cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spawning migration movements of Mutton Snapper in Tortugas, Florida: Spatial dynamics within a marine reserve network

Abstract A marine reserve’s effectiveness for sustaining transient spawning reef fish populations is dependent on inclusion of fish spawning aggregations and consideration of the natural spatial boundaries of the populations themselves. Seasonal migrations of Mutton Snapper Lutjanus analis between protected nearshore areas and spawning grounds on Riley’s Hump in Dry Tortugas, Florida, were assessed from 2008 to 2012 by acoustic telemetry. Individual fish showed synchronized reproductive migrations (up to 5 trips fish−1 yr−1) from resident habitats to spawning grounds swimming at an estimated 63 ± 18 cm s−1 (mean ± SD) over minimum linear distances up to 35.2 km. Migrations occurred from April to August, corresponding with the lunar cycle and an increase in water temperature from 25 to 30 °C. Fish arrived on spawning grounds on the full moon and stayed for 7 ± 2 d (mean ± SD). Observations of multiple spawning events made one to five days after the full moon in the late afternoon confirm these movements as spawning migrations. Functional migration areas (109.59 ± 61.01 km2; mean ± SD), which included estimates of staging/courtship/spawning area (4.51 ± 1.84 km2 [mean ± SD]) and home site area (2.50 ± 1.31 km2 [mean ± SD]), were combined to estimate the minimum catchment area of the population studied (291.3 km2). Although this study focuses on movements and habitat use of a single fish species in the Tortugas, the results are relevant to the design of marine reserve networks intended to protect and manage fishes that undergo transient spawning migrations in other locations as well.
Health Implications of Climate Change: a Review of the Literature About the Perception of the Public and Health Professionals

Through a systematic search of English language peer-reviewed studies, we assess how health professionals and the public, worldwide, perceive the health implications of climate change. Among health professionals, perception that climate change is harming health appears to be high, although self-assessed knowledge is low, and perceived need to learn more is high. Among the public, few North Americans can list any health impacts of climate change, or who is at risk, but appear to view climate change as harmful to health. Among vulnerable publics in Asia and Africa, awareness of increasing health harms due to specific changing climatic conditions is high. Americans across the political and climate change opinion spectra appear receptive to information about the health aspects of climate change, although findings are mixed. Health professionals feel the need to learn more, and the public appears open to learning more, about the health consequences of climate change.
A review of literature: An examination of the correlation between attachment styles and adolescent girls’ sexual behaviors

This literature review examines eight studies of parental attachment styles, sexual behavior, and health outcomes among adolescent girls. The review focuses on studies that analyzed the perceived r...
Soils of the lowland forests of West and Central Africa

The forest zone of West and Central Africa comprises the coastal and adjacent inland regions bounded the semi-deciduous forests in the west and the equatorial forests in central Africa and the Congo basin. Sedimentary plains, developed mostly on weathered sandy materials, lie along the coastal stretches and cover vast areas of the Congo basin. Behind the coast the plain rises gradually to hills and plateaus of much lower elevation than those of the highlands of East Africa. Two great rivers, the Niger and the Congo, which discharge huge volumes of fresh water to the Atlantic Ocean, are major contributors to the hydrological cycles of the rain forests ecosystems of the Guinea–Congo Region. The Niger originates from the forested highlands of Guinea and discharges its waters into the Bight of Benin by way of a large delta in southern Nigeria. The Congo basin occupies an immense area of 750 000 km 2 , surrounded by Pre-Cambrian uplands. The alluvial floor of the saucer-shaped basin is flat, and marshes and swamps comprise a large proportion of the total area. The highlands and plateaus along the rim are low to the west and north and higher to the south. To the east, they merge with the mountains of the Great Rift Valley of East Africa (Gann & Duignan 1972; Hance 1975; Grove 1978; Hamilton 1989).
Attention Process Training-3 to improve reading comprehension in mild aphasia: A single-case experimental design study.

People with aphasia frequently present with nonlinguistic deficits, in addition to their compromised language abilities, which may contribute to their problems with reading comprehension. Treatment...
Removal of Atrial Myxoma

This new technique offers a better exposure for removal of left atrial myxoma and does not entail a posterior suture line difficult to inspect at the end.
Catalytically Inactive Endoglycosidases as Microbial Diagnostic Reagents: Chitinases and Lysozymes as Fungal and Bacterial Capture/Label Agents

Publisher Summary Catalytically disabled forms of enzymes have been used as carbohydrate recognition and detection systems. Such mutated enzymes have been developed for detection of bacterial infections and fungal infections. Such enzymes have low turnover number rendering them “catalytically inactive” in the time frame of the observation event. Therefore endoglycosidases employed as fungal or bacterial detection systems in a “catalytically inactive mode,” utilize only their binding specificity. The use of cell wall polymer degradative enzymes as targeted diagnostic agents has several advantages such as high specificity for the target polymer, high avidity, much more economical than antibodies, and no nonspecific binding in human tissues. Catalytically inactive enzymes constitute a new class of capture/label reagents useful in the several types of assays, including slide-based stains, fluorescence, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), dipsticks, latex agglutination assays, skin disclosure stains (skin, nail fungi, onchyomycosis), flow cytometry (for bacteria or yeast forms of fungi), and surface plasmon resonance.
DEMONSTRATION OF A LOW COST FLYWHEEL IN AN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM

ABSTRACT The Applied Physics Laboratory has been engaged for the past eighteen months in a program for the Department of Energy involving the development of very low cost flywheels, such as those which would be used in individual home or factory energy storage systems. A significant part of this program also included the development of low loss, long life bearing systems. The flywheel development explored a number of promising low cost materials and produced flywheel configurations which were projected for a large scale production cost of about $50 per kilowatt hour. While this is comparable to the initial cost of competing lead-acid batteries, it is noted that, unlike the batteries, the flywheel would not have to be replaced several times during the life of the system. The bearing systems evaluated were based upon the use of otherwise conventional ball bearings which were arranged in special configurations so as to minimize their requirements for size and rotation speed. Bearing configurations were demonstrated which exhibited losses of the order of one watt per one hundred pounds of flywheel. The success of this program warrants consideration of proceeding with a full scale system demonstration, based upon the design projections of the subject program.
Structural Basis of Signal Transduction in the TNF Receptor Superfamily

Members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily play key roles in innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we review recent structural studies in the intracellular signal transduction of these receptors. A central theme revealed from these structural studies is that upon ligand binding, multiple intracellular proteins form higher-order signaling machines to transduce and amplify receptor activation information to different cellular fates, including NF-κB activation, apoptosis, and programmed necrosis. These studies open a new vista for understanding the biophysical principles in these signaling cascades.
Radioisotope Micropower Generation: 3D Silicon Electronvoltaics

In this chapter, the application of high power density (1–2 W/cc) and high energy density (100–200MJ/cc) 147Pm fuel in 1–20mW/cc, 5 year lifetime microbatteries is explored. The resulting >220 W-h/cc microbatteries could potentially replace the currently employed 1–10 W-h/cc electrochemical batteries [18] and enable longer lifetime autonomous microsystems
The Potential of Precipitation Remote Sensing for Water Resources Vulnerability Assessment in Arid Southwestern United States

Water resources decision making in semiarid regions is driven by the need to have reliable water supplies of adequate quality, in the face of stressed surface water, and dwindling groundwater supplies. In recent years, remote sensing data sets have emerged as major sources of information on hydrologic variables. In this chapter, after a brief discussion on remote sensing of precipitation, the potential applications of satellite-based data to drought monitoring, flood forecasting and water resources management are highlighted. It is hoped that this introduction motivates greater utilization of satellite data in water resources management and decision making.
Hemagglutination Assays for the Diagnosis and Prevention of IgA Anaphylactic Transfusion Reactions

Passive hemagglutination assays (PHA) may be used to detect IgA antibodies to confirm clinical diagnoses of suspected IgA anaphylactic transfusion reactions. Passive hemagglutination inhibition assays (PHIA) may be used to identify IgA-deficient blood donors whose plasma- containing components are transfused to prevent anaphylactic transfusion reactions in prospective recipients at risk because of the presence of IgA antibodies. Using a standard PHA, we detected class- specific anti-IgA in 76.3% of 80 IgA-deficient patients with a history of an anaphylactic transfusion reaction, and in 21.7% of 97 asymptomatic IgA-deficient blood donors or their IgA-deficient family members. Using PHIA, we confirmed IgA deficiency (< 0.05 mg/dL) for the donors of 525 plasma-containing blood components that were transfused without acute clinical reactions to 48 IgA-deficient recipients with anti-IgA and/or a history of an anaphylactic transfusion reaction. The frequency of IgA-deficiency with class-specific anti-IgA among 32,376 random blood donors was 0.08% (1/1,200). The combined use of PHA for detecting anti-IgA and PHIA for measuring IgA concentration provides an effective and safe strategy for the diagnosis and prevention of IgA anaphylactic transfusion reactions. However, PHA for anti-IgA lacks specificity for identifying persons who are truly at risk for significant anaphylactic transfusion reactions. The consequence is an overdiagnosis of IgA anaphylactic transfusion reactions and an overestimation of the number of persons at risk for IgA anaphylactic transfusion reactions because of the detection of an IgA antibody in their serum.
1.15 – Packaging

The chapter provides an overview of packaging concepts for microsystems and in particular microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The chapter starts with a brief summary of microelectronics packaging, highlighting the concept of different packaging levels, chip interconnection techniques, and standard integrated circuit packages. The first section concludes with a comparison of microelectronics and microsystems packaging requirements. The second part of the chapter covers zero-level packaging concepts, i.e. wafer-level packaging processes, which encapsulate the fragile MEMS/microsystem components before the dicing step. The last part of the chapter is dedicated to first-level packages for microsystems, covering dicing, die attach and interconnect, and various concepts for non-electrical feedthroughs. The final section is enriched by a number of microsystem examples, which utilize ceramic packages, metal packages, plastic packages or chip-on-board technologies.
Factors Influencing the Control of Virus Infections by Natural Killer Cells

It has long been speculated that natural killer (NK) cells play a role in natural resistance to and regulation of virus infections.(1) Reviewed elsewhere in this volume is evidence that suggests a role for NK cells in cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus, and influenza virus infections. Proving definitively that NK cells provide resistance to viruses has been virtually impossible in man and difficult in animal models, many of which are currently beset with contradictory studies. Perhaps the most accurate conclusion from the available evidence is that NK cells regulate some but not all virus infections and that virus dose and inoculation routes and host species, age, and target organ may all influence the relative importance of the NK cells.
Introduction: The Purpose of This Book

This book is a review of my own thought processes and step-by-step surgical techniques, tips, tricks, and pearls that I use every day to perform a vasovasostomy or a vasoepididymostomy. This is a working doctor’s hands-on manual based on a career of real-world, practical lessons learned with thousands of reversals. The intent of this book is to provide a number of ideas or points that you may find useful and so will incorporate into your own reversal techniques to improve your outcomes for your patients. This book includes the rationale behind intraoperative decision-making as well as how I handle common and uncommon challenges and dilemmas before, during, and after vasectomy reversals.
ON THE VITALI-HAHN-SAKS THEOREM

In this paper we generalize the classical Vitali-Hahn-Saks theorem to sets of countably additive vector measures which are compact in the strong operator topology. The main result asserts that a set of countably additive vector measures which is compact in the strong operator topology is uniformly countably additive. We accomplish this by first studying the properties of linear operators from Y *, the dual of a Banach space Y, into a Banach space X which are continuous with respect to the Mackey topology τ(Y *,Y) on Y* and the norm topology on X, and then applying the results to the special case where Y = L 1(μ) and Y * = L ∞(μ). Other related results on vector measures are also included.
Implementation of Revised Nutrition Standards in US Department of Agriculture's Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Abstract Objective In October 2017, substantial changes were made to improve the nutritional quality of meals served in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This study describes the experience of child care providers and sponsors during the first year of implementation. Methods A 1-time survey was administered to CACFP sponsors in Delaware 1 year after implementation of the changes. Data analysis included frequencies and chi-square tests of independence. Results Among respondents (n = 137), 21% faced moderate or significant challenges. Food cost (53.1%) and communicating with parents about changes (44.6%) were the most common challenges faced. The majority reported that parents supported the changes and that children and teachers generally ate the new food. Conclusions and Implications A minority of providers in Delaware faced significant challenges, suggesting that broad changes to CACFP may be feasibly implemented across settings. Training focused on food cost and parent communication may be warranted.
A Balance Between Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules Maintains Nuclear Architecture in the Cardiomyocyte.

Rationale: Mechanical forces are transduced to nuclear responses via the linkers of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, which couples the cytoskeleton to the nuclear lamina and asso...
Microparticle sorting with a microfluidic system and ultrasonic standing waves

In earlier work, our research group developed a technology to sort microparticles in a microfluidic system fabricated within a rigid polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, acrylic) prism, sandwiched by lead-zirconium-titanate (PZT) wafers that operate in through-thickness mode (with inertial backing) to produce standing bulk waves. The overall configuration is compact, solid, and mechanically robust. The “tilted angle” geometry (orienting the microfluidic channel skew with respect to the standing wave node lines) enables robust separation, whereby particles of different sizes can separate by multiples of the node line spacing; the microparticles display undulating trajectories, where deviation from the straight path increases with particle diameter and excitation voltage. Our earlier work involved particles with large size differences, exemplified by separating 2 μm particles from 15 μm particles, or by separating red blood cells from white blood cells. In this paper we describe our recent results separating 2 μm particles (polystyrene spheres) from 6 μm particles. We describe challenges faced by researchers working with these experimental systems, including the following examples: internal reflections can produce standing wave nodes additional to those predicted by a simple model; particles are observed through a microscope, but the limited depth-of-field places some particles in focus and others out of focus; the conditions in the microfluidic channel vary over relatively short time intervals, including thermal variations produced by the excitation process; and, there exist tradeoffs in choosing an acoustic couplant between the PZT wafers and the PMMA prism. Nonetheless, we show effective separation of microparticles of different sizes.
The Fuzzy Logic Advisor for Social Judgments: A First Attempt

A fuzzy logic advisor (FLA), which is a nonlinear device that accepts numeric measurements as inputs and provides a linguistic value at its output, is developed for one specific type of social judgment, judgments of flirtation. Qualitative and quantitative descriptions of the FLA and a nine step methodology for designing the FLA are given. The FLA is compared against traditional regression models; it provides at least an order of magnitude better performance, which demonstrates that a FLA may indeed be applied to enhance our predictability of social judgments above and beyond that provided using traditional linear models. The implications and applications of such FLAs for assessing social judgments are discussed. Finally, why this is just a “first attempt” is explained.
Chapter 82 – Condition Critical: Compliance and Persistence with Osteoporosis Medications

Since the introduction of alendronate as the first bisphosphonate approved for osteoporosis prevention and treatment, compliance and persistence with osteoporosis medications has been a serious problem for healthcare professionals and patients alike. Initially, it seemed as though forgetfulness was most problematic in influencing patients not to take medications as directed. However, studies began to show that intentional nonadherence—that is, choosing deliberately not to take a medication—is what is driving poor medication-related behaviors. Extended dosing intervals, different drug delivery methods, and other changes seem not to have improved how patients take their medicine, especially not for an asymptomatic disease. In addition, primary nonadherence (never filling the prescription) may account for over one-quarter of the problems we face in trying to treat this devastating disease.
Poetics of Debt: Disruptive Realism in Bamako and The Headless Woman

This chapter begins with an overview of the academic literature on the social consequences of neoliberal debt regimes. There is a discussion of how documentary realism is used in Abderrahmane Sissako’s Bamako (2006) to foreground the heightened antagonisms between creditors and debtors in the neoliberal era. The politicization of debt in Bamako is related to the work of African debt resistance organizations, the abstractions of neoliberal credit systems and the apolitical tendencies of earlier art cinema. While Bamako criticizes international institutions, Lucrecia Martel’s The Headless Woman (2008) focuses on the impunity of the Argentine bourgeoisie. The critical perspectives of both films invert the selective moralism of neoliberal debt discourse. The chapter concludes with an analysis of how Bamako and The Headless Woman combine various forms of realism to explore social rather than financial conceptions of debt.
Design of Price and Advertising Elasticity Models

The marketing mix that a manager may deploy can affect the sales of a product and can be categorized under the traditional four Ps of marketing (product, price, promotion, and placement). But the perennial question managers face concerns the combination of these different marketing mix variables that will give them maximized sales, highest share, lowest inventory, or maximized margins. Quite often, these questions are answered by historical data: for example, past sales or market share for different levels of expenditures on these marketing mix variables. In this note, we consider the design of models that allow managers to obtain robust price and advertising elasticity estimates. Excerpt UVA-M-0805 Rev. Jun. 20, 2014 DESIGN OF PRICE AND ADVERTISING ELASTICITY MODELS Introduction The marketing mix that a manager may deploy can affect the sales of a product and can be categorized under the traditional four Ps of marketing (product, price, promotion, and placement). But the perennial question managers face concerns the combination of these different marketing-mix variables that will give them maximized sales, highest share, lowest inventory, or maximized margins. Quite often, these questions are answered by historical data: for example, past sales or market share for different levels of expenditures on these marketing-mix variables. In this note, we consider the design of models that allow managers to obtain robust price and advertising elasticity estimates. Consider the following scenario: Belvedere vodka was introduced in the United States in 1996. This vodka traced its roots back to the Warsaw suburb of Żyrardow, Poland, and its production process went back more than 600 years. Lately, it had begun to observe a decline in its overall share of the vodka market. The company suspected the cause to be new market entrants that were capturing market share with effective advertising. To sustain the growth rate and defend its share from the competition, Belvedere was considering two options: increasing its advertising expenditure and/or reducing the pricing. Such a scenario is very common for most brands during the various stages of their brand (or product) life cycles. The first step toward solving this issue is to estimate the elasticity of a brand to its price and advertising. . . .
The Centrosomal Swiss Army Knife: A combined in silico and in vivo approach to the structure-function annotation of SPD-2 provides mechanistic insight into its functional diversity

Abstract Centrosomes are organelles that function as hubs of microtubule nucleation and organization, with key roles in organelle positioning, asymmetric cell division, and ciliogenesis. Aberrant centrosome structure or function is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, developmental abnormalities, ciliopathies, and tumor development. A major regulator of centrosome biogenesis and function in C. elegans is the highly conserved protein Spindle-defective protein 2 (SPD-2), a homolog of the human CEP-192 protein. CeSPD-2 is required for centrosome maturation, centriole duplication, spindle assembly and cell polarity establishment. Despite its importance, the specific molecular mechanism of CeSPD-2 function is poorly understood. To address this gap in knowledge, we combined computational analysis with cell biology approaches to uncover structure-function relationships of CeSPD-2 that may shed mechanistic light on its function. Domain prediction analysis corroborated and refined previously identified coiled-coils and ASH (Aspm-SPD-2 Hydin) domains and identified new domains and motifs: an additional coiled-coil, a GEF domain, an Ig-like domain, and a PDZ-like domain. Our findings suggest that ASH domain belongs to the same superfold as PapD chaperone domains and Major Sperm Protein (MSP) domains within the larger Immunoglobulin superfamily. We have identified a large novel basic region in the CeSPD-2 ASH domain that harbors most of the predicted protein and nucleic acid contact residues in the ASH domain. In vivo, ASH::GFP localized to centrosomes and centrosome associated microtubules, and forms aggregates in the cytosol when overexpressed. This study lays the groundwork for designing rational hypothesis-based experiments for future analyses to further elaborate the mechanisms of CeSPD-2 function in vivo.
Assessing Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion Stagnation Conditions and Identifying Trends

Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) is a magneto-inertial fusion concept currently being investigated on Sandia's Z facility. In MagLIF an axial magnetic field of 10–30 T is applied to the cold fusion fuel, which is contained in a cm-scale beryllium can, called a liner. The fuel is then heated by a few-kJ, TW-class laser to around 100 eV, The current from the Z machine flows axially through the liner, causing it to implode. The magnetized, laser-heated fuel is compressed and heated to multi-keV temperatures.
Can Ensemble Machine Learning Improve the Accuracy of Severe Maternal Morbidity Screening in a Perinatal Database

Background Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is an important maternal health indicator, but existing tools to identify SMM have substantial limitations. Our objective was to retrospectively identify true SMM status using ensemble machine learning in a hospital database and to compare machine learning algorithm performance with existing tools for SMM identification. Methods We screened all deliveries occurring at Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA (2010-2011 and 2013-2017) using the CDC list of diagnoses and procedures for SMM, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and/or prolonged postpartum length of stay (PPLOS). We performed detailed medical record review to confirm case status. We trained ensemble machine learning (SuperLearner) algorithms, which "stack" predictions from multiple algorithms to obtain optimal predictions, on 171 SMM cases and 506 non-cases from 2010-2011, then evaluated the performance of these algorithms on 160 SMM cases and 337 non-cases from 2013-2017. Results Some SuperLearner algorithms performed better than existing screening criteria in terms of positive predictive value (0.77 versus 0.64, respectively) and balanced accuracy (0.99 versus 0.86, respectively). However, they did not perform as well as the screening criteria in terms of true-positive detection rate (0.008 versus 0.32, respectively) and performed similarly in terms of negative predictive value. The most important predictor variables were ICU admission and PPLOS. Conclusions Ensemble machine learning did not globally improve the ascertainment of true SMM cases. Our results suggest that accurate identification of SMM likely will remain a challenge in the absence of a universal definition of SMM or national obstetric surveillance systems.
Some Thoughts on MCDM: Myths and Ideas

Decision making is a most important function and process of management. It is one of the most pervasive problems of management and a pervasive problem in general. Multiple criteria decision making is an approach to decision making. It is the making of decisions taking into consideration multiple conflicting objectives. How do we make decisions? What is involved? There are many simple paradigms, and until recently about all that could be said was that you should list the alternatives, score them on certain dimensions, and then somehow aggregate the scores, and choose an alternative. Unfortunately, many excellent decision makers simply choose an alternative, based on instinct, intuition, or feel. Then they go on. Though that is fine in many cases; in some cases it is not. In this paper I consider some myths of decision making. I then propose some steps that we, as decision analysts and scientists, should consider taking to try to sensitize decision makers to thinking more about their decisions and making better decisions.
Total Neutron Reflection: Experiments and Analysis

The current status of the analysis of neutron reflectivity data is presented. The advantage of approximating the chemical depth profile by linear segments (rather than a histogram) is illustrated. An alternative method for obtaining the reflectivity analytically is derived and its performance compared to that of the Distorted Wave Born Approximation. Methods for inverting the measured reflectivity to obtain the profile are also discussed.
Comprehensive study of spectrum occupancy for 802.11b/g/n homogeneous networks

This paper presents a scheme for comprehensive experimental measurements of Wi-Fi networks spectrum occupancy in the ISM band. The work presented herein provides duty cycle measurements for single and multiple communicating Wi-Fi pairs. Duty cycle results are provided for 802.11b, g and n Wi-Fi standards at different throughput levels. Lower values were observed for 802.11b and g networks. Spectrum occupancy measurements are essential for wireless networks planning and deployment. This comes as a consequence of the ever increasing demand for spectrum to accommodate newly deployed wireless systems [1]. Duty cycle serves as a measure for spectrum busyness. Higher duty cycle levels directly impact other wireless links, which either refrain from transmission or suffer from increased errors. Such measurements assist other technologies in mitigating interference effects suffered from Wi-Fi by varying transmission parameters to accommodate measured duty cycle. Measurements also enable improved spectrum planning for the overcrowded 2.4GHz Industrial Scientific and Medical ISM band. Measurements were carried and validated using developed tools in both time domain and frequency domain. Results have shown that duty cycle is able to reach up to 98.9% with 802.11n three-communicating pairs.
Cosmology and Neutrinos, of fixed and variable mass

Thanks to recent data about the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), Large Scale Structures (LSS) and also Type Ia Supernovae (SNe), cosmology has become the most sensitive probe of some neutrino properties and a very sensitive probe of others, including non standard ones [1, 2, 3]. On the issue of v masses, cosmological observations play the dominant role nowadays: oscillation experiments test squared-mass differences, and other means of probing the absolute v mass are less sensitive. On the other hand, cosmology may have an even deeper connection with neutrinos, being at the very origin of their mass, according to the proposal of Mass Varying Neutrinos (MaVaNs) [5].
Heart block following propofol in a child

We present the case of a nine-year-old boy afflicted with Ondine's curse, who developed complete atrioventricular heart block after a single bolus of propofol for induction of anaesthesia for strabismus surgery. Ondine's curse, the other name for congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, is characterized by a generalized disorder of autonomic function. Propofol has no effect on the normal atrioventricular conduction system in humans but it reduces sympathetic activity and can highly potentiate other vagal stimulation factors. Heart block has been documented after propofol bolus use in adults but, to our knowledge, not in children. It would appear that propofol is not a good choice for anaesthesia in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.
Plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA4): a housekeeper for RT-PCR relative quantification of polytopic membrane proteins.

Background Although relative quantification of real-time RT-PCR data can provide valuable information, one limitation remains the selection of an appropriate reference gene. No one gene has emerged as a universal reference gene and much debate surrounds some of the more commonly used reference genes, such as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). At this time, no gene encoding for a plasma membrane protein serves as a reference gene, and relative quantification of plasma membrane proteins is performed with genes encoding soluble proteins, which differ greatly in quantity and in targeting and trafficking from plasma membrane proteins. In this work, our aim was to identify a housekeeping gene, ideally one that codes for a plasma membrane protein, whose expression remains the same regardless of drug treatment and across a wide range of tissues to be used for relative quantification of real-time RT-PCR data for ATP binding cassette (ABC) plasma membrane transporters.
What Davis Means for Constitutional and Statutory Interpretation

Recently the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Department of Revenue v. Davis. The Court addressed the so-called home state exemption, that is, the widespread practice of a state exempting from its income tax interest paid on bonds issued by the state itself without similarly exempting interest paid on bonds issued by other states. Resolving a conflict between state courts, a significantly divided Supreme Court held that the negative or dormant commerce clause does not prohibit home state exemptions.
Development and Evaluation of Food Safety Modules for K-12 Science Education

Career and educational opportunities in food science and food safety are underrecognized by K-12 students and educators. Additionally, misperceptions regarding nature of science understanding persist in K-12 students despite being emphasized as an important component of science education for over 100 y. In an effort to increase awareness concerning career and educational opportunities in food science and food safety and to improve the nature of science understanding among K-12 students, a series of problem-based learning modules was developed and pilot tested with a total of 61 K-12 students. Results of pre- and postevaluations and assessments indicated that (1) interest in science, food science, and food safety increased and (2) content knowledge related to the nature of science, food science, and food safety was improved. We further suggest that these modules provide opportunities for educators in traditional as well as extracurricular settings to demonstrate important concepts contained in the newly released Next Generation Science Standards.
Correlations between first documented cardiac rhythms and preceding telemetry in patients with code blue events

BACKGROUND Among in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) patients, the first cardiac rhythm documented on resuscitation records (FDR) is often used as a surrogate for arrest etiology. Although the FDR generally represents the electrical activity at the time of cardiopulmonary resuscitation initiation, it may not be the ideal rhythm to infer the arrest etiology. We hypothesized that a rhythm present earlier—at the time of the code blue call—would frequently differ from the FDR, because the FDR might represent the later stage of a progressive cardiopulmonary process. OBJECTIVE To evaluate agreement between FDR and telemetry rhythm at the time of code blue call. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING A 750-bed adult tertiary care hospital and a 240-bed adult inner city community hospital. PATIENTS Adult general ward patients monitored on the hospital's telemetry system during the 2 minutes prior to a code blue call for IHCA. INTERVENTION None. MEASUREMENTS Agreement between FDR and telemetry rhythm. RESULTS Among 69 IHCAs, agreement between FDR and telemetry was 65% (kappa = 0.37). Among 17 events with FDRs of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA), telemetry showed VTA in 12 (71%) and other organized rhythms in 5 (29%). Among 12 events with first documented rhythms of asystole, telemetry showed asystole in 3 (25%), VTA in 1 (8%), and other organized rhythms in 8 (67%). CONCLUSIONS The FDR had only fair agreement with the telemetry rhythm at the time of code blue call. The telemetry rhythm may be a useful adjunct to the FDR when investigating arrest etiology. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013;8:225–228. © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine.
On the Chemistry and Physical Properties of Flux and Floating Zone Grown SmB6 Single Crystals

Recent theoretical and experimental findings suggest the long-known but not well understood low temperature resistance plateau of SmB6 may originate from protected surface states arising from a topologically non-trivial bulk band structure having strong Kondo hybridization. Yet others have ascribed this feature to impurities, vacancies and surface reconstructions. Given the typical methods used to prepare SmB6 single crystals, flux and floating-zone procedures, such ascriptions should not be taken lightly. We demonstrate how compositional variations and/or observable amounts of impurities in SmB6 crystals grown using both procedures affect the physical properties. From X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and X-ray computed tomography experiments we observe that natural isotope containing (SmB6) and doubly isotope enriched (154Sm11B6) crystals prepared using aluminum flux contain co-crystallized, epitaxial aluminum. Further, a large, nearly stoichiometric crystal of SmB6 was successfully grown using the float-zone technique; upon continuing the zone melting, samarium vacancies were introduced. These samarium vacancies drastically alter the resistance and plateauing magnitude of the low temperature resistance compared to stoichiometric SmB6. These results highlight that impurities and compositional variations, even at low concentrations, must be considered when collecting/analyzing physical property data of SmB6. Finally, a more accurate samarium-154 coherent neutron scattering length, 8.9(1) fm, is reported.
Online diabetes education: design and evaluation with prospective diabetes camp counsellors.

An educational Website was designed by the Florida Initiative in Telehealth and Education group, and an online diabetes education test was developed using a sample of 60 children and young adults aged 8–22 years, all of whom had diabetes. The 31 items were analysed for item difficulty. Eight test items were eliminated as being unsuitable. The test was then used in 67 prospective diabetes counsellors (23 men, 44 women) who volunteered for a summer camp. Camp counsellors ranged in age from 17 to 33 years (mean 22 years, SD 3). The counsellors' mean pre-test scores were 80% and their mean post-test scores were 92%. There was a significant improvement (P < 0.001) of approximately 1.25 questions from pre- to post-test. This supports the use of the online educational Website for training individuals working with children with diabetes. The Website may prove to be useful for online education in other areas of diabetes management.
Hu Proteins Regulate Polyadenylation by Blocking Sites Containing U-rich Sequences *

A recent genome-wide bioinformatic analysis indicated that 54% of human genes undergo alternative polyadenylation. Although it is clear that differential selection of poly(A) sites can alter gene expression, resulting in significant biological consequences, the mechanisms that regulate polyadenylation are poorly understood. Here we report that the neuron-specific members of a family of RNA-binding proteins, Hu proteins, known to regulate mRNA stability and translation in the cytoplasm, play an important role in polyadenylation regulation. Hu proteins are homologs of the Drosophila embryonic lethal abnormal visual protein and contain three RNA recognition motifs. Using an in vitro polyadenylation assay with HeLa cell nuclear extract and recombinant Hu proteins, we have shown that Hu proteins selectively block both cleavage and poly(A) addition at sites containing U-rich sequences. Hu proteins have no effect on poly(A) sites that do not contain U-rich sequences or sites in which the U-rich sequences are mutated. All three RNA recognition motifs of Hu proteins are required for this activity. Overexpression of HuR in HeLa cells also blocks polyadenylation at a poly(A) signal that contains U-rich sequences. Hu proteins block the interaction between the polyadenylation cleavage stimulation factor 64-kDa subunit and RNA most likely through direct interaction with poly(A) cleavage stimulation factor 64-kDa subunit and cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 160-kDa subunit. These studies identify a novel group of mammalian polyadenylation regulators. Furthermore, they define a previously unknown nuclear function of Hu proteins.
Nigericin-stimulated ATPase activity in microsomal vesicles of tobacco callus

The effect of ionophores on K(+)-stimulated adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase; ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) activity of microsomal vesicles from tobacco callus was investigated. A nigericin-stimulated K(+)-ATPase activity was enriched in a purified microsomal fraction, which was obtained from the interphase of a dextran density gradient between 1.03 and 1.06 g/ml. The purified microsomal fraction was free of mitochondrial membranes and was composed partly of tightly sealed vesicles as indicated by the low K(+) permeability coefficient. The K(+)-dependent ATPase of this fraction was stimulated slightly by either carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) (29%) or valinomycin (31%) alone; this ATPase was significantly stimulated by a combination of CCCP and valinomycin (73%) or by nigericin alone (80%). The K(+)-ATPase activity was stimulated by nigericin at pH 6.5 but not at pH 8.5. At pH 6.5, the K(+)-ATPase was inhibited by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide but not by oligomycin. Nigericin stimulated the ATPase activity in the absence of initial KCl or pH gradients across the vesicle membrane. These results suggest that nigericin stimulates the ATPase activity by dissipating the H(+) or K(+) gradient or both, and support the hypothesis that the K(+)-ATPase mediates a H(+)/K(+) transport.
Strong magnetic coupling in the hexagonal R5Pb3 compounds (R=Gd–Tm)

Abstract We have synthesized the R 5 Pb 3 ( R =Gd–Tm) compounds in polycrystalline form and performed neutron scattering and magnetization measurements. For all R 5 Pb 3 reported here the Weiss temperatures θ W are several times smaller than the ordering temperatures T ORD , while the latter are remarkably high ( T ORD up to 275 K for R =Gd) compared to other known R – M binaries ( M =Si, Ge, Sn and Sb). The magnetic order changes from ferromagnetic (FM) in R =Gd, Tb to antiferromagnetic (AFM) in R =Dy–Tm. Below T ORD , the magnetization measurements together with neutron powder diffraction show complex magnetic behaviors and reveal the existence of up to three additional phase transitions, believed to be a result of large anisotropic exchange and/or crystal electric field effects, induced high anisotropy. The R 5 Pb 3 magnetic unit cells for R =Tb–Tm can be described with incommensurate magnetic wave vectors with spin modulation either along the c axis in R =Tb, Er and Tm, or within the ab plane in R =Dy and Ho.
Paramagnetic relaxation in inorganic complexes. I. Inhomogeneous hyperfine broadening

Abstract The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of stabilized sodium, potassium and rubidium atoms in benzene matrices at liquid helium temperatures were recorded. Sodium atoms, which exhibit two distinct 23Na spectra of different hyperfine and g-tensor interactions, appear to be stabilized in a substitutional position of the benzene lattice and in an interstitial site. Potassium and rubidium atoms, on the other hand, are stabilized only in the substitutional position. The linewidths of the paramagnetic resonance spectra of the alkali metals showed a strong dependence upon the nuclear spin quantum number mI. A distribution of Zeeman and hyperfine interactions over the alkali metal environments arising from crystal defects is capable of qualitatively accounting for this linewidth variation. If the high-field approximation is made and the distribution of Larmor precession times is assumed to arise from a distribution of hyperfine interactions, the linewidths is predicted to vary as mI2, while if both a distribution of Zeeman and hyperfine frequencies is assumed operative, the linewidth is predicted to depend upon both mI and mI2. When the linewidth expression is derived from the Breit-Rabi formulism, it is found that either a distribution of Zeeman interactions, a distribution of hyperfine interactions, or a combination of these interactions can give rise to linewidth variations which depend upon mI at least through the fourth power. Because of the complexity of the expressions involved, a quantitative test of the distribution models is not possible at this time. However, by studying the three alkali metals as a function of frequency (9.2−, 17.5−, 24.3−, and 35-GHz) and temperature, we were able to realize that the linewidth variations are qualitatively explained by a distribution of hyperfine frequencies. The linewidth expression derived from the high-field approximation suitably explains the potassium linewidths; however, the expression derived from the Breit-Rabi formulism is required to account for the linewidths of sodium and rubidium.
Evidence for vibrational mode-selectivity in the radiationless relaxation of a large molecule

Abstract Resonance fluorescence effects are absent in the two-photon-excited upper state fluorescence spectra of a centrosymmetric aromatic hydrocarbon. Spectra of states populated by radiationless relaxation are structured and sensitive to the excitation conditions. The results are interpreted in terms of vibration mode-selectivity of the internal conversion process between two highly excited singlet states.
Toward Developing an Education App Store

Creating a friction-free marketplace for the exchange of software and content for teaching and learning would contribute to solving the problem of how to best use this technology.
The superconducting transition temperature of disordered A-15 compounds

Abstract The universal depression of the superconducting transition temperature Tc in disordered A-15 compounds is examined. Results of energy band calculations are used to calculate Tc as a function of residual resistivity ϱo for a series of 10 different A-15 materials V3X and Nb3X, (X = Al, Ga, Si, GeandSn).
Methylphenidate slows reactions of children with attention deficit disorder during and after an error

A Sternberg memory search task was administered under placebo and methylphenidate to 42 children with cross-situational attention deficit disorder (ADD), 31 children with cross-situational ADD plus oppositional features, and 25 patients with marginal ADD. Overall, stimulant medication enhanced accuracy and speed. In addition, patients reacted faster on correct responses not preceded by an error than on errors (especially false alarms) or on correct responses following an error. The slowness during error reactions may reflect decreased confidence or confusion during stimulus classification. This uncertainty may also lead subjects to respond with greater caution, hence more slowly, on correct responses following errors. Notably, methylphenidate increased the slowing of reactions on error trials as well as on correct reactions following an error. Stimulant medication may augment subjects' persistence when they are uncertain or confused, thereby heightening caution and promoting accuracy on succeeding trials. Consistent with previous reports of the generality of enhancement of performance by stimulant medication, the impact of methylphenidate was comparable for the three subtypes of ADD studied.
The impact of multinational corporations

Abstract I am delighted to be here this afternoon and to participate in your programme. Since the conference theme is “The Impact of the Expanding Economy of Europe and the Response in Southern Africa” and my talk is entitled “The Impact of Multinational Corporations”, I will mesh the two topics.