cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DFW urban radar network observations of floods, tornadoes and hail storms

The CASA Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) urban remote sensing network consists of a high resolution X-band radar network and a National Weather Service S-band radar system (i.e., KFWS radar). Based primarily on these radars, an end-to-end warning system has been developed that includes sensors, software architecture, products, data dissemination and visualization, and user decision making. This paper presents a technical summary of the DFW radar network for urban weather disaster detection and mitigation, from the perspective of tracking and warning of hails, tornadoes, and floods. In particular, the architecture and associated algorithms of various product systems are detailed, including the hail detection system, the multiple Doppler wind velocity retrieval system, and the high-resolution quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) system. Sample products during the real-time operations are provided, and the systems' performance is demonstrated through cross-validation with ground observations and weather reports.
Development of Paraphilia in Childhood and Adolescence

Paraphilias, formerly named perversions, are multivariate in origin and sequential in development, beginning in childhood and coming into full flower in adolescence or later. Prior to being practiced, a paraphilia exists in the ideation and imagery of dream and fantasy. Neither male nor female can decide voluntarily to become or not become a paraphile. A paraphilia is not caught by social contagion (e.g., from example or pornography). Rather, it is induced by noxious child-rearing experiences, nonsexual as well as sexual, that pathologize normophilic development. There are upwards of 40 named paraphilias.
Milton’s Queer Earth: A Geology of Exhausted Life

Steven Swarbrick’s “Milton’s Queer Earth: A Geology of Exhausted Life” cites recent developments in ecocritical and queer political projects as grounds for reimagining the queerness of Milton’s earth. Noting related turns in theory toward nonlife and the inhuman, Swarbrick proposes to read Book 6 of Paradise Lost as an archive of nature’s pre-human past. More specifically, Swarbrick links the exhaustion of certain epic tropes in the book’s battle to the exhaustion of bodies and images, and the exhaustion of the earth. What emerges from this reading is a queer ethical practice opposed to geontological distinctions between human and nonhuman timescales. This geology of exhausted life reorients the reader toward the deep history of inhuman affect in the creation and duration of Milton’s queer earth.
Optical transportation of micro-particles by non-diffracting Weber beams

The optical transportation of solid polystyrene particles by the non-diffracting Weber beams is demonstrated with both forward and backward motion along the parabolic main lobes of Weber beams in three dimensions. The Weber beams are generated from the complex field modulation based on the spatial light modulator for realizing the optical transportation of micrometer polystyrene particles in an optical tweezers setup. The particle motion and velocity distribution along the main lobes of Weber beams in two different parabolic shapes are characterized and compared.
Arabic Domain-Oriented Sentiment Lexicon Construction Using Latent Dirichlet Allocation

Sentiment lexicon is crucial in the process of sentiment analysis. The efficient lexicon is the one that is able to provide the classifier with the right tokens of each class, positive and negative. In this paper, we have built a domain-oriented Arabic sentiment lexicon automatically using a generative statistical model called Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). We tested our lexicon by doing documents classification and compare it with a classification done based on a manual lexicon created in previous study. We achieved good results from both accuracy and recall perspectives.
Can treadmill-slip perturbation training reduce immediate risk of over-ground-slip induced fall among community-dwelling older adults?

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine any potential falls-resistance benefits that might arise from treadmill-slip-perturbation training. One hundred sixty-six healthy community-dwelling older adults were randomly assigned to either the treadmill-slip-training group (Tt) or the treadmill-control group (Tc). Tt received 40 slip-like perturbations during treadmill walking. Tc received unperturbed treadmill walking for 30 min. Following their treadmill session, both groups were exposed to a novel slip during over-ground walking. Their responses to this novel slip were also compared to previously collected data from participants who received either over-ground-slip training (Ot) with 24 slips or over-ground walking (Oc) with no training before experiencing their novel over-ground slip. Fall rates and both proactive (pre-slip) and reactive (post-slip) stability were assessed and compared for the novel over-ground slip in groups Tt, Tc, and Oc, as well as for the 24th slip in Ot. Results showed Tt had fewer falls than Tc (9.6% versus 43.8%, p Tc, p
Electrochemical Impedance Characterization of LiMnPO4 Electrodes with Different Additions of MWCNTs in an Aqueous Electrolyte

An electrochemical characterization was performed in electrodes with different weight percentages of LiMnPO4 and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in aqueous solution. The redox potential of LiMnPO4 cathode is close to the electrolyte decomposition, which provides an ideal scenario to study multiple reactions on a single electrode surface involving parallel steps and species transformation in both solid and liquid state. Different processes were deconvoluted using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. In addition, a surface coverage model was employed to theoretically quantify the limiting step of the electrochemical process. The results show the addition of MWCNTs increased the electrical conductivity of the cathode and improved the intercalation process in LiMnPO4. The optimal concentrations of MWCNTs, which enhanced the electrical properties and decreased the water oxidation effect, were 20 and 40 wt.%.
The Bare Experience of Communication: Slippage, Risk, and Un-knowing

ABSTRACTThis essay offers an alternative perspective on the dominant view of communication that focuses on message exchange and calculative thinking. It highlights communicators as embodied beings ...
The use of proactive risk management to reduce emergency service vehicle crashes among firefighters

Abstract Introduction Emergency service vehicle crashes (ESVCs), including rollovers and collisions with other vehicles and fixed objects, are a leading cause of death among U.S. firefighters. Risk management (RM) is a proactive intervention to identifying and mitigating occupational risks and hazards. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of RM in reducing ESVCs. Methods: Three fire departments (A, B and C), representing urban and suburban geographies, and serving medium to large populations, participated in facilitated RM programs to reduce their ESVCs. Interventions were chosen by each department to address their department-specific circumstances and highest risks. Monthly crash rates per 10,000 calls were calculated for each department an average of 28 months before and 23 months after the start of the RM programs. Interrupted time series analysis was used to assess the effect of the RM programs on monthly crash rates. Poisson regression was used to estimate the number of crashes avoided. Economic data from Department A were analyzed to estimate cost savings. Results: Department A had a 15.4% (P = 0.30) reduction in the overall monthly crash rate immediately post-RM and a 1% (P = 0.18) decline per month thereafter. The estimated two-year average cost savings due to 167 crashes avoided was $253,100 (95%CI= $192,355 – $313,885). Department B had a 9.7% (P = 0.70) increase in the overall monthly crash rate immediately post-RM and showed no significant changes in their monthly crash rate. Department C had a 28.4% (P = 0.001) reduction in overall monthly crash rate immediately post-RM and a 1.2% (P = 0.09) increase per month thereafter, with an estimated 122 crashes avoided. Conclusions: RM programs have the potential to reduce ESVCs in the fire service and their associated costs; results may vary based on the interventions chosen and how they are implemented. Practical applications: Risk management may be an effective and broadly implemented intervention to reduce ESVCs in the US fire service.
Children’s connection to nature as fostered through residential environmental education programs: Key variables explored through surveys and field journals

Children’s connection to nature increasingly is of interest in education, psychology, urban planning, and other related fields. Research findings emphasize the central importance of early connectio...
Quality Measures for Palliative Care

Measuring quality is critical for evaluating and improving health and health care delivery. This is especially important in care of patients at end of life due to ongoing variability in care [1, 2]. Up to 27% of Medicare budget in the United States is being spent in the last 12 months of beneficiary’s lives [3]. Due to advances in health care and public health, more people are living and dying with chronic diseases. This change requires proactive exploration of patient preferences and priorities, careful care planning and decision making, and a comprehensive approach to care to meet the needs of patients with progressive chronic illness. Despite significant efforts and recent improvements, studies have demonstrated ongoing gaps in the quality of care with avoidable physical and emotional suffering and variability in the care of patients with chronic illness [4]. Recent research supports that early palliative care interventions improve the patient’s outcomes [5].
Metastatic lobular carcinoma with signet-ring cells mimicking primary gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma

Abstract Signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a subtype of adenocarcinoma characterized histologically by cells with abundant intracellular mucin production, creating a distinctive “signet-ring” appearance. SRCC typically arises in tissues of the gastrointestinal tract. In the breast, SRCC is a rare subtype of invasive lobular carcinoma defined by the presence of signet-ring cells. Mammary SRCC has unique patterns of metastatic spread compared to more common breast cancers, more often spreading viscerally to involve the serosal surfaces of stomach, urinary tract, and spleen. We report a case of metastatic mammary SRCC presenting in the stomach, thereby mimicking primary gastric SRCC. Recognition of this unusual presentation is critical as treatments for these malignancies are vastly different; misdiagnosis could lead to significant morbidity and mortality for patients.
Sequential Monte Carlo for Sampling Balanced and Compact Redistricting Plans.

Random sampling of graph partitions under constraints has become a popular tool for evaluating legislative redistricting plans. Analysts detect partisan gerrymandering by comparing a proposed redistricting plan with an ensemble of sampled alternative plans. For successful application, sampling methods must scale to large maps with many districts, incorporate realistic legal constraints, and accurately sample from a selected target distribution. Unfortunately, most existing methods struggle in at least one of these three areas. We present a new Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) algorithm that draws representative redistricting plans from a realistic target distribution of choice. Because it yields nearly independent samples, the SMC algorithm can efficiently explore the relevant space of redistricting plans than the existing Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms that yield dependent samples. Our algorithm can simultaneously incorporate several constraints commonly imposed in real-world redistricting problems, including equal population, compactness, and preservation of administrative boundaries. We validate the accuracy of the proposed algorithm by using a small map where all redistricting plans can be enumerated. We then apply the SMC algorithm to evaluate the partisan implications of several maps submitted by relevant parties in a recent high-profile redistricting case in the state of Pennsylvania. Open-source software is available for implementing the proposed methodology.
Long-term hydroxychloroquine use in patients with rheumatic conditions and development of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a retrospective cohort study.

Summary Background Hydroxychloroquine is one of several agents being evaluated in the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We aimed to examine whether patients with rheumatological conditions receiving chronic hydroxychloroquine therapy are at less risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 infection than those not receiving hydroxychloroquine. Methods This retrospective cohort study included de-identified information of all veterans in the US Veterans Health Administration clinical administrative database aged 18 years or older with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or associated rheumatological conditions (based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition, diagnostic codes) who were alive on March 1, 2020. A propensity score was calculated for each patient, and each patient who was receiving hydroxychloroquine was matched to two patients who were not receiving hydroxychloroquine (controls). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection among those receiving chronic hydroxychloroquine versus the propensity-matched patients not receiving chronic hydroxychloroquine between March 1 and June 30, 2020. Secondary outcomes were hospital admission associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection; intensive care requirement associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection; mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection; and overall rates of any hospital admission and mortality (ie, all cause). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to determine independent variables for the development of active SARS-CoV-2 infection. Findings Between March 1 and June 30, 2020, 10 703 patients receiving hydroxychloroquine and 21 406 patients not receiving hydroxychloroquine were included in the primary analysis. The incidence of active SARS-CoV-2 infections during the study period did not differ between patients receiving hydroxychloroquine and patients not receiving hydroxychloroquine (31 [0·3%] of 10 703 vs 78 [0·4%] of 21 406; odds ratio 0·79, 95% CI 0·52–1·20, p=0·27). There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes between the two groups in patients who developed active SARS-CoV-2 infection. For all patients in the study, overall mortality was lower in the hydroxychloroquine group than in the group of patients who did not receive hydroxychloroquine (odds ratio 0·70, 95% CI 0·55–0·89, p=0·0031). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, receipt of hydroxychloroquine was not associated with the development of active SARS-CoV-2 infection (odds ratio 0·79, 95% CI 0·51–1·42). Interpretation Hydroxychloroquine was not associated with a preventive effect against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large group of patients with rheumatological conditions. Funding None.
Scattering by Interstellar Dust Grains: Optical and Ultraviolet

Scattering and absorption properties at optical and ultraviolet wavelengths are calculated for an interstellar dust model consisting of carbonaceous grains and amorphous silicate grains. Polarization as a function of scattering angle is calculated for selected wavelengths from the IR to the vacuum UV. The widely-used Henyey-Greenstein phase function provides a good approximation for the scattering phase function between ~0.4 and 1 micron, but fails to fit the calculated phase functions at shorter wavelengths and longer wavelengths. A new analytic phase function is presented. It is exact at long wavelengths, and provides a good fit to the numerically-calculated phase function for lambda > 0.27um. Observational determinations of the scattering albedo and show considerable disagreement, especially in the ultraviolet. Possible reasons for this are discussed.
An improved quantitative ultrasonographic technique could assess anterior translation of the glenohumeral joint accurately and reliably.

Since poor repeatability of the load and shift test using a grading scale has been reported, an objective and quantitative method to assess anterior translation should be established to assess glenohumeral joint function. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy and repeatability of the ultrasonographic techniques to quantify anterior translation of the glenohumeral joint. Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were used. For the standard technique, the ultrasound transducer was positioned on the anterolateral aspect of the shoulder viewing the coracoid process, glenoid, and humeral head. For the revised technique, the transducer was positioned on the anterior aspect of the shoulder, perpendicular to the scapular plane, viewing the conjoint tendon, glenoid, and humeral head. During the load and shift test, the distance between anterior edges of the glenoid and the humeral head was measured. The difference between distances before and after applying an anterior load was calculated as an anterior translation and compared with the anterior translation assessed using a motion tracking system. The repeatability and accuracy of both techniques were analyzed statistically. Intra- and inter-observer repeatability was good–excellent for both ultrasonographic techniques (ICC, 0.889–0.998). The revised technique achieved a stronger correlation to the anterior translations obtained using the motion tracking system (R = 0.810–0.913, p < 0.001) than the standard technique (R = 0.619–0.806, p < 0.001). Better accuracy and repeatability was found in the revised technique than the standard technique. The revised technique will be useful to determine the individual laxity and modify the treatment plan and return-to-sports protocol. III.
Statewide Passive Surveillance of Ixodes scapularis and Associated Pathogens in Maine

The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is the primary vector of multiple human pathogens, including the causative agents of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Both I. scapularis and its associated pathogens have expanded their geographic range throughout the northeastern Unites States and into northern New England. Through this study, we present an updated distribution of I. scapularis in Maine and report the first statewide passive surveillance infection and coinfection prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti within the state's I. scapularis population. In 2019, we collected 2016 ticks through a passive surveillance program, in which Maine residents submitted tick samples for identification and/or pathogen testing. We used a single multiplex quantitative PCR assay to detect tickborne pathogens in 1901 tick samples. At the state level, we found that Bo. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum infection rates of adults (42.4%, 11.1%) were nearly double that of nymphs (26.9%, 6.7%), whereas B. microti prevalence was similar for both adults (6.5%) and nymphs (5.2%). Spatially, we found an uneven distribution of both tick activity and pathogen prevalence, with both increasing on a north to south gradient. We also noted a potential association between the ratio of adult to nymphal ticks and the incidence of tickborne disease in human populations, with counties that exhibit high rates of human disease also maintaining low adult to nymph ratios.
A regression-based approach to compute the pixels sensitivity map of linear accelerator portal imaging devices.

PURPOSE To determine the pixel sensitivity map (PSM) for amorphous silicon electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) using a single flood field signal. METHOD AND MATERIALS A raw EPID signal results from the incident particle energy fluence, the inherent pixels response, and the background signal. In large open fields, particle energy fluence is a slow-varying signal that is locally considered spatially constant. Pixels response is a fast and abrupt varying behavior. The background signal is due to the EPID panel electronics, which is determined during radiation absence. To determine the PSM, after correcting for the background signal, we apply a model that captures the underlying smooth particle energy fluence-induced signal. This fluence signal-fitted model is then used to determine the PSM. Here, we use a polynomial-based regression surface model in both x and y dimensions. To validate the generated PSM, we measure beams and compute PSMs for multiple beam energies with and without flattening filters and for multiple source-to-imager distances. Since the PSM is a detector characteristic, it should be independent of those variables. We also intercompare measurements of fixed slit fields with the EPID being shifted between measurements. RESULTS The fluence signal of the flattening filter-free (FFF) beams was optimally modeled as a 12th degree polynomial surfaces, which had ≤ 0.1% residuals near the central axis. The 6 and 10 MV FFF PSMs were within ˜0.1%, and independent of the EPID SID, suggesting that the PSM is energy independent. The 6, 10, and 15 MV flattened-beam PSMs were well modeled as 12th degree polynomial surfaces, which were equivalent within ˜0.24% but differed from the FFF PSM by up to 0.5% near the beam central axis. Applying the FFF PSMs to the flattened-beam measurements reduced the central-axis deviation between the raw and corrected signal to < 0.1%, confirming the PSM energy independence hypothesis. When the FFF PSM is utilized, output verification with shifted slit deliveries agreed within ˜0.5% for all beam energies, which is within the radiation delivery uncertainty of ˜0.57%. CONCLUSION PSM for MV EPIDs can be determined by separating out the slowly varying, well-behaved fluence signal from the pixel-to-pixel sensitivity variations. The quality of the PSM is found to be dependent on the quality of the surface fit, which is best for the 6 MV FFF beam measured at SID equal to 180 cm. Within fitting errors, the PSM is independent of beam energy for 6, 10, and 15 MV beams with and without flattening filters. The PSM generation does not require shifting the EPID panel nor multiple EPID panel irradiations and should be usable for linacs with fixed geometry EPIDs.
Surgical Restoration Of Breeding Bulls

Injury or disease involving the reproductive tract of bulls is a significant cause of economic and genetic loss to cattle producers. An abattoir survey of 550 bulls in Northern Australia found that preputial (prolapse 3.1 %, abscess 0.54%, papillomatosis 0.18%) and penile injuries (persistent frenulum 0.36%, hematoma 0.54%, fractured penis 0.18%, abscess 0.18%) were common. Spitzer et al examined 862 yearling bulls and found that 109 failed breeding soundness examination. Abnormalities in the 109 yearling bulls included persistent penile frenulum (16.5%), fibropapilloma (1.8%), and penile abnormalities (1.8%). Chenoweth et al found breed differences in the occurrence of abnormalities of the reproductive tract. Herefords had larger and firmer seminal vesicles, Brahmans had testicular hypoplasia more frequently, Brahmans had smaller seminal vesicles, Shorthorn Hereford cross cattle had more preputial ulcerations, and Brahman cross cattle had preputial prolapse more frequently.
Finite-Sample Analysis of Off-Policy Natural Actor-Critic with Linear Function Approximation.

In this paper, we develop a novel variant of off-policy natural actor-critic algorithm with linear function approximation and we establish a sample complexity of $\mathcal{O}(\epsilon^{-3})$, outperforming all the previously known convergence bounds of such algorithms. In order to overcome the divergence due to deadly triad in off-policy policy evaluation under function approximation, we develop a critic that employs $n$-step TD-learning algorithm with a properly chosen $n$. We present finite-sample convergence bounds on this critic under both constant and diminishing step sizes, which are of independent interest. Furthermore, we develop a variant of natural policy gradient under function approximation, with an improved convergence rate of $\mathcal{O}(1/T)$ after $T$ iterations. Combining the finite sample error bounds of actor and the critic, we obtain the $\mathcal{O}(\epsilon^{-3})$ sample complexity. We derive our sample complexity bounds solely based on the assumption that the behavior policy sufficiently explores all the states and actions, which is a much lighter assumption compared to the related literature.
A probabilistic model to estimate microbiologically influenced corrosion rate

Abstract This work presents a new probabilistic methodology and model to estimate the microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) rate. The proposed methodology considers the variability of the corrosion causing parameters, complex interdependencies of the parameters, and updating the corrosion rate in response to evolving conditions. The proposed method is used to develop a fully parameterized Bayesian network model for the MIC rate. The model is tested using MIC field data. The results show that the metabolism of iron-oxidizing bacteria and methanogens are the most probable contributors to the corrosion rate. The study also identifies the most sensitive parameters affecting the corrosion rate. The proposed model plays a vital role in safety assessment and corrosion risk management of oil and gas production and processing assets.
Kallikrein and Kinins Independently Stimulate Renin Release from Isolated Rat Glomeruli

We studied the interaction between kallikrein, kinins, and renin release in isolated rat renal glomeruli and their attendant arterioles. Purified hog kallikrein (170 mEU/ml) significantly stimulated renin release 86% (p 0.025) above control. Inactivation of kallikrein by PMSF or inhibition with aprotinin blocked kallikrein stimulation of renin release. Partially purified rat submandibular gland kallikrein (160 mEU/ml) also increased renin by 87% (p 0.025). Superfusion of glomeruli with brady-kinin (10-5 M) significantly increased renin release by 108% (p 0.025), and lys-bradykinin (10-5 M) similarly increased renin by 155% (p 0.025). Neither of the kinin analogues, des-arg9 bradykinin or tyr8 bradykinin (at 10-5 M), were able to alter renin released from isolated glomeruli. The vasodilator acetylcholine (10-5 m) had no effect upon renin release from glomeruli. No kininogen could be detected in glomeruli. Kallikrein superfusion did not result in any measurable kinin generation. We could not detect inactive renin in superfusate or glomeruli after renin activation with either kallikrein or trypsin. These results suggest that kallikrein stimulates renin release independent of kininogenase activity and that this stimulation does not appear to be due to activation of inactive renin. Further, we find that kinins can directly stimulate renin release.
Relationship of Parenting Style to Behavioral Adjustment in Graduating High School Seniors

Research on the four prototypic parenting styles has consistently demonstrated their relationship to psychosocial and behavioral adjustment in offspring ranging in age from preschool children to high school students. The present study used self-report surveys administered only to graduating high school (HS) seniors (2250 participants). Students indicated their levels of participation in a variety of problem behaviors and conventional behaviors, as well as rating their perceptions of their parents on three parenting dimensions: acceptance (responsiveness), behavioral control (demandingness), and democracy (psychological autonomy granting). Using these values, students could be assigned to 1 of 6 groups representing the parenting style with which they perceived they had been reared: “authoritative plus,” authoritative, authoritarian, “midrange,” indulgent, and neglectful. Parenting style was significantly related to older adolescent behavioral adjustment (p < .0001) in this HS Sr. sample even after statistically adjusting for the effects of gender, SES, and family structure. While parenting style did not moderate socioeconomic status and family structure, it was found to be a powerful mediator of these two independent variables. The democracy dimension, although an important component of parental attitude, was found to be unnecessary in effectively defining authoritative parenting after the other two dimensions, acceptance and behavioral control, were considered. This study expands the parenting style typology to include a fifth middle-range parenting style, and it demonstrates the significant mediating power of parenting style on SES and family structure. Previously established advantages and disadvantages of the four classic parenting styles, plus a middle-range style, persist even when they are extended to a sample comprised strictly of older adolescents at the brink of high school graduation.
Are you watering your lawn

Increases in urban populations, particularly in semi-arid cities, have led to unsustainable water use in many regions of the world. Water is frequently drawn from outside urban boundaries, but these remote water sources are becoming less reliable due to global climate change and regional political conflict. In response, urban water conservation efforts have been expanding and cities are pressured to reduce demand. Yet, as seen currently in California, measures to reduce water use are having limited effect ( 1 ). Can better data help to underpin water use policy?
La finanza regionale nella Costituzione: opportunità della riforma del 2001

Understanding how the 2001 amendment of Title V of the Constitution, in particular Article 119, will impact on the fiscal autonomy of the ordinary statute regions requires looking at: the dynamics of regional fiscal autonomy over the period up until when the 1948 Constitution was revised; the interpretation given by the Constitutional Court to a number of provisions contained in Article 119, as amended; some basic principles of fiscal federalism which with the 2001 constitutional reform become key reference points when choosing the arrangements to be used for financing the regions and local government.
Molecular Sieve Studies of Interacting Protein Systems I. EQUATIONS FOR TRANSPORT OF ASSOCIATING SYSTEMS

Abstract The basic equations for molecular sieve behavior of associating systems are presented in detail. In this analysis equations are derived to describe elution boundaries for which axial dispersion of solute arises as a result of macromolecular interactions. The theory is developed as an extension of de Vault's basic approach to idealized column chromatography, but emphasizes the molecular sieve coefficient as a basic phenomenological transport parameter. By this approach, the partition isotherm for an interacting system of macromolecules is resolved into terms that represent linear isotherms of the individual components. Equations for elution profiles of associating systems are then derived in a convenient form in which the equilibrium constants for interactions among components are related to the corresponding transport coefficients of the individual molecular species. The theory has been formulated on the basis of a model sufficiently general to include isomeric forms for each degree of aggregation. The treatment is therefore applicable to equilibria that include (a) subunit association reactions, including the special case of monomer ⇌ n-mer interactions, (b) isomers that represent different geometric arrangements of subunits, and (c) isomeric states that are reversibly accessible to allosteric oligomers. A brief extension of the analysis is outlined to include the case of linearly concentration-dependent molecular sieve transport coefficients for each of the interacting species.
A Broken Hub Will Not Wheel: Water Reallocation in California

: California's water transfer system depends on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to move water. Unfortunately, the Delta's ecosystem appears to be suffering from this use – and other uses. After discussing the stakeholders in the Delta, the causes of ecological decline, and the choices for change (including a radical political-economic market), I conclude that business-as-usual is over, that any solution is costly, and that the politicians and bureaucrats in the middle of this process benefit from conflict and inaction. The Delta will remain broken for the foreseeable future.
Characterization of culturable bacteria isolated from the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa.

Microorganisms associated with corals are hypothesized to contribute to the function of the host animal by cycling nutrients, breaking down carbon sources, fixing nitrogen, and producing antibiotics. This is the first study to culture and characterize bacteria from Lophelia pertusa, a cold-water coral found in the deep sea, in an effort to understand the roles that the microorganisms play in the coral microbial community. Two sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico were sampled over 2 years. Bacteria were cultured from coral tissue, skeleton, and mucus, identified by 16S rRNA genes, and subjected to biochemical testing. Most isolates were members of the Gammaproteobacteria, although there was one isolate each from the Betaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Phylogenetic results showed that both sampling sites shared closely related isolates (e.g. Pseudoalteromonas spp.), indicating possible temporally and geographically stable bacterial–coral associations. The Kirby–Bauer antibiotic susceptibility test was used to separate bacteria to the strain level, with the results showing that isolates that were phylogenetically tightly grouped had varying responses to antibiotics. These results support the conclusion that phylogenetic placement cannot predict strain-level differences and further highlight the need for culture-based experiments to supplement culture-independent studies.
Cobalt(II) coordination polymers versus discrete complex with 4,2′:6′,4″-terpyridine ligands: The role of a pyrenyl substituent

Abstract A new pyrene-containing 4,2′:6′,4″-terpyridine (4,2′:6′,4″-tpy) ligand (L3) is synthesized. The Co(NCS)2-mediated self-assembly of this ligand along with two known analogues (L1 and L2) was investigated. The reactions of L1 or L2 containing only small aromatic substituents in the 4′-position of 4,2′:6′,4″-tpy with Co(NCS)2 by a layering crystallization procedure give rise to single crystals suitable for X-ray structural analysis and 3-D or 2-D coordination polymers were revealed in their crystals, respectively. Interestingly, going from L1 and L2 to L3 by introducing a relatively bulky 4′-substituent in the ligand results in the observation of the first discrete complex of cobalt(II) with 4,2′:6′,4″-tpy ligands under the same synthetic conditions.
Electronic structure and thermoelectric properties of pnictogen-substituted ASn1.5Te1.5 (A = Co, Rh, Ir) skutterudites

Substituting group 14 and 16 elements on the pnictogen site in the skutterudite structure yields a class of valence-precise ternary AX_(1.5)Y_(1.5) compounds (A = Co, Rh, Ir, X = Sn, Ge, and Y = S, Se, Te), in which X and Y form an ordered sub-structure. Compared with unfilled binary skutterudites, pnictogen-substituted phases exhibit extremely low lattice thermal conductivity due to increased structural complexity. Here, we investigate the role of the transition metal species in determining the electronic structure and transport properties of Asn_(1.5)Te_(1.5) compounds with A = Co, Rh, Ir. Density functional calculations using fully ordered structures reveal semiconducting behavior in all three compounds, with the band gap varying from 0.2 to 0.45 eV. In CoSn_(1.5)Te_(1.5), the electronic density of states near the gap is significantly higher than for A = Ir or Rh, leading to higher effective masses and higher Seebeck coefficients. Experimentally, Ir and Rh samples exhibit relatively large p-type carrier concentrations and degenerate semiconducting behavior. In contrast, CoSn_(1.5)Te_(1.5) shows mixed conduction, with n-type carriers dominating the Seebeck coefficient and light, high mobility holes dominating the Hall coefficient. zT values of up to 0.35 were obtained, and further improvement is expected upon optimization of the carrier concentration or with n-type doping.
Association between combative behavior requiring intervention and delirium in hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND We hypothesized that delirium contributes to combative behavior requiring intervention in hospitalized patients. Delirium identification would therefore potentially provide an opportunity for prevention and early identification of patients at risk, thereby improving safety for patients and staff. OBJECTIVE To determine whether delirium is associated with combative behavior requiring intervention in a general hospital population. DESIGN Case control study. SETTING A 336-bed, nonuniversity, teaching hospital serving adults in the Pacific Northwest. PATIENTS One hundred twenty consecutive hospitalized patients with combative behavior requiring intervention compared to 159 randomly selected inpatient control subjects, all from 2011. INTERVENTION Bivariate statistics were used to compare demographics; diagnoses; presence of delirium, dementia, substance use, other psychiatric diagnosis; medications; hospital length of stay; and discharge disposition. We used stepwise logistic regression to determine the association of combative behavior requiring intervention with delirium after adjustment for covariates. RESULTS Delirium preceding the combative behavior was present in 50% (60/120) of patients with combative behavior requiring intervention compared to 16% (26/159) of controls (P < 0.001). Combative-behavior patients were hospitalized longer (9.4 vs 4.5 days, P < 0.001), and were more likely to be discharged to a skilled nursing facility (26%, 31/120) or to leave against medical advice (10%, 12/120, P < 0.001). Delirium was strongly associated with combative behavior requiring intervention, after adjustment (odds ratio: 3.8, 95% confidence interval: 2.0–7.3, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Delirium is strongly associated with combative behavior requiring intervention, which poses a significant safety risk for patients and staff. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:658–662. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine
Evaluation of a thermionic detector for capillary supercritical fluid chromatography of nitrated polycyclic aromatic compounds

A thermionic detector was evaluated for capillary supercritical fluid chromatography of polar nitro-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds (nitro-PAC). Three modes of detector operation were studied. The best performance was obtained using a nitro-selective mode of detection. Although linearity was confined to a narrow range for a given source current, the sensitivity was excellent; 20 pg injected for p-nitrophenol gave a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Conventional thermionic detection also produced good sensitivity; however, serious baseline drift was observed at high operating temperatures using density programming. A third mode, flame thermionic detection, was not acceptable because of low sensitivity. A number of nitro-PAC were successfully chromatographed using density programming at 101°C. Hydroxynitropyrenes, nitropyrene quinones, and 9-hydroxy-2-nitrofluorene, which could not be eluted in capillary gas chromatography, were successfully chromatographed here. Retention of these compounds increased sequentially on 50% n-octyl-, 5% phenyl-, and 25% biphenyl polysiloxane stationary phases, respectively. Stationary phase interactions appeared to be more a function of the polar functional groups on the aromatic rings than of the hydrocarbon character of the compounds. Solute solubility in the mobile phase and volatility were additional factors contributing to the elution of these molecules. Finally, these results were used to identify a number of nitro-PAC in a polar subfraction of a diesel particulate extract.
Lifetime-oriented multi-objective optimization of structural maintenance considering system reliability, redundancy and life-cycle cost using GA

The need to design and construct structural systems with adequate levels of reliability and redundancy is widely acknowledged. It is as crucial that these desired levels are maintained above target levels throughout the life of the structure. Optimization has served well in providing safer and more economical maintenance strategies. Lifetime maintenance optimization based on system reliability has already been proposed. It is still needed, however, to incorporate redundancy in the lifetime maintenance optimization process. Treating both system reliability and redundancy as criteria in the lifetime optimization process can be highly rewarding. The complexity of the process, however, requires the automation of solving the optimization problem. Genetic algorithms (GAs) are used in this study to obtain solutions to the multi-objective optimization problems considering system reliability, redundancy and life-cycle cost (LCC). An approach to provide the optimization program the ability to optimally select what maintenance actions are applied, when they are applied, and to which structural components they are applied is presented. Two different strategies are proposed. The first strategy has the ability to optimally select mixed maintenance types to apply to different parts of the structure at the same time. This strategy can be used in cases where any combination of different maintenance options can be practically applied to any part of the structure. The application of this strategy on truss structures is shown in a numerical example. The second strategy can be used when a limited number of possibilities of practical maintenance options are available. The application of this strategy to bridge structures is shown in a numerical example. The greatest advantage of the proposed approach (both strategies) is its ability to avoid the application of maintenance interventions to structural components that are not critical.
Migraine-Type Headaches in Children Receiving Chemotherapy and Ondansetron

Six children developed severe daily migraine-type headaches during cancer treatment. In addition to chemotherapy drugs, all received daily doses of ondansetron, a 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonist. 5-Hydroxytryptamine is considered to play a central role in migraine pathogenesis, and ondansetron may have caused headaches by producing 5-hydroxytryptamine dysfunction in the brain. All six children had either a personal or a family history of migraine, and this may be a risk factor for developing ondansetron-associated migraine-type headaches. Ondansetron-induced headaches respond to withholding the drug and to standard antimigraine medications, but further study of a larger group of patients is required to confirm this impression.
Ranging Patterns of the Mangabey, Cercocebus albigena, in the Kibale Forest, Uganda1

Zusammenfassung Im Reservat des Kibale Forest in Uganda wurden im Mai—Juni 1971 die taglichen Marschrouten und raumlichen Zerstreuungen einer freilaufenden Gruppe von Cercocebus albigena untersucht. Die raumliche Organisation dieser Gruppe unterschied sich in mehreren Hinsichten von der anderer Regenwaldaffen. Wahrend diese zum Beispiel in ziemlich engen Gebieten leben, bewohnt diese Cercocebus-Gruppe mehr als 34 ha, also ahnlich viel wie Bewohner der offenen Steppe. Ebenso entsprachen die taglichen Marschrouten und die mittlere Entfernung zwischen den Mitgliedern dieser Gruppe eher denen der am Boden in offener Landschaft lebenden Affen. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen, das sich baumlebende Regenwaldbewohner in Wohngebietsgrose, taglichen Wanderungen und Gruppendichte betrachtlich unterscheiden. Theorien oder Verallgemeinerungen, das die soziale Organisation waldlebender Arten weniger veranderlich sei als die von offener Landschaft, mussen erneut durchdacht werden.
A decline in tropospheric organic bromine

[1] Recent changes in atmospheric bromine (Br) are estimated from samples collected at ten globally distributed, ground-based sites. The results indicate that the global tropospheric burden of Br from the sum of halons and methyl bromide (CH3Br) peaked in 1998 and has since declined by nearly 5% (or 0.8 ± 0.2 pmol mol−1 or ppt). These changes are driven primarily by a decrease of CH3Br since 1998 that is about two times larger than expected given reported declines in industrial production, a result that may suggest revisions to our understanding of the global atmospheric budget for this gas. The observations imply 25–30% larger declines in the atmospheric burden of ozone-depleting, total equivalent chlorine (ECl = Cl + Br*45) in recent years than noted previously.
A comparison of nutritional and genetic blocks in the synthesis of purines by yeasts, molds and bacteria

Abstract 5-Aminoimidazole riboside and inosine are accumulated by biotin-deficient yeast. The addition of aspartic acid prevents accumulation of these intermediates in the incubation medium. Purine-requiring yeast, neurospora, and vibrio strains accumulate 5-aminoimidazole riboside but not inosine. Aspartic acid fails to prevent 5-aminoimidazole accumulation, an indication of a genetic block in the ability of these organisms to metabolize this compound further. The relationship of biotin to purine biosynthesis by yeast is discussed in the light of the data presented.
Influence of treatment duration on audiogenic seizure susceptibility during barbiturate withdrawal in rats.

Barbiturate withdrawal seizure susceptibility in rats increased with increasing duration of treatment during a 15-day treatment period in which the animals were given an i.p. dose of sodium barbital every 12 h. This method of producing dependence has clear advantages over previously described methods.
Identifying units in interaction: Reactive tokens in Korean and English conversations

Reactive tokens are conversational resources by which a listener co-constructs a speaker's turn at talk. The resources that are available include the forms of the reactive tokens themselves, their duration, and their placement by the listener in the current speaker's turn. The present paper is a contrastive study of the use of these resources by Americans in English, and by Koreans in their native language and in English, and in it we show the ecological relationship between the resources that a language provides and their use in constructing active listenership. Although previous research on English has found listeners use reactive tokens to pass up the opportunity for a full turn at talk, we show that, in Korean, reactive tokens are often elicited by the current speaker and the listener is obligated to provide them. We present evidence that Korean bilinguals transfer some conversational resources from their native language when they take part in conversation in English.