cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inducible Antisense RNA Expression in the Characterization of Gene Functions in Streptococcus mutans

In order to examine gene function in Streptococcus mutans, we have recently initiated an antisense RNA strategy. Toward this end, we have now constructed and evaluated three Escherichia coli-S. mutans shuttle expression vectors with the fruA and scrB promoters from S. mutans, as well as the tetR-controlled tetO promoter from Staphylococcus aureus. Among these, the tetO/tetR system proved to be the most tightly controlled promoter. By using this shuttle plasmid system, modulation of gene function by inducible antisense RNA expression was demonstrated for comC antisense fragments of different sizes as well as for distinct gtfB antisense fragments. It was demonstrated that the size, but not the relative position, of an antisense DNA fragment is important in mediating the antisense phenomenon. Furthermore, by constructing and screening random DNA libraries with the tet expression shuttle system, 78 growth-retarded transformants harboring antisense DNA fragments were also identified. Almost all of them corresponded to homologous essential genes in other bacteria. In addition, a novel essential gene, the coaE gene, encoding dephospho-coenzyme A kinase, which is involved in the final step of coenzyme A catabolism in S. mutans, was identified and characterized. These results suggest that the antisense RNA strategy can be useful for identifying novel essential genes in S. mutans bacteria as well as further characterizing the physiology (including potential virulence factors) of these organisms.
A cone calorimeter for controlled-atmosphere studies

Many fires occur in ambient atmospheric conditions. To investigate certain types of fires, however, it is necessary to consider combustion where the oxidizer is not 21% oxygen/79% nitrogen. The Cone Calorimeter (ASTM E 1354, ISO DIS 5660) has recently become the tool of choice for studying the fire properties of products and materials. Its standard use involves burning specimens with room air being drawn in for combustion. To facilitate studying fires involving different atmospheres, a special version of the Cone Calorimeter was designed. This unit allows controlled combustion atmospheres to be created by the use of bottled or piped gases. To make such operation feasible, a large number of design details of the standard calorimeter had to be modified. This paper describes the background for these changes and provides an explanation of how the controlled-atmospheres unit is operated.
Fieldnotes, a Forensic

This poetic investigation probes the linguistic and epistemological effects of the increasingly widespread circulation of forensic discourses in the media and popular culture. Further consideration is given to the disproportionate availability of forensic expertise and technologies when the bodies under investigation are White and located in industrialized nations. A brief preface, "Notes on an Investigation," situates this project in relationship to the tradition of investigative poetics. The selection of poems that follow features four scenes of forensic investigation explored from various standpoints, including the standpoints of the ethnographer, forensic anthropologist, victim, and perpetrator of violence. The poems reflect their disarticulated content, incorporating fragments of texts collected and reassembled from anthropology textbooks, newspaper articles, court reports, crime novels, and CSI scripts.
Eat what is there: hunting and gathering in the world of Neanderthals and their neighbours

The current state of our knowledge of Neanderthal hunting and gathering is reviewed, with particular emphasis on the ‘transition’ from the Middle to the Upper Palaeolithic. It is argued that the zooarchaeological data do not support any general change in strategy during this transition, and that Middle and Upper Palaeolithic hunting and gathering was largely determined by what was available seasonally in the local environment. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Root Cause Analysis of Specimen Misidentification in Surgical Pathology Accession and Grossing

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in its original Eindhoven model taxonomy (technical, organizational, and human categories) has been used for exploring the initial stages of surgical pathology processing, such as accession and grossing, with the focus on the prevention of specimen misidentification. Compiled in the form of tables, RCA categories can be a framework for questioning procedures and protocols and may reveal suggestions for improvement. There can be differences depending on the specific situation in the laboratory, but the main goal is establishing a chain of safeguards focused on processing details.
Robust testing for random effects in unbalanced heteroscedastic one-way models

Abstract The usual variance ratio test for random effect, in a balanced design, is quite vulnerable to (i) unbalancedness, (ii) non-normality of either of the two random components, and (iii) heteroscedasticity of the chance errors. A robust rank-based test assuming only continuous, symmetric but otherwise arbitrary distributions for both the random effect and chance errors, and for a general heteroscedastic model is proposed here. Whereas the parametric tests are based on some F-distributional approximations, the proposed rank-based test rests on a normal approximation. Simulation studies, made to support the proposed methodology, suggest that not only the test is robust with respect to its significance level but also performs better in power, for heteroscedastic unbalanced models (even under normality).
The ultrastructure of the parathyroid glands of young cats

The fine structure of the parathyroid glands of normal rapidly growing cats (9–22 weeks of age) was described and compared with the findings reported in other species. The predominating active chief cells were relatively electron-dense and contained well developed organelles and frequent secretory granules. Inactive chief cells were slightly larger and had a more electron-transparent cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic organelles were less well developed and secretory granules were less frequent than in the active chief cells. Oxyphil cells or transitional forms were not identified in the parathyroid glands of kittens. Occasional cilia were observed in chief cells. They arose near centrioles and protruded from the plasma membrane into the intercellular space.
In Vivo Myocardial Microcirculation: Evaluation with a Whole-Body X-Ray CT Method

The detailed anatomic geometry of the myocardial microvasculature is unresolvable by current “whole body” imaging techniques. An index of microvascular patency can however be provided by monitoring the intramyocardial blood content by whole body imaging methods. Both spatial distribution and intracyclic changes of regional intramyocardial blood volume can be estimated by whole-body imaging techniques such as x-ray CT and SPECT. Examples of how these methods can be used are provided.
DNA Breakage, Repair and Lethality after 125I Decay in rec+ and recA Strains of Escherichia Coli

SummaryIodine-125 decays by electron capture and is known to cause extensive molecular fragmentation via the Auger effect. 125I was incorporated into the DNA of exponentially-growing E. coli K12 AB2487, a recA mutant, and E. coli K12 AB2497, the corresponding rec+ strain, as 5-iododeoxyuridine (IUdR), an analogue of thymidine. Radioactive bacteria were stored at −196°C, and samples were periodically assayed for loss of viability and for the induction of double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA. Each 125I decay in the DNA of either strain induces one DSB, i.e. α(DSB) = 1·0. For the recA strain, α(lethal) = 0·9 and for the rec+ strain, 0·4. Assays for biological repair of DSBs, involving incubation of thawed samples in growth-medium at 37°C before the extraction of DNA, demonstrate significant repair of 125I-induced DSBs by rec+ cells but none by recA cells. For small numbers of decays, there is approximately a 1 : 1 correlation, for either strain, between lethal decays and post-incubation residual DSBs. Comparis...
Mechanics of Deformable Silicon Microstructures

In this chapter we will briefly discuss mechanics of small deformable micromachined elements. Most of the treatment that is presented here can be found in many textbooks. However, it is important to discuss some cases that are used often in the literature and to point out some differences that are encountered in the elastic behavior of micromachined mechanical elements compared to the others. Starting with a simple cantilever beam, we discuss its static and dynamic behavior. Then we proceed to cover micro-bridges, diaphragms, and torsional mirrors. These simple mechanical elements are used in majority of sensors and other more elaborate structures can be analyzed using them.
Queer Political Performance and Protest: Play, Pleasure, and Social Movement, by Shepard, B.

Occasionally, a book comes along that exposes the reader to substantially more than its title would suggest. Queer Political Performance and Protest is such a book. Even in its title, the reader ge...
Network Completion with Node Similarity: A Matrix Completion Approach with Provable Guarantees

This paper investigates the network completion problem, where it is assumed that only a small sample of a network (e.g., a complete or partially observed subgraph of a social graph) is observed and we would like to infer the unobserved part of the network. In this paper, we assume that besides the observed subgraph, side information about the nodes such as the pairwise similarity between them is also provided. In contrast to the original network completion problem where the standard methods such as matrix completion is inapplicable due the non-uniform sampling of observed links, we show that by effectively exploiting the side information, it is possible to accurately predict the unobserved links. In contrast to existing matrix completion methods with side information such as shared subsapce learning and matrix completion with transduction, the proposed algorithm decouples the completion from transduction to effectively exploit the similarity information. This crucial difference greatly boosts the performance when appropriate similarity information is used. The recovery error of the proposed algorithm is theoretically analyzed based on the richness of the similarity information and the size of the observed submatrix. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first algorithm that addresses the network completion with similarity of nodes with provable guarantees. Experiments on synthetic and real networks from Facebook and Google+ show that the proposed two-stage method is able to accurately reconstruct the network and outperforms other methods.
Can Incentives for Healthy Behavior Improve Health and Hold Down Medicaid Costs

A growing number of states are providing financial incentives to encourage Medicaid beneficiaries to obtain preventive services and combat problems like smoking and obesity. But as this paper explains, few rigorous studies have been conducted to see whether incentives achieve these goals. While economic rewards may increase preventive care when combined with other interventions, no studies indicate that incentives are effective against smoking or obesity - complex problems requiring more substantial assistance. West Virginia is adopting a different, penalty-based incentive approach, which restricts health benefits for beneficiaries who do not follow a particular behavior plan. This approach is unlikely to produce health improvements and risks harming people who do not comply with the plan because of mental health or other problems, by denying them needed health care services.
Spillover Effects: Border Effect on Values of Human Development Index (HDI)

Effects of events happening in one country tend not to be limited to that country but generally spillover in different forms to nearby countries. This paper presents a model for measuring cross-border spillover effects on the economic development and social well-being among neighboring countries distinguishing between direct and indirect effects. The level of economic development is measured by using values of the Human Development Index as an indicator not only of economic activity but also of social conditions in the broader sense. An empirical analysis of the model is completed by using the HDI values for the countries of Africa. The result shows that about 45% of a country’s HDI can be explained by HDI values of bordering countries.
Toward large scale data-aware search: Ranking, indexing, resolution and beyond

As the Web has evolved into a data-rich repository, with the standard “page view,” current search engines are becoming increasingly inadequate. To realize data-aware search, toward searching for data entities on the Web, we have been developing the various aspects of an entity search system, including: entity ranking, entity indexing and parallelization, entity resolution, as well as generalization and customization. Preliminary results show the promise of our proposals, achieving high accuracy, efficiency and scalability. We will also summarize our contributions and point out interesting future directions along the line of enabling data-aware search on the Web.
A summary of the late Cenozoic stratigraphic and tectonic history of the Santa Clara Valley, California

The late Cenozoic stratigraphic and tectonic history of the Santa Clara Valley illustrates the dynamic nature of the North American–Pacific plate boundary and its effect on basin and landscape development. Prior to early Miocene time, the area that became Santa Clara Valley consisted of eroding Franciscan complex basement structurally interleaved in places with Coast Range ophiolite and Mesozoic Great Valley sequence, and locally overlapped by Paleogene strata. During early to middle Miocene time, this landscape was flooded by the sea and was deformed locally into deeper depressions such as the Cupertino Basin in the southwestern part of the valley. Marine deposition during the middle and late Miocene laid down thin deposits in shallow water and thick deeper-water deposits in the Cupertino Basin. During this sedimentation, the San Andreas fault system encroached into the valley, with most offset partitioned onto the San Andreas fault southwest of the valley and the southern Calaveras–Silver Creek–Hayward fault system in the northeastern part of the valley. A 6-km-wide right step between the Hayward and Silver Creek faults formed the 40-km-long Evergreen pull-apart basin along the northeastern margin of the valley, leaving a basement ridge between it and the Cupertino Basin. The Silver Creek fault was largely abandoned ca. 2.5 Ma in favor of a compressional left step between the Calaveras and Hayward fault, although some slip continued to at least mid-Quaternary time. Gravity, seismic, stratigraphic, and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data indicate no other major San Andreas system faults within the central block between the present-day range-front faults bounding the valley and the Silver Creek fault. Sometime between 9 and 4 Ma (9 and 1 Ma for the central block), the area rose above sea level, and a regional surface of erosion was carved into the Mesozoic and Tertiary rocks. Alluvial gravels were deposited on this surface along the margins of the valley beginning ca. 4 Ma, but they may not have prograded onto the central block until ca. 1 Ma, because no older equivalents of the Pliocene–Quaternary Santa Clara gravels have been found there. Thus, either the central block was high enough relative to the surrounding areas that Santa Clara gravels were never deposited on it, or any Santa Clara gravels deposited there were stripped away before ca. 1 Ma. Analysis of alluvium on the central block implies a remarkably uniform, piston-like, subsidence of the valley of ∼0.4 mm/yr since ca. 0.8 Ma, possibly extending north to northern San Francisco Bay. Today, the central block continues to subside, the range-front reverse faults are active, and the major active faults of the San Andreas system are mostly outside the valley.
Actinide Microdistributions Within Monazite

The results of an induced fission track mapping study of uranium in 12 pegmatitic monazite samples indicate that as the U concentration in monazite surpasses ca. 300–400 ppm, the microdistribution becomes much less homogeneous resulting in localized areas of very high uranium concentration (hot spots) in a phase undetectable by XRD. Microprobe analysis of three additional pegmatitic monazites shows the occurrence of exsolution of the two other endmembers of the monazite solid-solution series, huttonite and cheralite, as indicated by a normative mineralogy computed from the probe data. The presence of each mineral is confirmed by XRD. Also supporting this exsolution hypothesis is a strong similarity between ratios of the structural elements of monazite (LREE, P) within the Th-rich hot spots as compared to these ratios in the surrounding monazite. Gradational contacts between banded monazite and a Th-rich phase can be observed microscopically as well as through microprobe scans for Th, indicating the close genetic relationship of the two phases. To prevent their enhanced leachabilities, actinide redistribution must be prevented in any single- or multi-phase nuclear waste form.
Evaluation of Soybean Germplasm with Random Amplification Polymorphic DNA(RAPD)Markers

Fifty-seven Chinese ancestral lines and their derived cultivars and eighteen US ancestral lines were used to evaluate genetic diversities by RAPD markers between or within Chinese and US lines. Fifty 10-mer random primers were used for PCR reactions. The total of 246 distinguishable PCR products were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis among 75 accessions, 82. 3% of random primers were polymorphic and 54. 4% of total produts were different at least between two lines, which can be used as RAPD markers to identify soybean germplasm resources. Thirty-two soybean accessions had their special PCR banding patterns. Each of those amplified bands was taken as one of the variant which was record as 1 for present and 0 for absent. Comparison among all possible a pair of data were calculated to produce non-similarity matrix and to build up a pedigree tree. The cluster analysis indicated that not only Chinese ancestral lines were different from US ancestral lines, but northern soybean accesstions were different from southern ones within two countries also. The obvious geographic differences provide possibilities to broaden genetic base of Chinese soybean cultivars by selecting germplasm from various regions within or between countries.
Thermoelectric Properties and Laser Induced Transverse Voltage Effect of Polycrystalline Ca_3Co_4O_9 with c-axis Orientation

Misfit-layered Ca3Co4O9 polycrystalline bulks with c-axis orientation were prepared via solid-state reaction. The Ca3Co4O9 bulks were characterized by thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The thermoelectric properties and the laser induced transverse voltage(LITV) effect of Ca3Co4O9 bulk were investigated. The results show that the layered Ca3Co4O9 bulks with a pure phase and(00l) lotgering factor of 0.74 can be obtained after sintered at 800 and 870 ℃ for 24 h, respectively. The polycrystalline bulks exhibit metallic and insulator electrical transport behaviors at 80–300 K and 336–826 K, respectively. The Seebeck coefficient is 130 μV/K at 336 K and increases with the increasing temperature which due to the contribution of phonon drag thermopower. Under the irradiation of pulsed laser(i.e., λ=248 nm, pulse width=28 ns, energy density=17 m J/cm2), the LITV response is obtained along the inclined direction with a peak voltage of 42 m V, which is nearly two orders of magnitude lower than that in tilted epitaxial Ca3Co4O9 film. This is mainly due to the intrinsic Seebeck tensor anisotropy of the material, which is neutralized by the grains with orientations deviated from(00l) and lots of grain boundaries, thus reducing the LITV response.
QKDP's comparison based upon quantum cryptography rules

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is the future of the cryptography world. The QKD was invented to increase the security rate when exchanging a private key. Since 1984, several experimental attempts to design protocols have been developed based upon the rule of physics. These QKD protocols were represented by different algorithms with limited ability to stand up against quantum attacks. This paper evaluates the most functional QKD protocols in the cryptography field and explains every QKD protocol as well illustrates the features that were utilized in each protocol.
Projeto Político Pedagógico: Uma estratégia para o sucesso da Gestão Escolar

Este artigo comenta sobre a educacao, seu processo de evolucao e o funcionamento interno da escola a partir do Projeto Politico Pedagogico (PPP), avaliando cada ator da Gestao e sempre enfatizando a importância do planejamento para que seja adequado e democratico. A exposicao clara dos objetivos a serem alcancados e, a existencia de uma alianca entre a comunidade e a escola, tambem sao enfocadas como facilitadoras no processo. A proposta e discutir a inclusao dos metodos culturais de ensino, bem como adaptacoes nas avaliacoes pedagogicas, de forma a que a escola exerca sua funcao social. Discutir-se-a sobre a importância que o Projeto Politico Pedagogico na dinâmica escola e comunidade.
Combination products: modernizing the regulatory paradigm.

New opportunities to develop innovative — and often complex — products that combine drugs, devices and/or biological components are rapidly emerging, raising questions about how such products should be regulated. Here, we discuss the ongoing efforts of the FDA to develop a modern, transparent, flexible and consistent science-based regulatory approach for combination products. New opportunities to develop innovative — and often complex — products that combine drugs, devices and/or biological components are rapidly emerging, raising questions about how such products should be regulated. Here, we discuss the ongoing efforts of the FDA to develop a modern, transparent, flexible and consistent science-based regulatory approach for combination products.
AB1173 Physician visual analog scale estimates for overall global assessment, inflammation, damage, and distress to assess patients and support clinical decisions in routine rheumatology care: analysis of inter-rater reliability

Background A physician global estimate of patient status (DOCGL) was developed to quantify inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trials. However, DOCGL may be affected by joint damage and/or distress (in fibromyalgia, depression, etc). One approach to document the possible impact of these problems on DOCGL is to add 3 physician visual analog subscale (VAS) estimates for inflammation, damage, and distress. These subscales have been shown to be useful in patients with diagnoses other than RA (1) but inter-rater reliability has not been analyzed. Objectives To analyze inter-rater reliability between senior rheumatologists and trainees on 4 VAS estimates for overall DOCGL, inflammation (DOCINF), damage (DOCDAM) and distress (DOCSTR), in patients with various rheumatic diagnoses. Methods Patients seen in routine care were assigned 4 physician VAS estimates for overall DOCGL, and levels of inflammation or reversible symptoms (DOCINF), organ damage or irreversible symptoms (DOCDAM), and distress or symptoms not explained by inflammation or damage (DOCSTR). VAS estimates were assigned independently by a senior rheumatologist and a rheumatology trainee for the same patient at the same visit. Mean differences, correlations, and possible discordance of ≥2units/10 between estimates of the senior rheumatologist and the trainee were analyzed. Results VAS estimates by the 2 physicians were analyzed in 64 patients with different rheumatic diseases, including osteoarthritis (16%), RA (14%), fibromyalgia (14%), and systemic lupus erythematosus (13%). Mean differences of scores assigned by the senior rheumatologists versus trainees were Conclusions Good inter-rater agreement between two physicians is seen for 4 VAS estimates for overall global assessment, inflammation, damage, and distress. Mean scores for damage and distress were higher than for inflammation, indicating the complexity of rheumatology care. Quantitative scores can add to documentation of patient status and to support of clinical decisions for doctors, patients, and payers. References Bull Hosp Jt Dis (2013). 2015 Jul;73(3):178–84. Disclosure of Interest T. Pincus Shareholder of: Health Report Services, Inc, I. Castrejon: None declared, J. Chua: None declared, A. Kugasia: None declared, J. Schmukler: None declared, S. Weinberg: None declared, J. Block: None declared
S.T.I.C.K.: A Quality Improvement Pediatric IV Infiltration Prevention Bundle

Peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheters are commonly used in pediatric medical-surgical orthopedic and neurology populations but are at risk of dislodgement with subsequent infiltration of fluids and/or medications. This quality improvement project sought to decrease the incidence of infiltration by creating an educational awareness program for both staff nurses and families using the S.T.I.C.K. mnemonic bundle. Rates of PIV catheter infiltration on a pediatric medical-surgical orthopedic and neurology unit were found to decrease when staff nurses utilized the S.T.I.C.K. mnemonic bundle while managing PIV catheter care for pediatric medical-surgical orthopedic and neurology patients.
Social Computing-Driven Activism in Youth Empowerment Organizations: Challenges and Opportunities

Throughout the world, organizations empower youth to participate in civic engagement to impact social change, and adult-youth collaborations are instrumental to the success of such initiatives. However, little is known about how technology supports this activism work, despite the fact that tools such as Social Networking Applications (SNAs) are increasingly being leveraged in such contexts. We report results from a qualitative study of SNA use within a youth empowerment organization. Using the analytical lens of object-oriented publics, our findings reveal opportunities and challenges that youth and staff face when they use SNAs. We describe the illegibility of youth outreach efforts on SNAs, and how this illegibility complicated staff attempts to hold youth accountable. We also characterize how youth and staff differed in what they felt were socially appropriate uses of SNA features, and tensions that arose in the co-use of these tools. We conclude with implications for the design of collaborative technologies that support youth-led activism in organizational contexts.
Systemic therapy for rosacea: focus on oral antibiotic therapy and safety

Although potentially significant adverse reactions and drug interactions have been reported in association with erythromycin, oral tetracyclines, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, overall these agents are associated with excellent safety profiles, especially considering their widespread use over many years. It must be considered that when these antibiotics are used for the treatment of rosacea and also for acne vulgaris, their use is on a long-term basis rather than their typical short-course regimens for most infectious diseases. As a result, dermatologists prescribing these agents may feel assured that most patients will not encounter any significant problems, but they do need to be aware of potential adverse reactions to allow for early recognition and discontinuation of the offending drug when needed. Early recognition also allows for favorable management of adverse reactions. In addition, potentially significant drug interactions may be recognized by obtaining a thorough medical history and avoiding combinations of drugs that may interact unfavorably. Fortunately, there are several choices that allow us to individually select a treatment regimen that is optimal for the individual patient, allowing for effective control of rosacea.
PREDICTING BEHAVIORAL RELATIONSHIPS

Abstract: A model of the motivational system of animals is presented. It is assumed that we can represent how motivational levels change and affect one another by a series of simultaneous differential equations and that the organism's total behavioral repertoire can be viewed as an entity. By use of stability analysis we can predict that certain qualitative relationships between motivational classes are possible and other relationships could not lead to the desired kind of system's behavior. In particular, motivational classes must act in multiplicative fashions in order to generate motivational systems which can show variations in motivational levels yet are globally stable.
Autoimmunity to a cornea-associated stromal antigen in patients with Mooren's ulcer.

Purpose. To purify and characterize a cornea-associated antigen (CO-Ag) and to determine antibody levels to CO-Ag in patients with Mooren's ulcer. Method. Standard ion exchange and gel filtration chromatographies were used to isolate and purify CO-Ag from crude bovine stromal extracts. The serum of a patient with Mooren's ulcer, containing a high level of antibodies directed against CO-Ag, was used to monitor isolation procedures. Using this newly purified CO-Ag, an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay was used to detect the presence of antibodies to CO-Ag in the sera of other patients with Mooren's ulcer. Results. CO-Ag was purified to apparent homogeneity from bovine corneal stromal extracts by a series of ion exchange chromatographies and gel filtration. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that CO-Ag was a tetramer with a molecular weight of 30,000 d that may dissociate under denaturing conditions into a monomer of 7000 d. Strong indirect immunofluorescent staining was demonstrated of the stroma by guinea pig anti-CO-Ag antibody. A statistically significant difference in the level of specific antibodies to CO-Ag between patients with Mooren's ulcer and controls was found (P < 0.001). The antibody level was elevated in patients with Mooren's ulcer (mean antibody level, 0.58 ± 0.13) compared with the controls (mean antibody level, 0.22 ± 0.04). Conclusion. These results suggest that an autoantigen exists in the corneal stroma that reacts with serum antibodies from patients with Mooren's ulcer. The availability of a purified corneal antigen could facilitate the diagnosis and define the pathogenetic mechanisms in Mooren's ulcer. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995 ;36 :1541-1547.
Jury Nullification as a Spectrum

Jury nullification traditionally refers to the jury’s power to deliver a verdict that is deliberately contrary to the law’s clearly dictated outcome. A spirited scholarship is built around this understanding, with some painting nullification as democratic and others as lawless. But this debate is increasingly unmoored from experience. In practice, courts have long formally eliminated the jury’s right to review the law and have established procedures that make it easier to prevent and overturn seemingly nullificatory jury verdicts. Thus, outside of a jury’s verdict acquitting a criminal defendant, jury nullification as traditionally understood does not exist: In no other context is a jury’s verdict inviolate. Jury nullification, then, describes a largely antiquated institutional power; it is a concept (over)ripe for review and reconsideration. This Article proposes a more capacious understanding of jury nullification, conceptualizing it as the routine injection of extralegal considerations into the jury’s deliberations. It contends that all jury verdicts fall upon a nullification spectrum in which extralegal considerations exert greater or lesser influence, regardless of whether the verdict appears reasonable. This spectrum is implicit in the rules and case law but has largely been overlooked in the literature. Making it explicit allows us to reconsider the ways juries exercise their institutional power both to undermine—and bolster—black letter law within the confines of modern procedures. Finally, this model allows us to better understand the continued vitality of the modern jury even as a seemingly side-lined constitutional actor.
Revolutionary Lives: Constance and Casimir Markievicz. By Lauren Arrington. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2016. Pp. xi, 294. $35.00.)

The centenary of the Easter Rising of 1916 has fostered the reexamination of the international contexts of Ireland's independence struggle, too often dismissed as marginal to wider European affairs...
Visualization and Quantitation of Phase-Separated Droplet Formation by Human HP1α.

Abstract The ability of the heterochromatin protein-1 (HP1) to phase separate into droplets suggests new mechanisms of gene organization in the cell nucleus. An accumulating body of work suggests that other nuclear proteins also display phase separation behaviors in vitro. To understand the mechanistic and biological significance of such droplet formation a rigorous biophysical characterization of this behavior is necessary. Herein we describe procedures for imaging HP1 droplets by brightfield microscopy, and two methods to quantify phase separation.
Readability of consent forms in veterinary clinical research.

Background "Readability" of consent forms is vital to the informed consent process. The average human hospital consent form is written at a 10th grade reading level, whereas the average American adult reads at an 8th grade level. Limited information currently exists regarding the readability of veterinary general medical or clinical research consent forms. Hypothesis/objectives The goal of this study was to assess the readability of veterinary clinical trial consent forms from a group of veterinary referral centers recently involved in a working group focused on veterinary clinical trial review and consent. We hypothesized that consent forms would not be optimized for client comprehension and would be written above the National Institutes of Health-recommended 6th grade reading level. Animals None. Methods This was a prospective study assessing a convenience sample of veterinary clinical trial consent forms. Readability was assessed using 3 methods: the Flesch-Kincaid (F-K) Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), and the Readability Test Tool (RTT). Results were reported as mean (±SD) and compared across specialties. Results Fifty-three consent forms were evaluated. Mean FRES was 37.5 ± 6.0 (target 60 or higher). Mean F-K Grade Level was 13.0 ± 1.2 and mean RTT grade level was 12.75 ± 1.1 (target 6.0 or lower). There was substantial agreement between F-K and RTT grade level scores (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.8). Conclusions and clinical importance No form evaluated met current health literacy recommendations for readability. A simple and readily available F-K Microsoft-based approach for evaluating grade level was in substantial agreement with other methods, suggesting that this approach might be sufficient for use by clinicians and administrators drafting forms for future studies.
DIFFERENTIAL OPERATORS ON AND THE AFFINE GRASSMANNIAN

We describe the equivariant cohomology of cofibers of spherical perverse sheaves on the affine Grassmannian of a reductive algebraic group in terms of the geometry of the Langlands dual group. In fact we give two equivalent descriptions: one in terms of -modules of the basic affine space, and one in terms of intertwining operators for universal Verma modules. We also construct natural collections of isomorphisms parameterized by the Weyl group in these three contexts, and prove that they are compatible with our isomorphisms. As applications we reprove some results of the first author and of Braverman and Finkelberg.
Crotonylation at serine 46 impairs p53 activity.

Abstract Post-translational modifications (PTMs) play pivotal roles in controlling the stability and activity of the tumor suppressor p53 in response to distinct stressors. Here we report an unexpected finding of a short chain fatty acid modification of p53 in human cells. Crotonic acid (CA) treatment induces p53 crotonylation, but surprisingly reduces its protein, but not mRNA level, leading to inhibition of p53 activity in a dose dependent fashion. Surprisingly this crotonylation targets serine 46, instead of any predicted lysine residues, of p53, as detected in TCEP-probe labeled crotonylation and anti-crotonylated peptide antibody reaction assays. This is further confirmed by substitution of serine 46 with alanine, which abolishes p53 crotonylation in vitro and in cells. CA increases p53-dependent glycolytic activity, and augments cancer cell proliferation in response to metabolic or DNA damage stress. Since serine 46 is only found in human p53, our studies unveil an unconventional PTM unique for human p53, impairing its activity in response to CA. Because CA is likely produced by the gut microbiome, our results also predict that this type of PTM might play a role in early human colorectal neoplasia development by negating p53 activity without mutation of this tumor suppressor gene.
The Ontogeny of Hepatic Bile Acid Transport

Bile formation is an extraordinarily complex process that requires the participation of numerous transport mechanisms for organic and inorganic anions on the sinusoidal and canalicular domains of the hepatocyte plasma membrane. The vectorial transport of bile acids from sinusoidal blood into bile requires the polarized insertion of specific transport proteins into the basolateral and apical domains of the plasma membrane. Recent studies indicate that the carrier mechanisms for bile acids are ontogenically regulated and expressed at very specific times during perinatal development. These findings are consistent with observations in the intact animal showing that bile secretory function is immature at birth and develops during postnatal life (Suchy et al., 1987). In addition, hepatic uptake and elimination of bile acids and other organic anions are decreased in developing animals including the human compared with the adult.
Patient-reported outcomes in sickle cell disease and association with clinical and psychosocial factors: Report from the sickle cell disease implementation consortium

Understanding patient experiences, quality of life, and treatment needs in individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) is essential in promoting health and well-being. We used measures from the Adult Sickle Cell Quality of Life Measurement Information System (ASCQ-Me), Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), and Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (NeuroQol) to evaluate pain impact, sleep impact, social functioning, depressive symptoms, tiredness, and cognitive function (collectively, patient reported outcomes [PROs]) and to identify associated demographic and clinical characteristics. Participants (n = 2201) between 18 and 45 years were recruited through the eight Sickle Cell Disease Implementation Consortium (SCDIC) sites. In multivariate models, PROs were significantly associated with one another. Pain impact was associated with age, education, employment, time since last pain attack, hydroxyurea use, opioid use, sleep impact, social functioning, and cognitive function (F = 88.74, P < .0001). Sleep impact was associated with household income, opioid use, pain impact, social functioning, depressive symptoms, and tiredness (F = 101.40, P < .0001). Social functioning was associated with employment, pain attacks in the past year, autoimmune/inflammatory comorbidities, pain impact, sleep impact, depressive symptoms, tiredness, and cognitive function (F = 121.73, P < .0001). Depressive symptoms were associated with sex, sleep impact, social functioning, tiredness, and cognitive function (F = 239.51, P < .0001). Tiredness was associated with sex, education, sleep impact, social functioning, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function (F = 129.13, P < .0001). These findings reflect the baseline PRO assessments among SCDIC registry participants. Further research is needed to better understand these outcomes and new targets for interventions to improve quality of life and function in people with SCD.
Pedagogies in the flesh: Case studies on the embodiment of sociocultural differences in education

Pedagogies in the flesh: case studies on the embodiment of sociocultural differences in education , Pedagogies in the flesh: case studies on the embodiment of sociocultural differences in education , کتابخانه‌های دانشگاه کردستان
Elastohydrodynamic Scaling Law for Heart Rates.

Animal hearts are soft shells that actively pump blood to oxygenate tissues. Here, we propose an allometric scaling law for the heart rate based on the idea of elastohydrodynamic resonance of a fluid-loaded soft active elastic shell that buckles and contracts axially when twisted periodically. We show that this picture is consistent with numerical simulations of soft cylindrical shells that twist-buckle while pumping a viscous fluid, yielding optimum ejection fractions of 35%--40% when driven resonantly. Our scaling law is consistent with experimental measurements of heart rates over 2 orders of magnitude, and provides a mechanistic basis for how metabolism scales with organism size. In addition to providing a physical rationale for the heart rate and metabolism of an organism, our results suggest a simple design principle for soft fluidic pumps.
Isopycnography of intact cells VI: Effect of temperature on steady state Escherichiacoli

Abstract Steady state cultures of Escherichia coli W3110 possess constant cellular concentration of ribosomes while above 22 C as measured isopycnographically. Below 22 C, ribosome levels are significantly diminished, equivalent to those found in dormant cells. Concommitantly, the energy of activation of steady state population growth in E. coli remains at a constant 18.6 kcal between 22 C and 37 C. This suggests that the thermal stability of the protein synthesis apparatus may play an important role in pathogenesis as well as in other areas of ecological niche acquisition and dominance.
Sexuality and the History of Disciplinary Transgression

In this afterword, I critically reflect on the contributions to the special section, ‘Translating Sex: Locating Sexology in Indian History, 1880–1960’. Through an engagement with the six articles i...
Antigen- and Epitope-Delivering Nanoparticles Targeting Liver Induce Comparable Immunotolerance in Allergic Airway Disease and Anaphylaxis as Nanoparticle-Delivering Pharmaceuticals

The targeting of natural tolerogenic liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) by nanoparticles (NPs), decorated with a stabilin receptor ligand, is capable of generating regulatory T-cells (Tregs)...
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using RT-LAMP and molecular beacons.

Rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 has led to a global pandemic, resulting in the need for rapid assays to allow diagnosis and prevention of transmission. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) provides a gold standard assay for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, but instrument costs are high and supply chains are potentially fragile, motivating interest in additional assay methods. Reverse transcription and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) provides an alternative that uses orthogonal and often less expensive reagents without the need for thermocyclers. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA is typically detected using dyes to report bulk amplification of DNA; however, a common artifact is nonspecific DNA amplification, which complicates detection. Here we describe the design and testing of molecular beacons, which allow sequence-specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 genomes with improved discrimination in simple reaction mixtures. To optimize beacons for RT-LAMP, multiple locked nucleic acid monomers were incorporated to elevate melting temperatures. We also show how beacons with different fluorescent labels can allow convenient multiplex detection of several amplicons in “single pot” reactions, including incorporation of a human RNA LAMP-BEAC assay to confirm sample integrity. Comparison of LAMP-BEAC and RT-qPCR on clinical saliva samples showed good concordance between assays. To facilitate implementation, we developed custom polymerases for LAMP-BEAC and inexpensive purification procedures, which also facilitates increasing sensitivity by increasing reaction volumes. LAMP-BEAC thus provides an affordable and simple SARS-CoV-2 RNA assay suitable for population screening; implementation of the assay has allowed robust screening of thousands of saliva samples per week.
Proof of Concept to Isolate and Culture Primary Muscle Cells from Northern Elephant Seals to Study the Mechanisms that Maintain Aerobic Metabolism Under the Hypoxic Conditions of Breath-Hold Diving

Abstract : The long-term goal is to isolate and culture primary muscle cells from the swimming muscles of northern elephant seals. The objective is to develop a protocol for the isolation and culturing of primary muscle cells from northern elephant seals.
Contrasting Expectations of Individualists and Collectivists

This article explores practical ways for effectively training international business students in Hofstede's individualism and collectivism dimension. It details the behaviors arising from this dimension that frequently interfere with the success of group projects in international business classes as well as the implications arising from these behaviors for international business relations between those from individualist and collectivist cultures. Too often, projects aimed at fostering collectivism fail. Conventional theories of motivation derive from and apply to North American individualist culture, but may not have the same application in collectivist situations. Tools for adapting group projects which are given to individuals from individualist cultures to help them develop a more collectivist orientation are explored here. These tools-group autonomy in excluding non-performers (loafers), and self and group evaluations empower groups while engendering collectivist concepts.
Viscosity Measurements of Industrial Alloys Using the Oscillating Cup Technique

Molten metal processing can be effectively simulated using state-of-the-art computer algorithms, and manufacturers increasingly rely upon these tools to optimize the design of their operations. Reliable thermophysical properties of the solid, solid + liquid, and liquid phases are essential for effective computer simulation. Commercially available instruments can measure many of the required properties of molten metals (e.g., transformation temperatures, thermal conductivity, specific heat, latent heat, and density). However, there are no commercially available instruments to characterize several important thermophysical properties (e.g., emissivity, electrical resistivity, surface tension, and viscosity). Although the literature has numerous examples of measurements of surface tension using the sessile drop and the oscillating drop techniques, literature references are sparse with regard to measurements of emissivity, electrical resistivity, and viscosity. The present paper discusses the development of an oscillating cup viscometer and its application to characterizing the viscosity of fully molten industrial alloys. The theory behind the oscillating cup technique is reviewed, and the design details of the current instrument are discussed. In addition, experimental data of the viscosity of several nickel-based superalloys are presented.