cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alteration of the oceanic crust: Implications for geochemical cycles of lithium and boron

Abstract Fresh tholeiitic basalt glass has been reacted with seawater at 150°C, (water/rock mass ratio of 10), and fresh diabase has been reacted with a Na-K-Ca-Cl fluid at 375°C (water/rock mass ratios of 1, 2, and 5) to understand better the role of temperature, basalt composition, and water/rock mass ratio on the direction and magnitude of B and Li exchange during basalt alteration. At 150°C, slight but nevertheless significant amounts of B and Li were removed from seawater and incorporated into a dominantly smectite alteration phase. At 375°C, however, B and Li were leached from basalt. B behaved as a “soluble” element and attained concentrations in solution limited only by the B concentration in basalt and the water/rock mass ratio. Li, however, was less mobile. For example, at water/rock mass ratios of 1, 2, and 5, the percent of Li leached from basalt was 58, 70, and 92% respectively. This suggests some mineralogic control on Li mobility during hydrothermal alteration of basalt, especially at low-water/rock mass ratios. In general, these results, as well as those for B, are consistent with the temperature-dependent chemistry of altered seafloor basalt and the chemistry of ridge crest hydrothermal fluids. Based on the distribution and chemistry of products of seafloor weathering, low (≤ 150°C) and high-temperature hydrothermal alteration of basalt, and the chemistry of ridge crest hydrothermal fluids, it was estimated that alteration of the oceanic crust is a Li source for seawater. This is not true for B, however, since the hot spring flux estimated for B is balanced by low-temperature basalt alteration. These data, coupled with B and Li flux estimates for other processes (e.g., continental weathering, clay mineral adsorption, authigenic silicate formation and formation of siliceous skeletal material) yield new insight into the B and Li geochemical cycles. Calculations performed here indicate relatively good agreement between the magnitude of B and Li sources and sinks. The geochemical cycle of B, however, may be affected by serpentinization of mantle derived peridotite in oceanic fracture zones. Serpentinites are conspicuously enriched in B and if the B source for these rocks is seawater, then an additional B sink exists which must be integrated into the B geochemical cycle. However, until more data are available in terms of areal extent of serpentinization, serpentite chemistry and isotopic composition, the importance of B in these rocks with respect to the B geochemical cycle remains speculative at best.
Differential uptake of DNA-poly(ethylenimine) polyplexes in cells cultured on collagen and fibronectin surfaces.

Abstract Genetically modified bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have proven to be efficient cell carriers for local or systemic delivery of therapeutics as well as growth factors to augment tissue formation. However, efficient non-viral gene transfer to these cells is limiting their applicability. Although most studies have focused on designing more efficient condensation agents for DNA, our focus in this manuscript is to study the role of two extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, collagen I (Col I) and fibronectin (Fn), on the ability of MSCs to become transfected. Here we report that plating MSCs on Col I-coated surfaces inhibits transfection, while plating MSCs on Fn-coated surfaces enhances transfection. The mechanism by which these ECM proteins affect non-viral gene transfer involves the endocytosis pathway used for polyplex uptake and intracellular tension. We found that Fn promoted internalization through clathrin-mediated endocytosis and that this pathway resulted in more efficient transfection than caveolae-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis. Further, the disruption of actin–myosin interactions resulted in an enhancement of gene transfer for cells plated on Fn-coated surfaces, but not for cells plated on Col I. We believe that the cellular microenvironment can be engineered to enhance the ability of cells to become transfected and that through understanding the mechanisms by which the ECM affects non-viral gene transfer better materials and transfection protocols can be realized.
Gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging correlates with clinical measures and allows visualization of veins within multiple sclerosis lesions.

Background:Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods do not quantify the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) white matter lesions or measure pathology within normal-appearing white matt...
Rapid prototyping of a parallel operating system for a generalized hypercube

B-HIVE is an experimental multiprocessor system under construction at North Carolina State University. Its operating system is derived from XINU, an operating system designed for teaching purposes. XINU was chosen because it is unusually well documented and supplied most of the features that were necessary at the outset of the project. Among the few changes made to XINU are a supervisor state and an interprocessor communication system.
Humor appreciation as a function of sexual, aggressive, and sexist content

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the relationship between the rated sex, aggression, and sexism values of cartoons with their rated funniness values. Multiple regression analyses indicated that for women, only sexism values correlated with cartoon funniness, albeit negatively. For men, however, only sex values correlated (positively) with cartoon funniness. The results were interpreted by Zillmann's social predisposition theory. Women, more likely having been victims of sex discrimination, identified with the cartoon victim and thus found sexist cartoons less funny. Men, because of their social history, made no such identification and were more aware of the sexual aspects of the cartoons. This influenced their funniness ratings of the cartoons, which replicated previous research.
AN EXPERIMENT USING GROUP WORKSHEETS IN COLLEGE ALGEBRA

ABSTRACT This paper reports the results of an experiment using group worksheets in College Algebra I. In this experiment, the author taught three sections of College Algebra I. One of the sections was taught with the traditional lecture method. The other two sections employed group worksheets. The three sections received similar examinations and the group sections were given a survey at the end of the semester. There was no statistical difference among the sections on the examinations. However, the surveys revealed that the students who used the group format believed that they enjoyed the class more than if it had been done in the lecture method. They also believed that their performances were helped by the group activities.
Protein kinase C regulates urea permeability in the rat inner medullary collecting duct

Hypertonicity increases urea transport independently of, as well as synergistically with, vasopressin in the inner medullary collect duct (IMCD). We previously showed that hypertonicity does not in...
PERCEPTIONS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AVAILABILITY AND COPING BEHAVIORS AMONG GAY MEN WITH HIV

Analyzing face-to-face, semistructured interviews, we discuss how perceptions of social support availability are formed among gay men coping with HIV. Experiences of receiving support increased perceived availability for specific types of support from specific individuals, but receiving support also gave these men a general sense that someone would be available for assistance. Other aspects of social relationships, such as closeness and role expectations, contributed to gay men's perceptions of support availability. The results suggest that when people with common problems cope together, collective knowledge of support availability may emerge from observations of others' support exchanges as well as from discussions of support experiences. Individuals or groups of individuals may actively create and modify their perceptions of support availability when they cope with anticipated problems. Thus, the study provided an opportunity to integrate concepts of coping and social support into the collective action and social constructionist frameworks.
Effects of Biochemically Confirmed Smoking Cessation on White Blood Cell Count

OBJECTIVES To determine the relationship between white blood cell (WBC) indices and several baseline variables in a large cohort of healthy smokers and to assess whether these changed after biochemically confirmed smoking cessation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The study consisted of 784 healthy smokers enrolled in a trial of sustained-release bupropion, 300 mg/d, for relapse prevention after smoking cessation from 1995 to 1998. Both WBC counts and absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) were measured at baseline, week 7, and week 52. Smoking status was assessed at weeks 7 and 52 by self-report and biochemically confirmed with expired air carbon monoxide levels. Multivariate analyses compared changes in WBC count and ANC between smokers who did and did not stop smoking, adjusting for treatment group, age, sex, and body mass index. RESULTS Of 784 smokers enrolled, 461 had biochemically confirmed tobacco abstinence after 7 weeks of bupropion; 429 were randomly assigned to receive continued bupropion therapy or placebo until week 52. Between baseline and week 7, there was a significantly larger decrease in WBC count in continuously abstinent subjects compared with continuing smokers (adjusted P=.03). At 52 weeks, continuously abstinent subjects, compared with continuing smokers, had a greater decline from baseline in WBC count (1.2±1.9 × 109/L vs 0.1±1.9 × 109/L; P CONCLUSION Biochemically confirmed tobacco abstinence leads to a rapid and sustained decrease in WBC and ANC, possibly reflecting a decrease in an underlying state of tobacco-induced inflammation.
Retail marijuana purchases in designer and commercial markets in New York City : Sales units, weights, and prices per gram

This paper documents the bifurcation of the market for commercial marijuana from the market for designer marijuana in New York City. Commercial marijuana is usually grown outdoors, imported to NYC, and of average quality. By contrast, several varities of designer marijuana are usually grown indoors from specially bred strains and carefully handled for maximum quality. The mechanisms for marijuana sales include street/park sellers, delivery services, private sales, and storefronts. Retail sales units vary from 5 dollars to 50 dollars and more, but the actual weights and price per gram of retail marijuana purchases lacks scientific precision. Ethnographic staff recruited marijuana purchasers who used digital scales to weigh a purposive sample of 99 marijuana purchases. Results indicate clear differences in price per gram between the purchases of commercial (average 8.20 dollars/g) and designer (average 18.02 dollars/g) marijuana. Designer purchases are more likely to be made by whites, downtown (Lower East Side/Union Square area), via delivery services, and in units of 10 dollar bags, 50 dollar cubes, and eighth and quarter ounces. Commercial marijuana purchases are more likely to be made by blacks, uptown (Harlem), via street dealers, and in units of 5 dollar and 20 dollar bags. Imported commercial types Arizona and Chocolate were only found uptown, while designer brand names describing actual strains like Sour Diesel and White Widow were only found downtown. Findings indicate clear divisions between commercial and designer marijuana markets in New York City. The extent that these differences may be based upon different THC potencies is a matter for future research.
Renormalization of chiral couplings in titled bilayer membranes

We study the effects of chiral constituent molecules on the microscopic shapes attained by lipid bilayer membranes. Such fluid membranes are beautiful examples of statistical ensembles of random shapes, sometimes coupled to in-plane order. We analyze them with methods of continuum elasticity theory, generalizing the well-known Canham-Helfrich model, and in particular incorporate the effects of thermal fluctuations. The condition that coordinate choice be immaterial greatly constrains the possible forms of the statistical weights in these systems, leading to very few independent couplings and hence physically simple models. Thermal fluctuations effectively reduce the chirality of a membrane at long scales, leading to an anomalous scaling relation for the radius of bilayer tubules and helices as a function of chirality. En route to this conclusion we develop a perturbative calculation scheme, paying particular attention to the functional measure needed to describe fluctuations covariantly
Oxidative assimilation treatment of a nitrogen-deficient toxic waste.

Batch growth tests were performed under both replicating and nonproliferating (no nitrogen source in medium) conditions with acclimated heterogenous populations that utilized phenol as a sole source of carbon and energy. It was shown that the acclimated populations could efficiently remove the toxic waste component phenol under nonproliferating conditions by utilizing an oxidative assimilation mechanism. The phenol was assimilated and converted into nonnitrogenous storage products. During the assimilation process, the cells had a tendency to excrete some product (nonsubstrate) chemical oxygen demand (COD). Bench-scale oxidative assimilation units were operated by sequentially feeding a carbon source (phenol) and nitrogen source (ammonium sulfate) to heterogeneous populations. This demonstrated that, subsequent to the addition of the nitrogen source to the medium, the cells utilized the stored carbon for replication. Four of these units were operated at different phenol COD-to-ammonia-nitrogen ratios of 10:1, 20:1, 40:1, and 50:1. All of these units demonstrated excellent removal of phenol using an oxidative assimilation mechanism. These results suggested the feasibility of utilizing a continuous flow oxidative assimilation process for the treatment of nitrogen-deficient phenolic wastes. This process would be advantageous over conventional treatment processes in that it would realize a savings in chemical costs (ammonia as nitrogen source)more » and prevent leakage of excess ammonia from the system.« less
Multi-agent learning model with bargaining

Decision problems with the features of prisoner's dilemma are quite common. A general solution to this kind of social dilemma is that the agents cooperate to play a joint action. The Nash bargaining solution is an attractive approach to such cooperative games. In this paper, a multi-agent learning algorithm based on the Nash bargaining solution is presented. Different experiments are conducted on a testbed of stochastic games. The experimental results demonstrate that the algorithm converges to the policies of the Nash bargaining solution. Compared with the learning algorithms based on a non-cooperative equilibrium, this algorithm is fast and its complexity is linear with respect to the number of agents and number of iterations. In addition, it avoids the disturbing problem of equilibrium selection.
Genes dependent on zebrafish cyclops function identified by AFLP differential gene expression screen.

Summary: Zebrafish cyclops (cyc) encodes a Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) signaling factor closely related to mouse Nodal. By comparing amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) from cyc mutant and wild-type cDNA pools, we devised a differential gene expression screen to isolate genes whose expression is dependent on Cyc signaling. We report two genes not previously described in the zebrafish that were identified using this approach. The first gene, crestin, is expressed predominantly in premigratory and migrating neural crest cells during somitogenesis stages. crestin expression is reduced in cyc mutants initially but recovers by late somitogenesis. The second gene encodes the zebrafish homologue of the calcium-binding protein, calreticulin. Zebrafish calreticulin is highly expressed in the hatching gland and in the floor plate, tissues that are affected in cyc mutants. During gastrulation, calreticulin transcripts are found in the dorsal mesendoderm, in the same cells that express the cyc gene. Expression is reduced in cyc mutants and is abolished by the one-eyed pinhead (oep) mutation that is presumed to prevent Nodal signaling. The identification of calreticulin suggests that a differential screen between wild-type and mutant cDNA is a useful approach to reveal regulation of unexpected gene expression in response to cellular signals. genesis 26:86–97, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Paradoxical effects of social support on blood pressure reactivity among defensive individuals.

Background: Social support can reduce cardiovascular responses to an acute stressor. However, prior clinical research suggests that defensive individuals may react negatively to social support.Purpose: This experiment examined whether emotional support provided during a speech stressor would escalate rather than decrease blood pressure (BP) reactivity among defensive individuals.Methods: After completing personality measures, 176 female undergraduates were randomly assigned to give a speech in 1 of 3 social conditions: alone, or with a neutral or supportive confederate present. Mean arterial BP was assessed at baseline, immediately before, and during and after the stressor.Results: In the supportive condition, defensiveness predicted higher BP reactivity during anticipation (s = .35,p = .04) and delivery of the speech (s =.32, p = .03), and longer recovery to baseline BP levels (s = .35,p = .01). In the absence of support (i.e., alone and neutral conditions), defensiveness was not associated with BP reactivity. Defensiveness also predicted greater dissociation between subjective stress and BP responses (s =.35, p = .05), but only in the supportive condition.Conclusions: According to results, the provision of social support during stressors does not benefit defensive individuals’ BP reactivity but has the opposite effect.
Access to phenomenality: A necessary condition of phenomenality?

Block argues that relevant data in psychology and neuroscience show that access consciousness is not constitutively necessary for phenomenality. However, a phenomenal state can be access conscious in two radically different ways. Its content can be access conscious, or its phenomenality can be access conscious. I argue that while Block's thesis is right when it is formulated in terms of the first notion of access consciousness, there is an alternative hypothesis about the relationship between phenomenality and access in terms of the second notion that is not touched by Block's argument.
A parasitism gene from a plant-parasitic nematode with function similar to CLAVATA3/ESR (CLE) of Arabidopsis thaliana.

SUMMARY The Hg-SYV46 parasitism gene is expressed exclusively in the dorsal oesophageal gland cell of parasitic stages of the soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines , and it encodes a secretory protein that contains a C-terminal motif of the CLAVATA3/ESR-related (CLE) family in Arabidopsis thaliana . In shoot and floral meristems of Arabidopsis, the stem cells secret CLV3, a founding member of the CLE protein family, that activates the CLV1/CLV2 receptor complex and negatively regulates WUSCHEL expression to restrict the size of the stem cell population. Mis-expression of Hg-SYV46 in Arabidopsis (ecotype Columbia-0) under control of the CaMV35S promoter resulted in a wus -like phenotype including premature termination of the shoot apical meristem and the development of flowers lacking the central gynoecium. The wus -like phenotype observed was similar to reports of over-expression of CLV3 and CLE40 in Arabidopsis, as was down-regulation of WUS expression in the shoot apices of 35S::Hg-SYV46/Col-0 plants. Expression of 35S::Hg-SYV46 in a clv31 mutant of Arabidopsis was able partially or fully to rescue the mutant phenotype, probably dependent upon localization and level of transgene expression. A short root phenotype, as reported for overexpression of CLV3 , CLE40 and CLE19 in roots, was also produced in primary 35S::Hg-SYV46/Col-0 transgenic plants. The results suggest a functional similarity of HG-SYV46 to plant-secreted CLE ligands that may play a role in the differentiation or division of feeding cells induced in plant roots by parasitic nematodes.
Interactions between vortices and flexible walls

We give two fundamental solutions for the motion of a point vortex near a flexible wall, up to first order in wall deflection, using computational methods. For a point vortex near an infinite horizontal wall, the deformation of the wall intensifies the flow at the wall near the vortex, and increases the speed of the vortex. Near a circular wall there is a strong mutual amplification of the deflection of the wall and the pressure force induced by the deflection, as the point vortex approaches the wall. The total force on the wall diverges as the inverse cube of the distance to the point vortex, and the induced speed of the point vortex diverges as the inverse fourth power of distance to the wall.
Transgender HIV prevention: implementation and evaluation of a workshop

Virtually no HIV prevention education has specifically targeted the transgender community. To fill this void, a transgender HIV prevention workshop was developed, implemented and evaluated. A 4 h workshop, grounded in the Health Belief Model and the Eroticizing Safer Sex approach, combined lectures, videos, a panel, discussion, roleplay and exercises. Evaluation using a pre-, post- and follow-up test design showed an increase in knowledge and an initial increase in positive attitudes that diminished over time. Due to the small sample size (N = 59) and limited frequency of risk behavior, a significant decrease in unsafe sexual or needle practices could not be demonstrated. However, findings suggested an increase in safer sexual behaviors such as (mutual) masturbation. Peer support improved significantly. Future prevention education should make special efforts to target the more difficult-to-reach, high-risk subgroups of the transgender population.
High-power pulsed intra-cavity frequency doubled vertical extended cavity blue laser arrays

Electrically pumped vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) can produce hundreds of mW's of 976 nm CW output in a TEM00 mode when operated with an external cavity configuration. During pulsed operation (<50ns) a significant increase in the peak power is observed, compared to CW operation. High peak powers makes these lasers very well suited for intra-cavity frequency doubling with a non-linear crystal. We are developing surface emitting lasers in 2D array format and high power pulsed blue laser arrays in a small size. We present results of CW and pulsed operation of such lasers.
Metrics matter: the case of assessing the importance of non-communicable diseases for the poor

As the saying goes, ‘bad publicity is better than no publicity.’ So I was gratified to see in IJE such a prominent, even if highly critical, reference to a piece that two colleagues and I did nearly 15 years ago and that I’d thought long forgotten. In our piece my colleagues and I had questioned, on equity grounds, the then-incipient shift in emphasis from communicable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in global health policy. Using 1990 data from the 1996 World Health Organization (WHO) global burden of disease (GBD) study, we had estimated that communicable illnesses were still responsible for a majority of the disease burden in the poorest quintile of the world’s population. But in the richest quintile, the situation was the reverse: NCDs were overwhelmingly dominant. This finding had led us to advocate a continuing focus on communicable diseases because of their central importance to the health of the global poor, a group of especially high priority in the 2015 Millennium Development Goals that were then being formulated. To move toward NCDs, we argued, would result in increased attention for a set of conditions far more relevant to the world’s better-off. Not surprisingly, perhaps, NCD advocates did not find this argument very compelling. Nor did any of the four commentatorson a similar argument for India advanced by S.V. Subramanian and colleagues in the article featured in this current IJE collection of papers on equity and the pattern of disease. In that article, Subramanian et al. challenge the argument that the distribution of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors has shifted so that they have become more prevalent in lowthan in high-income groups. The many problems they find with this argument lead them to consider a shift away from communicable diseases toward cardiovascular issues to be premature, or ‘jumping the gun’ as they put it. Among the several arguments advanced by the commentators disagreeing with this conclusion, two stand out. The first is that Subramanian et al. have simply misread the available literature, and that the burden of disease from NCDs is in fact higher among the poor. The second is that, even if they did not misread, NCDs now constitute an adequately important (and growing) minority of the disease burden in even the poorest population groups to justify significant attention.
MAGNETIC COLLAPSE AND THE BEHAVIOR OF TRANSITION METAL OXIDES: FeO AT HIGH PRESSURES

Linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) results are presented for FeO at high pressures using the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) to study the high-spin low-spin transi- tion previously predicted by LAPW with the Local Density Approximation (LDA) and Linear Muffin Tin Orbital (LMTO-ASA) methods within the GGA. We find a first-order transition at a pressure of about 105 GPa for the cubic lattice, consistent with earlier LAPW results, but much lower than obtained with the LMTO. The results are generally consistent with recent Moss- bauer experiments that show a transition at about 100 GPa. We also discuss the origin of the transition, and show that it is not due to electrostatic crystal-field effects, but is rather due to hybridization and band widening with pressure. Examination of experimental data and compu- tations suggest that the high pressure hexagonal phase of FeO is likely a polytype between the B8 NiAs and anti-B8 AsNi structures. The former is predicted to be an antiferromagnetic metal, and the latter an antiferromagnetic insulator. Implications for geophysics are discussed.
HELMINTH PARASITES OF INTERMINGLING AXIS DEER, WILD SWINE AND DOMESTIC CATTLE FROM THE ISLAND OF MOLOKAI, HAWAII

Helminth infections of axis deer (Cervus axis), wild swine (Sus scrofa) and domestic cattle (Bos taurus) were studied among intermingling herds on the Puu-O-Hoku Ranch, Molokai, Hawaii. Twenty-four species of helminths were collected from the 10 deer, 10 swine and 10 cattle. Capillaria bovis, Cooperia punctata, Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus axei infected both axis deer and cattle, whereas Gongylonema pulchrum infected both axis deer and wild swine. None of the species of helminths occurred in both wild swine and cattle nor was any species found in all three hosts. Wild swine and domestic cattle supported separate and distinct helminth communities. In contrast, the helminth community of axis deer appeared to be derived from the helminth communities of cattle and wild swine and consisted only of those species capable of parasitizing either a broad range of ruminants or many mammalian taxa.
Interface conditions for two-phase displacement in Hele-Shaw cells

In displacing a viscous fluid from the gap between two closely spaced parallel plates, a thin film of the original fluid remains on the surface of each plate. Boundary conditions which connect the approximate equations in the region in front of the interface with the approximate solutions in the thin-film region are determined from local solutions of the equations in the vicinity of the interface edge. These interface conditions depend on both b/R (gap half-width/radius of curvature) and μUn/T, where μ is the viscosity of the original fluid, Un is the normal velocity of the interface edge, and T is the interfacial tension. These conditions are determined using perturbation method when μUn/T [Lt ] 1 and numerical methods when μUn/T is O(1). Though previous theories have shown qualitative agreement with experiments, it is hoped that these new boundary conditions improve the quantitative agreement.
Reducing Correlation Sampling Error in Ensemble Kalman Filter Data Assimilation

AbstractEnsemble Kalman filters are widely used for data assimilation in large geophysical models. Good results with affordable ensemble sizes require enhancements to the basic algorithms to deal with insufficient ensemble variance and spurious ensemble correlations between observations and state variables. These challenges are often dealt with by using inflation and localization algorithms. A new method for understanding and reducing some ensemble filter errors is introduced and tested. The method assumes that sampling error due to small ensemble size is the primary source of error. Sampling error in the ensemble correlations between observations and state variables is reduced by estimating the distribution of correlations as part of the ensemble filter algorithm. This correlation error reduction (CER) algorithm can produce high-quality ensemble assimilations in low-order models without using any a priori localization like a specified localization function. The method is also applied in an observing syst...
Financial Impact of Nuclear Power Plants: Dominion Resources, Inc.

Dominion Resources was the fourth-largest operator of nuclear power plants in the United States with seven nuclear reactors in operation. Two of the reactors had been acquired in the past five years: Millstone (2) in 2001 and Kewaunee in 2005. This case is about excellent due diligence and financial disclosure in acquiring major fixed assets (nuclear power plants) and the impact on the financial results and investor confidence.
Factors Influencing Pupal Distribution of the Pandora Moth (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) and Their Relationship to Prescribed Burning

Forest floor depth, aspect, topographical position, canopy, soil moisture, and soil bulk density were evaluated to determine their influence on pupal distribution of the pandora moth. The number of pupae varied significantly by canopy and forest floor depth, being greatest in areas with an open canopy and low levels of forest floor. Soil moisture, soil bulk density, topographical position, and aspect were not related to the number of pupae. A potential evolutionary advantage of this behavior is discussed.
Development of Charging Module of Off-board Charger for Electric Vehicle

An overall scheme for a LLC series resonant control based 500 V/25 A charging module of off-board charger for electric vehicles is described.The main circuit topology and control circuit topology in this module are also given.A method of resolving the problem of module output voltage increasing under non-load or small load is provided,and the relationship between such parameters as the input voltage,switching frequency and output voltage of this module at different working frequencies is detailed.Experimental results on a 12.5 kW prototype show that all switches have realized zero voltage switching(ZVS) and a high efficiency of 96% can be obtained,with the performance completely meeting the design requirements.
Combined and Iterative Use of Computational Design and Directed Evolution for Protein–Ligand Binding Design

The advantages of computational design and directed evolution are complementary, and only through combined and iterative use of both approaches, a daunting task such as protein-ligand interaction design, can be achieved efficiently. Here, we describe a systematic strategy to combine structure-guided computational design, iterative site saturation mutagenesis, and yeast two-hybrid system (Y2H)-based phenotypic screening to engineer novel and orthogonal interactions between synthetic ligands and human estrogen receptor α (hERα) for the development of novel gene switches.
The Cyanobacterial Photosynthetic Apparatus: A Structural and Functional Analysis Employing Molecular Genetics

A major conclusion from recent detailed analyses of the cyanobacterial and higher plant photosynthetic apparatuses is that these two systems are remarkably conserved both structurally and functionally (1). The cyanobacterial photosynthetic apparatus, like that of eucaryotic algae and higher plants, is largely composed of five supramolecular, multiprotein assemblies: 1. the Photosystem II/P680/Oxygen Evolution Complex (water-plastoquinone photo-oxidoreductase); 2. the plastoquinol-plastocyanin oxidoreductase (cytochrome b 6/f complex); 3. the Photosystem I/P700 complex (plastocyanin-ferredoxin photo-oxidoreductase); the ATP synthase complex (Coupling Factor); and 5. light-harvesting antennae complex(es). For detailed reviews of the cyanobacterial and higher plant photosynthetic apparatuses, the reader should consult references 1 and 2. In eyanobac-teria the light-harvesting antenna complex is a large, thylakoid-extrinsic protein complex called the phycobilisome (1, 3, 4). In higher plants these antenna complexes are comprised of the nuclear-encoded chlorophyll a/b proteins which are a family of intrinsic thylakoid proteins which are associated with both Photosystem I and Photosystem II (2, 5).
Di(carbene)-Supported Nickel Systems for CO2 Reduction Under Ambient Conditions

Di(carbene)-supported nickel species 1 and 2 are efficient catalysts for the room-temperature reduction of CO2 to methanol in the presence of sodium borohydride. The catalysts feature unusual stability, particularly for a base metal catalyst, enabling >1.1 million turnovers of CO2. Moreover, while other systems involve more expensive reducing reagents, sodium borohydride is inexpensive and easily handled. Furthermore, effecting reduction in the presence of water enables direct access to methanol. Preliminary mechanistic data collected are most consistent with a mononuclear nickel active species that mediates rate-determining reduction of a boron formate.
Hepatitis C infection: A multi-faceted systemic disease with clinical, patient reported and economic consequences

Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) affects approximately 170-200 million individuals globally. HCV is one of the primary causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis and has been identified as the leading indication for liver transplantation in most Western countries. Because HCV is a systemic disease with hepatic, extrahepatic, economic and patient reported consequences, it is important for healthcare practitioners to understand the comprehensive and multi-faceted picture of this disease. In this context, it is important to fully appreciate the impact of HCV on the individual patient and the society. With the recent advent of the new generation of direct antiviral agents, the long standing goal of eradicating HCV in most infected patients has been accomplished. Therefore, now more than ever, it is critical to assess the total benefits of sustained virological response in a comprehensive manner. This should not be limited to the clinical benefits of HCV cure, but also to account for the improvement of patient reported health and economic outcomes of HCV cure. It is only through this comprehensive approach to HCV and its treatment that we will understand the full impact of this disease and the tremendous gains that have been achieved with the new antiviral regimens.
Free Energy-Based Virtual Screening and Optimization of RNase H Inhibitors of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase.

We report the results of a binding free energy-based virtual screening campaign of a library of 77 α-hydroxytropolone derivatives against the challenging RNase H active site of the reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme of human immunodeficiency virus-1. Multiple protonation states, rotamer states, and binding modalities of each compound were individually evaluated. The work involved more than 300 individual absolute alchemical binding free energy parallel molecular dynamics calculations and over 1 million CPU hours on national computing clusters and a local campus computational grid. The thermodynamic and structural measures obtained in this work rationalize a series of characteristics of this system useful for guiding future synthetic and biochemical efforts. The free energy model identified key ligand-dependent entropic and conformational reorganization processes difficult to capture using standard docking and scoring approaches. Binding free energy-based optimization of the lead compounds emerging from the...
Catullan Myths: Gender, Mourning, and the Death of a Brother

This article considers Catullus’ reaction to his brother’s death and argues that the poet, having found the masculine vocabulary of grief inadequate, turns to the more expansive emotions and prolonged dedication offered by mythological examples of feminine mourning. I begin by showing how Catullus complicates his graveside speech to his brother in poem 101 by invoking poems 65, 68a, and 68b. In these compositions, Catullus likens himself to figures such as Procne and Laodamia, and their feminine modes of grief become associated with the poet. While these women’s grief brings them to a dreadful end, in my second reading of poem 101 I show how Catullus incorporates their emotional intensity and devoted attention into a masculine performance of mourning. Connecting his voyage to his brother’s grave with Odysseus’ journey, Catullus valorizes his single-minded remembrance of his sibling, even as he acknowledges that he will never overcome the distance between them.
Providing Cognitively Just Subject Access to Indigenous Knowledge through Knowledge Organization Systems

ABSTRACTThis article explores cognitively just, reliable subject access to indigenous knowledge through knowledge organization systems (KOSs). Cognitive justice requires that indigenous people be able to access materials in a way that respects their worldview, yet dominant KOSs are based on positivist, Western approaches that are fundamentally incompatible. Alternatives to universal systems include the creation of new KOSs and the adaptation of universal ones. Going forward, emerging web technologies are presented as key to moving away from universalist schemes and toward specialized access.
Genomics trumps clinical criteria in BMT? Nyet!

In this issue of Blood, Yoshizato et al performed genomic analysis on 797 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) who received unrelated bone marrow transplants (BMTs) and showed that TP53 mutations combined with complex karyotypes (CKs) or RAS-pathway mutations in the setting of preexisting myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) conferred poor outcomes.1
A fundamental study of octanohydroxamic acid adsorption on monazite surfaces

Abstract The adsorption mechanism of octanohydroxamic acid (OHA) on monazite was studied using kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic adsorption tests as well as FTIR, titration, and micro-flotation experiments. The adsorption mechanism was described as a chemisorption/surface precipitation process. At low OHA concentrations, adsorption occurred by chemisorption as a result of the reaction between surface active sites and OHA molecules. With an increase in concentration and interaction time, surface precipitation occurred. For chemisorption, adsorption was an exothermic and entropy driven process and maximum adsorption was achieved at pH 9.0 due to more active sites. In an acidic environment, such as pH 3.0, adsorption was achieved via chemisorption and hydrophobic bonding. However, a strong basic and higher temperature environment contributes to surface precipitation of basic rare earth hydroxamate. FTIR tests showed the movement of CH 2 band position from 2924 cm − 1 to 2920 cm − 1 with increases in pH values from 3.0 to 6.0, 9.0, and 11.0, which corresponds to the status of chemisorbed and surface precipitated OHA, respectively.
Role of long-term acute care in reducing hospital readmission

Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACs) are health care facilities capable of admitting complex patients with high acuity that are unable to return home after hospitalization in acute care. Its defining characteristic is to accommodate patients for a length of stay greater than 25 days, however, little is known about its role of preventing hospital readmissions. Created in the 1980s, these facilities were designed to help acute care facilities improve their resource management, expenditures, and quality of care. Although these units were initially created for chronic ventilator weaning, their scope of practice has broadened. This article analyzes studies and suggests role of LTACs in reducing hospital readmissions.
Age and Cancer Treatment Are Related to Receiving Treatment Summaries and Survivorship Care Plans in Female Young Adult Cancer Survivors

The study determined factors associated with patient-reported receipt of survivorship care plans and/or treatment summaries (SCP/TS). Two hundred forty female young adult cancer survivors ages 18–44 completed a web-based survey that included self-report on receiving SCP/TS. Mean age was 32.8 (standard deviation 5.8) years; 20% were diagnosed with cancer at age <21. Only 47% reported receipt of SCP/TS. Age <21 at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0–3.9), chemotherapy (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2–4.6), central nervous system radiation (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.6), and bone marrow transplantation (OR 7.2, 95% CI 1.5–33.3) were significantly associated with higher odds of SCP/TS receipt. Improved integration of TS and SCP into cancer survivorship care is needed.
Pulmonic Valve Disease: Review of Pathology and Current Treatment Options

Our review is intended to provide readers with an overview of disease processes involving the pulmonic valve, highlighting recent outcome studies and guideline-based recommendations; with focus on the two most common interventions for treating pulmonic valve disease, balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty and pulmonic valve replacement. The main long-term sequelae of balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty, the gold standard treatment for pulmonic stenosis, remain pulmonic regurgitation and valvular restenosis. The balloon:annulus ratio is a major contributor to both, with high ratios resulting in greater degrees of regurgitation, and small ratios increasing risk for restenosis. Recent studies suggest that a ratio of approximately 1.2 may provide the most optimal results. Pulmonic valve replacement is currently the procedure of choice for patients with severe pulmonic regurgitation and hemodynamic sequelae or symptoms, yet it remains uncertain how it impacts long-term survival. Transcatheter pulmonic valve replacement is a rapidly evolving field and recent outcome studies suggest short and mid-term results at least equivalent to surgery. The Melody valve® was FDA approved for failing pulmonary surgical conduits in 2010 and for failing bioprosthetic surgical pulmonic valves in 2017 and has been extensively studied, whereas the Sapien XT valve®, offering larger diameters, was approved for failing pulmonary conduits in 2016 and has been less extensively studied. Patients with pulmonic valve disease deserve lifelong surveillance for complications. Transcatheter pulmonic valve replacement is a novel and attractive therapeutic option, but is currently only FDA approved for patients with failing pulmonary conduits or dysfunctional surgical bioprosthetic valves. New advances will undoubtedly increase the utilization of this rapidly expanding technology.
Integrating a Trauma-Informed Care Perspective in Baccalaureate Social Work Education: Guiding Principles

Over the past decade, there has been substantial growth in empirical evidence supporting that proper assessment and treatment of trauma using evidence-based practices can effectively reduce a wide range of symptoms in both children and adults. Given the complex nature of trauma treatment, trauma-based educational programming in social work is most commonly found at the graduate level. Yet, to date, there has been little discussion calling for the inclusion of trauma content in BSW education. In this paper, we examine the current state of trauma-content inclusion in social work education, and offer a guiding framework for integrating core trauma content into the BSW curriculum that is based on the core principles of trauma-informed care.
Participation and Conflict: Lessons Learned From Community Forestry

Today, natural resource user groups are more diverse, with differing attitudes and behaviors. Successful resource management addressing diverse users' needs and preferences will require broadening participation in decisionmaking. We describe three components essential for participatory management: broadening constituencies involved in decisionmaking, cultivating better dialogue, and using conflict resolution techniques. Although there are disadvantages, participatory approaches ultimately reduce conflict, reduce costs, yield robust solutions, and lead to constituent support. We include a case study illustrating participation in a land-use planning context. Resource management professionals are likely to be involved in increased public participation and potential conflict, and professionals implementing participatory processes can be most successful with prior knowledge of effective ways to broaden participation as well as to resolve conflict.
Differential-Algebraic Dynamic Logic DAL

We generalise dynamic logic to a logic for differential-algebraic programs, i.e., discrete programs augmented with first-order differential-algebraic formulas as continuous evolution constraints in addition to first-order discrete jump formulas. These programs characterise interacting discrete and continuous dynamics of hybrid systems elegantly and uniformly, including systems with disturbance and differential-algebraic equations. For our logic, we introduce a calculus over real arithmetic with discrete induction and a new differential induction with which differential-algebraic programs can be verified by exploiting their differential constraints algebraically without having to solve them.We develop the theory of differential induction and differential refinement and analyse their deductive power. As an example, we present parametric tangential roundabout manoeuvres in air traffic control and prove collision avoidance in our calculus.
The Tetrapyrrole Biosynthetic Pathway and Its Regulation in Rhodobacter capsulatus

The purple anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus is capable of growing in aerobic or anaerobic conditions, in the dark or using light, etc. Achieving versatile metabolic adaptations from respiration to photosynthesis requires the use of tetrapyrroles such as heme and bacteriochlorophyll, in order to carry oxygen, to transfer electrons, and to harvest light energy. A third tetrapyrrole, cobalamin (vitamin B12), is synthesized and used as a cofactor for many enzymes. Heme, bacteriochlorophyll, and vitamin B12 constitute three major end products of the tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway in purple bacteria. Their respective synthesis involves a plethora of enzymes, several that have been characterized and several that are uncharacterized, as described in this review. To respond to changes in metabolic requirements, the pathway undergoes complex regulation to direct the flow of tetrapyrrole intermediates into a specific branch(s) at the expense of other branches of the pathway. Transcriptional regulation of the tetrapyrrole synthesizing enzymes by redox conditions and pathway intermediates is reviewed. In addition, we discuss the involvement of several transcription factors (RegA, CrtJ, FnrL, AerR, HbrL, Irr) as well as the role of riboswitches. Finally, the interdependence of the tetrapyrrole branches on each other synthesis is discussed.