cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using social network analysis to develop relational expertise for an instructional change initiative

Change leaders (faculty, administrators, and/or external stakeholders) need to develop relational expertise, recognizing the perspectives of others, to enable emergent, systemic change. We describe how change leaders of a grant-funded instructional change initiative developed relational expertise by analyzing faculty relationships and social subgroups to identify who was involved in discussions about teaching and learning and what specific topics were discussed. Faculty discussions focused on daily classroom needs. Faculty who were in different departments or schools were mostly disconnected from each other, and faculty within these units often had subdivisions among them. Faculty lacked opportunities to discuss education, specifically, systems-level perspectives. The change leaders created organizational structures to catalyze communities, including an action research fellowship program, to support faculty in education discussions.
Advances in Latent Variables: Methods, Models and Applications

The monograph belongs to the series of “Studies in Theoretical and Applied Statistics—Selected Papers from the Statistical Societies,” and it comprises 25 peer-reviewed selected papers from 205 wor...
The practical utility of the Welch Emotional Connection Screen for rating parent-infant relational health.

Emotional Connection (EC) measured by the Welch Emotional Connection Screen (WECS) was related to the Parent-Infant Interaction Rating System (PIIRS), a 5-point adaptation of the rating system developed for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (e.g., NICHD Early Child Care Research Network, 1999, Developmental Psychology, 35, 1399). Parent-infant dyads (n = 49 mothers; 43 fathers) were videotaped during face-to-face interaction at infant age 6 months; interactions were coded with both the WECS and PIIRS. At age 3, mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist. WECS ratings of EC were associated with PIIRS rating items for both mother-infant and father-infant dyads. Mother-infant EC related positively to maternal sensitivity and positive regard for child, child positive mood and sustained attention, and dyadic mutuality, and negatively with maternal intrusiveness. Father-infant EC related positively to fathers' positive regard for child, child positive mood and sustained attention, and dyadic mutuality. Mother-infant EC predicted child behavior problems at age 3 better than mother-infant PIIRS ratings of dyadic mutuality. With fathers, neither EC nor dyadic mutuality ratings predicted mother-reported child behavior problems. Findings highlight the practical utility of the WECS for identifying potentially at-risk dyads and supporting early relational health.
Developmental patterns of sexual identity, romantic attraction, and sexual behavior among adolescents over three years

Abstract Introduction Adolescents are heterogeneous in how they define and experience their sexual orientation, which can include specific identity labels, romantic attractions, and other- and/or same-sex sexual behavior. These three components of sexual orientation are not always concordant, and studies suggest adolescents—particularly girls—are fluid in these dimensions of orientation over time. The current study examined: 1) fluidity in adolescent girls' and boys' self-labeled identities and romantic attractions over time, and 2) patterns of adolescent girls' and boys’ self-labeled identities and romantic attractions as they coincide with sexual behavior. Methods Surveys were administered to adolescents in three low-income high schools in the rural Southeastern U.S. at three yearly intervals (n = 744; Mage = 15.0; 54.3% girls; 48% White, 24% Hispanic/Latinx, 21% Black/African American). Participants reported their self-labeled sexual identity and romantic attraction at each time point and their lifetime sexual behavior with girls and boys at year 3. Results Results revealed 26% of girls and 11% of boys reported fluidity in identity and 31% of girls and 10% of boys reported fluidity in attractions. At each time point, up to 20% of girls and 6% of boys reported a sexual minority identity label with concurrent same-sex attraction; the majority of these participants also reported same-sex behavior. Among heterosexual-identified participants reporting some degree of same-sex attraction at year 3, approximately 66% of girls and 10% of boys reported same-sex behavior. Conclusions The findings suggest that many adolescents are nuanced and dynamic in how they identify and experience their developing sexualities.
Incremental Meta-Learning via Indirect Discriminant Alignment

Majority of the modern meta-learning methods for few-shot classification tasks operate in two phases: a meta-training phase where the meta-learner learns a generic representation by solving multiple few-shot tasks sampled from a large dataset and a testing phase, where the meta-learner leverages its learnt internal representation for a specific few-shot task involving classes which were not seen during the meta-training phase. To the best of our knowledge, all such meta-learning methods use a single base dataset for meta-training to sample tasks from and do not adapt the algorithm after meta-training. This strategy may not scale to real-world use-cases where the meta-learner does not potentially have access to the full meta-training dataset from the very beginning and we need to update the meta-learner in an incremental fashion when additional training data becomes available. Through our experimental setup, we develop a notion of incremental learning during the meta-training phase of meta-learning and propose a method which can be used with multiple existing metric-based meta-learning algorithms. Experimental results on benchmark dataset show that our approach performs favorably at test time as compared to training a model with the full meta-training set and incurs negligible amount of catastrophic forgetting
Atom Identifiers Generated by a Graph Coloring Method Enable Compound Harmonization Across Metabolic Databases

Metabolic flux analysis requires both a reliable metabolic model and metabolic profiles in characterizing metabolic reprogramming. Advances in analytic methodologies enable production of high-quality metabolomics datasets capturing isotopic flux. However, useful metabolic models can be difficult to derive due to the lack of relatively complete atom-resolved metabolic networks for a variety of organisms, including human. Here, we developed a graph coloring method that creates unique identifiers for each atom in a compound facilitating construction of an atom-resolved metabolic network. What is more, this method is guaranteed to generate the same identifier for symmetric atoms, enabling automatic identification of possible additional mappings caused by molecular symmetry. Furthermore, a compound coloring identifier derived from the corresponding atom coloring identifiers can be used for compound harmonization across various metabolic network databases, which is an essential first step in network integration. With the compound coloring identifiers, 8865 correspondences between KEGG and MetaCyc compounds are detected, with 5451 of them confirmed by other identifiers provided by the two databases. In addition, we found that the Enzyme Commission numbers (EC) of reactions can be used to validate possible correspondence pairs, with 1848 unconfirmed pairs validated by commonality in reaction ECs. Moreover, we were able to detect various issues and errors with compound representation in KEGG and MetaCyc databases by compound coloring identifiers, demonstrating the usefulness of this methodology for database curation.
Transformations and Transfer: Preschool Children Understand Abstract Relations and Reason Analogically in a Causal Task.

Previous research suggests that preschoolers struggle with understanding abstract relations and with reasoning by analogy. Four experiments find, in contrast, that 3- and 4-year-olds (N = 168) are surprisingly adept at relational and analogical reasoning within a causal context. In earlier studies preschoolers routinely favored images that share thematic or perceptual commonalities with a target image (object matches) over choices that match the target along abstract relations (relational matches). The present studies embed such choice tasks within a cause-and-effect framework. Without causal framing, preschoolers strongly favor object matches, replicating the results of previous studies. But with causal framing, preschoolers succeed at analogical transfer (i.e., choose relational matches). These findings suggest that causal framing facilitates early analogical reasoning.
Nodal characteristics associated with adverse prognosis in oral cavity cancer are linked to host immune status

Background and objective Nodal metastasis is one of the strongest predictors of outcomes in oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). The aim was to analyze the interplay of nodal characteristics in OSCC prognosis. Methods In this retrospective cohort study we included OSCC patients treated with primary surgery including neck dissection between 2005 and 2015 (n = 619). Disease-specific survival (DSS) was the primary endpoint. Optimal cutoffs were identified using recursive-partitioning analysis (RPA). A novel characteristic-metastatic focus-to-lymph node size ratio (MLR)-was introduced. We compared the American Joint Committee on Cancer, Eighth Edition (AJCC8) pN categories to a new categorization. Results Patients with higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio had more adverse nodal characteristics. All nodal characteristics were significant predictors of DSS in univariable analysis. In multivariable analysis, only number of positive nodes and MLR remained significant. An RPA including all nodal covariates confirmed the results. Compared with AJCC8, our RPA categorization had better hazard discrimination (0.681 vs. 0.598), but poorer balance value (0.783 vs. 0.708). Conclusion Patients with higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio had more adverse nodal characteristics. Total number of metastatic lymph nodes is the strongest predictor of outcomes in OSCC. MLR is a more powerful predictor than metastatic lymph node size or metastatic focus size alone.
Green Fischer Indole Synthesis Using a Steroidal Ketone in a Conductively Heated Sealed-Vessel Reactor for the Advanced Undergraduate Laboratory.

Highly efficient microwave-assisted organic synthesis is now commonplace in both industry and academia. Recently, a conductively heated sealed-vessel reactor was introduced that acts very similarly to a microwave reactor and is more affordable. Application of such reactors in teaching laboratories is advantageous because of the restricted window of time available to perform experiments and because it avoids long reaction times that are unpopular with students. These reactors thus allow reactions that were previously considered impractical for the teaching laboratory, such as the Fischer indole synthesis, to now be very feasible. We designed a clean and efficient Fischer indole synthesis to introduce advanced undergraduate students to this important method in heterocycle synthesis, which has been highly under-represented in the curriculum. It also introduces it in the context of a more complex ketone of biological relevance (a steroid). This laboratory exercise can be used to teach about Green Chemistry Principles, product analysis (TLC, NMR, MS, UV–vis), and a complex multistep mechanism. It can also act as a starting point to teach terpenoid biosynthesis, some key concepts in medicinal chemistry such as pharmacophores and pro-drugs, and even to open discussions on the societal impacts of steroids.
Conceptualizing peer-to-peer accommodations as disruptions in the urban tourism system

In urban destinations, Peer-to-peer accommodations (P2PAs), e.g., Airbnb, HomeAway, have experienced exponential growth and are shifting the vertices of the residential and tourism landscapes. As t...
A Linear trans-Bis(imido) Neptunium(V) Actinyl Analog: NpV(NDipp)2(tBu2bipy)2Cl (Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3)

The discovery that imido analogs of actinyl dioxo cations can be extended beyond uranium into the transuranic elements is presented. Synthesis of the Np(V) complex, Np(NDipp)2(tBu2bipy)2Cl (1), is achieved through treatment of a Np(IV) precursor with a bipyridine coligand and lithium-amide reagent. Complex 1 has been structurally characterized, analyzed by 1H NMR and UV–vis−NIR spectroscopies, and the electronic structure evaluated by DFT calculations.
The dihydroxy acid dehydratase of Neurospora crassa.

Abstract The dihydroxy acid dehydratase of Neurospora crassa was purified 100- to 150-fold by fractionation with protamine sulfate, ammonium sulfate, Sephadex, and DEAE-Sephadex. It was found that the purified protein migrated in an electric field as a single band on acrylamide gel and in the analytical centrifuge. It had a lipid content of 44 to 50%. The enzyme activity was stabilized by the presence of magnesium ion. The Km values and pH optima were determined for both substrates, α,β-dihydroxyisovalerate and α,β-dihydroxy-β-methylvalerate.
Performance of code-division-multiple-access communications over multimode optical fiber channels

This paper presents results from a theoretical investigation to evaluate the performance of code-division-multiple-access communications over multimode optical fiber channels in an asynchronous, multi-user, communication network environment. Gold sequences are used in spectral spreading of user signals, employing direct-sequence biphase-shift-keying and intensity modulation techniques. The channel model employed is a lossless linear system approximation of the field transfer function for the /spl alpha/-profile multimode optical fiber. The performance measures for the system; i.e., signal-to-noise ratio and bit-error probability at the ith receiver are derived as functions of channel characteristics, spectral spreading, number of active users, and the bit energy to noise (white) spectral density ratio and are used to characterize the overall system performance.
Serial Markedness Reduction

A growing body of research provides evidence supporting Harmonic Serialism (HS; McCarthy 2000, 2008a, 2010; Elfner to appear; Pruitt 2010), a serial version of Optimality Theory in which a single ranking of constraints is used iteratively to construct a derivation. This work has led to new insights into several outstanding problems in phonology and has highlighted problematic over-predictions of parallel OT, showing that HS predicts a more restricted range of interactions that better reflects typology. Although HS makes it possible to capture certain generalizations stated at intermediate levels of representation, it does not provide a general solution to phonological opacity. For this reason McCarthy developed a significant elaboration of HS, OT with Candidate Chains (OT-CC; McCarthy 2007), which evaluates complete HS-like derivations in parallel. This paper proposes a novel extension of HS, Serial Markedness Reduction (SMR), which combines advantages of HS and OT-CC. Like OT-CC, SMR includes a family of constraints that enables the modeling of both counterfeeding and counterbleeding opacity. However, SMR significantly streamlines the machinery necessary to model opacity as compared to OT-CC, relying on the gradual optimization inherent to HS to construct a single optimal derivation. The formal and empirical differences between OT-CC and SMR are discussed.
The R Coronae Borealis Connection

The R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars are rare hydrogen-deficient carbon-rich supergiants which undergo spectaculardeclines in brightness of up to 8 magnitudes at irregular intervals as dust forms along the line of sight.Understanding the RCB stars is a key test for any theory whichaims to explain hydrogen deficiency in post-Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars. There are two major evolutionary models for the origin of RCB stars: the Double Degenerate and the Final Helium ShellFlash. In the final flashmodel, there is a close relationship between RCB stars and Planetary Nebulae (PNe). The connection between RCB stars and PNe has recentlybecome stronger, since the central stars of three old PNe (Sakurai's Object, V605 Aql and FG Sge) have had observedoutbursts that transformed them from hot evolved central stars into cool giants with the spectral properties of an RCB star.
Financial accounting and reporting by oil and gas producing companies: A study of information effects

Abstract This manuscript examines the joint hypotheses of market efficiency and information event content occasioned by the Financial Accounting Standards Board's release of the Exposure Draft entitled ‘Financial Accounting and Reporting by Oil and Gas Producing Companies’. In the Exposure Draft, the Board took the position that all firms would report using the successful-efforts method. Concerns were raised that such a change would have a negative impact on the ability of full-cost firms to raise capital. This impact should be reflected in the movement of security returns. The paper uses two methods to test for a difference in the distribution of security returns between full-cost and successful-efforts firms based on the issuance of the Exposure Draft. The first method examines the returns of unit-beta portfolios. The second approach employs prediction errors based on the market model. Our results are not conclusive. There is evidence from both tests of a relative negative impact on the returns of full-cost securities compared to the returns on successful-efforts securities, particularly around the announcement date. However, the strength of the results, when coupled with methodological issues, mitigate against concluding that the alleged substantial market effects exist.
Asymptotics for censored regression quantiles

It has been difficult to generalise Kaplan–Meier approaches to censored regression data under the minimal condition that censoring and response are conditionally independent given the explanatory variables. Portnoy [S. Portnoy, Censored regression quantiles, J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 98 (2003), pp. 1001–1012.] provided such a generalisation based on the paradigm of censored quantile regression. However, previous research has only provided consistency results for this approach. The results here provide an asymptotic distribution theory under relatively mild conditions for a gridded version of the algorithm in Portnoy [S. Portnoy, Censored regression quantiles, J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 98 (2003), pp. 1001–1012.], and show that the asymptotics for censored regression quantiles are an exact generalisation of those for the Kaplan–Meier estimator in one sample.
Susceptibility of ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa (Dougl. ex Laws.), to mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, attack in uneven-aged stands in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming USA

Mountain pine beetle,Dendroctonusponderosae Hopkins can cause extensive tree mortality in ponderosa pine,Pinusponderosa Dougl. ex Laws., forests in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. Most studies that have examined stand susceptibility to mountain pine beetle have been conducted in even-aged stands. Land managers increasingly practice uneven-aged management. We established 84 clusters of four plots, one where bark beetle-caused mortality was present and three uninfested plots. For all plot trees we recorded species, tree diameter, and crown position and for ponderosa pine whether they were killed or infested by mountain pine beetle. Elevation, slope, and aspect were also recorded. We used classification trees to model the likelihood of bark beetle attack based on plot and site variables. The probability of individual tree attack within the infested plots was estimated using logistic regression. Basal area of ponderosa pine in trees � 25.4 cm in diameter at breast height (dbh) and ponderosa pine stand density index were correlated with mountain pine beetle attack. Regression trees and linear regression indicated that the amount of observed tree mortality was associated with initial ponderosa pine basal area and ponderosa pine stand density index. Infested stands had higher total and ponderosa pine basal area, total and ponderosa pine stand density index, and ponderosa pine basal area in trees � 25.4 cm dbh. The probability of individual tree attack within infested plots was positively correlated with tree diameter with ponderosa pine stand density index modifying the relationship. A tree of a given size was more likely to be attacked in a denser stand. We conclude that stands with higher ponderosa pine basal area in trees >25.4 cm and ponderosa pine stand density index are correlated with an increased likelihood of mountain pine beetle bark beetle attack. Information form this study will help forest managers in the identification of uneven-aged stands with a higher likelihood of bark beetle attack and expected levels of tree mortality. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Applications of Taxometric Methods to Problems of Comorbidity: Perspectives and Challenges

We share Meehl's view that taxometric procedures hold considerable promise for elucidating questions regarding psychiatric comorbidity. Drawing on examples from the domain of childhood disruptive disorders, we discuss why the issues raised by Meehl are scientifically and pragmatically important and outline several profitable applications of taxometric methods to questions of comorbidity (e.g., estimating the statistical relations between latent taxa). We explain why taxometric methods and other sophisticated latent variable methods are needed to answer such questions and provide examples of how certain statistical methods have been used to make erroneous inferences regarding taxonicity. Several important unresolved issues bearing on the use of taxometric procedures and their application to questions of comorbidity are delineated, including (a) the distributional assumptions of taxometric methods, (b) the construct validation of provisional taxa identified by taxometric analyses, (c) the relation of taxometric methods to other latent variable techniques (e.g., latent class analysis), (d) the potential existence of spurious taxa, (e) the question of “fuzzy taxonicity,” and (f) “configural taxa.” We conclude with a discussion of analytic methods for characterizing and understanding the covariation between latent dimensions as opposed to taxa.
IDENTIFICATION OF MATRIX‐ISOLATED THORIUM NITRIDE AND THE THORIUM‐DINITROGEN COMPLEX

The infrared stretching frequencies of Th/sup 14/N and Th/sup 15/N in solid Ar and Kr at 14 K have been measured. Multiple sites for the ThN in both matrices were observed; one site for Th/sup 14/N with anti v = 934.61 +- 0.05 cm/sup -1/ predominated after the matrix was annealed. For ThN in this site, ..omega../sub e/ = 941.9 +- 1.0 and ..omega../sub e/x/sub e/ = 3.7 +- 0.5 cm/sup -1/. No dinitride of Th was observed. A thorium-dinitrogen complex was observed with a N-N stretching frequency of 1828.59 +- 0.05 cm/sup -1/ in solid Ar. The geometry of this complex is C/sub 2v/ with equivalent nitrogen atoms and the bonding approaches that of an ion pair. 4 figures, 4 tables.
Effective masses of charge carriers in selected symmorphic and nonsymmorphic carbon nanotubes

We performed ab initio, self-consistent calculations for the electronic structure of selected semiconducting carbon nanotubes in the symmorphic and nonsymmorphic groups. We employed a real space approach in the linear combination of atomic orbital formalism. We utilized a nonlocal density-functional potential in the generalized gradient approximation. We present the electronic structure and effective masses of charge carriers in symmorphic nanotubes that include (10,0), (13,0), (17,0), and (22,0), and the nonsymmorphic tubes (8,4) and (10,5). For nonsymmorphic carbon nanotubes (8,4) and (10,5), the top of the highest occupied valence band and the bottom of the lowest unoccupied conduction band are not at the $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ point, but at about $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1(1,0,0)\ensuremath{\pi}∕L$, where the tubule axis is defined as the $(1,0,0)$ direction. The band gaps in the nonsymmorphic (8,4) and (10,5) can be direct for transitions at $+0.1(1,0,0)\ensuremath{\pi}∕L$ or $\ensuremath{-}0.1(1,0,0)\ensuremath{\pi}∕L$, and can also be indirect for transitions from $+0.1(1,0,0)\ensuremath{\pi}∕L$ to $\ensuremath{-}0.1(1,0,0)\ensuremath{\pi}∕L$, or vice versa.
Exact solutions to the renormalization-group fixed-point equations for intermittency in two-dimensional maps

Using a differential-equation formulation, we have found the exact solutions to the fixed-point functions of the renormalization-group equations for intermittency based on a class of two-dimensional area-preserving maps.
Separation of PCBs from hydraulic oil

Technique de distillation sous vide pour separer les PCB de l'huile hydraulique afin de pouvoir la reutiliser dans les fonderies, tout en evitant la pollution
Long-term effects of preganglionic nerve stimulation on tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the rat superior cervical ganglion.

Abstract The effects of increased synaptic stimulation of sympathetic neurons on the tyrosine hydroxylase activity of these cells were studied. Seventy-two hours after unilateral stimulation of the preganglionic cervical sympathetic trunk at 10 Hz for 30 min tyrosine hydroxylase activity was 32% higher in stimulated than in control superior cervical ganglia. Stimulation at 10 Hz for only 10 min increased enzyme activity by 25% when measured 72 h later, while stimulation for 60 min increased activity by 73%. No further change in enzyme activity was found after 90 min of stimulation although electrophysiological recordings from the ganglion demonstrated that synaptic transmission was maintained throughout the period of stimulation. Ganglionic neurons also follow high frequency trains of stimuli when they are interrupted by silent periods. Stimulation with 40 Hz trains (250 msec on/500 msec off) for 30 min and 90 min produced a 50% and a 92% increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity, respectively. Stimulation of ganglia with the same number of pulses administered stered either continuously or in trains produced the same size increase in enzyme activity. The relationship between preganglionic nerve activity and tyrosine hydroxylase activity may represent an adaption of sympathetic neurons to situations requiring increased transmitter release.
SVM binary classifier ensembles for image classification

We study how the SVM-based binary classifiers can be effectively combined to tackle the multi-class image classification problem. We study several ensemble schemes, including OPC (one per class), PWC (pairwise coupling), and ECOC (error-correction output coding), that aim to achieve good error correction capability through redundancy. To enhance these ensemble schemes' accuracy, we propose methods that on the one hand boost the margins (i.e., confidence) of the SVM-based binary classifiers, and, on the other hand, remove the noise of irrelevant classifiers from class prediction. From empirical study we show that our margin boosting and noise reduction methods lead to higher classification accuracy than ensemble schemes that are solely designed for maximum error correction capability.
Expression of recombinant human betaine: homocysteine S-methyltransferase for x-ray crystallographic studies and further characterization of interaction with S-adenosylmethionine.

Elevated homocysteine as a result of dysfunctional metabolic enzymes is an independent risk factor for arteriosclerosis. Betaine:homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) (EC 2.1.1.5) is an important enzyme in the pathway of homocysteine metabolism in that it recycles methionine from homocysteine and nonfolate methyl donors. To initiate X-ray crystallographic structural studies, we created a BHMT expression construct for use in Escherichia coli that has a polyhistidine purification tag with no extraneous protein, usually found in commercial vectors, between the tag and protein sequence. The extra amino acids can hinder the crystallization process. A modified pET28b vector was designed to produce N-terminal polyhistidine-tagged proteins with a simple construction scheme having broad applicability because of the use of rare SapI cloning sites. BHMT expressed using this vector could be rapidly purified using metal chelate chromatography. Gel exclusion chromatography analysis showed that recombinant polyhistidine-tagged human BHMT is a tetramer. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) has no effect on the recombinant BHMT's ability to methylate homocysteine nor does the enzyme appear to bind SAMe when examined by microcalorimetry.
Sources of Heterogeneity in the Forced Unfolding Pathway of Streptokinase Beta Revealed through High-Temperature Steered MD Simulations

Force-pulling experiments on the unfolding of mechanical and non-mechanical protein domains have greatly increased our understanding of the structural stability of proteins. Because these experiments are done on the single molecule level, they also enable experimentalists to observe differences in the unfolding behavior of individual molecules. However, it is difficult to determine the source of unfolding heterogeneity through experiments alone. We present here evidence from experiments and simulations that the s domain of Streptokinase, a non-mechanical protein, unfolds under force via three distinct pathways. High temperature SMD simulations were used to determine the source of the velocity-dependent heterogeneity observed in AFM force puling experiments. We show that hydrophobic interactions in the core of the protein underlie the differences observed in experiments and contribute significantly to the structural stability of the protein under force. Using an expansion of the Jarzynski equality12, we calculate free energy surfaces to describe the energetics of the different pathways.1 C. Jarzynski, PRL 78, 2690-2693 (1997)2 D. Minh, J. Phys. Chem. B. 111, 4137-4140 (2007)
Modified Hybrid Stem Fixation in Revision TKA is Durable at 2 to 10 Years

Background Hybrid revision knee component fixation, in which cement is placed in the metaphysis combined with a cementless diaphyseal engaging stem, provides ease of insertion, possibly improved component alignment, and easier removal if required, compared with fully cemented prostheses. The literature suggests the technique has a 2 to 5 year survivorship ranging from 81% to 94%.
Suppurative chondritis: its incidence, prevention, and treatment in burn patients.

A restrospective study of 317 cases of suppurative otochondritis occurring in a population of 4794 burned patients successively admitted to one institution between 1967 and 1984 is presented. During the study interval, the incidence of the disease decreased from 20 percent to less than 3 percent in patients with burns of one or both ears. The bacterial species associated with chondritis, principally Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus species, did not change. Patients admitted later than the second postburn day exhibited a significantly greater incidence of chondritis. The crucial factors in prevention of this complication appear to be avoidance of pressure on burned ears and topical chemotherapeutic control of local Pseudomonas infection. Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis did not appear to influence the incidence in the studied population. Several approaches to clinical management of suppurative chondritis are reviewed.
Studies on model membrane. I. Effects of Ca2+ and antibiotics on permeability of cardiolipin liquid-crystalline vesicles

Abstract Pure cardiolipin forms closed liquid-crystalline vesicles when suspended in aqueous salt solutions. Electronmicrographs of unsonicated suspensions indicate multilamellar vesicles and after sonication unilamellar vesicles are demonstrated by OsO 4 fixation techniques. Both types of vesicles are relatively impermeable to sucrose. The self-diffusion rate of 22 Na − efflux in sonicated vesicles in 0.037 μmole Na + per μmole cardiolipin per h and for 42 K + is about 0.047 μmole K + per μmole Na + per μmole cardiolipin per h and for 42 K + is about 0.047 μmole K + per μmole cardiolipin per h. This rate of cation effux by cardiolipin is typical of other vesicles prepared from acidic phospholipids. The efflux rate particularly of the sonicated particles is markedly increased in the presence of air, presumably because of the high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids which are susceptible to oxidation. Once prepared under N 2 , the permeability of the particles does not increase with time. Ca 24+ at low concentrations (1 mM or less) is not effective in increasing permeability of cardiolipin vesicles in contrast to other acidic phospholipids. Valinomycin increases 42 K − rate 8-fold at 0.4 nM. Gramicidin increases 42 K + 5-fold at 20 nM and also accelerates 22 Na + rate 16-fold at 20 nM.
Plasma Methionine After Oral Administration of DL-Methionine in Human Subjects

Summary1. The concentration of methionine in the plasma after oral administration of DL-methionine has been studied in humans.2. The results suggest more rapid and more efficient absorption of the amino acid when administered in solution rather than in tablet form.3. A faster rate of disappearance of the administered methionine from the plasma was noted in the female subjects.4. Observations on the apparent D-methionine levels suggest that the D isomer is absorbed at a rate equal to that of the L form. However, there is considerable individual variation in the rate of disappearance of the D isomer from the plasma.
Effects of mixtures of citrus viroids as transmissible small nuclear RNA on tree dwarfing and commercial scion performance on Carrizo citrange rootstock

The term 'transmissible small nuclear ribonucleic acids' (TsnRNAs) describes well characterised viroid RNA species that do not induce any disease syndromes in specific citrus hosts but rather act as regulatory genetic elements modifying tree performance. Twelve-year-old navel orange and 10-year-old Clementine mandarin trees on Carrizo citrange (Citrus sinensis x Poncirus trifoliata) rootstock treated with a mixture of three TsnRNAs (-Ia, syn. Citrus bent leaf viroid, +IIa, syn. Hop stunt viroid and + IIIb, syn. Citrus dwarfing viroid) were reduced in size by 33% and 43%, respectively. Clementine trees treated with a mixture of TsnRNA―Ia+IIa or ―Ia+IIIb also had reduced canopy volume (CV) (∼38 and 31%, respectively), whereas trees treated with TsnRNA―IIa+IIIb showed little effect. The effects of the double TsnRNA treatments ―Ia+IIa and ―Ia+IIIb on Clementine canopy size and commercial performance were comparable and in some cases superior to that of the triple TsnRNA mixture. The TsnRNA―Ia+IIa treatment had the most attractive commercial traits with increased production of Clementine fruit per CV (23.6%), more fruit with high commercial value (31.7%), and more fruit optimally distributed in the canopy (68% of fruit between 0.5 and 2.5 m). None of the TsnRNA treatments affected the growth of Carrizo rootstock seedlings after 8 years in the field. Navel orange and Clementine scions treated with the same triple TsnRNA mixture expressed different trunk and fruit production patterns although effects on CV were similar.
Case study summary of dryer explosion and venting design

A recent explosion occurred in a single burner, recirculating solids ring dryer. The explosion caused significant damage to the dryer. All of the explosion panels opened, with two of the doors on the external ring duct were separated from their hinges, with one landing on the upper roof section, while the other fell back through the roof of the facility in the area of workers. The facility owners thought the accident was caused by a dust explosion, because they recently converted to a new process with finer solid particulates. However, process data also showed that the explosion could have been the result of a gas explosion. A computational fluids dynamic model was used to help evaluate the consequences associated with a dust or gas explosion during the incident. The simulated results showed that this was a gas explosion and not a dust explosion. Preventative recommendations are included. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2010
An Efficient Algorithm for Constructing Hierarchical Graphs

An algorithm to delete redundant edges from a precedence graph is presented and proved correct. The algorithm is much more efficient than previous algorithms to perform the same task.
The effects of spatiotemporal integration on maximum displacement thresholds for the detection of coherent motion.

Abstract In a series of nine experiments, observers were required to identify the shapes of moving targets, and to discriminate regions of motion from regions of uncorrelated noise. Maximum displacement thresholds ( D max ) for performing these tasks were obtained under a wide variety of conditions. The stimulus parameters manipulated included the number of distinct frames in the motion sequences, the stimulus onset asynchrony between each frame, the size of the moving dots, and the shape, area and eccentricity of the target regions. For two-frame displays presented in alternation, the area of the target region was the only one of these variables to have any significant effect on D max . For longer length sequences, in contrast, D max varied dramatically among the the different conditions over a range of 10 min arc to 10 deg. In an effort to isolate the specific processes of spatiotemporal integration, we also examined how performance is affected by having overlapping transparent motions in opposite directions, or by the presence of dynamic noise or limited dot lifetimes within the moving target regions. The overall pattern of results suggest that D max is primarily determined by the ability of the visual system to isolate motion signals from the noise produced by spurious false target correlations. As a general rule, D max will increase as a result of any stimulus manipulation that increases the number of local signal correlations detected relative to those arising from noise, and vice versa.
Readings in Post‐compulsory Education: Research in the Learning and Skills Sector ‐ Edited by Yvonne Hillier and Anne Thompson

Readings in Post-compulsory Education: Research in the Learning and Skills Sector. Edited by Yvonne Hillier and Anne Thompson. Pp. 221. London: Continuum. 2006. £12.99 (pbk). ISBN 0-8264-9354-8 (pbk).
Characterizations of high temperature crack growth in copper and Cu + 1 wt% Sb under different loading conditions

Abstract The effect of different mechanical processes on creep crack growth has been studied in Cu and Cu + 1 wt% Sb at temperatures ranging from 450 to 650°C. Crack growth experiments have been conducted under several different loading conditions including constant C ∗ . The results of these experiments indicate that a coupling of creep damage near the crack tip and power law creep in the ligament control crack propagation early in the life of the specimen. The results also suggest that, later in the experiment, a second stage of crack growth occurs which is influenced only by creep damage mechanisms. Stable crack growth behavior under constant displacement rate conditions is observed during this second stage of crack growth where C ∗ is not valid as a characterizing parameter.
Subclavian arterioplasty for the ipsilateral Blalock-Taussig shunt.

Abstract A Blalock-Taussig shunt on the side of the aortic arch (ipsilateral) may result in kinking of the subclavian artery as it passes over the aortic arch. A technique is described to avoid this problem. A subclavian arterioplasty is performed which brings the orifice of the subclavian artery more anteriorly on the aortic arch and enlarges its orifice.
Ventricular ectopy: impact of self-reported stress after myocardial infarction.

Background Although psychologic stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ventricular arrhythmias, the relationship between self-reported stress and ventricular ectopy has not been evaluated under naturalistic conditions in acute post–myocardial infarction (MI) patients, a group at elevated risk for arrhythmias. Materials and Methods Diary-reported stress was measured during 24-hour Holter monitoring in 80 patients (52 men and 28 women) approximately 12 weeks after their MI. In addition, state and trait anxiety were measured using the Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, which was administered at the beginning of the 24-hour Holter monitoring session. The relationships between diary-reported stress, anxiety, and ventricular ectopy were evaluated. Results Mean diary-reported stress was associated with total ventricular ectopy ( β = .29, P = .01). State anxiety was also associated with 24-hour ectopy ( β = .24, P = .04); however, trait anxiety was not significantly associated with ectopy. Temporal analyses of the relationship between stress and ectopy showed that diary-reported stress was associated with an increase in the number of ventricular premature beats occurring in the following hour ( β = .74, P Conclusions These findings extend existing evidence linking psychologic factors to ventricular arrhythmias by demonstrating that psychologic stress predicts increased arrhythmic activity during routine daily activities in post-MI patients.
Charge separation in a heteronuclear molecule: II, effects on calculated molecular properties

Three methods of approximating the diagonal elements of the one-electron Hamiltonian matrix for semiempirical MO calculations are discussed: employing the orbital energy of the free atom, correcting it for charge migration (net charge), and also correcting it for neighbor atom potentials. An analytic method for estimating the neighbor atom potentials is suggested, and it is employed to estimate the change in the diagonal Hamiltonian elements due to neighboring atoms. The results from calculating molecular properties employing the three approximations for the Hii elements are presented. It is found that charge distribution is quite sensitive to the approximation employed, and that in order to achieve good predictions of molecular properties it is necessary to take into account the electrostatic potentials due to neighboring atoms.
Novel antibiotics: macrocyclic peptides designed to trap Holliday junctions.

Described are the syntheses of eight macrocyclic peptides designed to trap Holliday junctions in bacteria, thereby inhibiting bacterial growth. These macrocycles were designed from linear dimerized hexapeptides that bind to the C-2 symmetrical Holliday junction. They were synthesized from three monomers using a combinatorial-like strategy that permits elucidation of the monomer role in accumulation of Holliday junctions and antibiotic activity. These macrocycles are an important step in designing and synthesizing a new class of antibiotics.
Low-dose fluticasone propionate compared with montelukast for first-line treatment of persistent asthma: a randomized clinical trial.

Abstract Background: Both inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers are used in the maintenance treatment of persistent asthma. Objective: The goal was to compare the efficacy and safety of low-dose fluticasone propionate (FP) and montelukast as first-line maintenance therapy in symptomatic patients by using short-acting β 2 -agonists alone to treat persistent asthma. Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study, 533 patients (>15 years old) with persistent asthma who remained symptomatic while taking short-acting β 2 -agonists alone were treated with FP (88 μg [2 puffs of 44 μg] twice daily) or montelukast (10 mg once daily) for 24 weeks. Results: Compared with treatment with montelukast, treatment with FP resulted in significantly greater improvements at endpoint in morning predose FEV 1 (22.9% vs 14.5%, P P P = .002), morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) (68.5 vs 34.1 L/min, P P 70%-80% predicted FEV 1 ). At endpoint, FP was more effective than montelukast at decreasing rescue albuterol use (3.1 puffs/day vs 2.3 puffs/day, P P P = .023), and FP increased the percentage of symptom-free days (32.0% vs 18.4% of days, P Conclusions: Low-dose FP is more effective than montelukast as first-line maintenance therapy for patients with persistent asthma who are undertreated and remain symptomatic while taking short-acting β 2 -agonists alone. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;107:461-8.)
Regulation of human deoxycytidine kinase expression.

Abstract The human deoxycytidine kinase gene is a single copy gene and is comprised of seven exons that are spread over more than 34 kb of the genome. The 5′-flanking region is highly G/C rich and does not contain CAAT or TATA boxes. This region, when cloned into a recorder gene contruct containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene, is capable of mediating CAT activity in human lymphoid cell lines and appears to have greater activity in human T, as compared to B, lymphoblast cell lines. The expression of the gene at the mRNA level does not appear to be cell-cycle regulated in that the levels of mRNA in human peripheral blood T lymphocytes remain constant as the cells progress from a resting to a proliferating state. Since this enzyme catalyzes the conversion of a number of chemotherapeutic agents to their corresponding monophosphate form and is thus essential for their activation, it will be important to define further the genetic elements which regulate the expression of this gene.
Chemical Determination of the Potency of Thyroid Preparations

Several methods for the chemical analysis of thyroid have been reported in recent years, but none has been adopted by the official compendia. In an attempt to meet the need for a new official chemical assay, a procedure has been devised, and is reported in this paper for the quantitative determination of triiodothyronine (T 3 ) and thyroxine (T 4 ). Results for some of the samples tested are compared to the biological assay. The thyroid is hydrolyzed with barium hydroxide and the digest is extracted with n -butanol. The iodoamino acids are separated by thin-layer chromatography on cellulose plates and the T 3 and T 4 zones are scraped separately from the plates and ignited in oxygen flasks. The iodine is subsequently released and determined spectrophotometrically in benzene. Commercial thyroid preparations with different biological activities were analyzed and a chemical potency determined for each. The results correlated well with those obtained by biological assay.
PREDICTIVE RESPONSE OF NOTCHED STEEL BEAMS REPAIRED WITH CFRP STRIPS INCLUDING BOND-SLIP BEHAVIOR

This paper presents the flexural behavior of notched steel beams repaired with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips. A combined experimental and computational approaches are used to examine local plasticity near the damage and the effects of CFRP-repair. A modeling approach is proposed to take into account the bond-slip behavior of CFRP-steel interface. The experimentally validated models are further used to conduct a parametric study addressing various engineering properties of CFRP composites and adhesives. The CFRP-repair is shown to restore the strength of the damaged beam. The CFRP strip relieves the stress concentration resulting from the presence of the notch, reducing the high local plasticity. The parametric study confirms the improved effectiveness of high modulus CFRP (i.e., exceeding 150 GPa) in affecting repairs of steel members. Under static loading conditions, the stiffness of the adhesive bond line influences the local behavior of the CFRP-steel interface but has little effect on the overall member behavior.
Projective deformation and biholomorphic equivalence of real hypersurfaces

The concepts of first order projective deformation, biholomorphic equivalence, and equivalence of induced Cauchy-Riemann structure are all equivalent for real analytic hypersurfaces in complex projective space. Studying the first concept leads to a realization of the Cauchy-Riemann structure bundle as a submanifold of the projective group. The Chern-Moser connection on this bundle can then be given in terms of the Maurer-Cartan form of the projective group, and equations analogous to the Gauss equations of Euclidean geometry give the Chern-Moser invariants.