cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corn residue level and manure application timing effects on phosphorus losses in runoff

Growing interest in corn (Zea mays L.) silage utilization on Wisconsin dairy farms may have implications for nutrient losses from agricultural lands. Increasing the silage cutting height will increase residue cover and could reduce off-site migration of sediments and associated constituents compared with conventional silage harvesting. We examined the effects of residue level and manure application timing on phosphorus (P) losses in runoff from no-till corn. Treatments included conventional corn grain (G) and silage (SL; 10- to 15-cm cutting height) and nonconventional, high-cut (60-65 cm) silage (SH) subjected to different manure application regimes: no manure (N) or surface application in fall (F) or spring (S). Simulated rainfall (76 mm h(-1); 1 h) was applied in spring and fall for two years (2002-2003), runoff from 2.0- x 1.5-m plots was collected, and subsamples were analyzed for dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), total phosphorus (TP), and P mass distribution in four particle size classes. Total P and DRP loads were inversely related to percent residue cover, but both TP and DRP concentrations were unaffected by residue level. Manure application increased DRP concentrations in spring runoff by two to five times but did not significantly affect DRP loads, since higher concentrations were offset by lower runoff volumes. Spring manure application reduced TP loads in spring runoff by 77 to 90% compared with plots receiving no manure, with the extent of reductions being greatest at the lower residue levels (<24%). The TP concentration in sediments increased as particle size decreased. Manure application increased the TP concentration of the 0- to 2-microm fraction by 79 to 125%, but elevated the 2- to 10- and 10- to 50-microm fractions to a lesser extent. Recent manure additions were most influential in enriching transported sediments with P. By itself, higher residue cover achieved by high-cutting silage was often insufficient to lower P losses; however, the combination of manure application and higher residue levels significantly reduced P losses from corn fields harvested for silage.
Redox reactions between iron and quinones: Thermodynamic constraints

Abstract Iron is the most abundant redox-active metallic element on the earth’s surface. Quinones, a term that encompasses dihydroxybenzenes (catechol and hydroquinone), semiquinone radicals, and benzoquinones, are abundant moieties within natural organic matter. Separately or in concert, iron species (both dissolved and precipitated) and quinones are believed to be key participants in a wide range of environmental redox reactions. Here, we investigate how pH, quinone structure, and iron speciation impose thermodynamic constraints on possible reactions. The steps outlined in this work must be followed to evaluate whether postulated redox processes involving iron and quinones are energetically feasible.
The ozone-induced chemiluminescent oxidation of acetaldehyde

The vibration-rotation bands (Meinel bands) of OH (2Πi) have been observed in the chemiluminescent gas phase reaction of ozone with acetaldehyde at a total pressure of 3 torr at room temperature; a weaker emission in the visible region is tentatively identified as formaldehyde fluorescence.
Report of the 2007 Education Committee Panel on Simulation in Alimentary Tract Surgery

At the 2007 Digestive Diseases Week, the Education Committee of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract sponsored a symposium entitled “Simulation in Gastrointestinal Surgery.” Four panelists presented perspectives on the role of simulation in education and training of medical students and residents in operations of Gastrointestinal Surgery in the gastrointestinal surgeon’s practice, in the certification of centers for training and maintenance of skills, and in the credentialing of surgeons in new procedures. The consensus of the panel is that over the next several years, simulation will play an expanding role in all of these spheres of the GI surgeon’s activities.
Stochastic models for recognition of occluded targets

Recognition of occluded objects in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is a significant problem for automatic target recognition. Stochastic models provide some attractive features for pattern matching and recognition under partial occlusion and noise. In this paper, we present a hidden Markov modeling based approach for recognizing objects in SAR images. We identify the peculiar characteristics of SAR sensors and using these characteristics we develop feature based multiple models for a given SAR image of an object. The models exploiting the relative geometry of feature locations or the amplitude of SAR radar return are based on sequentialization of scattering centers extracted from SAR images. In order to improve performance we integrate these models synergistically using their probabilistic estimates for recognition of a particular target at a specific azimuth. Experimental results are presented using both synthetic and real SAR images.
HIGH-INTENSITY NANOSECOND PHOTOREFRACTIVE SPATIAL SOLITONS

We report the observation of high-intensity solitons in a bulk strontium barium niobate crystal. The solitons are observed by use of 8-ns optical pulses with optical intensities greater than 100 MW/cm2. Each soliton forms and attains its minimum width after roughly ten pulses and reaches e-1 of the steady-state width after the first pulse. We find good agreement between experimental observations and theoretical predictions for the soliton existence curve.
PAR-1 Phosphorylates Mind Bomb to Promote Vertebrate Neurogenesis

Generation of neurons in the vertebrate central nervous system requires a complex transcriptional regulatory network and signaling processes in polarized neuroepithelial progenitor cells. Here we demonstrate that neurogenesis in the Xenopus neural plate in vivo and mammalian neural progenitors in vitro involves intrinsic antagonistic activities of the polarity proteins PAR-1 and aPKC. Furthermore, we show that Mind bomb (Mib), a ubiquitin ligase that promotes Notch ligand trafficking and activity, is a crucial molecular substrate for PAR-1. The phosphorylation of Mib by PAR-1 results in Mib degradation, repression of Notch signaling, and stimulation of neuronal differentiation. These observations suggest a conserved mechanism for neuronal fate determination that might operate during asymmetric divisions of polarized neural progenitor cells.
Orientation Anisotropy of the Mechanical α Relaxation of High-Density Polyethylene Films Having a Well-Defined Stacked Lamellar Morphology

Dynamic mechanical experiments were conducted on melt-extruded uniaxially oriented high- density polyethylene films having a well-defined stacked lamellar morphology. Samples were cut at different angles with respect to the original machine direction (MD) and tested by increasing the temperature from 20 to 130 °C at a heating rate of 0.5 °C/min in the frequency range from 0.01 to 10 Hz. Samples before and after the dynamic mechanical tests were also investigated by using WAXS, SAXS, and DSC. Oscillating parallel (0°) and perpendicular (90°) to the MD gave rise to a single tan δ dispersion peak, while oscillating at angles between the above two extremes generated a secondary dispersion peak at lower temperatures, with a maximum relaxation strength occurring at 45° orientation. It was concluded that, for the 0 and 90° orientations, the mechanical dispersion arises essentially from the crystalline phase, and it contains the contributions of earlier recognized intralamellar (αI) and intracrystalline (αII) rel...
Reversible blocking of nerve conduction by alternating-current excitation.

IN recent years, the attention of control engineers has been attracted to the communication characteristics of nerves, particularly in regard to their function in the feedback control of muscle. Muscles are highly non-linear power amplifiers, which require complex nervous control circuitry to permit smooth and continuous movement of the limbs. This control circuitry consists of multiple feedback loops, and the problem is to determine experimentally the function of individual loops. One approach is to open circuit specific peripheral neural paths and observe the effect on over-all performance.
Modern trends in authentication

Authentication is the process of verifying a person's claim of identity. The designers of secure computer systems have incorporated many techniques of user-validation from law enforcement, from industrial security, and from the financial community. Several methods have also been developed explicitly for use in computer systems. This paper will present an overview of all methods of authentication currently used in computer security. Implementation considerations will also be discussed.
Neutrino-electron scattering and the choice between different Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein solutions of the solar-neutrino problem

We consider the scattering of solar neutrinos by electrons as a means fordistinguishing between different MSW solutions of the solar neutrino problem.In terms of the ratio /ital R/ between the observed cross section and that forpure electron-type neutrinos, we find some correlation between the value of/ital R/ and each solution. A value of /ital R/less than or equal to 1/3 implies that theadiabatic solution is correct, while values between 1/3 and3/5 are consistent with the large-angle solution. A value closeto 1/2 is also consistent with the nonadiabatic solution, and avalue less than ((1/6-- 1) / 7) impliesoscillations into sterile neutrinos.
Red queen for a day: models of symmetry and selection in paleoecology

The Unified Theory of Biodiversity (UNTB), the Red Queen’s Hypothesis (RQH), and the Cascading Extinctions on Graphs hypothesis (CEG) are explored as members of a spectrum describing the ecological partitioning of species richness. All are models of historical biodiversity, but fare differently in explaining observed features of Phanerozoic biodiversity. The models treat species as symmetric, asymmetric, or partially symmetric respectively. Symmetry in the UNTB is broken by the generation and selection of variation of ecological performance, while the robustness and hence longevity of RQ communities are subject to selection. The CEG model reconciles some of the differences, demonstrating the importance of functional partitioning to both species evolution and selection at the community level. It is concluded that the UNTB explains communities partially on the shortest of evolutionary time scales, while RQ communities would be, at best, geologically ephemeral yet conditionally important.
Occurrence of Pyuria and Bacteriuria in Asymptomatic Hemodialysis Patients

Patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis have documented defects in their immune responses, and infections contribute significantly to their morbidity and mortality. This study prospectively detected and quantitated leukocyturia and bacteriuria in asymptomatic hemodialysis patients. Thirty-one percent of asymptomatic hemodialysis patients had significant pyuria (> 10 white blood cells per high-power field) and 25% had bacteriuria of pathologic dimensions, (> 1 x 10(5)/mL of a single microorganism). Pyuria was a good marker for significant bacteriuria in these patients. These results demonstrate that the urinary tract, even in ESRD patients on hemodialysis, may represent a significant reservoir for infection.
Roles of deltoid and rotator cuff muscles in shoulder elevation

Abstract Objective. The objective of this study was to measure abduction moment arms of the supraspinatus, subscapularis, infraspinatus, and deltoid (anterior, middle, and posterior portions) muscles during humeral elevation in the scapular plane (abduction). Design. Moment arms were measured by conducting an in vitro experiment. Background. The moment arm of a muscle represents its mechanical advantage, which is an important determinant of muscle function. Methods. Measurements were made on 10 fresh frozen cadaveric specimens. Tendon excursions were measured as the humerus was elevated in the plane of the scapula. The principle of virtual work was used to estimate the muscle moment arm of each muscle by computing the slope of the tendon excursion versus joint angle relationship. Results. Moment arms were affected by joint angle in a non-linear fashion. The anterior deltoid, middle deltoid, subscapularis, and infraspinatus muscles had abduction moment arms throughout most of the range of motion studied. The posterior deltoid had an adduction moment arm. Internal and external humeral rotation affected the elevation moment arms of all six muscles. Conclusions. Abduction moment arm magnitudes of the muscles studies vary throughout the arc of elevation. This study was limited by considering broad muscles to have a single line of action.
Geomorphic response to minor cyclic climate changes, San Diego County, California

Abstract Short-term episodic cycles of wet and dry patterns of climate are common in southern California. Wet intervals, like the one in 1978-83, are often characterized by more than double the average annual precipitation. The impact of these episodic climatic fluctuations on landforms and surficial processes has not been well documented for areas inland of the coast. The response to these cycles may be significant in the evolution of hillslopes and fluvial landforms, and may have significant implications for geologic hazards in this rapidly developing region. Using aerial photographs and field investigations we found little response to the 1978–1983 wet interval on upland hillslopes, but documented significant response on alluvial fans and in channels in desert piedmont areas. These observations may lend support to the Langbein-Schumm (1958) model relating sediment yield to precipitation. A variety of techniques, including dendrogeomorphology, studies of the weathering of clasts, soil stratigraphy, and aerial photo mapping were used to discern at least six units on alluvial fans ranging from Late Pleistocene to present. Terraces along active fan channels and the San Felipe River record a geomorphic record of the most recent wet intervals (ca. 1940 and 1980) as a significant depositional event. Geomorphic responses to the wet interval along the San Felipe River were complex, varying locally according to controls on sediment storage and downstream transfer through a recently integrated drainage system. Additional complex responses to the wet period were experienced in selected sites where antecedence and response times may be measured in months or even years.
Aryl-Containing Pyridine-Imine and Azaallyl Chelates of Iron toward Strong Field Coordination Compounds

A series of aryl- and pyridyl-imine iron complexes have been prepared to explore the generation of strong fields provided by aryl chelates and the potential support of an azaallyl functionality. cis-(Me3P)4FeMe2 and imino-based ligand precursors afforded trans-{κ-C,N,N′-(XAr-2-yl)CH2N═CH-2-py}(PMe3)2FeIICH3 (X = H, 1; p-OMe, 2; o-Cl, 3) and trans-{κ-C,N,N′-(p-tBu-Ar-2-yl)CH═NCH2-2-py}(PMe3)2FeIICH3 (4) concomitant with 2 PMe3 and CH4 via ArH activation. Thermolysis of 4 + PMe3 gave CH4 and py CH activation to provide mer-{κ-C,N,C′-(p-tBu-Ar-2-yl)CH═NCH2(2-py-3-yl)}(PMe3)3FeII (6). Derivatization of 6 with MeOTf produced [mer-{κ-C,N,C′-(p-tBu-Ar-2-yl)CH═NCH2(2-py-NCH3-3-yl)}(PMe3)3FeII]OTf (7), which could be deprotonated to give the zwitterionic azaallyl mer-{κ-C,N,C′-(p-tBu-Ar-2-yl)CHNCH(2-py-NCH3-3-yl)}(PMe3)3FeII (8). Oxidation of 4 with AgOTf generated [trans-{κ-C,N,N′-(p-tBu-Ar-2-yl)CH═NCH2-2-py}(PMe3)2FeIIICH3]OTf (9), and its deprotonation with KH produced azaallyl trans-{κ-C,N,N′-(p-tBu-Ar-2-yl)CH...
Importance of medium solutes in polarographic measurement of low oxygen consumption rates

Abstract 1. 1. Solutes in biological media change both the solubility and the activity coefficient of oxygen. 2. 2. When 0.5% glucose was added to a buffered electrolyte medium, the Clark electrode oxygen consumption (blank), as measured by the rate of fall in pO 2 , increased precipitously and was not reproducible thereafter. 3. 3. With 0.02% glucose present the electrode was relatively stable for 2 days, but the standard deviation of the blank was 4–6 times greater than without it. 4. 4. The magnitude and variability of the electrode blank must be determined in the medium to be employed to preclude significant error in polarographic measurement of low rates of oxygen consumption.
Effect of histamine and divalent cations on the activity and stability of tryptase from human mast cells

Tryptase from human mast cells is stabilized by negatively charged macromolecules such as heparin and is not affected by the protein inhibitors of serine proteinases normally present in human extracellular fluids. The current study demonstrated inhibition of tryptase-catalyzed cleavage of tosyl-Gly-Pro-Lys-p-nitroanilide by histamine and calcium, and destablization only by calcium. Calcium-mediated inhibition was competitive with a Ki of 30 mM. Cooperation of calcium with other extracellular cations or concentrations of calcium possible within cells or granules may permit calcium-mediated inhibition to occur in vivo. In contrast, only 5 mM calcium is needed to cause an irreversible 50% loss of tryptase activity after 60 min at room temperature. Histamine and N-methyl histamine concentrations of 2 mM to 10 mM inhibited tryptase activity by a different mechanism than calcium, resulting in sigmoid rather than hyperbolic kinetics. Whether this reflects cooperative binding of histamine to tryptase or conformational alterations of tryptase is not known. These concentrations of histamine are most relevant to those in mast cell secretory granules estimated at 100 mM, where tryptase is stored fully active and where histamine may play a role in attenuating tryptase activity.
Computer aided rehabilitation for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that leads to inflammation of joints and the surrounding tissues and is a major cause of reduced quality of life and disability. RA can also cause major organ damage and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Physical Therapy (PT) and Physical Activity (PA) have been shown to mitigate the effects of the disease, however, lack of motivation and low adherence of the patients reduce the benefits of PT and PA. In this paper, we present a cyberphysical system intended to preserve the functional Range-Of-Motion (ROM) and cardiovascular health in persons with RA, by promoting their physical activity levels and enhancing their physical therapy routines. The system uses game-based activities to increase user motivation and vision-based motion tracking to ensure patient compliance with the prescribed physical therapy routines and activity levels.
Ion kinetic properties in Mercury's pre-midnight plasma sheet

With data from the Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer sensor on the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging spacecraft, we demonstrate that the average distributions for both solar wind and planetary ions in Mercury's pre-midnight plasma sheet are well-described by hot Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions. Temperatures and densities of the H+-dominated plasma sheet, in the ranges ~1–10 cm−3 and ~5–30 MK, respectively, maintain thermal pressures of ~1 nPa. The dominant planetary ion, Na+, has number densities about 10% that of H+. Solar wind ions retain near-solar-wind abundances with respect to H+ and exhibit mass-proportional ion temperatures, indicative of a reconnection-dominated heating in the magnetosphere. Conversely, planetary ion species are accelerated to similar average energies greater by a factor of ~1.5 than that of H+. This energization is suggestive of acceleration in an electric potential, consistent with the presence of a strong centrifugal acceleration process in Mercury's magnetosphere.
Realistically Low Species Evenness Does Not Alter Grassland Species-Richness-Productivity Relationships

Biodiversity is declining worldwide from reductions in both species richness and evenness. Field experiments have shown that primary productivity is often reduced when richness of plant species is lowered. However, experiments testing richness effects have used evenness levels that are much higher than normally encountered in plant com- munities and have been based on the assumption that species extinctions are random. We experimentally varied, for the first time, both species richness (1-8 perennial species/m 2 ) and species evenness (near maximal vs. realistically low) in grassland plots. Net primary productivity (NPP) and ecosystem CO2 uptake declined when richness was reduced, and reductions were similar between evenness treatments. Richness effects were associated more with a selection effect than with complementarity (found only with high evenness). Im- portantly, extinctions in plots during the second year were not random, but were greater at low than at high evenness (i.e., with increased rarity) and in species with low aboveground growth rates. Thus, species evenness can affect grassland ecosystem processes indirectly by affecting species richness, and it will be imperative to understand how nonrandom extinctions affect NPP in future studies. Our results indicate that richness studies may not be biased by using mixtures with artificially high evenness levels, but the results also demonstrate that results from these studies are directly applicable only to communities in which plant extinctions are random.
Relationship of traditional parameters of compost stability to turfgrass quality

Abstract A preliminary study was conducted to assess the relationship of traditional operational parameters of wastewater sludge composting (such as C: N ratio, and respiration rate) to the quality of established turfgrass following compost application. Compost was sampled at five different stages of an in‐vessel process, and applied at two rates (9700 and 4850 kg ha‐1) to established tall fescue and also to a mixed sward of perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. Surprisingly, no phytotoxicity was observed in any of the turfgrasses at either rate of application, even for the wastewater sludge which had only been composting for approximately 11 days. In all treatments, positive effects of increased growth and enhanced green colour were observed following compost application. The field data suggest a quick nitrogen release effect from the applied compost. Visual difference between treated and non‐treated plots were nearly indistinguishable 32 days after application. These observations suggest that compo...
Metabolic syndrome in adolescents with spinal cord dysfunction.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of components of the metabolic syndrome in adolescents with spinal cord injury (SCI) and spina bifida (SB), and their associatio...
Acute and Delayed Effects of Anterior Pituitary Transplants in Inducing Precocious Puberty in the Female Rat

Transplantation of a single anterior pituitary gland from a male donor under the kidney capsule of 22-day.old female rats induced a remarkable advancement of puberty. Although prolactin (PRL) levels were acutely and chronically elevated in animals bearing the ectopic pituitaries, concentrations of GH, LH and FSH increased markedly within 2 h following the transplantation. By 24 h LH and FSH levels had returned to basal values, GH was still slightly elevated and PRL was further elevated. When pituitaries were grafted in adult animals and, after a period of 10-11 days, regrafted into 22 day-old female rats (2 pituitaries/rat), the initial posttransplantation increase in LH, FSH and GH was abolished. Levels of these hormones remained at basal values throughout the entire period studied (Days 22-29). Prolactin levels, however, increased promptly (2 h) and remained elevated for at least 3 days. Puberty was again clearly advanced, but the advancement was significantly less pronounced than that induced by transplantation of a normal pituitary. In vitro ovarian progesterone responsiveness to hCG of rats bearing 2 retransplanted ectopic pituitaries was significantly greater than that of age matched controls. Likewise, serum progesterone levels were more elevated in the former animals. The results indicate that: a) the marked advancement of puberty induced by pituitary grafts cannot be attributed only to the high PRL levels but also, and perhaps more importantly to the acute changes in LH and FSH levels that follow transplantation; b) when these changes were prevented, by transplanting pregrafted pituitaries, only PRL levels remained elevated and the ectopic glands were again capable of advancing onset of puberty; c) although the regrafted pituitaries may still have produced a marginal elevation in serum gonadotropins at times later than 2 h posttransplantation, the clearly increased PRL levels suggest that this hormone was, at least in part, responsible for the observed advancement of puberty; d) the effect of the regrafted pituitaries on puberty is mediated in part by an increase in ovarian progesterone responsiveness to gonadotropins.
Low-pressure clino- to high-pressure clinoenstatite phase transition: A phonon-related mechanism

We have investigated by first principles the compressional behavior of low-pressure (LP) and high-pressure (HP) MgSiO 3 clinoenstatite. We have carefully examined unit-cell shapes, chain angles, and polyhedral volume responses, such as angle variances and quasi-elongations, under pressure at room temperature. We have observed opposite behavior of the tetrahedra in the S-rotated and O-rotated chains with pressure in the LP phase, with a slight increase (decrease) in angle variance and quasi-elongation in the former (latter). Inspection of zone center modes of both phases under pressure reveals a transition path that converts the S-rotated chain in the LP phase into the O-rotated chain in the HP phase. This conversion is related to a slight softening of an A g “metastable” Raman mode under pressure.
A decision-theoretic extension of stochastic complexity and its applications to learning

Rissanen (1978) has introduced stochastic complexity to define the amount of information in a given data sequence relative to a given hypothesis class of probability densities, where the information is measured in terms of the logarithmic loss associated with universal data compression. This paper introduces the notion of extended stochastic complexity (ESC) and demonstrates its effectiveness in design and analysis of learning algorithms in on-line prediction and batch-learning scenarios. ESC can be thought of as an extension of Rissanen's stochastic complexity to the decision-theoretic setting where a general real-valued function is used as a hypothesis and a general loss function is used as a distortion measure. As an application of ESC to on-line prediction, this paper shows that a sequential realization of ESC produces an on-line prediction algorithm called Vovk's aggregating strategy, which can be thought of as an extension of the Bayes algorithm. We derive upper bounds on the cumulative loss for the aggregating strategy both of an expected form and a worst case form in the case where the hypothesis class is continuous. As an application of ESC to batch-learning, this paper shows that a batch-approximation of ESC induces a batch-learning algorithm called the minimum L-complexity algorithm (MLC), which is an extension of the minimum description length (MDL) principle. We derive upper bounds on the statistical risk for the MLC, which are the least to date. Through the ESC we give a unifying view of the most effective learning algorithms that have been explored in computational learning theory.
Evolving social behavior in adverse environments

Cooperative behaviors are pervasive in the natural world. How organisms evolve stable cooperative strategies, specifically how selection can favor such costly behaviors, is a difficult problem for which several theories exist. In this work, we use digital evolution to explore the evolution of the production of a public resource that enables populations of organisms to survive in an adverse environment. Kin selection and limited dispersal are shown to promote cooperative acts, and evolved organisms stave off invasion by cheaters and survive in increasingly-adverse environments. Further, we observe how populations react to the disappearance and later re-emergence of adversity in the environment.
HM-IE: Quantum Chemical Hybrid Methods for Calculating Interaction Energies

Accurate intermolecular potentials are needed for quantitative molecular simulations, but their calculation from quantum mechanics can be very demanding. We have developed several variations of a procedure, which we collectively refer to as quantum mechanical Hybrid Methods for Interaction Energies (HM-IE), to accurately estimate interaction energies from CCSD(T) calculations with a large basis set (LBS). HM-IE was tested for interaction energies of Ne 2 ,( C 2H2)2, and N2-benzene for many orientations sampling the entire potential energy surface and was found to be in excellent agreement with the CCSD(T)/LBS results while requiring considerably less computational time and resources. Furthermore, for neon, an intermolecular potential fit to interaction energies using HM-IE and a potential fit to CCSD(T)/LBS energies resulted in nearly identical predictions for densities and vapor pressures.
Intermolecular carbene S-H insertion catalysed by engineered myoglobin-based catalysts†.

The first example of a biocatalytic strategy for the synthesis of thioethers via an intermolecular carbene S–H insertion reaction is reported. Engineered variants of sperm whale myoglobin were found to efficiently catalyze this C–S bond forming transformation across a diverse set of aryl and alkyl mercaptan substrates and α-diazoester carbene donors, providing high conversions (60–99%) and high numbers of catalytic turnovers (1100–5400). Furthermore, the enantioselectivity of these biocatalysts could be tuned through mutation of amino acid residues within the distal pocket of the hemoprotein, leading to myoglobin variants capable of supporting asymmetric S–H insertions with up to 49% ee. Rearrangement experiments support a mechanism involving the formation of a sulfonium ylide generated upon attack of the thiol substrate to a heme-bound carbene intermediate.
Implementing voltage controlled current source in electromagnetic full-wave simulation using the FDTD method

The implementation of a voltage controlled current source (VCCS) in full-wave electromagnetic simulation using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) is introduced. The VCCS is used to model a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) commonly used in microwave circuits. This new approach is verified with several numerical examples including circuits with VCCS and MOSFET. Good agreement is obtained when the results are compared with those based on analytical solution and PSpice.
Functional genetic diversity in the high-affinity carnitine transporter OCTN2 (SLC22A5).

Systemic carnitine deficiency (SCD) is a rare autosomal recessive disease resulting from defects in the OCTN2 ( SLC22A5 ) gene, which encodes the high-affinity plasma membrane carnitine transporter. Although OCTN2 is fairly well studied in its relationship with SCD, little is known about the carrier frequency of disease-causing alleles of OCTN2, or of more common functional polymorphisms in this gene. To address these issues, we screened for genetic variants in the OCTN2 coding region by direct sequencing of the exons and flanking intronic region of OCTN2 in a large sample ( n = 276) of ethnically diverse subjects. In addition, we established lymphoblastoid cell lines from subjects homozygous for either allele of the previously identified promoter region variant, -207G>C. We found eight amino acid sequence variants of OCTN2, of which three (Phe17Leu, Leu144Phe, and Pro549Ser) were polymorphic in at least one ethnic group. When assayed for functional activity by expression in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, using as probes both the endogenous substrate (l-carnitine) and the organic cation tetraethylammonium, three variants showed functional differences from the reference OCTN2 (Phe17Leu, Tyr449Asp, Val481Phe; p < 0.05). Further studies of the Phe17Leu polymorphism showed a reduced V max for l-carnitine transport to approximately 50% of the reference OCTN2. Confocal microscopy studies using an OCTN2-GFP fusion protein showed that Phe17Leu had distinct subcellular localization from the reference OCTN2, with diffuse cytoplasmic retention of Phe17Leu, in contrast to reference OCTN2, which localized specifically to the plasma membrane. Lymphoblasts from subjects homozygous for the -207G allele showed increased l-carnitine transport compared with the -207C/C homozygotes ( p < 0.05). This study suggests that although loss-of-function mutations in OCTN2 are likely to be rare, common variants of OCTN2 found in healthy populations may contribute to variation in the disposition of carnitine and some clinically used drugs.
EXPLAINING U.S. URBAN REGIMES A Qualitative Comparative Analysis

The author studies the influence of city context on urban regimes across 14 cities in the United States by surveying published case studies and applying qualitative comparative analysis. To explain variation in a regime typology, the author tests components of market conditions (a city’s fiscal resource base and mobility of local capital) and democratic conditions (local civic participation and ward-style representation). The results indicate that not one of these components is necessary or sufficient for supporting the emergence of a more progressive, as opposed to a developmental or caretaker, regime. Instead, three interactions between the components of market and democratic conditions explain the presence of progressive regimes. The author discusses the implications of the results for both studying and understanding U.S. regimes.
Elder Mistreatment: Priorities for Consideration by the White House Conference on Aging

Elder mistreatment is recognized internationally as a prevalent and growing problem, meriting the attention of policymakers, practitioners, and the general public. Studies have demonstrated that elder mistreatment is sufficiently widespread to be a major public health concern and that it leads to a range of negative physical, psychological, and financial outcomes. This article provides an overview of key issues related to the prevention and treatment of elder mistreatment, focusing on initiatives that can be addressed by the White House Conference on Aging. We review research on the extent of mistreatment and its consequences. We then propose 3 challenges in preventing and treating elder mistreatment that relate to improving research knowledge, creating a comprehensive service system, and developing effective policy. Under each challenge, examples are provided of promising initiatives that can be taken to eliminate mistreatment. To inform the recommendations, we employed recent data from the Elder Justice Roadmap Project, in which 750 stakeholders in the field of elder mistreatment were surveyed regarding research and policy priorities.
A cancellation based approach for reducing acoustic cross-talk in ultrasound arrays

A new cancellation method is described in this paper for controlling the acoustic cross-talk in ultrasonic arrays. The array's transmit mode transfer function is represented by a transfer function matrix. Elements of this matrix are determined by exciting a single central element with an initial wideband waveform. The desired output is then defined (e.g. finite output from a single central element and zero output from all other elements). The output from the center element and its adjacent element are measured and recorded. The associated electrical excitation is also recorded. These values are used to populate the transfer function matrix. Then, the matrix equation can be solved to determine the required excitation functions on both the central array element and its neighbors. These excitation functions will result in reduced evidence of cross-talk on the output signals. Finite element analysis (FEA) simulation results produced a 9dB cross-talk reduction. Additionally, a transmitting mode experiment based on a prototype five element transducer has provided results indicating that sidelobes in the angular response can be reduced using this technique.
Genetic-based dosing in orthopedic patients beginning warfarin therapy

High variability in drug response and a narrow therapeutic index complicate warfarin therapy initiation. No existing algorithm provides recommendations on refining the initial warfarin dose based on genetic variables, clinical data, and international normalized ratio (INR) values. Our goal was to develop such an algorithm. We studied 92 patients undergoing primary or revision total hip or knee replacement. From each patient we collected a blood sample, clinical variables, current medications, and preoperative and postoperative laboratory values. We genotyped for polymorphisms in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 and vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC1) genes. Using stepwise regression, we developed a model for refining the warfarin dose after the third warfarin dose. The algorithm explained four fifths of the variability in therapeutic dose (R2adj of 79%). Significant (P > .05) predictors were INR value after 3 doses (47% reduction per 0.25-unit rise), first warfarin dose (+7% per 1 mg), CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C9*2 genotype (−38% and −17% per allele), estimated blood loss (interacting with INR3), smoking status (+20% in current smokers), and VKORC1 (−11% per copy of haplotype A). If validated, this model should provide a safer, more effective process for initiating warfarin therapy.
(2+1)-Dimensional QED, Anomalous Surface-Term Contributions and Superconductivity

It is shown that (2+1)-dimensional QED reveals several unusual effects due to the surfaceterm contributions. It is also shown that this system provides a new pairing mechanism for the high-Tc superconductivity on the plane.
Mental Accounting in Financial Reporting and Voluntary Disclosure

Those involved in financial reporting and voluntary disclosure routinely make decisions about how to describe transactions and economic events. Key components of these decisions include how to label information, whether to aggregate or disaggregate it, and how frequently to provide it. For example, firms reporting under IFRS rules must determine whether to label interest paid as an operating or financing cash flow. Analysts evaluating a firm’s compound financial instruments must decide whether to consider them as reported (i.e., as one unit of account) or bifurcate them into their component parts. The purpose of this paper is twofold: First, we describe a robust theory from psychology, mental accounting, that can help explain how those involved in financial reporting and voluntary disclosure might make these kinds of decisions and evaluate them. Second, we provide illustrative examples of how this theory can aid scholars in their research on financial reporting issues, including those currently facing standard setters.
Affect-sensitive assistive intervention technologies for children with autism: An individual-specific approach

This paper presents an overview of our work on the investigation of an affect-sensitive system to be applied in future autism intervention. A physiology-based affect-inference and adaptation framework was proposed, which could endow the assistive intervention technology with the capability of detecting the affective states of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and responding to them accordingly. Given the importance of affective cues in human-machine interaction and its significant role in autism intervention practice, this work marks an important step towards intelligent intervention systems that embody human-like functionality - affect recognition and adaptation. To account for the spectrum nature of autism and the differences of emotional expression, an individual-specific approach was employed for affective modeling. Two computer-based cognitive tasks were designed for eliciting target affective states considered important in autism intervention. Experimental results on real-time affect recognition and adaptation are presented based on a study of 6 children with ASD in a proof-of-concept experiment (i.e., robot-based basketball game). The preliminary results demonstrated that such an affect-sensitive adaptive system could hold promise for computer/robot-assisted autism intervention.
Whole exome sequencing identifies a recurrent NAB2-STAT6 fusion in solitary fibrous tumors

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors. Here, we describe the identification of a NAB2-STAT6 fusion from whole-exome sequencing of 17 SFTs. Analysis in 53 tumors confirmed the presence of 7 variants of this fusion transcript in 29 tumors (55%), representing a lower bound for fusion frequency at this locus and suggesting that the NAB2-STAT6 fusion is a distinct molecular feature of SFTs.
Building a Temperature-Sensitive Ion Channel

The biophysical basis of temperature-sensitive ion channel gating has been a tough nut to crack. Chowdhury, et al. use a protein engineering approach to render a temperature-insensitive voltage-gated channel cold- or heat-responsive to reveal principles for temperature-gating and a plausible model for molecularly enabling this mode of environmental responsiveness.
Navigating Kentucky Employment Retaliation Law in the Wake of Brooks v. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Housing Authority

Like Title VII, the Kentucky Civil Rights Act includes an anti-retaliation provision. Unlike its federal counterpart, however, the language of the KCRA broadly prohibits retaliation or discrimination “in any manner” by “a person” or “two or more persons.” Though the statutory text differs significantly from that of Title VII (which limits claims against non-employers and requires a materially adverse action), the Kentucky Supreme Court has construed KRS 344.280 to be identical in effect as its federal counterpart. This construction, found in Brooks v. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Housing Authority, has defined how courts have analyzed and adjudicated retaliation claims in Kentucky. This article will help readers navigate recent state employment retaliation law decisions by the Kentucky Supreme Court and Court of Appeals by comparing the actual language of KRS 344.280 to the Kentucky Supreme Court’s construction of it in Brooks v. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Housing Authority. Also included is an analysis of the four distinct elements of a prima facie case of workplace retaliation, citing recent Kentucky appellate cases which have turned on each element. A defendant’s burden of offering a non-discriminatory reason for an adverse employment action follows, along with a discussion of the plaintiff’s burden of proving that the employer’s reason was pretext. Finally, the remedies available to plaintiffs under the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, as well as other important issues such as waiver and preemption, are explored.
Disgust proneness and associated neural substrates in obesity

Defects in experiencing disgust may contribute to obesity by allowing for the overconsumption of food. However, the relationship of disgust proneness and its associated neural locus has yet to be explored in the context of obesity. Thirty-three participants (17 obese, 16 lean) completed the Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale-Revised and a functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm where images from 4 categories (food, contaminates, contaminated food or fixation) were randomly presented. Independent two-sample t-tests revealed significantly lower levels of Disgust Sensitivity for the obese group (mean score = 14.7) compared with the lean group (mean score = 17.6, P = 0.026). The obese group had less activation in the right insula than the lean group when viewing contaminated food images. Multiple regression with interaction analysis revealed one left insula region where the association of Disgust Sensitivity scores with activation differed by group when viewing contaminated food images. These interaction effects were driven by the negative correlation of Disgust Sensitivity scores with beta values extracted from the left insula in the obese group (r = -0.59) compared with a positive correlation in the lean group (r = 0.65). Given these body mass index-dependent differences in Disgust Sensitivity and neural responsiveness to disgusting food images, it is likely that altered Disgust Sensitivity may contribute to obesity.
Persistent Temporal Bone Lesion After Vestibular Schwannoma Resection

A woman in her 40s with history of a vestibular schwannoma presented for routine follow-up. Four years prior, she developed sudden unilateral low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and imbalance. A left-sided vestibular schwannomameasuring 32 × 35 mm was documented on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). She underwent a retrosigmoid approach for gross resection. Postoperative examination showed a left facial nerve paralysis. Two years later, follow-up imaging demonstrated residual tumor growth and a region of enhancing tissue involving the left mastoid and jugular foramen with a craniocaudal dimension of 1.3 cm. She underwent Cyber Knife radiotherapy (1800 cGy) and was followed with serial imaging. Her physical examination revealed stable facial nerve paralysis and unilateral SNHL. Two months later, MRI demonstrated increased intensity of the heterogeneous mastoid tissue on T1-weighted imaging (Figure, A), whereas T2-weighted images demonstrated a hypointense lesion (Figure, B). Computed tomography revealed an infiltrating process with bony erosion of the posterior fossa and labyrinth, involving the jugular foramen and carotid canal. No hypervascularity of the mass was noted on diagnostic cerebral angiography. The patient underwent temporal bone biopsy via a left-sidedmastoidectomy (Figure, C and D). The mass was found to occupy the inferior portion of the mastoid cavity, adjacent to themastoid tip, and infiltrating the external auditory canal. T1-weighted image with gadolinium enhancement A T2-weighted image B
After Obama: African American Politics in the Post-Obama America

Just as the presumption of the presidential election of Barack Obama led to a post-racial American quickly evaporated, so too did the presumption that his election represented "The End of Black Politics." However, over the course of the Obama presidency there has been a vigorous debate as to precisely what has been the impact of this first "Black President" on African American Politics even while there has been a debate about whether Obama is a participant within Black politics. The purpose of this essay is to offer a scholarly and critical review of the range of questions that have emerged regarding the Obama presidency's impact upon the various constituencies of Black politics - from Black elected officials to Black youth - as well as the various public policies that impacted the quality of Black citizenship and the realization of equality opportunity - from civil rights to foreign affairs. Our ultimate aim is to raise a set of paradigmatic questions about the successes, dilemmas, and contradictions of the Obama presidency so to contemplate how the "next" Black America might better negotiate the politics of the "next" black-led presidency.
RSVP at the movies: dynamic images are remembered better than static images when resources are limited

ABSTRACTWe examined whether dynamic images benefit memory when visual resources are limited. Almost all previous research in this area has used static photographs to examine viewers’ memory for image content, description, or visual attributes. Here, we investigated the short-term retention of brief stimuli using rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) with short videos and static frames of 80, 160, 200, and 400 ms/item. Memory performance for dynamic images was generally better than for comparable still images of the same duration. There was also a strong recency effect for items briefer than 400 ms, which suggests that an optimal duration of about 400 ms may be necessary for dynamic images to be detected and fully processed. Interestingly, we also found that the presence of motion increased performance while the amount of motion did not.