cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction to the special section on motivation and efficacy.

This special section comprises nine articles addressing the operation of motivation and efficacy in educational contexts. In this article, I will use motivation to refer to the process whereby goal-directed behavior is instigated and sustained, and efficacy to denote individuals' beliefs in their capabilities to exert control over aspects of their lives. The articles that follow differ in many ways, but they share the theme that educational achievement is a complex phenomenon involving interactions of social, instructional, and learner factors (Pintrich, Cross, Kozma, & McKeachie, 1986). Students can actively seek and process information through their attention, organization, rehearsal, and encoding. Their overt responses, in turn, can alter social and instructional factors within their environments.
Syntheses, structures, and second-harmonic generating properties in new quaternary tellurites: A2TeW3O12 (A=K, Rb, or Cs)

Abstract The syntheses, structures, and characterization of a new family of quaternary alkali tungsten tellurites, A 2 TeW 3 O 12 ( A =K, Rb, or Cs), are reported. Crystals of the materials were synthesized by supercritical hydrothermal methods using 1 M A OH ( A =K, Rb, or Cs), TeO 2 , and WO 3 as reagents. Bulk, polycrystalline phases were synthesized by standard solid-state methods combining stoichiometric amounts of A 2 CO 3 , TeO 2 , and WO 3 . Although the three materials are not iso-structural, each exhibits a hexagonal tungsten oxide layer comprised of corner-sharing W 6+ O 6 octahedra. Te 4+ O 3 groups connect the WO 6 layers in K 2 TeW 3 O 12 , whereas the same groups cap the WO 6 layers in Rb 2 TeW 3 O 12 and Cs 2 TeW 3 O 12 . This capping results in non-centrosymmetric structures for Rb 2 TeW 3 O 12 and Cs 2 TeW 3 O 12 . Powder second-harmonic generation measurements on Rb 2 TeW 3 O 12 and Cs 2 TeW 3 O 12 revealed strong SHG efficiencies of 200 and 400×SiO 2 , respectively. These values indicate an average non-linear optical susceptibility, 〈 d eff 〉 exp of 16 and 23 pm/V for Rb 2 TeW 3 O 12 and Cs 2 TeW 3 O 12 , respectively. Crystallographic information: K 2 TeW 3 O 12 , monoclinic, space group P 2 1 / n (No. 14), a =7.3224(13) A, b =11.669(2) A, c =12.708(2) A, β =90.421(3)°, Z =4; Rb 2 TeW 3 O 12 , trigonal, space group P 31 c (No. 159), a = b =7.2980(2) A, c =12.0640(2) A, Z =2.
Covering a graph with cycles passing through given edges

We propose a conjecture: for each integer k ≥ 2, there exists N(k) such that if G is a graph of order n ≥ N(k) and d(x) + d(y) ≥ n + 2k - 2 for each pair of non-adjacent vertices x and y of G, then for any k independent edges e1, …, ek of G, there exist k vertex-disjoint cycles C1, …, Ck in G such that ei ∈ E(Ci) for all i ∈ {1, …, k} and V(C1 ∪ ···∪ Ck) = V(G). If this conjecture is true, the condition on the degrees of G is sharp. We prove this conjecture for the case k = 2 in the paper. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 26: 105–109, 1997
Psoralen-containing sunscreen is tumorigenic in hairless mice

Sunscreens containing 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP) are currently being marketed to promote tanning by inducing psoralen-mediated ultraviolet (UV) A (320-400 nm) melanogenesis. The rationale is that this may prevent UVB (290-320 nm) radiation-induced skin damage. However, mouse studies have shown that 5-MOP has the same cutaneous photocarcinogenic potential as 8-methoxypsoralen. In addition, the 5-MOP-containing sunscreen Sun System III (SS III), when combined with UVA, induces epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity, an enzyme associated with tumor promotion. Therefore, we investigated whether SS III had sufficient psoralen concentration to be tumorigenic in hairless mice exposed to chronic, intermittent UVA radiation. SS III was applied to hairless mice 5 days per week for 20 weeks. After each application the mice were exposed to 2.5 to 10 joules/cm 2 UVA radiation. All test groups developed atypical squamous papillomas in direct proportion to the dosage of UVA radiation received. A shorter latency period for tumor development was seen with larger UVA doses. Test animals followed up to 1 year developed invasive squamous cell tumors. Control groups (SS III without UVA and UVA without SS III) remained free of tumors. Animals receiving SS III plus UVA developed persistent skin thickening and increased dermal cyst formation similar to that reported with chronic exposure to UVB, a known carcinogenic wavelength. Over-the-counter sunscreens containing 5-MOP do contain sufficient psoralen concentrations to cause cutaneous phototoxicity and photocarcinogenicity in mice, and their use in humans should be discouraged in the interest of preventing further UV-induced skin damage and skin cancer.
The Timing of Flares Associated with the Two Dynamical Types of Solar Coronal Mass Ejections

In this Letter, we consider a sample of Transition Region and Coronal Explorer flare-associated solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and study the timing behavior of the flares associated with fast or slow CMEs. We find that flares associated with fast CMEs tend to happen within half an hour of the CME onsets, while the timing of flares associated with slow CMEs is only loosely related to the CME onsets. This suggests that the occurrence of flares may be integral to the early development of fast CMEs but is not crucial for slow CMEs. This observational result supports a recent qualitative theory of the initiation and expulsion mechanism of the two dynamical types of CMEs.
Studies on the mechanism of action of ionizing radiations. X. Effect of x-rays on some physicochemical properties of proteins

Abstract On x-irradiation of aqueous solutions of serum albumin, serum globulin, and egg albumin, there was an increase in the absorption of ultraviolet light, the increase being more marked around 2400 A. The increase in optical density was proportional to the x-ray dose and inversely proportional to protein concentration. Addition of salts protected greatly the protein solutions against these changes. The increase in optical density was more marked in alkaline solutions. Irradiation of oxygenated solutions showed a greater increase in optical density around 2400 A. The absorption spectrum changes seem to be due to oxidation tyrosine residues and of other oxidizable groups. Irradiation of 0.07% aqueous solutions of serum albumin with 75,000 r. at 25 °C. produced precipitation, which did not occur on irradiation at the temperature of ice water. Precipitation was avoided by increasing the protein concentration or by the addition of salts. The viscosity of proteins increased slightly on irradiation with 50,000 r. There were no marked changes in the electrophoretic mobilities or the sedimentation constants. On irradiation with 100,000 and 200,000 r. there was appearance of a second component, which may be taken as a dimer. Addition of cysteine prevented the appearance of the dimer. However, once the dimer was formed, cysteine did not revert the protein to its original structure.
British Columbia flood scars: maximum flood-stage indicators

Abstract Flood scars, abundant along rivers of heavily forested northern British Columbia, provide records of flood occurrence and magnitude in a region with few and relatively short gaging records. Log transport during floods is episodic and occurs almost immediately preceding and during peak stage. Impact wounds form during this transport stage. Many of these logs are sequestered in bankside vegetation where they form abrasion wounds on trees by rubbing up and down in the turbulent waters. From May 30 through June 2, 1990, an approximate 9-year nival flood occurred on the Skeena River at Cedarvale, B.C. This flood damaged many trees within a few tree spacings of the bank margin. Immediately after the flood, the peak-stage line along 170 m of shoreline was marked. In September, 1992, 48 flood-scarred trees were selected and their locations and flood-scar heights surveyed. The mean height of the top of the flood scars sampled is 20 ± 3 cm below the peak stage on the adjacent bank. Flood-scar heights range from + 9 to − 80 cm compared to the peak stage on the adjacent bank. A regression line for the floodscar top elevations is roughly parallel to the peak-stage elevations along the shoreline and approximately 20 cm below it. Data from Usk, the nearest gaging station on the Skeena River, demonstrate that the stage was high enough to form the flood scars for only 24 to 36 hours. Most of the flood scars had to form in less than 24 hours. Field observations suggest that the time of flood-scar formation was even more restricted.
Confidence intervals for the mean in the bounded case

Abstract This paper describes a 100 × (1 - α) percent confidence interval for the mean of a bounded random variable that holds for every sample size n and avoids the error of approximation that assuming normality induces.
Structure of H-classes in the semigroup of nonnegative matrices

Abstract This paper investigates the structure of the H -classes in the semigroup Nn of nonnegative matrices. We obtain two sets of equivalent conditions for any two matrices A,B to satisfy A H B in N n . We establish a one-to-one and onto correspondence between the H -class H A and the group WA0 of the greatest cone independent submatrix A0 of A. We find WA0 can be made up from the groups of the connective submatrices of A0.
The link between economic development and the income elasticity of import demand

Abstract In both the international economics and economic development literatures, it has been noted that there is a tendency for the income elasticity of import demand to rise over time. In the first part of the paper, data from a large sample of countries is used to show that this tendency seems to be a general phenomenon. However, the previous studies on this issue have not offered a general explanation of this tendency. The second part of the paper develops a general explanation of why the income elasticity of import demand rises with the level of GDP per capita. The starting point of the analysis is that the process of economic development normally is associated with a rising share of manufacturing in GDP. In turn, this tends to increase the share of manufactured relative to nonmanufactured imports. Given that the income elasticity of import demand is higher for manufactured than nonmanufactured imports, the changing composition of imports increases the overall elasticity of import demand. The empirical results indicate that this is a plausible explanation for why the income elasticity of import demand rises with the level of GDP per capita.
Rising infection rate in cardiac electronic device implantation; the role of the AIGISRx® antibacterial envelope in prophylaxis

The implantation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) to prevent sudden cardiac death, ameliorate chronic congestive heart failure, and correct bradycardia has grown rapidly in the past decade. Bacterial infection of the device hardware (pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator [ICD] pulse generator, and intravascular wires or leads), including the tissue pocket, is rising at an even faster rate. The source infection inoculation typically occurs at the time the device is implanted, revised, or when a device generator replacement occurs. This risk is clearly related to patient and procedure-specific factors, and is reviewed in the present paper. Prophylactic preoperative antibiotics, strict sterile technique, and limiting procedure times may reduce infection risk. A novel Antibacterial Envelope (AIGISRx ® , TYRX Inc., Monmouth Junction, NJ, USA) that is directly implanted with the device generator to provide site-specific therapy could significantly lower infection risk in certain high-risk cases. This may potentially reduce inpatient mortality related to endocarditis and sepsis, and lower healthcare costs related to CIED extraction and re-implantation, which can exceed $1 million per case.
Electronic and structural properties of copper selenide (Cu 2−x Se) thin films as determined by in-situ real-time and ex-situ characterization

Real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) is shown to be an effective contactless probe of copper selenide thin-films used as a precursor material during 2-stage and 3-stage growth of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 solar cells. The Cu 2−x Se thin-films were deposited by a hybrid sputtering/evaporation process onto native oxide covered Si(100) and studied by RTSE, and by complementary atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffractometry, transmission and reflection (T&R) spectrophotometry, and Hall Effect measurements. RTSE deduction of the total charge carrier densities (n), electronic scattering times (τ), fundamental energy bad-gaps (E g ), and electrical resistivities (ρ) of the Cu 2−x Se thin-films agree well with post-deposition ex-situ measurements. The RTSE measurement reveals growth mechanism and dielectric functions which ultimately reflect the electronic behavior.
Decreased numbers of regulatory T cells suggest impaired immune tolerance in children with tourette syndrome: a preliminary study.

Background Post-streptococcal autoimmune inflammation of basal ganglia was suggested to be an etiological factor in some cases of Tourette syndrome (TS). Since regulatory T (T reg) cells play a major role in preventing autoimmunity, we hypothesized that a defect in T reg cells may be present in children with TS. We also postulated that group A beta hemolytic streptococcal infections could promote autoimmune responses by releasing exotoxins (streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins [SPE]). Methods We analyzed peripheral blood of TS patients and healthy age-matched control subjects by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) on multiple occasions and determined the numbers of CD4 + CD25 + CD69 − T reg cells. Further, we quantified the number of CD4 + and CD8 + lymphocytes with regard to Vbeta chains to which SPEs are known to bind. Results A significant decrease in T reg cells was observed in patients with moderate to severe TS symptoms compared with healthy age-matched control children. A decrease in T reg cell number was also noted during symptom exacerbations in five out of six patients. Further, we found a significant decrease in numbers of CD8 + Vbeta18 + T cells in moderate to severe TS patients. Conclusions These data support our hypothesis that at least some TS patients may have a decreased capacity to inhibit autoreactive lymphocytes through a deficit in T reg cells. Interactions of host T cell immunity and microbial factors may also contribute to the pathogenesis of TS.
Mechanism of the aerobic oxidation of alcohols by palladium complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes.

Quantum mechanics (B3LYP density functional theory) combined with solvation (Poisson−Boltzmann polarizable continuum solvent model) was used to investigate six mechanisms for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by (NHC)Pd(carboxylate)_2(H_2O) complexes (NHC = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene). Of these, we find that “reductive β-hydride elimination”, in which the β-hydrogen of a palladium-bound alkoxide is transferred directly to the free oxygen of the bound carboxylate, provides the lowest-energy route and explains the published kinetic isotope effect, activation enthalpy, reaction orders, and dependence of rate on carboxylate pK_a. The traditional β-hydride elimination mechanism cannot be responsible for the experimentally observed kinetic parameters, which we find could result from the subsequent reductive elimination of acetic acid, which yields a slightly higher calculated activation barrier. Reversible β-hydride elimination may provide a mechanism for the racemization of chiral alcohols, which would undermine attempts at an enantioselective oxidation. Competition among these pathways can be influenced by changing the electronic properties of the carboxylate and substrate.
Assessing the influence of regional Environmental Protection Agency offices on state hazardous waste enforcement decisions

Abstract In assessing the influence of regional Environmental Protection Agency EPA offices on the state management of hazardous waste programs, we focused on the extent to which federal administrative decisions affect levels of enforcement activity by state environmental agencies and whether these effects vary over time. Our results indicated that state enforcement actions were affected by state program capacity variables such as primacy and the strength of existing hazardous waste policies as well as one federal-level factor—the distribution of grant monies. The impact of federal oversight decisions was minimal.
C-peptide and glucose values in the peritransplant period after intraportal islet infusions in type 1 diabetes.

Background. Successful islet allograft transplantation has been achieved worldwide. This study aimed at evaluating the relationship between peritransplant C-peptide (CP) values and long-term allograft function. Methods. We measured CP-to-glucose ratio (CPGR) in intraportal samples pre- and postinfusion, and in peripheral circulation at baseline pretransplant and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 72 hours, 1 week, and 15 and 30 days after first and second infusion in 13 islet allograft recipients. Peritransplant treatment included intravenous (IV) 5% dextrose in saline in all patients. We compared portal CPGR to insulin reduction (%) at 30 days after each infusion, and at 1 year after second infusion. Results. CPGR peaked between the immediate postinfusion and 3 hours and decreased at 12 hours. At 1 week, CPGR was 0.76 ± 0.45 and 1.44 ± 0.37 after first and second infusion, respectively. CPGR at 30 days after second infusion doubled compared to first infusion (P <.001). There was no correlation between peak CPGR and insulin reduction percent at any time point. One patient experienced hypoglycemia (47 mg/dL) 1 hour after second infusion. Conclusions. There was no relationship between the CP values in the peritransplant period and long-term graft function or success rate. The early peak in the C-peptide levels is indicative of a significant insulin release after each islet infusion. For this reason, it is important to carefully monitor serum glucose levels in the peritransplant period (hourly for the first 6 hours) and to maintain an IV glucose infusion to avoid hypoglycemia.
A Rollover Epidemic in North Dakota from 1994 to 1997

Copies of North Dakota Vehicular Crash Facts for 1994-1997 detailed all aspects of fatal and nonfatal vehicle crashes during these years, including but not limited to alcohol or drug use, speeding, seat belt use, type of driver violation, road surface, weather conditions, type of roadway, age and sex of the driver, and speed limits.
Party politics: the political impact of the first ladies’ social role

Abstract All first ladies have entertained socially while in the White House. Indeed, the role is so much a part of the office that hosting is expected of the presidential spouses. This article considers the political impact of social hosting, a function that has often had significant consequences on the presidency and has allowed first ladies to influence political affairs.
Artifacts, Intentions, and Contraceptives: The Problem with Having a Plan B for Plan B

It is commonly proposed that artifacts cannot be understood without reference to human intentions. This fact, I contend, has relevance to the use of artifacts in intentional action. I argue that because artifacts have intentions embedded into them antecedently, when we use artifacts we are sometimes compelled to intend descriptions of our actions that we might, for various reasons, be inclined to believe that we do not intend. I focus this argument to a specific set of artifacts, namely, medical devices, before considering an extended application to emergency contraceptive devices. Although there is some debate about whether emergency contraception has an abortifacient effect, I argue that if there is an abortifacient effect, then the effect cannot normally be a side effect of one's action.
Clinical and experimental effects of reserpine in patients with essential hypertension.

In this article, Freis and Ari presented the clinical data on their research for the ganglionic-blocking agent reserpine. They determined that it was ideal for treatment of mild hypertension, but because of its additive qualities, could be used in conjunction with other antihypertensive agents, such as hydralazine, for more severe cases.
Developmental Regulation and Function of Thyroid Hormone Receptors and 9-cis Retinoic Acid Receptors during Xenopus tropicalis Metamorphosis

Amphibian metamorphosis serves as an excellent model to study T3 function during postembryonic development in vertebrate due to its total dependence on T3. Earlier molecular studies in the model species Xenopus laevis have led to a number of important in vivo findings on the function and mechanisms of T3 receptor (TR) action during vertebrate development. However, the lack of genomic sequence information, its tetraploid genome, and lengthy developmental cycle hinder further analyses on TR functions. In this regard, the highly related species, Xenopus tropicalis, is much more advantageous. Toward developing X. tropicalis for genome-wide and genetic studies of TR function, we analyzed the expression profiles of TRs and their heterodimerization partners, retinoid X receptors (RXRs) or 9-cis retinoic acid receptors. We show that their expression correlates with transformations in different organs and that TR/RXR heterodimers are capable of repressing and activating gene expression in vivo in the absence and p...
Spatial Cleansing Monumental Vacuity and the Idea of the West

This article comprises preliminary remarks about spatiality and power, with a particular focus on field data from Greece and Thailand (with secondary materials from Italy). I suggest that the creat...
Cycle compensation protocol: A fair protocol for the unidirectional twin-bus architecture

The IEEE 802.6 Standard/spl minus/Distributed Queue Dual Bus (DQDB)/sup 1//spl minus/for metropolitan area networks (MAN's) has been proposed. It is based on a unidirectional twin bus architecture. The DQDB protocol lays more emphasis on the overall channel utilization than the fair sharing of channel bandwidth by all the stations. In this paper, we first describe the unfairness problem in which the upstream stations occupy most of the channel bandwidth while the downstream stations get fewer chances to transmit their packets. Many proposed possible fixes are also discussed. We propose a protocol called Cycle Compensation Protocol (CCP), which ensures fairness regardless of the ratio of end-to-end propagation delay to the slot size and also achieves almost the same throughput and delay as those of DQDB. CCP also guarantees that the channel bandwidth acquired by a station is inversely proportional to the number of busy stations and will reach this state within a limited time delay. >
Controlling the electron-deficiency of self-assembling pyrazine-acenes: a collaborative experimental and theoretical investigation

This paper reports novel pyrazine-acenes containing electron-deficient heteroaromatic π-extenders, such as pyridine, pyrazine, and benzothiadiazole, directly fused with pyrazine. Electronic properties of these systems were characterized by UV-Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Computational electronic property evaluation of all experimentally synthesized compounds is provided, and is coupled with electronic calculations of closely related compounds that were not synthetically feasible. Our theoretical results provide insight into the overall analysis and interpretation of the experimentally observed trends. In this study, we found a systematic decrease in the LUMO energy (ELUMO) with an increasing number of imine functions in the π-extender. Additionally, when comparing the pyrazine-acene containing pyrazine π-extender to a reference compound with CN peripheral substituents, we found that the imine function is comparable to the CN substituent in lowering ELUMO. The most dramatic ELUMO lowering was experimentally observed using dibromobenzothiadiazole as a π-extender. In all cases, the HOMO energy (EHOMO) was negligibly affected, thus we found options for electronic property control based solely on ELUMO manipulation. This is computationally validated by an examination of the molecular orbitals in which the LUMO orbital was found predominantly on the π-extender section of the molecules, while the HOMO orbital was localized away from the π-extender. Interestingly, the self-assembly of all the experimentally synthesized compounds showed excellent one-dimensional fiber formation in spite of their large π-core framework. These fibers were characterized by atomic force microscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy.
Local Flaps I : Bilobed, Rhombic, and Cervicofacial

This article is the first in a series focusing on the reconstruction of defects of the head and neck created by the resection of a skin cancer. This series begins with a detailed description of specific types of local flaps, and is followed by articles emphasizing the options for reconstruction by anatomic site. The surgical technique for three workhorse flaps of the face are described: the bilobed flap, rhombic flap, and cervicofacial flaps.
Status of the freshwater mussel communities of the Sydenham River, Ontario, Canada

Abstract The Sydenham River, a tributary to Lake St. Clair in southwestern Ontario, historically supported the richest freshwater mussel community of any river in Canada. Surveys conducted between 1971 and 1991 suggested that the mussel fauna was in decline, with only 13 to 26 of the 33 native species still present. We conducted timed searches (4.5 person-h/site) for mussels at 17 sites in 1997–1998 and additional sampling at several sites in 1998–1999 and found 30 live species, including one new record for the system (Obliquaria reflexa). Four of five species recently designated as endangered in Canada, i.e., Epioblasma triquetra, Villosa fabalis, Simpsonaias ambigua and Epioblasma torulosa rangiana, were found alive in the east branch; the first three species are found nowhere else in Canada. Although the mussel community is in a better state than previously thought, there are signs that conditions are deteriorating. Lampsilis fasciola appears to be extirpated from the system although it is still found ...
Ecological site‐based assessments of wind and water erosion: informing accelerated soil erosion management in rangelands.

Accelerated soil erosion occurs when anthropogenic processes modify soil, vegetation, or climatic conditions causing erosion rates at a location to exceed their natural variability. Identifying where and when accelerated erosion occurs is a critical first step toward its effective management. Here we explored how erosion assessments structured in the context of ecological sites (a land classification based on soils, landscape setting, and ecological potential) and their vegetation states (plant assemblages that may change due to management) can inform systems for reducing accelerated soil erosion in rangelands. We evaluated aeolian horizontal sediment flux and fluvial sediment erosion rates for five ecological sites in southern New Mexico, USA, using monitoring data and rangeland-specific wind and water erosion models. Across the ecological sites, plots in shrub-encroached and shrub-dominated vegetation states were consistently susceptible to aeolian sediment flux and fluvial sediment erosion. Both processes were found to be highly variable for grassland and grass–succulent states across the ecological sites at the plot scale (0.25 ha). We identified vegetation thresholds that define cover levels below which rapid (exponential) increases in aeolian sediment flux and fluvial sediment erosion occur across the ecological sites and vegetation states. Aeolian sediment flux and fluvial erosion in the study area could be effectively controlled when bare ground cover was 100 cm in length was less than ∼35%. Land use and management activities that alter cover levels such that they cross thresholds, and/or drive vegetation state changes, may increase the susceptibility of areas to erosion. Land use impacts that are constrained within the range of natural variability should not result in accelerated soil erosion. Evaluating land condition against the erosion thresholds identified here will enable identification of areas susceptible to accelerated soil erosion and the development of practical management solutions.
Calculation of stress–strain curves from relaxation data in the rubbery flow region

Abstract : Time dependent, stress relaxation curves for polysulfone and lexan polycarbonate at constant temperature are obtained. The strain independent stress relaxation curves can be used to calculate stress-strain curves at different rates of strain according to the linear viscoelastic theory. The agreement between experimental and calculated stress-strain curves is good at least up to about 60% strain in the range of 0.01 to 0.2 in/min rate of extension.
Direct effects of ambient ammonia on the nitrogen isotope ratios of fish tissues

Abstract We tested the assumption that the nitrogen isotope ratios of fish are solely determined by their diet by exposing two species of fish having contrasting nitrogen metabolic profiles to 15N ammonia. Beaugregory damselfish (Stegastes leucostictus) representing ammonotelic species and toadfish (Opsanus beta) representing ureotelic species were exposed to 15N ammonia for a period of 4 weeks, after which muscle and liver tissues were analyzed for 15N abundance and compared to their respective control group. Both species showed significant 15N enrichment when exposed to 15N ammonia, with the ammonotelic fish showing a greater enrichment compared to the ureotelic fish. We propose that the toadfish showed less enrichment in its muscle tissue because its active ornithine–urea cycle (O–UC) rapidly sequesters ammonia away from the circulatory system and into liver tissue, thereby preventing any substantial exchange between ammonia and muscle tissue. We propose that no such sequestering occurs in the ammonotelic damselfish because they lack a functional O–UC. These results have important implications for studies using nitrogen isotope ratios to delineate trophic structure in aquatic ecosystems.
Targeting the Proteolytic Arsenal of Neutrophils: A Promising Approach for Postpump Syndrome and ARDS

Of patients who undergo cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), a procedure essential to most cardiac operations, ≈1% to 2% develop a syndrome of pulmonary dysfunction called the postpump syndrome, which is analogous to the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that develops as a complication of trauma, sepsis, inhalation injury, aspiration pneumonia, pancreatitis, and other disease states.1 2 This syndrome is characterized by evidence of pulmonary microvascular endothelial damage, increased microvascular permeability, increased lung water accumulation, increased intrapulmonary shunting, hypoxia, respiratory failure, and a variable severity of clinical expression. Despite many technical and therapeutic advances, the overall mortality associated with this syndrome continues to be high, ranging from ≈40% to ≥60%.1 2 The precise mechanisms responsible for microvascular damage and tissue destruction in postpump syndrome and ARDS are incompletely understood. An important role for inflammatory cells, specifically neutrophil sequestration and activation, is suggested by a number of experimental and clinical observations.3 4 5 6 7 It has been suggested that CPB primes the neutrophils, causing their sequestration in the pulmonary microvasculature, with subsequent activation resulting in the release of tissue-destructive mediators. Several cytokines, such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-α, and leukemia inhibitory factor, have been implicated in neutrophil recruitment or activation in ARDS.6 8 9 10 11 12 …
Evidence for Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Activation in the Induction of Depolarization-Induced Suppression of Inhibition in Hippocampal CA1

Depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition (DSI) is a transient reduction of GABAA receptor-mediated IPSCs that is mediated by a retrograde signal from principal cells to interneurons. Using whole-cell recordings, we tested the hypothesis that mGluRs are involved in the DSI process in hippocampal CA1, as has been proposed for cerebellar DSI. Group II mGluR agonists failed to affect either evoked monosynaptic IPSCs or DSI, and forskolin, which blocks cerebellar DSI, did not affect CA1 DSI. Group I and group III mGluR agonists reduced IPSCs, but only group I agonists occluded DSI. (S)-MCPG blocked (1S,3R)-ACPD-induced IPSC suppression and markedly reduced DSI, whereas group III antagonists had no effect on DSI. Many other similarities between DSI and the (1S,3R)-ACPD-induced suppression of IPSCs also were found. Our data suggest that a glutamate-like substance released from pyramidal cells could mediate CA1 DSI by reducing GABA release from interneurons via the activation of group I mGluRs.
Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Gene and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Phenotype and Quantitative Traits

Genetic variations in metabolism of endocannabinoids and in CNR1 (gene for cannabinoid 1 receptor) are associated with symptom phenotype, colonic transit, and left colon motility in irritable bowel...
Role of steroid hormones in Trichinella spiralis infection among voles.

Males are generally more susceptible to parasite infection than females. This sex difference may reflect the suppressive effects of testosterone and enhancing effects of estradiol on immune functio...
Implications of phytoestrogen intake for breast cancer

Phytoestrogens are a group of plant-derived substances that are structurally or functionally similar to estradiol. Interest in phytoestrogens has been fueled by epidemiologic data that suggest a decreased risk of breast cancer in women from countries with high phytoestrogen consumption. Women with a history of breast cancer may seek out these "natural" hormones in the belief that they are safe or perhaps even protective against recurrence. Interpretation of research studies regarding phytoestrogen intake and breast cancer risk is hampered by differences in dietary measurement, lack of standardization of supplemental sources, differences in metabolism amongst individuals, and the retrospective nature of much of the research in this area. Data regarding the role of phytoestrogens in breast cancer prevention is conflicting, but suggest early exposure in childhood or early adolescence may be protective. In several placebo-controlled randomized trials among breast cancer survivors, soy has not been found to decrease menopausal symptoms. There is very little human data on the role of phytoestrogens in preventing breast cancer recurrence, but the few studies conducted do not support a protective role. There is in vivo animal data suggesting the phytoestrogen genistein may interfere with the inhibitive effects of tamoxifen on breast cancer cell growth.
Peg-filgrastim potentiates rituximab in patients with indolent lymphomas: results of a phase II study

S72 HRCTs was fungal and no viral pneumonia was detected. Conclusion: It can supply useful additive for a better FEN management process if the medical centers follow their infection agents closely, perform CMV and SGA assays and modify their empiric antibiotic treatment policies in especially HSCT groups.
Pulsed Ion Beam Interface Melting of PtCr and CrTa Alloys on Si Structures

Composition profiles of thermal and pulsed ion beam annealed PtCr/Si and CrTa/Si have been determined using Rutherford backscattering analysis. Thermal annealing resulted in layered phase separation with Pt-silicide in the PtCr/Si case, and CrSi 2 in the CrTa/Si case, forming at the Si surface. Pulsed ion beam annealing, 300–380 keV protons at energy densities ~0.75–1.6 J/cm 2 , produced interface melting with no layered phase separation.
The Management of Nuclear Safety: Lessons Learned from the Accident at Three Mile Island

The accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) revealed that to have nuclear safety there must not only be reliable equipment, but there must also be competent and qualified people. At TMI there were equipment malfunctions, but the vital safety equipment performed well. An accident with serious core damage and radioactive release occurred only because operators mistakenly stopped the flow of emergency cooling water. Health effects from radiation exposure were negligible. Continued loss of flow of emergency cooling water would have led to core melting, but the containment would have survived and protected the public. Serious fright and trauma resulted from technical errors and public announcements of these errors a few days after the accident. Earlier experience from other reactors and analyses dating back to 1972 should have alerted the industry, the regulatory agency, and the operators and avoided the accident. This experience from the Three Mile Island accident provides many valuable lessons in the management of nuclear safety. Several such lessons revealed from the investigation by the President’s Commission are discussed here.
Obesity Prevention in Young Children

Childhood overweight is epidemic, with rates continuing to increase among young children. Childhood overweight is strongly associated with increased children’s as well adult’s morbidity leading to decreased life expectancy thus emphasizing the need for programs specifically targeting this age group to control this problem. The etiology of obesity among young children is complicated, multifaceted and as such offers no easy solution. The long-term impact of early childhood onset obesity interventions is largely unknown. Therefore, the focus on this chapter is to present the available knowledge of behavioral, social, cultural, environmental factors, ethnicity and culture, parental perception, and food portion sizes that may be influencing childhood obesity to preschool children. Here we present the theoretical models of nutritional gatekeeper and social ecological model as frameworks for addressing the obesity epidemic. In addition, the use of effective family, community, and school-based interventions for preventing overweight and obesity and promoting healthy behaviors in children, including those with disabilities, will be examined.
Teaching Communication Skills to Medical and Pharmacy Students Through a Blended Learning Course

Objective. To evaluate the impact of an interprofessional blended learning course on medical and pharmacy students' patient-centered interpersonal communication skills and to compare precourse and postcourse communication skills across first-year medical and second-year pharmacy student cohorts. Methods. Students completed ten 1-hour online modules and participated in five 3-hour group sessions over one semester. Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) were administered before and after the course and were evaluated using the validated Common Ground Instrument. Nonparametric statistical tests were used to examine pre/postcourse domain scores within and across professions. Results. Performance in all communication skill domains increased significantly for all students. No additional significant pre/postcourse differences were noted across disciplines. Conclusion. Students' patient-centered interpersonal communication skills improved across multiple domains using a blended learning educational platform. Interview abilities were embodied similarly between medical and pharmacy students postcourse, suggesting both groups respond well to this form of instruction.
Role of the Ferredoxin/Thioredoxin System in the Regulation of Photosynthetic Enzymes in a Cyanobacterium

Components of the ferredoxin/thioredoxin system have been identified in cyanobacteria (Schmidt, 1980; Yee et al., 1981). The system was similar to that from higher plants in that it activated thioredoxin-linked enzymes from chloroplasts--i. e., fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) and NADP-malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH) However, the two Nostoc thioredoxins, f and m, seemed to be less enzyme-specific than their chloroplast counterparts. In addition, the target enzymes of cyanobacteria were not identified.
Adult Spinal Deformity: Contemporary Treatment and Patient Outcomes.

The incidence of symptomatic adult spinal deformity (ASD) is increasing due to aging of the population, iatrogenic factors, and an increasingly active elderly population. Spinal deformity in the adult population can produce major functional disability. Patients with less severe forms of ASD can generally be managed without operative intervention. For those individuals with disabling pain, functional impairment, or progressive spinal malalignment, surgical treatment is available and effective. However, the surgery is complex and associated with a significant risk of perioperative complications. Ef ficacy and safety is optimal when operative intervention is performed by a surgical team (and hospital system) experienced in the management of complex spinal pathology. Quality of life for the ASD patient can be greatly improved with proper patient selection, technical execution, and perioperative care.
Neurological Disorders and the RAS

Degenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease have similar reticular activating system (RAS)-related dysfunction: (a) wake–sleep disturbances, reflex hyperactivity, and decreased P50 potential habituation and (b) disrupted gamma band activity. The intracellular mechanisms leading to neuronal cell death may overlap to some extent, and all seem related to a final common pathway involving intracellular calcium metabolism dysregulation. Disorders such as insomnia and neglect represent opposite ends of the spectrum in RAS-related symptoms. While insomnia can have multiple etiologies, neglect reflects a lack of sufficiently high activity in the region damaged. That is, decreased gamma band oscillations indicate that the region is asleep.
Memoir: An Alternative View

This chapter presents the Memoir system, which is a yet another model of memory-based machine translation and integration of memory-based and rule-based processing. However, it is based on ideas different from that of the original ΦDmDialog, In the ΦDmDialog system, a set of rules has been used to create meaning representation of input sentences. It played the similar role to examples and templates of sentences, but at the different level of abstraction. The Memoir system takes a different view. Rules are used solely to monitor whether a correct word choice and pronoun reference was made.
A new perspective in functional EIV linear model: Part I

ABSTRACTSimple linear regression in the functional errors-in-variables (EIV) model is revisited from a different perspective, where the problem is addressed by using the small-sigma model instead of large sample theory. A general analysis is developed to study the slope’s estimator that minimizes a family of objective functions, of which the least-squares fit and the maximum likelihood estimator are minimizers of such special functions. General formulas for the higher-order terms of the bias, the variance, and the mean square error are derived. Accordingly, two efficient estimators are proposed after implementing the pre- and the post-bias elimination techniques. Numerical tests confirm the superiority of the proposed estimators over others.
How Gender Affects Heterosexual Allies’ Intentions of Confronting Sexual Prejudice

Sexual prejudice and discrimination are extremely prevalent throughout society, and previous research suggests that there are a multitude of negative consequences associated with being the target of this prejudice. One way of reducing prejudice is for heterosexual allies to confront the perpetrator
Modafinil decreases cocaine choice in human cocaine smokers only when the response requirement and the alternative reinforcer magnitude are large

This study examined how response effort (pressing a keyboard button) for cocaine and the value of an alternative reinforcer (opportunity to play a game of chance for money) combined with 'free' cocaine (with no response effort) affected cocaine choice when participants were maintained on modafinil or placebo. Nontreatment-seeking current cocaine smokers were enrolled in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, within-subject study comprising both inpatient and outpatient phases. Participants were maintained on placebo capsules (0mg/day) during one inpatient phase and modafinil (300mg/day) capsules during another inpatient phase in counter-balanced order. A minimum of 8 medication-free days separated the two 15-day inpatient phases to allow for medication clearance. Under each medication condition participants had the opportunity to self-administer smoked cocaine (25mg) when the response effort for cocaine was low (500responses/dose) and had a low value alternative (2 game plays for money) or when the response effort for cocaine was large (2500responses/dose) and had a more valuable alternative (4 game plays for money). Under both conditions, participants received one free dose of cocaine (0, 12, 25 or 50mg) prior to making their first choice of the session. Fifteen individuals began the study and 7 completed it. Participants chose fewer cocaine doses when the response effort for cocaine and the alternative value was high (4.4±0.19) compared to when the response effort for cocaine and the alternative value was low (5.3±0.14). Providing individuals a free "priming" dose of cocaine prior to making their cocaine choice did not alter cocaine taking. Modafinil decreased cocaine choice only when the response effort for cocaine and the alternative value was high. These results suggest that modafinil may be most effective when combined with therapy emphasizing the large personal costs of using cocaine.
Rhetorical Move Structure in High-Tech Marketing White Papers:

White papers are commonly produced by for-profit organizations to market high-tech products and services and are often created by technical writers. But writers of this genre have little evidence-b...
BET 2: Low-dose ketamine for acute pain in the ED

A short cut review was carried out to establish whether low-dose ketamine is better than morphine at safely and effectively reducing pain scores in ED patients with acute pain who do not respond to conventional therapies. One hundred and thirty-two papers were found using the reported searches, of these three presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these best papers are tabulated. It is concluded that the evidence is limited, but that ketamine can be an effective alternative or adjunct to intravenous opioid pain medications and in some instances may provide more effective pain relief when compared with opioids.
On the emergence of macroscopic transport barriers from staircase structures

This paper presents a theory for the formation and evolution of coupled density staircases and zonal shear profiles in a simple model of drift-wave turbulence. Density, vorticity, and fluctuation potential enstrophy are the fields evolved in this system. Formation of staircase structures is due to inhomogeneous mixing of generalized potential vorticity (PV), resulting in the sharpening of density and vorticity gradients in some regions, and weakening them in others. When the PV gradients steepen, the density staircase structure develops into a lattice of mesoscale “jumps,” and “steps,” which are, respectively, the regions of local gradient steepening and flattening. The jumps merge and migrate in radius, leading to the development of macroscale profile structures from mesoscale elements. The positive feedback process, which drives the staircase formation occurs via a Rhines scale dependent mixing length. We present extensive studies of bifurcation physics of the global state, including results on the glob...