cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlations between the thermal stability of chloroplast (thylakoid) membranes and the composition and fluidity of their polar lipids upon acclimation of the higher plant, Nerium oleander, to growth temperature.

Abstract The thermal stability of excitation transfer from pigment proteins to the Photosystem II reaction center of Nerium oleander adjusts by 10 Celsius degrees when cloned plants grown at 20°C/15°C, day/night growth temperatures are shifted to 45°C/32°C growth temperature or vice versa. Concomitant with this adjustment is a decrease in the fluidity of thylakoid membrane polar lipids as determined by spin labeling. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that there is a limiting maximum fluidity compatible with maintenance of native membrane structure and function. This limiting fluidity was about the same as for a number of other species which exhibit a range of thermal stabilities. Inversely correlated shifts in lipid fluidity and thermal stability occurred during the time course of acclimation of N. oleander to new growth temperatures. Thus, the temperature at which the limiting fluidity was reached changed during acclimation while the limiting fluidity remained constant. Although the relative proportion of the major classes of membrane polar lipids remained constant during adjustments in fluidity, large changes occured in the abundance of specific fatty acids. These changes were different for the phospho- and galacto-lipids suggesting that the fatty acid composition of these two lipid classes is regulated by different mechanisms. Comparisons between membrane lipid fluidity and fatty acid composition indicate that fluidity is not a simple linear function of fatty acid composition.
Reduction of iron sulphates during coal liquefaction

Abstract The transformation of pyrite to pyrrhotite and gypsum to anhydrite is well known during coal liquefaction. Most coals, except extremely fresh ones, contain various iron sulphates resulting from the oxidation of pyrite and marcasite. The reduction of iron sulphates to pyrrhotite during liquefaction is shown with the degree of reduction being temperature dependent. The formation of pyrrhotite from the iron sulphates is important because pyrrhotite is considered to catalyse hydrogenation reactions.
Cognitive effects of psychotomimetic drugs in rats discriminating number cues

Deficits in memory and attention are broadly acknowledged during psychosis; however, experiments on modeled psychosis often test working memory without systematic manipulation of attentional demands. The major research goal was discovering which neurobehavioral processes, attention, or memory contributed more to drug-provoked performance deficits. Rats were trained to perform operant ratio discrimination (RD) tasks wherein the number of presses at a rear-wall lever was discriminated using one of two front-wall levers. Effects from four psychotomimetic drugs, the serotonin agonist 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, the noncompetitive NMDA-glutamate receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP), and two CB1-selective cannabinoid agonists, WIN 55,512-2 and AM 411, were assessed using a signal detection analytical overlay to dissociate cognitive from noncognitive motor and motivational disruptions. Further methods allowed dissociation of attention compromises from mnemonic deficits. For each test compound, at least one dose elicited decreased RD accuracy without affecting response rates, and task difficulty was shown to be a crucial dictator of accuracy effect specificities. Effects from both PCP and WIN 55,512-2 biased animals to select the response lever conditioned for denser reinforcement. The same two drugs rendered peculiar response patterns in distracter light session components, considering light blinks were included to divert subjects’ attention away from task-relevant information. The response patterns determined during distracter components of PCP/WIN testing sessions, counterintuitively, suggest performance enhancement. Comprehensive viewing of RD performance patterns after drug administration indicates that sustained attention and transient information management are significantly impaired during the drug-induced psychosis state, while selective attention is less affected.
Coenzyme Q10 inhibits mitochondrial complex‐1 down‐regulation and nuclear factor‐kappa B activation

We have used control-homozygous weaver mutant, and -heterozygous weaver mutant mice in order to explore the basic molecular mechanism of neurodegeneration and the neuroprotective potential of coenzyme Q(10). Homozygous weaver mutant mice exhibited progressive neurodegeneration in the hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum, and a reduction in the striatal levels of dopamine and coenzyme Qs (Q(9) and Q(10)) without any significant changes in norepinephrine and serotonin. Mitochondrial complex-1 was down regulated; whereas nuclear factor-kappa B was up regulated in homozygous weaver mutant mice. Rotenone inhibited complex-1, enhanced nuclear factor-kappa B, and caused apoptosis in human dopaminergic (SK-N-SH) neurons; whereas nuclear factor-kappa B antibody suppressed rotenone-induced apoptosis, suggesting that enhancing coenzyme Q(10) synthesis and suppressing the induction of NF-kappa B, may provide neuroprotection.
Impact of a service-learning course on first-year pharmacy students' learning outcomes.

Objectives. To assess the differences in learning outcomes of first-year (P1) pharmacy students enrolled in a course based on service learning with those of a comparable group of students not enrol...
A 90-MS/s 11-MHz-Bandwidth 62-dB SNDR Noise-Shaping SAR ADC

Although charge-redistribution successive approximation (SAR) ADCs are highly efficient, comparator noise and other effects limit the most efficient operation to below 10-b ENOB. This work introduces an oversampling, noise-shaping SAR ADC architecture that achieves 10-b ENOB with an 8-b SAR DAC array. A noise-shaping scheme shapes both comparator noise and quantization noise, thereby decoupling comparator noise from ADC performance. The loop filter is comprised of a cascade of a two-tap charge-domain FIR filter and an integrator to achieve good noise shaping even with a low-quality integrator. The prototype ADC is fabricated in 65-nm CMOS and occupies a core area of 0.03 mm2. Operating at 90 MS/s, it consumes 806 μW from a 1.2-V supply.
Interaction by sonication of C-apolipoproteins with lipid: an electron microscopic study.

1. 1. Individual C-apolipoproteins (apoC-I, apoC-II and apoC-III) isolated from human plasma very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) were sonically reassembled with lecithin or lecithin plus nonpolar lipids (cholesteryl ester or triglyceride). Protein-lipid complexes were isolated at densities <1.006, 1.006–1.063 and 1.063–1.21 g/ml and were examined in the electron microscope. 2. 2. The bulk of the protein recovered was in the d 1.063–1.21 g/ml fraction. Each of the C-apolipoproteins formed discoidal complexes (minor axis 40 A; major axis 100–200 A) after reassembly with lecithin. Extensive rouleaux with 50–55 A periodicity were formed by the discs. ApoC-I sonicated with lecithin plus cholesteryl oleate or triolein produced spherical complexes (approximately 100 a diameter) similar to native high density lipoprotein HDL2 in the d 1.063–1.21 g/ml fraction. Both apoC-II and apoC-III formed mixed structures consisting of discs in rouleaux and HDL-like particles when nonpolar lipids were added. Rouleaux predominated in mixtures of apoC-II or apoC-III plus lecithin and cholesteryl oleate. Results were more variable with apoC-II or apoC-III plus lecithin and triolein; in some instances small spherical particles predominated while in others rouleaux predominated. This probably relates to variable incorporation of triglyceride into the protein-lipid complex. 3. 3. Structures in the d 1.006–1.063 g/ml fraction included myelin figures, vesicles with diameters greater than 200 A and small spherical particles 100–200 A in size. The latter were observed in protein-lipid mixtures containing apoC-I lecithin and nonpolar lipids. In most instances less than 10% of the protein was recovered in this density fraction. 4. 4. Particles similar to VLDL and ranging from 150–1200 A in diameter Were noted in the d < 1.006 g/ml fraction when apoC-proteins were sonicated with lecithin plus triolein. Only negligible amounts of protein were recovered in this density range.
Advancing the Field of Family Business Research: Further Testing the Measurement Properties of the F-PEC

The field of family business research is advanced by further examining the validity and reliability of Klein, Astrachan, and Smyrnios’s Family Influence on Power, Experience, and Culture Scale. Data from 831 family businesses are analyzed to assess the measure’s construct validity using exploratory and confirmatory techniques. The hypothesized three-factor model emerged to include culture, power, and experience. Extending the previous effort, the measure’s convergent validity was tested by assessing differences between the measure’s scores and the desires of the senior generation and the commitment of the next generation. Results support an initial level of convergent validity.
Structure of Styrene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer in Aqueous Solution Determined by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

A random styrene/acrylic acid copolymer has been examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with the use of the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) technique, in a study of the conformational structure in aqueous solution. The presence of a base in the aqueous solution leads to ionization of the acrylic acid segments and to conformational changes. The ionization is demonstrated by the appearance of asymmetric and symmetric C-O stretching bands of the COO− ion at 1547 and 1407 cm−1. Our results show that the water molecules are coordinated to the COO− ion through the positively charged cations. The acrylic segments of the copolymer are exposed to the aqueous solvent, whereas styrene is surrounded by acrylates. The molecular interactions of the copolymer in the two-phase water and benzyl alcohol system are determined. In the benzyl alcohol phase, the copolymer forms a coil-type structure, with the acrylic acid segments exposed to the aqueous phase. With time, the cations diffuse into the benzyl alcohol phase and cause ionization of the acrylic acid units, resulting in formation of the COO− ions.
Local Government Public Servants Performance and Citizens Participation in Governance in Nigeria

Abstract This paper examines the performance of public administrators at the local government level in Nigeria. It traces the development of local governments in Nigeria from 1945 to present times. It argues that the shift in the critical decision‐making powers and functions of local government requires its public administrators to be better‐trained professionals. However, without citizens' participation in governance, public servants' accountability will be low. The study addresses the following questions: How do public sector performance and development of actions by citizens affect accountability in the local governments? How much training do public administrators in Nigeria's local governments have in public management? What is the relationship between performance and citizenship participation in local governments' development process? The question of interests in this study is how public administration at the local government level can better serve Nigeria's communities and in so doing develop authen...
JAK/STAT/SOCS-signaling pathway and colon and rectal cancer

The Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway is involved in immune function and cell growth. We evaluated the association between genetic variation in JAK1 (10 SNPs), JAK2 (9 SNPs), TYK2 (5 SNPs), SOCS1 (2 SNPs), SOCS2 (2 SNPs), STAT1 (16 SNPs), STAT2 (2 SNPs), STAT3 (6 SNPs), STAT4 (21 SNPs), STAT5A (2 SNPs), STAT5B (3 SNPs), STAT6 (4 SNPs) with risk of colorectal cancer. We used data from population-based case-control studies (colon cancer n=1555 cases, 1956 controls; rectal cancer n=754 cases, 959 controls). JAK2, SOCS2, STAT1, STAT3, STAT5A, STAT5B, and STAT6 were associated with colon cancer; STAT3, STAT4, STAT6, and TYK2 were associated with rectal cancer. Given the biological role of the JAK/STAT-signaling pathway and cytokines, we evaluated interaction with IFNG, TNF, and IL6; numerous statistically significant associations after adjustment for multiple comparisons were observed. The following statistically significant interactions were observed: TYK2 with aspirin/NSAID use; STAT1, STAT4, and TYK2 with estrogen status; and JAK2, STAT2, STAT4, STAT5A, STAT5B, and STAT6 with smoking status and colon cancer risk; JAK2, STAT6, and TYK2 with aspirin/NSAID use; JAK1 with estrogen status; STAT2 with cigarette smoking and rectal cancer. JAK2, SOCS1, STAT3, STAT5, and TYK2 were associated with colon cancer survival (HRR of 3.3 95% CI 2.01, 5.42 for high mutational load). JAK2, SOCS1, STAT1, STAT4, and TYK2 were associated with rectal cancer survival (HRR 2.80 95 %CI 1.63, 4.80). These data support the importance of the JAK/STAT-signaling pathway in colorectal cancer and suggest targets for intervention.
Molecular genetics of Cicindela (Cylindera) terricola and elevation of C. lunalonga to species level, with comments on its conservation status

Cicindela (Cylindera) terricola Say is one of the most widespread and variable species of Nearctic Cicindelidae with six recognized subspecies. Cicindela t. lunalonga Schaupp (1884) is known from few museum specimens collected prior to 1979. The goal of this study was to resolve the uncertain taxonomic status of C. t. lunalonga using mitochondrial DNA analysis of cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase subunit I and determine its conservation status. In phylogenetic reconstruction using distance and parsimony methods, all members of the terrricola group were recovered as monophyletic and embedded within outgroup species of the subgenus Cylindera, while C. lunalonga was recovered as sister to all other members of the C. terricola clade. Cicindela lunalonga exhibited an exceptionally high (mean of 6.36%) pairwise sequence divergence for both genes against all C. terricola surveyed. For the cytochrome oxidase subunit I alone the pairwise divergence was 3.9–4.8% (4.58% avg.). The lowest divergences were between C. lunalonga and C. terricola subspecies of the American southwest (C. t. cinctipennis and C. t. kaibabensis), rather than with the closest geographic neighbors (C. t. imperfecta). We conclude that based on strict monophyly and pairwise sequence divergence, C. lunalonga is a distinct species. Our study of museum specimens and extensive field surveys suggest this species has been extirpated from all sites in the San Joaquin Valley and perhaps all but one of the historic sites throughout its range. Thus, it should be considered for Federal listing as an endangered species.
LRO-LAMP Observations of the LCROSS Impact Plume

On 9 October 2009, the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) sent a kinetic impactor to strike Cabeus crater, on a mission to search for water ice and other volatiles expected to be trapped in lunar polar soils. The Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) ultraviolet spectrograph onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) observed the plume generated by the LCROSS impact as far-ultraviolet emissions from the fluorescence of sunlight by molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide, plus resonantly scattered sunlight from atomic mercury, with contributions from calcium and magnesium. The observed light curve is well simulated by the expansion of a vapor cloud at a temperature of ~1000 kelvin, containing ~570 kilograms (kg) of carbon monoxide, ~140 kg of molecular hydrogen, ~160 kg of calcium, ~120 kg of mercury, and ~40 kg of magnesium.
Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index and circadian blood pressure variability

The manner in which the circulation accommodates each heartbeat may underlie blood pressure (BP) variability. We used the Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index (AASI), which reflects this ventricular-vascular interaction, in untreated individuals with prehypertension and Stage 1 hypertension to evaluate two different measures of BP variability using the brachial pulse pressure (PP) obtained over 24 hours. We enrolled 64 untreated adults with systolic BP between 130-159 mm Hg and diastolic values of <100 mm Hg who underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring with calculation of 24-hour AASIs. Variability in brachial PP was determined using the standard deviation of the measurements over 24 hours and the average real variability. The 24-hour AASI correlated with both measures of 24-hour PP variability (P < .001 for both). Subdividing the 24-hour stiffness index into daytime and nighttime components showed modest differences in their relationship to PP variability, with the daytime being significantly different from 24-hour AASI and the standard deviation of the brachial PP consistently having a higher correlation to the AASI when compared with the average real variability. These observations may be useful to understand differences in variability measures of BP measurements, such as PP, to measures like the AASI as reported in longitudinal studies.
Nursing Home Staff Turnover and Retention An Analysis of National Level Data

The goals of this study are to provide national estimates of turnover and retention for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants in nursing homes, and to examine the associations between management tenure, organizational characteristics, local economic conditions, turnover, and retention. The 2004 National Nursing Home Survey is used as the primary source of data. The annualized turnover rate is found to be the highest among certified nursing assistants at 74.5%, followed by registered nurses at 56.1%, and licensed practical nurses at 51.0%. National retention rates reveal that between 62.5% and 67.3% of nurses have been employed at the same organization for more than one year. Director of nursing tenure, registered nurse hours per patient day, and certified nursing assistant hours per patient day show the most consistent associations to lower turnover and higher retention.
In situ Groundwater Remediation Using Treatment Walls

Development of treatment wall technology for the clean up of contaminated ground-water resources has expanded in the past few years. The main perceived advantage of this technology over ex situ and other in situ ground-water remediation approaches is reduced operation and maintenance costs. Since the first commercial application of zero-valent iron using a funnel-and-gate system for the removal of chlorinated hydrocarbons in February, 1995, several field- and pilot-scale studies are evaluating the feasibility of this technology for treatment of both organic and inorganic contaminants.
Prolonged wall motion abnormalities after chest pain at rest in patients with unstable angina: A possible manifestation of myocardial stunning

Abstract Although myocardial “stunning” would be expected to occur in unstable angina, there is no published report in which the recovery of regional left ventricular function was serially monitored in this syndrome. To determine whether the time course of the regional wall motion abnormalities associated with unstable angina is consistent with myocardial stunning, 20 consecutive patients with unstable angina were studied prospectively. Regional left ventricular wall motion was assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography during or immediately after angina at rest and at serial times thereafter. Six of the 20 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The recovery of segmental wall motion after chest pain was consistently found to be delayed in all six patients, but a considerable variability was observed. In at least two subjects, the improvement was rapid and the wall motion abnormalities disappeared almost completely within 2 hours after the chest pain. Both of these patients had the shortest duration of angina (approximately 10 minutes). In contrast, in three other patients with longer duration of chest pain, the improvement was slower and significant wall motion abnormalities were still present at 24 hours after the chest pain. In five control patients who had angiographically-documented coronary artery disease but no recent episode of angina, there was no significant change in segmental wall motion during a period of observation equivalent to that used in the unstable angina group. This study evaluated for the first time the time course of wall motion abnormalities in patients with unstable angina. The results demonstrate that angina at rest is followed by a prolonged depression of contractile function, which may persist for up to 24 hours or even longer. Because none of the patients had evidence of acute myocardial infarction or recurrent ischemia, our observations suggest myocardial stunning as the pathophysiologic substrate for the slow recovery of wall motion. The present results are consistent with the concept that myocardial stunning does occur in unstable angina and indeed may be a component of the natural history of this disorder; however, further investigations using simultaneous measurements of function and flow will be necessary to unequivocally distinguish myocardial stunning from hibernation and silent ischemia.
Post‐traumatic psychosis among Cambodian refugees

Of 100 consecutive Cambodian patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), seven had severe persistent psychotic symptoms. Those with psychosis did not differ demographically or in severity of trauma from those without psychosis. The behavior of these seven patients was disruptive to their families; all required hospitalizations and were difficult to treat. This report as well as other clinical literature indicate that psychosis, usually associated with PTSD, is an infrequent but definite occurrence after massive psychological trauma.
STATUS UPDATE FOR BRISTLY CAVE CRAYFISH, CAMBARUS SETOSUS (DECAPODA: CAMBARIDAE), AND RANGE EXTENSION INTO ARKANSAS

Abstract This study updates the status, expands the range, and summarizes conservation activities to date for the bristly cave crayfish, Cambarus setosus. A new state record for this crayfish is reported after its discovery at 2 sites in 2 counties (Benton and Independence counties, Arkansas). This makes C. setosus the fifty-eighth crayfish species known from Arkansas. This is also the first record of C. setosus from the Salem Plateau of the Ozark Plateaus ecoregion; it was known previously only from the Springfield Plateau of Missouri. The range of C. setosus in Missouri includes the counties of Barry, Christian, Dade, Greene, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, and Stone; it is not presently known from Oklahoma, as previously reported. Cambarus setosus is probably a species complex with genetic variability at the subspecific level, especially in southwestern Missouri. Cambarus setosus is now known from 50 sites, but only 164 individuals (tallied from the most recent census at each site). This crayfish h...
A Framework and Methodology for the Study of Nonlinear, Self-Organizing Family Dynamics

Family systems theories have emerged over the past 30 to 40 years primarily through clinical observations, resulting in diverse and internally inconsistent views of family structures, development, dynamics, and pathology; as well as a separation from more empirically based small group research. The 5-R's model is intended to unify the various family systems theories and render them more empirically testable using concepts and methodologies from non-linear dynamical systems theory. The conversation of one family was analyzed using orbital decomposition as a pilot test of the most basic assumptions of the 5-R's model. An optimal string length of three was found along with evidence of coherent complexity (chaos), with Lyapunov dimensionality equal to 1.7 and Shannon's entropy equal to 8.68. Results are discussed with respect to further empirical validation of the 5-R's model and clinical uses of the model and orbital decomposition methodology in conjoint therapy.
The Match Game: New Stratigraphic Correlation Algorithms'

New algorithms for automatic correlation of geologic strata are introduced. The algorithms are extensions of the Smith and Waterman (1980) dynamic programming technique and include several features that greatly increase the utility for sedimentary sequences. Gaps in correlation (unconformities) caused by local nondeposition or eroded strata can include in a single “event” several strata. Furthermore, these gaps can be weighted as a single event, rather than as the sum of gap events for each strata. In addition, one or several adjacent strata in a second column can be correlated (matched) with one or several strata in a second column. Deletions within one of these multiple matches are also possible. The new algorithms include the method of minimum distance and the method of maximum similarity. Within this context, a similarity algorithm is given to locate and correlate the best matching segments or intervals from each stratigraphic column. All correlations within a preset distance of the optimum likewise can be produced for any of these algorithms. An example of specific assignments of these weight functions is given for correlation of well logs from the San Juan Basin.
Electroretinogram Below b-Wave Threshold in the Cat: Studies of Retinal Development and Retinal Degeneration

The cornea negative ERG below b-wave threshold was recorded in dark adapted cats. Retinal arterial occlusion resulted in a loss of the negative potential. During postnatal development of the cat, amplitude of the negativity was found to be adult-like at 4–6 weeks of age; it became greater than that of adults between 6 and 14 weeks of age; and thereafter decreased again to adult levels. The negativity was also recorded in adult cats with retinal degeneration caused by taurine deficiency. The amplitude of the negative potential decreased with increasing severity of the retinal degeneration, eventually becoming non-detectable.
Early life insult from cigarette smoke may be predictive of chronic diseases later in life.

Evidence is rapidly accumulating that links cigarette smoke (CS) exposure in utero with the development of a variety of disease pathologies in the older offspring including, type 2 diabetes, obesity, certain childhood cancers and respiratory disorders. The role that the fetal environment plays in these late-onset outcomes and the underlying cellular/molecular mechanisms by which these CS-induced effects may occur are currently unknown. Although we are becoming more aware of the fact that prenatal insult can underlie childhood/adult diseases, critical knowledge gaps still exist including gene–environment interactions, and how a CS-induced imbalance in immune dynamics (i.e. TH1/TH2) might affect asthma development and/or exacerbation later in life. In this mini-review we introduce the concept of sexual dimorphism in CS-induced late-onset disease outcomes, as well as explore the mechanisms by which CS exposure in utero can lead to cardiovascular, cancer and respiratory abnormalities in the exposed offspring....
Successive Interference Cancellation for Underwater Acoustic Communications

In this paper, we introduce the addition of an iterative, successive interference cancellation (SIC) process to improve on a multiuser, single-input-multiple-output (SIMO) communications receiver using passive time reversal as a space-time preprocessor. Time reversal has been shown to apply the spatial degrees of freedom to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and suppress interference for a target user. With the introduction of SIC, the receiver can remove the residual interference experienced by each user while preserving the SNR gain achieved by time-reversal preprocessing. The SIC process is a decision-directed approach for removing multiuser interference at the receiver and is similar to the decision-feedback equalizer (DFE) for intersymbol interference (ISI) channels. The interference experienced by each user is estimated at the receiver using previously decoded symbols from interfering users. This estimate is scaled and synchronized before subtraction from the target user's signal after time-reversal combining. Since SIC is applied before symbol decoding, symbol estimates are improved as the process is allowed to iterate until a stationary point is reached. Following time-reversal combining and SIC, a DFE can mitigate any remaining ISI before symbol decisions are made. Data collected from two Focused Acoustic Fields experiments (FAF-05 and FAF-06) are used to demonstrate the performance of the proposed interference cancellation scheme. During the FAF-05 experiment, three users transmitted 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) symbols simultaneously over the 3-4-kHz frequency band to a 20-element receiving array deployed in 120-m-deep water at a range of 20 km. The FAF-06 experiment included the simultaneous transmissions of 8-QAM symbols from two users over the 9-21-kHz band to a 16-element receiving array in 92-m-deep water at a range of 2.2 km. For both of the examples, SIC is shown to improve the output SNR in the presence of strong interference over time-reversal processing alone. This translates to a significant bit error rate (BER) reduction from 1.53 × 10-2 to 8.80 × 10-4 for the FAF-05 data and from 1.77 × 10-3 to error-free decoding for the FAF-06 data.
Metronidazole toxicity presenting with acute onset of aphasia and right sided weakness

We report a 37-year-old man with a history of cirrhosis and methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia who presented from a nursing home with 1 week of progressive confusion followed by acute onset of aphasia, forced left eye deviation and right sided weakness. While clinical presentation was concerning for a left middle cerebral artery stroke, MRI was consistent with leukoencephalopathy. The man had been on metronidazole for 2 months for treatment of Clostridium difficile infection. This case exemplifies a stroke mimic to be considered when a patient presents with an acute focal neurological deficit.
Resilience to Degree-Dependent and Cascading Node Failures in Random Geometric Networks

This paper studies the problem of resilience to node failures in large-scale networks modelled by random geometric graphs. Adopting a percolation-based viewpoint, the paper investigates the ability of the network to maintain global communication in the face of dependent node failures. Degree-dependent site percolation processes on random geometric graphs are examined, and the first known analytical conditions are obtained for the existence and non-existence, respectively, of a large connected component of operational network nodes after degree-dependent node failures. In electrical power networks or wireless communication and computing networks, cascading failure from power blackouts or virus epidemics may result from a small number of initial node failures triggering global failure events affecting the whole network. With the use of a simple but descriptive model, it is shown that the cascading failure problem is equivalent to a degree-dependent percolation process. The first analytical conditions are obtained for the occurrence and non-occurrence of cascading failures, respectively, in large-scale networks with geometric constraints.
Working on the Elizabeth River

Abstract A fragile and contaminated ecosystem, intense industrial activity, and human inhabitation struggle to coexist along the Elizabeth River. In three intertwined projects, we have developed translatable urban and architectural strategies interdependent with ecological regeneration, while demonstrating the didactic value of design in public environmental education. This design research model operates at multiple scales, reaches out to diverse communities, plans for varying, overlapping periods of time, and makes positive change in the world.
Design of the First Interplanetary Solar Electric Propulsion Mission

Deep Space 1 was the e rst interplanetary mission to be propelled by solar electric propulsion. The detailed design, development, and analysis of its trajectory have led to important new insights into the design of low-thrust trajectories. Tying the testing of solar electric propulsion technology to an operational mission has allowed the identie cation of trajectory design issues that were not considered in concept studies, such as constraints on the spacecraft attitude and periods of thrusting or coasting that are dictated by reasons other than trajectory considerations. Models of the spacecraft performance unimportant for trajectory analysisin missions using conventional chemical propulsion are intimately connected with the design of the trajectory when solar electric propulsion is employed.In addition, massmargin is notsufe cientto assessa low-thrustmission. Unplanned thrust interruptions may result in a situation in which the propulsion system cannot provide sufe cient impulse to compensate for the lost thrust in time to reach encounter targets. Mission margin (as distinct from mass margin ) is a quantie cation of the mission’ s susceptibility to loss of thrust and is an important indicator of mission robustness for low-thrust trajectories.
Clear Cell Sarcoma or Malignant Melanoma of Soft Parts: Molecular Analysis of Microsatellite Instability with Clinical Correlation

Malignant melanoma of soft parts, also termed clear cell sarcoma (CCS), is a rare malignancy of neural crest origin which is different from cutaneous malignant melanoma. Although a translocation involving chromosomes 12 and 22 is characteristic of clear cell sarcoma and not malignant melanoma, there are a paucity of methods to differentiate the two. Therefore, a study of microsatellite instability (MIN) was undertaken to determine if mechanisms of DNA mismatch repair can differentiate these malignancies. MIN has been described in a variety of malignancies including 25% of malignant melanomas. Paraffin-embedded neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells were obtained from 11 individuals (five males; six females; age range from seven to 60 years) with CCS. Isolated DNA was PCR amplified at 17 separate microsatellite loci using radioactive-labeled primers. Tumor tissue was compared to normal tissue for each analysis. No MIN was detected. Loss of heterozygosity was detected in only one patient at a single locus (IFNA). The lack of MIN in clear cell sarcoma further defines the distinction between this tumor and malignant melanoma. Clinically, local recurrence and metastasis were indicators of poor outcome. The size of the tumor was not a significant prognostic indicator. Local recurrence, satellitosis, or nodal metastasis was not proven to be uniformly fatal. Utilization of chemotherapy and/or radiation demonstrated no obvious survival advantage. The histologic parameters of mitotic rate and the presence of necrosis were not prognostic. Limb-preserving surgical procedures were as effective as amputation for local disease control. The actuarial survival rate was calculated to be 48% at five years.
Thoracic Duct Embolization and Disruption for Treatment of Chylous Effusions: Experience with 105 Patients

Abstract Purpose To review the indications, technical approach, and clinical outcomes of thoracic duct embolization (TDE) and thoracic duct disruption (TDD) in patients with symptomatic chylous effusions. Materials and Methods A total of 105 patients who underwent 120 consecutive TDE/TDD procedures were retrospectively reviewed. Data including cause of effusion, procedural technique, and pre- and postprocedural effusion volume were analyzed. Technical and clinical success were evaluated for each procedure, with technical success defined as successful interruption of the thoracic duct by embolization or needle disruption and clinical success defined as resolution of effusion without surgical intervention. Results The technical success rate was 79% (95 of 120); 53 TDEs were performed, resulting in a 72% clinical success rate (n = 38), whereas 42 TDDs showed a 55% clinical success rate (n = 23; P = .13). Procedures to treat postpneumonectomy chylous effusions had a success rate of 82% (14 of 17), compared with 47% (nine of 19) in postpleurectomy subjects ( P P P P Conclusions TDE and TDD are safe and effective minimally invasive treatments for traumatic thoracic duct injuries. In the present series, factors affecting procedural success included etiology of effusion, postprocedural effusion volume, and rate of postprocedural effusion volume reduction.
Egg consumption in relation to cardiovascular disease and mortality: the Physicians' Health Study

Background Reduction in dietary cholesterol is recommended to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although eggs are important sources of cholesterol and other nutrients, limited and inconsistent data are available on the effects of egg consumption on the risk of CVD and mortality.
Implementing hypertext database relationships through aggregations and exception

In order to combine hypertext with database facilities, we show how to extract an effective storage structure from given instance relationships. The schema of the structure recognizes clusters and exceptions. Extracting high-level structures is useful for providing a high performance browsing environment as well as efficient physical database design, especially when handling large amounts of data. This paper focuses on a clustering method, ACE, which generates aggregations and exceptions from the original graph structure in order to capture high level relationships. The problem of minimizing the cost function is NP-complete. We use a heuristic approach based on an extended Kernighan-Lin algorithm. We demonstrate our method on a hypertext application and on a standard random graph, compared with its analytical model. The storage reductions of input database size in main memory were 77.2% and 12.3%, respectively. It was also useful for secondary storage organization for efflcient retrieval.
A randomized trial of intravenous ketorolac versus intravenous metoclopramide plus diphenhydramine for tension-type and all nonmigraine, noncluster recurrent headaches.

Study objective We compare metoclopramide 20 mg intravenously, combined with diphenhydramine 25 mg intravenously, with ketorolac 30 mg intravenously in adults with tension-type headache and all nonmigraine, noncluster recurrent headaches. Methods In this emergency department (ED)–based randomized, double-blind study, we enrolled adults with nonmigraine, noncluster recurrent headaches. Patients with tension-type headache were a subgroup of special interest. Our primary outcome was a comparison of the improvement in pain score between baseline and 1 hour later, assessed on a 0 to 10 verbal scale. We defined a between-group difference of 2.0 as the minimum clinically significant difference. Secondary endpoints included need for rescue medication in the ED, achieving headache freedom in the ED and sustaining it for 24 hours, and patient's desire to receive the same medication again. Results We included 120 patients in the analysis. The metoclopramide/diphenhydramine arm improved by a median of 5 (interquartile range 3, 7) scale units, whereas the ketorolac arm improved by a median of 3 (IQR 2, 6) (95% confidence interval [CI] for difference 0 to 3). Metoclopramide+diphenhydramine was superior to ketorolac for all 3 secondary outcomes: the number needed to treat for not requiring ED rescue medication was 3 (95% CI 2 to 6); for sustained headache freedom, 6 (95% CI 3 to 20); and for wish to receive the same medication again, 7 (95% CI 4 to 65). Tension-type headache subgroup results were similar. Conclusion For adults who presented to an ED with tension-type headache or with nonmigraine, noncluster recurrent headache, intravenous metoclopramide+diphenhydramine provided more headache relief than intravenous ketorolac.
Cost structure in college and university student health centres: comment

Brady, Assane and Karstensson in their earlier paper (1994) in this journal estimated a translog cost model of college and university health centres. They reported economies of scale estimates, as well as mean value elasticity estimates for factor demands and substitutions. In this comment, we: (1) correct their implied assumption that the pairwise, cross-price elasticities of factor substitutions are symmetrical, and (2) use their factor cost shares and regression parameter estimates to compute asymptotic standard errors for the various elasticities in order to test their statistical significance. Extended implications from our findings are discussed.
Regulatory T cells dampen pulmonary inflammation and lung injury in an animal model of pneumocystis pneumonia.

CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells are decreased in patients infected with HIV and have been shown to be critical in mediating Ag tolerance in the lung. Because a subset of Pneumocystis-infected individuals develop substantial lung injury, which can be modeled in immune reconstituted scid mice, we used mouse models of Pneumocystis carinii to investigate the role of regulatory T cells in opportunistic infection and immune reconstitution. In this study, we show that CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ cells are part of the host response to Pneumocystis in CD4+ T cell-intact mice. Moreover, lung injury and proinflammatory Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung homogenate were increased following CD4+CD25− immune reconstitution in Pneumocystis-infected SCID mice but not in CD4+CD25+ T cell-reconstituted animals. The ability of CD4+CD25+ T cells to control inflammation and injury during the course of Pneumocystis was confirmed by treatment of wild-type C57BL/6 mice with anti-CD25 mAb. These data show that CD4+CD25+ T cells control pulmonary inflammation and lung injury associated with Pneumocystis infection both in the setting of immune reconstitution as well as new acquisition of infection.
Self-Efficacy: The Learning Component in Schools

Self-efficacy is the internal control mechanism (confidence and intrinsic desire) that allows students to succeed academically and achieve psychological well-being and happiness (Taylor et al. 2000). Children must have positive self-efficacy if they are to learn, but simply distorting grading scales under the disguise of preserving self-esteem will not help students learn (Baumeister et al. 2005). Self-esteem and self-efficacy are not the same, and it is self-efficacy, not self-esteem, that helps students learn (Bandura 1977; Clanton Harpine 2008).
Does Pre-Service Preparation Matter? Examining an Old Question in New Ways.

BackgroundOver the past decade, most of the quantitative studies on teacher preparation have focused on comparisons between alternative and traditional routes. There has been relatively little quan...
Probenecid and N-Acetylcysteine Prevent Loss of Intracellular Glutathione and Inhibit Neuronal Death after Mechanical Stretch Injury In Vitro.

Probenecid and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can preserve intracellular levels of the vital antioxidant glutathione (GSH) via two distinct biochemical pathways. Probenecid inhibits transporter-mediated GSH efflux and NAC serves as a cysteine donor for GSH synthesis. We hypothesized that probenecid and NAC alone would maintain intracellular GSH concentrations and inhibit neuronal death after traumatic stretch injury, and that the drugs in combination would produce additive effects. Sex-segregated rat primary cortical neurons were treated with probenecid (100 μM) and NAC (50 μM), alone and in combination (Pro-NAC), then subjected to mechanical stretch (10s-1 strain rate, 50% membrane deformation). At 24 h, both probenecid and NAC inhibited trauma-induced intracellular GSH depletion, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and propidium iodide (PI) uptake in both XY- and XX-neurons. Combined Pro-NAC treatment was superior to probenecid or NAC alone in maintenance of intracellular GSH and neuronal death assessed by PI uptake. Interestingly, caspase 3 activity 24 h after mechanical trauma was more prominent in XX-neurons, and treatment effects (probenecid, NAC, and Pro-NAC) were observed in XX- but not XY-neurons; however, XY-neurons were ultimately more vulnerable to mechanical stretch-induced injury than their XX counterparts, as was evidenced by more neuronal death detected by LDH release and PI uptake. In addition, after stretch injury in HT22 hippocampal cells, both NAC and probenecid were highly effective at reducing oxidative stress detected by dichlorofluorescein fluorescence. These in vitro data support further testing of this drug combination in models of traumatic neuronal injury in vivo.
Explaining query answers with explanation-ready databases

With the increased generation and availability of big data in different domains, there is an imminent requirement for data analysis tools that are able to 'explain' the trends and anomalies obtained from this data to a range of users with different backgrounds. Wu-Madden (PVLDB 2013) and Roy-Suciu (SIGMOD 2014) recently proposed solutions that can explain interesting or unexpected answers to simple aggregate queries in terms of predicates on attributes. In this paper, we propose a generic framework that can support much richer, insightful explanations by preparing the database offline, so that top explanations can be found interactively at query time. The main idea in such explanation-ready databases is to pre-compute the effects of potential explanations (called interventions), and efficiently re-evaluate the original query taking into account these effects. We formalize this notion and define an explanation-query that can evaluate all possible explanations simultaneously without having to run an iterative process, develop algorithms and optimizations, and evaluate our approach with experiments on real data.