cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
State and Trait Anxiety and Diabetes Outcomes in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes.

PurposeThe purpose of this exploratory pilot study was to examine the associations of state and trait anxiety with glycemic control, self-management, and diabetes-specific quality of life (QOL) in ...
Snowfall Observations During the Winter Olympics of 2018 Campaign Using the D3r Radar

The NASA dual-frequency, dual-polarization, Doppler radar (D3R) was deployed in the International Collaborative Experiment during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics and Paralympic winter games (ICE-POP 2018). The radar captured many rain and interesting snowfall events during the deployment. In this work, the snowfall events are studied in detail to interpret the microphysics from a radar’s perspective. Interesting snow studies such as detecting the presence of pristine oriented ice crystals in the mixed phase snow clouds will be discussed in detail.
LINUX, Virtualization, and the Cloud: A Hands-On Student Introductory Lab.

Many students are entering Computer Science education with limited exposure to operating systems and applications other than those produced by Apple or Microsoft. This gap in familiarity with the Open Source community can quickly be bridged with a simple exercise that can also be used to strengthen two other important current computing concepts, virtualization and cloud computing. Students can gain firsthand experience through the creation of virtual machines utilizing free LINUX distributions with pre-installed productivity software. This enables the students to have a greater understanding of these concepts and how they may be applied to meet their own needs, or the requirements of a corporate scenario.
Female Sex Portends Worse Long-Term Survival after Open Type I-III Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm Repair

Abstract: Objectives Although outcomes following infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery are worse in females, sex-specific differences in outcomes following open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair are less clear. The goal of this study was to identify sex-based disparities in short and long-term outcomes after open type I-III TAAA surgery. Methods All open type I-III TAAA repairs performed from 1987-2015 were evaluated using an institutional database. Charts were retrospectively evaluated for peri-operative outcomes: major adverse events (MAE), in-hospital death, and long-term survival. Univariate analysis was performed using the Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables. Logistic regression was used for in-hospital endpoints; survival analyses were performed with Cox proportional hazards modeling and Kaplan-Meier techniques. Sensitivity analyses were performed for relevant multivariable models, one with ruptures removed and another evaluating only repairs performed before 2006 to account for any selection bias due to wider use of complex endovascular technology. Results Five hundred-sixteen patients underwent open type I-III TAAA repair during the study period. Females accounted for 54.3% (n=280) of the cohort. Females were older, less likely to have a chronic dissection etiology, more likely to present with a symptomatic/ruptured lesion and had a lower admission creatinine when compared to males. Perioperative death occurred in 23 (9.8%) males and 19 (6.8%) females (p=0.26); 133 females (47.3%) and 116 males (49.2%) suffered a MAE (p=0.72). Multivariable analyses revealed no sex-based difference in peri-operative death (Female sex AOR:0.72, 95% CI:0.4-1.4, p=0.34) or MAE (AOR:1.0 CI:0.7-1.5, p=0.82). Unadjusted survival at five-years was 50% for females and 67% for males (log-rank p Conclusions Those undergoing open type I-III TAAA repair have similar rates of peri-operative mortality and major adverse events, regardless of sex. However, female sex is an independent risk factor for decreased long-term survival.
Classification of Topological Phase Transitions and van Hove Singularity Steering Mechanism in Graphene Superlattices

We study quantum phase transitions in graphene superlattices in external magnetic fields, where a framework is presented to classify multiflavor Dirac fermion critical points describing hopping-tuned topological phase transitions of integer and fractional Hofstadter-Chern insulators. We argue and provide numerical support for the existence of transitions that can be explained by a nontrivial interplay of Chern bands and van Hove singularities near charge neutrality. This work provides a route to critical phenomena beyond conventional quantum Hall plateau transitions.
Bruce S. McEwen: the evolution of stress.

Stress is a prominent, universal experience, especially during these challenging times, with the world hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, forced social isolation, rising community unrest, and increasing...
Transcranial direct current stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex improves dual-task gait performance in patients with Parkinson's disease: A double blind, sham-controlled study.

Abstract Background Despite advances in pharmacological treatments and surgical processes, the problem of impaired dual-tasking persists in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Recently, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has shown the potential to improve dual-task walking. Research Question Can combining left DLPFC stimulation using tDCS with dual-task performance reduce the cost of dual-tasking in individuals with PD? Methods We conducted a sham-controlled, cross-over, and double-blind study to investigate the effect of combining tDCS with the dual-task walk and its sustained effects among people with PD. Twenty participants with PD completed two sessions (anodal or sham tDCS) with at least a 1-week gap. Stimulation involved transferring 2 mA current through the left DLPFC for 30 min. Single- and dual-task gait was assessed before, during, immediately after, 15, and 30 min after stimulation ceased. Phoneme verbal fluency task was given as the cognitive distractor during dual task. Results and Conclusion The results of this study show that in the dual-task condition, participants walked faster at fifteen minutes (p = 0.017) and thirty minutes (p
Damage mechanism identification in composites via machine learning and acoustic emission

Damage mechanism identification has scientific and practical ramifications for the structural health monitoring, design, and application of composite systems. Recent advances in machine learning uncover pathways to identify the waveform-damage mechanism relationship in higher-dimensional spaces for a comprehensive understanding of damage evolution. This review evaluates the state of the field, beginning with a physics-based understanding of acoustic emission waveform feature extraction, followed by a detailed overview of waveform clustering, labeling, and error analysis strategies. Fundamental requirements for damage mechanism identification in any machine learning framework, including those currently in use, under development, and yet to be explored, are discussed.
Modeling Pavement Performance Indices in Harsh Climate Regions

AbstractNewfoundland and Labrador lies in the northeastern corner of North America. Road durability in this province is negatively affected by the harsh climate and ever-increasing traffic loads. T...
Dopamine D2/3 receptor antagonism reduces activity-based anorexia.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by severe hypophagia and weight loss, and an intense fear of weight gain. Activity-based anorexia (ABA) refers to the weight loss, hypophagia and paradoxical hyperactivity that develops in rodents exposed to running wheels and restricted food access, and provides a model for aspects of AN. The atypical antipsychotic olanzapine was recently shown to reduce both AN symptoms and ABA. We examined which component of the complex pharmacological profile of olanzapine reduces ABA. Mice received 5-HT2A/2C, 5-HT3, dopamine D1-like, D2, D3 or D2/3 antagonist treatment, and were assessed for food intake, body weight, wheel running and survival in ABA. D2/3 receptor antagonists eticlopride and amisulpride reduced weight loss and hypophagia, and increased survival during ABA. Furthermore, amisulpride produced larger reductions in weight loss and hypophagia than olanzapine. Treatment with either D3 receptor antagonist SB277011A or D2 receptor antagonist L-741,626 also increased survival. All the other treatments either had no effect or worsened ABA. Overall, selective antagonism of D2 and/or D3 receptors robustly reduces ABA. Studies investigating the mechanisms by which D2 and/or D3 receptors regulate ABA, and the efficacy for D2/3 and/or D3 antagonists to treat AN, are warranted.
Scientific Research in Burnsville Cove

A summary is provided of the many research projects that have been undertaken using the caves of Burnsville Cove as test sites or objects of investigation in their own right. Research began in the late 1940s with observations of the oscillating air currents in Breathing Cave. This was followed by comprehensive investigations of the geology of Breathing Cave and the geology, hydrogeology, and mineralogy of the newly-discovered Butler Cave. Later investigations in the 1980s and 1990s used Butler Cave for research on clastic sediments, movement of bacteria, mineralogy, and paleoclimate. A recent discovery is that injected oscillating air current can be used to probe possible connections between nearby caves. There is much potential for future research, particularly in the caves of Chestnut Ridge.
A Test of Hedging Alternatives for the US Currency and the US Stock Market

This paper examines the degree of correlation, and possible causation, between the US Dollar (against the Euro and the British Pound) and the US equity market indexes (the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ composite). The information utilized in this study is the 14 year period beginning in January 1999 and ending in December 2012. The purpose of this exercise is to judge the potential effectiveness of hedging against declines in the (major) US stock market indexes utilizing the dollar, or the reverse, focusing particularly on the financial crisis period encompassing the latter part of 2007 through early 2009. A currency hedge that is long on the Euro or Pound seems to provide protection against severe US stock market declines.
Characterization of the late endosomal ESCRT machinery in Trypanosoma brucei.

The multivesicular body (MVB) is a specialized Rab7+ late endosome (LE) containing multiple intralumenal vesicles that function in targeting ubiquitinylated cell surface proteins to the lysosome for degradation. African trypanosomes lack a morphologically well-defined MVB, but contain orthologs of the ESCRT (Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport) machinery that mediates MVB formation. We investigate the role of TbVps23, an early ESCRT component, and TbVps4, the terminal ESCRT ATPase, in lysosomal trafficking in bloodstream form trypanosomes. Both localize to the TbRab7+ LE and RNAi silencing of each rapidly blocks growth. TbVps4 silencing results in approximately threefold accumulation of TbVps23 at the LE, consistent with blocking terminal ESCRT disassembly. Trafficking of endocytic and biosynthetic cargo, but not default lysosomal reporters, is also negatively affected. Others reported that TbVps23 mediates ubiquitin-dependent lysosomal degradation of invariant surface glycoproteins (ISG65) (Leung et al., Traffic 2008;9:1698–1716). In contrast, we find that TbVps23 ablation does not affect ISG65 turnover, while TbVps4 silencing markedly enhances lysosomal degradation. We propose several models to accommodate these results, including that the ESCRT machinery actually retrieves ISG65 from the LE to earlier endocytic compartments, and in its absence ISG65 traffics more efficiently to the lysosome. Overall, these results confirm that the ESCRT machinery is essential in Trypanosoma brucei and plays important and novel role(s) in LE function in trypanosomes.
Biochemical Adaptations in Muscle: II. RESPONSE OF MITOCHONDRIAL ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATASE, CREATINE PHOSPHOKINASE, AND ADENYLATE KINASE ACTIVITIES IN SKELETAL MUSCLE TO EXERCISE

Abstract It was previously found that the enzymes of the mitochondrial respiratory chain increase in leg muscles of rats subjected to a program of running. The results of the present study provide evidence that mitochondrial coupling factor 1 (F1) is increased in proportion to the constituents of the respiratory chain in muscle that has adapted to endurance exercise. The oligomycin-sensitive adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of the mitochondrial fraction of muscle, after disruption of the mitochondria and unmasking of the latent ATPase activity, was used as a measure of F1. The concentration of cytochrome c was used as a marker for the respiratory chain. Both mitochondrial ATPase and cytochrome c increased 2-fold in gastrocnemius muscle in response to a running program, suggesting that a coordinated, quantitatively related increase in these components of the mitochondrial cristae occurs during the adaptation to exercise. In contrast, the levels of activity of mitochondrial creatine phosphokinase and adenylate kinase did not increase, providing evidence of a change in mitochondrial composition. Cytoplasmic creatine phosphokinase and adenylate kinase activities were also unchanged. These findings reinforce previous evidence indicating that endurance exercise results in an adaptive increase in the capacity of muscle to regenerate ATP aerobically, whereas the ability to form ATP by anaerobic mechanisms is unaffected.
Phosphorus physiological ecology and molecular mechanisms in marine phytoplankton

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for marine phytoplankton and indeed all life forms. Current data show that P availability is growth-limiting in certain marine systems and can impact algal species composition. Available P occurs in marine waters as dissolved inorganic phosphate (primarily orthophosphate [Pi]) or as a myriad of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) compounds. Despite numerous studies on P physiology and ecology and increasing research on genomics in marine phytoplankton, there have been few attempts to synthesize information from these different disciplines. This paper is aimed to integrate the physiological and molecular information on the acquisition, utilization, and storage of P in marine phytoplankton and the strategies used by these organisms to acclimate and adapt to variations in P availability. Where applicable, we attempt to identify gaps in our current knowledge that warrant further research and examine possible metabolic pathways that might occur in phytoplankton from well-studied bacterial models. Physical and chemical limitations governing cellular P uptake are explored along with physiological and molecular mechanisms to adapt and acclimate to temporally and spatially varying P nutrient regimes. Topics covered include cellular Pi uptake and feedback regulation of uptake systems, enzymatic utilization of DOP, P acquisition by phagotrophy, P-limitation of phytoplankton growth in oceanic and coastal waters, and the role of P-limitation in regulating cell size and toxin levels in phytoplankton. Finally, we examine the role of P and other nutrients in the transition of phytoplankton communities from early succession species (diatoms) to late succession ones (e.g., dinoflagellates and haptophytes).
Lost in Transition: The Future of the Lost Generation

“So far, one of the strong points of the Japanese system has been that the manufacturing labor force gets so well trained. But now the needs of industry are changing and the employment system is changing, so education needs to change, too.” – High school teacher in Yokohama “The working conditions of part-time jobs have become worse and worse. People have to work almost as hard as full-time workers but even so, the pay is very low.” – Teacher in the guidance department at a vocational high school, commenting on current working conditions for young people “The crisis of youth” ( wakamono kiki ). Proclaimed in boldface type, this is the phrase that ran across the cover of Japan’s weekly magazine Tōyō Keizai in early 2009. The cover story was accompanied by a photo of a grim-faced young Japanese man in a business suit. Other phrases on the magazine cover amplified the gloomy message: “Average monthly overtime hours are 150. The percentage of young people in their early twenties who are in irregular work is 43. More than 50 percent of workers are dissatisfied with their workplace.” The list goes on. Inside the magazine, statistics and stories of Japanese young people’s uneasy job situation fill the pages in discouraging detail. Comparative statistics for other OECD countries appear in colored graphs but do little to brighten the depiction of Japan. In this book I have used numbers to illustrate the employment situation of the lost generation and have added the voices of Japanese high school teachers, officials at public employment security offices, employers, and young men themselves to articulate what is happening “on the ground.” These varied viewpoints collectively demonstrate how young people’s employment has been closely linked to the existence of a strongly segmented Japanese labor market that demarcates the boundary between jobs designated for new graduates and jobs designated for everyone else. Young graduates have alternatively benefited and chafed against the restrictions of having an entry-level labor market of their own, just as they have benefited and chafed against schools’ and employers’ assumption that they are naive about the world of work and must be shepherded into it by watchful adults.
Alcohol Use in Elective Total Hip Arthroplasty: Risk or Benefit?

Background Excessive alcohol consumption has been associated with adverse health measures after elective surgery. The effects of low or moderate consumption remain unclear.
Concurrent metabolism of the phytoalexins phaseollin, kievitone and phaseollinisoflavan by Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli

Abstract Three isoflavonoid phytoalexins of Phaseolus vulgaris , phaseollin, kievitone and phaseollinisoflavan, were concurrently metabolized by Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli . The products of these reactions were the known metabolites la-hydroxyphaseollone and kievitone hydrate, from phaseollin and kievitone respectively, as well as a not yet fully characterized compound—designated metabolite-1—from phaseollinisoflavan. In liquid cultures, although all three phytoalexins (each at 7·5 μg ml −1 ) had disappeared c. 30 h after their addition to the medium, loss of kievitone, and the concomitant appearance of kievitone hydrate, were most rapid. Triple metabolism of the phytoalexins also occurred when F. solani f. sp. phaseoli grew on agar impregnated with the three compounds. All three products appeared to be less toxic than their parent compounds. When cell-free filtrates were prepared from liquid cultures of the fungus, whether or not induction had been attempted by prior addition of small amounts of the phytoalexins, only kievitone was transformed.
Tumour suppressor function of RNase L in a mouse model

RNase L is one of the key enzymes involved in the molecular mechanisms of interferon (IFN) actions. Upon binding with its activator, 5'-phosphorylated, 2'-5' oligoadenylates (2-5A), RNase L plays an important role in the antiviral and anti-proliferative functions of IFN, and exerts proapoptotic activity independent of IFN. In this study, we have found that RNase L retards proliferation in an IFN-dependent and independent fashion. To directly measure the effect of RNase L on tumour growth in the absence of other IFN-induced proteins, human RNase L cDNA was stably expressed in P-57 cells, an aggressive mouse fibrosarcoma cell line. Three clonal cell lines were isolated in which the overexpression of RNase L was 15-20-fold of the endogenous level. Groups of five nude mice were injected subcutaneously with either the human RNase L overexpressing clones (P-RL) or control cells transfected with an empty vector (P-Vec). Tumour growth by the two cell lines was monitored by measuring tumour volumes. In the P-RL group, tumour formation was significantly delayed and the tumours grew much slower compared to the control group. Morphologically, the P-RL tumour appeared to have more polygonal cells and increased single cell tumour necrosis. Interestingly, P-RL tumours eventually started to grow. Further analysis revealed, however, that these tumours no longer expressed ectopic RNase L. Our findings suggest that RNase L plays a critical role in the inhibition of fibrosarcoma growth in nude mice.
Isolation of an amino terminal extended form of basic fibroblast growth factor

Extraction of bovine pituitaries in the presence of enzyme inhibitors (2 mM PMSF, 2 mM sodium tetrathionate, 15 microM pepstatin A, and 1 mM EDTA) resulted in the isolation of two distinct forms of basic fibroblast growth factor. Partial characterization of both molecules showed one form to be identical to basic FGF(1-146) which has already been reported by our laboratory. The second form was estimated by SDS-PAGE to have a molecular weight of 17,000 Daltons which is slightly larger than that of basic FGF(1-146). Amino acid analysis shows the presence of 8 new residues more than basic FGF(1-146) which accounts for the difference in molecular weight. Gas-phase sequencing of this molecule indicated that it bears a blocked amino terminus. Furthermore, this higher molecular weight form of basic FGF did not show immunoreactivity with antibodies specific for the amino terminus of basic FGF(1-146) but cross reacted with antibodies generated against midportion fragments of basic FGF(1-146), indicating that the molecule is amino terminally extended. Like basic FGF(1-146), the molecule is a potent mitogenic factor for vascular endothelial cells. Taken together these results demonstrate the existence of a precursor form of basic FGF which is extended by 8 residues at the amino terminus with the first residue being blocked.
The Surfactant−Polyelectrolyte Analogy

Certain ionic surfactants self-assemble in aqueous solutions into giant flexible wormlike micelles that behave as equilibrium polyelectrolytes. In the mid-1980s the micelle−polymer analogy was first recognized in the solution properties of cationic micelles at high salt concentrations. Since then an extensive literature has developed dealing with rheological investigations, the use of electron microscopy, and the use of small-angle scattering techniques, among others, to further develop the analogy. Nevertheless, there are significant gaps in our knowledge concerning micellar growth laws, micellar flexibility, and intermicellar interactions in these fascinating systems. Several open questions are presented, and the utility of equilibrium polyelectrolytes as model systems for ordinary polyelectrolytes are noted.
Activities of guanosine triphosphate analogues in reactions catalyzed by elongation factor Tu and initiation factor 2 of Escherichia coli.

Abstract In earlier studies two natural analogues of GTP, guanosine 3′-diphosphate 5′-triphosphate (pppGpp) and dGTP, were found to substitute for GTP in reactions catalyzed by initiation factor 2 (IF-2) and elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu), while only dGTP could replace GTP with elongation factor G. These observations with IF-2 and EF-Tu have been extended to two analogues of GTP modified at the 3′ ribose hydroxyl position, 3′-deoxyguanosine 5′-triphosphate (3′dGTP) and 3′-deoxy-3′-aminoguanosine 5′-triphosphate (3′dNH2GTP). These compounds were found to be similar to GTP, dGTP, and pppGpp in IF-2-dependent formation of N- formylmethionyl-puromycin and EF-Tu-dependent formation of N- acetyl-Phe-Phe-tRNA . The apparent K m values for the five guanosine nucleotides were 2 · 10−6–4 · 10−6 M in the former reaction and 2 · 10−7–6 · 10−7 M in the latter. These reactions did not have an absolute requirement for either an intact pentose ring or for the guanine base in the nucleotide. Although substantially less active than the guanine nucleotides, ITP and the dialcohol derived from GTP by periodate oxidation and borohydride reduction (ox-redGTP) were partially active in both the IF-2- and EF-Tu-dependent reactions, with apparent K m values about 40–100 times those of GTP. IDP and periodate-oxidized, borohydride-reduced GTP were found to inhibit both the IF-2- and EF-Tu-dependent reactions, but much less effectively than GDP. When a 5′-diphosphate was inhibiting the homologous 5′-triphosphate, however, the results with all compounds were similar. The binding of nucleotides to EF-Tu was also examined. The guanine nucleotides were comparable, but a much weaker binding could also be demonstrated with ITP and oxredGTP.
Designing contributing student pedagogies to promote students' intrinsic motivation to learn

In order to maximize the effectiveness of our pedagogies, we must understand how our pedagogies align with prevailing theories of cognition and motivation and design our pedagogies according to this understanding. When implementing Contributing Student Pedagogies (CSPs), students are expected to make meaningful contributions to the learning of their peers, and consequently, instructors inherently give students power and control over elements of the class. With this loss of power, instructors will become more aware that the quality of the learning environment will depend on the level of students’ motivation and engagement rather than the instructor's mastery of content or techniques. Given this greater reliance on student motivation, we will discuss how motivation theories such as Self-Determination Theory (SDT) match and support the use of CSP and how CSP can be used to promote students’ intrinsic motivation (IM) to learn. We conclude with examples of how we use principles of SDT to guide our design and u...
The significance of membrane alterations seen in DNA synthesis mutants of Escherichia coli

Abstract 1. 1. This study was undertaken in an attempt to evaluate the significance of several alterations in membrane composition which occur when mutants of Escherichia coli which are temperature-sensitive with respect to chromosomal replication are placed at the restrictive temperature. Certain mutants affected in initiation ( dna A mutants) or continuation ( dna B mutants) of chromosomal replication have been found to have a deficiency of membrane protein of molecular weight approx. 60 000 and an excess of membrane protein of molecular weight approx. 30 000. These membrane alterations are seen only when the strains are kept at the restrictive temperature, are not specifically localized to the cytoplasmic membrane, and persist when the DNA synthesis defect is suppressed. Thus, these alterations appear to be direct consequences of the mutation, but are not necessarily directly related to DNA replication per se . 2. 2. The mutants are deficient in another membrane protein fraction of molecular weight approx. 40 000. This component is deficient in all of the DNA synthesis mutants which have been examined, is localized to the cytoplasmic membrane fraction and disappears upon suppression of the DNA synthesis mutation. Thus, this membrane alteration seems to be directly related to DNA replication, although it may be a secondary response. This conclusion supports that of Inouye (Inouye, M. (1972) J. Mol. Biol. 63, 597–600).
The role of coated vesicles in selective transfer across yolk sac epithelium.

Yolk sac epithelial cells nonselectively absorb macromolecules, yet selectively transfer certain proteins to the fetus. In the present study, horseradish peroxidase-conjugated guinea pig IgG (IgG-HRP) and cationized ferritin (CF) were used to follow coated pits and vesicles in guinea pig yolk sac and to establish their role in selective protein transfer. After exposure to IgG-HRP, reaction product was localized in small coated pits forming directly from the cell surface between microvilli or in small coated pits budding from larger saccular surface invaginations. The heaviest reaction product was associated with coated membrane regions. Reaction product was also found in coated vesicles fused with the lateral cell membrane. At 4°C, CF at higher concentrations labeled both microvilli and coated membrane invaginations, but at lower concentration only the glycocalyx of coated pits was labeled. Upon warming to 37°C, CF was internalized and transferred to the lateral cell membrane, also via coated vesicles. The results lend strong support to the involvement of coated pits and vesicles in selective transfer across yolk sac epithelium. The results suggest there may be some relation between the binding of IgG to its receptor in the glycocalyx of the coated pit and the maintenance of the clathrin coat on the cytoplasmic aspect of the membrane. The retention of the clathrin coat may direct the coated vesicle away from the lysosomal system and permit the transmission of intact immunoglobulin.
A channel electron multiplier and optically coupled amplifier used as an incident flux monitor

Abstract A system is described that performs monitoring of the incident photon flux for synchrotron radiation experiments. The system uses a channel electron multiplier whose output signal current in the high voltage line is accurately measured with an optically coupled isolation amplifier.
Diets and Infection: Composition and Consequences

This brief review focuses on the effects of nutrient composition of enteral diets on the outcome of surgical patients and experimental models of infection. Complete enteral diets containing combinations of immunonutrients (arginine, glutamine, RNA, omega-3 fatty acids), when given postoperatively or after trauma to surgical patients, can reduce hospital stay, overall costs, and the incidence of wound complications and acquired infections. Immunonutrient diets can also reduce the length of hospital stay when given to patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit. A high protein diet is usually required for optimal benefit, although administration of high protein immunoenhancing diets may have adverse effects in animals with severe untreated peritonitis because of a sustained overproduction of cytokines.
STM imaging of Al(111) and poly crystalline Al samples in air

La microscopie tunnel a balayage est utilisee pour etudier la surface d'une electrode composee d'un monocristal ou d'un polycristal d'aluminium, a l'air
Temporal patterns of vascular plant diversity in southeastern New Hampshire forests

Abstract A chronosequence of 22 sites in Durham, NH, was used to study upland successional patterns of species diversity over a span of 14–209 years of forest development and to test the hypothesis that diversity is maximized at mid-succession. Nested quadrat sampling was used to estimate the relative importance values of vascular plant species in the tree, shrub, and herb strata. The successional status of each site was estimated using two dendrochronological indices: oldest tree index and abandonment index. Four indices of species diversity were calculated for each site and stratum: species richness, the Shannon index, Hurlbert’s probability of interspecific association, and Pielou’s evenness. Within the quadrats of all 22 sites, total richness was 168 species of vascular plants. Richness decreased linearly over the 200-year chronosequence in all strata for both successional indices, from a maximum of 74 species at 14 years to a low of 13 species at 209 years. Evenness showed no evidence of a successional pattern, so the combined indices of diversity (Shannon and Hurlbert) displayed only weak trends. Multiple regression showed that successional age was always a significant predictor of species richness in every stratum (except the shrub stratum when using the abandonment index), and that stem density (i.e., the “sample size effect”) was not significant in the tree stratum when using the oldest tree index. Age indices held comparable or lower P -values than stem density in most strata. It is likely that richness increased from a low value immediately following farm abandonment to a peak around the age of the youngest sites sampled (over a span of 15–30 years), the rate of increase being governed by the availability of dispersing seeds. The observed decline in richness over the rest of succession was probably caused in part by a decrease in available light. The rate of decline was apparently determined by the rate of competitive elimination of shade-intolerant species.
Formation of CN− radicals by ion implantation

Abstract Sequential implantation of C + and N + ions into KCl is shown to result in formation of CN − radicals. Detection of the CN − is by the characteristic optical emission of that molecule when the implanted crystal is bombarded by He + . The quantity of CN − formed has been studied as a function of energy of the implanted species (20 to 200 keV) and as a function of dose. The results are consistent with a model where an incoming ion A, slowed to rest, causes a localized melting region of volume ΔV and if a previously implanted species B is already present in this volume then the molecule AB is formed by recombination. The molecule adopts a cation lattice site after recrystallization. The localized melting volume corresponds to a region of radius 9.3 A which is roughly consistent with unpublished molecular dynamics calculations.
Emotion regulation and depressive symptoms during adolescence: A functionalist perspective

This paper uses a functionalist view of emotion to consider family factors that create risk for depressive symptoms in adolescents. Two adolescent siblings and their mothers were assessed for emotion regulation during autonomy-related communication tasks, whereas their mother's attachment- and intimacy-related functioning was assessed through interview and self-report. The results indicate that older teens' failure to establish autonomous stances during communication and their mothers' dissatisfaction with intimate relationships increase risk for teenagers reporting depressive symptoms. Further, mothers' preoccupation attachment-related issues was found to be associated with less autonomous communication from older teenagers. Implications of these findings and future directions for investigating the family factors associated with adolescent depression are discussed.
Periodic Hartree−Fock Characterization of the Structure and Electronic Properties of Zeolite NaCaA

In this paper we present an ab initio periodic Hartree−Fock study of the electronic structure zeolite NaCaA. A model system of composition Ca8Na8Si24Al24O96 is produced, with F43c symmetry and strict alternate ordering of silicon and aluminum. The positions of the Na and Ca cations were optimized using the RHF/STO-3G level of theory. Properties of the crystal, such as the partial charges and bond populations, the electrostatic potential, and the electric field within the zeolite cage, were calculated at the more accurate RHF/6-21G* level of theory. Results indicate that the cations are situated slightly above the 6-ring units, in agreement with recent experimental X-ray crystallographic studies. The calculated RHF/6-21G* field of the zeolite is negligible in the center of both the α- and β-cage, but rises quickly close to the cation centers.
A role of miR‐27 in the regulation of adipogenesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in a plethora of important biological processes, from embryonic development to homeostasis in adult tissues. Recently, miRNAs have emerged as a class of epigenetic regulators of metabolism and energy homeostasis. We have investigated the role of miRNAs in the regulation of adipogenic differentiation. In this article, we demonstrate that the miR-27 gene family is downregulated during adipogenic differentiation. Overexpression of miR-27 specifically inhibited adipocyte formation, without affecting myogenic differentiation. We also found that expression of miR-27 resulted in blockade of expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα, the two master regulators of adipogenesis. Importantly, expression of miR-27 was increased in fat tissue of obese mice and was regulated by hypoxia, an important extracellular stress associated with obesity. Our data strongly suggest that miR-27 represents a new class of adipogenic inhibitors and may play a role in the pathological development of obesity.
A single-stage biological process for municipal sewage treatment in tourist areas.

This pilot scale study aims to test the effectiveness of an innovative compact biological system (SBBGR - Sequencing Batch Biofilter Granular Reactor) for treating municipal wastewater in tourist areas characterised by intense seasonal water demand and wastewater discharge. The results obtained after a long term operation of 463 days have shown that the proposed system is able to assure average removal efficiencies higher than 90% for COD (chemical oxygen demand), total suspended solids and TKN (total Kjeldahl nitrogen) independently of the influent concentration values and organic loading, which ranged from 0.2 to 5.1 kgCOD/m(3)biofilter.d Furthermore, the plant showed a high degree of operation flexibility and stability in response to the organic load variations occurring in tourist areas. In fact, no significant deterioration in the plant's effluent quality was observed even during a sudden several-fold increase in organic loading. High nitrogen removal efficiencies (80%, on average) were also achieved thanks to the establishment of simultaneous nitrification-denitrification process favoured by the plant's high biomass concentration and operating conditions. Finally, the system was characterized by an excess sludge production much lower (60-80% lower) than that of conventional biological systems operating without a primary clarifier. An acceptable level of stabilization of excess sludge was also obtained so that a further stabilization process was no longer required.
Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Ca2+ Release Channel (Ryanodine Receptor) by Ca2+ and Monovalent Cations and Anions

The effects of ionic composition and strength on rabbit skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channel (ryanodine receptor) activity were investigated in vesicle-45Ca2+ flux, single channel and [3H]ryanodine binding measurements. In <0.01 microM Ca2+ media, the highest 45Ca2+ efflux rate was measured in 0.25 M choline-Cl medium followed by 0.25 M KCl, choline 4-morpholineethanesulfonic acid (Mes), potassium 1,4-piperazinediethanesulfonic acid (Pipes), and K-Mes medium. In all five media, the 45Ca2+ efflux rates were increased when the free [Ca2+] was raised from <0.01 microM to 20 microM and decreased as the free [Ca2+] was further increased to 1 mM. An increase in [KCl] augmented Ca2+-gated single channel activity and [3H]ryanodine binding. In [3H]ryanodine binding measurements, bell-shaped Ca2+ activation/inactivation curves were obtained in media containing different monovalent cations (Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, and choline+) and anions (Cl-, Mes-, and Pipes-). In choline-Cl medium, substantial levels of [3H]ryanodine binding were observed at [Ca2+] <0.01 microM. Replacement of Cl- by Mes- or Pipes- reduced [3H]ryanodine binding levels at all [Ca2+]. In all media, the Ca2+-dependence of [3H]ryanodine binding could be well described assuming that the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor possesses cooperatively interacting high-affinity Ca2+ activation and low-affinity Ca2+ inactivation sites. AMP primarily affected [3H]ryanodine binding by decreasing the apparent affinity of the Ca2+ inactivation site(s) for Ca2+, while caffeine increased the apparent affinity of the Ca2+ activation site for Ca2+. Competition studies indicated that ionic composition affected Ca2+-dependent receptor activity by at least three different mechanisms: (i) competitive binding of Mg2+ and monovalent cations to the Ca2+ activation sites, (ii) binding of divalent cations to the Ca2+ inactivation sites, and (iii) binding of anions to specific anion regulatory sites.
Proximal row carpectomy in arthrogrypotic wrist deformity

We studied five patients who had proximal row carpectomy for the correction of wrist deformity secondary to arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. Three patients subsequently had wrist arthrodesis for recurrent or persistent deformity. We analyzed those factors we thought might influence the final result, including age at time of surgery, adequacy of correction of deformity, position of immobilization, and duration of immobilization. We concluded that despite attention to the details of intraoperative correction of deformity and postoperative immobilization, the results are unpredictable.
Ethnic Identity Formation of Immigrant Children and Implications for Practice

The issue of immigration is especially controversial in the United States as immigrants today have not only increased in number but constitute a more heterogeneous population. Unlike the earlier waves of immigrants, which were predominantly of European origin, the post-1965 migration trend from Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean has tremendously altered the demographic characteristics of the U.S. population. In-depth exploration of various contextual factors affecting ethnic identity formation can offer insights that help social work practitioners and policy planners overcome the difficulty in working with immigrant populations and their descendants. This article reviews significant contextual aspects influencing immigrant children's ethnic identity formations and proposes practice recommendations that help facilitate the children's adaptation in the host society.
Management of severe behavioural dyscontrol following subarachnoid haemorrhage

Abstract Intracranial aneurysms commonly rupture into the subarachnoid space, resulting in severe impairments in cognitive and behavioural functioning. We present a case involving a subarachnoid haemorrhage, secondary to the rupture of a right middle cerebral artery aneurysm, which resulted in an unusual neurobehavioural syndrome. The patient developed severe behavioural dys-control, characterised by repetitive involuntary oral exhalations, involuntary vocalisations and oral-facial dyskinesia. Despite the persistent manifestation of these behaviours at 3 months post-onset, combined with other cognitive and motor disorders typical of right hemisphere lesions, the patient was able to learn to inhibit these involuntary behaviours through training in the implementation of a behaviour that was incompatible with the emission of such behaviours.
Evaluating Tax Policy Proposals for Funding Nongame Wildlife Programs

The transition of federal tax policy from initial concept, through study design, analysis, and policy recommendations is traced for federal funding for Nongame Wildlife. The article brings together techniques that can be used to quantitatively assess the relative merits of alternative funding sources against criteria such as economic efficiency, ability to pay, and benefits received. It is shown that economists are often needed in the early phases of this process if relevant concepts from public finance theory are to influence initial selection offunding sources and alternative tax rates to be studied. Lastly, the interaction of differing political ideologies with analysis is displayed.
Properties of extruded starch-based plastic foam

Abstract Plastic foam was made with 25% amylose corn starch and polystyrene or polymethylmethacrylate. The foam was formed with a commercial extruder at 120 °C barrel temperature, 140 rpm screw speed and 6% moisture content. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated grafting between starch and plastics. Shipping bulk density, water solubility index, spring index and compressibility of extruded loose-fills were determined and compared with commercially available polystyrene and starch loose-fills. Loose-fills also were compared with various tests used by the loose-fill packaging industry such as flowability, electrostatic adhesion, loaded bulk density, compressive creep and compressive set. Except for the densities, the properties of the starch-based loose-fills compared favorably with the commercial products.
Afterload reduction in the management of postinfarction ventricular septal defect

Abstract The primary goal in the medical management of ventricular septal defect complicating myocardial infarction is to support cardiac function and control symptoms, if possible, for a period of 4 to 6 weeks. If the patient survives this period, surgical correction of the defect is technically easier and safer. In many cases, however, cardiac function is severely compromised, intractable biventricular failure develops, early operation is necessary and the likelihood of successful repair is diminished. We recently treated two such patients by means of afterload reduction with nitroprusside. In one patient, sublingually administered isosorbide dinitrate was later used, and prolonged survival was achieved after surgery. Hemodynamic investigations in both cases demonstrated that nitroprusside improved cardiac output without necessarily decreasing mean arterial pressure. The effect of nitroprusside on pulmonary blood flow and left to right shunt was variable: One patient demonstrated a decrease in the ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood flow, and the other did not. We conclude that afterload reduction with either intravenous or oral agents is a potentially useful measure in the management of patients with ventricular septal defect complicating myocardial infarction.
Social consensus through the influence of committed minorities.

We show how the prevailing majority opinion in a population can be rapidly reversed by a small fraction p of randomly distributed committed agents who consistently proselytize the opposing opinion and are immune to influence. Specifically, we show that when the committed fraction grows beyond a critical value p(c) ≈ 10%, there is a dramatic decrease in the time T(c) taken for the entire population to adopt the committed opinion. In particular, for complete graphs we show that when p p(c), T(c) ~ ln N. We conclude with simulation results for Erdős-Renyi random graphs and scale-free networks which show qualitatively similar behavior.
Phenol, A Potent Stimulator of Adenylate Cyclase in Human Thyroid Membranes

Among several commercial hCG preparations tested for their ability to stimulate adenylate cyclase in a human thyroid particulate fraction, only a pharmaceutical preparation (APL) was active. Activity of this preparation was lost during dialysis, but could be restored fully by the addition of phenol and partially by the addition of benzyl alcohol, the two additives present in APL. Phenol itself (0.040–2.0 mg/ml) induced a potent, dose-dependent stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in a human thyroid particulate fraction and was also active in plasma membranes from rat liver and kidney cortex. Phenol exerted a biphasic effect on [125I]-bTSH binding to human thyroid membranes. Concentrations between 0.33 and 3.3 mg/ml were stimulatory to binding, while higher concentrations were inhibitory.
Enhanced Raman scattering and nonlinear conductivity in Ag-doped hollow ZnO microspheres

Hollow spherical ZnO particles doped with Ag were synthesized with a two-step oxidation and sublimation furnace annealing process. Ag nanoparticle precipitates, as observed by transmission electron microscopy, were present in the polycrystalline ZnO matrix at Ag concentrations below 0.02 mol%, significantly below the 0.8 mol% solubility limit for Ag in ZnO. Enhanced Raman scattering of ZnO phonon modes is observed, increasing with Ag nanoparticle concentration. A further enhancement in Raman scattering due to resonance effects was observed for LO phonons excited by 2.33-eV photons as compared with Raman scattering under 1.96-eV excitation. Room-temperature photoluminescence spectra showed both a near-band-edge emission due to free exciton transitions and a mid-gap transition due to the presence of singly ionized oxygen vacancies. ZnO:Ag particles were measured electrically in a packed column and in monolithic form, and in both cases displayed nonlinear current–voltage characteristics similar to those previously observed in sintered ZnO:Ag monoliths where Ag-enhanced disorder at grain boundaries is thought to control current transport. We demonstrate therefore that Ag simultaneously modifies the electrical and optical properties of ZnO particles through the introduction of vacancies and other defects.