cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetic studies of electron-transfers between the mono- and dinegative ions of anthracene and 1,1-diphenyl ethylene

Following the previously described study of the reaction of sodium anthracene, A., with 1,1- diphenyl ethylene, D, giving the sodium salt of the dimeric dianion, -C(Ph) 2 • CH 2 . CH 2 C(Ph) - 2 , nameIy 2A−. + 2D → 2A + − DD − we investigated now the reaction of disodium anthracene, A 2~ with D. It was shown that this extremely fast process produces a mixed dimer ~AD~, which decomposes reversibly into J7 The virtually irreversible dimerization of D7 into ~DD~ leads to complete decomposition of ~AD~ into AT* + ~DD~. The kinetic studies of these processes allowed us to evaluate the relevant rate and equilibrium constants and forced us to reconsider the results of the previous study. The previously proposed mechanism of conversion of A~ + D into A + ~DD~ was found to be correct, namely A* +D A+D* (rapid equilibrium), (i) D ^+ D --> DD• (rate determining step), (2) ~DD- + A~ --> ~DD~ (rapid electron transfer). (3) In addition, side reactions, A^ + A A 2~ + A, (4) A 2~ + D ~AD~, (5) -A D - *± A^+DT (6) form a small amount of the transient mixed dimer ~AD~. This transient was erroneously identified in the previous study as the monomeric radical-ion, and this mistake led to incorrect values of K l9 k2 and I£dig8>> DD~ 2D~, ...(I£di8s.). The corrected results derived from the present studies are K x « 10~7, k2 = 800 1. mole-1 s-1, Jfdi8S> « 10~15 mole/1. The scheme was proved to be self-consistent, and the value K x was confirmed by the potentiometric and equilibrium data.
Effect of inhibition of estrogen synthesis during the luteal phase on function of the corpus luteum in rhesus monkeys.

It has been hypothesized that estrogen synthesized by the corpus luteum initiates luteal re gression during the nonfertile menstrual cycle in primates. To study the role of endogenous estrogens in functional regression of the monkey corpus luteum, we administered the aromatase inhibitor 1,4,6- androstatriene -3,17 -dione (ATD) to rhesus monkeys during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Twice-daily oral administration of ATD suppressed systemic and intraluteal estrogen levels by 80-90%. The midluteal phase rise in estradiol concentrations that occurs in rhesus monkeys was completely abolished by ATD treatment. Despite suppression of estrogen synthesis during the luteal phase, mean menstrual cycle length and length of the luteal phase were not different than in control monkeys treated with vehicle only. Progesterone levels were lower in the ATD-treated group on the second and third day of treatment, but did not differ from control levels during the remainder of the cycle. These data suggest that elevated estrogen synthesis during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is not a prerequisite for spontaneous luteolysis in rhesus monkeys.
Segmental flexibility in the myosin molecule: evidence from binding studies of myosin fragments with actin.

From comparative studies of the association with polymeric actin of the bifunctional species heavy meromyosin and its monofunctional constituents, information about the relative freedom of these paired elements can be derived. An isotherm for the former binding process is presented which involves, as an experimentally determinable parameter, the local concentration of a second segment after the first of a pair is attached to the lattice. From combined data for these two association reactions a value of 10−4 M is obtained for this quantity. The large degree of segmental flexibility reported for the free heavy meromyosin is still manifested in the association with actin.
Taste Responses to Sweet Stimuli in α-Gustducin Knockout and Wild-Type Mice

The importance of a-gustducin in sweet taste transduction is based on data obtained with sucrose and the artificial sweetener SC45647. Here we studied the role of a-gustducin in sweet taste. We compared the behavioral and electrophysiological responses of a-gustducin knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice to 11 different sweeteners, representing carbohydrates, artificial sweeteners, and sweet amino acids. In behavioral experiments, over 48-h preference ratios were measured in two-bottle preference tests. In electrophysiological experiments, integrated responses of chorda tympani (CT) and glossopharyngeal (NG) nerves were recorded. We found that preference ratios of the KO mice were significantly lower than those of WT for acesulfameK, dulcin, fructose, NC00174, D-phenylalanine, L-proline, D-tryptophan, saccharin, SC45647, sucrose, but not neotame. The nerve responses to all sweeteners, except neotame, were smaller in the KO mice than in the WT mice. The differences between the responses in WT and KO mice were more pronounced in the CT than in the NG. These data indicate that a-gustducin participates in the transduction of the sweet taste in general.
LIPID FLUIDITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL HEMILEAFLETS OF HUMAN ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANES

The impermeant fluorescent probes (MIMAR reagents) described here permit the assessment of the lipid fluidity of individual membrane hemileaflets. They should also prove useful for examining the outer hemileaflets of the plasma membranes of intact cells. The observations, thus far, that normal human erythrocyte membranes have a characteristic asymmetry of fluidity, with the outer leaflet more fluid, correspond to prior findings with Mycoplasma, Newcastle Disease viral envelopes, and mouse LM cells. Hence, it is possible that the pattern is quite general in biological membranes. The particular lipid and protein components of the human-erythrocyte membrane that underly the fluidity asymmetry are unknown. The increased content of phosphatidylcholine in the outer leaflet and of the anionic phospholipids in the inner leaflet would be consonant with the fluidity difference. On the other hand, sphingomyelin, which tends to decrease fluidity, is localized mainly in the outer leaflet. Unknown at present is whether the cholesterol content of the two leaflets differs. From the results reported above, it is tempting to speculate that exogenously added cholesterol tends to localize in the outer leaflet, normally the more fluid leaflet, whereas endogenous cholesterol is more readily removed from the inner leaflet. This suggests, but clearly does not establish, that in the normal erythrocyte the cholesterol content of the inner leaflet exceeds that of the outer. Lastly, integral membrane proteins are expected to decrease lipid fluidity, and the usual pattern seen on freeze-fracture of large numbers of intra-membranous particles on the cytoplasmic face may signify a greater influence of protein in the inner leaflet. The hypothesis that perturbations of the fluidity of a given hemileaflet influence the membrane proteins (and their associated functions) in that leaflet is well-supported by the evidence described above. On the other hand, we understand less well the mechanisms by which lipid fluidity influences the proteins. For example, the decrease in sulfhydryl group reactivity of spectrin, actin, and Band 3 owing to cholesterol depletion (Table 7) may be due to a physical displacement of these proteins, as suggested by Borochov and Shinitzky. Why then does the reactivity of glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase sulfhydryl groups increase under these conditions? There remains much to learn about membrane molecular mechanics and lipid-protein interactions. In such studies the impermeant MIMAR probes described here should prove useful.
Ex-Servicemen at the Crossroads: Protest and Politics in Post-War Ghana

Before the late 1960s, historians generally agreed that World War II had increased mass support for African nationalism. Initially, they claimed that soldiers returned home politicised by war-time experiences and looking for opportunities to spread new ideas acquired through contacts with Asian nationalists. Subsequent scholars gradually chipped away at these assumptions, some completely discarding them as ‘myths’. Current opinion suggests that the way African soldiers reacted to the war depended on their ethnicity, class origins, education levels, and military occupations, and that their role in independence politics depended on local conditions.
Radiofrequency ablation of the long saphenous vein without high ligation versus high ligation and stripping for primary varicose veins: pros and cons.

Primary varicose vein disease is prevalent in our society, and although it is infrequently the cause of serious venous insufficiency, it often is associated with symptoms of local discomfort. These symptoms eventually may outweigh any cosmetic concerns of patients with this disease. Greater saphenous vein (GSV) reflux is the most important pathophysiologic component of primary venous insufficiency. To date, the surgical treatment of GSV reflux has evolved into 1 of 3 procedures: high ligation of the saphenofemoral junction, with or without perforator ligation; high ligation and stripping of the GSV; and high ligation with retrograde sclerotherapy of the GSV. High ligation and stripping of the GSV to below the knee enjoys the most durable success yet is associated with significant perioperative morbidity. A new treatment, radiofrequency ablation of the GSV without high ligation, recently has been described and promises a less invasive alternative to stripping with decreased morbidity and increased patient acceptance. The results of high ligation and stripping of the GSV will be compared with those with radiofrequency ablation of the GSV without high ligation.
To track or to detect? an ensemble framework for optimal selection

This paper presents a novel approach for multi-target tracking using an ensemble framework that optimally chooses target tracking results from that of independent trackers and a detector at each time step. The ensemble model is designed to select the best candidate scored by a function integrating detection confidence, appearance affinity, and smoothness constraints imposed using geometry and motion information. Parameters of our association score function are discriminatively trained with a max-margin framework. Optimal selection is achieved through a hierarchical data association step that progressively associates candidates to targets. By introducing a second target classifier and using the ranking score from the pre-trained classifier as the detection confidence measure, we add additional robustness against unreliable detections. The proposed algorithm robustly tracks a large number of moving objects in complex scenes with occlusions. We evaluate our approach on a variety of public datasets and show promising improvements over state-of-the-art methods.
An assessment of the prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms in the rotor wing air ambulance: one program's findings.

Abstract Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) continue to pose a serious risk to patients. The rate of these infections has remained steady, despite aggressive efforts to stem the spread of microbial transmission through awareness, aseptic techniques, and handwashing. Much has been written on the role of the practitioner, the hospital, and the spread of HAI. However, little attention has been given to the potential role that the out-of-hospital transport vehicle and medical crew might play in this process. This study was performed at one hospital-based rotor-wing air ambulance (RWAA) program to determine whether the potential for HAI transmission by the RWAA program existed and whether the effectiveness of the flight teams' cleaning process was adequate to control the spread of potentially harmful microorganisms. The results showed that large numbers of microbes remained on the surfaces of the transport vehicle even after initial cleaning. This demonstrates that the RWAA is a potential route of transmission between the flight team and patient or through patient self-inoculation. Although the results of this study are limited to a single site, it shows that the potential for pathogen transmission clearly exists, and more attention should be placed on limiting the RWAA's role in this process.
Attractants for the Green June Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate lures for adult green June beetles, Cotinis nitida (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), for future use in a mass trapping program. Volatile organic compounds collected from headspace of green June beetles feeding on fermenting ripe apple (Malus spp.), the natural lure that elicits feeding aggregations, were identified and confirmed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Yellow funnel traps baited with 91% isopropanol or the five component blend were equally effective in eliciting aggregation behavior and often more attractive to green June beetles than the natural lure. In 2008, three trap lines adjacent and parallel to the perimeter of two vineyards, each with 12 Xpando yellow funnel traps baited with either 91% isopropanol or the five component blend, differed in catch of green June beetles across sample dates, and sample date by bait interaction but there were no differences among these two baits. A season total of 324,007 green June beetle were captured by these 36 baited traps. A brief review is included of fermentation volatiles attractive to insects. We conclude with the potential cost to use mass trapping against adult green June beetles.
Effects of Generalist Phytoseiid Mites and Grapevine Canopy Structure on Spider Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) Biocontrol

Specialist-feeding phytoseiid mites have a well-documented role in biological control of phytophagous spider mites. However, although there is evidence for the importance of generalist-feeding phytoseiid mites in spider mite suppression, their role is less clear than that of specialists. The effectiveness of generalists as biocontrol agents and their interactions with specialists might be directly influenced by canopy structure or indirectly affected by altering plant microclimate. We manipulated densities of generalist phytoseiid mites and canopy size (large and small) in open-field experiments in an abandoned vineyard. In the first experiment, we increased generalist densities by transferring grapevine foliage housing robust generalist populations, whereas in the second experiment, we lowered generalist densities using the broad-spectrum insecticide chlorpyrifos. In both experiments, we also altered canopy size by tying grapevine shoots. Increasing densities of generalists resulted in lower spider mite densities. Generalists initially decreased densities of specialist phytoseiid mites as well, although specialist densities rebounded as spider mite densities increased later in the experiment. Lowering generalist densities appeared to slightly increase densities of both spider and specialist mites, consistent with the first experiment. However, these effects were not statistically significant, possibly because the reduction in generalist densities through chlorpyrifos application was not as dramatic as our generalist augmentation in the first experiment. Canopy size did not significantly affect pest or predatory mite densities in either experiment. These field experiments demonstrate that generalists can slow spider mite population growth in grapes. In contrast, canopy architecture appeared to have little impact on spider mite biocontrol.
An adaptive clustering model that integrates expert rules and N-gram statistics for coreference resolution

We present an adaptive clustering model for coreference resolution in which the expert rules of a state of the art deterministic system are used as features over pairs of clusters. A significant advantage of the new approach is that new features can be easily added to the system. We demonstrate this advantage by incorporating semantic compatibility features for neutral pronouns computed from web n-gram statistics. Experimental results show that the combination of the new features with the expert rules in the adaptive clustering approach results in an overall performance improvement and a substantial 5% improvement in F1 measure for the target pronouns.
Small to intermediate strain properties of fly ashes with various carbon and biomass contents

High-carbon-content fly ashes with biomass particles are typically landfilled in accordance with the ASTM C618 regulation. To quantify their geotechnical properties relating to storage and disposal...
Vitamin B6 and erythropoiesis in the rat.

Summary1) Severe vit. B6 deficiency in the rat resulted in an increased red cell count and in a reduction in hemoglobin, mean cell volume, and mean cell hemoglobin. The most striking effect was the reduction in mean cell hemoglobin in the deficient rats. The B6-deficient rats exhibited lymphopenia and granulocytosis. 2) The data show that the rat must be added to the list of animals requiring vit. B6 for normal hematopoiesis.
Going down the drain: When children's fears become real--responding to children when disaster strikes.

In recent years our nation and world have experienced horrendous natural disasters as well as those inflicted by terrorism. Data collected following September 11, 2001 show that children residing in the areas closest to where the attack occurred were not optimally assessed or supported to assist their response to the trauma they experienced. Data also show that children's recovery from exposure to trauma associated with disasters is affected by how their parents are able to cope with the turmoil surrounding these events. Children's responses also reflect their development, which in turn affects their understanding of what has occurred. Recommendations for care of infants, toddlers, children and adolescents who have been exposed to disasters are offered. In addition, how children interpret media presentations of these events affects their response. Children should have their viewing of media presentations limited and accompanied by adults who can address their child's questions and concerns. Language: en
Spatial Politics/Poetics, Late Modernism, and Elizabeth Bowen's The Last September

This article explores how Elizabeth Bowen's novel The Last September relies on a spatial aesthetic to convey interpersonal and political tensions, corresponding with the novelistic trend toward greater historical and political engagement that recent scholars have deemed “late modernism.” Bowen's spatial aesthetic in turn insists on a related spatial interpretative practice, which is consistent with theoretical developments in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s that consider how space and time cooperate in the configuration of narrative. Her poetics destabilizes time and linear plot as the primary constituents of narrative and undermines the ostensible authority of the “narrator” in service of representing focalizers' internal experiences. Her experiments with spatiality and focalization are less overtly radical than those of high modernist or avant-garde fiction writers. Instead, her subtly indeterminate narrative discourse uses space and time cooperatively and incorporates variable focalization to propel narrative in service of an engagement with the historico-political context. The subtlety with which the poetics expresses its politics conveys the experience of the historical moment even to a reader to whom the political outcome is known. Thus Bowen's changes to narrative discourse produce a tension between the focalized present and the project of looking back at history, conveying an ambivalent mixture of lamentation, critique, and tentative responsibility that characterizes the ongoing experience for many Anglo-Irish of her generation. Bowen's early regional novel is of its own moment, historical, political, and also aesthetic, at the forefront of the broader trend in midcentury aesthetics that we now call late modernism.
Characterization and Dissolution of ZrTh3UO10 and Th3UO8 Ceramics

Thoria-urania-zirconia ceramics were studied in order to investigate the long-term behavior of potential thorium fuels in a repository environment. The ceramics were prepared by coprecipitation of the metal salts. Zirconia was added to determine if further stabilization against dissolution of the thoria-urania system could be achieved. In addition, 0.5 wt% MgO was added to some samples to increase stability and density. The inclusion of Zr in the ceramics did not dramatically decrease the leaching of thorium from the matrix. Material properties of the ceramic were analyzed using electron microscopy techniques such as Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS). X-ray diffraction and synchrotron-based x-ray absorption studies including extended xray fine structure (EXAFS) and x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) were also used to reveal elements of the phase structure and chemistry of the ceramics. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and EDX show that these ceramics separate into a zirconium-based phase and an actinide-based phase with low mutual affinity of thorium and zirconium, as well as partial solubilization of uranium in zirconium. The comparison of EELS spectra collected for the ceramics with spectra collected for UO 2 and U 3 O 8 reference materials also allow the assessment of uranium oxidation state independently in the two separate phases. Assessment of the bulk oxidation state using XANES correlated well with the EELS analysis. Interatomic distances and the bulk crystal structure were determined using EXAFS.
Esterification of Free Cholesterol and Hydrolysis of Cholesterol Oleate by Acetone Powder Extracts of Hog Adrenals.

SummaryIt is demonstrated that extracts of acetone powders of hog adrenal glands do esterify free cholesterol and hydrolyze esterified cholesterol. The optimum pH range for esterification was between 3 and 5, and no esterification was observed at pH 7.4. Hydrolysis of the ester was observed at pH 7.4 and to a lesser extent below pH 6.
The Design Technology of the Substation Wiring Diagram Based on SSD Model

The system specification description(SSD) is used to describe main wiring diagram and the matched logic node of substation.Based on the mapping relationship between the SSD model and the main wiring diagram of substation,the construction technology of the substation wiring diagram contained in SSD model is carried out by the scalable vector graphics(SVG) technology.
Should Your Hospital Have an Arthritis Midway House

The per diem costs of such a specialized center are about half those of a general hospital; more important, a greater improvement in functional status and self-sufficiency is achieved when intensive rehabilitative therapy is brought to patients in groups, thereby allowing the resource of mutual teaching to come into play. The experience of a pioneer center provides criteria for planning similar services elsewhere.
Successful Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis with Sodium pentosanpolysulfate

AbstractThe surface of the bladder is lined by a layer of sulfonated glycosaminoglycans, of which the nonspecific anti-adherence effect is reproduced by synthetic sulfonated glycosaminoglycans. This mucous layer appears to be the most important line of defense between the transitional cells and all harmful substances in the urine. Many disease states may be associated with a deficiency in the anti-adherence activity of the glycosaminoglycan layer and may benefit from treatment with synthetic glycosaminoglycans. One such disease is interstitial cystitis. We administered oral sodium pentosanpolysulfate (Elmiron), a synthetic analogue of a sulfonated glycosaminoglycan, to 24 patients with interstitial cystitis. Within 4 to 8 weeks of initiation of treatment 20 patients experienced a decrease of at least 80 per cent in pain, urgency and nocturia, and 2 experienced a 50 to 80 per cent decrease in these symptoms. The 22 patients who responded continue to experience progressive improvement with time.
To stress or not to stress: Physiological responses to tetrodotoxin in resistant gartersnakes vary by sex

The activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the most important physiological processes in coping with any deviation in an organism's homeostasis. This activation and the secretion of glucocorticoids, such as corticosterone, allow organisms to cope with perturbations and return to optimal physiological functioning as quickly as possible. In this study, we examined the HPA axis activation in common gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) as a response to a natural toxin, tetrodotoxin (TTX). This neurotoxin is found in high levels in the Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa), which is a prey item for these snakes. To consume this toxic prey, these snakes have evolved variable resistance. We hypothesized that the more resistant individuals would show a lower HPA axis response than less resistant individuals, as measured by corticosterone (CORT) and bactericidal ability, which is a functional downstream measurement of CORT's activity. We determined “resistance level” for tetrodotoxin from each individual snake by determining the dose which reduced race speed by 50%. Individuals were injected them with an increasing amount of tetrodotoxin (10, 25, and 50 MAMUs) to determine this value. Thirty minutes after every injection, we gathered blood samples from each snake. Our results show that, while there were no significant differences among individual CORT levels in a dose-dependent manner, female snakes did have a larger stress response when compared to both males and juveniles. Different life-histories could explain why females were able to mount a higher HPA axis response. However, TTX had no downstream effects on bactericidal ability, although juveniles had consistently lower values than adults. Our research shows a possible dichotomy between how each sex manages tetrodotoxin and gives way for a more comprehensive analysis of tetrodotoxin in an ecological context.
Association Between Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroup Variation and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Importance Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication, and repetitive or restrictive behavior. Although multiple physiologic and biochemical studies have reported defects in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in patients with ASD, the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation has remained relatively unexplored. Objective To assess what impact mitochondrial lineages encompassing ancient mtDNA functional polymorphisms, termed haplogroups, have on ASD risk. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cohort study, individuals with autism and their families were studied using the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange cohort genome-wide association studies data previously generated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. From October 2010 to January 2017, we analyzed the data and used the mtDNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms interrogated by the Illumina HumanHap 550 chip to determine the mtDNA haplogroups of the individuals. Taking into account the familial structure of the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange data, we then determined whether the mtDNA haplogroups correlate with ASD risk. Main Outcomes and Measures Odds ratios of mitochondrial haplogroup as predictors of ASD risk. Results Of 1624 patients with autism included in this study, 1299 were boys (80%) and 325 were girls (20%). Families in the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange collection (933 families, encompassing 4041 individuals: 1624 patients with ASD and 2417 healthy parents and siblings) had been previously recruited in the United States with no restrictions on age, sex, race/ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Relative to the most common European haplogroup HHV, European haplogroups I, J, K, O-X, T, and U were associated with increased risk of ASD, as were Asian and Native American haplogroups A and M, with odds ratios ranging from 1.55 (95% CI, 1.16-2.06) to 2.18 (95% CI, 1.59-3) (adjusted P Conclusions and Relevance Because haplogroups I, J, K, O-X, T, and U encompass 55% of the European population, mtDNA lineages must make a significant contribution to overall ASD risk.
A solvent-free lecithin-Tween 80 system for oil dispersion

Abstract Phospholipids have been extensively used to disperse oil-in-water (O/W) as emulsions in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this work a new strategy of dispersing oil and forming O/W emulsions in synthetic seawater is described using lecithin-Tween 80 (LT) self-assemblies (vesicles and disk-like micelles). LT assemblies can emulsify gasoline or crude oil with greater than 90% emulsion (or dispersion) efficiency at a total surfactant concentration that allows for complete coverage of the oil droplet interface. Comparing the experimental results with theoretical results based on geometric surfactant packing indicates that lecithin and Tween 80 monolayers pack tightly at the oil/water interface. When compared to lecithin or Tween 80 assemblies, the mixed LT assemblies provide better emulsion stability than lecithin and comparable emulsion stability to Tween 80, suggesting that steric stabilization provided by Tween 80 was the primary stabilization mechanism. Aqueous dispersants such as the LT assemblies can be prepared on demand and may prove effective for dispersing oil phases under conditions of high mixing energy.
Making Space for Community-Engaged Scholarship in Geography

Geography has a long tradition of community-engaged research and teaching. Conventional institutional and departmental norms in many U.S. universities and colleges, however, often discourage such e...
Outcome Measures in Psoriasis and Atopic Eczema

There are many new and emerging therapies for complex skin disorders such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In order to measure disease severity and effect of therapy, valid outcome measures are commonly employed in clinical trials and in clinical practice. The most commonly used in psoriasis clinical trials include the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), the extent of body surface area involvement (BSA), and various physician or investigator global assessments (PGA or IGA). Measures are also available to assess nail, palmar-plantar, scalp psoriasis, and target lesions. In eczema/atopic dermatitis studies, important measures include the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), the SCORAD, and the IGA. This chapter focuses on the most commonly used and the most psychometrically valid efficacy measures in clinical trials for psoriasis and eczema.
Land Application Effects of a High-Calcium, Dry Flue Gas Desulfurization By-Product on Trace Elements in Runoff from Natural Rainfall

Due to low cost and large abundance, coal continues to be one of the major energy sources for electricity generation in the USA. The dry desulfurization of flue gases during coal combustion produces a by-product that may be potentially useful as a soil amendment. However, the influence of dry flue gas desulfurization (DFGD) by-products on trace element losses with runoff from treated fields has not been well investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of land application of a high-Ca, DFGD by-product on trace elements lost in runoff from natural rainfall events. The by-product was applied once on May 18, 2015 at 9 Mg DFGD ha−1 to small plots of a highly weathered Ultisol under managed-grassland land use in northwest Arkansas. Runoff was collected following each runoff-producing precipitation event for 1 year. Seasonal (i.e., summer (May to August), fall (August to November), winter (November to February), and spring (February to May)) runoff, annual runoff, runoff pH, and electrical conductivity did not differ significantly between DFGD treatments. Seasonal flow-weighted mean Ni concentrations and seasonal V loads were significantly greater in runoff when amended versus the unamended control when compared during at least one 3-month season by 44.5 and 86.9% for Ni and V, respectively. Based on the results of this study, it appears that land application of a high-Ca DFGD by-product at rates ≤ 9 Mg ha−1 has minimal effects on trace elements in runoff.
Major Determinants of Nucleosome Positioning

The compact structure of the nucleosome limits DNA accessibility and inhibits the binding of most sequence-specific proteins. Nucleosomes are not randomly located on the DNA but positioned with respect to the DNA sequence, suggesting models in which critical binding sites are either exposed in the linker, resulting in activation, or buried inside a nucleosome, resulting in repression. The mechanisms determining nucleosome positioning are therefore of paramount importance for understanding gene regulation and other events that occur in chromatin, such as transcription, replication, and repair. Here, we review our current understanding of the major determinants of nucleosome positioning: DNA sequence, nonhistone DNA-binding proteins, chromatin-remodeling enzymes, and transcription. We outline the major challenges for the future: elucidating the precise mechanisms of chromatin opening and promoter activation, identifying the complexes that occupy promoters, and understanding the multiscale problem of chromatin fiber organization.
Resilience and Multiple Stigmatized Identities: Lessons from Transgender Persons’ Reflections on Aging

This chapter describes the qualitative analysis of responses given by 122 transgender persons aged 61 and older who answered nine questions in an online survey about hopes and fears about aging, strategies for successful aging, and wisdom to convey to younger transgender individuals. More than 70 % stated they believe they are aging successfully. We identified six components of the resilience repertoires that enabled them to say they are aging successfully despite the stigma associated with their gender-variant identities and sexual minority status. Queer theory and the idea of intersectionality contributed to our interpretation of the resilience repertoires.
Narrative group therapy with outpatient adolescents

Adolescent substance abuse remains a major public health concern. The comprehensive, detrimental effects of teenage drug use, coupled with troubling relapse rates, highlight the need for innovative, effective, and helpful treatment interventions. Adolescents in treatment and the adults that work with them are subject to often negatively influential societal discourses that limit treatment effectiveness as well as the development of adolescent treatment satisfaction and therapeutic alliance. Narrative therapy is promoted in theoretical and clinical literature as a viable way of addressing these problems. Preliminary work has been done in the area of narrative therapy with adolescents, and particularly with substance abusing and chemically dependent adolescents. However, empirical and qualitative research regarding narrative therapy with teens is scarce. Studies examining narrative therapy in regard to the promotion of treatment satisfaction and therapeutic alliance are virtually non­ existent. This study presents preliminary empirical and phenomenological research that indicates a positive adolescent response to narrative therapy. These responses involve the development of greater, subjective understanding of and increased resistance to substance abuse and behavioral problems. Finally, the information presented in this study points to the development of a potentially useful group treatment model of narrative therapy with adolescents having substance abuse and other behavior or emotional problems.
Systems Approach for Understanding Metastasis

A systems approach to analysis is based on the belief that the component parts of a system will act differently when isolated from its environment or other parts of the system. In other words, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts due to the relationship and the interaction between the parts. In biology, the goal of a systems approach is to understand the operation of complex biological systems by providing the missing link between molecules and physiology. Currently systems biology encompasses many different approaches with an ultimate aim of developing predictive models for complex human diseases including cancer. This chapter will highlight some of the tools and efforts of systems biology that are applied to cancer and will discuss how these efforts can be further extended to the much needed understanding and targeting of lung tumor metastasis.
The Fossil Arachnida

Concerning the fossil orders, Dunlop (1996a, b) presents a revised concept of the formerly accepted (Weygoldt and Paulus 1979; Shultz 1990) five fossil orders of Arachnida. The subclasses of Petrunkevitch (1949) have been rejected, Anthracomartida – synonymized with Trigonotarbida. It was concluded that the position of Phalangiotarbida and Haptopoda remains obscure. Kustarachnida, according to Dunlop (1996a, b), represents misidentified opilionids.
Modified Erdös–Ginzburg–Ziv constants for Z∕nZ and (Z∕nZ)2

Abstract For an abelian group G and an integer t > 0 , the modified Erdos–Ginzburg–Ziv constant s t ′ ( G ) is the smallest integer l such that any zero-sum sequence of length at least l with elements in G contains a zero-sum subsequence (not necessarily consecutive) of length t . We compute s t ′ ( G ) for G = Z ∕ n Z and for G = ( Z ∕ n Z ) 2 when t = n .
Broadband operation of a tree electron later in the infrared

Several recent developments using the Mark III tree electron laser at Stanford University have demonstrated that very broadband laser operation in the IR is achievable using a free electron laser. By taking advantage of new developments in the field, it should be possible to build a tree electron laser capable of operating from 1 out to 40 μm in a single device. Both high peak power and high fluence are possible in such a device, and wavelength tuning is quite convenient.
Fundamental relations between measurement, radiation, and decoherence in gravitational wave laser interferometer detectors

As laser interferometer gravitational wave (GW) detectors become quantum noise dominated, understanding the fundamental limit on measurement sensitivity imposed by quantum uncertainty is crucial to guide the search for further noise reduction. Recent efforts have included applying ideas from quantum information theory to GW detection---specifically the quantum Cramer-Rao bound, which is a minimum bound on error in parameter estimation using a quantum state and is determined by the state's quantum Fisher information (QFI) with respect to the parameter [Helstrom, J. Stat. Phys. 1, 231 (1969)]. Identifying the QFI requires knowing the interaction between the quantum probe and the signal, which was rigorously derived for GW interferometer detectors in Pang and Chen [Phys. Rev. D 98, 124006 (2018)]. In this paper, we calculate the QFI and fundamental quantum limit (FQL) for GW detection, and furthermore we derive explicit reciprocity relations involving the QFI that summarize information exchange between the detector and a surrounding weak quantum GW field. Specifically, we show that the GW power radiation by the detector's quantum fluctuations are proportional to the QFI, and therefore are inversely proportional to its FQL. Similarly, the detector's decoherence rate in a white noise GW bath can be explicitly related to the QFI/FQL. These relations are fundamental and appear generalizable to a broader class of quantum measurement systems.
Metabolism, bioenergetics and thermal physiology: influences of the human intestinal microbiota.

The micro-organisms which inhabit the human gut (i.e. the intestinal microbiota) influence numerous human biochemical pathways and physiological functions. The present review focuses on two questions, ‘Are intestinal microbiota effects measurable and meaningful?’ and ‘What research methods and variables are influenced by intestinal microbiota effects?’. These questions are considered with respect to doubly labelled water measurements of energy expenditure, heat balance calculations and models, measurements of RMR via indirect calorimetry, and diet-induced energy expenditure. Several lines of evidence suggest that the intestinal microbiota introduces measurement variability and measurement errors which have been overlooked in research studies involving nutrition, bioenergetics, physiology and temperature regulation. Therefore, we recommend that present conceptual models and research techniques be updated via future experiments, to account for the metabolic processes and regulatory influences of the intestinal microbiota.
Interstitial High-Dose-Rate Gynecologic Brachytherapy: Clinical Workflow Experience From Three Academic Institutions

An interstitial brachytherapy approach for gynecologic cancers is typically considered for patients with lesions exceeding 5 mm within tissue or that are not easily accessible for intracavitary applications. Recommendations for treating gynecologic malignancies with this approach are available through the American Brachytherapy Society, but vary based on available resources, staffing, and logistics. The intent of this manuscript is to share the collective experience of 3 academic centers that routinely perform interstitial gynecologic brachytherapy. Discussion points include indications for interstitial implants, procedural preparations, applicator selection, anesthetic options, imaging, treatment planning objectives, clinical workflows, timelines, safety, and potential challenges. Interstitial brachytherapy is a complex, high-skill procedure requiring routine practice to optimize patient safety and treatment efficacy. Clinics planning to implement this approach into their brachytherapy practice may benefit from considering the discussion points shared in this manuscript.
Exploiting the impact of pore diffusion in core@shell nanocatalysts

Abstract Engineered core@shell nanomaterials are widely studied for applications ranging from sensing over drug delivery to sorption and catalysis. For catalysis, many investigations have highlighted the remarkable thermal stability of this class of catalysts. However, beyond stability, core@shell materials with porous shells enable rational catalyst design for reaction selectivity: Core@shell nanocatalysts can be considered “nano-reactors” with membrane walls which allow selective access to the embedded active sites and hence tuning of reaction selectivity. We demonstrate the principle of core@shell nanomaterials as tuneable catalysts using Ni@SiO2 as a model catalyst. By tailoring the SiO2 shell thickness via careful control of synthesis parameters, we demonstrate preferential diffusion of reactants through this shell during catalytic oxidation of CH4 as model reaction. We then demonstrate application of this diffusion control to preferential conversion of H2 in H2−CH4 mixtures using pre-oxidized NiO@SiO2. Our results suggest that core@shell nanocatalysts can be rationally engineered and utilized as tuneable catalysts to tailor reaction selectivity in a rather straightforward, predictive way.
A place to hunt: some observations on access to wildlife resources in the western United States

Recreational hunting is facing a number of challenges in the twenty-first century. In this essay, I maintain the inability of hunters to find a good quality place to hunt is the most serious impedi...
Clinical, histopathologic and molecular features of idiopathic and diabetic nodular mesangial sclerosis in humans.

Background Idiopathic nodular mesangial sclerosis, also called idiopathic nodular glomerulosclerosis (ING), is a rare clinical entity with an unclear pathogenesis. The hallmark of this disease is the presence of nodular mesangial sclerosis on histology without clinical evidence of diabetes mellitus or other predisposing diagnoses. To achieve insights into its pathogenesis, we queried the clinical, histopathologic and transcriptomic features of ING and nodular diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods All renal biopsy reports accessioned at Indiana University Health from 2001 to 2016 were reviewed to identify 48 ING cases. Clinical and histopathologic features were compared between individuals with ING and DN (n = 751). Glomeruli of ING (n = 5), DN (n = 18) and reference (REF) nephrectomy (n = 9) samples were isolated by laser microdissection and RNA was sequenced. Immunohistochemistry of proline-rich 36 (PRR36) protein was performed. Results ING subjects were frequently hypertensive (95.8%) with a smoking history (66.7%). ING subjects were older, had lower proteinuria and had less hyaline arteriolosclerosis than DN subjects. Butanoate metabolism was an enriched pathway in ING samples compared with either REF or DN samples. The top differentially expressed gene, PRR36, had increased expression in glomeruli 248-fold [false discovery rate (FDR) P = 5.93 × 10-6] compared with the REF and increased 109-fold (FDR P = 1.85 × 10-6) compared with DN samples. Immunohistochemistry revealed a reduced proportion of cells with perinuclear reaction in ING samples as compared to DN. Conclusions Despite similar clinical and histopathologic characteristics in ING and DN, the uncovered transcriptomic signature suggests that ING has distinct molecular features from nodular DN. Further study is warranted to understand these relationships.
Temperament and Child Psychopathology: Specificity in Shared Genetic Effects

Quantitative genetic designs such as twin and adoption studies elucidate genetic and environmental etiological similarities and differences between temperament and child psychopathology. The hierarchical structure of both constructs is explained, theoretical models are introduced, and an empirical review concludes that there is a large genetic overlap between multiple dimensions of temperament and internalizing and externalizing problems. The role of the shared environment is less consistent across studies. It is recommended that we do not exclusively focus on common risk and resilience processes and pay attention to unique environmental influences on psychopathology that are not shared with normal range temperament. Developmental systems models of multiple influences are recommended, incorporating meditational and moderational developmental processes of gene-environment interplay.
Stability and Control of a Pacing Quadruped Using Stabilizing Switching Design

In this letter we present a method for control and stabilizing a pacing quadruped robot using state feedback switching. In the pacing gait, a quadruped cycles between the left and right pairs of legs to achieve locomotion. This results in two discrete stance configurations, each being unstable. The quadruped can achieve dynamic stability by switching between these stances in an appropriate manner. We model our system using two sets of non-linear dynamical equations which we have the control of switching between actively. In order to stabilize our system, we propose a state feedback switching law based on the linearized models of our system for each set of equations. Using this switching law, we are able to stabilize the robot in the roll direction. This, combined with the passive stability achieved with the design of the robot’s legs, results in a stable pacing gait. The performance of the proposed controller is evaluated on a complete dynamical model in simulation and stability is verified using a Poincare map.
Objectives and Methods

The chapter holistically describes the setting in which the academic and teaching experience practices of four teacher candidates took place. Data were collected during student teaching and clinical experiences in an urban setting from the perspective of social cognitive and self-regulation theoretical frameworks. This report is the first to follow four teacher candidates who would be considered unlikely teacher candidates with the present state standards for entrance into teacher education programs. As a result the pool of certified teachers who are best equipped to work in urban settings is decreasing, while the English language learning and minority population of pupils and parents is increasing. The faculty chose to focus on training in self-regulatory strategies for college entrants who aspire to be certified teachers but struggle to meet the academic and certification requirements. A description of the participants and institutional setting is evidence of a unique teacher preparation program fully aligned with the core values of the college.