cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hospital Mortality Rate Estimation for Public Reporting

Bayesian models are increasing fit to large administrative data sets and then used to make individualized recommendations. For instance, Medicare's Hospital Compare webpage provides information to patients about specific hospital mortality rates for a heart attack or Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). Hospital Compare's current recommendations are based on a random effects logit model with a random hospital indicator and patient risk factors. By checking the out of sample calibration of their individualized predictions against general empirical advice, we are led to substantial revisions of the Hospital Compare model for AMI mortality. As opposed to Hospital Compare, our revised models incorporate information about hospital volume, nursing staff, medical residents, and the hospital's ability to perform cardiovascular procedures, information that is clearly needed if a model is to make appropriately calibrated predictions. Additionally, we contrast several methods for summarizing a model's predictions for use by the public. We find that indirect standardization, as currently used by Hospital Compare, fails to adequately control for differences in patient risk factors, whereas direct standardization provides good control and is easy to interpret.
Innovations at the intersection of academia and practice: facilitating graduate nursing students' learning about quality improvement and patient safety.

Objective Quality and safety are high priorities for US hospitals today. This focus is likely to intensify, given the rapidly changing and complex health care environment. While health care organizations are initiating a number of strategies to improve care and respond to changing regulatory and policy requirements, many clinicians practicing in them have not received training on quality and safety as a part of their formal education. We describe an academic-practice partnership formed to educate graduate-level nursing students about health care quality and safety. Methods Our approach combines theories, methods, and tools of improvement with practice-based learning, thus providing students with an opportunity to apply improvement theories and methods in a health care setting. Student teams are paired with organizational preceptors to conduct projects that address improvement opportunities in health care organizations. Results We share the structures-processes-outcomes of our partnership, including the content of our course, development of projects, and how projects are used to facilitate shared student-faculty-organizational learning. Conclusions Suggestions are offered that address continued course improvement as well as broader improvements in the education of health professionals about quality and patient safety.
Unlimited capacity parallel quantity comparison of multiple integers.

Research has shown that integer comparison is quick and efficient. This efficiency may be a function of the structure of the integer comparison system. The present study tests whether integers are compared with an unlimited capacity system or a limited capacity system. We tested these models using a visual search task with time delimitation. The data from Experiment 1 and 2 indicate that integers are encoded, identified, and compared within an unlimited capacity system. The data from Experiment 3 indicates that second order magnitude comparisons are processed with a highly efficient limited capacity system.
Spectral interferometry for morphological imaging in in vitro fertilization (IVF)(Conference Presentation)

Morphological assessment of spermatozoa is of critical importance for in vitro fertilization (IVF), especially intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-based IVF. In ICSI, a single sperm cell is selected and injected into an egg to achieve fertilization. The quality of the sperm cell is found to be highly correlated to IVF success. Sperm morphology, such as shape, head birefringence and motility, among others, are typically evaluated under a microscope. Current observation relies on conventional techniques such as differential interference contrast microscopy and polarized light microscopy. Their qualitative nature, however, limits the ability to provide accurate quantitative analysis. Here, we demonstrate quantitative morphological measurement of sperm cells using two types of spectral interferometric techniques, namely spectral modulation interferometry and spectral multiplexing interferometry. Both are based on spectral-domain low coherence interferometry, which is known for its exquisite phase determination ability. While spectral modulation interferometry encodes sample phase in a single spectrum, spectral multiplexing interferometry does so for sample birefringence. Therefore they are capable of highly sensitive phase and birefringence imaging. These features suit well in the imaging of live sperm cells, which are small, dynamic objects with only low to moderate levels of phase and birefringence contrast. We will introduce the operation of both techniques and demonstrate their application to measuring the phase and birefringence morphology of sperm cells.
A comprehensive dose-response study of clomiphene citrate for enhancement of the primate ovarian/menstrual cycle

Despite the increasing use of clomiphene citrate (CC) in normally cycling women undergoing in vitro fertilization, comprehensive data on the dose-response effects of the drug are unavailable. Twenty-four adult, normally cycling monkeys were given CC on cycle days 5 through 9 in doses ranging from 1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg. Serum estradiol (E 2 ), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and progesterone were measured daily. CC stimulated an early, attenuated rise in serum LH which correlated with subsequent follicle development. Concurrently, serum E 2 rose to preovulatory levels. No significant increase in serum FSH concentration was seen as a result of CC therapy. No correlation was seen between CC dose and peak levels of E 2 , LH, or FSH. The ovulatory status of the treatment cycles was also independent of dose. The factors that modulate these hormonal changes may involve direct effects of CC, estrogen feedback, and/or ovarian factors as yet uncharacterized. The individual variation of ovarian response, however, appears to be independent of the dose of CC.
Evaluation of Aeroplane Metals

The material herein presented was gathered as part of a research project for the Bureau of Aeronautics (Structures Branch) of the U.S. Navy on “Evaluation of High Strength Aluminium Alloys.” The Bureau has released this material for independent publication. In this paper the physical constants determined are limited to elastic limit, yield stress, ultimate stress, modulus of elasticity, weight and ductility. The materials tested are primarily the new aluminium alloys 75 ST, R 301 T, and R 303 T. To offer an immediate basis of comparison for aluminium alloys, the aluminium alloy at present in common use, namely 24 ST, was also tested. To extend the scope of the project still further, a few tests on magnesium alloy and stainless steel were included.
Eight Years in the Wake of 9/11: A Terror Management Analysis of the Psychological Repercussions of the 9/11 Attacks

As we write this chapter, eight years have passed since the tragedy of September 11, 2001, when 19 members of al Qaeda hijacked and crashed multiple jet airliners into the Twin Towers and Pentagon, killing 2,974 people and striking terror in the hearts and minds of most Americans. While the initial worry, anger, patriotism and bloodlust caused by the 9/11 attacks seems largely to have subsided, psychological fallout from the attacks continues to influence contemporary American culture, its international standing, and concerns over the very real threat of international terrorism.
Topological Charge in Lattice Gauce Theory

Lattice regularization has proved to be succesful in the numerical solution of asymptotically free quantum field theories [1, 2]. However it is believed that lattice regularization changes the semicalssical structure of the theories considerably. The reason is that states of the continuum theory with different topological charge are connected by singular gauge transformations [3]. With finite lattice spacing there are no singularities. Consequently one expects no tunneling in lattice theories. The aim of the present study is to show the existence of topological structure in lattice gauge theory. I give a simple expression for the topological charge of lattice gauge theories in four dimensions and I present the preliminary result of a Monte Carlo calculation of the distribution of this quantity on a small lattice In SU(2) gauge theory. The measured distribution is compatible with the dilute gas picture of certain pseudoparticles.
Sex and the shifting biodiversity dynamics of marine animals in deep time

The fossil record of marine animals suggests that diversity-dependent processes exerted strong control on biodiversification: after the Ordovician Radiation, genus richness did not trend for hundreds of millions of years. However, diversity subsequently rose dramatically in the Cretaceous and Cenozoic (145 million years ago-present), indicating that limits on diversification can be overcome by ecological or evolutionary change. Here, we show that the Cretaceous-Cenozoic radiation was driven by increased diversification in animals that transfer sperm between adults during fertilization, whereas animals that broadcast sperm into the water column have not changed significantly in richness since the Late Ordovician (∼450 million years ago). We argue that the former group radiated in part because directed sperm transfer permits smaller population sizes and additional modes of prezygotic isolation, as has been argued previously for the coincident radiation of angiosperms. Directed sperm transfer tends to co-occur with many ecological traits, such as a predatory lifestyle. Ecological specialization likely operated synergistically with mode of fertilization in driving the diversification that began during the Mesozoic marine revolution. Plausibly, the ultimate driver of diversification was an increase in food availability, but its effects on the fauna were regulated by fundamental reproductive and ecological traits.
Children and the Natural Environment

Children are prepubertal human beings. The definition seems clear-cut. But what is the natural environment? And when we use the expression “children and the natural environment,” what kinds of relationships do we postulate? These appear to be straightforward questions but are not because the key terms have meanings that are elusive and laden with culturally biased values of which we may not be aware. It is necessary that we be aware of them and of our culturally conditioned categories of thought before we attempt detailed descriptive analyses.
Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A double-edged sword?

Cancer and autoimmunity can be viewed as differing consequences of deranged immune responses. The overexpression of certain molecules could result in development of cancer (failure of the immune system to control tumor cell growth), whereas oversuppression of the same molecules could lead to autoimmunity (failure of the immune system to regulate autoreactive responses). Hence, finely balanced immune surveillance against cancer and autoimmunity is critical.
Wiener chaos methods for linear stochastic advection-diffusion-reaction equations

In this chapter, we discuss numerical algorithms using Wiener chaos expansion (WCE) for solving second-order linear parabolic stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs). The algorithm for computing moments of the SPDE solutions is deterministic, i.e., it does not involve any statistical errors from generating random numbers.
PROCEDURAL AND ONE-YEAR OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH ROTATIONAL VERSUS ORBITAL ATHERECTOMY WITH MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY

Orbital atherectomy (OA) is a recently developed atherectomy device for severely calcified lesions. We studied 1149 consecutive patients with severely calcified lesions undergoing PCI between 1/2013 and 6/2016 requiring adjunctive atherectomy. We followed patients for procedural complications and 1
Spin-Spin Relaxation in La F 3

The present work is a study by nmr pulse techniques of the motion of fluorine atoms in lanthanum trifluoride as a function of temperature, between 100 and 560\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The experiments have been conducted with a single crystal of La${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$. The model for the motions derived from this study is the following: There are two types of fluorine nuclei, the spins $I$ and the spins $S$, located on different sublattices. Between 100 and 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, the motion of the spins $I$ is fast (i.e., such as to be appreciable in times shorter than the reciprocal of the rigid-lattice line width), and the motion of the spins $S$ is slow. There is an exchange of atoms between the two sublattices, the rate of which is slow up to about 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C and fast at higher temperature. The ratio of populations of the spins $I$ and $S$ is $\frac{{N}_{I}}{{N}_{S}}=2$. Approximate values are derived for the activiation energies associated with these two types of motion.
Salience as a simplifying metaphor for natural language generation

We have developed a simple yet effective technique for planning the generation of natural language texts that describe photographs of natural scenes as processed by the UMass VISIONS system. The texts follow the ordering on the scene's objects that is imposed by their visual salience — an ordering which we believe is naturally computed as a by-product of visual processing, and thus is available -- for free -- as the basis for generating simple but effective texts without requiring the complex planning machinery often applied in generation. We suggest that it should be possible to find structural analogs to visual salience in other domains and to build comparably simple generation schemes based on them. We look briefly at how one such analogy might be drawn for the task of tutoring novice PASCAL programmers.
Generation of closed transverse fractures in small animals.

The most common procedure that has been developed for use in rats and mice to model fracture healing is described. The nature of the regenerative processes that may be assessed and the types of research questions that may be addressed with this model are briefly outlined. The detailed surgical protocol to generate closed simple transverse fractures is presented and general considerations when setting up an experiment using this model are described.
Repeated pulmonary exposures to zinc ions enhance inflammatory responses to subsequent metal exposures.

AbstractAim of Study: Metal contaminants contribute to adverse human health effects via acute and chronic exposures. Acute metal exposures followed by prolonged secondary metal exposures may elicit exaggerated inflammatory responses in certain individuals. The aim of this study is to determine whether repeated pulmonary exposures to zinc chloride (ZnCl2) alter subsequent responses to zinc or cerium exposures. Materials and Methods: Rats were intratracheally (IT) instilled with physiologic saline (n = 24) or 0.05 mg/kg ZnCl2 (n = 16) twice weekly for 4 weeks. Four days after last dosing, the saline group was divided into three subgroups, each IT-instilled with either saline, ZnCl2 or CeCl3 (both at 0.1 mg/kg). The ZnCl2 pre-instilled rats were divided into two subgroups, each instilled with 0.1 mg/kg ZnCl2 or CeCl3. Biomarkers of lung injury/inflammation were assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid collected 24 hours later. Oxidative stress was evaluated as total and reduced glutathione in BAL. Resu...
Longitudinal Analyses of Pediatrician Burnout

Abstract Objective Utilize the unique capabilities of a longitudinal design to 1) examine whether burnout is increasing over time among 2 cohorts of pediatricians, and 2) identify factors associated with decreased burnout. Methods Data from a national longitudinal study, the American Academy of Pediatrics Pediatrician Life and Career Experience Study, were used to examine self-reported burnout over a 5-year period (2012 to 2016) among 2002 to 2004 and 2009 to 2011 residency graduates (N = 1804). Study participation rates ranged from 94% in 2012 to 85% in 2016. Mixed-effects logistic regression for longitudinal analysis was used to examine burnout over time. Results In any given year, between 20% and 35% of study pediatricians reported that they were currently experiencing burnout. Significant increases in burnout over time were found for all participants combined and for each subgroup examined. Several factors were associated with reduced burnout. The largest associations with reduced burnout were found for increased flexibility in work schedule (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22–0.35), decreased work busyness (aOR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.22–0.36), or a job change (aOR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.36–0.65). Conclusions Following 5 years of participation in a longitudinal study, more than 1 in 3 early- to mid-career pediatricians reported experiencing burnout. This represents a 75% relative increase in burnout from the start of the study. Specific characteristics of pediatricians’ jobs, such as flexible work schedules and busyness of work settings, were most strongly associated with reduced burnout.
Impact of Urology Resident Involvement on intraoperative, Long-Term Oncologic and Functional Outcomes of Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of resident involvement in robot assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy on oncologic, functional, and intraoperative outcomes, both short and long term. METHODS We queried our prospectively maintained database of prostate cancer patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy from November 20, 2007 to December 27, 2016. We analyzed cases performed by 1 surgeon on a specific day of the week when the morning case involved at least 1 resident (R) and the afternoon case involved the attending physician only (nonresident [NR]). We compared R versus NR on a number of clinical, perioperative, and oncological outcomes. RESULTS A total of 230 NR and 230 R cases met inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Over one third (36.7%) of the NR group was Gleason 4+3 (Grade Group 3) or higher, relative to 25.9% of the R group, P = .015. Median operative time (OT) was significantly longer for R versus NR (200 minutes versus 156 minutes, P<.001) as was robotic time (161 minutes versus119 minutes, P<.001). No significant differences were noted for any other measure. Median follow-up for oncological outcomes was 30 and 33.5 months for NR and R, respectively (P= .3). Median OT and median estimated blood loss were both significantly greater in later years relative to the earlier years for R (2012-2016 versus 2007-2011; P< .001 for OT; P= .041 for median estimated blood loss) but not for NR. CONCLUSION Neither safety nor quality is diminished by R involvement in robot assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.
Case report of a combined albendazole and praziquantel therapy in an adult female with neurocysticercosis and generalized tonic-clonic seizures

The use of albendazole monotherapy has been favored as the treatment option for neurocysticercosis. This case reports an incidence of neurocysticercosis in a 32-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department with a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Neurocysticercosis was confirmed by MRI of the brain and positive Taenia solium serologic test. The patient was treated with combined dual therapy of albendazole and praziquantel at standard doses for a minimum effective duration of 14 days in the setting of scarce patient resources. She tolerated therapy without any adverse reactions and remained seizure free. Repeat MRI scan post-treatment revealed the complete eradication of cysticerci. Clinicians should be aware of and consider the efficacy and safety of combined albendazole and praziquantel therapy for the treatment of neurocysticercosis.
The effect of stroke on micturition associated brain activity: A pilot fMRI study.

Objective Cerebral stroke is a unique model for studying the role of the brain in lower urinary tract (LUT) control. By its nature, stroke must change the activity of the brain to cause LUT dysfunction. The objective of this study was to describe changes in micturition-related brain activity in patients who develop LUT symptoms (LUTS) after a cerebral stroke. Materials and methods Healthy controls (HC, n = 10) and patients who developed storage LUTS after a cerebral stroke (n = 7) were recruited. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess brain activity in each subject. In the task-based block design, blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal was detected during rest, active bladder filling, and bladder voiding. BOLD signal intensity was compared between HCs and stroke subjects during bladder filling, voiding, and voiding initiation. Results Stroke subjects exhibited higher activity in the periaqueductal gray and cerebellum during bladder filling and bladder voiding. HCs exhibited more intense activity in higher centers, such as the cingulate cortex, motor cortex, and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in each of the phases examined. Conclusions Subjects with stroke-related LUTS exhibit a specific pattern of brain activity during bladder filling and voiding. There appears to be a greater reliance on primitive centers (cerebellum, midbrain) than in healthy controls during both phases of the micturition cycle. We hypothesize that these findings may reflect loss of connectivity with higher brain centers after a stroke.
Training elementary mathematics teachers in a one-semester course

W hen the writer joined the faculty of Houston Baptist University in 1968, he was given the assignment of prescribing the mathematics education training experiences for prospective elementary teachers. Since the college is primarily for the liberal arts and the curriculum includes a large number of required cources, there was only one three-semester-hour course available in which elementary teachers could be prepared in mathematics. A "prepared" teacher was defined as one who had -
Oxidative stress induced by the anti-cancer agents, plumbagin, and atovaquone, inhibits ion transport through Na+/K+-ATPase.

Oxidative stress inhibits Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA), the ion channel that maintains membrane potential. Here, we investigate the role of oxidative stress-mediated by plumbagin and atovaquone in the inhibition of NKA activity. We confirm that plumbagin and atovaquone inhibit the proliferation of three human (OVCAR-3, SKOV-3, and TYKNu) and one mouse (ID8) ovarian cancer cell lines. The oxygen radical scavenger, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), attenuates the chemotoxicity of plumbagin and atovaquone. Whole-cell patch clamping demonstrates that plumbagin and atovaquone inhibit outward and the inward current flowing through NKA in SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3. Although both drugs decrease cellular ATP; providing exogenous ATP (5 mM) in the pipet solution used during patch clamping did not recover NKA activity in the plumbagin or atovaquone treated SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells. However, pretreatment of the cells with NAC completely abrogated the NKA inhibitory activity of plumbagin and atovaquone. Exposure of the SKOV-3 cells to either drug significantly decreases the expression of NKA. We conclude that oxidative stress caused by plumbagin and atovaquone degrades NKA, resulting in the inability to maintain ion transport. Therefore, when evaluating compounds that induce oxidative stress, it is important to consider the contribution of NKA inhibition to their cytotoxic effects on tumor cells.
The Selenophosphate Synthetase Gene, selD, Is Important for Clostridioides difficile Physiology.

ABSTRACT The endospore-forming pathogen Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and is a significant burden on the community and health care. C. difficile, like all forms of life, incorporates selenium into proteins through a selenocysteine synthesis pathway. The known selenoproteins in C. difficile are involved in a metabolic process that uses amino acids as the sole carbon and nitrogen source (Stickland metabolism). The Stickland metabolic pathway requires the use of two selenium-containing reductases. In this study, we built upon our initial characterization of the CRISPR-Cas9-generated selD mutant by creating a CRISPR-Cas9-mediated restoration of the selD gene at the native locus. Here, we use these CRISPR-generated strains to analyze the importance of selenium-containing proteins on C. difficile physiology. SelD is the first enzyme in the pathway for selenoprotein synthesis, and we found that multiple aspects of C. difficile physiology were affected (e.g., growth, sporulation, and outgrowth of a vegetative cell post-spore germination). Using transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), we identified multiple candidate genes which likely aid the cell in overcoming the global loss of selenoproteins to grow in medium which is favorable for using Stickland metabolism. Our results suggest that the absence of selenophosphate (i.e., selenoprotein synthesis) leads to alterations to C. difficile physiology so that NAD+ can be regenerated by other pathways. IMPORTANCEC. difficile is a Gram-positive, anaerobic gut pathogen which infects thousands of individuals each year. In order to stop the C. difficile life cycle, other nonantibiotic treatment options are in urgent need of development. Toward this goal, we find that a metabolic process used by only a small fraction of the microbiota is important for C. difficile physiology: Stickland metabolism. Here, we use our CRISPR-Cas9 system to “knock in” a copy of the selD gene into the deletion strain to restore selD at its native locus. Our findings support the hypothesis that selenium-containing proteins are important for several aspects of C. difficile physiology, from vegetative growth to spore formation and outgrowth postgermination.
External Increasing Returns, Short-Lived Agents and Long-Lived Waste

Actions that affect environmental quality both influence and respond to macroeconomic variables. Further, many environmental and macroeconomic consequences of current actions will have uncompensated effects that outlive the actors. This paper presents an overlapping-generations model of environmental externalities and capital accumulation: consumption of the old generates long-lived garbage as a by-product, while young agents invest in both capital and destruction of the existing garbage stock. The model also assumes external increasing returns: increases in the capital stock increase the future productivity of capital. In the model, increases in the natural rate of degradation do, and improvements in society's ability to dispose of garbage may, encourage capital accumulation. Multiple Pareto-ranked equilibria can arise as a consequence of the interaction between garbage and capital accumulation. Underaccumulation of garbage, analogous to dynamically inefficient overaccumulation of capital, can arise in the model.
Evolving Petri nets with a genetic algorithm

In evolutionary computation many different representations ("genomes") have been suggested as the underlying data structures, upon which the genetic operators act. Among the most prominent examples are the evolution of binary strings, real-valued vectors, permutations, finite automata, and parse trees. In this paper the use of place-transition nets, a low-level Petri net (PN) class [1,2], as the structures that undergo evolution is examined. We call this approach "Petri Net Evolution" (PNE). Structurally, Petri nets can be considered as specialized bipartite graphs. In their extended version (adding inhibitor arcs) PNs are as powerful as Turing machines. PNE is therefore a form of Genetic Programming (GP). Preliminary results obtained by evolving variablesize place-transition nets show the success of this approach when applied to the problem areas of boolean function learning and classification.
Differentiating use and nonuse values for coastal pond water quality improvements

This paper measures the benefits of water quality improvements in three coastal ponds on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Use, option, and existence values were elicited from Martha's Vineyard property owners by the contingent valuation method. On average, more than half of the total benefits are attributed to existence value. Results from the Heckman selection model show that the exclusion of protest, as well as missing bids, does not cause significant bias in estimating respondents' willingness-to-pay. Socioeconomic characteristics are found to have distinctively different influences on use, option, and existence values. Different model parameters are likely to be estimated depending on which value categories are measured by a selected valuation technique. These findings emphasize the importance of nonuse values from water quality improvements and of socioeconomic characteristics for measuring different categories of values.
Methemoglobinemia Caused by Topical Benzocaine

Benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia is a rare but life-threatening event. The use of topical benzocaine spray in a 77-year-old woman during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram produced marked cyanosis and methemoglobin levels consistent with methemoglobinemia. Immediate recognition and prompt treatment of the disorder are essential to decrease morbidity and mortality.
Polarization-diverse coherent optical spectrum analyzer with swept local oscillator

We demonstrated, for the first time, a polarization diverse coherent optical spectrum analyzer based on a continuously tunable local oscillator (LO). A resolution of 20 MHz (/spl sim/0.00016 nm) and a 60 dB dynamic range were demonstrated. The instrument employs a pseudo-depolarized LO to provide polarization diverse reception. The balanced receiver architecture makes the low-frequency IF operation possible and shows a sufficient level of intensity noise subtraction for the spectral measurements of intensity-modulated lasers.
Zoogeography of the San Andreas Fault system: Great Pacific Fracture Zones correspond with spatially concordant phylogeographic boundaries in western North America

The purpose of this article is to provide an ultimate tectonic explanation for several well-studied zoogeographic boundaries along the west coast of North America, specifically, along the boundary of the North American and Pacific plates (the San Andreas Fault system). By reviewing 177 references from the plate tectonics and zoogeography literature, I demonstrate that four Great Pacific Fracture Zones (GPFZs) in the Pacific plate correspond with distributional limits and spatially concordant phylogeographic breaks for a wide variety of marine and terrestrial animals, including invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. These boundaries are: (1) Cape Mendocino and the North Coast Divide, (2) Point Conception and the Transverse Ranges, (3) Punta Eugenia and the Vizcaino Desert, and (4) Cabo Corrientes and the Sierra Transvolcanica. However, discussion of the GPFZs is mostly absent from the zoogeography and phylogeography literature likely due to a disconnect between biologists and geologists. I argue that the four zoogeographic boundaries reviewed here ultimately originated via the same geological process (triple junction evolution). Finally, I suggest how a comparative phylogeographic approach can be used to test the hypothesis presented here.
Pharmacokinetics of high-dose etoposide

The pharmacokinetics of etoposide at doses of 1 gm/m2 to 3 gm/m2 were studied in patients with hematologic malignancies. The noncompartmental systemic clearance, mean residence time, steady-state volume of distribution, and elimination half-life were independent of the dose of etoposide, whereas the AUC was proportional to the dose. Comparison of these results with those reported previously indicates that etoposide exhibits linear pharmacokinetics over a thirtyfold range in doses (0.1 to 3 gm/m2).
Cobaltous chloride and hypoxia inhibit aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated responses in breast cancer cells

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is expressed in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive ZR-75 breast cancer cells. Treatment with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces CYP1A1 protein and mRNA levels and also activates inhibitory AhR-ERalpha crosstalk associated with hormone-induced reporter gene expression. In ZR-75 cells grown under hypoxia, induction of these AhR-mediated responses by TCDD was significantly inhibited. This was not accompanied by decreased nuclear AhR levels or decreased interaction of the AhR complex with the CYP1A1 gene promoter as determined in a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Hypoxia-induced loss of Ah-responsiveness was not associated with induction of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha or other factors that sequester the AhR nuclear translocation (Arnt) protein, and overexpression of Arnt under hypoxia did not restore Ah-responsiveness. The p65 subunit of NFkappaB which inhibits AhR-mediated transactivation was not induced by hypoxia and was primarily cytosolic in ZR-75 cells grown under hypoxic and normoxic conditions. In ZR-75 cells maintained under hypoxic conditions for 24 h, BRCA1 (an enhancer of AhR-mediated transactivation in breast cancer cells) was significantly decreased and this contributed to loss of Ah-responsiveness. In cells grown under hypoxia for 6 h, BRCA1 was not decreased, but induction of CYP1A1 by TCDD was significantly decreased. Cotreatment of ZR-75 cells with TCDD plus the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide for 6 h enhanced CYP1A1 expression in cells grown under hypoxia and normoxia. These results suggest that hypoxia rapidly induces protein(s) that inhibit Ah-responsiveness and these may be similar to constitutively expressed inhibitors of Ah-responsiveness (under normoxia) that are also inhibited by cycloheximide.
"Good enough" software reliability estimation plug-in for Eclipse

Programmers who use the test-driven development practice of the Extreme Programming methodology write extensive automated unit and acceptance tests. This paper describes an Eclipse plug-in that utilizes the results of this automated testing, and in combination with a suite of internal product metrics, provides an early assessment of product reliability. We discuss the correlation between the metrics we use and the reliability of the developed software, as well as the general functional characteristics of the alpha version of our Eclipse plug-in.
Measurement of the ionization loss in the region of relativistic rise for noble and molecular gases

Abstract The ionization loss of relativistic charged particles has been measured in thin samples of Ar, Xe, and propane in a pressurized gas proportional counter. Although the total relativistic rise becomes smaller for increasing pressure, the reduced fluctuation of the ionization loss permits, in principle, a better particle separation. Propane is found, especially in the lower pressure range, to give better particle separation at the expense of restriction to smaller momenta in comparison to Ar and Xe. An attempt is made to describe the relativistic rise and particle identification by simple gas parameters using Sternheimer's approximation.
Impacts of nanostructuring and magnetic ordering of Nd3+ on the magnetic and magnetocaloric response in NdMnO3

Abstract Magnetocaloric properties of NdMnO3 were investigated in its bulk polycrystalline and nanocrystalline forms. The nanocrystalline sample (average particle size ∼40 nm) exhibits a maximum in the temperature dependence of magnetic entropy change [−ΔSM(T)] at ∼70 K due to the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition, which is absent in case of its bulk counterpart. The absence of peak in −ΔSM(T) in the bulk sample is attributed to the co-existence of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic phases. A canted magnetic state (CMS) is stabilized at low temperature for both the samples due to the ordering of Nd3+ giving rise to a peak in −ΔSM(T) at ∼15 K. Interestingly −ΔSM(T) for these two samples show a universal behavior near their transitions at low temperature although their temperature dependence of magnetization is markedly different around those transitions. A detailed analysis of magnetocaloric data conclusively establishes the existence of a canted magnetic state, which is not obvious from magnetometry, demonstrating the usefulness of this method for probing phase coexistence and multiple magnetic states in complex oxide systems.
Studies on the biogenesis of an enzymatically active complex III of the respiratory chain from yeast mitochondria

Complex III isolated from yeast mitochondria catalyzed an antimycin A and Diuron-sensitive coenzyme QH2-cytochrome c reductase activity with a turnover number of 15.7 sec(-1) and contained 10 nmoles of cytochrome b and 4.6 nmoles of cytochrome c1 per mg of protein. Electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate acrylamide gels resolved Complex III into 10 bands with apparent molecular weights of 50,000, 40,000, 30,000, 29,000, 24,000, 17,000, 16,000, 12,000, 8,400, and 5,800. Yeast cells were labeled under nongrowing conditions with (35S)-methionine in the absence or presence of inhibitors of cytoplasmic or mitochondrial protein synthesis. Labeled Complex III was isolated by immunoprecipitation from detergent-solubilized mitochondria using anti-serum raised against the purified complex. Analysis of the immunoprecipitates by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that a 30,000-dalton protein, cytochrome b, as well as 16,000-dalton protein were labeled in the presence of cycloheximide, indicating that they are products of mitochondrial protein synthesis. Immunoprecipitates from mitochondria obtained from cells labeled in the presence of chloramphenicol contained a new radioactive peak with a molecular weight of 100,000. In addition, significant decreases in the labeling of the proteins with molecular weights of 50,000, 40,000, 30,000, and 16,000 were observed. When Complex III was isolated by immunoprecipitation from intact spheroplasts after a 5-minute pulse with (35S)-methionine, the 100,000-dalton protein was labeled in the immunoprecipitate whether or not chloramphenicol was present; however, after a 1-hour chase with unlabeled methionine, decreased labeling of the 100,000-dalton protein was observed concomitant with an increased labeling of the 50,000- and 40,000-dalton proteins. These results suggest that a protein with a molecular weight of 100,000 may either be a precursor or a partially assembled form of other proteins of Complex III, most probably the two largest polypeptides.
Democratic Climates in Elementary Classrooms: A Review of Theory and Research

This study reviews theory and research on the relationship between classroom climate and citizenship outcomes in elementary settings. A comparison of democratic learning environments described by Dewey (1916/1966); Dreikurs, Crunwald, and Pepper (1971); and Kohlberg (1975) suggests that classroom climate mediates democratic citizenship outcomes through: (a) peer interaction in cooperative activities, (b) free expression, (c) respect for diverse viewpoints, and (d) student participation in democratic deliberations and decision making. Empirical findings support a relationship between these conditions and the development of positive sociopolitical attitudes, higher levels of moral reasoning, prosocial behavior, and sense of community in elementary classrooms. Drawing on Gutmann's theory (1987), it is argued that because the classroom is a vital organ of a democratic system, democratic climates in elementary classrooms may be a sine qua non for promoting the goals of democratic citizenship education.
Selective inactivation of influenza C esterase: a probe for detecting 9-O-acetylated sialic acids

The influenza C virus (INF-C) hemagglutinin recognizes 9-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid. The same protein contains the receptor-destroying enzyme (RDE), which is a 9-O-acetyl-esterase. The RDE was inactivated by the serine esterase inhibitor di-isopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP). [3H]DFP-labeling localized the active site to the heavy chain of the glycoprotein. DFP did not alter the hemagglutination or fusion properties of the protein, but markedly decreased infectivity of the virus, demonstrating that the RDE is important for primary infection. Finally, DFP-treated INF-C bound specifically and irreversibly to cells expressing 9-O-acetylated sialic acids. This provides a probe for a molecule that was hitherto very difficult to study.
Biosurfactant-facilitated remediation of metal-contaminated soils

Bioremediation of metal-contaminated wastestreams has been successfully demonstrated. Normally, whole cells or microbial exopolymers are used to concentrate and/or precipitate metals in the wastestream to aid in metal removal. Analogous remediation of metal-contaminated soils is more complex because microbial cells or large exopolymers do not move freely through the soil. The use of microbially produced surfactants (biosurfactants) is an alternative with potential for remediation of metal-contaminated soils. The distinct advantage of biosurfactants over whole cells or exopolymers is their small size, generally biosurfactant molecular weights are less than 1500. A second advantage is that biosurfactants have a wide variety of chemical structures that may show different metal selectivities and thus, metal removal efficiencies. A review of the literature shows that complexation capacities of several bacterial exopolymers was similar to the complexation capacity of a rhamnolipid biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027.
Modeling attitudinal antecedents of nurses' decisions to report impaired colleagues.

Nurses whose professional functioning is impaired due to substance abuse represent a threat to the health and safety of patients, other health care staff, and themselves. The major means for identi...
A robustness approach to uncapacitated network design problems

Abstract In this paper, we address uncapacitated network design problems characterised by uncertainty in the input data. Network design choices have a determinant impact on the effectiveness of the system. Design decisions are frequently made with a great degree of uncertainty about the conditions under which the system will be required to operate. Instead of finding optimal designs for a given future scenario, designers often search for network configurations that are “good” for a variety of likely future scenarios. This approach is referred to as the “robustness” approach to system design. We present a formal definition of “robustness” for the uncapacitated network design problem, and develop algorithms aimed at finding robust network designs. These algorithms are adaptations of the Benders decomposition methodology that are tailored so they can efficiently identify robust network designs. We tested the proposed algorithms on a set of randomly generated problems. Our computational experiments showed two important properties. First, robust solutions are abundant in uncapacitated network design problems, and second, the proposed algorithms performance is satisfactory in terms of cost and number of robust network designs obtained.
Reexamination of the mechanisms of oxidative transformation of the insect cuticular sclerotizing precursor, 1,2-dehydro-N-acetyldopamine

1,2-dehydro-N-acetyldopamine (dehydro NADA) is an important catecholamine derivative formed during the sclerotization of insect cuticle. Earlier we have reported that tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of dehydro NADA produces a reactive quinone methide imine amide that forms adducts and cross-links through its side chain, thereby accounting for sclerotization reactions. Recently, laccase has also been identified as a key enzyme associated with sclerotization. Hence, we re-examined oxidation of dehydro NADA by tyrosinase and laccase using high performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry. Tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of dehydro NADA not only generated dimers as reported earlier, but also generated significant amounts of oligomers. The course of laccase-catalyzed oxidation of dehydro NADA significantly differed from the tyrosinase reaction kinetically and mechanistically. Laccase failed to produce any detectable quinone or quinone methide as the primary two-electron oxidation product. Since laccases are known to generate primarily semiquinones as the initial products, lack of accumulation of two-electron oxidation products indicated that laccase reaction is primarily occurring via free radical coupling mechanism. Consistent with this proposal, laccase-catalyzed oxidation of dehydro NADA, resulted in the production of largely dimeric products and failed to produce any significant amount of oligomeric materials. These studies call for radical coupling as yet another major mechanism for sclerotization of insect cuticle.
Rapid Immunoassays for Detection of UV-Induced Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers in Whole Bacterial Cells

Immunoassays were developed to measure DNA damage retained by UV-irradiated whole bacterial cells. Active Mycobacterium parafortuitum and Serratia marcescens cells were fixed and incubated with cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer-binding antibodies after being exposed to known UV doses (254 nm). When both fluorescent (Alexa Fluor 488) and radiolabeled ((125)I) secondary antibodies were used as reporters, indirect whole-cell assays were sensitive enough to measure intracellular UV photoproducts in M. parafortuitum and S. marcescens cells as well as photoenzymatic repair responses in S. marcescens cells. For the same UV dose, fluorescent DNA photoproduct detection limits in whole-cell assays (immunofluorescent microscopy) were similar to those in fluorescent assays performed on membrane-bound DNA extracts (immunoslot blot). With either fluorescent or radiolabeled reporters, the intracellular cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer content of UV-irradiated whole bacterial cells could be reliably quantified after undergoing a <0.5-order-of-magnitude decrease in culturability. Immunofluorescent microscopy results showed that photoenzymatic repair competence is not uniformly distributed among exponential-growth UV-irradiated pure cultures.
A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO LOT AND SETUP SCHEDULING AT A TEXTILE FIRM

This is a study of scheduling of setups and production activities of a textile firm, located in North Carolina. The firm faces the problem of scheduling customer orders on a number of knitting machines which can be configured differently by installing different knitting cylinders, to knit various types of greige cloth. Given a set of requirements for different styles of cloth, the problem is to decide on the specific configurations to be used on each machine and on the specific orders to be run on these configurations. The problem is formulated as an integer linear programming model. The objective is the maximization of total contribution of all the scheduled orders subject to capacity constraints of machines and that of tooling, which explicitly consider the effect of scheduled setups and constraints on customer orders. Various solution approaches are discussed. An approximate procedure is devised which incrementally adds new setups based on several heuristics by which the "value" of candidate configurat...
Improving the effectiveness of strategic decision making using an integrated decision support system

Abstract Decision support systems (DSSs) are used in many types of business. However, which type is suitable for a specific purpose? How do expert systems help DSS? This paper analyses the popular DSS packages on the market and offers a general overview about their use now and in the future.