cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dropped calls, Turnaround time and Document Retention Time: Crucial parameters to monitor the effective implementation of laboratory Critical alert policy for critically ill patients

Context: Critical alert policy adopted under laboratory accreditation guidelines [1] and under the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) has prioritized safe and timely communication of critical alert [2] so that immediate treatment can be done as soon as the sample showing critical value is communicated by the laboratory. Laboratories are burdened with the analysis of samples not only from emergency and intensive care units but also from outdoor and wards; require to frame a policy, which meets the need of the critical patients. Most of the studies conducted to analyze the effective implementation of the critical alert policy look at the tip of iceberg as the percentage of critical alerts reported by laboratory and the turn- around time. Aim: The present study was conducted to analyze the various components of critical alert policy framed by the laboratory under study. Setting and Design: Study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in a NABL accreditation of laboratory running since 3 years. We assessed not only the policy and procedure documented and followed by the laboratory under study as laid down under the guidelines [1],[2] but also certain issue (Dropped calls), which are encountered during implementation of the critical alert policy and procedure. Statistical Analysis: Study was a retrospective, cross-sectional. Results: The outcome of the study highlighted the hidden component of the iceberg causing obstacle in implementation of the critical alert policy as increased dropped calls, the turnaround time of which till the writing of the manuscript was infinite. Moreover, short storage time of the document maintained by a laboratory as evidence of communication of critical alert to the caretaker by the hospital-based laboratory leaves the hospital with no evidence if required later on. Conclusions: Detecting and correcting hidden components of critical alert policy can lead to immediate attention and treatment of critical patients and prevent mortality and mortality on one hand and on the other hand the hospital that implements this system can be prevented from the burden of medico legal cases to an extent.
Comercio de psitácidos en Nicaragua, del bosque a Managua. Evaluación de la procedencia, métodos de captura y beneficios financieros de la actividad

Esta investigacion fue realizada en Nicaragua para evaluar el origen geografico, metodos de captura y beneficios financieros por la exportacion y venta local de loras y chocoyos (Psitacidae), siguiendo la cadena comercial desde el campo hasta la ciudad capital. El pais alberga 14 especies de psitacidos, 12 de los cuales son actualmente comerciados en mayor o menor grado. Se visitaron las reservas de Bosawas e Indio Maiz, el departamento de Carazo y la ciudad de Managua. El mayor sitio para el comercio de fauna silvestres en el pais es Managua. Se estimo que un total de 7,205 loras fueron vendidas localmente y exportadas durante el periodo de estudio (Julio a Noviembre del 2000).
On the phase center analysis of linear phased-array antennas

In this paper, the phase center of linear phased-arrays is investigated. A far-field formulation is applied to evaluate the phase center location for different beam scan angles and under multiple element-failure conditions. The phase center is found to be scan invariant and lies at the geometric center of the array when all elements are functional and under a symmetric amplitude excitation. When one or more elements fail, the phase center follows a centroid function given by the element locations weighted by the element amplitude excitations. This work has applications in phased arrays used for feeding reflector antennas for multiple-beam systems.
The Characteristics of Infectious Intracranial Aneurysm and Indication of Cerebral Angiogram in Infective Endocarditis (P2.296)

Objective: To Describe Infectious Intracranial Aneurysm(IIA) in Infective Endocarditis(IE) Background: IIA can complicate IE. We aim to describe the characteristics of IIA and assess indications for cerebral angiography. Design/Methods: We reviewed IIAs among 116 consecutive active IE by Duke’s criteria with neurological consultation or admission to stroke neurology service in a tertiary referral center from January 2015 to July 2016. Susceptibility weighted imaging(SWI) hemorrhage was defined as low signal on SWI in sulci or parenchyma that was not apparent on CT. Results: Of 116 patients, 74 persons(63.8%, mean age 54) underwent digital subtraction angiography(DSA). IIAs were identified in 13(17.6%). All of 13 IIAs were unruptured and only one IIA had unrelated intracranial hemorrhage on CT. None of the IIA was seen with CTA or MRA. Eleven(85%) IIAs had clinical strokes(10 ischemic strokes, 1 intracerebral hemorrhage, median NIH 3), and 2 neurologically asymptomatic with abnormal MRI. Six of 9 IIAs had SWI hemorrhage in sulci or parenchyma(5 in sulci, 5 in parenchyma, and 1 in both) and all of the lesions were in the vicinity of IIA. Contrast MRI was performed in 7 IIAs, and 4 had enhancements, all of which were present near the location of IIAs. Ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, intravenous drug abuse, and type of valve were not associated with the presence of IIA. Three patients remained on antibiotic alone, 5 had antibiotic with coil embolization, and, 5 had antibiotic with glue embolization. Ten patients with IIAs had valvular surgery, including one with untreated IIA. Out of all, only one intracerebral hemorrhage occurred as perioperative complication unrelated to treated IIA. Conclusions: IIAs were found in approximately one fifth of IE persons who underwent DSA. Imaging characteristics such as SWI hemorrhage in sulci or parenchyma and contrast enhancement appear to correlate with the presence of IIA. DSA should be performed when they are present. Disclosure: Dr. Cho has nothing to disclose. Dr. Marquardt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zhang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Thatikunta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Uchino has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wisco has nothing to disclose.
Joint petrophysical inversion of multifrequency conductivity and permittivity logs derived from subsurface galvanic, induction, propagation, and dielectric dispersion measurements

ABSTRACTBorehole-based subsurface electromagnetic (EM) measurements, namely, galvanic resistivity (laterolog), induction, propagation, and dielectric dispersion logs, are commonly used for water-sa...
The influence of carbon on cavity evolution in ion-irradiated ferritic-martensitic steels

Abstract Beam-induced carbon uptake has been discovered to occur excessively in high damage ion irradiation experiments. This uptake of carbon has the potential to compromise experiments which aim to emulate the effects of radiation damage. In this study, the effect of carbon on cavity evolution in ion-irradiated ferritic-martensitic steels T91 and HT9 was evaluated. Irradiations were performed with 5.0 MeV Fe2+ ions at 460 °C to damage levels up to 450 dpa. Some samples utilized a 100 nm alumina coating to prevent beam-induced carbon uptake. The T91 samples were pre-implanted with helium concentrations of 0, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 appm and the HT9 samples were irradiated in a dual-beam configuration with 5.0 MeV Fe2+ ions and energy-degraded helium up to 188 dpa, with He/dpa ratios of 0, 0.0006, 0.003, 0.015, and 0.2 appm He/dpa. Cavity evolution and carbide formation was characterized using TEM. The effect of carbon uptake on swelling and cavity evolution was evaluated by comparing the results of the samples which experienced excess carbon uptake to irradiated samples which experienced no carbon uptake. It was found that excess carbon suppressed swelling and distorted the role of helium on cavity evolution, regardless of helium injection method. The dissociation of helium bubbles led to a dramatic loss of bubble density at high helium levels by 450 dpa. Significant carbide formation contributed to the dissociation of helium bubbles by providing an alternate sink for emitted helium atoms.
High altitude illnesses in Hawai'i.

High Altitude Headache (HAH), Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) are all high altitude related illnesses in order of severity from the mildly symptomatic to the potentially life-threatening. High altitude illnesses occur when travelers ascend to high altitudes too rapidly, which does not allow enough time for the body to adjust. Slow graded ascent to the desired altitude and termination of ascent if AMS symptoms present are keys to illness prevention. Early recognition and rapid intervention of AMS can halt progression to HACE. Pharmacologic prophylaxis with acetazolamide is a proven method of prevention and treatment of high altitude illness. If prevention fails then treatment modalities include supplemental oxygen, supportive therapy, hyperbaric treatment, and dexamethasone. Given the multitude of visitors to the mountains of Hawai‘i, high altitude illness will continue to persist as a prevalent local condition. This paper will emphasize the prevention and early diagnosis of AMS so that the illness does not progress to HACE.
Mining complex patterns across sequences with gap requirements

The recurring appearance of sequential patterns, when confined by the predefined gap requirements, often implies strong temporal correlations or trends among pattern elements. In this paper, we study the problem of mining a set of gap constrained sequential patterns across multiple sequences. Given a set of sequences S1, S2,., SK constituting a single hypersequence S, we aim to find recurring patterns in S, say P, which may cross multiple sequences with all their matching characters in S bounded by the user specified gap constraints. Because of the combinatorial candidate explosion, traditional Apriori-based algorithms are computationally infeasible. Our research proposes a new mechanism to ensure pattern growing and pruning. When combining the pruning technique with our Gap Constrained Search (GCS) and map-based support prediction approaches, our method achieves a speed about 40 times faster than its other peers.
Comparing state, regional, and local variation in concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use

Abstract Background Concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use is associated with a three-fold increase in the risk of opioid-related overdose. No study has evaluated geographic variation in the concurrent use of opioids and benzodiazepines in US Medicare. We compared state, hospital-referral region (HRR), and county-level variation in concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use among US Medicare opioid users and examined the heterogeneity in concurrent use within states. Methods Using 2013–2014 US Medicare Part D claims, we identified non-cancer beneficiaries who used opioids in 2014 (n = 268,678). The outcome was concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use. We constructed logistic regression models to isolate state, HRR, and county-level variation not explained by patient characteristics, and evaluated how county and HRR quintiles are distributed within state quintiles. Results The adjusted probability of concurrent use ranged from 16.7%–29.6% across states, 12.1%–37.0% across HRRs, and 0%–65.2% across counties. State-level variation masks substantial county-level variation: only 18% of counties located in the lowest state quintile were in the lowest county quintile, and only 23% of counties located in the highest state quintile were in the highest county quintile. We also observed variation in concurrent use across HRRs within states, but it was not as dispersed. For example, 52% of the HRRs located in the highest state quintile were in the highest HRR quintile. Conclusions Large variation in concurrent use of opioids and benzodiazepines exists across the US. State variation masks substantial local variation, which beckons for polices to monitor concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use at the county level.
Who Pays the Price?: Regulation of Data Tracking & Online Behavioral Advertising

Companies use a practice called “online behavioral advertisement” to advertise their products by compiling information about consumers’ online practices, particularly those who may be interested in buying their products, then marketing those products directly to those consumers on their internet browsers. It involves “the collection, use, and distribution of data about consumers’ online activities in order to place advertisements that correspond to each consumer’s interests.” Social media giants like Facebook have begun using online behavioral advertising to increase their profits through selling space on their websites to advertisers, coming into clashes with consumers who worry that their privacy interests have been compromised by these practices. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) entered the fray in the mid 1990’s, attempting to balance the interests of consumer privacy and corporate entities that want to use more efficient advertising practices aimed at the consumers who may want their products the most. Businesses praise the FTC’s self-regulation proposals as a healthy compromise, while consumer privacy advocates urge congressional action in the form of a bill formally regulating online behavioral advertisement. This article discusses the FTC’s attempted balancing act between consumer privacy interests and corporate advertising practices in the online marketplace.
Tau is required for progressive synaptic and memory deficits in a transgenic mouse model of α-synucleinopathy

Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are clinically and neuropathologically highly related α-synucleinopathies that collectively constitute the second leading cause of neurodegenerative dementias. Genetic and neuropathological studies directly implicate α-synuclein (αS) abnormalities in PDD and DLB pathogenesis. However, it is currently unknown how αS abnormalities contribute to memory loss, particularly since forebrain neuronal loss in PDD and DLB is less severe than in Alzheimer's disease. Previously, we found that familial Parkinson's disease-linked human mutant A53T αS causes aberrant localization of the microtubule-associated protein tau to postsynaptic spines in neurons, leading to postsynaptic deficits. Thus, we directly tested if the synaptic and memory deficits in a mouse model of α-synucleinopathy (TgA53T) are mediated by tau. TgA53T mice exhibit progressive memory deficits associated with postsynaptic deficits in the absence of obvious neuropathological and neurodegenerative changes in the hippocampus. Significantly, removal of endogenous mouse tau expression in TgA53T mice (TgA53T/mTau-/-), achieved by mating TgA53T mice to mouse tau-knockout mice, completely ameliorates cognitive dysfunction and concurrent synaptic deficits without affecting αS expression or accumulation of selected toxic αS oligomers. Among the known tau-dependent effects, memory deficits in TgA53T mice were associated with hippocampal circuit remodeling linked to chronic network hyperexcitability. This remodeling was absent in TgA53T/mTau-/- mice, indicating that postsynaptic deficits, aberrant network hyperactivity, and memory deficits are mechanistically linked. Our results directly implicate tau as a mediator of specific human mutant A53T αS-mediated abnormalities related to deficits in hippocampal neurotransmission and suggest a mechanism for memory impairment that occurs as a consequence of synaptic dysfunction rather than synaptic or neuronal loss. We hypothesize that these initial synaptic deficits contribute to network hyperexcitability which, in turn, exacerbate cognitive dysfunction. Our results indicate that these synaptic changes present potential therapeutic targets for amelioration of memory deficits in α-synucleinopathies.
Human Body Micro-power plant

Abstract This paper explores the heat generated by the human body and the capabilities of wearable thermoelectric generators in harvesting the thermal energy for practical uses. The wearable thermoelectric generator (WTEG) has shown great potential for use in this field, as such small-scale devices consume little power. While batteries are cheap and reliable sources of power, they have the unavoidable limitation of needing to be changed or charged periodically. WTEGs could significantly cut down the size of the batteries required for many devices and in some cases eliminate them altogether. WTEGs also have the distinct advantage of being solid state and maintenance-free. These factors have also made them lucrative options for implantable biomedical devices, which must have surgical procedures performed to replace batteries or conduct maintenance. From these possibilities, an enormous amount of research has surfaced in a short period of time. When analyzing thermoelectric generators, there are several limitations that have to be examined in order to understand maximum power outputs, maximum temperature differences, and thermal matching. This paper provides an in-depth explanation of heat recovery from the human body, including the thermoelectric capabilities of some thermoelectric materials, as well as the true “wearability” of a TEG for everyday use.
Dynamics of sleep spindles and coupling to slow oscillations following motor learning in adult mice.

Abstract Sleep spindles have been implicated in motor learning in human subjects, but their occurrence, timing in relation to cortical slow oscillations, and relationship to offline gains in motor learning have not been examined in animal models. In this study, we recorded EEG over bilateral primary motor cortex in conjunction with EMG for 24 h following a period of either baseline handling or following rotarod motor learning to monitor sleep. We measured several biophysical properties of sleep spindles and their temporal coupling with cortical slow oscillations (SO, 1 z-score above the population mean), spindle-associated SO power was greater in spindles following motor learning compared to baseline sleep. Also, we did not observe a group-level preferred phase in spindle-SO or spindle-delta coupling. While SO power alone was not predictive of motor performance in early NREM sleep, both spindle density and the difference in the magnitude of the mean resultant vector length of the phase angle for SO-associated spindles, a measure of its coupling precision, were positively correlated with offline change in motor performance. These findings support a role for sleep spindles and their coupling to slow oscillations in motor learning and establish a model in which spindle timing and the brain circuits that support offline plasticity can be mechanistically explored.
Hurricane María's Precipitation Signature in Puerto Rico: A Conceivable Presage of Rains to Come.

The effects of global climate change on the intensity of tropical cyclones are yet to be fully understood due to the variety of factors that affect storm intensity, the limited time spans of existing records, and the diversity of metrics by which intensity is characterized. The 2017 North Atlantic hurricane season induced record-breaking economic losses and caused hundreds of fatalities, and for many represents a presage of what the future holds under warmer tropical sea surface temperatures. This article focuses on one such major hurricane, Maria, and answers the question of how this event compares to the historical record of tropical storms that have assailed the island of Puerto Rico since 1898. Comparisons relied on interpolated weather station total rainfall and maximum 24-h rainfall intensities. Maria proved to have the greatest 24-h rain intensities among all storms recorded in Puerto Rico, yielding maximum 24-h recurrence intervals greater than 250 years for about 8% of the island.
Assessing Ethical Thinking about AI

As is evidenced by the associated AI, Ethics and Society conference, we now take as given the need for ethics education in the AI and general CS curricula. The anticipated surge in AI ethics education will force the field to reckon with delineating and then evaluating learner outcomes to determine what is working and improve what is not. We argue for a more descriptive than normative focus of this ethics education, and propose the development of assessments that can measure descriptive ethical thinking about AI. Such an assessment tool for measuring ethical reasoning capacity in CS contexts must be designed to produce reliable scores for which there is established validity evidence concerning their interpretation and use.
Adsorption of Arsenic Ions Transforms Surface Reactivity of Engineered Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles

Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are massively used as abrasives in the chemical and mechanical polishing (CMP), an essential process to manufacture semiconductor wafers. The CMP process for arsenide-based semiconductor materials produces wastewater with co-occurring arsenic (As) ions and CeO2 NPs. We found that CeO2 NPs adsorbed both arsenite (As(III)) and arsenate (As(V)) ions and the adsorption isotherms suggested different adsorption energies and capacities of the two species. Applying the ferric reducing ability for nanoparticle assay, we revealed that the adsorbed As(III) and As(V) each reduced CeO2 NP surface reactivity but followed different mechanisms. The adsorbed As(III) ions below a critical coverage (110 mmol/kg) increased occupation of Ce 4f orbitals and thus reduced electron mobility of the original CeO2 NPs. The adsorbed As(V) ions withdrew electrons from Ce 4f orbitals and likely became oxidizing agents that greatly inhibited the original surface reducing ability. Electron paramagnetic resonance analysis further revealed that adsorbed As(III) and As(V) ions decreased the propensity of CeO2 NPs to produce reactive oxygen species. This work highlights the importance of examining NPs in their post-use phases in which surface reactivity and hazard potential can be greatly altered by chemical exposure history and NP surface transformations.
Dialogic Communication and Thought Leadership: Twitter Use by Public Relations Agencies in the United States

This study examined how the 117 Twitter profiles maintained by U.S. headquartered agencies appearing in the 2017 Global Top 250 PR Agencies list from the Holmes Report are using this platform to co...
Quality of Communication Life in People with Aphasia: Implications for Intervention

Background and Aims: The main goals were to determine the effectiveness of two commonly used communication-related Quality of Life (QoCL) measures, and the impact of aphasia-related factors on quality of life (QoL) and QoCL in persons with aphasia (PWAs). Method: Twenty-one PWAs ranging from 47 to 91 years of age with post-onset periods of 2 months to 14 years were tested using standardized and criterion-measure tools to assess their language and cognitive functions, QoL, and QoCL. Additionally, participants completed a demographics questionnaire, which also included information on their stroke and the kinds of therapies they had received. Assessments were conducted over two sessions with randomized order of test administrations to control fatigue and order effects. Results and Discussions: Correlation-matrix was used to determine the strength of relations between test measures. The impact of QoL related factors (viz., aphasia severity, cognitive functioning, time post-onset, and therapy received) on QoCL was examined using ANOVAs. The ASHA Quality of Communication Life Scale (ASHA-QCL) had more significant correlations with other QoL measures than the ASHA-Functional Assessment of Communication Skills (ASHA-FACS). Aphasia severity, cognitive deficits, and therapy received contributed significantly to QoL and QoCL in PWAs. Conclusions: Evaluating overall QoL may not fully reveal the QoCL in PWAs. Measuring QoCL specifically is crucial in aphasia interventions, and it is equally important to use sensitive tools that can capture the QoCL effectively. ASHA-QCL was more effective than ASHA-FACS in capturing the QoCL. QoCL must be considered even when working with PWAs with severe aphasias and/or mild cognitive deficits.
An App-Controlled Brace for Stabilization of the Shoulder

The top three sports injuries today are Runner’s knee, shoulder injury, and ankle sprain which make up about 80% of all sports injuries [1]. Our project focuses on addressing shoulder injuries, including dislocations, sprains, and strains, which make up about 20% of all sports injuries. Shoulder injuries are prevalent in sports that require overhead movement like soccer, baseball, and volleyball [8]. Most shoulder injuries occur when the soft tissue begins to break down but the different types can vary. This includes: dislocation, separation, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff disease, torn rotator cuff, fracture, and arthritis [2]. In addition, individuals who have a history of shoulder injury are more prone to sustain multiple injuries.The proposed design for a Smart Shoulder Sling (SSS) aims to aid in the healing process of shoulder injuries, including sprains, strains, and fractures. After a physician examination, individuals must take the proper actions to ensure a healthy recovery and to prevent chronic pain and instability. The common acronym R.I.C.E works well for treatment of shoulder injuries. R.I.C.E stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. The proposed design assists in the ice, compression, and support aspects of the treatment by integrating a thermoelectric cooler unit and massaging unit into a shoulder sling to allow for comfort and stability.
Evidence for Extinction and Accretion Variability in T Tau S

We present angularly resolved spectra of T Tau North and South in the 3 micron water ice feature and K-band. Most of the water ice absorption lies along the line of sight toward T Tau South, confirming that it is viewed through stronger extinction. A decrease in ice-band absorption toward T Tau S between December 1998 and January 2000, significant at the 2 sigma level, was associated with an increase in its near infrared flux. Br gamma emission is detected in T Tau North and South and H_{2} (2.12 micron) emission only toward T Tau South, consistent with previous studies of infrared companions to T Tauri stars. Our results suggest that the near IR variability of T Tau S is probably caused by both variations in accretion rate and variable extinction along the line of sight.
Persistence and Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in an Immunocompromised Host.

SARS-CoV-2 in an Immunocompromised Host This letter describes an immunocompromised patient who had persistent infection with SARS-CoV-2 over a period of months, despite several courses of remdesivi...
Intranasal delivery of interleukin-4 attenuates chronic cognitive deficits via beneficial microglial responses in experimental traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is commonly followed by long-term cognitive deficits that severely impact the quality of life in survivors. Recent studies suggest that microglial/macrophage (Mi/MΦ) po...
Predicting Mechanically Driven Full-Field Quantities of Interest with Deep Learning-Based Metamodels.

Using simulation to predict the mechanical behavior of heterogeneous materials has applications ranging from topology optimization to multi-scale structural analysis. However, full-fidelity simulation techniques such as Finite Element Analysis can be prohibitively computationally expensive when they are used to explore the massive input parameter space of heterogeneous materials. Therefore, there has been significant recent interest in machine learning-based models that, once trained, can predict mechanical behavior at a fraction of the computational cost. Over the past several years, research in this area has been focused mainly on predicting single Quantities of Interest (QoIs). However, there has recently been an increased interest in a more challenging problem: predicting full-field QoI (e.g., displacement/strain fields, damage fields) for mechanical problems. Due to the added complexity of full-field information, network architectures that perform well on single QoI problems may perform poorly in the full-field QoI problem setting. The work presented in this paper is twofold. First, we made a significant extension to the Mechanical MNIST dataset designed to enable the investigation of full field QoI prediction. Specifically, we added Finite Element simulation results of quasi-static brittle fracture in a heterogeneous material captured with the phase-field method. Second, we established strong baseline performance for predicting full-field QoI with MultiRes-WNet architecture. In addition to presenting the results in this paper, we have released our model implementation and the Mechanical MNIST Crack Path dataset under open-source licenses. We anticipate that future researchers will directly use our model architecture on related datasets and potentially design models that exceed the baseline performance for predicting full-field QoI established in this paper.
Drought Resistance and Resilience of Non-Native versus Invaded-Native Grassland in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie

Abstract In the North American Northern Great Plains, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss. subsp. inermis) pose a serious threat to native grassland integrity and function. This study's objectives were to 1) determine drought resistance of non-native grassland and invaded-native tallgrass prairie during 1 and 2 yr of drought and 2) determine drought resilience of non-native grassland and invaded-native tallgrass prairie after 1 yr of drought and 1 yr of recovery with 100% of average precipitation. Three rainout shelters, 3.6 m x 4 m, were installed on non-native and invaded-native grassland in eastern South Dakota to simulate drought conditions by excluding ambient rainfall. The shelter system was constructed on a track whereby the shelter automatically moved over the experimental plots when it rained and moved away from the plots when it stopped raining. Weekly watering treatments consisted of ambient, 75%, 100%, 125%, and 250% of the 30-yr average in 2013 and 2014 (Experiment I). Also, in 2014 a second set of the 75%, 100%, and 125% watering treatments were watered to 100% of the 30-yr average (Experiment II). Drought reduced biomass production in both non-native and invaded-native grassland sites. When plots were watered to 100% of the 30-yr average, the non-native site had similar amount of biomass compared with the drought year, but the invaded-native site had lower biomass. This response provides more evidence regarding the aggressive nature of these two introduced cool-season grasses and a mechanism to explain their continual dominance and expansion in this region.
Solar extreme ultraviolet variability of the X‐class flare on 21 April 2002 and the terrestrial photoelectron response

[1] The near-simultaneous observations of the solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance and terrestrial photoelectron distribution during and after the X-class flare on 21 April 2002 provide for a distinctive study of the effects that a solar flare can have on Earth's upper atmosphere. The solar EUV irradiance from 0.1 to 195 nm was measured by the Solar EUV Experiment (SEE) aboard the NASA Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere, Energetics, and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite. The terrestrial photoelectron distribution from 10 to 1000 eV was measured by the Fast Auroral Snapshot (FAST) energetic electron sensor. The variations of the solar EUV irradiance from the X-class flare at ∼0200 UT on 21 April 2002 range from more than a factor of 10 for the X-ray emissions to less than 10% at longer EUV wavelengths. The measured ratio of the flare spectrum to the preflare spectrum has a spectral shape that is similar to that predicted for the Bastille Day 2000 flare. Most of the solar irradiance variation is in the X-ray range and is due to coronal emissions. The photoelectron distribution changed by a factor of about 10 for the high-energy Auger electrons and by very little for the low-energy electrons. Modeling the photoelectron distribution using the measured solar EUV irradiance provides results that are qualitatively consistent with the observed photoelectron distribution. This study is focused primarily on the relative changes during the flare compared to the preflare conditions.
Biochemical Studies of Bacterial Sporulation and Germination XIV. Phospholipids in Bacillus megaterium

The principal phospholipids of Bacillus megaterium throughout the cycle of growth and sporulation were found to be phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and a hitherto unidentified isomer of glycosaminyl-phosphatidylglycerol. Phosphatidylglycerol predominated during vegetative cell growth and then declined as spores developed, whereas diphosphatidylglycerol became more prominent during spore maturation. The latter phosphatide was relatively inaccessible in the vegetative cell and was more accessible in the spore, as judged by solvent extraction under various conditions.
Finite Element Studies of Transient Wave Propagation

The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) has been working to develop a nondestructive test method for heterogenous solids using transient stress waves [1-5]. The method is referred to as the impact-echo method. The technique involves introducing a transient stress pulse into a test object by mechanical impact at a point and measuring the surface displacement caused by the arrival of reflections of the pulse from internal defects and external boundaries. Successful signal interpretation requires an understanding of the nature of transient stress wave propagation in solids containing defects. A primary focus of the NBS program is on using the finite element method to gain this understanding.
Nutrient Content of Variety Meats.

SUMMARY Analyses are presented of the vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron content and proximate composition of raw variety meats from beef, calf, lamb, and pork. Vitamin A content of liver varied considerably from reported values. Extreme variations within different liver samples were also observed. Lamb liver contained the largest amounts of vitamin A of any of the samples tested. Small amounts were found in kidney and lamb lung. Vitamin C content was greatest in calf and beef thymus.
Asymmetric dislocation junctions exhibit a broad range of strengths

The strength of dislocation junctions with segments of unequal length is studied. Such structures are common, while the equivalent symmetric junctions are exceptions. It is shown that varying the length of junction “arms” leads to significant variation of the junction strength and to changes of the failure mechanism. The relative strength of Lomer and glissile junctions may be reversed as the junctions become asymmetric. This increases the variability of the strength of pinning sites a mobile dislocation encounters during glide.
Rituximab in Indolent Lymphomas

Indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) comprises a group of incurable, generally slow-growing lymphomas highly responsive to initial therapy, with a relapsing and progressive course. Rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody, has had a large impact on the treatment of indolent NHL. Its effectiveness as a single agent and in conjunction with known chemotherapy regimens has made it a standard of care in the treatment of NHL. Analysis of data obtained from NHL clinical trials, as well as data from the National Cancer Institute, indicate that the overall survival (OS) of patients with indolent NHL has improved since the discovery of rituximab. Given its effectiveness and tolerability, rituximab is currently being investigated as a maintenance agent with encouraging results. This review summarizes several landmark trials utilizing rituximab as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapy for treatment of NHL. In addition, a review of the studied rituximab maintenance dosing schedules and its impact on NHL will be presented. Overall, rituximab has changed the landscape for treatment of indolent NHL; however, additional research is necessary to identify the optimal dosing schedule, as well as patients most likely to respond to prolonged rituximab therapy.
CouO and NovO: C-methyltransferases for tailoring the aminocoumarin scaffold in coumermycin and novobiocin antibiotic biosynthesis.

During the biosynthesis of the streptomycete aminocoumarin antibiotics novobiocin and the dimeric coumermycin A1, the bicyclic coumarin scaffold is C-methylated adjacent to the phenolic oxygen. The SAM-dependent C-methyltransferases NovO and CouO have been heterologously expressed and purified from Escherichia coli and shown to act after the aminocoumarin ring has been constructed by prior action of Nov/CouHIJK. Neither C-methyltransferase works on the tyrosyl-derived S-pantetheinyl intermediates tethered to NovH or on the subsequently released free aminocoumarin. NovL ligates the aminocoumarin to prenylhydroxybenzoate to yield novobiocic acid, which is the substrate for NovO before it is O-glycosylated by NovM. In coumermycin assembly, the corresponding ligase CouL makes the bis-amide by tandem ligation of two aminocoumarins to a dicarboxypyrrole. CouO works on both the mono- and bis-amides for mono- and di-C-methylation adjacent to the phenolic hydroxyl before it is glycosylated by CouM. Thus, the speci...
HOTSPOT DISTRIBUTION WHILE SHORTSTOPPING RUNAWAY REACTIONS DEMONSTRATE THE NEED FOR CFD MODELS

ABSTRACT Runaway reactions continuing to be a problem in the chemical industry. A recent study showed that 26.5% of major chemical plant accidents are due to runaways. Runaways are caused by (a) mischarges of the reactants, catalysts, or contaminants or (b) loss of temperature control. Our studies cover the concept of shortstopping the runaway reactions to prevent accident scenarios. Experiments are conducted with CFD (Fluent) models. Shortstopping runaway reactions can be carried out by (a) adding an inhibitor to neutralize the reaction and/or (b) adding a cold diluent to lower the rate of reaction. In this present work we study the characteristics of runaway reactions and inhibition techniques with a full 3-D CFD simulation to explore nonsymmetric addition points for inhibition. Our 3-D simulations are performed using the multiple reference frame method, and reactions are enabled using user defined functions in Fluent. These CFD results show the distribution of hotspots, that characterizes the shortstop...
Construction and Test of an Empirical Measure for Narrative Coherence and Fidelity.

The Narrative Coherence and Fidelity Measure was constructed based on Walter Fisher's theory of narration. The final version had satisfactory inter‐item Cronbach alpha reliabilities for both Coherence (.77) and Fidelity (.82). Coherence and Fidelity scores predicted variance in the persuasiveness of oral and written narratives. The first version of the Narrative Coherence and Fidelity Measure accounted for 14 percent of the variance in the persuasiveness of 25 oral stories, and the second version accounted for 42 percent of the variance in the persuasiveness of two short written stories.
Human immunodeficiency virus tat-activated expression of poliovirus protein 2A inhibits mRNA translation

Abstract To study the effect of poliovirus protein 2A on cellular RNA translation, the tat control system of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was used. Protein 2A was expressed from a plasmid construct (pHIV/2A) incorporating the HIV long terminal repeat. Protein synthesis was measured by using chloramphenicol acetyltransferase as a reporter gene driven by the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat. When HIV/2A was cotransfected with the reporter, addition of a tat-producing plasmid caused at least a 50-fold drop in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase synthesis. A HeLa cell line carrying HIV/2A was established. In it, tat expression caused more than a 10-fold drop in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase synthesis from the reporter plasmid. Furthermore, 2A induction by tat caused cleavage of the cellular translation factor P220, a part of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4F. Thus protein 2A can, by itself, carry out the inhibition of cellular protein synthesis characteristic of a poliovirus infection. Also, the HIV tat activation provides a very effective method to control gene expression in mammalian cells.
A Systematic Analysis of Cell Cycle Regulators in Yeast Reveals That Most Factors Act Independently of Cell Size to Control Initiation of Division

Upstream events that trigger initiation of cell division, at a point called START in yeast, determine the overall rates of cell proliferation. The identity and complete sequence of those events remain unknown. Previous studies relied mainly on cell size changes to identify systematically genes required for the timely completion of START. Here, we evaluated panels of non-essential single gene deletion strains for altered DNA content by flow cytometry. This analysis revealed that most gene deletions that altered cell cycle progression did not change cell size. Our results highlight a strong requirement for ribosomal biogenesis and protein synthesis for initiation of cell division. We also identified numerous factors that have not been previously implicated in cell cycle control mechanisms. We found that CBS, which catalyzes the synthesis of cystathionine from serine and homocysteine, advances START in two ways: by promoting cell growth, which requires CBS's catalytic activity, and by a separate function, which does not require CBS's catalytic activity. CBS defects cause disease in humans, and in animals CBS has vital, non-catalytic, unknown roles. Hence, our results may be relevant for human biology. Taken together, these findings significantly expand the range of factors required for the timely initiation of cell division. The systematic identification of non-essential regulators of cell division we describe will be a valuable resource for analysis of cell cycle progression in yeast and other organisms.
Incidence of nickel-induced sister-chromatid exchange☆

Abstract Nickel is a recognized carcinogen to which the general population is being increasingly exposed. A nickel-induced alteration in the incidence of sister-chromatid exchanges in cultured lymphocytes has been investigated. Human lymphocytes from a single donor were cultured in media containing various concentrations of nickelous chloride from 10 −6 to 10 −3 M and a control culture containing no added nickel. A significantly increased incidence of exchanges over background was induced at 1.19 × 10 −4 M as indicated by a Student's t -test. A concentration/response curve was generated up to 5 × 10 −4 M where the nickel concentration was lethal to the cells. The nickel response was analyzed by a chi-square test for any variation in location of activity across the karyotype and no differences were detected. The background incidence did vary from a uniform distribution across the karyotype with increased incidences in chromosomes 1 and 2 and those of the B group, and decreased incidences in the E, F, and G groups.
Dynamics of Sulfonated Polystyrene Ionomers Using Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy

The dynamics of sulfonated polystyrene ionomers were investigated by using broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. Dynamic mechanical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and small-angle X-ray scattering were employed in a complementary role. Sulfonated polystyrene ionomers were prepared from the precursor sulfonic acid polystyrene, having 1 and 7 mol % sulfonic acid, by exchanging the protons of the acid functionality with Na, Cs, and Zn cations. Three dielectric relaxations were observed above the glass transition temperature: the segmental α process and relaxations associated with Maxwell−Wagner−Sillars interfacial polarization and electrode polarization. The low-frequency broadening of the α transition is related to constraints imposed by the ionic aggregates. A relaxation in the glassy state was observed for the precursor sulfonic acid polystyrene and ionomers and attributed to the local motion of sulfonated phenyl groups. The relaxation strengt...
Institutionalized Hegemonic Masculinity and Rape by United States Army Personnel in South Korea: A Perspective on Military Subculture

The aims of this study are threefold: (1) to illustrate an institutionalization process of hegemonic masculinity, (2) to show how this process can be applied to rape incidents in South Korea, and (3) to suggest what needs to be done in the future. Based on previous studies of hegemonic masculinity, this study first sets the stage by illustrating how the isomorphism with hegemonic masculinity is achieved and maintained through culturalization and institutionalization among male soldiers. Based on this theoretical framework, this study shows limitations in the traditional approach to military crime, and then applies the current framework to explain higher rate of rape incidents committed by United States Army personnel stationed in South Korea. Finally, this study suggests what needs to be done in terms of empirical investigation of military rape in different countries. This study concludes that the institutionalized hegemonic masculinity and the reproduction of masculine organizations are possible major contributing factors to the higher rate of rape incidents.
(±)-Diinsininone: made nature's way

We report the synthesis of diinsininone (33), the aglycone of (±)-diinsinin (2). Thereby, we complete the first construction of a proanthocyanidin (PA) type-A compound incorporating a [3.3.1]-bicyclic ketal as its characteristic core. Our strategy utilizes a coupling between a benzopyrilium salt and a flavanone that proves applicable to other PA type-A compounds. During this undertaking, treatment of naringenin (9) with 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) followed by reductive work-up affords eriodictyol (10). This reactivity mirrors that of catechol hydroxylase (F3H) found in the flavonoid pathway. Other interesting transformations include the formation of flavonoids through an ortho-quinone methide (o-QM) cycloaddition–oxidation sequence and regioselective β-glycosidations of several unprotected flavanones suggesting a likely synthesis of 2 from the aglycone 33.
Identification and localization of intracerebral vessels by microvascular doppler in stereotactic pallidotomy and thalamotomy: technical note

OBJECTIVE: To identify intracerebral vessels in proximity to the target for thermocoagulation in functional neurosurgery, we use a microvascular doppler sensor held in a special supporting needle that fits in the straightening cannula for the thermocoagulation needle. TECHNIQUE: After insertion of the straightening cannula aimed at the stereotactic target, the microvascular doppler probe positioned at the tip of a supporting hollow needle is advanced through the cannula. The proximal micrometer gauge indicates the depth of the tip of the doppler probe. By setting the doppler device to the shortest focusing depth (0.1 mm), the maximum pulsatile vascular sound indicates the depth of the vessel. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A prominent vascular sound was identified in 3 of 13 cases. By adjusting the depth of the target, no major bleeding was experienced after thermocoagulation lesions were made. This technique secures and protects the fragile microvascular doppler and identifies any significant arterial vessels at the stereotactic target, thus avoiding vascular injury.
A review of Plumatella javanica Kraepelin 1906 (Ectoprocta) with a reassessment of statoblast morphology

A reexamination of the type collection of Plumatella javanica Kraepelin 1906, a freshwater ectoproct in the family Plumatellidae, provided an opportunity to review the morphology of the colony and compare observations of the type with various published accounts of the species. A study of the floatoblast, a resting structure important in freshwater ectoproct systematics, using scanning electron microscopy, has revealed or resolved previously undocumented characters and provides a basis for comparison with other described species of Plumatella. It is emphasized that examination of types of other species in the genus be carried out to help clarify the status of various described species, especially those occurring in tropical regions.