cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Short-term effects of a catastrophic beaver dam collapse on a stream fish community

We examined the short-term effects of the natural catastrophic collapse of a beaver dam on downstream benthic insect density and fish community structure in a headwater tributary of the Mississippi River. The catastrophic collapse of the dam and ensuing flash flood resulted in a dramatic (< 90%) decrease in benthic insect density in riffle and pool habitats. Sixty days after collapse of the dam, insect densities in riffles were 62% of pre-collapse densities. Insect recolonization of pools was slower than for riffles; 60 days after collapse of the dam insect densities in pools were 8% of pre-collapse levels. Collapse of the beaver dam altered the structure of the downstream fish community by causing a short-term (2–4 days) influx of pond species, resulting in a brief increase in species richness and abundance. Fish species richness and abundance then decreased for 4–60 days to levels below those prior to the collapse.
β-Cell Secretory Capacity and Demand in Recipients of Islet, Pancreas, and Kidney Transplants

Context: β-Cell secretory capacity, a measure of functional β-cell mass, is often impaired in islet transplant recipients, likely because of a low engrafted β-cell mass, although calcineurin inhibitor toxicity is often cited as the explanation. Objective: We sought to determine whether use of the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus was associated with reduced β-cell secretory capacity or with increased β-cell secretory demand independent of engrafted islet mass. Design and Participants: We compared metabolic measures in five intraportal islet recipients vs. 10 normal controls and in seven portally-drained pancreas-kidney and eight nondiabetic kidney recipients vs. nine kidney donor controls. All transplant groups received comparable exposure to tacrolimus, and each transplant group was matched for kidney function to its respective control group. Intervention and Main Outcome Measures: All participants underwent glucose-potentiated arginine testing where acute insulin responses to arginine (5 g) were determin...
The graph-history interaction: on ignoring position history

Game playing programs make great use of the fact that the trees they search are more often graphs, containing idenficaf nodes arrived al by different means. By saving search results in a hash tab/e, or maintaining a graph rather than a tree, it is often possible lo avoid duplication of effort. However there is a potentially harmful interaction that occurs when such techniques are used in a game that allows repetition of position. This papers describes the Graph-Hisfory Interaction, and suggests practical solutions to the problems it causes.
Global evaluation of large earthquake energy from 1997 through mid‐2010

[1] We develop an updated radiated seismic energy E catalog of global earthquakes with seismic moment M0 ≥ 1019 Nm (MW ≥ 6.7) from 1997 through mid-2010, recording 342 events using 17849 seismograms. Station-specific corrections and event duration–dependent total P wave group calculations allow for improved E determinations for large- and long-duration earthquakes. We find the global mean energy-to-moment ratio = log10 (E/M0) = −4.59 ± 0.36. Robust deviations are found for thrust (T = −4.74), strike-slip (SS = −4.44), and normal (N = −4.51) faulting events. For two regions with recent energy deficient tsunami earthquakes (TsE), we examine all large thrust earthquakes with M0 ≥ 5 × 1017 Nm (MW ≥ 5.7), to identify a regional characterization in their relative radiated energy-to-moment ratio. While thrust events along Java, Indonesia, the site of two TsE events in 1994 and 2006, are comparable (T−JV = −4.91) to the global thrust average, events along the Middle America Trench (MAT), the site of the 1992 Nicaragua TsE, are consistently deficient (T−MAT = −5.15). Along the MAT, a trend of increased deficiency in radiated energy to the southeast occurs in the direction of more rapid plate convergence. Global thrust mechanisms become increasingly deficient in radiated seismic energy at shallow depths, with TsE events representing the shallowest and most energetically deficient end-member of the events in the study. Results suggest thrust events are highly variable but tend to increase in apparent stress from about 15 kPa near the surface to 2 MPa near 70 km depth.
Use of random-dot displays in the study of biomolecular conformation

Abstract The perception of random-dot interference patterns is potentially useful in the global characterization of conformational changes occurring in biomolecules. The proposed method can be applied whenever both the structure of the initial and final state of a molecule are known, and an equivalent axis of rotation relating the two forms is desired.
The selection and use of servo performance criteria

THE APPLICATION of performance criteria in the analysis, and more particularly in the synthesis, of servo systems is a matter of importance, but it is one of considerable difficulty as compared with the application of stability criteria. Although it is generally agreed that concise criteria of performance are desirable, there has been no general agreement as to what criteria should be used. This is not too surprising, for surely there should be many criteria to fit the various requirements of different servos.
Towards methods for the collective gathering and quality control of relevance assessments

Growing interest in online collections of digital books and video content motivates the development and optimization of adequate retrieval systems. However, traditional methods for collecting relevance assessments to tune system performance are challenged by the nature of digital items in such collections, where assessors are faced with a considerable effort to review and assess content by extensive reading, browsing, and within-document searching. The extra strain is caused by the length and cohesion of the digital item and the dispersion of topics within it. We propose a method for the collective gathering of relevance assessments using a social game model to instigate participants' engagement. The game provides incentives for assessors to follow a predefined review procedure and makes provisions for the quality control of the collected relevance judgments. We discuss the approach in detail, and present the results of a pilot study conducted on a book corpus to validate the approach. Our analysis reveals intricate relationships between the affordances of the system, the incentives of the social game, and the behavior of the assessors. We show that the proposed game design achieves two designated goals: the incentive structure motivates endurance in assessors and the review process encourages truthful assessment.
Reassessing the Human Resource Crisis in the Public Service, 1987-2002

In the late 1980s, a number of studies began to document serious problems with the federal public service employment system. In the 1st years of the new millennium, similar studies are again docume...
Newborn skin care

Many organ systems undergo significant and rapid changes during the transition from an intrauterine to an extrauterine environment, especially those which serve as interfaces between the infant and the external environment. Historically the skin care methods employed during and after this period of rapid physiologic change have been derived from individual anecdotal experience or cultural tradition, rather than evidence-based or pathomechanistically derived data. While research in this area has historically been limited, it is increasing in scope and volume, and recent work has shed light on the changes experienced by the cutaneous organ during this period of transition. This increased understanding has driven new recommendations in skin care protocols for newborn infants and neonates.
Medical problems in selected Asian countries.

It is not possible to write a comprehensive description of medical education in Southeast Asia in a brief paper, or even in a book, so one must select certain aspects of the subject. Before attempting to comprehend the problems, one must have a clear understanding of the social and economic conditions in each country, and of their individual histories. It is important to appreciate that this area of the world consists of many totally separate and essentially independent countries with different social and cultural backgrounds, different environmental conditions, different political systems, different histories, different languages, and in different stages of economic development. In spite of the many differences between the less-developed countries, they also have many factors in common to which similar, although not identical, solutions may be considered. Almost all of these countries have long histories of colonial domination and they are much better informed about the countries which have dominated them than they are about each other. Domination of one country by another greatly suppresses the development of self-reliance and initiative, and it matters little whether this dominance is political, financial, cultural or military.
Plasma Cortisol Stress Response of Juvenile Chinook Salmon to Passage through Archimedes Lifts and a Hidrostal Pump

Abstract We examined the cortisol stress response of juvenile chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha to passage through Archimedes lifts and a Hidrostal pump operating at speeds used for commercial water delivery. In 1998, plasma cortisol was measured for Archimedes-passed salmon at 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after passage. Concentrations among treatment groups did not differ significantly from those among control groups, which were treated similarly but not passed through pumps. In 1999, cortisol was measured at 0, 1, 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 h after passage for both pump types. Concentrations did not differ significantly between treatment and control groups for the Archimedes lifts. A relatively small pump effect, less than 50 ng/mL of cortisol, was measured for the Hidrostal pump 3 h after passage. A handling control comparison demonstrated that much of the measured stress response was due to capture, confinement, and transport of fish before insertion into pumps. In general, these results indicated that pump-...
Methadone-induced respiratory depression in the neonatal guinea pig

Respiratory depression, the most serious side-effect of opioid treatment, is well documented for morphine, the most commonly used opioid in neonatal care. Less is known about methadone, a clinically relevant opioid analgesic, especially during neonatal development. This study was undertaken to determine the neonatal respiratory effects of methadone. We hypothesize that methadone is equipotent to morphine, compared to our previous morphine results in the same animal model, but has a much longer duration of action, due to its longer elimination half-life. Neonatal guinea pigs (3-14 days old) randomly received a single subcutaneous dose of methadone or saline. Using a non-invasive plethysmographic method, we measured ventilatory and metabolic parameters before injection and at intervals for 32 hr after injection while pups breathed "room air" or 5% CO(2) gas mixtures. Methadone-induced depression of ventilation was most evident during 5% CO(2) challenge. The onset of drug effects was within 15 min for all ages and doses, but the duration of action decreased with age. While the depth of methadone-induced respiratory depression did not depend on pup age, the control of breathing was different in 3-day-old pups, where inspiratory time increased fourfold; twice that of older pups. We conclude that methadone induces a naloxone reversible respiratory depression in guinea pig neonates and, in the very young, causes an abnormal breathing pattern due to changes in respiratory timing. Methadone is more potent than morphine with respect to neonatal respiratory depression, but surprisingly, the duration of methadone action was not longer than morphine.
Thermal-mechanical fatigue behaviour of alumina fibre/aluminium-lithium composite

Metal matrix composites are candidates for elevated temperature applications. For this reason, it is important to understand their behaviour under thermal-mechanical fatigue conditions. Thermal cycling of a composite material creates thermal stresses in the composite because of thermal expansion mismatch between the fibre and the matrix. This can lead to plastic deformation of the matrix, interface damage, and fibre fracture. Mechanical cyclic loading of the composite during thermal cycling can aggravate the situation even more. A computer-controlled servo-hydraulic thermal-mechanical fatigue test system was used to perform tests on α-Al2O3(FP)/AI-2%Li metal matrix composite specimens. The volume fraction of unidirectionally aligned fibres was 35%. The tests performed were free-expansion tests, fast and slow thermal fatigue tests, and isothermal fatigue tests. Large reductions in the composite strength were observed under thermal fatigue conditions. This degradation can be attributed to observed microstructural damage of the fibre/matrix interface and fibre fracture.
Chlorinated hydrocarbon-induced peroxisomal enzyme activity in relation to species and organ carcinogenicity.

Abstract Trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PER), and pentachloroethane (PENT) are widely used industrial chemicals that cause an increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in mice and a very low incidence of renal tubular adenocarcinoma in rats. A recent study (C. R. Elcombe, M. S. Rose, and I. S. Pratt (1985) , Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 79 , 365–376) suggested that the species difference in the hepatocarcinogenicity of TCE seen between rats and mice was due to a species difference in peroxisomal proliferation and cell proliferation. The purpose of the present investigation was to understand better the association of peroxisome proliferation in the species-specific hepatocarcinogenicity, and nephrocarcinogenicity of TCE, PER, and PENT. TCE (1000 mg/kg body wt), PER (1000 mg/kg body wt), PENT (150 mg/kg body/wt), the metabolite trichloroacetic acid (TCA; 500 mg/kg body wt),or the potent peroxisome proliferating agent Wy-14,643 (WY; 50 mg/kg body wt) was administered by gavage to male F-344 rats and B6C3F1 mice for 10 days. Cyanide-insensitive palmitoyl CoA oxidation activity (PCO) was used to measure the peroxisome proliferation response. Of the chlorinated hydrocarbons, TCE and PER elevated PCO activity in mouse liver whereas only TCE elevated rat liver and kidney PCO. All agents increased PCO activity in the kidneys of mice. None of the chlorinated hydrocarbons induced a PCO response stronger than WY. These results (1) support an association between peroxisome proliferation and hepatic tumors in mice following TCE and PER, but not PENT, administration and (2) suggest that chlorinated hydrocarbon-induced peroxisome proliferation does not correlate with species-specific renal carcinogenicity.
Commonweal vs. free market capitalism: the case of India and China

Purpose – China and India, increasingly referred to as the world's emerging giants among emerging economies, represent the second and fourth largest economies in the world, respectively. This paper seeks to provide a comparative assessment of these two countries on selected measures on economic growth and social development.Design/methodology/approach – The paper's approach is a discussion, providing a brief introduction to the approach taken by India and China in pursuing economic growth and social welfare measures. The discussion then focuses on the relationship between economic liberalization and social development against a backdrop of relevant concepts and arguments from the literature. Comparative profiles of India and China on select dimensions using data from World Economic Indicators and other sources are provided.Findings – The paper finds that it is clear that there are areas where India can learn from China and vice versa.Originality/value – The paper illustrates that these two countries offer...
Theory of a steady laminar thermal plume along a vertical adiabatic wall

Abstract A theoretical investigation was made of the steady laminar thermal plume resulting from a line heat source located along the base of an adiabatic vertical wall. Velocity and temperature profiles are determined, including consideration of variable fluid properties, for Pr = .01, .1, .7, 1, 10 and 100. The results are compared with unconfined laminar line plumes having the same energy flow per unit length in their half-width as the wall plume. It is found that the wall plume has a lower maximum velocity and a higher maximum temperature than the corresponding free plume. The wall plume is also somewhat thicker than the half-width of the free plume.
On the soliton, invariant, and shock solutions of a fourth-order nonlinear equation

Abstract A particular transmission line containing a nonlinear capacitance is shown to satisfy the equation V xxtt + ω 0 2 V xx − C s −1 [ VC n ( V )] tt = 0, ω 0 2 = ( LC S ) −1 . This equation is shown to permit the propagation of solitary waves (solitons). In addition, it admits an invariant (similar) solution under the spiral group. Lastly, we demonstrate two implicit traveling wave solutions that permit the evolution of a discontinuity in the first derivatives (shocks).
Identification of serine 356 and serine 363 as the amino acids involved in etorphine-induced down-regulation of the μ-opioid receptor

Agonist-induced internalization of G protein-coupled receptors is influenced by many structural determinants including the carboxyl tail. To investigate the role of serine and threonine residues within the carboxyl tail, several mutants were constructed by truncating the carboxyl tail of the hemagglutinin-tagged mu-opioid receptor, thereby removing serines and threonines systematically. Neuro2A cells stably expressing the truncated receptors did not exhibit a significant alteration in the affinity of [3H]diprenorphine or etorphine for the receptor or the potency of etorphine to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity. Chronic etorphine treatment resulted in a time-dependent down-regulation of all the truncated receptors, except MOR1TAG355D, thus revealing the importance of the four amino acids between Ser355 and Glu359 (STIE). Surprisingly, deletion of the STIE sequence resulted in a receptor that down-regulated the same as the wild-type receptor. The involvement of multiple amino acids within the carboxyl tail was demonstrated by combining alanine substitutions of several putative G-protein-coupled receptor kinase phosphorylation sites. Systematic analysis of these receptors indicated that mutation of Ser356 and Ser363 to alanine attenuated agonist-mediated down-regulation. The magnitude of etorphine-induced phosphorylation of this mutant receptor, however, was similar to that of the wild-type mu-opioid receptor. Thus, phosphorylation of the carboxyl tail of the mu-opioid receptor is not an obligatory event for etorphine-induced down-regulation of the receptor.
Radiation grafting of allylic monomers to solid polymeric substrates

The kinetics of grafting of allylic monomers to a solid polymeric substrate are compared with those for normal vinyl monomers which have been treated in a previous paper. The particular case treated theoretically for both types of monomers (using well established basic principles) is the sequence where the polymer is soaked in a solution of the monomer, the excess monomer is removed from the surface, the polymer is then irradiated at −78°C. at a high dose rate, and the system subsequently allowed to condition at 25°C. under an oxygen free atmosphere. It was previously shown theoretically that with a normal vinyl monomer in a very viscous matrix, the conversion of monomer to polymer increases indefinitely with post-irradiation time and that radiation dose and post-irradiation time are interchangeable in the absence of inhibitors. It is shown here that under similar conditions with allylic monomers, the existence of degradative chain transfer to the monomer places a definite limit on the maximum conversion and makes this conversion quite dependent on dose. The theory for the case involving degradative chain transfer is applied to data on the grafting of itaconic acid to 66 nylon and values are deduced for the ratio of transfer to propagation constants and transfer to termination constants. Lower limits for the absolute values of these constants are also deduced. The ratio of propagation kp and termination kt rate constant in this very viscous medium is kp/2kt = 0.58.
The gold-indium thin film system: A high resolution electron microscopy study

Abstract Many intermediate Au-In compounds have been observed as gold diffuses into thin indium films. Nearly all of the structures known from bulk studies were encountered as well as others not previously known. A new superstructure of the γ1 phase (a′ = 2a) and two new superstructures of the ζ phase ( a′ = (7) 1 2 a , a′ = 3a) were observed. The growth of the alloy Au3In has been recorded at high resolution in real time on video tape.
In‐Plane Alignment in Organic Solar Cells to Probe the Morphological Dependence of Charge Recombination

Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells are fabricated with the polymer semiconductor aligned in the plane of the film to probe charge recombination losses associated with aggregates characterized by varying degrees of local order. 100% uniaxial strain is applied on ductile poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) BHJ films and characterize the resulting morphology with ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. It is found that the strained films result in strong alignment of the highly ordered polymer aggregates. Polymer aggregates with lower order and amorphous regions also align but with a much broader orientation distribution. The solar cells are then tested under linearly polarized light where the light is selectively absorbed by the appropriately oriented polymer, while maintaining a common local environment for the sweep out of photogenerated charge carriers. Results show that charge collection losses associated with a disordered BHJ film are circumvented, and the internal quantum efficiency is independent of P3HT local aggregate order near the heterojunction interface. Uniquely, this experimental approach allows for selective excitation of distinct morphological features of a conjugated polymer within a single BHJ film, providing insight into the morphological origin of recombination losses.
Epicardial ultrasound guidance of coronary catheter placement in an experimental animal model.

Abstract We evaluated epicardial ultrasonography with a 10-MHz transducer for coronary catheter guidance in 18 normal pigs. A modified long-axis view of the aortic root was used to direct a coronary catheter into the root, and then with a short-axis view of the aortic root, the catheter tip was placed selectively into either the right or the left main coronary artery. Subsequently, with modified coronary views, an angioplasty infusion catheter was guided with precision to the exact location desired in the coronary artery. Position was confirmed by direct visualization and palpation of the epicardial vessels, and the procedure was completed within 5 to 15 minutes without complication. Epicardial ultrasonography is a suitable alternative to fluoroscopy for guidance of coronary catheter placement in an open-chest experimental model. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2002;15:1387-90.)
The inpatient consultation approach to osteoporosis treatment in patients with a fracture. Is automatic consultation needed

Background: Osteoporosis has been described as a “silent epidemic.” We describe an osteoporosis consultation program to facilitate the evaluation and treatment of inpatients with fragility fractures. Methods: The inpatient orthopaedic team voluntarily requested an osteoporosis consultation on all patients with a fragility fracture. The osteoporosis consultant evaluated patients for secondary causes and started treatment with calcium, vitamin D, and bisphosphonates unless contraindicated. From November 2001 to December 2003, fifty-three osteoporosis consultations were performed. A retrospective review of the charts of all patients with a hip fracture treated during this twenty-six-month period revealed that only 47% were actually seen by the osteoporosis consultants, creating an unintentional “nonintervention” cohort of thirty-one patients with a hip fracture. Treatment for osteoporosis was assessed by a review of the inpatient charts and by a telephone interview after discharge. Results: The study group consisted of eighty-four patients, which included fifty-three in the intervention cohort (twenty-eight hip and twenty-five other fractures) and thirty-one in the nonintervention cohort (all patients with a hip fracture). In the intervention cohort, most patients were vitamin-D deficient. Calcium and vitamin-D treatment was recommended for all fifty-three patients, and bisphosphonates were recommended for forty-one of the fifty-three patients in the intervention cohort. In the nonintervention cohort, two patients received calcium and vitamin D and one received a bisphosphonate; the difference between the cohorts was significant (p < 0.0001). In the intervention cohort, twenty-seven of the thirty-four patients who were available for a telephone interview after discharge (at a mean of eighteen months) remained on calcium and vitamin D; twenty-two of the thirty-four patients remained on bisphosphonates. In the nonintervention cohort, only one of the twelve patients who were available for follow-up (at a mean of thirty-nine months) was receiving calcium and vitamin D and none were on bisphosphonate treatment. Conclusions: This consultation program cannot be considered an outright success since only half of all patients with a hip facture actually received a consultation. However, osteoporosis consultation, when provided, facilitated the recognition of secondary causes and the generic treatment of osteoporosis, and inpatients started on treatment generally continued the medication after discharge. The results of this study strongly support the need for a mechanism of automatic osteoporosis consultation for inpatients with a fragility fracture and suggest that, if consultation is reliably obtained, this approach can be effective in improving patient care. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Fast Blood Coagulation of Capillary Vessels by Cold Plasma: A Rat Ear Bleeding Model

Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas previously have been shown to be effec- tive in vitro in generating active species, radicals, and charges, which may aid in various processes of interest to medicine, including blood coagulation. Floating electrode dielectric barrier discharge microsecond-pulsed, high-voltage plasma was used in an animal model of hairless Sprague-Dawley rats to treat an incision on the ear. The results confirm cold plasma's ability to coagulate blood in a live animal model. A small incision in the rat ear, cutting the thin epidermis and slicing through the capillaries, creates a small and controllable wound from which bleeding is observed. Without plasma treatment, the animal bleeds for approximately 2 minutes, whereas a 10-second treatment is sufficient to coagulate blood. Cold plasma float - ing electrode dielectric barrier discharge was shown to effectively coagulate bleeding small vessels, which may prove beneficial in surgical intervention treatments of, for example, vocal cord surgery, eye surgery, or brain surgery, for which other means of coagulation may be pro- hibitive. Future animal trials will include larger animals and different bleeding sites, with the potential to move on to human trials.
Stability of mantle minerals from lattice calculations and shock wave data

Abstract Shock wave and static high pressure data for mantle minerals have indicated that at high pressures a series of denser polymorphs form whose crystal structures can at present only be inferred from calculated densities and crystal chemical arguments. In order to determine the admissibility of some of these proposed structures theoretical Madelung lattice energies are calculated for several oxides (FeO, Al 2 O 3 , Cr 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , TiO 2 ) spinels (Al 2 MgO 4 , Mg 2 SiO 4 , Fe 2 SiO 4 , Ni 2 SiO 4 , FeCr 2 O 4 , Fe 2 TiO 4 , Fe 3 O 4 ) and perovskites (CaTiO 3 , SrTiO 3 , MgSiO 3 , Fe 2 3+ O 3 , Fe 2+ Fe 4+ O 3 ). Comparison of calculated enthalpies of formation with measured values yield approximate values for the effects of covalency on enthalpies of formation for AlO 6 , TiO 6 , SiO 4 , SiO 6 , Fe 3+ O 6 , Cr 3+ O 6 , Fe 3+ O 4 and Fe 2+ O 4 . This effect is seen to be very similar for the same ion pair in the same coordination but in different compounds. The calculations indicate that enstatite (MgSiO 3 ) can not enter a perovskite with a density greater than about 3.9 g/cm 3 and that the high pressure phase of Fe 2 O 3 can be a perovskite only if the Fe 3+ disproportionates into Fe 2+ and Fe 4+ and the 3d electrons in the latter are spin paired.
Optimal seek profile generation with time-varying weightings for hard disk drives

In this paper, an optimal servo control strategy is presented to achieve high seek/settle performance without compromising the targeted seek time in hard disk drives. The cost function to be optimized is given by a weighted quadratic function with respect to time and the jerk of control command. Thanks to the fact that the cost function is directly penalized with time-varying weightings, the proposed method is more effective to minimize the settling vibration induced by the actuator seek profile compared with the previous optimization approaches in literature. The proposed approach is applicable to any given initial and terminal conditions.
Isolation of Anti-Mannose Antibodies By Affinity Chromatography On Mannosyl-Sepharose

Abstract Anti-α-D-mannose antibodies have been isolated from the serum of rabbits immunized with the glycoconjugate of α-D-mannose and bovine serum albumin joined by aminophenyl bridges. the antibodies were purified by affinity chromatography with adsorption on a mannosyl-Sepharose 4B column and elution with α-D-mannose or methyl α-D-mannoside. Such antibodies should be especially useful for studying the detection and progression of diseases caused by viruses, pathogenic microorganisms or transformed cells and could be useful as curative agents.
Stereocontrolled Synthesis of 6′-Deoxy-6′-Fluoro Derivatives of Methyl α-Sophoroside, α-Laminaribioside, α-Kojibioside and α-Nigeroside

Abstract Sequential tritylation, benzoylation and detritylation of D-glucose, followed by resolution of the crude product by chromatograpEy gave crystalline 1,2,3,4-tetra-O-benzoyl-α- (1) and β-D-glucopyranose (2). Compound 1, 2, and the corresponding methyl α-glycoside 5 were treated with dimethylaminosulfur trifluoride (methyl DAST) to give, respectively, the 6-deoxy-6-fluoro derivatives 3, 4, and 6. Crystalline 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-6-deoxy-6-fluoro-α-D-glucopyranosyl chloride (10) could be obtained from either 3, 4, or 5 by reaction with dichloromethyl methyl ether in the presence of anhydrous zinc chloride. Silver trifluoromethanesulfonate-promoted reaction of 10 with methyl 2-O-(9) and 3-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranoside (8) gave the corresponding, (β-linked disaccharides in high yield. Subsequent deprotection afforded the 6′-deoxy-6′-fluoro derivatives of methyl α-sophoroside (13) and methyl 6′ -deoxy-o′-fluoro-α-laminaribioside (16). Condensation of 8 and 9 with 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-b...
Non-linear flexings in a periodically forced floating beam

This paper considers periodic flexing in a floating beam, in the presence of a small periodic forcing term. The beam is considered as a vibrating beam with the free-end boundary condition, in the presence of an additional restoring force due to flotation, which becomes zero as soon as the beam lifts out of the water. The equation is therefore non-linear. A theorem is proved which shows that in the presence of small periodic forcing terms, both small- and large-amplitude solutions can exist. Numerical evidence is presented, which shows that the large-amplitude solutions are stable over a wide range of frequency and amplitude, and suggests a cusp-like surface for the multiple solutions.
Recognizing single-peaked preferences on a tree

Abstract The Condorcet winner is a natural choice as the winner of an election, when it exists. When preferences are restricted to be single-peaked on a tree, it is known that there is a Condorcet winner. We give an algorithm for determining whether or not a set of preferences is single-peaked on some tree. Finding this tree is useful for two reasons: its form may reflect the perceptions of the candidates by the electorate, and the existence of a tree guarantees stronger, more difficult to check, properties.
Base-exchange reactions of the phospholipids in cardiac membranes.

Abstract Canine cardiac microsomes were shown to incorporate the nitrogenous bases, serine, ethanolamine, and choline, into their respective phospholipids by the energy-independent, Ca2+-stimulated base-exchange reactions. The optimal Ca2+ concentration was 2.5 mM. Metal ions other than Ca2+ either inhibited or had no effect on the activities. La3+ and Mn2+ were both potent inhibitors. The pH optimum for the reactions at 2.5 mM Ca2+ was approx. 7.8 and depended upon Ca2+ concentration. Apparent Km values at 2.5 mM Ca2+ were 0.06 mM for l -serine, 0.13 mM for ethanolamine and 0.49 mM for choline. The kinetic and metal ion inhibition studies suggest that the choline-exchange reaction is a separate process from the serine and ethanolamine reactions. The ATPstimulated Ca2+ binding system of the cardiac membranes was not related to the base-exchange reactions; however, the energy-independent Ca2+ binding to the membranes appears to be related to the exchange reactions.
Minor Isolated Q Waves and Cardiovascular Events in the MESA Study

Abstract Background The significance of minor isolated Q waves in the resting electrocardiograms (ECGs) of apparently healthy individuals is unknown. Objective To examine the association between minor isolated Q waves and incident cardiovascular disease events in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Design This analysis included 6551 MESA participants (38% white, 28% black, 22% Hispanic, 12% Chinese) who were free of cardiovascular disease at enrollment. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between minor isolated Q waves defined by the Minnesota ECG Classification with adjudicated incident cardiovascular events. Results During up to 7.8 years of follow-up, 423 events occurred, with a rate of 10.7 events per 1000 person-years. A significant interaction between minor isolated Q waves and race/ethnicity was observed ( P =.030). In models stratified by race/ethnicity and adjusted for demographics, socioeconomic status, common cardiovascular risk factors, and other ECG abnormalities, presence of isolated minor Q waves was significantly associated with incident cardiovascular events in Hispanics (hazard ratio [HR] 2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42-4.82), but not in whites (HR 0.65; 95% CI, 0.32-1.33) or blacks (HR 1.46; 95% CI, 0.74-2.89). Despite the statistically significant association in the Chinese population, the small number of events precluded solid conclusions in this race/ethnicity. Conclusion The prognostic significance of minor isolated Q waves varies across races/ethnicities; they carry a high risk for future cardiovascular events in apparently healthy Hispanics, but not in whites or blacks.
The influence of geminal disubstitution on efficiencies of 4-exo-trig radical cyclizations

Abstract The competition between tributyltin hydride-induced cyclization and reduction of a series of 6-bromo-2-hexenoates was explored computationally. Different methods show that modification of the gem-substituents is not as crucial for cyclization as once thought.
Cocaine Use during Pregnancy Research Findings and Clinical Implications

Cocaine's popularity has escalated drastically within the past decade, and pregnant women from all socioeconomic, racial, and cultural groups are among the burgeoning number of users. The pharmacologic properties of this highly addictive, mind‐altering drug and its profound effects on the pregnant woman and fetus are presented. Recent clinical research findings on cocaine use during pregnancy are reviewed, implications for nursing care are examined, and specific nursing interventions are identified.
Dose frequency: Comparison of language outcomes in preschool children with language impairment

Data regarding treatment intensity provide evidence for service delivery decision-making in schools. In this pilot study, dose frequency effects (i.e. number of therapy sessions per week) on semant...
Ontogeny of locomotor activity and grooming in the young rat: role of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors.

Locomotor activity and grooming were assessed in 11- and 17-day-old rat pups after treatment with selective dopamine (DA) D-1 and D-2 agonists (SKF 38393 and quinpirole, respectively) and antagonists (SCH 23390 and sulpiride, respectively). Quinpirole enhanced the locomotor activity of both the 11- and 17-day-olds, effects antagonized by either SCH 23390 or sulpiride. Drug-induced increases in grooming were apparent only after high doses (30.0 mg/kg i.p.) of SKF 38393 (11- and 17-day-olds) or when SKF 38393 (15.0 mg/kg i.p.) was given in conjunction with sulpiride (11-day-olds). In general, these results suggest that challenge with selective DA agonists and antagonists induces patterns of responding which are similar to those typically observed in adult rats. Moreover, these results indicate that rat pups, like adults, require a functioning DA D-1 receptor system for the expression of DA D-2-mediated activity.
Socially Just Teaching and the Complementarity of Ignatian Pedagogy and Critical Pedagogy

This qualitative research, conducted in a teacher education course at an urban Jesuit university, examines the concerns voiced by preservice teachers when they are challenged to define and embrace a vision of “teaching for social justice” in a methods course utilizing instructional methods based on theories of critical pedagogy and Ignatian pedagogy. The reflective journals and focus group interviews of a cohort of 15 preservice teachers revealed concerns about the curriculum, the pedagogy, and the rationale for socially just teaching. Those concerns, when juxtaposed with Ignatian pedagogy and critical pedagogy, reveal that each theory is both helpful and limited in its ability to address those concerns. In tandem, the two theories provide valuable support for the development of preservice teachers attempting to become socially just teachers.
Fission yeast contains an rDNA binding activity that interacts specifically with regulatory sequences for ribosomal RNA synthesis.

Abstract Basal level transcriptional initiation of fission yeast ribosomal RNA genes is dependent on the core ribosomal RNA gene promoter and is stimulated by an upstream rDNA promoter element and by regulatory sequences located in its ∼3.5 kb intergenic rDNA spacer. A Schizosaccharomyces pombe sequence-specific rDNA binding activity was characterized that interacted with the upstream rDNA promoter region and that associated with required RNA polymerase I transcription components in initial fractionation steps. The rDNA binding activity was further purified and found to specifically associate with a region of the rDNA promoter between −80 and −56. The promoter region required for stable binding correlates with that mediating activated levels of transcriptional initiation. This rDNA binding activity stimulates in vitro rRNA synthesis supported by templates bearing this upstream promoter domain but not by templates lacking it.
Feature-oriented regional modeling of oceanic fronts

This paper outlines some important aspects of modeling oceanic fronts in the context of feature-oriented regional modeling for the deep sea and the Global Coastal Ocean. Previously developed forms of feature models for different types of fronts are presented in a generalized approach. The large-scale meandering frontal systems such as the Gulf Stream, Kuroshio and Brazil current can be represented by velocity-based feature models. Buoyancy forced coastal water mass fronts, such as the coastal currents, the tidal fronts, plume fronts, dense water fronts and inflow/outflow fronts can be represented by a generalized parameterized water mass feature model. The interface region of the deep ocean and the coastal region can be modeled by a melding of two water masses along and across a prescribed isobath in the form of a shelf-break front. Initialization and/or updating fields for a regional dynamical model can then be established in association with other available synoptic data sets via a feature-oriented strategic sampling approach for forecasting and dynamical balances. Example simulations from the western north Atlantic (WNA) and the strait of Sicily region are presented in support of the applicability of this approach for the Global Coastal Ocean. Simulations in the strait of Sicily region with fronts, eddies and background climatology help provide a perspective on dynamical processes in this region. Application of this methodology for rapid assessment of any regional ocean, based on limited data and resources is now possible.
Development of electron spin echo envelope modulation spectroscopy to probe the secondary structure of recombinant membrane proteins in a lipid bilayer

Membrane proteins conduct many important biological functions essential to the survival of organisms. However, due to their inherent hydrophobic nature, it is very difficult to obtain structural information on membrane-bound proteins using traditional biophysical techniques. We are developing a new approach to probe the secondary structure of membrane proteins using the pulsed EPR technique of Electron Spin Echo Envelope Modulation (ESEEM) Spectroscopy. This method has been successfully applied to model peptides made synthetically. However, in order for this ESEEM technique to be widely applicable to larger membrane protein systems with no size limitations, protein samples with deuterated residues need to be prepared via protein expression methods. For the first time, this study shows that the ESEEM approach can be used to probe the local secondary structure of a (2) H-labeled d8 -Val overexpressed membrane protein in a membrane mimetic environment. The membrane-bound human KCNE1 protein was used with a known solution NMR structure to demonstrate the applicability of this methodology. Three different α-helical regions of KCNE1 were probed: the extracellular domain (Val21), transmembrane domain (Val50), and cytoplasmic domain (Val95). These results indicated α-helical structures in all three segments, consistent with the micelle structure of KCNE1. Furthermore, KCNE1 was incorporated into a lipid bilayer and the secondary structure of the transmembrane domain (Val50) was shown to be α-helical in a more native-like environment. This study extends the application of this ESEEM approach to much larger membrane protein systems that are difficult to study with X-ray crystallography and/or NMR spectroscopy.
Can Family Therapy Have an Effect on Adult Criminal Conduct? Initial Evaluation of Functional Family Therapy

This study investigated the effect of an evidence-based family-focused intervention, Functional Family Therapy (FFT), on adult offenders’ mental health, family relationships, and risk of reoffending. The results showed that the participants who completed FFT experienced significant improvement in individual and relational functioning and they reported fewer symptoms of distress, less family conflict, and higher levels of family cohesion and organization. The findings also indicated that the FFT group had significantly lower levels of criminogenic risk than offenders who received traditional probation services. This study provides preliminary evidence for the relevance of a family-focused approach as a method for adult as well as youth offender rehabilitation.
Targeting TACE-dependent EGFR ligand shedding in breast cancer

The ability to proliferate independently of signals from other cell types is a fundamental characteristic of tumor cells. Using a 3D culture model of human breast cancer progression, we have delineated a protease-dependent autocrine loop that provides an oncogenic stimulus in the absence of proto-oncogene mutation. Targeting this protease, TNF-α–converting enzyme (TACE; also referred to as a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 [ADAM17]), with small molecular inhibitors or siRNAs reverted the malignant phenotype in a breast cancer cell line by preventing mobilization of 2 crucial growth factors, TGF-α and amphiregulin. We show that TACE-dependent ligand shedding was prevalent in a series of additional breast cancer cell lines and, in all cases examined, was amenable to inhibition. Using existing patient outcome data, we demonstrated a strong correlation between TACE and TGFA expression in human breast cancers that was predictive of poor prognosis. Tumors resulting from inappropriate activation of the EGFR were common in multiple tissues and were, for the most part, refractory to current targeted therapies. The data presented here delineate the molecular mechanism by which constitutive EGFR activity may be achieved in tumor progression without mutation of the EGFR itself or downstream pathway components and suggest that this important oncogenic pathway might usefully be targeted upstream of the receptor.
Array processor supercomputers

The authors describe the range of hardware variations of array processors, a form of SIMD (simple instruction stream, multiple dates stream architecture), comparing and contrasting the significant differences among them and briefly illustrating the wide range of algorithms that can effectively utilize them. Three applications are reviewed. The first application, image convolution, represents the traditional numerically computationally intensive areas of application. SIMD array processors are sufficiently powerful to process digital imagery in real time easily. The second application, an example of real-time database management, is the air traffic control problem. The problem cannot be solved today by networks of computers that are successfully used in similar, less time-critical applications. With an array processor there is sufficient real time remaining after the present system tasks are accomplished to realize additional system enhancements. The third application area, graph algorithms, which is more theoretical, is representative of problems for which the simplicity of the array processor solution results in an execution time better than the best theoretical case for a conventional sequential implementation. >
Methane emissions estimate from airborne measurements over a western United States natural gas field

[1] Methane (CH4) emissions from natural gas production are not well quantified and have the potential to offset the climate benefits of natural gas over other fossil fuels. We use atmospheric measurements in a mass balance approach to estimate CH4 emissions of 55 ± 15 × 103 kg h−1 from a natural gas and oil production field in Uintah County, Utah, on 1 day: 3 February 2012. This emission rate corresponds to 6.2%–11.7% (1σ) of average hourly natural gas production in Uintah County in the month of February. This study demonstrates the mass balance technique as a valuable tool for estimating emissions from oil and gas production regions and illustrates the need for further atmospheric measurements to determine the representativeness of our single-day estimate and to better assess inventories of CH4 emissions.