cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shape-centric modeling of traveling wave rectilinear locomotion for snake-like robots

A traveling wave rectilinear gait for elongated, continuous bodies is modeled as planar deviations along a baseline average body and with respect to an average body frame. This framework enables intuitive and convenient formulation of the gait as a cyclically-varying backbone curve as well as contact patterns and other elements of the model which are integral in computing external forcing. A rolling friction model is introduced to describe interactions with the environment. The equations of motion of the dynamical system are derived in closed form along with the steady-state velocity for a straight-line average body. We demonstrate that control objectives such as turning can be conveniently achieved by introducing a constant radius of curvature into the average body, without any change to the gait formulation.
Molecular dynamics of laser-assisted decomposition of unstable molecules at the surface of carbon nanotubes: case study of CH2(NO2)2 on CNT(4,0)

In this study, photoreactions of the dinitromethane molecule noncovalently adsorbed on the (4, 0) carbon nanotube (CNT) have been investigated by time-dependent, excited-state molecular dynamics, w...
Rate of Rise of EBV Viral Load By Quantitative PCR after Allogeneic Transplantation Correlates with PTLD Facilitates Timely Institution of Rituximab

Abstract A growing body of data supports the benefit of first-line rituximab therapy for EBV- associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) the potential for adoptive cellular therapy, and the benefit of early diagnosis. Quantitative PCR has proven to be an important, albeit not infallible, diagnostic test; however, data regarding the utility We reviewed the records of 731 adult patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) at Stanford University Medical Center from January 2010 through Feb 2016. (Table 1. Demographics) With respect to EBV screening, all patients received 400 mg po acyclovir tid for one year, preemptive strategies based on plasma PCR for CMV were used with either IV ganciclovir (MA) or valganciclovir (NMA) administered. Quantitative EBV PCR was performed on whole blood (Jan 2010 through mid-2011) or plasma (mid-2011 to present) every other week in asymptomatic patients or at any time a patient developed symptoms that may be attributed to EBV. Observations/Conclusions: · Both the initial measureable and the rate of increase in viral load were significantly greater in patients with PTLD than those with isolated viremia. · Promptly administered rituximab was effective in improving resolution of PTLD when compared to historically reported data. · Conversely, patients with low grade viremia without increase in viral load may be watched expectantly. · Although not standard practice, importance of EBV serology of donor has been demonstrated in SOT and pediatric HCT and would be anticipated to be of equal importance in adults, especially · Early biopsy or flow cytometric analysis of EBV+ lymphocyte to determine polymorphic versus monomorphic disease can further refine our understanding the pathophysiology of disease · The crucial limitation of our study is that determination of EBV serology was not routine; however, by limiting our analysis to patients with EBV reactivation and the use of a standardized protocol to respond to viremia has permitted the current observations to be made. Download : Download high-res image (72KB) Download : Download full-size image Download : Download high-res image (97KB) Download : Download full-size image Download : Download high-res image (80KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Globalectics of Nationalism in CLR James’ and Michelle Cliff’s Writing

Globalectics is the title and guiding principle of the Kenyan author Ngũgĩ’s recent collection of philosophical lectures on postcolonialism, globalization, and world literature, where he describes an engagement of the global environment through the local national landscape. The global roots of nationalism in the writing of Trinidadian and Jamaican authors such as CLR James and Michelle Cliff fit well with Ngũgĩ’s concept of globalectics. Ngũgĩ asserts, “The postcolonial is not simply located in the third world. Literally rooted in the intertextuality of products from all corners of the globe, its universalist tendency is inherent in its very relationship to historical colonialism and its globe for a theater” (Ngũgĩ 55). Global contexts greatly inform James’ and Cliff’s narratives of nationalist sentiment, as illustrated in James’ The Nobbie Stories for Children and Adults and Letters from London , and Cliff’s The Land of Look Behind and No Telephone to Heaven .
A Flexible Approach to Time-varying Coefficients in the Cox Regression Setting

Research on methods for studying time-to-event data (survival analysis) has been extensive in recent years. The basic model in use today represents the hazard function for an individual through a proportional hazards model (Cox, 1972). Typically, it is assumed that a covariate's effect on the hazard function is constant throughout the course of the study. In this paper we propose a method to allow for possible deviations from the standard Cox model, by allowing the effect of a covariate to vary over time. This method is based on a dynamic linear model. We present our method in terms of a Bayesian hierarchical model. We fit the model to the data using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. Finally, we illustrate the approach with several examples.
Presynaptic Ethanol Actions: Potential Roles in Ethanol Seeking.

Ethanol produces intoxication through actions on numerous molecular and cellular targets. Adaptations involving these and other targets contribute to chronic drug actions that underlie continued and problematic drinking. Among the mechanisms involved in these ethanol actions are alterations in presynaptic mechanisms of synaptic transmission, including presynaptic protein function and excitation-secretion coupling. At synapses in the central nervous system (CNS), excitation-secretion coupling involves ion channel activation followed by vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release. These mechanisms are altered by presynaptic neurotransmitter receptors and prominently by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Studies over the last 20–25 years have revealed that acute ethanol exposure alters neurotransmitter secretion, with especially robust effects on synapses that use the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Intracellular signaling pathways involving second messengers such as cyclic AMP and calcium are implicated in these acute ethanol actions. Ethanol-induced release of neuropeptides and small molecule neurotransmitters that act on presynaptic GPCRs also contribute to presynaptic potentiation at synapses in the amygdala and hippocampus and inhibition of GABA release in the striatum. Prolonged exposure to ethanol alters neurotransmitter release at many CNS GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses, and changes in GPCR function are implicated in many of these neuroadaptations. These presynaptic neuroadaptations appear to involve compensation for acute drug effects at some synapses, but “allostatic” effects that result in long-term resetting of synaptic efficacy occur at others. Current investigations are determining how presynaptic neuroadaptations contribute to behavioral changes at different stages of alcohol drinking, with increasing focus on circuit adaptations underlying these behaviors. This chapter will discuss the acute and chronic presynaptic effects of ethanol in the CNS, as well as some of the consequences of these effects in amygdala and corticostriatal circuits that are related to excessive seeking/drinking and ethanol abuse.
The General Structure of Decentralization in Burkina Faso and Benin

The drive from Accra to Ouagadougou was a two-day journey, with an overnight stay in Tamale, an important Ghanaian Northern city9. As the journey progresses North from Accra, one is struck by the differences in geography and people. In contrast to the lush and thick forests of the South, and the bustling, noisy and busy cities of Accra and Kumasi, the Northern region is characterized by drier conditions, and is more sparsely populated. Life is less stressful.
The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response in HIV-1 infection.

HIV infection is associated with an extremely vigorous virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response. This CTL activity is of sufficient magnitude to be detected using freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but despite this vigorous immune response, HIV-1 disease ultimately progresses. This article describes methods used to detect CTL responses and epitopes recognized by HIV-1 specific CTL. The potential role of CTL in the control of viral replication, disease pathogenesis, and possible mechanisms that allow HIV-1 to ultimately evade the host’s immune response is discussed. Finally, efforts to induce CTL responses through vaccines are summarized.
Exploring ODEs with Matlab

Many physical processes, both natural and engineered, are best described by ordinary differential equations (ODEs), which relate time derivatives of particular quantities to each other.
The implementation of RapidPlan in predicting deep inspiration breath-hold candidates with left-sided breast cancer.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to determine if RapidPlan (RP) can be used as a prediction method to determine which left-sided supine breast cancer patients would benefit from the deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique. An RP model database was created with 72 clinically approved 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) treatment plans. This model was validated by introducing 10 new patient data sets, creating RP-generated plans and comparing the clinically approved plan for the corresponding patient. The prediction ability of the model was then tested on the free-breathing (FB) scans of patients with clinically approved DIBH plans totaling 29 patients and results were then compared to the FB clinical plan attempts. A statistical analysis performed on the data indicated a strong correlation for the mean heart dose (R2 = 0.914; p-value
An Algorithm-Based Approach for Behavior and Disease Management in Children

Pharmacologic behavior management for dental treatment is an approach to provide invasive yet compassionate care for young children; it can facilitate the treatment of children who otherwise may not cooperate for traditional in-office care. Some recent highly publicized procedural sedation-related tragedies have drawn attention to risks associated with pharmacologic management. However, it remains widely accepted that, by adhering to proper guidelines, procedural sedation can assist in the provision of high-quality dental care while minimizing morbidity and mortality from the procedure. The purpose of this paper was to propose an algorithm for clinicians to consider when selecting a behavior and disease management strategy for early childhood caries. This algorithm will not ensure a positive outcome but can assist clinicians when counseling caregivers about risks, benefits, and alternatives. It also emphasizes and underscores best-safety practices.
Association of Medicaid Expansion Policy with Outcomes in Homeless Patients Requiring Emergency General Surgery.

Medicaid expansion has reduced obstacles faced in receiving care. Emergency general surgery (EGS) is a clinical event where delays in appropriate care impact outcomes. Therefore, we assessed the association between non-Medicaid expansion policy and multiple outcomes in homeless patients requiring EGS. We used 2014 State Inpatient Database to identify homeless individuals admitted with a primary EGS diagnosis who underwent an EGS procedure. States were divided into those that did and did not implement Medicaid expansion. Multivariable quantile regression was used to examine associations between non-Medicaid expansion states and (1) length of stay and (2) total index hospital charges within the homeless population. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the associations between non-Medicaid expansion and (1) mortality, (2) surgical complications, (3) discharge against medical advice, and (4) home healthcare. A total of 6930 homeless patients were identified. Of these, 435 (6.2%) were in non-expansion states. Non-Medicaid expansion was associated with higher charges (coef: $46,264, 95% CI 40,388–52,139). There were non-significant differences in mortality (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.79–2.62; p = 0.2) or surgical complications (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.7–1.8; p = 0.4). However, homeless individuals living in non-expansion states did have higher odds of being discharged against medical advice (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.08–4.05; p = 0.02), and lower odds of receiving home healthcare (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4–0.8; p = 0.01). Homeless patients living in Medicaid expansion states had lower odds of being discharged against medical advice, higher likelihood of receiving home healthcare and overall lower total index hospital charges.
$$K_0$$ K 0 -theory of n -potents in rings and algebras

Let $$n \geqslant 2$$ be an integer. An n-potent is an element e of a ring R such that $$e^n = e$$ . We study n-potents in matrices over R and use them to construct an abelian group $$K_0^n(R)$$ . If A is a complex algebra, there is a group isomorphism $$K_0^n(A) \cong (K_0(A))^{n-1}$$ for all $$n \geqslant 2$$ . However, for algebras over cyclotomic fields, this is not true, in general. We consider $$K_0^n$$ as a covariant functor, and show that it is also functorial for a generalization of homomorphism called an n-homomorphism.
Opportunities to Participate in Science Learning and Student Engagement: A Mixed Methods Approach to Examining Person and Context Factors.

As student engagement in science learning continues to garner significant attention from educational researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, the importance of understanding person and context-related factors that impact student engagement is increasingly recognized. In this mixed methods study, middle school students’ (N = 1,848) engagement was examined in relation to opportunities to participate in science learning (OtP in science) from 29 schools in the United States. Drawing on the ecological systems and opportunity-propensity frameworks, multilevel structural equation modeling was applied to test the relationship between OtP in science and student engagement, accounting for student (gender, grade, ethnicity) and school (socioeconomic status) factors. Results showed that at the student level, OtP in science was a statistically significant predictor of engagement, and this relationship varied by school. In addition, school SES predicted school-average OtP in science, and there was a statistically significant cross-level interaction for school SES, in that the relationship between OtP in science and engagement was stronger for schools with higher SES. In the qualitative phase, 6 student focus group interviews were analyzed to develop explanatory accounts for the quantitative results. Collaborative hands-on activities, peer-to-peer discourse, and positive teacher and student relationships were identified as social processes that facilitated students’ propensity to engage in the science learning opportunities. Factors related to school SES that explain the link between OtP in science and student engagement are also described. Taken together, our findings provide a more complete picture of how students’ engagement in science relates to person and context-related factors and hold theoretical and practical implications for the study of engagement in diverse classrooms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)
CACNB2 expression is positively associated to the Ras/MAPK pathway in vitro and in an experimental model of hypertension

Several independent genome-wide association studies highlighted the strong association of voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel subunit beta-2 (CACNB2) gene with hypertension. One such study sho...
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms from Multiple Stressors Predict Chronic Pain in Cancer Survivors.

Background: Despite the association between chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), little is known about the longitudinal course of pain and PTSD during cancer treatment. Objective...
Natural atmospheric deposition of molybdenum: a global model and implications for tropical forests

Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential trace metal that plays a central role in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as the cofactor in the conventional form of the nitrogenase enzyme. The low availability of Mo in soils often constrains BNF in many terrestrial ecosystems. Atmospheric sources may supply a critical source of exogenous Mo to regions with highly weathered soils likely low in Mo, particularly in tropical forests where BNF is thought to be high. Here, we present results of a global model of Mo deposition that considers the principal natural sources of atmospheric Mo—windborne mineral dust, sea-salt aerosols, and volcanic sources—which operate over geologic time. The largest source of mineral dust globally is from North Africa. We quantified Mo concentrations in dust and sediments from the Bodele Depression, a large source within North Africa, to constrain our model. Because the Mo concentration of seawater is relatively high for a trace element, we also hypothesized that sea-salt aerosols would contribute atmospheric Mo. Our model predicts higher Mo deposition to terrestrial ecosystems along coasts downstream in trade winds, near active volcanoes, and in areas that receive dust deposition from North Africa, such as the northern Amazon Basin, the Caribbean, and Central America. Regions with higher Mo deposition tend to be areas where BNF has previously been measured. The lowest Mo deposition occurs in the high latitudes, northern parts of North America, Western Australia, Southern Africa, and much of central South America. Atmospheric transport of Mo likely plays an important role in supplying Mo to ecosystems across geologic time, particularly in regions with highly weathered soils.
Practical Implications of Physical Distancing, Social Isolation, and Reduced Physicality for Older Adults in Response to COVID-19.

The public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic involves physical distancing measures which have the potential to lead to increased social isolation among older adults. Implications of social isolation are potentially wide-ranging including poorer health outcomes, disruption of social interactions and routines, reduced meaningful activity, reduced social and emotional support, loneliness, potential for grief, loss, and trauma responses, limited access to resources, and reduced physicality. Social workers must advocate for the value of social relationships and identify creative ways to enhance the social connections of older adults during pandemic responses or other situations that require physical distancing measures.
Measuring UAV Propeller Length using Micro-Doppler Signatures

The low radar cross sections of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) pose challenges for their proper classification. Recent works have examined the micro-Doppler (MD) signatures of UAVs for model classification. Here, the physical blade lengths of rotary wings are extracted from the MD blade flash phenomena such that correlated UAV features, such as size and weight, may be deduced to narrow the scope of subsequent classification. The proposed blade length estimation of rotating propellers is applied to simulated and experimentally collected MD measurements to characterize the blade flash phenomena. Assorted UAV blade lengths are experimentally estimated with less than 1% error.
Non-clinical combination toxicology studies: strategy, examples and future perspective

Over the last decade, combination of drugs in all stages of pharmaceutical development has accelerated availability of promising new therapies for difficult to treat diseases. Safety assessment of combined drugs to be tested in humans can occur at a critical path prior to proceeding in clinical testing. A recent survey by The International Consortium for Innovation and Quality in Pharmaceutical Development (IQ DruSafe) summarized member companies' approaches to combination safety strategies. In addition, feedback from Health Authorities (HAs) support a case-by-case scientific approach in assessing combination products' safety in accordance with the International Council on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Here, we present Pfizer's drug combination safety approach for various therapeutic areas (TA) including inflammation and immunology, metabolic, and anti-cancer products. There is no one-size-fits-all approach; rather, our main considerations include: strength of the existing clinical safety data for the individual compounds, common target organs, the potential for a synergistic effect, potential drug-drug interaction, routes of administration of each product and disease indications. No formal toxicity studies are considered necessary for anti-cancer drugs, while safety endpoints may be collected in preclinical pharmacology studies especially when the combined drugs present a novel mechanism. Combination safety studies when conducted for non-cancer indications can range from 2 to 13-weeks in duration, conducted usually in rodents, with dosages of individual molecules within clinical pharmacologic ranges. A case-by-case strategy guided by scientific rationale and in close collaboration with HAs remains the best approach to decide on the design and conduct of combination safety studies.
Wisconsin Politics and Government: America's Laboratory of Democracy

Review of: "Wisconsin Politics and Government: America's Laboratory of Democracy," James K. Conant.
Discrete Probability—A Return to Counting

This chapter gives a brief description of discrete probability. It uses the combinatorial counting properties developed earlier in the text to compute various probabilities.
Spiritual Formation: Race, Racism, and Racial Reconciliation:

The telos of Christian spiritual formation is to love God and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. However, racism undermines loving one’s neighbor, which weakens the Christian witness and contribute...
Quantitative Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Amplification Test and Antigen Testing Algorithms: A Decision Analysis Simulation Model

BackgroundAntigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 offer advantages over nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs, such as RT-PCR), including lower cost and rapid return of results, but show reduced sensitivity. Public health organizations continue to recommend different strategies for utilizing NAATs and antigen tests in various settings. There has not yet been a quantitative comparison of the expected performance of these strategies. MethodsWe utilized a decision analysis approach to simulate the expected outcomes of six algorithms for implementing NAAT and antigen testing, analogous to testing strategies recommended by public health organizations. Each algorithm was simulated 50,000 times for four SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence levels ranging from 5% to 20% in a population of 100000 persons seeking testing. Primary outcomes were number of missed cases, number of false-positive diagnoses, and total test volumes. Outcome medians and 95% uncertainty ranges (URs) were reported. ResultsAlgorithms that use NAATs to confirm all negative antigen results minimized missed cases but required high NAAT capacity: 92,200 (95% UR: 91,200-93,200) tests (in addition to 100,000 antigen tests) at 10% prevalence. Substituting repeat antigen testing in lieu of NAAT confirmation of all initial negative antigen tests resulted in 2,280 missed cases (95% UR: 1,507-3,067) at 10% prevalence. Selective use of NAATs to confirm antigen results when discordant with symptom status (e.g., symptomatic persons with negative antigen results) resulted in the most efficient use of NAATs, with 25 NAATs (95% UR: 13-57) needed to detect one additional case at 10% prevalence compared to exclusive use of antigen tests. ConclusionsNo single SARS-CoV-2 testing algorithm is likely to be optimal across settings with different levels of prevalence and for all programmatic priorities; each presents a trade-off between prioritized outcomes and resource constraints. This analysis provides a framework for selecting setting-specific strategies to achieve acceptable balances and trade-offs between programmatic priorities and constraints. DisclaimerThe findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Enhancing the multi-tone continuous-wave lidar with phase detection

Over the past years, light detection and ranging (lidar) technologies have been investigated and commercialized for various applications such as autonomous vehicles, terrestrial mappings, and precision measurements. Currently, the frequently used ranging methods are the pulsed time of flight (PToF) and frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) lidars that relies on frequency sweeping to capture range and velocity information. We have previously developed and demonstrated the multi-tone continuous wave (MTCW) that operates by employing amplitude modulation via multiple radio frequencies (RF) and coherent detection. Here, we present a theoretical and experimental study on phase-based MTCW lidar that can detect the range and velocity of objects with arbitrary velocities. The experiments demonstrate that the phase and frequency of the Doppler-shifted fixed RF tones can be used to extract the range and velocity information in a single shot measurement. We show that a <±1cm resolution in the ranging, limited by the temporal resolution of the detection system, and a 0.5cm/s speed resolution is limited by the frequency resolution of the detection system are achievable. Moreover, the proposed approach has the potential to mitigate the requirement for a narrow linewidth laser for coherent detection.
indexGIXS – software for visualizing and interactive indexing of grazing-incidence scattering data

Grazing incidence small- and wide-angle scattering (GISAXS, GIWAXS) are widely applied for the study of organic thin films, be it for the characterization of nanostructured morphologies in block copolymers, nanocomposites, or nanoparticle assemblies, or the packing and orientation of small aromatic molecules and conjugated polymers. Organic thin films typically are uniaxial powders, with specific crystallographic planes oriented parallel to the substrate surface. The associated fiber texture scattering patterns are complicated by refraction corrections and multiple scattering. We present an interactive graphics tool to index such patterns.
Origins of Desert Structural Adaptations

Most indigenous perennial plants of warm desert ecosystems apparently evolved from ancestors in subtropical and tropical semiarid habitats, especially drought deciduous scrub and thorn forest for succulent and nonsucculent woody dicotyledons and grasslands for C4 bunchgrasses (Hattersley 1983; Shmida 1985; Gibson and Nobel 1986). Woody perennials tend to experience severe dieback or are killed when exposed to tissue freezing temperatures, and having a warm climate ancestry probably is why most have not evolved biochemical adaptations to tolerate freezing. Somewhat resistant to cold temperature stress are many woody Rosaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Asteraceae, and EphedraEphedra, which tend to occur in colder montane habitats and are commonly observed also in cool deserts. Annuals, C3 grasses, and geophytes, especially those active in cool seasons, often have closest phylogenetic affinities with lineages in semiarid warm temperate or temperate habitats, e.g., sclerophyll and drought deciduous scrub, and steppe, where some freezing tolerance would be expected.
Pediatric gait and motion analysis: Current limitations and emerging opportunities for quantitative assessment

Studies of human locomotion have historically paralleled developments in photographic technology. Early works of the late 19th century by Muybridge and Marey employed sequential photography. Later works by Braun and Fischer introduced illuminated tubes on limb segments, and multiple cameras. With these early contributions began the maturation of gait a nalysis from a research-based activity to a more clinically relevant assessment tool. Significant clinical advances began in th e 1960's and have continued to the current time. Recognized clinical contributors include David Sutherland, Jacqueline Perry, Sheldon Simon, Freeman Miller, and James Gage. Today, the majority of pediatric clinical applications focus on the lower extremities ( LE) with segmental motions distal to the ankle seldom considered. Methods for expanding current LE analysis methods are presented. These include functional means of assessing hip joint center location and refinement of a biomechanical foot model to inc lude segmental (heel, forefoot, hallux) motion. Emerging opportunities for clinically relevant pediatric assessment, pr e-treatment decision making, and post-treatment rehabilitative follow-up are included.
Fast structural search in phylogenetic databases.

As the size of phylogenetic databases grows, the need for efficiently searching these databases arises. Thanks to previous and ongoing research, searching by attribute value and by text has become commonplace in these databases. However, searching by topological or physical structure, especially for large databases and especially for approximate matches, is still an art. We propose structural search techniques that, given a query or pattern tree P and a database of phylogenies D, find trees in D that are sufficiently close to P. The “closeness” is a measure of the topological relationships in P that are found to be the same or similar in a tree D in D. We develop a filtering technique that accelerates searches and present algorithms for rooted and unrooted trees where the trees can be weighted or unweighted. Experimental results on comparing the similarity measure with existing tree metrics and on evaluating the efficiency of the search techniques demonstrate that the proposed approach is promising.
Complexes of pyrrole-derivative ligands — III: Some first transition series metal complexes of bidentate ligands☆

Abstract The following neutral complexes were prepared: The copper(II) and cobalt(III) complexes of pyrrole-2-aldehyde; the zinc(II), copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes of 2,2′-(1′-pyrrolinyl)pyrrole; the zinc(II), copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(III), and iron(III) complexes of 2-(2-pyridyl)pyrrole; and the cobalt(III) complex of 2-acetylpyrrole. In each case the organic compound acts as a mononegative, bidentate ligand. The unusual synthetic method of using boiling xylene, naphthalene, or anthracene as a solvent is shown to be a valuable technique. The complexes were characterized by u.v., visible, and near-i.r. spectra; and by magnetic susceptibility. Both solid state and solution pyridine adducts of the copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes were investigated. The configurations of the copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes are discussed on the basis of these measurements.
The use of folliculin in involutional states

Abstract In a series of 32 menopausal cases hot flashes occurred in all, paresthesias in 16, insomnia in 19, and psychotic pictures in 17. Obesity was found in only 13, and hypertension in 10. Of this series 6 had artificial climacteric produced by radiation or surgery, and there were 3 patients with a spontaneous premature menopausal picture, possibly to be considered as ovarian insufficiency. The use of simple psychotherapeutic procedures and small doses of folliculin daily or oftener has been found very helpful in the psychotic cases as well as in the simpler vasomotor types and the pseudothyrotoxic types previously reported. Disadvantages of large doses of the hormone are pointed out. The refractory nature of the artificial menopause leads to a discussion of the possible relationships of the pituitary and the ovaries at the age of the climacteric.
Utilizing productivity indices to optimize the job-qualification match of knowledge workers

M. Baker and D. Cassell (1989) have previously developed a methodology for calculating productivity indices for faculties of institutions of higher education. These are justified as important management benchmarks for optimizing the utilization of this class of knowledge workers. The methodology is corroborated by the general literature on total productivity and quality management and can be applied also to other classifications of knowledge workers. A low total productivity index signals a mismatch between the job task demands and the qualifications of the assigned knowledge worker. >
Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy of silicon-silicide interfaces

The epitaxial interfaces of Si/Pd2Si, Si/NiSi2, and, to a lesser extent, Si/PtSi have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy using cross‐sectional specimens. Direct lattice imaging was used to image the Si/Pd2Si and the Si/NiSi2 interfaces. The Si/Pd2Si interface was found to be rather smooth on a macroscopic scale but rough on a atomic scale, whereas the opposite is true for the Si/NiSi2 interface. A twinning relationship between NiSi2 and {111} Si has been observed. The Si/PtSi interface is very rough on a macroscopic scale. Interface dislocations are present in the Pd‐ and Ni‐silicide cases. No evidence for an amorphous interfacial layer has been obtained.
Ecological and Health Risks at Low Doses

The concept of “dose makes the poison” has been attributed to Paracelsus who lived in the 1500s. The goal of much of modern toxicology and pharmacology has since been to define the precise biological factors that dictate the relationship between dose and response following exposure to chemicals. One of the major challenges in risk assessment more recently appreciated is the difficulty in predicting with statistical certainty adverse effects at low doses when the probability of response in a population is low [1]. The nature of the risks at low doses may be qualitatively different from the nature of the risks at high doses. In other words, the risk at low doses is not just a smaller version of the risk at high doses, because the mechanism(s) responsible for the risk at low doses is often different.
Protein conformational effect in hydrophobic interaction chromatography

Abstract We have studied the conformational behavior of α-lactalbumin (α-LACT) in hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). Retention characterization in terms of Z (Slope of plot 1n k ′ vs . 1n o B , where k ′ is the capacity factor and O B is the volume fraction of mobile phase B) has been explored, and the relationship of Z to other slopes, such as S (slope of the plot of 1n k ′ vs . o B f) has been derived. The reason for the sensitivity of Z to conformational change are discussed. The enhanced broadening of α-LACT in a temparature transition region of conformational change has been studied by spectral analysis using on-line photodiode array detection. The influence of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ addition to the mobile phase is further explored. Since α-LACT is a calcium binding protein, addition of this metal leads to stabilization, i.e higher column temperatures are required for conformational change. On the other hand, addition of Mg 2+ appears to destabilize the protein. We have explored the use of a more hydrophobic support, C 2 -(ethyl) ether phase, for the elution of α-LACT. In this case, two widely separated peaks ae observed. By spectral analysis the first peak is shown to be native and the later eluted, broad second peak to ber an unfolded mixture of species. As previously observed in reversed-phase liquid chromatography, the second peak grows at the expense of the first, as the column temperature is raised. The second peak also grows as the contact time of the protein with the surface increases. This behavior can be ascribed to the conformational change of α-LACT in the column, the late eluted species under the second peak binding significantly more strongly to the phase than the native peak. Reinjection of the late eluted fraction reveals the reformation of the native species takes place in solution within 30 min. As before, addition of Ca 2+ reduces the extent of unfolding under any specific condition. These results add further to our understand and ability to control conformational changes in high-performance liquid chromatography.
Exploring the Experiences of Abuse of College Students With Disabilities

Intimate partner violence and sexual assault of college students has garnered increased attention and publicity. Current studies have focused primarily on general campus populations with little to no attention to students with disabilities. While studies suggest the rate of abuse of individuals with disabilities is similar or higher compared to the general population, there remains a lack of focus on this issue. Individuals with disabilities are at particularly high risk for abuse, both through typical forms of violence (physical, sexual, emotional, and economic) and those that target one's disability. In an effort highlight and explore this issue further, an exploratory study was conducted to learn the rates of abuse among university students who have identified as having a disability. This is a cross-sectional survey of 101 students of students with disabilities from a large northeastern public university. Experiences of abuse were measured through the use of the Abuse Assessment Screen- Disability (AAS-D) scale. Students were asked about experiences of physical, sexual, psychological, and disability related abuse within the last year and help seeking behaviors when an incident of abuse occurred. We found that 22 % of participants reported some form of abuse over the last and nearly 62% (n= 63) had experienced some form of physical or sexual abuse before the age of 17. Those who were abused in the past year, 40% reported little or no knowledge of abuse-related resources and only 27% reported the incident. Authors discuss implications results have for programs and policies on campus for individuals with disabilities.
Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit: A review of the clinically relevant recent advancements

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most commonly encountered hospital-acquired infections in intensive care units and is associated with significant morbidity and high costs of care. The pathophysiology, epidemiology, treatment and prevention of VAP have been extensively studied for decades, but a clear prevention strategy has not yet emerged. In this article we will review recent literature pertaining to evidence-based VAP-prevention strategies that have resulted in clinically relevant outcomes. A multidisciplinary strategy for prevention of VAP is recommended. Those interventions that have been shown to have a clinical impact include the following: (i) Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for able patients, especially in immunocompromised patients, with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pulmonary oedema, (ii) Sedation and weaning protocols for those patients who do require mechanical ventilation, (iii) Mechanical ventilation protocols including head of bed elevation above 30 degrees and oral care, and (iv) Removal of subglottic secretions. Other interventions, such as selective digestive tract decontamination, selective oropharyngeal decontamination and antimicrobial-coated endotracheal tubes, have been tested in different studies. However, the evidence for the efficacy of these measures to reduce VAP rates is not strong enough to recommend their use in clinical practice. In numerous studies, the implementation of VAP prevention bundles to clinical practice was associated with a significant reduction in VAP rates. Future research that considers clinical outcomes as primary endpoints will hopefully result in more detailed prevention strategies.
Towards accurate prediction of catalytic activity in IrO2 nanoclusters via first principles-based variable charge force field

IrO2 is one of the most efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and also has other applications such as in pH sensors. Atomistic modeling of IrO2 is critical for understanding the structure, chemistry, and nanoscale dynamics of IrO2 in these applications. Such modeling has remained elusive due to the lack of an empirical force field (EFF) for IrO2. We introduce a first-principles-based EFF that couples the Morse (MS) potential with a variable charge equilibration method, QEq. The EFF parameters are optimized using a genetic algorithm (GA) on a density functional theory (DFT)-based training set. The resultant Morse plus QEq EFF, “MS-Q” in short, successfully reproduces the lattice parameters, elastic constants, binding energies, and internal coordinates of various polymorphs of IrO2 from DFT calculations. More importantly, MS-Q accurately captures key metrics for evaluating structural and chemical properties of catalysts such as surface energetics, equilibrium shape, electrostatic charges, oxygen vacancy formation energies, relative stability of low index rutile IrO2 surfaces, and pressure-induced phase transformations. The MS-Q EFF is used to predict the oxygen binding energy (Ead), a well-known descriptor for OER activity, on various sites of a nanocatalyst. We find Ead to be more favorable at low coordination sites, i.e. edges and corners, compared to planar facets; Ead is also correlated with charge transfer between the adsorbed O and nanocrystal, highlighting the importance of variable charge electrostatics in modeling catalysis on metal oxide surfaces. Our variable charge force field offers encouraging prospects for carrying out large-scale reactive simulations to evaluate catalytic performance of IrO2 surfaces and nanostructures.
Cooperatives and Local Development: Theory and Applications for the 21st Century

Christopher D. Merrett and Norman Walzer, eds. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 2004. xii and 344 pp., tables, figures, boxes, refs., and index. $72.95 cloth (ISBN 0-7656-1123-6); $26.95 paper (ISBN ...
Social Cognitive Career Theory, the Theory of Work Adjustment, and Work Satisfaction of Retirement-Age Adults:

Despite a recent increase in the number of adults who work past traditional retirement age, existing theories of vocational behavior have not yet received adequate empirical support. In a large sample of adults age 60-87, we evaluated the relationship between theorized predictors of work satisfaction proposed by Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), work satisfaction as a predictor of continued work, as proposed by the Theory of Work adjustment (TWA), as well as the influence of reported experiences of discrimination on these relationships. While the results supported most of the predicted relationships, the effects of discrimination were stronger than the variables proposed by either SCCT or TWA for the present sample.
Nomenclature of initiation, elongation and termination factors for translation in eukaryotes

Pour etudier la traduction chez des eucaryotes, on donne la nomenclature des facteurs d'initiation , des facteurs d'elongation e.EF et des facteurs de terminaison eRF
Free energy determinants of secondary structure formation: I. alpha-Helices.

The Zimm-Bragg parameters s and sigma are calculated for the helix-coil transition of poly-L-alanine. The theoretical approach involves evaluating gas phase conformational energies for both coil and helical states using the CHARMM potential function and accounting for solvation effects with various continuum solvation models. Conformational free energies are then incorporated into a formalism developed by Go et al. for the calculation of s and sigma. Calculated values for both s and sigma as well as the enthalpy change associated with helix formation are in good agreement with experimental data when the Finite Difference Poisson-Boltzmann (FDPB) method is used to treat solvent effects. The driving force for the helix-coil transition is analyzed in terms of individual free energy components. Hydrogen bond formation is found to contribute little to helix stability because the internal hydrogen bonding energy is largely canceled by the large free energy cost associated with removing polar groups from water. The entropic cost associated with fixing backbone dihedral angles in the helical conformation is found to be approximately 7 e.u./residue (about 2 kcal/mol at room temperature). The major driving force favoring helix formation can be associated with interactions including enhanced van der Waals interactions in the close-packed helix conformation and the hydrophobic effect. These contribute about 2 kcal/mol favoring the helical state. The differences in helical propensities between alanine and glycine are attributed primarily to hydrophobic and packing interactions involving the C beta with a smaller contribution arising from increased conformational freedom for glycine in the coil state. The description of helix formation presented here is consistent with previous conclusions regarding tertiary structure formation which suggest that hydrophobic and close-packed interactions provide stability while hydrogen bond formation constitutes a structural constraint imposed by the high free energy cost associated with burying unsatisfied hydrogen bonding groups. alpha-Helix formation may thus be viewed as a form of hydrophobic collapse constrained by the requirement that polar groups be either exposed to solvent or form hydrogen bonds. More generally it appears from this study that for a folding model to be a realistic, it must properly account for the chemical nature of the polypeptide chain, particularly the solvation energetics of amide groups.
The Development of Memory for Ignored Speech

Previous studies of the development of children's memory have focused on attended stimuli. Here we examine short-term memory for spoken words that were ignored at the time of their presentation. In Experiment 1, a visual matching task was interrupted occasionally by a set of picture alternatives. The participant was to select the picture matching the most recently heard word, which had been presented 1, 5, or 10 s ago. An age difference in memory was found, but performance levels were quite high. Experiment 2 employed an alternative visual task to tie up phonological processing, bringing performance levels down to a more sensitive range. An age difference in the persistence of memory was obtained under these circumstances. We conclude that relatively attention-free properties of short-term memory may change with development in childhood.