cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calmodulin Conformational Binding Entropy Is Driven by Transient Salt Bridges

Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein that mediates signal transduction through an ability to differentially bind to highly variable binding sequences in target proteins. Experimental measurements show a linear correlation between conformational entropy and overall binding entropy, suggesting that a predictive ability to calculate conformational entropy is critical to the identification of binding partners and their relative affinities. To identify how binding affects low- and high-frequency motions, and their relationships to conformational entropy, we have employed fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations with explicit solvent. The calculated quasiharmonic entropies of CaM bound to the targets relative to unbound CaM are in agreement with experimentally derived conformational entropies, where extrapolation to infinite simulation time showed that at least 92% of the backbone entropy is captured over the course of the 100 ns simulation. Enhanced side chain entropy results from conformational disruption of the protein backbone within loop regions between sub-domain elements, acting to facilitate the formation of transient salt bridges between Lys148 at the C-terminus and GLU sidechains both in CaM helix A and GLU side-chains present in selected binding sequences (i.e., endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthases). Comparison of Cα root-mean-squared fluctuations and MET sidechain dihedral distributions of CaM bound to each of the targets revealed that MET sidechains have more torsional freedom when the backbone is more flexible, showing that MET sidechain rotation mirrors the overall conformational binding entropy. Taken together, these results help to illuminate the interplay between electrostatic, hydrophobic, backbone and sidechain properties in the ability of CaM to recognize and discriminate against targets by tuning its conformational entropy.
Eating Disorders, Trauma, and Comorbidity: Focus on PTSD

This paper reviews the relationships among eating disorders (EDs), trauma, and comorbid psychiatric disorders, with a particular focus on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There have been a number of significant conclusions in the literature, applicable to clinical practice, which are essential to the understanding of the relationships between EDs and trauma. These are summarized as follows: a) childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a nonspecific risk factor for EDs; b) the spectrum of trauma linked to EDs has been extended from CSA to include a variety of other forms of abuse and neglect; c) trauma is more common in bulimic EDs compared to nonbulimic EDs; d) findings linking EDs with trauma have been extended to children and adolescents with EDs; e) findings linking EDs with trauma have been extended to boys and men with EDs; f) multiple episodes or forms of trauma are associated with EDs; g) trauma is not necessarily associated with greater ED severity; h) trauma is associated with greater comorbidity (including and often mediated by PTSD) in ED subjects; i) partial or subthreshold PTSD may also be a risk factor for BN and bulimic symptoms; and j) the trauma and PTSD or its symptoms must be expressly and satisfactorily addressed in order to facilitate full recovery from the ED and all associated comorbidity.
Conformation and side chains environments of recombinant human interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (rh‐IL‐1ra) probed by raman, raman optical activity, and UV‐resonance raman spectroscopy

ABSTRACT The conformation and local environments of the side chains cysteines and aromatics of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (rh-IL-1ra) have been studied by visible Raman, Raman optical activity (ROA) and UVRR spectroscopy. The results reveal that the secondary structure of rh-IL-1ra is predominantly β-sheet, which is consistent with conclusions from multinuclear NMR in solutions and X-ray diffraction analysis of crystals. It confirms that all four cysteines are in reduced state. Three cysteines are not hydrogen bonded and exposed. One cysteine is moderately hydrogen bonded and buried. This explains the earlier observation that only three cysteines were detectable using DTNB titration. No characteristic Raman band of disulfide bond was observed in the Raman spectra of rh-IL-1ra in both solution and in crystals. It rules out the supposition that there is one disulfide bond in rh-IL-1ra crystals based on X-ray diffraction. Raman and UVRR spectra of rh-IL-1ra exhibit canonical marker bands of tryptophan. They do not support the proposal that there is cation-π interaction involving tryptophans in solutions and crystals. These results demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy offers certain advantages over X-ray diffraction for studies of detailed local environment and intermolecular interactions of side chains of proteins in solution and in crystals.
A Stochastic Programming Approach to Power Portfolio Optimization

We consider a power portfolio optimization model that is intended as a decision aid for scheduling and hedging (DASH) in the wholesale power market. Our multiscale model integrates the unit commitment model with financial decision making by including the forwards and spot market activity within the scheduling decision model. The methodology is based on a multiscale stochastic programming model that selects portfolio positions that perform well on a variety of scenarios generated through statistical modeling and optimization. When compared with several commonly used fixed-mix policies, our experiments demonstrate that the DASH model provides significant advantages.
The effects of in-group versus out-group social comparison on self-esteem in the context of a negative stereotype.

Upward comparison with members of an in-group can be both enhancing and threatening to self-esteem (Brewer & Weber, 1994). According to Tesser's (1986, 1988) self-evaluation maintenance model (SEM), the superior performance of in-group members should be threatening when comparisons are made on ability domains that are relevant to self-esteem. We argue that such comparisons will instead be enhancing if the superior other's performance challenges negative ability stereotypes about the group. In a laboratory experimental study, 60 African American female participants were given feedback on a bogus IQ test under conditions designed to increase the salience of negative stereotypes. Participants were then exposed to either upward or downward social comparison information about the performance of a White or African American female confederate. A contrast effect was observed when the confederate was White such that participants reported higher state self-esteem in the downward social comparison condition than in the upward social comparison condition. When the confederate was African American, an assimilation effect was observed such that participants reported higher state self-esteem in the upward social comparison condition than in the downward social comparison condition. These results do not appear consistent with SEM and indicate that people are at times encouraged when close others outperform them on important tasks.
Aspectos monetarios de la gran depresión en Colombia. Política y evidencia empírica 1929-1936

La deflacion colombiana (32%) fui la mas alta de America Latina y la caida del PIB (2.4%) la mas baja, durante los anos, criticos de la Gran Depresion. La pregunta es entonces: funciono el patron oro? Parcialmente si pues el banco no fue del todo ortodoxo con respecto al cumplimiento de las reglas que ese patron supone. Los cambios en los activos domesticos no tuvieron la misma direccion que los de las reservas de oro. Esta falla que involuntaria e inconsciente pero cabe suponer que si no fuera por ella la deflacion podria haber sido mayor. La base monetaria, cuyas fuentes son las reservas internacionales y los activos domesticos, determino la dinamica de la oferta monetaria. Sin embargo, opero un cambio en su composicion. Los activos domesticos explicaron las variaciones monetarias durante y despues de la crisis pero no en el pertoda de precrisis cuando el liderazgo lo ejercieron las reservas internacionales. Entre los activos domesticos, fueron los creditos al gobierno los que ganaron importancia despues del establecimiento del Control de Cambios, en octubre de 1931, a costa del credito al sector bancario privado. A partir de este ano tambien se hace evidente la separacion del Banco de la Republica de los preceptos del patron oro.
Inflammatory Networks during Cellular Senescence: Causes and Consequences

Chronic inflammation is associated with aging and plays a causative role in several age-related diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis. The source of this chronic inflammation is often attributed to the progressive activation of immune cells over time. However, recent studies have shown that the process of cellular senescence, a tumor suppressive stress response that is also associated with aging, entails a striking increase in the secretion of proinflammatory proteins and might be an important additional contributor to chronic inflammation. Here, we list the secreted factors that make up the proinflammatory phenotype of senescent cells and describe the impact of these factors on tissue homeostasis. We also summarize the cellular pathways/processes that are known to regulate this phenotype – namely, the DNA damage response, microRNAs, key transcription factors and kinases and chromatin remodeling.
Single-probe traversal optimization for testing of MCM substrate interconnections

In this paper, we investigate the problem of electrical testing of multichip modules (MCM's) substrate interconnections prior to chip assembly. Recently, single-probe test techniques for MCM substrate interconnections have been proposed that provide fault coverage comparable to double-probe test techniques. This work has two objectives. First, we assess the advantage of single-probe test techniques over double-probe techniques where overall test time is concerned. Second, we develop efficient heuristics to optimize the total distance traveled by a single test probe on an MCM substrate and thereby reduce the substrate testing time. We provide tight bounds on both single- and double-probe testing times. For substrates with two to three terminal pads in each of n nets, the expected travel time for a single probe is shorter by a factor of order n/sup 1/4 /. Experiments on benchmark MCM netlists with real probe traversal speeds confirm that single-probe testing has an increasing advantage over double-probe testing, as the number of nets increases. For an MCM substrate of 800 nets, the projected test time is faster by a factor of 2.5. A practical algorithm for finding efficient traversal routes is presented. It is based on heuristic procedures of tour construction and local improvement for solving a variation of the traveling salesman problem. Experiments show that up to 40% reduction in probe traversal time can be obtained with our algorithm.
Interactions between hemoglobin and cod muscle constituents following treatment at extreme pH values.

: Acid and/or alkaline solubilization is a recent method developed to separate proteins from muscle foods with good functional properties. However, exposure of the muscle and its components to low pH values has been shown to promote lipid oxidation, limiting therefore the applications of this novel method. This research aimed primarily to study the physicochemical changes of the fish membranes brought about during acid or alkali solubilization processes. The effect on lipid oxidation and the possible role of the water soluble fraction of the muscle (press juice) as a potent antioxidant were also investigated. Model systems comprising minced cod muscle or cod microsomal suspensions were used. Results showed that acid or alkaline treatment (pH 10.5) of cod membranes significantly delayed lipid oxidation. Added triacylglycerols to washed cod system treated at low pH did not enhance hemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation. Decreased precipitation of hemoglobin was observed with the alkali-treated membranes at all protein concentrations compared to the acid-treated and the untreated membranes. Finally, the addition of press juice to washed cod muscle tissue or to the membrane model system, significantly delayed hemoglobin lipid oxidation. Practical Application: The results of this study can be used to improve pH-shifting technologies to avoid or decrease lipid oxidation problems. Also, the use of press-juice from cod muscle as means of protecting the muscle against lipid oxidation is suggested.
Using Human Factors Techniques to Design Text Message Reminders for Childhood Immunization

This study engaged parents to develop concise, informative, and comprehensible text messages for an immunization reminder system using Human Factors techniques. Fifty parents completed a structured interview including demographics, technology questions, willingness to receive texts from their child's doctor, and health literacy. Each participant was assigned to one user-centered design test: card sort, needs analysis, or comprehension. The majority of respondents were female (90%), White non-Hispanic (62%), and averaged 29 years (SD = 5). Nearly all (96%) had "adequate" health literacy. The card sort, an activity in which end users organize information into categories, identified six pieces of critical information. These were compiled into eight example texts, which were ranked in the needs assessment. The top two were assessed for comprehension, with 100% of participants able to understand the content and describe intention to act. Using user-centered design methods, the authors developed concise, informative text messages that parents indicated would prompt them to schedule their child's immunization appointment.
Depth of Anisometropic Amblyopia and Difference in Refraction

Disagreement exists as to whether the depth of anisometropic amblyopia correlates with the degree of anisometropia. We reviewed the charts of 303 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of amblyopia. Thirty-five patients with untreated anisometropia without strabismus were identified. The best-corrected visual acuities, manifest refractions, and autorefractions were recorded. The differences in spherical equivalent, root mean square, and an index of anisometropia, which we defined, were calculated. The depth of amblyopia was strongly correlated to all three measures of anisometropia for both hyperopic and myopic individuals. Our new index of anisometropia was an excellent predictor of the depth of amblyopia.
Managing and Valuing Diversity in the Workplace

Statistical Analysis of the Workplace Facts and Trends The United States has always proudly proclaimed its place in the world as the “melting pot of all free nations”. This is true, as our nation was founded by groups of people from many diverse and different lands. In light of this initial and diverse population, the demographics of our nation have gradually shifted toward more of a universal mix of all nations. Today Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics make up 21% of the American population. More than half of the United States work force now consists of minorities, immigrants, and women. Two‐thirds of all global migration is into the United States. Sometime in the next century, whites will become the minority in the population of the United States [1,p.52].
Predicting Tephra Dispersion with a Mesoscale Atmospheric Model and a Particle Fall Model: Application to Cerro Negro Volcano

Abstract Models of volcanic ash (tephra) fallout are increasingly used to assess volcanic hazards in advance of eruptions and in near–real time. These models often approximate the wind field using simplistic assumptions of the atmosphere that do not account for four-dimensional variations in wind velocity. The fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5) is used to improve forecasts of tephra dispersion. MM5 is a 3D model that can predict circulations in areas with sparse meteorological observations and complex terrain, such as volcanic plateaus. MM5 is applied to the 1995 eruption of Cerro Negro, Nicaragua. Validation of MM5 is achieved by comparing the simulated winds with rawinsonde observations. Estimates of diffusivity and particle settling velocities are used in conjunction with MM5-generated wind fields to forecast the major axes of the tephra dispersion. The predicted axes of dispersion derived from the MM5 winds approximate very clo...
Exploring Physical Intuition in Elementary Pressure Vessels

It is shown that displacement calculations for two classical 'chestnuts' - thick cylinders and spheres under internal and external pressures - present results that are not easily anticipated. Thus, such analyses provide an interesting opportunity for students (and teachers) taking elementary and advanced courses in the strength of materials to explore and perhaps enhance their physical intuition.
Goal oriented and risk taking behavior: The roles of multiple systems for Caucasian and Arab-American adolescents:

With Bronfenbrenner's (1977) ecological theory and other multifactor models (e.g. Pianta, 1999; Prinstein, Boergers, & Spirito, 2001) underlying this study design, the purpose was to examine, simultaneously, key variables in multiple life contexts (microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem levels) for their individual and combined roles in predicting adolescent risk-taking and goal-oriented behaviors. Predictor variables were parenting behaviors (parenting style, monitoring, and involvement), the risk-taking and goal-oriented behavior of peers, and religiosity (attendance, involvement, and importance). General media consumption was also explored. The participants in this study were 272 9th to 12th grade Caucasian and Arab-American high school students (124 males and 148 females) from a suburban public school district in the midwestern United States (Mean age = 15.64). RESULTS revealed several themes, including that peers appeared to have the primary role in explaining variance in risk behaviors, while parents have the primary role in explaining goal-oriented behavior. Religiosity contributed minimally. There were several noteworthy differences between the two cultural groups regarding which factors explained the most variance in criterion variables. RESULTS are explored in more detail and implications for prevention and intervention are discussed. Keywords: Juvenile justice Language: en
Coevolutionary aesthetics in human and biotic artworlds

This work proposes a coevolutionary theory of aesthetics that encompasses both biotic and human arts. Anthropocentric perspectives in aesthetics prevent the recognition of the ontological complexity of the aesthetics of nature, and the aesthetic agency of many non-human organisms. The process of evaluative coevolution is shared by all biotic advertisements. I propose that art consists of a form of communication that coevolves with its own evaluation. Art and art history are population phenomena. I expand Arthur Danto’s Artworld concept to any aesthetic population of producers and evaluators. Current concepts of art cannot exclusively circumscribe the human arts from many forms of non-human biotic art. Without assuming an arbitrarily anthropocentric perspective, any concept of art will need to engage with biodiversity, and either recognize many instances of biotic advertisements as art, or exclude some instances of human art. Coevolutionary aesthetic theory provides a heuristic account of aesthetic change in both human and biotic artworlds, including the coevolutionary origin of aesthetic properties and aesthetic value within artworlds. Restructuring aesthetics, art criticism, and art history without human beings at the organizing centers of these disciplines stimulate new progress in our understanding of art, and the unique human contributions to aesthetics and aesthetic diversity.
Does agricultural crop diversity enhance soil microbial biomass and organic matter dynamics? A meta-analysis

Our increasing dependence on a small number of agricultural crops, such as corn, is leading to reductions in agricultural biodiversity. Reductions in the number of crops in rotation or the replacement of rotations by monocultures are responsible for this loss of biodiversity. The belowground implications of simplifying agricultural plant communities remain unresolved; however, agroecosystem sustainability will be severely compromised if reductions in biodiversity reduce soil C and N concentrations, alter microbial communities, and degrade soil ecosystem functions as reported in natural communities. We conducted a meta-analysis of 122 studies to examine crop rotation effects on total soil C and N concentrations, and the faster cycling microbial biomass C and N pools that play key roles in soil nutrient cycling and physical processes such as aggregate formation. We specifically examined how rotation crop type and management practices influence C and N dynamics in different climates and soil types. We found that adding one or more crops in rotation to a monoculture increased total soil C by 3.6% and total N by 5.3%, but when rotations included a cover crop (i.e., crops that are not harvested but produced to enrich the soil and capture inorganic N), total C increased by 8.5% and total N 12.8%. Rotations substantially increased the soil microbial biomass C (20.7%) and N (26.1%) pools, and these overwhelming effects on microbial biomass were not moderated by crop type or management practices. Crop rotations, especially those that include cover crops, sustain soil quality and productivity by enhancing soil C, N, and microbial biomass, making them a cornerstone for sustainable agroecosystems.
Evolution of the Global Tobacco Surveillance System (GTSS) 1998-2008

Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Given that country-specific international data on tobacco use were limited or nonexistent, in 1998, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) initiated the Global Tobacco Surveillance System (GTSS) to assist countries in establishing tobacco control surveillance and monitoring programs. GTSS includes collection of data through three school-based surveys: the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) for youth; the Global School Personnel Survey (GSPS), and the Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS) for adults; and one household survey: the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) for adults. The GTSS provides a globally implemented and consistent framework for conducting surveillance including standard sampling procedures, core questionnaire items, training in field procedures and analysis of data consistent across all GTSS countries. The GTSS also enhances the role of the nongovernmental sector by supporting participation of civil society agencies in surveillance, monitoring, and policy and program development. The synergy between countries passing tobacco control laws, regulations or decrees, ratifying and complying with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and conducting GTSS surveys offers a unique opportunity to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive tobacco control policy that can be helpful to each country document the development, growth, and collaboration in sustaining the GTSS. The report highlights countries' involvement in tobacco control measures and the establishment of comprehensive tobacco control programs worldwide. This report can assist countries in prioritizing and developing tobacco control programs, including surveillance, evaluation, and policy development.
Automatic document classification of biological literature

Document classification is a wide-spread problem with many applications, from organizing search engine snippets to spam filtering. We previously described Textpresso, a text-mining system for biological literature, which marks up full text according to a shallow ontology that includes terms of biological interest. This project investigates document classification in the context of biological literature, making use of the Textpresso markup of a corpus of Caenorhabditis elegans literature. We present a two-step text categorization algorithm to classify a corpus of C. elegans papers. Our classification method first uses a support vector machine-trained classifier, followed by a novel, phrase-based clustering algorithm. This clustering step autonomously creates cluster labels that are descriptive and understandable by humans. This clustering engine performed better on a standard test-set (Reuters 21578) compared to previously published results (F-value of 0.55 vs. 0.49), while producing cluster descriptions that appear more useful. A web interface allows researchers to quickly navigate through the hierarchy and look for documents that belong to a specific concept. We have demonstrated a simple method to classify biological documents that embodies an improvement over current methods. While the classification results are currently optimized for Caenorhabditis elegans papers by human-created rules, the classification engine can be adapted to different types of documents. We have demonstrated this by presenting a web interface that allows researchers to quickly navigate through the hierarchy and look for documents that belong to a specific concept.
ABDERITID MARSUPIALS FROM THE MIOCENE OF PATAGONIA: AN ASSESSMENT OF FORM, FUNCTION, AND EVOLUTION

Abderitid marsupials are common in vertebrate-bearing deposits from the middle Miocene of Argentine Patagonia. Recent collections from the inland Pinturas Formation and slightly younger coastal Santa Cruz Formation have dramatically increased the number of abderitid specimens. These new collections permit a re-assessment of abderitid taxonomy as well as an investigation of the dietary habits of these unique small mammals. The vast majority of new specimens represent Abderites meridionalis; Pithiculites minimus is rare. Patterns of macrowear on the double-bladed, plagiaulacoid shearing complex suggest that abderitids used these teeth to prepare a variety of resistant food items as do modern marsupials with double-bladed shearing systems. Data summarizing molar- shearing morphology and body size further suggest that A. meridionalis was a frugivore. The diet of the small P. minimus is equivocal, although it may represent a mixed feeder (frugivore/faunivore). A comparison of relative species richness and dietary adaptation between abderitids and palaeothentids (a closely related caenolestoid family that lacks the highly specialized shearing complex of abderitids) reveals distinct evolutionary patterns within the two lineages. Abderitids exhibit low species diversity. In contrast, palaeothentids are represented by 17 species, lack highly specialized shearing mechanisms, and typically exhibit molar morphologies that range from frugivory to faunivory and include mixed feeders. Both temporal and geographic variation are introduced as possible factors affecting differences in the relative abundance of abderitids and palaeothentids in the Pinturas and Santa Cruz Formations.
The environment in raising early intelligence: A meta-analysis of the fadeout effect

Abstract Many theories about the role of the environment in raising IQ have been put forward. There has not been an equal effort, however, in experimentally testing these theories. In this paper, we test whether the role of the environment in raising IQ is bidirectional/reciprocal. We meta-analyze the evidence for the fadeout effect of IQ, determining whether interventions that raise IQ have sustained effects after they end. We analyze 7584 participants across 39 randomized controlled trials, using a mixed-effects analysis with growth curve modeling. We confirm that after an intervention raises intelligence the effects fade away. We further show this is because children in the experimental group lose their IQ advantage and not because those in the control groups catch up. These findings are inconsistent with a bidirectional/reciprocal model of interaction. We discuss explanations for the fadeout effect and posit a unidirectional–reactive model for the role of the environment in the development of intelligence.
Symbolic martyrdom: The ultimate apology

Earlier characterization of “scaffold confessions” and “martyrdom speeches” as a discrete genre of discourse were flawed because the speeches were delivered in dissimilar situations, sought different purposes, and employed diverse rhetorical strategies. Those speeches are better viewed as a distinctive subgenre of apologia. Analysis of John Brown's final speech at his trial following the Harper's Ferry raid illuminates that subgenre.
FOCUSING ON SPINDLE POLES

Spindle poles are discernible by light microscopy as the sites where microtubules converge at the ends of both mitotic and meiotic spindles. In most cell types centrosomes are present at spindle poles due to their dominant role in microtubule nucleation. However, in some specialized cell types microtubules converge into spindle poles in the absence of centrosomes. Thus, spindle poles in centrosomal and acentrosomal cell types are structurally different, and it is this structural dichotomy that has created confusion as to the mechanism by which microtubules are organized into spindle poles. This review summarizes a series of recent articles that begin to resolve this confusion by demonstrating that spindle poles are organized through a common mechanism by a conserved group of non-centrosomal proteins in the presence or absence of centrosomes.
Projecting long-term impact of modest sodium reduction in los angeles county

Heart attacks and strokes are the leading causes of death in Los Angeles County (LAC). Dietary sodium reduction policies may reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke. To determine the value of population-level sodium reduction policies in LAC in terms of averted morbidity, mortality, and total medical spending, we modeled a modest sodium consumption reduction scenario of 400 mg/day using the Future Elderly Model-Los Angeles (FEM-LA), a Monte Carlo microsimulation model that projects health and economic outcomes for all LAC residents aged 51 and older. The model projects that, over the period 2006-2051, 3,224-5,353 total deaths (annual average of 70-116 deaths) would be prevented due to reductions in the incidence of heart disease and stroke attributed to dietary salt reduction. Over the same period, this corresponds to a total savings of $2.28-3.56 billion in medical spending (annual average of $49.56-77.37 million).
CO2 solubility in aqueous solutions containing Na+, Ca2+, Cl-, SO42- and HCO3-: The effects of electrostricted water and ion hydration thermodynamics

Abstract Dissolution of CO2 into deep subsurface brines for carbon sequestration is regarded as one of the few viable means of reducing the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere. Ions in solution partially control the amount of CO2 that dissolves, but the mechanisms of the ion's influence are not clearly understood and thus CO2 solubility is difficult to predict. In this study, CO2 solubility was experimentally determined in water, NaCl, CaCl2, Na2SO4, and NaHCO3 solutions and a mixed brine similar to the Bravo Dome natural CO2 reservoir; ionic strengths ranged up to 3.4 molal, temperatures to 140 °C, and CO2 pressures to 35.5 MPa. Increasing ionic strength decreased CO2 solubility for all solutions when the salt type remained unchanged, but ionic strength was a poor predictor of CO2 solubility in solutions with different salts. A new equation was developed to use ion hydration number to calculate the concentration of electrostricted water molecules in solution. Dissolved CO2 was strongly correlated (R2 = 0.96) to electrostricted water concentration. Strong correlations were also identified between CO2 solubility and hydration enthalpy and hydration entropy. These linear correlation equations predicted CO2 solubility within 1% of the Bravo Dome brine and within 10% of two mixed brines from literature (a 10 wt % NaCl + KCl + CaCl2 brine and a natural Na+, Ca2+, Cl− type brine with minor amounts of Mg2+, K+, Sr2+ and Br−).
The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program: $5 Billion Will Last About Two Years

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010 created a temporary reinsurance program for sponsors of employment-based health plans that provide retiree health benefits to retirees who are over age 55 and not yet eligible for the Medicare program. The program provides an 80 percent subsidy for retiree claims of between $15,000 and $90,000. Congress appropriated $5 billion for the program, which is effective June 1, 2010, and the subsidy will be available through the earlier of Jan. 1, 2014, or the date when the funds are exhausted. One goal of the program is to provide an incentive for employers to maintain retiree health benefits and assist retirees with their costs for health coverage. Under the early retiree reinsurance program, plan sponsors must be able to show that the subsidies were not used to reduce their level of support for the plan. Subsidies can be used to reduce retiree costs, and sponsors must also show that the subsidies were used to generate savings or had the potential to generate savings. An important question is whether the $5 billion will be exhausted before 2014. This paper finds that if the subsidy were drawn down for all early retirees and their dependents, $2.5 billion of the $5 billion available would be exhausted in the first year of the program. The $5 billion would last no more than two years and would not be available in 2012 or 2013. The PDF for the above title, published in the July 2010 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another July 2010 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “Target-Date Fund Use Over Time.”
Cloning of Entamoeba genes encoding proteolipids of putative vacuolar proton-translocating ATPases

Molecular cloning techniques were used to identify genes encoding the proteolipids of putative vacuolar proton-transporting ATPases (V-ATPases; EC 3.6.1.35) of Entamoeba histolytica (Ehvma3) and Entamoeba dispar. The Ehvma3 gene encoded a 177-amino-acid peptide, with an M(r) of 18,110, which showed extensive positional identities with peptides of E. dispar (92%), Schizosaccharomyces pombe (58%), and humans (56%).
Mapping a QTL(qHTH5) for Heat Tolerance at the Heading Stage on Rice Chromosome 5 and Its Genetic Effect Analysis

Using an interspecific near-isogenic line derived fromOryza sativassp.indica(Shuhui 527)×O.rufipogon Griff.(Yuanjiang common wild rice Hehuatang 3)as materials,a QTL for heat tolerance at the heading stage in the heat-tolerant near-isogenic rice line YJ10-03-01 was analyzed.A total of 360 simple sequence repeat(SSR)markers evenly distributed across 12 chromosomes were used to detect polymorphisms between YJ10-03-01 and indica restorer Shuhui 527,and nine were polymorphic.Single marker analysis revealed that markers on chromosome 5 were associated with heat tolerance at the heading stage using seed setting percentage as index for heat tolerance.By interval mapping using F2population(1,027plants)from YJ10-03-01×Shuhui 527,a QTL for heat tolerance was detected on the short arm of chromosome 5.The QTL explained 8.6% and 19.4% of phenotypic variances in the F2 and F3 generations under heat stress(artificial climate chamber),respectively.Recombinant plants were screened for two flanking markers,RM7320 and RM7444,in F3 generation,and substitution mapping suggested that the QTL was located in an interval of about 304.2kb between markers RM592 and RM17921,we designated the QTL as qHTH5(quantitative trait locus for heat tolerance at the heading stage on chromosome 5).
Rising Hydrograph for Converging Kinematic Wave Flow

AbstractCrossing culverts under highways that run through an alluvial fan is a typical converging kinematic wave flow. Design of such a crossing culvert requires the estimation of peak flow for the selected level of protection. In this paper, it was assumed that the converging kinematic wave flows on the rising hydrograph would move at the constant speed determined by the equilibrium flow depth. The derivation of the analytical solution to predict the rising hydrograph from a given converging culvert entrance is achieved. The simplified analytical solution was further compared with the numerical solutions for several case studies. It was found that the peak flow depends on the rainfall intensity, time of concentration, and location of the culvert entrance on the converging geometry. Although the rising hydrograph does not represent the complete the kinematic wave flow, it does improve the current design methods for the highway crossing culverts under highways through alluvial fans.
Inflammatory Fibrous Histiocytoma Presenting as a Renal Pelvic and Bladder Mass

AbstractThe first case of simultaneous presentation of a bladder and renal pelvic malignant fibrous histiocytoma is reported. Although only a small percentage of fibrous histiocytomas are malignant the lesion is extremely aggressive. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy have been used but only sporadic remissions have been reported. If the tumor is localized wide surgical excision is recommended.
3D Virtual fit simulation technology: strengths and areas of improvement for increased industry adoption

ABSTRACTThis study aims to provide practical implications about 3D virtual fit simulation technology as a fit assessment tool in the fashion industry by analysing similarities and discrepancies between actual and virtual garments in analyses made by users. Basic woven and knit dresses were made using a dressform used in young women’s apparel industry. Fit analysis on the actual and virtual garments showed similar results in the garment total length and width. However, a few areas, such as the neckline, sleeve cap, and shoulder slope, as well as fit issues such as hiking, draglines, gapping, puckering, and roll out, showed significant differences in fit evaluation. A more realistic visualisation of fit issues needs to be developed by building a database of characteristics of various seams and fabrics on the body. This study provided suggestions for areas of improvement in 3D virtual fit simulation technology for increased adoption of the 3D technology for effective prototyping and quality assessment in the...
Tumor Masses of the Neonate

Practical, diagnostic, and therapeutic problems encountered in common neonatal tumors, not necessarily neoplastic, are discussed.
Early endocrine attending surgeon presence increases operating room efficiency

Abstract Background Preincision operating room (OR) preparation varies greatly. Cases requiring exacting preoperative setup may be more sensitive to inconsistent team members and trainees. Leadership and oversight by the surgeon may facilitate a timely start. The study hypothesized that early attending presence in the OR expedites surgery start time, improving efficiency, and decreasing cost. Methods Prospective data collection of endocrine surgery cases at an urban teaching hospital was performed. Time points recorded in minutes. Cost/min of OR time was $54. Patients classified as in the OR ≤10 min before attending arrival or >10 min before attending arrival. Results A total of 227 cases (166 thyroid, 54 parathyroid, 10 adrenal) were performed over 14 mo. Of the patients, 128 were in the OR ≤10 min before attending arrival, and 99 patients were >10 min (3 ± 3 min versus 35 ± 14 min, P 10 min (P Conclusions Early attending presence in the OR shortens time to incision. For parathyroid and adrenal cases, this does not require additional surgeon time. In ORs without consistent teams, early attending presence in the OR improves efficiency and yields significant cost savings.
Anne Thackeray Ritchie, [‘Charlotte Brontë’s Appearance’] (1850), in Letters of Anne Thackeray Ritchie, with Forty-two Additional Letters from her Father William Makepeace Thackeray, edited by Hester Ritchie (London: John Murray, 1924), pp. 269–70

… I forgot to say about the picture1 that it doesn’t convey very much to me. I remember Charlotte Bronte wore a dress of a little mossy light green pattern, she had no curls or loops such as ladies wore then — she did not look pleasant as she does in your picture, and I remember how she frowned at me whenever I looked at her, but perhaps it was specially at me — at least so I imagined. There was a general impression of chin about her face which doesn’t show in this picture.
“Were you there?”: A ritual of legitimacy among Vietnam veterans

This study is an ethnography of speaking which describes and analyzes a communicative ritual found among some Vietnam veterans: a ritual of legitimacy. The research focuses on the communal function of speech and examines how people constitute communal identities with their communication. Participant‐observation, using the ethnography of speaking descriptive‐theoretic framework, was used to study communication rituals within an organization of Vietnam veterans. The analysis revealed a specified sequence of symbolic acts which I term a ritual of legitimacy—which allowed the speakers to create and affirm a sense of communal identity as Vietnam veterans.
Advances of the HUPO Human Proteome Project with broad applications for life sciences research.

The HUPO Human Proteome Project (HPP) was prominently featured in the 15th annual HUPO World Congress of Proteomics in Taiwan on 18–22 September 2016 as part of a very strong program of keynote and...
NATO in Libya and the Future of Transatlantic Cooperation

What does the future hold for NATO? What are the security challenges European countries are going to face in the years ahead? What works and what does not in the Atlantic Alliance? These questions ...
Geometry-adapted Gaussian random field regression

In this paper, we provide a novel regression algorithm based on a Gaussian random field (GRF) indexed by a Riemannian manifold (M, g). We utilize both the labeled and unlabeled data sets to exploit the geometric structure of M. We use the recovered heat (H) kernel as the covariance function for the GRF (HGRF). We propose a Monte Carlo integral theorem on Riemannian manifolds and derive the corresponding convergence rate and approximation error. Based on this theorem, we correctly normalize the recovered eigenvector to make it compatible with Riemannian measure. More importantly, we prove that the HGRF is intrinsic to the original data manifold by comparing the pullback geometry and the original geoemtry of M. Essentially it is a semi-supervised learning method, which means the unlabeled data can be utilized to help identify the geometry structure of the unknown manifold M.
Separating electrons and holes by monolayer increments in van der Waals heterostructures

Since the discovery of graphene and its outstanding chemical, optical, and mechanical properties, other layered materials have been fiercely hunted for throughout various techniques. Thanks to their van der Waals interaction, acting as weak glue, different types of layered materials with mismatched lattices can be stacked with high quality interfaces. The properties of the resulting multilayer structures can be tuned by choice of the materials, layer thicknesses, and sequence in which they are arranged. This opens the possibility for a large array of applications across many different fields. Here we present a systematic study with two-dimensional stacked layered materials, where their properties are tailored monolayer by monolayer. By arranging ${\mathrm{WSe}}_{2},{\mathrm{MoSe}}_{2},{\mathrm{WS}}_{2}$, and ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$ monolayers in predetermined sequences, that are predicted to have a ladder band alignment in both the conduction and valence bands, we separate electrons and holes between the two utmost layers by monolayer increments. The samples studied are a ${\mathrm{WSe}}_{2}$ monolayer, a ${\mathrm{WSe}}_{2}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{MoSe}}_{2}$ bilayer, a ${\mathrm{WSe}}_{2}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{MoSe}}_{2}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{WS}}_{2}$ trilayer, and a ${\mathrm{WSe}}_{2}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{MoSe}}_{2}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{WS}}_{2}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$ four-layer. We observe an increase in absorbance, a decrease in photoluminescence, a variation in interlayer charge transfer, and photocarrier lifetimes that are extended up to a few nanoseconds as additional layers were added. With these results, we demonstrate that van der Waals stacked two-dimensional materials can form effective complex stacks and are promising platforms for fabricating ultrathin and flexible optoelectronics.
A Method of Repeat Photoclinometry for Detecting Kilometer-Scale Ice Sheet Surface Evolution

Small-scale glaciological processes can drive large-scale ice sheet behavior but remain underreported due to a paucity of surface elevation measurements in remote polar regions. Satellite images provide a relatively long record of spatially dense surface observations, which allow us to investigate changes in ice sheet topography on the spatial scales of 1–10 km. Inferring surface topography from satellite images is an established technique, but in previous efforts, strict requirements for illumination conditions and image quality have led to a great quantity of discarded data. Relaxing quality requirements and fitting linear trends to the time series of image-derived surface topography allow inclusion of more total signal and enable blending data from multiple platforms. As a proof of concept, we combine 121 MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer images to develop a 250-m resolution map of surface elevation change at Totten Glacier, Antarctica achieving a 1- $\sigma $ uncertainty of 0.22 $\textrm {m}\,\textrm {a}^{-1}$ for a 15-year period. Our method of repeat photoclinometry agrees with repeat laser altimetry while revealing clear patterns of surface elevation change associated with ice advection, channelized ice shelf basal melt, subglacial lake activity, and possible grounding line migration.
diPGA: Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Adiponectin (ADN)

Adiponectin (ADN) is a protein hormone secreted by adipose tissues. Correlations have been discovered between low ADN plasma levels and insulin resistance with increased fasting glucose levels. In order to be diagnosed with T2D, individuals will be given an A1C Hemoglobin test, where a result of 6.5% or higher on two separate occasions constitutes diagnoses. Recent trends depict diabetes, specifically T2D, as a world wide epidemic. Researchers have found genetic markers as factors contributing to the acquisition of T2D, particularly in the Hispanic demographic. The gene associated with diabetes among Hispanics is a specific locus, known as SLC16A11, found in the 17th chromosome of the human genome. The pathogenesis of SLC16A11alters the carrier’s ability to metabolize lipids and increases their intracellular triacylglycerol levels. The locus was traced back to ancestral mating among Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. A gene therapy medication known as diPGA, was constructed replicating the SLC16A11 locus and attaching ADN and IGF-1 onto receptor sites, and tested among Hispanic subjects throughout Miami-Dade County. Subjects were given the medication to observe if increasing ADN levels in individuals would have an adverse affect on fasting glucose levels (A1C%). Results illustrated that Experimental Groups receiving diPGA showed a significant upward spike in ADN levels, rising steadily and stabilizing during a span of 36 months. Adversely, a negative correlation was noted in reference to fasting glucose levels (A1C%), showing steady decrease and stabilization towards the cessation of the 36-month trial. The results of this clinical trial raise implications that can positively impact the scientific, medical, and Hispanic communities worldwide if successfully replicated in future studies.
Connecting with Generation Z: Approaches in Nursing Education

Abstract Generation Z, a unique and truly digital native generation, is now entering college and the workplace. This article identifies generational influences and distinctive characteristics of this group, which may challenge nurse educators and require changes in teaching–learning design strategies and approaches. Specific educational suggestions and ways to support members of Generation Z in higher education and the workplace are offered.