cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interferon-α, unlike interferon-γ, does not cause bone loss in the rat

Abstract Interferons (IFN) are a group of related glycoproteins. IFN-γ, in vitro, has been shown to inhibit resorption; however, an in vivo experiment showed that it had the opposite effect, resulting in bone loss that was comparable to that caused by cyclosporine A. IFN-α has numerous clinical applications but is used most extensively in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C. Research into the effects of IFN-α on bone mineral metabolism has been very sparse, and the majority of studies reflect in vitro models. Like IFN-γ, there exists discordance between in vitro and in vivo studies on IFN-α. Both in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate that IFN-α decreases bone resorption, whereas osteoblasts may or may not be affected in vivo. This study was designed to provide information on the in vivo effects of IFN-α in the rat model, because we feel that, given its widespread clinical use, this is an extremely important issue. Rats were given low dose IFN-α (1.6 × 10 6 IU/m 2 ), intermediate dose IFN-α (5.35 × 10 6 IU/m 2 ), and high dose IFN-α (30 × 10 6 IU/m 2 ) three times per week for 28 days. Serum osteocalcin (bone gla protein, or BGP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured serially and, after double labeling, the bones were examined histomorphometrically. IFN-α did not alter any of the histomorphometric parameters measured and did not affect PTH. However, it produced a disparate BGP response. Low dose IFN-α resulted in a statistically significant increase in serum BGP on days 14 and 28, whereas intermediate and high doses of IFN-α did not. Overall, these results provide no evidence of a deleterious effect of IFN-α on bone metabolism and confirm the limited clinical study.
Contrasts between source parameters of M⩾5.5 earthquakes in northern Baja California and southern California

SUMMARY Earthquake source processes are determined for four historic events that occurred in Baja California between 1915 and 1954. These results are combined with previous studies of recent and historic seismicity to compare earthquake processes along the San Jacinto, Imperial-Cerro Prieto and northern Baja fault systems of southern California and northern Mexico. Observed regional differences in rupture complexity, fault rupture lengths and aftershock/foreshock activity appear to be related to variations in heat flow and total fault offset. There appear to be no systematic variations in stress drop (as measured from far-field observations) between earthquakes along the Imperial-Cerro Prieto fault zone and those within the Peninsular Ranges of northern Baja California. Slip rates estimated from historical seismicity between 1915 and 1992 fall ? 1.5 cm yr−1 short of the estimated relative plate motion between the Pacific plate and North America for this region.
Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Activity of Nevirapine in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Children

Phase I trials were conducted in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected children to examine the pharmacokinetics, safety, and antiretroviral activity of nevirapine, a nonnucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Nevirapine was rapidly absorbed, but the time to peak plasma concentrations increased with higher doses. Clearance was more rapid in chronic dosing studies than predicted by single-dose studies and was more rapid in younger children than in adolescent children. Rash, which occurred in 1 of the 21 study participants, was the single toxicity regarded as nevirapine-related. At doses > or = 240 mg/m2/day, 5 of 10 children experienced durable suppression of plasma p24 antigen to < 50% of baseline values through 8 weeks of nevirapine monotherapy. Viruses resistant to nevirapine were isolated from all children during therapy, but their isolation did not always predict loss of antiviral activity. The evaluation of nevirapine in combination therapy trials is underway in children.
Highly diastereoselective and enantioselective olefin cyclopropanation using engineered myoglobin-based catalysts

Using rational design, an engineered myoglobin-based catalyst capable of catalyzing the cyclopropanation of aryl-substituted olefins with catalytic proficiency (up to 46 800 turnovers) and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity (98–99.9 %) was developed. This transformation could be carried out in the presence of up to 20 g L−1 olefin substrate with no loss in diastereo- and/or enantioselectivity. Mutagenesis and mechanistic studies support a cyclopropanation mechanism mediated by an electrophilic, heme-bound carbene species and a model is provided to rationalize the stereopreference of the protein catalyst. This work shows that myoglobin constitutes a promising and robust scaffold for the development of biocatalysts with carbene-transfer reactivity.
Direct evidence for multiple vibrational excitation of Si-H/D bonds for hot-carrier degradation of MOS transistors

The study of the desorption of hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D) on silicon in ultra high vacuum (UHV) by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) led to the discovery of the giant H/D isotope effect. It was later used in passivation of the SiO/sub 2//Si interface, leading to large improvement of the hot-carrier lifetime of MOS transistors (J.W. Lyding et al, Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 68, p. 2526, 1996). It is known that desorption mechanisms for the Si-H/D bonds by STM are multiple vibrational excitation at low voltage (T.-C. Shen et al, Science vol. 268, p. 1590, 1995). However, the chemical environment of the SiO/sub 2//Si interface in MOS devices is very different from that of Si in UHV, because in MOS transistors, electrons not only directly excite the Si-H/D bonds, but also are injected into the oxide. Recently, we showed that electrons that are injected into the oxide may not break Si-H/D bonds and only electrons that remain in the channel (and do not overcome the oxide/Si barrier) break the Si-H/D bonds (Z. Chen et al, IEEE Electron Dev. Lett. vol. 21, p. 24, 2000). Although it was suggested that the mechanisms for breakage of Si-H/D bonds in MOS transistors should be analogous to the explanation for the STM experiments, there is no direct experimental evidence to support the suggestion. In this paper, we present experimental results to show that the quantitative H/D isotope effect is dependent on the channel current density, which support the multiple vibrational excitation mechanisms.
Actin remodeling by Nck regulates endothelial lumen formation

Multiple angiogenic cues modulate phosphotyrosine signaling to promote vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Despite its functional and clinical importance, how vascular cells integrate phosphotyrosine-dependent signaling to elicit cytoskeletal changes required for endothelial morphogenesis remains poorly understood. The family of Nck adaptors couples phosphotyrosine signals with actin dynamics and therefore is well positioned to orchestrate cellular processes required in vascular formation and remodeling. Culture of endothelial cells in three-dimensional collagen matrices in the presence of VEGF stimulation was combined with molecular genetics, optical imaging, and biochemistry to show that Nck-dependent actin remodeling promotes endothelial cell elongation and proper organization of VE-cadherin intercellular junctions. Major morphogenetic defects caused by abrogation of Nck signaling included loss of endothelial apical-basal polarity and impaired lumenization. Time-lapse imaging using a Forster resonance energy transfer biosensor, immunostaining with phospho-specific antibodies, and GST pull-down assays showed that Nck determines spatiotemporal patterns of Cdc42/aPKC activation during endothelial morphogenesis. Our results demonstrate that Nck acts as an important hub integrating angiogenic cues with cytoskeletal changes that enable endothelial apical-basal polarization and lumen formation. These findings point to Nck as an emergent target for effective antiangiogenic therapy.
Childhood weight, stature, and body mass index among never overweight, early-onset overweight, and late-onset overweight groups.

Objective. To determine the effects of timing of onset of overweight (OW) on childhood anthropometric adiposity levels using long-term serial data from the Fels Longitudinal Study. Classification. OW was defined as body mass index (BMI; kg/m 2 ) >25, and the age at first measurement of BMI >25 was the age of onset of OW. Early onset of OW (early-OW) and late onset of OW (late-OW) were defined as having onset of OW before and after 25 years of age, respectively, whereas never OW (never-OW) was defined as never having a BMI >25. Subjects. Subjects consisted of 67 males and 47 females in early-OW groups, 62 males and 48 females in late-OW groups, and 80 males and 114 females in never-OW groups. Results. Levels of weight and BMI in early-OW males and females were significantly greater than those in never-OW and late-OW males and females beginning at the time of adiposity rebound, which generally occurs between 4 and 8 years of age. Median BMI and weight patterns between never-OW and late-OW males were similar throughout childhood. However, significant differences in median levels of BMI for never-OW and late-OW females began at 11 years of age, although onset of OW was not until >25 years of age in the latter group. Conclusions. For both males and females, adiposity rebound is likely an effective time in a child9s development to detect and initiate prevention for childhood and early adulthood onset of OW. Although later-onset OW needs additional study, puberty seems to be a critical phase in the development of later adult onset of OW in females.
Anatomical Substrates of Visual and Auditory Miniature Second-language Learning

Longitudinal changes in brain activity during second language (L2) acquisition of a miniature finite-state grammar, named Wernickese, were identified with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants learned either a visual sign language form or an auditory-verbal form to equivalent proficiency levels. Brain activity during sentence comprehension while hearing/viewing stimuli was assessed at low, medium, and high levels of proficiency in three separate fMRI sessions. Activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus (Broca's area) correlated positively with improving L2 proficiency, whereas activity in the right-hemisphere (RH) homologue was negatively correlated for both auditory and visual forms of the language. Activity in sequence learning areas including the premotor cortex and putamen also correlated with L2 proficiency. Modality-specific differences in the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal accompanying L2 acquisition were localized to the planum temporale (PT). Participants learning the auditory form exhibited decreasing reliance on bilateral PT sites across sessions. In the visual form, bilateral PT sites increased in activity between Session 1 and Session 2, then decreased in left PT activity from Session 2 to Session 3. Comparison of L2 laterality (as compared to L1 laterality) in auditory and visual groups failed to demonstrate greater RH lateralization for the visual versus auditory L2. These data establish a common role for Broca's area in language acquisition irrespective of the perceptual form of the language and suggest that L2s are processed similar to first languages even when learned after the “critical period.” The right frontal cortex was not preferentially recruited by visual language after accounting for phonetic/structural complexity and performance.
A Fundamental Problem with Amino-Acid-Sequence Characters for Phylogenetic Analyses☆

Protein-coding genes may be analyzed in phylogenetic analyses using nucleotide-sequence characters and/or amino-acid-sequence characters. Although amino-acid-sequence characters “correct” for saturation (parallelism), amino-acid-sequence characters are subject to convergence and ignore phylogenetically informative variation. When all nucleotide-sequence characters have a consistency index of 1, characters coded using the amino acid sequence may have a consistency index of less than 1. The reason for this is that most amino acids are specified by more than one codon. If two different codons that both code for the same amino acid are derived independent of one another in divergent lineages, nucleotide-sequence characters may not be homoplasious when amino-acid-sequence characters may be homoplasious. Not only may amino-acid-sequence characters support groupings that are not supported by nucleotide-sequence characters, they may support contradictory groupings. Because this convergence is a problem of character delimitation, it affects the results of all tree-construction methods (maximum likelihood, neighbor joining, parsimony, etc.). In effect, coding amino-acid-sequence characters instead of nucleotide-sequence characters putatively corrects for saturation and definitely causes a convergence problem. An empirical example from the Mhc locus is given.
Packet radio and the factory of the future

Progress is reported in the design and analysis of spread-spectrum packet radio networks for the factory of the future. This progress includes the accurate analysis of the probability of packet success in a direct-sequence spread-spectrum communication channel and analytical results on the transient behavior of packet radio networks. The first use of these networks will be to provide communications between a transport system controller and a fleet of autonomous guided vehicles. >
Concurrent system engineering and risk reduction for dual-band (RF/optical) spacecraft communications

This paper describes a system engineering approach to examining the potential for combining elements of a deep-space RF and optical communications payload, for the purpose of reducing the size, weight and power burden on the spacecraft and the mission. Figures of merit and analytical methodologies are discussed to conduct trade studies, and several potential technology integration strategies are presented. Finally, the NASA Integrated Radio and Optical Communications (iROC) project is described, which directly addresses the combined RF and optical approach.
Optimal placement of IEEE 1149.1 test port and boundary scan resources for wafer scale integration

Tradeoffs associated with the use of the IEEE 1149.1 serial test interface for wafer-scale-integrated designs are identified. Test circuitry area overhead and yield loss are weighed against the benefits of reduced I/O (input/output) area and improved wafer testability. Where the area overhead of a complete 1149.1 interface is not justifiable for small cells, a simple scan interface which still allows for compliance with the 1149.1 standard at the full wafer system level is proposed. It is shown that the additional test area required may be more than compensated for by the savings in I/O probe pad area. Through a yield analysis driven by the relative areas of the constituent cells, the authors provide a systematic framework for the process of placing 1149.1 test capabilities within a monolithic wafer-scale-system design. >
Meter-Scale Plasma-Wakefield Accelerator Driven by a Matched Electron Beam

A high-gradient, meter scale Plasma Wakefield Accelerator (PWFA) module operating in the nonlinear, electron blow-out regime is demonstrated experimentally. The beam and plasma parameters are chosen such that the matched beam channels through the plasma over more than twelve beta functions without spreading or oscillating over a range of densities for observing both deceleration and acceleration. The wakefield decelerates the bulk of the initially 28.5 GeV beam by up to 155 MeV, however particles in the back of the same beam are accelerated by up to 280 MeV at a density of 1.9 x 10{sup 14} cm{sup -3} as the wakefield changes sign.
Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Association with Blood Glucose Monitoring and Glycemic Control

Objective To examine the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and their association with blood glucose monitoring (BGM) and glycemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Methods 276 adolescents and their caregivers completed measures of anxiety symptoms. Adolescents completed a measure of depressive symptoms. Demographic and family characteristics were obtained from caregiver report. Diabetes duration, regimen type, BGM frequency, and glycemic control were also collected. Results Trait anxiety symptoms that suggest further clinical assessment is needed were present in 17% of adolescents; the rate was 13% for state anxiety symptoms. Higher levels of state anxiety symptoms were associated with less frequent BGM F(14, 261) ¼6.35, p<.0001, R 2 ¼.25, and suboptimal glycemic control, F(15, 260) ¼7.97, p<.0001, R 2 ¼.32. State anxiety symptoms were correlates of BGM frequency and glycemic control independent of depressive symptoms. Conclusions State anxiety symptoms are associated with less frequent BGM and suboptimal glycemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Contesting clothes in colonial Brazzaville

The significance of dress in mediating social relations was deeply rooted in the Central African experience. In pre-colonial times, clothing, jewellery and insignia conveyed identity, status, values and a sense of occasion. Those with access to European trade cloth and second-hand clothes integrated them into their dress. Central Africans had a strong sense of the “politics of costume” long before new sources and ideas of clothing arrived with colonialism.Brazzaville, the capital of French Equatorial Africa, then became the scene of opportunity, experimentation and choice. Foreign workers from West Africa, the French Antilles and the Central African coastal regions pioneered new styles which were quickly appropriated and adapted by other townspeople. Europeans, in their attire, also seemed to confirm the importance of dress and were a model for those who considered themselves evolues. In handing out clothing, European employers and missionaries had their own agenda, which was rejected by many townspeople as an autonomous fashion sense developed in Bacongo and Poto-Poto, the African districts of Brazzaville. With an entrenched monetary economy, cloth and clothing became widely available to all with cash. Styles, costs and values became issues of contention. Clothing not only symbolized change but became a vehicle for change.In the late colonial period, the sources allow a deeper understanding of the relationship of dress to controversial social issues. Clothing became an arena for contesting and asserting class, gender and generational roles.
Non-Empirical Modeling of Fatigue in Lead-Free Solder Joints: Fatigue Failure Analysis and Estimation of Fracture Parameters

Predicting the fatigue life of solder interconnections is a challenge due to the complex nonlinear behavior of solder alloys and the load history. Long experience with Sn-Pb solder alloys together with empirical fatigue life models such as the Coffin-Manson rule have helped us identify reliable choices among package design alternatives. However, for the currently popular Pb-free choice of SnAgCu solder joints, designing accelerated thermal cycling tests and estimating the fatigue life are challenged by the significantly different creep behavior relative to Sn-Pb alloys. This study is divided into two parts: In the first part, a hybrid fatigue modeling approach inspired by nonlinear fracture mechanics is discussed. The hybrid fatigue model has been shown to predict the crack trajectory and fatigue life of a Sn-Pb solder interconnection subjected to both isothermal accelerated thermal and anisothermal power cycling conditions. In the second part, results of experimental characterization via fatigue testing of microelectronic packages with SnAgCu solder interconnections subjected to anisothermal power cycling conditions are described. Packages of different geometries were tested to study the effects of these variations on the estimation of fatigue life. The afore mentioned hybrid model relies on the estimation of two fracture parameters which are to be determined experimentally. In this study, a novel technique involving tracking crack fronts in solder interconnections as a function of number of fatigue cycles is proposed to estimate these fracture parameters that can be then used to model fatigue crack growth using the hybrid modeling technique.
Single-stranded DNA-containing bacteriophages.

Roots presents articles on major discoveries that laid the basis for contemporary molecular and cellular biology. In this article, Norton D. Zinder reviews the first findings about the single-stranded DNA-containing bacteriophages and what is known today about the genetics and molecular biology of these phages.
Perceptions about Internet use by teaching faculty at small, Christian colleges and universities

This study investigated the self-reported effects of Internet use on faculty at small Christian colleges and universities by age, years of Internet use, academic field, and on faculty communication style, teaching style, personal pr oductivity, fulfillment of the organization's mission, social networks, research, and professional development. Findings: Faculty believed that their communication had changed and that they can communicate with others more quickly, get faster replies to questions, and obtain more relevant data. Faculty disagreed that their teaching style had changed and that they had changed the way they c onduct a class. Fac- ulty believe that their productivity has changed. Most faculty disagreed that the Internet has made them more comfortable sharing their feelings about God. Faculty believe that the Internet has changed the type of jobs and the way students look for jobs; that there are fewer barriers to joining an electronic group, and that the volume of people they keep in frequent touch with has increased. Most faculty agreed that the way they do research has changed and that the Internet makes it easier to get information about advances in their fields. Faculty disagreed that the Internet could be substituted for conferences and that the Internet has made it possible for them to serve on boards.
The Joy of Science Disciplinary Diversity in Emotional Accounts

Science and emotions are typically juxtaposed: science is considered rational and unattached to outcomes, whereas emotions are considered irrational and harmful to science. Ethnographic studies of the daily lives of scientists have problematized this opposition, focusing on the emotional experiences of scientists as they go about their work, but they reveal little about disciplinary differences. We build on these studies by analyzing Citation Classics: accounts about the making of influential science. We document how highly cited scientists retrospectively describe emotional aspects of their research and assess variation in these narratives across six diverse disciplines: Chemistry; Clinical Medicine; Neurobiology; Physics; Plant and Animal Science; and Psychology and Psychiatry. Using correspondence analysis, we develop a multidimensional model to explain disciplinary variation in scientists’ accounts of emotions and link this variation to internal, external, and material aspects of the disciplines. We f...
Comparison of ACINUS, caspase-3, and TUNEL as apoptotic markers in determination of tumor growth rates of clinically localized prostate cancer using image analysis

BACKGROUND The balance between apoptotic and proliferative processes determines the enlargement of a tumor. Accurate measurement of apoptotic and proliferative rates from diagnostic prostate biopsies would allow calculation of tumor growth rates in a population-based prostate cancer (CaP) study. Automated image analysis may be used if proliferation and apoptotic biomarkers provide clearly resolved immunostained images. METHODS Clinical CaP aggressiveness was assigned as low, intermediate or high using clinical criteria for 46 research subjects with newly diagnosed CaP. Diagnostic biopsy sections from the research subjects were dual-labeled for proliferation biomarker, Ki-67 and apoptotic biomarker, apoptotic chromatin condensation inducer in the nucleus (ACINUS). Apoptotic biomarkers, caspase-3 and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyltransferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) were labeled separately. Images from immunostained sections were analyzed using automated image analysis and tumor growth rates computed. Association between clinical CaP aggressiveness and tumor growth rates was explored. RESULTS Sixteen subjects had high, 17 had intermediate, and 13 had low clinical CaP aggressiveness. Positive immunostaining was localized to the nucleus for Ki-67, ACINUS, and TUNEL. A statistically significant linear trend across clinical CaP aggressiveness categories was found when tumor growth rates were calculated using ACINUS (P = 0.046). Logistic regression and ROC plots generated showed ACINUS (AUC = 0.677, P = 0.048) and caspase-3 (AUC = 0.694, P = 0.038) to be better predictors than TUNEL (AUC = 0.669, P = 0.110). CONCLUSIONS ACINUS met the criteria for automated image analysis and for calculation of apoptotic rate. Tumor growth rates determined using automated image analysis should be evaluated for clinical prediction of CaP aggressiveness, treatment response, recurrence, and mortality. Prostate 69: 1603–1610, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Oceanic islands as model systems for ecological studies

Aim The purposes of this paper are to suggest that a greater use of model systems would advance our understanding of ecology, and to illustrate that oceanic islands are valuable model systems for ecosystem studies in particular. Location The illustrations discussed herein result from studies in the Hawaiian Islands. Methods Sequences of sites that are similar in most respects but differ widely in temperature, precipitation or substrate age have been developed and analysed in the Hawaiian Islands. Process studies, experiments and models arrayed on these gradients are used to determine fundamental controls over ecosystem processes, with a precision that cannot be duplicated in continental ecosystems. Results Increasing temperatures enhance rates of decomposition to a greater extent than plant production, in soil organic matter as well as litter. Ecosystem-level losses of N by fractionating pathways are greater in drier sites. Sea spray and long-distance dust transport play increasing roles in the nutrient economy of ecosystems as soils become progressively older. Main conclusions All of the results describe processes that occur in continental as well as island ecosystems, but a number of features of islands make the processes more amenable to analysis on islands.
Collisional ionization and recombination rates of atomic nitrogen.

Atomic nitrogen collisional ionization and recombination rates under assumed quasi-steady nonequilibrium distribution of electron state populations
Developing a Blended Type Course of Introduction to Hybrid Vehicles

An innovative course of introduction to hybrid vehicles is developed for both associate and bachelor degree programs for engineering technology with automotive/mechanical concentration. The hybrid vehicle course content includes several topics, such as the rational of pure electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle, hybrid vehicle propulsion systems, fundamentals of motor/generator systems, fundamentals of battery and energy management system, and introduction to various configurations of hybrid vehicle systems available in market and under development. Hybrid vehicle technology is a new area and developed rapidly in the field of automotive and mechanical engineering. Students need not only the fundamentals and concepts from college, but also the ability to keep up with the latest technology after their graduation. Therefore, a blended course type is employed to help students have a better understanding of the fundamentals of hybrid vehicle and developing their self-studying ability. Topics in the course have three steps of learning. Firstly, on-ground lecture is given in class, where the instructor explains basic knowledge, such as principles, equations, and design rules. In this way, the students will have enough background knowledge and be able to conduct further self-reading and research work. Secondly, students are required to go to university’s desire to learn (D2L) online system and finish the online part of the topic. In the D2L system, students will find a quiz and its supporting materials. Thirdly, students come back to the on-ground lecture and discuss the quiz in groups with instructor. After the discussion, the instructor gives students a conclusion of the topic and moves forward to the next topic. A computer simulation class is also given to help student better understand the operation strategies of the hybrid vehicle systems and have a trial of design of hybrid vehicle.
Parental romantic expectations and parent–child sexuality communication in autism spectrum disorders:

This study examined the relationship between core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, parental romantic expectations, and parental provision of sexuality and relationship education in an online sample of 190 parents of youth 12–18 years of age with a parent-reported diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Regression analyses were conducted separately for youth with autism spectrum disorder + parent-reported average or above IQ and youth with autism spectrum disorder + parent-reported below average IQ. For youth with autism spectrum disorder + parent-reported average or above IQ, autism spectrum disorder severity predicted parental romantic expectations, but not parental provision of sexuality and relationship education. For youth with autism spectrum disorder + parent-reported below average IQ, parental romantic expectations mediated the relationship between autism spectrum disorder severity and parent provision of sexuality and relationship education. This supports the importance of carefully considerin...
Comparing the capability of distributed and lumped hydrologic models for analyzing the effects of land use change

Empirically based lumped hydrologic models have an extensive track record of use for various engineering applications. Physically based, multi-dimensional distributed models have also been in development and use for many years. Despite the availability of high resolution data, better computational resources and robust, numerical methods implemented in such models, their usage is still limited, especially in the realm of surface water runoff simulation. Lumped models are often extended to solve complex hydrologic problems that may be beyond their capabilities. Here we attempt to differentiate the ability of lumped and distributed models to analyze a common watershed development issue such as land use change. For this, we employ two common US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) models, well established in the literature and application, using the Hydrologic Engineering Center – Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) model in a fully lumped mode and the fully distributed model Gridded Surface Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis (GSSHA). A synthetic watershed is used to establish that a distributed model like GSSHA more intuitively simulates land use change scenarios by distinguishing the spatial location of the change and its effects on the watershed response. An actual watershed at Tifton, Georgia is used to validate the observations made from the synthetic watershed.
Concentration, Polarity, and the Distribution of Power

Scholars of international relations generally rely on polarity to measure the distribution of power. I argue that another feature of this distribution—concentration—should be considered more carefully in analyses of international relations. Much of the recent literature on the distribution of power draws on analogies between the structure of markets and the structure of the international system. Concentration is more consistent than polarity with the microeconomic foundations of these studies. Further, using polarity to measure the distribution of power also requires analysts to assume (often implicitly) that: (1) inequalities among major powers are unimportant features of the global distribution of power; and (2) nonpolar major powers should be ignored in structural analyses of international relations. I maintain that these assumptions are at odds with many leading explanations of international relations. A number of prominent theories of balancing behavior, the onset of war, and the international political economy emphasize both the importance of both major (as well as polar) powers and the inequalities in power among them. As a result, analyses that center solely on the effects of polarity are likely to offer incomplete explanations of balancing behavior, the onset of war, and the international political economy. Since concentration measures both the number of major powers and the inequalities in power among them, these analyses may be enhanced substantially by considering the influence of concentration, as well as polarity.
L-PEACH: a computer-based model to understand how peach trees grow.

L-PEACH is a computer-based model that simulates the growth of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] trees. The model integrates important concepts related to carbon assimilation, distribution, and use in peach trees. It also includes modeling of the responses to horticultural practices such as tree pruning and fruit thinning. While running L-PEACH, three-dimensional (3D) depictions of simulated growing trees can be displayed on the computer screen and the user can easily interact with the model. Quantitative data generated during a simulation can be saved to a file or printed for visualization and analysis. L-PEACH is a powerful tool for understanding how peach trees function in the field environment, and it can be used as an innovative method for dissemination of knowledge related with carbohydrate assimilation and partitioning. In this study, we describe the version of L-PEACH that runs on a daily time-step (L-PEACH-d) and how users can run the model and interact with it. To demonstrate how L-PEACH-d works, different pruning and fruit thinning strategies were analyzed. Regarding pruning, model outputs showed 3D depictions of unpruned trees and pruned trees trained to a perpendicular V system. For the fruit thinning studies, we simulated different intensities and dates of fruit thinning in mature peach trees. Total simulated yield increased with crop load but the opposite was observed for average fruit weight. An optimal balance between simulated total yield and average fruit weight was obtained by leaving 150 fruit per tree. Simulating different dates of fruit thinning indicated that fruit weight at harvest was higher on earlier compared with later-thinned trees. The model indicates that fruit thinning should be therefore carried out early in the season to maximize fruit size. The simulation results demonstrate that L-PEACH-d can be used as an educational tool and facilitate the adoption of suitable cultural practices for efficient production.
Intravenous erythromycin lactobionate-induced severe nausea and vomiting.

Intravenous erythromycin lactobionate has been used for several years to treat various infectious diseases. Several cases of severe nausea and vomiting associated with its use have been reported in Europe but only a few cases have been reported in the U.S. The official product information does not refer to severe nausea and vomiting associated with its intravenous use; however, we report six additional cases of severe nausea and vomiting associated with rapid administration of erythromycin lactobionate, and review the current literature on the characteristics of this adverse effect.
High serum acetylcholine concentrations in pernicious anemia and their reduction by effective therapy.

The acetylcholine content of 3 cc. samples of eserinized human blood sera has been estimated biologically.
Factors Associated With Accepting Assistance for Smoking Cessation Among Military Veterans

Author(s): Myers, Mark G; Chen, Timothy; Schweizer, C Amanda | Abstract: IntroductionCigarette smoking remains a significant health risk for Veterans. Increased understanding of factors that influence the tobacco cessation referral process within Veterans Affairs medical facilities is useful for enhancing utilization of smoking cessation treatment. The present study examined the association of demographic and health variables with whether smokers accepted referral for medication and/or tobacco cessation clinic.MethodsElectronic medical record data (2011-2013) were obtained for a sample of US military Veterans who accepted cessation assistance from their health care provider. Demographic and diagnostic variables were examined to identify predictors of the types of assistance accepted (medication only, clinic referral only, or both).ResultsThe sample includes 2941 Veterans, 10.3% female, 19.9% African American, 10.7% Hispanic, and 57.9% non-Hispanic white. Veterans averaged of 50.69 years of age (SD = 14.01), 31.5% had a substance use disorder diagnosis and 54.1% had a psychiatric diagnosis. Demographic and diagnostic information was compared across types of assistance accepted. Significant differences were found between those who accepted medications only and those who accepted either clinic referral or both medication and clinic referral. Veterans in the latter two categories were younger and more likely to have a psychiatric diagnosis than those accepting medication only. Women Veterans were significantly more likely than men to accept clinic referral plus medication. However, in contrast to men, almost none of the variables examined were associated with the type of assistance accepted by women.ConclusionThese findings indicate significant gender differences in influences on accepting assistance for smoking cessation among Veterans.ImplicationsExisting research identifies factors associated with unassisted quitting. However, little is known regarding the referral process, which is critical in connecting smokers with treatment. The present work is unique in employing electronic medical record data to examine factors associated with accepting different types of smoking cessation treatment referrals. This study represents an initial effort to elucidate the smoking cessation treatment referral process. These findings highlight the need to examine sex specific influences on smoking cessation treatment utilization and the importance of focusing on smokers with psychiatric disorders.
Some Suggestions for Attorneys

The description of the cases discussed above should make it clear that there are different specializations within the field of linguistics. Fifty years ago, this was less true, but linguistic study has expanded rapidly since that time and it is now possible for you to call a local university for a linguist and be asked what kind you want. Some specialize in semantics, some in phonology, some in syntax, some in one or more of the many other areas of linguistics now offered and taught, including applied linguistics.
Feasibility of a Brief Yoga Intervention for Improving Acute Pain and Distress Post Gynecologic Surgery

Background: Women undergoing surgical procedures for suspected gynecologic malignancies frequently experience pain and psychological distress related to surgery. Yoga may reduce these negative surgical outcomes. The primary objective of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of evaluating a perioperative brief Yoga Skills Training (YST) in this population. Secondary objectives were to (1) assess the immediate effects of the YST on pain and psychological distress; and (2) provide preliminary data for future studies. Method: Adult women scheduled to undergo an exploratory laparotomy for a suspected gynecologic malignancy were recruited to this one-arm feasibility study. Each woman received the YST, which consisted of three 15-minute sessions, one before and two after surgery. The following constructs were assessed: feasibility (rates of accrual, intervention adherence, measure completion, retention, and level of satisfaction), immediate effects of the YST (visual analogue scale ratings of pain and d...
Design for high efficiency full spectrum photovoltaics

Advances in photovoltaics moved the advanced research frontiers towards concepts that can enable ultrahigh efficiency (ν = 30–50% and beyond). Achievement of ultrahigh efficiencies requires addressing fundamental optical principles and full solar spectrum utilization. Making significant progress requires combining i) fundamental principles governing limits to solar conversion efficiency ii) materials with high radiative efficiency) and iii) new electromagnetic design concepts.
Impact of TED spread, bond spread, and implied volatility on stock market returns, oil prices, home prices and exchange rates

From mid-2007, global financial system faced what has come to be termed as the 'worst' financial crisis since the Great Depression. During the same time, financial asset valuation witnessed unusually high activity in their returns and volatility as did investor sentiment-based counterparty risk indices. By use of VAR and GARCH methodology, this paper investigates dynamic linkages among well-known proxies of investor sentiment-based counterparty risk measures - TED spread, bond spread, and the volatility index (USVIX) - and stock market returns, oil prices, exchange rates, and home prices. The empirical results indicate a significant impact of TED spread on stock market returns, oil prices and home prices. VIX and bond spread were observed to have a significant impact on exchange rates and oil prices. We also observed evidence of volatility spillover from TED spread to stock market returns, oil prices, and exchange rates, and from USVIX to stock market returns and oil prices.
Acculturation: A Third Dimension

The following is a theoretical model that assists in conceptualizing a recent phenomenon of Native Mexican Indian families living on the borderlands and attending schools in the United States. The foundation for the model is taken from Matthiasonâ€™s (1968) two culture matrix model, with the added dimension of the â€œzâ€ axis encompassing the third culture.
Low-temperature activation of methane on the IrO2(110) surface.

Methane undergoes highly facile C–H bond cleavage on the stoichiometric IrO2(110) surface. From temperature-programmed reaction spectroscopy experiments, we found that methane molecularly adsorbed as a strongly bound σ complex on IrO2(110) and that a large fraction of the adsorbed complexes underwent C–H bond cleavage at temperatures as low as 150 kelvin (K). The initial dissociation probability of methane on IrO2(110) decreased from 80 to 20% with increasing surface temperature from 175 to 300 K. We estimate that the activation energy for methane C–H bond cleavage is 9.5 kilojoule per mole (kJ/mol) lower than the binding energy of the adsorbed precursor on IrO2(110), and equal to a value of ~28.5 kJ/mol. Low-temperature activation may avoid unwanted side reactions in the development of catalytic processes to selectively convert methane to value-added products.
MTraceCheck: Validating Non-Deterministic Behavior of Memory Consistency Models in Post-Silicon Validation

This work presents a minimally-intrusive, high-performance, post-silicon validation framework for validating memory consistency in multi-core systems. Our framework generates constrained-random tests that are instrumented with observability-enhancing code for memory consistency verification. For each test, we generate a set of compact signatures reflecting the memory-ordering patterns observed over many executions of the test, with each of the signatures corresponding to a unique memory-ordering pattern. We then leverage an efficient and novel analysis to quickly determine if the observed execution patterns represented by each unique signature abide by the memory consistency model. Our analysis derives its efficiency by exploiting the structural similarities among the patterns observed.We evaluated our framework, MTraceCheck, on two platforms: an x86-based desktop and an ARM-based SoC platform, both running multi-threaded test programs in a bare-metal environment. We show that MTraceCheck reduces the perturbation introduced by the memory-ordering monitoring activity by 93% on average, compared to a baseline register flushing approach that saves the register's state after each load operation. We also reduce the computation requirements of our consistency checking analysis by 81% on average, compared to a conventional topological sorting solution. We finally demonstrate the effectiveness of MTraceCheck on buggy designs, by evaluating multiple case studies where it successfully exposes subtle bugs in a full-system simulation environment.
Prediction of human QT prolongation liability based on pre-clinical RNA expression profiles

Marked drug-induced prolongation of the QT interval on the electrocardiogram is associated with Torsades de Pointes (TdP), a potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia. Assessment of QT prolongation liability in the drug development process is required but is time and resource intensive. Current pre-clinical safety assessments use patch clamp analysis of the Human Ether-a-Go-Go (hERG) channel, but analyses have broadened to include patch clamp analysis of other ion channels and the use of in silico models. This investigation describes a method for predicting drug-induced QT prolongation liability in humans based on an association with RNA microarray expression profiles from rat liver data, and machine learning implemented in open-source software. Recently reported hERG patch clamp sensitivities and specificities range from between 64–82% and 75–88% respectively. Classification in this study was done using drugs known to prolong the QT interval vs. those that do not, regardless of the drugs' respective indication(s), and then further sub-classified by indication which resulted in 76 sub-groups. Classifier results in this project using 10-fold cross validation had average sensitivities of 85% and specificities of 90% using all available datasets as input, and a mean sensitivity and specificity of 92% and 94%, respectively across 76 drug sub-classifications. While an association between rat liver RNA expression profiles and QT prolongation in human heart tissue does not imply that a specific genetic expression profile is responsible for the QT prolongation, these results suggest that machine learning of gene expression profiles to predict QT liability may be used as a surrogate biomarker as part of the pre-clinical cardiac safety assessment of drugs.
Lessons from the domestic Ebola response: Improving health care system resilience to high consequence infectious diseases

Background The domestic response to the West Africa Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic from 2014-2016 provides a unique opportunity to distill lessons learned about health sector planning and operations from those individuals directly involved. This research project aimed to identify and integrate these lessons into an actionable checklist that can improve health sector resilience to future high-consequence infectious disease (HCID) events. Methods Interviews (N = 73) were completed with individuals involved in the domestic EVD response in 4 cities (Atlanta, Dallas, New York, and Omaha), and included individuals who worked in academia, emergency management, government, health care, law, media, and public health during the response. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed qualitatively. Two focus groups were then conducted to expand on themes identified in the interviews. Using these themes, an evidence-informed checklist was developed and vetted for completeness and feasibility by an expert advisory group. Results Salient themes identified included health care facility issues—specifically identifying assessment and treatment hospitals, isolation and treatment unit layout, waste management, community relations, patient identification, patient isolation, limitations on treatment, laboratories, and research considerations—and health care workforce issues—specifically psychosocial impact, unit staffing, staff training, and proper personal protective equipment. Conclusions The experiences of those involved in the domestic Ebola response provide critical lessons that can help strengthen resilience of health care systems and improve future responses to HCID events.