cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of thermal tolerance and its fitness consequences: parallel and non-parallel responses to urban heat islands across three cities

The question of parallel evolution-what causes it, and how common it is-has long captured the interest of evolutionary biologists. Widespread urban development over the last century has driven rapid evolutionary responses on contemporary time scales, presenting a unique opportunity to test the predictability and parallelism of evolutionary change. Here we examine urban evolution in an acorn-dwelling ant species, focusing on the urban heat island signal and the ant's tolerance of these altered urban temperature regimes. Using a common-garden experimental design with acorn ant colonies collected from urban and rural populations in three cities and reared under five temperature treatments in the laboratory, we assessed plastic and evolutionary shifts in the heat and cold tolerance of F1 offspring worker ants. In two of three cities, we found evolved losses of cold tolerance, and compression of thermal tolerance breadth. Results for heat tolerance were more complex: in one city, we found evidence of simple evolved shifts in heat tolerance in urban populations, though in another, the difference in urban and rural population heat tolerance depended on laboratory rearing temperature, and only became weakly apparent at the warmest rearing temperatures. The shifts in tolerance appeared to be adaptive, as our analysis of the fitness consequences of warming revealed that while urban populations produced more sexual reproductives under warmer laboratory rearing temperatures, rural populations produced fewer. Patterns of natural selection on thermal tolerances supported our findings of fitness trade-offs and local adaptation across urban and rural acorn ant populations, as selection on thermal tolerance acted in opposite directions between the warmest and coldest rearing temperatures. Our study provides mixed support for parallel evolution of thermal tolerance under urban temperature rise, and, importantly, suggests the promising use of cities to examine parallel and non-parallel evolution on contemporary time scales.
Phase I/II studies of docetaxel (Taxotere) combined with estramustine in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer

Evaluation of the combined regimen of estramustine and docetaxel (Taxotere; Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Collegeville, PA) in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer is in its early stages. While this combination is promising in terms of efficacy, adverse events associated with estramustine are a concern. Estramustine has been associated with side effects such as nausea, vomiting, edema, and serious vascular events. Reported here are the results of phase I and phase II trials in which 280 mg estramustine was given three times daily on days I to 5 in 21-day treatment cycles with docetaxel at varying doses. Data from patients evaluable thus far support the efficacy of this combination, both in chemotherapeutically naive patients and in those who have had prior therapy. A survival benefit from this combination appears achievable from these early studies. As significant antitumor activity can be achieved with docetaxel alone, future studies need to define the minimal dose of estramustine for this combination.
CRYSTALLIZATION OF PROTEINS AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES

Major advances in the technology involved in determining protein crystal structures have facilitated several new and existing applications for protein crystallography. Protein crystal growth, the one major bottleneck in this field, has recently received much attention and several new developments hold promise for the future.
Ultrasonic Monitoring of Recrystallization Textures in Aluminum

The present paper is an attempt to use ultrasonic velocity measurements to characterize the texture of an aluminum-magnesium alloy (Al 5xxx) and to compare the results with orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) results. The results are characterized in terms of three orientation distribution coefficients (ODC’s), W400, W420, and W440, each of which describes a particular forming anisotropy, and each of which has significant impact on the final products.
Early Versus Late Onset of Spinal Cord Injury Among the Elderly

The objective of this study is to compare elderly individuals with late (≥60 years old) versus early (<60 years old) onset spinal cord injury (SCI) across quality of life (QOL) domains for which cross-sectional design was used. The outcome measures selected were secondary medical complications (e.g., pneumonia, autonomic dysreflexia, number of days hospitalized), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART). Analyses between groups showed that individuals with SCI onset 60 years of age or older were significantly older, had a greater proportion of incomplete lesions, were more likely to have SCI resulting from medical complication, and were less likely to be working. After controlling for differences in demographic and lesion characteristics, the majority of QOL domains were similar between groups. However, overall self-reported handicap (CHART-total score) was significantly greater among elderly with late onset SCI, particularly in the areas of physical independence and social integration. Differences in QOL between elderly with late versus early onset SCI were most prominent in the area of physical independence and social integration. The importance of appropriate statistical control, theoretical implications, and future directions are discussed.
Sampling of Signals Bandlimited to a Disc in the Linear Canonical Transform Domain for IEEE Signal Processing Letters

We derive sampling formula for signals that are bandlimited to a disc of radius $R$ in the linear canonical transform (LCT) domain. By bandlimitedness in a disc $D$ in the LCT domain, we mean that the LCT $F(\omega)$ of a signal $f(t)$ vanishes outside the disc $D.$ We first express the signal in polar coordinates and then obtain the sampling formula. The samples of the angle $\theta$ are taken at $2N+1$ uniformly distributed points on the unit circle while the samples of the radial distance $r$ are taken at the zeros of the Bessel function. As a special case, we obtain sampling formula for signals that are bandlimited to a disc in the fractional Fourier transform domain.
Orthogonal Cas9-Cas9 chimeras provide a versatile platform for genome editing

The development of robust, versatile and accurate toolsets is critical to facilitate therapeutic genome editing applications. Here we establish RNA-programmable Cas9-Cas9 chimeras, in single- and dual-nuclease formats, as versatile genome engineering systems. In both of these formats, Cas9-Cas9 fusions display an expanded targeting repertoire and achieve highly specific genome editing. Dual-nuclease Cas9-Cas9 chimeras have distinct advantages over monomeric Cas9s including higher target site activity and the generation of predictable precise deletion products between their target sites. At a therapeutically relevant site within the BCL11A erythroid enhancer, Cas9-Cas9 nucleases produced precise deletions that comprised up to 97% of all sequence alterations. Thus Cas9-Cas9 chimeras represent an important tool that could be particularly valuable for therapeutic genome editing applications where a precise cleavage position and defined sequence end products are desirable.
An Integrative Biopsychosocial and Sex Positive Model of Understanding and Treatment of Impulsive/Compulsive Sexual Behavior

AbstractThe diagnostic and conceptualization of obsessive, compulsive, impulsive, and driven sexual behavior is controversial, and its terminology has varied over time and across conceptualizations...
A Steric Gating Mechanism Dictates the Substrate Specificity of a Rab-GEF.

Summary Correct localization of Rab GTPases in cells is critical for proper function in membrane trafficking, yet the mechanisms that target Rabs to specific subcellular compartments remain controversial. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) activate and consequently stabilize Rab substrates on membranes, thus implicating GEFs as the primary determinants of Rab localization. A competing hypothesis is that the Rab C-terminal hypervariable domain (HVD) serves as a subcellular targeting signal. In this study, we present a unifying mechanism in which the HVD controls targeting of certain Rabs by mediating interaction with their GEFs. We demonstrate that the TRAPP complexes, two related GEFs that use the same catalytic site to activate distinct Rabs, distinguish between Ypt1 (Rab1) and Ypt31/32 (Rab11) via their divergent HVDs. Remarkably, we find that HVD length gates Rab access to the TRAPPII complex by constraining the distance between the nucleotide-binding domain and the membrane surface.
Gentrifiers, distinction, and social preservation: A case study in consumption on Mount Pleasant Street in Washington, DC:

Mount Pleasant, a neighbourhood of Washington, DC that has experienced several decades of residential gentrification (Gale, 1980; Modan, 2007; Williams, 1988), nonetheless possesses a commercial co...
Unmasking Fraud at Toshiba

Following its purchase of Westinghouse and subsequent macroeconomic events, Toshiba faced declining profits. In response, Toshiba engaged in earnings management through two accounting treatments. First, it delayed the recognition of losses under long-term contracts. Secondly, it inappropriately applied price masking to account for transfers of components between itself and contract manufactures. Students using this case will assess how business risks and corporate culture relate to audit risk, and how accounting for price masking transactions can lead to increased fraud risk. Students will also research aspects of auditing standards related to fraud and accounting estimates. The case is designed for auditing courses and capstone courses with an auditing component.
B-Chlorodiiso-2-ethylapopinocampheylborane — an extremely efficient chiral reducing agent for the reduction of prochiral ketones of intermediate steric requirements

Abstract B-Chlorodiiso-2-ethylapopinocampheylborane, Eap2BCl, prepared from 2-ethylapopinene and chloroborane-methyl sulfide reduces prochiral ketones of intermediate steric requirements to the product alcohols in very high ee.
The True Function of Law in the International Community

My topic is the future of humanity?no less?and the role of law in the future of humanity. I am especially grateful that, through Mr. Snyder's vision and generosity, I am able to speak about these matters in the United States of America. I want to suggest three reasons why it is important to speak about the future of humanity in the United States, and to speak about it as frankly and as constructively as possible. (1) The first reason is that the people of the United States bear a very heavy responsibility for the future of humanity?an imperial responsibility. It is the same kind of responsibility that the British exercised, for better and for worse, in the nineteenth century; that Rome exercised in the last century B.C. and the first and fourth centuries A.D.; that Greece exercised at the time of Alexander, in the fourth century B.C. It is a responsibility based on the sheer facts of American military and economic and cultural power, and the extent of American economic and political and military investment in the rest of the world?that is to say, American dependence and vulnerability in relation to the rest of the world. (2) The second reason is that an important section of America's ruling elites believes, at least when they are in their optimistic mode, that the spread of democracy and capitalism to most countries in the world will produce an orderly world, by a sort of natural process of self-ordering and self improvement, without any special effort of imagination or will. I call this the Consoling Myth. Or one could call it the Kantian Myth. Immanuel Kant, the great German philosopher of the late eighteenth century, thought that this is how Europe would sort itself out.1 Two World Wars later,
Delegated Monitoring, Institutional Ownership, and Corporate Misconduct Spillovers

Upon the revelation of corporate misconduct by firms in their portfolios, institutional investors experience a significant discount in the market value of their portfolios, creating a negative externality that averages $92.7 billion of losses per year. This negative spillover increases with stronger ownership links to misconduct firms, when more long-term investors hold such firms’ shares, and when the institutional investor should provide higher common ownership incentives, all of which lend support to a failed monitor hypothesis. These institutional investors experience significant fund outflows in the year immediately following the fraud incidents, which increase with misconduct severity and monitoring incentives.
Effectiveness of computer-based education in elementary schools

Abstract A meta-analysis of 32 comparative studies showed that computer-based education has generally had positive effects on the achievement of elementary school pupils. These effects have been different, however, for programs of off-line computer-managed instruction (CMI) and for interactive computer-assisted instruction (CAI). The average effect in 28 studies of CAI programs was an increase in pupil achievement scores of 0.47 standard deviations, or from the 50th to the 68th percentile. The average effect in four studies of CMI programs, however, was an increase in scores of only 0.07 standard deviations. Study features were not significantly related to study outcomes.
Defining relictual biodiversity: Conservation units in speckled dace (Leuciscidae: Rhinichthys osculus) of the Greater Death Valley ecosystem.

The tips in the tree of life serve as foci for conservation and management, yet clear delimitations are masked by inherent variance at the species-population interface. Analyses using thousands of nuclear loci can potentially sort inconsistencies, yet standard categories applied to this parsing are themselves potentially conflicting and/or subjective [e.g., DPS (distinct population segments); DUs (Diagnosable Units-Canada); MUs (management units); SSP (subspecies); ESUs (Evolutionarily Significant Units); and UIEUs (uniquely identified evolutionary units)]. One potential solution for consistent categorization is to create a comparative framework by accumulating statistical results from independent studies and evaluating congruence among data sets. Our study illustrates this approach in speckled dace (Leuciscidae: Rhinichthys osculus) endemic to two basins (Owens and Amargosa) in the Death Valley ecosystem. These fish persist in the Mojave Desert as isolated Plio-Pleistocene relicts and are of conservation concern, but lack formal taxonomic descriptions/designations. Double digest RAD (ddRAD) methods identified 14,355 SNP loci across 10 populations (N = 140). Species delimitation analyses [multispecies coalescent (MSC) and unsupervised machine learning (UML)] delineated four putative ESUs. F ST outlier loci (N = 106) were juxtaposed to uncover the potential for localized adaptations. We detected one hybrid population that resulted from upstream reconnection of habitat following contemporary pluvial periods, whereas remaining populations represent relics of ancient tectonism within geographically isolated springs and groundwater-fed streams. Our study offers three salient conclusions: a blueprint for a multifaceted delimitation of conservation units; a proposed mechanism by which criteria for intraspecific biodiversity can be potentially standardized; and a strong argument for the proactive management of critically endangered Death Valley ecosystem fishes.
Rare Case of Olmesartan Induced Enteropathy.

Olmesartan (brand name Benicar) is an antihypertensive drug clinicians commonly use to treat high blood pressure. Olmesartan induced enteropathy (OSE) is a rare entity that authors first identified in 2012. The etiological basis of OSE remains unclear, although authors have suggested that this condition could be due to alternations in cell mediated immune responses induced by the drug. The objective of the case report is to describe a patient who presented with diarrhea and was eventually diagnosed with OSE. A female patient in her later 60s presented to an emergency room after two recent hospitalizations with profound diarrhea, generalized weakness and weight loss. She underwent a diagnostic workup including endoscopy and colonoscopy. The patient’s endoscopy with duodenal biopsy revealed villous atrophy with attenuated and blunted villi with intraepithelial CD3 positive T lymphocytes, suggestive of gluten-induced enteropathy. When the patient’s symptoms did not improve after the authors placed her on a gluten free diet for a few days, they further investigated her for secretory diarrhea, including Gastrin, Somatostatin and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide lab values that they found to be within normal limits. Due to the patient’s lack of improvement with initial treatment, the authors suspected OSE and stopped her olmesartan and the patients’ symptoms gradually improved in three weeks.
The Role of the Membrane in Transporter Folding and Activity

The synthesis, folding, and function of membrane transport proteins are critical factors for defining cellular physiology. Since the stability of these proteins evolved amidst the lipid bilayer, it is no surprise that we are finding that many of these membrane proteins demonstrate coupling of their structure or activity in some way to the membrane. More and more transporter structures are being determined with some information about the surrounding membrane, and computational modeling is providing further molecular details about these solvation structures. Thus, the field is moving towards identifying which molecular mechanisms - lipid interactions, membrane perturbations, differential solvation, and bulk membrane effects - are involved in linking membrane energetics to transporter stability and function. In this review, we present an overview of these mechanisms and the growing evidence that the lipid bilayer is a major determinant of the fold, form, and function of membrane transport proteins in membranes.
Phase Competition Out of Equilibrium

Engineering novel states of matter by an ultrafast laser pulse is at the forefront of materials research. One promising approach relies on systems that host competing ground states, where light suppresses the dominant phase in equilibrium while strengthening a subdominant order. However, the interplay among competing orders remains difficult to study due to a lack of experimental probes that can measure intertwined dynamics all at once. Here, we examine DyTe3 and LaTe3: Both possess two competing charge modulations, out of which only the dominant one appears in equilibrium at high temperature. Using a pump-pump-probe scheme with ultrafast electron diffraction, we find that both CDWs emerge simultaneously after photoexcitation. This joint growth lasts for a few picoseconds and features fluctuating patches of both density waves—in striking resemblance to the critical state near the equilibrium transition temperature. Our investigation unveils a co-developing relation between an otherwise competing pair of CDWs. It further establishes photoinduced fluctuations as a generic pathway for realizing transient states in solids.
Sliding Windowed Fourier Transforms and the Heisenberg Group

The sliding windowed Fourier transform has been a signal processing tool since its introduction by Gabor ([6]) in 1946. It has long been understood what the difficulties are in working with this tool. If the windowed basis is orthonormal, the basis functions are discontinuous and so incur the Gibbs phenomena. If the windows are smooth, the basis is not orthonormal and recovering the signal from its expansion is subject to numerical instability. Because non-stationary signal processing has become so important in recent years, there has been a great resurgence of interest in the theory of continuous windowed Fourier transforms. A few years ago, Daubechies ([3]) related sliding windowed Fourier transforms to the theory of frames in Hilbert spaces. She showed that using non-von Neumann lattices (i.e. oversampling) is one approach to overcoming the difficulties involved in using smooth windowed Fourier transforms.
Detection of Cronartium Quercuum F. Sp. Fusiforme in Pinus Taeda Embryos using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay

The ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) has been used for several years in the detection of animal and plant pathogens. An ELISA was developed to measure Cronartium quercuum f. sp. fusiforme infection of Pinus taeda.
The electrochemical reduction of nitrate over micro-architectured metal electrodes with stainless steel scaffold

Abstract Cu and Pd–Cu (Pd = 40 wt%) electrodes supported on stainless steel (Cu/SS and Pd–Cu/SS) were prepared using electrodeposition methods and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate on Cu/SS and Pd–Cu/SS electrodes was studied in sodium perchlorate electrolyte. By tuning the applied potential, nitrate was found to be selectively reduced to different products, indicating a strong dependence of nitrate reduction reaction on the applied potential. Moreover, the effect of electrode material on nitrate reduction was studied also. Results showed that the nitrate reduction over the two electrodes was different due in part to distinct surface morphology. Results demonstrated a novel avenue to improve the selectivity of nitrate reduction products through controlling the applied potential and selection of electrode material. Results also showed strategy warrant further studies on nitrate conversion to harmless nitrogen gas.
Two-Component Signalling in Plants

Two-component signalling pathways are used by bacteria to perceive and respond to a wide variety of environmental signals. In their simplest form, these are comprised of a histidine kinase receptor, whose activity is regulated by a signal, and a response regulator, whose activity is controlled by Asp phosphorylation mediated by the histidine kinase. Plants use two-component elements to respond to endogenous and environmental signals. The plant pathways are either an extended version of the two-component pathway called a phosphorelay or include degenerated elements that no longer function as histidine kinases. These elements are conserved throughout the plant kingdom, although they are best understood in the model Arabidopsis thaliana. The most complete and best understood of these is the signalling pathway for the phytohormone cytokinin, which is perceived by endoplasmic reticulum-localised histidine kinase receptors and ultimately regulates the phosphorylation of a set of response regulators that mediate the transcriptional response to cytokinin. Key Concepts: The canonical two-component system consists of a histidine kinase and response regulator protein. Multiple permutations of the canonical two-component system exist, including a multistep phosphorelay system. Plants respond to a variety of signals using two-component signalling systems, including cytokinin, ethylene and light. Two-component signalling elements are conserved in both dicot and monocot plant species. Cytokinin, a plant hormone, uses a multistep phosphorelay system to transduce its signal from membrane-bound receptors to the nucleus to mediate transcription of cytokinin response genes. Keywords: cytokinin; ethylene; two-component signalling; histidine kinases; response regulators
Chapter 60 Nonparametric Approaches to Auctions

Abstract This chapter discusses structural econometric approaches to auctions. Remarkably, much of what can be learned from auction data can be learned without restrictions beyond those derived from the relevant economic model. This enables us to take a nonparametric perspective in discussing how the structure of auction models can be combined with observables to uncover (or test hypotheses about) primitives of interest in auction markets. We focus on first-price sealed-bid and ascending auctions, including extensions to Dutch auctions, Internet auctions, multi-unit auctions, and multi-object auctions. We consider a wide range of underlying structures of bidder demand and information, as well as a variety of types of data one may encounter in applications. We discuss identification and testable restrictions of these models and present a variety of estimation approaches.
Phthalocyanine Matrix Resins and Composites

Fiber-reinforced composite materials are used for many advanced structural applications in order to achieve a substantial weight saving in the structures. Many of these applications involve a high temperature requirement that cannot be met by conventional matrix resin systems such as epoxy. In order to meet the requirements for a wide range of high temperature applications, such as adhesives, sealants, coatings and matrix resins, in the 1970s, new class of resins, called phthalocyanines, was developed These materials have been demonstrated to be promising candidates for advanced composite applications. In this article, the structure and properties of phthalocyanine resins are discussed. The development of a selected phthalocyanine resin for fiber-reinforced composites is also described. Moreover, test results on the mechanical properties of composite samples are presented and compared with those of other popular composite systems. Keywords: phthalocyanines; polymerization; composites; epoxy; prepreg
Water and Surfaces: a Linkage Unexpectedly Profound

The impact of surfaces on the contiguous water is thought to project no more than a few molecular layers from the surface. On the contrary, we have found that solutes are profoundly excluded from a several-hundred-micrometer-wide zone next to various hydrophilic surfaces, including gels. Such large “exclusion zones” appear to be quite general. Recent studies have shown that the underlying basis is a reorganization of interfacial water molecules into a liquid crystalline array, which then excludes solutes. The impact of this “fourth phase” of water appears to be broad, especially in biology.
Nitric oxide induces apoptosis in megakaryocytic cell lines

Cytokines that stimulate inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase can suppress the growth and differentiation of normal human bone marrow cells, including megakaryocytes. Since NO promotes apoptosis in other cell systems, we chose to study the determinants of apoptosis in megakaryocytic cells. We show that both exogenous and endogenous sources of NO can induce apoptosis in megakaryocytoid cell lines. The megakaryocyte growth factor thrombopoietin suppresses NO-induced apoptosis, whereas treatment with peroxynitrite, a cytotoxic product formed when NO reacts with superoxide, promotes apoptosis. Superoxide inhibitors suppress NO-induced apoptosis, and pretreatment with megakaryocyte growth and maturation factors attenuates NO-induced apoptosis. These data show that NO modulates megakaryocyte apoptosis and suggest that this process may occur in the cytokine-rich marrow milieu to regulate megakaryocyte turnover.
Implementation of a system-wide health promotion intervention to reduce early mortality in high risk adults with serious mental illness and obesity

Overview Persons with serious mental illness (SMI) experience a high rate of medical comorbidity, resulting in reduced life expectancy of 7-30 years less than that of the general population largely due to cardiovascular disease. High rates of obesity and smoking are major factors contributing to early mortality, associated with sedentary behavior, poor diet, and prescription by physicians of high-weight-gain antipsychotic medications. This panel will describe a multicomponent approach to addressing one of the nation’s leading health disparities through a rigorous statewide implementation effort aimed at transforming mental health services by integrating health promotion and obesity prevention through organizational change, prescriber behavior change, and patient engagement in service design and implementation. The first presentation on organizational change describes how the results of an NIMH-funded RCT of the In SHAPE health promotion intervention were applied to a statewide implementation study including process outcomes of a learning collaborative, system level (organizational change) outcomes, and patient-level outcomes. The second presentation on prescriber behavior change will describe outcomes of a statewide academic detailing/ audit and feedback intervention to decrease prescribing of high weight gain propensity antipsychotic agents for individuals with SMI. The third presentation on patientpeer engagement describes the results of a pilot study designed by patients, providers and academic researchers with the goal of increasing uptake and reach of the professionally-led In SHAPE health coach fitness model by phasing out one-on-one fitness coach training sessions with individual and group-based peer support, motivational text messages, and physical activity sensors for monitoring and feedback. The discussion will consider how these findings may inform future systems change, national efforts, and implementation research to improve the health and longevity of high-risk adults with SMI and cardiovascular risk factors.
Optical filter elements based on waveguide gratings

The guided-mode resonance properties of planar dielectric waveguide gratings are presented and explained. It is shown that these structures function as filters producing efficient exchange of energy between forward and backward propagating diffracted waves with smooth lineshapes and arbitrary filter linewidths. Simple expressions based on classical slab waveguide theory give a clear view and quantification of the inherent TE/TM polarization separation and the free-spectral ranges of the filters. Furthermore, the resonance regimes, defining the parametric regions of the guided-mode resonances, can be directly visualized. It is shown that the linewidths of the resonances can be controlled by the grating modulation amplitude and by the degree of mode confinement (refractive-index difference at boundaries). Examples presented of potential uses for these elements include a narrow-line polarized laser, tunable polarized laser, photorefractive tunable filter, and an electro-optic switch. The guided-mode resonance filter represents a basic new optical element with significant potential for practical applications.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The formation of gaseous ions from dicyclopentadienyltitanium dichloride and dicyclopentadienylzirconium dichloride upon electron impact

Abstract The mass spectra of dicyclopentadienyltitanium dichloride and dicyclopentadienylzirconium dichloride are characterized by a unique fragmentation scheme involving the removal and fragmentation of the cyclopentadienyl groups in the molecular ions. From heats of combustion the heat of formation of Ti(C 5 H 5 ) 2 Cl 2 (s) and Zr(C 5 H 5 ) 2 Cl 2 (s) were determined to be -145 and -153 kcal/mole, respectively. The measured ionization potentials are I [Ti(C 5 H 5 ) 2 Cl 2 ] = 8.9 8 ±0.1 6 and I [Zr(C 5 H 5 ) 2 Cl 2 ] = 9.3 7 ±0.2 5 eV, respectively. Metastable transitions observed were used together with clastogram data to identify the fragmentation routes of the principal ionic species.
Clostridium difficile: Changing Epidemiology, Treatment and Infection Prevention Measures

Clostridium difficile was first reported as a cause of antibiotic-associated colitis in 1978. In more recent years we have witnessed disturbing trends associated with C. difficile infection (CDI). CDI has become more common, affecting populations previously considered at low risk, more severe with an associated increase in mortality, and more difficult to treat with some patients experiencing multiple relapses and a reduced responsiveness to previously effective antibiotics. These trends have been coincident with the emergence of a new hypervirulent strain responsible for several outbreaks in the last decade. Fortunately, we have also seen promising developments, particularly with regard to testing and treatment. This review discusses recent changes in the epidemiology of CDI and recent developments in the testing, treatment and prevention of CDI.
Isolation and characterization of ribosomal DNA variants from Sciara coprophila

Abstract The ribosomal RNA multigene family in the fungus fly Sciara coprophila contains a total of only 65 to 70 repeat units. We explored the types and frequencies of variant repeats in this small multigene family by characterizing different cloned rDNA variants from Sciara . Although we did not observe any intergenic spacer length variants in Sciara , we found a variant due to the insertion of a putative mobile element (λBc11), and variants containing ribosomal insertion elements. By DNA sequence analysis of rDNA/non-rDNA junctions, there are three distinct types of ribosomal insertion elements found in Sciara rDNA: two correspond to the R1 and R2 insertion elements found in other dipterans (clones λBc5 and pBc1L1, respectively), and one is a novel class of ribosomal insertion elements (R3, exemplified by clone pBc6D6) which so far is unique to Sciara . Together, the several different rDNA variants make up from 12 to 20% of the rDNA in Sciara . These results are discussed in the context of evolution of the ribosomal RNA multigene family.
Elimination of the suffix effect on preterminal list items with unpredictable list length: Evidence for a dual model of suffix effects.

Deux etudes experimentales dans lesquelles les sujets font un rappel seriel immediat de liste de chiffres de differentes longueurs
Recombinant DNA and gene isolation.

Although a formidable array of approaches fall under the broad umbrella of molecular genetics, the basic technology is elegant and conceptually simple (Watson et al. 1983, Roberts et al. 1992). It has enabled a reductionist approach to be applied to the study of genes and their sequences, as well as the transcripts that underlie organ development and function. Cardiovascular research has, in the past, utilized the systemic and integrative approaches that are inherent in the study of an organ system. Molecular genetics and recombinant DNA offer the cardiologist a complementary focus, as both normal and abnormal heart functions can be defined in terms of the underlying genetic complement and its regulation. One can approach heart function in terms of defining the basic components that participate in the developmental and functional processes of the heart at different developmental times. A future challenge will be to integrate the information regarding these different components with the heart's function in an intact biological system.
Convict labour, industrialists and the state in the US South and South Africa, 1870–1930

This article examines three historiographical debates: the comparative history of the United States and South Africa, the relative salience of race and class in labour history and the relationship between industrialisation and the growth of prisons. It looks at these matters through the prism of the rise and decline of convict labour in Birmingham, Alabama, USA and Kimberley, South Africa. Focusing on the development of iron and steel in the ‘New South’ and diamonds in South Africa, the article demonstrates the ways in which employers made use of convict labour to promote industrialisation, to break attempts at worker unity and, in particular, to mobilise race to divide the workforces. It concludes that there were considerable similarities between the two comparators.
Waveguide integrated plasmonic platform for sensing and spectroscopy

We propose a waveguide integrated plasmonic platform in order to deliver excitation power to and collect signal efficiently from a nanoantenna. The system consists of a silicon waveguide with an integrated nanoantenna and a fiber spot size converter. The nanoantenna is designed to have a broad resonance around 1.5 microns with an estimated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement of 6 orders of magnitude and collection efficiency up to 80%. The device is fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. The proposed and fabricated device can be used in applications such as on-chip SERS spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and gas sensing.
Calculations for defects formed on diamond surfaces

Abstract Structure-and energy-related properties of defects formed on relaxed diamond surfaces were investigated. Simulation calculations were carried out for vacancies created on (111) and on (2×1) dimerized (100) index planes of diamond. Two different model functions (based on two-and three-body interactions) developed recently for carbon were employed in the calculations. Both functions produced comparable results. Top layer vacancies are more likely to form on the (100) surface than on the (111) surface. Calculations indicate that the diffusion of a single vacancy from the top surface layer to the second layer is not energetically favored.
Suprapubic bladder drainage after extraperitoneal cystotomy.

Abstract Objective: To observe the effects of cessation of continuous bladder drainage after short-term catheterization in women who had extraperitoneal cystotomies. Methods: The study population included 84 women, 78 of whom had retropubic urethropexies and six of whom had retropubic paravaginal repairs. Intentional cystotomy was done intraoperatively to assure ureteral patency, bladder integrity, and no inadvertent suture penetration into the bladder. All cystotomies were closed in two layers with 3-0 chromic suture. Suprapubic catheters were placed intraoperatively in all cases. In all women except four with gross hematuria, continuous bladder drainage was stopped and voiding trials were started within 24 hours after surgery. Suprapubic catheters were removed when women spontaneously voided 80% of total bladder volume. Results: Suprapubic catheters were discontinued on average 4.1 days after surgery (range 2.7–14.1 days). Average bladder volume at initial clamping of the suprapubic catheter was 382 mL (range 224–510 mL). At this volume the integrity of the cystotomy should have been challenged appropriately. The women were observed for a minimum of 3 months with no immediate or long-term complications. Conclusion: Extraperitoneal cystotomy in a nondependent portion of the bladder does not require continuous bladder drainage for more than 24 hours. This information should allow pelvic surgeons to be more liberal with intraoperative cystotomies if bladder integrity or ureteral patency needs to be confirmed.
Illness apprehension, depression, anxiety, and quality of life in liver transplant candidates: implications for psychosocial interventions.

Background End-stage liver disease is associated with diminished quality of life (QOL). Numerous physical and psychosocial problems that affect QOL are common in those undergoing evaluation for liver transplantation. Objective Identifying which of these challenges are most closely associated with QOL would be helpful in developing priority targets for evidence-based interventions specific to those undergoing transplant evaluation. Method A total of 108 adults undergoing psychologic assessment for liver transplant completed clinical interview, neuropsychologic testing, and self-report inventories of depression, anxiety, cognitive appraisal characteristics, support resources, and QOL. Results Multiple regression analyses revealed that while emotional symptoms (anxiety and depression) were primarily associated with mental QOL, illness apprehension was the only variable uniquely associated with physical QOL after accounting for severity of liver disease, cognitive status, emotional symptoms, and support resources. Conclusion Findings suggest that psychosocial interventions prioritizing reduction of illness-related fear and symptoms of anxiety/depression would likely have the greatest effect on QOL in persons with end-stage liver disease awaiting transplantation.
Personal income taxes, elasticities and fiscal illusion

Hunter and Scott (1987) suggest an alternative methodology for testing whether high state income tax elasticities may be consistent with larger public sectors due to the presence of fiscal illusion. Examining state choices of income tax reductions in the period 1976–1983, they find evidence consistent with the idea that the public obtains desired income tax reductions when such high elasticities would otherwise lead to a substantial overexpansion in the public sector.
Symptomatic prepontine cistern flattening after an arachnoid cyst shunting:: a report of 2 cases

Abstract Background Controversy still exists about the best management modality for congenital arachnoid cyst. Shunting procedures have been one of the treatment options offered to patients with this condition. Although arachnoid cysts shunting have been associated with a variety of clinical conditions, its relationship with flattened prepontine cistern has not been described. Case Description We describe two children with congenital arachnoid cyst managed with cystoperitoneal shunt, both of whom were later discovered to have developed flattened prepontine cistern and imaging findings of overcrowding of the posterior cranial fossa. Conclusion These cases demonstrate that flattening of the prepontine cisterns and acquired posterior cranial fossa overcrowding may be a potential fall out in patients with cystoperitoneal shunt due to an arachnoid cyst.
Optimal artificial neural network topology for foreign exchange forecasting

Foreign exchange market is one of the highest investments markets the average daily trade volume is 1.8 trillion USD. Foreign exchange rate forecasting has been always one of the most challenging subject and area of researches. Trader around the world is relying on the technical indicators which just following the price and has emerged a lag results. When the currency market has a random move (when the market is not trending) most of the indicators gets confused because of the fact that classical linear methods are unable to react with the non linearity in the data and hence with the market behavior.This research reports empirical results that tend to confirm the applicability of a neural network model to the prediction of the foreign exchange rates market. Artificial neural networks have proven to be efficient and profitable in forecasting financial time series in particular, feed forwarded back propagation. It is important to use an optimal ANN topology that emerged great results in short term prediction and the daily predication results showed that ANN model learns well and most likely to generalize well. Weekly predication results demonstrate good results in the low prediction while failed to have a good results on the high and the close prediction while the monthly prediction did not give a satisfactory results due to a very few data samples.
A comparison of the differential effects of stimulus complexity and response competition on schizophrenics

The performance of hospitalized schizophrenics, subdivided on a paranoid/non-paranoid dimension, was compared to hospitalized controls on tasks intended to separate the effects of response competition and stimulus complexity. The data tended to provide consistent support for stimulus complexity explanations of performance deficits among schizophrenics, rather than explanations based upon response competition.
Injury-induced apoptosis of neurons in adult brain is mediated by p53-dependent and p53-independent pathways and requires Bax.

The mechanisms of injury-induced apoptosis of neurons within the CNS are not understood. We used a model of cortical injury in rat and mouse to induce retrograde neuronal apoptosis in thalamus. In this animal model, unilateral ablation of the occipital cortex causes unequivocal apoptosis of corticopetal projection neurons in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) by 7 days postlesion. We tested the hypothesis that p53 and Bax regulate this retrograde neuronal apoptosis. We found, by using immunocytochemistry, that p53 accumulates in nuclei of neurons destined to undergo apoptosis. By immunoblotting, p53 levels increase (∼150% of control) in nuclear-enriched fractions of the ipsilateral LGN by 5 days after occipital cortex ablation. p53 is functionally activated in nuclear fractions of the ipsilateral LGN at 5 days postlesion, as shown by DNA binding assay (∼fourfold increase) and by immunodetection of phosphorylated p53. The levels of procaspase-3 increase at 4 days postlesion, and caspase-3 is activated prominently at 5 days postlesion. To identify whether neuronal apoptosis in the adult brain is dependent on p53 and Bax, cortical ablations were done on p53 and bax null mice. Neuronal apoptosis in the dorsal LGN is significantly attenuated (∼34%) in p53−/− mice. In lesioned p53+/+ mice, Bax immunostaining is enhanced in the ipsilateral dorsal LGN and Bax immunoreactivity accumulates at perinuclear locations in dorsal LGN neurons. The enhancement and redistribution of Bax immunostaining is attenuated in lesioned p53−/− mice. Neuronal apoptosis in the dorsal LGN is blocked completely in bax−/− mice. We conclude that neuronal apoptosis in the adult thalamus after cortical injury requires Bax and is modulated by p53. J. Comp. Neurol. 433:299–311, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of finite bunch length and arbitrary current distribution on steady-state cumulative beam breakup with periodic beam current

The equation of transverse motion governing cumulative beam breakup has been solved using Fourier analysis. This technique simplifies the investigation of the effect of finite bunch length and arbitrary current distribution within the bunches on beam breakup, which is an especially relevant consideration for low-velocity, high-current ion linacs. It also simplifies the calculation of the transverse dynamics of unbunched particles which constitute a diffuse longitudinal halo between bunches. If allowed to impinge on the accelerating structures, these particles could cause activation over long periods of continuous-wave operation. Simulations illustrating the salient effects of finite bunch length on steady-state cumulative beam breakup are presented here. The role of focusing in suppressing the transverse displacement of a beam which is misaligned at the accelerator entrance is also explored, and an analytic formula is derived for use in estimating the required focusing strength.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Seeing To it That: A Canonical Form for Agentives

J. L. Austin told us that “The beginning of sense, not to say wisdom, is to realize that ‘doing an action’, as used in philosophy, is a highly abstract expression — it is a stand-in used in the place of any (or almost any) verb with a personal subject...” [Austin56; p. 178].1 In that paper he tried to throw light on the question of “doing an action” by looking at the range of cases in which excuses are offered both in everyday usage and in the law, and to arrive at a proper vocabulary for action by “induction” on the proper uses of words. Many years have passed, the lesson has been learned, and it is time for philosophy to go beyond the mere beginnings of sense and progress toward a deeper understanding of an agent doing an action. How should we proceed? Our suggestion is that the next step in the progression toward greater sense and wisdom is to have available the sort of clean and well honed linguistic resource that Austin, and other philosophers, have realized to be necessary. We think that the most promising path to a deeper understanding of an agent making a choice among alternatives that lead to action is to augment the language with a class of sentences whose fundamental syntactic and semantic structures are so well designed and easily understood that they illuminate not only their own operations but the nature and structure of the linguistic settings in which they function.