cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parental Decision Making and the Limitations of the Equivalence Thesis.

Decisions concerning withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment remain a source of controversy and distress for children, their families, and medical providers. In their important article...
State Economic Enterprises and Revolving-Capital Enterprises

The ‘spoils of war’ after division of Cyprus provided opportunity for the economic development of north Cyprus. However, the politicians were quick to realize the rentierist and rent-seeking opportunities for securing political power. This chapter shows how the policymakers used these opportunities to satisfy their own close clients and ignored the rest of the population. The chapter discusses the key law and modifications thereof that regulate the working of these semi-state-owned enterprises and provides an overview of histories of some of the significant enterprises, including the national airlines company (KTHY), the Electricity Board (KIBTEK) and the key agricultural product exporter (Cypfruvex), as well as other examples.
Underreporting of drug use on a survey of electronic dance music party attendees.

Objectives Skip-logic is commonly used on electronic surveys in which programs provide follow-up questions to affirmative responses and skip to the next topic in response to non-affirmative responses. While skip-logic helps produce data without contradictory responses, erroneous non-affirmative reports can lead to loss of accurate information. We examined the extent to which type-in drug use responses contradict unreported use in a survey of a high-risk population-electronic dance music (EDM) party attendees. Design We surveyed 1029 EDM party-attending adults (ages 18-40) using time-spacing sampling in 2018. We examined the extent to which reporting of recent drug use via type-in responses occurred after past-year use of the same drugs were unreported earlier on the same survey. Changes in prevalence of use and predictors of providing discordant responses were examined. Results 3.6% of participants typed in names of drugs they had used that they did not report using earlier on the survey. Changes in prevalence were not significant when correcting contradictory responses, but prevalence of past-year cocaine use increased from 23.3% to 24.3%. Those with a college degree were at lower odds for providing a discordant response (aOR = 0.13, p = .019). Females (aOR = 2.82, p = .022), those earning ≥$1000 per week (aOR = 11.03, p = .011), and those identifying as gay/lesbian (aOR = 5.20, p = .032) or bisexual or other sexuality (aOR = 15.12, p < .001) were at higher odds of providing a discordant response. Conclusions Electronic surveys that query drug use can benefit from follow-up (e.g. open-ended) questions not dependent on previous responses, as they may elicit affirmative responses underreported earlier in the survey.
The microbiota and infectious diseases

Abstract Studies over the last decade have transformed our previously simplistic view of microbes having only a pathogenic role in disease to a more robust understanding that they are critical for maintaining human health. Indeed, our microbiota—the collection of commensal organisms that live in and on each of us—contributes to nearly every facet of host physiology, from metabolic functions to maturation of the immune system and everything in between. Although the specific details of these host–microbe interactions are still being elucidated for most diseases, the marriage of clinical samples with animal models of disease have provided key insights. This chapter provides some general background on the microbiota, highlights a few examples of how the microbiota influences infectious diseases, and provides some context for how these findings may be clinically translatable.
Characterization, Expression, and Interaction Analyses of OsMORF Gene Family in Rice

The multiple organellar RNA editing factors (MORF) gene family plays a key role in organelle RNA editing in flowering plants. MORF genes expressions are also affected by abiotic stress. Although seven OsMORF genes have been identified in rice, few reports have been published on their expression patterns in different tissues and under abiotic stress, and OsMORF–OsMORF interactions. In this study, we analyzed the gene structure of OsMORF family genes. The MORF family members were divided into six subgroups in different plants based on phylogenetic analysis. Seven OsMORF genes were highly expressed in leaves. Six and seven OsMORF genes expressions were affected by cold and salt stresses, respectively. OsMORF–OsMORF interaction analysis indicated that OsMORF1, OsMORF8a, and OsMORF8b could each interact with themselves to form homomers. Moreover, five OsMORF proteins were shown to be able to interact with each other, such as OsMORF8a and OsMORF8b interacting with OsMORF1 and OsMORF2b, respectively, to form heteromers. These results provide information for further study of OsMORF gene function.
Dynamic Evaluation of Long-Term Air Quality Model Simulations over the Northeastern U.S.

Dynamic model evaluation assesses a modeling system’s ability to reproduce changes in air quality induced by changes in meteorology and/or emissions. In this paper, we illustrate various approaches to dynamic model evaluation utilizing 18years of air quality simulations performed with the regional-scale MM5/SMOKE/CMAQ modeling system over the Northeastern U.S. for the time period 1988–2005. A comparison of observed and simulated weekly cycles in elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) concentrations shows significant differences, indicating potential problems with the magnitude and temporal allocation of traffic-related emissions and the split between primary and secondary organic aerosols. A comparison of the observed and simulated interrelationships between temperature and ozone over the 18-year simulation period reveals that the high end of the modeled ozone concentration distribution is less influenced by interannual variability in the high end of the temperature distribution as compared to the observations.
tec-1 kinase negatively regulates regenerative neurogenesis in planarians

Negative regulators of adult neurogenesis are of particular interest as targets to enhance neuronal repair, but few have yet been identified. Planarians can regenerate their entire CNS using pluripotent adult stem cells, and this process is robustly regulated to ensure that new neurons are produced in proper abundance. Using a high-throughput pipeline to quantify brain chemosensory neurons, we identify the conserved tyrosine kinase tec-1 as a negative regulator of planarian neuronal regeneration. tec-1RNAi increased the abundance of several CNS and PNS neuron subtypes regenerated or maintained through homeostasis, without affecting body patterning or non-neural cells. Experiments using TUNEL, BrdU, progenitor labeling, and stem cell elimination during regeneration indicate tec-1 limits the survival of newly differentiated neurons. In vertebrates, the Tec kinase family has been studied extensively for roles in immune function, and our results identify a novel role for tec-1 as negative regulator of planarian adult neurogenesis.
Multilevel Approaches to Fine Tune Performance of Linear Algebra Libraries

We propose a multilevel methodology to improve the performance of parallel codes whose run time increases at a faster rate than the increase in workload. We have derived the conditions under which the proposed methodology improves performance for a simple parallel computing model. Formulas to predict the amount of performance improvement that is attainable are also derived for this simple computing model. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is demonstrated by applying it to the highly optimized BLAS (Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms) routines cblas_dgemm, cblas_dtrmm and cblas_dsymm from the Intel MKL (Math Kernel Library) on the Intel KNL (Knights Landing) platform. We are able to reduce the run time of MKL cblas_dgemm by 20%, cblas_dtrmm by 15%, and cblas_dsymm by 50% on double-precision matrices of size 16Kx16K. Further, our performance prediction formulas are demonstrated to be accurate on this platform.
The Na/K-ATPase α1 and c-Src form signaling complex under native condition: A crosslinking approach

The protein-protein interactions amongst the Na/K-ATPase α1 subunit, c-Src, and caveolin-1 (cav-1) are essential for the Na/K-ATPase signaling functions. However, there are arguments concerning the interaction model. The present study aims to clarify the interactions amongst the endogenous native proteins in live cells under native resting condition. Under native condition, Blue Native-PAGE and Blue Native-PAGE/SDS-PAGE 2D analyses demonstrated co-existence of the α1 subunit and c-Src in same protein complex, as well as a direct interaction between the α1 subunit and c-Src. By comparison of cleavable and non-cleavable cysteine-cysteine crosslinked samples, capillary immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that depletion of Src kinase family members (c-Src, Yes, and Fyn) or cav-1 clearly reduced the interactions of the α1 subunit with proteins, but depletion of cav-1 did not affect the interaction of c-Src with the α1 subunit. The data indicated that there are direct interactions between the α1 subunit and c-Src as well as between the α1 subunit and cav-1, but argued about the interaction between c-Src and cav-1 under the condition. Furthermore, the data also indicated the existence of different protein complexes containing the α1 subunit and c-Src, which might have different signaling functions.
Windfarms at Wuthering Heights: memory, materiality and the sustainability of Brontëan ecologies

The past five years of Bronte bicentenary celebrations – Charlotte’s in 2016, Branwell’s in 2017, Emily’s in 2018, Patrick’s in 2019 (commemorating not the anniversary of his birth but of his being...
Scapular Movement Impairments in Individuals with Subacromial Pain Syndrome Based on Scapular Assistance Test and Scapula Reposition Test Outcomes

Abstract Background Individuals with subacromial pain present with a variety of contributing impairments related to the movement problem. The scapular assistance test (SAT) and scapula reposition test (SRT) are proposed to identify shoulder pain related to abnormal scapular movement or position. It remains unknown if scapular movement related impairments are present in those with positive tests. Objectives To determine if scapular motion related impairments differ based on the result of the SAT or SRT in individuals with subacromial pain syndrome. Design Cross-sectional Method Sixty individuals with subacromial pain syndrome were included. Prior to obtaining results of the SAT and SRT, a single examiner measured scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt active and passive motion, pectoralis minor length, and strength of the middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior. Dynamic scapular motion was qualitatively assessed with the Scapular Dyskinesis Test. The Mann-Whitney U test assessed for differences based on the outcome of the SAT and SRT. Results There was a significant difference (P = .023) in pectoralis minor length for the SAT. Participants with a positive SAT had decreased muscle length compared to those who tested negative. There were no significant differences in scapular motion or strength based on the result of either the SAT or SRT. Conclusions A positive SAT was associated with greater pectoralis minor length impairment, but not muscle strength or mobility. The SRT did not identify greater impairments in any of the scapular movement related impairments assessed. Individuals may vary in contributing impairments related to SAT or SRT results.
Writing about Crime in Absentia: The Case of Sara Uribe’s Antígona González

This article analyzes the role of absence in Sara Uribe’s Antigona Gonzalez through the work’s construction of characters, portrayal of violence, and conceptualization of justice. By considering Antigona Gonzalez as a “narconarrative”, this study illustrates how the work is innovative vis-a-vis most texts that stem from geographies and communities plagued by narcotraffic. Ultimately, this analysis examines how Antigona Gonzalez engages in a dialogue with “narcoculture” and its glamorization by casting light on the often-ignored themes of absence and disappearance.
Very Early Discharge After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Does Not Affect Readmission or Survival.

Background This study evaluated the impact of very early hospital discharge after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on subsequent readmission and survival. Methods Adults undergoing isolated CABG from 2011 to 2018 at a single institution were included. Patients were stratified on the basis of their postoperative length of hospital stay: short stay (≤4 days) and nonshort stay (>4 days). The primary outcomes were longitudinal survival and freedom from hospital readmission. Secondary outcomes included rates of postoperative complications. Propensity score matching with a 1:1 ratio was performed to generate cohorts with comparable baseline characteristics. Results A total of 6327 patients underwent CABG during the study period, and a matched cohort of 2286 patients was identified. In matched analysis, the average Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of operative mortality was low in both groups (average, 0.7%). Rates of postoperative complications were low and several complication rates were even lower in the short-stay cohort: stroke (1.14% vs 0.26%; P = .01), renal failure (0.87% vs 0.09%; P = .007), reoperations (1.84% vs 0.26%; P .05). Readmission rates were also comparable at all time intervals, and there were no differences in cardiac-related or heart failure–specific readmissions (all P > .05). Risk-adjusted analyses confirmed these findings. Conclusions This study demonstrates that very early discharge within 4 days of isolated CABG is safe and has no substantial impact on subsequent mortality or readmission risk.
Adaptive tracking of human ECoG network dynamics.

Objective. Extracting and modeling the low-dimensional dynamics of multi-site electrocorticogram (ECoG) network activity is important in studying brain functions and dysfunctions and for developing translational neurotechnologies. Dynamic latent state models can be used to describe the ECoG network dynamics with low-dimensional latent states. But so far, non-stationarity of ECoG network dynamics has largely not been addressed in these latent state models. Such non-stationarity can happen due to a change in brain state or recording instability over time. A critical question is whether adaptive tracking of ECoG network dynamics can lead to further dimensionality reduction and more parsimonious and precise modeling. This question is largely unaddressed. Approach. We investigate this question by employing an adaptive linear state-space model for ECoG network activity constructed from ECoG power feature time-series over tens of hours from 10 human subjects with epilepsy. We study how adaptive modeling affects the prediction and dimensionality reduction for ECoG network dynamics compared with prior non-adaptive models, which do not track non-stationarity. Main results. Across the 10 subjects, adaptive modeling significantly improved the prediction of ECoG network dynamics compared with non-adaptive modeling, especially for lower latent state dimensions. Also, compared with non-adaptive modeling, adaptive modeling allowed for additional dimensionality reduction without degrading prediction performance. Finally, these results suggested that ECoG network dynamics over our recording periods exhibit non-stationarity, which can be tracked with adaptive modeling. Significance. These results have important implications for studying low-dimensional neural representations using ECoG, and for developing future adaptive neurotechnologies for more precise decoding and modulation of brain states in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Agricultural information search technique research based on space-time perception ability.

[Objective]This research aimed to provide key technology and prototype system for professional agricultural information search engine development with temporal perception, and ultimately to achieve higher recall rate, query efficiency rate, and excellent user experience. [Method]Agricultural search was used as the study subject, through the search engine system structure and the research and analysis of key technology and data structure, then referencing the existing segmentation search technology, location search technology, and gazetteer search technology, agricultural search was joined onto the independent position index on agricultural topics search and query methods in order to achieve positional (regional) search retrieval. [Result]This technology application formed spatial perception ability for the agricultural information search prototype system. After testing the prototype system, the position accuracy can reach above 80%.[Conclusion]This technology application and promotion could improve the agricultural information system usage efficiency and achieve better application effect.
"This Year We've Mostly Focused on Just Getting Kids Comfortable with the Idea of Writing Something": Factors Influencing Writing Pedagogy in an "Underperforming" High School.

This study was a yearlong investigation over writing instruction with one class of ninth grade students in an urban, “underperforming” high school. Using qualitative methods with embedded quantitat...
An investigation of glutamate quantification with PRESS and MEGA-PRESS

Glutamate is an important neurotransmitter. Although many studies have measured glutamate concentration in vivo using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), researchers have not reached a consensus on the accuracy of glutamate quantification at the field strength of 3 T. Besides, there is not an optimal MRS protocol for glutamate measurement. In this work, both simulation and phantom scans indicate that glutamate can be estimated with reasonable accuracy ( 0.8). Our results suggest that the quantification of glutamate and glutamine is reliable but can be off by a scaling factor, depending on the imaging technique. The outputs from all three PRESS sequences (TE = 30, 68 and 80 ms) are also highly correlated with each other (r > 0.7) and moderately correlated (r > 0.5) with the results from the MEGA-PRESS difference spectra with moderate to good shimming (linewidth < 16 Hz).
Identification of an Early Unipotent Neutrophil Progenitor with Pro-Tumoral Activity in Mouse and Human Bone Marrow

Neutrophils are short-lived immune cells that play important roles in a variety of diseases. The oligopotent Granulocyte Monocyte Progenitors (GMP) in the bone marrow give rise to monocytes and all granulocytes. Although several monocyte progenitors have been identified in mouse bone marrow, the unipotent neutrophil progenitors are still not well-defined. Here, we use Cytometry by Time-of-Flight (CyTOF) and Single-cell RNA-Sequencing (scRNA-Seq) methodologies to identify a committed unipotent early-stage neutrophil progenitor in adult mouse bone marrow. Importantly, we also discovered a similar unipotent, committed neutrophil progenitor (hNeP) that is present in healthy human bone marrow. Both mouse and human progenitors demonstrate unipotent neutrophil potency in vivo. Study of the identified mouse (NeP) and human (hNeP) neutrophil progenitors in cancer revealed that both NeP and hNeP significantly increased tumor growth when transferred into murine cancer models, including a humanized model. Further, we discovered that the hNeP was present in the blood of human patients recently diagnosed with melanoma, and could be readily identified by flow cytometry, suggesting that this human neutrophil progenitor could be used as a biomarker for early cancer discovery. The discovery of this early committed unipotent neutrophil progenitor in humans will allow for development of important new therapeutic targets for regulation of neutrophil levels and function in disease.
Rhetoric of Health and Medicine As/Is: Theories and Approaches for the Field: Lisa Melonçon, S. Scott Graham, Jenell Johnson, John A. Lynch, and Cynthia Ryan, eds. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State U P, 2020. 255 pages. $34.95 paperback.

Given the timing of this volume’s publication, which is simultaneous with the circulation of the novel coronavirus, one cannot help but imbue each chapter of Rhetoric of Health and Medicine As/Is: ...
Groundwater trends during 1985 to 2019 in a critical groundwater area of northeastern Arkansas

The Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer provides over 90% of irrigation water for agriculture in the Lower Mississippi River Basin. Overexploitation of the alluvial aquifer in the Cache River Critical Groundwater Area (CRCGA) in Arkansas started impacting crop production in the 2000s with previous historical data identifying sustained groundwater declines. Groundwater depletion resulted in many producers investing in on-farm reservoir-tailwater recovery systems to provide a more secure irrigation source. More focused and consistent water level measurements were necessary to identify any groundwater level changes. Groundwater trends focused on the CRCGA cone of depression were compared from two-time groupings: 1985 to 2012 and 2012 to 2019. On-farm reservoirs in the CRCGA were inventoried in 2015, and 90% of those inventoried were constructed by 2012. More frequent groundwater level data collection in the CRCGA started in 2012 as well. Groundwater levels during 1985 to 2012 had consistent decline rates of ‒0.17 to ‒0.44 m y‒1. Groundwater levels during 2012 to 2019 varied with decline rates of ≤‒0.10 to ≤‒0.50 m y‒1, but also areas of no significant change and recovery at rates of ≤0 to ≤0.25 m y‒1. Trend differences between the two periods showed improved water level trends for most of the study area, with rates ranging ≤‒0.30 to ≤0.50 m y‒1. The measured improvements were attributed to less pumping due to greater precipitation and the use of surface water irrigation from 60 on-farm reservoir-tailwater recovery systems. Detection of these improvements is crucial to understanding the response and status of the alluvial aquifer within the agricultural area of the CRCGA. It is recommended that adding continuous groundwater monitoring stations in west Craighead and Poinsett counties would be beneficial to inform the status of the cone of depression, considering the importance of protecting the main agricultural irrigation supply for the state. If warmer temperatures occur in the future, higher temporal and spatial groundwater level data in the CRCGA will allow policymakers and water resource managers to make timely groundwater management decisions to ensure its supply for future generations.
Defining What to Regulate: Silica & the Problem of Regulatory Categorization

This article examines the history of human exposure to silica, the second most common element on earth, to explore the problem of categorizing substances for regulatory purposes and the role interest groups play in developing policy. The regulatory history of silica teaches three important lessons: First, the most compelling account of the cycle of action and inaction on the part of regulators is the one based on interest groups. Second, knowledge about hazards is endogenous - it arises in response to outside events, to regulations, and to interest groups. Accepting particular states of knowledge as definitive is thus a mistake, as is failing to consider the incentives for knowledge production created by regulatory measures. Third, the rise of the trial bar as an interest group means that the problems of silica exposure and similar occupational hazards cannot simply be left to the legal system to resolve through individual tort actions. We suggest that by understanding market forces, regulators can harness the energy of interest groups to create better solutions to addressing the problems of silica exposure, as well as other workplace health and safety issues.
Connectivity architectures of regular optical mesh networks

We study the topology design of an important subset of mesh network-regular mesh network in the context of wavelength division multiplex (WDM) metropolitan area network (MAN). We find that minimum hop distance is an important parameter in dimensioning both the network's physical size but also the network node resources required to support the ever increasing traffic demand. By assigning realistic cost structures to these network nodes and link resources, we are able to specify the optimal node degrees analytically for interesting classes of good regular topologies as the networks scale in size.
Supplemnting UML with concepts from ORM

The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is useful for designing object-oriented code, but is less suitable for conceptual data analysis. Its process-centric usecases provide an inadequate basis for specifying data-centric class diagrams, and the UML graphical language suffers from incompleteness, inconsistency and unnecessary complexity. For example, multiplicity constraints can lead to unexpected problems when extended to n-ary associations, the constraint primitives are not optimized for orthogonality or expressibility, and the graphical language does not lend itself readily to verbalization and multiple instantiation for validating models with domain experts. This chapter examines some of these defects, and shows how to compensate for them by augmenting UML with concepts and techniques from the Object Role Modeling (ORM) approach. It highlights the potential of “data use cases” for seeding the data model, using verbalization of facts and rules with positive and negative examples to facilitate validation of business rules. The following approaches are suggested as possible ways to exploit the benefits of fact-orientation: use ORM for the conceptual analysis then map the ORM model to UML; use UML supplemented by informal population diagrams and user-defined constraints; enhance the UML metamodel to better support business rules.
KESC's 2002 multi–year tariff determination: lessons for Pakistan and South Asia*

In preparation for privatization of the KESC (Karachi Electricity Supply Company), a state–owned vertically integrated electricity utility in Pakistan, the company requested that the regulatory body NEPRA (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority) grant a MYT (multi–year tariff). The new regulatory framework was proposed to assure the prospective investor would be allowed a reasonable period to recover the losses of the initial years of privatization before the base tariff is adjusted through a review. Thus permitting a much smaller initial price increase than would have been necessary if an MYT framework were not established.
The Single European Market and Its Impact on U.S.-Latin American Trade Relations

The imminent completion of the Single European Market (SEM) has produced a great deal of anxiety among the European Community's (EC) trading partners, developed and developing alike. Given the recent dynamic evolution of the EC's economic development and its significant participation in world trade (38% )* it is not surprising that the ramifications of the SEM are hot topics today, especially after the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations broke down.2 In addition to inter-regional trade relations, the implementation of the SEM will affect many other areas of international economic relations. In this respect, section II of this paper will briefly
Implementing tomorrow's programming languages

Compilers are the critical translators that convert a human-readable program into the code understood by the machine. While this transformation is already sophisticated today, tomorrow's compilers face a tremendous challenge. There is a demand to provide languages that are much higher level than today's C, Fortran, or Java. On the other hand, tomorrow's machines are more complex than today; they involve multiple cores and may span the planet via compute Grids. How can we expect compilers to provide efficient implementations? I will describe a number of related research efforts that try to tackle this problem. Composition builds a way towards higher-level programming languages. Automatic translation of shared-address-space models to distributed-memory architectures may lead to higher productivity than current message passing paradigms. Advanced symbolic analysis techniques equips compilers with capabilities to reason about programs in abstract terms. Last but not least, through auto-tuning, compilers make effective decisions, even through there may be insufficient information at compile time.
Performance Research and Simulation on Space-Time Block Code in Frequency-Selective Fading Channels

STBC (space-time block codes) is a new channel coding technology accompanying with the extensive application of wireless communication. It organically combines coding, modulation, transmit and receive diversity, and validly increases the signal transmission performance in fading channels. The performance of STBC in small-scale fading channels such as FSF (frequency-selective fading channels), particularly, in the slow- fading channels and time-varying fading channels is studied, and combining typical system model of STTD (space-time transmission diversity), the anti-noise performance simulation result and its analysis are presented.
Immunochemical Studies on Electron Transport Chains Involving Cytochrome P-450 I. EFFECTS OF ANTIBODIES TO PIG LIVER MICROSOMAL REDUCED TRIPHOSPHOPYRIDINE NUCLEOTIDE-CYTOCHROME c REDUCTASE AND THE NON-HEME IRON PROTEIN FROM BOVINE ADRENOCORTICAL MITOCHONDRIA

Abstract An antibody preparation to purified, homogeneous TPNH-cytochrome c reductase from pig liver microsomes was shown to inhibit concomitantly TPNH-cytochrome c reductase (NADPH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.2.3) and ethylmorphine N-demethylase activities in pig liver microsomes. The antibody also inhibited TPNH-cytochrome c reductase and TPNH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activities in rat and pig liver microsomes and bovine adrenocortical microsomes, but it did not inhibit either of these activities in bovine adrenocortical mitochondria. In addition, an antibody to adrenodoxin, the non-heme iron protein isolated from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria, inhibited both TPNH-cytochrome c reductase and TPNH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activities in bovine adrenocortical mitochondria but not in any of the microsomal preparations, including those isolated from adrenal cortex. The results presented establish these antibodies as specific inhibitors which can be utilized in studying hydroxylation reactions mediated by cytochrome P-450. With the use of these specific antibodies in each system studied, either the same or immunochemically similar enzymes were shown to mediate the TPNH-dependent reduction of both cytochrome c and cytochrome P-450, and the flavoprotein functional in the mixed-function oxidations of the mitochondria of adrenal cortex was shown to differ from that found in the microsomes of liver and adrenal cortex. Furthermore, the lack of inhibition of TPNH-dependent electron transport activities in liver and adrenal cortex microsomes, by antibody to adrenodoxin, which strongly inhibits bovine adrenal cortical mitochondrial TPNH-cytochrome c and cytochrome P-450 reductase activities, is further evidence that a non-heme iron protein similar to adrenodoxin is not involved in cytochrome P-450-mediated reactions in microsomes.
Self-dual property of the Potts model in one dimension

A new duality relation is derived for the Potts model in one dimension. It is shown that the partition function is self-dual with the nearest-neighbor interaction and the external field appearing as dual parameters. Zeroes of the partition function are analyzed. Particularly, we show that the new duality relation implies a circle theorem in the complex temperature plane for the one-dimensional Ising model.
Continuous time active portfolio management with a risk constraint

Active portfolio management is concerned with objectives related to the outperformance of the return of a target benchmark portfolio. We consider an objective that relates the probability of achieving a given performance objective to the time it takes to achieve the objective. As a special case, our analysis includes the case where the investor wants to minimize the expected time until a given performance goal is reached subject to a constraint on the shortfall probability.
Dehydrogenation of ammonia-borane by Shvo's catalyst

Shvo's cyclopentadienone-ligated ruthenium complex is an efficient catalyst for the liberation of exactly two molar equivalents of hydrogen from ammonia-borane, a prospective hydrogen storage medium. The mechanism for the dehydrogenation features a ruthenium hydride resting state from which dihydrogen loss is the rate-determining step.
The influence of instruction on college students' attitudes toward older adults.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of three college courses on attitude change toward older adults. To measure attitude change the Kogan Attitudes Toward Old People Scale (1961) was administered to 221 college students at the beginning and end of the semester. Participants were enrolled in one of three college courses: Child Development, Human Development, and Aging and the Family. The three courses varied in content regarding older adults and the aging process. Findings revealed that students' negative attitudes toward older adults significantly decreased and positive attitudes increased after taking the Aging and the Family class. It appeared that a combination of factors and teaching techniques lessened students' negative attitudes. The lecture-based course included small group discussion, problem-solving activities, participation in an aging awareness simulation activity, an interview with an older adult, and covering a wide variety of topics related to aging. The Human ...
Window blind occlusion: a pilot study

Abstract Estimations of daylight factors, used to calculate energy savings, typically do not consider occupants' use of window blinds. The data indicate that such estimations should include some assessment of window blind usage, because over half of the window area is usually occluded in some way by blinds. It appears that many occupants purposely use window blinds to prevent sunlight from penetrating their working space.
Tryptophan metabolite excretion by the American cockroach

Abstract 1. 1. Three fluorescing materials have been discovered in excreta from the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.), and found to increase in concentration as dietary nitrogen increases. 2. 2. These compounds have been identified as kynurenic, xanthurenic and 8-hydroxyquinaldic acids. 3. 3. Feeding cockroaches antibiotic eliminates 8-hydoxyquinaldic acid production, presumably by inhibiting gut microbial dehydoxylation of xanthurenic acid. 4. 4. Excreta from wild-type and lavander-eye mutants contains all three metabolites, while that from pearl-eye mutants contains none of them. 5. 5. Xanthurenic and 8-hydroxyquinaldic acids may contribute to cockroach gut tumor formation.
Morphological observations on growth and differentiation of Physarum polycephalum grown in pure culture

Abstract The morphological features of the vegetative and sporulative stages in the life cycle of the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum under conditions of controlled culture are described. The vegetative stage is characterized by a large multinucleate plasmodium which behaves like a single cell. When grown on a surface under optimal conditions, the plasmodium is a flat, compact, yellow, disk-shaped meshwork of tightly interwoven strands. The nuclei of such a plasmodium undergo synchronous mitoses even when the organism is 5 cm in diameter. In agitated submersed culture, the plasmodium is fragmented into microplasmodia, which in turn will coalesce when placed in intimate contact with one another on a surface. Although the microplasmodia are not in mitotic phase with one another, complete mitotic synchrony occurs in the plasmodia obtained following their coalescence. Microplasmodia in old submersed cultures form mono- and multinucleate spherules which probably are identical with the subunits of a sclerotium. While the well-nourished organism remains sedentary, a starved plasmodium migrates rapidly over the surface. During prolonged starvation many nuclei degenerate, but the remaining ones continue to undergo mitoses although at longer intervals. Sporulation is induced by exposing a partially starved plasmodium to light. During this process a rearrangement of protoplasm occurs in the absence of growth.
Structure-activity relationships of serotonin transport: relevance to nontricyclic antidepressant interactions

Abstract A transfectant cell model was used to examine the structure-activity relationships of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) transport. The findings suggest that 5-HT interacts largely with nonpolar and sterically-confining environments on the transport system, and that a particular spatial coordination of the amino and phenyl groups (separated by an alkyl backbone) is important for transport interaction. Molecular modelling analyses revealed that this motif is also present in the structures of several nontricyclic antidepressants and specific inhibitors of 5-HT transport, as well as adrenergic agents which also possess 5-HT transport-inhibitory activities. While this amino-phenyl coordination motif seems to be a necessary structural requisite for transport interaction, and therefore likely to be part of the transport pharmacophore, additional phenyl rings present in some of the nontricyclic antidepressants may help to account for their relatively higher affinitis in 5-HT transport interaction.
Anonymity options and professional participation in an online community of practice

In this paper, we analyze a natural experiment regarding anonymity options and participation in a large, successful online community of practice (CoP) for U.S. soldiers. We study the impacts of changes of anonymity options on comment quality for productive discussion and professionalism. Four levels of personal attribution or anonymity of comments are significantly correlated with comment quality under some, but not all, circumstances. Eliminating anonymity options produced significantly fewer antisocial comments and fewer comments overall, although it did not affect overall peripheral participation as measured by logins and page views. Online identity or reputation appears to be more of a factor than external culpability in shaping user behaviors. Attitudes of participants and the evolution of norms over time are presented, and implications for the design of online learning communities are discussed.
The influence of interface thermal contact resistance on the heat transfer performance of prestressed Duplex tube

Abstract Duplex heat exchanger tubes consist of two concentric cylinders assembled in a state of prestress by shrink fitting. During operation, thermal expansion changes the interface pressure and this can cause a substantial increase in the thermal resistance of the tube. Under certain circumstances, more than one steadystate solution can be obtained. In this paper, the effect of this mechanism on the axial temperature variation in parallel or counterflow heat exchangers is analyzed. A method is developed for integrating the controlling equations for an arbitrary, non-linear, pressure-dependent contact resistance without iteration and the effect ofprestress and other parameters on the occurrence of in ultiple solutions is discussed.
Early Childhood in Ethiopia: Initiatives in Education:

This article informs readers about early childhood in one of the poorest nations in the world - Ethiopia. Within the context of ecological systems theory, it emphasizes the characteristics of early education programs such as pre-school and basic (primary) education, and creates connections with families' views about education. The article concludes with recommendations for further research.
The biosynthesis of cyanogenic glucosides in Linum usitatissimum (linen flax) in vitro.

Abstract Microsomal preparations from dark-grown Linum usitatissimum (linen flax) seedlings synthesize acetone cyanohydrin, the precursor of the cyanogenic glucoside linamarin, from valine in the presence of NADPH. N -Hydroxyvaline and isobutyraldoxime, which are predicted intermediates in the pathway, are also converted into products. These microsomal preparations also convert isoleucine into 2-butanone cyanohydrin the precursor of lotaustralin. The biosynthetic activity is located exclusively in the developing cotyledons.
Characterization of beta amyloid assemblies in drusen: the deposits associated with aging and age-related macular degeneration

Abstract Purpose . Recent studies strongly suggest that drusen, the extracellular deposits associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are a manifestation of local inflammatory events. New evidence indicates that substructural elements within drusen contain activated complement components as well as amyloid β (Aβ), a major pro-inflammatory component of Alzheimer's disease plaques. We characterized the ultrastructural organization and histochemical staining properties of these Aβ-containing elements in order to further assess their significance in drusen formation and AMD pathogenesis. Methods . We used differential interference contrast optics, laser scanning confocal immunofluorescence, and immunogold electron microscopy to characterize the structural properties and molecular composition of Aβ-containing elements in drusen. We obtained estimates of their frequency from montages of electron micrographs gathered from 152 human donor eyes ranging from 9 to 91 years of age. Results . Spherical Aβ-containing elements, which are typically organized as concentric ring-like structures, are common substructural components of drusen. They stain with thioflavin T, but are not stained by Congo red; nor do they bind cationic, lipophilic, or nucleic acid-binding fluorescent dyes. Ultrastructurally, they are composed of a central core, one or more concentric inner rings with intervening electron lucent layers, and an electron dense outer shell. Immunogold labeling indicates that most Aβ immunoreactivity is associated with the outer layers that consist of densely-packed spherical subunits. No longitudinally-oriented fibril arrays, characteristic of aggregated amyloid fibrils in the brain, are evident. Other prominent drusen-associated proteins including the terminal complement complex C5b-9, vitronectin, apolipoprotein E, serum amyloid P component, and ubiquitin are excluded from the spheres. Conclusions . These structures embedded in drusen appear to represent a new type of macromolecular assembly that contains Aβ as well as activated complement components. The presence of Aβ in these extracellular deposits is an additional indication that some of the pathogenic pathways that give rise to drusen and AMD may be shared with other neurodegenerative diseases characterized by misfolded protein deposition and aggregation.
Integrated low-ripple fast-transient switching power converter with dynamic current compensation and sensor-free quasi-SCB hysteretic control

A low-ripple, fast-transient, switching power converter is presented in this paper. It employs a dynamic current compensation (DCC) technique to enhance load or dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) tracking transient responses. A sensor-free, quasi-single-current-band (quasi-SCB) control is proposed to obviate the use of large-ESR filtering capacitor in conventional hysteretic control, leading to highly reduced output voltage ripples. The converter was designed with a TSMC 0.35μm CMOS process. Its input voltage can vary from 2.7 to 3.3V while the output can be regulated at any voltage level from 0.5 to 1.8V, at a switching frequency of 500kHz. Compared with its conventional counterpart, the converter achieves 153 times and 15 times speed improvement on load transient and DVS tracking, respectively.
The hydrogen atom as prototype of the large- N expansion

The spectrum of the hydrogen atom inN-dimensions is considered as prototype of the semi-classical method and is shown to yield a closed-form expression for the excitation spectrum, which includes leading large-N quantum fluctuations.
Lactation studies. X. Total daily production as affected by number of times milked, number of times stimulated, and method of stimulation.

Abstract An experiment was conducted to measure the milk production response to increased frequency of milking and to mammary gland stimulation per se. A total of 25 cows was employed in two trials. The treatments compared were twice-daily milking (2 ×), four-times-daily milking (4 ×), and either two-times-daily milking plus hand stimulation without milking (2×H) or two-times-daily milking plus oxytocin injection (2×I) midway between each milking interval. Treatments 2×H and 2×I compared to treatment 2×resulted in a 1.0 to 1.5% nonsignificant increase in production. Treatment 4×resulted in a milk production increase of 7.9% over treatment 2 ×. Further, this increase was attained by the second day on the increased milking frequency. The rapidity of the production response, plus the lack of response to additional stimulations per se, suggests that stimulation→oxytocin→prolactin→increased milk synthesis is not the explanation. Rather, that frequent milking→reduced intramammary pressure→increased secretion is probably the explanation.
On the uniqueness of the expression for the Choquet integral with linear core in classification

The Choquet integral has been applied in data mining, such as nonlinear multiregressions and nonlinear classifications. Adopting signed efficiency measures in the Choquet integral makes the models more powerful. Another idea for generalizing the above-mensioned models is to use a linear core in the Choquet integral. This has been successfully used in nonlinear mulregression. However, there is a uniqueness problem for presenting the Choquet integral in classification models such that it is difficult to explain the exact contribution rate from each individual attributes, as well as their combinations, towards the target. In this work, an additional restriction on the parameters is given to guarantee the uniqueness of the expression.
Hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma and infantile hemangioma: a rare association.

Abstract Background/Purpose The association between liver infantile hemangioma and mesenchymal hamartoma is rare. This communication reports the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of 3 infants with concurrent liver hemangioma and mesenchymal hamartoma. Methods We conducted a comprehensive search of the database of our Vascular Anomalies Center over the past 12 years (1999-2010) for the keywords mesenchymal hamartoma , liver , and hemangioma in a large cohort of patients with liver hemangioma. Medical records and imaging studies of multiple modalities were reviewed. The search included infants with histopathologically proven liver hemangioma and mesenchymal hamartoma confirmed by the clinical and imaging findings. Results There were 112 children with the diagnosis of liver hemangioma; 3 of them (0.027%) had concurrent mesenchymal hamartoma. Mesenchymal hamartoma predates the appearance of multifocal liver hemangiomas in 1 patient. Conclusions The rare coexistence of liver infantile hemangioma and mesenchymal hamartoma could be a true association.