cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RATES OF HEAVE AND SURFACE ROTATION OF PERIGLACIAL FROST BOILS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA

The White Mountains of California have a cold semi-arid climate that has led to the development of large areas of periglacial patterned ground. Rates of activity vary widely, and no present activity has been noted below 3600 m. Three distinct scales of patterned ground—having average diameters of 3–5 m, 0.5–1.0 m, and 0.1–0.5 m—exist together in a nested fashion at a favorable location at 3914 m. Vertical heave, horizontal displacement, and surface rotation were investigated on landforms of each scale, to determine rates of activity and the spatial and temporal variation of heave. No movement was detected in the largest landforms, but frost boils located in the centers of the larger sorted polygons were highly active. Rates of heave increased dramatically at the beginning of the thaw season, approaching 3.6 mm per day. Dowels were heaved an average of 16.8 cm over ten months. Disks used as surface markers demonstrated exceptional rotational and radial displacement over a nine-month period; 29% of the mark...
A Coupler-Based Differential Doherty Power Amplifier with Built-In Baluns for High Mm-Wave Linear-Yet-Efficient Gbit/s Amplifications

We propose a Doherty power amplifier architecture with impedance inverting balun and impedance scaling balun to support Doherty active load modulation and Power Back-Off (PBO) efficiency enhancement at high mm-Wave frequencies. Unlike transformer baluns often used at RF frequencies, mm-Wave coupler-based baluns are employed to provide well balanced differential-to-single-ended conversion and absorb device output parasitic capacitance. Moreover, this paper reports that coupler-based balun with 45° electrical length exhibits impedance inverting behavior, which is utilized to construct Doherty active load modulation network in the reported PA design. Adaptive biasing circuit further enhances the Main/Auxiliary PA cooperation. The measured Doherty PA exhibits 20.1dBm P sat , 19.3dBm P 1dB , and 26% peak PAE. At 7dB PBO, the measured PAE is 16.6%, demonstrating 1.45× efficiency enhancement compared to an ideal class-B PA with the same peak PAE at P 1dB .
Movement and Performance Explain Widespread Cortical Activity in a Visual Detection Task

Recent studies in mice reveal widespread cortical signals during task performance; however, the various task-related and task-independent processes underlying this activity are incompletely understood. Here, we recorded wide-field neural activity, as revealed by GCaMP6s, from dorsal cortex while simultaneously monitoring orofacial movements, walking, and arousal (pupil diameter) of head-fixed mice performing a Go/NoGo visual detection task and examined the ability of task performance and spontaneous or task-related movements to predict cortical activity. A linear model was able to explain a significant fraction (33-55% of variance) of widefield dorsal cortical activity, with the largest factors being movements (facial, walk, eye), response choice (hit, miss, false alarm), and arousal and indicate that a significant fraction of trial-to-trial variability arises from both spontaneous and task-related changes in state (e.g., movements, arousal). Importantly, secondary motor cortex was highly correlated with lick rate, critical for optimal task performance (high d'), and was the first region to significantly predict the lick response on target trials. These findings suggest that secondary motor cortex is critically involved in the decision and performance of learned movements and indicate that a significant fraction of trial-to-trial variation in cortical activity results from spontaneous and task-related movements and variations in behavioral/arousal state.
Prediction of comorbid diseases using weighted geometric embedding of human interactome

Comorbidity is the phenomenon of two or more diseases occurring simultaneously not by random chance and presents great challenges to accurate diagnosis and treatment. As an effort toward better understanding the genetic causes of comorbidity, in this work, we have developed a computational method to predict comorbid diseases. Two diseases sharing common genes tend to increase their comorbidity. Previous work shows that after mapping the associated genes onto the human interactome the distance between the two disease modules (subgraphs) is correlated with comorbidity. To fully incorporate structural characteristics of interactome as features into prediction of comorbidity, our method embeds the human interactome into a high dimensional geometric space with weights assigned to the network edges and uses the projection onto different dimension to “fingerprint” disease modules. A supervised machine learning classifier is then trained to discriminate comorbid diseases versus non-comorbid diseases. In cross-validation using a benchmark dataset of more than 10,000 disease pairs, we report that our model achieves remarkable performance of ROC score = 0.90 for comorbidity threshold at relative risk RR = 0 and 0.76 for comorbidity threshold at RR = 1, and significantly outperforms the previous method and the interactome generated by annotated data. To further incorporate prior knowledge pathways association with diseases, we weight the protein-protein interaction network edges according to their frequency of occurring in those pathways in such a way that edges with higher frequency will more likely be selected in the minimum spanning tree for geometric embedding. Such weighted embedding is shown to lead to further improvement of comorbid disease prediction. The work demonstrates that embedding the two-dimension planar graph of human interactome into a high dimensional geometric space allows for characterizing and capturing disease modules (subgraphs formed by the disease associated genes) from multiple perspectives, and hence provides enriched features for a supervised classifier to discriminate comorbid disease pairs from non-comorbid disease pairs more accurately than based on simply the module separation.
Elastic constants of pure body-centered cubic Mg in nanolaminates

Abstract At ambient temperature, pressure, and sufficiently fine layer thicknesses, pure body-centered cubic (bcc) Mg can exist as a pseudo-morphic phase when coherently bonded with a substantially stiffer bcc metal, such as Nb. Compared to the hexagonal close-packed Mg/bcc Nb nanocomposite that exists in the larger layer thicknesses, the bcc Mg/bcc Nb nanocomposite was recently shown to exhibit significantly higher yield stresses and strains to failure. However, because of the morphological, spatial, and crystallographic constraints imposed by nanolayered architecture, the elastic constants of the individual bcc Mg phase cannot be directly measured experimentally. Lack of this fundamental property stands in the way of theoretical and computational modeling of the mechanical properties of the pseudo-morphic bcc phase of Mg. In this work, we employ density functional theory calculations and a strain-energy-based elasticity method to calculate the lattice and elastic constants of pure bcc Mg. For validation of these constants, we combine a set of micropillar compression experiments and microstructurally explicit finite element simulations for the fully bcc Mg/bcc Nb nanolaminate system. We conclude that (i) for the stress-free bcc Mg, the lattice parameter a0 is 3.581 A, and the three independent elastic constants C11, C12, and C44 are 39.64 GPa, 34.14 GPa, and 31.38 GPa, respectively, and (ii) for the laminated bcc Mg (i.e., a0 = 3.347 A), the three elastic constants are 84.68 GPa, 56.68 GPa, and 61.4 GPa, respectively.
Effect of electron concentration on electrical conductivity in in situ Al-TiB2 nanocomposites

Electrical conductivity is important for the applications of metals containing nanoparticles, and a thorough understanding of how nanoparticles affect their electrical conductivity is much needed. In this paper, an in situ Al-TiB2 nanocomposite is used as a model system to study its electrical behavior from 10–300 K with Hall scanning up to ± 6 T. By experimentally identifying the respective contributions from the nanoparticle size, grain boundaries, dislocation density, and nanoparticle volume percentage, it suggests that a low volume percent of TiB2 nanoparticles can reduce the electron concentration significantly to decrease the electrical conductivity of the Al-TiB2 nanocomposites, while yielding less effect on the electron mobility. Moreover, the results show that the intrinsically enhanced electron-phonon interaction and the interfacial bound states by TiB2 nanoparticles play a role in lowering the electron concentration. This understanding of how nanoparticles affect the electrical conductivity provides useful insights into the rational design and optimization of metal matrix nanocomposites for numerous applications.
P428 HIV incidence, and pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) among PEP users at new york city sexual health clinics

Background Sexually transmitted disease clinics are well-suited to deliver PEP; few provide full courses (28 days) due to cost. Since 2016, NYC Sexual Health Clinic (SHC) staff have provided full-course PEP to eligible HIV-negative patients, and thereafter attempt linkage to PrEP. We examined HIV incidence and patterns of PrEP/PEP use among a PEP cohort. Methods We matched men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) who received PEP at SHC (09/2016-05/2017) to the citywide HIV surveillance registry to identify new HIV diagnoses between last PEP event during this interval and 06/30/2018. We calculated HIV incidence with time-at-risk starting 28 days after PEP provision; periods of additional PEP supplied at SHC during follow-up were excluded from time-at-risk. We examined subsequent PrEP and repeat PEP use during follow-up. For MSM without PrEP/repeat PEP, we calculated the number-needed-to-treat (NNT) with PrEP for one year to prevent 1 HIV infection (assumed 73% efficacy with 90% adherence). Results Eleven HIV diagnoses occurred among 520 MSM with 652 person-years (PY) follow-up; HIV incidence was 1.7/100PY (95%CI: 0.8–3.0), and highest among Hispanic MSM (2.6/100PY) and MSM aged Conclusion Despite PrEP availability, fewer than half of PEP patients took up PrEP and a substantial proportion took PEP repeatedly; research to elucidate underlying reasons for PrEP and PEP use patterns (insurance/cost, convenience, self-perceived risk) is warranted. Disclosure No significant relationships.
Clinical correlation recommended: accuracy of clinician versus radiologic interpretation of the imaging of orbital lesions

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of radiographic interpretation between the clinician and radiologist when compared to histopathology of orbital lesions.Methods: A retrospective chart review of pati...
Hiccups as the Presenting Manifestation of Cardiac Tamponade: A Case Report

Abstract Background Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening disease with a high mortality rate. Its clinical manifestations depend on the length of time over which pericardial effusion accumulates. Among those, hiccups are rarely reported. Case Report We present a 48-year-old man who came in with a chief complaint of persistent hiccups and later had hypotension and dyspnea at the emergency department. Electrocardiogram revealed diffuse ST elevation with mildly elevated cardiac enzymes. Echocardiography showed massive pericardial effusion, implying cardiac tamponade. Catheter pericardiocentesis was performed and massive pericardial effusion was drained. Hiccups subsided after the procedure and the patient recovered uneventfully. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cardiac tamponade with the presenting manifestation of persistent hiccups. Emergency physicians should stay vigilant when approaching those patients with unexplainable prolonged hiccups.
Firm lesion on the lateral thigh.

A 41-year-old man presented with concern about a lesion on the right lateral thigh that he had first noticed 6 years earlier. The lesion had not changed since that time. There was no history of trauma or infection to the area. He reported no weight loss, and he said he had not noticed similar
Electrochemical ammonia removal and disinfection of aquaculture wastewater using batch and flow reactors incorporating PtRu/graphite anode and graphite cathode

Abstract Ammonia removal and disinfection are two major problems in aquaculture systems, which require clean and reliable water to support long-term growth and health of target animals. In this study, we report electrochemical ammonia removal and disinfection of wastewater from an aquaculture farm (Mari’s Gardens) in Hawaii. First, we attempted to reproduce the work of Zollig and co-authors, who reported that direct ammonia oxidation can occur between 1 V and 1.6 V vs SHE on a graphite electrode in a solution (pH = 9.0) containing 1 M NaClO4, 0.25 M NH4ClO4, and 0.085 M NaCl. Our results, however, show that direct ammonia oxidation is unlikely to occur, at least at significant rates, on a graphite electrode in aqueous solutions (pH = 9.0) containing 0.7 M Na2SO4, 0.1 M (NH4)2SO4, and 0.02 M NaCl. We tentatively attribute this discrepancy to the different physico-chemical characteristics of graphite electrodes made by different manufacturers. Second, PtRu/graphite electrodes were prepared using a pulsed electrodeposition method, and electrode activity towards ammonia removal and disinfection was examined in both synthetic and real aquaculture wastewater using batch and flow reactors. The PtRu catalyst was partially oxidized at the beginning of electrolysis, and a significant increase in the electrode activity towards indirect ammonia oxidation was observed. Ammonia removal was slow when NaCl concentration was 0.66 mM, but the addition of NaCl (up to 20 mM) led to a drastic increase in the ammonia removal rate, indicating that ammonia removal proceeds via indirect oxidation. The ammonia removal rate depends primarily on NaCl concentration and current density and is independent of the initial ammonia concentration and solution pH. The ammonia removal rates can be modeled by pseudo zero-order kinetics, and a linear correlation can be drawn between the ammonia removal rate (k, mg L−1 min−1) and the product of NaCl concentration ([Cl-], mM) and current density (j, mA/cm2): k = 0.0047 [Cl-] j (R2 = 0.99). Free chlorine (Cl2, HOCl, and OCl-) was not detected in the solution until the complete removal of ammonia. Combined chlorine (NH2Cl, NHCl2, and NCl3) was measured at concentrations of 2–15 mg/L (as Cl2) during the ammonia removal process but was eliminated as soon as ammonia was depleted and an excess of free chlorine was available. Our detailed findings on the formation of both free chlorine and combined chlorine are significant to the mechanistic study of indirect ammonia oxidation. Ammonia removal experiments in synthetic and real aquaculture wastewater showed similar results. However, ammonia removal in the flow reactor took about three times longer than that in the batch reactor under similar conditions, likely due to hydrodynamic mixing differences. In addition, it was found that E. coli bacteria can be completely inactivated (5-log reduction) within a short time (e.g., 5 min).
Normal and Premature Adrenarche.

Adrenarche is the maturational increase in adrenal androgen production that normally begins in early childhood. It results from changes in the secretory response to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) that are best indexed by dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) rise. These changes are related to the development of the zona reticularis (ZR) and its unique gene/enzyme expression pattern of low 3s-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 with high cytochrome b5A, sulfotransferase 2A1, and 17s-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5. Recently 11-ketotestosterone was identified as an important bioactive adrenarchal androgen. Birth weight, body growth, obesity, and prolactin are related to ZR development. Adrenarchal androgens normally contribute to the onset of sexual pubic hair (pubarche) and sebaceous and apocrine gland development. Premature adrenarche causes ≥90% of premature pubarche (PP). Its cause is unknown. Affected children have a significantly increased growth rate with proportionate bone age advancement that typically does not compromise growth potential. Serum DHEAS and testosterone levels increase to levels normal for early female puberty. It is associated with mildly increased risks for obesity, insulin resistance, and possibly mood disorder and polycystic ovary syndrome. Between 5% and 10% of PP is due to virilizing disorders, which are usually characterized by more rapid advancement of pubarche and compromise of adult height potential than premature adrenarche. Most cases are due to nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Algorithms are presented for the differential diagnosis of PP. This review highlights recent advances in molecular genetic and developmental biologic understanding of ZR development and insights into adrenarche emanating from mass spectrometric steroid assays.
Global Optimization in Practice

Global optimization techniques, cf. Horst & Pardalos (1995), Floudas (2000), Floudas & Gounaris (2009), or Misener & Floudas (2012), are suitable for solving non-convex NLP or MINLP problems. When in this book we refer to global optimization, we mean deterministic global optimization, where a globally optimal objective function value can be computed up to a given e > 0.
The chemokine BRAK/CXCL14 regulates synaptic transmission in the adult mouse dentate gyrus stem cell niche

The chemokine BRAK/CXCL14 is an ancient member of the chemokine family whose functions in the brain are completely unknown. We examined the distribution of CXCL14 in the nervous system during development and in the adult. Generally speaking, CXCL14 was not expressed in the nervous system prior to birth, but it was expressed in the developing whisker follicles (E14.5) and subsequently in the hair follicles and skin. Postnatally, CXCL14 was also highly expressed in many regions of the brain, including the cortex, basal ganglia, septum and hippocampus. CXCL14 was also highly expressed in the dorsal root ganglia. We observed that in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) CXCL14 was expressed by GABAergic interneurons. We demonstrated that CXCL14 inhibited GABAergic transmission to nestin-EGFP-expressing neural stem/progenitor cells in the adult DG. CXCL14 inhibited both the tonic and phasic effects of synaptically released GABA. In contrast CXCL12 enhanced the effects of GABA at these same synapses. CXCL14 increased [Ca(2+)](i) in neural stem cells cultured from the postnatal brain indicating that they expressed the CXCL14 receptor. These observations are consistent with the view that CXCL12 and CXCL14 may normally act as positive and negative regulators of the effects of GABA in the adult DG stem cell niche.
Field theory and the future of stochastic mechanics

Some severe difficulties with stochastic mechanics as a physical theory are pointed out, and it is suggested that these difficulties may be overcome by studying random fields on space-time rather than the diffusion of particle systems in configuration space. A discussion of Bell's theorem leads to the conclusion that it is no obstacle to the description of quantum phenomena by classical random fields. A new quantization method related to stochastic mechanics is developed. The construction of quantum fields from random fields without analytic continuation in time is carried out in the case of the free scalar field. Several open problems concerning random fields are described, in a program relating them to the description of quantum phenomena.
Predictors of Outcome After Catheter Ablation of Premature Ventricular Complexes

Outcomes of Catheter Ablation of PVCBackground The purpose of this study was to assess how well acute procedural outcomes predict the clinical outcome of catheter ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). Methods A consecutive series of 50 patients (28 women, age: 51 ± 13 years) with frequent PVCs was referred for PVC ablation. Acute failure was defined as inability to eliminate the predominant PVC or recurrence of the predominant PVC within 12 hours. The PVC burden was reassessed 3 months after the ablation procedure. A successful procedure was defined as reduction of the PVC burden at 3 months by ≥80% of the initial burden. Results The procedure was acutely effective in 37 patients (74%) and at 3 months in 40 patients (80%). The presence or absence of the predominant PVC in the 12 hours postablation had the highest accuracy for outcome at 3 months (accuracy: 90%). From among the 13/50 patients (26%) with evidence of acute failure, 4 had a PVC reduction of ≥80% at 3 months and 10 had a PVC reduction of >50% resulting in symptomatic improvement at 3 months. Conclusion The presence or absence of the predominant PVC within 12 hours postablation best correlated with the 3-month-efficacy data. Recurrence of the predominant PVC shortly after ablation did not indicate a procedural failure and the necessity for a repeat procedure. The majority of these patients had a significant, clinically meaningful reduction in their PVC burden. Acute predictors for procedural outcome at 3 months have a high positive but rather low negative predictive value.
Temperature Sensing in Microorganisms

Many microorganisms are known to sense and respond to their thermal environment with a behavior modification. The objective of this chapter is to review the current state of knowledge concerning this thermosensing phenomenon. Toward this end, we discuss some of the difficulties encountered in a study of thermosensing mechanisms as well as the types of elements that might be involved in the initial sensing steps of the transduction process. Finally, we conclude with a survey of specific biological examples of thermosensing.
Impact of insurance carrier, prior authorization, and socioeconomic status on appropriate use of SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging in private community-based office practice.

Background The impact of health insurance carrier and socioeconomic status (SES) on the adherence to appropriate use criteria (AUC) for radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is unknown. Hypothesis Health insurance carrier's prior authorization and patient's SES impact adherence to AUC for MPI in a fee-for-service setting. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of 1511 consecutive patients who underwent outpatient MPI in a multi-site, office-based, fee-for-service setting. The patients were stratified according to the 2009 AUC into appropriate/uncertain appropriateness and inappropriate use groups. Insurance status was categorized as Medicare (does not require prior authorization) vs commercial (requires prior authorization). Socioeconomic status was determined by the median household income in the ZIP code of residence. Results The proportion of patients with Medicare was 33% vs 67% with commercial insurance. The rate of inappropriate use was higher among patients with commercial insurance vs Medicare (55% vs 24%; P < 0.001); this difference was not significant after adjusting for confounders known to impact AUC determination (odds ratio: 1.06, 95% confidence interval: 0.62-1.82, P = 0.82). The mean annual household income in the residential areas of patients with inappropriate use as compared to those with appropriate/uncertain use was $72 000 ± 21 000 vs $68 000 ± 20 000, respectively (P < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates known to impact AUC determination, SES (top vs bottom quartile income area) was not independently predictive of inappropriate MPI use (odds ratio: 0.9, 95% confidence interval: 0.53-1.52, P = 0.69). Conclusions Insurance carriers prior authorization and SES do not seem to play a significant role in determining physicians adherence to AUC for MPI.
The Emergence of New Corporate Social Responsibility Regimes in China and India

In an era of financial crises, widening income disparities, and environmental and other calamities linked to corporations, calls for greater corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) are increasing rapidly around the world. Though CSR efforts have generally been viewed as voluntary actions undertaken by corporations, a new CSR model is emerging in China and India. In a marked departure from CSR as it is known in the United States and as it has been developing through global norms, China and India are moving towards mandatory, not voluntary, CSR regimes. They are doing so not only in a time of great global economic change, but at a time when both countries are themselves undergoing massive economic and social changes as they re-orient towards more market-based economies and seek to enter the ranks of global economic superpowers. This Article conducts a comparative analysis of the emerging CSR regimes in China and India and highlights key characteristics of these developing frameworks. This Article begins an inquiry into some of the most significant implications of the CSR regimes now unfolding in China and India, and their potential for effecting legal and societal change. It also raises questions about why China and India are moving towards mandatory CSR when other key global players are taking a largely voluntary approach. Finally, this Article seeks to add to global debates over corporate governance models by enhancing understanding of the corporate governance developments and innovations now arising in China and India.
Two-hybrid and Related Systems

The two-hybrid system is a yeast-based genetic method to detect and analyse protein–protein interactions. Related systems have been developed to detect DNA–protein, RNA–protein and small molecule–protein interactions. Keywords: protein–protein interaction; DNA–protein interaction; RNA–protein interaction; yeast; transcription factor
Barriers and alternatives to pediatric rheumatology referrals: survey of general pediatricians in the United States.

Background Access to pediatric rheumatology (PR) care is limited, however the impact that limited access to PR has on pediatricians has not been examined. The goal of this study was to investigate barriers to PR referrals and resulting alternative referral patterns among primary pediatricians.
Racial differences in energy expenditure and aerobic fitness in premenopausal women

Background: Aerobic fitness, or maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max), and energy expenditure (EE) may be lower in African Americans than in whites. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare sleeping EE (SEE), resting EE (REE), free-living total EE (TEE), and VO 2 max in African American and white women after adjustment for body composition and free-living activity-related energy expenditure (AEE ). Design: Eighteen African American and 17 white premenopausal women were matched for weight, percentage body fat, and age. SEE and REE were measured in a room calorimeter and VO 2 max was measured on a treadmill. Fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) (4-compartment model), AEE (doubly labeled water and SEE), and regional lean tissue (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were used as adjustment variables in SEE, REE, TEE, and VO 2 max comparisons. Results: The African American women had significantly more limb lean tissue and significantly less trunk lean tissue than did the white women. The African American women also had significantly lower SEE (6.9%), REE (7.5%), TEE (9.6%), and VO 2 max (13.4%) than did the white women. Racial differences persisted after adjustment for VO 2 max, AEE, FFM, and limb lean tissue but disappeared after adjustment for trunk lean tissue. The VO 2 max difference was independent of all body-composition variables and of AEE. Conclusions: African American women had lower aerobic fitness than did white women, independent of differences in lean tissue or AEE. Diminished racial differences in SEE, REE, and TEE after adjustment for trunk lean tissue suggest that low EE in African American women is mediated by low volumes of metabolically active organ mass.
Oscillation and asymptotic behavior of second order neutral differential equations

Consider the second- order neutral delay differential equation $$\frac{{d^2 }}{{dt^2 }}[y(t) + P(t - \tau )] + Q(t)y(t - \sigma ) = 0,t \geqq t_0 ,$$ (1) where P, Q e C([t0g, ∞), R) and the delays τ and σ are nonnegative real numbers. We examined the asymptotic behavior of the nonoscillatory solutions of eq. (1) and obtained sufficient conditions for the oscillation of (i) all solutions of eq. (1); (ii) all bounded solutions of eq. (1); (iii) all unbounded solutions of eq. (1).
Migration from Nicaragua: some recent evidence

Abstract I utilize two unique data sources to examine migration from and remittance flows to the capital city of Managua, Nicaragua. Approximately 10–12% of the population has emigrated. These emigrants tend to be disproportionately of working age, better educated, and more often white-collar workers than nonmigrants. In addition, emigrants are more likely to come from larger premigration households and higher income households. Remittance flows to Managua are quite large — the second largest source of foreign exchange earnings after coffee. In addition, remittances have a negative income effect on labor force participation and a positive effect on self-employment of nonmigrants.
Rural Nurse Cultural Self-Efficacy and Job Satisfaction

This article explores relationships between rural nurse cultural self-efficacy and job satisfaction using an online survey of 104 rural nurses in the Northwest. The authors found that self-efficacy was associated with personal characteristics: rural lifestyle and job satisfaction. Nurses who were older, experienced, and with urban backgrounds reported more efficacies when caring for people of different ethnic or racial backgrounds, preferences, and health conditions. Nurses with high cultural self-efficacy expressed intention to leave employment. Rural background nurses expressed the most job satisfaction. The authors conclude exposure to diversity may increase cultural self-efficacy.
Bis-DEAE-Fluorenone: Mechanism of Antiviral Protection and Stimulation of Interferon Production in the Mouse

The production of interferon that is stimulated by a variety of microorganisms, microbial extracts, and synthetic polymers has been reviewed [1]. Most of these have a macromolecular structure, and only two substances of low molecular weight (cycloheximide, mol wt zz: 281, and kanamycin, mol wt izz 484) have ever been reported to stimulate production of interferon [2, 3]. The effect of the antibiotics was noted only at relatively high dosage levels and, with cycloheximide, interferon production was correlated with inhibition of protein synthesis [2]. More recently, Krueger and Mayer [4, 5] have demonstrated production of interferon and protection against several viral infections in mice treated orally with apparently subtoxic doses of another low molecular weight compound: bis-DEAE-fluorenone, also call tilorone hydrochloride
Feature-based attention modulates feedforward visual processing

It is widely believed that attention selects locations at an earlier stage than it selects nonspatial features, but this has been tested only under conditions of minimal competition. We found that, when competition was increased, color-based attention was able to influence the feedforward flow of information in humans within 100 ms of stimulus onset, even for stimuli presented at unattended locations. Thus, color-based attention can operate as early as, and independently from, spatial attention.
U.S. male generational cohorts: Retail format preferences, desired retail attributes, satisfaction and loyalty

Abstract Reports in the academic and popular press acknowledge the growing importance of male shoppers from a retail perspective ( Albright, 2010 ) yet to date most studies have only compared men to women or when examining fashion products ( Shim and Kotsiopulos, 1991 ). No research has been done to segment males in order to provide retailers with a better understanding of male shopping behavior ( Bakewell and Mitchell, 2003 , Meredith et al., 2007 ). This exploratory study surveyed 560 U.S. males examining retail format preferences, desired retail attributes, satisfaction and loyalty using Generational Cohort Theory (GCT). Results suggest significant differences between male generational cohorts in terms of retail format preferences with males from the Silent Generation preferring the category killer format more than males in the Millennial Generation and both 13th Generation and Millennial Generation males preferring internet-only retailers than did Silent Generation Males. Silent Generation males were also found to be more satisfied with retailers in their area, when compared to the younger Baby Boomer and 13th Generation males. No significant differences were found in desired retail attributes or store loyalty. Additional research investigating U.S. and non-U.S. males using GCT is suggested.
Medical comorbidity in women and men with schizophrenia: a population-based controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Persons with persistent mental illness are at risk for failure to receive medical services. In order to deliver appropriate preventive and primary care for this population, it is important to determine which chronic medical conditions are most common.
Mitochondrial DNA Adducts in the Lung and Liver of F344 Rats Chronically Treated with 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and (S)-4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol

Two recent studies conducted in our laboratory have demonstrated formation and accumulation of pyridyloxobutyl (POB) and pyridylhydroxybutyl (PHB) adducts in lung and liver total DNA of F344 rats chronically treated with the tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of its metabolite, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL). In this study, we measured POB and PHB adducts in lung and liver mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), as previous studies suggest a potentially important role of mtDNA in carcinogenesis. Rats were sacrificed after 1, 2, 5, 10, 16, and 20 weeks of treatment with 10 ppm of NNK or (S)-NNAL in drinking water, and mtDNA and nuclear DNA (nDNA) adduct levels in the lung and liver were determined by LC-ESI-MS/MS-SRM. The mean levels of individual POB adducts in mtDNA at all time points were slightly higher than those in nDNA for both NNK and (S)-NNAL-treated rats in the lung (P 0.05). Lung mtDNA of both NNK- and (S)-NNAL-treated rats contained higher concentrations of the sum of three POB adducts (P < 0.001 for both treatments) than nDNA, while the levels of mtDNA and nDNA total POB adducts in the liver were not significantly different in either NNK- or (S)-NNAL-treated rats. Analysis of PHB adducts in mtDNA and nDNA produced results similar to those obtained for POB adducts. The steady accumulation of the lung and liver mtDNA adducts over the course of the study indicates inefficient repair of these adducts in mtDNA. This is the first study to examine the formation of NNK- and (S)-NNAL-derived adducts in rat mtDNA. The results support the hypothesis that preferential binding of tobacco carcinogens to mtDNA of the lung might be functionally important in the development of smoking-induced lung cancer.
Stress-function variational method for interfacial stress analysis of adhesively bonded joints

Abstract High interfacial stresses at the free edges of adherends are responsible for the debonding failure of adhesively bonded joints (ABJs). In this paper, a general stress-function variational method is formulated to determinate the interfacial shear and normal (peeling) stresses in ABJs in high accuracy. By extending authors’ prior work in stress analysis of bonded joints ( Wu and Jenson, 2011 ), all the planar stress components in the adherends and adhesive layer of an ABJ are expressed in terms of four unknown interfacial stress functions, which are introduced at the upper and lower surfaces of the adhesive layer. A set of governing ordinary differential equations (ODEs) of the four interfacial stress functions is obtained via minimizing the complimentary strain energy of the ABJ, which is further solved by using eigenfunctions. The obtained semi-analytic stress field can satisfy all the traction boundary conditions (BCs) of the ABJ, especially the stress continuity across the bonding lines and the shear-free condition at the ends of adherends and adhesive layer. As an example, the stress field in an adhesively single-sided strap joint is determined by the present method, whose numerical accuracy and reliability are validated by finite element method (FEM) and compared to existing models in the literature. Parameter studies are performed to examine the dependencies of the interfacial stresses of the exemplified ABJ upon the geometries, moduli and temperature change of the adherends and adhesive layer, respectively. The present method is applicable for scaling analysis of joint strength, optimal design of ABJs, etc.
The human splicing factor ASF/SF2 can specifically recognize pre-mRNA 5' splice sites.

Abstract ASF/SF2 is a human protein previously shown to function in in vitro pre-mRNA splicing as an essential factor necessary for all splices and also as an alternative splicing factor, capable of switching selection of 5' splice sites. To begin to study the protein's mechanism of action, we have investigated the RNA binding properties of purified recombinant ASF/SF2. Using UV crosslinking and gel shift assays, we demonstrate that the RNA binding region of ASF/SF2 can interact with RNA in a sequence-specific manner, recognizing the 5' splice site in each of two different pre-mRNAs. Point mutations in the 5' splice site consensus can reduce binding by as much as a factor of 100, with the largest effects observed in competition assays. These findings support a model in which ASF/SF2 aids in the recognition of pre-mRNA 5' splice sites.
Laminar‐Flow‐Based Separations at the Microscale

The natural separation maintained by microfluidic flows is employed as the basis of a particle/cell sorting device. This method of separating particulate suspensions exploits the inherent laminar nature of microscale fluid dynamics and incorporates applied fields and image cytometry to enable sorting based upon any visually identifiable difference between colloid-sized cells or particles. This technique may be used to easily isolate, separate, sort, or enrich virtually any suspension of microscale biological or colloidal particles within a microfluidic system. The entire footprint of the device described here is less than 0.01 mm(2), allowing it to be readily incorporated within highly integrated micro total analysis systems (microTAS).
Habitat Selection and Spawning Success of Walleyes in a Tributary to Owasco Lake, New York

Abstract Walleyes Sander vitreus are stocked into Owasco Lake, New York, to provide a sport fishery, but the population must be sustained by annual hatchery supplementation despite the presence of appropriate habitat. Therefore, we evaluated walleye spawning success in Dutch Hollow Brook, a tributary of Owasco Lake, to determine whether early survival limited recruitment. Spawning success during spring 2006 and 2007 was evaluated by estimating egg densities from samples collected in the lower 725 m of the stream. Environmental variables were also recorded to characterize the selected spawning habitat. Drift nets were set downstream of the spawning section to assess egg survival and larval drift. We estimated that 162,596 larvae hatched in 2006. For 2007, we estimated that 360,026 eggs were deposited, with a hatch of 127,500 larvae and hatching success of 35.4%. Egg density was significantly correlated to percent cover, substrate type, and depth : velocity ratio. Two sections had significantly higher egg d...
Synthesis and Formulation of Zinc-strengthened Calcium Phosphate Polycarboxylate Cements

A novel zinc-strengthened calcium phosphate polycarboxylate cement modified with amino acid has been developed. Synthesis of glass fillers and monomers as well as polymers and formulation of the cements are described. The effects of silanization, sintering, glass composition, grafting ratio of the methacrylate groups, molecular weight, tartaric acid and polymer content on compressive strength and curing time were investigated. The results show that both silanization and sintering of glass improved compressive strength and extended curing time. An appropriate ratio balance between zinc oxide and hydroxyapatite and between polymer, comonomer and water gave the best mechanical performance. With increasing grafting ratio and molecular weight compressive strength increased. With increasing polymer content and tartaric acid the curing time increased. The curing time decreased with increasing grafting ratio and molecular weight. It is concluded that this experimental cement has shown great potential as a bioacti...
Computer simulation of interfacial packing in concrete

Computer simulation of particle packing against an aggregate surface was undertaken to show the effects of four variables on interfacial porosity profiles. The variables in order of significance and their assumed physical meaning are: sticking probability (tendency of cement particles to flocculate), amplitude of particle motion (energy of mixing), travel distance of particle to surface (thickness of water film surrounding aggregate), and original particle density (roughly related to water/cement ratio). In all cases, simulations demonstrated that interface porosity decreased from nearly 100% directly at the interface to that of the bulk paste at two to three particle diameters. Flocculation (sticking probability) was found to be the single most-significant variable. Highly flocculated systems produced very porous interfaces. When flocculation was reduced, packing became more efficient. It was also found that energy of mixing (amplitude of motion), was not an entirely independent variable. The simulation showed that, if the tendency to flocculate was high, gentle mixing (low amplitude of motion) was found to result in better packing and a less porous interfacial zone. If, on the other hand, flocculation was low, then vigorous mixing (high amplitude of motion) promoted better packing near the interface. The thickness of the water film surrounding the aggregate (travel distance) was found to have only a minor effect on the outcome of simulations, while original packing density (w/c) resulted in no significant differences at all.
Administering a two-stage spiritual assessment in healthcare settings: a necessary component of ethical and effective care.

Aim This article delineates rationales for administering a spiritual assessment as a universal component of care. Background The notion that nurses should identify and address patients' spiritual needs remains controversial, particularly in the UK where criticisms derived from secularization theory have appeared in the literature. Evaluation To respond to these criticisms and to develop rationales supportive of spiritual assessment, I draw upon scholarship from a variety of disciplines including social work, sociology, and medicine. Key issues Five rationales are posited to support the concept of universal spiritual assessments: professional ethics, patient autonomy, knowledge of patients' worldviews, the identification of spiritual assets, and accrediting and governmental requirements. Criticisms based on secularization theory are discussed and analysed. Conclusion A two-stage spiritual assessment – consisting of a brief preliminary assessment followed, if necessary, by a comprehensive assessment – provides a mechanism to efficiently identify patients' spiritual needs. Implications for nursing management As key members of the healthcare team, nurse managers are ideally situated to ensure that all patients receive a spiritual assessment as a routine component of care. In so doing, they help ensure the provision of ethical and effective care to the diverse spiritual groups that will continue to populate the UK for the foreseeable future.
The role of microRNA and other non-coding RNA in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

New findings support the view that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a genetic disease in which the main alterations occur in a new class of genes named microRNAs (miRNAs). Cases with good prognostic features typically are characterized by miRNA down-regulation of genes miR-15a and miR-16-1 , located at 13q14.3. Both microRNAs negatively regulate BCL2 at a post-transcriptional level. On the other hand, in CLL cases that use unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable-region genes ( IgV H ) or have high-level expression of the 70-kD zeta-associated protein (ZAP-70) have high levels of TCL1 due to low-level expression of miR-29 and miR-181 , which directly target this oncogene. Conceivably, these miRNAs might be used to target BCL2 or TCL1 for therapy of this disease.
Rapid detection of allelic losses in brain tumours using microsatellite repeat markers and high-performance liquid chromatography

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a recently introduced high-capacity automated method for detecting unknown mutations (denaturing HPLC) or for sizing DNA fragments under nondenaturing conditions. We have adapted the HPLC method for detection of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and used glial tumours as a model to evaluate its sensitivity and specificity in comparison to conventional denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A total of 20 oligodendrogliomas (grades II and III), and five astrocytic tumours (grades III and IV) were analysed using 14 polymorphic microsatellite markers mapping to regions on chromosomes 1p, 19q, and 10q using both DNA-HPLC and denaturing gel electrophoresis. This study demonstrated complete concordance between both methods. However, unlike gel electrophoresis, HPLC is automated, does not require post-PCR processing, and does not require hazardous radioactive or expensive fluorescent labelling. Our data suggest that HPLC is a reliable and sensitive method for detection of allelic losses in tumour samples and it is a favourable alternative for high-sensitivity LOH detection in both research and diagnostic environments.
pRETS: A parallel reverse‐engineering toolset for FORTRAN

The widespread acceptance of parallel and distributed processing will result in migration of millions of lines of sequential code to parallel environments over the next decade. Unlike movement across sequential environments, significant structure and code changes must be made in order to benefit from the increased processing power of parallel computing. Nowhere is this problem more obvious than in the scientific computing community. The sequential nature of FORTRAN has limited its ability to utilize the performance achievable from parallel and/or distributed systems. Strand, a concurrent logic programming language based on Edinburgh Prolog, is intended to exploit concurrency in both parallel and distributed environments, while offering portability across a variety of platforms and topologies. Strand minimizes reprogramming of existing software by providing a Foreign Language Interface (FLI) which allows inclusion of C and/or FORTRAN code in Strand programs. This paper describes a set of tools called the pRETS (parallel Reverse engineering ToolSet) which supports the semi-automated conversion of FORTRAN programs into Strand Foreign Language Kernels.
The cause of leg cramps and knee pains: an hypothesis and effective treatment

Cramps and pains of the lower extremities along with stiffness and pains in the knees are common complaints in the general population. Because the etiology and development of these disorders are poorly understood, treatment has been haphazard, for the most part unsuccessful, and occasionally dangerous. The diagnosis of "arthritis" is often incorrect; when osteoarthritis is present it is frequently not the cause of the pain. We name these maladies the "stiff leg syndrome" and hypothesise that they are caused by muscle and tendon shortening which came about as a direct result of modern civilization; the popular practice of squatting close to the ground to defecate, cook and eat was replaced by a more "civilized" practice of sitting high on toilets and chairs. We discuss several simple stretching exercises which mimic the effects of squatting and frequently result in immediate and dramatic relief of symptoms.