cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Remote Proctoring on Composite Examination Performance Among Doctor of Pharmacy Students.

Objective. To determine the impact of remote proctoring on the academic performance of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students. Methods. This was a retrospective, observational study that compared first professional year (P1) and second professional year (P2) pharmacy students’ scores on eight composite examinations administered in spring 2020 (n = 387), the final three of which were proctored remotely, to that of a historical cohort of pharmacy students who took the same examinations in spring 2019 (n = 368). To assess whether remote proctoring affected academic performance, spring 2020 scores for examinations 6, 7, and 8 were compared to those of a historical cohort who took the same examinations in person with a proctor present in spring 2019. Academic performance on examinations 1 through 4 was also compared between the two cohorts to evaluate any possible year-to-year variation in academic performance during non-remote circumstances. Mann Whitney tests were used to compare scores between the two cohorts. Results. The median scores of students in the spring 2020 cohort were significantly lower than the scores of the historical cohort on the first composite examination administered to P1 students after the implementation of remote proctoring. In contrast, median scores were significantly higher on two of the three examinations administered to P2 students using remote proctoring. Conclusion. Remote proctoring has minimal impact on pharmacy students’ examination performance and its use should be considered to ensure academic honesty and security of testing content in a distance learning environment.
An Optical Assessment of Weathervane Scallop Density and Abundance Off Kodiak Island, Alaska

Since 2000, information to support the sustainable management of the weathervane scallop Patinopecten caurinus in the Gulf of Alaska is largely derived from fishery-dependent observations from a small fleet (≤8 vessels total). As a supplement to this information, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game collected more than one million high-resolution underwater photographs of the sea floor in five previously unsurveyed scallop beds off Kodiak Island during the spring of 2014. Weathervane scallop distribution, abundance, and size composition in these beds were assessed by analyzing more than 150,000 images subsampled in 50-image strips (stations) using a 100-m grid. In addition, the influence of local abiotic habitat features, including depth, substrate, and shell remains, on weathervane scallop distributions was explored. An estimated 26.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 23.5–30.7] million scallops in the five beds, with densities ranging from 0.08 (95% CI = 0.067–0.084) to 0.26 (95% CI = 0.221–0.297) ind.•m–2 among the beds. Shell size compositions differed significantly despite the relative proximity of the beds. Weathervane density was positively related (in order of influence) to gravel, shell debris, shell hash, mud, and cobble. Optical assessment of these five previously unsurveyed scallop beds in the Gulf of Alaska demonstrates the efficacy of this approach for weathervanes and suggests that the expansion of optical survey coverage to include other known beds as a viable path to overcoming the limitations of fishery-dependent information for scallop assessment and management in Alaskan waters.
Russian Regional Agri-Food Systems Facing Global Climate Challenges: Scenarios for Future Development

The creation of long-term strategies for the development of regional agri-food systems faces the need to take into account climate dynamics and to adapt its actions according to these changes. There exist several ways of influencing the climatic factor: a direct impact on the socio-biosystem, causing adaptive reactions of agri-food systems, and indirect impact, which is performed through the external economic environment. The purpose of this study is to consider different scenarios for determining the impact of new climatic parameters on land use in the framework of the identified areas of global socio-economic development. Scenarios for the development of regional agri-food systems in the external environment are proposed. They can serve as the basis for the development of mathematical models for assessing adaptive responses to climate dynamics.
Mechanisms Underlying Associations between Media Alcohol Exposure, Parenting, and Early Adolescent Drinking: A Moderated Sequential Mediation Model.

Exposure to alcohol content in the media, especially in movies, is a demonstrated risk factor for adolescent alcohol use. This paper examines processes underlying this association and whether parenting mitigates such harms. A mediational model of parental restriction of mature media (W1), alcohol content exposure (W2), alcohol expectancies, peer norms (W3), and alcohol outcomes (W4) was tested using annual assessments from a study of adolescent drinking (N = 879; 52% female; 21% Non-White; 12% Hispanic). When restrictions are not in place, adolescents report greater exposure to alcohol content, leading to higher perceived peer drinking. Parental monitoring did not buffer the link between exposure and peer norms. Parental media restriction and perceptions about peers comprise mechanisms by which alcohol-saturated media influences youth drinking.
A Reinforcement Learning-Based Control Approach for Unknown Nonlinear Systems with Persistent Adversarial Inputs

This paper develops an intelligent control method based on reinforcement learning techniques for unknown nonlinear continuous-time systems in an adversarial environment. The developed method can automatically learn the optimal control input for the system and also predict the worst case adversarial input that one adversary can bring into. Besides, we assume that the agent can only observe partial information of the environment during the learning process. Therefore, a neural network-based observer is developed to adaptively reconstruct the hidden states and dynamics. Then, theoretical analysis is provided to show the stability of the developed intelligent control and the accuracy of the established observer. This method has been applied on a torsional pendulum system and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the designed approach.
Interactivity and Cartography: A Contemporary Perspective on User Interface and User Experience Design from Geospatial Professionals

ABSTRACT This article reports on a semi-structured interview study with 21 geospatial professionals to provide a contemporary snapshot of expert opinion on the design and use of interactive maps and map-based systems (treated together as “cartographic interfaces”). Interview questions were based on key themes regarding interaction discussed within cartography and across the related fields of human-computer interaction, information visualization, usability engineering, and visual analytics, enabling a comparison of the current states of science and practice regarding user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design in cartography. The results are organized according to five broad topics germane to UI/UX design in cartography: (1) the meaning of cartographic interaction in both research and practice (what?), (2) the purpose of cartographic interaction and the value it provides (why?), (3) the times when interaction positively supports work/play and therefore should be provided (when?), (4) the way in whi...
The Present Situation in Legal Scholarship

I shall discuss three principal types of legal scholarship in this article: clarification of legal doctrine; positive analysis of law by the methods of social science, broadly defined to include history; and normative analysis of law, based sometimes on the social sciences and sometimes on moral and political philosophy. I acknowledge that my taxonomy is crude, the categories both incomplete and overlapping. 1 shall make two principal points: First, doctrinal analysis, which is and should remain the core of legal scholarship, is currently endangered at leading law schools. Second, the other types of legal scholarship are not well-served by the existing organization of legal education. I shall close with some practical suggestions for overcoming these problems.
Chapter 27 New Methods in Heterocyclic Chemistry

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the introduction and modification of substituent groups, new methods for ring annelation, and synthetically useful ring transformation reactions; the three areas of heterocyclic chemistry. Numerous new methods for the introduction and modification of substituents continue to appear, reflecting the fact that this area of heterocyclic chemistry contains many of its greatest synthetic challenges. The introduction of substituent groups into protonated heterocyclic bases by free radicals, pioneered by Minisci and well reviewed over the past few years continues to be actively explored; further studies on alkylations, acylations, and carboethoxylations have been reported. Various substituents are readily displaced by an ipso substitution process from the 2-position of benzothiazole by the nucleophilic 1-adamantyl and acetyl radicals. The extension of these substituent group interchange processes to other heterocyclic systems could be of considerable synthetic utility. A general procedure for the introduction of substituents in heterocycles is the displacement of a good leaving group by an appropriate nucleophile. The most reactive substituent toward the displacement by nucleophiles appears to be methylsulfonyl. A versatile procedure for the introduction of alkyl, alkenyl, and epoxyalkyl groups into heterocycles, followed by appropriate manipulation of the resulting ylides, has been applied to the synthesis of various 6-substituted purines designed as inhibitors of adenylsuccinate synthetase and lyase. The chapter also discusses many recent developments in synthetic methodology in heterocyclic chemistry have dealt with new methods for annelation of a heterocyclic ring unto a pre-existing ring system. Many useful syntheses involve the deliberate transformation of one heterocyclic system into another by ring contraction, ring expansion, or ring transformation reaction.
Alcoholic dementia: myth or reality?

Chronic alcohol abuse and/or dependence may result in cognitive decline, ranging from isolated amnesia and/or mild cognitive impairment to full-blown dementia. The underlying mechanisms include deficiency of nutritional factors (such as B-complex vitamins) resulting in Wernicke-Koraskoff's syndrome, and/or pellagrous encephalopathy, liver failure, Marchiafava-Bignami disease and cerebrovascular disease or combinations of the above. However, it has been suggested that progressive cognitive impairment can occur in the absence of the above-established syndromes, and has been attributed to the direct toxic effect of ethanol on the brain. Basic and clinical research has been shown that alcohol may be directly toxic to nerve cells via interplay of oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial damage and apoptosis.
Continuity and convergence in rational triangular Bézier spline based isogeometric analysis

Abstract This paper presents a method for isogeometric analysis using rational Triangular Bezier Splines (rTBS) where optimal convergence rates are achieved. In this method, both the geometry and the physical field are represented by bivariate splines in Bernstein Bezier form over the triangulation of a domain. From a given physical domain bounded by NURBS curves, a parametric domain and its triangulation are constructed. By imposing continuity constraints on Bezier ordinates, we obtain a set of global C r smooth basis functions. Convergence analysis shows that isogeometric analysis with such C r rTBS basis can deliver the optimal rate of convergence provided that the C r geometric map remains unchanged during the refinement process. This condition can be satisfied by constructing a pre-refinement geometric map that is sufficiently smooth. Numerical experiments verify that optimal rates of convergence are achieved for Poisson and linear elasticity problems.
Programmable access control

Software developers rely on sophisticated programming language protection models and APIs to manifest security policies for Internet applications. These tools do not provide suitable expressiveness for fine-grained, configurable policies. Nor do they ensure the consistency of a given policy implementation across objects in a heterogeneous environment. Programmable access control provides syntactic and semantic constructs in programming languages for systematically embedding security functionality within applications. Secure interoperability is of utmost importance in a distributed heterogeneous environment This paper introduces a methodology for programmable security by language extension, as well as a prototype model and implementation of JPAC, a programmable access control extension to Java. A coor-. dination language is also presented to support secure interoperability within the framework.
Author reply: Home non-invasive mechanical ventilation use following acute hypercapnic respiratory failure in COPD. A solid protective factor.

Respiratory Medicine - In Press.Proof corrected by the author Available online since vendredi 7 aout 2015
Enthalpies of proton adsorption onto Bacillus licheniformis at 25, 37, 50, and 75 °C

Abstract Understanding bacterial surface reactivity requires many different lines of investigation. Toward this end, we used isothermal titration calorimetry to measure heats of proton adsorption onto a Gram positive thermophile Bacillus licheniformis at 25, 37, 50, and 75 °C. Proton adsorption under all conditions exhibited exothermic heat production. Below pH 4.5, exothermic heats decreased as temperature increased above 37 °C; above pH 4.5, there was no significant difference in heats evolved at the temperatures investigated. Total proton uptake did not vary significantly with temperature. Site-specific enthalpies and entropies were calculated by applying a 4-site, non-electrostatic surface complexation model to the calorimetric data. Interpretation of site-specific enthalpies and entropies of proton adsorption for site L 1 , L 2 , and L 4 are consistent with previous interpretations of phosphoryl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl/amine site-identities, respectively, and with previous calorimetric measurements of proton adsorption onto mesophilic species. Enthalpies and entropies for surface site L 3 are not consistent with the commonly inferred phosphoryl site-identity and are more consistent with sulfhydryl functional groups. These results reveal intricacies of surface reactivity that are not detectable by other methods.
XPS surface and bulk studies of heat treated palladium in the presence of hydrogen at 150°C

Palladium metal powders used for hydrogen isotope pumping were studied for their bulk and surface chemistry changes during cleaning with hydrogen gas at 150°C. Cleaning is necessary to promote rapid hydriding and dehydriding and to prevent contaminant ingrowth in the process gas during use. These studies show that heating the powders in vacuum at moderate temperatures (150°C) in a reducing environment removes surface oxide, leaves a predominately palladium metal surface which presents no significant barrier to hydrogen absorption or desorption, and shows no loss in surface area and pourability. A surface model of PdO is given and XPS results show that the water-forming reaction is the mode of PdO reduction. Thermodynamic data are discussed which support the above results.
Vibronic spectrum of the U2 isoelectronic center in Si: In

Abstract The photoluminescence spectrum of Si:In measured at 2 and 4 K using samples from several suppliers has been found to be preparation sensitive. In particular, intensity variations allow us to distinguish a sharp no-phonon line at 1.118 eV, variously referred to as U2 of P, and its associated vibronic spectrum from the In(NP) lines and their phonon replicas. Whereas the intensity of the latter did not show preparation sensitivity, the former has been observed to change by three orders of magnitude. The U2 vibronics form a broad-structured spectrum containing density-of-states features. The appearance of phonons other than those conserving crystal momentum demonstrates the exciton is bound to a low symmetry site. In addition, the spectrum includes a peak at 1.109 eV, called R, and a shoulder at 1.107 eV which involves too small an energy loss to be density-of-states related, and these features are most likely modes of the U2 impurity complex. This complex has been tentatively identified as an isoelectronic center composed of an indium-phosphorus nearest-neighbor substitutional pair.
Fractionated crystallization of polypropylene droplets produced by nanolayer breakup

Layer-multiplying coextrusion was used to fabricate assemblies of 257 layers, in which polypropylene (PP) nanolayers alternated with thicker polystyrene (PS) layers. The PP layer thickness was varied from 12 to 200 nm. When the assembly was heated into the melt, interfacial instability-driven breakup of the thin PP layers produced a dispersion of PP particles in a PS matrix. Particle size analysis indicated that breakup of PP microlayers produced a bimodal particle size distribution. A population of submicron particles formed because of the Rayleigh instability, and a second population of large particles formed by relaxation. Breakup of 12-nm layers resulted in primarily submicron particles. The fraction of PP as submicron particles dropped dramatically as the layer thickness increased to 40 nm. The particle dispersion was characterized by thermal analysis and wide angle X-ray diffraction. Fractionated crystallization gave rise to four crystallization exotherms at 40, 60, 85, and 100 °C. The exotherm at 40 °C was identified with homogeneous nucleation of the submicron particles in the smectic form. Exotherms at higher temperatures represented fractionated crystallization of the large micron-sized particles in the PP α-form. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1138–1151, 2007
Computer approaches to protein structure II. Model building by computer

Abstract Computer programs have been designed to generate three dimensional models of protein structures. Depth perception is achived by decreasing the line intensity of the covalent bonds as the atoms move further from the observer. The molecular models could be constructed from x-ray data or from simulated atomic coordinates. Computer generated molecular models provide a fast, accurate and dynamic alternative to classical molecular model construction.
The determination of aminoketones in biological fluids

Abstract 1. 1. A new chromatographic procedure is described for the determination of aminoacetone and δ-aminolevulinic acid (after conversion to pyrroles) in both tissues and urine following their separation from porphobilinogen. 2. 2. The method for measurement of both porphobilinogen and aminoketones involves only two chromatographic procedures, both utilizing Dowex-1 acetate resin. It permits concentration of pyrroles derived from both aminoketones, providing for the determination of as little as 20-mμmole quantities of these substances. Reproducibility and recoveries are excellent over a wide range of concentrations. 3. 3. Aminoacetone pyrrole is retained by the resin primarily by adsorption; δ-aminolevulinic acid pyrrole is bound by an ionic mechanism. 4. 4. Aminoacetone constitutes a significant portion of the aminoketones in nonporphyric urines. 5. 5. The administration of relatively large doses of threonine results in an increased urinary excretion of aminoacetone.
Stopped distributions for Markov processes in duality

Let X and \(\hat X\) be standard Markov processes in duality on a state space E and assume that semipolar sets are polar. Let μ be a measure on E whose X measure-potential μ U is σ-finite. We characterize the measures v on E which arise as the Pμ-distribution of XTfor some non-randomized stopping time T. We then apply this result to characterize the measures v on E which satisfy v U ≦ μ U.
Electron spectroscopy and dynamics on the Ge(111):As 1×1 surface

Abstract Femtosecond laser photoemission has been used to study the As derived empty surface bands on the Ge(111):As 1×1 surface. Electrons excited to energies well above the conduction band minimum of Ge are observed to populate valleys centered at the Γ and M points of the surface Brillouin zone. The valley centered at M is a surface resonance, located 0.3 eV above the Ge conduction band minimum and is transiently populated through an intervalley scattering process. At longer times the electrons are trapped in a normally unoccupied surface state at Γ which is located 0.2 eV below the conduction band minimum of bulk Ge. Our spectroscopic findings compare well with a many-body calculation for this system. Since the bottom of the surface band resides within the Ge bulk band gap, electrons remain trapped in this state at the surface for times approaching a nanosecond. The long lifetime is due to the lack of defect states within the surface band gap and thus only radiative recombination can remove electrons from the surface state. Our photoemission results also allowed for the extraction of the surface temperatures and the cooling rate of the excited electron population.
Calcium regulation of thin filament movement in an in vitro motility assay

The ability of calcium to regulate thin filament sliding velocity was studied in an in vitro motility assay system using cardiac troponin and tropomyosin and rhodamine-phalloidin-labeled skeletal actin and skeletal heavy meromyosin to propel the filaments. Measurements showed that both the number of thin filaments sliding and their sliding speed (Sf) were dependent on the calcium concentration in the range of pCa 5 to 9. Thin filament motility was completely inhibited only if troponin and tropomyosin were added at a concentration of 100 nM to the motility assay solution and the pCa was more than 8. The filament sliding speed was dependent on the pCa in a noncooperative fashion (Hill coefficient=1) and reached maximum at 5 microns/s at a pCa of 5. The number of filaments moving uniformly decreased from > 90% at pCa 5–6 to near zero in less than 1 pCa unit. This behavior may be explained by a hypothesis in which the regulatory proteins control the number of cross-bridge heads interacting with the thin filaments rather than the rate at which they individually hydrolyze ATP or translocate the thin filaments.
A modified indirect cast post and core technique

An indirect post and core technique in which the core is waxed and invested with the die has been described. The post and core are cast directly into the invested die, which has the advantage of an accurate casting of the post preparation obtained with less laboratory time and without the disadvantages of retrieving an intact wax pattern. This technique is particularly suited for long, narrow post preparations; short preparations where precise fit is necessary for retention; and multiple adjacent post preparations.
Photonic crystals: Towards rational material design.

Rational design is an oft-touted dream in materials science. The discovery of two new classes of photonic bandgap crystals may herald the systematic mathematical design of new materials.
Immediate effects of ionizing radiation on the structure of unfrozen bovine muscle tissue

Abstract To measure the immediate changes in the ultrastrcucture of meat induced by ionizing radiation, bovine longissimus dorsi muscle was irradiated with 137 Cs 72 h after slaughter. The temperature of the samples during irradiation was maintained between 0 and 4°C to avoid cellular changes caused by freeze/thaw. Muscle was irradiated at 5, 10, 30 and 50 kGy. At low levels (up to 10 kGy) of radiation, changes in muscle structure were minimal. At levels above 30 kGy major increases in myofibril fragmentation and decreases in the tensile strength of raw and cooked muscles were noted. SDS gel electrophoresis indicated a decrease in myosin. No changes in the ultrastructure were observed using transmission electron microscopy.
The microglial reaction in the rat dorsal hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia.

We have examined the distribution and time course of the microglial reaction in the rat dorsal hippocampus after 25-min transient forebrain ischemia (four-vessel occlusion model). Microglial cells ...
Electrogenerative oxidation of model alcohols at packed bed anodes

The electrogenerative oxidation of dissolved ethanol and 2-propanol in aqueous 1 to 3 M sulphuric acid electrolyte was investigated at several types of packed bed anodes in ion exchange membrane separated cells. The operation of these electrogenerative cells which incorporated a platinum-catalysed commercial oxygen gas-diffusion-type cathode is described. It appears that for dissolved normal primary alcohols composite Teflon-platinum fuel-cell-type electrodes favour aldehyde formation while ‘platinum on graphite’ electrodes favour carboxylic acid formation. Oxidation of dissolved 2-propanol could be controlled to give acetone exclusively.
Efficacy and safety of loracarbef in the treatment of pneumonia.

Abstract The treatment of bacterial pneumonia requires an agent with activity against a wide range of bacterial pathogens, including pathogens that produce β-lactamase. Loracarbef, a member of the carbacephem class of antibiotics, was tested in a series of clinical trials for its efficacy and safety in the treatment of lobar and bronchial bacterial pneumonia. Successful clinical responses were achieved in 97.6% of the evaluable patients receiving 400 mg twice daily of loracarbef. This compared favorably with the respective response rates of 92.3% for patients receiving 500 mg three times a day of amoxicillin/clavulanate and 95.0% for patients receiving 500 mg three times a day of amoxicillin for the same illnesses. Proven or presumed elimination of the pretherapy pathogen was found in 89% of the patients receiving loracarbef, 92.3% of the amoxicillin/clavulanate-treated patients, and 70.0% of those receiving amoxicillin. Loracarbef was also well tolerated, although nausea and vomiting were associated with the use of all three agents. Nevertheless, treatment with loracarbef resulted in the lowest rate of discontinuation of therapy due to drug-related adverse events. Thus, these clinical trials support the conclusion that loracarbef is a safe and effective treatment for bacterial pneumonia.
Mixing of chemically reactive fluids by swirling in a tubular reactor

To achieve a varying degree of radial mixing in a single phase fluid, a stable laminar swirl is created by two fluid streams tangentially entering a tubular reactor. The details of the resultant fluid motion is described using the material stretching coordinate technique. The combination of fluid motion, molecular diffusion, and intrinsic chemical kinetics provides the basis for investigating mixing with chemical reactions for nonpremixed feeds. Computations on an infinitely fast second-order reaction for the radial Peclet number ranging from 102 to 106 reveal the following features for
Low surface energy polymers and surface active block polymers. I. t-butylphenyl containing polymers

Two new monomers in the 2-oxazoline series were synthesized and polymerized. These were 2-[4-(t-butyl)phenyl]-2-oxazoline (I) and 2-[(3-(3,5-di-t-butyl)phenoxy)propyl]-2-oxazoline (II). The polymer from I crystallized readily during bulk polymerization and showed Tm at 592 K (319°C). After annealing, the polymer showed a critical surface tension of 23.2 dyn/cm. Polymer from II was amorphous; hence, annealing showed little effect on contact angles. Block polymers were made with I (Xn = 10) and ethyl oxazoline (Xn = 6,20,60). Very sharp molecular weight distributions were obtained. All samples crystallized when annealed. The block polymer was an effective emulsifier for emulsion polymerization of butyl acrylate at 0.1%.
Potential of Escherichia coli isolated from nature to propagate cloning vectors

Concern has been shown in the scientific community with regard to the potential risk that the transmission of foreign genes from Escherichia coli K12-cloning vector systems to other micro-organisms might represent1. Because of this we have attempted to evaluate the frequency in nature of E. coli strains that can serve as recipients and/or hosts for genetic information harboured by various E. coli cloning vectors used in recombinant DNA research. We assumed that genetic transfer from E. coli K12 to other E. coli strains was more likely than to bacteria of other species or genera, and consequently examined natural E. coli isolates for traits that would reflect their ability to propagate and/or maintain cloning vectors. In particular, we were interested in assessing the role that transduction might have in the dissemination of cloned genetic information. We also wanted to determine whether naturally occurring strains could acquire and stably maintain phage λ derived cloning vectors that generally contain amber mutations in essential genes2–4. By examining natural bacterial populations we attempted to evaluate the fitness of auxotrophic mutations that are generally introduced into E. coli K12 hosts used in recombinant DNA experiments. Therefore, we determined among natural isolates of E. coli frequency of strains exhibiting: (1) sensitivity to phages P1 and λ; (2) amber suppressor mutations; and (3) auxotrophic mutations. The results presented here allow an estimation of the feasibility and limitations of the successful spread among E. coli strains in nature of recombinant DNA molecules contained in particular E. coli K12 hosts.
The Binding of a Glycoprotein 120 V3 Loop Peptide to HIV-1 Neutralizing Antibodies STRUCTURAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract The structural and antigenic properties of a peptide (“CRK”) derived from the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 protein were studied using NMR and SPR techniques. The sequence of CRK corresponds to the central portion of the V3 loop containing the highly conserved “GPGR” residue sequence. Although the biological significance of this conserved sequence is unknown, the adoption of conserved secondary structure (type II β-turn) in this region has been proposed. The tendency of CRK (while free or conjugated to protein), to adopt such structure and the influence of such structure upon CRK antigenicity were investigated by NMR and SPR, respectively. Regardless of conjugation, CRK is conformationally averaged in solution but a weak tendency of the CRK “GPGR” residues to adopt a β-turn conformation was observed after conjugation. The influence of GPGR structure upon CRK antigenicity was investigated by measuring the affinities of two cognate antibodies: “5023A” and “5025A,” for CRK, protein-conjugated CRK and gp120 protein. Each antibody bound to all the antigens with nearly the same affinity. From these data, it appears that: (a) antibody binding most likely involves an induced fit of the peptide and (b) the gp120 V3 loop is probably conformationally heterogeneous. Since 5023A and 5025A are HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies, neutralization in these cases appears to be independent of adopted GPGR β-turn structure.
A comparison of trichromic systems for use in the calibration of polymer-dispersed thermochromic liquid crystals

Abstract Samples of polymer-dispersed chiral nematic liquid crystal with different active temperature ranges were calibrated using four different trichromic representations of the liquid-crystal color. Three of the representations were hue-based, and the fourth was a simple linear regression. The comparison was done using commercially available imaging equipment. The primary criteria were the effective width of the calibration range and the resulting uncertainty in temperature. The results characterize the calibration range and uncertainty that can be expected from careful use of a typical thermographic system employing the selected liquid-crystal product and the selected colorimetry techniques. A dimensionless temperature was defined that collapsed data from all the samples to a single calibration curve. Introductory discussions on the thermochromic behavior of liquidcrystal compounds and on the colorimetry theory that underlies quantitative thermography are also included.
Training for academic pediatrics.

S i R t~ R I C A s I~ B Y recently said: "The writer on education rides on the horns of a dilemma; on the one hand he cannot avoid platitudes because there is nothing new to be said; on the other hand he cannot avoid platitudes because the lessons they teach have not yet been learnt, and they still need to be repeated." Such a platitude is the statement: The primary responsibilities of a clinical depar tment are teaching, research, and the provision of medical care of quality worth emulating. Training for academic careers as investigators, clinicians, and teachers will be discussed on the basis of experiences in privately and state supported medical schools, in a community hospital of high aims, in university and governmentally supported hospitals, and in government and faculty committees. Observations were not systematically recorded and, thus, do not meet criteria for validation of narrative data? Furthermore, differing community needs to which medical schools must respond will affect the degree of relevance of the opinions expressed. No
Prevalence and changes of untreated isolated systolic hypertension among non-Hispanic black adults in the United States

Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is a growing health concern in the United States (US) black population. The stratified prevalence of untreated ISH has not been fully investigated in non-Hispanic blacks. Cross-sectional data on 4625 non-Hispanic blacks aged ⩾18 years were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2010, representing a probability sample of the US civilian noninstitutionalized black population. The 6-year prevalence of ISH and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by conducting weighted frequency and logistic procedures. The prevalence of untreated ISH was 11.2% among non-Hispanic black adults in 1999-2010. Individuals who received lower education (high school or below) had higher prevalence of untreated ISH than those with higher education (12.8% (95% CI: 11.3-14.2%) vs. 9.0% (95% CI: 7.5-10.6%)). The prevalence of untreated ISH was higher in young men than in young women (4.3% (95% CI: 3.3-5.4%) vs. 1.8% (95% CI: 0.9-2.7%)), and higher in middle-aged adults with lower education than in middle-aged adults with higher education (14.1% (95% CI: 11.4-16.7%) vs. 7.7% (95% CI: 5.5-9.8%)). Compared with 1999-2004, the prevalence of untreated ISH in 2005-2010 decreased for old individuals (27.7% vs. 40.8%), old men (24.4% vs. 40.0%) and old individuals who received higher education (21.4% vs. 40.7%). Untreated ISH is more prevalent in old blacks, and significant reduction of the prevalence in this group suggests that public health interventions, lifestyle modifications or health awareness are in the right direction.
The Role of Agent Types in Detecting and Responding to Environmental Change

Individuals have distinct roles within communities in the development of adaptive responses to environmental change. We articulate the phenomenon of different roles, or agent types, that people take in initiating, supporting, or opposing collective organization in remote, resource dependent communities. Based on both participant observations and interviews in Seward Peninsula communities, we categorize agents into three broad types: "initiators" or alpha (α) agents, "supporters" or beta (β) agents, and "opportunists" or gamma (γ) agents. Using semi-structured interviews with community members, we identified the primary agent type of individuals in the context of community responses to environmental changes affecting local water resources. Respondents were asked a series of questions that measured their perception of the quality and quantity of local water sources and their perception of change in those water sources. Community resilience for each of the five study communities was measured using the Arctic...
Spectral Radiation Properties of Partially Premixed Turbulent Flames

Instantaneous spectral radiation intensities of three standard turbulent jet flames were measured and simulated in this study. In the simulation, a recently developed technique was adapted to reconstruct the local integral time and length scales in the flames. The simulated radiation properties, including mean, root mean square, probability density function, power spectral density and autocorrelation coefficient, were generally within 10% of the measurements. The macro time and length scales were found to increase with increasing distance from the axis and the radial averages of these scales were found to increase with down stream distance but decrease with Reynolds number.
The ancient shorelines of Lanai, Hawaii, revisited

Abstract Three ancient shorelines (the Mahana, Kaluakapo and Manele) have been described at elevations of 365, 190 and 170 m in the Kaluakapo Crater, Lanai, Hawaii [Bernice P. Bishop Mus. Bull. 237 (1978) 1]. Stearns' original observation of a fossil-bearing outcrop at 326 m was interpreted as an ancient shoreline. Subsequently, Moore and Moore (1984, 1988) [Science 226 (1984) 1312; Geol. Soc. Am., Spec. Pap. 229 (1988) 101] argued that Stearns' fossil evidence represented the highest inundation of tsunami waves associated with the collapse of the flanks of the Hawaiian Islands chain (the Giant Wave Hypothesis, GWH). Subsequently, Stearns' fossil-bearing swale site has never been observed. Geological field studies of Kaluakapo Crater were conducted to clarify the nature of the highest coral-bearing outcrops preserved on Lanai. These field studies found no support for a shoreline at 326 m. However, the field studies did document a shingle terrace with numerous coral clasts at 190-m elevation. We find in situ fossil-bearing marine deposits at 170-m elevation within Kaluakapo Crater. Furthermore, we observe: the undisturbed nature of marine deposits at 190 m, the preservation of fine-grained materials at 170 m, the absence of in situ deposits with a biological component between 200 and 365 m, the dearth of rounded boulders (lacking weathering rinds) between 200 and 365 m, and the lack of post-depositional burial of the terrace deposit (despite loose debris being present on the high ground surrounding the 190-m terrace). These observations lead us to believe that erosion by the hypothesized giant waves did not take place. Our observations are inconsistent with the “Giant Wave” tsunami inundation of the Kaluakapo Crater area. Thus, we concur with Stearns (1938, 1978) [Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 49 (1938) 615; Bernice P. Bishop Mus. Bull. 237 (1978) 1], Jones (1993) [Jones, A.T., 1993. Elevated fossil coral deposits in the Hawaiian Islands: a measure of island uplift in the Quaternary. PhD Dissertation, Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii, 1–274] and Grigg and Jones (1997) [Mar. Geol. 141 (1997) 11.] that the coral-bearing deposits on Lanai represent ancient shorelines and reflect a history of uplift of the island associated with lithospheric deformation of the sea floor around the Hawaiian hot spot.
Recruiter friendliness and attraction to the job: The mediating role of inferences about the organization.

Abstract The present investigation examined the role of applicants′ positive inferences about organizational characteristics in the relationship between recruiter friendliness and applicant attraction to the job. Results of a laboratory investigation indicated that subjects watching a videotape of a "friendly" recruiter made significantly more positive inferences regarding organizational characteristics that were not explicitly provided than subjects watching an "unfriendly" recruiter. Furthermore, these inferences partially mediated the effect of recruiter friendliness on subjects′ attraction to the job.
Relation of serum uric acid to severity and progression of coronary artery calcium in postmenopausal White and Filipino women (from the Rancho Bernardo study).

Elevated serum uric acid (UA) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) but its association with coronary artery calcium (CAC) is inconsistent. This study examined ethnic differences in the association of UA levels with CAC severity and progression. Participants included 202 white and 166 Filipino postmenopausal women without known CVD. White women originated from the Rancho Bernardo cohort study, whereas Filipino women were convenience sampled from comparable localities. Baseline UA levels and CVD risk factors were measured in 1995 to 1999. CAC was assessed by electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) in 2000 to 2002 (EBCT1) and repeated in 2005 to 2007 (EBCT2). EBCT1 CAC density scores were categorized by severity: minimal 0 to 10, mild 11 to 100, moderate 101 to 399, and severe ≥400. Progression was defined as CAC volume score increases of ≥2.5 mm 3 between scans. White women were older at baseline than Filipinas (64.6 vs 59.3 years, p
A 60,000-year record of hydrologic variability in the Central Andes from the hydrogen isotopic composition of leaf waxes in Lake Titicaca sediments

Abstract A record of the hydrogen isotopic composition of terrestrial leaf waxes ( δ D wax ) in sediment cores from Lake Titicaca provides new insight into the precipitation history of the Central Andes and controls of South American Summer Monsoon (SASM) variability since the last glacial period. Comparison of the δ D wax record with a 19-kyr δ D record from the nearby Illimani ice core supports the interpretation that precipitation δ D is the primary control on δ D wax with a lesser but significant role for local evapotranspiration and other secondary influences on δ D wax . The Titicaca δ D wax record confirms overall wetter conditions in the Central Andes during the last glacial period relative to a drier Holocene. During the last deglaciation, abrupt δ D wax shifts correspond to millennial-scale events observed in the high-latitude North Atlantic, with dry conditions corresponding to the Bolling–Allerod and early Holocene periods and wetter conditions during late glacial and Younger Dryas intervals. We observe a trend of increasing monsoonal precipitation from the early to the late Holocene, consistent with summer insolation forcing of the SASM, but similar hydrologic variability on precessional timescales is not apparent during the last glacial period. Overall, this study demonstrates the relative importance of high-latitude versus tropical forcing as a dominant control on glacial SASM precipitation variability.
It takes (LMO) 2 to tango.

Finding gene regulatory regions and unraveling their interactions to understand tissue-specific expression are formidable challenges. Landry et al combine multiple approaches to successfully predict regulatory regions, and then show that the discovered enhancers do not work alone, but rather they work with partners to define specific patterns of expression.
Positron emission tomography’s changing significance in the treatment of esophageal cancer

Incidence of esophageal cancer has been rising, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is one tool that has shown utility and promise as a tool for staging, treatment response, and prognosis. PET delivery has evolved over time and is now frequently registered with a CT scan at the time of acquisition. However, resolution and confounders such as post-treatment radiation changes may limit clinical utility. PET has been shown to be helpful in staging, especially in evaluating for distant metastases. PET acquired after chemoradiation may give important prognostic information that can guide additional treatment decisions. Studies have had substantial variability in recommendations for the timing and manner of using PET for this purpose, and additional study is needed.
Exercise electrocardiography: recognition of the ischemic response, false positive and negative patterns.

Abstract The ischemic electrocardiographic response is characterized by S-T segment depression in the left ventricular leads. When this response is elicited by exercise and is accompanied by anginal discomfort, it constitutes powerful diagnostic evidence of the presence of coronary arterial obstructive disease. The amount of exercise required to elicit the response is closely related to the extent of the obstruction. S-T segment elevation provoked by exercise rarely occurs with proximal severe stenosis in the left anterior descending coronary artery or in leads exploring the region of healed myocardial infarcts. Depression of the J point may be an ischemic manifestation reversible by administration of nitroglycerin. The ischemic electrocardiographic response may be obscured by conduction defects as in bundle branch block and healed myocardial infarcts. False positive ischemic responses may be encountered in patients taking digitalis glycosides or potassium-depleting drugs, or in patients with hyperadrenergic states, pectus excavatum or short P-R Intervals.
Unmet medical needs in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease of diverse manifestations, with onset usually in young women in the third to fourth decade of life. The chronic nature of this relapsing remitting disease leads to organ damage accrual over time. Mortality and morbidity are increased in patients with SLE compared with the general population. Therapeutic advances over the last few decades have led to significant improvements in patient outcomes. Five-year survival has improved to over 90% from a low of 50% in the 1950s. However, multiple aspects of the management of SLE patients are still far from optimal. Early diagnosis remains a challenge; diagnostic delays leading to delay in definitive treatment are common. Monitoring treatment remains problematic due to the paucity of sensitive biomarkers. Current treatment regimens rely heavily on corticosteroids, even though corticosteroids are well known to cause organ damage. Treatment of refractory disease manifestations such as nephritis, recalcitrant cutaneous lesions and neurological involvement require new approaches with greater efficacy. Cognitive dysfunction is common in SLE patients, but early recognition and adequate treatment are yet to be established. Premature accelerated atherosclerosis remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Fatigue is one of the most disabling symptoms, and contributes to the poor quality of life in patients with SLE. Ongoing research in SLE faces many challenges, including enrollment of homogeneous patient populations, use of reliable outcome measures and a standard control arm. The current review will highlight some of the outstanding unmet challenges in the management of this complex disease.
Molecular imaging: The latest generation of contrast agents and tissue characterization techniques.

Molecular Imaging technologies will have a profound impact on both basic research and clinical imaging in the near future. As the field covers many different specialties and scientific disciplines it is not possible to review all in a single article. In the current article we will turn our attention to those modalities that are either currently in use or in development for the medical imaging clinic.