cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prospective Evaluation of the Patient Acceptable Symptom State to Identify Clinically Successful Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background:The length of most patient-reported outcome measures creates significant response burden, which hampers follow-up rates. The Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) is a single-item, pat...
MCNP Enhancements, Parallel Computing, and Error Analysis for BNCTa

The Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) treatment planning procedure used by the Harvard/MIT BNCT Program relies on MCNPa to calculate dose rates throughout a patient specific model for NCT irradiations. Since MCNP transport calculations are a time consuming portion of the treatment planning process, their acceleration greatly improves treatment planning efficiency. Source code augmentations and implementation of parallel computing on Windows NT computers have greatly decreased the time needed for these dosimetry calculations. A statistical uncertainty analysis verified that the appropriate number of source particles, which varies with the irradiation beam orientation, was being used for treatment planning.
Integrable evolutions of twisted polygons in centro-affine $\mathbb{R}^m$

We show that discrete $W_m$ lattices are bi-Hamiltonian, using geometric realizations of discretizations of the Adler-Gel'fand-Dikii flows as local evolutions of arc length-parametrized polygons in centro-affine space. We prove the compatibility of two known Hamiltonian structure defined on the space of geometric invariants by lifting them to a pair of pre-symplectic forms on the space of arc length parametrized polygons. The simplicity of the expressions of the pre-symplectic forms makes the proof of compatibility straightforward. We also study their kernels and possible integrable systems associated to the pair.
Developing women as ICT users: a miniature scoping review of gender and ICTs for development

AbstractThere is room for topical and theoretical expansion in the literature on gender and ICT4D (information and communications technologies for development) to better prepare critiques and polic...
Word Frequency Is Associated With Cognitive Effort During Verbal Working Memory: A Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Study.

Purpose Psycholinguistic models traditionally view verbal working memory capacity as independent from linguistic features; connectionist models suggest otherwise. Moreover, lexical processing studies show high frequency words differ in cognitive effort from low frequency words, although these effects during concurrent processing of words in working memory are unknown. This novel study examines potential differences in cognitive effort, as measured by differences in HbO2 and Hb, for high frequency versus low frequency words during a working memory paradigm. Methods A total of 21 neurologically typical participants (age 18-23) completed an auditory, n-back, working memory task comparing performance with high- as compared to low- frequency words. Hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex were recorded with a continuous-wave functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) device. Behavioral data (accuracy, reaction time) were recorded using E-prime. Results Differences in word frequency were evident at both behavioral and neurological levels. Participants were more accurate, albeit slower in identifying the target two back in a sequence for low- as compared to high-frequency words. Patterns of hemodynamic changes were also significantly different between HF and LF conditions. Conclusion The results from this study indicate that the behavioral and neurological signatures inherent in holding high- versus low-frequency words in working memory differs significantly. Specifically, the findings from this study indicated that words differing in frequency place different demands on cognitive processing load in memory updating tasks.
Abstract P545: Insufficient Sleep and Nitric Oxide-Mediated Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Adults With Elevated Blood Pressure

Elevated blood pressure (BP ≥130/80 mmHg) is associated with increased risk for myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke and vascular disease. Insufficient nightly sleep (<7 h/night) has been l...
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in preoperative planning for patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome undergoing craniofacial and otorhinolaryngologic procedures.

Abstract Introduction Patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) have a variety of anatomic anomalies. For surgeons operating in proximity to the retropharynx, the most pertinent is medial displacement of the internal carotid arteries. The purpose of this study is to describe the preoperative use of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in surgical planning and update the incidence rate of medial carotid displacement in patients with 22q11.2DS. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion and preoperative MRA Results Ninety patients who met the inclusion criteria underwent 133 procedures. The majority identified as Caucasian (84.4%); 52.2% were female. Cervical MRA was more likely to be ordered before a PPF (80.9%) and tonsillectomy (72.7%) over a FPP (47.6%) or adenoidectomy (11.1%). Carotid medialization was visualized in 23 patients (25.6%) and was mild in 11 cases, moderate in 7 cases, and significant in 5 cases. There was no association between sex, race/ethnicity, or genetic diagnosis with carotid medialization. Flap shortening was necessary in 20% of PPF cases to avoid injuring the medialized vessel. Conclusion Patients with 22q11.2DS may have higher rates of medialization of the carotid arteries than previously thought. Given the risk for complications in these patients during pharyngeal operations, there may be a critical place for MRA in surgical planning for patients with 22q11.2DS.
Human Capital Resource Development: Antecedents and Consequences of Human Capital Resources in Teams

Although a large body of human capital research supports the critical role of human capital resource (HCR) in unit performance, very little research has paid attention to where HCR originates and h...
Macular OCT Characteristics at 36 Weeks' Postmenstrual Age in Infants Examined for Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Purpose To report our ability to capture,-grade reliably, and analyze bedside macular OCT images from preterm infants and relate OCT findings to biological factors and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) status at a single time window in the Study of Eye Imaging in Preterm Infants (BabySTEPS). Design Prospective, observational study. Participants Preterm infants eligible for ROP screening with parental consent for research and a 36 ± 1 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA) visit. Methods We imaged both eyes of preterm infants with an investigational noncontact, handheld swept-source (SS) OCT at the time of clinical ROP examinations. Macular OCT features and layer thicknesses for untreated eyes of infants at 36 ± 1 weeks’ PMA were compared with demographic data and clinical ROP examination performed by experts. Statistical analyses accounted for the use of both eyes of infants. Main Outcome Measures Macular OCT features and layer thicknesses, gender, race or ethnicity, gestational age, birth weight, ROP stage, and plus disease. Results We captured macular OCT from 169 eyes (1 eye excluded because of prior ROP treatment) at 36 ± 1 weeks’ PMA. The quality of OCT volumes was excellent in 33 eyes (19%), acceptable in 112 eyes (67%), poor in 24 eyes (14%), and unusable in 0 eyes (0%). Macular edema was present in 60% of eyes and was bilateral in 82% of infants with edema. At the fovea, retinal and inner nuclear layer thickness increased with edema severity: 183 ± 36 μm and 51 ± 27 μm in mild (16% of eyes), 308 ± 57 μm and 163 ± 53 μm in moderate (25%), and 460 ± 76 μm and 280 ± 83 μm in severe edema (12%), respectively. With an increase in ROP stage from 0 to 2, the mean ± standard deviation retinal thickness at the fovea increased from 227± 124 μm to 297 ± 99 μm (P Conclusions We demonstrated the reliability of methods and the prevalence of OCT findings in preterm infants enrolled in BabySTEPS at a single time point of 36 ± 1 weeks’ PMA. Variations in layer thicknesses in infants at this time point may reflect abnormalities resulting from delay in foveal development that may be impacted by macular edema, ROP, or both.
Microarray analysis identifies defects in regenerative and immune response pathways in COPD airway basal cells.

Background Airway basal cells are specialised stem cells and regenerate airway epithelium. Airway basal cells isolated from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) regenerate airway epithelium with an abnormal phenotype. We performed gene expression analysis to gain insights into the defective regenerative program in COPD basal cells. Methods We conducted microarray analysis and compared COPD versus normal basal cells to identify differentially regulated genes (DEG) and the enriched biological pathways. We determined the correlation of DEG with cell polarisation and markers of ciliated and goblet cells. HOXB2 was knocked down in 16HBE14o- cells and monitored for polarisation of cells. HOXB2 expression in the lung sections was determined by immunofluorescence. Results Comparison of normal and COPD basal cell transcriptomic profiles highlighted downregulation of genes associated with tissue development, epithelial cell differentiation and antimicrobial humoral response. Expression of one of the tissue development genes, HOXB2 showed strong correlation with transepithelial resistance and this gene was downregulated in COPD basal cells. Knockdown of HOXB2, abrogated polarisation of epithelial cells in normal cells. Finally, HOXB2 expression was substantially reduced in the bronchial epithelium of COPD patients. Conclusions Defect in gene signatures involved in tissue development and epithelial differentiation were implicated in COPD basal cells. One of the tissue developmental genes, HOXB2, is substantially reduced in bronchial epithelium of COPD patients. Since HOXB2 contributes to airway epithelial cell polarisation, we speculate that reduced expression of HOXB2 in COPD may contribute to abnormal airway epithelial regeneration in COPD.
Optimizing Onsite Food Services at Scale

Large food-service companies typically support a wide range of operations (catering, vending machines, repairs), each with different operational characteristics (manpower, vehicles, tools, timing constraints, etc.). While the advances in Internet-based technologies facilitate the adoption of automated scheduling systems, the complexity and heterogeneity of the different operations hinders the design of comprehensive optimization solutions. Indeed, our collaboration with Compass Group, one of the largest food-service companies in the world, reveals that many of its workforce assignments are done manually due to the lack of scheduling solutions that can accommodate the complexity of operational constraints. Further, the diversity in the nature of operations prevents collaboration and sharing of resources among various services such as catering and beverage distribution, leading to an inflated fleet size. To address these challenges, we design a unified optimization framework, which can be applied to various food-service operations. Our design combines neighborhood search methods and Linear Programming techniques. We test our framework on real food-service request data from a large Compass Group customer, the Puget-Sound Microsoft Campus. Our results show that our approach scales well while yielding fleet size reductions of around 2x. Further, using our unified framework to simultaneously schedule the operations of two different divisions (catering, water distribution) yields 20% additional savings.
Quantification of Energy Dissipation Mechanisms in Toroidal Ring Gyroscope

We present a study on the quantification of energy dissipation of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) resonators. Toroidal Ring Gyroscope (TRG) was used as a platform to conduct the study. The main energy dissipation mechanisms in TRG include viscous air damping, Thermo-Elastic Damping (TED), anchor loss, and surface loss. During our experimental study, these energy dissipation mechanisms were minimized and controlled by venting the encapsulation and actively pumping down to high vacuum, cooling the temperature down to around 123 K, adjusting modal balance by electrostatic tuning, and pre-baking the device at high temperature (425 °C), respectively. At room temperature, the quality factor related to viscous air damping was measured to be 625,000, TED to be 170,000, and anchor loss to be 1,350,000. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was conducted to support these findings. Relation between the anchor loss and electrostatic tuning was also explored. The effects of moisture-related surface loss have also been demonstrated by monitoring characteristics over a 2-year period of time. High temperature bake-out was proven to be effective in removing the moisture and reducing the surface loss. This paper combines topics that are scattered in literature on identification of energy dissipation mechanisms in kilohertz-range silicon MEMS resonators and presents the topic as a single methodology illustrating how the contribution of each energy dissipation mechanism can be quantified independently. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to experimentally quantify all major energy dissipation mechanisms in a kilohertz-range silicon MEMS resonator. [2020-0294]
Effects of Concurrent Chlortetracycline Mass Medication with Tulathromycin Metaphylaxis on Health and Performance of High-Risk Cattle

The use of metaphylaxis on arrival has been shown to decrease morbidity due to bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) in newly received, high-risk stocker cattle. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of mass medication with chlortetracycline concurrently with metaphylactic treatment using tulathromycin on the health and performance of high-risk cattle.
Assessment of contact tracing for COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness, Salt Lake County Health Department, March-May 2020.

PURPOSE: Contact tracing is intended to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but it is difficult to conduct among people who live in congregate settings, including people experiencing homelessness (PEH). This analysis compares person-based contact tracing among two populations in Salt Lake County, Utah, from March-May 2020. METHODS: All laboratory-confirmed positive cases among PEH (n = 169) and documented in Utah's surveillance system were included in this analysis. The general population comparison group (n = 163) were systematically selected from all laboratory-confirmed cases identified during the same period. RESULTS: Ninety-three PEH cases (55%) were interviewed compared to 163 (100%) cases among the general population (P < .0001). PEH were more likely to be lost to follow-up at end of isolation (14.2%) versus the general population (0%; P-value < .0001) and provided fewer contacts per case (0.3) than the general population (4.7) (P-value < .0001). Contacts of PEH were more often unreachable (13.0% vs. 7.1%; P-value < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that contact tracing among PEH should include a location-based approach, along with a person-based approach when resources allow, due to challenges in identifying, locating, and reaching cases among PEH and their contacts through person-based contact tracing efforts alone.
Transverse Cervical Vessels

In cancer of the head and neck, tissues can be damaged by previous surgery or radiotherapy, resulting in depletion of carotid system vessels commonly selected for free flap reconstructive surgery. When these vessels are not available, second-choice vessels must be used as the recipient sites. This chapter describes the use of one such choice, the transverse cervical vessels (TCVs). Flaps revascularized by these vessels can be used with excellent outcomes for head and neck reconstruction after trauma, cancer resection, or burns.
Kids, Cops, and Sex Offenders: Pushing the Limits of the Interest-Convergence Thesis

Sex offenders are today’s pariahs – despised by all, embraced by none. During the past twenty years, society’s dislike and fear of sex offenders has resulted in a flood of legislation designed to protect communities from them. These laws include residency restrictions, which bar convicted sex offenders from living near places where children are expected to be found. Given this climate, do lawyers who for sex offenders have any hope of winning justice for their clients?In 2005, the Ohio Justice & Policy Center (“OJPC”) began a three year-advocacy campaign against Ohio’s residency restrictions. At first OJPC lost badly – in both the courts of law and public opinion. But after losing the initial legal challenge, OJPC transformed its seemingly lost cause into a winning effort. It did so by borrowing an idea from Professor Derrick A. Bell.Professor Bell is famous, among other things, for his interest-convergence thesis. According to Bell, blacks achieve racial equality only when such progress it is in the interests of whites. The classic example of Bell’s theory is his explanation of the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education. According to Bell, the Court desegregated public schools not for moral reasons but because doing so would improve America’s credibility on racial issues during the Cold War.OJPC eventually prevailed in its challenges to residency restrictions because it aligned the interests of sex offenders with society’s interests in protecting children from sexual abuse. Not only did OJPC win two important legal challenges but it also transformed the local media narrative about residency restrictions.Kids, Cops and Sex Offenders: Pushing the Limits of the Interest-Convergence Thesis begins by telling the story of OJPC’s advocacy – both before and after employing an interest-convergence strategy. The article then poses and answers three questions: (1) whether it is appropriate to attach the “interest-convergence” label to OJPC’s sex offender advocacy given that Bell’s thesis is “historically descriptive rather than a recommendation for future-oriented strategies,” according to Professor Stephen Feldman, a leading scholar; (2) whether interest-convergence theory explains the victories OJPC won for its clients; and (3) assuming that interest convergence has value as an advocacy tool, whether it potentially presents a downside for the marginalized clients the lawyer seeks to serve. I conclude the article with a discussion of a course I developed called Complex Problem Solving for Lawyers, which teaches law students to incorporate Bell’s interest-convergence theory into advocacy on behalf of despised groups like sex offenders.
The Impact of Single-Sex Education on the Performance of First and Second Grade PUBLIC School Students

This article focuses on the findings of a single-sex public education experiment, adapted from a dissertation study. The rationale for conducting this research focuses on the renewed and unprecedented interest in single-sex public education as a strategy for increasing student performance. According to various educational theorists and researchers, single-sex education is an effective instructional strategy for improving student performance. However, little is known about the impact of single-sex public education. This quantitative ex post facto research analyzes the impact of single-sex education on academic achievement, discipline referral and attendance for public school first and second grade students. The findings suggest that single-sex education may be an effective instructional strategy for facilitating math and reading improvement for female students. Also, based upon the findings of this study, single-sex education may have a positive impact on attendance for males and females.
Scheduling of transactions for system-level test-case generation

We present a methodology for scheduling system-level transactions generated by a test-case generator. A system, in this context, may be composed of multiple processors, busses, bus-bridges, memories, etc. The methodology is based on an exploration of scheduling abilities in a hardware system. In its focus is a language for specifying transactions and their ordering. Through the use of hierarchy, the language provides the possibility of applying high-level scheduling requests. The methodology is realized in X-Gen, a system-level test-case generator used in IBM. The model and algorithm used by this tool are also discussed.
Using Drosophila as a model insect

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has become such a popular model organism for studying human disease that it is often described as a little person with wings. This view has been strengthened with the sequencing of the Drosophila genome and the discovery that 60% of human disease genes have homologues in the fruit fly. In this review, I discuss the approach of using Drosophila not only as a model for metazoans in general but as a model insect in particular. Specifically, I discuss recent work on the use of Drosophila to study the transmission of disease by insect vectors and to investigate insecticide function and development.
Cholinergic circuits and signaling in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Central cholinergic signaling has long been associated with aspects of memory, motivation, and mood, each affected functions in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. In this chapter, we review evidence related to the core hypothesis that dysregulation of central cholinergic signaling contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Although central cholinergic circuits are resistant to simplification—particularly when one tries to parse the contributions of various classes of cholinergic receptors to disease related phenomena—the potential role of ACh signaling in Schizophrenia pathophysiology deserves careful consideration for prospective therapeutics. The established role of cholinergic circuits in attentional tuning is considered along with recent work on how the patterning of cholinergic activity may modulate corticostriatal circuits affected in schizophrenia.
Performance Evaluation of Robotic Mechanisms

Kinematic, static and dynamic performance measures for single-arm manipulators are presented. They are formulated by using the geometrical representation of the manipulator through the Jacobian and the inertia matrix. Some properties of the performance measures are discussed. An interpretation of various performance measures using graphical techniques is also given. These performance measures and the associated graphical techniques can be used as an aid for designing or evaluating the performance of various robots. As an example, all results are derived for the two-link planar manipulator models.
Craniomandibular signals of diet in adapids.

Objectives The craniomandibular morphology of the adapid primates of Europe, especially Adapis and Leptadapis (sensu lato), suggests that they possessed enormous jaw adductor muscles. The goal of this study is to estimate jaw adductor muscle mass, physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), and fiber length in adapid primates from the Eocene of Europe. We also estimated muscle leverage, bite force, and gape parameters. Materials and Methods We use bony morphology and osteological correlates of soft tissues in a sample of extant strepsirrhines to estimate these soft-tissue and performance variables in Adapis and Leptadapis. Results Our results suggest that, compared to a broad sample of extant strepsirrhines, Adapis and Leptadapis had relatively great jaw adductor muscle mass, PCSA, and bite force. They had moderately great jaw adductor leverage but no sign of adaptation for wide gapes. There is no support for the hypothesis that either adapid was a gouger. Discussion Our estimates support the inference that Adapis and Leptadapis were primarily folivorous, perhaps also consuming small to medium-sized tough fruits, nuts, and seeds. Explanations for the likely extreme development of the jaw adductor muscles in adapids remain speculative. These include (1) foods that were generally tougher and/or of higher yield strength than those eaten by strepsirrhines today, (2) using the muscles “in shifts” to avoid muscle fatigue in the context of an obdurate diet, and (3) potential constraints on reshaping of the skull for more efficient food processing. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Parameter asymmetry and time-scale separation in core genetic commitment circuits

Theory allows studying why Evolution might select core genetic commitment circuit topologies over alternatives. The nonlinear dynamics of the underlying gene regulation together with the unescapable subtle interplay of intrinsic biochemical noise impact the range of possible evolutionary choices. The question of why certain genetic regulation circuits might present robustness to phenotype-delivery breaking over others, is therefore of high interest. Here, the behavior of systematically more complex commitment circuits is studied, in the presence of intrinsic noise, with a focus on two aspects relevant to biology: parameter asymmetry and time-scale separation. We show that phenotype delivery is broken in simple two- and three-gene circuits. In the two-gene circuit, we show how stochastic potential wells of different depths break commitment. In the three-gene circuit, we show that the onset of oscillations breaks the commitment phenotype in a systematic way. Finally, we also show that higher dimensional circuits (four-gene and five-gene circuits) may be intrinsically more robust.
A simple semi-empirical theory for turbulence in the atmospheric surface layer

Abstract A simple semi-empirical theory combining the concepts of the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory with second moment closure methods for turbulence is developed. The closure expressions are all conventional but a novel feature of this contribution is the use of σ w λ as a time scale where λ is the wavelength of the peak in the ω (vertical velocity) spectrum. This allows all constants to be evaluated under neutral conditions using only values of the reduced spectral frequency of the peak,fm, the von Karman constant k, uθ u ∗ T ∗ , σ T |T ∗ |,(φ M and φφ h . The theory predicts σ w u ∗ = 1.28 , σ u u ∗ = 2.1 , and σ v u ∗ = 1.78 at neutral. Values of these quantities under stable and unstable conditions, predicted by the theory agree quite well with observations. The final mathematical expressions for this theory are very simple algebraic statements only depending upon ζ, the Monin-Obukhov stability parameter. The final result is a simple method for calculating realistic values of the turbulent moments in the surface layer for applications to problems in air pollution transport.
Jewel of the desert : Japanese American internment at Topaz

In the spring of 1942, under the guise of 'military necessity', the U.S. government evacuated 110,000 Japanese Americans from their homes on the West Coast. About 7,000 people from the San Francisco Bay Area - the vast majority of whom were American citizens - were moved to an assembly center at Tanforan Racetrack and then to a concentration camp in Topaz, Utah. Dubbed the 'jewel of the desert', the camp remained in operation until October 1945. This compelling book tells the history of Japanese Americans of San Francisco and the Bay Area, and of their experiences of relocation and internment. Sandra C. Taylor first examines the lives of the Japanese Americans who settled in and around San Francisco near the end of the nineteenth century. As their numbers grew, so, too, did their sense of community. They were a people bound together not only by common values, history, and institutions, but also by their shared status as outsiders. Taylor looks particularly at how Japanese Americans kept their sense of community and self-worth alive in spite of the upheavals of internment. The author draws on interviews with fifty former Topaz residents, and on the archives of the War Relocation Authority and newspaper reports, to show how relocation and its aftermath shaped the lives of these Japanese Americans. Written at a time when the United States once again regards Japan as a threat, Taylor's study testifies to the ongoing effects of prejudice toward Americans whose face is also the face of 'the enemy'.
Analyses of nanoformulated antiretroviral drug charge, size, shape and content for uptake, drug release and antiviral activities in human monocyte-derived macrophages

Long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) for human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1) infection shows limitations in pharmacokinetics and biodistribution while inducing metabolic and cytotoxic aberrations. In turn, ART commonly requires complex dosing schedules and leads to the emergence of viral resistance and treatment failures. We posit that the development of nanoformulated ART could preclude such limitations and affect improved clinical outcomes. To this end, we wet-milled 20 nanoparticle formulations of crystalline indinavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, and efavirenz, collectively referred to as "nanoART," then assessed their performance using a range of physicochemical and biological tests. These tests were based on cell-nanoparticle interactions using monocyte-derived macrophages and their abilities to uptake and release nanoformulated drugs and affect viral replication. We demonstrate that physical characteristics such as particle size, surfactant coating, surface charge, and most importantly shape are predictors of cell uptake and antiretroviral efficacy. These studies bring this line of research a step closer to developing nanoART that can be used in the clinic to affect the course of HIV-1 infection.
Selection of desorbent for adsorptive treatment of oil emulsion wastewater

In this article the authors describe an attempt, based on work that has been reported in the field of solution theory, to justify theoretically and formulate a general principle for the selection of a solvent for oils or light petroleum products of any composition which can be classed as unstructurized petroleum disperse systems. The authors investigated oils derived from coal by hydrogenation. The main interaction found between coal tar oils and solvents was the action of weak chemical bonds and van der Waals forces. It was found that the selection of a solvent is governed by purely engineering factors such as inertness with respect to the sorbent, availability and cost, toxicity, possibility of regeneration, and degree of hazard with respect to fire and explosion.
Comparison of Corn and Soybean Yields in the United States: Historical Trends and Future Prospects

Developing successful strategies to ensure future increases in crop yield depends, in part, on a better understanding of the basis for past increases. To this end, I compared historical yield trends of two dissimilar crops-corn (Zea mays L.), a high yielding C 4 grass, and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], a moderate yielding C 3 legume-in high (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana) and low (Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee) yield environments. Average state corn yield changed very little from 1866 to 1930, an era of low-input agriculture, but it increased rapidly from 1950 to 2005 in all states as the low-input system gave way to a high-input system that utilized commercial hybrids, manufactured N fertilizer, herbicides, and higher plant populations. Soybean yield, first available in 1924, increased steadily from the beginning until 2005. Corn yield increased faster than soybean yield in the early decades of the high-input era (mean growth rates of corn were 3.3 vs. 1.5% per year for soybean with a slight advantage for both crops in high yield states) in all six states, but for the rest of the era (up to 40 yr), corn and soybean yields grew at nearly the same rate (1.8% per year for corn, 1.4% per year for soybean with a slight advantage for the low-yield states). Thus, the efforts to improve the plant (plant breeding) and production environment (better management practices) had essentially the same affect on these two very dissimilar crops.
Detergent solubilization of membrane-bound methane monooxygenase requires plastoquinol analogs as electron donors.

Abstract Quinols can provide reducing equivalents for the membrane-bound form of methane monooxygenase (pMMO), substituting for NADH in whole cells and membranes. Furthermore, quinols are effective reductants for the detergent-solubilized enzyme, whereas NADH is ineffective. The decyl analog of plastoquinol and duroquinol (2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzoquinol) provide the greatest methane monooxygenase activity in whole cells and membrane suspensions, as well as detergent-solubilized samples. Lauryl maltoside is by far the best detergent for solubilization of catalytically active methane monooxygenase. Optimal pMMO activity in the detergent-solubilized fraction is obtained with a ratio of ∼1.7 mg of detergent per milligram of membrane protein, independent of protein concentration. The detergent-solubilized pMMO retains its sensitivity to inhibition by cyanide, acetylene, and EDTA. It is also stimulated by exogenous copper, as in isolated membrane fractions. Reaction of the detergent-solubilized enzyme with [14C]acetylene results in labeling of a 26-kDa peptide, analogous to the behavior observed for isolated membrane suspensions. The selectivity of pMMO for duroquinol and decyl-plastoquinol, relative to other structurally similar quinols, suggests that the enzyme obtains reducing equivalents directly from a quinol (probably plastoquinol) in vivo.
Structure-function relationship of lapemis toxin: A synthetic approach

Abstract The synthetic approach to the structure-function relationship of lapemis toxin has been very useful in clarifying the important binding regions. To identify the neurotoxic binding domain(s) of lapemis toxin, several peptides were synthesized using the 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl protocols. These peptides were based on the sequence of lapemis toxin, a 60-amino-acid, shortchain postsynaptic neurotoxin found in sea snake ( Lapemis hardwickii ) venom. The peptides were purified using high-performance liquid chromatography and sequenced to verify the correct synthesis, isolation, and purity. The synthetic peptide names and single letter sequences were Peptide A1 (15 mer) CCNQQSSQPKTTTNC Peptide B1 (18 mer) CYKKTWSDHRGTRIERGC Peptide B2 (16 mer) YKKTWSDHRGTRIERG Peptide C1 (12 mer) CPQVKPGIKLEC Peptide NS (20 mer) EACDFGHIKLMNPQRSTVWY. The peptide NS (nonsense peptide) sequence was arbitrarily determined and used as a control peptide. Biological activities of the synthetic peptides were determined by in vivo as well as by in vitro assay methods. For the in vivo assay, lethality was determined by intravenous injection in mice (Swiss Webster). For the in vitro assay, peptide binding to the Torpedo californica nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was determined. The peptides were found to be nontoxic at approximately 114 times the known LD 50 of lapemis toxin. Binding studies with 125 -Iradiolabeled lapemis toxin and tyrosine-containing peptides indicated that lapemis toxin and peptide Bl bound the receptor, while the other peptides had no detectable binding. The central loop domain of lapemis toxin (peptide B1) plays a dominate role in the toxin's binding ability to the receptor. These results and the hydrophilicity analysis predict peptide B1 may serve as an antagonist or antigen to neutralize the neurotoxin effects in vivo .
Mental Health Response to Community Disasters: A Systematic Review

Importance Exposure to a disaster is common, and one-third or more of individuals severely exposed may develop posttraumatic stress disorder or other disorders. A systematic approach to the delivery of timely and appropriate disaster mental health services may facilitate their integration into the emergency medical response. Objective To review and summarize the evidence for how best to identify individuals in need of disaster mental health services and triage them to appropriate care. Evidence Review Search of the peer-reviewed English-language literature on disaster mental health response in PsycINFO, PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Academic Search Complete, and Google Scholar (inception to September 2012) and PILOTS (inception to February 2013), using a combination of subject headings and text words ( Disasters , Natural Disasters , Mental Health , Mental Health Programs , Public Health Services , Mental Disorders , Mental Health Services , Community Mental Health Services , Emergency Services Psychiatric , Emotional Trauma, Triage , and Response ). Findings Unlike physical injuries, adverse mental health outcomes of disasters may not be apparent, and therefore a systematic approach to case identification and triage to appropriate interventions is required. Symptomatic individuals in postdisaster settings may experience new-onset disaster-related psychiatric disorders, exacerbations of preexisting psychopathology, and/or psychological distress. Descriptive disaster mental health studies have found that many (11%-38%) distressed individuals presenting for evaluation at shelters and family assistance centers have stress-related and adjustment disorders; bereavement, major depression, and substance use disorders were also observed, and up to 40% of distressed individuals had preexisting disorders. Individuals with more intense reactions to disaster stress were more likely to accept referral to mental health services than those with less intense reactions. Evidence-based treatments are available for patients with active psychiatric disorders, but psychosocial interventions such as psychological first aid, psychological debriefing, crisis counseling, and psychoeducation for individuals with distress have not been sufficiently evaluated to establish their benefit or harm in disaster settings. Conclusion and Relevance In postdisaster settings, a systematic framework of case identification, triage, and mental health interventions should be integrated into emergency medicine and trauma care responses.
Random fields estimation theory

Let U(x) = s(x) + n(x), where s(x) and n(x) are random fields, s(x) is the useful signal and n(x) is noise. Assume that s(x) = n(x) = 0, where the bar stands for mean value. Suppose that the covariance functions R(x, y)@?U^*(x)U(y) and @?(x, y)@?U^*(x)s(y) are known, where the asterisk stands for complex conjugate. Assume that U(x) is observed in a finite region D @? R^r of the Euclidean space R' and @C is the smooth boundary of D. The estimation problem consists of finding an optimal (in the sense of minimum of variance) linear estimate of the signal As(x), where A is a known operator, given the observed values of U(x) in D and the covariance functions R(x, y) and @?(x, y). If A = I, the identity operator, then the estimation problem is the filtering problem. If A = I and the optimal estimate [email protected]^@[email protected]?"Dh(x, y)U(y) dy, i.e. |s(x) - Ucirc;(x)|^2 = min, where the minimum is taken over all linear estimates of s(x) given the observed values of U(x) in D, then h(x, y) is the solution of the equation (A)@?"DR(x,z)h(y,z) dz = @?(x,y), x,y @e [email protected][email protected][email protected]? A class R of random fields is introduced for which equation (A) is solved analytically. Qualitative properties of the solution are obtained, such as the order of singularity of h and the singular support of h. Robustness of the estimate (filter) is established. Numerical methods for computing the singular solution to equation (A) are given. Examples of the numerical results are presented. For the class R of random fields the estimation problem is equivalent to finding the solution to equation (A) which has minimal order of singularity. The class R consists of random fields whose covariance functions R(x, y) are positive rational functions of arbitrary selfadjoint elliptic operations in L^2(R'). The theory developed is a natural generalization of the Wiener filtering theory to the case of random fields. It gives stochastic modelling of a wide class of estimation problems. Applications to image processing in optics and geophysics are discussed.
Conformation of a Cdc42/Rac interactive binding peptide in complex with Cdc42 and analysis of the binding interface.

Most of the putative effectors for the Rho-family small GTPases Cdc42 and Rac share a common sequence motif referred to as the Cdc42/Rac interactive binding (CRIB) motif. This sequence, with a consensus of I-S-x-P-(x)2-4-F-x-H-x-x-H-V-G [Burbelo, P. D., et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 29071−29074], has been shown to be essential for the functional interactions between these effector proteins and Cdc42. We have characterized the interactions of a 22-residue CRIB peptide derived from human PAK2 [PAK2(71−92)] with Cdc42 using proton and heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. This CRIB peptide binds to GTP-γS-loaded Cdc42 in a saturable manner, with an apparent Kd of 0.6 μM, as determined by fluorescence titration using sNBD-labeled Cdc42. Interaction of the 22-residue peptide PAK2(71−92) with GTP-γS-loaded Cdc42 causes resonance perturbations in the 1H−15N HSQC spectrum of Cdc42 that are similar to those observed for a longer (46-amino acid) CRIB-containing protein fragment [Guo, W., et al. (1998) Biochemistry 37...
On the path integral solution of the Fokker-Planck equation for a system with non-conservative forces

Abstract We consider the model system x = F 1 (x, y), y = F 2 (x, y) in the case ϖF1/ϖy ≠ ϖF2/ϖx, which describes non-conservative forces. We obtain the path integral solution to the corresponding Fokker-Planck equation with constant diffusion coefficient and show that the most probable trajectories are those of a charged particle in an electric and a magnetic field. For the linear case an explicit expression for the most probable trajectory is given and the Green function as obtained by the saddle point method is compared with the exact solution.
‘This man's father is my father's son’: a study of the acquisition of English kin terms*

Clark's (1973) hypothesis about the acquisition of semantics proposed that young children learn the meanings of words component by component, and that, within any given semantic field, they acquire the full adult meanings for the semantically simpler terms before they acquire the semantically more complex ones. The semantic field investigated in the present study was that of kinship terms. A new analysis of kin terms, employing relational components, was used to predict the relative order of acquisition of the terms. Definitions of 15 kin terms were elicited from children aged 3;5–8;10. The data showed that semantic complexity played an important role in determining the order of acquisition, and thus provided support for both the relational analysis of kin terms and the semantic acquisition hypothesis.
Electron capture and transport by heteropolyanions: Multi-functional electrolytes for biomass-based fuel cells

Abstract Keggin heteropolyanions (POMs) are evaluated for use as an alternative to H2 in the storage and transfer of electrons from alcohols (ROH) to O2 in biomass-based electrochemical energy-conversion devices. Pt(0) (present as 10 wt.% Pt on C) is used to catalyze the oxidation of alcohols under mild conditions by α-H3PMo12O40 (H31) and H5PV2Mo10O40 (H52). During these reactions, the POMs efficiently “capture” electron equivalents as they are rapidly reduced by intermediates generated during the Pt(0)-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols. Potentiometric data indicate that this results in the two-electron reduction of 1, and in substantial reduction of 2. Kinetic data show that the rate of POM reduction is limited by the rate of ROH activation at Pt. Upon exposure to O2, Pt(0) catalyses rapid oxidation of the reduced solutions of both 1 and 2 to their (nearly) fully oxidized forms. Possible effects of the POMs on the activity of the Pt catalyst were assessed by measuring rates of Pt(0)-catalyzed O2-oxidations of EtOH. Here, as in the anaerobic reduction of POMs, activation of EtOH on Pt(0) is rate limiting. Having demonstrated this, Keggin heteropolyanions were added, and their effects on overall rates quantified. In all cases, inhibition was observed, and the effect was more pronounced for Keggin anions with more positive reduction potentials. While the reactions involved are complex, these observations suggest that under certain conditions POMs may inhibit the rate-limiting activation of EtOH by Pt(0).
Electrospun Polycaprolactone-Nanodiamond Composite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

Every year, there are roughly 8 million bone fractures in United States [1]. In addition, approximately 2300 new cases of primary bone cancer are diagnosed each year [2]. Yet, the number of people suffering from bone disease is significantly greater; about 10 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from osteoporosis [3]. Consequently, surgeons perform nearly 500,000 bone graft operations annually making bone grafts the second most frequently transplanted materials [4]. Although there is an extremely high demand for treatment of bone abnormalities, the current grafting methods fail to meet these demands due to several limitations. Autografting has the fewest problems with rejection and pathogen transmission, however in some cases the availability may be limited or not be possible (e.g., genetic diseases). With other methods of transplantation such as allogafting and xenografting where tissue is acquired from other humans or species, respectively, the receptor’s immune system causes an increased risk of chronic rejection [5]. Notably, the major drawback with all these methods is that they often require multiple painful and invasive surgeries.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Self-esteem, anxiety, and the avoidance of self-focused attention

Abstract The present study was designed to provide converging support for the hypothesis that individuals with low self-esteem (low SEs) find self-focused attention more anxiety provoking, relative to people with high self-esteem (high SEs). Subjects were premeasured for their self-esteem and given a brief opportunity to “practice” two tasks that they believed they would be required to perform in a later part of the experiment. One task was practiced in front of a self-focusing stimulus—a large mirror (mirror task)—whereas the other was not (no-mirror task). Subjects evaluated the tasks after they had practiced each one. Consistent with the notion that self-focused attention is more anxiety provoking for individuals with lower self-esteem, it was observed that: (1) relative to high SEs, lowmedium SEs rated the mirror, but not the no-mirror, task as less enjoyable, and (b) low-medium, but not high, SEs preferred to avoid the mirror task for the alleged upcoming part of the experiment. Subjects high in dispositional private selfconsciousness also wanted to avoid the mirror task, particularly if they were also low in self-esteem. Contrary to prediction, success-failure feedback from a previous task had no effect on subjects' task preferences. Theoretical explanations and implications are discussed.