cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Is Not a Risk Factor for Adverse Perinatal Outcomes

A case-control study was performed on a population of pregnant women giving birth at a large metropolitan hospital in Atlanta, GA, between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 1992. The study population consisted of 279 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive cases and 1,171 HIV-seronegative controls. Univariate and multiple stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the relationship between HIV infection and adverse perinatal outcomes. Cases were significantly more likely than controls to deliver low birth weight infants (24.4% vs. 13.6%; odds ratio [OR] 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5, 2.9), preterm infants (32.6% vs. 22.8%; OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2, 2.2), and intrauterine growth restricted infants (15.4% vs. 8.4%; OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.4, 3.0). The risks of perinatal mortality and fetal malformations were not different between the groups. After adjusting for confounders using multiple logistic regression analysis, the significant differences previously noted did not persist. HIV-s...
Different speech-processing mechanisms can be reflected in the results of discrimination and dichotic listening tasks

Abstract The relative peakedness of diotic ABX discrimination functions for certain speech stimuli and the relative magnitude of the right ear advantage that they yield in dichotic listening tasks have been thought to be functionally parallel measures of speech processing. The results of the present study suggest that this is not always the case.
Extraction of metal ions by N-phenyl-, N-methyl-, and N-unsubstituted hydroxamic acid resins

Abstract Procedures are described for preparing macroreticular chelating resins with hydroxamic acid or N-methylhydroxamic acid functional groups. The chelating properties of the resins are compared with each other and with an N-phenylhydroxamic acid resin reported earlier. The extraction of 19 metal ions was studied as a function of pH for the N-methylhydroxamic acid resin. Several analytical applications of this resin have been demonstrated including the purification of chemical reagents, concentration of trace metal ions, and chromatographic separation of metal-ion mixtures.
HOLISTIC STRATEGY FOR URBAN SECURITY

Since September 11, 2001, the vulnerabilities to terrorism of our urban areas, and how best to address them, have been subject to considerable discussion, debate, and reflexive defensive measures. Although direct physical responses to such frightening events are certainly understandable, they are not based on a true assessment of risk, nor do they necessarily represent an effective, let alone cost effective, approach to addressing the threat of urban terrorism. This paper will explore recent trends in physical protection and offer observations on a rational basis for evaluating security strategies; some alternative, nonstructural approaches to urban security, and the need for robust institutions with well-qualified people in critical positions to develop and implement these strategies. It will seek to demonstrate that a holistic strategy that incorporates technology, people, and institutions will achieve far greater long-term security as well as possible ancillary mitigation benefits from other hazards.
Seasonal and diurnal activity of Larra bicolor (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) and potential ornamental plants as nectar sources.

Larra bicolor was introduced to Florida for biological control of mole crickets (Scapteriscus spp.) and has spread to adjacent states. The objectives of this study were to determine the seasonal and diurnal activity of L. bicolor in its expanded range and to compare ornamental plants as nectar sources. Experiments with colored, pan-type traps and sugar solutions to monitor for L. bicolor were unsuccessful and direct observations of wasps feeding on flowers or hunting in turfgrass were used to monitor activity. Seasonal activity of L. bicolor was monitored on four sites in coastal Mississippi from 2006-2008. Wasps are active from June to October and were active later in the season on flowering plants. Diurnal activity on flowering plants was monitored during August and October. Activity began at 0700 h in August and 0900 h in October and continued to near dusk. Populations on flowers were typically male-biased with numbers of females on flowers being greatest in the afternoon (about 1300 h). Sixteen plant taxa representing nine genera and seven families were evaluated in common garden experiments during 2007 and 2008. Of these, wasps only fed on Pentas lanceolata and Spermacoce verticillata. However, pentas, a popular ornamental, may be a more aesthetic and less problematic alternative to S. verticillata, a weed in turfgrass, as a nectar source for L. bicolor in urban landscapes.
Oxygen Vacancy Creation, Drift, and Aggregation in TiO2-Based Resistive Switches at Low Temperature and Voltage

Transmission electron microscopy with in situ biasing has been performed on TiN/single-crystal rutile TiO2/Pt resistive switching structures. Three elementary processes essential for switching: i) creation of oxygen vacancies by electrochemical reactions at low temperatures (<150 °C), ii) their drift in the electric field, and iii) their coalescence into planar faults (and dissociation from them) have been documented. The faults have a form of vacancy discs in {110} and {121} planes, are bound by partial dislocation loops, and are identical to Wadsley defects observed in nonstoichiometric TiO2 annealed at high temperatures. The faults can be regarded as a precursor to the formation of oxygen-deficient Magneli phases, but 3D secondary phase inclusions have not been detected. Together, the observations shed light on the behavior of oxygen vacancies in relatively low electric fields and temperatures, suggesting that, in addition to the rather accepted notion of oxygen vacancy motion during the writing processes in resistive switching devices, such motion may occur even during reading, and may be accompanied by significant oxygen vacancy creation at modest device excitation levels.
Monetary Policy and Natural Disasters in a DSGE Model

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, speculation arose that the Federal Reserve might respond by easing monetary policy. This article uses a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model to investigate the appropriate monetary policy response to a natural disaster. We show that the standard Taylor rule response in models with and without nominal rigidities is to increase the nominal interest rate. That finding is unchanged when we consider the optimal policy response to a disaster. A nominal interest rate increase following a disaster mitigates both temporary inflation effects and output distortions that are attributable to nominal rigidities.
Early Detection of Occlusal Caries by Measuring the Electrical Resistance of the Tooth

The tooth resistance measuring instrument was compared to the traditional method of the explorer examination for the detection of occlusal carious lesions. The findings of the instrument were more sensitive as compared to the traditional method when verified by a histological examination.
Glucocorticoid administration alters nuclear transcription factors in fetal rat brain: implications for the use of antenatal steroids

A recent Consensus Conference endorsed antenatal steroid use in prematurity, but indicated the need for future work on molecular and cellular effects on the developing brain. In the current study, pregnant rats were given dexamethasone during late gestation, in doses spanning those recommended for use, and effects on nuclear transcription factors were evaluated. Within the first hour after a single dose of dexamethasone, and intensifying over 4 h, marked induction of brain c-fos was seen. With repeated administration, c-fos became suppressed in some brain regions, but remained elevated in others. Dexamethasone also elicited suppression of the AP-1 family of nuclear binding proteins, but with a slower time course than seen for c-fos induction. The magnitude of the effects of late gestational exposure to dexamethasone on these transcription factors was comparable to those seen when repeated doses were administered to midgestation embryos in the context of dysmorphogenesis. Similarly, the effects on brain c-fos expression were substantially greater than those in the liver, an archetypal glucocorticoid target tissue. These results indicate that even a single, low dose of glucocorticoids used in late gestation, can disrupt the transcription factors that regulate brain cell differentiation.
Cobalt(III) carboxypeptidase A: An activity depending on the method of metal ion replacement

Abstract There are two different methods available for replacing the Zn(II) in carboxypeptidase A with Co(II). One involves direct metal ion exchange using a large molar excess of Co(II) while the other requires the preparation of the metal-free apoenzyme and reconstitution with Co(II). Oxidation of the product obtained by the first route gives Co(III) carboxypeptidase A which is inactive towards synthetic peptide substrates but active towards synthetic ester substrates. In contrast, oxidation of the Co(II) carboxypeptidase obtained by the second strategy gives a Co(III) carboxypeptidase A having neither peptidase nor esterase activity.
Food Marketing to Children on U.S. Spanish-Language Television

Latino children in particular are at risk of childhood obesity. Because exposure to televised food marketing is a contributor to childhood obesity, it is important to examine the nutritional quality of foods advertised on Spanish-language children's programming. The authors analyzed a sample of 158 Spanish-language children's television programs for its advertising content and compared them with an equivalent sample of English-language advertising. The authors evaluated nutritional quality of each advertised product using a food rating system from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, the authors assessed compliance with industry self-regulatory pledges. The authors found that amount of food advertising on Spanish-language channels (M = 2.2 ads/hour) was lower than on English-language programs, but the nutritional quality of food products on Spanish-language channels was substantially poorer than on English channels. Industry self-regulation was less effective on Spanish-language channels. The study provides clear evidence of significant disparities. Food advertising targeted at Spanish-speaking children is more likely to promote nutritionally poor food products than advertising on English-language channels. Industry self-regulation is less effective on Spanish-language television channels. Given the disproportionately high rate of childhood obesity among Latinos, the study's findings hold important implications for public health policy.
Pressure transfer function and absorption cross section from the diffuse field to the human infant ear canal.

The diffuse‐field pressure transfer function from a reverberant field to the ear canal of human infants, ages 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, has been measured from 125–10700 Hz. The source was a loudspeaker using pink noise, and the diffuse‐field pressure and the ear‐canal pressure were simultaneously measured using a spatial averaging technique in a reverberant room. The results in most subjects show a two‐peak structure in the 2–6‐kHz range, corresponding to the ear‐canal and concha resonances. The ear‐canal resonance frequency decreases from 4.4 kHz at age 1 month to 2.9 kHz at age 24 months. The concha resonance frequency decreases from 5.5 kHz at age 1 month to 4.5 kHz at age 24 months. Below 2 kHz, the diffuse‐field transfer function shows effects due to the torsos of the infant and parent, and varies with how the infant is held. Comparisons are reported of the diffuse‐field absorption cross section for infants relative to adults. This quantity is a measure of power absorbed by the middle ear from a diffuse sound field, and large differences are observed in infants relative to adults. The radiation efficiencies of the infant and the adult ear are small at low frequencies, near unity at midfrequencies, and decrease at higher frequencies. The process of ear‐canal development is not yet complete at age 24 months. The results have implications for experiments on hearing in infants.
Epidermal integrin expression is upregulated rapidly in human fetal wound repair

Abstract Background/Purpose: The fetus heals skin wounds rapidly and scarlessly. The mechanisms that mediate the rapid reepithelialization that is seen in this process are unknown. Integrins are a family of cell surface receptors that bind fibronectin, tenascin, collagen, and other extracellular matrix proteins that are deposited rapidly in fetal wounds. The authors hypothesized that epidermal integrin receptors specific for fibronectin and other wound matrix proteins are upregulated rapidly during human fetal repair. Methods: To investigate the spatial and temporal expression of integrins in scarless fetal repair, fetal skin from six human abortuses (16 to 23 weeks' gestation) was transplanted subcutaneously into severe combined immunodeficient mice. After graft take, full-thickness incisional wounds were made in the grafts, and grafts were harvested at various time-points from 4 hours to 28 days after wounding. Integrin receptor protein expression was analyzed at each time-point using immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies specific for the receptors that bind fibronectin, tenascin, collagen, and laminin (α5, αv, β6, α2, α3, α6, and β4). Results: In this model, wounded human fetal skin grafts reepithelialized rapidly (within 24 to 36 hours) and healed scarlessly. Within 4 hours of wounding, the grafts showed increased, suprabasal expression (α2, α3, α6, β4) or neoexpression (α5, αb, β6) of integrins at the epidermal wound edge. This increased expression persisted until reepithelialization was complete. Conclusions: Early upregulation of integrins in fetal wounds may permit rapid keratinocyte migration and reepithelialization, and may be important in limiting the induction of inflammatory mediators and scar.
Estimating fluxes in anthropogenic lead using alluvial soil mass-balance geochemistry, geochronology and archaeology in eastern USA

Abstract Predicting human impact on Earth's surface requires a quantitative understanding of past human–environmental interactions. This study uses mass-balance geochemistry of buried alluvial soils, geochronology and archaeology to constrain soil age and quantify the anthropogenic addition of lead (Pb) to alluvial soils from the Delaware River valley in northeastern USA. Mass addition of Pb was calculated for two alluvial terrace landforms. The results show that for buried soils that formed during the middle and late Holocene, the addition of Pb was estimated at 1.71 ± 0.02 μg cm−2 and −39 ± 0.43 μg cm−2, respectively. The corresponding Pb addition rates were estimated at 0.04 μg cm−2 y−1 and −0.28 μg cm−2 y−1, where the negative rate documents Pb loss from the soil. Conversely, the Pb addition to buried alluvial soils that formed 200 times increase in Pb and rapid deposition rates in the 19th–20th century alluvial soils coincide with the presence of historic Euro-American artifacts, providing support for human-induced Pb addition. Furthermore, the soil stratigraphic context of a tooth-crown bottle cap (maximum age = 58 y BP) and other archaeological age-based estimates allowed us to constrain the residence time of a historic alluvial soil to 58–39 y. The mass-balance results show that 19th–20th century Pb additions to these two alluvial profiles are unlike anything documented in the buried alluvial soils prior to the Industrial Era. Although human-induced mass influx of Pb had been previously documented in nearby lake cores and upland soils, quantification of Pb flux in buried alluvial soils, especially those with archaeological deposits, will further constrain the magnitude, extent and timing of anthropogenic Pb impact on Earth's surface.
Passive control of buckling deformation via Anderson localization phenomenon

Buckling problems of two types of multi-span elastic plates with transverse stiffeners are considered using a method based on the finite difference calculus. The discreteness of the stiffeners is accounted for. It is found that the torsional rigidity of the stiffener plays an important role in the buckling mode pattern. When the torsional rigidity is properly adjusted, the stiffener can act as an isolator of deformation for the structure at buckling so that the deflection is only limited to a small area.
Emotion and Visual Imagery in Dream Reports: A Narrative Graphing Approach

Abstract To test the notion that shifts in visual imagery and attention are correlated with experiences of emotion, we studied 10 dream reports using an affirmative probe of emotion and a quantitative measure of plot discontinuity. We found that emotion, especially changes in emotion, are correlated with discontinuities in visual imagery. These correlations are quantified using a new graph theoretical method for analyzing narrative reports.
Convergence of gene and cell therapy

Gene therapy and cell therapy have followed similar roller coaster paths of rising public expectations and disappointment over the past two decades. There is now reason to believe that momentum in the field has reached the point where the successes will be more frequent. The use of gene-modified cells has opened new avenues for engineering desired cell properties, for the use of cells as vehicles for gene delivery, and for tracking cells and controlling cell persistence after transplantation. Some notable recent clinical developments in cellular engineering by gene transfer offer lessons on how the field has emerged, and hint at additional future clinical applications.
Evaluation of Enantiomerically Pure Binaphthol-Based Molybdenum Catalysts for Asymmetric Olefin Metathesis Reactions that Contain 3,3‘-Diphenyl- or 3,3‘-Dimesityl-Substituted Binaphtholate Ligands. Generation and Decomposition of Unsubstituted Molybdacyclobutane Complexes

Enantiomerically pure molybdenum imido alkylidene complexes were prepared that contain binaphtholate ligands substituted in the 3 and 3‘ positions with either phenyl (4; Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)[Ph](THF)) or 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl groups (5; Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)[Mes](THF); Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3). Compound 5 was found to be an anti trigonal bipyramidal complex in an X-ray study. Asymmetric metatheses employing complex 5 were found to proceed to high conversion and to give high product % ee, while reactions that employed complex 4 were found to give lower conversion and lower % ee. One ring-closing reaction with 5 was shown to take place at a rate that was proportional to catalyst and substrate. Molybdacyclobutane complexes were observed in solution during ring-closing reactions. The molybdacyclobutane complex generated by treating 5 with ethylene was found to be a trigonal bipyramidal species which decomposed to yield some propylene; the metal-containing product or products of decomposition could not be identified. Moly...
Evaluation of genetic variation in a domestic population ofPenaeus vannamei (Boone): a comparison with three natural populations

Abstract Three natural populations of Penaeus vannamei from Mexico, Panama and Ecuador were compared to a farm population which has been closed since 1983. These populations were screened for allozyme variation at 26 loci. The observed levels of variation and heterozygosity in domestic and wild populations were very low, with average heterozygosity of only 0.017. Comparison of allelic frequencies showed very low levels of differentiation among the wild populations and analysis of population structure revealed extremely low levels of population subdivision. The aquaculture population showed slightly lower levels of heterozygosity and possessed fewer rare alleles than the wild populations, but showed no evidence of inbreeding or reduction in effective breeding population size.
Surface Partitioning and Stability of Pure and Mixed Films of 8−2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol at the Air−Water Interface

Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) have been suggested as possible precursors for perfluorinated carboxylic acids and have been detected in the troposphere over several North American sites. Although the gas-phase chemistry of several FTOHs has been extensively studied, the heterogeneous chemistry of these compounds has yet to be explored at the same depth. In this study, the surface activity of 8−2 FTOH at the air−water interface was investigated using a Langmuir trough. Isotherms of both the pure telomer alcohol and equimolar mixtures with stearic acid were collected. The objective of these experiments was to characterize the pure and mixed films and understand their heterogeneous chemistry, which can be used as a representative model for that of organic films on atmospheric surfaces, such as those found on oceans and aqueous aerosols. A consequence of FTOHs partitioning to the air−water interface is the possibility of their transport and widespread distribution and deposition using atmospheric aerosols. Ou...
Is Xunzi’s Virtue Ethics Susceptible to the Problem of Alienation?

In this essay I argue that if Kantian and consequentialist ethical theories are vulnerable to the so-called “problem of alienation,” a virtue ethics based on Xunzi’s ethical writings will also be vulnerable to this problem. I outline the problem of alienation, and then show that the role of ritual (li) in Xunzi’s theory renders his view susceptible to the problem as it has been traditionally understood. I consider some replies on Xunzi’s behalf, and also discuss whether the problem affects other Confucian and eudaimonian approaches to virtue ethics. I close by considering some solutions to the problem and the affect that this result has on the argumentative dialectic between the three major ethical traditions.
Novel approaches to enhance graphene absorption and electro-optic property

We demonstrate greatly enhanced light absorption by monolayer graphene over a broad spectral range, from visible to near infrared, based on attenuated total reflection (ATR). The designed structure consists of two dielectric media and monolayer graphene between them. Up to 42.7% light absorption has been achieved by this structure. Moreover, when applying electrolyte gel, electric double layers are formed at the graphene-gel interface, which leads to the change of graphene’s electrical properties as well as optical properties. As a result, light absorption of graphene can be manually modulated. This design may help build electro-optic modulators for applications in communications, sensing and spectroscopy.
Human Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone: Structure–Function Analysis

This article provides the reader with an overview of methodological strategies to investigate structure-function relationships of human thyroid-stimulating hormone (hTSH). Various aspects of hTSH production, purification, and characterization described here in more detail are not only relevant to studies on other members of the glycoprotein hormone family, but also applicable to studies of other glycosylated proteins. Knowledge of structure-function relationships of specific hTSH domains is important for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of its action. New insights from such studies permit the design of glycoprotein hormone analogs with specific pharmacological properties and potential clinical applications.
Histone deacetylase inhibitors: A chemical genetics approach to understanding cellular functions

There are eleven zinc dependent histone deacetylases (HDAC) in humans which have histones and many non-histone substrates. The substrates of these enzymes include proteins that have a role in regulation of gene expression, cell proliferation, cell migration, cell death, immune pathways and angiogenesis. Inhibitors of HDACs (HDACi) have been developed which alter the structure and function of these proteins, causing molecular and cellular changes that induce transformed cell death. The HDACi are being developed as anti-cancer drugs and have therapeutic potential for many non-oncologic diseases.
Multiparameter bandwidth processes and adaptive surface smoothing

Abstract We derive a functional limit theorem for a sequence of bandwidth processes with multivariate time and show that the limit process is multivariate Gaussian. This theorem is then applied to show asymptotic efficiency of certain data-adaptive local bandwidth choices for kernel estimators of multivariate regression functions and their derivatives. The cases where optimal multivariate bandwidths exist as minimizers of leading mean squared error terms are characterized.
Individual differences in working memory capacity and enumeration.

Two experiments are reported in which subjects performed working memory and enumeration tasks. In the first experiment, subjects scoring low on the working memory task also performed poorly on the attention-demanding “counting” portion of the enumeration task. Yet no span differences were found for the non-attention-demanding “subitizing” portion. In Experiment 2, conjunctive and disjunctive distractors were added to the enumeration task. Although both high and low working memory span subjects were adversely affected by the addition of conjunctive distractors, the effect was much greater for the low-span subjects. Implications from these findings are that differences in working memory capacity correspond to differences in capability for controlled attention.
An optimal mass transport approach to the near-field reflector problem in optical design

In the near-field reflector (NFR) problem, one is given a point source of light with some radiation intensity and a target set at a finite distance. It is necessary to determine a reflector that intercepts the light rays emitted by the source and reflects them so that a given irradiance distribution is produced on the target. A special geometric method was developed in Kochengin and Oliker (1997 Inverse Problems 13 363–73) to solve this problem. This method was based on the representation of a reflector as an envelope of a family of confocal ellipsoids of revolution and the existence of weak solutions to the NFR problem was established in this class. In this paper, we investigate the applicability of an alternative approach to the same problem via optimal mass transport theory which was successful in several other optical design problems. Here, we show first that the above-mentioned representation of reflectors leads in a natural way to a generalized Legendre–Fenchel transform with unusual and interesting properties. This transform gives rise to a natural variational problem resembling a transportation problem with cost functional depending nonlinearly on one of the potentials. Somewhat surprisingly, it turns out that, in general, weak solutions of the NFR problem do not optimize this functional. We present an explicit example showing this. We also show that nevertheless this functional attains optimal values on reflectors in the above-mentioned class.
Polarization of the Far-Infrared Emission from the Thermal Filaments of the Galactic Center Arc

The polarization of the 100 micron continuum emission has been measured at 14 positions in the dense, warm molecular cloud associated with the arched filaments, or the 'bridge', of the radio arc near the Galactic center. At all positions the percent polarization is found to be quite large, ranging up to 6.5 percent. The polarization is interpreted in terms of thermal emission by magnetically aligned dust grains. The directions of the polarization vectors then indicate that the magnetic field is (1) parallel to the long dimension of the thermal radio filaments, and (2) very uniform on scales of 1-10 pc. Of several explanations for the inferred field geometry, the simplest is that it results from the unusually large dynamical shear in the emitting cloud.
Why Pediatric Otolaryngology

"Why pediatric otolaryngology?" my otolaryngology colleagues ask. "I can do tonsils and tubes just as well as any of you," they said. It is not just the surgical skills (more about these later) that we have that establishes our identity as pediatric otolaryngologists. What is it, then, that differentiates us from otolaryngology colleagues? Why do we feel that we deserve the same recognition as other subspecialties of otolaryngology, such as otology or facial plastic surgery? It is apparent to all physicians that children are not small adults. Children and infants have different physical, psychological, developmental, and physiological characteristics that require particular individualized attention. Otolaryngologists with a special interest and expertise in treating children naturally gravitated to specializing in pediatric otolaryngology. As more of us discovered others with similar interests, we met in groups in an effort to find solutions to common problems we encountered in managing children. The subspecialty has
Current concepts in antibiotic resistance.

Purpose of review Although antibiotic resistance is not often considered an exciting topic for pediatric surgical subspecialists, we face the consequences of increasing antibiotic resistance daily in our clinical practice. By the very nature that our patients are often referred to us after extended periods of medical therapy, antibiotic resistance becomes a significant factor in management of patients both medically and surgically. Antibiotic resistance is increasing, and a number of organisms demonstrate multiple-drug resistance. The purpose of this review is to outline the scope of antibiotic resistance as it relates to pediatric otolaryngology. Specifically, the mechanisms of resistance, the pharmacodynamics involved, and selected infections are discussed. Recent findings The children particularly at risk for infections with resistant organisms are those 2 years of age or younger with exposure to daycare and treatment with antimicrobials within the last 30 days. Although there is increasing resistance to antibiotics commonly used for outpatient infections such as otitis media, sinusitis, and tonsillitis, many of the first-line therapies still show significant therapeutic advantage. Vaccines to pneumococcal bacteria have been shown to decrease severe infections. However, there has been only a slight decline in the number of outpatient otolaryngologic infections after vaccination. Summary Therefore, children who have received multiple courses of antibiotics, are 2 years of age or younger, attend daycare, or have received antimicrobial therapy within the last 30 days may need high-dose therapy or antimicrobial therapy with an increased spectrum of coverage. Those children with infections that do not respond clinically to appropriate therapy should be treated with the suspicion of multiple-drug resistant strains being present. Continued surveillance of resistance patterns within individual communities, especially areas served by children's hospitals, are important, as there are distinct local and regional differences in antimicrobial resistance.
Analysis of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) expression in neoplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas of woodchucks utilizing in situ hybridization and imununocytochemistry

Hepatocarcinogenesis in woodchucks that are persistently infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) follows a progressive course characterized by foci of altered hepatocytes, benign neoplastic nodules and finally hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In situ hybridization studies have demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is expressed in most HCCs in woodchucks but that the patterns of expression are variable from tumor to tumor. In some cases, expression of IGF-II is high throughout the tumor, and in others expression is limited to the growing edge of the tumor. IGF-II expression is also activated in focal groups of cells in neoplastic nodules. The major IGF-II mRNA in nodules and HCCs is a 3.4 kb transcript corresponding to one of two IGF-II RNAs in fetal woodchuck liver. A single 15 kDa IGF-II polypeptide accumulates in the perinuclear cytoplasm of hepatocytes in fetal woodchuck liver, neoplastic nodules and HCCs. Thus IGF-II expression in woodchuck liver is reactivated in lesions which are believed to be the precursors of HCC and continues to be expressed as HCCs develop.
A class of binary shortened cyclic codes for a compound channel

In this paper, a class of shortened cyclic codes for a compound channel will be presented. This class of cyclic codes can be used for combating noises in a practical channel, where both burst errors and random errors occur. As compared with the results of a previous paper by Hsu, Kasami, and Chien (1968) (henceforward will be referred to as HKC codes), the shortened cyclic codes presented will have better rate of transmission. Besides the shortened cyclic codes presented, there is a much larger class of codes.
The Role of Bridging Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignancy of the liver accounting for 7% of all cancers worldwide. Most cases of HCC develop within an established background of chronic liver disease. For that reason, liver resection is only possible in selected patients. Liver transplantation has become the treatment of choice in patients with HCC, end-stage liver disease, and significant portal hypertension. Shortage of organ donors has resulted in overall increase of waiting list time with increased risk of dropout due to tumor progression. Neoadjuvant therapies have emerged as an alternative to control tumor growth in patients while waiting. The aim of this study is to review the literature on the role of bridging therapy and downstaging prior to liver transplantation in patients with HCC. We are also presenting our single-center experience of 96 patients undergoing transplantation for HCC with and without bridging therapy.
Water Level Decline Promotes Typha X glauca Establishment and Vegetation Change in Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands

Climate change is predicted to reduce Laurentian Great Lakes water levels, altering coastal wetland ecosystems and potentially stimulating invasive macrophytes, like Typha X glauca. Recent prolonged low water levels, which climaxed in 2007, created conditions comparable to those predicted by climate change science. In 2008, we examined ecosystem and plant community properties in 14 intact northern Great Lakes coastal wetlands and compared community data with data from a 1987–1989 high-water period, before T. X glauca invasion. In 2008, T. X glauca occurred in 50% of wetlands and 16% of plots; was associated with reduced Floristic Quality and increased soil organic matter, soil nutrients, and leaf litter (all p < 0.05); and plant community composition had shifted and was more homogeneous than in 1988 (both p < 0.05). Additionally, T. X glauca was more dominant when growing behind barrier beach ridges, which form in high-water conditions and persist in low-water, than in lake-exposed marshes (p < 0.05), revealing a physiographic mechanism for increased dominance. Beach ridges protect T. X glauca from wave and seiche energy, and as water levels decline, these energy-insulating microtopographic features will likely stimulate further invasion and dominance by T. X glauca, even in high quality wetlands.
Assessment of off‐target movement of orchard pesticides: Capture efficiencies of synthetic and biological biomarkers

Pesticide drift is a symptom of the inefficiency of the hydraulic atomization process and with orchard crops, represents a highly visible process. Assessment of orchard drift, the components of non-target parameters and capture efficiencies of biological biomarkers, are presented in this brief review. Spray deposits downwind from orchard sprays is a reflection of the atomizing system, orchard geometry, seasonal and meteorological condition, as well as the non-target surface characteristics. Downwind ground and airbome drift is captured differently on strings vs. plastic acetate ground collectors, high air volume samples and natural vegetation. Significant differences in pesticide retention can also occur between apple cultivars, for example, and which may be due, in part, to leaf hair density. A wind tunnel device to measure relative capture efficiencies of passive dosimeters demonstrates the potential for significant differences in droplet capture due to surface morphology. Spray drift passing over bare ground, vs. vegetation, deposits differently and the use of windbreaks and buffer zones to mitigate spray drift is being encouraged by policy makers. Data on potential use of biological lethal distance (LD 50 ) values for non-target organisms lends credence for identifying the magnitudes of real-world risks occurring as off-target movement of orchard pesticides.
International graduate students' difficulties: graduate classes as a community of practices

This study explores the factors that cause international graduate students to struggle and these students' ways of dealing with such problems in light of sociocultural theory, which views learning as a social and cultural act. The findings show that graduate classes function as communities of practices in which classmates and professors mutually engage with each other, share a repertoire and engage in joint enterprises. The practices were not always transparent to international students, which became a source of difficulty and often led them to feel excluded. Peripheral participation comprised a significant part of some students' learning process and identity formation, but it allowed them to participate in course-related activities as fully as they felt comfortable doing. This study suggests a need for more sensitive and dialogical efforts by educators in higher education to provide better learning environments for international learners.
Effects of lithium on amino-acids in mouse brain in vivo.

LITHIUM exerts marked effects on the function of brain and peripheral nerve in vivo and in vitro and has been used successfully in the treatment of manic-depressive psychoses1,2. Although the effects of lithium treatments on monoamine metabolism have been studied3,4, the relationships which may exist between lithium injections and the content of free amino-acids of brain remain unexplored. Recently, it was shown that injection of lithium directly into the amygdala of monkeys which were awake exerts very potent and reproducible effects on the EEG. After these effects had subsided they could be re-induced by direct injections of L-glutamate into the same sites5. It was therefore postulated that glutamate exerts its pharmacological action in animals which were awake by increasing the permeability of CNS neurones to sodium or to lithium (the latter not normally being present)5. Our experiments were conducted to show whether lithium injections affect the content of glutamate in the brain.
The Helical Alanine Controversy: An (Ala)6 Insertion Dramatically Increases Helicity

Employing chemical shift melts and hydrogen/deuterium exchange NMR techniques, we have determined the stabilization of the Trp-cage miniprotein due to multiple alanine insertions within the N-terminal α-helix. Alanine is shown to be uniquely helix-stabilizing and this stabilization is reflected in the global fold stability of the Trp-cage. The associated free energy change per alanine can be utilized to calculate the alanine propagation value. From the Lifson−Roig formulation, the calculated value (wAla = 1.6) is comparable to those obtained for short, solubilized, alanine-rich helices and is much larger than the values obtained by prior host−guest techniques or in N-terminally templated helices and peptides bearing long contiguous strings of alanines with no capping or solubilizing units present.
Impairment of Antipredator Behavior in Palaemonetes pugio by Exposure to Sublethal Doses of Parathion

Abstract Grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, when exposed to sublethal concentrations of methyl or ethyl parathion, become more susceptible to predation by gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis. An increase in spontaneous activity renders them more easily detected by a predator, and they fatigue more quickly when being pursued. Such changes in a multi-prey community could result in altered predator preferences and subsequently could change community structure and trophic relationships.
The boundary conditions for Bohr's law: when is reacting faster than acting?

In gunfights in Western movies, the hero typically wins, even though the villain draws first. Niels Bohr (Gamow, The great physicists from Galileo to Einstein. Chapter: The law of quantum, 1988) suggested that this reflected a psychophysical law, rather than a dramatic conceit. He hypothesized that reacting is faster than acting. Welchman, Stanley, Schomers, Miall, and Bulthoff (Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 277, 1667–1674, 2010) provided empirical evidence supporting “Bohr’s law,” showing that the time to complete simple manual actions was shorter when reacting than when initiating an action. Here we probe the limits of this effect. In three experiments, participants performed a simple manual action, which could either be self-initiated or executed following an external visual trigger. Inter-button time was reliably faster when the action was externally triggered. However, the effect disappeared for the second step in a two-step action. Furthermore, the effect reversed when a choice between two actions had to be made. Reacting is faster than acting, but only for simple, ballistic actions.
REACTIVITY AND MORPHOLOGY OF Ni, Mo, AND Ni–Mo OXIDE CLUSTERS SUPPORTED ON MCM-48 TOWARD THIOPHENE HYDRODESULPHURIZATION

In this paper, the morphology, chemical composition and reactivity of MCM-48 powders impregnated with Ni, Mo or both toward hydrodesulphurization (HDS) of thiophene were characterized. The reactivity of the catalyst was quantitatively compared with a standard industrial catalyst (from HaldorTopsoe, Denmark) and a novel WS2 nanotube-based catalysts (from R. Tenne, Israel). Morphology and chemical composition were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and EDX elemental maps. Reactivity was determined in a gas-chromatograph based mini flow reactor using thiophene as a probe molecule. The sulfided MCM-48 supported Mo catalyst showed the largest HDS activity with turnover frequencies (TOF) about half as large as for the commercial system under the test conditions used here. Presulfiding did increase activity of all MCM-48 catalysts.
Child forensic interviewing in Children's Advocacy Centers: Empirical data on a practice model

Abstract Objective Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) aim to improve child forensic interviewing following allegations of child abuse by coordinating multiple investigations, providing child-friendly interviewing locations, and limiting redundant interviewing. This analysis presents one of the first rigorous evaluations of CACs’ implementation of these methods. Methods This analysis is part of a quasi-experimental study, the Multi-Site Evaluation of Children's Advocacy Centers, which evaluated four CACs relative to within-state non-CAC comparison communities. Case abstractors collected data on investigation methods in 1,069 child sexual abuse cases with forensic interviews by reviewing case records from multiple agencies. Results CAC cases were more likely than comparison cases to feature police involvement in CPS cases (41% vs. 15%), multidisciplinary team (MDT) interviews (28% vs. 6%), case reviews (56% vs. 7%), joint police/child protective services (CPS) investigations (81% vs. 52%) and video/audiotaping of interviews (52% vs. 17%, all these comparisons p Conclusions Relative to the comparison communities, these CACs appear to have increased coordination on investigations and child forensic interviewing. The CAC setting was the location for the vast majority of CAC child interviews, while comparison communities often used settings that many consider undesirable. CACs showed no advantage on reducing the number of forensic interviews, which was consistently small across the sample.
A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF SCALE INSECT FROM TASMANIA (HOMOPTERA: ERIOCOCCIDAE)

The new genus and species Phacelococcus brookesae is described and illustrated. The unusual clusters of quinquelocular pores along with the absence of dorsal enlarged setae distinguish this eriococcid from all other members of the family.
CD11b+ Ly6Chi Ly6G- immature myeloid cells recruited in response to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection exhibit protective and immunosuppressive properties.

Immature myeloid cells in bone marrow are a heterogeneous population of cells that, under normal conditions, provide tissues with protective cell types such as granulocytes and macrophages. Under certain pathological conditions, myeloid cell homeostasis is altered and immature forms of these cells appear in tissues. Murine immature myeloid cells that express CD11b and Ly6C or Ly6G (two isoforms of Gr-1) have been associated with immunosuppression in cancer (in the form of myeloid-derived suppressor cells) and, more recently, infection. Here, we found that CD11b+ Ly6Chi Ly6G− and CD11b+ Ly6Cint Ly6G+ cells accumulated and persisted in tissues of mice infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). Recruitment of CD11b+ Ly6Chi Ly6G− but not CD11b+ Ly6Cint Ly6G+ cells from bone marrow into infected tissues depended on chemokine receptor CCR2. The CD11b+ Ly6Chi Ly6G− cells exhibited a mononuclear morphology, whereas the CD11b+ Ly6Cint Ly6G+ cells exhibited a polymorphonuclear or band-shaped nuclear morphology. The CD11b+ Ly6Chi Ly6G− cells differentiated into macrophage-like cells following ex vivo culture and could present antigen to T cells in vitro. However, significant proliferation of T cells was observed only when the ability of the CD11b+ Ly6Chi Ly6G− cells to produce nitric oxide was blocked. CD11b+ Ly6Chi Ly6G− cells recruited in response to S. Typhimurium infection could also present antigen to T cells in vivo, but increasing their numbers by adoptive transfer did not cause a corresponding increase in T cell response. Thus, CD11b+ Ly6Chi Ly6G− immature myeloid cells recruited in response to S. Typhimurium infection exhibit protective and immunosuppressive properties that may influence the outcome of infection.