cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validating the Gravity-Based Competitive Location Model Using Inferred Attractiveness

The attractiveness of retail facilities is an essential component of models analyzing competition among retail facilities. In this paper we introduce an innovative method for inferring retail facility attractiveness. Readily available data from secondary sources about customers' buying power and sales volumes obtained by competing retail facilities are used. The gravity-based competitive facility location model is used to predict sales. The attractiveness of the retail facilities are inferred from these data. The procedure is used to confirm the gravity competitive facility location model. Inferred attractiveness results based on empirical data from Orange County, California, were compared with an independent survey with excellent match.
Transjugular Intrahepatic Shunt Stenosis and Thrombosis: Shunt Biology and Stent-Grafts

In the last decade, TIPS has proven an effective tool for treatment of the complications of portal hypertension, including variceal bleeding, portal gastropathy, refractory ascites, hepatic hydrothorax, and BuddChiari syndrome. Despite the widespread embrace of the procedure and the creation of tens of thousands of TIPSs worldwide, several important problems remain unsolved. One of the leading questions is the unpredictable patency of the shunts. In some patients, the shunts may remain free of stenoses, while others develop sporadic or frequent shunt tract stenoses, thromboses or outflow hepatic vein stenoses leading to the return of variceal bleeding or ascites. Depending upon one‘s definition of shunt patency, method of assessment, and timing of surveillance, greater than 50% stenoses and recurrent portal hypertension develop in 25–50% of cases within 6–12 months of shunt creation (Laberge et al. 1995; Saxon et al. 1998; Sterling and Darcy 1997; Haskal et al. 1994; Nazarian et al.1994)
Life transitions and leisure activity engagement among older Americans: findings from a national longitudinal study

One of the major aspects of successful ageing is active engagement in later life. Retirement and widowhood are two significant life transitions that may largely influence leisure engagement patterns among older adults. Limited findings exist regarding the impact of life transitions on leisure activity engagement due to the scarcity of longitudinal data with repeated measurement of older individuals’ leisure engagement. This study longitudinally examined changes in leisure activity engagement as influenced by retirement and widowhood using five waves of national panel data from the Health and Retirement Study and its supplementary Consumption and Activities Mail Survey. Multi-level modelling was conducted with retirement and widowhood status as time-varying variables. Socio-economic status, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, self-rated health and functional limitations were also included as time-varying and time-invariant covariates. Findings show that engagement in mental, physical, social and household activities significantly decreased during an eight-year period. Moreover, transition from working to retired status was associated with increased engagement in mental, social and household activities but decreased engagement in physical activities among men only. Transition from married to widowhood status was associated with decreased engagement in household activities among women only. Encouraging active leisure engagement among individuals who experience either or both life transitions may help maintain their health after transition.
miCloud: A Plug-n-Play, Extensible, On-Premises Bioinformatics Cloud for Seamless Execution of Complex Next-Generation Sequencing Data Analysis Pipelines

Abstract The availability of low-cost small-factor sequencers, such as the Illumina MiSeq, MiniSeq, or iSeq, have paved the way for democratizing genomics sequencing, providing researchers in minor...
Effects of Fe/S ratio on the kinetics and microbial ecology of an Fe(III)-dosed anaerobic wastewater treatment system.

Abstract Effects of Fe(III)/sulfate (Fe/S) ratio on organic carbon oxidation kinetics and microbial ecology of a novel Fe(III)-dosed anaerobic wastewater treatment system were investigated in this study. Fixed-film batch bioreactors under three Fe/S molar ratios (1, 2, and 3) yielded COD oxidation rates that increased with the Fe/S ratio, and estimated Michaelis-Menten model parameters Vmax ranging in 0.47–1.09 mg/L⋅min and Km in 2503-3267 mg/L. Both iron and sulfate reducing bacteria contributed to the organics oxidation, and the produced sludge materials contained both biomass (32–45 wt.%) and inorganic precipitates from biogenic ferrous iron and sulfide (68-55 wt.%). Spectroscopic and chemical elemental analyses indicated that the inorganic fraction of the sludge materials contained both FeS and FeS2, and had Fe/S stoichiometric ratios close to 1. Microbiological analyses of the biofilm samples revealed that the major putative iron- and sulfate reducers were Geobacter sp. and Desulfovibrio sp. along with noticeable N-fixing and fermentative bacteria. The COD oxidation rate had a positive correlation with the relative abundance of iron reducers, and both increased with the Fe/S ratio. A conceptual framework was proposed to illustrate the effects of Fe/S ratio on organics oxidation rate, microbial ecology and their interplays.
Integrating eating disorder and weight gain prevention: a pilot and feasibility trial of INSPIRE

The current study adapted evidence-based prevention programs to promote positive health behaviors among racially and ethnically diverse young adult women. Two successful programs (The Body Project and the Healthy Weight Intervention) were integrated to evaluate their feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in reducing risk for both eating pathology and weight gain. Intervention features extended the previous prevention efforts by emphasizing broad appearance ideals to enhance relevancy for women of color and incorporating distress tolerance and emotion regulation skills training. Individuals were excluded if they met criteria for an eating disorder diagnosis and/or obesity, as this was a prevention project. 27 young adult women participated (M age = 18.59; SD = 1.01). The following racial/ethnic groups were represented: 48.1% White, 25.9% Asian, 22.2% Black, and 3.7% Latina. After each meeting, participants completed satisfaction measures and therapists assessed intervention feasibility. Participants also completed comprehensive questionnaires at pretest (baseline), posttest (8 weeks), and 4-week follow-up. Descriptive statistics and content analyses of open-ended questions indicated that the intervention was both acceptable and feasible. Hierarchical linear models evaluating within-subject change over time indicated reductions in several risk factors that were sustained at follow-up: eating pathology, appearance dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, restrained eating, negative affect, emotion dysregulation, and fat intake. BMI did not change from pretest to posttest; however, BMI increased from posttest to follow-up (mean weight increase = 0.34 kg). Results suggest that a prevention program designed to be more culturally sensitive is feasible and acceptable. Findings provide preliminary support for reducing the risk of eating pathology and promoting positive health behaviors. Time series with intervention, Level IV. ClinicalTrails.gov ID: NCT03317587.
Soil bacterial communities of wheat vary across the growing season and among dryland farming systems

Abstract Despite knowledge that management practices, seasonality, and plant phenology impact soil microbiota; farming system effects on soil microbiota are not often evaluated across the growing season. We assessed the bacterial diversity in soil around wheat roots through the spring and summer of 2016 in winter wheat (Triticum aestivium L.) in Montana, USA, from three contrasting farming systems: a chemically-managed no-tillage system, and two USDA-certified organic systems in their fourth year, one including tillage and one where sheep grazing partially offsets tillage frequency. Bacterial richness (range 605–1174 OTUs) and evenness (range 0.80–0.92) peaked in early June and dropped by late July (range 92–1190, 0.62–0.92, respectively), but was not different by farming systems. Organic tilled plots contained more putative nitrogen-fixing bacterial genera than the other two systems. Bacterial community similarities were significantly altered by sampling date, minimum and maximum temperature at sampling, bacterial abundance at date of sampling, total weed richness, and coverage of Taraxacum officinale, Lamium ampleuxicaule, and Thlaspi arvense. This study highlights that weed diversity, season, and farming management system all influence soil microbial communities. Local environmental conditions will strongly condition any practical applications aimed at improving soil diversity, especially in semi-arid regions where abiotic stress and seasonal variability in temperature and water availability drive primary production. Thus, it is critical to incorporate or address seasonality in soil sampling for microbial diversity.
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SABAR DRUMS: INNOVATIONS IN ORGANOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE PRACTICES IN SENEGAL AND THE DIASPORA

This article contributes to the substantial body of publications on South African jazz with information on jazz performance and performers in New Brighton, a township adjacent to Port Elizabeth noted for its vibrant jazz scene and outstanding jazz musicians. The article covers several decades from the heyday of swing bands in the 1940s–50s through the 1960s–70s when New Brighton’s premier jazz combo, the Soul Jazzmen, were at the height of their artistry. The role of swing bands in New Brighton and surrounding communities as the training ground for members of the Soul Jazzmen and other local musicians of note is discussed, as well as how the Soul Jazzmen in turn were tutors for musicians of the next generation who became widely recognized artists, composers and arrangers. This is followed by a focus on the Soul Jazzmen and compositions by its members that protested against the apartheid regime in the 1960s–70s. The article is informed by historic photographs, newspaper clippings and information from oral history interviews that richly document how jazz was performed in service of the anti-apartheid struggle in New Brighton.
Associations between Medicaid expansion and nurse staffing ratios and hospital readmissions.

OBJECTIVE To examine the associations between Medicaid expansion and nurse staffing ratios and hospital-wide readmission rates. DATA SOURCES Secondary data from the 2011-2016 Healthcare Cost Report Information System, the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, and the Hospital Compare data. STUDY DESIGN Difference-in-difference models are used to compare outcomes in hospitals located in states that expanded Medicaid with those located in nonexpansion states. The changes in nurse staffing ratios and hospital-wide readmission rates are calculated in each one of the postexpansion years (2014, 2015, and 2016), compared to pre-expansion. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Results indicate that nurse staffing ratios increased, whereas hospital-wide readmission rates declined in expansion states relative to nonexpansion states. Nurse staffing ratios increased by 0.33, 0.42, and 0.46 registered nurses hours per adjusted patient days in 2014, 2015, and 2016 in hospitals located in expansion states, compared with hospitals in nonexpansion states after expansion. This increase was statistically significant (P < .001) in 2015 and 2016, but marginally significant (P = .016) in 2014. Hospital-wide readmission rates statistically significantly decreased by 9, 16, and 18 per 10 000 patients (P < .001) in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively, in expansion vs nonexpansion states hospitals after expansion. CONCLUSIONS Medicaid expansion was associated with gradually improved hospitals' nurse staffing ratios and hospital-wide readmission rates from 2014 through 2016. The continued monitoring of quality measures of hospitals can help assess the impact of Medicaid expansion over a longer period of time.
Non-invasive diagnostics of Liberibacter disease on tomatoes using a hand-held Raman spectrometer.

Hand-held Raman spectroscopy can be used for confirmatory, non-invasive and non-destructive detection and identification of two haplotypes of Liberibacter disease on tomatoes. Using this spectroscopic approach, structural changes in carotenoids, xylan, cellulose and pectin that are associ-ated with this bacterial disease can be determined. ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso) is a phloem-limited Gram-negative bacterium that infects crops worldwide. In North America, two haplotypes of Lso (LsoA and LsoB) are transmitted by the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc), and infect many solanaceous crops such as potato and tomato. Infected plants exhibit chlorosis, severe stunting, leaf cupping, and scorching. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and potato tuber frying are commonly used methods for diagnostics of the plant disease caused by Lso. However, they are time-consuming, costly, destructive to the sample, and often not sensitive enough to detect the pathogen in the early infection stage. Raman spectroscopy (RS) is a noninvasive, nondestructive, analytical technique, which probes chemical composition of analyzed samples. In this study, we demonstrate that Lso infection can be diagnosed by non-invasive spectroscopic analysis of tomato leaves three weeks following infection, before the development of aerial symptoms. In combination with chemometric analyses, Raman spectroscopy allows for 80% accurate diagnostics of Liberibacter disease caused by each of the two different haplotypes. This diagnostics approach is portable and sample agnostic, suggesting that it could be utilized for other crops and could be conducted autonomously.
Active Duty Military Learners and Distance Education: Factors of Persistence and Attrition

Distance education is a rapidly expanding sector that is increasingly being utilized by military student populations due to its unique benefits and flexibility in terms of course options making it ...
Progression / remission of Coronavirus disease 2019: Data driven recommendations for repeating SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification tests

ABSTRACT Aims This short study was performed to better understand the time frame associated with changes in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing and provide recommendations for repeat testing. Recommendations were useful as little guidance is available for repeat testing in patients being followed expectantly for changes in disease. Methods A review of laboratory data of tests for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid was performed selecting patients who had changing results. Time between changes in test results was determined to provide guidance for repeat testing. Results The interquartile range of data for patients who had a negative to positive change in lab testing (“progression”) was 6-16 days (Median 9). The interquartile range of data for patients who had a positive to negative change in test results (“remission”) was 9-21 days (Median 14). Conclusion Because sampling of the nares or nasopharynx can be variable, repeat testing should be performed swiftly when symptomatic patients are negative. The data in this short study varies widely, so authors recommend repeat testing during a period of time associated with the interquartile range or median (see results above).
Cancer Applications Overview

In this chapter, we overview the progress of CAP application for cancer therapy. This includes summary of in vitro results, in vivo treatment, as well as first clinical trials.
Bovine gamma delta T cells and the function of gamma delta T cell specific WC1 co-receptors

The study of γδ T cells in ruminants dates to the discovery of the γδ TCR in humans and mice. It is important since cattle offer an alternative model to the mouse for evaluating the role of γδ T cells in zoonotic disease research and for control of disease reservoirs in non-human animals. In addition, maintaining the health of cattle and other members of the order Artiodactyla is critical to meet the global human need for animal-source protein. In this review, we examine the bovine γδ T cell responses to Mycobacteria, which infects a third of the human population, and bovine γ and δ TCR diversity and the relationship to the TCR of human mycobacteria-responsive γδ T cells. We review the utilization of the γδ T cell specific scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) glycoproteins known as WC1, and that are part of the CD163 family, which function as both γδ T cell activating co-receptors and pattern recognition receptors (PRR) for bovine γδ T cells and highlight the presence and evolution of this multigenic array, with potential for the same function, in birds, reptiles, jawless and bony fishes, and prototherian and eutherian mammals.
Effect of Real-Time Feedback Devices on Primary Care Patient Experience Scores: A Cluster-Randomized Trial

Patient experience is a critical measure for ambulatory primary care, although it is unclear how to best improve patient experience scores. This study aimed to determine whether use of a real-time ...
Precocious sexual development in a male toddler caused by unrecognized transdermal exposure to testosterone: case report and review of the literature.

Objectives Exogenous exposure to transdermal testosterone is often overlooked as a cause of precocious sexual development in children. Case presentation A 16-month-old male presented for a second opinion consultation before commencing treatment with bicalutamide and anastrozole for a presumptive diagnosis of familial gonadotropin-independent male-limited sexual precocity. Enlargement of the penis was first observed at four months of age. The initial evaluation showed isolated elevation of his plasma testosterone level; however, by 16 months, his testosterone level was prepubertal and no pathogenic variants in the LHC GR gene were identified. The history revealed that his grandfather, who had cared for him regularly in the first year of life, had used testosterone gel for treatment of hypogonadism. Conclusions Despite the 2009 "black box" warning issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding potential consequences of transdermal testosterone exposure to women and children, this continues to be an important cause of sexual precocity in children. Children are often subjected to unnecessary and costly evaluation before this exposure is recognized, underscoring the importance of obtaining a thorough medical, family, and social history tailored to the differential diagnosis.
Seasonality of biennial burning has no adverse effects on mature longleaf pine survival or productivity

Emulating natural disturbance has become an increasingly important restoration strategy. In the fire-maintained woodlands of the southeastern United States, contemporary restoration efforts have focused on approximating the historical fire regime by burning at short intervals. Due to concerns over escape and damage to mature trees, most prescribed burning has occurred in the dormant season, which is inconsistent with the historical prevalence of lightning-initiated fire in the region. This discordance between contemporary prescribed burning and what is thought to be the historical fire regime has led some to question whether dormant season burning should remain the most common management practice; however, little is known about the long-term effects of repeated growing season burning on the health and productivity of desirable tree species. To address this question, we report on a long-term experiment comparing the effects of seasonal biennial burning (winter, spring, summer) and no burning on the final survival status, height, diameter, and volume growth of 892 mature longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) over 23 years in three mature even-aged stands in southern Alabama, USA. Overall, longleaf pine survival across all treatments averaged 81 ± 2 % [s.e]. Among seasonal burn treatments, survival was highest in the spring burns (82 ± 4 %) but did not vary significantly from any other treatment (summer - 79 ± 4 %, winter - 81 ± 4 %, unburned - 84 ± 4 %). However, survival was statistically influenced by initial diameter at breast height, as survival of trees in the largest size class (30 cm) was 40 % higher than trees in the smallest size class (5 cm). Productivity of longleaf pine was not significantly different among treatment averages in terms of volume (38.9 - 44.1 ± 6.0 m3ha-1), diameter (6.0 - 6.7 ± 0.3 cm), and height (2.5 – 3.4 ± 0.4 m). Collectively, our results demonstrate that burning outside the dormant season will have little impact on mature longleaf pine survival and growth. This finding has important implications for the maintenance of restored southeastern woodlands, as interest in burning outside the dormant season continues to grow.
Factors affecting the future of Islamic terrorist recruitment through examination of the cycle of violence

The cycle of violence perpetrated from using targeted killing techniques contributes to the creation of new extremists. Targeting, profiling, harassing, and killing suspected extremists by opposing groups promote terrorism, feed into the narrative of oppressed versus oppressor, and fuel the passion for revenge. Until it is revealed why martyrdom and extremism are so attractive to potential terrorist recruits, the allurement continues without resolution. Terrorism has been a growing threat over the last two decades, with recruits growing daily. While there have been numerous worldwide strategies to combat terrorism, the results are disproportionate. This research examines targeting tactics that catapult fear, paranoia, and despair in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas of Pakistan. It identifies the impact of the western world’s view and how targeted killing potentially affect the future of Islamic extremism. It critically examines the cycle of terror through the lens of terror management theory via first-hand media reports, interviews, and compares those to contrast to recruitment tactics and attacks.
High-resolution ultrasonography of gingival biomarkers for periodontal diagnosis in healthy and diseased subjects

Periodontal disease affects nearly 50% of Americans but diagnostic methods have remained the same for decades. Periodontal examination via physical probing provides critical metrics such as pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and gingival recession; however, this practice is time consuming, variable, and often painful. In this study, we investigated high-frequency ultrasound (40 MHz) for the image-based measurement of periodontal metrics. Imaging was performed at midbuccal sites for a set of periodontally healthy (n = 10) and diseased (n = 6) subjects and image-based measurements were compared to gold-standard physical probing measurements. Human operators identified relevant markers (e.g., cementoenamel junction, gingival margin, alveolar bone crest) in B-mode ultrasound images from 66 teeth to calculate gingival height and alveolar bone level. These metrics were correlated to clinical measurements of probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level for disease staging (1.57-mm bias and 0.25-mm bias, respectively). Interoperator bias was negligible (<0.1 mm) for gingival height measurements and 0.45 mm for alveolar bone level measurements. The ultrasonographic measurements of gingival height and alveolar bone level served as effective diagnostic surrogates for clinical probing measurements while offering more detailed anatomical information and painless operation.
Market alternative to state activism in restoring the capitalist economy

The theory of economic transition is concerned less with the end product of building a capitalist economy than with intermediate solutions and the appropriate pace of institutional change. This article advances theoretical arguments on the advantages of a self-grown, evolutionary restoration of the capitalist economy in Eastern Europe or any country abandoning the socialist experiment.
The Case for UHP Conditions in the Cuaba Terrane, Río San Juan Metamorphic Complex, Dominican Republic

This paper is essentially a review of previously published data and interpretations for ultramafic and eclogitic rocks from the Cuaba terrane in northern Dominican Republic. Ultrahigh pressure (UHP) conditions are indicated for the Cuaba terrane on the basis of phase relationships in garnet-bearing ultramafic rock. Dikes and orthocumulate textures indicate a magmatic origin. Mineral assemblages define a line of descent controlled by fractional crystallization. The original estimate of the magmatic conditions (P>3.4GPa, T>1550°C) was inferred previously from available high-P melting experiments in the CMAS system and high-P experimental determination of the sapphirine-out reaction in the MAS system. Revised estimates of magmatic conditions (P>3.2GPa, T>1500°C) take into account the influence of other components, especially Fe. We propose an origin in the mantle-wedge above a subduction zone. The rock was delivered to the subduction zone by forced convection in the mantle wedge (corner-flow), coupled with erosion of the hanging wall. Thermobarometry indicates >850°C and >3.4GPa when the ultramafic rock was incorporated into eclogite (deep-subducted oceanic crust). Evidence for UHP conditions in the retrograded eclogite is not obvious. Two types of symplectic intergrowths, plagioclase + clinopyroxene (Sym-I) and plagioclase + epidote (Sym-II), are interpreted as the products of the decomposition of two types of omphacite, Omp-I and Omp-II. Theoretically, Omp-II formed as the result of a retrograde reaction of the form, Omp-II + coesite = Omp-I + kyanite + /- garnet, according to which the maximum pressure for Omp-II is between ~2.8GPa (~850°C) and ~4.2GPa (~950°C), consistent with subsolidus conditions for the garnet-bearing ultramafic rocks. For eclogite, the highest-pressure mineral assemblage would have been Omp-I + kyanite + garnet + coesite.
Big Locational Differences in Unemployment Despite High Labor Mobility

Considerable labor mobility exists across U.S. states, enough that, if migration arbitrages local unemployment, one might expect very low unemployment differences across states. However, cross-state data reveal large unemployment differences. An equilibrium multi-location model with stochastic worker-location match productivity and within-location trading frictions can account for these facts. In the model, some workers move to, or stay in, a location with high unemployment because they are more productive there than elsewhere. According to the model, labor mobility and aggregate unemployment are negatively related. This prediction is in stark contrast to standard sectoral reallocation theory, but consistent with the U.S. data.
Expressive and receptive vocabulary learning in children with diverse disability typologies

A combined storybook and play vocabulary intervention was implemented as a single-subject study of 23 children of diverse typologies, including 10 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), three with developmental disability (DD), five with Down Syndrome, and five with specific language impairment (SLI), who were currently receiving speech-language services and had an individual education plan (IEP) goal targeting language. Participants' ages ranged from 3 years-1 month to 7 years-4 months. A parallel treatment design was used to identify changes at (a) word level, (b) child level, and (c) in children of similar typological and developmental profiles. All children learned vocabulary words to criterion in both expressive and receptive modalities. Children of different etiological origin did not vary in the trajectory of their receptive or expressive word learning. These results suggest that the trajectory of word learning may be remarkably consistent across disability typologies. The theoretical and clinical ra...
Present Status of the Fusion Problem

Publisher Summary The prospects of developing a fusion reactor with net power output have been given an unexpected boost by the recent advances in the field of superconductivity. The fact that it now appears technically feasible to construct superconducting coils which produce magnetic fields in the 100-kgauss range introduces the possibility of obtaining net power output under conditions in which the ratio of plasma pressure to magnetic pressure is low—possibly not much higher than the one that has already been explored in the Coensgen experiment. On the other hand, it is by no means assured that such low pressure devices would be economically attractive. Hence, the motivation for exploring configurations in which the plasma pressure is not small compared to the magnetic pressure is as strong as ever. Indeed, even though the high pressure devices may not provide the quickest path to developing a machine with net energy output, they may well prove to be more practical in the long run.
Trace element abundances of Mauna Kea basalt from phase 2 of the Hawaii Scientific Drilling Project: Petrogenetic implications of correlations with major element content and isotopic ratios

[1] The temporal geochemical variations defined by lavas erupted throughout the growth of a single volcano provide important information for understanding how the Hawaiian plume works. The Hawaii Scientific Drilling Project (HSDP) sampled the shield of Mauna Kea volcano to a depth of 3100 meters below sea level during Phase 2 of the HSDP. Incompatible element abundance ratios, such as La/Yb, Sm/Yb, Nb/Zr, and Ti/Zr, in conjunction with SiO2 abundance and radiogenic isotopic ratios, especially He and Pb, in the reference sample suites of the Mauna Kea portion of cores from Phases 1 and 2 of the HSDP define three distinct geochemical groups. The upper 550 m of Mauna Kea lavas in the Phase 2 core include the Postshield Group with eruption ages of ∼200 ka to <370 ka. These lavas have relatively low SiO2 content, 3He/4He and 206Pb/204Pb, and they define a trend to relatively high La/Yb, Sm/Yb, and Nb/Zr. The eruption of these lavas coincides with migration of the Mauna Kea shield off the hot spot. As a result, extent of melting decreased, melt segregation occurred at greater depth, within the garnet stability field, and a geochemically distinct component associated with the periphery of the plume was sampled. Deeper in the Phase 2 core two other geochemical groups of lava are intercalated. One group has relatively low SiO2 abundance and high Nb/Zr Ti/Zr, 3He/4He and high 208Pb/204Pb at a given 206Pb/204Pb. These are distinctive geochemical characteristics of lavas erupted at Loihi seamount. Variations in incompatible element abundance ratios (e.g., Sm/Yb versus Nb/Zr and La/Yb versus Ti/Zr) define mixing trends between these low SiO2 lavas (Loihi-type) and lavas belonging to a high SiO2 group that are the dominant lava type in the shield part of the core (Kea-type). These two groups are presumed to reflect components intrinsic to the plume. Correlations of incompatible element abundance ratios, such as La/Nb, with radiogenic isotope ratios show that Hawaiian shields contain different proportions of geochemically distinctive components. The Koolau shield contains a recycled sedimentary component that is not present in the Mauna Kea shield. The anomalously high Ba/Th in Hawaiian lavas is inferred to be a source characteristic. Ba/Th is correlated with some radiogenic isotope ratios in Kilauea and Mauna Loa lavas, but there is no correlation in Mauna Kea lavas which range in Ba/Th by a factor of 2.6.
Chaos and equicontinuity

Chaos theory examines the iterates of continuous functions to draw conclusions about long-term behavior. As this relatively new theory has evolved, one difficulty still present is the absence of universally agreed upon definitions. On the other hand, function spaces and equicontinuity are well established concepts with mathematical definitions that are universally accepted. We will present some theorems that display the natural connections between chaos and equicontinuity.
Hypopotassemia-induced U wave in electrocardiogram (an experimental study for possible mechanism)

To define the mechanism of hypopotassemia-induced U wave change, we performed open-chest experiments in 20 dogs and obtained following results: (1) During hemodialysis U wave amplitude of epicardial electrogram increased significantly (p less than 0.05) from 0.4 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- SD) to 1.2 +/- 0.5 mV with lowering serum potassium (K) concentrations from 3.4 +/- 0.4 to 2.2 +/- 0.2 mEq/l (p less than 0.001) in 6 dogs. (2) These hypopotassemia-induced U waves disappeared after instillation of high K+ solution into the regional coronary artery, without detectable increase in systemic plasma K+ concentration. (3) In 10 dogs, huge (0.5-1.0 mV), delayed (corrected Q-U apex = 0.66 +/- 0.16) positive U waves were induced at the epicardial surface by infusion of K+-free, Ca++-rich Tyrode solution into the regional coronary artery, whereas no appearance of negative U waves was shown at the endocardial surface. (4) In all of 6 dogs with infusion of K+-free, Ca++-rich solution, monophasic action potential registered with suction electrode showed early afterhyperpolarization, which corresponded to appearance of huge positive U waves. These data indicate that hypopotassemia-induced U wave may reflect early afterhyperpolarization developed in the ventricular muscle.
All of the Above

Universals —everybody wants them! After all, explanation is superior to description in science, or so they say, and something called universals stands a good chance of providing a principled explanation for observable linguistic phenomena, whether cross-linguistically valid generalizations about properties of language, about linguistic performance, or about first or second language acquisition. For some time, generative theoreticians have had a de facto patent on universals as they apply to language and its use and acquisition, with Greenbergian linguistic typologists as well as functionalists and psycholinguists of various persuasions in close competition. A special issue on universals and second language acquisition must pay serious attention to the case for universals as they might apply to second language acquisition (SLA) within each of these traditions. It is for this reason that this issue includes as many different representative perspectives as is possible, given the limitations of space.
: Active Trans-Plasma Membrane Water Cycling in Yeast is Revealed by NMR

Plasma membrane water transport is a crucial cellular phenomenon. Net water movement in response to an osmotic gradient changes cell volume. Steady-state exchange of water molecules, with no net flux or volume change, occurs by passive diffusion through the phospholipid bilayer and passage through membrane proteins. The hypothesis is tested that plasma membrane water exchange also correlates with ATP-driven membrane transport activity in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Longitudinal (1)H(2)O NMR relaxation time constant (T(1)) values were measured in yeast suspensions containing extracellular relaxation reagent. Two-site-exchange analysis quantified the reversible exchange kinetics as the mean intracellular water lifetime (τ(i)), where τ(i)(-1) is the pseudo-first-order rate constant for water efflux. To modulate cellular ATP, yeast suspensions were bubbled with 95%O(2)/5%CO(2) (O(2)) or 95%N(2)/5%CO(2) (N(2)). ATP was high during O(2), and τ(i)(-1) was 3.1 s(-1) at 25°C. After changing to N(2), ATP decreased and τ(i)(-1) was 1.8 s(-1). The principal active yeast ion transport protein is the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. Studies using the H(+)-ATPase inhibitor ebselen or a yeast genetic strain with reduced H(+)-ATPase found reduced τ(i)(-1), notwithstanding high ATP. Steady-state water exchange correlates with H(+)-ATPase activity. At volume steady state, water is cycling across the plasma membrane in response to metabolic transport activity.
Mechanism of ToxT-Dependent Transcriptional Activation at the Vibrio cholerae tcpA Promoter

The AraC homolog ToxT coordinately regulates virulence gene expression in Vibrio cholerae. ToxT is required for transcriptional activation of the genes encoding cholera toxin and the toxin coregulated pilus, among others. In this work we focused on the interaction of ToxT with the tcpA promoter and investigated the mechanism of ToxT-dependent transcriptional activation at tcpA. Deletion analysis showed that a region from −95 to +2 was sufficient for ToxT binding and activation, both of which were simultaneously lost when the deletion was extended to −63. A collection of point mutations generated by error-prone PCR revealed two small regions required for ToxT-dependent transactivation. Binding studies performed with representative mutations showed that the two regions define sites at which ToxT binds to the tcpA promoter region, most likely as a dimer. Results obtained by using a rpoA truncation mutation showed that ToxT-dependent activation at tcpA involves the C-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase alpha subunit. A model of ToxT-dependent transcriptional activation at tcpA is proposed, in which ToxT interacts with two A-rich regions of tcpA centered at −72 and −51 and requires the alpha C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase.
Predictors of Early- and Late-Onset Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmias After Fontan Operation

Background—The objectives of our study were to determine the frequency of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVTAs) among modifications of the Fontan operation and identify risk factors for developing SVTA. Methods and Results—The population consisted of all patients who had any modification of the Fontan operation at the Mayo Clinic between 1985 and 1993. Clinically significant SVTAs were those requiring initiation or change of antiarrhythmic treatment, and they were divided into early SVTAs (<30 days after the operation) and late SVTAs (≥30 days after the operation). Clinical histories were reviewed, and health status questionnaires were sent. Four hundred ninety-nine patients had various modifications of the Fontan operation. Frequency of early SVTA was 15%. Risk factors identified by multivariate analysis for early SVTA were AV valve regurgitation, abnormal AV valve, and preoperative SVTA. Frequency of late SVTA was 6% by 1 year, 12% by 3 years, and 17% by 5 years. Risk factors for late SVTA were age ...
Virtual channels vs. multiple physical networks: a comparative analysis

Packet-switched networks-on-chip (NoC) have been proposed as an efficient communication infrastructure for multi-core architectures. Adding virtual channels to a NoC helps to avoid deadlock and optimize the bandwidth of the physical channels in exchange for a more complex design of the routers. Another, possibly alternative, approach is to build multiple parallel physical networks (multi-planes) with smaller channels and simpler router organizations. We present a comparative analysis of these two approaches based on analytical models and on a comprehensive set of experimental results including both synthesized hardware implementations and system-level simulations.
An empirical comparison of alternative methodologies for the evaluation of configural displays

Two different methodologies (visual, memory) were used to evaluate alternative versions of the same configural display. One version (composite display) had several graphical design techniques applied, whereas the other version (baseline display) did not. Two types of information probes (high-level property, low-level data) were administered. When the displays were visible during completion of the probes (visual methodology), the display manipulation had the largest impact on performance (composite display associated with better performance); when the displays were not visible (memory methodology) the probe manipulation had the largest impact on performance (high-level probes associated with better performance). These results are interpreted in light of the mutually interacting constraints introduced by factors in display design, task requirements, and the participants' cognitive and perceptual capabilities/limitations. Implications for both the design and the evaluation of displays and interfaces in general are discussed. Actual or potential applications of this research include design techniques for improving the quality of graphic displays and methodological insights for interpreting previous research and guiding future experimentation.
Hope in the family caregiver of terminally ill people

This longitudinal study explored the meaning of hope, the influence of specific background characteristics on hope, and identified strategies that are used to foster hope in a convenience sample of 25 family caregivers of terminally ill family members from two hospice programmes using the technique of methodological triangulation (interview, Herth Hope Index and Background Data Form). Hope was defined as a dynamic inner power that enables transcendence of the present situation and fosters a positive new awareness of being. Six hope-fostering categories and three hope-hindering categories were identified based on the interview responses. With the exception of those providing care to a family member diagnosed with AIDS and those caregivers experiencing poor personal health, a high fatigue level, severe sleep deprivation and more than two concurrent losses, overall hope levels among participants were found to remain stable across the background variables. Across time, hope levels were found to be low at interview time one, rise significantly by time two and then level off for the remainder of the time. An understanding of hope from the perspective of the family caregiver could provide a basis upon which to develop interventions that foster hope.
Late-stage planetary accretion including hit-and-run collisions and fragmentation

Abstract To date, most simulations of the final accretion of the terrestrial planets have assumed that all collisions lead to mergers. Recent hydrodynamic simulations of impacts between planetary mass bodies (Leinhardt, Z.M., Stewart, S.T. [2012]. Astrophys. J. 745, 79; Genda, H., Kokubo, E., Ida, S. [2012]. Astrophys J. 744, 137) have parameterized the outcome of planetary collisions in terms of the masses and velocities of the colliding bodies. Using these results, it is now possible to simulate late-stage planetary growth using a more realistic model for collisions. Here, we describe results of eight N -body simulations of terrestrial planet formation that incorporate collisional fragmentation and hit-and-run collisions. The results are compared to simulations using identical initial collisions in which all collisions were assumed to result in mergers (Chambers, J.E. [2001]. Icarus 152, 205–224). The new simulations form 3 to 5 terrestrial planets moving on widely spaced orbits with growth complete by 400 My. The mean time for Earth-like planets to reach half their final mass is 17 My, comparable to the time in simulations without fragmentation. However, the prolonged sweep up of collision fragments lengthens the mean time required for Earth analogues to become fully formed to 159 My. The final planets have somewhat smaller masses m and eccentricities e when fragmentation is included. Masses are particularly reduced in the region now occupied by Mars. The final distributions of m , e and semi-major axis are similar to the terrestrial planets of the Solar System, but the strong concentration of mass in the narrow zone occupied by Earth and Venus is not reproduced. Collisional fragmentation is likely to preferentially eject silicate-rich mantle material leaving a target enriched in iron-rich core material. However, large bodies often reaccrete silicate-rich mantle fragments at a later time, leaving their final composition largely unchanged. The final core mass fractions of all but one planet formed in the simulations lie in the range 0.25–0.37 assuming an initial mass fraction of 0.3.
Trajectories of alcohol consumption among the elderly widowed population: A semi-parametric, group-based modeling approach

Abstract Even though research on the use, misuse, and abuse of alcohol among the elderly has burgeoned in recent decades (see reviews by Johnson, 2000 , Kirchner et al., 2007 , Patterson and Jeste, 1999 ), only a few empirical studies have explored the post-bereavement alcohol consumption trajectories among the elderly widowed population. To fill this research gap, this study aims to examine the temporal processes underlying the relationship between widowhood and subsequent drinking behaviors among the elderly widowed population and to examine the potential predictors of these trajectories. The empirical work of this study is based on longitudinal data from the 1992 to 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). A semi-parametric mixture model (SPMM) is used to estimate the distinctive trajectories of post-bereavement alcohol consumption. Results reveal that the type of drinking trajectory that characterize the post-bereavement drinking behavior of an individual is largely dependent upon the characteristics of the individuals (e.g. gender), the health conditions and health behavior of deceased spouse, pre-bereavement alcohol consumption, and depression. Another important finding is that bereaved men seem to have greater difficulty overcoming the transitional burden associated with widowhood.
Concentration-dependent ablation of pancreatic tissue by EUS-guided ethanol injection.

Background Ethanol is a commonly available agent and has been used to successfully and safely ablate cystic lesions of various organs. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the short-term effects of an EUS-guided injection of ethanol into the pancreas of pigs by using 2 mL ethanol, in increasing concentration of 0% to 100%. Design Six pigs were sedated by general anesthesia, and ethanol was injected, under EUS-guidance, with a 22-gauge needle into the pancreatic tail. Main Outcome Measurements End points of this study were gross and microscopic evidence of pancreatitis and clinical tolerance. During the 7-day observational period, the animals were monitored by serum levels of amylase and lipase and by a CT on day 4. Results At euthanasia, there was no pancreatic lesion in the animals that received normal saline solution or 20% ethanol. The injection of 40% to 100% ethanol led to a visible necrotic area in the pancreatic tail. By histology, the average maximal diameter of the lesions was 20.8 ± 4.3 mm. The cross-sectional area of necrosis was proportional to the concentration of ethanol (r = 0.961). CT demonstrated a localized site of nonenhancing pancreatic tissue, with an average diameter of 19.4 ± 10.5 mm; 40% to 100% ethanol. Clinically, the animals appeared to tolerate the procedure without sequelae. Serum levels of amylase and lipase were normal. Conclusions The EUS-guided injection of ethanol into the pig pancreas resulted in a localized concentration-dependent tissue necrosis without complications.
Population balance equations for cell and microbial cultures revisited

The first chemically structured model of growth of a microbial or cell population proposed in 1967 by Fredrickson et al. took account of the particulate nature of the population. This model assumed implicitly that cells passed through the cell cycle continuously without transitions between recognizable cell cycle phases. This article discusses how to generalize or revise the first model so that passages of cells through a series of recognizable cell cycle phases can be accounted for. The 1967 article assumed that cell fission can occur anywhere in state space, although with high probability only in a limited domain of that space. Extension of this concept to cell cycle transitions leads to a model that violates a principle of determinism. Revised models that subdivide state space into nonoverlapping subdomains associated with each phase of the cell cycle are developed to obviate this unacceptable situation. The new models introduce the need for information about cell behavior that does not currently exist and thereby provide motivation for an experimental program aimed at supplying the data necessary for their identification and validation.