cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A limnological reconnaissance of Lake Tebenquiche, Salar de Atacama, Chile

A number of expeditions to the area of Salar de Atacama, Chile, 68° 15'W, 20° 30'S, have involved studies of the biological and chemical features of Lake Tebenquiche, situated in the interior of the salar. Chemically, Tebenquiche is hypersaline, with practically anoxic waters dominated by sodium and chloride ions but with high concentrations of sulphate also. The lake is surrounded and invaded by macrophytes, dominated by Scirpus olmeyi and Juncus, which provide organic material for the formation of bacterial mats. The fauna of limnetic crustaceans is almost exclusively of Artemia salina. The most important genera of bacteria are: Marinomonas, Halobacterium, Acinetobacter and the sulphur reductors Vibrio and Bacillus. The Cyanobacteria are represented exclusively by Oscillatoria.
Chronic tubulo-interstitial nephritis: correlation between structural and functional findings.

The present study was undertaken to examine chronic TIN from a different perspective, that is, the diagnosis of TIN established by morphologic examination of renal tissue. The kidney biopsy of the cases reviewed had been performed to determine the cause of renal failure in patients presenting with renal dysfunction on whom a definite diagnosis could not be established on clinical grounds. The study was designed to determine the clinical features present in these cases at the time when the kidney biopsy was performed, and to examine the relation of the structural changes noted on biopsy with the degree of renal dysfunction present at the time that the renal tissue was obtained.
Improved approach for anchoring Nα-9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonylamino acids as p-alkoxybenzyl esters in solid-phase peptide synthesis

Several Fmoc-amino acids have been esterified by use of N,N-dimethylformamide dineopentyl acetal to 2,4,5-trichlorophenyl 3'-(4''-hydroxymethyl-phenoxy)propionate, and the resultant handle derivatives were purified and then quantitatively coupled onto aminomethyl supports. Compared to literature methodology, the present procedure is preferred because: (i) extra steps to selectively protect and liberate the carboxyl of the handle are circumvented; and (ii) the additional methylene group spacer reflecting substitution of a propionyl group for an acetyl group in the handle changes the electronic parameters of the resultant p-alkoxybenzyl ester sufficiently so that the rates of acidolytic cleavage of the anchoring linkage are 2- to 3-fold increased and useful improvements in yields can be achieved.
The focal adhesion kinase inhibitor PF-562,271 impairs primary CD4+ T cell activation

The focal adhesion kinase inhibitor, PF-562,271, is currently in clinical development for cancer, however it is not known how PF-562,271 affects T cell function. Here, we demonstrate inhibitory effects of PF-562,271 on the activation of primary human and mouse T cells. PF-562,271 inhibits T cell receptor signaling-induced T cell adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and T cell interactions with antigen-presenting cells. An additional focal adhesion kinase inhibitor, PF-573,228, and genetic depletion of focal adhesion kinase also impair T cell conjugation with antigen-presenting cells. PF-562,271 blocks phosphorylation of the signaling molecules zeta chain associate protein of 70 kDa, linker of activated T cells, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and impairs T cell proliferation. The effects observed on T cell proliferation cannot solely be attributed to focal adhesion kinase inhibition, as genetic depletion did not alter proliferation. The effect of PF-562,271 on T cell proliferation is not rescued when proximal T cell receptor signaling is bypassed by stimulation with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate and ionomycin. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that focal adhesion kinase regulates integrin-mediated T cell adhesion following T cell receptor activation. Moreover, our findings suggest that PF-562,271 may have immunomodulatory effects that could impact its therapeutic applications.
Mechanical displacement of the esophagus in patients undergoing left atrial ablation of atrial fibrillation

Background Left atrial (LA) ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) may rarely be complicated by an atrio-esophageal fistula. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of mechanical displacement of the esophagus in patients undergoing LA ablation. Methods Twelve patients underwent mechanical displacement of the esophagus performed by an endoscopist during an LA ablation procedure under conscious sedation. Results The intrinsic course of the esophagus was near the left pulmonary veins (PVs) in 6 patients, the right PVs in 5 patients, and the mid-LA in 1 patient. In 10 (83%) of the 12 patients, the esophagus could be displaced with the endoscope. The maximal displacement toward the left-sided and right-sided PVs was 2.4 and 2.1 cm, respectively. In 2 (22%) of the 9 patients in whom a prior procedure was unsuccessful because of an unfavorable esophageal course, the esophagus remained at the same location to which it was displaced after removal of the endoscope, facilitating energy delivery at the target site. In the remaining 7 patients, the esophagus returned to its original location after the endoscope was removed. There were no complications related to the endoscopic procedure. Conclusion The esophagus can be mechanically displaced with an endoscope during an LA ablation procedure under conscious sedation. However, in most patients, the esophagus assumes its original course after removal of the endoscope. In some patients in whom PV isolation is problematic because of an unfavorable esophageal course, endoscopic displacement may facilitate safe energy delivery over the posterior LA.
Delayed Versus Immediate Surgery In Acute Appendicitis: Do We Need to Operate During the Night?

Abstract Background/purpose Over the last 4 years, the authors changed their management of acute nonperforated appendicitis from emergent surgery within the first 2 to 6 hours of admission to initiation of antibiotic therapy with operation within 24 hours of admission in those seen in the late evening or early morning. They examined, therefore, whether a delay in operation for acute appendicitis would affect outcome measures of patient morbidity and resource use. Methods The medical records of 126 patients with acute appendicitis occurring between 1998 and 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. Incidence of perforation at surgery, length of stay (LOS), hospital charges, operating time, and complications as a function of duration between emergency room (ER) triage and operation (ER-OR) or admission and operation (Admit-OR) were analyzed by Student's t test, and regression analysis with P less than .05 considered significant. Results Thirty-eight children (26%) were operated on within 6 hours of ER triage, whereas the remaining 88 children (74%) were operated on between 6 and 24 hours from ER triage. No significant difference was noted in perforation rate, LOS, costs, or operative time, nor were substantial changes in complications noted between those with an ER-OR ≤6 hours and greater than 6 hours. Likewise, no significant differences in these outcome measures were noted for Admit-OR greater than 6 when compared with ≤6 hours. Only costs with ER-OR greater than 12 hours and LOS with Admit-OR greater than 6 hours were significantly (without Bonferroni correction) different than ≤ 6 hours. Multivariable linear regression analysis identified only LOS as a significant predictor of time to OR. Conclusions In children with acute appendicitis, delaying surgery until the daytime hours did not significantly affect operating time, perforation rate, or complications. Delayed management allows greater efficiency and effective use of physician and hospital resources, including decreased resident involvement in operations during the night.
The effect of maxillary sinus antrostomy size on xenon ventilation in the sheep model.

OBJECTIVE: A major goal of maxillary antrostomy is to increase sinus ventilation. Limited data exist regarding the effect of maxillary antrostomy size on sinus ventilation. We sought to quantify th...
Nonequilibrium Brownian dynamics simulations of Hookean and FENE dumbbells with internal viscosity

Abstract “Exact” solutions for the Hookean and FENE dumbell models with internal viscosity have been found using Brownian dynamics simulations. Results from these two dumbbell models are compared to Liang and Mackay's experimental data on semidilute xanthan gum solutions. We find that the FENE dumbbell model predicts very well Liang and Mackay's measurements on the dissipative and elastic contributions to shear stress. For the Hookean dumbbell model, shear thickening is observed for all but very small values of the internal viscosity parameters e, which is not seen by approximate methods. The Hookean dumbbell model greatly overestimates the polymer contribution to shear stress when compared with Liang and Mackay's experimental data, and no single value of e is able to predict all of their experimental results well; both the FENE and the Hookean dumbbell models fail to predict the right form of the nonlinear relaxation modulus in the step strain experiment. On checking the Gaussian approximation method of the Hookean dumbbell model, we find that for small values of e, the approximate results show very good agreement with the Brownian dynamics simulations. For larger values of e, deviations are seen at high shear rates. Nevertheless, the initial oscillation of shear stress predicted by the Gaussian approximation for large values of e at high shear rates in the startup of steady shear flow is verified by the Brownian dynamics simulation, though they are much less extreme.
Vibrational assignment of the sn‐1 and sn‐2 chain carbonyl stretching modes of membrane phospholipids

Since the carbonyl stretching modes of membrane phospholipids reflect molecular perturbations and reorganizations at the bilayer interface region, a definitive assignment is desired of the vibrations associated with the carbonyl transitions at either the sn-1 or sn-2 lipid chain position. Ether glycerol phospholipids containing one alkyl ether chain and one acyl chain, with the carbonyl group in either the sn-1 or sn-2 chain, provide lipid systems for establishing these assignments. rac-1-0-Hexadecyl-2-palmitoyl-sn -glycero-3-phosphorylcholine yields a carbonyl stretching mode at 1716 cm−1, while the carbonyl mode for 1-palmitoyl-2-0-hexadecyl-sn -glycero-3-phosphorylcholine shifts to 1737 cm−1, By eliminating the gauche bond at the α-carbon position of the sn-2 acyl chain in 1-0-hexadecyl-2-acetoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine, the lower frequency carbonyl fundamental reverts to a higher frequency (1739 cm−1) characteristic of a nearly trans conformation about the C2C1 bond in the ester linkage.
Tidal constituents from remote sensing image sequences

Abstract We address the problem of obtaining tidal constituents from a series of shoreline positions derived from time-sequential airborne imagery of the intertidal zone. A multi-sensor experiment ( Bachmann et al., 2012 ) conducted at the Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research (VCR LTER) site 1 supplied in-situ and airborne data. Hyperspectral and infrared shoreline imagery of the VCR LTER barrier islands, shallow lagoons, and mainland coastal areas as well as topographic LiDAR data were obtained from the same air platform over a nine-day period, and LiDAR and in-situ topographic beach surveys were used to specify the beach bathymetry and derive a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) over the primary area focused on in this paper at Wreck Island, VA. The DEM and shoreline positions are used to obtain a time sequence of tidal heights; these are found to be consistent with a time series from a GPS-equipped tide gage float anchored nearby. A least-squares fit of the five largest tidal constituents (M 2 , N 2 , S 2 , O 1 , K 1 ) to this one-week record indicates that the first three can be retrieved with only a ±15–20 % error, as determined by the one-year sea-surface height time series from a nearby NOAA Sea Surface Height (SSH) station at Wachapreague, VA. The broader question of how many images are needed to obtain tidal constituents from an annual record is also addressed. Using SSH values from a NOAA tide gage station as a surrogate for image-derived SSH values, we progressively decimate a yearlong tide record, calculating its tidal constituents at each level of decimation. We find that that only one image every ten days is needed to retrieve the five largest tidal constituents to within a 10% error.
Relationships of dietary fat consumption to serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hispanic preschool children.

Background. Studies of the relationship between dietary fat intake and serum lipids in young children have yielded inconclusive results. We studied this relationship in 108 Hispanic children ages 4–5 years. Methods. Four 24-hr recalls approximately 3 months apart and two Willett semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires approximately 6 months apart were obtained by interviewing the children's mothers. Diet measures were averaged for the multiple administrations of each of these instruments. Results. Based on the 24-hr recalls, children in the highest tertile of total fat consumption (36.2% of total calories) compared with the lowest tertile (30.2% of total calories) had mean total serum cholesterol of 4.32 mmol/liter (167 mg/dl) vs 3.91 mmol/liter (151 mg/dl) (test for linear trend across tertiles, P < 0.05) and mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 2.74 mmol/liter (106 mg/dl) vs 2.29 mmol/liter (89 mg/dl) (test for linear trend, P < 0.01). Children in the highest tertile of saturated fat consumption (14.6% of total calories) compared with the lowest tertile (11.2% of total calories) had mean total serum cholesterol of 4.39 mmol/liter (170 mg/dl) vs 3.97 mmol/liter (154 mg/dl) (test for linear trend, P < 0.05) and mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 2.80 mmol/liter (108 mg/dl) vs 2.35 mmol/liter (91 mg/dl) (test for linear trend, P < 0.01). These relationships remained significant when calorie-adjusted nutrient intakes were examined and after adjustment in multiple linear regression models for age, sex, and body mass index, with the exception of the association of calorie-adjusted total fat with total serum cholesterol level (P = 0.07). Similar results were obtained using the Willett questionnaires. Conclusions. These findings indicate that dietary fat, particularly saturated fat consumption, is an important correlate of blood lipid levels in preschool children. These are also the first reported data indicating that the Willett questionnaire, as a method for measuring the atherogenic components of diet, has criterion-related validity in young children.
Phase I trial of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients undergoing cytoreduction for advanced intra-abdominal malignancy.

Cytoreduction coupled with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an attractive treatment option for a select group of patients with abdominal-only malignancy. The present phase I study examined the safety and pharmacokinetics of intraperitoneal pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) used in the context of HIPEC in patients with advanced abdominal-only malignancies. Patients with advanced abdominal malignancies underwent maximal cytoreduction and HIPEC with escalating doses of PLD (15–100 mg/m2). Perfusate, serum, and tissue doxorubicin levels were measured in five patients undergoing HIPEC at the maximum tolerated dose. Twenty-one patients were enrolled in this trial. The maximum dose evaluated in this trial was 100 mg/m2 and was well tolerated. The most common grade 3/4 complications were superficial wound infection and prolonged ileus. One patient developed an anastomotic leak in the postoperative period, requiring re-exploration. The median postoperative length of stay was 7 days (range, 4–29 days), three patients required readmissions within 30 days, and there were no operative mortalities The median follow-up time for was 13.7 months (range, 3–38 months). The median overall survival was 30.6 months with a median disease-free survival of 25 months. We report that HIPEC with PLD following maximal cytoreduction in patients with advanced abdominal-only gastrointestinal or gynecologic malignancies is well tolerated. Encouraging survival after cytoreduction and HIPEC with PLD suggest that a phase II trial to verify activity is indicated.
Closed cervical spine trauma associated with bilateral vertebral artery injuries

Bilateral vertebral artery injuries in closed cervical spine injuries are uncommon, but early recognition and treatment are important to prevent neurological deterioration. A case of bilateral vertebral injuries in a 35-year-old motor vehicle accident victim is presented, and the current literature is reviewed.
Using tool abstraction to compose systems

The tool abstraction paradigm, which supports the evolution of large-scale software systems by easing design changes in the system functions, is discussed. Systems that support tool abstraction are structured as a pool of abstract data structures shared by a collection of cooperating 'toolies', where each toolie provides a piece of the overall system function. When one toolie updates the shared data, other toolies must be notified: otherwise, cooperating-but-independent toolies may not execute, and the overall system function may be compromised. The KWIC (key word in context) index production system is used to illustrate the idea of tool abstraction. The relationship of tool abstraction to other concepts is examined. >
Environmental and biologic interactions on behavior: effects of artificial rearing in rat pups treated with 6-hydroxydopamine.

In order to examine the impact of social environment on the development of motor activity and cognitive performance in rat pups treated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), we employed artificial rearing techniques pioneered by Hall. In contrast to 6-OHDA-treated mother-reared pups which exhibit an increase in activity during their first postnatal month, 6-OHDA-treated artificially reared animals fail to demonstrate this hyperactivity. The absence of hyperactivity in 6-OHDA-treated artificially reared pups may reflect the absence of isolation-induced motor activity at the beginning of the test period. Both mother-reared and artificially reared 6-OHDA pups demonstrated impairment in shock escape and shock avoidance, suggesting that these deficits in maze performance were influenced by an inherent biological lesion following 6-OHDA treatment while motor activity may depend, to a considerable extent, on environmental manipulations.
Improving the Fuel Efficiency of Mobile A/C Systems with Variable Displacement Compressors

Variable displacement compressors have proven to be more energy efficient than the equivalent compressor with fixed displacement for mobile A/C applications. Variable displacement compressors de-stroke rather than cycle to prevent the evaporator from freezing. Cycling an internally controlled variable compressor is counter intuitive, yet results in a 15-20% reduction in the energy used by the compressor as demonstrated by tests on multiple vehicle applications. Externally controlled variable compressors have the highest energy efficiency and extending cycling to these compressors during cool temperatures reduces the compressor energy consumption by 10%.
Akaike's Information Criterion in Generalized Estimating Equations

Correlated response data are common in biomedical studies. Regression analysis based on the generalized estimating equations (GEE) is an increasingly important method for such data. However, there seem to be few model-selection criteria available in GEE. The well-known Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) cannot be directly applied since AIC is based on maximum likelihood estimation while GEE is nonlikelihood based. We propose a modification to AIC, where the likelihood is replaced by the quasi-likelihood and a proper adjustment is made for the penalty term. Its performance is investigated through simulation studies. For illustration, the method is applied to a real data set.
MOLECULAR EVIDENCE FOR THE ORIGIN OF WORKERLESS SOCIAL PARASITES IN THE ANT GENUS POGONOMYRMEX

Speciation of two social parasites from their respective hosts is tested using a molecular phylogeny. Alignment of 711 DNA base pairs of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was used to assess phylogenetic relationships of inquiline species to their hosts and to other members of the genus. We show that the inquiline social parasites of the North American seed harvester ants are monophyletic, descending from one of the known hosts (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) in the recent past and shifting hosts in a pattern similar to that observed in other Hymenopteran social parasites. In addition, the host populations unexpectedly were found to be polyphyletic. Populations of Pogonomyrmex rugosus from an area east of the Chiricahua Mountains in Southern Arizona belong to a mitochondrial clade separate from the more western clade of P. rugosus from the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. Evidence of mitochondrial DNA introgression between P. rugosus and P. barbatus was also observed. We conclude that Emery's rule does not strictly hold for this system, but that the hosts and parasites are very closely related, supporting a loose definition of Emery's rule.
Identification of epileptogenic foci from causal analysis of ECoG interictal spike activity

Objective In patients with intractable epilepsy, the use of interictal spikes as surrogate markers of the epileptogenic cortex has generated significant interest. Previous studies have suggested that the cortical generators of the interictal spikes are correlated with the epileptogenic cortex as identified from the ictal recordings. We hypothesize that causal analysis of the functional brain networks during interictal spikes are correlated with the clinically-defined epileptogenic zone.
Teaching EBP in social work: Retrospective and prospective

• Summary: This article examines the precursors and advent of the evidence-based practice (EBP) movement, identifies feasibility obstacles to increasing the emphasis on teaching EBP in social work,...
Use of common time base for checkpointing and rollback recovery in a distributed system

An approach to checkpointing and rollback recovery in a distributed computing system using a common time base is proposed. A common time base is established in the system using a hardware clock synchronization algorithm. This common time base is coupled with the idea of pseudo-recovery points to develop a checkpointing algorithm that has the following advantages: reduced wait for commitment for establishing recovery lines, fewer messages to be exchanged, and less memory requirement. These advantages are assessed quantitatively by developing a probabilistic model. >
First Drinking Experiences and Present Drinking Patterns: A Male-Female Comparison

The authors predicted that sex roles in America would contribute to variation between male and female alcoholics in fust drinking experiences and current drinking patterns. Moderate support for this hypothesis was observed. Though first drinking experiences were found to be very similar for males and females, females reported a significantly longer period of time between their first and second drinks of an alcoholic beverage. Females were significantly more likely to have consumed their first alcoholic beverage with family members, while males more commonly were with friends. Beer was the most frequently consumed beverage on the first drinking occasion for both sexes; the second most popular beverage among men was whiskey, while women chose mixed drinks.Regarding current drinking patterns, men drank significantly more often than women. The differences pertaining to general drinking pattern (drinking daily, several times a week, or on weekends, or engaging in binge drinking) approached significance.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and 10-year Risk for Coronary Heart Disease in Korean Women

summary Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and to estimate the 10-year risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) in a nationally representative sample of Korean women. Methods: This is a secondary data analysis using the data set from the 2008 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV. The sample was 2,998 Korean women (weighted n ¼ 14,420,987) aged 20e79 years without cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was calculated using sampling weights and presented in percentages. Ten-year risk for CHD was estimated with the Framingham Risk Score, and the proportions for three levels of 10-year risk were presented. Results: About 18% of the sample had hypertension, 7.5% are current smoker, 30.0% had total cholesterol � 200 mg/dL, 25.7% had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol � 130 mg/dL, and 47.3% had high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 20%. Conclusion: Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors are highly prevalent in Korean women, and the combination of risk factors is common. Development and implementation of multifaceted nursing interventions are required to confront the current epidemic rise of CHD in Korean women.
Simulating (logcn)-wise independence in NC

Abstract : We develop a general framework for removing randomness from randomized NC algorithms whose analysis uses only polyalgorithmic independence. Previously no techniques were known to determine those RNC algorithms depending on more than constant independence. One application of our techniques is an NC algorithm for the set discrepancy problem, which can be used to obtain many other NC algorithms, including a better NC edge coloring algorithm. As another application of our techniques, we provide an NC algorithm for the hypergraph coloring problem.
Global And Partial Shape Discrimination For Computer Vision

The use of Fourier descriptors for rapid recognition of complete shapes is discussed. Also a Fourier-Mellin correlation procedure for recognition of partial shapes is presented.
Mechanisms of Gamma Oscillations

Gamma rhythms are commonly observed in many brain regions during both waking and sleep states, yet their functions and mechanisms remain a matter of debate. Here we review the cellular and synaptic mechanisms underlying gamma oscillations and outline empirical questions and controversial conceptual issues. Our main points are as follows: First, gamma-band rhythmogenesis is inextricably tied to perisomatic inhibition. Second, gamma oscillations are short-lived and typically emerge from the coordinated interaction of excitation and inhibition, which can be detected as local field potentials. Third, gamma rhythm typically concurs with irregular firing of single neurons, and the network frequency of gamma oscillations varies extensively depending on the underlying mechanism. To document gamma oscillations, efforts should be made to distinguish them from mere increases of gamma-band power and/or increased spiking activity. Fourth, the magnitude of gamma oscillation is modulated by slower rhythms. Such cross-frequency coupling may serve to couple active patches of cortical circuits. Because of their ubiquitous nature and strong correlation with the "operational modes" of local circuits, gamma oscillations continue to provide important clues about neuronal population dynamics in health and disease.
Identification of a receptor on the vitelline membrane of bovine oocytes that recognizes bovine immunoglobulin G.

Abstract In order to investigate whether Ig molecules affect bovine fertility, bovine follicular oocytes were tested for an oolemmal receptor that recognized IgG. The zona pellucida was removed from 296 oocytes. The zona-free oocytes were then incubated with purified bovine IgG, its Fc fragment, or its Fab fragment. They were subsequently washed and incubated with the appropriate rabbit anti-bovine IgG (whole IgG-specific, Fc-specific, or Fab-specific), which was covalently attached to polyacrylamide beads (immunobeads). Bead attachment was scored using light microscopy. Bovine IgG and bovine IgG-Fc bound to the oocytes, whereas the IgG-Fab exhibited negligible binding. The data indicate that a bovine oolemmal receptor exists that binds IgG by recognizing the molecule in the region of the Fc-Fab junction. Thus, the binding of IgG or other Ig molecules to bovine oocytes may play a role in sperm and egg interaction.
A letter to the future engineer: Exploring cross-cultural engineering identities through practitioners' letters of advice

Engineering education researchers have been trying to improve the quality of engineering education. Related to these efforts, it is important to revisit and better understand the definition of engineering education. As part of our PhD coursework, we were required to create a short video depicting our understanding of the definition of engineering education. For this purpose, we created “a letter to the future engineer” that presented a holistic view of the challenges and opportunities involved in the professional practice of engineering. To write our letter, we collected real letters of advice from practicing engineers with varying demographic characteristics and experiences. Thematic analysis of the letters uncovered some country-level differences in terms of priorities, perceptions, and the professional life of the contributing engineers. The aim of this work-in-progress paper is to describe our experience of generating this letter of advice and to comment on the patterns we identified during this process. This idea calls for more in-depth studies to reveal the influence of culture and geographic regions on the engineers' perceptions of their profession.
Transcranial Direct Current Brain Stimulation Increases Ability to Resist Smoking.

Abstract Background The ability to exert self-control over temptation is a fundamental component of smoking behavior change. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been shown to modulate cognitive control circuits. Although prior studies show that stimulation reduces cigarette craving and self-reported smoking, effects on ability to resist smoking have not been investigated directly. Objectives We assessed effects of a single 20-minute session of 1.0 mA anodal stimulation over the left DLPFC with cathodal stimulation over the right supra-orbital area (vs. sham stimulation) on ability to resist smoking in a validated smoking lapse paradigm. Methods Twenty-five participants completed two tDCS sessions (active and sham stimulation) in a within-subject, double-blind, randomized and counterbalanced order with a 2-week washout period. Following overnight abstinence, participants received tDCS in the presence of smoking related cues; they had the option to smoke at any time or receive $1 for every 5 minutes they abstained. After 50 minutes, they participated in a 1 hour ad libitum smoking session. Primary and secondary outcomes were time to first cigarette and cigarette consumption, respectively. Results In multiple regression models, active tDCS (compared to sham) significantly increased latency to smoke (p = 0.02) and decreased the total number of cigarettes smoked (p = 0.014) during the session. Conclusion These findings suggest that acute anodal stimulation over the left DLPFC (with cathodal stimulation over the right supra-orbital area) can improve ability to resist smoking, supporting the therapeutic potential of tDCS for smoking cessation treatment.
Surveillance 2.0: How personality qualifies reactions to social media monitoring policies

Abstract Recently, employers in the U.S. have started to implement and justify social media monitoring policies as a means of safeguarding their organization's reputation. What individual differences explain how people respond to these policies? In this study, we examine how the Big Five personality traits moderate the effects of presenting a justification for social media monitoring on feelings of invasiveness and unfairness. Findings from an experiment conducted with 195 participants suggest that the presence of a justification for monitoring lowered perceptions of invasiveness, and invasiveness fully mediated the effect of presenting a justification on fairness perceptions. However, these findings were dependent on agreeableness and openness; people with high agreeableness and low openness were easily placated with justifications for social media monitoring, whereas people with low agreeableness and high openness were not moved by justifications. These results demonstrate the importance of individual differences to understanding when people will resist or accept organizational efforts to pry into their online activities.
The Changing Face of American Catholic Nationalism

Scholarly attention to how religious ideas, institutions and actors affect the legitimation or delegitimation of modern capitalism has intensified in recent years, fueled in part by a renewal of debate within religious traditions about the moral legitimacy of capitalism. This article argues that, contrary to some conservative fears and radical hopes, the United States Catholic Church is not engaged in a process of delegitimating the capitalist order. While the mainstream of the Church at all levels is more socially engaged than ever before, what is impressive are the limits beyond which that activism does not travel. Those boundaries are defined by an ideological construct, both political-economic and theological in nature, that I describe as United States Catholic Nationalism. This article examines the political and ecclesiastic significance of this ideology that, despite huge changes in world Catholicism and world capitalism, helps maintain the United States Catholic Church as a cultural support for the capitalist system.
Two Months in the Nursing Home

Where I reside the nursing home is called the “Health Center,” a euphemism that obscures the fact that a large majority of patients will be there until they die and they know that. It always reminds me that during World War I sauerkraut was called liberty cabbage. And it was around the time that undertakers called themselves morticians or funeral directors. In principle I have no objection to accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative. I make an exception, however, when the negative is the overarching concern of people! The word and concept of nursing homes evokes imagery and obligations. Substituting wellness for nursing conveys implicitly the message, “Let’s not say that your days are numbered, let us talk about other things,” a message every patient knows is a form of Madison Avenue advertising. Don’t call it impotency, call it erectile dysfunction. Calling a nursing home a wellness center is but one of the ways illustrative of how differently patients and staff define needs. The gulf between the phenomenologies of patients and staff has different sources and the bridging of that gulf is primarily the obligation and responsibility of the staff.
A Method Development for the Routine Analytical Monitoring of Aqueous Cyanide Species

Utilizing a highly selective reaction between silver metal and cyanide ions, an apparatus and procedure for the analytical determination of aqueous cyanide species has been developed. The rapid analysis of free cyanide has been achieved through the use of pure silver filters as the reaction medium and atomic absorption spectroscopy as the detection method. This methodology has allowed for the quantitative detection of cyanide ions down to the sub-parts-per-billion level. By incorporating selective oxidation, kinetic equilibria, and photodissociation techniques, the silver-cyanide reaction technique has been adapted to provide a means of categorically speciating aqueous cyanide compounds. The complete system has been shown to be free from common chemical interferences, including thiocyanate. This detection system provides high speed cyanide determinations with little to no sample preparation or instrument supervision.
Mermin-Wagner theorem, flexural modes, and degraded carrier mobility in two-dimensional crystals with broken horizontal mirror symmetry

We show that the electron mobility in ideal, free-standing two-dimensional ``buckled'' crystals with broken horizontal mirror (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{h}}$) symmetry and Dirac-like dispersion (such as silicene and germanene) is dramatically affected by scattering with the acoustic flexural modes (ZA phonons). This is caused both by the broken ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{h}}$ symmetry and by the diverging number of long-wavelength ZA phonons, consistent with the Mermin-Wagner theorem. Non-${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{h}}$-symmetric, ``gapped'' 2D crystals (such as semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides with a tetragonal crystal structure) are affected less severely by the broken ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{h}}$ symmetry, but equally seriously by the large population of the acoustic flexural modes. We speculate that reasonable long-wavelength cutoffs needed to stabilize the structure (finite sample size, grain size, wrinkles, defects) or the anharmonic coupling between flexural and in-plane acoustic modes (shown to be effective in mirror-symmetric crystals, like free-standing graphene) may not be sufficient to raise the electron mobility to satisfactory values. Additional effects (such as clamping and phonon stiffening by the substrate and/or gate insulator) may be required.
The historical association between measles and pertussis: A case of immune suppression?

Objectives:According to historical medical reports, many children with measles subsequently contracted pertussis, often with fatal results. The likelihood of a child contracting pertussis after a m...
Characterization of Consolidated Rapidly Solidified Cu-Nb Ribbons

Copper-niobium ribbons produced by melt-spinning were compacted by swaging and consolidated using HIPping. Final processing to obtain in-situ composites was done by swaging. The strength of the composite is discussed in terms of the composition and morphology of the niobium phase as evaluated using electron microscopy techniques.
Cardiovascular disease risks in adult Native and Mexican Americans with a history of alcohol use disorders: association with cardiovascular autonomic control

Hypertension and obesity are serious health problems that have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We recently showed a relationship between hypertension, obesity and cardiovagal control in a sample of Native and Mexican Americans at high risk of alcohol use disorders (AUD). While studies have shown that Native and Mexican Americans exhibit high rates of AUD, the consequences of AUD on CVD risk factors and their relationship with cardiovascular autonomic control is not well understood in these ethnic groups. This study investigated whether an association could be demonstrated between cardiovascular autonomic control and several CVD risk factors in Native and Mexican American men and women (n = 228) who are literate in English and are residing legally in San Diego County. Participants with lifetime history of AUD showed higher rates of systolic and diastolic hypertension and obesity than participants without lifetime AUD. Lifetime AUD was significantly associated with reduced HR response to deep breathing (HRDB) measure of cardiovagal control, higher current drinking quantity, and obesity. Reduced HRDB was also associated with increased systolic pre-hypertension or hypertension (pre-/hypertension) and with higher diastolic blood pressure in a linear regression model that included several diagnostic and demographic variables. HRDB and time- and frequency-domain measures of cardiovagal control were significantly reduced in participants with diastolic pre-/hypertension. These data suggest that lower cardiovagal control may play a role in the prevalence of systolic and diastolic pre-/hypertension in a community sample with a history of alcohol and substance use disorders.
Examples of Ultrametrics

(1975). Examples of Ultrametrics. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 82, No. 7, pp. 749-752.
Shock Tube Explorations of Roaming Radical Mechanisms: The Decompositions of Isobutane and Neopentane

The thermal decompositions of isobutane and neopentane have been studied using both shock tube experiments and ab initio transition state theory based master equation calculations. Dissociation rate constants for these molecules have been measured at high temperatures (1260–1566 K) behind reflected shock waves using high-sensitivity H-ARAS detection. The two major dissociation channels at high temperature are iso-C4H10 → CH3 + i-C3H7 (1a) and neo-C5H12 → CH3 + t-C4H9 (2a). Ultrahigh-sensitivity ARAS detection of H-atoms produced from the rapid decomposition of the product radicals, i-C3H7 in (1a) and t-C4H9 in (2a), through i-C3H7 + M → H + C3H6 + M (3a) and t-C4H9 + M → H + i-C4H8 + M (4a) allowed measurements of both the total decomposition rate constants, ktotal, and the branching to radical products, which were observed to be equivalent in both systems, k1a/ktotal and k2a/ktotal = 0.79 ± 0.05. Theoretical analyses indicate that in isobutane, the non-H-atom fraction has two contributions, the dominant ...
An overview of intestinal absorptive and secretory processes.

Editor’s note. From time to time, Gastroenterology publishes articles designed to summarize the evidence for a particular point of view concerning some fundamental aspect of gastrointestinal or hepatic function which has long been a matter of intense interest and considerable controversy.
Tracking Students’ Activities in Serious Games

A Serious Game (SG) is a virtual process designed for the purpose of real-world problem-solving. In SG analytics studies, learning processes are tracked using diverse techniques to support the personalization of instruction. However, it is a challenge to find potential meanings of each parameter of the tracking logs and define an appropriate indicator for a user’s behavior. Game tracking logs often only provide limited information regardless of a game context. Therefore, research such as combining game data analysis with visualization techniques is needed to provide a holistic view of the gaming process and player behaviors. This study focused on the learning analytics of students’ activities in a 3D immersive SG environment called Alien Rescue (AR, http://alienrescue.edb.utexas.edu), which is designed for middle school science learning. The goal of this study was to understand the relationship between students’ activities—as shown in log data—and their performance in the environment. Students’ activity logs and their performance scores were analyzed using both statistics and visualization techniques. The findings on SG tracking variables, learning paths based on different performance groups, and the most frequent learning path are reported in this paper.
Hypoxia-Driven Mechanism of Vemurafenib Resistance in Melanoma

Melanoma is molecularly and structurally heterogeneous, with some tumor cells existing under hypoxic conditions. Our cell growth assays showed that under controlled hypoxic conditions, BRAF(V600E) melanoma cells rapidly became resistant to vemurafenib. By employing both a three-dimensional (3D) spheroid model and a two-dimensional (2D) hypoxic culture system to model hypoxia in vivo, we identified upregulation of HGF/MET signaling as a major mechanism associated with vemurafenib resistance as compared with 2D standard tissue culture in ambient air. We further confirmed that the upregulation of HGF/MET signaling was evident in drug-resistant melanoma patient tissues and mouse xenografts. Pharmacologic inhibition of the c-Met/Akt pathway restored the sensitivity of melanoma spheroids or 2D hypoxic cultures to vemurafenib. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(10); 2442-54. ©2016 AACR.
Bypassing STAT3-mediated inhibition of the transcriptional regulator ID2 improves the antitumor efficacy of dendritic cells

Despite the potent ability of dendritic cells (DCs) to stimulate lymphocyte responses and host immunity, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-derived DCs (GM-DCs) used as antitumor vaccines have demonstrated relatively modest success in cancer immunotherapy. We found that injecting GM-DCs into melanoma tumors in mice, or culturing GM-DCs with melanoma-secreted cytokines or melanoma-conditioned medium, rapidly suppressed DC-intrinsic expression of the gene encoding inhibitor of differentiation 2 (ID2), a transcriptional regulator. Melanoma-associated cytokines repressed Id2 transcription in murine DCs through the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Enforced expression of ID2 in GM-DCs (ID2-GM-DCs) suppressed their production of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Vaccination with ID2-GM-DCs slowed the progression of melanoma tumors and enhanced animal survival, which was associated with an increased abundance of tumor-infiltrating interferon-γ-positive CD4(+) effector and CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells and a decreased number of tumor-infiltrating regulatory CD4(+) T cells. The efficacy of the ID2-GM-DC vaccine was improved by combinatorial treatment with a blocking antibody to programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), a current immunotherapy that overcomes suppressive immune checkpoint signaling. Collectively, our data reveal a previously unrecognized STAT3-mediated immunosuppressive mechanism in DCs and indicate that DC-intrinsic ID2 promotes tumor immunity by modulating tumor-associated CD4(+) T cell responses. Thus, inhibiting STAT3 or overexpressing ID2 selectively in DCs may improve the efficiency of DC vaccines in cancer therapy.
Model Wind Turbines Tested at Full-Scale Similarity

The enormous length scales associated with modern wind turbines complicate any efforts to predict their mechanical loads and performance. Both experiments and numerical simulations are constrained by the large Reynolds numbers governing the full- scale aerodynamics. The limited fundamental understanding of Reynolds number effects in combination with the lack of empirical data affects our ability to predict, model, and design improved turbines and wind farms. A new experimental approach is presented, which utilizes a highly pressurized wind tunnel (up to 220 bar). It allows exact matching of the Reynolds numbers (no matter how it is defined), tip speed ratios, and Mach numbers on a geometrically similar, small-scale model. The design of a measurement and instrumentation stack to control the turbine and measure the loads in the pressurized environment is discussed. Results are then presented in the form of power coefficients as a function of Reynolds number and Tip Speed Ratio. Due to gearbox power loss, a preliminary study has also been completed to find the gearbox efficiency and the resulting correction has been applied to the data set.
The Excitement of Clinical Microbiology

Clinical microbiology, one of the major branches of microbiology, goes largely unnoticed by academics, in part perhaps because the diagnostic activities of microbiologists are pursued separately, in hospital and commercial labs. I’d venture to guess that many academic microbiology researchers have never set foot in one of these labs. Their loss, as it would be an exciting and rewarding experience.
Drone strikes, ephemeral sovereignty, and changing conceptions of territory

ABSTRACTDrone strikes, ephemeral sovereignty, and changing conceptions of territory. Territory, Politics, Governance. One of the questions posed about contemporary US drone strikes is to what extent these strikes, particularly those occurring outside of Iraq and Afghanistan, are reshaping our conceptions of territory and sovereignty. It appears that geographies of war and of the use or projection of force are radically changing. This article examines the US legal frameworks for drone-targeting operations, and in particular the conceptions of territory they draw upon, to argue that contemporary strikes reflect less a disappearance of the importance of territory and sovereignty to justifications of the use of force than a reconfiguration of their meanings. Grounded in an understanding of territory that is more networked and dynamic, drone strikes reflect the emergence of a new landscape of mobile and ephemeral sovereignty.