cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Educational Policy on Emotional Intelligence: Does It Make Sense?

Educational policy on emotional intelligence appears to be based more on mass-media science journalism than on actual educational and psychological research. The first section of this article provides an overview of the research areas of emotional intelligence, social and emotional learning, and character education; it further examines how these areas became linked in the popular press. The second section examines the scientific evidence for whether emotional intelligence underpins social and emotional learning, how emotional intelligence relates to success, and whether it is central to character. We conclude that educational policy in this area has outpaced the science on which it is ostensibly based, and recommendations for the future are made.
Generational and Gender Shifts in Academic Medicine

Many examples of generational and gender shifts are noted in academic medicine, perhaps most notably in women’s health care. This chapter describes trends in faculty demographics, size, and responsibilities and projects future directions in growth.
Structural Studies of Catalytic Molecules via Local Density Functional Theory

We have employed local density functional theoretical methods to investigate the structures of two classes of catalytic systems: i) methylene, ethylene and propylene bridged dicyclopentadienyl titanium and zirconium dichlorides (CH 2 ) n (C 5 H 4 ) 2 MCl 2 (M=Ti, Zr, n=1,2,3); and ii) mordenite zeolite clusters. The latter problem focused on the relative energetics of Al siting in the zeolite structure. In each case, good agreement with experiment is obtained.
Chapter 32 – Nitrogen Transformations

Nitrogen (N) is a key element in the biology of all organisms and an important pollutant in streams and the water bodies they feed into. Understanding N availability and transport requires elucidation of the major fluxes in the nitrogen cycle. In this chapter, we discuss measurement of some of the most important N fluxes: (1) actual and potential denitrification (the conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas), (2) gross and net nitrification (the conversion of ammonium to nitrate), and (3) nitrogen fixation (the assimilation of nitrogen gas into organic N) as standard assays. More advanced methods make use of stable isotopes of nitrogen (15N) and membrane inlet mass spectrometry to trace N fluxes; we discuss application of these techniques to measure dissimilatory conversion of nitrate to ammonium as well as net flux of nitrogen gas as influenced by denitrification and nitrogen fixation.
The Mitral Monobloc: A Simplification for Intervalvular Fibrous Body Reconstruction in Endocarditis

The only viable option in prosthetic valve endocarditis with extensive abscess of the aorto-mitral curtain is radical debridement and reconstruction of the intravalvular fibrous body. This report details a simplified intravalvular fibrous body reconstruction technique.
The Uncharted World

To see the unseen and to hear the unspoken; most often the concepts of extrasensory perception contain lots of drivel about activating the third eye or some other mystical nonsense. We have our senses and those senses created reality. Yet, as this section has touched upon, there is far more to this world than what we can perceive. There are wonderful sensory landscapes that exist for many other animals where we blithely, and ignorantly, travel. At the largest scales, the world has fields that guide animal movement across the entire globe. To tap into a stimulus energy this massive seems to be quite an improbable task, but organisms as small as bacteria surf the world’s magnetic field. At the smallest of scales, tiny electrical currents are used to send messages about individual identity and reproductive readiness.
Integrated Lithium Niobate Photonics and Applications

I will present integrated LN photonics platform and its application in EO and Kerr frequency comb generation, super continuum generation, frequency conversion, and efficient EO modulation.
Judicial economy and moving bars in international investment arbitration

Historically, international investment law has centered on protecting foreign investors from direct expropriation, but much of modern law includes legal standards that allow investors to win compensation for other kinds of investor-state disputes. A prominent criticism among scholars and policy advocates is that modern legal protections allow investors to pursue increasing numbers of frivolous, low-merit cases. We contend that this claim overlooks the impact of judicial economy and changing legal standards: since foreign investors only need to prove a main legal violation to secure compensation, arbitrators can and do rule only on those standards that are most easily proven, in particular, contemporary legal protections. As a result, measures based on legal claims and rulings cannot provide definitive evidence of merit, and fears about trends in frivolous litigation under international investment law may be overstated.
Transcriptomics of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) reveals that toxic host plants alter expression of detoxification genes and down-regulate a small number of immune genes.

Herbivorous insects have evolved many mechanisms to overcome plant chemical defences, including detoxification and sequestration. Herbivores may also use toxic plants to reduce parasite infection. Plant toxins could directly interfere with parasites or could enhance endogenous immunity. Alternatively, plant toxins could favour down-regulation of endogenous immunity by providing an alternative (exogenous) defence against parasitism. However, studies on genomewide transcriptomic responses to plant defences and the interplay between plant toxicity and parasite infection remain rare. Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are specialist herbivores of milkweeds (Asclepias spp.), which contain toxic cardenolides. Monarchs have adapted to cardenolides through multiple resistance mechanisms and can sequester cardenolides to defend against bird predators. In addition, high-cardenolide milkweeds confer monarch resistance to a specialist protozoan parasite (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha). We used this system to study the interplay between the effects of plant toxicity and parasite infection on global gene expression. We compared transcriptional profiles between parasite-infected and uninfected monarch larvae reared on two milkweed species. Our results demonstrate that monarch differentially express several hundred genes when feeding on A. curassavica and A. incarnata, two species that differ substantially in cardenolide concentrations. These differentially expressed genes include genes within multiple families of canonical insect detoxification genes, suggesting that they play a role in monarch toxin resistance and sequestration. Interestingly, we found little transcriptional response to infection. However, parasite growth was reduced in monarchs reared on A. curassavica, and in these monarchs, several immune genes were down-regulated, consistent with the hypothesis that medicinal plants can reduce reliance on endogenous immunity.
Determining the Critical Aiming Window Duration Based On Shooter Skill Level

The fine-tuning phase of aiming directly prior to trigger pull has been hypothesized to influence shot accuracy, however there is little research exploring and distinguishing the different phases o...
Effect of Shunting on Visual Outcomes and Headache in Patients with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.

Background Visual dysfunction and headache are major symptoms in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). We aimed to evaluate the improvement of these symptoms in patients who underwent ventriculoperitoneal (VPS) and lumboperitoneal (LPS) shunting. Methods Electronic medical records were reviewed to identify baseline and treatment characteristics for patients diagnosed with IIH over 10 years. Visual outcomes and headache were evaluated at the latest follow-up post shunting. Results We included 163 patients with a mean age of 32.6 years. Most patients (74.2%) underwent VPS versus 25.8% of patients who received LPS. After a mean follow-up duration of 35 months, there was a 58.3% decrease in patients reporting headache (P = 0.006), an 87.7% decrease in papilledema (P = 0.1), a 100% resolution of diplopia with VPS or LPS, and an 88.5% decrease in transient visual obscurations (P = 1). In the worse eye, improved visual acuity (VA) occurred in 53.7% of eyes (P = 1), was stable in 16.4%, and worsened in 29.8%. The mean LogMAR VA was improved by 0.06 LogMAR (20/68) in the worse eye (P = 0.97) and 0.08 LogMAR (20/31) in the better eye (P = 0.7). The visual function that impairs daily activity was decreased by 55.4% (P = 0.08). Patients shunted within 1 month of presentation had a significantly higher rate of headache (P = 0.04) and VA improvement (P Conclusions VPS and LPS are effective in improving visual symptoms and headache in patients with IIH.
Morning glory optic nerve in Aicardi syndrome: Report of a case with fluorescein angiography.

Background:Aicardi syndrome is an X-linked condition that is associated with multiple ophthalmic malformations. Here, we report the first published fluorescein angiography (FA) study of a morning g...
Correlates of post-traumatic growth among nursing professionals: A cross-sectional analysis.

Aims Among nursing professionals, our aims were to examine (a) self-reported traumatic experiences, (b) differences in post-traumatic growth (i.e. positive psychological growth after experiencing a traumatic event) by nursing professional level and (c) demographic, work-related, behavioural and traumatic experience covariates of post-traumatic growth. Background Trauma experience among nursing professionals is higher than observed in the general population. Due to the nature of their work environment, workplace trauma rates are particularly alarming. Understanding post-traumatic growth among nursing professionals may guide interventions to enhance well-being. Method A secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from nursing professionals (N = 299). Demographic, work-related, behavioural, trauma experience categories and post-traumatic growth variables were examined. Results Advanced practice nurses and clinical nurses reported higher rates of workplace trauma, as compared to nursing assistants. Higher post-traumatic growth scores were associated with having a postgraduate degree, serving the paediatric population and lower frequency of alcohol use. Lower post-traumatic growth scores were associated with being married/widowed, being an advanced practice provider or clinical nurse, working in the intensive care unit and reporting workplace, family/personal stress and undisclosed trauma. Conclusions Nursing professionals have several demographic, work-related, behavioural and traumatic experience-related variables associated with and that explain variances in post-traumatic growth. Implication for nursing management Targeted screening and individualized treatment based on nursing professional level should be considered to support trauma recovery and post-traumatic growth.
A block-based modeling curriculum for teaching middle grade science students about Covid-19

While the scientific community is learning more about the novel Coronavirus and its associate disease, Covid-19, it is important to begin efforts to educate students on the disease, how it is transmitted, and the possible steps we as societies and individuals can take to combat the spread. To this end, we adapted an existing computational thinking curriculum originally designed to teach students about how infectious diseases are spread by having them build a model within the block-based programming environment, Cellular. This new curriculum introduces relevant scientific terms and tasks student to program an increasingly complex model ending the activity by choosing which risk-reduction strategy to employ.
The Role of Human Dignity in Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals

'Sustainability’ – the idea that those living have a responsibility to leave for future generations an environment at least as livable as presently enjoyed – has witnessed dispersive distribution, including applications to energy policy, constitutionalism, and the concept of ‘sustainable development’. The latter has become a common if not ubiquitous feature in legal expressions at the international, national and subnational levels, culminating in the United Nations setting 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve by 2030
On the Exact Statistical Distribution of Econometric Estimators and Test Statistics

Barry Arnold has made many fundamental and innovative contributions in different areas of statistics and econometrics, including estimation and inference, distribution theory, Bayesian inference, order statistics, income inequality measures, and characterization problems. His extensive work in the area of distribution theory includes studies on income distributions and Lorenz curves, the exact sampling distribution theory of test statistics, and the characterization of distributions. In our paper, we consider the problem of developing exact sampling distributions of various econometric and statistical estimators and test statistics. The motivation stems from the fact that inference procedures based on the asymptotic distributions may provide misleading results if the sample size is small or moderately large. In view of this, we develop a unified procedure by first observing that a large number of econometric and statistical estimators can be written as ratios of quadratic forms. Their distributions can then be straightforwardly analyzed by using Imhof’s (Biometrika 48:419–426, 1961) method. We show the applications of this procedure to develop the distribution of some commonly used statistics in applied work. The exact results developed will be helpful for practitioners to conduct appropriate inference for any given size of the sample data.
Black Lives Matter and the politics of redemption

This article explores the role of practical political theory in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. I argue that BLM represents a multifaceted engagement with the complicated politics of redempt...
The new periodontal disease classification: Level of agreement on diagnoses and treatment planning at various dental education levels.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES Using the periodontal diseases classification published in 2018, this study evaluated the level of agreement among predoctoral and postgraduate students of different education levels and specialties in the diagnosis and treatment planning of periodontal conditions. METHODS Second-year (D2) and fourth-year (D4) dental students, postgraduate orthodontic students (OS), and periodontology students (PS) were presented with an anonymous survey of 10 cases, each with five choices of diagnosis and seven therapeutic approaches. The cases included a patient summary, photographs, radiographs, periodontal charting, and ranged from health to periodontitis. Consensus diagnosis, used as a gold standard, was established between two experienced periodontists. Diagnosis and treatment choices for each case were compared across educational groups using Fisher's exact test. The level of agreement among educational groups was assessed using a multirater kappa coefficient. RESULTS The survey was completed in 2020 with a 72.4% overall response rate (57-D2, 45-D4, 17-OS, and 12-PS). The overall level of agreement on diagnosis was fair (κ = 0.24, p <.0001) with PS showing the most agreement (κ = 0.55, p <.0001). There were tendencies to prioritize stage over grade and extent in assigning diagnoses and to overdiagnose disease severity and underdiagnose localized periodontitis. Nonsurgical periodontal therapies had the highest overall agreement (κ = 0.63 for scaling/root planing and κ = 0.44 for maintenance, p <.0001). Response distribution per case and per level of education indicated that PS more consistently agreed with the gold standard than any other group. CONCLUSIONS OS, D2, and D4 students demonstrated inferior agreement levels compared to PS, successfully recognized health from disease, suggested appropriate treatment plans, and tended to overdiagnose milder periodontal conditions.
Effects of Face Mask Use on Objective and Subjective Measures of Thermoregulation During Exercise in the Heat.

Background:While increased face mask use has helped reduce COVID-19 transmission, there have been concerns about its influence on thermoregulation during exercise in the heat, but consistent, evide...
The Long and the Short of It: A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Parent-Child Care (PC-CARE) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).

Research shows that parenting interventions struggle with keeping clients in treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare attrition and rates of improvement in caregiver-child dyads participating in either Parent–Child Care (PC–CARE), a brief, 7-session parenting intervention or Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) over a 7–week period. Participants were 204 caregiver-child dyads referred to either PC-CARE (N = 69) or PCIT (N = 135) between 2016 and 2019. Children were aged 2–7 years, referred for treatment by county Behavioral Health Services, and Medicaid funded. Findings showed that PC–CARE participants were 2.5 times more likely than PCIT participants to complete 7 sessions, all other things being equal, and showed significantly greater rates of improvement during this timeframe in reported child behavior problems and parenting stress. In conclusion, compared with PCIT, PC–CARE showed greater retention and rate of improvement in child and parent outcomes over a comparable time period.
Psychophysical Compatibility and Information Reduction Tasks1

Two fundamental aspects of performance, information reduction and dimensional integrality, are shown to be two aspects of a single theoretical construct, termed “psychophysical compatibility”. This...
Production of an Anatomical Video of the Middle Cranial Fossa and Its Conversion into an Interactive Teaching Module (550.12)

Videos are an excellent tool to present and introduce anatomy to students. They especially provide an overview that includes a three dimensional appreciation of the subject matter. A high resolutio...
Limit Theorems for Functionals of Markov Processes and Renormalizable Stable Fields

We study the limiting distribution of the amount of charge left in some set by an infinite system of charged Markovian particles, when the charge distribution belongs to the domain of attraction of a symmetric α-stable law. The limits are symmetric α-stable generalized random fields. Their multiple integrals are built in a similar manner. We also study the renormalizability of these families of random fields and use the construction to simulate stable fields on R 1 and R 1.
The Growth of Prisons: Toward a Second Generation Approach

Over the past three decades, the US prison population has soared from 300,000 inmates to 1.5 million. In recent years, many scholars have devised rigorous empirical models to try to determine what forces have been most responsible for this impressive growth. This article reviews these studies and finds that all suffer from important shortcomings that limit the extent to which they accurately identify causal mechanisms. The problems are both technical and conceptual. Technically, most studies either fail to control for several significant empirical defects - such as endogeneity, omitted variable bias, and colinearity - or so do unconvincingly. Conceptually there are several issues. In some instances, for example, it is unclear whether the variable chosen to test a particular causal theory is an effective or accurate proxy; in others, the theory itself does not appear to be formulated correctly. This article sets forth the problems with the current studies and suggests technical and conceptual improvements for future work.
THE CRACK LAYER APPROACH TO TOUGHNESS CHARACTERIZATION IN STEEL

In a study of the laws of crack propagation and toughness characterization, it is feasible to employ two alternative approaches, including the fracture mechanics approach and the material science approach. The crack layer (CL) theory discussed by Khandogin and Chudnovsky (1978) and Chudnovsky (1980) considers the crack together with the surrounding defects as one system which has several degrees of freedom. It is pointed out that the CL theory defines the relationship between the parameters of fracture mechanics and the characteristics of microstructural changes which are the subject of material science. Experiments are described, taking into account a toughness characterization test and microscopic studies. Attention is given to a phenomenological study of toughness characterization, the morphology of crack layer, and the evaluation of energy stored in the dislocation network.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MILK ANTIBODIES

THE paper by Rothberg and Farr in this issue raises again the problem of the significance of cow9s milk antibodies in the sera of children. The early studies of Schloss and others demonstrated that antibodies to cow9s milk proteins could be detected in the blood of infants fed cow9s milk. This finding was observed more frequently in babies with diarrhea and directed interest toward the permeability of the bowel to unaltered protein molecules and to the effect of disease upon this process. It was recognized that some infants were intolerant to cow9s milk and certain of them appeared to have a true allergy to cow9s milk proteins.
U.S. Priorities-HIV Prevention

One of the scientific anomalies of the AIDS epidemic is the large difference in infection rates across populations. Given limited resources and segregated epidemics, prevention funding should be directed to population segments with high HIV prevalence and incidence. However, recent surveys of U.S. populations indicate that the allocation of prevention dollars is not consistent with the distribution of HIV in the population.
The Astrophysics and Cosmology of Quark—Gluon Plasma

The physics of the quark—gluon plasma is not well understood. None of the important physical attributes of this putative state of matter can be computed with confidence from an elementary theory. The quark—gluon plasma has, most probably, not been created yet in any laboratory; certainly, there is no observable that has indicated the presence of quark—gluon plasma in any experiment that has already been performed. Indeed, as the other reviews in this volume make clear, it is difficult to devise observable consequences for the quark—gluon plasmas that will be produced in future experiments at CERN and Brookhaven.
Vitamin C, the common cold, and iron absorption

A sizable segment of the population was found to be taking large quantities of vitamin C to reduce the number or severity of upper respiratory infections. To determine the affect of this supplementation on iron balance, multiple radioiron absorption tests were performed in 63 male subjects. The increase in iron absorption from a semisynthetic meal was directly proportional to the amount of ascorbic acid added over a range of 25 to 1,000 mg. The ratio of iron absorption with/without ascorbic acid at these two extremes was 1.65 and 9.57, respectively. The relative increase was substantially less when the test meal contained meat. A large dose of vitamin C taken with breakfast did not effect iron absorption from the noon or evening meal. A telephone survey of 100 individuals revealed that 67 were taking supplemental ascorbic acid in doses ranging as high as 2 g daily. The average intake of supplemental ascrobic acid in this population was 280 mg daily. If taken only with breakfast, this level of supplementation would produce a nearly 2-fold increase in the amount of iron absorbed daily. If taken in divided doses with each mean, the increase in iron absorption would be more than 3-fold.
Proposed Budget for U.S. Geological Survey: A Mixed Bag of Increases and Cuts

[1] Under the Obama administration's proposed fiscal year (FY) 2012 budget, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) would receive $1.1 billion, a scant $6.1 million more than the 2010 enacted budget. Within the agency, which is part of the Department of the Interior (DOI), some key initiatives slated for new or increased funding include the National Land Imaging Program, the USGS portion of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, and DOI Climate Science Centers. However, the request also includes $89.1 million in program reductions and the elimination of some programs. With Congress currently considering a budget continuing resolution to fund the federal government through the end of the current fiscal year, 2011, USGS faces possible additional cuts.
Discovery and validation of gene-linked diagnostic SNP markers for assessing hybridization between Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and Florida bass (M. floridanus)

Efforts to improve recreational fisheries have included widespread stocking of Micropterus floridanus outside its native range of peninsular Florida. Hybridization of Florida bass (M. floridanus) with largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) has now dramatically expanded beyond a naturally occurring intergrade zone in the southeast U.S. In recent years, there has been growing interest in protecting the genetic integrity of native basses and assessing the impact and nature of M. salmoides/M. floridanus introgression from the standpoint of hatchery and sport-fishery managers, fish biologists, ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Here, we conducted RNA-seq-based sequencing of the transcriptomes of M. salmoides, M. floridanus and their F1 hybrid and identified a set of 3674 SNP markers with fixed-allelic differences from 2112 unique genes. We then developed a subset of 25 of these markers into a single diagnostic multiplex assay and validated its capacity for assessing integrity and hybridization in hatchery and wild populations of largemouth and Florida bass. The availability of this resource, high-quality transcriptomes and a large set of gene-linked SNPs, should greatly facilitate functional and population genomics studies in these key species and allow the identification of traits and processes under selection during introgressive hybridization.
A low dose of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection enhances an established allergic inflammation in mice: the role of the prostaglandin E2 pathway

Background Over 40% of chronic stable asthma patients have evidence of respiratory Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) infection as detected by PCR, but not by serology and culture, suggesting that a low-level Mp is involved in chronic asthma. However, the role of such a low-level Mp infection in the regulation of allergic inflammation remains unknown. Objective To determine the impact of a low-level Mp infection in mice with established airway allergic inflammation on allergic responses such as eosinophilia and chemokine eotaxin-2, and the underlying mechanisms [i.e. the prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) pathway] since PGE(2) inhalation before an allergen challenge suppressed the eosinophil infiltration in human airways. Methods BALB/c mouse models of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma with an ensuing low- or high-dose Mp were used to assess IL-4 expression, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophil, eotaxin-2 and PGE(2) levels, and lung mRNA levels of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1). Primary alveolar macrophages (pAMs) from naive BALB/c mice were cultured to determine whether Mp-induced PGE(2) or exogenous PGE(2) down-regulates IL-4/IL-13-induced eotaxin-2. Results Low-dose Mp in allergic mice significantly enhanced IL-4 and eotaxin-2, and moderately promoted lung eosinophilia, whereas high-dose Mp significantly reduced lung eosinophilia and tended to decrease IL-4 and eotaxin-2. Moreover, in both OVA-naive and allergic mice, lung mPGES-1 mRNA and BAL PGE(2) levels were elevated in mice infected with high-dose, but not low-dose Mp. In pAMs, IL-4/IL-13 significantly increased eotaxin-2, which was reduced by Mp infection accompanied by dose-dependent PGE(2) induction. Exogenous PGE(2) inhibited IL-4/IL-13-induced eotaxin-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions This study highlights a novel concept on how different bacterial loads in the lung modify the established allergic airway inflammation and thus interact with an allergen to further induce Th2 responses. That is, unlike high-level Mp, low-level Mp fails to effectively induce PGE(2) to down-regulate allergic responses (e.g. eotaxin-2), thus maintaining or even worsening allergic inflammation in asthmatic airways.
High-throughput and data mining with ab initio methods

Accurate ab initio methods for performing quantum mechanical calculations have been available for many years, but their speed, complexity and instability have generally constrained researchers to studying only a few systems at a time. However, advances in computer speed and ab initio algorithms have now created fast and robust codes, where large numbers of calculations can be performed automatically, making it possible to do high-throughput ab initio computation. High-throughput computations can be used to efficiently screen and optimize for desired properties in broad classes of materials, as well as create large databases for data mining applications that can guide both experiments and further calculations. This paper discusses some of the challenges associated with preparing, running, collecting and assessing ab initio results in a high-throughput framework. An example application is given in the area of crystal structure prediction for binary alloys. The high-throughput results are in good agreement with known data, and suggest many possible new compounds not yet seen experimentally. Data mining techniques are used to find correlations among structural energies, and the correlations are then used to accelerate identification of stable crystal structures in new alloys.
Biological associates of early-seral pre-forest in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract Traditionally overlooked by foresters as unproductive and ecologists as disorganized, naturally regenerating forests in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) are perhaps the least understood forest condition in the region. More recently, concerns over the rarity of this forest condition have sparked interest in identifying ecological characteristics unique to forested sites after a canopy-opening disturbance and before the re-establishment of a closed conifer canopy. Here we review the literature to identify the plant and animal associates of early-seral pre-forests in the PNW in order to provide baseline information pertaining to the recognition and conservation role of early-seral pre-forest ecosystems. We describe a number of bird, mammal, insect, amphibian and reptile species associated with PNW early-seral pre-forests either by empirical observation or inferred through life-history characteristics in an attempt to formally identify unique species indicators of naturally regenerating pre-forest communities. For Washington, Oregon, and northern California, we also review the state lists of endangered, threatened, monitored or otherwise conservation-listed species (664 unique species or subspecies for the combined region) to assess the proportion of protected species that rely on the structural attributes of early-seral pre-forests. Here, we found that these proportions are comparable to the proportions reliant on mature or late-seral forest. In addition, greater than 50% of all listed species for each of the three regions were partial or facultative users of early-seral pre-forest ecosystems. This assessment suggests that naturally structured early-seral pre-forests in the PNW provide key habitat for many species, including obligates and near-obligates, and that future research should seek to refine our understanding of the specific structural and compositional attributes that form the basis of these associations.
Molecular mechanism of misfolding and aggregation of Aβ(13-23).

The misfolding and self-assembly of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide into aggregates is a molecular signature of the development of Alzheimer’s disease but molecular mechanisms of the peptide aggregation remain unknown. Here, we combined Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations to characterize misfolding process of an Aβ peptide. Dynamic force spectroscopy AFM analysis showed that the peptide forms stable dimers with the lifetime of ~1 s. During MD simulations isolated monomers gradually adopt essentially similar non-structured conformations independent from the initial structure. However, when two monomers approach their structure changes dramatically and the conformational space for the two monomers become restricted. The arrangement of monomers in antiparallel orientation leads to the cooperative formation of β-sheet conformation. Interactions, including hydrogen bonds, salt bridges and weakly polar interactions of side chains stabilize the structure of the dimer. Under the applied force, the dimer, as during the AFM experiments, dissociates in a cooperative manner. Thus, misfolding of the Aβ peptide proceeds via the loss of conformational flexibility and formation of stable dimers suggesting their key role in the subsequent Aβ aggregation process.
Evidence of sequential remodeling in rat trabecular bone: Morphology, dynamic histomorphometry, and changes during skeletal maturation

The occurrence of a sequential bone remodeling activity, similar to what is observed in human bone, is demonstrated in rat trabecular bone at the level of the secondary spongiosa. A complete dynamic histomorphometric analysis of the remodeling activity, using undecalcified sections and double fluorescent labels, has consequently been performed in young adults (220 g, 8 weeks old) and in more mature animals (320 g, 12 weeks old). The results showed that, despite a similar trabecular bone volume, younger animals had a five times higher bone formation rate and five times more osteoclasts than more mature animals. The higher bone formation rate was due in part to a threefold higher extent of double-labeled trabecular bone surface and in part to a 1.5-fold faster mineralization rate. These results therefore demonstrate a marked slowing down of bone turnover during skeletal maturation in the rat. The values obtained in this study have been compared with measurements made in other parts of the skeleton in the same species (Vignery and Baron 1978, 1980b; Tran Van et al., 1982a) or in humans. This comparison indicated that 12-week-old rats had a turnover rate very similar to values observed in iliac crest trabecular bone in adult humans. The rat is therefore a good experimental animal for the study of trabecular bone remodeling but since large variations occur during skeletal maturation, care should be taken in the selection of an age group relevant to the type of questions being asked.
Polymorphic Intron Sequences Detected within and between Populations of the Oriental Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Introns are fast evolving and apparently selectively neutral sequences that can be suitable for analyzing population structure within a species as well as for reconstructing relationships among closely related species. We have used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and exon-primed intron-crossing (EPIC) primers to amplify the intron sequences of an actin gene from individuals representing 2 different laboratory and 3 different wild Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) populations. By direct sequencing we identified 3 alleles that exist in different frequencies in these populations. Using this sequence information we designed a diagnostic restriction digest protocol to identify the alleles present in any given individual. In this way the frequencies of homozygous and heterozygous individuals can also be determined rapidly without the need for direct sequencing. In the 3 wild populations (Kauai, Molokai, and Thailand) we have surveyed, allele 1 is found at varying frequencies in all 3 samples; allele 2 is found only in the 2 Hawaiian populations (Kauai and Molokai) and allele 3 is found only in the Thai population. Wright's F st values were estimated between the 2 Hawaiian populations as well as between each of the Hawaiian and the Thai samples. Heterozygosity values range from zero for the 2 laboratory populations to 0.44 for Kauai population.
Tsunami Bore Runup

Nearshore behaviors of tsunamis, specifically those formed as a single uniform bore, are investigated experimentally in a laboratory environment. The transition process from tsunami bore to runup is described by the ‘momentum exchange’ process between the bore and the small wedge-shaped water body along the shore: the bore front itself does not reach the shoreline directly, but the large bore mass pushes the small, initially quiescent water in front of it. The fluid motions near the runup water line appear to be complex. The complex flow pattern must be caused by irregularities involved in the driving bore and turbulence advected into the runup flow. Those experimental results suggest that the tsunami actions at the shoreline involve significant mean kinetic energy together with violent turbulence. Even though the behaviors of bore motion were found to be different from those predicted by the shallow-water wave theory, the maximum runup height appears to be predictable by the theory if the value of the initial runup velocity is modified (reduced). Besides the friction effect, this reduction of the initial runup velocity must be related to the transition process as well as the highly interacting three-dimensional runup motion.
Radio-Frequency-Free Cell for Electron Capture Dissociation in Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A radio frequency-free (RFF), analyzer-independent cell has been devised for electron-capture dissociation (ECD) of ions. The device is based on interleaving a series of electrostatic lenses with the periodic structure of magnetostatic lenses commonly found in a traveling wave tube. The RFF electrostatic/magnetostatic ECD cell was installed in a Finnigan TSQ700 ESI triple quadrupole (QqQ) spectrometer, and its performance was evaluated by recording product-ion spectra of doubly protonated substance P, doubly protonated gramicidin S, doubly protonated neurotensin, and triply protonated neurotensin. These spectra were readily obtained without recourse to a buffering gas or synchronizing electron injection with a specific phase of an RF field. The mass spectra produced with the modified instrument appear in all respects (other than resolution and mass accuracy, which were limited by the mass spectrometer used) to be at least as good for purposes of peptide identification as those recorded with Fourier transf...
Comment on ''optimal measurement and velocity correction programs for midcourse guidance.'

I a paper by Denham and Spever, the authors discuss the possibility of varying the times of midcourse velocity corrections to minimize a function , which involves the terminal deviation variances and a statistical measure of the total velocity change used for control It is suggested that d$/c)t, be calculated by changing t, to tj + Atj and recalculating the X(t) and E(t) histories In such an approach A^ would have to be kept small to make the assumed linearization valid But when At is small, the computation of the derivative inevitably involves taking differences of nearly equal numbers, a procedure to be avoided if reasonable accuracy is to be attained The following procedure allows direct computation of the derivative The basic problem is that of finding the partial derivatives
Gold Nanoparticles Allow Optoplasmonic Evaporation from Open Silica Cells with a Logarithmic Approach to Steady-State Thermal Profiles

In this work, plasmonically heated solid-state gold nanoparticle (AuNP) arrays are investigated under novel conditions that include large (>35 °C) steady-state (SS) temperature increases (ΔT) dominated by conduction in open environments that allow vapor−liquid phase change. Evaporative cooling from the open system decreases SS ΔT of the system by as much as (11.6 ± 0.33) °C (45%), consistent with predictions from an energy balance model expanded in this work to account for evaporative cooling and associated decreasing thermal mass. Comparing dynamic and steady temperature profiles from water evaporating from a AuNP-coated Si cell at 50 mW laser irradiation with the model yielded an average accumulated residual sum of squares of 2.95 °C2 over 200 s. Temperature increases that distribute nonuniformly across sample cell surfaces due to high laser power (≤150 mW) and conductive heat transfer are accurately and uniformly (<0.7% difference) represented by an infinite fin model at laser powers from 50 to 150 mW,...
Analysis of general facial growth, maxillary and mandibular growth and treatment changes ("Structural analysis").

Summary General facial growth has in the past mostly been analyzed by superimposing on the nasion-sella line using the so-called “best fit” technique. Best fit approaches have also been used to analyze maxillary and mandibular growth and treatment changes. In this article we shall present a more reliable method for analyzing the changes that occur as a result of growth and treatment using the so-called “Structural technique” developed by Bjork et al. This technique is based on the results of studies of facial growth using metallic implants over more than 25 years. We will discuss how this technique can be applied without the benefit of implants to provide a better and more reliable understanding of the skeletal and dental changes in treated cases.
Molecular modifications of anti-aldosterone compounds: effects on affinity of spirolactones for renal aldosterone receptors.

Abstract The currently accepted hypothesis of the anti-mineralocorticoid action of spirolactones is that of competition for specific aldosterone receptors in target tissues. Binding of aldosterone to cytoplasmic receptors was studied by incubating adrenalectomized rat kidney slices with 3 H-aldosterone in the presence of 10-fold non-radioactive dexamethasone to prevent binding of tracer to glucocorticoid receptors. From the ability of a series of 24 spirolactone analogues to compete for 3 H-aldosterone binding sites under these conditions, the relative affinities for this receptor have been determined. Affinity for the receptor is decreased by B ring unsaturation at the C-6/C-7 position, by γ-lactone unsaturation, or by γ-lactone ring opening with the formation of the water-soluble K + salt. Affinity is markedly increased by esterification, or thioesterification, at the C-7 position in the B ring. Various 19-nor spirolactones show greater, equivalent or lesser affinity vis-a-vis their parent compounds. These structure-affinity relationships should define one of the determinants of pharmacologic activity.
C4' sugar oxidation of deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates by chromium(V) complexes.

Abstract The Cr(V) complexes, bis(2-ethyl-2-hydroxybutyrato)oxochromate(V) ([OCrV(ehba)2]−) and (2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2-(bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)ethanolato)oxochromate(V) ([OCrV(BT)]2−), were reacted with a series of deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates. Oxidation of deoxyribose at C4′ was observed by measuring the amount of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) produced in these reactions. For both compounds, the TBARS obtained with purine nucleotides was between 2.25 and 3.5 times greater than what was observed with pyrimidine nucleotide. This result suggests that the identity of the nucleic acid base can influence the hydrogen atom abstraction at C4′. Overall, the amount of product obtained with [OCrV(BT)]2− was significantly less than what was observed with [OCrV(ehba)2]−, indicating that these two Cr(V) model complexes may oxidize DNA differently.
An atomistic study of deformation of amorphous metals

Abstract The computer simulation of a shear deformation of a model monoatomic amorphous metal has been performed. The strain was applied incrementally, relaxing the structure at each step. The complete stress-strain curve was thus obtained. A large number of microscopic deformation events have been observed and analyzed using the description of the local atomic structure by the atomic level stresses. Although no temperature effects have been included in the present study the calculated stress-strain curve is in very good agreement with the stress-strain curves measured experimentally at or above room temperature. The common feature of these experiments and present calculations is, however, the homogeneity of the deformation. Hence, it is argued that fundamental microscopic deformation mechanisms are the same at low and high temperatures and the macroscopic differences arise owing to the strain localization in the former case. The regions of inhomogeneous atomic movement which results in plastic deformation, have not been found to be correlated with local density fluctuations in contrast with assumptions of the models based on free volume theory. They are, however, correlated with regions of high shear stresses, called τ-defects. These defects are formed during the deformation, are sustained by the applied stress and appear to act as stress concentrators in the vicinity of which a localized viscous flow develops.
Parental decision-making in considering cochlear implant technology for a deaf child

Objectives: Advances in cochlear implant (CI) technology have increased the complexity of treating childhood deafness. We compare parental decision-making, values, beliefs, and preferences between parents of eligible and ineligible children in considering cochlear implants. Methods: Surveys were obtained from 83 hearing parents of deaf children. A subset of 50 parents also underwent semi-structured interviews. Nine hypothetical outcomes, ranging from mainstream success to poor mainstream outcome were created to measure parents’ overall preferences and preference for specific outcomes for their child who is deaf. Results: Among parents of eligible children (n=50), approximately 2/3 considered implantation (n=33). The other 1/3 did not consider implantation. Parents who were eligible but did not consider implantation placed significantly lower priority on mainstream success over bilingual success (P<0.03), and on the child’s ability to speak versus sign (P<0.02). They also showed significantly higher concerns on the cost of services in general and on the availability of resources offered at the local school district (both P<0.05). Parents of ineligible children (n=30) rarely considered implantation, even if they showed similar aspirations in mainstream outcomes (P=0.003). Semi-structured interview data supported these findings. Conclusions: The decision to consider cochlear implantation is strongly influenced by the eligibility and by professionals’ recommendations. However, for some parents, the decision goes beyond eligibility and is determined by parental preferences, goals, values, and beliefs. This highlights the importance of careful audiologic evaluation and professionals’ awareness of and sensitivity to parental goals, values, and beliefs in evaluating the child’s candidacy.