cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computational Studies of Highly PEG-ylated Sterically Stabilized Micelles: Self-Assembly and Drug Solubilization

Self-assembled micelles of block copolymers, containing controllable physical, chemical, and biological properties, are strong candidates for new drug delivery platforms. Here, we summarize our studies of structure, dynamics and drug solubilization in micelles self-assembled from highly PEG-ylated block copolymers. First, we examined sterically stabilized micelles (SSM) formed by self-assembled phospholipids (DSPE–PEG2000) in pure water and isotonic HEPES-buffered saline solution. The observed micelle sizes of 2–15 nm were shown to largely depend on the solvent and the lipid concentration used. Computational modeling showed that micelle sizes are determined by the interactions of their charged –\( {\text{PO}}_{4}^{ - } \) groups with the present counterions. Second, we studied solubilization of prototypical therapeutic molecules, a drug bexarotene and a vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), in SSM, as observed in experiments. Free energy calculations revealed that molecules of bexarotene can reside at the micellar ionic interface of the PEG corona or in the alkane core center, where several bexarotene molecules can cluster and self-stabilize. Charged molecules, such as VIP, can be stabilized at the SSM ionic interface by Coulombic coupling between their positively charged residues and the –\( {\text{PO}}^{ - }_{4} \) groups of the lipids. The performed studies illustrate that atomistic simulations can reveal drug solubilization character in nanocarriers and be used in efficient optimization of novel nanomedicines.
The strategies and challenges to promoting awareness of multi-sectoral health care alliances

Multi-sectoral health care alliances (MHCAs) are organizations that bring together diverse stakeholders to work collaboratively to improve health and health care in local communities. MHCA awareness is a necessary condition for cultivating and sustaining coordinated efforts among participants to improve the quality of care in a community, yet little research has examined whether MHCAs have actually fostered high levels of awareness among participants or how they go about doing so. This mixed method study used quantitative data drawn from three rounds of survey data from MHCA participants to assess the degree of MHCA awareness. It also examined whether perceptions of leadership effectiveness and management style were associated with differences in awareness at the level of the individual alliance participant, member organizations, and the community at large. Interviews with participants examined the approaches undertaken by MHCAs to foster awareness among individuals, organizations, and the community at la...
A Prototyping Effort to Develop a New ARTS-IIIA Automation Aid

We have described a prototyping process that has resulted in defining the functional design of an automation aid for coding into the ARTS-IIIA system for field evaluation at St. Louis.
S‐nitrosylation and thiolation

Cysteine, one of the most reactive residues, is indispensable to the biological functions of many proteins. It constitutes the reactive centers of crucial enzymes and maintains protein confirmation of key cellular regulators. The posttranslational modifications of reactive cysteine residues, S-nitrosylation and thiolation, have now emerged as evolutionally conserved fundamental cell signals in all species. Keywords: S-nitrosylation; thiolation; nitric oxide; redox signaling; posttranslational modification
Clinical features of spinal cord hemangioblastoma in a dog

A 2-year-old male, intact Yorkshire terrier presented with a one-month history of progressive paraparesis. Neurologic examination revealed paraplegia with absent deep pain perception, decreased right pelvic limb withdrawal reflex, and lumbar pain consistent with an L4-S2 neurolocalization. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a single, well-demarcated, intramedullary mass centered over the L3-4 disc space. A hemilaminectomy was performed, and the mass was removed en bloc. Histopathological evaluation was consistent with a hemangioblastoma. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging nine months after surgery showed no evidence of tumor recurrence, and the dog was ambulatory paraparetic at that time. This case is consistent with a previous histopathologic report of spinal cord hemangioblastoma in a dog and provides additional clinical information regarding diagnosis, treatment, and outcome associated with this tumor type.
Promoting professionalism via a video-based educational workshop for academic hospitalists and housestaff.

BACKGROUND Unprofessional behavior can compromise care and detract from the hospital learning environment. Discrepancy between professional behaviors formally taught and what is witnessed has become increasingly evident. METHODS With funding from the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation, a workshop was developed to address unprofessional behaviors related to inpatient care previously identified in a multi-institution survey. The aims were to utilize video-based education to illustrate unprofessional behaviors, how faculty play a role in promoting such behaviors, and facilitate reflection regarding motivation for and prevention of these behaviors. Hospitalists and housestaff at 3 Chicago-area academic hospitals and 1 community teaching affiliate participated. Videos were debriefed, identifying barriers to professional behavior and improvement strategies. A postworkshop survey assessed beliefs on behaviors and intent to change practice. RESULTS Forty-four (53%) faculty and 244 (68%) residents (postgraduate year 1 and greater) participated. The workshop was well received, with 89% reporting it “useful and effective.” Two-thirds expressed intent to change behavior. Most (86%) believed videos were realistic and effective. Those who perceived videos as “very realistic” were more likely to report intent to change behavior (93% vs 53%, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Video-based education is a feasible way to promote reflection and address unprofessional behaviors among providers and may positively impact the learning environment. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013;8:386–389. © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine
Diffraction Study of Solid‐State Photopolymerization of Trans, Trans‐1, 4‐bis‐[β‐pyridyl‐(2)‐vinyl]‐benzene

Single‐crystal x‐ray diffraction studies of trans, trans‐1, 4‐bis‐[β‐pyridyl‐(2)‐vinyl]‐benzene (P2VB) and its solid‐state addition photopolymerization to a high‐crystallinity nearly three‐dimensionally aligned linear polymer are presented. Both P2VB and poly‐P2VB are orthorhombic. The lattice parameters are a=21.09±0.16, b=9.61±0.05, and c=7.29±0.03 A for P2VB, and a=19.16±0.20, b=10.69±0.05, and c=7.45±0.15 A for poly‐P2VB. For both monomer and polymer the unit cell contains four monomer molecules. From systematic absences, the probable space group of P2VB is Pbca. The observed absences for poly‐P2VB are also consistent with this space group. The solid‐state photopolymerization of P2VB is controlled by the crystal structure of this monomer with the orthorhombic axes of monomer and polymer on the average aligned in the same direction. The slight change in unit cell dimensions, the probably identical unit cell symmetry, and the invariance of average unit cell orientation suggest that minimal molecular rea...
Stable isotope variation in the northern Gulf of Mexico constrains bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) foraging ranges

Site-specific differences were found in consumer isotope values among ten sites examined in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Average δ13C values among sites ranged −21.7 to −15.7 ‰, δ15N ranged <3 ‰: from 9.8 to 11.5 ‰, and δ34S ranged from 5.9 to 18.3 ‰. Isotope variation among these sites provided insight into the ranging habits of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) sampled in St. George Sound (29.8N, 84.6W), a nearshore seagrass habitat, during May of 2005. Isotope comparisons suggest that the majority of dolphins sampled (average ± one standard deviation: δ13C = −17.5 ± 0.8, δ15N = 14.5 ± 0.9, and δ34S = 10.6 ± 1.5) did not forage significantly on offshore species which are significantly 34S-enriched, nor is it likely that they ranged either eastward or westward along the coast within the sampling region. Despite their capability for ranging, these dolphins occupied a restricted home range, during the spring before our sampling efforts. These results demonstrate significant fine-scale isotope variation among coastal habitats explained by differences in freshwater inputs, organic matter loading, and modes of primary production that may be used to constrain the foraging ranges of a highly mobile apex predator.
The least endothermic fragmentation pathways of the diazine cations

Abstract The least endothermic fragmentation pathways of the diazine cations have been investigated by variable residence time photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy. A detailed RRKM analysis of the corresponding results provides the rate energy functions for the loss of N 2 from the 1,2-diazine cation and for the loss of HCN from the 1,3- and 1,4-diazine cations. The outcome of the analysis further implies that the processes in question involve a rate-determining cleavage of the aromatic rings with a critical energy of ∼ 2.7 eV and a correspondingly loose transition state. Quantitative accord between computed and measured rates can only be achieved when it is assumed that the reactions occur on the ground state manifold of the respective parent ions, suggesting rapid internal conversion of any initial excess electronic energy.
Relationships between crop-species diversity and soil characteristics in southwest Indian agroecosystems

Abstract In humid tropical agroecosystems, maintenance of soil fertility is critical to sustainability, yet inputs of fossil-fuel fertilizer are beyond the economic means of many farmers. One economically viable alternative is to manage soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics by altering the composition and number of crop species. The objectives of this study were to determine long-term effects of crop-species composition and richness on indices of soil fertility, in comparison with forests, and to evaluate mechanisms of crop-species influence. Study plots were established in the diverse array of agroecosystems in Kerala, India, where agriculture has been documented for >4000 year. With 91 different crops in the region, analyses were simplified by categorizing crops by functional groups, based on life form, nutrient cycling traits, and phenology. Mono-, bi- and polycultures contained 1, 2 and >2 functional groups, respectively. A paired-plot design in which a monoculture or biculture was paired with a polyculture within a farm was used, such that climate, soil, ownership, and management were as similar as possible for a pair. Soil properties (total soil organic carbon (SOC), N, pH, bulk density) and crop structural attributes that had the potential to influence SOC stocks (basal area and frequency) were measured in 100 m 2 plots ( n =70 pairs) within 50 farms. Three plots in nearby forests provided a basis for comparison. Total SOC ranged from 6 to 20 g kg −1 (in coastal areas and uplands, respectively), compared to 34–60 g kg −1 in nearby upland forests. Differences in total SOC between mono- and polycultures depended on identity of the functional group in the monoculture: SOC amounts were higher in polycultures if the monoculture in comparison was a palm ( P =0.02) or herbaceous annual ( P =0.001), but not if the monoculture was a deciduous tree. Total SOC was 61% lower in polycultures cultivated for 40–60 years than in nearby forests. Under some conditions, total SOC increased directly with basal area (BA), an index of shading, indicating that BA may be an important design element of agroecosystems. Modeling results indicated that differences in lignin content of crop inputs could influence SOM quantity and quality; hence, crop tissue-chemistry traits may also be important elements of design. These results from ancient, humid tropical agroecosystems suggest that for maintenance of long-term soil fertility, high species richness may not be as important as individual species traits that influence nutrient cycling.
Differential requirement for CARMA1 in agonist-selected T-cell development.

Caspase recruitment domain-containing membrane-associated guanylate kinase protein-1 (CARMA1) is a critical component of the NF-κB signaling cascade mediated by TCR engagement. In addition to activation of naive T cells, TCR signaling is important for the development of agonist-selected T-cell subsets such as Treg, NKT cells, and CD8-αα T cells. However, little is known about the role of CARMA1 in the development of these lineages. Here we show that CARMA1-deficient mice (CARMA1−/−) have altered populations of specific subsets of agonist-selected T cells. Specifically, CARMA1−/− mice have impaired natural and adaptive Treg development, whereas NKT cell numbers are normal compared with wild-type mice. Interestingly, CD8-αα T cells, which may also be able to develop through an extrathymic selection pathway, are enriched in the gut of CARMA1−/− mice, whereas memory-phenotype CD4+ T cells (CD62Llow/CD44high) are present at reduced numbers in the periphery. These results indicate that CARMA1 is essential for Treg development, but is not necessary for the development of other agonist-selected T-cell subsets. Overall, these data reveal an important but differential role for CARMA1-mediated TCR signaling in T-cell development.
The role of nucleotides in human fragile site expression

Fragile sites are points on chromosomes which tend to break non-randomly when exposed to specific chemical agents or conditions of tissue culture. There are 3 groups of rare fragile sites, and carriers of these range in incidence from about 1 in 20 to 1 in several thousand individuals. Rare fragile sites are essentially chromosome variants with no known phenotypic consequence, except for the fragile X which is associated with the commonest inherited form of mental retardation in man. There are also 3 groups of common fragile sites, carried by all or most individuals. These are part of normal chromosomal architecture. Expression of most of the groups of fragile sites is mediated by perturbations of the nucleotide pool and these, as they relate to each group of fragile sites, are discussed. The rare folate-sensitive fragile sites are expressed when thymidylate or deoxycytidine are in limited supply during DNA synthesis. Other rare fragile sites are induced by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Sets of common fragile sites are induced by BrdU, 5-azacytidine and aphidicolin. Various hypotheses on the molecular nature of fragile sites are considered.
Effect of intra-peritoneal fludarabine on rat spinal cord tolerance to fractionated irradiation.

Abstract The effect of fludarabine (9-β- d -arabinosyl-2-fluoroadenine-5′-monophosphate), an adenine nucleoside analogue, on the tolerance of the spinal cord to fractionated irradiation was studied in a rat model. Anesthetized female Fisher 344 rats received irradiation to 2 cm of the cervical spine with a telecobalt unit (dose rate 1.14 Gy/min). Radiation was administered in two, four or eight fractions spread over a 48-h period with or without fludarabine. Animals assigned to combined therapy received two daily intraperitoneal injections of fludarabine (150 mg/kg) given 3 h prior to the first daily radiation fraction. It was found that fludarabine reduced the iso-effect dose required to induce leg paresis at 9 months after irradiation for all fractionation schedules. Dose modification factors of 1.23, 1.29 and greater than 1.27 were obtained for two, four and eight fractions, respectively. Fitting the data with the direct analysis method of Thames et al. with an incomplete repair model [18] showed that the potentiating effect of fludarabine may be mediated through reduction in the number of ‘tissue-rescuing units’ (lnK). Alpha and β values were slightly but not significantly decreased, whereas the α β ratio was unchanged. These features suggest that fludarabine did not significantly inhibit cellular repair processes but rather reduced the spinal cord tolerance by a fixed additive toxic effect on the same target cells. In rodent models, the combination of fludarabine and fractionated radiation has previously been found to yield a therapeutic gain, i.e., the drug enhanced tumor response to a greater extent than it reduced normal tissue tolerance. However, given our results, caution should be exercised in extrapolating these findings to the clinic. Normal tissue reactions will have to be monitored rigorously in phase I clinical studies.
Damage of rat liver deoxyribonucleic acid by bleomycin.

Abstract Bleomycin has been shown by other investigators to react with DNA in vitro causing the release of free bases and strand scission. We have examined the possibility of damage to rat liver DNA in vivo by bleomycin. Thirty min after injection of bleomycin (20 mg/kg body wt), the DNA was shifted to the top of an alkaline sucrose gradient, suggesting damage in vivo . By 3 hr after injection of bleomycin, a normal gradient pattern was observed. Perfusion of the liver prior to squashing (preparation of the liver DNA for gradient analysis) abolished the effect of bleomycin on the DNA, indicating that bleomycin did not damage the DNA in vivo , but is present in the blood and reacts with DNA after squashing and/or lysing of the cells.
Endogenous inhibitors of picrotoxinin-convulsant binding sites in rat brain

The binding of [3H]-alpha-dihydropicrotoxinin (DHP) to rat brain membranes was inhibited by aqueous extracts of the same tissue, as well as by several naturally occurring substances such as pyrimidines, purines, and their metabolites. The 200 000 X g supernatant fraction of cortex homogenates inhibited DHP binding competitively, reversibly, without preincubation, at 0 degrees C, with 40 microgram protein inhibiting 50%. Compounds such as adenine, hypoxanthine, inosine, cytosine, allantoin and uric acid at about 0.1 mM also inhibited DHP binding competitively, suggesting a relationship between DHP binding sites, benzodiazepine binding sites, and GABA receptor binding sites.
Effect of low off-bottom impeller clearance on the minimum agitation speed for complete suspension of solids in stirred tanks

Abstract Considerable attention has been devoted in the past to the determination of the minimum agitation speed, N js , required to just suspend solids in mechanically stirred tanks. However, the effect of the impeller off-bottom clearance has not been well established, particularly when the impeller is positioned very close to the tank bottom. This investigation is focused on the determination of the minimum agitation speed and power dissipation required to completely suspend solid particles in tanks provided with impellers having small clearances off the tank bottom. Four types of impellers were used: six-blade disc turbines, six-blade flat-blade turbines, six-blade (45°) pitched-blade turbines, and Chemineer HE-3 impellers. The effects of the impeller diameter, tank diameter, particle diameter, and physical variables were also studied. Modified correlations based on the Zwietering equation ( Zwietering, (1958) Chem. Engng Sci . 8 , 244–253) were obtained to account for the effect of impeller clearance and impeller diameter-to-tank diameter ratio on N js .
Polymeric Brushes as Functional Templates for Immobilizing Ribonuclease A: Study of Binding Kinetics and Activity

The ability to immobilize proteins with high binding capacities on surfaces while maintaining their activity is critical for protein microarrays and other biotechnological applications. We employed poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brushes as templates to immobilize ribonuclease A (RNase A), which is commonly used to remove RNA from plasmid DNA preparations. The brushes are grown by surface-anchored atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators. RNase A was immobilized by both covalent esterification and a high binding capacity metal-ion complexation method to PAA brushes. The polymer brushes immobilized 30 times more enzyme compared to self-assembled monolayers. As the thickness of the brush increases, the surface density of the RNase A increases monotonically. The immobilization was investigated by ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS). The activity of the immobilized RNase A was determined using UV absorbance. As much as 11.0 microg/cm(2) of RNase A was bound to PAA brushes by metal-ion complexation compared to 5.8 microg/cm(2) by covalent immobilization which is 30 and 16 times the estimated mass bound in a monolayer. The calculated diffusion coefficient D was 0.63 x 10(-14) cm(2)/s for metal-ion complexation and 0.71 x 10(-14) cm(2)/s for covalent immobilization. Similar values of D indicate that the binding kinetics is similar, but the thermodynamic equilibrium coverage varies with the binding chemistry. Immobilization kinetics and thermodynamics were characterized by ellipsometry for both methods. A maximum relative activity of 0.70-0.80 was reached between five and nine monolayers of the immobilized enzyme. However, the relative activity for covalent immobilization was greater than that of metal-ion complexation. Covalent esterification resulted in similar temperature dependence as free enzyme, whereas metal-ion complexation showed no temperature dependence indicating a significant change in conformation.
Generalized sum rules for optical nonlinearities of many‐electron systems

Sum rules which connect spectral moments of linear and nonlinear optical susceptibilities of nonrelativistic many‐electron systems to their ground state properties are derived. These sum rules provide a direct connection between chemical bonding and optical properties and may assist in constructing tight‐binding Hamiltonians for the effective modeling of electronic spectroscopy. In the time‐dependent Hartree–Fock approximation, the only relevant ground state information is the Hartree–Fock ground stated reduced single‐electron density matrix.
Detection and Time Course of Cocaine N-Oxide and Other Cocaine Metabolites in Human Plasma by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is often used for detection and measurement of cocaine metabolites in biological specimens. However, cocaine N-oxide, a recently identified metabolite of cocaine, is thermally degraded when introduced into a GC/MS. The major degradation products are cocaine and norcocaine. When cocaine N-oxide was measured in rat plasma using liquid chromatography in combination with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS), the cocaine N-oxide concentrations in the rat plasma were reported to be as high as 30% of the cocaine concentrations. However, in our study involving LC/ESI-MS/MS analysis of plasma collected from human subjects following administration of oral cocaine, we determined that the concentrations of cocaine N-oxide relative to the cocaine concentrations never exceeded 3%. This suggests that determination of cocaine concentration in human plasma by GC/MS analysis will not significantly distort the actual cocaine concentrations due to thermal conversi...
Effect of lyso-phosphatidylcholine and Schnurri-3 on osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells to calcifying vascular cells in 3D culture.

Abstract Background In vitro cell culture is a widely used technique for investigating a range of processes such as stem cell behavior, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and drug discovery. Conventional cell culture is performed in Petri dishes or flasks where cells typically attach to a flat glass or plastic surface as a cell monolayer. However, 2D cell monolayers do not provide a satisfactory representation of in vivo conditions. A 3D culture could be a much better system for representing the conditions that prevail in vivo. Methods and results To simulate 3D conditions, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were loaded with gold–polyvmer–iron oxide hydrogel, enabling levitation of the cells by using spatially varying magnetic fields. These magnetically levitated 3D cultures appeared as freely suspended, clustered cells which proliferated 3–4 times faster than cells in conventional 2D cultures. When the levitated cells were treated with 10 nM lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), for 3 days, cell clusters exhibited translucent extensions/rods 60–80 μm wide and 200–250 μm long. When 0.5 μg/μl Schnurri-3 was added to the culture containing LPC, these extensions were smaller or absent. When excited with 590–650 nm light, these extensions emitted intrinsic fluorescence at > 667 nm. When the 3D cultures were treated with a fluorescent probe specific for calcium hydroxyapatite (FITC-HABP-19), the cell extensions/rods emitted intensely at 518 nm, the λmax for FITC emission. Pellets of cells treated with LPC were more enriched in calcium, phosphate, and glycosaminoglycans than cells treated with LPC and Schnurri-3. Conclusions In 3D cultures, VSMCs grow more rapidly and form larger calcification clusters than cells in 2D cultures. Transdifferentiation of VSMC into calcifying vascular cells is enhanced by LPC and attenuated by Schnurri-3. General significance The formation of calcified structures in 3D VSMC cultures suggests that similar structures may be formed in vivo.
Use of the Internet for infection control and epidemiology

Infection control professionals are taking advantage of the Internet for the rapid transmission and distribution of information that includes sounds, still and motion images, and text to their peers, colleagues, patients, and the public. This article provides some background information on the Internet and examples of some electronic resources and offers suggestions of additional applications of the Internet for infection control and epidemiology.
Single-stranded nucleic acid helical secondary structure stabilized by ionic bonds: d(A(+)-G)10.

Abstract We have identified a type of secondary structure for the homopurine oligomer d(A-G)10 below pH 6 in 0.01 M Na+ that is characterized by intense CD but only minor hypochromicity. The stability of this helix, designated d(A(+)-G)10, does not depend on oligomer concentration and increases sharply as ionic strength or pH drops, reaching a maximum at 4.0 (melting temperature, 37 degrees C). The pKa for the transition, 5.3 at 25 degrees C and even higher with decreasing temperature and [Na+], is much higher than the intrinsic pKa values for dA or dG residues. While the dA residues are protonated in the helix, further protonation of the dG residues disrupts it. When observed at 280 nm, melting of the helix first results in hypochromicity due to stacking of extrahelical dG residues with neighboring dA residues. The character and temperature dependence of the CD spectra of the constituent dinucleoside monophosphates indicate minimal chirality and base overlap for the A+pG sequences in d(A(+)-G)10 but left-handed twist with some base overlap for the GpA+ sequences. The observed properties are best satisfied by a model for an intramolecular helix with limited base overlap, stabilized by ionic bonds between dA residues protonated at N-1 and downstream negatively charged phosphates brought close due to the backbone helical twist, while Gsyn residues lie external to the helix. This structure could provide additional stabilizing energy for biologically relevant protonated non-B-DNA structures adopted by homopurine.homopyrimidine sequences due to topological stress or specific protein binding.
Appearance of D-Alloisoleucine in the Blood Plasma of Laying Hens

Abstract Two strains of laying chickens were used to investigate the effects of amino acid additions, including D-alloisoleucine, to a low protein corn-soy diet on plasma free amino acids and egg albumen amino acid composition. Intake of .1% D-alloisoleucine with the L-form in the mixture resulted in appearance of this compound in the plasma but not in egg albumen. The concentration of plasma valine was significantly increased when the amino acid (.2% D-L) was added to the 10% protein diet. Threonine and arginine additions did not increase the concentration of the respective amino acid in the plasma significantly. The amino acid composition of egg albumen remained unaffected by dietary supplementation. Production data along with amino acid composition of egg albumen showed that the laying hen reduces production rather than altering amino acid composition of egg albumen protein in its response to reduced protein uptake. No apparent strain differences were noted.
Pathological and physiological high-frequency oscillations in focal human epilepsy

High-frequency oscillations (HFO; gamma: 40–100 Hz, ripples: 100–200 Hz, and fast ripples: 250–500 Hz) have been widely studied in health and disease. These phenomena may serve as biomarkers for ep...
Global Forces, Foreign Policy, and Asian Pacific Americans

In his contribution to an important new collection on Asian-American politics, Don T. Nakanishi calls for “renewing a search for a paradign of Asian Pacific American politics” that takes into account “nondomestic political experiences and relationships” (2001, 106). This article addresses Nakanishi's challenge to consider efforts by Asian Pacific Americans to influence U.S.–Asia relations, especially in advocating changes in American foreign policy towards their countries of origin; the ways in which international processes and policies related to the flow of people, money, goods, and ideas impinge on the political behavior and status of Asian Pacific Americans; and the impact of international political conflicts and domestic political crises involving Asian homelands on interethnic and intracommunity political relations involving Asian Pacific American communities (2001, 106-7).
Holophrasis and the protolanguage spectrum

Much of the debate concerning the question "Was Protolanguage Holophrastic?" assumes that protolanguage existed as a single, stable transitional form between communication systems akin to those of modern primates and human languages as we know them today. The present paper argues for a spectrum of protolanguages preceding modern languages emphasizing that (i) protospeech was intertwined with protosign and gesture; (ii) grammar emerged from a growing population of constructions; and (iii) an increasing protolexicon drove the emergence of phonological structure. This framework weakens arguments for the view that the earliest protolanguages were not holophrastic while advancing the claim that protolanguages became increasingly compositional over time en route to the emergence of true languages.
Role-based access control for a Grid system using OGSA-DAI and Shibboleth

In this paper, we propose a new role-based access control (RBAC) system for Grid data resources in the Open Grid Services Architecture Data Access and Integration (OGSA-DAI). OGSA-DAI is a widely used framework for integrating data resources in Grids. However, OGSA-DAI's identity-based access control causes substantial administration overhead for the resource providers in virtual organizations (VOs) because of the direct mapping between individual Grid users and the privileges on the resources. To solve this problem, we used the Shibboleth, an attribute authorization service, to support RBAC within the OGSA-DAI. In addition, access control policies need to be specified and managed across multiple VOs. For the specification of access control policies, we used the Core and Hierarchical RBAC profile of the eXtensible Access Control Markup Language (XACML); and for distributed administration of those policies and the user-role assignments, we used the Object, Metadata and Artifacts Registry (OMAR). OMAR is based on the e-business eXtensible Markup Language (ebXML) registry specifications developed to achieve interoperable registries and repositories. Our RBAC system provides scalable and fine-grain access control and allows privacy protection. It also supports dynamic delegation of rights and user-role assignments, and reduces the administration overheads for the resource providers because they need to maintain only the mapping information from VO roles to local database roles. Moreover, unnecessary mapping and connections can be avoided by denying invalid requests at the VO level. Performance analysis shows that our RBAC system adds only a small overhead to the existing security infrastructure of OGSA-DAI.
Female urinary incontinence in China: experiences and perspectives.

We sought to understand the perceptions and experiences of Chinese women living with urinary incontinence (UI), a problem that has not yet been characterized in China. We conducted the study using semistructured interviews with 15 women, aged 24–81, diagnosed with UI at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Fuzhou General Hospital, Fujian, China. We conducted and analyzed the interviews according to the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis model. The five core themes we derived from the participants' responses were uncertainty about UI, self-blame, avoidance, emotional isolation, and desire for treatment. The negative impacts of UI we documented, such as limiting exercise and causing embarrassment, demonstrated that UI is a problem for the affected women in China. Our study was limited by the small sample size and the need for additional reliability/validity measures, but we believe it presented a strong foundation and justification for more rigorous research into UI in China.
Raman spectra of gases: 23-Trichloroacetaldehyde†

The Raman spectrum of gaseous trichloroacetaldehyde (chloral) has been recorded from 20 to 3200 cm−1. A series of three transitions (83, 76, 69 cm−1) has been observed for the low frequency torsional mode. The barrier to internal rotation has been calculated to have a value of 1.17 kcal mol−1 (409 cm−1) in the gaseous phase. This value is compared to the corresponding quantity in similar molecules.
Asymmetric Distribution of Lipids in a Phase Segregated Phospholipid Bilayer Observed by Sum-Frequency Vibrational Spectroscopy†

The intrinsic symmetry constraints on sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (SFVS) have been exploited to measure the asymmetric distribution of lipid domains in the proximal and distal layers of a planar supported lipid bilayer (PSLB) in the gel−liquid-crystalline (l.c.) coexistence region of the phase diagram for several lipid systems. Four saturated phospholipids, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1,2-diheptadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DHPC), and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC), and two equal-molar binary mixtures of DSPC with DMPC, and DSPC with a unsaturated lipid DOPC (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) were investigated. The destructive interference of the symmetric stretch (vs) transition moments from the lipid fatty acid methyl groups (CH3) was used to monitor changes in the symmetry of the bilayer structure. A maximum in the CH3 vs intensity is observed at the phase transition temperature (T...
Corporate social responsibility and irresponsibility: A positive theory approach

Abstract Defining and delimiting corporate social responsibility (CSR) and irresponsibility (CSI) are key interdependent tasks that can contribute to the development of multiple international policy regimes favoring CSR and disfavoring CSI. Progress toward a more general normative theory of CSR and CSI occurs through an emerging virtuous cycle of interaction between conceptualization and institutionalization processes. This article makes a contribution to each process. The conceptualization contribution derives logically more universal conceptions of CSR and CSI from a literature review. Universal conceptions can incorporate multiple options and permit variation and evolution. The “essentially contested” character of a “cluster concept” is partly about influencing legal and ethical standards, public policies, and specific business practices. The second contribution argues that a more logically universal schema is desirable for helping to inform institutionalization processes. Gradual ongoing development of multiple regimes for CSI control and CSR promotion involves fragmented persuasion and negotiation processes at national and international levels.
Tendances nationales émergentes dans la prise en charge et les résultats de l’artériopathie oblitérante périphérique des membres inférieurs

Objectif Cette etude avait pour but d’analyser les tendances nationales emergentes dans le traitement de l’arteriopathie obliterante peripherique des membres inferieurs et les resultats associes. Methodes Le Nationwide Inpatient Sample a ete interroge entre 2001 et 2007. Les patients chez qui avaient ete diagnostiquee une atherosclerose des membres inferieurs ont ete selectionnes en utilisant l’International Classification of Diseases, 9 eme Revision codes 440,20-440,24, aboutissant a une moyenne de 307000 hospitalisations annuelles. Au sein de ce groupe, nous avons determine le nombre annuel de pontages des membres inferieurs, d’interventions endovasculaires et d’amputations majeures et/ou mineures (amputations au dessous ou au dessus du genou versus amputations d’orteil et/ou de pied). Une analyse Chi-2 a ete effectuee sur des donnees ponderees a la sortie afin de comparer deux periodes (2001-2003 et 2004-2007) et de determiner des variations de prises en charge et des differences de resultats : une regression logistique multivariee a ete utilisee pour identifier les facteurs predictifs d’amputation. Resultats La comparaison des deux periodes a montre que le nombre annuel moyen d’interventions endovasculaires s’est accru de 78% (37692 vs. 67248, p 0,001) et le nombre de pontages des membres inferieurs a diminue de 20% (68326 vs. 54348, p 0,001). Chaque annee, le nombre total d’interventions s’est accru de 15% (106018 vs. 121596, p 0,001), tandis que le nombre d’amputations totales (59693 vs. 50254, p 0,001), d’amputations majeures (39043 vs. 31043, p 0,001) et d’amputations mineures (20150 vs. 19211, p 0,001) a significativement diminue. Le diabete a ete le facteur predictif principal d’amputations, en particulier celles interessant l’orteil et l’avant-pied. Apres ajustement sur l’âge et les comorbidites, les Afro-americains se sont averes avoir un taux 2,4 fois plus eleve d’amputation compares aux Caucasiens, tandis que les patients pris en charge par Medicare ou Medicaid avaient un taux 1,5 fois plus eleve compares a ceux ayant des assurances privees ou dependant de la Health Maintenance Organization. Conclusions Au cours des periodes examinees, nous avons observe que le traitement de l’arteriopathie obliterante peripherique des membres inferieurs a evolue dans le sens d’un accroissement des techniques endovasculaires moins invasives et d’une diminution des pontages effectues en chirurgie ouverte. Ces tendances s’associent a des taux plus faibles d’amputation majeure des membres inferieurs. Des disparites socio-economiques significatives persistent concernant les taux d’amputation, les minorites raciales et ceux dependant de Medicare ou de Medicaid ayant des taux d’amputation plus eleves.
Rates of volcanic CO2 degassing from airborne determinations of SO2 Emission rates and plume CO2/SO2: test study at Pu′u ′O′o Cone, Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

We present an airborne method that eliminates or minimizes several disadvantages of the customary plume cross-section sampling method for determining volcanic CO2 emission rates. A LI-COR CO2 analyzer system (LICOR), a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer system (FTIR), and a correlation spectrometer (COSPEC) were used to constrain the plume CO2/SO2 and the SO2 emission rate. The method yielded a CO2 emission rate of 300 td−1 (metric tons per day) for Pu′u ′O′o cone, Kilauea volcano, on 19 September 1995. The CO2/SO2 of 0.20 determined from airborne LICOR and FTIR plume measurements agreed with the CO2/SO2 of 204 ground-based samples collected from vents over a 14-year period since the Pu′u ′O′o eruption began in January 1983.
Hope Springs Eternal The Reinvention of America in Bill Clinton's 1996 Campaign Biography Video

This study examines the narrative strategies used by Bill Clinton in his 1992 and 1996 campaign biography videos. Both videos address similar themes, utilize similar aesthetic strategies, and even repeat key rhetorical structures. In 1996, Clinton substitutes America for Hope as the key organizing symbol of his biography, thereby undermining the liberal Democratic perspective central to The Man From Hope. Instead he offers an image of America that foregrounds traditional Republican values and only makes oblique references to values typically held by Democrats. In doing so, the video biography re-presents Clinton as a moderate, in a creatively ambiguous treatment of the president that seems designed to appeal to a politically diverse America.
Description of a new plethysmograph

Abstract A new plethysmograph, ∗ ∗The apparatus was constructed by the Kruger and Hudepohl Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. which can be utilized in the study of blood flow in the hand, the forearm, or the leg, is described.
Fault-Tolerant Microprogrammed Digital Controller Design

Efficient encoding schemes for partitioning the control Read-Only Memory (ROM) of a microprogrammed digital controller into the composition of smaller ROM matrices are given in this paper. Based on these partition methods, we propose an economical way of implementing the hybrid redundant structure in a microprogrammed control for enhancing fault-tolerant control operations. The approach greatly reduces the control memory requirements, improves the ROM encoding efficiency and facilitates microprogram debugging and fault detection capabilities in the ROM's.
Prevention of Depression in the College Student Population: A Review of the Literature

The National Institute of Mental Health recommends that interventions be designed to prevent the onset of clinical depression in at-risk groups. College students are included in those groups identified as at risk. This article reports on 16 U.S. clinical trials, conducted with samples of college-aged students between 1987 and 2011, to identify effective depression-prevention strategies. Recommendations from the review of these studies include additional research to determine prevention strategies for the college student population and the use of evidence-based prevention strategies in nursing practice to improve the quality of life for this at-risk population.
Auditor belief revisions in a performance auditing setting: An application of the belief-adjustment model☆

Abstract Based upon Hogarth and Einhorn's “belief-adjustment model”, the present research tested the model's recency effects prediction in a “performance auditing” context using state auditors. The results showed that the auditors' “belief revisions” were subject to the recency effects predicted by the model. The results also validated an important assumption of the model that serial position effects were absent in a short evidence series. That is, serial position had no effect on the subject's subjective evaluation of evidence. Finally, analyses of the subjects' intermediate belief changes suggested that they displayed a “confirmatory attitude” towards evidence rather than a “disconfirmatory attitude” found in the prior studies conducted in financial auditing contexts.
Broadband electrostatic wave observations in the auroral region on Polar and comparisons with theory

[i] Broadband electrostatic wave (BEN) data gathered from Polar for passes through the aurora are analyzed and compared with theoretical predictions for the origin of magnetized solitary waves in BEN. Two passes exhibiting solitary waves were chosen for comparison, and times were selected that show numerous such waves. Examination of the data shows that even for these cases the nonsolitary form of BEN occurs much more commonly than the solitary form that is being particularly examined here. The first pass was for the period of 1430-1550 UT on 7 April 1996 at distances near 7R E , and the second pass was for the period of 0600-0800 UT on 10 May 1996 at distances near 8.8 R E . Four short intervals were chosen from the passes that show interesting solitary waves, each at slightly different radial distance, and the plasma parameters measured are used in developed theory to give predictions for the minimum and maximum electric field for propagation ofBGK solitary waves, which have been the focus of theory for the nonlinear form of BEN for over a decade. This predicted minimum is compared to observations for solitary waves observed in these spacecraft time intervals along with parameters of the plasma environment at the time of observation, identified from the HYDRA data for these passes. The actual electric field is found to lie below the predicted minimum for all cases. Our conclusion is that these solitary waves are clearly not BGK waves in their observed form and may possibly have been produced by means other than electron trapping processes for BGK solitary waves. Feasible alternative theories for the solitary waves are discussed.
Following the money: Economic inhibitors of change affecting graduate education in clinical psychology

C.R. Snyder and T.R. Elliott (this issue) offer a thoughtful and elaborate model for future training in graduate clinical psychology, couched in visionary optimism. However, they interpret history and present trends in a manner that seems to ignore the realistic demands of economic forces. They propose thoughtful, constructive, pro-social directions, but seem at least partially oblivious to underlying economic forces destined to impede meaningful implementation of their model. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol.
An analysis of the historical context of liberal education in nursing education from 1924 to 1939

This study examines in historical context the liberal education theme in nursing education as expressed in nursing literature from 1924 to 1939. The specific questions addressed are: What is the nature of liberal education as presented in the literature of the time? What did nurse educators believe would be the effect of the liberal education of the nurse on the profession of nursing? To what extent did the articulation of beliefs regarding liberal education parallel the development of nursing education at the collegiate level? The data include literature published in the major nursing journals, the proceedings of the national professional nursing organizations, and the major studies of nursing by various committees. The literature was examined for central themes. The study concludes that during this period, nurse educators believed the purposes of a liberal education for nurses to be the development of the individual and the citizen, the acquisition of cultural knowledge, the development of critical thinking, and the possession of a strong science background. A nurse with these abilities would be able to meet the changing demands of practice at a professional level. The college and university continued to be viewed as the optimum site for this education.
Isotopic exchange between deuterium and 2,2-dimethylbutane on platinum/silica and palladium/silica

Abstract Isotopic exchange between deuterium and 2,2-dimethylbutane (neohexane) has been investigated on a series of Pt SiO 2 (percentage exposed of metal, Dh = 6.3–81%) and Pd SiO 2 (Dh = 13.8–96.7%) catalysts at temperatures in the vicinity of 100 °C. Catalysts were investigated after three different pretreatments: standard: O2,300 °; H2,300 °; He,450 ° and H2,450 °: O2,300 °; H2,450 ° and H2, 100 °:O2,300 °; H2,100 °. One might expect exchange into the methylene group to be subject to substantial steric hindrance from the adjacent t-butyl group and the degree of steric hindrance to be less at edge atoms than at atoms in (100) and (111) faces, i.e., relatively less on small crystallites than on larger ones. In general, the effect of Dh upon the relative yield of ethyl-d5 in neohexane did not accord with this expectation. A possible explanation is that the bounding faces of the crystallites are defective and contain many vacancies which generate sites about equivalent to edge sites in the degree of hindrance. If so, usual tests of structure sensitivity could be seriously affected.