cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serine 121 is an essential amino acid for biotin sulfoxide reductase functionality.

Rhodobacter sphaeroides f. sp.denitrificans biotin sulfoxide reductase (BSOR) catalyzes the reduction of d-biotin d-sulfoxide (BSO) to biotin, an important step in oxidized vitamin salvaging. In addition to BSO, the enzyme also catalyzes the reduction of a variety of other substrates, including methionine sulfoxide, with decreased efficiencies, suggesting a potential role as a general cell protector against oxidative damage. Recombinant BSOR, expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein, contains the molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide cofactor (MGD) as its sole prosthetic group, which is required for the reduction of BSO by either NADPH or reduced methyl viologen. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of BSOR and the closely related MGD-containing enzyme, dimethyl sulfoxide reductase, has indicated a number of conserved residues, including an active site serine residue, serine 121, which has been potentially identified as the fifth coordinating ligand of Mo in BSOR. Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to replace serine 121 with cysteine, threonine, or alanine residues in the BSOR sequence to asses the role of this residue in catalysis and/or Mo coordination. All three BSOR mutant proteins were expressed, purified to homogeneity, and demonstrated to contain both MGD by fluorescence spectroscopy and Mo by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, similar to wild-type enzyme. However, all three mutant proteins were devoid of BSOR activity using either NADPH or reduced methyl viologen as the electron donor. These results strongly suggest that serine 121 in BSOR is essential for catalysis but is not essential for either Mo coordination or MGD binding.
Molten-Metal Electrodes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Molten In, Pb, and Sb were examined as anodes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) that operate between 973 and 1173 K. The results for these metals were compared with those reported previously for molten Sn electrodes. Cells were operated under “battery” conditions, with dry He or N2 flow in the anode compartment, to characterize the electrochemical oxidation of the metals at the yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)-electrolyte interface. In most cases, the open-circuit voltages (OCVs) were close to that based on equilibrium between the metals and their oxides. With Sn and In, the cell impedances increased dramatically at all temperatures after drawing current due to formation of insulating, oxide barriers at the electrolyte interface. Similar results were observed for Pb at 973 and 1073 K, but the impedance remained low even after PbO formation at 1173 K because this is above the melting temperature of PbO. Similarly, the impedances of molten Sb electrodes at 973 K were low and unaffected by current flow becaus...
Nuclear waste elements slip through hydrothermally altered basalt

Abstract Basalt that is altered hydrothermally in the laboratory does not bind the elements Pu, Np, U, Eu and Ba (and, by implications, Am, Sr and Ra) from flowing water as well as does freshly fractured basalt. The results suggest that the ability of a nuclear waste repository in basalt to retain disposed radioactivity will not be as great as measured for freshly-fractured basalt. Safety assessments of a repository in basalt must consider the enhanced mobility of many radioelements that now can be expected of rock surfaces in prolonged contact with water. The dominant secondary minerals of a tholeiitic basalt altered hydrothermally in the laboratory are stevensite, α-quartz and calcite. Gypsum, sericite, several zeolites and scapolite are also formed. Before the rock is hydrothermally altered, calcite, stevensite and minor amounts of quartz are identified on recent fracture surfaces of the rock as the products of natural alteration. The hydrothermally altered surfaces of the rock are more compatible, chemically, with groundwater sampled from the basalt than are surfaces of recent fissures, suggesting that the laboratory-altered surfaces approximate, chemically, old fracture surfaces of the rock that are now in contact with the groundwater.
A transmission control unit for high-speed computer-to-computer communication

An integral part of a process control and testing system used in several IBM plants is the transmission control unit (TCU). This paper discusses the design of the TCU, which provides the communication link between as many as 512 satellite computers and a central computer. It uses a microprogrammed polling scheme to establish connection with the satellites that need service and it permits messages of unrestricted length to be transmitted in either direction at the rate of 2.5 × 106 bits /sec over coaxial cables. With the aid of noise suppression circuits, it operates in the electrically noisy factory environment at an error rate of less than 10-8.
Electrophoretic and chromatographie separation and fluorimetric analysis of polynuclear phenols. Application to air pollution

Thin-layer Chromatographic and low-voltage and high-voltage electrophoretic procedures are described for a large number of polynuclear aromatic and heteroaromatic phenols. Location methods of various types are described. In particular, theo-phthalaldehyde and 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone methods give brilliant colors. For some of the phenols phthalaldehyde gives brilliant yellow or orange fluorescence colors. With the help of separation and location techniques and fluorimetric examination of methanolic and alkaline solutions the following phenols were identified in coal-tar-pitch: 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol, 2-hydroxybiphenyl, 4-hydroxybiphenyl, 2-fluorenol, 3-fluorenol, 2-hydroxydibenzofuran and 2-hydroxycarbazole. 2-Fluorenol was also found in a particulate sample from Manhattan (New York City) air. In addition, a large number of unidentified fluorescent spots, characterized as phenols, were found in coal-tar-pitch and various airborne particulate samples from urban areas.
Increasing Flexibility in Children's Online Processing of Grammatical and Nonce Determiners in Fluent Speech

Two experiments using online speech processing measures with 18- to 36-month-olds extended research by Gerken & McIntosh (1993) showing that young children's comprehension is disrupted when the grammatical determiner in a noun phrase is replaced with a nonce determiner (the car vs. po car). In Expt. 1, 18-month-olds were slower and less accurate to identify familiar nouns on nonce-article than grammatical-article trials, although older children who produced determiners in their own speech showed no disruption. However, when tested on novel words in Expt. 2, even linguistically advanced 34-month-olds had greater difficulty identifying familiar as well as newly learned object names preceded by a nonce article. Children's success in "listening through" an uninformative functor-like nonce syllable before a familiar noun was related to their level of grammatical competence, but their attention to the nonce article also varied with lexical familiarity and the overall redundancy of the processing context.
Review of Two Numerical Approaches to Predict Nonlinear Airfoil Response to High-Amplitude Incident Gust

In this work, two different numerical methods of time-accurate nonlinear analysis are reviewed and compared in application to the problem of nonlinear unsteady aerodynamic and aeroacoustic airfoil responses to a high-intensity impinging gust. The incident perturbation field is of finite amplitude relative to the mean flow so that in general, no assumption of a linear superposition of responses from each individual harmonic can be made. Thus, in addition to providing a comparison of two different approaches in computational aeroacoustics, the paper achieves the objective of obtaining verified solutions determining the limits of validity for linearized methods, universally accepted in studies of unsteady aerodynamics and aeroacoustics. The work investigates nonlinear near- and far-field responses of a Joukowksi airfoil in the parametric space of gust intensity and frequency.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Infrared Spectral-Structural Correlations of Some Substituted Pyridines

Three series of substituted pyridines have been prepared having substituents in various positions on the ring. Although there were variations in the chemical nature and in the position of these substituents, it was found that certain fundamental absorption bands are typical of all the pyridines studied. The separation of the two bands in the 1600-1500 cm−1 region does not appear to be helpful in determining the position of substituents, but absorption in the 950-750 cm−1 region does give a clue as to the number of adjacent hydrogens on the pyridine ring There appears to be a band very characteristic of the cyclohexeno ring, thus confirming previous work. In addition, a band was found which is due to the cyclohexeno ring, as modified by the attached pyridine ring. There seems to be absorption characteristic of the cyclohepteno ring. Correlation is made of the several substituent groups when attached to the pyridine ring, as compared to the same groups attached to the benzene ring.
Plasma-Based Chemical Modification of Epitaxial Graphene

In this work, the treatment of epitaxial graphene on SiC using electron beam generated plasmas produced in mixtures of argon and oxygen is demonstrated. The treatment imparts oxygen functional groups on the surface with concentrations ranging up to about 12 at.%, depending on treatment parameters. Surface characterization of the functionalized graphene shows incorporation of oxygen to the lattice by disruption of ∏-bonds, and an altering of bulk electrical properties.
Interferometric observations of a cold plasma-core in laser-produced particle plasmas

Abstract Nanosecond-interferometry indicates that the plasmas formed by the Q -switched laser-irradiation of single LiH particles have a cold, and possibly turbulent, core of dense plasma.
For practical and legal reasons, an apology when things go awry is a good idea, but beware of the dangers

Michael B. Rainey, of Malibu, Calif., Kit Chan, of Montebello, Calif., and Judith Begin, of Los Angeles, revisit the use of apologies as a conflict resolution tool in the first of two parts.
Responses of Photosensitive and Photorefractory Male White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) to Synthetic Mammalian Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (Syn-LHRH)

To assess a possible role of the adenohypophysis in photorefractoriness, photosensitive and photorefractory adult male white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia Ieucophrys) were treated with single intravenous injections of 0, 0.5, 5, 20, 35, 50 or 500 ng of synthetic Iuteinizing hormone releasing hormone (Syn-LHRH) in 0.9% saline solution. Serial samples of plasma were taken immediately before and at 5, 20 and 60 mm after injection. The plasma level of immunoreactive luteinizing hormone (irLH) was not altered by the injection of saline solution alone, or by 0.5 or 5 ng Syn-LHRH in either photosensitive or photorefractory birds. Treatment with 20, 35, 50 or 500 ng Syn-LHRH, however, elicitedsignificant and approximately equal increases in plasma levels of irLH in both groups 5 mm after injection. These responses are consistent with the hypothesis that the site of photorefractoriness is at a level higher than the adenohypophysis.
Imaging of Liquid Crystals Using a Tunneling Microscope

Individual organic molecules in a liquid crystal array on a graphite surface have been imaged with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) with near-atomic resolution 1,2. Two-dimensional order has been identified in 4-n-octy1-4'-cyanobiphenyl (8CR) and 5-nony1-2-n-nonoxylphenylpyrimidine (PYT) 909). The high resolution of the STM allows direct observation of intermolecular distances, angles and orientations. From the data, we find in the case of 803 a variety of surface phases can exist whereas for PYP 909 we find only one simple configuration. The graphite substrate appears to influence the molecules in two ways: 1) the molecular axes lie parallel to the surface so that the STM images a cross-section of the classical smectic planes; and 2) molecules of one plane are registered with those of adjacent planes, a degree of order which is not normally observed in the bulk.
Trader's quality of service specifications and effects on system performance for video-on-demand

We present a detailed review on the Trader's quality of service specifications and the effects on system performance for video-on-demand multimedia applications, based on a server-fault initiated session switch. Enhanced Trader lists the resources necessary to support the application's QoS requirements and makes them available for the session manager, which co-ordinates the session switching. Our work demonstrates that all the components of a distributed multimedia system should be involved in the QoS management process. The client's requirements related to QoS must be adapted to various constraints supported by the distributed multimedia system components: client machines, server machines and transport system. Our studies in contrast to existing ones present a comprehensive view on the system performance with relation to the session switching delay.
Hospital Costs and Clinical Characteristics of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Patients: A Continuous Ethical Dilemma

This study describes the clinical characteristics and examines hospital costs involved in the care of 117 patients undergoing Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) between January 1999 and August 2002. The majority (70.9%) of the patients undergoing CRRT expired in the hospital. Statistically significant differences were found with respect to the length of stay for discharge status and gender; and with respect to costs for surgery versus no surgery and gender. Significant differences were also found between discharge status and gender, age, and cardiovascular surgery. The results of this study raise economic and ethical questions related to the cost/benefit of CRRT and the futility of the treatment. Hospitals should ensure that they have utilization protocols in place for CRRT, promote cooperation between intensive care unit (ICU) physicians and nephrologists, and create multi-disciplinary CRRT teams in an effort to maximize the effectiveness of therapy and minimize costs.
A study of beliefs and behaviors regarding digital technology

This study analyzed individual perceptions of various situations involving actions likely to be considered unethical by most people. It explored perceptions of the acceptability of parallel technology-based and non-technology-based vignettes, self-rated behavior regarding the survey scenarios and consistency between self-rated behavior and the level of acceptance of the vignettes.The responses from 453 participants were analyzed by age, gender, ethnicity and amount of weekly access to computers at home.The participants were more accepting of the technology-based survey items and were also more likely to engage in those behaviors than the non-technology items; however, the participant responses indicated a low level of acceptance for the scenarios and only a minimal likelihood that they would participate in them. Additional findings across the comparison groups are reported and discussed.
Spherical Lactic Acid-producing Bacteria of Southern-grown Raw and Processed Vegetables.

The frequency and levels of population of the spherical lactic acid-producing bacteria were determined on raw and processed yellow summer and zucchini squash, a variety of greens, green beans, okra, southern peas, and butter and lima beans, and on fresh cucumbers and corn flowers. Six taxa occurred consistently: Leuconostoc mesenteroides, yellow-pigmented streptococci, Streptococcus faecium, Aerococcus viridans, and S. faecalis and S. faecalis var. liquefaciens. The same taxa occurred with the same order of frequency on processed, frozen vegetables, but with a marked decrease in the occurrence of S. faecalis var. liquefaciens. S. lactis, S. cremoris, S. equinus, S. bovis, and pediococci were isolated infrequently. No other member of the viridans group of the streptococci and no member of the pyogenic group was isolated. Approximately 88% of the cultures were identified. Total counts of the lactic-acid-producing bacteria rarely exceeded 105 per gram of sample, and there was a reduction by 90% during the second year of study, probably because of drought. Only one bacterial species was found on 40% of the raw and 34% of the processed vegetable samples. Two or more species or taxa were present on the remainder of 153 raw and 56 processed vegetable samples. A. viridans was present on squash, greens, okra, and southern peas, and its frequency of occurrence on vegetables suggests that plants are its natural habitat.
Neural markers of positive reappraisal and their associations with trait reappraisal and worry.

Positively reinterpreting negative experiences is important for psychological well-being and represents a key mechanism of cognitive–behavioral therapies for emotional problems. Yet, little is known about the neural mechanisms that underlie this process and how they relate to clinically relevant individual differences. Here we demonstrate using event-related potentials (ERPs) that positively reappraising distress-inducing images is associated with early increases in frontal control activity and later decreases in parietal arousal-related activity. Moreover, we show that people’s chronic tendencies to reappraise versus worry modulate neural activity in opposing directions—trait reappraisal predicts decreases in parietal arousal-related activity during positive reappraisal implementation whereas worry predicts increases in the same waveform. These findings provide novel insights into the neural time course of positive reappraisal. They also speak to the potential clinical utility of neurophysiological measures as relatively inexpensive, noninvasive biomarkers that could serve as risk indicators and treatment mediators.
Traumatic hypopituitarism occurring before puberty: survival 35 years untreated.

ABSTRACT A 39-yr-old male with hypopituitarism following severe head trauma at age 4 is described. Clinical and laboratory studies revealed deficiencies of gonadotropin, thyrotropin and corticotropin and partial deficiency of vasopressin secretion. Serum growth hormone was detectable but failed to rise in response to insulininduced hypoglycemia. Despite severe hypopituitarism, he attained a height of 63¾ inches. These observations and the probable site of the lesion are discussed in light of present concepts of regulation of anterior pituitary function by the hypothalamus.
Are joint venture partners more opportunistic in a more volatile environment

This study examines how joint venture partners' opportunism is influenced by environmental volatility in a drastically changing emerging economy. Building on transaction cost and information-processing theories, we develop the hypothesis that opportunism increases to cope with industry structural instability, information unverifiability, and law unenforceability, the three interrelated yet distinct characteristics that jointly describe environmental volatility in an emerging economy. Our analysis of 188 foreign joint ventures in an emerging market suggests that opportunism increases with information unverifiability and law unenforceability. These relationships are even stronger when joint ventures depend more on the host country environment, but weaker when joint ventures operate in faster-growing industries. Finally, opportunism is found to play a mediating role in the relationship between environmental volatility and joint venture performance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Light-induced transcriptional repression of the pea AS1 gene : identification of cis-elements and transfactors

Summary Here, we examine the cis-elements and trans-factors affecting the expression of asparagine synthetase (AS) genes whose transcription is negatively regulated by light. The promoters for the AS1 and AS2 genes of pea were isolated, sequenced, and functionally dissected for their ability to confer regulated expression to the GUS reporter gene in transgenic tobacco. Histochemical analysis of transgenic plants demonstrated that the AS1 and AS2 promoters show identical patterns of cell-specific expression. The more highly active AS1 promoter was further demonstrated to confer negative light-regulation to the GUS gene in transgenic tobacco. Deletion analysis and gain-of-function experiments showed that 124 bp of the AS1 promoter was sufficient to confer light-activated repression to a heterologous promoter. Potential conserved transcription regulatory elements, Box B, Box C, and Box C′ within this region were shown to bind to nuclear proteins by gel shift analysis. A light-specific DNA:protein interaction was detected with Box B. The nuclear factors that bind to Box C and C′ elements of AS1 are competed by a putative repressor element ‘RE1’ defined previously in the oat phytochrome gene whose transcription is also repressed by light. The Box B and C/ C′-Box/REl-binding factors were found in nuclear extracts of tobacco, pea, and Arabidopsis and may therefore be universal factors involved in light-activated transcriptional repression.
INEXPENSIVE DIGITAL IMAGING

The capture of digital images through the use of a frame grabber provides tremendous advantages to scanning electron microscopy. Accessory frame grabbers can range in price from very inexpensive to several thousand dollars. This work investigates the application of one inexpensive “consumer product” frame grabber which has recently been introduced to scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging. The application of this frame grabber to the SEM as a low-cost, entry-level digital imaging tool is explored, and its performance is compared with a more expensive system.
Tacit knowing, moral development and pluralism: thoughts on mentoring, judgment and reform

La epistemologia del conocimiento tacito es basica para una accion inteligente en la etica del asesoramiento personal. Los modelos estructurales y funcionales presentados en este articulo proporcionan un mapa conceptual para tal accion. La estructura del conocimiento tacito esta formada por una conciencia subsidiaria ("subsidiary awareness"), una conciencia focal ("focal awareness") y los dos polos del conocimiento: la conciencia subsidiaria esta en el polo personal (interno) y la conciencia focal esta en el polo (objetivo) externo. La funcion del conocimiento tacito tiene tres aspectos: selectivo, heuristico y persuasivo, y cada uno de ellos tiene un modo o rasgo conativo y cognitivo. La fuerza motriz de este modelo es la "pasion intelectual", que en etica corresponde a la posicion apta para emitir un juicio, siempre a la luz del principio de justicia. Como la epistemologia del conocimiento tacito presupone la libre voluntad, ha de elegirse una etica del deber . En concreto, el analisis del modelo del conocimiento tacito que aqui se presenta promueve el desarrollo y la mejora de la conciencia del adulto acerca de sus propios procesos de conocer, hacer y persuadir, prestando deliberadamente atencion a estos procesos y a su fundamentacion en la libre voluntad. De esta forma, la comprension del adulto favorece su tarea de apoyar, de ayudar al joven, a tomar conciencia de esas mismas funciones en si mismo. El aspecto etico estriba en el deber de transmitir este conocimiento al educando, para que pueda llegar a ser autonomo de forma inteligente, entrenandole en el desarrollo de esa actitud. De esta manera, se promoveran tanto la moralidad de los rasgos, el ser, como la moralidad de los principios, el hacer. Sin embargo, la clave radica en favorecer que la voluntad haga lo correcto, esto es, en encaminar la "pasion intelectual" hacia la posicion apta para el juicio.
An autologous self-antigen differentially regulates expression of I-A glycoproteins and B7 costimulatory molecules on CD4- CD8- T helper cells.

During inflammation, T helper cells transiently express class II major histocompatibil- ity complex (MHC) glycoproteins and present anti- gens to other T cells. To assess involvement of self-antigens in the generation of T cell antigen- presenting cell (T-APC) activity, rat (R) myelin basic protein (MBP) was used to stimulate a rat CD4 2 CD8 2 T cell clone. RMBP induced T cell surface expression of class II MHC glycoproteins and T-APC activity, although RMBP did not elicit interleukin (IL-2) production or proliferation. When added to culture with the strong agonist guinea pig (GP) MBP, RMBP acted as a partial antagonist and inhibited responses of IL-2 production, prolifera- tion, and T cell expression of B7.1. RMBP did not, however, efficiently antagonize GPMBP-induced I-A expression on T cells. These findings indicate that the self-antigen RMBP specifically induces accumulation of I-A/peptide complexes at signaling thresholds that inhibit pathogenic autoimmune re- sponses. Overall, this study suggests a role for self-antigens in the generation of B7-deficient T-APC activity as a mechanism of tolerance in experimen- tal autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J. Leukoc. Biol. 66: 120-126; 1999.
Exotic fauna and flora: fashion trends in the nineteenth century

The aim of this paper is to explore the extreme, unique and unusual fashion trends in the nineteenth century. The natural world in general, flora and fauna in particular, has always been a primary source of inspiration for the clothing and fashion. Victorian obsession for expertly worked curiosities from foreign lands using unusual flora and fauna, such as iridescent feathers, hummingbirds and beetle wings created an extensive European export market. Indian beetle wings created an extensive European export market for India in the nineteenth century as a fashion embellishment. Fashionable Victorian ladies swept through ballrooms with dresses, shawls and fans embellished with glittering touches of beetle wing exotica. In the 1851 Great Exhibition, held in the Crystal Palace in London, the main fur exhibitor, the Hudson's Bay Company, displayed the range of furs such as racoon, beaver, chinchilla, bear, fisher, fox, lynx, martin, mink, musquash, otter, fur seal and wolf.
Radiation Characteristics of Promising Algae for CO2 Fixation and Biofuel Production

This paper reports experimental measurements of the radiation characteristics of green algae used for carbon dioxide fixation via photosynthesis. Particular attention was paid to three widely used species namely Botryococcus braunii, Chlorella sp., and Chlorococcum littorale. Their extinction and absorption coefficients were obtained from normal-normal and normal-hemispherical transmittance measurements over the spectral range from 400 to 800 nm. Moreover, a polar nephelometer is used to measure the scattering phase function of the microorganisms at 632.8 nm. It was observed that for all strains, scattering dominates over absorption. The magnitudes of the extinction and scattering cross-section are functions of the size, shape, and chlorophyll content of each strains in a non-trivial manner. Absorption peaks at 435, 475, and 676 nm corresponding to chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b have been clearly identified in the three species considered. The results can be used for scaling and optimization of CO2 fixation in ponds or photobioreactors as well as in the development of controlled ecological life support systems.© 2009 ASME
Investment Strategy of Captive Insurers – Are Risk Managers Becoming Investment Managers?

Captive insurers have been largely perceived as risk financing vehicles, that among other things, generate a superior investment performance. That perception was advanced by promoters injecting tax advantages and a free investment atmosphere as key factors. Previous research has shown that captives, by and large, are rather conservative in terms of their underwriting exposure and insurance leverage posture. These findings invited a supposition that such conservatism would afford more risk taking in investments. While risk managers have been involved in operating captives for the last two decades, unanswered is the question of their involvement, if any, in investment decisions or investment management. Very little has been written on this subject and practically nothing on an empirical basis. A questionnaire approach was used to gather the data with which to answer the question of what is the risk manager's role in captive investment strategy and other related issues. A model of captive's investment strategy is presented in which the outputs - instruments, maturities and currencies – were a function of investment policy issues such as who sets the policy, the investment policy criteria; and investment management issues such as who manages the portfolio, who selects the manager, and manager's selection criteria. All inputs boiled down to four main components; “risk” versus “return” for investment criteria and “insiders” versus “outsiders” for the personnel who select or manage the investment portfolio. The key finding of the study was a general reaffirmation of captives' conservatism which apparently spilled over into their investments operations. Captives have pursued a generally short term investment strategy using primarily short term instruments mostly for short maturities. Equities and mutual funds were almost inexistant. Captives investment strategy is largely dominated by minimizing “risk” concerns rather than by maximizing issues of “return”. It also becomes evident that the most influential individuals in setting guidelines and/or managing portfolio are inside personnel. Risk managers appear to be quite influential in setting policy or selecting the investment manager but, the least likely candidates for actual management of the portfolio. Investment performance of captives, in the year of the survey, was compatible with the overall investment performance of the U.S. property and casualty industry. However it was largely below investment performance yardsticks applied to investment return in other industries.
Self-reported prenatal influenza vaccination and early childhood vaccine series completion.

Abstract Background No studies have examined associations between prenatal vaccination and childhood vaccination. Mothers who refuse influenza vaccinations during pregnancy report similar attitudes and beliefs to those who refuse vaccinations for their children. The objective of this study was to examine the association between self-reported prenatal influenza vaccination and early childhood vaccination. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted with existing surveillance data from 4022 mothers who responded to the 2009–2011 Minnesota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System survey and child vaccination records from the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection database. The childhood vaccine series outcome included the following vaccines: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; poliovirus; measles, mumps, and rubella; Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib); hepatitis B; varicella; and pneumococcal conjugate. To evaluate the association between self-reported prenatal influenza vaccination and early childhood vaccination, unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression was used to estimate log odds for childhood vaccination status, while margins post-estimation commands were used to obtain predicted probabilities and risk differences. Results Vaccine series completion was 10.86% higher (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.33%–14.40%, adjusted and weighted model) in children of mothers who had a prenatal influenza vaccine compared to those who did not. For individual vaccines in the recommended series, risk differences ranged from 7.83% (95% CI 5.37%, 10.30%) for the Hib vaccine to 10.06% (95% CI 7.29%, 12.83%) for the hepatitis B vaccine. Conclusion Self-reported prenatal influenza vaccination was associated with increased early childhood vaccination. More research is needed to confirm these results and identify potential intervention strategies.
THE INHERITANCE OF COURTSHIP BEHAVIOR AND ITS ROLE AS A REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATING MECHANISM IN TWO SPECIES OF SCHIZOCOSA WOLF SPIDERS (ARANEAE; LYCOSIDAE).

The courtship behaviors of two morphologically similar spider species, Schizocosa ocreata and S. rovneri, are distinctive and prevent interbreeding. We used "forced" copulation between these species to investigate the mode of inheritance of the courtship behavior and to determine whether postmating isolating mechanisms exist. F1 hybrids proved to be behaviorally sterile, but they were capable of producing viable offspring when forced to interbreed. Analysis of the courtship behaviors of F1 , F2 , and backcross progeny showed that the inheritance of some aspects of these behaviors is consistent with models involving single autosomal loci. The inheritance of secondary sexual characteristics in the males is also investigated. The genes for courtship behavior and secondary sexual characteristics do not assort independently. The origin of the premating isolating mechanisms may be explained by either an initial habitat separation between the two groups, or by a founding event with each group subsequently diverging in slightly different habitats. It is suggested that the differences in the microhabitats may have a profound effect on what type of signal (visual or vibratory) would be effective.
Party Identification Constancy and Change

Party identification has long been thought to be the unmoved mover of political evaluations. The research presented here shows that party identification is changeable. In fact, over a 2-year period...
Examining Christian College Students' Summer School Choices

Faculty and administrators use anecdotal evidence to assume the reasons full-time traditional students at private Christian colleges choose to take online summer courses at community colleges instead of their own online offerings. The purpose of this research was to provide empirical evidence necessary to make informed decisions regarding strategic planning for enrollment efforts at private Christian colleges. Students in the research sample placed the highest priority on summer courses they perceived to be cheaper and easier. Implications for distance learning administrators are presented.
Extensive testing or focused testing of patients with elevated liver enzymes.

Background & Aims Many patients have elevated serum aminotransferases reflecting many underlying conditions, both common and rare. Clinicians generally apply one of two evaluative strategies: testing for all diseases at once (extensive) or just common diseases first (focused). Methods We simulated the evaluation of 10,000 adult outpatients with elevated with alanine aminotransferase to compare both testing strategies. Model inputs employed population-based data from the US (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) and Britain (Birmingham and Lambeth Liver Evaluation Testing Strategies). Patients were followed until a diagnosis was provided or a diagnostic liver biopsy was considered. The primary outcome was US dollars per diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included doctor visits per diagnosis, false-positives per diagnosis and confirmatory liver biopsies ordered. Results The extensive testing strategy required the lowest monetary cost, yielding diagnoses for 54% of patients at $448/patient compared to 53% for $502 under the focused strategy. The extensive strategy also required fewer doctor visits (1.35 vs. 1.61 visits/patient). However, the focused strategy generated fewer false-positives (0.1 vs. 0.19/patient) and more biopsies (0.04 vs. 0.08/patient). Focused testing becomes the most cost-effective strategy when accounting for pre-test probabilities and prior evaluations performed. This includes when the respective prevalence of alcoholic, non-alcoholic and drug-induced liver disease exceeds 51.1%, 53.0% and 13.0%. Focused testing is also the most cost-effective strategy in the referral setting where assessments for viral hepatitis, alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease have already been performed. Conclusions Testing for elevated liver enzymes should be deliberate and focused to account for pre-test probabilities if possible. Lay summary Many patients have elevated liver enzymes reflecting one of many possible liver diseases, some of which are very common and some of which are rare. Tests are widely available for most causes but it is unclear whether clinicians should order them all at once or direct testing based on how likely a given disease may be given the patient's history and physical exam. The tradeoffs of both approaches involve the money spent on testing, number of office visits needed, and false positive results generated. This study shows that if there are no clues available at the time of evaluation, testing all at once saves time and money while causing more false positives. However, if there are strong clues regarding the likelihood of a particular disease, limited testing saves time, money and prevents false positives.
Framework to Build an Intelligent RFID System for Use in the Healthcare Industry

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been considered an important avenue for ensuring patients' good health, full social participation, and independent living as long as possible through their entire life span. In the last decade, various ICT solutions were developed to facilitate medical organizations in sharing critical information about patients, to enable patients to monitor their health, and to prevent errors in medications. Currently, there is increasing interest in using the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to save lives, to prevent errors, and to reduce costs. Medical organizations have adopted RFID tags to track and manage medical assets to improve their utilization and to reduce the need for future expenditures on duplicating equipment. To improve patient safety and medical service, some are using RFID for tracking and tracing patients while they are in a hospital environment, for integrating with medical monitoring equipment for emergency alerts and for ensuring the removal of tagged items of surgical equipment during an operation. As product and patient safety are global concerns, tracking and tracing legitimate drugs using RFID tags are being mandated by government agencies around the world. Although using RFID can provide trustworthy benefits in the healthcare industry, it is not being widely used due to the lack of security on the RFID tags and limited space for data storage. To tackle such concerns, we propose an integrated framework to build a RFID card system by embedding smart tags in insurance cards, medical charts, and medical bracelets to store medical information. It will simplify the maintenance and transfer of patient data in a secure, feasible and cost effective way.
Explicating the structure and relations of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire: Implications for screening for bipolar and related disorders.

Abstract Background The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ; Hirschfeld et al., 2000) is a widely used screening measure in bipolar disorder research. Although this measure assesses a heterogeneous range of content, only limited prior research utilizing relatively small sample sizes has examined its factor structure. Methods The MDQ's structure was examined in 700 participants reporting current psychiatric treatment. We extended prior structural work on the MDQ by explicating relations between factors and a wide range of psychopathology and personality measures. Results The MDQ items were best captured by a two-factor structure consisting of dimensions labeled Positive Activation and Negative Activation. These two factors showed very different patterns of associations with personality, other psychopathology, and ratings of significant impairment, the last of which is a requirement for a positive MDQ screen using traditional scoring methods. Limitations Our study did not include clinician or informant ratings of bipolar disorder, preventing us from examining associations with such scores. Conclusions Our findings indicate that although the MDQ items cohere to define a total score, their structure is best modeled by meaningful Positive Activation and Negative Activation factors. Researchers and clinicians should be aware of these distinct sets of MDQ content, as high scorers on Positive Activation are less likely to identify past symptoms as problematic and show distinct clinical profiles from high scorers on Negative Activation.
Snappable sensors: empowering future scientists

Snappable Sensors is an e-textile toolkit designed to support student engagement with math and science learning in public school classrooms. Our design focuses on combining real-world materials, such as felt and conductive thread, with inexpensive microprocessors and sensors to strike a critical balance---enabling students to build their own sensing system and collect their own data for subsequent analysis while meeting the pragmatic economic constraints of public middle and high schools in the United States. Initial testing shows that our prototype instigates strong interest in learning. Snappable Sensors is a low cost, durable, and engaging solution that can help build students' math and science skills.
Anticoagulant use in atrial fibrillation and risk of dementia: review of contemporary knowledge.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is strongly associated with dementia, including idiopathic dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease. The relative risk of dementia is highest in AF patients 70 y...
‘I’d like to be just a bit closer’: wildlife viewing proximity preferences at Denali National Park & Preserve

ABSTRACTProximity, the physical distance between visitors and wildlife, has been suggested as a potential factor contributing to high-quality wildlife viewing experiences. Managing visitor proximity to wildlife through interpretation and regulation is a recognized strategy to improve the safety of visitors and the species they encounter during ecotourism experiences in parks and protected areas. To further understand the important elements that influence proximity preferences for wildlife viewing, this study used an interpretivist approach to explore the experiences of visitors (n = 43) at Denali National Park & Preserve (Alaska, U.S.A). Results indicate that five interrelated themes influence visitors’ desired proximity to wildlife. Study findings also highlight the importance of park unit-specific management, and the need to manage at a unit-specific level the expectations for wildlife viewing proximity. Practitioners can use these findings to inform wildlife viewing management, increase visitor safety,...
Successful use of doxycycline pleurodesis in non-immune hydrops fetalis secondary to congenital chylothorax

Abstract Congenital chylothorax is a rare presentation of nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF). We report a case of congenital chylothorax presenting as NIHF managed successfully with chemical pleurodesis. A term male infant presented at birth with anasarca and respiratory failure secondary to bilateral pleural effusions. The infant was initially managed with ventilation and tube thoracocentesis however re-accumulation of pleural fluid occurred when feeds were started. Pleural fluid analysis was consistent with congenital chylothorax. Pleural fluid re-accumulated despite conservative management with tube thoracocentesis, nutritional interventions and octreotide therapy but responded to chemical pleurodesis with doxycycline. To our knowledge, this is the first case of congenital chylothorax treated successfully with chemical pleurodesis utilizing doxycycline as the sclerosing agent. This case adds to the literature by providing support for doxycycline as an alternative agent for chemical pleurodesis in the management of congenital chylothorax.
Fabricated nanogap-rich plasmonic nanostructures through an optothermal surface bubble in a droplet

A rapid and cost-effective method for the fabrication of nanogap-rich structures is demonstrated in this Letter. The method utilizes the Marangoni convection around an optothermal surface bubble inside a liquid droplet with a nanoliter volume. The liquid droplet containing metallic nanoparticles reduces the sample consumption and confines the liquid flow. The optothermal surface bubble creates a strong convective flow that allows for the rapid deposition of the metallic nanoparticles to form nanogap-rich structures on any substrate under ambient conditions. This method will enable a broad range of applications such as biosensing, environmental analysis, and nonlinear optics.
Chloride Ion Transport by the E. coli CLC Cl - /H + Antiporter: A Combined Quantum-Mechanical and Molecular-Mechanical Study.

We performed steered molecular dynamics (SMD) and umbrella sampling simulations of Cl- ion migration through the transmembrane domain of a prototypical E. coli CLC Cl-/H+ antiporter by employing combined quantum-mechanical (QM) and molecular-mechanical (MM) calculations. The SMD simulations revealed interesting conformational changes of the protein. While no large-amplitude motions of the protein were observed during pore opening, the side chain rotation of the protonated external gating residue Glu148 was found to be critical for full access of the channel entrance by Cl-. Moving the anion into the external binding site (Sext) induced small-amplitude shifting of the protein backbone at the N-terminal end of helix F. As Cl- traveled through the pore, rigid-body swinging motions of helix R separated it from helix D. Helix R returned to its original position once Cl- exited the channel. Population analysis based on polarized wavefunction from QM/MM calculations discovered significant (up to 20%) charge loss for Cl- along the ion translocation pathway inside the pore. The delocalized charge was redistributed onto the pore residues, especially the functional groups containing π bonds (e.g., the Tyr445 side chain), while the charges of the H atoms coordinating Cl- changed almost negligibly. Potentials of mean force computed from umbrella sampling at the QM/MM and MM levels both displayed barriers at the same locations near the pore entrance and exit. However, the QM/MM PMF showed higher barriers (~10 kcal/mol) than the MM PMF (~2 kcal/mol). Binding energy calculations indicated that the interactions between Cl- and certain pore residues were overestimated by the semi-empirical PM3 Hamiltonian and underestimated by the CHARMM36 force fields, both of which were employed in the umbrella sampling simulations. In particular, CHARMM36 underestimated binding interactions for the functional groups containing π bonds, missing the stabilizations of the Cl- ion due to electron delocalization. The results suggested that it is important to explore these quantum effects for accurate descriptions of the Cl- transport.