cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of the clouds of volcanic aerosols in Italy during the last 7 centuries

Intense natural pollution has occurred in the past in Italy corresponding to intense volcanic activity, which appears to have diminished somewhat in recent times. Between 1500 and 1900, Etna, Vesuvius, Vulcano and Stromboli, plus volcanoes outside Italy were very active and there are numerous, well documented episodes of atmospheric acidification which caused widespread damage, especially to the vegetation. Other than the acid rains, volcanic emissions also caused so calleddry fogs which consist of a more or less dense mist composed of foul smelling gases and aerosols, characterized by a reddish color, that could appear and persist when the relative humidity was low as shown by measurements taken on such occasions. This phenomenon appeared most frequently at the beginning of the hot season. In fact, volcanic clouds of gases and aerosols formed especially when the Tyrrhenian sea water was relatively cold giving rise to very stable atmospheric conditions locally and the summer anticyclone meant that the winds were calm. Under such conditions the emissions of Stromboli and Vulcano, especially those emitted at low levels, remained entrapped in the stable layer, which were then transported towards the land reaching Northern Italy at a distance on the order of 103 km. Thedry fogs could persist for days or weeks. Harvests were seriously damaged and frequently the crops were subsequently attacked by parasites. The leaves of the vegetation became discoloured with numerous punctiform lesions or gangrene at the edges of the leaves. The phenomenon was so frequent that, in texts on agricultural meteorology of the 1800s, a distinction was made between the causticdry fogs which damaged the vegetation anddamp fogs which instead were good for it. The most important episode occurred in 1783 due to the activity of Laki Grimsvotn (Iceland) with the contribution of Italian volcanoes. This dry fog lasted many months and affected the greater part of the northern hemisphere including Europe and Asia, harming people, animals and vegetation. Apart from paroxysmal cases, from the 1300s up to today, some tens ofdry fogs have been noted, all of which have been sufficiently well documented. The frequency of these events culminated between the middle of the 1700s and the middle of the 1800s. There is reason to believe that this well documented phenomenon of the past, with sufficient volcanic activity, could recur on the meso and large scale; with present day activity the emissions continue to cause damage to vegetation, both in the Aspromonte mountains (Calabria, Southem Italy) as well as in other parts of Italy.
Susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria to Sch 34343 and other β-lactam antibiotics

The in-vitro activity of Sch 34343 was evaluated against 381 anaerobic clinical isolates and compared with that of imipenem, cefoxitin, latamoxef (moxalactam), cefotaxime and cefoperazone. Test isolates included strains with unknown resistance to the beta-lactam drugs, and two Bacteroides fragilis strains that could inactivate cefoxitin. Sch 34343 and imipenem demonstrated superior activity against all the anaerobic bacteria tested, with MIC90s less than or equal to 1 mg/l. Sch 34343 was generally one- to two-fold more active than imipenem. Resistance to both was demonstrated by the two Bact. fragilis strains that inactivated cefoxitin and by one strain of Fusobacterium; these three strains were also resistant to the other drugs studied. There were no other resistant strains to either Sch 34343 or imipenem. Cefotaxime and cefoperazone were the least active against the Bact. fragilis group, with resistance rates of 33 and 47%, respectively. Strains resistant to cefoxitin, latamoxef, cefotaxime and cefoperazone were found among some Clostridium spp. The Gram-positive cocci and Gram-positive bacilli were sensitive to all the drugs evaluated.
Retinoic acid enhances and depresses in vitro development of cartilaginous bone anlagen in embryonic mouse limbs.

Forelimbs of Day 11 and Day 12 embryonic mice were excised and cultured for 3 d in the presence of either 0.25 μg (8×10−7 M), 0.5 μg(1.7×10−6 M), or 1.0 μg (3.3×10−6 M) of all-rans retinoic acid (RA) per milliliter of culture medium. Cultured limbs were fixed, stained, and mounted whole on glass slides and evaluated with computerized optical image analysis for RA-induced effects on the area and shape of the total limb and individual bone anlagen. Relative effects of RA on total bone, soft tissue, long bone, and paw regions were also examined. With Day 11 forelimbs total bone area was increased by 10.5% by the low dose of RA. The increase was mostly in long bones and at the expense of soft tissue. Total bone area was increased 9.3% with Day 12 forelimbs. This increase was primarily in the paw. The high dose of RA decreased Day 11 forelimb area, primarily affecting long bones. Day 12 forelimbs were not significantly affected by the high dose of RA. Effects of the imtermediate dose were primarily limited to reduction in soft tissue area. Long bone:paw and soft tissue: bone ratios reflected these effects. The high dose produced a consistent rounding or shortening of Day 11 forelimb bones. On Day 12 0.5 μg/ml RA produced an inconsistent pattern of rounding of bone anlagen. Treatment with the high dose on Day 12 produced angular rather than rounded contours in many cases, as indicated by shape factor values closer to zero than obtained with controls. These data show that direct exposure to RA can affect both the size and shape of bone anlagen of the developing limb; the low dose enhances and the high dose depresses development. The results support previous studies which suggest that RA may play a critical role in the control of cell activities such as cell migration, proliferation, and cytodifferentiation in the development of the cartilaginous bone anlagen.
Cooperative effect of 8-Cl-cAMP and rhGM-CSF on the differentiation of HL-60 human leukemia cells

Abstract In HL-60 leukemia cells the site-selective cAMP analog, 8-Cl-cAMP, at a dose of 5 μM produced growth inhibition with no signs of toxicity, whereas granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) exerted an early transient increase of cell proliferation which was followed by differentiation toward monocytes. 8-Cl-cAMP in combination with GM-CSF blocked the growth stimulation due to GM-CSF and demonstrated a synergistic effect on the differentiation of HL-60 cells. The early proliferative effect of GM-CSF was correlated with an increased expression of type I regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (RI α ). Treatment with an RI α antisense oligodeoxynucleotide suppressed the GM-CSF-inducible cell proliferation and differentiation. Conversely, and RII β antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, which suppresses the RII β and causes a compensatory increase in RI α level, greatly enhanced the early proliferative input and the differentiation induced by GM-CSF. These results provide an insight into the mechanism of action of GM-CSF and the rationale for a combination differentiation therapy with 8-Cl-cAMP and GM-CSF.
Solid-Liquid-Vapor Phase Change of a Subcooled Metal Powder Particle Subjected to Nanosecond Laser Heating

Solid-liquid-vapor phase change of a metal particle subjected to nanosecond pulse laser heating is investigated analytically. Temperature distribution in the particle, locations of solid-liquid and liquid-vapor interface, saturation temperature, and recoil pressure around the particle were obtained analytically. Effects of physical parameters including laser fluence, pulse width, initial temperature, and particle diameter on the phase change were investigated. The results show that a decrease in particle radius and laser pulse width, or an increase in laser fluence and initial particle temperature, results in an earlier melting time, a higher surface temperature, more evaporated material, and a higher final thermalized temperature.
Incorporation of poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐N‐propanesulfonic acid) segments into block and brush copolymers by ATRP

2-Acrylamido-2-methyl-N-propanesulfonic acid (AMPSA) was successfully polymerized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using a copper chloride/2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) catalyst complex after in situ neutralization of the acidic proton in AMPSA with tri(n-butyl)amine (TBA). A 5 mol % excess of TBA was required to completely neutralize the acid and prevent protonation of the bpy ligand, as well as to avoid side reactions caused by large excess of TBA. The use of activators generated by electron transfer (AGET) ATRP with ascorbic acid as reducing agent resulted in both increased conversion of the AMPSA monomer during polymerization (up to 50% with a 0.8 [ascorbic acid]/[Cu(II)] ratio) and much shorter polymerization times (<30 min). Block copolymers and molecular brushes containing AMPSA side chains were prepared using this method, and the solution and surface behavior of these materials were investigated.
Avian host community structure and prevalence of West Nile virus in Chicago, Illinois

Vertebrate host diversity has been postulated to mediate prevalence of zoonotic, vector-borne diseases, such that as diversity increases, transmission dampens. This “dilution effect” is thought to be caused by distribution of infective bites to incompetent reservoir hosts. We quantified avian species richness, avian seroprevalence for antibodies to West Nile virus (WNV), and infection of WNV in Culex mosquitoes, in the Chicago metropolitan area, Illinois, USA, a region of historically high WNV activity. Results indicated high overall avian seroprevalence and variation in seroprevalence across host species; however, there was no negative correlation between avian richness and Culex infection rate or between richness and infection status in individual birds. Bird species with high seroprevalence, especially northern cardinals and mourning doves, may be important sentinels for WNV in Chicago, since they were common and widespread among all study sites. Overall, our results suggest no net effect of increasing species richness to West Nile virus transmission in Chicago. Other intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as variation in mosquito host preference, reservoir host competence, temperature, and precipitation, may be more important than host diversity for driving interannual variation in WNV transmission. These results from a fine-scale study call into question the generality of a dilution effect for WNV at coarser spatial scales.
Hole trapping, substrate currents, and breakdown in thin silicon dioxide films [ in FETs ]

Using oxide-trapped-charge sensing techniques on FET's after high-field Fowler-Nordheim-stress, anode hole injection is shown to be important only for gate voltages larger than /spl ap/7.6 V for either p- or n-channel devices with n+ poly-Si gates independent of oxide thickness. These results do not support popular models for thin oxide degradation and "intrinsic" breakdown based on hole trapping in the oxide layer at lower voltages. >
A Transmembrane Form of the Prion Protein Contains an Uncleaved Signal Peptide and Is Retained in the Endoplasmic Reticululm

Although there is considerable evidence that PrP(Sc) is the infectious form of the prion protein, it has recently been proposed that a transmembrane variant called (Ctm)PrP is the direct cause of prion-associated neurodegeneration. We report here, using a mutant form of PrP that is synthesized exclusively with the (Ctm)PrP topology, that (Ctm)PrP is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum and is degraded by the proteasome. We also demonstrate that (Ctm)PrP contains an uncleaved, N-terminal signal peptide as well as a C-terminal glycolipid anchor. These results provide insight into general mechanisms that control the topology of membrane proteins during their synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum, and they also suggest possible cellular pathways by which (Ctm)PrP may cause disease.
Predictive validity of the Depression Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (DCSES).

The Depression Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (DCSES) was developed to measure depressed individuals' confidence in their ability to follow treatment recommendations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of the DCSES as a unidimensional measure of depression coping self-efficacy. Data were collected from depressed psychiatric inpatients at admission and discharge (n = 99), and 6–8 weeks post-discharge (n = 75). Exploratory factor analysis yielded a single factor solution accounting for 48.8% of the variance with an eigenvalue of 12.7. DCSES scores at discharge were related to self-reported levels of functional impairment (FI), depression symptom distress, and suicidal ideation (SI), and predicted rehospitalization 6–8 weeks later. Patients with lower DCSES scores at discharge showed less improvement in depression coping self-efficacy from admission to discharge. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 29:147–160, 2006
Differential effects of interleukin-12, interleukin-15, and interleukin-2 on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in vitro.

Cytokines may have clinical utility as therapeutic agents for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and as an adjuvant for vaccines. The effect of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-15 on in vitro HIV-1 replication was investigated. IL-12 and IL-15 at doses up to 10 ng/ml had little effect on basal HIV-1 p24 antigen production by chronically HIV-infected T (ACH-2) and monocytic (U1) cell lines. For ACH-2 cells stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 50 ng/ml), IL-12 and IL-15 significantly increased p24 antigen production by 20 and 30%, respectively (n = 6). In contrast, IL-12 and IL-15 (10 ng/ml) treatment of PMA-stimulated U1 cells decreased p24 antigen production by 16 and 15%, respectively (n = 6). We next studied the effect of IL-12 and IL-15 on HIV-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In 10 HIV-seropositive patients' PBMCs cocultured with mitogen-activated HIV-seronegative donor cells, two patterns of p24 antigen production were observed in response to IL-2: low (p24 antigen production 10(3) pg/ml; n = 2) response. For the low-response pattern, IL-12 and IL-15 increased viral replication by 97-fold and 100-fold, respectively (P = 0.05 and 0.004, respectively). For the high-response pattern, both IL-12 and IL-15 suppressed HIV replication. The effect of IL-2, IL-12, and IL-15 on acute in vitro infection by HIV-1JRCSF was also examined. IL-12 did not increase p24 antigen production above basal levels while IL-2 and IL-15 significantly enhanced p24 antigen production (by approximately 2-fold). In conclusion, IL-12 and IL-15 may have differential effects on latent and acute HIV infection, and their ability to enhance HIV production may depend on cell activation. Thus, the use of these cytokines may be dictated by the clinical state of the patient.
Effect of Chipping and Solarization on Emergence and Boring Activity of a Recently Introduced Ambrosia Beetle (Euwallacea sp., Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Southern California

Polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp., Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) has recently invaded southern California. The beetle, along with its associated fungi, Fusarium euwallaceae, Graphium sp., and Acremonium sp., causes branch dieback and tree mortality in a large variety of tree species including avocado (Persea americana Mill.) and box elder (Acer negundo L.). With the spread of the beetle through Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties in California, there is increasing concern that felled trees and pruned branches infested with polyphagous shot hole borer should receive sanitation treatment to reduce the potential spread of the beetle from the movement of untreated wood. We tested two sanitation methods to reduce beetle populations, chipping with a commercial chipper and solarization by covering logs with clear or black plastic in full sun. Both chipping and solarization decreased beetle emergence and boring activity compared to untreated control logs. Chipping was most effective for chip sizes <5 cm. Solarization was most effective using clear polyethylene sheeting during hot summer months, particularly August, when daily maximum temperatures were ≥35°C. Beetles persisted for 2 mo or more when solarization was applied during the spring or fall.
Development of a Probabilistic Sensor Model for a 3D Imaging System

The use of high frame-rate 3D imaging systems for construction equipment control is part of a broader research effort at the National Institute of Standards and Technology investigating innovative technologies for automated construction, performance and evaluation of 3D imaging systems, and construction object recognition and tracking. A probabilistic measurement model is desired for these imaging systems to better understand and describe the instrument performance, and to create synthetic data sets for algorithm development, training and testing. The initial development of a probabilistic sensor model and 3D image simulator based on an open-source graphics package is presented in this paper.
Fish Assemblage Structure in Relation to Environmental Variation among Brazos River Oxbow Lakes

Abstract Fish assemblages and habitat conditions of oxbow lakes and the main channel of the middle-lower Brazos River, a meandering lowland river in east central Texas, were investigated during summer 1994. All oxbows were eutrophic, with chlorophyll-a levels of up to 640 μg/L. Assemblage structure showed large between-lake variation that was explained by both physical and biotic variables, with combinations of water depth, dissolved oxygen, dissolved nutrients, turbidity, and plankton densities accounting for 45–59% of the variation in abundance of the dominant species. Water depth and dissolved nutrient concentrations were the best predictors of species diversity and fish abundance. Periodic desiccation of shallow, vegetated oxbows created harsh conditions that favored small fishes that are efficient colonizers. The two youngest oxbows were relatively deep and contained a high diversity and biomass of fishes. Of the 42 fish species collected, several were largely restricted to oxbow lakes, and others we...
Exact radiation and scattering for an elliptic metal cylinder at the interface between isorefractive half-spaces

An elliptic metal cylinder located at the interface between two isorefractive half-spaces, with its cross-sectional major axis either parallel or perpendicular to the interface is considered. The problems of scattering of an incident plane wave with arbitrary polarization and direction of incidence, and of radiation from an electric or magnetic line source parallel to the cylinder axis are solved exactly. The particular case of a metal strip either parallel or perpendicular to the interface is examined in detail. Several numerical results for far fields and surface currents are presented.
Coupled Surface-Subsurface Model for Simulating Drainage from Permeable Friction Course Highways

Permeable friction course (PFC) is a porous asphalt pavement placed on top of a regular impermeable roadway. Under small rainfall intensities, drainage is contained within the PFC layer; but under higher rainfall intensities, drainage occurs both within and on top of the porous pavement. A computer model—the permeable friction course drainage code (Perfcode)—is developed to study this two-dimensional unsteady drainage process. Given a hyetograph, geometric information regarding the roadway layout, and hydraulic properties of the PFC media, the model predicts the variation of water depth within and on top of the PFC layer through time. The porous layer is treated as an unconfined aquifer using Darcy’s law and the Dupuit-Forchheimer assumptions. Surface flow is modeled using the diffusion wave approximation to the Saint-Venant equations. A mass balance approach is used to couple surface and subsurface phases. Straight and curved roadway geometries are accommodated via a curvilinear grid. The model is valida...
Prevalence and risk factors for vaginal Candida colonization in women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Background: Diabetes mellitus increases the rate of vaginal colonization and infection with Candida species Methods: We surveyed women with diabetes receiving care at either an urban or suburban diabetes clinic to examine the relationship between vaginal Candida colonization, diabetes type and duration, and HbA1c level. 101 participants completed the self-administered questionnaire and selfcollected a vaginal swab for Candida culture. Candida colonization was similar by age and race. Results: Type 1 diabetics were three times as likely as type 2 diabetics to be colonized with any Candida species (OR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.03, 11.41; p = 0.04); even after adjusting for abnormal HbA1c, which had an independent effect (OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.76; p = 0.02). Recent antibiotic use (OR = 4.5; 95% CI: 1.18, 16.79; p = 0.03), lifetime history of chlamydia (OR = 5.8; 95% CI: 1.09, 30.54; p = 0.04), and performing oral sex during the past 2 weeks (OR = 4.9; 95% CI:0.84, 28.27; p = 0.08) were also associated with Candida carriage after adjusting for diabetic type and abnormal HbA1c. C. albicans was isolated from the majority of colonized type 1 participants (56%), while C. glabrata was the most common isolate among colonized type 2 participants (54%). Conclusions: Improving glucose control and possibly modifying sexual behavior may reduce risk of Candida colonization, and potentially symptomatic infection, among women with diabetes.
Artificial hybridization in the Hawaiian endemic genus Labordia (Loganiaceae).

Cross-pollinations were performed within and among eight species of Labordia from Oahu, Molokai, and Hawaii, and one species from Guam of the closely related genus Geniostoma. Detailed floral examination confirmed that the species are functionally dioecious, i.e., a given individual lacks either ovules or pollen grains. Female inflorescences bagged to prevent pollination never produced seed, but intraspecific crosses between male and female individuals nearly always yielded fruits with viable seed ( .80%). Interspecific crosses between species from different islands and separate taxonomic sections of the genus also yielded good fruit set (.55%). Interspecific F 1 hybrids were vigorous and appeared to be morphologically intermediate to their parents. Intergeneric crosses between Geniostoma and Labordia failed. Chromosome counts from Labordia species were found to be 2n 5 80 or 2n 80, twice the chromosome complement of two collections examined from its postulated ancestor, Geniostoma rupestre. Labordiaspecies are distinct morphologically, ecologically, and geographically but apparently lack genetic barriers to interbreeding. This suggests that geographical and ecological isolation, recentness of colonization, and/or rapid speciation have been important factors in the origin of species of Labordia. The indigenous flora of the Hawaiian Islands includes numerous examples of species that have undergone adaptive radiation or speciation subsequent to a single colonization event. Slightly over 10% of the vascular plant genera comprise nearly 48% ( ;542 species) of the indigenous flora (Wagner, 1991). In some cases, such as with the Hawaiian silversword alliance and lobelioids, several genera have arisen from a single founder event. Bidens (Ganders and Nagata, 1984; Helenurm and Ganders, 1985) and the Hawaiian silversword alliance of Argyroxiphium, Dubautia,and Wilkesia (Carr, 1985) of the Asteraceae represent classical examples of adaptive radiation, and much is known about the biology of these groups. However, while the biosystematics of some plant lineages are well known, the biological knowledge of many Hawaiian genera is based solely on unpublished field observations. It has been postulated that in isolated island systems, rapid adaptive radiation of a single taxon is expected to promote higher interfertility among species because of the lack of reproductive isolating mechanisms (Crawford, Witkus, and Stuessy, 1987). Based on the high fertility of interspecific hybrids, the Hawaiian Asteraceae genera 1
Petrographic and SIMS pyrite sulfur isotope analyses of Ediacaran chert nodules: Implications for microbial processes in pyrite rim formation, silicification, and exceptional fossil preservation

Abstract The lower Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in the Yangtze Gorges area contains exceptionally preserved microfossils, including the earliest known animal resting eggs and embryos. These fossils are preserved in cm-sized chert nodules, which typically have a microbial mat fragment in the center, a silica cortex, a pyrite rim, and an outer rim of blocky calcite. Petrographic analysis indicates that the formation of the blocky calcite rim postdates that of the pyrite rim and silica cortex. The pyrite rim grew centripetally during early diagenesis, representing a reaction front that was determined by the dynamics between ambient Fe2+ and H2S, the latter of which was derived from bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR) of mat fragment in nodule center. The silica cortex was formed pervasively through replacement of carbonate sediments prior to compaction. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) sulfur isotopes of individual pyrite crystals (δ34Spy − SIMS) in pyrite rims and matrices show highly positive values (15.2–39.8‰). The pyrite rims do not show an isotopic gradient between small crystals formed in outer rim during early diagenesis and large crystals formed in inner rim during subsequent overgrowth. Although rim pyrite in the same chert nodule has consistent δ34Spy − SIMS values, there are significant spatial and stratigraphic variations in δ34Spy − SIMS values of both matrix and rim pyrite. Overall, isotopic fractionation between pyrite and carbonate associated sulfate (CAS) is small (
Determination of the Tryptophan Content of Proteins by Ion Exchange Chromatography of Alkaline Hydrolysates

Abstract A study of the variables in techniques for alkaline hydrolysis of proteins and for chromatographic analysis of the products has led to a method for the accurate determination of tryptophan. Quantitative recoveries of tryptophan are obtained when proteins (1 to 5 mg) are hydrolyzed at 110° or 135° in 0.6 ml of 4.2 n NaOH containing 25 mg of starch. The hydrolysis is performed in polypropylene liners sealed inside glass tubes evacuated to below 50 µm of mercury. Ion exchange chromatography of tryptophan on Beckman PA-35 resin (column height 8 or 12 cm) has been accomplished in 30 to 50 min with pH 5.4 buffer, 0.21 n in Na+. The details in the procedure which make possible complete recovery of tryptophan include: (a) addition of the sample at pH 4.25 instead of at pH 2.2 in order to avoid loss of tryptophan in citrate buffer at acid pH; (b) the use of NaOH instead of Ba(OH)2 to avoid loss of tryptophan by adsorption on BaSO4 or BaCO3; (c) the inclusion of starch as the most effective antioxidant tested; and (d) chromatography with a buffer which separates tryptophan from Ne-(dl-2-amino-2-carboxyethyl)-l-lysine, which can be formed in significant quantities during alkaline hydrolysis. Molar calculations of protein concentrations are based on the results from analysis of an acid hydrolysate run parallel with the alkaline hydrolyses. Integral values (100 ± 3%) have been obtained for the expected number of tryptophan residues in tryptophyl-leucine, human serum albumin, porcine pepsin, sperm whale apomyoglobin, and in bovine α-chymotrypsin, trypsin, deoxyribonuclease, and serum albumin. Since carbohydrate does not interfere, the procedure is applicable to foods and has been tested on normal and opaque-2 maize meals and on wheat flours.
Population‐specific stature reconstruction for medieval Trondheim, Norway

Temporal changes in average stature are often used as a measure of a past population's adaptation, or lack of it. Traditionally, stature estimates have been calculated using formulae derived from limb proportions of cadavers. However, many authors have noted the problem of regional or population variation in body proportions of such reconstructed ratios. Before differences in stature can be attributed to environmental adaptation, ‘ethnic’ or population differences in limb ratios must be taken into account. The present paper calculates the stature of a medieval Norwegian skeletal sample using archaeological plan femur length and dry bone femur length. The author presents a variety of formulae and compares the stature derived from these calculations to the stature derived from archaeological plans. The Trondheim statures are then compared to stature reconstructions of other contemporary populations.
Crystal structure of human glycine receptor-α3 bound to antagonist strychnine

Neurotransmitter-gated ion channels of the Cys-loop receptor family are essential mediators of fast neurotransmission throughout the nervous system and are implicated in many neurological disorders. Available X-ray structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic Cys-loop receptors provide tremendous insights into the binding of agonists, the subsequent opening of the ion channel, and the mechanism of channel activation. Yet the mechanism of inactivation by antagonists remains unknown. Here we present a 3.0 A X-ray structure of the human glycine receptor-α3 homopentamer in complex with a high affinity, high-specificity antagonist, strychnine. Our structure allows us to explore in detail the molecular recognition of antagonists. Comparisons with previous structures reveal a mechanism for antagonist-induced inactivation of Cys-loop receptors, involving an expansion of the orthosteric binding site in the extracellular domain that is coupled to closure of the ion pore in the transmembrane domain.
Heart Failure and Peripheral Artery Disease: An Unappreciated Association

In this issue of JACC: Heart Failure , Gupta et al. [(1)][1] report on the association of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) with incident heart failure in the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study. Although this is not the first report, the association extends our knowledge of the clinical
Effect of Petroleum Products on Neoprene Vulcanizates Effect of Gasolines

Abstract The third paper of this series2 showed that the Diesel index may be used as a criterion of the swelling effect of kerosenes and kerosene-benzene blends on Neoprene. It was erroneously stated, however, that “swelling caused by kerosene is not a simple function of the … aniline point”. A recheck of the data, together with additional work, indicates that the aniline point may be used as a criterion of the swelling power of kerosenes, but this correlation is not so precise as with the Diesel index. This is particularly true in the case of kerosene-benzene blends when benzene predominates in the blend. As with kerosenes, the aniline point or Diesel index may be used as an indication of the swelling power of gasolines, and thus these constants may be used to specify standard immersion media of these types.
EDFA testing

Summary form only. As the EDFA technology matures, designers are adding features and demanding more thorough testing. This presentation covers the latest test developments and industry standards for high volume EDFA manufacturing particularly for WDM applications.
Integrative review of implementation strategies for translation of research-based evidence by nurses.

Objectives The purpose of this review was to synthesize and critique experimental and/or quasi-experimental research that has evaluated implementation strategies for translation of research-based evidence into nursing practice. Background Successfully implementing evidence-based research can improve patient outcomes. Identifying successful implementation strategies is imperative to move research-based evidence into practice. Rationale As implementation science gains popularity, it is imperative to understand the strategies that most effectively translate research-based evidence into practice. Description The review used the CINAHL and MEDLINE (Ovid) databases. Articles were included if they were experimental and/or quasi-experimental research designs, were written in English, and measured nursing compliance to translation of research-based evidence. An independent review was performed to select and critique the included articles. Outcome A wide array of interventions were completed, including visual cues, audit and feedback, educational meetings and materials, reminders, outreach, and leadership involvement. Because of the complex multimodal nature of the interventions and the variety of research topics, comparison across interventions was difficult. Conclusion Many difficulties exist in determining what implementation strategies are most effective for translation of research-based evidence into practice by nurses. Implications With these limited findings, further research is warranted to determine which implementation strategies most successfully translate research-based evidence into practice.
Saddlepoint Approximations for Correlation Testing Among Multiple Gaussian Random Vectors

This letter considers the problem of threshold selection for a correlation test among multiple $({\geq}2)$ random vectors. The generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) for this problem uses a generalized Hadamard ratio to test for block diagonality in a composite covariance matrix. As the number of realizations used to estimate the composite covariance matrix grows large, the null distribution of the likelihood ratio statistic converges to a chi-squared distribution which can be used to prescribe thresholds needed to achieve a desired false alarm rate in high sample support situations. However, this asymptotic distribution can be slow to converge, making its use dubious in many practical scenarios. To address this problem, this letter uses saddlepoint approximations for the null distribution of the generalized Hadamard ratio. Simulations are provided to demonstrate the saddlepoint approximation’s ability to achieve a desired false alarm probability, even in situations with low sample support.
3D Structure of a Rotor Wake at Mid-Span and Tip Regions

*† ‡ § This paper presents the results of Stereoscopic PIV measurements of a rotor near wake at the tip and mid-span regions. The rotor blade row operates behind a row of Inlet Guide Vanes (IGVs). The experiments are performed in a facility that allows unobstructed view on the entire flow field, facilitated using transparent rotor and IGV and a fluid that has the same optical index of refraction as the blades. The data is acquired at a specific rotor phase and at mid-span and tip regions on very closely spaced 10 radial planes as well as on additional planes that are distributed at larger intervals from mid-span to the tip. In the tip region, the tip vortices dominate the flow field, and their interactions with the rotor blades and wakes generate a complex three-dimensional flow. The rotor wake is confined between two tip vortices; one that rolls up from the same blade, and the other that rolls up from the previous blade in the same rotor row. The velocity field induced by these vortices and the low axial momentum in the entrained casing boundary layer, create highly turbulent regions with low axial, high lateral and high radially inward momentum on the pressure side of rotor blade. The effects of the tip vortices are diminished below 75% span, where the dominant flow features are the rotor wakes and the upstream IGV wakes. Within the rotor wakes, the radial velocity is more than an order of magnitude lower than the axial and the lateral velocity components. Within the chopped IGV wake segments, the radial velocity is slightly elevated, but it is still 5 times and 3 times lower than the axial and lateral velocity components, respectively.
2-D Equalization and Error Correction Using Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) Codes for Holographic Data Storage

We demonstrate bit error rates of about 10-7, using rate ½ Low Density Parity Check codes and minimum mean squared error equalizer in a holographic data storage channel suffering from two-dimensional intersymbol interference and noise.
Magnesium for Treatment of Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome Case Series

We describe 2 cases of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) with refractory headache aborted by intravenous magnesium. Case 1 is a 53-year-old woman with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to RCVS presented with refractory headache and persistent vasospasm, despite aggressive treatment with calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and systemic corticosteroids. Subsequently, she experienced dramatic relief of symptoms with intravenous magnesium therapy. She continued oral maintenance therapy and remained symptom free. Case 2 is a 71-year-old female with bilateral temporo-occipital infarcts due to RCVS, presented with refractory headache and persistent vasospasm on transcranial Doppler (TCD), despite aggressive treatment with CCBs. She experienced dramatic relief of symptoms with intravenous magnesium and resolution of vasospasm on TCD. Magnesium may be beneficial for the treatment of refractory headaches in patients with RCVS. Future studies are needed to determine whether it should be considered as a first-line agent.
Thermodynamics and kinetics of preparation of high titanium ferroalloy by thermite reaction

The thermodynamic of the system of rutile,ilmenite and aluminum powder was calculated.The results show that Al,Ca,Mg,Ba,Li and Na can be used as reducing agent.The Gibbs free energy changes have very high negative value,so all of the metals can be used as composite reducing agent.The dynamic analysis by DSC shows that the reaction of reducing TiO_2,Fe_2O_3 by Al occurs at 1 000℃,and the initial reaction temperature delays to 1 236℃when adding CaO.
Accuracy of Wearable Cameras to Track Social Interactions in Stroke Survivors

Background Social isolation after a stroke is related to poor outcomes. However, a full study of social networks on stroke outcomes is limited by the current metrics available. Typical measures of social networks rely on self-report, which is vulnerable to response bias and measurement error. We aimed to test the accuracy of an objective measure—wearable cameras—to capture face-to-face social interactions in stroke survivors. If accurate and usable in real-world settings, this technology would allow improved examination of social factors on stroke outcomes. Methods In this prospective study, 10 stroke survivors each wore 2 wearable cameras: Autographer (OMG Life Limited, Oxford, United Kingdom) and Narrative Clip (Narrative, Linkoping, Sweden). Each camera automatically took a picture every 20-30 seconds. Patients mingled with healthy controls for 5 minutes of 1-on-1 interactions followed by 5 minutes of no interaction for 2 hours. After the event, 2 blinded judges assessed whether photograph sequences identified interactions or noninteractions. Diagnostic accuracy statistics were calculated. Results A total of 8776 photographs were taken and adjudicated. In distinguishing interactions, the Autographer's sensitivity was 1.00 and specificity was .98. The Narrative Clip's sensitivity was .58 and specificity was 1.00. The receiver operating characteristic curves of the 2 devices were statistically different (Z = 8.26, P Conclusions Wearable cameras can accurately detect social interactions of stroke survivors. Likely because of its large field of view, the Autographer was more sensitive than the Narrative Clip for this purpose.
Why users switch: Understanding and predicting search engine switching rationales

Search engine switching is the voluntary transition between Web search engines. Engine switching can occur for a number of reasons, including user dissatisfaction with search results, a desire for broader topic coverage or verification, user preferences, or even unintentionally. An improved understanding of switching rationales allows search providers to tailor the search experience according to the different causes. In this paper we study the reasons behind search engine switching within a session. We address the challenge of identifying switching rationales by designing and implementing client-side instrumentation to acquire in-situ feedbacks from users. Using this feedback, we investigate in detail the reasons that users switch engines within a session. We also study the relationship between implicit behavioral signals and the switching causes, and develop and evaluate models to predict the reasons for switching. In addition, we collect editorial judgments of switching rationales by third-party judges and show that we can recover switching causes a posteriori. Our findings provide valuable insights into why users switch search engines in a session and demonstrate the relationship between search behavior and switching motivations. The findings also reveal sufficient behavioral consistency to afford accurate prediction of switching rationale, which can be used to dynamically adapt the search experience and derive more accurate competitive metrics.
Crisis Meets Reality: A Bold Proposal for Immigration Reform

The collective social psyche of the United States has struggled recently with the politics and morality of failed immigration reform and, in particular, with the concerns of what to do with its large undocumented population, especially in view of the ever-present post-September 11 national security concerns. Against this highly charged atmosphere, Kevin R. Johnson's latest offering, OPENING THE FLOODGATES: WHY AMERICA NEEDS TO RETHINK ITS BORDERS AND IMMIGRATION LAWS, boldly proposes that we abandon all pretense of being able to manage or control the borders as currently conceptualized and open the borders by loosening the currently broken-down immigration system. In this well-researched, well-documented, and eminently readable volume, Johnson, a renowned immigration law scholar, masterfully marshals arguments based on liberal theory as to why a less restrictive system - that is still very mindful of national security and public safety - is a much better alternative than the current immigration chaos. Invoking a free market approach to immigration, Johnson calls for more focused border controls, not complete dismantling of the borders. Under his suggested reformation, the borders would be deregulated with controls focused on true dangers to U.S. society. We believe that Johnson's proposal provides a much-needed rational and realistic voice that contrasts with the morass of alarmist immigration sentiment currently prevailing in U.S political rhetoric. It should be considered seriously by policy makers, academics, and anyone interested in understanding and transforming current immigration law and policy.
“A window into shock, pain, and attempted recovery”: A decade of blogging as a coping strategy in New Orleans:

Interviews with bloggers examine the ongoing use of blogs to cope with the persistent community stress New Orleans has experienced post-Hurricane Katrina. Previously, the field of media studies has...
5. Technology: Implications for HRM

Technology has had a dramatic impact on organizational environments. The changes necessitate that Human Resource Management (HRM) take aggressive steps to adapt and to add value to organizations. This chapter focuses on implications for HRM, particularly in the areas of job analysis, selection, and performance management. Directions for both research and practice are discussed.
Prognostic implications, predictive value, and latency analysis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in advanced stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (AS-CTCL).

e19518 Background: CTCLs are a heterogeneous group of extranodal NHL of the skin that can progress to lymph nodes, blood, and visceral organs; improved risk stratification and disease monitoring is...
A synthetic input approach to slip angle based steering control for autonomous vehicles

A new method is presented for low-level steering control of autonomous vehicles. By tracking tire slip angle instead of steering angle, the new controller makes possible a more direct use of force-based high-level control schemes since uncertain, noisy measurements of the vehicle states do not have to be used to convert a desired tire slip angle to a commanded steer angle. Experimental data from a full-size vehicle show that this approach offers some advantages when combined with a force-based path tracking controller. Improved steering control and path tracking performance are demonstrated, particularly at the limits of tire friction, and the reasons for these improvements are briefly discussed.
Developing Contemplative Capacities in Childhood and Adolescence: A Rationale and Overview

This chapter articulates an overall definition of “contemplative” and reviews research on the benefits of contemplative practices. It suggests four overlapping but differing ways of defining contemplative development, including (1) attitudes and emotions, (2) intuitive knowing, (3) religious or spiritual knowing, and (4) rational cognitive reflection. Relevant developmental theories and developmental trajectories for children and adolescents in each of these categories are discussed, addressing the following questions: Do contemplative capacities “develop” and if so, in what ways? How does each definition relate to early consciousness? Is it valid to refer to “stages” of contemplative development? How can teachers and parents support rather than impede contemplative capacities in youth?
On adverse drug event extractions using twitter sentiment analysis

Extensive clinical trials are required before a drug is placed on the market. It is, however, difficult to discover all the side effects, or adverse drug effects (ADE), for any approved drugs due to the limited number of required clinical trials before a drug is approved. The pervasive online social networks, such as Twitter, can provide additional information on ADE. Concurrently, advancements in social media technology have resulted in the booming of massive public data; the availability of these huge datasets offers numerous research opportunities for extracting ADEs. Towards this purpose, in this paper two effective computation pipelines are proposed, which use drug-related classification and sentiment analysis to extract ADEs on Twitter. The two pipelines are described in detail, and are implemented into automatic processes. Both pipelines are first separately evaluated, and then compared in parallel. Based on 25 days of Twitter data, the first pipeline has successfully predicted 79.4% of drug-related tweets with user opinions. The second pipeline, with its much simpler design, is able to identify much more ADE, as well as discover more new ADE. Based on 4 months of Twitter data collected, the second design is able to successfully capture 5 times more valid ADE than the first design, with 12 times more new ADEs discovered. We believe that these two proposed pipelines are promising methods for extracting ADEs in social networks, and may be applied to additional areas such as food, beverages, and other daily consumer products for identifying side effects and user opinions.
Bivariate Nonparametric Density Estimation of Stock Prices and Volume

This paper comprehensively investigates the joint movement of stock prices and trading volume of New York and Tokyo stock markets by undertaking nonparametric density estimation. Bivariate nonparametric density estimation has been reported as a powerful tool for revealing complicated relations between two variables. In application to finance, it is important to use a method robust for heavy-tailed densities, since the distributions of asset price changes are known to have heavy tails, and information about sudden and large price changes is contained in the tails. The empirical regularities found in this paper are mostly consistent with previous literature, but partially disagrees with the work of Gallant et al. (1992).