
Composition effects on viscosity and chemical durability of simulated plutonium residue glasses

Vitrification is currently being explored as an option for plutonium (Pu) scrap and residue stabilization because of its ability to convert plutonium-bearing materials into a safe, durable, and accountable waste form with reduced need for safeguarding. To develop this glass, the effect of composition on key glass properties (viscosity and chemical durability) were measured. A one-component-at-a-time change test matrix with 36 glasses was designed. The viscosity is reported as the temperature at 5 Pa{center_dot}s (T{sub 5}), and the durability as the normalized release of boron and sodium (r{sub B} and r{sub Na}) from MCC-1 and PCT static leach tests and the negative logarithm of fractional aluminum and lithium release ({minus}ln[f{sub Al}] and {minus}ln[f{sub Li}]) from TCLP. The effects of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, B{sub 2}O{sub 3}, CaO, CeO{sub 2}, Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}, K{sub 2}O, Li{sub 2}O, MgO, Na{sub 2}O, PbO, SiO{sub 2}, SnO, TiO{sub 2}, and ZrO{sub 2} were found to be linear for T{sub 5} and non-linear for chemical durability. T{sub 5} is increased most by the addition of SiO{sub 2} followed by Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and decreased most by Li{sub 2}O followed by Na{sub 2}O. MCC-1 ln[r{sub B}] and ln[r{sub Na}] are increased most by the addition of Li{submore » 2}O followed by MgO and decreased most by Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} followed by ZrO{sub 2}. PCT ln[r{sub B}] and ln[r{sub Na}] are increased most by the addition of Mgo followed by B{sub 2}O{sub 3} and decreased most by Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} followed by SiO{sub 2}. The relative effect of components on r{sub B} and r{sub Na} are similar for both PCT and MCC-1. TCLP {minus}ln[f{sub Al}] and {minus}ln[f{sub Li}] are increased most by the addition of SiO{sub 2} followed by SnO and decreased most by Li{sub 2}O.« less
The competence and freedom of children to make choices regarding participation in research: a statement.

The child is considered to be a person with the right of self-determination. This statement holds that children should participate in research only under conditions of adequately informed consent, that parents must be fully informed about research procedures and purposes, but that parental consent is a sufficient condition only for infants or children without adequate capacity for informed choice. Children should receive complete explanations consonant with their level of understanding; guidelines are suggested for different age groups. Incomplete disclosure may be warranted if followed by adequate debriefing; however, deception is thought never to be justified. Special problems of invasion of privacy arising in naturalistic field studies are discussed. The intrinsic value of science is proposed both as justification and as motivation for children's participation as research subjects.
Progress in recognizing typeset mathematics

Printed mathematics has a number of features which distinguish it from conventional text. These include structure in two dimensions (fractions, exponents, limits), frequent font changes, symbols with variable shape (quotient bars), and substantially differing notational conventions from source to source. When compounded with more generic problems such as noise and merged or broken characters, printed mathematics offers a challenging arena for recognition. Our project was initially driven by the goal of scanning and parsing some 5,000 pages of elaborate mathematics (tables of definite integrals). While our prototype system demonstrates success on translating noise-free typeset equations into Lisp expressions appropriate for further processing, a more semantic top-down approach appears necessary for higher levels of performance. Such an approach may benefit the incorporation of these programs into a more general document processing viewpoint. We intend to release to the public our somewhat refined prototypes as utility programs in the hope that they will be of general use in the construction of custom OCR packages. These utilities are quite fast even as originally prototyped in Lisp, where they may be of particular interest to those working on 'intelligent' optical processing. Some routines have been re-written in C++ as well. Additional programs providing formula recognition and parsing also form a part of this system. It is important however to realize that distinct conflicting grammars are needed to cover variations in contemporary and historical typesetting, and thus a single simple solution is not possible.
Using abstraction and model checking to detect safety violations in requirements specifications

Exposing inconsistencies can uncover many defects in software specifications. One approach to exposing inconsistencies analyzes two redundant specifications, one operational and the other property-based, and reports discrepancies. This paper describes a "practical" formal method, based on this approach and the SCR (software cost reduction) tabular notation, that can expose inconsistencies in software requirements specifications. Because users of the method do not need advanced mathematical training or theorem-proving skills, most software developers should be able to apply the method without extraordinary effort. This paper also describes an application of the method which exposed a safety violation in the contractor-produced software requirements specification of a sizable, safety-critical control system. Because the enormous state space of specifications of practical software usually renders direct analysis impractical, a common approach is to apply abstraction to the specification. To reduce the state space of the control system specification, two "pushbutton" abstraction methods were applied, one which automatically removes irrelevant variables and a second which replaces the large, possibly infinite, type sets of certain variables with smaller type sets. Analyzing the reduced specification with the model checker Spin uncovered a possible safety violation. Simulation demonstrated that the safety violation was not spurious but an actual defect in the original specification.
Biological activities of cystic fibrosis serum. IV. Stimulation of the calcium mediated K+ efflux from rat submandibular gland fragments.

Biological Activities of Cystic Fibrosis Serum. IV. Stimulation of the Calcium Mediated K + Efflux from Rat Submandibular Gland Fragments
Adjunctive sleep medications and depression outcome in the treatment of serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor resistant depression in adolescents study.

Abstract Objective: In the Treatment of Resistant Depression in Adolescents, study participants who received medication for sleep had a lower response rate. This report sought to clarify this finding. Method: Depressed adolescents who had not responded to a previous adequate serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) trial were randomly assigned to another SSRI, venlafaxine, another SSRI+cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), or venlafaxine+CBT. Augmentation with sleep medication was permitted as clinically indicated. Results: Youth who received trazodone were six times less likely to respond than those with no sleep medication (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=0.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05–0.50, p=0.001) and were three times more likely to experience self-harm (OR=3.0, 95% CI: 1.1–7.9, p=0.03), even after adjusting for baseline differences associated with trazodone use. None (0/13) of those cotreated with trazodone and either paroxetine or fluoxetine responded. In contrast, those treated with other slee...
Should HIV status alter indications for hemorrhoidectomy

PURPOSE: There is a widespread belief that performing hemorrhoidectomy on a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an invitation for disaster. Aim of this study was to compare morbidity of hemorrhoidectomy in HIV-positive (HIV+) with HIV-negative (HIV−) patients. METHODS: Charts of 27 HIV+ and 30 HIV−male patients less than age 50 years who underwent hemorrhoidectomy were reviewed. RESULTS: Mean age of the 57 study group patients was 38 years. Open hemorrhoidectomy was performed in 26 patients (46 percent), and a closed technique was used in 31 patients (54 percent). HIV+ and HIV−patient groups were well matched to all preoperative and intraoperative variables. Mean T-cell helper count in the HIV+ patient group was 301 (range, 9–1,040) cells/Μl. There were no deaths, and complications were seen in 15 patients (26 percent). There was no difference in overall complication rates between HIV+ and HIV−patient groups. Urinary retention was seen in ten patients (18 percent), three of whom were HIV+ (11 percent)vs.seven of whom were HIV -(23 percent) (P=not significant). Although no patient required reoperation for bleeding, postoperative hemorrhage was seen in three patients (1 HIV+, 2 HIV -). None of the patients developed fecal incontinence. Mean time to complete wound healing was 6.8 (range, 4−12) weeks for HIV+ patientsvs.6.6 (range, 4–14) weeks for HIV−patients (P=not significant). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that HIV status of a patient should not alter indications for surgical management of hemorrhoidal disease.
Computer literacy for development: An evolving metaphor

In the last decade, there has been a hue and cry to introduce computer literacy, along with computers themselves, into schools not only in North America and Europe, but in the Third World as well. And, unlike most other educational innovations of the recent past, there has been little resistance by teachers or educational administrators to the introduction of this particular subject area, at least broadly conceived. Indeed, in a recent review of computer policies in education conducted by Unesco (I986), a majority of Third World countries surveyed reported either existing policies or blueprints for the introduction of computer literacy into their education systems. Like most programmatic concepts, however, computer literacy has considerable ~surplus
Respiratory Deficiency Mediates the Regulation of CHO1-encoded Phosphatidylserine Synthase by mRNA Stability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract The CHO1-encoded phosphatidylserine synthase (CDP-diacylglycerol:l-serine O-phosphatidyltransferase, EC 2.7.8.8) is one of the most highly regulated phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. CHO1 expression is regulated by nutrient availability through a regulatory circuit involving a UASINOcis-acting element in the CHO1 promoter, the positive transcription factors Ino2p and Ino4p, and the transcriptional repressor Opi1p. In this work, we examined the post-transcriptional regulation of CHO1 by mRNA stability. CHO1 mRNA was stabilized in mutants defective in deadenylation (ccr4Δ), mRNA decapping (dcp1), and the 5′–3′-exonuclease (xrn1), indicating that the CHO1 transcript is primarily degraded through the general 5′–3′ mRNA decay pathway. In respiratory-sufficient cells, the CHO1 transcript was moderately stable with a half-life of 12 min. However, the CHO1 transcript was stabilized to a half-life of >45 min in respiratory-deficient (rho– and rhoo) cells, the cox4Δ mutant defective in the cytochrome c oxidase, and wild type cells treated with KCN (a cytochrome c oxidase inhibitor). The increased CHO1 mRNA stability in response to respiratory deficiency caused increases in CHO1 mRNA abundance, phosphatidylserine synthase protein and activity, and the synthesis of phosphatidylserine in vivo. Respiratory deficiency also caused increases in the activities of CDP-diacylglycerol synthase, phosphatidylserine decarboxylase, and the phospholipid methyltransferases. Phosphatidylinositol synthase and choline kinase activities were not affected by respiratory deficiency. This work advances our understanding of phosphatidylserine synthase regulation and underscores the importance of mitochondrial respiration to the regulation of phospholipid synthesis in S. cerevisiae.
The Dialectics of Kinesis + Stasis in My Visual Art

Abstract The author reflects on how her work in both kinetic and static arts has influenced—and continues to influence—her approach to her art practice as a whole.
Analysis of LTI Uncertainty

Our intent now is to construct a robust stability condition which characterizes system robustness to stable LTI perturbations. Furthermore, we continue to develop a general framework in which to consider issues of robustness for sampled-data systems.
Surgical management of patients with primary brain tumors

Objectives To provide an overview of the diagnostic work-up, intraoperative technologies, postoperative treatment options, and investigational new therapies in patients with malignant brain tumors. Data sources Published textbooks and articles and other reference materials. Conclusion Recent improvements in diagnostic and surgical equipment have influenced outcomes and overall quality of life for patients with central nervous system tumors. The ability to more accurately target and more safely remove brain tumors has enhanced the postoperative period and decreased hospital stays. However, malignant neoplasms continue to be refractory to current treatments, necessitating innovative surgical approaches at the time of initial diagnosis and at tumor recurrence. Implications for nursing practice Nurses with an understanding of current diagnostic and surgical treatment modalities for brain tumors are able to provide accurate patient education and comprehensive care, enhancing the overall hospital and outpatient experience.
The role of comorbidity in explaining the associations between anxiety disorders and smoking

Introduction Research has generally found strong associations between smoking and anxiety disorders. The present study sought to examine the role of comorbidity in explaining these relationships. Methods Participants from the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (N = 5,692) were included in the present study. Axis I disorders were assessed using the World Mental Health Survey Initiative version of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview. In addition, smoking and mental health treatment history were assessed. Results Multivariate analyses covarying for demographic variables and psychiatric and substance use comorbidity found that posttraumatic stress disorder was uniquely associated with every smoking outcome of interest, including 12-month and lifetime daily and heavy smoking, nicotine dependence, and cessation failure. Generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder were associated with fewer smoking-related outcomes, and contrary to predictions, panic disorder was only independently associated with 12-month daily smoking. Panic attack history, however, was uniquely associated with 12-month daily and heavy smoking, nicotine dependence, and lifetime cessation failure. In addition, analyses indicated that greater number of anxiety disorders was associated with greater prevalence of each smoking outcome, and the presence of even one anxiety disorder was associated with elevated smoking prevalence. Discussion Several specific anxiety disorders were found to be uniquely associated with smoking behavior. Findings suggest that comorbidity may only explain the associations with smoking difficulties for some anxiety disorders.
DOUBLE-VALUEDNESS OF THE ELECTRON WAVEFUNCTION AND ROTATIONAL ZERO-POINT MOTION OF ELECTRONS IN RINGS

I propose that the phase of an electron's wavefunction changes by π when the electron goes around a loop maintaining phase coherence. Equivalently, that the minimum orbital angular momentum of an electron in a ring is ℏ/2 rather than zero as generally assumed, hence, that the electron in a ring has azimuthal zero point motion. This proposal implies that a spin current exists in the ground state of aromatic ring molecules and suggests an explanation for the ubiquitousness of persistent currents observed in mesoscopic rings.
Personal real-time air pollution exposure assessment methods promoted by information technological advances

This review article discusses the current status of personal real-time air pollution exposure assessment methods promoted by recent development in information technologies. Relevant information technologies are mobile positioning technology, mobile wireless communication technology, Web 2.0 technology, and volunteered geographic information technology. Two groups of personal real-time air pollution exposure assessment methods are reviewed, namely the genuine integrated methods and the pseudo integrated methods. The genuine methods monitor personal exposure directly and are individual-based approaches. The pseudo methods monitor personal exposure indirectly, and they are hybrid approaches of individual-based assessment and place-based assessment. We conclude this article by suggesting promoting public participation and government input for individual-based air pollution exposure measures. More specifically, efforts should be focused on applying new technologies and research methods, developing a cost-effec...
A General Framework for Designing and Validating Oligomer-Based DNA Microarrays and Its Application to Clostridium acetobutylicum

While DNA microarray analysis is widely accepted as an essential tool for modern biology, its use still eludes many researchers for several reasons, especially when microarrays are not commercially available. In that case, the design, construction, and use of microarrays for a sequenced organism constitute substantial, time-consuming, and expensive tasks. Recently, it has become possible to construct custom microarrays using industrial manufacturing processes, which offer several advantages, including speed of manufacturing, quality control, no up-front setup costs, and need-based microarray ordering. Here, we describe a strategy for designing and validating DNA microarrays manufactured using a commercial process. The 22K microarrays for the solvent producer Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 are based on in situ-synthesized 60-mers employing the Agilent technology. The strategy involves designing a large library of possible oligomer probes for each target (i.e., gene or DNA sequence) and experimentally testing and selecting the best probes for each target. The degenerate C. acetobutylicum strain M5 lacking the pSOL1 megaplasmid (with 178 annotated open reading frames [genes]) was used to estimate the level of probe cross-hybridization in the new microarrays and to establish the minimum intensity for a gene to be considered expressed. Results obtained using this microarray design were consistent with previously reported results from spotted cDNA-based microarrays. The proposed strategy is applicable to any sequenced organism.
The crystal structure of nanpingite-2M2, the Cs end-member of muscovite

Nanpingite, ideally CsA12(AlSi3)OIO(OH)2, is a Cs end-member dioctahedral mica, crystallizing in C21c, with a = 9.076(3), b = 5.226(2), c = 21.41(5) A, and (3= 99.48(6)°. The crystal structure of type nanpingite was refined to R = 0.058 using single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Nanpingite is a 2M2 polytype dioctahedral mica rather than a 2Ml polytype as reported originally. In comparison with the interlayer cations in common muscovite and paragonite, Cs+ in nanpingite increases the [001] interlayer separation between adjacent 2: 1 layers but has little effect on the lateral (a, b) cell dimensions. The existence of the rare 2M2 polytype is attributed to this large interlayer separation, which minimizes the repulsion of the superimposed (along [001]) 0 anions in the basal planes of neighboring tetrahedral layers. The 2M2 polytype involves ditrigonal prismatic coordination of the interlayer Cs+, in contrast to the octahedral coordination of interlayer K + and Na + in muscovite-2Ml and paragonite2Mj. The tetrahedral rotation in nanpingite is the smallest among dioctahedral micas and is also caused by the incorporation of the large interlayer cation Cs + .
A fiber optic barrier integrity monitor

A description is presented of two designs for monitoring the integrity of a barrier surrounding a location. The concept was originally developed for verifying compliance to a treaty where the barrier was to surround a site containing treaty-limited items. The application of these designs is not limited to treaty verification and might be used to monitor the integrity of vault walls, building and igloo walls, truck and transport container walls, or net barriers partitioning a harbor. The barrier consists of a row of upright columns supporting three horizontal rails. An optical fiber is threaded through the rails and the continuity of the fiber is monitored via a light signal sent through it. The design is intended to detect any breach immediately so that the violator might be caught in the violation act. The equipment should also detect attempts to tamper with the system by inserting a bypass around a portion of the fiber. >
Hepatic expression of ErbB3 is repressed by insulin in a pathway sensitive to PI-3 kinase inhibitors.

ErbB3 is an epidermal growth factor receptor-related type I tyrosine kinase receptor capable, in conjunction with ErbB2 or epidermal growth factor receptor, of transmitting proliferative and differentiative signals in a variety of cell types. We previously showed that ErbB3 messenger RNA and protein increase in cultured hepatocytes during the first 12 h in culture, as does the binding of heregulin β1, a ligand for ErbB3. Insulin inhibits the increase in heregulin β1 binding, as well as the increase in ErbB3 messenger RNA and protein. Two models of insulin deficiency in vivo (diabetes and fasting) demonstrated elevated levels of hepatic ErbB3 protein, strengthening the relevance of our observations in vitro. Using chemical activators or antagonists, we sought to identify the signaling pathways that link insulin to ErbB3 expression. The PI-3 kinase inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, completely blocked the inhibition of ErbB3 protein expression by insulin, suggesting a role for PI-3 kinase in the regulatio...
The ABR and Resident Recall “Cheating”

In my opinion, the American Board of Radiology would best handle the current controversy by making previous examination questions, but not answers, publicly available.
Youth, School, and the Family in Transition.

Family patterns are influenced by low incomes and high costs of living. Schooling has not kept pace with changes in technology and employment opportunities.
Evaluation of Herbicide and Disking to Control Invasive Bluestems in a South Texas Coastal Prairie

Abstract Conservation and restoration efforts of native grasslands are being hindered by invasive, exotic plants. Exotic bluestem grasses ( Bothriochloa and Dichanthium spp.) have become increasingly invasive throughout the rangelands of the central and southern Great Plains, United States. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of glyphosate, imazapyr, and imazapyr + glyphosate treatments with or without disking to remove exotic bluestems from a south Texas coastal prairie. We evaluated three different control regimens: 1) herbicide treatments only, 2) herbicide treatments followed by two diskings (H + D), and 3) disking followed by herbicide treatments (D + H). Percent exotic bluestem, native grass, and forb cover were visually estimated at 0 (pre-treatment: May 2006), 20, 52, and 104 wk after treatment (WAT). The herbicide-only and H + D regimens were ineffective at controlling exotic bluestems. However, exotic bluestem cover in herbicide-treated plots of the D + H regimen was significantly lower ( P ≤ 0.05) compared to control plots and most treatment plots of the herbicide-only and H + D regimens up to 52 WAT. Control regimens did not notably facilitate an increase in native grass cover from pre-treatment levels, but native grass cover remained the highest, and increased the most, in some imazapyr-treated plots of the herbicide-only and D + H regimens, respectively. In the H + D and D + H regimens, disking resulted in a flush of forb cover (up to 50%) at 52 WAT; yet forb cover was ≤ 5% in these plots by 104 WAT. Exotic bluestem cover recovered back to, or was greater than, pre-treatment levels among most treatment plots across all three control regimens at 104 WAT. This study suggests that follow-up control measures are needed to suppress the re-invasion of exotic bluestems after initial control efforts. Additional studies are needed to evaluate other strategies to control exotic bluestems in rangelands of the central and southern United States.
PeakLink: a new peptide peak linking method in LC-MS/MS using wavelet and SVM.

Motivation: In liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), it is necessary to link tandem MS-identified peptide peaks so that protein expression changes between the two runs can be tracked. However, only a small number of peptides can be identified and linked by tandem MS in two runs, and it becomes necessary to link peptide peaks with tandem identification in one run to their corresponding ones in another run without identification. In the past, peptide peaks are linked based on similarities in retention time (rt), mass or peak shape after rt alignment, which corrects mean rt shifts between runs. However, the accuracy in linking is still limited especially for complex samples collected from different conditions. Consequently, large-scale proteomics studies that require comparison of protein expression profiles of hundreds of patients can not be carried out effectively. Method: In this article, we consider the problem of linking peptides from a pair of LC-MS/MS runs and propose a new method, PeakLink (PL), which uses information in both the time and frequency domain as inputs to a non-linear support vector machine (SVM) classifier. The PL algorithm first uses a threshold on an rt likelihood ratio score to remove candidate corresponding peaks with excessively large elution time shifts, then PL calculates the correlation between a pair of candidate peaks after reducing noise through wavelet transformation. After converting rt and peak shape correlation to statistical scores, an SVM classifier is trained and applied for differentiating corresponding and non-corresponding peptide peaks. Results: PL is tested in multiple challenging cases, in which LC-MS/MS samples are collected from different disease states, different instruments and different laboratories. Testing results show significant improvement in linking accuracy compared with other algorithms. Availability and implementation: M files for the PL alignment method are available at http://compgenomics.utsa.edu/zgroup/PeakLink Contact: ude.astu@gnahZ.ellehciM Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Consistencies in theoretical and naive evaluations of comforting messages

Prior research on comforting communication from the constructivist perspective has employed a hierarchical system of message analysis to classify different comforting strategies; within this system, messages are scored for the extent to which they explicitly acknowledge, elaborate, and legitimize the feelings of distressed others. The present paper reports two studies assessing the extent to which naive actors' perceptions of comforting strategy sensitivity, effectiveness, and quality correspond with the formal analysis of comforting strategy sophistication embedded in the constructivist hierarchical coding scheme. In the first study, 73 female college students interacted with a female confederate who feigned distress over having recently been dropped by her long‐term boyfriend. These interactions were videotaped and content analyzed; in addition, both the confederate and an experimental observer rated participants' behaviors for sensitivity. Results indicated that participants employing a greater proport...
Forward Steps in Irrigation Engineering

Irrigation in the United States has greatly expanded during the 50 years that the Bureau of Reclamation, United States Department of the Interior, has been active—5,000,000 acres are now served by ...
A Narrow Amide I Vibrational Band Observed by Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy Reveals Highly Ordered Structures of a Biofilm Protein at the Air/Water Interface

We characterized BslA, a bacterial biofilm protein, at the air/water interface using vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy and observed one of the sharpest amide I bands ever reported. Combining methods of surface pressure measurements, thin film X-ray reflectivity, and atomic force microscopy, we showed extremely ordered BslA at the interface.
Submesoscale currents in the northern Gulf of Mexico: Deep phenomena and dispersion over the continental slope

Abstract This study examines the mesoscale and submesoscale circulations along the continental slope in the northern Gulf of Mexico at depths greater than 1000 m. The investigation is performed using a regional model run at two horizontal grid resolutions, 5 km and 1.6 km, over a 3 year period, from January 2010 to December 2012. Ageostrophic submesoscale eddies and vorticity filaments populate the continental slope, and they are stronger and more abundant in the simulation at higher resolution, as to be expected. They are formed from horizontal shear layers at the edges of highly intermittent, bottom-intensified, along-slope boundary currents and in the cores of those currents where they are confined to steep slopes. Two different flow regimes are identified. The first applies to the De Soto Canyon that is characterized by weak mean currents and, in the high-resolution run, by intense but few submesoscale eddies that form near preferentially along the Florida continental slope. The second is found in the remainder of the domain, where the mean currents are stronger and the circulation is highly variable in both space and time, and the vorticity field is populated, in the high-resolution case, by numerous vorticity filaments and short-lived eddies. Lagrangian tracers are deployed at different times along the continental shelf below 1000 m depth to quantify the impact of the submesoscale currents on transport and mixing. The modeled absolute dispersion is, on average, independent of horizontal resolution, while mixing, quantified by finite-size Lyapunov exponents and vertical relative dispersion, increases when submesoscale processes are present. Dispersion in the De Soto Canyon is smaller than in the rest of the model domain and less affected by resolution. This is further confirmed comparing the evolution of passive dye fields deployed in De Soto Canyon near the Macondo Prospect, where the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in 2010, and at the largest known natural hydrocarbon seep in the northern Gulf, known as GC600, located a few hundred kilometers to the west of the rig wellhead.
Artificial Sweeteners: A Systematic Review and Primer for Gastroenterologists

Artificial sweeteners (AS) are ubiquitous in food and beverage products, yet little is known about their effects on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and whether they play a role in the development of GI symptoms, especially in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Utilizing the PubMed and Embase databases, we conducted a search for articles on individual AS and each of these terms: fermentation, absorption, and GI tract. Standard protocols for a systematic review were followed. At the end of our search, we found a total of 617 eligible papers, 26 of which were included. Overall, there is limited medical literature available on this topic. The 2 main areas on which there is data to suggest that AS affect the GI tract include motility and the gut microbiome, though human data is lacking, and most of the currently available data is derived from in vivo studies. The effect on motility is mainly indirect via increased incretin secretion, though the clinical relevance of this finding is unknown as the downstream effect on motility was not studied. The specific effects of AS on the microbiome have been conflicting and the available studies have been heterogeneous in terms of the population studied and both the AS and doses evaluated. Further research is needed to assess whether AS could be a potential cause of GI symptoms. This is especially pertinent in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, a population in whom dietary interventions are routinely utilized as a management strategy.
Importance of vegetation structure to the assembly of an aerial web-building spider community in North American open grassland

Abstract. Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of suitable habitat in grasslands can promote species and functional diversity in arthropods, including responses by ubiquitous web-building spiders. A field experiment in tallgrass prairie habitat was performed to examine the response in abundance and web-type richness of aerial web-building spiders to changes in the availability of structure for web placement (vegetation architecture). To test the hypothesis that vegetation structure contributes directly to the web-builder abundance and web-type richness in open grasslands, we increased vegetation structure by adding dead woody stems of a common shrub along transects in each of three watersheds that differed in burn histories and existing habitat structure. Aerial web-building spiders were visually censused before and after the manipulations, at which time we recorded web-orientation, height, web-type, and the presence/absence of the spider associated with a web. Over the duration of the study, a total of se...
Bismaleimide Based Shape Memory Polymers: Correlation Between Chemical Composition and Mechanical Properties

Shape memory polymers have attracted great interest for application in adaptive or morphing structures. In order to understand the origins of the mechanical performance and durability of these polymers, the chemical structure must be understood, which is often hindered by the proprietary nature of commercially available shape memory polymers and their additives. In the present study, a series of novel linear polyaspartimide-polyurea based polymers utilizing 4-4-bismaleimidodiphenylmethane and an aliphatic Jeffamine diamine are thermomechanically characterized as a function of chemical structure. A diisocyanate resin is incorporated to create a thermosetting material with both improved toughness and variable cross-link densities. The thermal and mechanical properties are determined utilizing thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis. In addition, the shape memory cycle with free recovery is conducted on these polymers. The thermomechanical and shape memory properties are analyzed to elucidate the correlation between the chemical composition and changes in the mechanical performance. With a thorough understanding of structure-property relationships, the chemical composition of these novel bismaleimide based shape memory polymers can be tailored to meet the desired mechanical performance requirements of aerospace applications.
The Drosophila nephrocyte.

Purpose of review The functioning kidney requires proper organization in multiple cell types that mediate filtration and removal of wastes. Interest has increasingly focused on the podocyte as an important mediator of kidney function; defects in podocyte function likely mediate a broad palate of kidney dysfunctions. Here I explore recent work that establishes the Drosophila nephrocyte as a useful model for podocyte function and dysfunction. Recent findings Although described many decades in the past, recent evidence has emphasized important similarities in the molecules that construct the 'nephrocyte diaphragm' and its vertebrate cousin the 'podocyte diaphragm'. For example, loss of Nephrin and its associated proteins lead to collapse of these structures and loss of proper filtration. Summary These data emphasize both differences between the podocyte and nephrocyte and also useful similarities. These similarities provide the promise of bringing Drosophila genetics--strongly successful in other disciplines--to the complex problem of how podocyte dysfunction leads to disease. To further explore this point I discuss work on Nephrin in a better understood tissue, the Drosophila eye, in which the role of Nephrin and its connection to actin dynamics is under intense study.
Daily Hassles, Mental Health Outcomes, and Dispositional Mindfulness in Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists

Introduction: Stress negatively affects student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs)’ well-being. At present, there is no effective method to identify individual vulnerability to stress to better prepare SRNAs for adaptive stress coping. The underlying assumption of this study was that outcomes of stress were determined by individuals’ appraisal of the situation and available coping resources based on the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. The purposes of the present study were to assess subgroup differences in mental health outcomes of everyday stressors or daily hassles and to evaluate if dispositional mindfulness buffered the negative impact of daily hassles on mental health outcomes. The three specific aims of this research were: (1) Examine the relationships between daily hassles, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and dispositional mindfulness in SRNAs; (2) Characterize the relationship between daily hassles, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, dispositional mindfulness, and SRNA characteristics (demographic and nurse anesthesia curricular information); and (3) Determine whether dispositional mindfulness moderates the relationship between daily hassles and three negative mental health outcomes (1) perceived stress, (2) depression, and (3) anxiety, controlling for the effects of demographic and nurse anesthesia curricular information. Methods: The invitation to this anonymous cross-sectional descriptive online survey was sent to randomly selected 5,000 SRNAs. The survey questionnaire included four validated self-report measures to assess daily hassles, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, dispositional mindfulness, as well as demographic and anesthesia curricular information. Missing data was handled by multiple imputations. There were 881 valid responses. Complete case (n = 728) and multiply imputed data (n = 881) were
AEQUITAS: Coordinated Energy Management Across Parallel Applications

A growing number of energy optimization solutions operate at the application runtime level. Despite delivering promising results, these application-scoped optimizations are fundamentally greedy: They assume to have an exclusive access to power management and often perform poorly when multiple power-managing applications co-exist, or different threads of the same application share power management hardware. In this paper, we introduce AEQUITAS, a first step to address this critical yet largely overlooked problem. The insight behind AEQUITAS is that co-existing applications may view power-managing hardware as a shared resource and coordinate power management decisions. As a concrete instance of this philosophy, we evaluated our ideas on top of a state-of-the-art energy-efficient work-stealing runtime. Experiments show that without AEQUITAS, multiple co-existing power-managing application runtimes suffer up to 32% performance loss and negate all power savings. With AEQUITAS, the beneficial energy-performance tradeoff reported in the single-application setting (12.9% energy savings and 2.5% performance loss) can be retained, but in a much more challenging setting where multiple power-managing runtimes co-exist on parallel architectures and multiple CPU cores share the same power domain.
Anti-aircraft Missiles and Gun Control

Gun control is a highly debatable topic both in the popular and scholarly media. But what about anti-aircraft missiles? Should they be banned? On the one hand, there are fewer of them around, so their challenge is more tractable. On the other hand, they can do far more damage than handguns. The present paper is an attempt to wrestle with this challenge.
Novel Strategy for One-Pot Synthesis of Gold Nanoplates on Carbon Nanotube Sheet As an Effective Flexible SERS Substrate.

In this work, we demonstrate a novel route for one-pot synthesis of two-dimensional gold nanoplates (2-D AuNPLs) on carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet. Well-defined AuNPLs are grafted onto CNT sheet via a facile hydrothermal reduction process, during which bromine ions are employed as the surfactant for gold anisotropic growth. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows large-scale AuNPLs with micrometer-scaled length and sub-100 nm thickness are deposited uniformly on the CNT sheet. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirm the synthesized AuNPLs are single-crystalline with preferential {111} orientation. Based on the CNT sheet/AuNPLs hybrid, we have fabricated a flexible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate, which can effectively detect the analyte Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) at the concentration as low as 1 × 10–7 M. The excellent SERS performance of this novel flexible substrate is mainly attributed to nanoscaled gaps between the neighbors, large surface area with...
Lombard Aorfix high angulation device, sac behavior following implantation

Abstract Objective Short neck length, and angulated infrarenal aortic necks, are historically associated with sac expansion following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Aorfix (Lombard Medical, Inc, Irvine, Calif), a conformable stent graft US Food and Drug Administration approved for highly angulated necks, was investigated in the US Pythagoras Trial. We investigated the incidence of, and factors related to, sac regression and expansion following implantation of the Aorfix device. Methods Pythagoras trial data was assessed with mutivariable modeling for factors associated with sac regression or expansion (defined as change in maximum aneurysm diameter of ≥5 mm on annual follow-up computed tomography compared with last preoperative scan). All anatomic measurements were performed per protocol by a core laboratory (M2S; West Lebanon, NH). Results A total of 218 patients were enrolled; neck angle was ≥60° in 151 (69.3%), Conclusions In this study cohort, there is a low incidence of sac expansion with the Aorfix device. We were unable to demonstrate an association between neck length/angulation and sac expansion.
The NCTQ Selectivity Standard and Principal Evaluation of Teacher Preparation

ABSTRACTRatings published by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) require selectivity in admission to educator preparation programs. NCTQ provides a list of citations to support the selectivity standard termed “strong support.” A review of each citation in the list found little or no support for the standard. Original data was collected examining employment supervisor ratings of over 11,000 teachers’ preparation and analyzed for correlations and differences based on the selectivity standard. No significant differences were found between supervisor ratings of teachers who met or did not meet the NCTQ test standard and no significant correlations were found between the selectivity tests, grade point average, and principal ratings of teachers. These findings bring into question the listed selectivity standard and the rationale for its inclusion in NCTQ's public ranking process.
Acute bacterial meningitis in children presenting to The Children's Hospital Lahore before and after pneumococcal vaccine in Pakistan National Immunization Program; A comparison.

OBJECTIVE To describe bacteriological profile, morbidity and mortality of acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in children and to compare these parameters before and after the introduction of Pneumococcal vaccine in Pakistan National Immunization Program. METHODS The present descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Paediatric Medicine of The Children's Hospital Lahore from January 2012 to December 2015. A total of 503 children one month to five years of age admitted with diagnosis of meningitis were included. Complete blood count, CSF cytology, biochemistry, culture sensitivity and blood culture sensitivity were performed. RESULTS Frequency of meningitis decreased by 50% in 2013-2015 (199 [2012] vs 304 [2013-2015). Most children in both groups were under one year of age. More neurological complications were seen in the group 2, 20% vs 17%. CSF culture positivity decreased from 12% to 6.6%. Streptococcus pneumoniae isolation decreased from 5 (2.5%) in 2012 to 4 (1.3%) in 2013-2015. Refusal to take feed (p=0.002), impaired sensorium (p=<0.001), severe malnutrition (p=0.001), prolonged duration of symptoms (p=<0.001) and incomplete vaccination status (0.005) were associated with mortality. Mortality rate decreased from 20 (10%) in 2012 to 17 (5.6%) in 2013-2015 but more children developed neurological sequelae 2.7% versus 1%. CONCLUSION Acute bacterial meningitis mostly affected children <1 year. Frequency of Streptococcus pneumoniae and mortality of meningitis decreased significantly after PCV but more neurological complications developed in those children who were unvaccinated in 2013-2015 compared to 2012.
Sociology research at liberal arts colleges

þis article examines the research activity in sociology by faculty at liberal arts col-leges. We used Sociological Abstracts to compile a list of journal articles published from 1960 to 1999 for which the first author's affiliation was among the 161 schools classified as liberal arts colleges by the Carnegie Foundation. We rank the colleges by the number of journal publications over the whole time period as well as a subset of the last ten years, and provide information on which journals are the most frequent outlets for liberal arts faculty. Finally, we provide some evidence that this research output is linked to teaching effectiveness. During the past fifty years there has been an amazing development of the colleges and universities of this country. They have grown in numbers, in size of faculties, in enrollments of students, in scope of work....It has seemed worth while to attempt to secure a rating of the graduate schools in the different lines of study based on the opinions of a considerable group of college professors....Such a rating also seems proper and desirable in printed form, so that any one interested can turn to it readily for a rough estimate of the work in a given field. (Hughes 1925)