cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The development of a validated checklist for ultrasound-guided thyroid nodule fine-needle aspiration biopsies preliminary results

Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (USgFNA) is the procedure of choice for biopsy of thyroid nodules (TNs) that are suspicious for malignancy. Poor technique in performing this procedure can result in nondiagnostic specimens, increased patient anxiety, repeated aspirations, and unnecessary surgery. Validated checklists are a central component of teaching and assessing procedural skills. The results of the first step of the validation of a TN USgFNA checklist are described. A comprehensive review of articles published on TN fine-needle aspiration did not yield a validated checklist. A modified Delphi technique, involving a panel of 8 interdisciplinary experts, was used to develop a TN USgFNA checklist. The internal consistency coefficient using Cronbach α was 0.74. Development of the 23-item TN USgFNA checklist for teaching and assessing TN USgFNA is the first step in the validation process. Further validation can be achieved via implementation and study of the checklist in clinical settings.
Integrating the Physiology, Mechanics and Behavior of Rapid Running Ghost Crabs: Slow and Steady Doesn't Always Win the Race

In 1979 Bliss predicted that, “land crabs are and will undoubtedly continue to be promising objects of scientific research.” Studies of rapid running ghost crabs support her contention and have resulted in several general findings relating to locomotion and activity. 1) Energy exchange mechanisms during walking are general and not restricted to quadrupedal and bipedal morphologies. 2) “Equivalent gaits,” such as trots and gallops, may exist in 4-, 6- and 8-legged animals that differ greatly in leg and skeletal ( i.e. , exo- vs . endoskeletal) design. These findings support the hypothesis that terrestrial locomotion in many species can modeled by an inverted pendulum or spring-mass system. 3) An open circulatory system and chitin-covered gills do not necessarily limit the rate at which oxygen consumption can be increased or the factorial increase oxygen consumption over resting rates. 4) Interspecific and intraspecific i.e. , ontogenetic) scaling of sub-maximal oxygen consumption and maximal aerobic speed can differ significantly. 5) Locomotion at speeds above the maximal aerobic speed requiring non-aerobic contributions may be far more costly than can be predicted from aerobic costs alone. The cost transport may attain a minimum at less than maximum speed. 6) The speed which elicits maximal oxygen consumption during continuous exercise is attained at moderate walking speeds in crabs and probably other ectotherms. Speeds 15- to 20-fold faster are possible, but cannot be sustained. 7) The low endurance associated with the low maximal oxygen consumption and maximal aerobic speed of ectotherms moving continuously can be increased or decreased by altering locomotor behavior and moving intermittently. Ectotherms can locomote at high speeds and travel for considerable distances or remain active for long periods by including rest pauses. Alternatively, intense activity with extended exercise periods with short pause periods may actually reduce behavioral capacity or work accomplished relative to continuous activity during which the behavior is carried out at a lower intensity level without pauses.
Urinary tract infection and inflammation at onset of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Objectives Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) is a chronic disease primarily in women that is of low incidence and unknown etiology and manifests as bladder pain and urinary symptoms. Acute urinary tract infection (UTI) is of high incidence in women, presents as dysuria and urinary symptoms, and is caused by uropathogenic bacteria. We hypothesized that UTI is present at the onset of IC/PBS in some women. Methods For a case-control study seeking risk factors for IC/PBS, women with IC/PBS symptoms of 12 months or less were recruited and evaluated by interview and medical record review. The date of symptom onset was identified by a six-step process. Three evidence-based methods using culture, urinalysis, and symptoms were used separately and in combination to diagnose UTI at IC/PBS onset. Results Of 1177 screened women, 314 with recent-onset IC/PBS, including numerous confirming characteristics, were enrolled in the study; 98% of the requested medical records were obtained and reviewed. Evidence of a UTI at the onset of IC/PBS was found in 18% to 36% of women. Common UTI features not used in its diagnosis (short interval to medical care, hematuria, antibiotic treatment, and improvement after antibiotics) were significantly more common in those with onset UTI than in those without. Conclusions These retrospective data suggest that a proportion, probably a minority, of women at IC/PBS onset had evidence of UTI or inflammation. Our results indicate that UTI is present at the onset of IC/PBS in some women and might reveal clues to IC/PBS pathogenesis.
Feeder-free Derivation of Neural Crest Progenitor Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have great potential for studying human embryonic development, for modeling human diseases in the dish and as a source of transplantable cells for regenerative applications after disease or accidents. Neural crest (NC) cells are the precursors for a large variety of adult somatic cells, such as cells from the peripheral nervous system and glia, melanocytes and mesenchymal cells. They are a valuable source of cells to study aspects of human embryonic development, including cell fate specification and migration. Further differentiation of NC progenitor cells into terminally differentiated cell types offers the possibility to model human diseases in vitro, investigate disease mechanisms and generate cells for regenerative medicine. This article presents the adaptation of a currently available in vitro differentiation protocol for the derivation of NC cells from hPSCs. This new protocol requires 18 days of differentiation, is feeder-free, easily scalable and highly reproducible among human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines as well as human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines. Both old and new protocols yield NC cells of equal identity.
Competitive hydration of quinazoline at the montmorillonite-water interface.

Ultraviolet spectroscopic analyses of suspensions of quinazoline and Na+-saturated montmorillonite have indicated that covalent hydration of the monovalent organic cation is inhibited at or near the clay surface. A similar lack of hydration was observed in solutions of quinazoline and high-ionic-strength calcium chloride. The inhibition is attributed to a local competition between quinazoline and the inorganic cations for water of hydration.
Buccal spectral markers for lung cancer risk stratification

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the US with >150,000 deaths per year. In order to more effectively reduce lung cancer mortality, more sophisticated screening paradigms are needed. Previously, our group demonstrated the use of low-coherence enhanced backscattering (LEBS) spectroscopy to detect and quantify the micro/nano-architectural correlates of colorectal and pancreatic field carcinogenesis. In the lung, the buccal (cheek) mucosa has been suggested as an excellent surrogate site in the “field of injury”. We, therefore, wanted to assess whether LEBS could similarly sense the presence of lung. To this end, we applied a fiber-optic LEBS probe to a dataset of 27 smokers without diagnosed lung cancer (controls) and 46 with lung cancer (cases), which was divided into a training and a blinded validation set (32 and 41 subjects, respectively). LEBS readings of the buccal mucosa were taken from the oral cavity applying gentle contact. The diagnostic LEBS marker was notably altered in patients harboring lung cancer compared to smoking controls. The prediction rule developed on training set data provided excellent diagnostics with 94% sensitivity, 80% specificity, and 95% accuracy. Applying the same threshold to the blinded validation set yielded 79% sensitivity and 83% specificity. These results were not confounded by patient demographics or impacted by cancer type or location. Moreover, the prediction rule was robust across all stages of cancer including stage I. We envision the use of LEBS as the first part of a two-step paradigm shift in lung cancer screening in which patients with high LEBS risk markers are funnelled into more invasive screening for confirmation.
Cell cycle and chromosome segregation defects in alzheimer's disease

Despite a common set of hallmark neuropathological lesions and clinical symptoms, Alzheimer’s disease has an apparently complex etiology. The disease can be caused by autosomal dominant mutations in at least three genes (encoding the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the two presenilins). In addition, it can be influenced by certain allelic variants of at least three “risk factor” genes (apolipoprotein E, antichymotrypsin, and interleukin-1), or may arise “sporadically” with no evident genetic component. In the end, as many as 30–40% of individuals over the age of 85 may have some symptoms of Alzheimer’s—underscoring the fact that age itself is the strongest risk factor for the disease.
Determinants of environmental innovation in US manufacturing industries

Abstract This paper provides new evidence on the determinants of environmental innovation. We employ panel data models to study how environmental innovation by US manufacturing industries responded to changes in pollution abatement expenditures and regulatory enforcement during the period 1983 through 1992. We find that (1) environmental innovation (as measured by the number of successful environmental patent applications granted to the industry) responded to increases in pollution abatement expenditures, however, (2) increased monitoring and enforcement activities related to existing regulations did not provide any additional incentive to innovate. We also find some empirical evidence that environmental innovation is more likely to occur in industries that are internationally competitive.
Diesel Exhaust Particulate Extracts Inhibit Transcription of Nuclear Respiratory Factor-1 and Cell Viability in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Endothelial dysfunction precedes cardiovascular disease and is accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction. Here we tested the hypothesis that diesel exhaust particulate extracts (DEPEs), prepared from a truck run at different speeds and engine loads, would inhibit genomic estrogen receptor activation of nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) transcription in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Additionally, we examined how DEPEs affect NRF-1-regulated TFAM expression and, in turn, Tfam-regulated mtDNA-encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI, MTCO1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit I (NDI) expression as well as cell proliferation and viability. We report that 17β-estradiol (E2), 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), and raloxifene increased NRF-1 transcription in HUVECs in an ER-dependent manner. DEPEs inhibited NRF-1 transcription, and this suppression was not ablated by concomitant treatment with E2, 4-OHT, or raloxifene, indicating that the effect was not due to inhibition of ER activity. While E2 increased HUVEC proliferation and viability, DEPEs inhibited viability but not proliferation. Resveratrol increased NRF-1 transcription in an ER-dependent manner in HUVECs, and ablated DEPE inhibition of basal NRF-1 expression. Given that NRF-1 is a key nuclear transcription factor regulating genes involved in mitochondrial activity and biogenesis, these data suggest that DEPEs may adversely affect mitochondrial function leading to endothelial dysfunction and resveratrol may block these effects.
Architecting RFID Middleware

Radio frequency identification is a wireless identification technology that relies on cheap tags that can be attached to objects and that nearby readers can track. The computer science and computer engineering department at the University of Arkansas started a project aimed at developing open-source RF middleware to address this latter problem. In this article, we describe that software's development and the challenges and benefits of large-scale software development in universities
Algorithms for computing centroids

Abstract Algorithms are given for the computation of centroids of discrete, polygonal, and continuous convex regions in the plane. These include the zero-dimensional center-of-gravity for discrete systems, and the area, perimeter, and curvature centroids for both discrete and continuous regions. The zero-dimensional center-of-gravity is motivated through analytic, arithmetic, and geometric formulations, and is an integral part of the computations of the area, perimeter, and curvature centroids. Several remarks are made that connect the computation of the centoid points to optimization theory and their practical application in various fields. The complexity of each algorithm is also examined.
Photoelectron spectroscopy in the energy region 30 to 800 eV using synchrotron radiation

Abstract With the advent of synchrotron radiation, the photoemission techniques were extended to a continuous range of excitation energies in the far ultraviolet and soft x-ray regions, adding tremendously to the usefulness of photoemission as a probe of the electronic structure of materials. In this paper, we discuss the application of photoelectron spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation to the studies of oxygen chemisorption/oxidation of Si surfaces, metal overlayers on III-V semiconductor surfaces, chemisorption on transition metal surfaces, and the surface electronic structure of CuNi alloys.
Circular polarization spectroscopy of chiral molecules

Abstract The use of circularly polarized radiation to obtain new information about the structure of chiral molecules will be explored. This area of spectroscopy is known as optical activity. The classical forms of optical activity, typically measured in the visible and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum, are called optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and electronic circular dichroism (CD). In recent years, new forms of optical activity have been developed and applied to the study of molecular structure. These include two forms of fluorescence optical activity and two forms of vibrational optical activity. The vibrational forms are called infrared vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and vibrational Raman optical activity (ROA). The principles of optical activity will be explained and the application of optical activity to problems of chemical and biological significance will be discussed.
Approximate simultaneous prediction intervals for multiple forecasts

A general procedure including a simple computational algorithm is presented for the construction of approximate (conservative) simultaneous prediction intervals for L ≥ 2 forecasts generated by an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. For models with a monotone non-increasing autocorrelation function of forecast errors (absolute value) further simplification in computations is obtained. Details are given for two important special cases, an AR(l) model and an exponential smoothing model. These two cases are also illustrated with data on hourly measures of viscosity from a chemical process.
UTILIZATION OF A THIN COLUMNAR CESIUM IODIDE (CSI) LAYER IN GAS AVALANCHE MICRODETECTOR

Abstract A thin (200–300 μm) layer of columnar cesium iodide (CsI) crystals has been coupled to a conventional microstrip gas chamber. This layer provides the dominant source of electron production by incident charged particles in gas avalanche microdetectors, and is expected to make a significant improvement in spatial and time resolution, and detection efficiency, with respect to particle's angle of incidence. The CsI layer also makes the chamber useful for X- or γ-ray detection with good position accuracy. In this paper, measurements are presented of signal enhancement due to the columnar CsI layer, and the efficiency versus angle.
Simpler sybil-proof mechanisms for multi-level marketing

Multi-level marketing refers to a marketing approach in which buyers are encouraged to take an active role in promoting the product. This is done by offering them a reward for each successful referral of the product to other prospective buyers. To encourage potential customers to buy early and to give referrals to influential people, these mechanisms also reward indirect referrals --- a direct referral linked to the buyer through other direct referrals. Doing so can make the referral/reward system vulnerable to sybil attacks --- where profit maximizers create several replicas in order to maximize their rewards.In this paper we propose a family of mechanisms for which sybil attacks are not profitable. We do this by modifying any mechanism that satisfies certain natural properties of sensible reward mechanisms to obtain one that is invulnerable to sybil attacks by profit maximizers while preserving its natural properties. Our modified mechanisms are also collusion proof. Finally, we give a concrete example of a natural mechanism that is sybil proof and simple to implement.
Graphics processing unit accelerated Fast Multipole Method - Fast Fourier Transform

In this paper, we investigate the parallelization of the single level Fast Multipole Method (FMM) combined with Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) for solving large-scale electromagnetic scattering problems. We evaluate the performance on our 13-node GPU cluster supported by Nvidia Tesla M2090 GPUs. The paper discusses the implementation details and the performance achievements in terms of accuracy, speed up and scalability.
From Preservice to Practice: Mainstream Elementary Teacher Beliefs of Preparation and Efficacy with English Language Learners in the State of Florida

The relationship between English Language Learners' (ELL) academic achievement and teacher education programs that prepare preservice teachers for working with those students has largely been ignored in the literature to date. This article reports findings from a study of how graduates from one elementary teacher education program, in which the state-required English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher credential has been “infused” evaluated their preparedness for and efficacy in working with ELLs in mainstream classroom settings. Our analysis of 85 survey responses revealed a positive relationship between teachers' views of their preparation for and effectiveness in teaching ELLs. A positive association was also found between teachers' ability to speak a language other than English (LOTE) and their level of preparedness to teach ELLs. Teacher graduates considered direct field experiences with ELLs to be the most helpful component of the preservice preparation program. Survey findings and impli...
Comparison of Radioiodine Utilization in Adolescent and Young Adult and Older Thyroid Cancer Patients

Objective: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is 1 of the most common cancers in adolescents and young adults (AYA, ages 15-39). Although most AYAs with DTC are considered low risk compared to old...
Simultaneous analysis of prostaglandin glyceryl esters and prostaglandins by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

Abstract A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) positive-ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of prostaglandin glyceryl esters (PG-Gs), a newly discovered class of eicosanoids, is described. All four PG-Gs (PGE2-G, PGD2-G, PGF2α-G, and 6-keto-PGF1α-G) and the prostaglandins (PGs) that are formed by their hydrolysis are simultaneously quantified. Analytes were purified via reverse-phase solid-phase extraction, separated by reverse-phase HPLC, and quantified on a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer using selected reaction monitoring. Quantification was achieved by stable isotope dilution employing penta-deuterated (PG-Gs) or tetra-deuterated (PGs) analogs. Analyte recovery from cell culture medium was >43% for all analytes at four different concentration levels. The limit of quantification is in the range of 25 fmol on-column for each analyte and the analytes exhibit a linear response over approximately a 500-fold range. This method allows simultaneous profiling of several PG-Gs and PGs without multistep sample purification or derivatization.
Molecular Markers and Conservation of Plant Species in the Latin-America: The Case of Phaedranassa viridiflora (Amaryllidaceae)

Phaedranassa viridiflora (Amaryllidaceae) is an endemic and endangered plant restricted to the Northern Andes in Ecuador. It is known in three locations where it is sympatric with other Phaedranassa species. Phaedranassa viridiflora is the only species of the genus with yellow flowers. We analyzed 13 microsatellite loci to elucidate the genetic structure of the populations of P. viridiflora. Our results provided the first evidence of natural hybridization in the genus (between P. viridiflora and P. dubia in the Pululahua crater of northern Ecuador). The central and southern populations did not show hybridization. Genetic diversity was the highest in the Pululahua population. Central and southern populations have a higher proportion of clones than Pululahua. Bayesian and cluster analysis suggest that the yellow flower type evolved at least three times along the Ecuadorean Andes. In contrast to other Phaedranassa species, Phaedranassa viridiflora shows lower genetic diversity, which is likely related to a vegetative reproductive strategy.
A mass spectral investigation of water and acetic acid elimination from 1‐ and 2‐indan derivatives

Water and acetic acid eliminations from 1- and 2-indan derivatives have been investigated. Deuterium labeling, high resolution peak matching and the metastable peak analysis capabilities of a high resolution triple analyzer (E B E) mass spectrometer were employed to examine the eliminations. These experiments showed that water was lost from 1-indanol via 1,2 and 1,3 processes. These results contrast with those obtained for 1-tetralol, which specifically eliminates water in a 1,4 process involving the benzylic hydrogens. Water elimination from 2-indanol is preceded by a slow hydroxyl-benzylic hydrogen exchange and proceeds specifically 1,2. Water losses from both 1- and 2-indanol are characterized by large kinetic energy releases. Acetic acid elimination is shown to occur specifically 1,3 from 1-acetoxyindan and 1,2 from 2-acetoxyindan.
Sec-dependent protein export and the involvement of the molecular chaperone SecB

This review will provide a historical perspective of the evolution of our understanding of the protein transport machinery. One of the interesting findings of the last 2 decades or so is that molecular chaperones are as vital to the process of protein export as they are for the folding of cytosolic proteins. This article will describe the discovery of the protein export machinery and, in particular, will focus on protein transport in Escherichia coli and the involvement of the molecular chaperone SecB.
Vision-based robotic convoy driving

This article describes a method for vision-based autonomous convoy driving in which a robotic vehicle autonomously pursues another vehicle. Pursuit is achieved by visually tracking a target mounted on the back of the pursued vehicle. Visual tracking must be robust, since a failure leads to catastrophic results. To make our system as reliable as possible, uncertainty is accounted for in each measurement and propagated through all computations. We use a best linear unbiased estimate (BLUE) of the target's position in each separate image, and a polynomial least-mean-square fit (LMSF) to estimate the target's motion. Robust autonomous convoy driving has been demonstrated in the presence of various lighting conditions, shadowing, other vehicles, turns at intersections, curves, and hills. A continuous, autonomous, convoy drive of over 33 km (20 miles) was successful, at speeds averaging between 50 and 75km/h (30–45 miles/h).
Relation of the Cosmic Radiation to Geomagnetic and Heliophysical Activities

Relations between 28-day fluctuations of intensity of the cosmic radiation and both terrestrial magnetic activity and sunspot areas were investigated. Definite pulses, both in the magnetic character and in sunspot areas, were found to be associated with the primary pulses in the cosmic radiation at Boulder, obtained by Chree's "superposedepoch" method. They were in general phase opposition to the cosmic-ray pulses, but the tip of the magnetic-character pulse preceded the tip of the opposite cosmic-ray pulse by one day; the lead was three or four days in the case of the opposed sunspot pulses. Similar relations were not found among secondary pulses, although a 34-day periodicity in sunspot-area pulses referred to days selected on the basis of cosmic-ray intensity was displayed. Direct application of Chree's method to the magnetic character and sunspot areas, individually, indicated a 27-day periodicity in the former and a 34-day periodicity in the latter. A second method of investigation, used by Graziadei, Kolh\"orster, and others, was also employed. This yielded results in some respects contradictory to the first. In particular, it indicated 27-day fluctuations in sunspot areas in phase with the cosmic-ray fluctuations and out of phase with changes in magnetic character. However, it also indicated the 34-day periodicity in sunspot areas for the period of the investigation was more pronounced than the 27-day periodicity. Among other possibilities, the possible effects of sunspots through the agency of their magnetic fields were considered.
Electron hopping in FeOCl intercalation compounds: A Mössbauer relaxation study

The results of nuclear-gamma-resonance experiments on FeOCl intercalation compounds in the temperature range 100\ensuremath{\le}T\ensuremath{\le}300 K can be understood in terms of an electron-hopping process which occurs on the time scale of the M\"ossbauer effect. Computer-simulated spectra generated by the application of a simple relaxation model closely reproduce the experimental data, and can account for the temperature dependence of the observed hyperfine interaction parameters. The results indicate that the distinct Fe(II) and Fe(III) valency states observed at liquid-nitrogen temperature become indistinguishable in the M\"ossbauer experiment as these states interconvert at frequencies \ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{7}$ Hz. In the region ${10}^{7}$ Hz${10}^{8}$ Hz the quadrupole splitting of the majority iron atoms can serve as a sensitive measure of the hopping frequency, while in the fast-exchange (high-temperature) limit, the M\"ossbauer parameters permit an evaluation of the Fe(II) contribution to the mixed-valence state. Experimental temperature-dependent data sets on several FeOCl intercalates have been analyzed in terms of this model and display a quite uniform behavior. The electron-hopping relaxation time (\ensuremath{\sim} inverse hopping frequency) obeys a simple Arrhenius law from which a phenomenological activation energy (${E}_{a}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}5.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.9 kJ/mol for all compounds studied here) can be extracted. The fraction of Fe(II), i.e., the charge transfer involved in the intercalation reaction, amounts to 0.10 to 0.13 per Fe(III) atom of the host matrix, and is nearly independent of the nature of the guest species and the intercalation stoichiometry. The temperature dependence of the isomer shift predicted from the relaxation model closely reproduces the experimental observations.
Selling Gender: Associations of Box Art Representation of Female Characters With Sales for Teen- and Mature-rated Video Games.

Content analysis of video games has consistently shown that women are portrayed much less frequently than men and in subordinate roles, often in “hypersexualized” ways. However, the relationship between portrayal of female characters and videogame sales has not previously been studied. In order to assess the cultural influence of video games on players, it is important to weight differently those games seen by the majority of players (in the millions), rather than a random sample of all games, many of which are seen by only a few thousand people. Box art adorning the front of video game boxes is a form of advertising seen by most game customers prior to purchase and should therefore predict sales if indeed particular depictions of female and male characters influence sales. Using a sample of 399 box art cases from games with ESRB ratings of Teen or Mature released in the US during the period of 2005 through 2010, this study shows that sales were positively related to sexualization of non-central female characters among cases with women present. In contrast, sales were negatively related to the presence of any central female characters (sexualized or non-sexualized) or the presence of female characters without male characters present. These findings suggest there is an economic motive for the marginalization and sexualization of women in video game box art, and that there is greater audience exposure to these stereotypical depictions than to alternative depictions because of their positive relationship to sales.
The Solution Structure of the Pleckstrin Homology Domain of Human SOS1 A POSSIBLE STRUCTURAL ROLE FOR THE SEQUENTIAL ASSOCIATION OF DIFFUSE B CELL LYMPHOMA AND PLECKSTRIN HOMOLOGY DOMAINS

Abstract A large subset of pleckstrin homology (PH) domains are immediately to the C terminus of diffuse B cell lymphoma (Dbl) homology (DbH) domains. Dbl domains are generally considered to be GTPase-exchange factors; many are proto-oncogenes. PH domains appear to function as membrane-recruitment factors, or have specific protein-protein interactions. Since dual domain (DbH/PH) constructs are known to have significant properties in other pathways, it is possible that a defined interdomain relationship is required for DbH/PH function. We determined the solution structure of the human SOS1 PH domain for a construct partially extended into the preceding DbH domain. There are specific structural contacts between the PH and the vestigial DbH domain. This appears to involve structural elements common to this subfamily of PH domains, and to DbH domains. The human SOS1 PH domain binds to inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate with a ∼60 μm affinity. Using chemical shift titration, the binding site is identified to be essentially identical to that observed crystallographically for the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate complex with the PH domain of phospholipase Cδ. This site may serve as an interdomain regulator of DbH or other domains’ functions. While the overall fold of the human SOS1 PH domain is similar to other PH domains, the size and position of the intrastrand loops and the presence of an N-terminal α-helix of the vestigial DbH domain suggest that the subfamily of PH domains associated with DbH domains may be a well defined structural group in which the PH domain is a membrane recruiter and modulator.
Some Concepts in Condensed Phase Chemical Kinetics

Some concepts in condensed phase chemical kinetics which have emerged from a recent rigorous statistical mechanical treatment of condensed phase chemical reaction dynamics [S, A. Adelman,Adv. Chem. Phys.53:61 (1983)] are discussed in simple physical terms.
A Case of Rearrangement of Genes in Drosophila

Seven mutant genes of Drosophila simulans have been shown to be allelomorphic to previously known mutant genes of D. melanogaster. Five of these lie in the X-chromosome, and a study of their linkage relations was shown to indicate that the sequence of the five loci concerned is the same in both species, and that the percentages of crossing over in comparable regions, while not indentical, is still not very different. The other two allelomorphic mutant genes, scarlet and peach, lie about 3 units apart in the third chromosome of melanogaster; in simulans they lie in the same chromosome (which is thus identified as the third one), but they were found to be at least 45 units apart.
Repolarization dynamics in patients with long QT syndrome.

Repolarization Dynamics in LQTS.Introduction: Dynamics of ventricular repolarization may contribute to cardiac arrhythmias in subjects with the long QT syndrome (LQTS). The aim of the present study was to assess the dynamics of repolarization duration and the dynamics of repolarization complexity in LQTS patients and their unaffected family members. Methods and Results: Twelve-lead 24-hour ambulatory ECG recordings were obtained from LQTS patients (n = 38) and unaffected family members (n = 20). The 24-hour dynamics of the QT interval, T wave complexity (TWC) index measured by principal component analysis, and the RR interval were analyzed using standard deviation (SD) and square root of the mean squared differences of successive values of the parameters (RMSSD). QT variability, mean TWC, and TWC variability were increased in the LQTS patients compared with unaffected family members (QT-SD: 38 ± 20 msec vs 19 ± 7 msec, P = 0.0001; QT-RMSSD: 36 ± 20 msec vs 14 ± 8 msec, P = 0.0001; TWC: 27.7% ± 11.1% vs 20.4% ± 6.7%, P = 0.003; TWC-SD: 6.7% ± 2.8% vs 4.6% ± 1.8%, P = 0.003; TWC-RMSSD: 5.3% ± 2.8% vs 3.7% ± 1.2%, P = 0.004, respectively). At the same time, the measures of heart rate variability were similar between the affected and unaffected LQTS subjects (SD of normal-to-normal RR intervals [SDNN]: 94 ± 25 msec vs 89 ± 37 ms, P = 0.56; RMSSD: 49 ± 26 msec vs 49 ± 34 ms, P = 0.97, respectively). Conclusion: Despite similar heart rate variability, QT variability and the variability of TWC are significantly increased in LQTS patients compared with unaffected family members, suggesting that disturbances in temporal dynamics of repolarization and repolarization complexity in LQTS patients possibly increase vulnerability to arrhythmias.
Quantifying the Contribution of On‐Site Wastewater Treatment Systems to Stream Discharge Using the SWAT Model

In the southeastern United States, on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs) are widely used for domestic wastewater treatment. The degree to which OWTSs represent consumptive water use has been questioned in Georgia. The goal of this study was to estimate the effect of OWTSs on streamflow in a gauged watershed in Gwinnett County, Georgia using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) watershed-scale model, which includes a new OWTS algorithm. Streamflow was modeled with and without the presence of OWTSs. The model was calibrated using data from 1 Jan. 2003 to 31 Dec. 2006 and validated from 1 Jan. 2007 to 31 Dec. 2010 using the auto-calibration tool SWAT-CUP 4. The daily and monthly streamflow Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients were 0.49 and 0.71, respectively, for the calibration period and 0.37 and 0.68, respectively, for the validation period, indicating a satisfactory fit. Analysis of water balance output variables between simulations showed a 3.1% increase in total water yield at the watershed scale and a 5.9% increase at the subbasin scale for a high-density OWTS area. The percent change in water yield between simulations was the greatest in dry years, implying that the influence of OWTSs on the water yield is greatest under drought conditions. Mean OWTS water use was approximately 5.7% consumptive, contrary to common assumptions by water planning agencies in Georgia. Results from this study may be used by OWTS users and by watershed planners to understand the influence of OWTSs on water quantity within watersheds in this region.
The building blocks of writing: Learning to write letters and spell words

This study examined the development of beginning writing skills in kindergarten and the relationship between early writing skills and early reading skills. Sixty children were assessed on beginning writing skills (including letter writing, individual sound spelling, and real and nonsense word spelling) and beginning reading skills (including letter name and letter sound knowledge, global early reading ability, phonological awareness, and word reading). Children’s beginning writing abilities are described, and they exhibited a range of proficiency in their ability to write letters, spell sounds, and spell real and nonsense words. Global early reading proficiency, phonological awareness, and/or letter sound fluency predicted letter writing, sound spelling, and spelling of real and nonsense words.
Study of energy recovery and power generation from alternative energy source

Abstract The energy requirement pattern of world is growing up and developing technology. The available sources, while exhausting and not friendly to the environment, are highly used. Looking at partial supply and different options of environment problems associated with usage, renewable energy sources are getting attention. MSW (Municipal solid waste) composition data had been collected from 1997 to 2009, in Benghazi Libya, to evaluate the waste enthalpy. An incinerator with capacity of 47,250 kg/h was confirmed to burn all the quantity of waste generated by the city through the next 15 years. Initial study was performed to investigate energy flow and resource availability to insure sustainable MSW required by the incinerator to work at its maximum capacity during the designated period. The primary purpose of the paper is to discuss the design of Rankin steam cycle for the generation of both power (PG) and combined heat power (CHP). In the power generation case, the system was found to be able to generate electrical power of 13.1 MW. Including the combined heat power case, the results showed that the system was able to produce 6.8 million m 3 / year of desalinated water and generate 11.33 MW of electricity. In conclusion, the CHP designed system has the greatest potential to maximize energy saving, due to the optimal combination of heat production and electricity generation.
Update on chronic diarrhea: a run-through for the clinician.

Chronic diarrhea is a common patient complaint, with an estimated prevalence of 5 %. Diarrhea is defined as >200 g/day of stool with decreased consistency, and chronic diarrhea is defined as lasting more than 4 weeks. The purpose of this review is to guide the clinician’s diagnostic evaluation and management of chronic diarrhea, rather than providing a textbook comprehensive review of the subject, focusing on the patient in developed countries and excluding the immune suppressed patient. While the investigation and treatment of chronic diarrhea can be challenging due to its myriad causes, when the clinician employs a practical approach, dividing chronic diarrhea into bloody, fatty, and watery causes, it simplifies and streamlines the work-up and management plan and leads to improved patient outcomes.
Thrombospondin modules and angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a complex, multifactorial process that involves signals from endothelial cells and from the stoma. Extracellular matrix proteins participate in the modulation of growth factor response, contribute to the architecture of the vasculature and provide signals for the stabilization of mature capillary beds. The identification of the relevant extracellular matrix molecules and the characterization of their effects has been a central focus of research in vascular biology. Thrombospondin-1 is an extracellular glycoprotein first to be recognized as an inhibitor of angiogenesis more than a decade ago. Since then, much has been learned about its ability to regulate vascular growth in several angiogenesis models, functional domains have been identified, and mechanisms of action determined. This review summarizes current understanding on the effects of thrombospondin-1 and -2 during the process of angiogenesis. We will also extend our comments to ADAMTS1, a member of a relatively novel group of matrix metalloproteinases with thrombospondin repeats and shown to affect endothelial cell function and angiogenesis.
A Simple Nonlinear Thermodynamic Theory of Arbitrary Elastic Beams

A ‘classical’ theory of beams (i.e., a theory in which the basic kinetic variables are a stress resultant and a stress couple) undergoing elastic, thermodynamic processes is developed by first deriving exact beamlike (one-dimensional) equations of motion and a beamlike Second Law (Clausius–Duhem inequality) by descent from three-dimensions. Then what may be considered as the three basic assumptions of a classical theory are introduced: an assumed form of the First Law (conservation of energy), a relaxed form of the Second Law, and a general form of the constitutive relations. Throughout, detailed specification of geometry, kinematics, or constitution is minimized. It is shown how the kinematic Kirchhoff hypothesis may be avoided by first introducing a mixed-energy density and then imposing a logically more satisfying constitutive Kirchhoff hypothesis.
Properties of the Shannon entropy of arrays of elastic scatterers

Abstract Recently, we used an effective spin concept to expound the analogy between spin-based quantum information processing and phase coherent charge transport through an array of elastic scatterers. Here, we extend that analogy by calculating an effective Shannon entropy for such an array and examining its various properties. For single-moded transport, the Shannon entropy is given by H bin ( | t | 2 ) = − | t | 2 log 2 | t | 2 − | r | 2 log 2 | r | 2 , where | t | 2 and | r | 2 are the transmission and reflection probabilities through the array of scatterers. A lower bound for H bin ( | t | 2 ) is found starting with the entropic quantum uncertainty principle. An important result is that although evanescent channels (modes) have | t | 2 = 1 − | r | 2 → 0 , so that their own contribution to H bin ( | t | 2 ) → 0 , they nevertheless have a profound influence on the total H bin ( | t | 2 ) of the array and its associated signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) since they renormalize the transmission probabilities of the propagating modes. This is reminiscent of the well-known fact that evanescent modes influence the conductance of a structure by renormalizing the transmission probabilities of the propagating modes. The numerical values of H bin ( | t | 2 ) and its SNR are strongly sensitive to the nature of the elastic scatterers, i.e., whether they are attractive (negative potential), repulsive (positive potential), or a combination of both. In samples with repulsive scatterers, the SNR can be tuned over a wide range by applying a potential through a gate to change the scattering potentials from repulsive to attractive by moving their energy levels with respect to the quasi-Fermi level in the sample. We also found that the mean free path of an electron traversing a random array of elastic scatterers is the length scale at which the sum of the cross-correlation coefficients of the effective spin components reaches a minimum. At that point, the sum of the effective Heisenberg and Zeeman Hamiltonians associated with effective spins describing the propagating channels, reaches a minimum. Hence the mean free path can be viewed as an order parameter for a phase transition.
Safety index calculation using intervening variables for structural reliability analysis

Abstract This paper utilizes the intervening design variables concept for structural reliability analysis. This procedure was traditionally used in structural optimization, whereas this work applies to problems having stochastic information. The present algorithm is on the basis of a safety index algorithm present in Ref. [1] [L. P. Wang and R. V. Grandhi, Efficient safety index calculation for structural reliability analysis. Comput. Struct. 52, 103–111 (1994)], which utilized the nonlinear approximation of performance function in the original space of random variables. The proposed algorithm further develops this procedure by (i) implementing the adaptive nonlinear approximation of performance function in the standard normal space of random variables, (ii) using an improved intervening variable procedure for more accurate approximation, and (iii) adding an additional convergency check on safety index calculation using approximate gradients. The efficiency and robustness of the proposed algorithm are demonstrated by several examples with highly nonlinear, complex, and explicit/implicit performance functions.
Does declining carbon‐use efficiency explain thermal acclimation of soil respiration with warming?

Enhanced soil respiration in response to global warming may substantially increase atmospheric CO2 concentrations above the anthropogenic contribution, depending on the mechanisms underlying the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. Here, we compared short-term and seasonal responses of soil respiration to a shifting thermal environment and variable substrate availability via laboratory incubations. To analyze the data from incubations, we implemented a novel process-based model of soil respiration in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. Our process model combined a Michaelis–Menten-type equation of substrate availability and microbial biomass with an Arrhenius-type nonlinear temperature response function. We tested the competing hypotheses that apparent thermal acclimation of soil respiration can be explained by depletion of labile substrates in warmed soils, or that physiological acclimation reduces respiration rates. We demonstrated that short-term apparent acclimation can be induced by substrate depletion, but that decreasing microbial biomass carbon (MBC) is also important, and lower MBC at warmer temperatures is likely due to decreased carbon-use efficiency (CUE). Observed seasonal acclimation of soil respiration was associated with higher CUE and lower basal respiration for summer- vs. winter-collected soils. Whether the observed short-term decrease in CUE or the seasonal acclimation of CUE with increased temperatures dominates the response to long-term warming will have important consequences for soil organic carbon storage.
Psychodynamic Career Assessment: An Adlerian Perspective

What exactly is Adlerian career assessment anyway? In this paper, I give some attention to that question. Specifically, I (a) examine some of the theory underlying Adlerian career assessment, (b) b...
Determination of formaldehyde in biological tissues by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A quantitative method is described for the determination of formaldehyde in biological tissues by stable isotope dilution using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. (13C2H2)Formaldehyde is used as the isotopic diluent. After tissue homogenization, derivatization is carried out in situ with pentafluorophenylhydrazine, followed by extraction and analysis using selected ion monitoring. The sensitivity of the technique is higher than that of conventional methods of formaldehyde analysis, enabling endogenous formaldehyde to be quantitatively analyzed in tissues, even in samples as small as 20 mg wet weight. The effects of exposure to airborne formaldehyde or to airborne methyl chloride on the formaldehyde concentrations of several tissues of Fischer-344 rats are reported.
Evidence for a Role of Dendritic Filopodia in Synaptogenesis and Spine Formation

Axo-dendritic synaptogenesis was examined in live hippocampal cell cultures using the fluorescent dyes DiO to label dendrites and FM 4-64 to label functional presynaptic boutons. As the first functional synaptic boutons appeared in these cultures, numerous filopodia (up to 10 micron long) were observed to extend transiently (mean lifetime 9.5 min) from dendritic shafts. With progressively increasing numbers of boutons, there were coincident decreases in numbers of transient filopodia and increases in numbers of stable dendritic spines. Dendritic filopodia were observed to initiate physical contacts with nearby axons. This sometimes resulted in filopodial stabilization and formation of functional presynaptic boutons. These findings suggest that dendritic filopodia may actively initiate synaptogenic contacts with nearby (5-10 micron) axons and thereafter evolve into dendritic spines.