cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction of inorganic macromolecular systems with surface-active agents☆

Abstract Several inorganic macromolecular systems and ionic surface-active agents have been studied in relation to the effect of the surface-active agents on the stability of colloidal suspensions of the inorganic substances, as well as the effect of the inorganic macromolecules on the critical concentration (CMC) of the surface-active agents. Iron (III) oxide, aluminum oxide, manganese (IV) oxide, and arsenic (III) sulfide comprised the inorganic systems. Potassium salts of a series of fatty acids, alkyl sodium sulfates, alkyl amine hydrochlorides, and alkyl pyridinium chlorides were used as the colloidal electrolytes. The stability of the colloidal suspensions in the presence of the surface-active agents varied inversely with the chain length of the surfactant, in the cases where the surface-active ion possessed a charge opposite in sign to that of the colloidal particle. In such systems the minimum concentration required to cause complete flocculation decreased sharply with increase in chain length of the surfactant. At higher concentrations of the surfactants a restabilization of the inorganic systems was observed owing to recharging of the colloidal particles. Logarithmic plots of chain length versus flocculation values approached straight lines as the concentration of the sols decreased. When the surface-active ion had the same sign of charge as the colloid, flocculation occurred only at high concentrations and was independent of chain length. The flocculation value was the same for all members of a homologous series in the latter case. The critical concentration of the anionic surfactants were found to be higher in iron (III) oxide sols than in water, the difference in CMC values being attributed to adsorption of the surfactant by the iron (III) oxide. In a similar manner, manganese (IV) oxide increased the critical concentration of dodecylamine hydrochloride. The critical concentrations of the surface-active ions were unaltered in the presence of colloid particles of the same sign.
Formation of melt and solution spun polycaprolactone fibers by centrifugal spinning

Nano- and microfibers have a myriad of applications ranging from filtration, composites, energy harvesting, to tissue engineering and drug delivery. Electrospinning, the most common method to produce such fibers, has many limitations including low fiber output and solvent dependency. Centrifugal spinning is a new technique that uses centrifugal forces to form nano- and microfibers both from solution and the melt. In this work, the effect of melt temperature, collector distance, rotation speed, and concentration (for polymer solutions) of polycaprolactone were evaluated with respect to fiber morphology, diameter, alignment, and crystallinity. The fiber diameter generally decreased with increasing rotation speed and reduced concentration. Crystallinity for spun fibers decreased compared to the bulk polymer. Fiber alignment was improved with rotation speed for the melt-spun fibers. The fiber mats were evaluated as tissue scaffolds with neuronal PC12 cells. The cells adhered and extended neurites along the fibers for both melt and solution-spun scaffolds. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41269.
Raman microspectroscopy: a comparison of point, line, and wide-field imaging methodologies.

Three different Raman microspectroscopic imaging methodologies using a single experimental configuration are compared; namely, point and line mapping, as representatives of serial imaging approaches, and direct or wide-field Raman imaging employing liquid-crystalline tunable filters are surveyed. Raman imaging data acquired with equivalent low-power 514.5-nm laser excitation and a cooled CCD camera are analyzed with respect to acquisition times, image quality, spatial resolution, intensity profiles along spatial coordinates, and spectral signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Point and line mapping techniques provide similar SNRs and reconstructed Raman images at spatial resolutions of ∼1.1 μm. In contrast, higher spatial resolution is obtained by direct, global imaging (∼313 nm), allowing subtle morphological features on test samples to be resolved.
The role of the synaptic protein snap-25 in the potency of botulinum neurotoxin type A.

Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) is distinguished from BoNT/E by longer duration of paralysis and greater potency. The proteolytic activity of BoNT/A in cultures of dissociated spinal cord neurons persists beyond 80 days, whereas BoNT/E activity persists for less than 1 day (Keller, J. E., Neale, E. A. Oyler, G., and Adler, M. (1999) FEBS Lett. 456, 137–142). This single quality of toxin activity can account for the differences observed in the duration of muscle block. In the present work we sought to understand the basis for the apparent greater potency of BoNT/A. BoNT/E cleaves a 26-amino acid fragment from the C terminus of the synaptic protein SNAP-25 whereas BoNT/A removes only nine residues creating a 197-amino acid fragment (P197) that is 95% the length of SNAP-25. We show that inhibition of neurotransmitter release by BoNT/E is equivalent to the damage caused to SNAP-25. However, synaptic blockade by BoNT/A is greater than the extent of SNAP-25 proteolysis. These findings can be explained if P197 produces an inhibitory effect on neurotransmitter release. A mathematical model of the experimentally determined relationship between SNAP-25 damage and blockade of neurotransmission supports this interpretation. Furthermore, neurotransmitter release following complete cleavage of SNAP-25 can be achieved by P197, but with about 5-fold less sensitivity to external Ca2+. In this case, vesicular release is restored by increasing intracellular Ca2+. These data demonstrate that P197 competes with intact SNAP-25, but is unable to initiate normal synaptic vesicle fusion in physiological concentrations of Ca2+.
Home-PC usage and achievement in English

This article investigates the relation between home computer use and performance in English at school. The sample consists of 656 tenth-class students (age 15-16) in upper-secondary schools in Bergen, Norway. Data collection took place in the spring of 2002 and was administrated by the county education office. After correcting for gender, subject interest, reading disabilities and different PC activity categories, it was still possible to predict performance in English on a significant level from the total time spent in front of the PC-screen. Both boys and girls who seldom used home computers achieved low scores in English. However, of those students who spent two or more hours per day in front of the screen, girls performed very well in English while boys failed to show similar performance gains. Moreover, youths who were classified as poor readers benefited more from using home computers than those who were more competent readers.
Estimating time since infection in early homogeneous HIV-1 samples using a poisson model

The occurrence of a genetic bottleneck in HIV sexual or mother-to-infant transmission has been well documented. This results in a majority of new infections being homogeneous, i.e., initiated by a single genetic strain. Early after infection, prior to the onset of the host immune response, the viral population grows exponentially. In this simple setting, an approach for estimating evolutionary and demographic parameters based on comparison of diversity measures is a feasible alternative to the existing Bayesian methods (e.g., BEAST), which are instead based on the simulation of genealogies. We have devised a web tool that analyzes genetic diversity in acutely infected HIV-1 patients by comparing it to a model of neutral growth. More specifically, we consider a homogeneous infection (i.e., initiated by a unique genetic strain) prior to the onset of host-induced selection, where we can assume a random accumulation of mutations. Previously, we have shown that such a model successfully describes about 80% of sexual HIV-1 transmissions provided the samples are drawn early enough in the infection. Violation of the model is an indicator of either heterogeneous infections or the initiation of selection. When the underlying assumptions of our model (homogeneous infection prior to selection and fast exponential growth) are met, we are under a very particular scenario for which we can use a forward approach (instead of backwards in time as provided by coalescent methods). This allows for more computationally efficient methods to derive the time since the most recent common ancestor. Furthermore, the tool performs statistical tests on the Hamming distance frequency distribution, and outputs summary statistics (mean of the best fitting Poisson distribution, goodness of fit p-value, etc). The tool runs within minutes and can readily accommodate the tens of thousands of sequences generated through new ultradeep pyrosequencing technologies. The tool is available on the LANL website.
Shelby County v. Holder and the gutting of federal preclearance of election law changes

The preclearance provision of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act was rendered ineffective by the United States Supreme Court in 2013 in Shelby County, AL v. Holder. This provision required federal review of changes in the election policies and practices of state and local governments with particularly bad histories of racial discrimination in their electoral processes. This essay identifies the crucial prophylactic role the provision played in preventing the implementation of vote denial and vote dilution practices in southern states. It provides an overview of the various reauthorizations of the provision, with particular attention to the latest in 2006, and a critical review of the Supreme Court's response to it. Special attention is devoted to the social science evidence relied upon by Congress in that reauthorization and by the Court in its response to it.
Soil sterilization affects aging-related sequestration and bioavailability of p,p′-DDE and anthracene to earthworms

Abstract Laboratory experiments investigated the effects of soil sterilization and compound aging on the bioaccumulation of spiked p , p ′-DDE and anthracene by Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus terrestris . Declines in bioavailability occurred as pollutant residence time in both sterile and non-sterile soils increased from 3 to 203 d. Accumulation was generally higher in sterile soils during initial periods of aging (from 3–103 d). By 203 d, however, bioavailability of the compounds was unaffected by sterilization. Gamma irradiation and autoclaving may have altered bioavailability by inducing changes in the chemistry of soil organic matter (SOM). The results support a dual-mode partitioning sorption model in which the SOM components associated with short-term sorption (the ‘soft’ or ‘rubbery’ phases) are more affected than are the components associated with long-term sorption (the ‘glassy’ or microcrystalline phases). Risk assessments based on data from experiments in which sterile soil was used could overestimate exposure and bioaccumulation of pollutants.
Ego-perspective and field-based frames of reference: Temporal meanings of front in Japanese, Wolof, and Aymara

Abstract This article analyzes temporal frames of reference that are metaphorically related to experiences of movement and location. Two path-configured temporal frames of reference are distinguished, both of which employ a metaphorical front / behind contrast: field-based (perspective neutral) and ego-perspective (perspective specific). Claims are illustrated with data from Wolof (Niger-Congo, West Africa), Japanese, and Aymara (Jaqi, South America). The paper focuses on a field-based analysis (akin to absolute) of deictically neutral uses of front / behind terms, and defends it against a possible analysis as intrinsic. Front in the field-based frame of reference maps onto ‘earlier’, and behind maps onto ‘later’. An ego-perspective frame of reference generally has the opposite orientation so that front maps onto ‘future’ and behind maps onto ‘past’. Both of these patterns seem to be crosslinguistically typical. However, there is one well-documented case of ego facing the past—that of Aymara. I argue that in the Aymara system, ego's orientation is aligned with that of a field-based frame of reference: in Aymara the past is metaphorically in front of ego partly because the past is a special case of an earlier time that is metaphorically in front of a later time.
The rhodophytin and chondriol natural products; structures of several new acetylenes from laurencia, and a reassignment of structure for cis-rhodophytin

Abstract The structures of five new halogenated vinyl acetylenes are described which are natural products from various species of the red seaweed Laurencia . The structure of epoxyrhodophytin ( 1 ) was determined by spectral, chemical, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The structures of trans -rhodophytin ( 5 ) and trans -chondriol ( 8 ) are based on chemical and spectral comparisons with the previously reported compounds cis -rhodophytin ( 4 ) and cis -chondriol ( 7 ). The structures of cis -chondrin ( 14 ) and trans -chondrin ( 15 ) were secured by synthesis from cis - and trans -chondriol, respectively. The reactivity of these enol-ethers to various conditions of catalytic hydrogenation has been examined in detail. Hydrogenation yields an unexpected and facile incorporation of oxygen into the reaction products. Based upon these studies, and upon combustion analysis, the structure of rhodophytin has been revised as the vinyl ether rather than the vinyl peroxide originally proposed.
Strength and ductility in TiAl alloys

Abstract Tensile behavior of two-phase TiAl alloys at room temperature (RT) is analyzed for duplex and lamellar microstructural forms. The Hall-Petch relationship with high constants in fully-lamellar material is explained as a combined function of grain-size and deformation-anisotropy. The low ductility and its inverse relationship with grain size are explained using the anisotropic tensile properties of lamellar structures and assuming that the fracture is controlled by the crack nucleation process involving the pile-ups of dislocations under shear stress. The crack initiation toughness and associated strains near the crack tip are used to explain the inverse relationship between ductility and toughness.
Surface modification of polymer microfluidic devices using in‐channel atom transfer radical polymerization

In-channel atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to graft a PEG layer on the surface of microchannels formed in poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-co-(methyl methacrylate) (PGMAMMA) microfluidic devices. The patterned and cover plates were first anchored with ATRP initiator and then thermally bonded together, followed by pumping a solution containing monomer, catalyst, and ligand into the channel to perform ATRP. A PEG-functionalized layer was grafted on the microchannel wall, which resists protein adsorption. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the initiator-bound surface, and EOF was measured to evaluate the PEG-grafted PGMAMMA microchannel. Fast, efficient, and reproducible separations of amino acids, peptides, and proteins were obtained using the resultant microdevices. Separation efficiencies were higher than 1.0 x 10 4 plates for a 3.5 cm separation microchannel. Compared with microdevices modified using a previously reported ATRP technique, these in-channel modified microdevices demonstrated better long-term stability.
Numerical Conformal Mapping Methods for Exterior Regions with Corners

The main purpose of this paper is to present a method for computing the conformal map between the exterior of the unit disk and the exterior of a simple closed curve with corners. The method may be regarded as a generalization of the Schwarz-Christoffel transformation and is derived from the integral equation of Timman. Some comparison is made with other methods such as a version of Timman's equation with corners, Fornberg's method with explicit corner removers, Davis' method, and CONFPACK. The method proves to be quite flexible and robust.
Proposed Detector Assembly for Identification of Heavy Mass Cosmic Ray Nuclei of Low Energies

A description is given of a proposed new particle detector capable of measuring dE/dx and residual energy values of energetic heavy mass cosmic ray nuclei (Z>26) with energies as low as 1 MeV/nucleon, a region of information not accessible by other known means. The unique advantages of this detector assembly as it is envisaged for space flight experiments are listed.
Optical Characterization of Two-Layered Turbid Media for Non-Invasive, Absolute Oximetry in Cerebral and Extracerebral Tissue

We introduce a multi-distance, frequency-domain, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) method to measure the optical coefficients of two-layered media and the thickness of the top layer from diffuse reflectance measurements. This method features a direct solution based on diffusion theory and an inversion procedure based on the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. We have validated our method through Monte Carlo simulations, experiments on tissue-like phantoms, and measurements on the forehead of three human subjects. The Monte Carlo simulations and phantom measurements have shown that, in ideal two-layered samples, our method accurately recovers the top layer thickness (L), the absorption coefficient (µ a ) and the reduced scattering coefficient (µ' s ) of both layers with deviations that are typically less than 10% for all parameters. Our method is aimed at absolute measurements of hemoglobin concentration and saturation in cerebral and extracerebral tissue of adult human subjects, where the top layer (layer 1) represents extracerebral tissue (scalp, skull, dura mater, subarachnoid space, etc.) and the bottom layer (layer 2) represents cerebral tissue. Human subject measurements have shown a significantly greater total hemoglobin concentration in cerebral tissue (82±14 µM) with respect to extracerebral tissue (30±7 µM). By contrast, there was no significant difference between the hemoglobin saturation measured in cerebral tissue (56%±10%) and extracerebral tissue (62%±6%). To our knowledge, this is the first time that an inversion procedure in the frequency domain with six unknown parameters with no other prior knowledge is used for the retrieval of the optical coefficients and top layer thickness with high accuracy on two-layered media. Our absolute measurements of cerebral hemoglobin concentration and saturation are based on the discrimination of extracerebral and cerebral tissue layers, and they can enhance the impact of NIRS for cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation assessment both in the research arena and clinical practice.
Ethnic Differences in Service Use, Preferences, and Service Delivery Aspects Among Consumers and Potential Consumers of Family Resource Centers

ABSTRACT Little is known about consumers' perceptions regarding what services should be offered at Family Resource Centers (FRC) and how these services should be provided. This study reports on ethnic similarities and differences in service utilization, service preferences, and service delivery concerns among 488 Latinos, European Americans, African Americans and Asian Americans who were consumers or potential consumers of FRCs in nine localities in California. Latino and African American consumers were interested in participating in a broader range of services than European American or Asian American consumers. Several service delivery aspects were important to all groups while a convenient neighborhood location and available transportation were salient for all groups but European American consumers. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.
A methodology for knowledgebased scheduling decision support

Abstract The problem of job shop scheduling, requires satisfaction of diverse and conflicting constraints. A large body of scheduling algorithms exists. The search for an appropriate algorithm or model can be very frustrating as well as discouraging for the prospective user, due to the complexity and the costs involved. Expert help may not always be affordable or accessible at the right moment. Knowledgebased Model Management Systems (MMS) enable us to make the expertise more accessible and affordable. In this paper we develop Scheduling Assistant, an interactive prototype knowledgebased MMS written in VAX OPS5 that displays a methodology for knowledgebased job shop scheduling decision support. It makes the search for expert scheduling knowledge easier, efficient, and more accessible to the practitioner user.
Rossby wave propagation on beta-planes

Abstract The numerical modeling of stratospheric, quasi-geostrophic Rossby wave propagation on a beta-plane channel is examined to determine how wave propagation is affected by the use of low horizontal (spectral) resolution. This study considers time dependent, quasi-linear, wave-mean flow interaction for typical wintertime conditions. Time dependent, wave-mean flow interaction modeling can show nonlinear behavior equivalent to quasi-horizontal planetary wavebreaking. Wave-mean flow interaction modeling requires relatively higher meridional resolution than is needed for the linear wave case because meridionally localized wave-mean flow interaction generally occurs. The interaction is viewed in terms of quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity on isobaric surfaces. The degree to which quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity is conserved locally as it is mixed quasi-horizontally by planetary waves under adiabatic conditions can be estimated by examining the evolution of the isobaric quasi-geostrophic potential ...
Role of oxidatively-induced DNA damage and inflammation in radiation long term effects and carcinogenesis

Ionizing radiation is undoubtedly the most frequently used means of cancer treatment especially solid tumors like breast, prostate etc. Significant evidence suggests that long-term effects of radiation in patients who have undergone even successful treatment include high oxidative stress and inflammation in their blood and various tissues and the underestimation of the so called “non-targeted” effects. This chronic stress can lead in some cases to malignant transformation (secondary primary cancers) after radiation treatment of primary tumors several years after the initial irradiation. This mini-review discusses the evidence for the role(s) of oxidative DNA damage and inflammation as one of the primary contributing factors in chronic tissue injury and secondary carcinogenesis. Several important questions arise like for example if based on this idea we can develop in vivo reliable predictive biomarkers for radiation-induced chronic injury and pinpointing carcinogenesis precursor sites after radiotherapy treatment even years after the patient exposure.
Systematic review of falls in older adults with cancer

Abstract Objectives Older adults frequently experience falls, at great cost to themselves and society. Older adults with cancer may be at greater risk for falls and have unique risk factors. Materials and methods We undertook a systematic review of the available medical literature to examine the current evidence regarding factors associated with falls in older adults with cancer. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, DARE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and clinical trials.gov were searched using standardized terms for concepts of oncology/cancer, people 60 and older, screening, falls and diagnosis. Eligible studies included cohort or case-control studies or clinical trials in which all patients, or a subgroup of patients, had a diagnosis of cancer and in which falls were either the primary or secondary outcome. Results We identified 31 studies that met our inclusion criteria. Several studies suggest that falls are more common in older adults with a diagnosis of cancer than those without. Among the 11 studies that explored factors associated with outpatient falls, some risk factors for falls established in the general population were also associated with falls in older adults with cancer, including dependence in activities of daily living and prior falls. Other factors associated with falls in a general population, such as age, polypharmacy and opioid use, were not predictive of falls among oncology populations. Falls among older adults with cancer in the inpatient setting were associated with established risk factors for falls in people without cancer, but also with factors unique to an oncology population, such as brain metastases. Conclusions Falls in older adults with cancer are more common than in the general population, and are associated with risk factors unique to people with cancer. Further study is needed to establish methods of screening older adults with cancer for fall risk and ultimately implement interventions to reduce their risk of falls. Identifying which older adults with cancer are at greater risk for falls is a requisite step to ultimately intervene and prevent falls in this vulnerable population.
Probing the climatological impact of a cosmic ray–cloud connection through low-frequency radio observations

Abstract It has been proposed that cosmic ray events could have a causal relationship with cloud formation rates. Given the weak constraints on the role that cloud formation plays in climate forcing it is essential to understand the role such a relationship could have in shaping the Earth's climate. This issue has been previously investigated in the context of the long-term effect of cosmic ray events on climate. However, in order to establish whether or not such a relationship exists, measurements of short-timescale solar events, individual cosmic ray events, and spatially correlated cloud parameters could be of great significance. Here we propose such a comparison using observations from a pair of radio telescopes arrays, the Long Wavelength Array (LWA) and the Eight-meter-wavelength Transient Array (ETA). These low-frequency radio arrays have a unique ability to simultaneously conduct solar, ionospheric and cosmic rays observations and are thus ideal for such a comparison. We will outline plans for a comparison using data from these instruments, satellite images of cloud formation as well as expected cloud formation rates from numerical models. We present some preliminary results illustrating the efficacy of this type of comparison and discuss future plans to carryout this program.
Diffusion studies in amorphous NiZr alloys and their relevance for solid state amorphizing reactions

Abstract Tracer impurity and self-diffusion measurements have been made on vapor-deposited amorphous NiZr (a-NiZr) alloys using radioactive tracer, secondary ion mass spectrometry and Rutherford backscattering techniques. The temperature dependence of tracer diffusion in a-NiZr can be represented in the form D = D0 exp( −Q kT ), with no structural relaxation effects being observed. Atomic mobilities in a-NiZr were observed to increase dramatically with decreasing atomic radius of the diffusing atom and also with decreasing nickel content for nickel concentrations below about 40 at.%. These diffusion characteristics in a-NiZr are remarkably like those in α-Zr and α-Ti, suggesting similarities in the diffusion mechanisms. The relevance of these diffusion data for the solid state amorphizing reaction is discussed.
Proton Pump Inhibitor Use in the U.S. Ambulatory Setting, 2002–2009

Background and Aims Anecdotal reports and studies of select populations suggest that the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has increased since their introduction. We sought to determine recent trends in PPI use in the U.S. outpatient setting and characteristics of patients and physicians that may predict their use.
Finite-element method for electronic structure

We discuss the use of the finite-element method in electronic-structure calculations. Products of orthogonal or nonorthogonal one-dimensional (1D) finite-element shape functions are used to form 3D basis functions on a cubic grid. The strict locality of these functions means that the matrix for any local operator is very sparse, making calculation times proportional to the number of basis functions (N) possible. The completeness of the basis can be increased globally by decreasing the grid spacing and locally by increasing the number of basis functions per site. We discuss algorithms, including the highly efficient multigrid method, for solving the Poisson equation and for the ground state of the single-particle Schr\"odinger equation in O(N) time. Results are presented for test calculations of H, ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$, He, and ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ using as many as 500 000 basis functions.
Detecting Learning by Exporting

Abstract Learning by exporting refers to the mechanism whereby a firm's performance improves after entering export markets. This mechanism is often mentioned in policy documents, but many econometric studies have not found corroborating evidence. I show that the econometric methods rely on an assumption that productivity evolves exogenously. I show how to accommodate endogenous productivity processes, such as learning by exporting. I discuss the bias introduced by ignoring such a process, and show that adjusting for it can lead to different conclusions. Using micro data from Slovenia, I find evidence of substantial productivity gains from entering export markets. (JEL D22, D24, D83, F14, L25)
Mechanisms Linking Depression to Delinquency for Males and Females

The current study examines whether the mechanisms underlying the relationship between depression and delinquency vary between male and female adolescents. Four potential mechanisms are considered in the analyses: weakened internal controls, weakened social controls, peer rejection, and substance use. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth—Child and Young Adult data reveal that depression increases the odds of peer rejection for males, which subsequently increases males’ involvement in delinquency. Results suggest that substance abuse mediates the relationship between depression and delinquency for female adolescents.Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Pseudo-Almost Integral Elements

Let D be an integral domain with quotient field K. We define an element α ∈ K to be pseudo-almost integral over D if there is an infinite increasing sequence {s i } of natural numbers and a nonzero c ∈ D with cα s i ∈ D. We investigate when a pseudo-almost integral element is almost integral or integral. We also determine the sequences {s i } with the property that for any domain D and α ∈ K, whenever cα s i ∈ D for some nonzero c ∈ D, than α is actually almost integral over D.
Microbiology of newer fluoroquinolones: focus on respiratory pathogens.

Community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, and acute sinusitis are among the most common bacterial infections encountered in clinical practice. Pathogens frequently associated with these infections include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Unfortunately, resistance to antimicrobials commonly used for the treatment of these infections is increasing, limiting the clinical efficacy of these agents. Fluoroquinolones offer several advantages over other classes of antimicrobials used for the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections. In general, fluoroquinolones have excellent in vitro activity against common respiratory pathogens, including some drug-resistant strains of S. pneumoniae. Microbial resistance to the newer fluoroquinolones is relatively uncommon, currently occurring in approximately 1% of clinical isolates in North America. Fluoroquinolones currently in clinical development may offer additional benefits over the marketed agents because they maintain good potency against isolates of S. pneumoniae displaying resistance to older quinolones (i.e., ofloxacin or ciprofloxacin) and may have a lower potential to engender resistance. This article reviews the in vitro activity of several newer fluoroquinolones, including agents currently in clinical development, against common respiratory pathogens, including antimicrobial-resistant strains. The mechanisms and prevalence of resistance of β-lactam antimicrobials, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones also are reviewed.
TiO2 flakes as anode materials for Li-ion-batteries

Abstract Anatase titanium dioxide is a promising negative electrode material for Li-ion batteries. However, the low intrinsic electrical conductivity and poor cycling performance have limited its application. In this work, titanium dioxide flakes have been synthesized through a simple spreading method that is easily scalable. The calcined titanium dioxide flakes exhibit larger reversible charge/discharge capacity, better rate capability and excellent cycling stability compared to anatase titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The larger surface area of the flakes leads to a larger electrode/electrolyte contact area, shorter solid state path lengths for both Li-ion and electron transport, which results in the better rate capability. The cycling performance was significantly improved by the porous structure of the calcined titanium dioxide flakes. Strategies for improving the volumetric energy density of the flakes are also discussed.
Testing Automation for system core kJava applications

The paper includes brief review of the main general problems of the testing automation for kJava applications. Existing approaches in the target area are reviewed. The differences between common kJava applications and system core kJava applications described. Demonstrated the necessity for the new testing automation solution for system core kJava applications. Use of internal structure of kJava implementation to create test automation system is described. The result is the test toolkit adapted for testing system core kJava applications. The results of using new method are shown.
The effect of word familiarity on actual and perceived text difficulty

There is little evidence that readability formula outcomes relate to text understanding. The potential cause may lie in their strong reliance on word and sentence length. We evaluated word familiarity rather than word length as a stand-in for word difficulty. Word familiarity represents how well known a word is, and is estimated using word frequency in a large text corpus, in this work the Google web corpus. We conducted a study with 239 people, who provided 50 evaluations for each of 275 words. Our study is the first study to focus on actual difficulty, measured with a multiple-choice task, in addition to perceived difficulty, measured with a Likert scale. Actual difficulty was correlated with word familiarity (r=0.219, p<0.001) but not with word length (r=−0.075, p=0.107). Perceived difficulty was correlated with both word familiarity (r=−0.397, p<0.001) and word length (r=0.254, p<0.001).
A pilot study of omalizumab to facilitate rapid oral desensitization in high-risk peanut-allergic patients

Background Peanut allergy is a major public health problem that affects 1% of the population and has no effective therapy. Objective To examine the safety and efficacy of oral desensitization in peanut-allergic children in combination with a brief course of anti-IgE mAb (omalizumab [Xolair]). Methods We performed oral peanut desensitization in peanut-allergic children at high risk for developing significant peanut-induced allergic reactions. Omalizumab was administered before and during oral peanut desensitization. Results We enrolled 13 children (median age, 10 years), with a median peanut-specific IgE level of 229 kU A /L and a median total serum IgE level of 621 kU/L, who failed an initial double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge at peanut flour doses of 100 mg or less. After pretreatment with omalizumab, all 13 subjects tolerated the initial 11 desensitization doses given on the first day, including the maximum dose of 500 mg peanut flour (cumulative dose, 992 mg, equivalent to >2 peanuts), requiring minimal or no rescue therapy. Twelve subjects then reached the maximum maintenance dose of 4000 mg peanut flour per day in a median time of 8 weeks, at which point omalizumab was discontinued. All 12 subjects continued on 4000 mg peanut flour per day and subsequently tolerated a challenge with 8000 mg peanut flour (equivalent to about 20 peanuts), or 160 to 400 times the dose tolerated before desensitization. During the study, 6 of the 13 subjects experienced mild or no allergic reactions, 5 subjects had grade 2 reactions, and 2 subjects had grade 3 reactions, all of which responded rapidly to treatment. Conclusions Among children with high-risk peanut allergy, treatment with omalizumab may facilitate rapid oral desensitization and qualitatively improve the desensitization process.
Cross-reactivity of ryanodine receptors with plasma membrane ion channel modulators

Various pharmacological agents designed to modulate plasma membrane ion channels seem to significantly affect intracellular Ca2+ signaling when acting on their target receptor. Some agents could also cross-react (modulate channels or receptors beyond their putative target) with intracellular Ca2+ transporters. This study investigated the potential of thirty putative modulators of either plasma membrane K+, Na+, or transient receptor potential (TRP) channels to cross-react with intracellular Ca2+ release channels [i.e., ryanodine receptors (RyRs)] from skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Screening for cross-reactivity of these various agents was performed by measuring the rate of spontaneous Ca2+ leak or caffeine-induced Ca2+ release from SR microsomes. Four of the agents displayed a strong cross-reactivity and were further evaluated with skeletal RyR (RyR1) reconstituted into planar bilayers. 6,12,19,20,25,26-Hexahydro-5,27:13,18:21,24-trietheno-11,7-metheno-7H-dibenzo [b,n][1,5,12,16]tetraazacyclotricosine-5, 13-diium dibromide (UCL 1684; K+ channel antagonist) and lamotrigine (Na+ channel antagonist) were found to significantly inhibit the RyR1-mediated caffeine-induced Ca2+ release. TRP channel agonists anandamide and (−)menthol were found to inhibit and activate RyR1, respectively. High concentrations of nine other agents produced partial inhibition of RyR1-mediated Ca2+ release from SR microsomes. Various pharmacological agents, especially TRP modulators, also inhibited a minor RyR1-independent component of the SR Ca2+ leak. Overall, ∼43% of the agents selected cross-reacted with RyR1-mediated and/or RyR1-independent Ca2+ leak from intracellular stores. Thus, cross-reactivity should be considered when using these classes of pharmacological agents to determine the role of plasmalemmal channels in Ca2+ homeostasis.
Cave millipeds of the United States. V. The genus Idagona Buckett & Gardner (Chordeumatida, Conotylidae, Idagoninae)

The conotylid milliped subfamily Idagoninae presently includes but a single genus and species, Idagona westcotti Buckett & Gardner, known from lava tubes in Idaho, USA. This study presents new records of the genus Idagona, extending its distribution into Utah and Nevada, its habitat records to limestone caves, and describes two additional species, Idagona lehmanensis, n. sp., from limestone caves in the Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada, and Idagona jasperi, n. sp., from a high-altitude limestone cave in northern Utah.
Quantum-chromodynamic corrections to deep-inelastic Compton scattering

Deep-inelastic Compton scattering is a potentially useful source of information concerning the short-distance structure of hadrons. We present here results for several types of corrections to the basic Compton subprocess. Contributions from subprocesses involving photon distribution and fragmentation functions are shown to be small in the high-${p}_{T}$ region in the leading-logarithm approximation. The next-to-leading-order corrections from the subprocesses $\ensuremath{\gamma}q\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}\mathrm{qg}$ and $\ensuremath{\gamma}g\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}q\overline{q}$ are also calculated and found to be small over a wide rapidity range for large ${p}_{T}$ values. These small corrections suggest that the deep-inelastic Compton process will indeed be a useful reaction to measure.
Parallel Partitioned Inverse Method for Least-Squares Adjustment

Parallel computing is undoubtedly the trend in numerical applications of highly intensive computation. There has been much related research and development on parallel computer architecture, algorithm design, and supplementary packages. However, computational technology has seen little interest in the surveying area since the North American Datum of 1983 adjustment. In this research, a parallel partitioned inverse algorithm is implemented and applied to a least-squares adjustment of horizontal survey networks to present the potential of parallel computing methods for surveying data. Two observation data sets with 2,412 and 1,902 unknowns were used for the test. To improve performance of the algorithm, two different partitioning schemes also were investigated with the data sets. The computational experiment presents the good scalability of the algorithm and better partitioning approach with the improved speed. However, it is noted that parallel factorization of sparse matrices is required to fully utilize ...
Application of Investment Theory to Predicting Maintenance of the Intent to Stay among Freshmen

Recently, it has been suggested that constructs from different disciplines should be incorporated into Tinto's (1993) sociological model of the determinants of departure from college (Ackerman & Schibrowsky, 2007). We tested the hypothesis that variables derived from Rusbult's (1983) social-psychological investment theory contribute, above and beyond variables derived from Tinto's model, to the prediction of maintaining the intent to stay at a university. A sample of 218 first-semester freshmen at a large southwestern university who indicated at the beginning of the fall 2007 semester that they intended to stay subsequently completed a questionnaire assessing integration variables (goal commitment, social integration, and academic integration), investment variables (satisfaction level, investment size, and quality of alternatives), and college graduation intention (stay versus transfer). A binary logistic regression analysis revealed that two variables derived from investment theory—satisfaction level and...
Formation and status of the MEMS microfluidics industry

The integration of semiconductor electronics and diverse optics with miniature MEMS fluidic systems has produced remarkable capabilities, which have spawned a new industry, primarily in the past decade. Microfluidics devices made by several companies, most of them start-ups, enable point-of-care analyses for clinical samples and on-site field studies, as well as instruments for research and development. The companies, the materials and processes they use to make devices, the techniques employed for detection, and the markets are the subjects of this overview of the microfluidics industry.
Strategic Framing: How Leaders Craft the Meaning of Data Use for Equity and Learning

Although there is an emerging body of research that examines data-driven decision making (DDDM) in schools, little attention has been paid to how local leaders strategically frame sensemaking aroun...
Archeology and Metallurgical Technology in Prehistoric Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan

Recent research in India and Pakistan has greatly increased our knowledge of the Indus Civilization. Geographically the most widely distributed of Old World prehistoric civilizations, its origin and decline are, nevertheless, still little understood. The earliest metallurgical technology, represented in the chalcolithic cultures of Afghanistan and Baluchistan, points to an early connection with Iran. With the later inception of the Indus Civilization, metallurgy, derived apparently from the west, is technically an accomplished craft. Technological processes and typological occurrences of metal objects are discussed. The metal “hoards” of the Ganges-Jumna are without parallel and are seen as a separate metallurgical tradition within India.
Benefits and Costs of Summer Dormancy in Blackbrush (Coleogyne Ramosissima Torr.)

ABSTRACT The editor has retracted the article "Benefits and costs of summer dormancy in blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima Torr.)" based on the advice of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas because the author of this article, Simon A. Lei, has admitted to data fabrication of articles similar to this one. The author was a visiting lecturer in the Education college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at the time of the publication of this article and is no longer affiliated with the university. It is recommended that authors no longer cite this article in any work.
Investigations of high-harmonic gyrotrons with frequency-doubled prebunched beams

Summary form only given. There is currently considerable interest in operating gyrotrons at the second and higher cyclotron harmonics in order to access the near-THz regime and reduce magnetic field requirements. High frequency gyrotrons have successfully operated at the second harmonic; however, competition from the fundamental harmonic limits operation and essentially precludes higher harmonic operation. Bandurkin and Savilov recently proposed a scheme for frequency-doubled bunching of gyrating electron beams in a waveguide resonator formed from Bragg reflectors and with the drive frequency equal to the cyclotron frequency. Advantages of prepunching at twice the cyclotron frequency include suppression of the fundamental harmonic, enhanced second harmonic operation, and increased likelihood of fourth harmonic operation. We have investigated the use of this bunching technique to enhance higher-harmonic operation in gyrotron oscillators with annular beams. We compute the frequency-doubled bunching produced by a Bragg-type prebunching cavity and use a large-signal, multimode, multi-harmonic gyrotron oscillator code to simulate the effect of this bunching on a highly over-moded output cavity. Regimes of stable operation are predicted for second and fourth harmonic point designs.
Effects of Smoking Intervention and the Use of an Inhaled Anticholinergic Bronchodilator on the Rate of Decline of FEV1: The Lung Health Study

Objective. —To determine whether a program incorporating smoking intervention and use of an inhaled bronchodilator can slow the rate of decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) in smokers aged 35 to 60 years who have mild obstructive pulmonary disease. Design. —Randomized clinical trial. Participants randomized with equal probability to one of the following groups: (1) smoking intervention plus bronchodilator, (2) smoking intervention plus placebo, or (3) no intervention. Setting. —Ten clinical centers in the United States and Canada. Participants. —A total of 5887 male and female smokers, aged 35 to 60 years, with spirometric signs of early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Interventions. —Smoking intervention: intensive 12-session smoking cessation program combining behavior modification and use of nicotine gum, with continuing 5-year maintenance program to minimize relapse. Bronchodilator: ipratropium bromide prescribed three times daily (two puffs per time) from a metered-dose inhaler. Main Outcome Measures. —Rate of change and cumulative change in FEV1over a 5-year period. Results. —Participants in the two smoking intervention groups showed significantly smaller declines in FEV1than did those in the control group. Most of this difference occurred during the first year following entry into the study and was attributable to smoking cessation, with those who achieved sustained smoking cessation experiencing the largest benefit. The small noncumulative benefit associated with use of the active bronchodilator vanished after the bronchodilator was discontinued at the end of the study. Conclusions. —An aggressive smoking intervention program significantly reduces the age-related decline in FEV1in middle-aged smokers with mild airways obstruction. Use of an inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator results in a relatively small improvement in FEV1that appears to be reversed after the drug is discontinued. Use of the bronchodilator did not influence the long-term decline of FEV1. (JAMA. 1994;272:1497-1505)