cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A proposed mechanism for the catalatic ation of catalase

A detailed mechanism for catalatic action has been proposed which includes the formation of Chance's catalase compound I in the first step and hydride ion transfer in the second step. The first (oxidative) step involves direct reaction of hematin iron with an ionized H2O2 molecule, followed by an oxidation of the iron to Fe IV. The second step is assumed to depend upon the reductive action of a second H2O2 molecule on Chance's compound I through a catalyzed hybride ion transfer, resulting in the regeneration of uncomplexed catalase. Differences between the catalatic and peroxidative actions of catalase are discussed briefly in respect to the proposed mechanism for catalatic action. The rationale of the proposed mechanism is based to a considerable extent upon the type of ligand binding by the hematin iron of catalase, and this type of ligand bonding is contrasted with ligand binding in methemoglobin, which does not show catalatic activity. Finally, the dispositions of electrons in the outer electronic orbitals of the hematin iron of catalase and methemoglobin are discussed, as a means of justifying formulae presented for catalase and methemoglobin and their derivatives. One of the features of the proposed catalatic mechanism is the assumption, based on electron spin number, that the sixth coordination position around the hematin iron of uncomplexed catalase is unoccupied.
Bariatric Surgery in Patients with Dialysis-Dependent Renal Failure.

Laparoscopic procedures for the treatment of morbid obesity are commonly offered to patients with comorbidities previously thought to carry prohibitive operative risk. In this study, we reviewed characteristics and perioperative outcomes of patients with dialysis-dependent renal failure (DDRF) who underwent laparoscopic bariatric procedures. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database from 2006 to 2011 was reviewed. Preoperative characteristics and 30-day outcome data of patients who underwent three common laparoscopic procedures were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson chi-squared tests. One hundred thirty-eight patients (52.5 % female) with DDRF and a median body mass index (BMI) of 45.5 kg/m2 were identified; 33.8 % (n = 47) underwent laparoscopic banding (LAGB), 48.9 % (n = 68) laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and 16.5 % (n = 23) laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). No differences were found among groups in age, prevalence of American Society of Anesthesiology IV classification, BMI, weight, gender, prevalence of diabetes, and vascular or neurologic comorbidities. Total operation time and length of hospital stay were significantly different between groups. Mortality was 0.7 %, and overall morbidity was 5.8 %. The case mix reflected a decrease in LAGB procedures from 45.5 to 23.3 % from 2006–2009 to 2010–2011 and an increase in LSG procedures from 9.1 to 24.7 % (p < 0.006). When performed in selected DDRF patients, bariatric surgery is safe. An increase in LSG with a concurrent decline in LAGB procedures was demonstrated over the period of the study.
Controlled synthesis of new compounds using modulated elemental reactants

Abstract The design of modulated elemental reactants permits synthetic solid state chemists to control reaction intermediates. This has resulted in the synthesis of new binary and ternary compounds which are thermodynamically unstable relative to disproportionation into known compounds. The ability to control composition as a function of distance in one direction in these reactants permits the synthesis of crystalline superlattices.
Valence instabilities in rare earth systems as revealed by photoemission

We used high resolution (δE < 150 meV) photoemission with synchrotron radiation in the range 10 eV < hv < 130 eV to study archetypal mixed valent and related cerium-, samarium-, europium-, thulium- and ytterbium-based systems. Generally all mixed valent systems (except the cerium-based system which is not yet fully characterized) exhibit an integer valent surface layer which has the lower value of the two bulk valence configurations. Temperature-dependent changes in bulk valence were observed in the europium and samarium compounds. Mixed valence was observed to persist down to at least 5 at.% dilution of thulium in TmxY1−xSe while thulium appears to remain trivalent in all TmxY1−xS compounds studied.
Daily rhythms in adrenal responsiveness to adrenocorticotropin are determined primarily by the time of feeding in the rat.

These experiments were done to determine: 1) whether feeding-related shifts in daily corticosterone rhythms are dependent upon changes in ACTH rhythms, 2) whether restricted feeding of rats results in abnormally high ACTH and corticosterone levels (i.e. stress), and 3) whether changes in either insulin or glucose levels might be the concomitants of feeding that change adrenal responsiveness to ACTH. Young male rats (80–90 g) on a 12-h light, 12-h dark cycle were allowed access to one of three diets for 2 h/day beginning either at lights off or lights on. The diets contained 3%, 4.5%, or 11% fat. A group of rats had ad libitum access to the food containing 4.5% fat. On day 20 of this regimen, rats were killed at 2- to 4-h intervals during the next 24 h, and plasma ACTH, corticosterone, insulin, and glucose were measured. Adrenal weight and corticosterone content were also determined. In none of these experiments was an ACTH rhythm demonstrable by analysis of variance. Neither ACTH levels nor adrenal and pl...
Technology, Diet, and the Burden of Chronic Disease

FROM AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE, FOOD IS EITHER difficult to get or difficult to eat. Humans lack the strength and speed of large carnivores and the specialized digestive track of herbivores. Indeed, the diet of early hominids was mostly limited to fruits and insects. For this reason, humans have long strived to develop technologies to improve food availability, digestibility, safety, transportability, and storage life. However, the rate of change in food technology has greatly accelerated, with major implications to human nutrition and health.
Multimodality: a basis for augmentative and alternative communication--psycholinguistic, cognitive, and clinical/educational aspects.

Purpose. Message generating is a complex process involving a number of processes, including the selection of modes to use. When expressing a message, human communicators typically use a combination of modes. This phenomenon is often termed multimodality. This article explores the use of models that explain multimodality as an explanatory framework for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).Method. Multimodality is analysed from a communication, psycholinguistic, and cognitive perspective.Results. Theoretical and applied topics within AAC can be explained or described within the multimodality framework considering iconicity, simultaneous communication, lexical organization, and compatibility of communication modes.Conclusion. Consideration of multimodality is critical to understanding underlying processes in individuals who use AAC and individuals who interact with them.
Indomethacin enhancement of spleen-cell responsiveness to mitogen stimulation in tumorous mice.

Spleen cells removed from C57Bl/6J mice bearing a methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma (MC-16) demonstrate suppressed responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced mitogenesis as compared to non-tumorous mice. A similar depression of PHA-induced mitogenesis was observed with spleen cells from C3H/HeJ mice bearing syngeneic mammary adenocarcinomas (C3HBA). The administration of indomethacin, a non-competitive irreversible prostaglandin (Pg) synthesis inhibitor, (75 or 100 μg/mouse, IP) on an alternate day basis to groups of tumor-bearing mice of both strains, significantly enhanced immune cell responsiveness to mitogenic stimulation. The addition of indomethacin (10 μg/ml) to cultures of spleen cells from these tumor-bearing mice, as well as to DBA/1J mice bearing the Cloudman S-91 melanoma, enhanced spleen-cell responsiveness to mitogen-induced DNA synthesis by as much as 156%. Indomethacin administration in vivo or in vitro had no significant effect on mitogen-induced DNA synthesis of spleen cells from non-tumor-bearing animals. It is hypothesized that tumors, or tumor-cell antigens, increase Pg production of a population of spleen cells, and that the increased Pg content of the spleen may be important in controlling immune responsiveness in mice. Intensification, Induite Par L'IndomeThacine, De La Reactivite Des Cellules Spleniques A La Stimulation Mitogenique Chez Des Souris Cancereuses Les cellules spleniques de souris C57BL/6J porteuses d'un fibrosarcome induit par le methylcholanthrene (MC-16) ne reagissent pas a la mitogenese induite par la phytohemagglutinine (PHA) ou le lipopolysaccharide bacterien (LPS), en comparaison de celles des souris non cancereuses. Une depression analogue de la mitogenese induite par la PHA a ete observee avec les cellules spleniques de souris C3H/HeJ porteuses d'adenocarcinomes mammaires syngeniques (C3HBA). L'indomethacine, un inhibiteur de la synthese des prostaglandines (Pg), administree tous les deux jours (75 ou 100 μg/souris, i.p.) a des groupes de souris cancereuses des deux souches, accroǐt de facon significative la reaction immunitaire a la stimulation mitogenique. L'addition d'indomethacine (10 μg/ml) aux cultures de cellules spleniques provenant de ces souris cancereuses et de souris DBA/1J portant le melanome Cloudman S-91 fait augmenter la reactivite induite par les mitogenes dans une proportion pouvant atteindre 156%. L'administration d'indomethacine in vivo ou in vitro n'a pas d'effet significatif sur la synthese de l'ADN induite par les mitogenes dans les cellules spleniques des animaux non cancereux. Les auteurs emettent l'hypothese que les tumeurs, ou les antigenes des cellules tumorales, accroissent la production de Pg dans une population de cellules spleniques, et que l'augmentation de la quantite de Pg dans la rate peut avoir de l'importance pour le contrǒle de l'immunoreactivite chez la souris.
Effects of Internet use on well-being among adults with physical disabilities: a review.

Purpose: The current review provides a summarized synthesis and evaluation of studies addressing the effects of Internet use on well-being among adults (19–64 years old) with physical disabilities. Methods: Potential studies were identified through search of electronic bibliographic databases. Outcome studies were chosen for initial review if the study (1) involved a randomized controlled trial, a quasi-experimental, or a pre-experimental design, (2) appeared in the English language, (3) was published in a scholarly journal, and (4) was published before April, 2011. Applying these criteria, the search yielded 6762 studies, six of which were retained for review. Results: Current evidence with which to evaluate the effects of Internet use on well-being of adults with physical disabilities is sparse. Three of the studies found positive associations between Internet use and measures of well-being, while the remaining three studies found no statistically significant differences in well-being related to Interne...
Current diagnosis and management of gallstone pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is a common disorder encountered frequently in all general surgical practices. Gallstones and alcohol abuse together account for more than 80% of the cases, with anywhere from 30% to 75% because of gallstones. The rest are because of diverse causes, including hyperlipidemia, medications, hypercalcemia, trauma, familial pancreatitis, and other rare origins. Approximately 10% to 15% of the United States population have gallstones; risk factors include advanced age, female sex, obesity, weight loss, and pregnancy. Pancreatitis occurs in 3% to 8% of all patients with symptomatic gallstones. The management of gallstone pancreatitis remains challenging, even though most patients have self-limiting disease that can be treated effectively. Severe pancreatitis only occurs in a few patients, but it is associated with a mortality rate as high as 45% to 100%; so the overall mortality rate for pancreatitis is approximately 10%.
Counting lattice paths taking steps in infinitely many directions under special access restrictions

We count lattice paths that are confined to the first quadrant by the nature of their step vectors. If no further restrictions apply, a path can go from any point to infinitely many others, but each point on the path has only finitely many predecessors. By "further restrictions" we mean a boundary line above which the paths may have to stay. Access privilege to the boundary line itself is granted from certain lattice points in the form of a special access step set, which itself may be infinite. We also count the number of paths that contact the weak boundary a given number of times. We approach explicit solutions of such enumeration problems via Sheffer polynomials and functionals, using results of the Umbral Calculus.
Creating a Test Information Profile for a Two-Dimensional Latent Space.

In some cognitive testing situations it is believed, despite reporting only a single score, that the test items differentiate levels of multiple traits. In such situa tions, the reported score may represent quite disparate composites of these multiple traits. Thus, when attempting to interpret a single score from a set of multidimensional items, several concerns naturally arise. First, it is important to know what composite of traits is being measured at all levels of the reported score scale. Second, it is also necessary to discern that all examinees, no matter where they lie in the latent trait space, are being measured on the same composite of traits. Thus, the role of multidimensionality in the interpretation or meaning given to various score levels must be examined. This paper presents a method for computing multidimensional information and provides examples of how different aspects of test information can be displayed graphically to form a profile of a test in a two-dimensional latent space. Index t...
Illumination quality OLEDs for lighting

OLED technology has improved to the point where it is now possible to envision developing OLEDs as a low cost solid state light source. In order to realize this, significant advances have to be made in device efficiency, lifetime at high brightness, high throughput fabrication, and the generation of illumination quality white light. In this talk, a down conversion method of generating white light is demonstrated and shown to be capable of generating illumination quality white light over the full range of color temperatures required for lighting. It is also demonstrated that, due to the presence of light scattering, the down-conversion method can actually increase the overall device power efficiency.
Crosstalk Mitigation for High-Radix and Low-Diameter Photonic NoC Architectures

Photonic Network-on-chip (PNoC) is a promising alternative to design low-power and high-bandwidth interconnection infrastructure for multicore chips. The micro ring resonators, which are essential building blocks for designing PNoCs are susceptible to crosstalk that can notably degrade signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), reducing reliability of PNoCs. This paper proposes two novel encoding mechanisms to improve worst-case SNR by reducing crosstalk noise in microring resonators used within high-radix and low-diameter crossbar-based PNoCs.
A Technique for Predicting Molding Conditions which Result in Class A Surfaces for Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers

This work is a continuation of our modelling studies which are aimed at predicting the appearance of glass fiber reinforced polymers. The mathematical model which has been developed was presented earlier [2,3]. In this study, the following two parameters were evaluated: 1—The effective thickness of fiber strands which is different from their apparent thickness and is an indication of clustering (bundle formation) of the strands; and 2—The slope of surface deformation pertinent to smooth surfaces.From the experimental results, the effective thickness of fiber strands was determined to be 0.35 mm. This value does not appear to be dependent on the type of fibers, type of resin, or fiber content, within the range of the materials and molding conditions used in this study.To obtain a definition for surface smoothness, the slope of surface deformation (0) is related to the smoothness of the surface. It is found that 0 = 0.006 relates to smooth sur faces on glass fiber reinforced polymers.Applying the above two ...
Metrics to successfully manage alliances

Purpose – To show how the key to successfully managing alliances is developing and implementing alliance metrics.Design/methodology/approach – The case of “Acme Manufacturing” (a composite of several firms) is used to illustrate the theory and reasoning behind the creation and tracking of alliance metrics appropriate to the life cycle of the partnership. These ideas are then applied to the ongoing Avnet/HP alliance.Findings – Understanding and applying unique metrics at each stage allows management to anticipate alliance challenges and increase flexibility and adaptability when faced with changing economic and market conditions. Across the life cycle stages the partners must learn to monitor two types of measurements – development metrics, commonly employed in the start‐up and high growth stages, and implementation metrics, engaged throughout the professional, mature, decline, and sustain stages of the life cycle.Research limitations/implications – This is a case study produced by a consultant specializin...
Effect of LHRH on incorporation of [32P]-orthophosphate into phosphatidylinositol by dispersed anterior pituitary cells.

Abstract Stimulated release of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary in response to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), is apparently controlled by Ca 2+ -mediated events. In many tissues, when an involvement of Ca 2+ in secretion has been found, there is an associated increased metabolic turnover of phosphatidylinositol. The objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of LHRH on the incorporation of [ 32 P]orthophosphate into phosphatidylinositol by anterior pituitary cells maintained in vitro. When anterior pituitary cells were incubated for 5–40 min in the presence of [ 32 P]orthophosphate, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine were the most rapidly radiolabelled phospholipids. The addition of LHRH to the cell culture medium at concentrations previously demonstrated to release LH, increased the incorporation of [ 32 P]or-thophosphate into phosphatidylinositol in a dose-dependent manner. Incorporation of [ 32 P]orthophosphate into other phospholipids was unaffected by LHRH at all concentrations employed. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that LHRH causes a receptor-mediated increase in turnover of phosphatidylinositol and this may be among the early metabolic events in the mechanism of LHRH-stimulated LH secretion from the anterior pituitary gland.
Global and domestic actors within the global climate change regime: toward a theory of the global environmental system

This paper presents the theory of the global environmental system to explain the different climate change regimes emerging from advanced industrialized nations. Using data collected regarding the formation of domestic climate change regimes in the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands, the specifics of the theory are outlined. I begin by analyzing the expectations of some of the more prominent sociological theories about the society‐environment relationship in the advanced world finding that they do not explain the disparate responses to the regulation of greenhouse gases in these countries. The theory of the global environmental system is proposed as an alternative to the rather extreme expectations of the sociological literature on society/environment relationships. Through this proposed theory, we can better understand successful cases of global climate change regimes within the context of the interrelations among domestic and international actors.
Improved Technique for Quantifying the Bias-Dependent Mobility of Metal-Oxide Thin-Film Transistors

In this paper, we build upon existing techniques to provide a self-consistent, physically based method particularly well suited for quantifying the mobility of solution-processed transition metal-oxide-based thin-film transistors (TFTs). The methodology is presented as a more appropriate alternative to existing square-law techniques whose assumptions are inapplicable to systems exhibiting dispersive transport. To demonstrate its utility in solution-processed electronics, this method was applied to solution-processed SnO2 and ZnO TFTs having various gate dielectrics. In addition, to account for the different operating voltages set by the differences in effective oxide thickness of the dielectric, mobility was evaluated as a function of the transverse electric field, allowing for the direct comparison of mobility independent of the choice of gate dielectric.
Neonatal outcomes associated with planned vaginal versus planned primary cesarean delivery.

To determine whether planned route of delivery leads to differences in neonatal morbidity. Analysis was based on planned route of delivery, not actual route of delivery. A total of 4048 subjects were divided into two groups: planned vaginal delivery and planned cesarean delivery. Primary outcomes were neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, respiratory morbidity and neurologic morbidity. There were 3868 planned vaginal and 180 planned cesarean deliveries. Planned vaginal delivery had decreased NICU admission (P<0.0001), oxygen resuscitation (P=0.001) and jaundice (P<0.0001) but increased meconium passage (P<0.0001) and 1 min Apgar ⩽5 (P=0.02). After multivariable regression, NICU admission remained lower and meconium passage remained higher in the planned vaginal group. Planned vaginal delivery led to more meconium passage and low 1 min Apgar but less NICU admissions, oxygen resuscitation and jaundice. Multicenter trials are needed to assess rare but serious outcomes based on planned route of delivery.
Best-Practice Recommendations for Defining, Identifying, and Handling Outliers

The presence of outliers, which are data points that deviate markedly from others, is one of the most enduring and pervasive methodological challenges in organizational science research. We provide evidence that different ways of defining, identifying, and handling outliers alter substantive research conclusions. Then, we report results of a literature review of 46 methodological sources (i.e., journal articles, book chapters, and books) addressing the topic of outliers, as well as 232 organizational science journal articles mentioning issues about outliers. Our literature review uncovered (a) 14 unique and mutually exclusive outlier definitions, 39 outlier identification techniques, and 20 different ways of handling outliers; (b) inconsistencies in how outliers are defined, identified, and handled in various methodological sources; and (c) confusion and lack of transparency in how outliers are addressed by substantive researchers. We offer guidelines, including decision-making trees, that researchers can...
Regulation of ventral midbrain patterning by Hedgehog signaling

In the developing ventral midbrain, the signaling molecule sonic hedgehog (SHH) is sufficient to specify a striped pattern of cell fates (midbrain arcs). Here, we asked whether and precisely how hedgehog (HH) signaling might be necessary for ventral midbrain patterning. By blocking HH signaling by in ovo misexpression of Ptc1 Δ loop2 , we show that HH signaling is necessary and can act directly at a distance to specify midbrain cell fates. Ventral midbrain progenitors extinguish their dependence upon HH in a spatiotemporally complex manner, completing cell-fate specification at the periphery by Hamburger and Hamilton stage 13. Thus, patterning at the lateral periphery of the ventral midbrain is accomplished early, when the midbrain is small and the HH signal needs to travel relatively short distances (approximately 30 cell diameters). Interestingly, single-cell injections demonstrate that patterning in the midbrain occurs within the context of cortex-like radial columns of cells that can share HH blockade and are cytoplasmically connected by gap junctions. HH blockade results in increased cell scatter, disrupting the spatial coherence of the midbrain arc pattern. Finally, HH signaling is required for the integrity and the signaling properties of the boundaries of the midbrain (e.g. the midbrain-hindbrain boundary, the dorsoventral boundary), its perturbations resulting in abnormal cell mixing across `leaky' borders.
Simulation of the Nonreacting Flow in a Bluff-Body Burner; Effect of the Diameter Ratio

Axisymmetric vortex simulation is used to study the unsteady dynamics of the flowfield generated by the interaction between two concentric jets initially separated by a thick bluff-body. The computational scheme treats convective transport in a Lagrangian sense by discretizing the vorticity into a number of finite-area vortex ring elements which move along particle trajectories during each convective substep, thus reducing the numerical diffusion and allowing simulations at high Reynolds number. In this paper, investigation is focused on the time-dependent dynamics and the effect of the diameter ratio across the bluff-body on the wake flow. In both cases simulated, the dynamics is governed by the shedding of large vortex eddies from the inner and outer sides of the bluff-body. Mixing between the two streams is enhanced by the merging of these eddies downstream the bluff-body and the formation of composite structures. We find that the frequency of shedding, the level of fluctuations and the degree of organization are strongly dependent on the diameter ratio. The fluctuation associated with this shedding increases as the diameter ratio becomes larger. The origin and mechanism of shedding in each case are determined from the results.
Effects of explosion depth and earth structure on the excitation of Lg waves: S* revisited

Effects of explosion depth in 1D velocity structure on the amplitude and character of Lg are examined. For shallow spherical explosions, the S* wave can be a significant contributor to Lg . Its amplitude, however, decays exponentially with source depth, and for that reason, S* has usually been dismissed as insignificant for all but the shallowest source depths. However, the radiation pattern of S* has a narrow peak (<10°) at φd = sin−1( β/α )surface, where amplitudes are larger than in the original P wave. The width and amplitude of this peak also decrease with increasing source depth, but amplitudes at frequencies in the ∼1-Hz range remain significant for depths to at least 1 km. In favorable velocity structures, where α surface ≦ β mantle, the radiation peak is trapped in the crust and S* in Lg can dominate seismograms from spherical explosions at depths down to 1 km. In such structures, the character of Lg may also be determined by whether the radiation peak ends up as turning waves or Moho reflections. Decoupled nuclear explosions may be most spherical-explosion-like, and the characteristics of S* -dominated Lg may be representative of observations from decoupled explosions, thus possibly providing a way of discriminating them from other shallow sources.
Seedling Growth of Two Honey Mesquite Varieties Under CO2 Enrichment

Seedlings of 2 varieties of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa and P. glandulosa var. torreyana) were exposed to 2 concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) (368 and 704 lmol � mol � 1 ) in environmentally controlled glasshouses under near-optimal temperature and soil water conditions to determine if CO2 enrichment alters above- and belowground growth responses. CO2 enrichment substantially enhanced both above- and belowground growth variables of both varieties for all harvest dates (8, 16, and 24 days postemergence). This growth enhancement was greater for aboveground variables (21%– 35%) at the first harvest, greater for belowground variables (36%–40%) at the second harvest, and similar for both above(13%–68%) and belowground (10%–40%) variables at the last harvest. Differences in temporal growth enhancement associated with CO2 enrichment suggest changing carbon allocation priorities, with initial carbon investment allocated primarily aboveground to develop photosynthetic machinery, and later carbon allocations predominately directed toward increased investment in roots. The absence of significant CO2 3 variety interactions at any harvest date provides evidence that CO2 enrichment did not exaggerate growth responses between the 2 varieties. These results suggest that varietal differences in rooting and other characteristics did not modify the size advantage of the glandulosa over the torreyana variety, as the absolute differences in sizes did not change as a function of CO2 treatment. Although CO2 enrichment did not exaggerate growth differences between varieties in this species, it is evident that honey mesquite seedlings possess the capacity to respond markedly to CO2 enrichment. The greater root depth of honey mesquite seedlings exposed to CO2 enrichment confers a competitive advantage to mesquite seedlings over grass seedlings, assuming that C3 and C4 grass seedlings will not respond as vigorously to CO2 enrichment. As such, this species should continue to aggressively encroach into grasslands in future CO2-enriched environments.
Growth Curves for Graptemys, with a Comparison to Other Emydid Turtles

Abstract Von Bertalanffy growth-curve parameters were calculated from plastral annuli of specimens of Graptemys ouachitensis and G. pseudogeographica kohnii captured in western Kentucky, and museum specimens of G. ernsti from Alabama and G. caglei (males only) from Texas. Males had estimated values of k (intrinsic rate of growth toward asymptotic plastron length, PLA) ranging from 0.264 to 0.498. Values of k for females of three species (range 0.110–0.182) were significantly less than the corresponding values for males, whereas PLA values for females (range 175.3–220.2 mm) greatly exceeded PLA values of males (range 91.5–114.5 mm). There was a significant negative correlation of PLA with k within 13 emydid turtle populations for which von Bertalanffy parameter estimates were available, with a slope similar to those reported for fish taxa; however, this relationship was not evident for either male values or female values when data were analyzed by phylogenetically independent contrasts. Use of the Richards...
Cropland expansion outpaces agricultural and biofuel policies in the United States

Cultivation of corn and soybeans in the United States reached record high levels following the biofuels boom of the late 2000s. Debate exists about whether the expansion of these crops caused conversion of grasslands and other carbon-rich ecosystems to cropland or instead replaced other crops on existing agricultural land. We tracked crop-specific expansion pathways across the conterminous US and identified the types, amount, and locations of all land converted to and from cropland, 2008–2012. We found that crop expansion resulted in substantial transformation of the landscape, including conversion of long-term unimproved grasslands and land that had not been previously used for agriculture (cropland or pasture) dating back to at least the early 1970s. Corn was the most common crop planted directly on new land, as well as the largest indirect contributor to change through its displacement of other crops. Cropland expansion occurred most rapidly on land that is less suitable for cultivation, raising concerns about adverse environmental and economic costs of conversion. Our results reveal opportunities to increase the efficacy of current federal policy conservation measures by modifying coverage of the 2014 US Farm Bill Sodsaver provision and improving enforcement of the US Renewable Fuels Standard.
Assessing pharmacotherapy outcomes : A model for clinicians

Health-related quality of life (HQL) has become an important therapeutic end point of pharmacologic therapy. As a result, clinicians will be increasingly called on to assess HQL outcomes associated with medication use. The review of HQL measures and the model described here should provide clinicians with the necessary framework to assess medication outcomes more globally so that they can identify and quantify medication-induced changes and guide management decisions, use resources efficiently, and improve patient satisfaction with care.
The first version buffered large analog bandwidth (BLAB1) ASIC for high luminosity collider and extensive radio neutrino detectors

Abstract Future detectors for high luminosity particle identification and ultra high energy neutrino observation would benefit from a digitizer capable of recording sensor signals with high analog bandwidth and large record depth, in a cost-effective, compact and low-power way. A first version of the buffered large analog bandwidth (BLAB1) ASIC has been designed based upon the lessons learned from the development of the large analog bandwidth recorder and digitizer with Ordered Readout (LABRADOR) ASIC. While this LABRADOR ASIC has been very successful and forms the basis of a generation of new, large-scale radio neutrino detectors, its limited sampling depth is a major drawback. A prototype has been designed and fabricated with 64 k deep sampling at multi-GSa/s operation. We present test results and directions for future evolution of this sampling technique.
Lethargy as a Presenting Symptom in Patients with Intussusception

The author's experience with lethargy in pediatric patients with intussusception was reviewed retrospectively over a 10-year period and proved to be a symptom elicited on admission in half of the patients. The results indicate that lethargy is an important symptom in patients with intussusception when occurring in association with vomiting, melena, or a palpable abdominal mass, or all three.
Estimation of the diesel exhaust exposures of railroad workers: I. Current exposures

As a part of a series of epidemiological studies of railroad workers, measurements were made to characterize workers' exposures to diesel exhaust. Since diesel exhaust is not a single compound, an exposure marker was sought. The personal exposures to respirable particulate matter (RPM) of over 530 workers in 39 common jobs were measured in four U.S. railroads over a three-year period. Significant amounts of cigarette smoke (20-90%) were found in many of these samples. Therefore, the respirable particulate concentration, adjusted to remove the fraction of cigarette smoke (ARP), was chosen as a marker of diesel exhaust exposures. The geometric mean exposures to ARP ranged from 17 micrograms/m3 for clerks to 134 micrograms/m3 for locomotive shop workers. Significant interrailroad variations were observed in some job groups indicating that the different facilities, equipment, and work practices found among the railroads can affect a worker's exposure to diesel exhaust. Climate was also found to have a significant effect on exposure in some job groups.
Blogging, Now and Then (250 Years Ago)

Long before the Internet, Europeans exchanged information in ways that anticipated blogging. The key element of their information system was the “anecdote,” a term that meant nearly the opposite then from what it means today. Anecdotes, dispensed by “libellistes” and “paragraph men,” became a staple in the daily diet of news consumed by readers in eighteenth-century France and England. They were also pilfered, reworked, and served up in books. By tracking anecdotes through texts, we can rethink the history of books and reassess a rich strain of history and literature.
Electron-Poor Thiophene 1,1-Dioxides: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application as Electron Relays in Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation.

The synthesis and characterization of electron-poor thiophene 1,1-dioxides bearing cyanated phenyl groups are reported. The electron-accepting nature of these compounds was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, and highly reversible and facile reductions were observed for several derivatives. Moreover, some of the reduced thiophene dioxides form colorful anions, which were investigated spectroelectrochemically. Photoluminescence spectra of the electron-deficient sulfones were measured in CH2 Cl2, and they emit in the blue-green region with significant variation in the quantum yield depending on the aryl substituents. By expanding the degree of substitution on the phenyl rings, quantum yields up to 34 % were obtained. X-ray diffraction data are reported for two of the thiophene 1,1-dioxides, and the electronic structure was probed for all synthesized derivatives through DFT calculations. The dioxides were also examined as electron relays in a photocatalytic water reduction reaction, and they showed potential to boost the efficiency.
Aortic Msx2-Wnt Calcification Cascade Is Regulated by TNF-α–Dependent Signals in Diabetic Ldlr −/− Mice

Objective— Aortic calcification is prevalent in type II diabetes (T2DM), enhancing morbidity and tracking metabolic syndrome parameters. Ldlr −/− mice fed high-fat “Westernized” diets (HFD) accumulate aortic calcium primarily in the tunica media, mediated via osteogenic morphogens and transcriptional programs that induce aortic alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Because elevated TNF-α is characteristic of obesity with T2DM, we examined contributions of this inflammatory cytokine. Methods and Results— HFD promoted obesity, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia, and upregulated serum TNF-α in Ldlr −/− mice. Serum haptoglobin (inflammatory marker) was increased along with aortic expression of BMP2 , Msx2 , Wnt3a , and Wnt7a . Dosing with the TNF-α neutralizing antibody infliximab did not reduce obesity, hypercholesterolemia, or hyperglycemia; however, haptoglobin, aortic BMP2 , Msx2 , Wnt3a , and Wnt7a and aortic calcium accumulation were downregulated by infliximab. Mice with vascular TNF-α augmented by a transgene ( SM22-TNFαTg ) driven from the SM22 promoter upregulated aortic Msx2 , Wnt3a , and Wnt7a. Furthermore, SM22-TNFαTg;TOPGAL mice exhibited greater aortic β-galactosidase reporter staining versus TOPGAL sibs, indicating enhanced mural Wnt signaling. In aortic myofibroblast cultures, TNF-α upregulated Msx2 , Wnt3a , Wnt7a , and ALP. ALP induction was inhibited by Dkk1, an antagonist of paracrine Wnt actions. Conclusions— TNF-α promote aortic Msx2-Wnt programs that contribute to aortic calcium accumulation in T2DM.
Balancing Career and Technical Education With Academic Coursework: The Consequences for Mathematics Achievement in High School

Federal legislation has attempted to move career and technical education (CTE) from a segregated component of the high school curriculum to an integrated element that jointly improves both academic and career readiness. However, concerns remain about the ability of CTE to improve academic learning. Using a nationally representative sample of high school students, we examine the relationship between CTE coursework and mathematics achievement in high school. Accounting for observed and unobserved characteristics of students, we find that CTE courses neither limit overall gains in mathematics learning nor the acquisition of basic and intermediate mathematics skills. Additionally, engineering and technology courses, a subset of CTE courses that incorporate quantitative reasoning, logic, and problem solving, are unrelated with math achievement.
Cryptorchidism in LhrKO animals and the effect of testosterone-replacement therapy

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to characterize the morphological and genetic basis of cryptorchidism. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated cryptorchidism in LH receptor (Lhr) knockout (LhrKO) mice and how testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) worked to correct the phenotype. The results revealed that while gubernacular development was indistinguishable between Lhr-null and wild-type animals until 7 days of age, it was subsequently severely impaired in null animals. This was due to a reduction in mesenchymal cell division, differentiation into cremaster muscle cells and their delayed maturation. While transcript levels of Hoxa10, Hoxa11, Desrt and Dll1 were indistinguishable, the levels of Notch1, Numb and Lgr8 in the gubernaculum and Insl3 in the testes were lower in Lhr-null than in wild-type siblings. The TRT, which completed testicular descent into the scrotum, corrected the morphological changes and the expression of Lgr8, Numb and Notch, but not Insl3, to wildtype levels. Transection of the genitofemoral nerve did not prevent the TRT effect. CONCLUSION: In summary, cryptorchidism in Lhr-null animals was caused by defects in the gubernacular development due to testosterone deficiency. TRT reversed all the morphological and gene expression changes except Insl3, suggesting that testosterone, not INSL3, secreted by Leydig cells, facilitates the completion of testicular descent.
Hiding mass storage under Unix: NASA's MSS-II architecture

A second-generation mass storage system, MSS-II, is described. It achieves a 10-MB transfer rate into and out of the central-network mass-storage node, while preserving the illusion to users that it is simply an ordinary Unix system with an infinite supply of very fast disk space. It does so by implementing a Berkeley RAID-style file system in kernel software, by instituting striping network access, by implementing a transparent hierarchical storage manager, and by extending the concepts of file ownership and permission to removable volumes. The major software components (i.e. the high-performance file system, rapid-access storage hierarchy, volume manager, and striping network access) and file integrity are discussed. >
Complications of inguinal herniotomy are comparable in term and premature infants

Inguinal hernias are common, and prevalence is highest in premature males. Recognised complications include recurrence, iatrogenic cryptorchidism and testicular atrophy. We reviewed complication rates following inguinal herniotomy (IH), comparing premature (gestation <36 weeks) and term infants. A retrospective case note review of infants aged 0–12 months undergoing IH between January 2006 and December 2010. Data collected included demographics, side of hernia, incarceration, complications, duration of follow-up and need for further surgery. Comparison was made using unpaired student t test and Fishers exact test. Four hundred and eight patients underwent IH (365 male, 42 female, 1 complete androgen insensitivity); 197 were premature (prem), mean weight 3.81 kg (1.02–9.4); 211 were term (gestation ≥36 weeks), mean weight 5.85 kg (2.4–11.7), p = 0.0001 versus prem. Total herniotomies performed = 472 (131 Left, 213 Right, 64 bilateral); 89 hernias were incarcerated at presentation (60 prem vs. 29 term, p = 0.0001). Bowel resection was required in six patients (5 prem vs. 1 term, p = 0.1109), and 14 had simultaneous orchidopexy (12 prem vs. 2 term, p = 0.0049). Early post-operative complication rate 2.8 % (8 prem vs. 5 term; p = 0.4037). Two hundred and forty patients attended follow-up; 58.8 % (125 prem, 115 term). This group accounted for 279 IH (264 male, 15 female). Mean follow-up = 5 months (0.5–36). Complication rates: recurrence 2.7 %, metachronous hernia 7.5 %, iatrogenic cryptorchidism 3.8 % and testicular atrophy 0.7 %. No significant difference was found in complication rates between premature and term infants despite significantly more premature infants presenting with incarcerated hernias.
Ethylene/α-Olefin Copolymerization with Dimethylsilyl-bis(2-methyl-4-phenyl-indenyl) zirconium dichloride and Methylaluminoxane: Influences on Polymerization Activity and Molecular Weight

The copolymerizations of ethylene with 1-hexene and of ethylene with 1-octene have been investigated using rac-Me2Si [2-Me-4-Ph-Ind]2 ZrCl2 and methylaluminoxane as cocatalyst. This metallocene catalyst readily incorporates α-olefin, and at the same time the polymerization activities remain relatively high. Interestingly no comonomer effect can be observed with this catalyst in contrast to other metallocene catalysts, e. g. Cp2ZrCl2 or Me2Si-[Ind]2ZrCl2. Also the mode of addition of catalyst components influences the polymerization rate. The separate addition of the metallocene from the MAO is accompanied by longer induction periods, whereas the combined addition induces copolymerization almost instantaneously. The activities obtained with 1-octene are slightly lower than those obtained with 1-hexene. The molecular weight drops with increasing α-olefin concentration, however it is relatively high compared to copolymers produced with other metallocene catalysts. With a highly racemic mixture of the title catalyst unprecedented activities were obtained of 1,170,000 kg polyethylene/(mol Zr x h x [mon]) at 40 °C, and 477,000 kg ethylene/1-hexene copolymer/(mol Zr x h x [mon]) at 45 °C and a monomer ratio of unity in the reaction.
Temporal Variety in Consumer Behavior

A measure of temporal variety is developed and is used as a dependent variable in an investigation of the variability in individual purchases from three product classes. Predictor variables are use...
Studies in optimization—I: The optimum design of adiabatic reactors with several beds

Abstract The optimum design of an adiabatic reactor involves the choice of the size of each bed and the amount of interstage cooling between beds. These decisions can be made in an orderly way by applying the notion of dynamic programming, and in the case of a single reaction allow of a simple graphical presentation. The principal subject of this paper is case of a single reaction with costs proportional to the bed volume and the amount of heat removed. It is shown that this simple model suffices to solve a number of more general problems.
Methods of instruction of the incident command system and related topics at US veterinary schools

Objective The Incident Command System (ICS) is an adaptable construct designed to streamline response efforts to a disaster or other incident. We aimed to examine the methods used to teach the ICS at US veterinary schools and to explore alternative and novel methods for instruction of this material. Methods A total of 29 US accredited veterinary schools (as of February 2012) were surveyed, and 18 of the 29 schools responded. Results The ICS and related topics were taught by both classroom methods and online instruction by most of the surveyed schools. Several of the schools used readily available Federal Emergency Management Agency and US Department of Agriculture resources to aid in instruction. Most schools used one course to teach the ICS, and some schools also used unique methods such as field exercises, drills, side-by-side training with disaster response teams, elective courses, extracurricular clubs, and externships to reinforce the ICS and related topics. Some of the surveyed institutions also utilized fourth-year clinical rotations and field deployments during actual disasters as a component of their ICS and emergency response curriculum. Conclusion The ICS is being taught at some form at a significant number of US veterinary schools. Additional research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of the teaching methods of the ICS in US veterinary schools. ( Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness . 2014;8:505-510)