cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adsorption of (poly)maleic acid and an aquatic fulvic acid by geothite

The adsorption of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) and a synthetic organic polymer, polymaleic acid (PMA) by geothite was studied. The adsorption density of the sorbates decreased with increasing pH, and the data could best be described by the Langmuir adsorption equation. The number- and weight-averaged molecular weights, Mw and Mn, of the sorbates in the solution phase before and after adsorption by geothite were measured by high-pressure size exclusion chromatography. The observed decreases in the Mn and Mw of SRFA in the solution phase after adsorption demonstrated that fractionation of SRFA on the basis of molecular size occured. UV molar absorptivities measured at 280 nm also decreased, which suggests that the more aromatic moieties are preferentially adsorbed. Potentiometric titrations conducted on SRFA revealed changes in the conditional acidity constants (expressed as the negative logarithm, pKa) of the fulvic acid after adsorption. The increased pKa value of the humic material remaining in the solution after adsorption implies that the strongly sorbing compounds possessed stronger acidic functional groups. Fractionation of PMA after adsorption, however, did not occur to the same extent compared to SRFA because PMA is relatively homogeneous. The experimental results confirm that molecular weight, aromaticity, and organic acidity are major factors controlling the fractionation of natural organic matter (NOM) by adsorption onto hydrous mineral oxides. PMA, a relatively uniform and less polydisperse organic polymer, may serve as an endmember material characteristic of NOM that exhibits the least amount of fractionation upon adsorption.
Effect of tetraethyl lead on food and water intake in the rat.

Abstract The effect of tetraethyl lead (TEL) on food and water intake in adult male albino rats was studied. Animals received 1, 4, 7, 10, or 13 mg/kg body weight of TEL in peanut oil, or a peanut oil placebo, via either intragastric (IG) intubation or intraperitoneal (IP) injection. For food intake, route of administration was a significant factor and, compared to baseline levels, food intake was significantly depressed at dosage levels of 7, 10, and 13 mg/kg for both IP and IG administration. Further, the time course of food intake differed significantly across route of administration. Water intake was also significantly depressed at 7, 10, and 13 mg/kg, but route of administration was not a critical factor. Results were discussed in relation to clinical and experimental data on lead intoxication, and were viewed as severely limiting the utility of employing food and/or water as motivational variables in assessment of behavioral effects linked to TEL poisoning.
Thyroid hormones and TSH, prolactin and LH responses to repeated TRH and LRH injections in depressed patients.

Twelve patients with unipolar depressive disorders received 600 μg of synthetic TRH or LRH, in a random order, for 3 days each. Placebo injections were given as two 3-day courses prior to and between the active treatments. Serum TSH, prolactin (Prl) and LH were measured by radioimmunoassays prior to the experiment as well as immediately before and 20 min after each injection. Serum T4 and T3 were determined by radioimmunoassays before the treatments and 24 h after the first two TRH injections. Serum T4 level in depressed patients did not differ from controls. Serum T3 level in depressed patients was significantly below, and the reverse T3 level was slightly above the normal mean. However, the latter difference was not statistically significant due to the large variation of rT3 levels among the depressed patients. The TSH responses did not differ from that of controls after the first injection but the responses after the second injection were lower than in a control study. The Prl responses to TRH were subnormal in seven out of eight patients. Blunted LH responses to LRH were seen in three patients.
Bandgap Energy Pressure Coefficients In Strained-Layer Structures

The hydrostatic-pressure coefficients of the bandgap energies for four different types of semiconductor heterojunction structures were obtained from photoluminescence measurements at 4K and pressures up to 4 kbar. The structures studied were n-type and p-type InxGa1-xAs/GaAs and n-type GaAs/GaPx As1-x strained-layer superlattices, n-type InxGa1-xAs/GaAs single strained quantum wells and an undoped GaAs/AlAs superlattice. The bandgap energies ranged from 1800 meV for the GaAs/ALAS structure to 1280 meV for the InxGa1-xAs/GaAs single strained quantum wells. Pressure coefficients for the InxGa1- As/GaAs and GaAs/GaPxAs1-x structures were found to be in the range of 10 to 12 meV/bar. However, the pressure coefficient of the luminescence energy from the GaAs/AlAs superlattice was found to be -2 meV/kbar. This negative pressure coefficient is consistent with the interpretation that the luminescence is due to a transition between the conduction-band X-point in the AlAs layers and the valence-band r-point in the GaAs layers.
Respiratory Mechanics in Anesthetized Young Patients with Kyphoscoliosis: Immediate and Delayed Effects of Corrective Spinal Surgery

To our knowledge, the effects of corrective spinal surgery on total respiratory mechanics and its components in anesthetized patients with kyphoscoliosis have not been previously reported in detail. We studied 13 patients with kyphoscoliosis; their mean (± SD) age was 24.7 ± 2.1 years; eight underwent anterior and posterior spinal fusions (AF and PF, respectively) two weeks apart (group A), four underwent PF alone (group B), and one had a three-stage procedure. Mean total respiratory elastance (Ers), static and dynamic lung elastance (Est,L and Edyn,L, respectively), chest wall elastance (Ew), and lung resistance (RL) were derived according to previously described methodology. In group A, Ers and Ew increased by 39 percent and 58 percent, respectively, following AF and by 20 percent and 129 percent following PF, while Est,L and Edyn,L did not change or declined following PF. Lung resistance increased 19 percent and 41 percent by the end of AF and PF, respectively, in group A. In group B, Ew more than doubled, resulting in a 39 percent increase in Ers. Increases in Ers, Ew, and respiratory flow resistance observed at the time of spinal corrective surgery for kyphoscoliosis may result from rib cage trauma and changes in airway caliber related to microatelectasis and uneven distribution of mechanical properties within the lungs. Spinal correction results in immediate and short-term deterioration of respiratory mechanics measured under anesthesia.
Literacy, Illiteracy, and Learning From Television News

This paper reports on an investigation of the abilities of literates and adult nonreaders to recall and use information from a national network television news program. On a test of unaided recall of news stories the literates recalled 55% more stories than the nonreaders. On a multiple-choice test of information gain from the news program, the literates performed 63% better than the nonreaders. The samples were found to be virtually identical in their use of and opinions about television news. A control group of college students was given the information test without first seeing the news program and did no better than chance.The most important factor affecting recall was the length of time the story was on the air. Human interest stories were recalled much better by both groups than any other type of story. The level of performance among the adult nonreaders correlated highly with their reading levels.
The kinetics of the reactions of O(3P) atoms with dimethyl ether and methanol

The kinetics of the reaction of O + CH3OCH3 were investigated using fast-flow apparatus equipped with ESR and mass-spectrometric detection. The concentration of O(3P) atoms to CH3OCH3 was varied over an unusually large range. The rate constant for reaction was found to be k = (5.0 ± 1.0) × 1012 exp [(−2850 ± 200/RT)] cm3 mole−1 sec−1. The reaction O + CH3OH was studied using ESR detection. Based on an assumed stoichiometry of two oxygen atoms consumed per molecule of CH3OH which reacts, we obtain a value of k = (1.70 ± 0.66) × 1012 exp [(−2,280 ± 200/RT)] cm3 mole−1 sec−1 for the reaction The results obtained in this study are compared with the results from other workers on these reactions. The observation of essentially equal activation energies in these two reactions is indicative of approximately equal CH bond strengths in CH3OCH3 and CH3OH. This is in agreement with recent measurements of these bond energies.
The metabolism of uracil.

Oxygen uptake could not be demonstrated when uracil, uridine, or uridylic acid and various supplements were incubated with rat liver preparations. Attention was directed towards the likelihood that the initial step of uracil catabolism in mammals is a reduction such as occurs in yeasts. Various techniques were employed to measure the possible reduction of uracil to 4,5-dihydrouracil but no experimental evidence was uncovered that this latter compound was formed. While Canellakis has recently shown that the reaction uracil → 4,5-dihydrouracil does take place in mammalian tissues and that TRPH is required, this requirement must be specific since addition of DPNH in the experiments described below was without effect. A small fraction of the ureido carbon (C-2) of uracil-2-C14 was released as carbon dioxide by rat liver slices. None of the results obtained can be reconciled with the oxidative pathway for uracil catabolism in mammals proposed by Cerecedo.
A Convenient Method for Determining the Concentration of Grignard Reagents

Abstract A convenient procedure for the quantitative assay of alkyl, aryl, and vinyl Grignard reagent concentrations is described. Through the combined use of menthol and 1,10-phenanthroline in dry tetrahydrofuran solution, vivid violet or burgundy end points materialize and are easily observed. Other advantages unique to the new protocol are also discussed.
Arthroscopic management of proximal humerus malunion with tuberoplasty and rotator cuff retensioning.

Purpose To report the mid- to long-term results of arthroscopic tuberoplasty and rotator cuff retensioning for proximal humerus malunion. Methods Between August 2001 and October 2009, 9 patients with a mean age of 49 years underwent shoulder arthroscopy with tuberoplasty and rotator cuff advancement for malunion of the proximal humerus and were included in this study. The mean delay between the initial fracture and our surgery was 19 months. We developed a systematic technique to take down the rotator cuff over the malunited proximal humerus, perform a tuberoplasty, and then retension and repair the rotator cuff by advancing it on the greater tuberosity. The mean follow-up was 50 months (range, 12 to 108 months). Results Patients showed mean active forward elevation of 164° (range, 90° to 180°; gain of 43°), recovery of mean active external rotation of 45° (range, 30° to 60°; gain of 16°), and a mean pain score of 1.8 points (range, 0 to 5 points; reduction of 3.8 points). The overall functional results according to the University of California, Los Angeles score were excellent in 3 cases, good in 3, and fair in 3. No patient required additional surgery. Of the 9 patients, 8 (89%) were able to return to their previous sports or activities. All patients declared themselves as being satisfied with the result. Conclusions Arthroscopic tuberoplasty and rotator cuff retensioning for proximal humerus malunion comprise a viable alternative to traditional open methods, particularly in young patients. A comprehensive approach is recommended that addresses stiffness, associated pathology, and impingement, and re-establishes rotator cuff function. Although the technique is technically demanding, it allows preservation of the native humeral head, is associated with a very low complication rate, and avoids concerns about long-term prosthetic survival in young patients. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Absorption and emission due to localized excitons in CsI:Na

Abstract The absorption spectra and the characteristic emission and excitation spectra of CsI:Na bulk crystals at temperatures between 300 K and 4.2 K are reported. Localized exciton energies were calculated by considering a Born-Haber cycle. The results were compared with the experimental results and the origins of the absorption bands were identified. The characteristic emission spectrum consists of two bands, one peaking around 4200 A, the other around 3800 A. The corresponding excitation spectra show that this emission is due to the recombination of a relaxed exciton which was created by transferring an electron from an iodine ion to a substitutional sodium ion in an otherwise perfect CsI lattice.
Designing and Executing Randomized Clinical Trials Involving Elderly Persons

Although randomized clinical trials are the most scientifically rigorous design for evaluating a clinical intervention, the methodology involved is intricate, particularly when elderly subjects are involved. Special attention must be paid to framing precise primary and secondary study hypotheses, adjusting for the potential confounding effects of comorbidity and disability, and analyzing multiple outcomes. When the sample or study cohort is chosen, there will be an inevitable trade-off between internal and external validity. Because elderly study cohorts are more prognostically heterogeneous, consideration should be given to enrolling an "at-risk" cohort and possibly to stratified randomization.
Optimal catalyst distribution in a dual enzyme sequential system

The dual enzyme sequential reactions that decompose arginine to ammonia were investigated experimentally to determine appropriate rate equations and to test predictions of optimal distribution of the two enzymes (arginase and urease) immobilized in a packed-bed reactor. The kinetics of this system were experimentally found to be of the kind that calls for a bang-band control with a well-defined switching point between the two immobilized enzyme catalysts. At low values of reactor residence time, the optimum switching point is shown to approach a limiting position which depends on the kinetic order of the second reaction. In the higher ranges of residence time, the switching point moves into the latter half of the reactor, but exceptions to this generalization are found when Michaelis-Menten kinetics are applicable to both reactions. For the special circumstance where the two reactions are of zero and first order, respectively, the optimal distribution of the two catalysts is independent of the first rate constant. The experimental results are, in general, consistent with these expectations, and secondary deviations are discussed. A suboptimal policy alternative is also treated analytically and tested by experiment.
Monitoring the brain before, during, and after cardiac surgery to improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes

Innovation in surgical and medical management of cardiac disease has generated a dramatic improvement in operative survival. Along with these favourable results in terms of survival is the heightened awareness of neurologic complications, which often become evident beyond the early postoperative period. A large, multicentre prospective study found serious neurologic injury occurs in about one-twentieth of patients after myocardial revascularization in adults.1 More subtle evidence of persistent cognitive decline and functional impairment has been shown to occur in over two-fifths of such patients.2 Acute neurologic abnormalities are reported in up to one-fifth of infants and children who undergo cardiac surgery.3–6 Lasting impairments in cognitive, motor, and expressive functioning have been reported in up to three-fifths of children who have undergone complex cardiac surgery during infancy.7 Specifically, gross and fine motor delays, visual-spatial problems, language deficits and long-term emotional and behavioural problems have been found.8–13
The oxidation of polybutadiene. II. Property changes during oxidation

The oxidation of emulsion polybutadiene has been followed by observation of changes in gel content, swelling index, intrinsic viscosity, and infrared spectra. The results show that, whereas simple heating of the polymer leads primarily to crosslinking, the presence of oxygen causes both scission and crosslinking, with the predominance of either of these processes being dependent on the amount of oxygen absorbed. Increase of temperature or degree of oxidation favors crosslinking. During oxidation acid, ester, aldehyde, ketone, ether, and alcohol groups appear, but their relative proportions remain essentially constant. Also, a large extent of the oxidation occurs without resultant decrease in unsaturation, indicating, in all probability, that the double bond is not the direct point of oxygen attack.
A Point Mutation in the Cargo-Binding Domain of Myosin V Affects Its Interaction with Multiple Cargoes

Class V myosins move diverse intracellular cargoes, which attach via interaction of cargo-specific proteins to the myosin V globular tail. The globular tail of the yeast myosin V, Myo2p, contains two structural and functional subdomains. Subdomain I binds to the vacuole-specific protein, Vac17p, while subdomain II likely binds to an as yet unidentified secretory vesicle-specific protein. All functions of Myo2p require the tight association of subdomains I and II, which suggests that binding of a cargo to one subdomain may inhibit cargo-binding to a second subdomain. Thus, two types of mutations are predicted to specifically affect a subset of Myo2p cargoes: first are mutations within a cargo-specific binding region; second are mutations that mimic the inhibited conformation of one of the subdomains. Here we analyze a point mutation in subdomain I, myo2-2(G1248D), which is likely to be this latter type of mutation. myo2-2 has no effect on secretory vesicle movement. The secretory vesicle binding site is in subdomain II. However, myo2-2 is impaired in several Myo2p-related functions. While subdomains I and II of myo2-2p tightly associate, there are measurable differences in the conformation of its globular tail. Based solely on the ability to restore vacuole inheritance, a set of intragenic suppressors of myo2-2 were identified. All suppressor mutations reside in subdomain I. Moreover, subdomain I and II interactions occurred in all suppressors, demonstrating the importance of subdomain I and II association for Myo2p function. Furthermore, 3 of the 10 suppressors globally restored all tested defects in myo2-2. This large proportion of global suppressors strongly suggests that myo2-2(G1248) causes a conformational change in subdomain I that simultaneously affects multiple cargoes.
Links between organizational systems, human resource strategy, and end user training

Research and concepts from the human resource training literature are applied to end user training. Systems theory and models of strategic human resource management are used to analyze its organizational implications. A framework viewing end user training as a critical subset of the human resource subsystem is proposed. A conceptual guide is developed that integrates strategic, managerial, and operational levels of decision-making. >
Hiding I/O latency with pre-execution prefetching for parallel applications

Parallel applications are usually able to achieve high computational performance but suffer from large latency in I/O accesses. I/O prefetching is an effective solution for masking the latency. Most of existing I/O prefetching techniques, however, are conservative and their effectiveness is limited by low accuracy and coverage. As the processor-I/O performance gap has been increasing rapidly, data-access delay has become a dominant performance bottleneck. We argue that it is time to revisit the ldquoI/O wallrdquo problem and trade the excessive computing power with data-access speed. We propose a novel pre-execution approach for masking I/O latency. We describe the pre-execution I/O prefetching framework, the pre-execution thread construction methodology, the underlying library support, and the prototype implementation in the ROMIO MPI-IO implementation in MPICH2. Preliminary experiments show that the pre-execution approach is promising in reducing I/O access latency and has real potential.
Why Do We Need a Nonhuman Primate Model of Smoking-Induced COPD?

The accelerating worldwide use of tobacco products causes immense human suffering. Smoking tobacco products ultimately kills up to half of its estimated 1 billion worldwide users: on average, one death every 6 seconds or 5.4 million per year (World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/tobacco/mpower/tobacco_facts/en, last accessed on December 10, 2014). Besides its role in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and a host of malignancies, tobacco smoking is the principal cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the industrialized world. COPD is the only one of the top 10 leading causes of death that is increasing in incidence, now occupying the third position in the United States, and projected by the World Health Organization to be the leading cause of death worldwide within this century. With the proliferation of new forms of nicotine delivery1,2 that challenge efforts to control tobacco use, there is an increasing urgency to understand COPD pathogenesis. In this issue of The American Journal of Pathology, Polverino et al3 report their development of an experimental COPD model in cigarette smoke (CS)-exposed nonhuman primates (NHPs). This collaboration between research groups at Brigham & Women's Hospital (Boston, MA) and the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (Albuquerque, NM) combines pathological, physiological, and immunological analyses to produce a comprehensive and interesting report. But even acknowledging the global importance of understanding COPD pathogenesis, readers might question whether the expense, requirement for highly specialized research facilities, and ethical issues surrounding NHP research justify this undertaking. We attempt to explain why they do and to highlight key features of this novel model that fill gaps in existing animal models.
Imaging the Gastrointestinal Tract of Small Animals.

Animal models of human diseases are increasingly available and are invaluable for studies of organ pathophysiology. Megacolon, abnormal dilatation of the colon not caused by mechanical obstruction, involves the destruction of the autonomic nervous system innervating the colon. Animal models of megacolon include mouse models of Chagas disease and Hirschprung’s disease. Small animal imaging has become an important research tool and recent advances in preclinical imaging modalities have enhanced the information content available from longitudinal studies of animal models of human diseases. While numerous applications of imaging technologies have been reported to study the brain and heart of mouse models, fewer studies of the gastrointestinal system have been undertaken due to technical limitations caused by peristaltic and respiratory motion. Various imaging modalities relevant to study of the gastrointestinal tract of intact live animals are reviewed herein.
Enterprise network management: LAN status monitoring

During the past few years, the study of network management has focused on a single node, e.g., a router or a hub. As network connectivity and heterogeneity grows, there is a need to extend the scope of management from a few nodes to an enterprise environment where there is a number of networks interconnected by switching devices. In this paper, we attempt to provide a configuration, fault, and performance monitoring solution in an enterprise LAN network environment. First, we identify the managed objects which are subject to monitoring. Among the important managed objects are interconnection domains, switching devices, and LAN networks such as Ethernet, token ring and FDDI networks. Then we identify the management functions which can be applied during the monitoring process. Using scenarios, we demonstrate how these management functions can be applied.
Tractography-activation models applied to subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subcallosal cingulate white matter (SCCWM) is an experimental therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD). The specific axonal pathways that mediate the anti-depressant effects of DBS remain unknown. Patient-specific tractography-activation models (TAMs) are a new tool to help identify pathways modulated by DBS. TAMs consist of four basic components: 1) anatomical and diffusion-weighted imaging data acquired on the patient; 2) probabilistic tractography from the brain region surrounding the implanted DBS electrode; 3) finite element models of the electric field generated by the patient-specific DBS parameter settings; and 4) application of the DBS electric field to multi-compartment cable models of axons, with trajectories defined by the tractography, to predict action potential generation in specific pathways. This study presents TAM predictions from DBS of the SCCWM in one MDD patient. Our findings suggest that small differences in electrode location can generate substantial differences in the directly activated pathways.
Pseudo-MOSFET Drain-Current Transients: Influence of the Substrate

The pseudo-MOSFET drain-current transient time is used to determine the generation/recombination lifetimes of SOI wafers. We have analyzed this transient for p-films on p-substrates experimentally and through simulation and show the substrate, not the Si film, to dominate this transient. For negative-substrate-voltage pulses, the substrate is driven into deep depletion, and electron-hole pair generation influences the film potential and, subsequently, the drain current.
Incomplete Contracts in Dynamic Games

I develop a dynamic model of costly private provision of public goods where agents can also invest in cost-reducing technologies. Despite the n+1 stocks in the model, the analysis is tractable and the (Markov perfect) equilibrium unique. The framework is used to derive optimal incomplete contracts in a dynamic setting. If the agents can contract on provision levels, but not on investments, they invest suboptimally little, particularly if the contract is short-term or close to its expiration date. To encourage su¢ cient investments, the optimal and equilibrium contract is more ambitious if it is short-lasting, and it is tougher to satisfy close to its expiration date. If renegotiation is possible, such a contract implements the …rst best. The results have important implications for how to design a climate treaty.
Carcinoma of the vulva.

Vulvar cancer is relatively rare and accounts for 3% to 5% of all gynecologic malignancies. This malignancy usually is diagnosed in the elderly population, with the mean age in the late sixties, although it can be diagnosed in any age group. The pathologic cell type is usually squamous cell carcinoma, accounting for 85% of these malignancies. The remaining 15% are unusual or rare cell types. This article presents an overview of vulvar malignancies, including a discussion of etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, pathologic types, natural history, spread of the disease, staging, and treatment.
Impedance shaping of three-phase grid-parallel voltage-source converters

This paper presents techniques to shape the output impedance of three-phase voltage-source converters (VSC) used as inverters for grid integration of renewable energy and energy storage devices. The objective is to avoid harmonic resonance and other unintended interactions between the inverter and the grid impedance. For this purpose, the inverter is modeled by a positive-sequence and a negative-sequence output impedance. Shaping of the inverter output impedance is achieved through changes to various inverter control functions, including grid synchronization and current control. The trade-off between grid compatibility and inverter control performance is also discussed. Experimental results from a multi-converter system test-bed are presented to validate the analyses.
Diagrammatic approach to crystalline color superconductivity

We present a derivation of the gap equation for the crystalline color superconducting phase of QCD which begins from a one-loop Schwinger-Dyson equation written using a Nambu-Gorkov propagator modified to describe the spatially varying condensate. Some aspects of previous variational calculations become more straightforward when rephrased beginning from a diagrammatic starting point. This derivation also provides a natural base from which to generalize the analysis to include quark masses, nontrivial crystal structures, gluon propagation at asymptotic densities, and nonzero temperature. In this paper, we analyze the effects of nonzero temperature on the crystalline color superconducting phase.
Disulfide bridge formation between SecY and a translocating polypeptide localizes the translocation pore to the center of SecY

During their biosynthesis, many proteins pass through the membrane via a hydrophilic channel formed by the heterotrimeric Sec61/SecY complex. Whether this channel forms at the interface of multiple copies of Sec61/SecY or is intrinsic to a monomeric complex, as suggested by the recently solved X-ray structure of the Methanococcus jannaschii SecY complex, is a matter of contention. By introducing a single cysteine at various positions in Escherichia coli SecY and testing its ability to form a disulfide bond with a single cysteine in a translocating chain, we provide evidence that translocating polypeptides pass through the center of the SecY complex. The strongest cross-links were observed with residues that would form a constriction in an hourglass-shaped pore. This suggests that the channel makes only limited contact with a translocating polypeptide, thus minimizing the energy required for translocation.
Synthesis of diversely 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles via 5-exo-dig cyclization.

5-Exo-dig cyclocondensation of alk-3-yn-1-ones with hydrazines, in the presence of montmorillonite K-10, provides an effective method with a high atom economy for the synthesis of diversely 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles. The microwave-accelerated reaction proceeds in the absence of solvent and leads to 5-benzyl substituted pyrazoles with good yields (72–91%). The regiochemistry of the process was confirmed by the X-ray crystallographic structure determination of 1-(2-fluorophenyl)-5-(4-methylbenzyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole.
O brother, where art thou? The varying influence of older siblings in rank acquisition by female baboons

Males in sexually dimorphic species like baboons appear to have surprisingly little influence on the reproduction and dominance ranks of their female kin, even though they could potentially increase their fitness by helping their relatives improve their ranks. Male baboons are able to dominate females several years before they emigrate, but their presence has no effect on relatives’ dominance ranks, at least when female kin are present. As a result, females usually acquire ranks within their matriline, above their older sisters. We describe the process of rank acquisition among orphaned and non-orphaned juvenile and adolescent females in a group of free-ranging baboons. Orphaned females were significantly more likely than non-orphaned females to acquire unexpected ranks. Orphaned females with older sisters often acquired ranks within the matriline, but below their older sisters’. Orphaned females with older brothers were likely to rise in rank above their matriline. Females’ interventions on behalf of younger sisters always supported the existing female dominance hierarchy, while males’ interventions tended to act against it. Similarly, in playback experiments, females appeared to be willing to support their younger sister only in disputes with lower-ranking females. In contrast, males appeared to be willing to support their sister even in disputes with higher-ranking females. Fraternal support enables females to improve their dominance ranks, but only if their mothers have died. It remains a puzzle why males have so little influence on their female relatives’ ranks when female kin are present, and so much when they are absent.
Despite Criticism Of The FDA Review Process, New Cancer Drugs Reach Patients Sooner In The United States Than In Europe

The US Food and Drug Administration is often criticized as inefficient compared to its European counterpart, the European Medicines Agency. This criticism is especially common in the field of oncology, where severely ill patients have few therapeutic options. We conducted a direct drug-to-drug comparison of the two regulatory agencies’ approvals of new oncology drugs. We found that contrary to public assertions, the median time for approval for new cancer medicines in the United States was just six months—and that these new anticancer medicines are typically available in the United States before they are in Europe. Our findings reinforce the need for strong financial and public support of the Food and Drug Administration, so that such medicines can continue to be made available speedily to patients in need.
Neoliberalism and the demise of public education: the corporatization of schools of education

Neoliberalism has brought fundamental changes to the way schools of education prepare professional educators; among them is the pressure for schools of education to produce fast-track teacher preparation programs that bypass traditional requirements. Due to the privatization of public education, a new market has emerged to train educators and administrators for charter schools. The No Child Left Behind Act has made the old multipurpose PhD in education obsolete and has led to fast-track EdDs to train school administrators to raise test scores. In this era of corporate schooling, colleges of education are competing with online and for-profit colleges to increase student enrollment. Academic capitalism has entered into the classroom and it has redefined the academic premises upon which the entire higher education system was instituted. This article asks, what are the implications of this new educational arrangement for the purpose of education and the development of a critically informed mass of democratic ...
Effect of essential fatty acid deficiency on the size and distribution of rat plasma HDL

Rat plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) are comprised of two major particle size subpopulations, HDL1 (255 A−140 A) and HDL2 (140 A−84 A), in which the proportion of arachidonate in fatty acids of cholesteryl esters is greater than 50%. To determine whether decreased availability of arachidonate for cholesterol esterification would alter the distribution and/or amounts of the HDL subpopulations, we compared HDL subpopulations in EFA-deficient and control rats. To separate the effects of EFA deficiency and fat deficiency and to evaluate effects of different saturated fats, we used EFA-deficient diets that were fat-free or that contained 5% saturated fat. The control diets were the EFA-deficient diets plus 1% safflower oil. The saturated fats were hydrogenated coconut oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil and saturated medium-chain triglycerides. All EFA-deficient diets decreased the proportion of the HDL1 subpopulation and the peak diameter of the HDL2 subpopulation. These changes appeared after quite brief EFA depletion in young rats and may be related to the increased liver cholesteryl ester concentrations typical of EFA-deficient rats.
Observed and projected climate trends and hotspots across the National Ecological Observatory Network regions

Understanding, predicting, and managing the impacts of human-caused climate change will require long-term monitoring of ecological changes across spatial scales. Although the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) aims to provide the backbone for such monitoring efforts in the US, regional climate changes that were observed before and that are projected to occur after NEON's implementation must be quantified. We use historical datasets and climate model projections to assess the rates, spatial patterns, and hotspots of temperature and precipitation change across NEON ecoregions. Hotspots with the highest elevated temperatures occur in the Tundra and Taiga ecoregions (absolute increases) as well as in the Pacific Southwest ecoregion (increases as compared with current variability). The observed and projected changes in temperature and precipitation can inform future NEON monitoring and research efforts in a rapidly changing climate.
Aging and Spinal Cord Injury: External Causes of Injury and Implications for Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Despite a consistent trend toward older age at time of spinal cord injury (SCI), little is known about the external causes of SCI in the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To examine environmental circumstances, documented by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification codes, at time of SCI among older adults. METHODS: Data on individuals injured in 2005 or later were retrieved from the National SCI Database. Demographics, injury profiles, and external causes of injury were compared between the study group (age >60 years, n = 1,079) and reference group (age 16-45 years, n = 3,579) using chi-square and Student t tests. RESULTS: Among the elderly, falls were the most common etiology of SCI (60%), followed by transport accidents (24%) and complications of medical and surgical care (12%). In the younger group, transport accidents were the most common etiology of SCI (49%), followed by falls (22%) and assault (21%). Falls on the same level (30%), from stairs and steps (22%), and other slipping, tripping, and stumbling (11%) were the most common mechanisms of falls in the elderly group. Among motor vehicle accidents, car occupant injured in a collision with another car was the most common mechanism of injury among the elderly (28%). CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need for effective fall prevention programs among the elderly to reduce SCI in this expanding population. Details on the mechanisms of falls and other major causes of SCI among the elderly provided in this study should inform the development of future interventions for high-risk persons, activities, and environments. Language: en
Complex Litigation: The Maturity Factor

Commentary and analysis of the problem whether courts should consider the “maturity” of claims or the litigation history of claims in the process of evaluating whether to certify a proposed class action. The “maturity” factor refers to a consideration of whether the particular claims asserted in a class action have been previously litigated in individual litigation, to reveal a pattern of plaintiff or defendant wins or losses in such cases. The “maturity” factor has had particular salience in mass tort litigation. The theory is that if defendants have consistently won in individual suits, this suggests that the claims are weak or meritless, and therefore courts should be reluctant to certify a class action and provide settlement leverage to plaintiffs (in light of otherwise weak claims). On the contrary, if the trial of individual lawsuits reveals a pattern of plaintiff victories, this suggests that the litigation is “mature,” thereby supporting a motion for class certification. The requirements for establishing a class action under Rule 23 do not contain any explicit provision that mandates a court to consider the maturity of the claims or the litigation. The is article surveys views with regard to imposition of a maturity factor in the class certification calculus, including existing authoritative treatises such as the Manual for Complex Litigation, federal court decisions endorsing and rejecting the maturity factor, and legislative proposals to codify a maturity factor into Rule 23.
Introduction to Scattering Theory

Until now, most of our applications have involved bound states of a quantum system. Now, in starting scattering theory, we shall be dealing with states in the continuum. We shall start by considering the scattering of a structureless point particle of mass, m, and incident momentum, from a fixed scattering center via an interaction describable by a potential, , or the equivalent one-body problem for the relative motion of two structureless point particles of masses, m 1, and m 2, and reduced mass, m 1 m 2/(m 1 + m 2), which again interact via a potential, , where is now the relative motion vector, .
Long-term outcomes of lumbar spinal stenosis: eight-year results of the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT).

STUDY DESIGN Randomized trial with a concurrent observational cohort study. OBJECTIVE To compare 8-year outcomes of surgery with nonoperative care for symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Surgery for spinal stenosis has been shown to be more effective than nonoperative treatment during 4 years, but longer-term data are less clear. METHODS Surgical candidates from 13 centers in 11 US states with at least 12 weeks of symptoms and confirmatory imaging were enrolled in a randomized cohort or observational cohort. Treatment was standard, decompressive laminectomy versus standard nonoperative care. Primary outcomes were SF-36 (MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey) Bodily Pain and Physical Function scales and the modified Oswestry Disability Index assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and yearly up to 8 years. RESULTS Data were obtained for 55% of participants in the randomized group and 52% of participants in the observational group at the 8-year follow-up. Intent-to-treat analyses showed no differences between randomized cohorts; however, 70% of those randomized to surgery and 52% of those randomized to nonoperative had undergone surgery by 8 years. As-treated analyses in the randomized group showed that the early benefit for surgery out to 4 years converged over time, with no significant treatment effect of surgery seen in years 6 to 8 for any of the primary outcomes. In contrast, the observational group showed a stable advantage for surgery in all outcomes between years 5 and 8. Patients who were lost to follow-up were older, less well-educated, sicker, and had worse outcomes during the first 2 years in both surgical and nonoperative arms. CONCLUSION Patients with symptomatic spinal stenosis show diminishing benefits of surgery in as-treated analyses of the randomized group between 4 and 8 years, whereas outcomes in the observational group remained stable. Loss to follow-up of patients with worse early outcomes in both treatment groups could lead to overestimates of long-term outcomes but likely not bias treatment effect estimates.
Distribution and Ecology of the Hispid and Least Cotton Rats in New Mexico

Parts of three years were spent locating populations of cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus and S. minimus , in New Mexico, with the objective of determining distributional limits and ecological preferences of the animals. One hundred twenty-one populations were located and 730 specimens were taken. Neither species seems to occur regularly in areas which have a mean annual temperature of less than 55°F or a growing season of less than 180 days. Both species have similar ecological preferences but, where the two kinds occur in the same area, S. minimus extends to somewhat greater altitudes than does S. hispidus . There is some evidence that both species have extended their ranges northward in recent years.
Laser Weldability of High-Strength Al-Zn Alloys and Its Improvement by the Use of an Appropriate Filler Material

Heat-treatable Al-Zn alloys are promising candidates for use as structural lightweight materials in automotive and aircraft applications. This is mainly due to their high strength-to-density ratio in comparison to conventionally employed Al alloys. Laser beam welding is an efficient method for producing joints with high weld quality and has been established in the industry for many years. However, it is well known that aluminum alloys with a high Zn content or, more precisely, with a high (Zn + Mg + Cu) content are difficult to fusion weld due to the formation of porosity and hot cracks. The present study concerns the laser weldability of these hard-to-weld Al-Zn alloys. In order to improve weldability, it was first necessary to understand the reasons for weldability problems and to identify crucial influencing factors. Based on this knowledge, it was finally possible to develop an appropriate approach. For this purpose, vanadium was selected as additional filler material. Vanadium exhibits favorable thermophysical properties and, thereby, can improve the weldability of Al-Zn alloys. The effectiveness of the approach was verified by its application to several Al-Zn alloys with differing amounts of (Zn + Mg + Cu).
THE PREPARATION MECHANISM OF DyFe_2 BY REDUCTION-DIFFUSION PROCESS

According to the chemistry reaction kinetics, the reaction mechanism during DyFe2 preparetion by reduction-diffusion process was discussed, which includes the transference form of Ca, the reduction speed of Dy2O3 reduced to Dy by Ca, the moving mode of reduced Dy to Fe powder and the forming process of DyFe2. The calculated apparent activation energy of the reduction-diffusion reaction is 45 kJ/mol.
OBSERVATIONS OF DOMAIN NUCLEATION AND GROWTH IN MAGNETO-OPTICAL RECORDING MEDIA

Observations of micromagnetic dynamics in magneto-optical recording media have been performed using a static tester and a loop tracer. The magnetization reversal, domain structure and annealing treatment of amorphous rare earth-transition metal (RE-TM) alloy films as well as multilayered cobalt-platinum (Co/Pt) thin films have been studied. The magnetization reversal was investigated in both nucleation-dominated and wall-motion-dominated media. The degree of jaggedness of various domain structures has been compared in terms of the fractal dimension of domains. We find that the magnetization reversal processes are intimately related to the jaggedness of domain surface. The fractal dimension increases monotonically from wall-motion-dominated films to nucleation-dominated films. The relationships between the hysteresis loop and the reversal process are also discussed.
Reflexive Secularity: Thoughts on the Reflexive Imperative in a Secular Age

What effect does the morphogenetic society have on contemporary religion, and vice versa? Pace classical secularization theory, social change is not leading to religious decline. Rather, globalization has triggered countervailing processes of dis/embedding and re/assemblage that are reshaping religion in contingent and unpredictable ways. Whether the religious future is “global denominationalism” (Casanova), a “clash of civilization” (Huntington) or something other remains unclear.
Soft: A Software Environment Abstraction Mechanism

In a traditional UNIX environment, software is installed in many different locations across a distributed filesystem. In order to effectively use the software, users must correctly configure their PATH, MANPATH and other related shell environment variables. A large and dynamic software environment can cause havoc for users as they try to locate programs not in their PATH, resolve filename collisions, and keep up with changes made by administrators, while attempting to update their startup files. In turn, administrators must notify users of new directories or values to put in their files and must spend time debugging users' environments. A layer of abstraction between the available applications and the way those applications are made available to users through environment variable settings adds a great deal of flexibility for both users and administrators. Administrators can configure and modify software installations without having to notify users of changes. Users may simply indicate which sets of software they desire to use, or they may create arbitrarily complex user-specific modifications. We have implemented this with a mechanism that does not lose speed at login time and which does not use any special shells.