cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel and its preparative application

Abstract A method for isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels (IFPA) has been described. A 3.7% T polyacrylamide gel allowed for isoelectric focusing of hemoglobin and cyanogen bromide fragments of both collagen and hemoglobin in the absence of significant molecular sieving and provided satisfactory mechanical stability. Support of the gels was enhanced by polyacrylamide coating of tubes, by use of a membrane support, and by hydrostatic equilibration. Runs for 8 hr at 200 V/6 cm at 5°C provided optimal separation. Preparative IFPA was conducted in tubes of up to 18 mm diameter with loads of up to 2 mg per band. Protein was recovered quantitatively from the gel slices.
Training in basic computer skills for academic physicians: The certificate of added qualification approach

Background: In the course of an academic fellowship program, many of the physicians participating expressed the need for computer skills training. Purpose: The purpose of the tutorial program was to promote the effective and efficient learning of academic computer skills within the context of a busy fellowship program. Methods: A series of self‐instructional tutorials was developed, including competency tests and practice tasks. Physician fellows participated in the voluntary computer skills tutorial program. Topics included system software, word processing, and graphics. Competency testing led to a “Certificate of Added Qualification,”; (CAQ) in computer skills. Results: Eleven of 20 (55%) physician fellows completed all CAQ requirements during their fellowship program. The results of a follow‐up questionnaire indicated that 95% of the CAQ participants reported using computers at least several times per week. Conclusion: By focusing on the tasks computer novices immediately need to perform, and keeping t...
PerfExpert: An Easy-to-Use Performance Diagnosis Tool for HPC Applications

HPC systems are notorious for operating at a small fraction of their peak performance, and the ongoing migration to multi-core and multi-socket compute nodes further complicates performance optimization. The readily available performance evaluation tools require considerable effort to learn and utilize. Hence, most HPC application writers do not use them. As remedy, we have developed PerfExpert, a tool that combines a simple user interface with a sophisticated analysis engine to detect probable core, socket, and node-level performance bottlenecks in each important procedure and loop of an application. For each bottle-neck, PerfExpert provides a concise performance assessment and suggests steps that can be taken by the programmer to improve performance. These steps include compiler switches and optimization strategies with code examples. We have applied PerfExpert to several HPC production codes on the Ranger supercomputer. In all cases, it correctly identified the critical code sections and provided accurate assessments of their performance.
Electrochemical investigation of polyhalide ion oxidation–reduction on carbon nanotube electrodes for redox flow batteries

Abstract Polyhalide ions, Br−/ BrCl 2 - ( ClBr 2 - ) , are an important redox couple for redox flow batteries. The oxidation–reduction behavior of polyhalide ions on carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes has been investigated with cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The onset oxidation potential of Br−/ BrCl 2 - ( ClBr 2 - ) is negatively shifted by >100 mV, and the redox current peaks are greatly enhanced on the CNT electrode compared with that on the most widely-used graphite electrode. The reaction resistance of the redox couple [Br−/ BrCl 2 - ( ClBr 2 - ) ] as determined from the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, is decreased on the CNT electrode for example by one order of magnitude at 900 mV as compared with that on graphite electrode. The redox reversibility is increased on a CNT electrode even though it still needs further improvement. CNT is a promising electrode material for redox flow batteries.
Nursing and the New Deal: we met the challenge.

The years of the great depression were marked with unemployment and economic ruin for many people. Americans were left feeling helpless and hopeless. After the 1932 presidental election of Franklin Roosevelt, his administration embarked on a course of government known as the New Deal. Many new and innovative programs were established to create jobs and a sense of hope for the public. This article will examine four programs that were of particular interest to nursing: the Federal Emergency Relief Act, the Civil Works Act, the Works Progress Act, and the Social Security Act. Nurses of the time embraced these programs. They participated in their development and implementation and made a difference in the lives of many desperate Americans.
The transmission of a spherical sound wave through a thin elastic plate

Abstract The transmission of a spherical sound wave through a thin elastic plate of infinite extent is investigated theoretically. The case considered in detail is that for which the velocity of sound in the surrounding medium is less than the velocity of the free flexural waves in the plate at the frequency of the incident wave. This situation gives rise to considerable radiation into the region on the opposite side of the plate from the incident wave. An integral representation for the transmitted sound field is initially derived and the path of integration subsequently transformed into the complex plane where the integration is then carried out in an approximate manner by means of the method of stationary phase. It is found that the transmitted sound field at any point may be decomposed into three parts; an outgoing spherical wave modified by an amplitude factor containing angular dependence and two “surface waves.” The nonradiating case where the velocity of sound in the surrounding medium is greater than the velocity of the flexural waves in the plate is also briefly discussed.
Multi-layered cross-cultural challenges: the case of a new American for-profit college in the Philippines

Higher education is rapidly expanding and diversifying across all regions of the globe. Much of that growth has been absorbed by the expansion of the private and for-profit sector, a trend that is particularly prevalent in Asia. Higher education is not only expanding but is also becoming increasingly global, with a mix of different corporate, academic, national and ethnic cultures influencing and becoming embedded within post-secondary institutions. Thus far, few studies have focused on developing nuanced descriptions of the organisational and cultural challenges involved in the development of new for-profit institutions within rapidly expanding higher education systems. This qualitative case study utilised individual and group interviews among members of the academic staff and administration to provide an in-depth look at a newly created for-profit institution of higher learning in the Philippines. Following a modified grounded theory analysis process, findings illustrate how different and sometimes conf...
Gender ideologies and the formation of rural industrial classes in South India today

Major structural changes are under way today in employment in rural India. There has been a great increase in non-agricultural employment. This case study considers one form of non-agricultural employment, namely rural manufacturing industry in South India. The synthetic gem-cutting industry has been established in central Tamilnadu for decades. However, in the 1990s this rural industry has gone through extremely rapid and significant change. It is argued that this industrial transition is both impacting on, and has in turn been influenced by, rural caste and kinship relations. These transforming relations connect closely with the process of class differentiation that is under way within the various rural social groups who are associated with the industry. Within this context it is argued that two general hypotheses can be made. First, it is argued that the 'working class' is not undifferentiated, but deeply fractured along caste and gender lines. Second, it is claimed that class relations do not always s...
EFFECTS OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS LEVELS, AND FROND-HARVESTING ON ABSORPTION, TRANSLOCATION AND ACCUMULATION OF ARSENIC BY CHINESE BRAKE FERN (PTERIS VITTATA L.)

This hydroponic experiment was conducted to determine the effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels and frond-harvesting on the effectiveness of arsenic (As)-hyperaccumulator Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata L.) to remove As from contaminated groundwater collected from south Florida. Three-month old ferns were grown in 38-L plastic tanks (two ferns per tank) containing 30-L of As-contaminated water (130 μg·L−1 As), which was amended with modified 0.25 strength Hoagland's solution #2. Two N (26 or 52 mg·L−1) and two P levels (1.2 and 2.4 mg·L−1) were tested in one experiment, whereas the effect of frond-harvesting was tested in a separate experiment. Initially, N had little effect on plant As removal whereas low P treatment was more effective than high P and As was reduced to <5 μg·L−1 in 28 d compared to 35 d. For well-established ferns, N and P levels had little effect. Reused fern, with or without harvesting the As-rich fronds, took up arsenic more rapidly so the As concentration in the ground...
Steady-State Limiting Currents at Finite Conical Microelectrodes

The investigation of steady-state diffusion-limiting currents at finite conical microelectrodes is reported. Such electrodes are of particular interest as probes in studies of kinetic reactions, measurements in microenvironments, and high-resolution electrochemical imaging. The diffusion-limiting currents were calculated using numerical (finite element) analysis and compared to those obtained at inlaid disk and hemispheroidal microelectrodes. Time-dependent simulations demonstrating the approach of the diffusion current to a steady-state value are also reported. The steady-state diffusion-limiting currents obtained were found to be a strong function of the electrode geometry, including the aspect ratio of the cone and the thickness of the insulating sheath. Thus, simple, approximate analytical expressions which account for these geometrical dependencies in the simulated steady-state diffusion-limited currents are also reported. As a limiting case, an analytical approximation was obtained for the steady-st...
Histochemical staining of Arabidopsis thaliana secondary cell wall elements.

Arabidopsis thaliana is a model organism commonly used to understand and manipulate various cellular processes in plants, and it has been used extensively in the study of secondary cell wall formation. Secondary cell wall deposition occurs after the primary cell wall is laid down, a process carried out exclusively by specialized cells such as those forming vessel and fiber tissues. Most secondary cell walls are composed of cellulose (40–50%), hemicellulose (25–30%), and lignin (20–30%). Several mutations affecting secondary cell wall biosynthesis have been isolated, and the corresponding mutants may or may not exhibit obvious biochemical composition changes or visual phenotypes since these mutations could be masked by compensatory responses. Staining procedures have historically been used to show differences on a cellular basis. These methods are exclusively visual means of analysis; nevertheless their role in rapid and critical analysis is of great importance. Congo red and calcofluor white are stains used to detect polysaccharides, whereas Maule and phloroglucinol are commonly used to determine differences in lignin, and toluidine blue O is used to differentially stain polysaccharides and lignin. The seemingly simple techniques of sectioning, staining, and imaging can be a challenge for beginners. Starting with sample preparation using the A. thaliana model, this study details the protocols of a variety of staining methodologies that can be easily implemented for observation of cell and tissue organization in secondary cell walls of plants.
Better evidence for real healthcare reform.

As healthcare costs continue to rise at twice the rate of inflation (6.9% in 2005), there is increasing focus on the value of what we spend on healthcare and the health benefits derived from these ...
The role of pyruvate in the oxidation of glucose and lactate.

The observation has been confirmed that the addition of pyruvate to ascites cells can stimulate the appearance of radioactive CO2 from labeled glucose or lactate. The effect was especially manifest at low concentrations of pyruvate. It is explained by assuming that the rate of pyruvate oxidation is limited by the rate of oxidation of reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide and that exogenous pyruvate acts as an additional electron acceptor. The following observations support this interpretation: (a) the stimulation was primarily in the oxidation of glucose carbons 3 and 4; (b) an increased formation of lactate accompanied the stimulation by pyruvate; (c) stoichiometry in accord with a dismutation of pyruvate, two molecules of pyruvate disappearing per molecule of lactate produced, was observed under anaerobic conditions; (d) under conditions in which the oxidation of reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide was not limiting, for example in the presence of an artificial electron acceptor such as phenazine methosulfate, or an uncoupling agent such as Dicumarol, pyruvate decreases the C14 incorporation of glucose or lactate into the respiratory CO2 in accord with the conventional metabolic pathways; (e) the relative rates of oxidation of pyruvate metabolically derived from glucose-C14 were comparable to the rates of oxidation of the individual carbons of added pyruvate-C14. It is concluded that it is not necessary to postulate either a new pathway for lactate oxidation nor a compartmentation of exogenous and endogenous pyrruvate to explain the pyruvate stimulatory effect, and that this effect is in accord with conventionally accepted reaction mechanisms.
A role for CXCL13 (BCA-1) in pregnancy and intra-amniotic infection/inflammation

Objectives. CXCL13 is a potent chemokine, produced by mature and recently recruited macrophages to sites of inflammation, which has antimicrobial and anti-angiogenic properties. The purpose of this study was to: (1) determine whether CXCL13 is present in maternal serum, umbilical cord blood, and amniotic fluid (AF); (2) to determine if AF concentration changes with intra-amniotic infection/inflammation (IAI); and (3) to localize the production of CXCL13 in chorioamniotic membranes and umbilical cord.Study design. A cross-sectional study on maternal serum was performed including patients in the following groups: (1) non-pregnant women (n = 20), (2) normal pregnant women (n = 49), (3) patients at term not in labor (n = 30), and (4) patients in spontaneous labor at term (n = 29). Umbilical cord blood was collected from term neonates with (n = 30) and without labor (n = 28). Amniotic fluid was obtained from patients in the following groups: (1) midtrimester (n = 65); (2) term not in labor (n = 22); (3) term i...
Partial Characterization of a Crude Enzyme Extract from the Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

The activity of a crude enzyme preparation extracted from hepatopancreas of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium-rosenbergii, was assayed for collagenolytic, trypsinolytic, α-chymotrypsinolytic, and pepsinolytic activities against collagen, lyophilized prawn tissue, and artificial substrates. At optimum pH for each activity, the enzyme preparation had collagenolytic activitiy, slight trypsinolytic and α-chymotrypsinolytic activities; and no pepsinolytic activity. Of the commercial enzymes tested, only collagenase significantly degraded lyophilized prawn tissue. These results suggest that the prawn enzyme preparation may contain a collagenolytic portion which might affect the texture of the prawn.
A preemption-based runtime to efficiently schedule multi-process applications on heterogeneous clusters with GPUs

In the last few years, thanks to their computational power, their progressively increasing programmability and their wide adoption in both the research community and in industry, GPUs have become part of HPC clusters (for example, the US Titan and Stampede and the Chinese Tianhe-1A supercomputers). As a result, widely used open-source cluster resource managers (e.g. SLURM and TORQUE) have recently been extended with GPU support capabilities. These systems, however, provide simple scheduling mechanisms that often result in resource underutilization and, thereby, in suboptimal performance. In this paper, we propose a runtime system that can be integrated with existing cluster resource managers to enable a more efficient use of heterogeneous clusters with GPUs. Differently from previous work, we focus on multi-process GPU applications including synchronization (for example, hybrid MPI-CUDA applications). We discuss the limitations and inefficiencies of existing scheduling and resource sharing schemes in the presence of synchronization. We show that preemption is an effective mechanism to allow efficient scheduling of hybrid MPI-CUDA applications. We validate our runtime on a variety of benchmark programs with different computation and communication patterns.
Mobility of water ice on Callisto: Evidence and implications

Voyager images of Callisto reveal evidence for the accumulation of a bright volatile, presumably water ice, on north-facing slopes in the north polar region. The geometry of these accumulations suggests that ice migration in Callistoan high latitudes is dominated by thermal sublimation, controlled by insolation-dependent surface temperature contrasts. Such sublimation-dominated migration may result in the cold-trapping of most of the surface ice in discrete high-albedo regions.
The enzymatic oxidation of adenosine diphosphoribose

Abstract Penicillium charlesii extracts contain UDP-galactose:NAD+ 2-hexosyl oxidoreductase (1). ADP-ribose also serves as a substrate resulting in formation of NADH and an oxidized ADP-ribose derivative. Treatment of the oxidized product with NaBH4 followed by hydrolysis at pH 2 and 100° releases xylose as well as ribose. We conclude that ADP-D- glycero -D- glycero -3-pentosulose (ADP-3-ketoribose) is the product derived from ADP-ribose.
Trans Influence on the Rate of Reductive Elimination. Reductive Elimination of Amines from Isomeric Arylpalladium Amides with Unsymmetrical Coordination Spheres

To determine the trans effect on the rates of reductive eliminations from arylpalladium(II) amido complexes, the reactions of arylpalladium amido complexes bearing symmetrical and unsymmetrical DPPF (DPPF = bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) derivatives were studied. THF solutions of LPd(Ar)(NMeAr') (L = DPPF, DPPF-OMe, DPPF-CF3, DPPF-OMe,Ph, DPPF-Ph,CF3, and DPPF-OMe,CF3; Ar = C6H4-4-CF3; Ar' = C6H4-4-CH3, Ph, and C6H4-4-OMe) underwent C-N bond forming reductive elimination at -15 C to form the corresponding N-methyldiarylamine in high yield. Complexes ligated by symmetrical DPPF derivatives with electron-withdrawing substituents on the DPPF aryl groups underwent reductive elimination faster than complexes ligated by symmetrical DPPF derivatives with electron-donating substituents on the ligand aryl groups. Studies of arylpalladium amido complexes containing unsymmetrical DPPF ligands revealed several trends. First, the complex with the weaker donor trans to nitrogen and the stronger donor trans to the palladium-bound aryl group underwent reductive elimination faster than the regioisomeric complex with the stronger donor trans to nitrogen and the weaker donor trans to the palladium-bound aryl group. Second, the effect of varying the substituents on the phosphorus donor trans to the nitrogen was larger than the effect of varying the substituents on the phosphorus donor trans to the palladium-bound aryl group. Third, the difference in rate between the isomeric arylpalladium amido complexes was similar in magnitude to the differences in rates resulting from conventional variation of substituents on the symmetric phosphine ligands. This result suggests that the geometry of the complex is equal in importance to the donating ability of the dative ligands. The ratio of the differences in rates of reaction of the isomeric complexes was similar to the relative populations of the two geometric isomers. This result and consideration of transition state geometries suggest that the reaction rates are controlled more by substituent effects on ground state stability than on transition state energies. In addition, variation of the aryl group at the amido nitrogen showed systematically that complexes with more electron-donating groups at nitrogen undergo faster reductive elimination than those with less electron-donating groups at nitrogen.
Mechanical behavior of Σ tilt grain boundaries in nanoscale Cu and Al: A quasicontinuum study

Molecular simulations using the quasicontinuum method are performed to understand the mechanical response at the nanoscale of grain boundaries (GBs) under simple shear. The energetics and mechanical strength of 18 Sigma (I 10) symmetric tilt GBs and two Sigma asymmetric tilt GBs are investigated in Cu and Al. Special emphasis is placed on the evolution of far-field shear stresses under applied strain and related deformation mechanisms at zero temperature. The deformation of the boundaries is found to operate by three modes depending on the GB equilibrium configuration: GB sliding by uncorrelated atomic shuffling, nucleation of partial dislocations from the interface to the grains, and GB migration. This investigation shows that (1) the GB energy alone cannot be used as a relevant parameter to predict the sliding of nanoscale high-angle boundaries when no thermally activated mechanisms are involved; (2) the E structural unit present in the period of Sigma tilt GBs is found to be responsible for the onset of sliding by atomic shuffling; (3) GB sliding strength in the athermal limit shows slight variations between the different interface configurations, but has no apparent correlation with the GB structure; (4) the metal potential plays a determinant role in the relaxation of stress after sliding, but does not influence the GB sliding strength; here it is suggested that the metal potential has a stronger impact on crystal slip than on the intrinsic interface behavior. These findings provide additional insights on the role of GB structure in the deformation processes of nanocrystalline metals. (c) 2005 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Comparison of Etest, Disk Diffusion, and Broth Macrodilution for In Vitro Susceptibility Testing of Rhodococcus equi

MICs of erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, rifampin, gentamicin, and doxycycline against 101 isolates of Rhodococcus equi were determined by broth macrodilution, disk diffusion, and Etest. Categorical agreement ranged between 85.1 and 100%. Overall, the agreement between Etest and disk diffusion was better than the agreement between broth macrodilution and the agar-based methods.
Introgression Between Lahontan and Endangered Owens Tui Uhubs, and Apparent Discovery of a New Tui Chub in the Owens Valley, California

Owens tui chubs (Siphateles bicolor snyderi [Miller]) have become extirpated throughout most of their range by introgression with introduced Lahontan tui chubs. The remaining non-introgressed Owens tui chub populations persist in a small number of fragmented habitats. These survivors are listed as “endangered” under both the state and federal endangered species acts. This study employs six microsatellite DNA loci to assess degrees of genetic difference within and among populations of Owens and Lahontan tui chubs and their putative hybrids. It reveals four distinct groups of tui chubs: Owens, Lahontan, hybrid Owens × Lahontan, and Cabin Bar. Patterns of microsatellite DNA variation confirm that tui chubs in the Owens River and its tributaries, and Mono Lake tributaries comprise a hybrid swarm. The overall degree of introgression between Lahontan and Owens tui chubs is approximately 40%, while the remaining 60% derives from Owens tui chub’s original genetic composition. Unexpectedly, Owens tui chubs are more genetically similar to Lahontan tui chubs than to Cabin Bar tui chubs, although they share the same river basin with the latter. Cabin Bar tui chubs possess a 3 bp deletion in the flanking region of microsatellite locus Gbi-G79. We give the Cabin Bar tui chub a common name “toikona tui chub” to distinguish it from the Owens tui chub, and recommend independent protection and recovery efforts. Management practices should prevent any future genetic mixing of non-introgressed Owens, toikona, or Lahontan tui chubs with each other, or with the hybrid swarm. Habitats of Owens and toikona tui chubs should remain isolated from the Owens River. Toikona tui chubs should be established in multiple sites.
Measurements of the thermospheric meridional wind from the S85-1 spacecraft

Abstract : The Upper Atmosphere Composition Spectrometer (UACS) was flown on the Department of Defense Space Test Program mission S85-1. USACS was designed to measure neutral composition, temperature, and the in-track wind component in the lower thermosphere. In the high inclination orbit of S85-1, USACS measured the meridonal component of wind at all but the highest latitudes. While techniques to measure cross-track neutral wind have been successfully demonstrated by other investigators, in situ measurements of the in-track wind component have not been published before. USACS obtained a small but significant set of wind data for two days in July 1984 at altitudes between 200 and 235 km, at local solar times of 10.5 and 22.5 hours. The measured winds compare favorably with published results from ground-based incoherent-scatter radar and Fabry-Perot interferometer experiments as well as with satellite-based cross-track measurements of the meridonal wind. Keywords: Spectrometer, Wind measurements. (jhd)
The roles of sphingosine-1-phosphate in asthma

Asthma is a complex condition in which exposure to environmental antigens induces inflammatory reactions in the airway characterized by activation of mast cells and eosinophils. Mast cells are known to be the main effector cells in eliciting IgE-mediated allergic response. These cells secrete various substances that perpetuate inflammation and provoke airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction. A newly recognized addition to the repertoire of FcepsilonRI-mediated signaling events is the activation of sphingosine kinase leading to the generation of the potent sphingolipid mediator, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) from sphingosine. S1P secretion by the lung significantly increases after challenge with an allergen, adding this sphingolipid metabolite to the variety of mediators that are released during an allergic reaction [FASEB J. 15 (2001) 1212]. Indeed, similar to previous reports, we found that FcepsilonRI cross-linking not only increased cellular levels of S1P, it also markedly enhanced its secretion from rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells. Moreover, S1P induced degranulation of RBL and bone marrow derived mast cells (BMMCs) cells as determined by hexosaminidase release. Treatment of BMMCs with the sphingosine kinase inhibitors, DL-threo-dihydrosphingosine and dimethylsphingosine, reduced IgE/Ag stimulated histamine release. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that these mast cells express S1P receptors EDG-1 and EDG-5 but not EDG-3, EDG-6 or EDG-8 transcripts. Further studies are needed to determine whether IgE triggering results in transactivation of EDG-1 or EDG-5 present on mast cells and whether this is a critical event for mast cell activation.
Intramolecular Rotation through Proton Transfer: [Fe(η5‐C5H4CO2−)2] versus [(η5‐C5H4CO2−)Fe(η5‐C5H4CO2H)]

We report a photoelectron spectroscopic study of doubly charged (?5C5H4CO2-)Fe(?5-C5H4CO2-) (1) and singly charged (?5C5H4CO2-)Fe(?5C5H4CO2H) (2). It is shown that strong intramolecular coulomb repulsion keeps 1 in the trans-form, in which the two ?CO2- groups on the cyclopentadienyl ligands are oriented opposite to each other, whereas 2 assumes the cis-form owing to a strong intramolecular H-bond. We estimate a rotational barrier of 1.4 eV for 1 and 0.6 eV for 2. A proton transfer to 1 would result in a 112? intramolecular rotation, whereas deportation of 2 would result in a similar intramolecular rotation. Thus 1 and 2 form a model molecular rotor system, controlled by a proton transfer.
The electrochemical polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine in liquid ammonia

The polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) in an electrochemical cell in liquid NH3 solutions was studied. With monomer concentrations of 5 to 25 vol.-% in the temperature range −33 to −78°C. rapid polymerization takes place when current is passed through the cell. Polymer yields of 80 to 90% are easily obtained in a few hours with NaN3 or NaCl as electrolyte and smooth Pt electrodes in a stirred three-compartment cell. Current densities of 1 × 10−2 to 10 ma./cm.2 and applied voltages of 2.5 to 50 v. were employed. Different anodic materials were used, including Pt and pyrolitic graphite. The electrochemical yield is about 1 mole of polymer per faraday for current densities of ⩽ 1 × 10−2 ma./cm.2, and it becomes 0.5 and lower at higher current densities. The rate of polymerization was found to increase, and the molecular weight of the polymer to decrease, with increasing current density. It is concluded that the initiation step consists of electron transfer between the cathode and the monomer. Depending on the amount of polymer deposited on the cathode and on the current density, initiation may occur on the cathode surface or within the polymer deposit on the cathode or in the free liquid solvent. The consequence of the electron transfer to monomer is the formation of radical anions. Electrochemical yields of about 1.0 mole of polymer per faraday suggest that radical anion dimerization does not take place extensively, while dimerization may predominate when electrochemical yields are about 0.5. Subsequent chain growth occurs through an anionic mechanism, as evidenced by the nonterminating nature of the polymerization, the presistent red color of the polymer formed, and the sensitivity of the polymerization to the addition of protic substances. Polymer molecular weights were in the range of 10,000 to 360,000. Molecular weight distributions with Mw/Mn ratios of 1.21 or larger were found. Softening points, solubility characteristics, and infrared spectra of the electrochemical polymer are presented and discussed in comparison with those of poly(4-vinylpyridine) prepared with chemical initiators.
Publication bias against negative results from clinical trials: three of the seven deadly sins

There is strong evidence that clinical trials with a positive outcome are more likely to be published than are trials with negative results. In this Viewpoint, Richard Johnson and Kay Dickersin explore the reasons for this phenomenon and discuss possible solutions.
Observing single quantum trajectories of a superconducting quantum bit

The length of time that a quantum system can exist in a superposition state is determined by how strongly it interacts with its environment. This interaction entangles the quantum state with the inherent fluctuations of the environment. If these fluctuations are not measured, the environment can be viewed as a source of noise, causing random evolution of the quantum system from an initially pure state into a statistical mixture--a process known as decoherence. However, by accurately measuring the environment in real time, the quantum system can be maintained in a pure state and its time evolution described by a 'quantum trajectory' determined by the measurement outcome. Here we use weak measurements to monitor a microwave cavity containing a superconducting quantum bit (qubit), and track the individual quantum trajectories of the system. In this set-up, the environment is dominated by the fluctuations of a single electromagnetic mode of the cavity. Using a near-quantum-limited parametric amplifier, we selectively measure either the phase or the amplitude of the cavity field, and thereby confine trajectories to either the equator or a meridian of the Bloch sphere. We perform quantum state tomography at discrete times along the trajectory to verify that we have faithfully tracked the state of the quantum system as it diffuses on the surface of the Bloch sphere. Our results demonstrate that decoherence can be mitigated by environmental monitoring, and validate the foundation of quantum feedback approaches based on Bayesian statistics. Moreover, our experiments suggest a new means of implementing 'quantum steering'--the harnessing of action at a distance to manipulate quantum states through measurement.
Thermal Remote Sensing of Drought and Evapotranspiration

Water lost to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration (ET; soil evaporation + canopy transpiration) serves to cool the Earth's surface. Just as a thermometer is used to diagnose stress in the human body, land surface temperature (LST) derived from remote sensing data in the thermalinfrared (TIR) band (8–14 microns) is a valuable diagnostic of biospheric stress resulting from soil moisture deficiencies. Soil surface temperature increases with decreasing water content, while moisture depletion in the plant root zone leads to stomatal closure, reduced transpiration, and elevated canopy temperatures that can be effectively detected from space. In land surface modeling, TIR imagery can serve as an effective substitute for precipitation data, providing much needed water information in data-poor regions of the world.
Mobility Disability and the Urban Built Environment

Research on the effects of the built environment in the pathway from impairment to disability has been largely absent. Using data from the Chicago Community Adult Health Study (2001-2003), the authors examined the effect of built environment characteristics on mobility disability among adults aged 45 or more years (n = 1,195) according to their level of lower extremity physical impairment. Built environment characteristics were assessed by using systematic social observation to independently rate street and sidewalk quality in the block surrounding each respondent's residence in the city of Chicago (Illinois). Using multinomial logistic regression, the authors found that street conditions had no effect on outdoor mobility among adults with only mild or no physical impairment. However, among adults with more severe impairment in neuromuscular and movement-related functions, the difference in the odd ratios for reporting severe mobility disability was over four times greater when at least one street was in fair or poor condition (characterized by cracks, potholes, or broken curbs). When all streets were in good condition, the odds of reporting mobility disability were attenuated in those with lower extremity impairment. If street quality could be improved, even somewhat, for those adults at greatest risk for disability in outdoor mobility, the disablement process could be slowed or even reversed.
Integrated blind electronic equalizer for fiber dispersion compensation

The paper presents an adaptive blind electronic equalization technique for fiber dispersion compensation. A constant-modulus blind adaptive algorithm is proposed to provide reference-free feedback. The proposed 10 Gb/s 7-tap electronic equalizer is designed in a 50 GHz SiGe technology and the blind feedback algorithm can be implemented in an FPGA with 100 MHz operation frequency.
Thermo-electrical modeling of light wavelength effects on photovoltaic cell performance

Solar energy has emerged as a renewable, clean, reliable, and free source of energy encapsulated in photovoltaic (PV) cells. Studying the factors and parameters that affect the performance of these cells is significantly helping researchers to understand, design, develop, and optimize them. It has been reported that PV cell performance is highly affected by operating temperature. PV module temperature is a function of the incident radiant power density, the output electrical power, the thermal properties of the semiconductor material of the module, and the ambient temperature. Only part of the incident solar spectrum is converted into electricity, while the rest is dissipated as heat. This heat significantly increases the module temperature. Several researchers introduced thermal models to predict the module temperature, while others combined thermal and electrical models to get more accurate results. The radiant power density (W/m2) is used in these models as input power to the PV module. Despite of the extensive research, researchers failed to find models in the literature that investigated the effects of each wavelength of the spectral irradiance (W/m2/nm) on the module temperature. In this work, an integrated thermo-electrical model is proposed to predict the temperature of the PV module. In this model, the individual spectral irradiances are considered as input power sources to the module. Since the power associated with each wavelength varies during the day due to the airmass, the instantaneous temperature of the module is predicted over the entire day for a specific location. The calculated instantaneous output power is compared with the module's data sheet measurement and shows good agreement. Furthermore, research is planned to measure the module temperature experimentally, and these results are expected in the final version.
Headaches and hemiparesis in an immunocompetent inmate.

© 2013 Japanese Society of Neuropathology. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Jelinek, A. G., Fuller, C., Baykal, A., Stogner-Underwood, K., Richard, H. and Arkun, K. (2014), Headaches and hemiparesis in an immunocompetent inmate. Neuropathology, 34: 314-317, which has been published in final form at doi: 10.1111/ neup.12084. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Lipofuscin in Human Glaucomatous Optic Nerves

Lipofuscin accumulation has been observed in a number of neurodegenerative diseases. We recently found that autofluorescent particles also occur in the aged human optic nerve. In this study we sought to determine the nature of these particles and their correlation with aging, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Groups of eight optic nerves from patients diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, age-matched controls and four optic nerves derived from controls younger than 42 years were used for the study. All samples were fixed in paraformaldehyde and frozen frontal sections were prepared. Sections were analyzed with fluorescence microscopy, bright field microscopy, Sudan black staining and spectrofluorometry using a confocal laser scanning microscope. Sections were photographed and analyzed to establish the distribution, quantity, and size of the autofluorescent particles. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy was used to determine the ultrastructural location of the granules. On unstained sections under light microscopy granules are detectable as pale brown inclusions and are easily stained with oil-soluble dyes, such as Sudan black. Granules fluoresce when excited at all tested wavelengths but lose their fluorescence after staining with Sudan black. These particles are distributed throughout the axonal columns, but not in the septa, and appear to be located within the glia ensheathing optic nerve axons. The histologic properties of the granules seen in the optic nerve sections correspond to lipofuscin aggregates, a result of incomplete degradation of oxidized proteins. Our morphometric analyses indicate that overall the optic nerves from control, glaucoma, and AMD donors contain similar amounts of lipofuscin. However, optic nerves derived from donors with glaucoma contain lipofuscin particles that are larger than those observed in the age-matched control and AMD groups. Furthermore optic nerves from glaucoma donors display a smaller diameter than those from age-matched controls resulting in a higher concentration of lipofuscin in glaucomatous optic nerves.
Comparative Effectiveness of Fluphenazine Decanoate Injections Every 2 Weeks Versus Every 6 Weeks

Objective: Dose reduction strategies for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia are designed to maintain the benefits of antipsychotic drug therapy while reducing risks. Previous strategies with decanoate preparations have been based on the use of lower doses per injection to achieve dose reduction; these strategies have achieved dose reduction but have resulted in some increase in symptoms. The authors tested a new dose reduction approach: increasing the interval between injections during intramuscular decanoate antipsychotic treatment. Method: Fifty outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomly assigned to receive 25 mg of fluphenazine decanoate intramuscularly either every 2 weeks or every 6 weeks for 54 weeks in a double-blind design. Results: The two dose regimens did not differ significantly in relapse, symptom, or side effect measures. The every-6-weeks regimen was associated with a significant reduction in total antipsychotic exposure. Conclusions: The use of injections every 6 weeks instead of every 2 weeks may increase compliance and improve patients’ comfort as well as decrease cumulative antipsychotic exposure, without increasing relapse rates or symptoms. (Am J Psychiatry 1999; 156:412‐418)
Community Response and Needs of African American Female Survivors of Domestic Violence

Relatively few studies have looked specifically at the experiences and needs of African American women who are survivors of domestic violence. This study sought to find out from African American survivors (a) what their experience was with various community entities and (b) how they feel race may have affected these experiences. Results indicate a great deal of dissatisfaction with the services received as they attempt to escape and/or stay away from their abusive partners. This dissatisfaction was in large measure due to lack of cultural competence. Implications for service and suggestions for community entities are presented.
Hypercholesterolemia in the United States: How far have we come?

In a series of clinical trials and epidemiologic studies over the past 30 years, clear associations have been established between saturated fat in the diet, elevated serum cholesterol levels, and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). This understanding has been applied in intervention trials using diet, exercise, and drugs to lower cholesterol. The National Cholesterol Education Program was established in 1985 to coordinate efforts to make U.S. citizens aware of the risks of elevated cholesterol and to provide guidelines for lowering it. Trials over the last several years have demonstrated benefit of cholesterol lowering in secondary prevention and producing regression of coronary lesions. While much progress has been made, we are still far from the goal of eliminating hypercholesterolemia in the United States. Improved educational efforts and new strategies for cholesterol management are needed.
Apoptosis Induced In Vivo During Acute Infection by Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

We studied apoptosis caused by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in vivo, focusing on the tissues that constitute the main targets for infection: lung and lymphoid tissues. Previous investigators have shown that the PRRSV glycoprotein p25, encoded by PRRSV open reading frame 5, induces apoptosis when expressed in COS-1 cells. Results of studies conducted in our laboratory indicate the simultaneous occurrence of PRRSV-induced alterations of spermatogenesis and apoptotic death of germinal epithelial cells in the testicle. In this study, the goal was to determine whether virus-induced apoptosis is a direct mechanism of cell death caused by PRRSV in infected pigs. Eight 3-week-old pigs were intranasally inoculated with PRRSV 16244B, a highly virulent field strain. Lung, tonsil, bronchial lymph node, spleen, and heart were assessed histologically at 4 and 7 days postinfection. To characterize PRRSV-infected cells and apoptotic cell death, we used immunohistochemical methods for detection of viral antigen, DNA electrophoresis for detection of DNA fragmentation, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-fluorescein nick end labeling method for in situ detection of DNA strand breaks, and electron microscopy for ultrastructural morphologic studies. PRRSV infection resulted in widespread apoptosis in the lungs and lymphoid tissues of infected pigs. Virus infection-induced apoptotic cells were more abundant than PRRSV-infected cells in all tissues. DNA laddering was detected in lung and lymphoid tissues. However, double-labeling experiments demonstrated that the majority of apoptotic cells did not colocalize with PRRSV-infected cells. Our findings suggest the presence of an indirect mechanism in the induction of apoptosis for PRRSV.
Almost Peer-to-Peer Clock Synchronization

In this paper, an almost peer-to-peer (AP2P) clock synchronization protocol is proposed. AP2P is almost peer-to-peer in the sense that it provides the desirable features of a purely hierarchical (client/server) clock synchronization protocol while avoiding the undesirable consequences of a purely peer-to-peer one. In AP2P, a unique node is elected as a leader in a distributed manner. Each non-leader node adjusts its clock rate based on message exchanges with its neighbors, taking into consideration that neighbors that are closer to the leader have more effect on the adjustment than the neighbors that are further away from the leader. We compare the performance of AP2P with that of the server time protocol (STP), which is a purely hierarchical clock synchronization protocol. Simulation results, which have been conducted on several network topologies, have shown that AP2P can provide a clock synchronization accuracy that is indistinguishable from that of STP. Furthermore, AP2P is more fault-tolerant because it can recover from certain types of failures that STP cannot recover from.
Time course of diet-exacerbated carotid artery atherogenesis in the White Carneau pigeon

Abstract The carotid arteries of White Carneau pigeons fed an atherogenic diet developed fatty streaks, proliferative and atheromatous lesions. The carotid bifurcation had accelerated lesion development when compared to either the proximal internal carotid or the dorsal carotid artery. After 4 weeks of being fed an atherogenic diet, the bifurcation region of all birds showed some lesion involvement. Lesions at the bifurcation initially involved the medial and lateral walls; flow dividers became involved slightly later, with the anterior flow divider consistently developing thicker lesions than the posterior flow divider. Lesions progressed in terms of length of circumference, mean thickness, cross-sectional area, and percent lumen stenosis as the time fed the atherogenic diet increased.
The electrical conductivities of steel and other candidate materials for shrouds in a beam-waveguide antenna system

This article presents the results of electrical conductivity measurements made at 8.420 GHz on samples of the structural steel material used to fabricate shrouds on a Deep Space Network (DSN) 34-m-diameter beam-waveguide (BWG) antenna. Test results show that the structural steel samples at this microwave frequency had effective conductivities that were about 50 times worse than published dc values and also 230 times worse than the measured conductivities of aluminum test samples. Conductivity data are also presented for other candidate materials that could be used to fabricate BWG shrouds. Of interest are the improvements or degradations that were observed after some of the metal test samples were surface treated, plated, or painted.