cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid Formation of Microbe-Oil Aggregates and Changes in Community Composition in Coastal Surface Water Following Exposure to Oil and the Dispersant Corexit

During the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, massive quantities of oil were deposited on the seafloor via a large-scale marine oil-snow sedimentation and flocculent accumulation (MOSSFA) event. The role of chemical dispersants (e.g., Corexit) applied during the DWH oil spill clean-up in helping or hindering the formation of this MOSSFA event are not well-understood. Here, we present the first experiment related to the DWH oil spill to specifically investigate the relationship between microbial community structure, oil and Corexit®, and marine oil-snow in coastal surface waters. We observed the formation of micron-scale aggregates of microbial cells around droplets of oil and dispersant and found that their rate of formation was directly related to the concentration of oil within the water column. These micro-aggregates are potentially important precursors to the formation of larger marine oil-snow particles. Therefore, our observation that Corexit® significantly enhanced their formation suggests dispersant application may play a role in the development of MOSSFA events. We also observed that microbial communities in marine surface waters respond to oil and oil plus Corexit® differently and much more rapidly than previously measured, with major shifts in community composition occurring within only a few hours of experiment initiation. In the oil-amended treatments without Corexit®, this manifested as an increase in community diversity due to the outgrowth of several putative aliphatic- and aromatic-hydrocarbon degrading genera, including phytoplankton-associated taxa. In contrast, microbial community diversity was reduced in mesocosms containing chemically dispersed oil. Importantly, different consortia of hydrocarbon degrading bacteria responded to oil and chemically dispersed oil, indicating that functional redundancy in the pre-spill community likely results in hydrocarbon consumption in both undispersed and dispersed oils, but by different bacterial taxa. Taken together, these data improve our understanding of how dispersants influence the degradation and transport of oil in marine surface waters following an oil spill and provide valuable insight into the early response of complex microbial communities to oil exposure.
Black US college women’s strategies of sexual self-protection

While previous scholarship on the sexual practices of college students in the USA has explored how the co-constitution of whiteness, economic privilege and gender inequality are central to 'hooking up', less attention has been paid to how the sexual culture of predominantly white universities shape Black college women's sexual practices. In this article, we use an intersectional theoretical framework informed by Black feminism to analyse interviews with Black, cisgender, heterosexual women, aged 18-22, attending a university in the south-eastern USA. We explore how they interpret the university's sexual culture and in turn how that informs their sexual decision-making. We find that the intersection of racism and sexism limits Black college women's sexual partner options and leads them to pursue sexual relationships outside the university setting. While most do not engage in committed romantic relationships with off-campus partners, they do engage in a range of strategies to protect their social, emotional and sexual well-being. The study findings expand the scholarship on hook-up culture by centring the narratives of a group often excluded from the literature.
Targeting the Skin for Microneedle Delivery of Influenza Vaccine

Influenza infection represents a major socioeconomic burden worldwide. Skin represents a new target that has gained much attention in recent years for delivery of influenza vaccine as an alternative to the conventional intramuscular route of immunization. In this review we describe different microneedle vaccination approaches used in vivo, including metal and dissolving microneedle patches that have demonstrated promising results. Additionally we analyze the immunological basis for microneedle skin immunization and targeting of the skin’s dense population of antigen presenting cells, their role, characterization, and function. Additionally we analyze the importance of inflammatory signaling in the skin after microneedle delivery.
Women’s Wear Daily

Inspired by daily readings of Women’s Wear Daily (WWD®), the authority for fashion news, I was challenged to create an original ensemble utilizing WWD’s as the “fashion fabric”. Design inspiration from the many original designs found in the WWD®’s.
Video Production in Content-Area Pedagogy: A Scoping Study of the Research Literature

Video production offers a way for students to learn content-area knowledge while simultaneously developing technology skills deemed important in contemporary society. Yet, the research has not been...
Analytic Band-to-Trap Tunneling Model Including Electric Field and Band Offset Enhancement

We present an analytic band-to-trap tunneling model developed using the open boundary scattering approach. The new model explicitly includes the effect of heterojunction band offset, in addition to the well known electric field effect. Its analytic form enables straightforward implementation into TCAD device and circuit simulators. The model is capable of simulating both electric field and band offset enhanced carrier recombination due to the band-to-trap tunneling in the depletion region near a heterojunction. Simulation results of an InGaP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor reveal that the proposed model predicts significantly increased base currents, because the hole-to-trap tunneling from the base to the emitter is greatly enhanced by the emitter base heterojunction band offset. The results compare favorably with experimental observations. The developed method can be applied to all one dimensional potentials which can be approximated to a good degree such that the approximated potentials lead to piecewise analytic wave functions with open boundary conditions.
Improvement in Mental Health Outcomes and Caregiver Service Experiences Associated With the START Program.

Abstract This study examined outcomes from the Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment (START) program, a community-based tertiary care model for individuals with intellectual a...
Introduction to the Special Section on Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)

We are pleased to present this special section of the Journal of Mental Health Counseling on the topic of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Recent research suggests that NSSI is common, particularly among adolescents (Nock & Prinstein, 2005) and college students (Whitlock, Eckenrode, & Silverman, 2006). Although over the past decade research on NSSI in both clinical and nonclinical populations has progressed, mental health counselors continue to search for best practices in diagnosing and treating clients who self-injure. We now know much more about both the compound risk factors and the motivations that may relate to self-injury (Lloyd-Richardson, 2010), and it is recognized that the relationship between diagnosis and NSSI is complex. Although self-mutilation is listed in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000, p. 710) as one potential diagnostic criterion for borderline personality disorder (BPD), both researchers and counselors (Ross & Heath, 2003; Trepal & Wester, 2007; Whitlock et al., 2006) have provided evidence to support moving beyond the BPD diagnosis when attempting to understand and assess these behaviors. The four articles in this issue share common themes regarding conceptual and diagnostic considerations for NSSI and represent current research in terms of psychopathology, first-hand experiences of self-injury, and the relationship
The Relative Importance of Click-Through Rates (CTR) Versus Watch Time for YouTube Views

In 2018, YouTube began releasing click-through rates (CTR) data to its video creators. Since 2012, YouTube has emphasized how it favors watch time over clicks in its recommendations to viewers. This is the first academic study employing that data to test what matters more for views on YouTube. Is watch time or CTR more important to getting views on YouTube? This paper finds no to limited evidence that higher percent audience retention or and total average watch time per view are associated with more views on YouTube. Instead, videos with higher CTR got significantly more views as did videos on trending or newsworthy topics. The marginal benefit in terms of views scaled by subscribers of increased CTR is between 71 and 318 times larger than the marginal benefits of increased watch time per view.
Driving pressure is not associated with mortality in mechanically ventilated patients without ARDS.

In patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), low tidal volume ventilation has been associated with reduced mortality. Driving pressure (tidal volume normalized to respiratory system compliance) may be an even stronger predictor of ARDS survival than tidal volume. We sought to study whether these associations hold true in acute respiratory failure patients without ARDS. This is a retrospectively cohort analysis of mechanically ventilated adult patients admitted to ICUs from 12 hospitals over 2 years. We used natural language processing of chest radiograph reports and data from the electronic medical record to identify patients who had ARDS. We used multivariable logistic regression and generalized linear models to estimate associations between tidal volume, driving pressure, and respiratory system compliance with adjusted 30-day mortality using covariates of Acute Physiology Score (APS), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), age, and PaO2/FiO2 ratio. We studied 2641 patients; 48% had ARDS (n = 1273). Patients with ARDS had higher mean APS (25 vs. 23, p < .001) but similar CCI (4 vs. 3, p = 0.6) scores. For non-ARDS patients, tidal volume was associated with increased adjusted mortality (OR 1.18 per 1 mL/kg PBW increase in tidal volume, CI 1.04 to 1.35, p = 0.010). We observed no association between driving pressure or respiratory compliance and mortality in patients without ARDS. In ARDS patients, both ΔP (OR1.1, CI 1.06–1.14, p < 0.001) and tidal volume (OR 1.17, CI 1.04–1.31, p = 0.007) were associated with mortality. In a large retrospective analysis of critically ill non-ARDS patients receiving mechanical ventilation, we found that tidal volume was associated with 30-day mortality, while driving pressure was not.
Personnel planning in military organizational structures and assessment of its effectiveness

The article deals with the modern staffing process of the military organizational structure, which is impossible without a long-term, future-oriented military personnel policy using modern analytical and mathematical methods of personnel planning. The article provides recommendations on the practical issues of personnel planning in the military organizational structure.
A critical role for plasminogen in inflammation

Plasminogen and its active form, plasmin, have diverse functions related to the inflammatory response in mammals. Due to these roles in inflammation, plasminogen has been implicated in the progression of a wide range of diseases with an inflammatory component. In this review, we discuss the functions of plasminogen in inflammatory regulation and how this system plays a role in the pathogenesis of diseases spanning organ systems throughout the body.
Manufacturing of natural killer cells for treating solid malignancies

Abstract Objectives Natural killer (NK) cells are an attractive and potent tool for cancer immunotherapy, however, ex vivo expansion of NK cells is required to achieve therapeutic cell dosages. As such, this review will discuss recent NK cell manufacturing methods applied in clinical trials for expanded NK cells for the treatment of solid tumors, as well as investigational NK cell manufacturing protocols. Given the unique challenges posed by the solid tumor microenvironment, the main objective of this review is to highlight key biological mechanisms associated with tumor homing and infiltration of NK cells and how manufacturing methods impact these functions. Key findings For efficient adoptive NK cell therapy for the treatment of solid malignancies, NK cells need to extravasate from the blood stream, migrate through the tumor extracellular matrix, lyse cancer cells, activate other immune cells, and persist in the blood stream. The NK cell manufacturing process is complex, with each parameter influencing the expansion rate, and final NK cell number, purity, phonotype, and cytotoxicity. Many investigational and clinical NK cell manufacturing protocols generate high numbers of NK cells with greater cytotoxicity than freshly isolated NK cells. The expression of factors related to homing and migration in NK cells after ex vivo expansion is largely overlooked, but the few studies which have explored this indicate manufacturing processes can affect these critical mechanisms. Conclusion The current manufacturing protocols can generate high numbers of NK cells with increased cytotoxic functions, however understanding the effect of expansion on factors related to NK cell homing and migration is also important for treating solid malignancies. Furthermore, to progress the field of expanded NK cells for the treatment of solid tumors, improving “off-the-shelf” NK cell therapies and standardizing the manufacturing protocols and release criteria should be prioritized.
The Burden Borne by Protein Methyltransferases: Rates and Equilibria of Non-enzymatic Methylation of Amino Acid Side Chains by SAM in Water

SAM is a powerful methylating agent, with a methyl group transfer potential matching the phosphoryl group transfer potential of ATP. SAM-dependent N-methyltransferases have evolved to catalyze the modification of specific lysine residues in histones and transcription factors, in addition to generating epinephrine, N-methylnicotinamide, and a quaternary amine (betaine) that is used to maintain osmotic pressure in plants and halophilic bacteria. To assess the catalytic power of these enzymes and their potential susceptibility to transition state and multisubstrate analogue inhibitors, we determined the rates and positions of the equilibrium of methyl transfer from the trimethylsulfonium ion to model amines in the absence of a catalyst. Unlike the methyl group transfer potential of SAM, which becomes more negative with an increase in pH throughout the normal pH range, equilibrium constants for the hydrolytic demethylation of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary amines are found to be insensitive to a change in pH and resemble each other in magnitude, with an average ΔG value of approximately -0.7 kcal/mol at pH 7. Thus, each of the three steps in the mono-, di-, and trimethylation of lysine by SAM is accompanied by a change in free energy of -7.5 kcal/mol in a neutral solution. Arrhenius analysis of the uncatalyzed reactions shows that the unprotonated form of glycine attacks the trimethylsulfonium ion (TMS+) with second-order rates constant of 1.8 × 10-7 M-1 s-1 at 25 °C (ΔH⧧ = 22 kcal/mol, and TΔS⧧ = -6 kcal/mol). Comparable values are observed for the methylation of secondary and tertiary amines, with k25 values of 1.1 × 10-7 M-1 s-1 for sarcosine and 4.3 × 10-8 M-1 s-1 for dimethylglycine. The non-enzymatic methylations of imidazole and methionine by TMS+, benchmarks for the methylation of histidine and methionine residues by SETD3, exhibit k25 values of 3.3 × 10-9 and 1.2 × 10-9 M-1 s-1, respectively. Lysine methylation by SAM, although slow under physiological conditions (t1/2 = 7 weeks at 25 °C), is accelerated 1.1 × 1012 -fold at the active site of a SET domain methyltransferase.
Assessing the Impact of Executive Education

Harry Miller, the new CEO of a large and growing multinational transportation and logistics company, has asked Allison Freeman, his CHRO, to brief him on the impact that their off-site custom executive education program has had. In turn, the CHRO has enlisted Jack Drake, the program's faculty leader, to collaborate with her in responding to the CEO's request. Students are asked to step into the role of the faculty leader, who has formulated a general framework to do so, and must fill the framework with as many potential ideas regarding the impact as possible. Excerpt UVA-G-0650 Aug. 5, 2020 Assessing the Impact of Executive Education Introduction Jack Drake, a senior faculty member at the Gail Palmer Ashton Graduate School of Business and a frequent executive education custom program faculty leader for the school, distractedly looked at the caller ID and picked up his phone on the fifth ring. “Allison, hi, how are you?” Drake asked as his attention immediately shifted to Allison Freeman, CHRO at one of the school's largest executive education corporate clients, on the other end of the line. “I hope you are doing well and finding time to enjoy the arrival of spring,” Drake sincerely stated. “Hi, Jack, I'm glad that I caught you in the office, and yes, I had my first spring mountain biking trek this past weekend, and it felt really good to be out in the hills and woods. It even feels great today to have sore legs and arms from the pounding they took on those rugged trails.” . . .
Toward a More Comprehensive Understanding of the Kinetics of a Common Biomass-Derived Impurity: NH3 Oxidation by N2O in a Jet-Stirred Reactor

Ammonia (NH3) has garnered substantial attention in recent years due to its importance across many scientific and engineering domains—including its potential use as a carbon-free fuel and long-term...
Risk assessment methodologies: factors to consider

Summary form only given. The reliability of the North American electric power system has been so high that the rare occurrences of major blackouts have been prominent national and even international news items. As damaging as these blackouts have been, much worse events are possible. Under several different types of circumstances, electric power system could be damaged well beyond the level of normal design criteria for maintaining reliability. However, conventional electric utility planning and operating practices are based on an approach of identifying and simulate credible contingency scenarios against individual assets. These scenarios typically do not include risk management factors, such as balancing the potential threats with known vulnerabilities and probable consequences; nor do they fully take into account external factors that may be represented by the simultaneous disruption of multiple assets or cross sector dependencies. This presentation will present factors for the power system engineer to consider for including risk management concepts into planning and operational decisions.
Cholinergic modulation of neuronal excitability and recurrent excitation‐inhibition in prefrontal cortex circuits: implications for gamma oscillations

Cholinergic neuromodulation in neocortical networks is required for gamma oscillatory activity associated with working memory and other cognitive processes. Importantly, the cholinergic agonist carbachol (CCh) induces gamma oscillations in vitro, via mechanisms that may be shared with in vivo gamma oscillations and that are consistent with the pyramidal interneuron network gamma (PING) model. In PING oscillations, pyramidal cells (PCs), driven by asynchronous excitatory input, recruit parvalbumin-positive fast-spiking interneurons (FSNs), which then synchronize the PCs via feedback inhibition. Whereas the PING model is favoured by current data, how cholinergic neuromodulation contributes to gamma oscillation production is poorly understood. We thus studied the effects of cholinergic modulation on circuit components of the PING model in mouse medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) brain slices. CCh depolarized and evoked action potential firing in a fraction of PCs and increased excitatory synaptic input onto FSNs. In synaptically connected pairs, CCh reduced the short-term depression at FSN-PC and PC-FSN synapses, equalizing synaptic strength during repetitive presynaptic firing while simultaneously increasing the failure probability. Interestingly, when PCs or FSNs fired in response to gamma frequency oscillatory inputs, CCh increased the firing probability per cycle. Combined with the equalization of synaptic strength, an increase by CCh in the fraction of neurons recruited per oscillation cycle may support oscillatory synchrony of similar strength during relatively long oscillation episodes such as those observed during working memory tasks, suggesting a significant functional impact of cholinergic modulation of mPFC circuit components crucial for the PING model.
A Domain Decomposition Based Two-Level Newton Scheme for Nonlinear Problems

We present two non-overlapping domain decomposition based two-level Newton schemes for solving nonlinear problems and demonstrate their effectiveness by analyzing systems with balanced and unbalanced nonlinearities. They both have been implemented in parallel and show good scalability. The implementations accommodate non-symmetric matrices and unstructured meshes.
Overestimating Population Sizes of Rare Clonal Plants

In the United States, a petition to list a plant taxon under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) includes preliminary information, usually augmented subsequently, on the status of the taxon (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2009a). Plants with narrow geographic extent and few populations and individuals are considered especially vulnerable because population size is positively related to genetic diversity and fitness (Leimu et al. 2006) and negatively related to the likelihood of extinction. Spielman et al. (2004) report that heterozygosity is 35% lower in rare than in common congeners and conclude that rare plants are less able to adapt to novel challenges and have an elevated extinction risk. Decisions to list rare species that reproduce sexually and vegetatively are complicated because estimates of genetpopulationsizearebasedonstemcounts,butstems
A new FDTD formulation with reduced dispersion for the simulation of wave propagation through inhomogeneous media

A discrete vector calculus on a lattice is developed based on primary and dual lattices that support scalar as well as vector fields with collocated components. The resulting discrete vector calculus is applied to electromagnetic theory and is, by construction, consistent with both the integral and differential forms of Maxwell's equations. In its own right, the resulting discrete space-time (DST) method does not hold any particular advantage over the standard Yee algorithm other than improved stability. The the time-domain element (TDE) method is presented, which may be viewed as a reinterpretation and generalization of the Yee algorithm. The formulations of the TDE and DST methods are such that it combination of the two is quite transparent. The combined algorithm has the advantage in that it retains the local nature of each as well as taking advantage of the obvious complementarity of the two. The result is a robust, highly accurate, and efficient algorithm that inherently satisfies boundary conditions on dielectric interfaces.
Deep Mutational Scanning: Library Construction, Functional Selection, and High-Throughput Sequencing

Deep mutational scanning is a highly parallel method that uses high-throughput sequencing to track changes in >10(5) protein variants before and after selection to measure the effects of mutations on protein function. Here we outline the stages of a deep mutational scanning experiment, focusing on the construction of libraries of protein sequence variants and the preparation of Illumina sequencing libraries.
Social Work in the 21st Century: Training Units of Practice for Technique Implementation

Soapbox sketch by Hilary KonradI was an innovator in online education. The promises for pedagogical reform combined with opportunities for the democratization of knowledge were, in my estimation, t...
Impact of Consumer Preference Formation on Marketing Objectives and Competitive Second Mover Strategies

In this article, we consider the impact of the dynamics of consumer preference formation on the optimal competitive strategy for a second brand entering a market dominated by a pioneer. In particular, our analysis explicitly incorporates the perceptual dominance and prototypicality of a successful pioneer into models of consumer and managerial decision making. Based on these models, we derive optimal entry strategies for a second mover that competes with the pioneer in brand positioning, advertising, and price. Analyses using classical models of decision making, which exclude prototypicality, show that optimal second mover strategies engage a process of competition that leads to falling prices and profits until further entry is unprofitable. However, the empirical evidence shows that pioneers enjoy persistent competitive advantages. Our analysis, incorporating the prototypicality of the pioneer, shows that it is optimal for the second mover to adopt a niche strategy (with a maximally differentiated position, high price, low advertising outlay) that is consistent with the persistent pioneering advantage. Our results suggest an important role for brand prototypicality in the design of competitive strategies and for the process of competition between brands.
College and University Dance Companies in the United States: A Descriptive Study

Despite the proliferation of faculty-directed, student dance companies on college and university campuses, little has been published about them. These companies serve important functions in the curriculum in many dance departments and programs, and can be thought of as pedagogical entities that teach a variety of artistic, technical, and practical skills. College and university dance companies deserve study so that dance educators can better understand the ways in which these groups contribute to the education of their students. This exploratory study was intended to provide both quantitative and qualitative information about faculty-directed college and university dance companies in the United States. The topics surveyed include dance department size and makeup, leadership in companies, requirements, number of concerts per year, genre of dance, guest artists, auditions, training of directors, dance company size, profiles of students, goals, and strengths and weaknesses of the companies, among others. The...
Role of Nitric Oxide, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, and ATP in Inhibitory Neurotransmission in Human Jejunum

Abstract Background.Inhibitory neurotransmission in the human intestine is poorly understood. This study was undertaken to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in inhibitory neurotransmission in human jejunal circular muscle strips. Methods. In vitroresponse of precontracted (10−5M substance P) normal human jejunal muscle strips to electric field stimulation (EFS) under adrenergic and cholinergic receptor blockade was evaluated. Selective neural blockade was obtained by the NO synthase inhibitor l -NG-nitroarginine methyl ester ( l -NAME, 10−3M), VIP receptor antagonist (4-Cl- d -Phe6Leu17-VIP, 10−7M), P2purinergic receptor blocker suramin (3 × 1014M), or the calcium-dependent potassium channel blocker apamin (10−6M). Force generated in response to EFS was quantitated and analyzed statistically. Results.Exogenous NO and ATP dose-dependently inhibited contractile activity and relaxed muscle strips with a concentration yielding a 50% effect (ED50) of 4.5 ± 2.9 × 10−6M and 3.3 ± 1.3 × 10−4M, respectively. EFS resulted in relaxation of precontracted muscle strips in all groups. When compared with controls, relaxation was decreased but not abolished by l -NAME (−0.12 ± 0.03 vs −0.33 ± 0.05, −0.07 ± 0.03 vs −0.34 ± 0.05, and 0.04 ± 0.03 vs −0.30 ± 0.04 at 2, 5, and 10 Hz, respectively,P d -NAME (inactive stereoisomer of l -NAME), 4-Cl- d -Phe6Leu17-VIP, suramin, and apamin did not alter EFS-induced relaxation. Conclusions.Inhibition of NO synthesis by l -NAME reduced the inhibitory response to EFS, whereas blocking ATP and VIP receptors or other effector pathways had no effect. Our findings indicate that although NO plays a predominant role in inhibitory neurotransmission in human jejunal circular muscle, another neurotransmitter(s) appears to be involved as well. These data may impact on understanding mechanisms of disorders of gut dysmotility.
SUPPORT FOR A NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL MODEL OF SPIRITUALITY IN PERSONS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

. Recent research suggests that spiritual experiences are related to increased physiological activity of the frontal and temporal lobes and decreased activity of the right parietal lobe. The current study determined if similar relationships exist between self-reported spirituality and neuropsychological abilities associated with those cerebral structures for persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants included 26 adults with TBI referred for neuropsychological assessment. Measures included the Core Index of Spirituality (INSPIRIT); neuropsychological indices of cerebral structures: temporal lobes (Wechsler Memory Scale-III), right parietal lobe (Judgment of Line Orientation), and frontal lobes (Trail Making Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test). As hypothesized, spirituality was significantly negatively correlated with a measure of right parietal lobe functioning and positively correlated (nonsignificantly) with measures of left temporal lobe functioning. Contrary to hypotheses, correlations between spirituality and measures of frontal lobe functioning were zero or negative (and nonsignificant). The data support a neuropsychological model that proposes that spiritual experiences are related to decreased activity of the right parietal lobe, which may be associated with decreased awareness of the self (transcendence) and increased activity of the left temporal lobe, which may be associated with the experience of specific religious archetypes (religious figures and symbols).
Safety Margin of Magnetic Coupling Distance in Decoupling of a Pivot Bearing‐Supported Gyro Centrifugal Pump (C1E3)

The pivot bearing-supported Gyro C1E3 centrifugal pump is driven by magnetic coupling. The magnetic coupling distance (MCD) between the impeller magnet and the driver magnet affects both hydraulic performance and hemolysis. Although a greater MCD causes less hemolysis, it increases the risk of decoupling of the impeller magnet. Therefore, it is important to consider the effect of the MCD on both hemolysis and decoupling when the C1E3 pump is applied in various circulatory assist conditions. This study investigates the effect of the MCD on decoupling in a C1E3 pump that is driven by the Nd-Fe-B composite ring-shaped magnets. The results will determine which MCD is the most practical in all assist device conditions. The MCD of the C1E3 pump was varied from 9.5 to 14.5 mm by inserting spacers between the bottom pump housing and the driver magnet. At a rotational speed just before the decoupling occurred, the flow rate and total pressure head were measured. The results revealed that a MCD between 9.5 and 14.5 mm was enough to produce a flow rate of more than 10 L/min without decoupling, and a MCD of less than 11.5 mm was required when the total pressure head was more than 500 mm Hg. Thus, the limiting factor for the MCD of the C1E3 pump is the total pressure head rather than the flow rate. An MCD of less than 11.5 mm is required to prevent decoupling of the impeller of the C1E3 pump with the specific Nd-Fe-B magnets in the full range of clinical circulatory assist conditions.
Expert stakeholder attitudes and support for alternative water sources in a groundwater depleted region

Abstract The main objectives of this research were to quantify the risks/benefits and impacts of alternative water sources (AWSs) as perceived by expert stakeholders and to evaluate the overall support for multiple AWSs by expert stakeholders. The St. Johns River (SJR) basin, FL, USA was chosen as a case study for AWSs because it is a fresh groundwater depleted region and there are ongoing activities related to water supply planning. Expert stakeholders included federal, state, and local governments, public utilities, consulting engineering and industry, and environmental and social non-governmental organizations. AWSs under consideration in the SJR basin include surface water, desalination, water reclamation, and water conservation. A two-phase research approach was followed that focused on expert stakeholders. First, an elicitation study was used to identify salient beliefs about AWSs. Open-ended questions were asked about the risks/benefits of AWSs in terms of the three pillars of sustainability: ecological, economic, and human health impacts. Second, an online survey was constructed using beliefs identified during the elicitation study. The online survey was used to quantify attitudes toward and overall support for AWSs. The salient beliefs of expert stakeholders were dominated by the ecological pillar of sustainability. The support of expert stakeholders for AWSs, from least favorable to most favorable, was surface water withdrawals
Prediction of multicomponent ion-exchange equilibria in zeolites: A comparison of procedures

Experimental data obtained for a range of binary and ternary exchange reactions involving lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, and cadmium ions in zeolites A, X, and Y and synthetic mordenite are used to examine the validity of some prediction procedures. These procedures (used successfully with ion-exchange resins) attempt to predict ternary exchange equilibria from binary data only, either by the calculation of ternary activity coefficients or through graphical methods. The results show agreement between theory and experiment, which varies from good to only qualitative. The methods are compared with the rigorous approach that has been separately developed elsewhere by the authors, and guidelines are put forth to help decide when a particular procedure may be appropriate.
Age hardening of rapidly quenched Al-Zr-B alloys

Ternary alloys from the Al-Zr-B system were prepared as thin foils by a rapid quench technique. These foils were annealed isothermally as well as isochronally at various temperatures (150 to 550° C). The microstructures show that at high temperature, the grain growth is significantly retarded by the grain boundary pinning of boride precipitates. A strong age hardening is also a characteristic phenomenon in these alloys. It is found that microstructure and microhardness largely depend upon the zirconium/boron ratio of the alloy, indicating that the ratio determines the types of compounds occurring in this alloy system. It appears that in these alloys, high concentration of boron and the low ratio of zirconium/boron together yield stable precipitates at high temperatures.
Estradiol stimulates a uterine plasma membrane protease activator.

An estrogen-regulated arginine esteropeptidase is present in the immature rat uterus. The enzymatic complex consists of a membrane-bound activator and a soluble proenzyme. The activator is under strong estrogen control; its activity increases 10-fold 3 h after a single dose of 17β-estradiol. The subcellular localization of the activator is determined by a radioactive assay of fractions prepared by sucrose density centrifugation. The distribution of activity parallels the distribution of two plasma membrane markers, Mg2+-ATPase and 5′-nucleotidase. Electron micrographic visualization of the gradient fractions containing the activator reveals a population of vesicles 0.2–0.5 μm in diameter (Endocrinology 122: 500–503, 1988)
Rapid treatment of dog phobia by a feeding procedure

Abstract A young woman suffering from dog phobia underwent 12-hr of food deprivation. During a 2-hr treatment session, the therapist fed her M & M's while progressively exposing her to dogs in an animal shelter. By the end of the session, the client was able to approach dogs without distress. At a 6-month follow-up, the recovery had been maintained.
Stereoselectivity of opiate antagonists in rat hippocampus and neocortex: Responses to (+) and (−) isomers of naloxone

The relative potencies of the (+) and (-) isomers of naloxone in antagonizing electrophysiological responses to D-alanine2-methionine enkephalinamide were compared in rat frontal cortex and hippocampus. In the in vitro hippocampus, the (-) isomer was found to be at least a 100 times more potent than the (+) isomer in antagonizing opiate-induced changes in field potentials. Similar stereoselectivity was observed in vivo in both frontal cortex and hippocampus in terms of the antagonism of enkephalin-induced changes in spontaneous cell firing. The direct effects of (+) and (-)-naloxone were examined as well. In hippocampus both in vivo and in vitro, no differential effect was observed, whereas in the neocortex (-)-naloxone was considerably more potent than the (+) isomer in eliciting depressions of spontaneous activity. These direct effects of naloxone in the cortex do not appear to be due to an antagonism of the effects of endogenously released opioids. These results demonstrate that the stereoselectivity of naloxone isomers in antagonizing electrophysiological responses to opiates in the cortex and hippocampus parallels that previously observed in other brain regions and in other tissues. In addition, they suggest that naloxone may have interactions with other unknown opiate (or possibly non-opiate) receptors which are of physiological significance.
Characterization of thin-metal anode buffers in organic devices

The interposition of a thin-metal buffer between the anode and active layers of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) can significantly improve hole injection. Experimental results of devices using silver, gold, and gold-palladium layers are presented and correlated to their respective work functions. A significant reduction in resistivity was observed with a silver buffer layer in a bilayer OLED device. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 2070–2072, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21837
Localization of substance P mRNA in cholinergic cells of the rat laterodorsal tegmental nucleus:In situ hybridization histochemistry and immunocytochemistry

1. In situ hybridization histochemical techniques in combination with immunocytochemistry and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry were used to study the colocalization of messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding the neuropeptide substance P (SP) in cholinergic cells of the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT) of the rat pontine brain stem. 2. Alternate serial sections were hybridized with a 48-base,35S-labeled synthetic oligonucleotide probe encoding SP usingin situ hybridization histochemistry and processed either histochemically for AChE or immunocytochemically for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). 3. In addition, serial section analysis was used to demonstrate the correlation between SP and SP mRNA in the same cells of the LDT. 4. These studies reveal that the cholinergic neurons of the LDT synthesize SP.
The evolution of a concept: Aggression and violence in psychiatric settings

In a series of studies examining aggression and violence by persons with a mental illness, a coercive interactional style emerged as an important predictive variable in hospital settings. This interactive style addresses one issue noted in the literature, the relative effect of personal versus environmental variables, by describing how violent individuals interact with their environment in purposeful ways. The findings from three specific studies are summarized to describe how this interactive style was identified, quantified and documented as a predictor of aggression and violence. It is hoped that this synthesis of research findings will facilitate the application of research to practice settings.
Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in bovine major histocompatibility complex class II ß‐chain genes using bovine exon‐containing hybridization probes

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) have been identified in the bovine MHC class II region using five hybridization probes constructed from two bovine genomic clones. Four probes were constructed from a bovine DR beta-like gene, BoLA-DRB2. These included a probe containing the complete beta 1 exon (R2-beta 1), a probe containing the last 129 base pairs of the beta 2 exon (R2-beta 2), a probe containing intron immediately 5' of the beta 2 exon (R2-5' beta 2), and a probe containing the complete transmembrane exon (R2-TM). A fifth probe was constructed from a novel bovine beta-chain gene, BoLA-DIB, and contained the entire TM exon (I1-TM). R2-beta 1 defined very little polymorphism. R2-beta 2 hybridized to several fragments but one or two fragments hybridized much stronger on all Southern blots and it was presumed these corresponded to BoLA-DRB2 fragments. By using R2-5' beta 2 as a probe, these BoLA-DRB2 fragments were confirmed: 6.4 and 2.7-kb Eco RI alleles, 1.7- and 1.5-kb Pvu II alleles, 5.9-, 5.4-, 3.7- and 1.9-kb TaqI alleles, and a non-polymorphic 22.5-kb BamHI fragment. I1-TM identified three alleles with TaqI. To investigate the linkage between the RFLP alleles, 166 offspring of five sires were tested. Complete linkage was found for all RFLPs identified with the BoLA-DRB2 probes. However, the RFLP patterns of 13 calves out of 58 indicated recombination between BoLA-DRB2 and BoLA-DIB.
Super-suppressor mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract Two strains of yeast of opposite mating types and each containing the same five suppressible alleles were irradiated with ultraviolet light to induce revertants. Any revertant which proved to be prototrophic for two or more of the suppressible alleles was considered to contain a super-suppressor. Of 1053 revertants, 83 super-suppressors were obtained which could be grouped into eight phenotypic classes. Genetic analysis of some suppressors from two classes established a minimum of ten separate loci, and crosses of these ten suppressors with two of the previously identified suppressors showed all twelve to be at different loci. Interclass crosses indicated that each phenotypic class probably represents a separate set of loci. A two-suppressor effect is described. A model to explain these observations is presented.
Increased serum prolactin levels mediate the suppressive effects of ectopic pituitary grafts on copulatory behavior in male rats

Abstract To determine if deficits in sexual activity, observed in pituitary-grafted male rats are due to elevated serum prolactin (PRL) levels found in these animals, the effects of whole pituitary grafts, pars distalis grafts, and ovine (o) PRL treatment on male copulatory behavior were compared. Adult sexually experienced CDF male rats were given four whole pituitary grafts, four pars distalis grafts, or were sham operated. Both groups of grafted animals exhibited suppressed copulatory behavior patterns when tested 18 days after pituitary transplantation. Animals given whole pituitary grafts had significantly longer latencies to mount (P
Bending properties and ash content of fetal cranial bone.

Abstract Forty-five specimens of fetal cranial bone ranging in estimated gestational age from 25–40 weeks were tested in three-point bending. Five specimens of a six-year-old calvarium were tested for comparative purposes. The elastic modulus of each specimen was derived from the bending stiffness and geometrical property data. Following mechanical testing, each specimen was oven-dried and ashed to a constant weight. Ash content was determined as the ratio of ash weight to dry specimen weight. The results indicate that the ash content of fetal cranial bone increases significantly (from 50% to 68%) with increasing gestational age. (The elastic modulus of fetal cranial bone significantly increases with increasing ash content.) However, the ash content of the term fetal cranial bone or the six-year-old cranial bone is not significantly different from that found in the adult. These results are discussed in relation to a structural hypothesis for increasing cranial bone stiffness with increasing maturity.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in rheumatic diseases: evolving clinical and pathologic patterns of disease.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare, serious, and usually fatal demyelinating disease that occurs predominantly in severely immunosuppressed patient populations. The etiologic agent is the JC virus (JCV), a polyomavirus that is widely distributed as a latent infection in the general population but becomes activated, leading to destruction of myelin-producing oligodendrocytes. Patients who survive this complication are left with devastating neurologic sequelae. PML has been described mainly in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, other immunosuppressed patient populations, including those with malignancies, organ transplants, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (1–20) and other rheumatic diseases (22–32), are at risk of developing this complication. The appearance of PML in 0.1% of patients treated in clinical trials with the biologic therapeutic agent natalizumab (33,34), an antagonist of 4 integrin, greatly hindered the development of this promising new agent for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as plans for expanded indications for this agent in Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for which it was already in clinical trials. In addition, on December 18, 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in conjunction with Genentech and Biogen Idec, the makers of rituximab, a recently approved biologic agent for the treatment of RA, issued a warning to health care providers, informing them that 2 patients receiving rituximab for the treatment of SLE (an unapproved indication) had developed PML (35). Recent years have witnessed advances in better understanding of the pathologic response to JCV and the pathogenesis of PML (36). An evolving clinical picture is emerging: PML is a protean disease that is difficult to distinguish clinically from immune-mediated diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), such as MS, neuropsychiatric SLE, and vasculitis of the CNS (37,38). Thus, it is timely to review PML. We describe herein the microbiology, epidemiology, immunology, and pathology of PML, its changing clinical and pathologic spectrum, recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of PML, and its relevance to physicians treating patients with rheumatic disorders. We report the results of a systematic literature review of all 36 patients with rheumatic diseases who have developed PML, including a previously unreported case in a patient treated at Cleveland Clinic. Nearly two-thirds of the cases of PML occurred in patients with SLE, and many cases of PML in SLE occurred in patients who had had minimal immunosuppression, which raises the possibility that SLE itself may predispose to PML.
Measuring relevance theory's effects in an image-driven explorative information system

In information system, there are many techniques for extracting data, such as semantic elements from author, title, or subject tracings from MARC or other records, to express relationships within the data. The addition of visualization techniques stimulate the viewer because the graphic design of the data forms a purposive communicative act. Applying Sperber & Wilson's theory of relevance helps explicate a model of feature integration applicable to image-driven, user-guided exploration of digital collections. The model, implemented as an alternative search engine in a college library, is being tested in late 2012, and may result in creating a well-founded methodology for exploring repurposing digital objects for greater user engagement.