cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid binding of a cationic active site inhibitor to wild type and mutant mouse acetylcholinesterase: Brownian dynamics simulation including diffusion in the active site gorge.

It is known that anionic surface residues play a role in the long-range electrostatic attraction between acetylcholinesterase and cationic ligands. In our current investigation, we show that anionic residues also play an important role in the behavior of the ligand within the active site gorge of acetylcholinesterase. Negatively charged residues near the gorge opening not only attract positively charged ligands from solution to the enzyme, but can also restrict the motion of the ligand once it is inside of the gorge. We use Brownian dynamics techniques to calculate the rate constant kon for wild type and mutant acetylcholinesterase with a positively charged ligand. These calculations are performed by allowing the ligand to diffuse within the active site gorge. This is an extension of previously reported work in which a ligand was allowed to diffuse only to the enzyme surface. By setting the reaction criteria for the ligand closer to the active site, better agreement with experimental data is obtained. Although a number of residues influence the movement of the ligand within the gorge, Asp74 is shown to play a particularly important role in this function. Asp74 traps the ligand within the gorge, and in this way helps to ensure a reaction. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 465–474, 1998
What do nonlinear optical techniques have to offer the biosciences

Applications of optical harmonic generation and infrared-visible sum frequency generation (SFG) in the biosciences have become increasingly attractive because they have been shown to yield surface specific information concerning, for example, molecular adsorption and orientation, surface charges, interfacial hydrogen bond networks, surface chirality, and membrane potentials under in situ conditions and with high surface sensitivity.
UN participation in ISY

Abstract This report reviews a number of steps undertaken to date to improve our understanding of the Earth. It also addresses the global cooperative efforts being undertaken through the International Space Year to meet the challenges of environmental pollution. It concludes with the efforts of United Nations in the International Space Year and provides highlights of the UN efforts to establish regional Centres for Space Science and Technology Education.
Nonlinear Parameter Estimation: Comparison of an Ensemble Kalman Smoother with a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Algorithm

AbstractThis paper explores the temporal evolution of cloud microphysical parameter uncertainty using an idealized 1D model of deep convection. Model parameter uncertainty is quantified using a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. A new form of the ensemble transform Kalman smoother (ETKS) appropriate for the case where the number of ensemble members exceeds the number of observations is then used to obtain estimates of model uncertainty associated with variability in model physics parameters. Robustness of the parameter estimates and ensemble parameter distributions derived from ETKS is assessed via comparison with MCMC. Nonlinearity in the relationship between parameters and model output gives rise to a non-Gaussian posterior probability distribution for the parameters that exhibits skewness early and multimodality late in the simulation. The transition from unimodal to multimodal posterior probability density function (PDF) reflects the transition from convective to stratiform rainfall. ETKS-base...
Seeing close others as we see ourselves: One’s own self-complexity is reflected in perceptions of meaningful others

Although past research has established a correspondence between the content of knowledge about the self and close others, the current work evaluated the prediction that the self-concept also influences the structure of these perceptions. Specifically, we expected greater correspondence in the complexity of mental representations between the self and others included in the self. In Study 1, we found that self-complexity was related to the perceived complexity of a close other and that this outcome did not reflect a general tendency to perceive the world in a systematically complex or simple fashion (i.e., cognitive complexity). In Study 2, we found that the correspondence between self-complexity and complexity of representations of others increased for individuals more included in the self. Finally in Study 3, we observed that experimentally manipulating inclusion of other in the self resulted in perceived structural similarity between representations of the self and others. Implications of self-concept representation for social relationships are discussed.
Activation of ryanodine receptors induces calcium influx in a neuroblastoma cell line lacking calcium influx factor activity

We have further characterized the Ca2+ signalling properties of the NG115-401L (or 401L) neuroblastoma cell line, which has served as an important cell line for investigating SOC (store-operated channel) influx pathways. These cells possess an unusual Ca2+ signalling phenotype characterized by the absence of Ca2+ influx when Ca2+ stores are depleted by inhibitors of SERCA (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase). Previous studies found that Ca2+-store depletion does not produce a CIF (Ca2+ influx factor) activity in 401L cells. These observations have prompted the question whether 401L cells possess the signalling machinery that permits non-voltage-gated Ca2+ influx to occur. We tested the hypothesis that ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ pools and activation of RyRs (ryanodine receptors) constitute a signalling pathway capable of inducing Ca2+ influx in 401L cells. We found that 401L cells express mRNA for RyR1 and RyR2 and that RyR activators induced Ca2+ release. Activation of RyRs robustly couples with Ca2+ influx responses in 401L cells, in sharp contrast with absence of Ca2+ influx when cells are treated with SERCA inhibitors. Thus it is clear that 401L cells, despite lacking depletion-induced Ca2+ influx pathways, express the functional components of a Ca2+ influx pathway under the control of RyR function. These findings further support the importance of the 401L cell line as an important cell phenotype for deciphering Ca2+ influx regulation.
Quantum Theory of the Longitudinal Electromagnetic Field

The special features of the quantum theory of the longitudinal electromagnetic field originated from the supplementary condition are discussed in connection with the vacuum expectation value of the bilinear form in the electromagnetic potentials. The present investigation confirms the view that the unified treatment of the electromagnetic field is valid for gauge-invariant integrals.
Soil mineralogy in relation to the spread of fusarium wilt of banana in central America

A correlation has been established between the spread of Fusarium wilt of banana and the mineralogical composition of 67 soils from banana plantations in Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador. A swelling 3-layer silicate component that expanded beyond 14A when made homoionic with K+, air dried, and then saturated with glycerol is present in all soils, except one, in which disease spread has been slow, but this component is absent in all soils, except one, in which it was rapid. The effective banana-producing life of the soils could not be related to the presence or absence of other clay minerals, nor to the chemical and physical properties of the soils. The results of this study indicate that the potential banana-producing life of soils planted with wilt-susceptible bananas can be predicted on the basis of their clay mineral composition.
Bleomycin-induced breakage of closed-circular DNA

Abstract The amount of breakage induced by bleomycin in closed-circular DNA from bacteriophage PM2 was investigated under various reaction conditions. Analysis of the extent of breakage, by alkaline band centrifugation and agarose gel electrophoresis, yielded quite different results from those previously reported for the breakage of closed-circular SV40 DNA by bleomycin. Compared to these earlier results, we found (a) the reaction required the addition of 2-mercaptoethanol; and (b) the breakage reaction was further stimulated by the addition of 2-mercaptoethanol in the absence of EDTA.
Distribution and Metabolism of Diphenylhydantoin in Oral and Nonoral Tissues of Ferrets

Tissue distribution of diphenylhydantoin and metabolites in oral and nonoral tissues of the ferret after administration of single and multiple doses revealed that prolonged administration resulted in high concentrations of unmetabolized DPH in oral mucosa, salivary glands, and gingiva. This suggests a direct role of unmetabolized DPH in the induced gingival hyperplasia.
Human resource management and Deming's continuous improvement concept

Abstract This article presents a loss minimization or continuous improvement model for human resource management (HRM). Minimization of losses arising from the interaction of two critical human resource (HR) quality targets, commitment and equity, requires ‘profound knowledge’ of social processes and the development of HR systems. The history of HR can be interpreted as a social continuous improvement process that makes use of four systems approaches: trust, bureaucracy, unionization, and regulation. Variance-minimizing tools that were appropriate for earlier phases of HR history (characterized by higher levels of HR loss) may be too blunt for the level of commitment industry now demands. Enterprise or company unionism may be a preferable quality management tool, although the National Labor Relations Act inhibits its adoption.
Comparison of the concurrent and predictive validity of three measures of readiness to change marijuana use in a clinical sample of adolescents.

Objective:The measurement of readiness to change has become common practice in alcohol and drug treatment of both adults and adolescents. Nevertheless, there is relatively little research on the validity of measures of readiness to change among treated adolescents. The purpose of this study was to compare three measures of readiness to change marijuana use commonly used in clinical research and practice with adolescents: the Readiness Ruler, the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES; Factors 1 and 2, Recognition and Taking Steps, respectively), and a staging algorithm.Method:The participants were 174 adolescents presenting for intensive outpatient alcohol and drug treatment who reported current marijuana use at the initial assessment. Evidence for concurrent validity was assessed by computing simple correlations among readiness measures, and correlations of each readiness measure with marijuana involvement (percentage of days abstinent in the last 30 days, problem severity sco...
Development of bovine embryos in KSOM with added superoxide dismutase and taurine and with five and twenty percent O2.

To further define requirements for embryo development without the assistance of complex media, serum, or coculture, the effects of 5% and 20% O 2 concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD) (experiment 1), and taurine (experiment 2) were tested in a simple culture medium (KSOM modified with 2.5 mM HEPES). Bovine embryos were produced by in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) of oocytes. After fertilization, embryos were cultured in 5% O 2 :5% CO 2 :90% N 2 at 39°C for the first 40-44 h ; then embryos with 4 to 8 cells were cultured in different treatments for another 6 days. Percentage development subsequently was based on this number. In experiment 1, more blastocysts were produced in 5% O 2 :5% CO 2 :90% N 2 (37%) than in 20% O 2 :5% CO 2 :75% N 2 (18% ; p 0.05). In experiment 2, more blastocysts were formed in 5% O 2 (39%) than in 95% air (30% ; p < 0.05). Also, with 20% O 2 and 0, 7, and 14 mM taurine in the medium, blastocyst formation was 18%, 35%, and 36% (p < 0.05). However, in 5% O 2 , 7 and 14 mM taurine was not beneficial (p = 0.99), as 39% blastocysts were formed with no taurine. In conclusion, results from both experiments demonstrated that 5% O 2 was superior to 20% O 2 for development of IVM/IVF bovine embryos. SOD had no effect in either 5% or 20% O 2 . However, 7 mM and 14 mM taurine counteracted the negative effect of 20% O 2 . The best culture system tested here was simple ; it resulted in sufficient blastocyst formation that it can serve as an excellent base for further studies of the requirements of embryos.
The Sound of Pictures

struction depends on the classroom teacher. His enthusiastic attitude and systematic follow-up, says the research, are more important than his linguistic skills; the TV teacher, in turn, can indeed provide the basic instruction but not total teaching.? How good are the various foreign language TV series, and what makes them good? To answer these questions the NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOOL AND COLLEGE TELEVISION last year brought together a score of expert colleagues who viewed sample lessons (videotapes or films and the related printed materials) from some ninety series, most of them for the elementary school. Predictably, the range in quality was extreme; disappointingly, the average was poor. The half-dozen superior series cheered the optimist by showing the great potential of TV instruction, but the pessimist feared that dozens of wretched TV series had
Differential effects of aging and Alzheimer's disease on medial temporal lobe cortical thickness and surface area

The volume of parcellated cortical regions is a composite measure related to both thickness and surface area. It is not clear whether volumetric decreases in medial temporal lobe (MTL) cortical regions in aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are due to thinning, loss of surface area, or both, nor is it clear whether aging and AD differ in their effects on these properties. Participants included 28 Younger Normals, 47 Older Normals, and 29 patients with mild AD. T1-weighted MRI data were analyzed using a novel semi-automated protocol (presented in a companion article) to delineate the boundaries of entorhinal (ERC), perirhinal (PRC), and posterior parahippocampal (PPHC) cortical regions and calculate their mean thickness, surface area, and volume. Compared to Younger Normals, Older Normals demonstrated moderately reduced ERC and PPHC volumes, which were due primarily to reduced surface area. In contrast, the expected AD-related reduction in ERC volume was produced by a large reduction in thickness with minimal additional effect (beyond that of aging) on surface area. PRC and PPHC also showed large AD-related reductions in thickness. Of all these MTL morphometric measures, ERC and PRC thinning were the best predictors of poorer episodic memory performance in AD. Although the volumes of MTL cortical regions may decrease with both aging and AD, thickness is relatively preserved in normal aging, while even in its mild clinical stage, AD is associated with a large degree of thinning of MTL cortex. These differential morphometric effects of aging and AD may reflect distinct biologic processes and ultimately may provide insights into the anatomic substrates of change in memory-related functions of MTL cortex.
Possible potassium chlorate nephrotoxicity associated with chronic matchstick ingestion

We present a case of a 48-year-old active duty male soldier with a history of chronic exposure to potassium chlorate, later diagnosed with chronic interstitial nephritis. He reported regular matchstick consumption to prevent chigger (Trombicula autumnalis) bites, amounting to ∼5.8 g of potassium chlorate over 3 years. Potassium chlorate can cause anuric renal failure within days of a toxic dose. Its slow excretion and mechanism of action suggest that renal toxicity may result from lower-dose chronic exposure. This case represents possible sequelae of chronic potassium chlorate ingestion.
Identifying ADHD Symptoms Most Associated with Impairment in Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, and Adolescence Using Teacher Report

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between ADHD symptoms and impairment within a sample that includes children in early childhood (n = 250), middle childhood (n = 269) and adolescence (i.e., high school; n = 269). Nested multivariate regression analyses were used to examine the extent to which each ADHD symptom dimension (inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity) is most associated with impairment in academic, social, and behavioral functioning within and across three developmental levels. Results indicated for academic impairment, inattention is more predictive than hyperactivity/impulsivity at all ages. For social functioning, both with peers and teachers, hyperactivity/impulsivity is more predictive than inattention but only for early childhood students; at the high school level, inattention is a significant predictor of social impairment. For behavioral functioning in the classroom, the pattern is mixed across dimensions and ages with HI decreasing in predictive utility across the three age groups and IA increasing in predictive utility. Forward stepwise regression was used to determine which of the 18 ADHD symptom items are most associated with impairment within and across developmental levels. Findings indicate that the symptoms that were most predictive of impairment varied by age group and by domain of impairment. Implications for assessment are discussed.
The electrical design of thick film planar filter connectors

A simple method for the design of thick-film planars is established. The minimization of the inductance inherent in the internal filter capacitor is found to be important. An insertion-loss test fixture is investigated and used to measure the insertion loss of two filters. The performance of the higher-inductance filter is not as good as that of the low-inductance filter. A regression method is used to determine the equivalent circuits of the filters. The apparent variation of filter inductance and capacitance is presented. >
Mitch - A rapidly evolving component of the Ndc80 kinetochore complex required for correct chromosome segregation in Drosophila

We identified an essential kinetochore protein, Mitch, from a genetic screen in D. melanogaster. Mitch localizes to the kinetochore, and its targeting is independent of microtubules (MTs) and several other known kinetochore components. Animals carrying mutations in mitch die as late third-instar larvae; mitotic neuroblasts in larval brains exhibit high levels of aneuploidy. Analysis of fixed D. melanogaster brains and mitch RNAi in cultured cells, as well as video recordings of cultured mitch mutant neuroblasts, reveal that chromosome alignment in mitch mutants is compromised during spindle formation, with many chromosomes displaying persistent mono-orientation. These misalignments lead to aneuploidy during anaphase. Mutations in mitch also disrupt chromosome behavior during both meiotic divisions in spermatocytes: the entire chromosome complement often moves to only one spindle pole. Mutant mitotic cells exhibit contradictory behavior with respect to the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Anaphase onset is delayed in untreated cells, probably because incorrect kinetochore attachment maintains the SAC. However, mutant brain cells and mitch RNAi cells treated with MT poisons prematurely disjoin their chromatids, and exit mitosis. These data suggest that Mitch participates in SAC signaling that responds specifically to disruptions in spindle microtubule dynamics. The mitch gene corresponds to the transcriptional unit CG7242, and encodes a protein that is a possible ortholog of the Spc24 or Spc25 subunit of the Ndc80 kinetochore complex. Despite the crucial role of Mitch in cell division, the mitch gene has evolved very rapidly among species in the genus Drosophila.
Adapting H.323 terminals in a service-oriented collaboration system

The Global Multimedia Collaboration System is designed to bridge H.323, Session Initiation Protocol, Access Grid clients, and 2.SG/3G cellular phones in audio-visual collaborations. One of its key components is the H.323 gateway, which lets H.323 terminals interact with other clients, providing complete conferencing control services. This system is designed to help scientists and students who have access only to H.323 and SIP endpoints or cellular phones with scientific collaboration in the high-end Access Grid environment.
Multivariate approach for the enantioselective analysis in MEKC-MS: II. Optimization of 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine in positive ion mode.

Enantiomeric separation and detection of 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine (BNA) has been successfully optimized by MEKC-ESI-MS using a polymeric surfactant polysodium N-undecenoxycarbonyl-L-leucinate (poly-L-SUCL) as a pseudostationary phase. In the first step, MEKC conditions were optimized by a five-factor three-level central composite design (CCD) of experiment. All five MEKC factors (buffer pH, percentage of ACN in the running buffer, concentration of surfactant, concentration of ammonium acetate (NH4OAc), and voltage) were found significant to the responses (measured as the chiral resolution and analysis time). The interactions between MEKC factors were further evaluated using a quadratic model equation which allowed the generation of 3-D response surface image to reach the optimum conditions. To obtain the best S/N, sheath liquid composition and spray chamber parameters were successfully optimized using the same strategy. Baseline enantiomeric resolution in less than 20 min and optimum MS signal of BNA enantiomers (S/N = 45 at 0.4 mg/mL) were ultimately achieved at the optimized conditions. The adequacy of the model was validated by experimental runs at the optimal predicted conditions. The predicted results were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.
How good is Google? The quality of otolaryngology information on the internet.

ObjectiveTo assess the quality of the information a patient (parent) may encounter using a Google search for typical otolaryngology ailments.Study DesignCross-sectional study.SettingTertiary care c...
Steady, unsteady and transient vortex-induced vibration predicted using controlled motion data

In this study, we represent transient and unsteady dynamics of a cylinder undergoing vortex-induced vibration, by employing measurements of the fluid forces for a body controlled to vibrate sinusoidally, transverse to a free stream. We generate very high-resolution contour plots of fluid force in the plane of normalized amplitude and wavelength of controlled oscillation. These contours have been used with an equation of motion to predict the steady-state response of an elastically mounted body. The principal motivation with the present study is to extend this approach to the case where a freely vibrating cylinder exhibits transient or unsteady vibration, through the use of a simple quasi-steady model. In the model, we use equations which define how the amplitude and frequency will change in time, although the instantaneous forces are taken to be those measured under steady-state conditions (the quasi-steady approximation), employing our high-resolution contour plots.The resolution of our force contours has enabled us to define mode regime boundaries with precision, in the amplitude–wavelength plane. Across these mode boundaries, there are discontinuous changes in the fluid force measurements. Predictions of free vibration on either side of the boundaries yield distinct response branches. Using the quasi-steady model, we are able to characterize the nature of the transition which occurs between the upper and lower amplitude response branches. This regime of vibration is of practical significance as it represents conditions under which peak resonant response is found in these systems. For higher mass ratios (m* > 10), our approach predicts that there will be an intermittent switching between branches, as the vortex-formation mode switches between the classical 2P mode and a ‘2POVERLAP’ mode. Interestingly, for low mass ratios (m* ~ 1), there exists a whole regime of normalized flow velocities, where steady-state vibration cannot occur. However, if one employs the quasi-steady model, we discover that the cylinder can indeed oscillate, but only with non-periodic fluctuations in amplitude and frequency. The character of the amplitude response from the model is close to what is found in free vibration experiments. For very low mass ratios (m* < 0.36 in this study), this regime of unsteady vibration response will extend all the way to infinite normalized velocity.
Cloning, overexpression, and characterization of a bacterial Ca2+-dependent phospholipase D

Phospholipase D (PLD), an important enzyme involved in signal transduction in mammals, is also secreted by many microorganisms. A highly conserved HKD motif has been identified in most PLD homologs in the PLD superfamily. However, the Ca2+-dependent PLD from Streptomyces chromofuscus exhibits little homology to other PLDs. We have cloned (using DNA isolated from the ATCC type strain), overexpressed in Escherichia coli (two expression systems, pET-23a(+) and pTYB11), and purified the S. chromofuscus PLD. Based on attempts at sequence alignment with other known Ca2+-independent PLD enzymes from Streptomyces species, we mutated five histidine residues (His72, His171, His187, His200, His226) that could be part of variants of an HKD motif. Only H187A and H200A showed dramatically reduced activity. However, mutation of these histidine residues to alanine also significantly altered the secondary structure of PLD. Asparagine replacements at these positions yielded enzymes with structure and activity similar to the recombinant wild-type PLD. The extent of phosphatidic acid (PA) activation of PC hydrolysis by the recombinant PLD enzymes differed in magnitude from PLD purified from S. chromofuscus culture medium (a 2-fold activation rather than 4–5-fold). One of the His mutants, H226A, showed a 12-fold enhancement by PA, suggesting this residue is involved in the kinetic activation. Another notable difference of this bacterial PLD from others is that it has a single cysteine (Cys123); other Streptomyces Ca2+-independent PLDs have eight Cys involved in intramolecular disulfide bonds. Both C123A and C123S, with secondary structure and stability similar to recombinant wild-type PLD, exhibited specific activity reduced by 10−5 and 10−4. The Cys mutants still bound Ca2+, so that it is likely that this residue is part of the active site of the Ca2+-dependent PLD. This would suggest that S. chromofuscus PLD is a member of a new class of PLD enzymes.
Hello protocols for ad-hoc networks: overhead and accuracy tradeoffs

The hello protocol (Moy, J., 1994) is a fundamental protocol for wired and wireless networks. In mobile ad-hoc networks, a hello protocol helps nodes to establish a neighbor table for link detection. If nodes exchange position information in hello packets, then it also helps them in packet forwarding decisions. In ad-hoc networks, due to node mobility, neighbor relationships change frequently. To cope with mobility, and to have an up-to-date neighbor table, nodes advertise hello packets periodically. These hello packets create congestion, which may cause control and data packets to be dropped in the network. We study the impact of hello protocols on ad-hoc networks. We present three new hello protocols which reduce network congestion. The main idea behind all three protocols is to beacon as little as possible without compromising the accuracy of the neighbor table. To evaluate the performance of our protocols and their impact on ad-hoc networks, we simulated them in GloMoSim 2.03. Our results show that the proposed hello protocols incur much lower overhead and increase the network performance compared to a periodic hello protocol, while maintaining identical neighbor table accuracy.
Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of Gait During Performance of the Dynamic Gait Index in People With and People Without Balance or Vestibular Disorders

Background and Purpose: Understanding underlying gait characteristics during performance of the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) could potentially guide interventions. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics and reliability of gait performance during the level walking items of the DGI in people with balance or vestibular dysfunction. The study was a cross-sectional investigation with 2-group comparisons. Subjects and Methods: Forty-seven subjects (mean age=59.2 years, SD=8.5, range=24–90) participated in the study; 26 were control subjects, and 21 were subjects with balance or vestibular dysfunction. Three trials of each level gait item were administered to subjects as they ambulated on an instrumented walkway. Test-retest reliability was determined by use of an intraclass correlation coefficient (3,1) 2-way random-effects model for gait parameters associated with continuous walking and the item requiring turning and stopping quickly. Mean gait parameter differences between control subjects and subjects with balance or vestibular disorders were compared by use of a multivariate analysis of variance for each gait task. Results: The reliability of most gait parameters during DGI performance were fair to excellent between trials. Subjects with balance or vestibular disorders demonstrated differences in gait characteristics compared with control subjects. The heterogeneity of the group of subjects with balance or vestibular disorders does not permit inferences to be drawn regarding the relationship between gait and any specific balance or vestibular diagnosis. The results are most pertinent to people with chronic balance or vestibular disorders. Discussion and Conclusion: Gait parameters underlying dynamic walking appeared to be relatively reliable across multiple trials and distinguished subjects with balance or vestibular disorders. Evaluating a person's performance on items of the DGI may be useful in identifying gait deviations and in evaluating gait improvements as a result of interventions.
High-power high-efficiency 2D VCSEL arrays

We review recent results on high-power, high-efficiency two-dimensional vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays emitting around 980nm. Selectively oxidized, bottom-emitting single VCSEL emitters with 51% power conversion efficiency were developed as the basic building block of these arrays. More than 230W of continuous-wave (CW) power is demonstrated from a ~5mm x 5mm array chip. In quasi-CW mode, smaller array chips exhibit 100W output power, corresponding to more than 3.5kW/cm2 of power density. High-brightness arrays have also been developed for pumping fiber lasers, delivering a fiber output power of 40W. We show that many of the advantages of low-power single VCSEL devices such as reliability, wavelength stability, low-divergence circular beam, and low-cost manufacturing are preserved for these high-power arrays. VCSELs thus offer an attractive alternative to the dominant edge-emitter technology for many applications requiring compact high-power laser sources.
Stigma, perceived blame, self‐blame, and depressive symptoms in men with colorectal cancer

Background We measured the prevalence of stigma, self-blame, and perceived blame from others for their illness among men with colorectal cancer (CRC) and examined whether these factors were associated with depressive symptoms, independent of clinical and sociodemographic factors. Methods Self-administered questionnaires were returned in the fall of 2009 by 1109 eligible male US veterans who were diagnosed with CRC at any Veterans Affairs facility in 2008. Questionnaires assessed stigma, feelings of blame, and depressive symptoms as well as other facets of health, cancer characteristics, and quality and type of medical care. We report the prevalence of cancer stigma, self-blame, and perceived blame from others. We used multivariate linear regression to assess the association between these factors and a measure of depressive symptoms. Covariates included several measures of overall health, cancer progression, symptom severity, and sociodemographic factors. Results Thirty one percent of respondents endorsed at least one item in a measure of cancer stigma and 25% reported feeling that it was at least ‘a little true’ that they were to blame for their illness. All three independent variables were associated with depressive symptoms in bivariate models; cancer stigma and self-blame were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in the multivariate model. Conclusions Cancer stigma and self-blame are problems for a significant minority of men with CRC and are independent predictors of depressive symptoms. They may represent an important source of stress in men with CRC. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Budgets for root-derived C and litter-derived C: comparison between conventional tillage and no tillage soils

Placement of plant residues in conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) soils affects organic matter accumulation and the organization of the associated soil food webs. Root-derived C inputs can be considerable and may also influence soil organic matter dynamics and soil food web organization. In order to differentiate and quantify C contributions from either roots or litter in CT and NT soils, a 14 C tracer method was used. To follow root-derived C, maize plants growing in the field were 14 C pulse-labeled, while the plant litter in those plots remained unlabeled. The 14 C was measured in NT and CT soils for the different C pools (shoots, roots, soil, soil respiration, microbial biomass). Litter-derived C was followed by applying 14 C labeled maize litter to plots which had previously grown unlabeled maize plants. The 14 C pools measured for the litter-derived CT and NT plots included organic matter, microbial biomass, soil respiration, and soil organic C. Of the applied label in the root-derived C plots, 35‐55, 6‐8, 3, 1.6, and 0.4‐2.4% was recovered in the shoots, roots, soil, cumulative soil respiration, and microbial biomass, respectively. The 14 C recovered in these pools did not differ between CT and NT treatments, supporting the hypothesis that the rhizosphere microbial biomass in NT and CT may be similar in utilization of root-derived C. Root exudates were estimated to be 8‐13% of the applied label. In litter-derived C plots, the percentage of applied label recovered in the particulate organic matter (3.2‐82%), microbial biomass (4‐6%), or cumulative soil respiration (12.5‐14.7%) was the same for CT and NT soils. But the percentage of 14 C recovered in CT soil organic C (18‐69%) was higher than that in NT (12‐43%), suggesting that particulate organic matter (POM) leaching and decomposition occurred at a higher rate in CT than in NT. Results indicate faster turnover of litter-derived C in the CT plots. q 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Modification of spontaneous emission rates in shallow ridge 8.3 nm erbium doped silica slot waveguides

We show that conventional expressions for spontaneous emission into waveguide modes correctly predict broadband (non-resonant) Purcell enhancement in Slot waveguides. Time resolved photoluminescence measurements on Er-doped ultra-thin 8.3 nm slot channel waveguides corroborate this effect.
Almsgiving is ‘the Commandment’: A Note on 1 Timothy 6.6–19

This article argues that ‘the commandment’ in 1 Timothy 6.13–14 refers to almsgiving. This shows that verses 11–16 are not an intrusion into a discussion of the proper use of wealth, but an integral part of the author's argument in 6.6–19.
A red blood cell autoantibody with mimicking anti‐E specificity

BACKGROUND: Uncommonly, antibodies that appear to exhibit antigenic specificity on red blood cell (RBC) panels fail to maintain specificity following alloadsorption (i.e., they mimic antigenic specificity). Understanding both the pitfalls and the proper pathways to establish the diagnosis and to interpret the clinical significance of these mimicking antibodies is important for patient management. CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old woman was admitted with dyspnea, anemia, bilateral pulmonary emboli, and metastatic ovarian cancer. Blood bank evaluation identified anti-E reactivity in the patient's plasma sample and a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT). RESULTS: The DAT was positive for immunoglobulin G and negative for C3b. An eluate of the RBCs showed E-antigen specificity on a RBC antibody panel. Repeat serologic testing with RBC antibody panels with adsorbed patient plasma showed removal of apparent anti-E reactivity with either E-antigen-positive or E-antigen-negative RBC stroma. CONCLUSION: A mimicking autoantibody with apparent E-antigen specificity was identified in the plasma sample of a woman with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer. Despite their relative low frequency, mimicking antibodies, whether auto- or alloantibodies, may interfere with the timely issuance of compatible blood products and may confuse laboratory and clinical staff. Determining the clinical significance of the antibody, by taking into account the RBC phenotype of the patient and the antigen prevalence in the general population, guides the extent of workup required to best utilize resources while assuring patient safety.
“Nineteen-Eighty-Four” and “Surrender-and-Catch”

What I am after I cannot hope to accomplish, for it is nothing less than to grasp our time and place. What I mean by “1984,” is not this year nor Orwell’s book, even though Orwell’s book is pertinent to an understanding of both. I will, then, present some vignettes and some aspects to illustrate my sense of “1984,” and these will be the catch of my surrender to the topic “‘Nineteen-Eighty-Four’ and ‘Surrender-and-Catch’.”
Head and Neck Schwannomas: 20-Year Experience of a Single Institution Excluding Cutaneous and Acoustic Sites

While head and neck sites comprise the most common location of schwannomas, clinicopathologic data regarding those tumors occurring in non-acoustic and non-cutaneous locations are relatively sparse. In this study, therefore, we sought to examine retrospectively the clinical and pathologic features of head and neck schwannomas excised at our institution over a 20-year period. During this period, we identified a total cohort of 85 patients, which included 36 males (42.4 %) and 49 females with average age of 41.3 years, the majority of which presented asymptomatically with a mass. Localized symptoms were, however, associated with all of the schwannomas that arose in the oral cavity and larynx, while tumors within or adjacent to bone were often associated with neurologic complaints (7 of 15 such tumors [46.7 %]). Clinical follow-up data was available in 86.4 % of all cases and demonstrated no recurrences or mortality. Pathologically, the microscopic features were characteristic of those well-described for schwannomas in other sites, including alternating Antoni A and B areas and the presence of degenerative changes. Tumor encapsulation, however, was variable and was completely absent in schwannomas of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and larynx. Additionally, a significant minority of the tumors (28.2 %) exhibited foci that resembled neurofibroma. Non-acoustic, non-cutaneous schwannomas of the head and neck appear to have clinicopathologic features similar to their soft tissue counterparts with some subsite variation in presentation and/or microscopic features.
"The Farcical History of Richard Greenow": Aldous Huxley and the Anxieties of Male Authorship

AbstractAldous Huxley's first piece of published fiction, "The Farcical History of Richard Greenow" (1920), reveals anxieties about authorship and sexual iden-tity that were typical of modernist male writers. This article situates this nou-vella in two contexts. The first concerns Huxley's relationship with his aunt, novelist and social activist Mary Augusta Arnold Ward; the second centers on medical theories of homosexuality presented by Havelock Ellis in Sexual Inversion (1897). The protagonist calls himself a spiritual hermaphrodite because his body is inhabited by two personalities: a male intellectual and an increasingly aggressive female novelist and war propagandist named Pearl Bellairs. As a caricature of Mrs. Humphrey Ward, Pearl reveals Huxley's antagonism toward powerful and popular women novelists. But she also provides a way for protag-onist and author to defend themselves against same-sex eroticism. Ideology does not determine desire. Rather, in the story, as in Sexual Inversion, fears aroused by certain desires seek expression in specific cultural forms. (Literary criticism, psychological approach; gender studies)
Awareness and Knowledge of Emergent Ophthalmic Disease Among Patients in an Internal Medicine Clinic

Importance Emergent ophthalmic disease can lead to permanent visual impairment or blindness if medical attention is delayed. Awareness and knowledge of emergent ophthalmic disease may be important for early medical presentation and maximization of visual prognosis in some cases. Objective To assess public awareness and knowledge of 4 emergent ophthalmic diseases. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1 to July 30, 2015, in the waiting rooms of the outpatient internal medicine resident clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital. A written survey was administered to evaluate awareness and knowledge of retinal detachment, acute angle-closure glaucoma, giant cell arteritis, and central retinal artery occlusion. Awareness of each disease was assessed by whether participants knew what the diseases were (yes or no). Knowledge was evaluated by responses to 3 questions for each disease, including 1 question about basic pathophysiologic features, 1 question about basic symptoms, and 1 question about basic treatment options. All English-speaking patients who were physically and cognitively able to fill out the survey without assistance were considered eligible and offered the opportunity to participate during times of survey distribution; 237 completed the survey. Demographic information, including age, sex, race, income, and educational level, was collected. Data were assessed from August 1 to 7, 2015. Main Outcomes and Measures Awareness of each ophthalmic disease was determined by the proportion of respondents who answered yes, and knowledge was determined by the proportion of aware respondents who answered the knowledge questions correctly. Results Two hundred thirty-seven patients (of 227 who gave complete demographic information, 76 men [33.5%], 151 women [66.5%], and mean [SD] age, 51.3 [16.8] years) completed the survey. Awareness of each of the diseases studied was low; 61 of 220 respondents (27.7%; 95% CI, 21.8%-33.6%) were aware of retinal detachment; 32 of 219 respondents (14.6%; 95% CI, 9.9%-19.3%), acute angle-closure glaucoma; 11 of 216 respondents (5.1%; 95% CI, 2.2%-8.0%), giant cell arteritis; and 10 of 218 respondents (4.6%; 95% CI, 1.8%-7.4%), central retinal artery occlusion. Respondents who were aware and knowledgeable ranged from 29 of 199 (14.6%) for the pathophysiologic features of retinal detachment, 1 of 208 (0.5%) for the symptoms and 2 of 203 (1.0%) for treatment of giant cell arteritis, and 1 of 193 (0.5%) for the pathophysiologic features of central retinal artery occlusion. Conclusions and Relevance Levels of awareness and knowledge of emergent ophthalmic diseases are low. These results indicate a need to educate the public about these acutely vision-threatening entities to ensure early medical presentation, to achieve the best possible visual prognosis, and to preserve quality of life.
A vehicle health monitoring system for the Space Shuttle Reaction Control System during reentry

A general two tier framework for vehicle health monitoring of Guidance Navigation and Control (GN&C) system actuators, effectors, and propulsion devices is presented. In this context, a top level monitor that estimates jet thrust is designed for the Space Shuttle Reaction Control System (RCS) during the reentry phase of flight. Issues of importance for the use of estimation technologies in vehicle health monitoring are investigated and quantified for the Shuttle RCS demonstration application. These issues include rate of convergence, robustness to unmodeled dynamics, sensor quality, sensor data rates, and information recording objectives. Closed loop simulations indicate that a Kalman filter design is sensitive to modeling error and robust estimators may reduce this sensitivity. Jet plume interaction with the aerodynamic flowfield is shown to be a significant effect adversely impacting the ability to accurately estimate thrust.
2015 legislative update of e-cigarette youth access and exposure laws

BACKGROUND: November 15, 2013, 22 states had passed laws explicitly addressing youth access to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes); by 2014, this increased to 41 states. Also in 2014, more than 13.4% of youth in the U.S. reported using e-cigarettes, making e-cigarette use more prevalent than conventional cigarette use (9.2%). METHODS: We examined 221 bills addressing youth access and exposure to e-cigarettes between January 1 and November 1, 2015. Text searches on individual state general assembly websites and secondary sources were employed for data collection. Laws were analyzed using seven measures identified to protect adolescents from nicotine initiation and use. RESULTS: Two states (MI, PA) and Washington D.C. do not regulate the sale or distribution of e-cigarettes to youth as of November 1, 2015. Additionally, seventeen states have passed laws requiring e-cigarettes to use child-safety packaging to minimize unintended poisoning. As of July 1, 2016, four states (KS, LA, MN, and NC) will tax e-cigarettes. Oregon prohibits the use of e-cigarettes in cars with children under 18 years of age, and Wyoming requires the public health department to develop educational campaigns to better educate the state on the risks of nicotine and tobacco products. CONCLUSION: While states are closing the gap of youth nicotine exposure, there remains a need to protect youth from e-cigarettes access, which can cause adverse health effects of brain development, lung function and potentially lead to addiction. Recommendation for the FDA to regulate e-cigarettes federally would close this regulation gap and protect youth across the U.S.Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc. Language: en
Phonon and magnetic structure in δ-plutonium from density-functional theory

We present phonon properties of plutonium metal obtained from a combination of density-functional-theory (DFT) electronic structure and the recently developed compressive sensing lattice dynamics (CSLD). The CSLD model is here trained on DFT total energies of several hundreds of quasi-random atomic configurations for best possible accuracy of the phonon properties. The calculated phonon dispersions compare better with experiment than earlier results obtained from dynamical mean-field theory. The density-functional model of the electronic structure consists of disordered magnetic moments with all relativistic effects and explicit orbital-orbital correlations. The magnetic disorder is approximated in two ways: (i) a special quasi-random structure and (ii) the disordered-local-moment method within the coherent potential approximation. Magnetism in plutonium has been debated intensely, but the present magnetic approach for plutonium is validated by the close agreement between the predicted magnetic form factor and that of recent neutron-scattering experiments.