cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Chk1 Includes Chromatin Association and 14-3-3 Binding following Phosphorylation on Ser-345

Checkpoints are biochemical pathways that provide the cell with mechanisms to detect DNA damage and respond by arresting the cell cycle to allow DNA repair. The conserved checkpoint kinase Chk1 regulates mitotic progression in response to DNA damage and replication interference by blocking the activation of Cdk1/cyclin B. Chk1 is phosphorylated on Ser-317 and Ser-345 following a checkpoint signal, a process that is regulated by Atr, and by the sensor complexes containing Rad17 and Hus1. We show that Chk1 is associated with chromatin in cycling cells and that the chromatin-associated Chk1 is phosphorylated in the absence of exogenous DNA damage. The UV-induced Ser-345-phosphorylated forms of Chk1 that appear minutes after treatment are predominantly associated with chromatin. The Ser-345 site is in a 14-3-3 consensus binding motif and is required for nuclear retention of Chk1 following an hydroxyurea-induced checkpoint signal; nonetheless, Ser-345 or Ser-317 are not required for the chromatin association of Chk1. Hus1, a member of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen-like damage recognition complex plays a role in the phosphorylation of Chk1 on Ser-345, however, Hus1 is not required for phosphorylation on Ser-317 or for Chk1 localization to chromatin. These results indicate that there is more than one step in Chk1 activation and that the regulation of this checkpoint signaling is achieved at least in part through phosphorylation of Ser-345, which serves to localize Chk1 in the nucleus presumably by blocking Crm1-dependent nuclear export.
Physician-driven management of patient progress notes in an intensive care unit

We describe fieldwork in which we studied hospital ICU physicians and their strategies and documentation aids for composing patient progress notes. We then present a clinical documentation prototype, activeNotes, that supports the creation of these notes, using techniques designed based on our fieldwork. ActiveNotes integrates automated, context-sensitive patient data retrieval, and user control of automated data updates and alerts via tagging, into the documentation process. We performed a qualitative study of activeNotes with 15 physicians at the hospital to explore the utility of our information retrieval and tagging techniques. The physicians indicated their desire to use tags for a number of purposes, some of them extensions to what we intended, and others new to us and unexplored in other systems of which we are aware. We discuss the physicians' responses to our prototype and distill several of their proposed uses of tags: to assist in note content management, communication with other clinicians, and care delivery.
A Distributed Public Key Caching Scheme in Large Wireless Networks

When asymmetric cryptography techniques are used in wireless networks, the public keys of the nodes need to be widely available and signed by a Certificate Authority (CA). However, the existence of a single CA in large wireless networks such as mobile ad hoc networks and wireless sensor networks can lead the hotspot problem and become a security weakness. In this work, we propose a distributed technique to cache the public keys on regular nodes. Due to the limited memory size that each node is allowed to dedicate for key caching, only some keys can be cached. In our proposed technique, each node caches the public keys of a mix of local and remote nodes. Access to the public keys of other nodes is possible based on a chain of trust. Multiple copies of public keys from different chains of trusted nodes provide fault tolerance. We explain our technique in detail and investigate its salient features in this work. An interesting observation is the need to balance caching public keys of local nodes and remote nodes.
Some early travails of tracing axonal pathways in the brain

The first great flowering of Neuroanatomy began about 1870, reached its height in the late 1880s and, with some notable exceptions, went into a marked decline during the two decades between the first and the second World War. In this essay I will relate some of my personal experiences during the early stages of a second flowering of Neuroanatomy that began some fifty years ago and ultimately led to the multifaceted Neuroanatomy we now know.
Policy barriers to sustainable agriculture

U.S. agriculture, which has developed in a mixed environment of private initiative and government support, is very successful by many measures. American farmers produce record levels of food and fiber per farm worker at very low budgetary cost to consumers. Recently, however, concern about resource depletion and agrichemical pollution has caused critics to question the environmental sustainability of the agricultural production system. Furthermore, pressures to trim the growing contribution of agricultural subsidies to the national budget deficit have led legislators and others to question the sustainability of the federal farm programs. Low agrichemical input or sustainable agricultural practices, such as nitrogen-fixing legumes in rotation with cereals, could reduce environmental damage. The selectivity and structure of historical farm programs, however, have economically favored conventional systems. Farm programs subsidize only about half the total value of agricultural products. Feed and food grains, cotton, and dairy products receive the lion's share of payments. Soil-building crops like forage legumes, most edible legumes, hay, and pasture are excluded. Secondly, the structure of commodity programs favors intensive production of program crops supported by high fertilizer and pesticide applications. This incentive emanates from the policy of computing the farm-wide deficiency payment for a program crop proportionately to the farm's historical “base” acreage and “established” yield for the crop. The leading farm program crops of corn, wheat, cotton, and soybeans occupied slightly over 60 percent of cropped acres and received at least 65 percent of all U.S. agricultural pesticides and fertilizer in the mid 19809s. Despite budget pressures and environmental concerns, near term termination of farm programs or decoupling them from production of particular commodities is unlikely. Fears about aggravating financial stress, reducing land values, and harming agrichemical supply businesses in program crop-growing regions will promote cautious incremental change. Recent promising signs of “creeping decoupling” include the 1986 freeze on established yields, the gradual reduction in target prices, the permitting of multi-year grass or legume plantings as set aside acreage, and the loosening of base acreage restrictions within the 1988 Drought Relief Bill.
Thermal-aware job allocation and scheduling for three dimensional chip multiprocessor

In this paper, we propose a thermal-aware job allocation and scheduling algorithm for three-dimensional (3D) chip multiprocessor (CMP). The proposed algorithm assigns hot jobs to the cores close to the heat sink and cool jobs to the cores far from the heat sink, subject to thermal constraints. The direct effect of the proposed algorithm on a 3D-CMP system is that, the heat from hot jobs is removed off the chip faster than the temperature-aware methods. Therefore we are able to keep the chip cooler and in better thermal condition. Experimental results show that, comparing to the temperature-aware method, our algorithm achieves: 1) less hot spots; 2) better performance; 3) smaller temporal temperature variation; 4) lower peak temperature. The proposed algorithm reduces hot spots by more than 95% when workload contains cool jobs; and by 36% when workload does not contain cool jobs. It also boosts the system performance by 5% on average under various workloads. The temporal temperature variation is reduced by 60% and its standard deviation is decreased by 50%. In addition, the proposed algorithm achieves 1.8°C ∼5°C reduction in peak temperature.
The impact of professional service firms’ expansion challenges on internationalization processes and performance

In making the distinctions in the internationalization of capital-intensive service firms (CISFs) vs. knowledge-intensive service firms (KIFs), KIFs were found to realize financial gains in earlier stages of internationalization than CISFs. Should not this make them more likely to internationalize? Still, service firms are significantly more ‘home oriented’ than manufacturing firms. This paper explains why professional service firms (PSFs), a subcategory of KIFs, are likely to follow a more cautious internationalization process and proposes a spider web-like expansion process. Then, it explains how PSFs’ characteristics of (1) clients’ dependence (2) knowledge commoditization, and (3) executives’ hubris moderate the internationalization to performance relationship.
18F-Fluorodeoxyglycosylamines: Maillard reaction of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose with biological amines.

The Maillard reaction of sugars and amines resulting in the formation of glycosylamines and Amadori products is of biological significance, for drug delivery, role in central nervous system, and other potential applications. We have examined the interaction of (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18) F-FDG) with biological amines to study the formation of (18) F-fluorodeoxyglycosylamines ((18) F-FDGly). Respective amines N-allyl-2-aminomethylpyrrolidine (NAP) and 2-(4'-aminophenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole (PIB precursor) were mixed with FDG to provide glycosylamines, FDGNAP and FDGBTA. Radiosynthesis using (18) F-FDG (2-5 mCi) was carried out to provide (18) F-FDGNAP and (18) F-FDGBTA. Binding of FDGBTA and (18) F-FDGBTA was evaluated in human brain sections of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and control subjects using autoradiography. Both FDGNAP and FDGBTA were isolated as stable products. Kinetics of (18) F-FDGNAP reaction indicated a significant product at 4 h (63% radiochemical yield). (18) F-FDGBTA was prepared in 57% yield. Preliminary studies of FDGBTA showed displacement of (3) H-PIB (reduced by 80%), and (18) F-FDGBTA indicated selective binding to Aβ-amyloid plaques present in postmortem AD human brain, with a gray matter ratio of 3 between the AD patients and control subjects. We have demonstrated that (18) F-FDG couples with amines under mild conditions to form (18) F-FDGly in a manner similar to click chemistry. Although these amine derivatives are stable in vitro, stability in vivo and selective binding is under investigation.
Development of Computational Tools for Large Scale Wind Simulations

Large scale wind flow simulation over complex topography requires tremendous amount of computational resources both in terms of CPU hours and storage requirement. Use of complex turbulence models such as large eddy simulation (LES) significantly add to the computational demand. In practice, a relatively less accurate turbulence model such as Reynolds Average Navier Stokes (RANS) equations are solved due to computational resource limitations. If computing power is available, parallel simulation can be carried out to cut down simulation time without degrading the quality of flow modeling. Coarse grained parallelism in a distributed memory cluster is traditionally achieved by domain partitioning strategies. The whole domain is partitioned into smaller sub-domains which are then assigned to a processor in a cluster of computers. In this work a non-overlapping type of domain decomposition method is implemented where information such as pressure and velocity is exchanged at the boundaries of the domain through ghost cells. The solution of all sub domains goes on simultaneously. The message passing interface (MPI) is used to exchange information between sub-domains. The second focus of this work is to examine suitability of general purpose graphic processing units (GPGPU) for solving fluid flow problems. Nowadays GPUs are becoming a much cheaper alternative for speeding up CFD simulations significantly. Speed ups of up to 100 times compared to a single CPU implementation have been reported in literature for simple flow cases. In this study, NVIDIA’s CUDA programming is used to exploit the fine grained parallelism offered by GPUs, and use it for practical fluid flow problems. Both methods of parallelization are combined at the solver level so that a mixed CPU-GPU computation is possible. Finally the speed up numbers obtained for different size problems are compared.
Guided by Theory, Informed by Practice: Training and Support for the Good Behavior Game, a Classroom-Based Behavior Management Strategy.

Moving evidence-based practices for classroom behavior management into real-world settings is a high priority for education and public health. This paper describes the development and use of a model of training and support for the Good Behavior Game (GBG), one of the few preventive interventions shown to have positive outcomes for elementary school children lasting through to young adulthood, ages 19-21, including reductions in the use of drugs and alcohol, school-based mental health services, and suicide ideation and attempts. We first describe the conceptual framework guiding the development of the model of training and support. Data on implementation of the model, from an ongoing trial of GBG being conducted in partnership with the Houston Independent School District, are then presented. We end with a discussion of the lessons learned and the implications for the next stage of research and practice.
An intercomparison of hydrological network-design technologies

Abstract Two network-design technologies are compared by random sub-sampling of actual streamflow data. The technologies, Network Analysis for Regional Information (NARI) and Network Analysis Using Generalized Least Squares (NAUGLS), have a common objective, viz. to maximize regional information within a limited budget and time horizon. The data used for intercomparison are from a network of 146 streamgauges in the central part of the United States. In general, the results for the illustrative example indicate that the NAUGLS method conveys more information than the NARI method to the network designer interested in maximizing regional information about mean annual flows with a limited budget.
The prospects of creating ‘fiscal space’ for the health sector

Never has there been a time when the visibility of the health problems of low-income countries (LICs) has been so prominent in the world’s policy circles. Industrial governments have scaled up their aid for spending on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programmes; major foundations are providing major financing of immunization and vaccination programmes as well as research efforts to develop vaccines and cures for pervasive LIC diseases; non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have intensified their involvement in the delivery of health services; and government leaders now speak to the worry of a global flu pandemic. Overall spending in the health sector has increased dramatically in some cases, and countries are now grappling with how to staff clinics, hospitals and vaccination programmes. These efforts in the health sector are occurring in the context of the wider global concern about the financial costs of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), since these will involve spending on education, water, sanitation and housing, as well as the physical infrastructure needed to foster rapid economic growth. In this environment, concerns have emerged as to how to find the fiscal resources (or ‘fiscal space’) required to finance the required spending on health. Will macroeconomic constraints prove an independent limiting factor on what governments can spend? In what follows, I will try to clarify the issues that are involved in the fiscal space debate – describing how fiscal space can be created, indicating the macro and microeconomic factors that may limit a government’s capacity to expand health sector spending, and underscoring the importance of budget sustainability as a factor that needs careful consideration as governments elaborate scaling-up plans. I will use the cases of Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania to illustrate some of the issues involved.
Attachment and Loss: A Test of Three Competing Models on the Association between Attachment-Related Avoidance and Adaptation to Bereavement

It is widely assumed that emotionally avoidant or defensive individuals will have a difficult time adjusting to the loss of a loved one. However, recent research suggests that defensive individuals tend to adapt quite well to loss. Such findings pose a number of challenges to attachment theory--a theory that has traditionally held that emotional avoidance is indicative of poor psychological adjustment. In this article, the authors argue that contemporary models of individual differences in adult attachment allow the derivation of at least three competing hypotheses regarding the relationship between avoidant attachment and adaptation to loss. These hypotheses are tested using two-wave data on 59 bereaved adults. Results indicate that whereas some avoidant individuals (i.e., those who are fearfully avoidant) have a difficult time adapting to the loss of a loved one, other avoidant adults (i.e., those who are dismissingly avoidant) show a pattern of resilience to loss.
GABAB receptor-mediated feed-forward circuit dysfunction in the mouse model of fragile X syndrome

Key points Cortico-hippocampal feed-forward circuits formed by the temporoammonic (TA) pathway exhibit a marked increase in excitation/inhibition ratio and abnormal spike modulation functions in Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mice. Inhibitory, but not excitatory, synapse dysfunction underlies cortico-hippocampal feed-forward circuit abnormalities in Fmr1 KO mice. GABA release is reduced in TA-associated inhibitory synapses of Fmr1 KO mice in a GABAB receptor-dependent manner. Inhibitory synapse and feed-forward circuit defects are mediated predominately by presynaptic GABAB receptor signalling in the TA pathway of Fmr1 KO mice. GABAB receptor-mediated inhibitory synapse defects are circuit-specific and are not observed in the Schaffer collateral pathway-associated inhibitory synapses in stratum radiatum. Abstract Circuit hyperexcitability has been implicated in neuropathology of fragile X syndrome, the most common inheritable cause of intellectual disability. Yet, how canonical unitary circuits are affected in this disorder remains poorly understood. Here, we examined this question in the context of the canonical feed-forward inhibitory circuit formed by the temporoammonic (TA) branch of the perforant path, the major cortical input to the hippocampus. TA feed-forward circuits exhibited a marked increase in excitation/inhibition ratio and major functional defects in spike modulation tasks in Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mice, a fragile X mouse model. Changes in feed-forward circuits were caused specifically by inhibitory, but not excitatory, synapse defects. TA-associated inhibitory synapses exhibited increase in paired-pulse ratio and in the coefficient of variation of IPSPs, consistent with decreased GABA release probability. TA-associated inhibitory synaptic transmission in Fmr1 KO mice was also more sensitive to inhibition of GABAB receptors, suggesting an increase in presynaptic GABAB receptor (GABABR) signalling. Indeed, the differences in inhibitory synaptic transmission between Fmr1 KO and wild-type (WT) mice were eliminated by a GABABR antagonist. Inhibition of GABABRs or selective activation of presynaptic GABABRs also abolished the differences in the TA feed-forward circuit properties between Fmr1 KO and WT mice. These GABABR-mediated defects were circuit-specific and were not observed in the Schaffer collateral pathway-associated inhibitory synapses. Our results suggest that the inhibitory synapse dysfunction in the cortico-hippocampal pathway of Fmr1 KO mice causes hyperexcitability and feed-forward circuit defects, which are mediated in part by a presynaptic GABABR-dependent reduction in GABA release.
Femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty.

T a ( w r B u r HE ACCURACY AND PREDICTABILITY OF FEMTOSECond lasers not only provides new treatment options, but also increases clinical outcomes in refractive rocedures and corneal transplantations. The most imporant advantage of femtosecond laser technology is the bility to create vertical and lamellar corneal incisions ith a limitless variety of shapes and angulations at a recise depth. As a result, femtosecond laser can be used in eratoplasty surgeries to prepare perfectly matched donor nd recipient corneas, which decreases the amount of ostoperative astigmatism and helps tissue alignment.
The fate of proliferating cells in the injured adult spinal cord

Endogenous cell proliferation and gliogenesis have been extensively documented in spinal cord injury, particularly in terms of proliferating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Despite the characterization of different proliferating cell types in the intact and injured spinal cord, the exact sources of new glial cells have remained elusive. Most studies on cell fate within the spinal cord have focused on following the progeny of one specific population of dividing cells, thus making it difficult to understand the relative contributions of each mitotic cell population to the formation of new glia after spinal cord injury. A recent study from the Frisen laboratory is the first to quantitatively and qualitatively characterize the response of ependymal cells, oligodendrocyte progenitors, and astrocytes in parallel by using transgenic reporter mice corresponding to each cell type. The investigators characterize the distribution and phenotype of progeny, along with the quantitative contributions of each progenitor type to newly formed cells. Their findings provide valuable insight into the endogenous cell replacement response to spinal cord injury, thus paving the way for advances in modulating specific populations of progenitor cells with the goal of promoting structural and functional recovery after spinal cord injury.
Principles of Meso Dynamics

This last chapter summarizes all of the abstract principles that have been developed from Chaps. 4 to 8. Thirty-six principles have been enumerated in these chapters, and the goal of this third volume of Theoretical Principles of Sociology has been, as the title implies, to develop high abstract principles or laws of sociology. These explain the dynamics of the social universe as it unfolds at the macro-, micro-, and mesolevels of organization. They demonstrate that it is possible to have a natural science of the social universe, just like all other natural sciences.
Construction of LDPC codes for AWGN and binary erasure channels based on finite fields

This paper presents a method for constructing structured LDPC codes based on finite fields and affine mappings. The Tanner graphs of these codes have girth at least six. Experimental results show that codes constructed based on this method with iterative decoding perform well on both the AWGN and binary erasure channels. Furthermore, codes constructed based on prime fields are quasi-cyclic.
Covarion Structure in Plastid Genome Evolution: A New Statistical Test

Covarion models of molecular evolution allow the rate of evolution of a site to vary through time. There are few simple and effective tests for covarion evolution, and consequently, little is known about the presence of covarion processes in molecular evolution. We describe two new tests for covarion evolution and demonstrate with simulations that they perform well under a wide range of conditions. A survey of covarion evolution in sequenced plastid genomes found evidence of covarion drift in at least 26 out of 57 genes. Covarion evolution is most evident in first and second codon positions of the plastid genes, and there is no evidence of covarion evolution in third codon positions. Therefore, the significant covarion tests are likely due to changes in the selective constraints of amino acids. The frequency of covarion evolution within the plastid genome suggests that covarion processes of evolution were important in generating the observed patterns of sequence variation among plastid genomes.
Role of Endothelial Nitric Oxide and Smooth Muscle Potassium Channels in Cerebral Arteriolar Dilation in Response to Acidosis

Background and Purpose — Potassium channels or nitric oxide or both are major mediators of acidosis-induced dilation in the cerebral circulation. However, these contributions depend on a variety of factors such as species and vessel location. The present study was designed to clarify whether potassium channels and endothelial nitric oxide are involved in acidosis-induced dilation of isolated rat cerebral arterioles. Methods — Cerebral arterioles were cannulated and monitored with an inverted microscope. Acidosis (pH 6.8 to 7.4) produced by adding hydrogen ions mediated dilation of the cerebral arterioles in a concentration-dependent manner. The role of nitric oxide and potassium channels in response to acidosis was examined with several specific inhibitors and endothelial damage. Results — The dilation was significantly inhibited by potassium chloride (30 mmol/L) and glibenclamide (3 μmol/L; ATP-sensitive potassium channel inhibitor). We found that 30 μmol/L BaCl2 (concentration-dependent potassium channel inhibitor) also affected the dilation; however, an additional treatment of 3 μmol/L glibenclamide did not produce further inhibition. Tetraethylammonium ion (1 mmol/L; calcium-activated potassium channel inhibitor) and 4-aminopyridine (100 μmol/L; voltage-dependent potassium channel inhibitor) as well as ouabain (10 μmol/L; Na-K ATPase inhibitor) and N -methylsulphonyl-6-(2-proparglyloxyphenyl) hexanamide (1 μmol/L; cytochrome P450 epoxygenase inhibitor) did not alter acidotic dilation. N ω-Monomethyl-l-arginine (10 μmol/L) and N ω-nitro-l-arginine (10 μmol/L) as nitric oxide synthase inhibitor blunted the dilation. Furthermore, the dilation was significantly attenuated after the endothelial impairment. Additional treatment with glibenclamide (3 μmol/L) further reduced the dilation in response to acidosis. Conclusions — Endothelial nitric oxide and smooth muscle ATP-sensitive potassium channels contribute to acidosis-induced dilation of rat cerebral arterioles. Endothelial damage caused by pathological conditions such as subarachnoid hemorrhage or traumatic brain injury may contribute to reduced blood flow despite injury-induced cerebral acidosis.
Forest-land use complementarity modifies community structure of a tropical herpetofauna

Abstract Different human land uses are not uniform in their ecological effects on remnant faunas. Explicitly recognizing the relative habitat value of prevalent land uses in comparison to forest will help improve conservation theory and practice in human-modified landscapes. To better understand how common land uses influence habitat quality and buffer forest fragments in tropical landscapes, we characterized reptile and amphibian assemblages across forest-pasture and forest-peach palm (palmito) ecotones in northeastern Costa Rica. We found that forest remnants contained significantly greater overall richness and abundance of reptiles and amphibians than either palmito or pasture; palmito supported greater species richness and abundance of herpetofauna than pastures. Assemblages of reptiles and amphibians in palmito also exhibited greater similarity to those found in forests than did assemblages in pasture, particularly for reptiles. Species exhibited distinctive responses to forest-land use ecotones, with some species reaching their highest abundances in non-forest habitat. Our results show that two important land uses in Costa Rica differ in their capacity to buffer forest patches and promote landscape connectivity for reptile and amphibian populations. Understanding these differences is crucial for identifying matrix environments that can complement the natural forest habitats of sensitive reptile and amphibian species.
The effect of urban street gang densities on small area homicide incidence in a large metropolitan county, 1994-2002.

The presence of street gangs has been hypothesized as influencing overall levels of violence in urban communities through a process of gun–drug diffusion and cross-type homicide. This effect is said to act independently of other known correlates of violence, i.e., neighborhood poverty. To test this hypothesis, we independently assessed the impact of population exposure to local street gang densities on 8-year homicide rates in small areas of Los Angeles County, California. Homicide data from the Los Angeles County Coroners Office were analyzed with original field survey data on street gang locations, while controlling for the established covariates of community homicide rates. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses explicated strong relationships between homicide rates, gang density, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic structure. Street gang densities alone had cumulative effects on small area homicide rates. Local gang densities, along with high school dropout rates, high unemployment rates, racial and ethnic concentration, and higher population densities, together explained 90% of the variation in local 8-year homicide rates. Several other commonly considered covariates were insignificant in the model. Urban environments with higher densities of street gangs exhibited higher overall homicide rates, independent of other community covariates of homicide. The unique nature of street gang killings and their greater potential to influence future local rates of violence suggests that more direct public health interventions are needed alongside traditional criminal justice mechanisms to combat urban violence and homicides.
Flipping the Classroom

In this chapter, we discuss a new movement among educators that goes beyond simply enhancing lectures. Here the lecture is replaced entirely with new types of learning, while preserving the efficiencies of the large group format. In this model, the aim is to maximize the availability of faculty expertise and feedback, take advantage of group learning, and ensure that learning is reinforced through application rather than memorization. This chapter details how to prepare, implement and troubleshoot a “flipped” classroom through a variety of customizable strategies.
Electronic Properties of Improved Amorphous Silicon-Germanium Alloys Deposited by a Low Temperature Hot Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition Process

We report novel material properties of a series of a-Si,Ge:H alloys grown by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition under low filament temperature (˜1800°C) and low substrate temperature (˜200-300°C). These alloys exhibit significantly improved electronic properties including low defect densities and sharp band tails (Urbach energies ≤ 45meV even for Ge fractions as high as 47at.%). On the other hand, comparisons of the transient photocapacitance and transient photocurrent spectra do not indicate very efficient hole collection in these materials. We found two distinct regimes of light-induced degradation in the alloy sample with 29at.% Ge fraction, possibly corresponding to the light induced increase of Ge and Si dangling bonds, respectively.
Afterload reduction in chronic aortic regurgitation: It sure seems like a good idea

“The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.” Frank Herbert (1920 to 1986) ([1][1]) In this issue of the Journal , Scognamigilio et al. ([2][2]) from Padua, Italy, follow up their prior observation on the value of afterload reduction in patients with aortic
The final size of the c4-free process

We consider the following random graph process: starting with n isolated vertices, add edges uniformly at random provided no such edge creates a copy of C4. We show that, with probability tending to 1 as n â ∞, the final graph produced by this process has maximum degree O((nlogn)1/3) and consequently size O(n4/3(logn)1/3), which are sharp up to constants. This confirms conjectures of Bohman and Keevash and of Osthus and Taraz, and improves upon previous bounds due to Bollobas and Riordan and Osthus and Taraz.
INTERACTION AND ACTIVITIES OF NAD+ AND NAD+ ANALOGS WITH FOUR DEHYDROGENASES

The effects of six NAD + analogs on the K m , V max , K D , fluorescence quenching, k 1 , and decomposition of the E·NADH complex with four dehydrogenases are reported. The interaction of the adenine ribose and adenine of NAD + of reactions done in solution, where catalysis is complete is compared with the x-ray maps where catalysis is not complete . It appears that the 2′-and 3′hydroxyl groups of NAD + are not essential for bonding, but are essential for proper orientation of the nicotinamide ring to produce a productive complex. NAD + , 2′dNAD + , and 3′dNAD + have the same affinity with the enzymes. It may be that the 2′hydroxyl group of NAD + does not result in a typical 3–5 kcal/mole hydroxyl-carboxylate hydrogen bond. Alternatively, the 2′-and 3′dNAD + may not be positioned correctly in the conenzyme domain for maximum catalysis. This requires that the intrinsic binding energy for NAD + , 2′-and 3′-dNAD + be the same. Because yeast ADH and presumably horse liver ADH, GAPDH and LDH have compulsory ordered kinetics, we observed a decrease in both k 1 and the rate of decomposition of the E·NADH complex. Replacement of adenosine of NAD + with tubercidin, formycin, inosine or e-adenosine produced changes in the K m , K D , and V max that are discussed in terms of their accomodations within the coenzyme domain.
A CASE OF IgA NEPHROPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD ALLERGY

An 8-year-old boy with IgA nephropathy, who is hypersensitive since infancy to many foods including hen's eggs, cow's milk and soy beans, has been studied. Specific IgE antibodies to these foods were detected in his serum. The patient has taken small amounts of milk and eggs, and hematuria was noticed when he was 7 years old. After admission to our study, he was given a diet completely free of egg and milk proteins, and the amount of protein and red blood cells in the urine decreased gradually without drug therapy. After oral provocation tests with hen egg white or cow's milk, an increase in the protein/creatine ratio of morning urine was noticed. However, specific IgA antibodies to either egg white or cow's milk proteins could not be detected in his serum by the immunablotting technique. In this case, ingestion of egg or milk was suspected to have increased the urinary protein/creatinine ratio by a mechanism other than that mediated by specific IgA antibodies to these food antigens.
Stable long term avoidance responding and fixed ratio avoidance training

Two studies are reported dealing with avoidance conditioning in rats. In the first study the stability of the shuttle response was investigated in 4 Ss running 2 hrs. a day over an 18 day period. Stable long term avoidance responding was obtained. Except for extinction, no decrement in avoidance responding developed at anytime. In the second study, fixed ratio reinforcement of the avoidance response was attempted in 10 Ss. Eight Ss acquired the continuously reinforced avoidance response; 2 Ss reached a 2:1 ratio criterion; 4 Ss acquired a 4:1 ratio, and 2 Ss went through a 7:1 and 10:1 ratio. One of the latter Ss attained a fixed ratio of 21:1.
Successful Practices for the Strategic Use of Political Parody and Satire Lessons From the P6 Symposium and the 2012 Election Campaign

On November 28 and 29, 2012, ten scholars of political parody and satire and six parody/viral video producers met at the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania to share their expertise, discuss the democratic uses of parody, and develop a set of strategies to guide the successful use of political parody in generating positive democratic outcomes. The symposium, P6: Professors and Practitioners Pontificate on Political Parody and Persuasion, was cosponsored by the Center for Political Communication at the University of Delaware and funded in part by a grant from the Omidyar Network’s Democracy Fund. The meeting served as a follow-up to the yearlong Annenberg Public Policy Center online project, FlackCheck.org. FlackCheck.org, the sister site to its companion FactCheck.org, is an educational site that uses entertaining visual formats and humor to inform the public and debunk false political claims. The November conference began with a keynote from Trevor Potter, former head of the ...
Robotique et intervention à distance. Le point de vue d'un service de maintenance

Depuis que Framatome intervient pour des operations de maintenance dans les circuits primaires (par exemple Boite a eau (B.A.E.) de Generateur de Vapeur (G.V.)) des centrales nucleaires, Framatome a toujours eu deux axes typiques d'interventions : soit une intervention humaine directe sur le lieu de travail (penetration du personnel muni d'un outil manuel dans la B.A.E.) pour les interventions ponctuelles, soit une intervention a distance (utilisation d'outils automatiques commandes a distance) pour les interventions longues ou repetitives. Nos intervenants sont donc souvent utilisateurs de moyens dits robotiques. Framatome presente ici un apercu des moyens utilises par son service de maintenance specialisee sur les sites nucleaires (robots, controle-commandes dits deportes), plus particulierement pour les interventions en B.A.E. de G.V., puis un bilan de la cohabitation des intervenants avec des outillages souvent complexes mais necessaires a la realisation de leur travail et enfin les perspectives s'offrant a Framatome pour les annees a venir.
Convolutions and Computer Graphics

The convolution of two f,unctions is central to the operation of filtering in signal processing and in image processing. Now the concept of convolution has found a major application in computer graphics. Conversely, computer graphics makes it possible to visualize the effect of convolving two functions and so can be used as a valuable educational tool; there is an endless variety of graphical effects that can be achieved using two-dimensional convolutions. First let us review a few facts about convolutions. Let f(x) and k(x) be real-valued functions of a real variable. Recall that the convolution of f with k is a new function of a real variable
Surveillance of effectiveness of comprehensive intervention for chronic non-communicable diseases and related behavioral risk factors in local residents

Objective To study behavioral risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases in local residents of Shijingshan, Beijing to provide evidence for their comprehensive prevention and control with health education and to evaluate its effectiveness.Methods Comprehensive health education and behavioral intervention were instituted in varied residents selected from two local neighborhoods, institutions and schools and their effectiveness was evaluated by surveillance.Results After comprehensive intervention, awareness of knowledge about chronic non-communicable diseases in local residents improved greatly, their exposure to behavioral risk factors reduced, and most changed their attitude and behaviors related to life-style diseases, but no obvious changes occurred in less than half of their behavior, indicating that health promotion with comprehensive prevention and treatment for chronic non-communicable diseases was effective, but more time is needed from knowledge of health to healthy behaviors.Conclusion Comprehensive intervention for life-style-related disease could change their risk factors in local residents, which is an effective way to decrease incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases.
Integrated design workflow and a new tool for urban rainwater management

Low Impact Development (LID) practices provide more sustainable solutions than traditional piping and storm ponds in stormwater management. However, architects are not equipped with the knowledge to perform runoff calculations at early design stage. In response to this dilemma, we have developed an open-source stormwater runoff evaluation and management tool, Rainwater+. It is seamlessly integrated into computer-aided design (CAD) software to receive instant estimate on the stormwater runoff volume of architecture and landscape designs. Designers can thereby develop appropriate rainwater management strategies based on local precipitation data, specific standards, site conditions and economic considerations. We employed Rainwater+ to conduct two case studies illustrating the importance of considering stormwater runoff in the early design stage. The first case study showed that integrating rainwater management into design modeling is critical for determining LID practice at any specific site. The second case study demonstrated the need of visualizing runoff flow direction in assisting the placement of LID practices at proper locations when the terrain is of great complexity.
Other Issues of Distortion and Embellishment in Fania Fénelon’s Playing for Time

In this chapter Eischeid continues her expose of the many issues of distortion and embellishment contained in Fenelon’s Holocaust memoir Playing for Time. Topics addressed include rehearsal hours and night work, the controversy over Fenelon’s age and its significance, false repertoire claims, fear of retribution for bad performance, false portrayals of Josef Kramer and Josef Mengele and the sexualization of the SS, embellished or manufactured details about major camp events, the inaccurate portrayal of Oberaufseherin Maria Mandl, and the untrue representations of other Auschwitz prisoners including Zofia Czajkowska, Fanny Birkenwald, Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, Helene Scheps, Violette Jacquet Silberstein, and the Ovitz dwarf family.
Subcutaneous Testosterone Pellet Insertion

Testosterone pellets are an FDA-approved form of testosterone replacement therapy for men with testosterone deficiency. Testopel® is a long-acting subcutaneous implantable testosterone pellet that requires a dosing frequency of every 3–4 months.
Integrative Medicine in Head and Neck Cancer

Objective Complementary and alternative medicine, or integrative medicine, has become increasingly popular among patients with head and neck cancer. Despite its increasing prevalence, many patients feel uncomfortable discussing such therapies with their physicians, and many physicians are unaware and underequipped to evaluate or discuss their use with patients. The aim of this article is to use recent data to outline the decision making inherent to integrative medicine utilization among patients with head and neck cancer, to discuss the ethical implications inherent to balancing integrative and conventional approaches to treatment, and to highlight available resources to enhance head and neck cancer providers' understanding of integrative medicine. Data Sources Randomized controlled trials involving integrative medicine or complementary and alternative medicine treatment for cancer patients. Review Methods Trials were drawn from a systematic PubMed database search categorized into cancer prevention, treatment, and symptom management. Conclusions Integrative medicine is gaining popularity for the management of cancer and is most commonly used for symptom management. A number of randomized controlled trials provide data to support integrative therapies, yet physicians who treat head and neck cancer may be faced with ethical dilemmas and practical barriers surrounding incorporation of integrative medicine. Implications for Practice In the management of head and neck cancer, there is an increasing demand for awareness of, dialogue about, and research evaluating integrative medicine therapies. It is important for otolaryngologists to become aware of integrative therapy options, their risks and benefits, and resources for further information to effectively counsel their patients.
Self-reported sleep disturbance and survival in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Summary Neither the prevalence of sleep disturbance nor its association with fatigue and overall survival (OS) are well understood for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). New patients at our institution (n = 251; 2006–2014) completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, which includes questions about sleep and fatigue. Fifty-three per cent reported at least ‘a little’ trouble sleeping. In multivariable models, anaemia and sleep disturbance were associated with fatigue (both P < 0·001). Additionally, in separate models, sleep disturbance (P = 0·002) and fatigue (P = 0·04) both predicted OS. Our data suggest that improving sleep quality may impact MDS-related fatigue and OS.
A revisit of some delay-dependent stability criteria for uncertain time-delay systems*

Abstract This article revisits some delay-dependent stability criteria previous discussed in the literature. A more systematic approach is taken, and different forms of stability criteria are developed. The form is more convenient to treat related uncertainty in different system matrices. The relationship between the stability criteria based on simple Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional method and on Razumikhin Theorem are more explicitly shown
Lessons for Physicians from Flint's Water Crisis.

Physicians form a vital front in recognizing unusual clinical presentations that could herald a health threat. In the Flint water crisis
Atrazine feminizes sex ratio in Blanchard's cricket frogs (Acris blanchardi) at concentrations as low as 0.1 μg/L.

We exposed Blanchard's cricket frogs (Acris blanchardi) to ecologically relevant concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/L) of a commercial formulation of atrazine throughout the larval period to determine effects on survival, somatic growth and development (time to metamorphosis and mass at metamorphosis), and gonadal development (sex ratio at metamorphosis and the prevalence of testicular ova in phenotypic males). We tested the following hypotheses: 1) atrazine feminizes the sex ratio, 2) atrazine increases the proportion of phenotypic males with testicular ova, and 3) atrazine differentially affects somatic growth (mass at metamorphosis) and development (time to metamorphosis) for males and females. Although the control sex ratio was male-biased, exposure to 0.1 and 10 μg/L atrazine feminized sex ratios, because these treatments produced 51 and 55% fewer males than the control, respectively. We did not observe testicular ova. Atrazine did not impact survival or metamorphosis, and we did not detect sexually dimorphic impacts on time to metamorphosis or mass at metamorphosis. However, males metamorphosed 2.3 d later than females, regardless of treatment. Sex biases in timing of metamorphosis are underexplored in anurans, but if prevalent, could have important implications for theory surrounding the impact of environmental factors on metamorphosis. Our data suggest that cricket frog sex ratios are sensitive to environmentally relevant concentrations of atrazine and that feminization in the field is likely. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:427-435. © 2017 SETAC.
Focus Groups: How Feedback from Employees Can Impact the Decision-Making Process

The idea for the use of focus groups as a management tool was derived from a planned assessment with student employees. The success of the student employee focus groups led the researchers to expand the use of these groups with the library staff. In the evaluation of the results, the researchers discovered that the feedback from both focus groups could be shared with administration, potentially resulting in the management team making the suggested changes in the work environment. This article addresses the process of using focus groups as assessment tools and potential change agents for managerial decision-making.
Optimal timing of post-prostatectomy radiotherapy for prostate cancer with high-risk pathologic features: A multi-institutional analysis.

24Background: The use of radical prostatectomy (RP) as initial treatment of high-risk/locally-advanced prostate cancer is increasing but patients (pts) with adverse pathologic features such as posi...
Design and Analysis of Experiments, Sixth Edition

(2005). Design and Analysis of Experiments, Sixth Edition. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 175-176.