cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An upper bound on the independence number of benzenoid systems

Recently, the graph theoretic independence number has been linked to fullerene stability [S. Fajtlowicz, C. Larson, Graph-theoretic independence as a predictor of fullerene stability, Chem. Phys. Lett. 377 (2003) 485-490; S. Fajtlowicz, Fullerene Expanders, A list of Conjectures of Minuteman, Available from S. Fajtlowicz: math0@bayou.uh.edu]. In particular, stable fullerenes seem to minimize their independence numbers. A large piece of evidence for this hypothesis comes from the fact that stable benzenoids-close relatives of fullerenes-do minimize their independence numbers [S. Fajtlowicz, ''Pony Express''-Graffiti's conjectures about carcinogenic and stable benzenoids, ]. In this paper, an upper bound on the independence number of benzenoids is introduced and proven-giving a limit on how large the independence ratio for benzenoids can be. In conclusion, this bound on independence is correlated to an upper bound on the number of unpaired sites a benzenoid system has with respect to a maximum matching, which is precisely the number of zero eigenvalues in the spectrum of the adjacency matrix (due to a conjecture of Graffiti and its proof by Sachs [S. Fajtlowicz, ''Pony Express''-Graffiti's conjectures about carcinogenic and stable benzenoids, ; H. Sachs, P. John, S. Fajtlowicz, On Maximum Matchings and Eigenvalues of Benzenoid Graphs, preprint-MATCH]). Thus, since zero eigenvalues and unpaired sites are indicative of instability (reactivity), we get a simple but intuitive bound on how reactive a benzenoid molecule can be.
Antigenic properties of rat liver nuclear membrane.

Abstract Antigenic properties of purified rat liver nuclear membrane were compared with those of other cellular membranes and nuclear components using the quantitative complement fixation assay. Rat liver nuclear membrane was prepared by heparin treatment and sucrose gradient centrifugation and found to be essentially free of plasma membrane, inner mitochondrial membrane and chromatin components as judged by biochemical analysis and electron microscopy. Antisera to rat liver nuclear membrane were produced in rabbits. These antisera fix complement not only in the presence of rat liver nuclear membrane but also in the presence of rat liver rough or smooth endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane or mitochondria or rat muscle sareoplasmic reticulum, indicating common antigenic sites in these membranes. Species specificity of these antigenic sites is suggested, since the antisera did not show complement fixation when rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum was tested. Rat liver chromatin or liver nonhistone protein. DNA complex also did not fix complement in the presence of antibodies to the nuclear membrane. When the anti-rat liver nuclear membrane sera were absorbed with rat liver rough endoplasmic reticulum or mitochondria, antibodies specific for the rat liver nuclear membrane were obtained. It is proposed that specific antigens can be used as a marker for the nuclear membrane. Furthermore it was found that sera from certain non-immunized rabbits contained antibodies which fixed complement in the presence of various membrane preparations.
Positron-induced dissociation of organic molecules

We have measured positron-ionization time-of-flight mass spectra of butylbenzene, decane, tetraethylsilane, and other organic molecules as a function of the positron kinetic energy. Our data show that fragment ions are produced at onset energies above the positronium- (Ps) formation threshold, while the molecular ions are formed starting at the Ps threshold. The onset energies have been found to depend strongly on the nature of the fragment and to be equal to the dissociation energy of the fragmentation reaction. Decreases in the molecular-ion populations in the mass spectra were observed to be accompanied by increases in fragment-ion populations. A two-step process, stripping followed by unimolecular dissociation, is proposed to be responsible for the production of the fragment ions. The degree of dissociation can be controlled by selecting the positron incident energy.
Pleiotropic Effects of Rimonabant : Clinical Implications

Abdominal obesity (high waist circumference) is more strongly associated with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes than generalized adiposity (high body mass index). Recent research has highlighted the role of chronic overactivation of the endogenous endocannabinoid system, acting through its CB(1) receptor, as a key factor involved in the development of abdominal obesity and related cardiometabolic risk abnormalities such as insulin resistance, low HDL-cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, inflammation and low adiponectin. Evidence suggests that these cardiometabolic risk factors/markers are not optimally managed by current treatments. Improving the nutrition and physical activity/exercise habits of patients remains the cornerstone of management of elevated global cardiometabolic risk. Antagonism of the endocannabinoid system provides a novel strategy to target several unaddressed cardiometabolic risk markers/factors. Randomized trials of rimonabant in patients with overweight or obesity and/or type 2 diabetes have demonstrated marked and significant improvements in body weight, waist circumference, glycemic control (in patients with type 2 diabetes), features of atherogenic dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, adipose tissue-derived cytokines (leptin and adiponectin) and C-reactive protein (a marker of systemic inflammation). Further analyses suggested that about half of the improvements of several cardiometabolic risk markers were independent from concomitant weight loss. Blood pressure also improved with rimonabant treatment, this effect being consistent with the blood pressure lowering effect of weight loss. The tolerability and safety of rimonabant have been extensively studied and most transient side effects include some gastrointestinal side effects, anxiety, mood changes and incidence of depressive disorders, particularly in patients with previous history of depression. Rimonabant is a useful option for patients with abdominal obesity and with related cardiometabolic risk abnormalities such as an atherogenic dyslipidemia and/or type 2 diabetes.
Thiaisoleucine and protein synthesis.

Abstract Thiaisoleucine is an isoleucine analogue having the γ-methylene group of the valerianic carbon chain substituted by a sulphur atom. It has been demonstrated that thiaisoleucine is activated and transferred to tRNAIle by rat liver aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and inhibits isoleucine incorporation into polypeptides in protein synthesizing systems from rat liver or rabbit reticulocytes, whereas it does not affect either leucine incorporation or ribosome run-off or polypeptide chain elongation rate. All tests were performed in comparison with O-methyl-threonine, an isoleucine analogue with the γ-methylene group substituted by an oxygen atom. In all the reactions studied, both thiaisoleucine and O-methyl-threonine act as competitive inhibitors of isoleucine. With respect to O-methyl-threonine, thiaisoleucine shows higher activity as an isoleucine inhibitor.
Wide-bandwidth optical phased array based on remote coding configuration

Wide-bandwidth weighted array processing requires that the weighting function, applied to each element in the array, be a function of the frequency. The equivalence between a filter embodiment and a correlator embodiment of the weighting function is used to show that the remote coding configuration can serve as a correlation embodiment of the weighting function, thus avoiding the need for true-time delays (TTDs) in the signal path. >
Embedding weakly compact sets into Hilbert space

We give an example of a weakly compact set in a Banach space, which does not embed topologically as a weakly compact subset of Hilbert space. We also show that a weakly compact set embeds in a super-reflexive space iff it embeds in Hilbert space.
On topological diversity of rectilinear representations of countably infinite graphs

We prove that, for each simple graph G whose set of vertices is countably infinite, there is a family $${\varvec{\mathcal{R}}(\varvec{G})}$$ of the cardinality of the continuum of graphs such that (1) each graph $${\varvec{H} \in \varvec{\mathcal{R}}(\varvec{G})}$$ is isomorphic to G, all vertices of H are points of the Euclidean space E 3, all edges of H are straight line segments (the ends of each edge are the vertices joined by it), the intersection of any two edges of H is either their common vertex or empty, and any isolated vertex of H does not belong to any edge of H; (2) all sets $${\varvec{\mathcal{B}}(\varvec{H})}$$ ( $${\varvec{H} \in \varvec{\mathcal{R}}(\varvec{G})}$$ ), where $${\varvec{\mathcal{B}}(\varvec{H})\subset \mathbf{E}^3}$$ is the union of all vertices and all edges of H, are pairwise not homeomorphic; moreover, for any graphs $${\varvec{H}_1 \in \varvec{\mathcal{R}}(\varvec{G})}$$ and $${\varvec{H}_2 \in \varvec{\mathcal{R}}(\varvec{G})}$$ , $${\varvec{H}_1 \ne \varvec{H}_2}$$ , and for any finite subsets $${\varvec{S}_i \subset \varvec{\mathcal{B}}(\varvec{H}_i)}$$ (i = 1, 2), the sets $${\varvec{\mathcal{B}}(\varvec{H}_1){\setminus} \varvec{S}_1}$$ and $${\varvec{\mathcal{B}}(\varvec{H}_2){\setminus} \varvec{S}_2}$$ are not homeomorphic.
Emergency Communication and Information Issues in Terrorist Events Involving Radioactive Materials

With the threat posed by terrorism involving radioactive materials now high on the nation's agenda, local, state, and federal agencies are moving to enhance preparedness and response capabilities. Crucial to these efforts is the development of effective risk communication strategies. This article reports findings from an ongoing study of risk communication issues in nuclear/radiological terrorism situations. It is part of a larger CDC-funded effort that aims to better understand communication challenges associated with weapons of mass destruction terrorism incidents. Presented here are formative research findings from 16 focus groups (n = 163) in which a multi-part, hypothetical radioactive materials terrorism situation was discussed. Twelve of the focus groups were carried out with members of the general public (drawn from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and geographic locations), and four groups were composed of first responders, hospital emergency department personnel, and public health professionals. One aim of the focus groups was to elicit detailed information on people's knowledge, views, perceptions, reactions, and concerns related to a nuclear/radiological terrorism event, and to better understand people's specific information needs and preferred information sources. A second aim was to pretest draft informational materials prepared by CDC and NIOSH. Key findings for the public and professional groups are presented, and the implications of the research for developing messages in radiological/nuclear terrorism situations are explored.
Localization of 3H-estradiol in the uterus of pregnant and non-pregnant armadillos.

The uptake and retention of radiolabeled estradiol by the uterus was examined in the armadillo. One pregnant and two non-pregnant armadillos were treated with 1.4 μg/kg body weight of 3H-estradiol (E2) by injection into the left ventricle, and one non-pregnant animal was injected with both the labeled hormone and 140 μg/kg body weight of unlabeled E2. One and a half hour after injection, the animals were sacrificed and the uteri were removed and processed for autoradiography. In the non-pregnant animals, nuclear localization was observed in the interstitial cells and glandular epithelium of the endometrium and the connective tissue cells and smooth muscle of the myometrium. Additionally, there was a gradation of uptake in the epithelial cells of the endometrium in that the glandular cells of the basal region were heavily labeled, while those cells in the sinusoidal, and luminal regions contained successively less label. The luminal cells were poorly labeled. In the pregnant female, the smooth muscle and glandular cells hypertrophied and their nuclei contained less label than was observed in the non-pregnant animals. The arteries of the myometrium were more easily distinguished in the pregnant animals and the nuclei of the endothelial cells and smooth muscle were more consistently labeled than those of the non-pregnant armadillos.
Perinatal dietary NaCl level: effect on angiotensin-induced thermal and dipsogenic responses in adult rats ☆

We have shown previously that administration of angiotensin II (Ang II) produces an apparent decrease in thermoregulatory set point. Exposure to high salt diets either perinatally or later in life has been shown to increase pressor responsiveness to administration of Ang II, so in the present studies we examine whether high dietary NaCl would also increase the thermal responsiveness to Ang II. In the first study, we show that exposure to a basal NaCl diet (0.12%) during gestation through 4 weeks postnatally produced very large elevations in plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone concentrations in the offspring. Exposure to high salt diet (3%) did not decrease the levels of these parameters below those fed mid salt diet (1%). In the second study, we show that rats raised through 4 weeks of age on basal diet, but then fed standard chow until adulthood, showed greater changes in tail skin (T(sk)) and colonic (T(c)) temperatures following administration of Ang II (200 microg/kg sc) than either mid- or high-salt-raised groups. In the third study, we confirmed this finding and extended it to show that rats raised on a very high salt diet (6%) also did not differ from the mid-salt group. In both studies, acute water intake measured in a separate test following administration of Ang II did not differ as a function of perinatal salt diet. In a fourth study, the period of exposure to the diets was extended from the perinatal period through adulthood and, surprisingly, there was no longer an enhanced thermal response to Ang II in basal diet rats compared with rats fed the very high salt diet. In the final study, rats raised on a regular diet but exposed only as adults to the test diets showed a nonsignificant trend toward a decreased thermal response in the basal group. Thus, dietary salt level may have opposite effects on Ang II effects on adult thermoregulation, depending on the age at the exposure.
Diffusion studies in Au-Ni thin eilm couples using optical reflectivity technique

Diffusion in successively evaporated gold-nickel thin film couples has been studied in the low temperature range of 340°C – 440°C. Optical reflectivity change at the gold surface was monitored as function of isothermal annealing time. Activation energies and penetration coefficients k ≡ d2/t are calculated from annealing times associated with slope discontinuities encountered at successive constant values of reflectance change. Values of the activation energy at longer annealing times (larger reflectance change) and higher temperatures in the range are those typical of volume inter-diffusion while those obtained for the shorter annealing time and lower temperatures are more typical of defect or grain boundary diffusion. Phenomena potentially responsible for the family of successive slope discontinuities are reviewed.
X-ray diffraction evidence of chitin in the axial skeleton of antipatharian corals

Abstract 1. 1. Chitin has been identified in the axial skeleton of several species of antipatharian corals by x-ray fiber diffraction patterns. 2. 2. There are reflections in the fiber pattern of the intact skeleton of a lattice, presumably due to protein, with a periodicity of approx 40A. 3. 3. Hydrolysis of the intact skeleton in dilute alkali yields an insoluble white residue representing less than 10% of the total skeletal mass, which gives an x-ray diffraction pattern characteristic of the β-chitin polymorph.
The effect of mixing model and mixing characteristics on Nox reduction during reburning

The current study is part of a broader investigation, which deals with the application of a novel concept of integrated design to combustor modeling using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) methods. The main objective is the reduction of NO x emissions. The current work addresses the effects of mixing optimization and mixing model on NO x reduction during reburning. Numerical simulations of the reburning process are conducted on a pilot-scale 0.5 MM Btu/h down-fired combustor (DFC) and compared with experimental data. Optimized mixing conditions resulted in a significant reduction in NO x levels. A return calculator including the two-stage Lagrangian mixing model is used for predicting the NO x emissions in the DFC, and the results are compared with CFD-based simulations. Modeling results showed that for this case mixing is dominant over the chemistry, and hence the use of an advanced fluid dynamics model and a simplified chemistry scheme is adequate. Validation tests were conducted on optimized configurations using natural gas and coal water slurry as reburn fuels. The NO x reduction obtained with the optimized configurations was as high as 75%, an almost 30% increase over the previous experiments on nonoptimized configurations. This study showed that an integrated approach, which includes mixing optimization, can be used effectively for a reburn case application, achieving significant NO x reduction The effect of integration was demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally as applied to a pilot-scale DFC.
Gauntlet Behaviour as a Male Sexual Tactic in the American Toad (Amphffiia: Bufonidae)

1. Toads comprising the Towson population are characterized by a prolonged breeding season (> 5 weeks), and some males remained at the site for at least 23 days. 2. During the breeding season, sexually active males may be classified as terrestrial or aquatic. 3. Although we did not observe males switching tactics during the same calling session, we recorded within and between season shifts. 4. On any given night, a few aquatic males engage in vocalization to attract females, while the majority actively swim about the pond surface attempting to intercept females or to displace males that have achieved amplexus. 5. Terrestrial males are smaller (on average) than pond males and are consistently positioned a few meters from the rim of the pond, facing the forest. 6. Terrestrial males intercept approximately 70% of the females approaching the pond, and 60% of these remain in amplexus after an hour, despite numerous displacement attempts by conspecific rivals. 7. Except for the first few nights of migratory activity, males achieving terrestrial amplexus are significantly smaller than would be expected by chance. 8. We hypothesize that male toads exploit a terrestrial tactic of mate capture if their advertisement call is relatively unattractive to females, and if they are too small to displace successful males from amplexus. 9. As males increase in size (with age), they move to the pond and switch to a mating tactic involving both vocalization and sexual parasitism. 10. In most instances, terrestrial males integrate visual, chemical and seismic cues to identify females.
Navigating the road ahead: addressing challenges for use of metabolomics in epidemiology studies.

Metabolomics platforms allow for the measurement of hundreds to thousands of unique small chemical entities, as well as offer extensive coverage of metabolic markers related to obesity, diet, smoking, and other exposures of high interest to health scientists. Nevertheless, its potential use as a tool in population-based study design has not been fully explored. As the field of metabolomics continues to mature, and in part, accelerate through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) investment of ≤65 million in the Common Fund’s Metabolomics Program (https://common fund.nih.gov/metabolomics/index), it is time to consider those challenges most pertinent to epidemiologic studies.
Measured performance of the prototype polar coordinate CCD array

This paper describes the design and testing of a prototype high frame rate CCD imager called the polar coordinate detector developed as part of a project led by the W. M. Keck Observatory (WMKO) and funded by the Adaptive Optics Development Program and the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project. The polar coordinate detector is designed to address the problem of adaptive optics (AO) laser guide star (LGS) spot image elongation in Shack Hartmann wavefront sensors for extremely large telescopes. The prototype detector, designated the CCID-61, was developed in collaboration with the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The CCID-61 implements a detector for one quadrant (30 x 30 subapertures) of the planned 60 x 60 subaperture LGS wavefront sensors of the TMT early light AO system NFIRAOS. Testing of front illuminated, packaged detectors has been completed and performance results including read noise, readout speed, charge diffusion, and dark current are reported.
A Theory of the Interhemispheric Meridional Overturning Circulation and Associated Stratification

AbstractA quantitative theoretical model of the meridional overturning circulation and associated deep stratification in an interhemispheric, single-basin ocean with a circumpolar channel is presented. The theory includes the effects of wind, eddies, and diapycnal mixing and predicts the deep stratification and overturning streamfunction in terms of the surface forcing and other parameters of the problem. It relies on a matching among three regions: the circumpolar channel at high southern latitudes, a region of isopycnal outcrop at high northern latitudes, and the ocean basin between.The theory describes both the middepth and abyssal cells of a circulation representing North Atlantic Deep Water and Antarctic Bottom Water. It suggests that, although the strength of the middepth overturning cell is primarily set by the wind stress in the circumpolar channel, middepth stratification results from a balance between the wind-driven upwelling in the channel and deep-water formation at high northern latitudes. D...
Orientational time correlation functions for the J and M diffusion models

Abstract Orientational correlation functions for l th rank spherical harmonics are obtained for the Gordon J and M diffusion models by means of a direct solution of the equations of motion for the single particle rotational distribution function.
Nonlinear output tracking in conventional and dynamic sliding manifolds

Nonlinear output tracking in multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) systems with unmatched nonlinearities and disturbances is considered in sliding modes. The system is nonlinearly transformed to a form convenient for sliding mode synthesis. Both conventional and dynamic sliding mode controllers are designed to provide the desired nonlinear output tracking. In both cases, only the time-dependent part of the unmatched disturbance must be estimated. An example is provided to demonstrate the new design approach. Results show that both conventional and dynamic sliding mode control are insensitive to matched disturbances, but that dynamic sliding mode control accommodates to unmatched disturbances.
Exploring physical activity behaviour of persons with multiple sclerosis: a qualitative pilot study.

Purpose. Identify facilitators and barriers to physical activity (PA), and explore the utility of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC) in understanding PA behaviour among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods. Thirteen participants from a clinical trial were interviewed and classified as physically active, sometimes active or inactive based on the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II. Interviews were analysed using analytical induction, which consisted of coding data into pre-established categories and then exploring similarities and differences between groups. Pre-established coding categories were constructs from SCT (i.e. environment, expectations, self-efficacy and self-regulation) and TMSC (i.e. stress appraisal and coping style).Results. Inactive and active participants differed in their self-regulation skills, self-efficacy and coping styles. Common barriers to PA included symptoms and the physical and social environment. Facilitators of PA inclu...
Power-Aware Speedup

Power-aware processors operate in various power modes to reduce energy consumption with a corresponding decrease in peak processor throughput. Recent work has shown power-aware clusters can conserve significant energy (>30%) with minimal performance loss (<1%) running parallel scientific workloads. Nonetheless, such savings are typically achieved using a priori knowledge of application performance. Accurate prediction of parallel power consumption and performance is an open problem. However, such techniques would improve our understanding of power-aware cluster tradeoffs and enable identification of system configurations optimized for performance and power ("sweet spots"). Speedup models are powerful analytical tools for evaluating and predicting the performance of parallel applications. Unfortunately, existing speedup models do not quantify parallel overhead for simplicity. Consequently, these models are incapable of accurately accounting for performance and power. We propose power-aware speedup to model and predict the scaled execution time of power-aware clusters. The new model accounts for parallel overhead and predicts (within 7%) the power-aware performance and energy-delay products for various system configurations (i.e. processor counts and frequencies) on NAS parallel benchmark codes.
Expression of Mirlet7 Family MicroRNAs in Response to Retinoic Acid-Induced Spermatogonial Differentiation in Mice

Spermatogonial differentiation is orchestrated by the precise control of gene expression involving retinoic acid signaling. MicroRNAs have emerged as important regulators of spermatogenesis, and here we show that the Mirlet7 family miRNAs are expressed in mouse spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Retinoic acid significantly leads to the induction of Mirlet7 miRNAs through suppression of Lin28. We further confirmed both in vitro and in vivo that expressions of Mycn, Ccnd1, and Col1a2, which are targets of Mirlet7, were downregulated during spermatogonial differentiation. These results suggest that Mirlet7 family miRNAs play a role in retinoic acid-induced spermatogonial differentiation.
The Role and Attitudes of Restorative Board Members: A Case Study of Volunteers in Community Justice:

Criminal justice agencies often call for partnerships with the community. In restorative and community justice initiatives, citizen volunteers often serve as decision makers in nonadversarial sanctioning. Although prior research has reported the attitudes of other participants in restorative decision making, such as victims and offenders, none have examined those of community volunteers. We report on findings from a state-wide survey of volunteers serving on Vermont Reparative Probation Boards. In this program, board members meet with probationers to negotiate a “reparative contract” that may include apologies, restitution, community service, and other tasks. We found a board membership that is generally representative of the community, highly supportive of the program, and knowledgeable of restorative justice principles.
Ixodes pacificus Ticks Maintain Embryogenesis and Egg Hatching after Antibiotic Treatment of Rickettsia Endosymbiont

Rickettsia is a genus of intracellular bacteria that causes a variety of diseases in humans and other mammals and associates with a diverse group of arthropods. Although Rickettsia appears to be common in ticks, most Rickettsia-tick relationships remain generally uncharacterized. The most intimate of these associations is Rickettsia species phylotype G021, a maternally and transstadially transmitted endosymbiont that resides in 100% of I. pacificus in California. We investigated the effects of this Rickettsia phylotype on I. pacificus reproductive fitness using selective antibiotic treatment. Ciprofloxacin was 10-fold more effective than tetracycline in eliminating Rickettsia from I. pacificus, and quantitative PCR results showed that eggs from the ciprofloxacin-treated ticks contained an average of 0.02 Rickettsia per egg cell as opposed to the average of 0.2 in the tetracycline-treated ticks. Ampicillin did not significantly affect the number of Rickettsia per tick cell in adults or eggs compared to the water-injected control ticks. We found no relationship between tick embryogenesis and rickettsial density in engorged I. pacificus females. Tetracycline treatment significantly delayed oviposition of I. pacificus ticks, but the antibiotic’s effect was unlikely related to Rickettsia. We also demonstrated that Rickettsia-free eggs could successfully develop into larvae without any significant decrease in hatching compared to eggs containing Rickettsia. No significant differences in the incubation period, egg hatching rate, and the number of larvae were found between any of the antibiotic-treated groups and the water-injected tick control. We concluded that Rickettsia species phylotype G021 does not have an apparent effect on embryogenesis, oviposition, and egg hatching of I. pacificus.
Digestion of Sugar Beet Leaves for Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

A modified digestion mixture utilizing sodium molybdate as a catalyst is described for plant materials. In atomic absorption spectroscopy, special attention is given to calcium analyses using this mixture, because of various interfering ions. The digestion mixture is suitable for numerous other cation determinations. Also, a method of increasing the sensitivity for copper by adding methanol is described.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 Clone as a Cause of Lemierre's Syndrome

We describe a case of a young woman who had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 clone (MRSA-USA300)-associated Lemierre's syndrome and secondary necrotizing pneumonia and cerebral infarcts. We also review 11 cases of S. aureus-associated Lemierre's syndrome reported in the literature from 1965 to 2010. Recognition of S. aureus as an emergent cause of Lemierre's syndrome informs the initial empirical antibiotic choice for this life-threatening condition and may positively impact patient outcomes.
Investigation of high-temperature degradation of platinum thin films with an in situ resistance measurement apparatus

Many microfabricated systems require metallizations that can withstand high temperatures. In particular, a microfabricated chemical reactor system which we are investigating needs thin metal films for heating and temperature sensing that can withstand prolonged 1000/spl deg/C exposure. The current microreactor metallization, a 100-nm platinum film with a 10-nm titanium adhesion layer, degrades at temperatures greater than 700/spl deg/C. This degradation was examined with a custom-built high-temperature resistance measurement apparatus in addition to chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic-force microscopy (AFM) and wafer curvature measurements. Thicker films and coating layers increased the lifetime of these films while exposure to oxygen decreased lifetime, consistent with the hypothesized degradation mechanism of agglomeration.
Duplication 10q confirmed by DNA in situ hybridization.

Partial duplication of 10q is a recognizable clinical entity. In most of the reported cases, the trisomic segment is identified by a balanced translocation state in a parent. Verification remains a problem in de novo cases. However, the recent availability of whole chromosome probes allows for confirmatory diagnosis of suspected cases. We describe a case of de novo duplication (10q) with verification using DNA is situ hybridization. 9 refs., 5 figs.
A software reuse system based on natural language specifications

Promoting software reuse practice requires more effective support. We discuss some problems in current software reuse systems and how current research in retrieval through natural language specifications addresses them. We introduce work in progress for a software reuse system that aims to provide high precision in retrieval by processing both queries in natural language and descriptions of components in a software library. Additional support for application developers (for understanding and adapting software components) and for library managers (for creation, organization and reorganization of reusable components) is also discussed. >
Is computer-based learning right for everyone?

This study tests the hypothesis that a person's underlying learning style is a useful predictor of their attitude toward computer based instruction and learning. Students in the author's undergraduate economics class participated in a learning style assessment based on the Gregorc Learning Style Delineator to determine their basic learning style: concrete or abstract, sequential or random. Students were also surveyed as to their attitudes toward the computer based aspects of the class. Finally, correlation coefficients were computed to see whether or not certain learning styles were associated with positive attitudes toward computer instruction. According to the results, students with sequential learning styles use computer based instructional techniques more frequently and prefer them to traditional instructional techniques when compared with students whose learning styles are random.
Airlift column photobioreactors for Porphyridium sp. culturing: Part I. effects of hydrodynamics and reactor geometry

Photosynthetic microorganisms have been attracting world attention for their great potential as renewable energy sources in recent years. Cost effective production in large scale, however, remains a major challenge to overcome. It is known to the field that turbulence could help improving the performance of photobioreactors due to the so-called flashing light effects. Better understanding of the multiphase fluid dynamics and the irradiance distribution inside the reactor that cause the flashing light effects, as well as quantifying their impacts on the reactor performance, thus, are crucial for successful design and scale-up of photobioreactors. In this study, a species of red marine microalgae, Porphyridium sp., was grown in three airlift column photobioreactors (i.e., draft tube column, bubble column, and split column). The physical properties of the culture medium, the local fluid dynamics and the photobioreactor performances were investigated and are reported in this part of the manuscript. Results indicate that the presence of microalgae considerably affected the local multiphase flow dynamics in the studied draft tube column. Results also show that the split column reactor works slightly better than the draft tube and the bubble columns due to the spiral flow pattern inside the reactor. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:932–941. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A New Generation of Intelligent Virtual Patients for Clinical Training

Over the last 15 years, a virtual revolution has taken place in the use of Virtual Reality simulation technology for clinical purposes. Recent shifts in the social and scientific landscape have now set the stage for the next major movement in Clinical Virtual Reality with the “birth” of intelligent virtual humans. Seminal research and development has appeared in the creation of highly interactive, artificially intelligent and natural language capable virtual human agents that can engage real human users in a credible fashion. No longer at the level of a prop to add context or minimal faux interaction in a virtual world, virtual human representations can be designed to perceive and act in a 3D virtual world, engage in face-to-face spoken dialogues with real users (and other virtual humans) and in some cases, they are capable of exhibiting human-like emotional reactions. This paper will present a brief rationale and overview of their use in clinical training and then detail our work developing and evaluating artificially intelligent virtual humans for use as virtual standardized patients in clinical training with novice clinicians. We also discuss a new project that uses a virtual human as an online guide for promoting access to psychological healthcare information and for assisting military personnel and family members in breaking down barriers to initiating care. While we believe that the use of virtual humans to serve the role of virtual therapists is still fraught with both technical and ethical concerns, we have had success in the initial creation of virtual humans that can credibly mimic the content and interaction of a patient with a clinical disorder for training purposes. As technical advances continue, this capability is expected to have a significant impact on how clinical training is conducted in psychology and medicine.
Corruption: Supply-Side and Demand-Side Solutions

As any other economic transaction, corruption too has demand and supply dimensions. The focus thus far has been on the demand side, viz., government trying to control its own officials. Dixit shifts the attention to the supply side, viz., firms. He proposes that business community itself could set a norm of ‘no bribes’ and enforce it through ostracism such as ‘not doing business with those firms who give bribes’. Dixit suggests that largest firms could potentially take the lead as they may be better able to withstand initial losses till the norm takes roots.
Design of articulated leg–wheel subsystem by kinetostatic optimization

Abstract High mobility, maneuverability and obstacle-surmounting capabilities are highly desirable features for rough-terrain locomotion systems. In this paper, we explore the use of various candidate articulated leg–wheel subsystem designs (based on the four-bar mechanism) to enhance locomotion capabilities of land-based vehicles. Multiple leg–wheel design parameters, such as kinematic link lengths and static spring stiffnesses and preloads, influence the overall locomotion performance. Appropriate selection can not only enhance the robot climbing performance but also reduce the wheel slip as well as the overall energy consumption. In particular, we aim to: (i) achieve the greatest motion-ranges between wheel–axle and chassis; as well as to (ii) reduce the overall actuation requirements by aspring assist. Hence, we explore the use of systematic kinetostatic design approaches coupled with optimization to determine the parameters for alternate leg–wheel subsystem designs. Further, we also examine enhancement of uneven-terrain locomotion by varying subsystem parameters during the terrain traversal via a semi-active leg–wheel subsystem. Extensive simulation is then employed to evaluate the capabilities of these alternate articulated leg–wheel designs to surmount a predetermined/sensed terrain traversal profile while reducing actuation requirements.
Telling It Like It Ought To Be

This article comments on the book on management education, titled Managers Not MBAs: A Hard Look at the Soft Practice of Managing and Management Development, by Henry Mintzberg. The book comes in t...
Polymerization Stress and the Influence of TOSU Addends on Methacrylate Composites

The aesthetic appeal of composite-resin restoratives promotes their use, however their functional life is significantly shorter when compared to their metal counterparts.1 One possible reason is the effect of polymerization stress on marginal integrity. Shrinkage of the composite, and its associated stress, has been found to cause gap formation and stress interactions between the restorative and the adhesive. These gaps offer an ideal niche for bacteria, and, when compounded by the mechanical strain of chewing, can lead to premature failure of the restorative.2,3 Additionally, it is well known that incomplete conversion of the double bonds occurs during methacrylate polymerizations.4–7 A high degree of conversion is needed to prevent the presence of potentially hazardous monomers.8Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Lumbar Puncture in Late Onset Neonatal Infection

Five relevant clinical studies (1980-2004) found in a Medline, Pubmed and other database search were analyzed to determine the incidence of meningitis and the importance of routine lumbar puncture (LP) in late onset neonatal infection (greater than 48 hours), in a report from Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK.
The Floating Spherical Gaussian Orbital Method

One important object of molecular quantum mechanics is the calculation of the stationary state energies of molecular systems as functions of the geometrical configuration of their nuclei. By finding the energy minima one can predict the equilibrium geometric form of molecules, including internuclear distances and bond angles. The procedure implies the use of the Born-Oppenheimer approx­imation which is known to be excellent for the ground electronic state of most molecules.
Chapter 1 “I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate”: The Multiple Parallel Traditions of Belly Dance

Shay introduces belly dance as a sexy ethno-identity dance. He looks at the genre both in Egypt and the United States, and writes that it is sex which draws the viewer, particularly the heterosexual male viewer. Belly dance was introduced to the West at nineteenth-century world fairs, particularly the Columbian Exhibition in 1893, where it was considered to be scandalous because of the dancers’ race and their lack of corsets. He addresses the terminology of belly dancing, its movements and aesthetics, and its history from the ancient world to the present. Shay refers especially to cabaret belly dancing, its acceptance in the 1970s by American women who were eager to learn it, and issues of orientalism that surround it.
Rickettsia amblyommatis sp. nov., a spotted fever group Rickettsia associated with multiple species of Amblyomma ticks in North, Central and South America.

In 1973, investigators isolated a rickettsial organism, designated strain WB-8-2T, from an adult Amblyomma americanum tick collected at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, TN, USA. This organism is now recognized as highly prevalent in A. americanum, as well as several other Amblyomma species found throughout the Western hemisphere. It has been suggested that cross-reactivity to WB-8-2T and similar strains contributes to the increasing number of spotted fever cases reported in the USA. In 1995, investigators provided preliminary evidence that this strain, as well as another strain from Missouri, represented a distinct taxonomic unit within the genus Rickettsia by evaluating sequences of the 16S rRNA and 17 kDa protein genes. However, the bacterium was never formally named, despite the use of the designation ‘ Rickettsia amblyommii’ and later ‘Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii’, for more than 20 years in the scientific literature. Herein, we provide additional molecular evidence to identify strain WB-8-2T as a representative strain of a unique rickettsial species and present a formal description for the species, with the proposed name modified to Rickettsia amblyommatis sp. nov. to conform to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. We also establish a pure culture of strain WB-8-2T and designate it as the type strain for the species. The type strain is WB-8-2T (=CRIRC RAM004T=CSURP2882T).
Repression Of Matrix Gene Expression By B-Myb

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) synthesise collagens type I and V matrix proteins, which are major constituents of the arterial wall. In culture, matrix gene expression varies inversely with the rate of SMC proliferation. Previously we showed that B-myb, a member of the myb gene family, is expressed in SMCs in a cell-cycle dependent fashion, and that it is a negative regulator of matrix gene transcription. Phosphorylation by cyclin A/cdk2 relieved B-Myb-mediated repression of α2 (V) collagen gene transcription, and the sites of phosphorylation were distinct from those affecting activation by B-Myb. The domain responsible for repression mapped to residues 491 to 582 of the C-terminal region of B-Myb. Transgenic mice over-expressing B- Myb displayed significantly reduced collagen expression in the aorta. Thus, B-Myb functions in vivo as a repressor of collagen gene expression in vascular SMCs.
Respiratory Viral Infections in Chronic Lung Diseases

Chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, cystic fibrosis (CF) and interstitial lung diseases (ILD), affect many individuals worldwide. Patients with these chronic lung diseases are susceptible to respiratory lung infections and some of these viral infections can contribute to disease pathogenesis. This review highlights the associations of lung infections and the respective chronic lung diseases and how infection in the different lung diseases affects disease exacerbation and progression.
Concurrent use of capecitabine with radiation therapy and survival in breast cancer (BC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

e12117Background: Capecitabine has been studied as a radiosensitizer in rectal cancer, but its role in BC is unclear. Our study seeks to examine the association of concurrent capecitabine/radiation therapy (RT) on survival in women with BC and residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Methods: In a retrospective study of women with stage I-III BC who received Adriamycin/Taxane-based NAC from 2010-2016, we identified 21 women administered concurrent capecitabine/RT. To assess differences in survival, we selected a clinical control cohort (n = 64) based on criteria used to select patients for capecitabine/RT including pathological stage II/III disease and non-HER2+ tumor subtype. We also created a matched cohort (2:1), matching on tumor subtype, pathological stage, and age ( < 50 or 50+ years). Differences in progression-free survival (PFS), using STEEP criteria, and overall survival (OS), using all-cause mortality, between those who received capecitabine/RT and controls were assessed. Results:...
Selecting Railway Investments in 1890s America

ABSTRACT: The purpose of financial reporting is to provide information to investors and creditors to help them make rational decisions (Financial Accounting Standards Board [FASB] 2010). Tracing the development of investors' methods should help with understanding the role of financial accounting. This study examines investment practices involving railways in 1890s America. As such, it furthers our knowledge about the development of investment methods and their necessary information. Moreover, it shows that as investment methods grew in sophistication, there was an enhanced demand for greater comparability in accounting data to make meaningful analyses. Competing investment strategies, largely devoid of accounting information, are also discussed.
Chemically Cross‐Linked Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐Supported Deep Eutectic Solvent Gel Electrolytes for Eco‐Friendly Supercapacitors

Nonvolatile, ion-dense electrolytes, such as ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are attractive candidates for safe, high-performance electrochemical/electrostatic energy storage devices. In this report, an inexpensive and eco-friendly DES (1 : 2 mixture of choline chloride/ethylene glycol) has been incorporated into a solid-state gel electrolyte using a chemically cross-linked polymer scaffold formed through in situ UV copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate. A high room-temperature ionic conductivity of 5.7 mS cm−1 has been obtained for a DES gel containing 13.2 vol % polymer scaffold. Tunable DES gel compressive elastic modulus values, between 14 kPa and 1.0 MPa, could be obtained by varying the polymer content. Clear evidence of hydrogen-bonding interactions between the poly(HEMA) scaffold and the DES anion was revealed through species self-diffusivity measurements as well as by FTIR spectroscopy. Using a 22.9 vol % polymer-supported DES gel as electrolyte/separator in a supercapacitor prototype with activated carbon fabric electrodes, a specific capacitance of 33.3 F g−1 and an energy density of 15.8 Wh kg−1 (based on the mass of two electrodes) were obtained during discharge at a current density of 0.01 A g−1. This work supports the notion that chemically cross-linked polymer-supported DES gel electrolytes are suitable for solid-state, flexible supercapacitor applications.