cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unusual sponge phospholipids and their analogs. Synthesis and interactions with conventional phospholipids and cholesterol in model membranes

Abstract As reported earlier, the marine sponge phospholipids 1,2- di -5,9-hexacosadienoyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine (PC: (26 : 2, 26 : 2)) and its phosphoethanolamine counterpart exclude cholesterol to a great extent from their liposomal bilayers. To understand the reason for this exclusion, shorter acyl chain analogs of these phospholipids were synthesized. Liposomes composed of PC (18 : 2, 18 : 2), PC (22 : 2, 22 : 2) or PC (24 : 2, 24 : 2), with the unique Δ 5,9 unsaturation typical of sponge phospholipids, incorporated cholesterol Δ 5,9 -PE (24 : 2, 24 : 2) which also incorporated cholesterol, had a phase transition temperature identical to its PC counterpart. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated that Δ 5,9 -PC (26 : 2, 26 : 2) could incorporate 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl- sn -glycerophosphocholine PC (18 : 0, 18 : 1) into its bilayers at various ratios (20, 40, 60, 80 mol%), but part of PC (18 : 0, 18: 1) displayed monotectic behavior. When 20 mol cholesterol was added to thesemixtures, the sterol interacted preferentially with the PC (18 : 0, 18 : 1) but was also incorporated in all ratios into the mixture of phospholipids and created one major transition endotherm.
Association Memberships and Generalized Trust: A Multilevel Model Across 31 Countries

This paper presents a large-scale, comprehensive test of generalized trust across 31 nations. I pay particular attention to the theory and measurement of voluntary associations in promoting trust, hypothesizing that voluntary associations connected to other voluntary associations are more beneficial for the creation of generalized trust than associations isolated from other associations. The theory is tested with a multi-level, cross-national model, including both individual-level and country-level variables to predict the placement of trust. At the individual level, I find that membership in connected associations creates more trust than membership in isolated associations. At the national level, having more connected voluntary associations increases trust, while having more isolated associations decreases trust.
Rickettsioses of the Spotted Fever Group around the World

Spotted fever group rickettsioses comprise Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii), boutonneuse fever (R. conorii), North Asian tick typhus (R. sibirica), Queensland tick typhus (R. australis), rickettsialpox (R. akari), and Oriental spotted fever (R. japonica). Ticks or mites serve as the vector and reservoir hosts of the rickettsiae. These obligate intracellular bacteria invade vascular endothelial cells, which are damaged directly, causing increased vascular permeability. The rash usually appears in Rocky Mountain spotted fever on the third day of illness and later evolves to become petechial maculopapules in 50% of cases with involvement of the palms and soles in a similar proportion of patients. Eschar occurs in some SFG rickettsioses at the site of tick bite, but rarely in Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Diagnosis often proves difficult, and laboratory assays for antibodies to SFG rickettsiae are generally useful only in convalescence. Rickettsiae are demonstrable by diagnostic immunohistology in biopsies of rash or eschar. Empiric treatment with doxycycline, tetracycline, or chloramphenicol should be given early in the course on the basis of clinical suspicion of the diagnosis of a SFG rickettsiosis.
Optimal spectrum partition and mode selection in device-to-device overlaid cellular networks

In this paper we jointly address two fundamental issues in device-to-device (D2D) overlaid cellular networks: 1) how to partition the spectrum assuming orthogonal cellular and D2D transmissions, and 2) what is the optimal threshold for distance-based D2D mode selection? To this end, we first derive rate expressions for both cellular and D2D users. Three design criteria - (weighted) max-sum, max-min and proportional fairness - are considered and optimal spectrum partition rules are derived. Finally we validate our model and give rules of thumb for optimizing the spectrum partition and mode selection.
CP-Violation and the KL-KS mass difference in supersymmetric models

Abstract Constraints on gluino and scalar quark masses from the K L -K S mass difference are analyzed and the consequences of CP violating phases in the super KM matrix are discussed. It is found that for a wide range of masses the contribution of super box diagrams to ϵ dominates that of the ordinary box diagram. Depending on the scalar quark and gluino masses, ϵ ′/ ϵ may be smaller or larger than in the standard model and can be negative.
An empirical comparison of visualization tools to assist information retrieval on the Web

Visualizations of subspaces on the World Wide Web can provide users the ability to identify relevant information from a set of Web pages, while gaining new insights or understanding of the space. This study tested three classes of visualization techniques, distortion, zoom, and expanding outline, to better understand which classes of visualization techniques may better represent the underlying structure. The effects of different visualization techniques on user performance on information searching tasks and the effects of different sizes of the Web spaces were studied. Eighty participants were asked to search information with and without a visualization tool over the large Web space. The factors that may have caused cognitive overloads are further discussed.
Garibaldi: Citizen of the World – By Alfonso Scirocco

Certain historical figures grab the imagination of their generation. Whatever they do seems larger than life. Giuseppe Garibaldi was one such person. He burst on the scene just as modern communicat...
Respiratory failure from an upper gastrointestinal series.

A 67-year-old male was brought to hospital (Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA, USA) after being hit by a car. The patient underwent surgery for a fractured acetabulum. The post-operative course was complicated by 7 days of ileus. An upper gastrointestinal (GI) series ( i.e. barium swallow) with small bowel follow-through was requested. There were no immediate complications during the upper GI series. The supine abdominal radiograph at 8 h post-upper GI series …
In vitro biosynthesis of adipocyte proteins having the characteristics of glucocorticoid receptors

Abstract A quantitative method for the measurement of putative glucocorticoid receptor biosynthesis in rat adipocytes is described. The method utilizes the incorporation of radioactive amino acids into newly synthesized putative receptor proteins and their subsequent separation from other labeled proteins by affinity chromatography. Dexamethasone and deoxycorticosterone-Sepharose are used as affinity adsorbants. Specific binding of radioactive putative receptors to these gels is time- and protein concentration-dependent, and is abolished by exposure of cells to cycloheximide, pretreatment of adipocyte cytosol preparations with unlabeled steroids or incubation of cytosols at 37°C for 4 h. Specifically bound radioactivity, which represents about 10% of the radioactivity initially associated with affinity adsorbants can be quantitatively eluted under rigidly defined conditions including high ionic strength. Specifically eluted material, which comprises up to 50% of total eluted radioactivity sediments at 3.8 S in sucrose gradients containing 1 M KCl, and electrophoretically migrates on 0.1% SDS gels in a single band with a molecular weight of about 50 000. The sedimentation coefficient is comparable to that of the native adipocyte cytosol receptor not subject to affinity chromatography (3.7 S). Under low ionic-strength conditions most of the native receptor sediments at 8 S. The molecular weight of 50 000 is in the range of those reported for glucocorticoid receptors of liver (45 000–66 000 for monomers). The properties of the protein or proteins measured in the present system are therefore consistent with the current state of knowledge regarding glucocorticoid receptors in adipocytes.
Brothers in arms: Th17 and Treg responses in Candida albicans immunity.

Following the discovery of T helper 17 (Th17) cells in 2005, considerable research efforts identified interleukin 17 (IL-17) and Th17 responses as essential components of immunity to the commensal fungus Candida albicans. Much less is understood about regulatory T cells (Tregs) in candidiasis. However, emerging data point towards a surprisingly complex relationship between IL-17/Th17 and Treg responses during C. albicans infections, wherein Tregs both suppress and enhance immunity. This review will discuss the role of these responses during candidiasis and the consequences for disease outcome and therapy.
Multiaxis Machining: PKMs and Traditional Machining Centers

Abstract Since the first CNC-type hexapod machine tool prototypes were presented at the 1994 International Machine Tool Show (IMTS) in Chicago, much debate has ensued on whether or not these machine tools will ever reach the place where they challenge traditional machining centers. This paper presents a review of research topics in the field of parallel kinematic machining for manufacturing, as well as a parallel view of the state of the art of traditional multiaxis machining. After discussing similarities as well as differences in issues faced by parallel kinematic machines and traditional machining centers, a survey of existing prototypes is provided.
Jurors' Interpretations and Jury Decision Making*

In arriving at their verdicts, jurors must determine “what really happened” in the case at hand. Their interpretations then guide their decision making and become influential in the group deliberation process. This article uses conversational data from simulated jury deliberations to describe jurors' practice of articulating schematic interpretations as accounts for their verdict choices, and as means for persuading other jurors. As jurors contribute additional interpretations during deliberations, the group decision-making task becomes more complex, deliberations las longer, and they are more difficult to resolve. A significant negative relation is established between the number of interpretations articulated and the jury's likelihood of reaching a unanimous verdict. Articulating multiple interpretations in support of a candidate verdict appears to militate against its unanimous adoption.
INTERPIXEL-SHIFTED ENDOSCOPIC OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY FOR IN VIVO BLADDER CANCER DIAGNOSIS

An interpixel-shifted spectral imaging technique is applied to MEMS-based spectral-domain endoscopic optical coherence tomography (SDEOCT) to enhance signal-to-noise ratio and effective imaging depth for in vivo imaging diagnosis of biological tissue. To validate the enhancements of pixel-shifted SDEOCT, experimental comparisons are presented to image animal and human bladder architectures in vivo and to diagnose human transitional cell cancers. Preliminary study shows that interpixel shifted SDEOCT not only increases the depth of field of SDOCT but also eliminates excessive artifacts induced by spectral aliasing effect, thus improving image contrast in areas with large depths (e.g. over 1.5 mm). These results suggest that endoscopic OCT equipped with interpixel-shifted spectral camera has the potential to enhance the diagnosis of biological tissue in in vivo settings that require a larger field of view in the axial direction, such as papillary bladder tumors with deep surface irregularities (e.g. asperities or invaginations).
ACT-PRO action protocol analyzer: a tool for analyzing discrete action protocols.

This article presents a top-down approach for analyzing sequential events in behavioral data. Analysis of behavioral sequential data often entails identifying patterns specified by the researchers. Algorithms were developed and applied to analyze a kind of behavioral data, calleddiscrete action protocol data. Discrete action protocols consist of discrete user actions, such as mouse clicks and keypresses. Unfortunately, the process of analyzing the huge volume of actions (typically, > 105) is very labor intensive. To facilitate this process, we developed an action protocol analyzer (ACT-PRO) that provides two levels of pattern matching. Level one uses formal grammars to identify sequential patterns. Level two matches these patterns to a hierarchical structure. ACT-PRO can be used to determine how well data fit the patterns specified by an experimenter. Complementarily, it can be used to focus an experimenter’s attention on data that do not fit the prespecified patterns.
Transplantation of Quail Collagen-tailed Acetylcholinesterase Molecules Onto the Frog Neuromuscular Synapse

The highly organized pattern of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) molecules attached to the basal lamina of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) suggests the existence of specific binding sites for their precise localization. To test this hypothesis we immunoaffinity purified quail globular and collagen-tailed AChE forms and determined their ability to attach to frog NMJs which had been pretreated with high-salt detergent buffers. The NMJs were visualized by labeling acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) with TRITC-α-bungarotoxin and AChE by indirect immunofluorescence; there was excellent correspondence (>97%) between the distribution of frog AChRs and AChE. Binding of the exogenous quail AChE was determined using a speciesspecific monoclonal antibody. When frog neuromuscular junctions were incubated with the globular G 4 /G 2 quail AChE forms, there was no detectable binding above background levels, whereas when similar preparations were incubated with the collagen-tailed A 12 AChE form >80% of the frog synaptic sites were also immunolabeled for quail AChE attached. Binding of the A 12 quail AChE was blocked by heparin, yet could not be removed with high salt buffer containing detergent once attached. Similar results were obtained using empty myofiber basal lamina sheaths produced by mechanical or freeze-thaw damage. These experiments show that specific binding sites exist for collagen-tailed AChE molecules on the synaptic basal lamina of the vertebrate NMJ and suggest that these binding sites comprise a “molecular parking lot” in which the AChE molecules can be released, retained, and turned over.
On the asymptotic capacity of MIMO systems with antenna arrays of fixed length

Previous authors have shown that the asymptotic capacity of a multiple-element-antenna (MEA) system with N transmit and N receive antennas [termed an (N,N) MEA] grows linearly with N if, for all l, the correlation of the fading for two antenna elements whose indices differ by l remains fixed as antennas are added to the array. However, in practice, the total size of the array is often fixed, and thus the correlation of the fading for two elements separated in index by some value l will change as the number of antenna elements is increased. In this paper, under the condition that the size of an array of antennas is fixed, and assuming that the transmitter does not have access to the channel state information (CSI) while the receiver has perfect CSI, the asymptotic properties of the instantaneous mutual information I/sub N,N/ of an (N,N) MEA wireless system employing uniform linear arrays in a quasi-static fading channel are derived analytically and tested for accuracy for finite N through simulations. For many channel correlation structures, it is demonstrated that the asymptotic performance converges almost surely, implying that such MEA systems have a certain strong robustness to the instantiation of the channel fading values.
Energy-efficient processor design using multiple clock domains with dynamic voltage and frequency scaling

As clock frequency increases and feature size decreases, clock distribution and wire delays present a growing challenge to the designers of singly-clocked, globally synchronous systems. We describe an alternative approach, which we call a multiple clock domain (MCD) processor, in which the chip is divided into several clock domains, within which independent voltage and frequency scaling can be performed. Boundaries between domains are chosen to exploit existing queues, thereby minimizing inter-domain synchronization costs. We propose four clock domains, corresponding to the front end , integer units, floating point units, and load-store units. We evaluate this design using a simulation infrastructure based on SimpleScalar and Wattch. In an attempt to quantify potential energy savings independent of any particular on-line control strategy, we use off-line analysis of traces from a single-speed run of each of our benchmark applications to identify profitable reconfiguration points for a subsequent dynamic scaling run. Using applications from the MediaBench, Olden, and SPEC2000 benchmark suites, we obtain an average energy-delay product improvement of 20% with MCD compared to a modest 3% savings from voltage scaling a single clock and voltage system.
THE EFFECTS OF PROTEIN KINASE INHIBITORS ON LYMPHOCYTE BLASTOGENESIS AND GVHD-INDUCED SPLENOMEGALY

The activation of the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway plays an integral part in the proliferation of many cell types including lymphocytes. We report that the PKC inhibitor H-7 caused inhibition of three commonly studied blastogenic responses (Con A, LPS, and MLR) with the strongest suppression being detected in the MLR. In contrast, HA1004, a potent inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, did not alter the blastogenic response but occasionally caused augmentation. The phenothiazine compounds studied inhibited the Con A and, to a lesser extent, the LPS responses. One of the compounds, promethazine-HCl, was effective in vivo in inhibiting splenomegaly resulting from the induction of graft vs. host disease. Our studies support the involvement of PKC in lymphoid blastogenesis. They also suggest that agents that can inhibit PKC activity may be useful in inducing immunosuppression in vivo.
Acceptance of the Mineralogical Society of America Roebling Medal for 2007

Thank you, Jerry and Mike, for your generous remarks and for nominating me for this prestigious award. I also wish to thank the 2007 Roebling Medal Committee for selecting me. Jerry and Mike, I am happy to count you among my close friends, both personal and professional. I also want to thank you for organizing the incredible symposium in my honor yesterday (October 29, 2007). The 31 talks presented an exciting retrospective and prospective of many areas of the mineral sciences and made a remarkably positive statement about the health of this field in its broadest definition. What a stroke of luck it was for me to choose to attend Penn State for graduate study in 1965 rather than go to graduate school in inorganic chemistry at the University of North Carolina with Jim Collman, who is now a colleague of mine at Stanford. I also made the correct decision to accompany you, Jerry, from Penn State to Virginia Tech in 1966. I have fond memories of the two of us discussing linear algebra and matrix theory at your home in State College, Pennsylvania, walking to get a milkshake at the local drugstore or a salad at The Greeks in Blacksburg, Virginia, laughing our heads off at the 1967 George C. Scott film The Flim-Flam Man at the only movie theater in Blacksburg at that time, and taking your graduate classes, which were models of clarity and the best classes I ever had. Mike, I remember meeting you for the first time when you came to visit me in the summer of 1976 and we collaborated on the high-temperature crystal structure and thermal expansion of cordierite, and the way you responded to the nickname “Rookie” from my more senior graduate students at Stanford when you joined my research group for …
Wood-a C++ parallelizer

We present Wood, an automatic parallelizer for object oriented programs written in C++. Our transformation extends a proposal by Yin, Bic, and Ungerer (1990), extracting more inter- and intra-object parallelism, removing some implementation difficulties with their proposal and have also extended the scope of the transformation. For inter-object parallelism, we describe the steps required to automatically generate the parallel processes. For intra-object parallelism, we propose splitting an object into several pieces and distributing them across multiple processors.
Description of Loraxichthys lexa, new genus and species (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Río Huallaga Basin, central Peru, with notes on the morphology of the enigmatic Lipopterichthys carrioni Norman, 1935.

A new genus and species of armored catfish, Loraxichthys lexa, collected in 1955 by the Catherwood Foundation Peruvian-Amazon Expedition from the vicinity of Tingo Maria, Huanuco, is described herein. Loraxichthys is diagnosed by two uniquely derived characters: two to four robust evertible posterior cheek odontodes with hooked tips, longer than odontodes anterior to them but no more than twice their length; and skin folds on dorsal border along first pelvic-fin ray crenulated in mature males. Loraxichthys lexa, new species, is only known from clear water tributaries of the Rio Huallaga in the vicinity of Tingo Maria. Additionally, notes on the morphology of the enigmatic species Lipopterichthys carrioni are included, and an artificial key for the genera Chaetostoma, Cordylancistrus, Dolichancistrus, Leptoancistrus, Lipopterichthys, and Loraxichthys is provided.
Modeling and Understanding of External Latchup in CMOS Technologies—Part II: Minority Carrier Collection Efficiency

The n-wells of the parasitic p-n-p-n devices found in a CMOS layout will collect excess minority carriers from the chip substrate, potentially triggering latchup. This paper presents a model for the minority carrier collection efficiency of a given substrate current injector and collector pair; the model captures the effects of spacing, supply voltage, temperature, and current level. The model further describes the quantitative reduction in collection efficiency obtained by using guard rings. A good fit of the model to measurement results is observed in four different CMOS technologies.
Retrospective review of the use and costs of routine chest x rays in a trauma setting

Introduction: Chest x-rays (CXR) are routinely obtained on blunt trauma patients. Many patients also receive additional imaging with thoracic computed tomography scans for other indications. We hypothesized that in hemodynamically normal, awake and alert blunt trauma patients, CXR can be deferred in those who will also receive a TCT with significant cost savings. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of trauma patients from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010 who received both a CXR and TCT in the trauma room. Billing and cost data were collected from various hospital sources. Results: 239 patients who met inclusion and exclusion criteria and received CXR and TCT between 1/1/2010 and 12/31/2010. The sensitivity of CXR was 19% (95% CI: 10.8% to 31%) and the specificity was 91.7% (95% CI: 86.7% to 95%). The false positive rate for CXR was 35.8% (95% CI: 21.7% to 52.8%) and the false negative rate was 24.5% (95% CI: 18.8% to 31.2%). The precision of CXR was 42.3% (95% CI: 25.5% to 61.1%) and the overall accuracy was 74.1% (95% CI: 68.1% to 79.2%). If routine chest xray were eliminated in these patients, the estimated cost savings ranged from $14,641 to $142,185, using three different methods of cost analysis. Conclusions: In patients who are hemodynamically normal and who will be receiving a TCT, deferring a CXR would result in an estimated cost savings up to $142,185. Additionally, TCT is more sensitive and specific than CXR in identifying injuries in patients who have sustained blunt trauma to the thorax.
Mating Systems of Three Tropical Dry Forest Tree Species1

Polymorphic allozyme loci were used to estimate outcrossing rates for three tree species from a disturbed dry forest in southern Costa Rica. Estimates of the multilocus outcrossing rates of Cedrela odorata and Jacaranda copaia were 0.969 and 0.982, respectively, and suggest that these species may be self-incompatible. The subcanopy tree Stemmadenia donnell-smithii also demonstrated little self-fertilization based on an estimated outcrossing rate of 0.896. Significant heterogeneity in pollen allele frequencies among maternal trees was detected for at least two enzyme loci for each species. A test of correlated mating between progeny of S. donnell-smithii revealed that all seeds within a fruit were singly sired. In addition, the low estimates of biparental inbreeding and significant differences in pollen and ovule allele frequencies for this species suggest that gene flow into the sampled forest fragment may occur. The implications of deforestation on the mating systems of these tropical tree taxa are discussed.
The Tax Disadvantage Of Ordinary Income: An Event Study On The Legislative Process Of JGTRRA

The Jobs Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (JGTRRA), signed into law by President George W. Bush, was a significant legislation in recent tax history. As the tax rates on capital gains and dividends are reduced to a historical low of 15%, U.S. stock prices have increased and the cost of equity capital declined after its passage. In contrast to the dividends and capital gains that receive preferential tax rates under JGTRRA, yields from U.S. Treasury bill remain tax-disadvantaged as ordinary income at a top marginal rate of 35%. Using an event study approach based on two years of Treasury yield observations, the author examines Treasury yield reactions to major legislative events surrounding the passage of JGTRRA. The result suggests that a tax policy intentionally favoring dividends and capital gains over ordinary income may unintentionally push up yields in the Treasury bill market, thereby affecting the cost of government borrowing.
Providing metrics and performance feedback in a surgical simulator.

One of the most important advantages of computer simulators for surgical training is the opportunity they afford for independent learning. However, if the simulator does not provide useful instructional feedback to the user, this advantage is significantly blunted by the need for an instructor to supervise and tutor the trainee while using the simulator. Thus, the incorporation of relevant, intuitive metrics is essential to the development of efficient simulators. Equally as important is the presentation of such metrics to the user in such a way so as to provide constructive feedback that facilitates independent learning and improvement. This paper presents a number of novel metrics for the automated evaluation of surgical technique. The general approach was to take criteria that are intuitive to surgeons and develop ways to quantify them in a simulator. Although many of the concepts behind these metrics have wide application throughout surgery, they have been implemented specifically in the context of a simulation of mastoidectomy. First, the visuohaptic simulator itself is described, followed by the details of a wide variety of metrics designed to assess the user’s performance. We present mechanisms for presenting visualizations and other feedback based on these metrics during a virtual procedure. We further describe a novel performance evaluation console that displays metric-based information during an automated debriefing session. Finally, the results of several user studies are reported, providing some preliminary validation of the simulator, the metrics, and the feedback mechanisms. Several machine learning algorithms, including Hidden Markov Models and
Clinical Experience of Serious Infections Caused by Enterobacteriaceae Producing VIM-1 Metallo-β-Lactamase in a Greek University Hospital

Background The dissemination of acquired metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) in members of the family Enterobacteriaceae is regarded as an emerging clinical threat. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of 17 cases of infection due to MBL-producing isolates were analyzed. Methods During a 3-year period, medical records for all patients with confirmed infection due to an MBL-producing strain belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family were retrospectively analyzed. We screened for MBL production with the imipenem-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disk synergy test, and results were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Genetic relatedness between isolates was evaluated by repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction. Results Fourteen cases of bacteremia and 3 cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia due to an MBL-producing isolate were studied. Most of the patients had previously been colonized with an MBL-producing organism, and almost 60% had been exposed to carbapenems before infection. The isolated pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae, 14 cases; and Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae, and Enterobacter aerogenes, 1 case each) exhibited variable minimum inhibitor concentrations of carbapenems (1 to >32 microg/mL) and resistance to most other beta-lactams. Tigecycline was active against all isolates, whereas colistin and gentamicin were active against 88% of them. Molecular studies confirmed the presence of a gene belonging to bla(VIM-1) cluster in all isolates. Among the 12 K. pneumoniae isolates, which were subjected to molecular typing, 11 distinct clones were identified. Five cases ( approximately 30%) occurred in patients who were already receiving carbapenem-containing treatment, and carbapenem treatment was considered to have failed. Twelve cases were treated with a colistin-containing regimen. The attributable mortality rate was 18.8%. Conclusions MBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae can cause severe, often fatal infection in severely ill patients, irrespective of the MIC of carbapenems. Colonization with an MBL-producer is a preceding event, highlighting the importance of surveillance. Both infection control practices and antibiotic policies should be intensified to contain the spread of these problematic bacteria.
Overlooking L1 charging at-work in the rush for public charging speed

The national emphasis on a massive public Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure rollout may be contributing more to the perpetuation of range anxiety than it is to mitigating concerns for the average driver. Americans driving habits are based on a century of experience with gas tanks. This experience of run-until-empty followed by a fill-up-to-full at a public gas station is not how EV's will be used. This legacy places too much emphasis on public high-speed Level-2 (L2) charging. All EV's are designed to be charged overnight from standard 115v outlets, Level-1 (L1), which can give about 32 miles of range for 8 hours charge[1]. The overnight charge plus another 8 hour charge from 115v at work, gives the EV driver a daily range of at least 64 miles. This is well above the national average commute (32 miles round trip) and actually satisfies more than 90% of USA commute distances. In addition, mid-range L1 charging to not-fully-full and daily use to not-fully-empty is the best long-life profile for EV batteries. The EV is not intended to out-right replace all gasoline vehicle usage, but is ideal for the commuter who can plug-in at home and plug-in at work. An EV is more like a laptop or cell phone that expects to be plugged in at home and at work when not in use. The commuter vehicle spends at least 16 hours a day just sitting at home and at work, where low-speed L1 charging can exceed 90% of all USA commuter distances. The paper concludes with a list of recommendations for the EV infrastructure rollout.
Real Time Business Performance Monitoring and Analysis Using Metric Network

Monitoring and analyzing business performance in a continuous manner nowadays is crucial for enterprises to achieve operational excellence, and to better align daily operations with long-term business strategies. To do so, performance measures need to be collected from daily operations and aggregated to construct higher-level Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in nearly real time. We propose a system called metric network for enterprise-wide business performance monitoring and analysis. A metric network consists of metrics, metric repositories, aggregation agents, and knowledge agents. We describe in details the generic procedure patterns of these metric network entities and their communication pattern. Our loosely coupled design makes it easy to enhance features by adding more metrics and agents. The proposed approach is examined using real metrics on a fictitious scenario.
Late-onset, praxis-induced myoclonic epilepsy

Praxis-induction of seizures is an interesting subset of reflex epilepsy in which seizures are induced by higher mental activities associated with the use of part of the body. Reflex traits have often been described in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. We report a patient presenting with praxis-induced myoclonic epilepsy at a late age. Ictal myoclonus was triggered by building a bird house and captured by video-polygraphic EEG recording. At 39 years old, the patient's age at onset of epilepsy was consistent with the syndrome of adult myoclonic epilepsy. Our case supports the notion of adult myoclonic epilepsy with possible occurrence of praxis-activation of seizures, as has been noted with the other idiopathic generalised epilepsies. [Published with videosequences].
The statistical equilibrium solution of a primitive‐equation model

The statistical equilibrium solution of an f -plane, primitive-equation model with a single quadratic energy invariant is determined by numerical integration. The initial condition resembles the atmosphere in terms of the shape and magnitude of its energy spectrum. The equilibrium solution is one in which energy is equipartitioned among all the linearly independent modes of the system. This state is attained after two simulated years. The approach to equilibrium is explored in detail. It is characterized by (at least) two stages. The first is dominated by quasi-geostrophic dynamics and nonlinear balances. The approximate conservation of quasi-geostrophic potential enstrophy is important during this stage, so that the solution initially tends to the equilibrium solution of a quasi-geostrophic form of the model. The second stage is characterized by a very slow transfer of energy from geostrophic modes to inertial-gravity waves. The rate of transfer of energy during this stage is shown to be very sensitive to initial conditions. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0870.1984.tb00221.x
Positive and negative ion fast atom bombardment mass calibration using concentrated H2SO4

Concentrated H2SO4 has proved to be an extremely useful calibrant for both positive ion and negative ion FAB mass spectrometry. It is a single compound, commonly found in any laboratory, and presents a clean, simple spectrum, with only approximately 100 peaks needed to achieve calibration up to at least m/z 1500.
Chemical analysis of squirt-gun defense in Bursera and counterdefense by chrysomelid beetles

The genus Bursera produces resin stored in canals in the leaf. When leaves are damaged, some, but not all, species release abundant resin. Species of Blepharida are specialized herbivores of Bursera, and they exhibit variation in their counterdefensive behavior. Species feeding on resin-releasing plants cut the leaf veins before feeding, which often makes them more prone to predation. They also adorn their backs with their feces and may regurgitate and release an anal secretion when attacked or disturbed by predators. Species that feed on Bursera species that release no fluids do not sever the leaf veins prior to feeding, and they do not carry their feces on their backs. Instead, they face their predators, raise their heads in a "boxing-like" display, and rapidly swing their abdomens from side to side. We performed a comparative chemical analysis of the compounds found in Bursera schlechtendalii, a species that releases abundant resins, and B. biflora, a species that does not. We also analyzed the frass, enteric discharges, and larvae of the two species of Blepharida that feed on each of these plants. The compounds found in the body, feces, and discharges of the Blepharida species that adorns itself with feces match the chemical mixture of its host plant, suggesting that this beetle species can compensate its higher risk of predation by using the compounds present in the plant for defense. The chemical mixture of B. biflora is more complex and does not match the compounds found in the body or frass of its beetle herbivore, suggesting that the defensive strategy of this insect is behavioral and does not rely on its host's constituents.
Livestock as Ecosystem Engineers for Grassland Bird Habitat in the Western Great Plains of North America

Domestic livestock have the potential to function as ecosystem engineers in semiarid rangelands, but prevailing management practices largely emphasize livestock production and uniform use of vegetation. As a result, variation in vegetation structure might not occur at appropriate spatial and temporal scales to achieve some contemporary conservation objectives. Here, we introduce the utility of livestock as ecosystem engineers and address potential benefits and consequences associated with heterogeneity-based management practices for conservation grazing in the semiarid rangelands of the western North American Great Plains. To illustrate the potential value of this approach, we provide specific examples where engineering effects of livestock could alter vegetation heterogeneity at within-pasture (, 100 ha) and among-pasture (,100 ha to thousands of hectares) scales to improve habitat for declining native grassland birds. Experimental evaluations of the efficacy of livestock to achieve desired modifications to vegetation structure are needed, along with the economic aspects associated with implementing heterogeneity-based management practices. Using livestock as ecosystem engineers to alter vegetation structure for grassland bird habitat is feasible in terms of application by land managers within the context of current livestock operations, and provides land managers important tools to achieve desired contemporary objectives and outcomes in semiarid rangelands of the western North American Great Plains.
Questioning Globalization: Gender and Export Processing in the Dominican Republic

This article questions the benefits of globalization for low-income women through an analysis of 1997 data on women export-processing workers in the Dominican Republic. Export processing has contributed to an increase in women’s labor-force participation and their greater economic autonomy. But the percentage of men employed in export processing has also increased and efforts to improve working conditions through collective bargaining or other means are still weak. The increasing percentage of female heads of household, who rely heavily on extended kin for financial and emotional support, provides additional evidence of the erosion of the male-breadwinner model.
Nightmares and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Nightmares are a unique feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although nightmares are a symptom of PTSD, they have been shown to independently contribute to psychiatric distress and poor outcomes, including heightened suicidality and suicide. Nightmares are often resistant to recommended pharmacological or psychological PTSD treatments. Fortunately, nightmare-specific treatments are available, and improvements in nightmares are associated with clinically significant improvements in sleep quality and severity of daytime PTSD symptoms. The recent literature on the characteristics, neurophysiology, and treatment of nightmares in the context of PTSD is reviewed. Recent findings on the neurophysiological correlates of nightmares and more generally, dreaming, are also discussed here as they suggest novel directions for understanding the mechanisms underlying nightmares comorbid with PTSD and potential novel treatment approaches.
Basis Identification for Reduced Order Modeling of Unsteady Flows Using Sparse Coding

Basis identification is a critical step in the construction of accurate reduced order models using Galerkin projection. This is particularly challenging in unsteady flow fields due to the presence of multi-scale phenomena that cannot be ignored, and are not well captured using the ubiquitous Proper Orthogonal Decomposition. This study focuses on this issue by exploring an approach known as sparse coding for the basis identification problem. Compared to Proper Orthogonal Decomposition, which seeks to truncate the basis spanning an observed data set into a small set of dominant modes, sparse coding seeks a compact basis that best spans the entire data set. Thus, the resulting bases are inherently multi-scale, enabling improved reduced order modeling of unsteady flow fields. The approach is demonstrated for two canonical problems — a 2-D incompressible flow past a moving cylinder, and an incompressible flow inside a 2-D lid-driven cavity. Results indicate that a set of sparse modes generalize better to unseen flow compared to a truncated set of the traditional proper orthogonal modes. Furthermore, Galerkin reduction of the governing equations using sparse modes yields significantly improved fluid predictions.
Separation and identification of menaquinones irom microorganisms

Simple thin-layer chromatographic procedures are outlined for the separation, isolation, and characterization of a complex of lipophilic naphthoquinones. Procedures are also described for the quantitative recovery of naphthoquinones from thin-layer plates. The general usefulness of the described methods is demonstrated by their application in the analysis of menaquinones from several microorganisms. The methods allow distinction between menaquinones varying in side-chain length, degree of saturation, and geometry, as well as in the presence or absence of ring methyl groups.
Consideration of Internal Board Camera Optics for Triaxial Testing Applications

The application of small board cameras, located within a triaxial cell to determine radial and axial strain, was investigated. Specifically, charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors were utilized in conjunction with precision pinhole apertures to capture images from within the triaxial cell. The cameras were fully immersed in electronics-grade silicone oil and were able to withstand cell pressures that are common to triaxial testing (up to 1034 kPa (150 psi)). The small size of the cameras allowed for implementation within the triaxial cell, thereby avoiding: (1) the cumbersome corrections that are required to account for refraction at the confining fluid–cell wall–air interfaces and magnification due to cell wall curvature, and (2) the amount of space required for outside-of-the-cell monitoring systems that utilize cameras. The final design of the cameras was based on an iterative testing process in which various types of small board cameras, lenses, and finally pinhole apertures were investigated. The advantages of the lensless pinhole aperture camera design included: (1) lack of optical aberrations, such as those encountered in traditional lensed camera systems, (2) practically infinite depth of field, allowing for sharp, close-up images, and (3) wide-angle field of view without the distortions that are associated with the use of wide-angle lenses. As discussed herein, the pinhole cameras were optimized for optical resolution and light entry to minimize the effect of diffraction patterns that are commonly associated with pinhole apertures. The resolution of the cameras was determined to be sufficient for the potential application of the cameras (volume measurements). The instrumentation presented herein provides a novel alternative to the state-of-the-art outside-of-the-cell photogrammetric instrumentation that is currently employed to monitor soil specimens during triaxial tests.
Long-Lived Photoacid Based upon a Photochromic Reaction

A visible-light activatable photoacid has been studied, which upon irradiation, changes from a weak acid, with a pK(a) of 7.8, to a strong acid, which achieves nearly complete proton dissociation. This process is reversible and the half-life of the proton-dissociation state is ~70s. The long lifetime of the proton-dissociation state is due to a sequential intramolecular photochromic reaction. Using this photoacid, a pH change of 2.2 units has been achieved. In addition, we demonstrated that the photoinduced proton concentration can catalyze an esterification reaction, and greatly alter the volume of a pH-sensitive polymer. This work shows that acid-catalyzed and pH-sensitive processes can be photochemically controlled by using this type of photoacid.
Detection of the kdr gene mutation in house fly by QPCR and high resolution melting analysis

Objective To investigate the expression and mutation of one deltamethrin resistance-associated gene kdr in house fly.Methods QPCR and high resolution melting analysis(HRM) were used to detect the expression and mutation of kdr gene.PCR product was then sequenced to verify the accuracy of HRM.Results There was no big difference of the expression of kdr gene between deltamethrin resistance strain and deltamethrin susceptible strain(P0.05).According to HRM analysis,all kdr genes were classified into the same genotype and this was verified by DNA sequencing.Conclusions There is no significantly difference of kdr gene in deltamethrin resistance strain and in susceptible strain,indicating that the increasing deltamethrin resistance in house fly in Hangzhou is not associated with kdr gene.
Neuraxial Medication Delivery : The Development and Maturity of a Concept for Treating Chronic Pain of Spinal Origin

Study Design. A literature review and synthesis were performed. Objective. To summarize the history use, and innnovation teleted to neuraxial drug delivery lor the treatment of intractable back pain. of Background Data. The discovery of opioid recaptors in the early 1970s provided a rational basis for the delivery of opioid drugs intr aspinally. Epidural or intrathecal infusions deliver drugs directly to opiold recaptors, limit systemic exposure, and by decreasing the opioid dosage required for pain relief, genetally reduce side effects. The benefits of short-term spinal analgesis led to investigation of longar-term continuous subarachnoid opioid inlusions for the management of both cancer pain and noncancer pain, such as that of spinal origin. Methods. Results. Unique features of this article include an up-dated pain continuum, updated indications for intrathecal therapy, a detalled comparison of trial techniques, a detailed comparison of the advantages of different types of pumps, a synopsis of troublesholding for Inadequate efficacy, and an updated statement regarding intrathecal pumps and radiologic procedures, including MRI scanning. Some challenges remein. Large-scale well-controlled studies could answer some perplexing questions regarding efficacy in patients with noncancer or neuropathic pain. Patient selection criteria undoubtedly will be refined and validated as more patients are treated in addition, further investigation of specifically targeted medications or drug combinations for intraspinal use could increase efficacy, reduce side effects. and expand indications. Conclusions. Intraspinal medication delivery has become an effective technique for control of intractable pain in appropriately selected patients seen by spine surgeons.