cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Haptic feedback in lower-limb prosthesis: Combined haptic feedback and EMG control of a powered prosthesis

With the incidence of disease related lower limb amputation on the rise in the United States, a decrease in the requisite time for rehabilitation is needed to ensure a better prognosis for patients. It is proposed that the incorporation of a haptic feedback training aid would do just this. This research has experimentally investigated the usage of two haptic feedback systems in conveying information pertinent to completing a single degree of freedom non-weight bearing motion tracking task in an otherwise perceptually devoid environment. This research has concluded that the usage of a sustained pressure haptic feedback modality leads to significantly improved performance when operating an electromyogram (EMG) controlled virtual or powered prosthetic limb without other perceptual input. This finding reinforces the proposed usefulness of haptic feedback in the rehabilitative setting.
Benefits from retrieval practice are greater for students with lower working memory capacity

ABSTRACTWe examined the effects of retrieval practice for students who varied in working memory capacity as a function of the lag between study of material and its initial test, whether or not feedback was given after the test, and the retention interval of the final test. We sought to determine whether a blend of these conditions exists that maximises benefits from retrieval practice for lower and higher working memory capacity students. College students learned general knowledge facts and then restudied the facts or were tested on them (with or without feedback) at lags of 0–9 intervening items. Final cued recall performance was better for tested items than for restudied items after both 10 minutes and 2 days, particularly for longer study–test lags. Furthermore, on the 2-day delayed test the benefits from retrieval practice with feedback were significantly greater for students with lower working memory capacity than for students with higher working memory capacity (r = −.42). Retrieval practice may be ...
Counselors' Comfort with Sexuality, Attitudes towards Pornography, and Propensity to Assess and Treat Client Issues Related to Pornography Use

Clients present to counseling with clinical issues related to their pornography use. However, counselors report being undertrained and unprepared to work with clients regarding issues relating to pornography. Some researchers believe counselors' personal beliefs and attitudes about sex inhibit their ability to work with clients with issues related to sexuality. Therefore, we investigated counselors' comfort with discussing issues of sexuality, counselors' attitudes towards pornography, and their propensity to assess and treat client issues related to pornography use. We identified counselors' comfort with sexuality and attitudes towards pornography as mitigating factors in the assessment and treatment of client issues related to pornography use with a sample of mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists. We offer recommendations for counselors, counselor educators, and future research.
A randomized multicenter phase Ib/II study to assess the safety and the immunological effect of chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in combination with pembrolizumab (anti-PD1) to CRT alone in patients with resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.

TPS3098 Background: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) play a major role in anti-tumor immune responses, and their presence is correlated with survival in a variety of tumors. These TILs do not ...
The effect of time of artificial insemination on fertilization status and embryo quality in superovulated cows

Thirty nonlactating Holstein cows were superovulated to determine the effect of artificial insemination time on fertilization status and embryo quality. During the luteal phase of the estrous cycle, cows were administered 38 mg FSH-P in a 4-d descending dose regimen. Luteolysis was induced with two injections of prostaglandin on the last day of FSH-P treatment. All cows were continuously monitored for behavioral estrus using the HeatWatch estrus detection system. All cows were inseminated once with one .5-mL straw (50 x 10(6) sperm) at either 0 (n = 10), 12 (n = 10), or 24 h (n = 10) after the first standing event. The elapsed time (mean +/- SD) from the first prostaglandin dose to the first standing event was 39.4 h +/- 7.7 h. The (mean +/- SD) duration of behavioral estrus was 13.2 h +/- 4.1 h. The (mean +/- SD) number of standing events was 27 +/- 17. Five hundred twenty-nine embryos and ova were recovered nonsurgically 6 d after insemination. Fertilization rates were 29 (0 h), 60 (12 h), and 81% (24 h) (P .05). Percentages of embryos with accessory sperm were 5 (0 h), 8 (12 h), and 41 (24 h) and differed between the 0 and 24 h and the 12 and 24 h inseminations (P < .01). Artificial insemination of superovulated, nonlactating Holstein cattle 24 h after onset of estrus increased fertilization rate and percentage of embryos with accessory sperm compared with insemination at 0 or 12 h after onset of estrus. Embryo quality was not affected by time of insemination.
Fusion of anomaly algorithm decision maps and spectrum features for detecting buried explosive Hazards in forward looking infrared imagery

Remediation of the threat of explosive hazards is an extremely important goal. Such hazards are responsible for an unacceptable number of deaths and injuries to civilians as well as soldiers throughout the world. In this article, we put forth a new method for aggregating image space anomaly algorithm decisions across time (multi-look) as well as across disparate algorithms in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) space for forward looking vehicle mounted (FL) long-wave infrared (LWIR) imagery. We also explore the utility of fast Fourier transform (FFT) spectrum features, which were previously used for FL ground penetrating radar (FLGPR), on aggregated UTM anomaly algorithm decision (UTMAAD) maps. On a final note, we also discuss modifications to our pre-screener, an ensemble of trainable size contrast filters, for UTMAAD maps. Targets not detected at the moment are also not found by a human under visual inspection. Preliminary lane-based cross validation (CV) experiments are reported using field data measurements from a U.S. Army test site.
Somebody has to DUST! Gender, health, and housework in older couples

This study examines the link between health and housework among older couples. For those out of the paid labor force, many of the standard arguments about relative resources and time availability no longer hold. Women spend more time on domestic tasks than men at any age; however, it is unclear how health shapes the household division of labor based on gender among older adults. This study examines the relative effect of three dimensions of health. Women's poor health increases the chance of an equal division of labor, but the gender nature of household tasks may limit women's ability to cut back.
Mechanisms of Therapeutic Resistance in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the USA. The challenge in managing castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) stems not from the lack of therapeutic options but from the limited duration of clinical and survival benefit offered by treatments in this setting due to primary and acquired resistance. The remarkable molecular heterogeneity and tumor adaptability in advanced prostate cancer necessitate optimization of such treatment strategies. While the future of CRPC management will involve newer targeted therapies in deliberately biomarker-selected patients, interventions using current approaches may exhibit improved clinical benefit if employed in the context of optimal sequencing and combinations. This review outlines our current understanding of mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in progression to and after the development of castration resistance, highlighting targetable and reversible mechanisms of resistance.
Si alloy/graphite coating design as anode for Li-ion batteries with high volumetric energy density

Abstract A simplified mathematical model is developed for designing high-energy-density Si alloy/graphite coatings. The design is discussed based on a set of metrics related to their implementation in practical cells including volumetric capacity, average voltage, volumetric energy density, particle expansion, and cell expansion. To achieve the same energy density improvement, one can use either high capacity Si alloys at a lower weight ratio in Si alloy/graphite coatings or low capacity Si alloys at a higher weight ratio. However, high capacity Si alloys have high volume expansion at the particle level, which tends to have SEI stabilization issues, while low capacity Si alloys lead to high volume expansion at cell level. Gravimetric energy density is also calculated in the model, and it is found that the energy density improvement based on a gravimetric basis is smaller than that of a volumetric one. The findings from this model are highly beneficial for Si alloy/graphite coating design for achieving maximum energy density with respect to the volume expansion issue.
The Lessons of History

The last four hundred years have been replete with financial crises, which often followed increases in the supplies of credit, greater investor optimism, and more rapid economic growth. More and more individuals purchased securities and assets for short-term profits from the increases in their prices. Households became wealthier as the market prices of securities and assets increased, and consumption spending grew. Business firms became more upbeat and invested more. The external indebtedness of many countries increased, and at a pace that was too rapid to be sustainable. The domestic counterpart of the rapid increase in the external indebtedness was that the domestic indebtedness of a group of borrowers in these countries increased at rates that eventually proved too rapid to be sustained. Economic booms followed and then euphoria developed. The increases in the supplies of credit led to sharp increases in the prices of securities and real estate to levels that proved too high to be sustainable.
Psychoanalytic Views of Mystical Religious Experience

This chapter looks not only at how Freudian psychoanalysis views mystical religious experience but also at the experiences in Sigmund Freud’s life that contributed to his negative view of religion. During his lifetime other psychoanalytic theorists revised his theory, Carl Jung and Ronald Fairbairn being the two prominent revisionists considered. Chapter 2 explores how their revisions impact psychoanalytic understanding of psychosis and mystical religious experience.
Microtubules assemble near most kinetochores during early prometaphase in human cells

For proper segregation during cell division, each chromosome must connect to the poles of the spindle via microtubule bundles termed kinetochore fibers (K-fibers). K-fibers form by two distinct mechanisms: (1) capture of astral microtubules nucleated at the centrosome by the chromosomes' kinetochores or (2) attachment of kinetochores to noncentrosomal microtubules with subsequent transport of the minus ends of these microtubules toward the spindle poles. The relative contributions of these alternative mechanisms to normal spindle assembly remain unknown. In this study, we report that most kinetochores in human cells develop K-fibers via the second mechanism. Correlative light electron microscopy demonstrates that from the onset of spindle assembly, short randomly oriented noncentrosomal microtubules appear in the immediate vicinity of the kinetochores. Initially, these microtubules interact with the kinetochores laterally, but end-on attachments form rapidly in the first 3 min of prometaphase. Conversion from lateral to end-on interactions is impeded upon inhibition of the plus end-directed kinetochore-associated kinesin CenpE.
Sympathectomy for the upper extremities anatomy, indications and technics

Eight indications for surgical sympathectomy for the upper extremity are presented. The potential success of this procedure is easily evaluated preoperatively by the IV Tolazoline (Priscoline) test. Highlights of the surgical anatomy involved in sympathectomy, and the new technique of extrapleural thoracic sympathectomy through the axillary approach, are described. Important points of the postoperative care, and the advantages of this procedure, are included.
Self-calibration of dual, closed surface microphone arrays

With the recent availability of very inexpensive, miniature digital MEMS microphones, the construction of large count microphone arrays is financially within the reach of the basic researcher. Using various mathematical techniques such as the Helmholtz-Kirchhoff integral and the equivalent source method (ESM), dual surface microphone arrays provide the ability to separate incident and scattered fields instantaneously in time. When these arrays form a closed surface, this separation is extremely accurate. However, one of the concerns with any microphone array is the calibration of the individual elements, especially near the resonance frequency of the diaphragm. In this paper, a self-calibration technique is proposed, based on ESM, that uses external loudspeakers in a simple laboratory facility not required to be anechoic. The approach is tested numerically on a dual surface, 256 element pair spherical microphone array, and uses an algorithm for the minimization of a cost function based on the extinction of the scattered field when the unknown individual calibration coefficients of the array elements are varied. Use of a Burton-Miller approach to model the ESM sources of the scattered field improves dramatically the accuracy at specific frequencies. The problematic interior Dirichlet eigenfrequencies are addressed. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research.]
Impact of Paralytic Agent on Postintubation Sedation

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in the time to postintubation sedation between patients receiving etomidate and either succinylcholine or rocuronium in the prehospital setting. Setting: Patients who received rapid sequence intubation medications from transport service personnel and were subsequently intubated were included. The critical care transport agency operates 8 helicopter- and 3 ground-based emergency medical service units. Methods This retrospective cohort study compared the time to the first sedative in patients intubated with etomidate and succinylcholine versus etomidate and rocuronium. Enrollment of 64 patients per arm was needed to achieve 80% power with a 2-tailed alpha of 0.05. Results Sixty-four and 38 patients received succinylcholine or rocuronium, respectively. The median time to postetomidate sedation was 10 (range, 5.0-16.0) and 13.5 (range, 7.0-20.8) minutes for succinylcholine and rocuronium patients, respectively (P = .13). Given the average duration of effect of etomidate, succinylcholine, and rocuronium, 0 (0%) succinylcholine versus 33 (86.8%) rocuronium patients were found to be at risk of wakeful paralysis. Conclusions This study suggests rocuronium's long duration of effect puts patients at risk for wakeful paralysis once the short effects of etomidate have subsided.
Implementing Grover’s Algorithm on the IBM Quantum Computers

This paper focuses on testing the current viability of using quantum computers for the processing of data-driven tasks fueled by emerging data science applications. We test the publicly available IBM quantum computers using Grover’s algorithm, a well-known quantum search algorithm, to obtain a baseline for the general evaluations of these quantum devices and to investigate the impacts of various factors such as number of quantum bits (or qubits), qubit choice, and device choice. The main contributions of this paper include a new 4-qubit implementation of Grover’s algorithm and test results showing the current capabilities of quantum computers. Our study indicates that quantum computers can currently only be used accurately for solving simple problems with very small amounts of data. There are also notable differences between different selections of the qubits in the implementation design and between different quantum devices that execute the algorithm.
LOW TEMPERATURE SPECTRAL BEHAVIOUR OF HYDROGEN BONDED SPECIES

Abstract A brief review is given of earlier low temperature studies (4°–20°K) of the hydrogen stretching mode of H bonded species. Evidence for sharpening of band structure is quoted (e.g., acetyl glycine, hydrate salts). In contrast are studies for which the band breadth has been found to be virtually independent of temperature (HsO+, CH3OH). The matrix isolation method gives a new method of examining H bonded species (including small polymers) at low temperatures. The H bonded species are suspended in solid argon at 20°K. The unusual observation is that the stretching modes become relatively sharp, permitting identification of dimers, trimers and sometimes high polymers. Such studies have been conducted for CH3OH, H2O, and NH3. Formic acid has been studied by R. C. Millikan and K. S. Pitzer. For CH3OH and H2O the patterns of frequency shifts as a function of polymer size suggest that the dimers and trimers are cyclic with non-linear H bonds and that higher polymers have linear H bonds. The reduction of band width of the dimeric stretching frequency is considered to be associated with the “freezing out” of bent H bond configurations. The spectra of NH3 are more difficult to interpret because of the multiplicity of stretching modes. The symmetrical bending mode is particularly interesting, however. The frequency of the band is above that observed in the gas phase and the inversion doubling is not observed. It is believed that the loss of inversion is accompanied by a loss of the unusually large anharmonicity of this bending mode, resulting in the frequency rise. The band intensities and frequency shifts will be compared to those observed for H2O.
Beyond the Impact Factor: Reflecting on Twenty Years of Leading Efforts in Research, Innovation in Publishing, and Investment in People

This viewpoint celebrates the accomplishments of the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) on its twentieth anniversary and reviews accomplishments around research publications, journal innovation, and supporting people.
Robot-Assisted Atrial Septal Defect Closure

Atrial septal defects (ASD) are among the most common congenital cardiac anomalies. In general they should be closed, especially when a significant pathological shunt from the left to right atrium exists. Complications of an ASD include the development of pulmonary hypertension, paradoxical embolism, and symptomatic changes. Modern surgical methods for ASD closure include sternotomy-based operations, robotic primary suture or patch closure, and newer percutaneous catheter techniques. Some anatomic features preclude catheter closure, and thus, robotic techniques then become the least invasive methods for correcting this problem. Herein, robotic closure methods are described.
Making Markets on the Margins: Housing Finance Agencies and the Racial Politics of Credit Expansion

Widespread reliance on credit increasingly defines realities of economic citizenship in American society. This article theorizes the racial politics of credit expansion. It examines the federal ini...
Structural Variation of the Turtle Mitochondrial Control Region

The present study describes the most comprehensive comparison of turtle mtD-loop regions to date. The primary structure was compared from DNA sequences accessed from GenBank from 48 species in 13 families of extant turtles, and secondary structures of the mtD-loop region were inferred from thermal stabilities, using the program Mfold, for each superfamiliy of turtles. Both primary and secondary structures were found to be highly variable across the order. The Cryptodira showed conservation in the primary structure at conserved sequence blocks (CSBs), but the Pleurodira displayed limited conservation of primary structural characters, other than the coreTAS, a binding site for the helicase TWINKLE, which was highly conserved in the Central and Right Domains across the order. No secondary structure was associated with a TAS, but an AT-rich fold (secondary structure) near the 3' terminus of the mtD-loop region was detected in all turtle superfamilies. Mapping of character states of structural features of the mtD-loop region revealed that most character states were autapomorphies and inferred a number of homoplasies. The Left Domain of turtles, containing no highly conserved structural elements, likely does not serve a functional role; therefore, the Central Domain in turtles is likely equivalent to the Left Domain of mammals. The AT-rich secondary structural element near the 3' terminus of the mtD-loop region may be conserved across turtles because of a functional role, perhaps containing the Light Strand Promotor, or perhaps interacting with the TWINKLE-coreTAS complex in the Central and Right Domains to regulate mtDNA replication and transcription.
Reliability Evidence for the Gibson Assessment of Cognitive Skills (GACS): A Brief Tool for Screening Cognitive Skills Across the Lifespan.

Purpose The aim of the current study was to examine and report three sources of reliability evidence for the Gibson Assessment of Cognitive Skills, a paper-based, brief cognitive screening tool for children and adults measuring working memory, processing speed, visual processing, logic and reasoning, and three auditory processing constructs: sound blending, sound segmenting, sound deletion along with work attack skills. Sample and Methods The sample (n = 103) for the current study consisted of children (n = 73) and adults (n = 30) between the ages of 6 and 80 (M = 20.2), 47.6% of which were female and 52.4% of which were male. Analyses of test data included calculation of internal consistency reliability, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability. Results Overall coefficient alphas range from 0.80 to 0.94, producing a strong source of internal consistency reliability evidence. The split-half reliability coefficients ranged from 0.83 to 0.96 overall, producing a strong second source of reliability evidence. Across all ages, the test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from 0.83 to 0.98. For adults ages 18 to 80, test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from 0.73 to 0.99. For children ages 6 through 17, test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from 0.89 to 0.97. All correlations were statistically significant at p < 0.001, indicating strong test-retest reliability and stability across administrations. Conclusion The evidence collected for the current study suggests that the GACS is a reliable brief screening tool for assessing cognitive skill performance in both children and adults.
Toward Real-time Analysis of Experimental Science Workloads on Geographically Distributed Supercomputers.

Massive upgrades to science infrastructure are driving data velocities upwards while stimulating adoption of increasingly data-intensive analytics. While next-generation exascale supercomputers promise strong support for I/O-intensive workflows, HPC remains largely untapped by live experiments, because data transfers and disparate batch-queueing policies are prohibitive when faced with scarce instrument time. To bridge this divide, we introduce Balsam: a distributed orchestration platform enabling workflows at the edge to securely and efficiently trigger analytics tasks across a user-managed federation of HPC execution sites. We describe the architecture of the Balsam service, which provides a workflow management API, and distributed sites that provision resources and schedule scalable, fault-tolerant execution. We demonstrate Balsam in efficiently scaling real-time analytics from two DOE light sources simultaneously onto three supercomputers (Theta, Summit, and Cori), while maintaining low overheads for on-demand computing, and providing a Python library for seamless integration with existing ecosystems of data analysis tools.
Labor Informality and Economic Political Accountability of Executive Incumbents in Latin America

Many governments across Latin America have been unable to reduce stubbornly high levels of labor informality and the lack of legal and social protection has put informal workers in a situation of continuous economic peril and uncertainty. This paper argues that the inherent characteristics and conditions of informal workers act as noisy signals that diminish the effect that economic perceptions have on evaluations of the incumbent executive across Latin American countries. The empirical results support the argument, suggesting that the effect of perceptions of the economy on evaluations of the incumbent is lower among informal relative to formal workers. Furthermore, this dynamic is prevalent in urban areas where there is a more evident differentiation between formal and informal workers, and disappears in rural areas, where both formal and informal workers face challenges that produce noisy signals and diminish the effect of perceptions of the economy on evaluations of the incumbent.
Association Between Orientation and Magnitude of Femoral Torsion and Propensity for Clinically Meaningful Improvement After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Computed Tomography Analysis.

Background:Femoral torsion imaging measurements and classifications are heterogeneous throughout the literature, and the influence of femoral torsion on clinically meaningful outcome improvement af...
Aplicación del modelo biológico de diversificación a las distribuciones culturales en las tierras tropicales Bajas de Sudamérica

La evidencia de varios campos sugiere que la Amazonia no se ha mantenido libre del tipo drastico de fluctuaciones climaticas experimentadas en las partes templadas y montanosas del hemisferio occidental durante el Pleistoceno y los tiempos recientes. Los zoologos y botanicos han empleado un modelo de ciclos climaticos y vegetativos, en los que el bosque tropical de las tierras bajas se reduce periodicamente a enclaves aislados por sabanas o zonas verdes, para explicar la abundancia de especies y su distribucion. Dado que los dos episodios mas recientes ocurrieron despues del impacto del hombre o del heredero rival, deberia ser observable en la evidencia antropologica. El examen de datos linguisticos, etnograficos y arqueologicos revela patrones en armonia con el modelo biogeografico, abriendo una nueva via para la interpretacion de la historia de la adaptacion humana a las tierras bajas tropicales antes del contacto europeo.
Nudging students to reduce procrastination in office hours and forums

In this article, we present the results of a study aiming to understand the impact of email nudge notification on students’ procrastination in office hours, and Piazza (QA forum) in a CS1 course at a large research university. With this study, we sought to understand if email nudges can be a useful tool in improving student’s learning behaviors, especially procrastination. After the first two homeworks, we randomly split students into two groups; the treatment group received the email, and the control group did not. The treatment group was further divided into two groups: one for the students who performed above the median (of the combined grades of homework 1 and 2) and those who performed below the median. Each sub-group received a slightly different version of the email. We found that students in the treatment group did not change their office hours’ attendance and Piazza interactions. We also found no difference in homework grades. However, students in the treatment group used more free late days on the following (third) homework. However, the change was short-lived, and they reverted to the pre-email level of late days usage on the fourth homework.
Review of the Grischuk and Sachin Gravitational Wave Generator Via Tokamak Physics

Using Tokamak physics for improving the Grischuk and Sachin modus operandi as to detectable GW amplitudes on the z axis ( axis of symmetry) of a Tokamak device. Explicit use of Plasma drift current due to fusion is the new step used, as opposed to use of current created by E and B fields in a Plasma and prior ignoring the contribution of temperatures 10 KeV or higher in GW generation
Designing pension solutions in the new defined contribution world

This paper considers the very different market backcloth against which company pension schemes now have to be designed and implemented. It starts by analysing what companies and employees are ideally looking for. Predictability and manageable levels of cost are key for companies. For employees, a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution is no longer appropriate, but they desperately need high quality help and education to guide them through the stormy pension seas.
Interaction of Methylphenidate and External Cue in an ADHD Behavioral Training Model

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) include hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsivity, which are caused by dopamine dysfunction in the medial prefrontal cortex. A six-hydroxydopamine lesion model of ADHD was used to examine response accuracy on an attentional task under one of three conditions: cue only, methylphenidate only (MPH), and MPH with cue. Results indicated rats injected with methylphenidate and exposed to an external cue showed a significant increase in response accuracy compared to the MPH and cue only groups. Also, the results indicate animals in the cue only condition had an increase performance in response accuracy compared to just methylphenidate group. This study provides evidence that combination of a stimulant and external cue would have a stronger affect than a stimulant or external cue was given alone. Keywords: dopamine, hyperactivity, methylphenidate, external cue, medial prefrontal cortex
Review of laser-produced x-ray sources

The focusing of high-powered lasers onto solid targets can produce hot dense plasmas which may be a bright source of x rays for various applications. Submieron lasers are especially efficient for coupling their energy to dense plasmas. For example, 0.35 light can be absorbed with over 80% efficiency at 1015 W/cm2 to densities near critical density of 9 × 1021 e“7cm3 for a 1-ns pulse. For high Z plasmas, over 60% of the incident energy of the incident laser energy can be reradiated at incident intensities of 10M W/cm2. Our principal interest in studying these* plasmas has been to understand their energy balance and understand the laser-plasma interactions, but other applications have been proposed and demonstrated. Some of these include radiography for ICF and other applications, x-ray lithography, and pump sources for producing x-ray lasers. Mechanisms for producing x rays in different energy regions are reviewed, and examples of spectra are presented.
Using native plants in traditional design contexts: Smilax smallii provides an example

We have observed that cultural values and traditions exert powerful influences over plant preference and use of native plants in traditional landscape designs. Growers of native plants, in turn, can potentially utilize local conventions as entry points for clients who are unsure of how to incorporate native plants into their own landscapes. In this way native plants may fit into a design vernacular that is accepted by local keepers of tradition and is supportive of local ecosystems and greater environmental quality. We describe Smilax smallii Morong (Smilacaceae) as an example of a plant that can fill this role.
Sociotechnical Systems Approach: An Internal Assessment of a Blended Doctoral Program

Abstract An internal assessment was conducted utilizing a sociotechnical systems approach and cultural lens as a means of exploring the dynamics of a blended doctoral program. Blended learning environments were conceived of as sociotechnical systems, and blended programs were defined as programs that utilize multimodal means for the mediation of educational content. In this article, the notion of sociotechnical systems as distilled from informatics, computer science, and information and communications technology was applied to highlight the nexus of interactions between people and technology in a blended doctoral program in order to examine what boundaries, barriers, and opportunities are created in such a learning environment. Findings and recommendations suggest that the interdependencies of social and technical systems are complex, and privileging one system at the expense of the other will not provide for an optimum learning environment as both systems are requisite for the existence and success of a ...
The rotational structure of the fundamental infrared bands of methane-type molecules

Abstract The vibrational-rotational Hamiltonian function for tetrahedrally symmetric metric pentatomic molecules has been obtained to a second-order approximation. In this approximation, the fundamental bands ν 3 and ν 4 of the absorption spectrum have been studied. The general expressions for the rotational frequencies are vI(J,τ)=U I (J) + V I (J)(J,τ | S | J, τ) , where I designates one of the branches P , Q , or R of the band; U I and V I are functions of the rotational quantum number J ; τ is an index which has 2 J + 1 values; S=P x 4 +P y 4 +P z 4 − 3(P x 2 +P y 2 ) 2 5 + (P x 2 +P y 2 )+P z 2 5 , where P x , P y , and P z are the components of the total angular momentum; and ( J , τ | S | J , τ ) is the ( J , τ )th element of the diagonal matrix representation of S . Expressions for U I ( J ) and V I ( J ) and the numerical values of ( J , τ | S | J , τ ), for J up to 16, are given.
Iron core in the sun

A suggestion has been made that the sun may have a central core composed of iron (New Scientist, June 23, 1983). This suggestion is the latest attempt to force a fit to theoretical models of the sun's internal temperature structure. That the sun does not fit well enough as a model for compositional origin of the rest of the solar system is evidenced in its apparent deficiency in the production of neutrinos. Measurements on the earth to detect the emission of solar neutrinos are typically low by as much as a factor of 3. If the core of the sun were to be composed of a sufficiently stable element, such as the form of iron that would exist at 14 million K, the production of neutrinos would be about what is observed. The result of the calculations of Carl Rouse is that the sun could have a core radius of about 5% of the total, with a density of about 1.6×105 kg m−3. This core would be consistent with the properties of an iron plasma, instead of hydrogen and helium nuclei. In the modeling procedure one could adjust the sun's temperature to a value lowered by about 1 million K and have a lowered neutrino flux as well.
Hydride reduction of NAD+ analogues by isopropyl alcohol: kinetics, deuterium isotope effects and mechanism.

Observed pseudo-first-order rate constants (kobs) of the hydride-transfer reactions from isopropyl alcohol (i-PrOH) to two NAD+ analogues, 9-phenylxanthylium ion (PhXn+) and 10-methylacridinium ion (MA+), were determined at temperatures ranging from 49 to 82 °C in i-PrOH containing various amounts of AN or water. Formations of the alcohol−cation ether adducts (ROPr-i) were observed as side equilibria. The equilibrium constants for the conversion of PhXn+ to PhXnOPr-i in i-PrOH/AN (v/v = 1) were determined, and the equilibrium isotope effect (EIE = K(i-PrOH)/K(i-PrOD)) at 62 °C was calculated to be 2.67. The kH of the hydride-transfer step for both reactions were calculated on the basis of the kobs and K. The corresponding deuterium kinetic isotope effects (e.g., KIEODH = kH(i-PrOH)/kH(i-PrOD) and KIEβ-D6H = kobs(i-PrOH)/kobs((CD3)2CHOH)), as well as the activation parameters, were derived. For the reaction of PhXn+ (62 °C) and MA+ (67 °C), primary KIEα-DH (4.4 and 2.1, respectively) as well as secondary K...
Penicillin-Binding Protein 2a of Streptococcus pneumoniae: Expression in Escherichia coli and Purification and Refolding of Inclusion Bodies into a Soluble and Enzymatically Active Enzyme

Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), targets of beta-lactam antibiotics, are membrane-bound enzymes essential for the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall. PBPs possess transpeptidase and transglycosylase activities responsible for the final steps of the bacterial cell wall cross-linking and polymerization, respectively. To facilitate our structural studies of PBPs, we constructed a 5'-truncated version (lacking bp from 1 to 231 encoding the N-terminal part of the protein including the transmembrane domain) of the pbp2a gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae and expressed the truncated gene product as a GST fusion protein in Escherichia coli. This GST fusion form of PBP2a, designated GST-PBP2a*, was expressed almost exclusively as inclusion bodies. Using a combination of high- and low-speed centrifugation, large amounts of purified inclusion bodies were obtained. These purified inclusion bodies were refolded into a soluble and enzymatically active enzyme using a single-step refolding method consisting of solubilization of the inclusion bodies with urea and direct dialysis of the solubilized preparations. Using these purification and refolding methods, approximately 37 mg of soluble GST-PBP2a* protein was obtained from 1 liter of culture. The identity of this refolded PBP2a* protein was confirmed by N-terminal sequencing. The refolded PBP2a*, with or without the GST-tag, was found to bind to BOCILLIN FL, a beta-lactam, and to hydrolyze S2d, an analog of the bacterial cell wall stem peptides. The S2d hydrolysis activity of PBP2a* was inhibited by penicillin G. In conclusion, using this expression system, and the purification and refolding methods, large amounts of the soluble GST-PBP2a* protein were obtained and shown to be enzymatically active.
Opioid-Induced Sexual Dysfunction

Prolonged use of opioids is associated with decreased libido, impotence, delayed ejaculation, vagismus, and anorgasmia. However, data and documentation are lacking regarding the effects of opioids upon sexual dysfunction. No evaluation of sexual dysfunction associated with acute or chronic non-heroin opioid use is published. All evaluations were performed on male heroin addicts or chronic methadone users. Conflicting conclusions were made about the relationship of serum testosterone levels and the incidence of impaired libido, decreased potency, or delayed ejaculation time in heroin addicts or methadone maintained patients. Neuroendocrine events are responsible for sexual dysfunction but it is difficult to discern the exact mechanism involved. From the available data, it is not clear how profoundly opioids influence sexual function. Due to the known variable patient responses to opioids, the studies yield inconsistent findings regarding the patient reportable sexual dysfunctions.
Team Physicians in College Athletics

BackgroundThere has been little documentation of what constitutes the clinical work of intercollegiate team physicians. Team physicians could be recruited based on the needs of athletes.HypothesisA multidisciplinary team of physicians is necessary to treat college athletes. Most physician evaluations are for musculoskeletal injuries treated nonoperatively.Study DesignDescriptive epidemiology study.MethodsFor a 2-year period, a database was created that recorded information on team physician encounters with intercollegiate athletes at a major university. Data on imaging studies, hospitalizations, and surgeries were also recorded. The diagnoses for physician encounters with all undergraduates through the university's health service were also recorded.ResultsMore initial athlete evaluations were for musculoskeletal diagnoses (73%) than for general medical diagnoses (27%) (P<. 05). Four percent of musculoskeletal injuries required surgery. Most general medical evaluations were single visits for upper respirat...
Group 4 and 5 metal derivatives of 2,2′-methylene-bis(6-phenylphenoxide)

Abstract Addition of the phenol 2,2′-methylene-bis(6-phenylphenol) [(HOC6H3Ph)2CH2] (1) (1 equiv. per Ti) to hydrocarbon solutions of [TiCl4] or [Ti(OPri)4] leads to dimeric products [Ti{(OC6H3Ph)2CH2}Cl2]2 (2) and [Ti{(OC6H3Ph)2CH2}(μ-OPri)(OPri)]2 (3). Structural studies show 2 (CHCl3 solvate) to consist in the solid state of two tetrahedral titanium centers linked by one end of two di-aryloxide ligands. In contrast, 3 contains five-coordinate titanium atoms linked directly by two bridging isopropoxide ligands. Treatment of [MCl5] (M=Nb, Ta) with 1 equiv. of 1 leads to sparingly soluble trichlorides 4 and 5 which react with pyridine to form soluble adducts [M{(OC6H3Ph)2CH2}Cl3(py)] (M=Nb, 6; M=Ta, 7). Compounds 6 and 7 are isostructural in the solid state (benzene solvates) with a mer arrangement of chloride groups and the pyridine trans to one of the di-aryloxide oxygen atoms. Treatment of 7 with PMe2Ph leads to the products [Ta{(OC6H3Ph)2CH2}Cl3(PMe2Ph)] (8) and [HPMe2Ph][Ta{(OC6H3Ph)2CH2}Cl4] (9). Structurally characterized 9 (benzene solvate) presumably arises via the presence of trace amounts of water during workup. Reaction of 1 with [Ta(NMe2)5] allows isolation of derivatives [Ta{(OC6H3Ph)2CH2}2(NMe2)(HNMe2)] (10) (cis-nitrogen atoms by NMR) and [H2NMe2][Ta{(OC6H3Ph)2CH2}3] (11) depending on the stoichiometry. The anion in 11 was shown by crystallography to contain an octahedral arrangement of oxygen atoms about the tantalum metal center. The crystallographic study of 11 is complicated by a disorder of the cation and partial occupancies for the three types of benzene solvate molecule. The niobium trichloride 4 acts as a catalyst precursor for benzene hydrogenation although with lower activity than reported for monodentate aryloxide precursors. During the catalysis the ortho-phenyl rings of the di-aryloxide ligand are not hydrogenated.
Immunogenicity and safety of a live Pasteurella anatipestifer vaccine in White Pekin ducklings: laboratory and field trials.

Summary Oral or aerosol administration of a live trivalent Pasteurella anatipestifer (PA) vaccine (sero‐types 1, 2 and 5) gave significant protection against homologous challenges in White Pekin ducklings. Vaccination of one‐day‐old ducklings by either method provided protection for at least 42 days of age (last challenge). The vaccine did not cause any untoward signs or mortality in one‐day‐old ducklings exposed to ten times the recommended dose. The vaccine strains did not revert to virulence on 10 back‐passages. However, they were reisolated from tracheas and sinuses of the contact‐exposed ducklings which were also resistant to challenge with homologous serotype. Feeding of chlortetracycline (0.044%) or sulphadime‐thoxine‐ormetoprim (0.02%) for first 2 weeks of age had no adverse effect on efficacy of the vaccine. The vaccine was found to be both safe and efficacious in field trials in which one‐day‐old ducklings were exposed by aerosol in the hatcher.
Short-segment compression instrumentation for selected thoracic and lumbar spine fractures: the short-rod/two-claw technique.

✓ The short-rod/two-claw (SRTC) technique of spine instrumentation was recently introduced for the treatment of thoracic and lumbar spine fractures. The use of this technique in 10 patients harboring wedge compression or burst fractures of the thoracic or lumbar spine is described. Of three patients treated with the construct placed in a distraction mode, the average follow-up loss of angle (the difference between the immediate postoperative and follow-up midsagittal angle as measured on x-ray films) was 18.3°. Of the seven patients in whom the instrumentation was placed in a compression mode, the average observed loss of angle at follow-up examination was 1.6°. Two patients had a preoperative scoliotic deformity at the fracture site. and both deformities were exaggerated by the placement of the SRTC technique in compression. Although no patient experienced an adverse outcome and all achieved a solid fusion, the application of the SRTC technique of universal spine instrumentation in distraction was associ...
P15-12. Community advisory boards' successes and challenges in AIDS vaccine clinical trials: a Southern Africa experience

Methods Since 2006, IAVI has conducted 15 needs assessment sessions with 13 different CABs from South Africa and Zambia. Based on the findings, a CAB skills building program was developed, three regional CAB exchange meetings were held and 11 interactive skills building sessions were conducted. These sessions provided a platform for CABs to discuss and address CAB capacity building needs, challenges and successes, while considering their diversity and the need to adapt best practices to local contexts. These meetings also sought to address major challenges identified by CABs, such as reaching out to different communities, inconsistent capacity building efforts, unclear roles and responsibilities, language barriers, lack of proper understanding of scientific concepts, inadequate co-ordination and planning of CAB activities, inadequate induction of new CAB members and poor retention of CAB members. Based on the successes and effective actions reported by participants, best practices were identified and shared.
Vestibulo-ocular Reflexes in Neonates: The Problem of Defining Subject-axis Rotation During Examiner-axis Rotation. 591

Vestibulo-ocular Reflexes in Neonates: The Problem of Defining Subject-axis Rotation During Examiner-axis Rotation. 591
Can initial intraspecific spatial aggregation increase multi-year coexistence by creating temporal priority?

Both intraspecific spatial aggregation and temporal priority effects have the potential to increase long-term species coexistence. Theory and models suggest that intraspecific aggregation can facilitate coexistence via limited dispersal or asymmetric interaction distances. During community assembly, intraspecific aggregation may also delay interactions between more and less competitive species, thus creating opportunities for priority effects to facilitate longer-term coexistence. Few empirical studies have tested predictions about aggregation and coexistence, especially in the context of community assembly or ecological restoration. We investigated (1) impacts of intraspecific aggregation on the assembly of eight-species communities over three years, (2) the scale dependence of these impacts, and (3) implications for California prairie restoration. We planted eight native species in each of 19, 5 m wide, octagonal plots. Species were either interspersed throughout the plot or aggregated into eight, 2.2-m...
Beta and gamma oscillations in the olfactory system of the urethane-anesthetized rat.

Fast oscillations in the beta (15–40 Hz in awake rats) and gamma (50–100 Hz) frequency ranges are prominent in field potentials induced by odorants in the mammalian olfactory bulb (OB) and piriform...