cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter VII – Islamic Law

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces the Islamic law, specifically as it relates to criminal justice. Islam is primarily a religion that espouses a specific moral code. It explains the principal sources of the faith—the Quran and Sunna and describes the Pillars of Islam, the basic tenets of the faith, and the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims. It outlines the development of Islam in the regions called the Arabian Peninsula, Persia, and the Ottoman Empire. Islamic law is characterized as a series of standards that are religious and moral in nature and that are designed to establish and to explain appropriate conduct of the believers of Islam. The sources for these standards are examined including the Quran, Sunna, ijma, and ijtihad. The chapter explains in detail the concept of Sharia or Islamic law. It highlights the three principles about the way justice is pursued within the realm of Islamic criminal justice: (1) criminal responsibility and the degrees of accountability, (2) legality related to crime and punishment, and (3) the nonretroactivity of the criminal law. Sharia recognizes two categories of crime and punishment: Determined crimes and Discretionary crimes. Determined crimes and the corresponding sanctions refer to those offenses and punishments that have been speciﬁed either by God in the Quran or by the Prophet Muhammad in the Sunna. Discretionary crimes are those not mentioned speciﬁcally in the aforementioned sources. The Islamic law or Sharia did not provide a detailed process for criminal procedure in general or the investigative and prosecutorial stages in particular.
Spontaneous Dislodgement of Tunneled Dialysis Catheters after De Novo versus Over-The-Wire-Exchange Placement.

PURPOSE To evaluate dislodgement of tunneled dialysis catheters (TDCs) in de novo (DN) placement with ultrasound versus over-the-wire exchange (OTWE). MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were collected retrospectively on all TDC placements at this institution from 2001 to 2019 and were excluded if no removal date was recorded or if dwell time was more than 365 days. Information on TDC brand, placement, insertion/removal, and removal reason were collected. Multiple logistic regression evaluated factors associated with TDC dislodgement. DN placement and OTWE were compared for rate of dislodgement (generalized estimating equations method) and TDC dwell time (survival analysis). RESULTS In total, 5328 TDCs were included with 66% (3522) placed DN and 32% (1727) via OTWE. Mean dwell time was 65 ± 72 days, and dislodgement occurred in 4% (224). TDC dislodgement rates in the DN and OTWE groups were 0.48 and 0.93 per 1000 catheter days, respectively. Brand (Ash Split vs. VectorFlow), placement technique (OTWE vs. DN), laterality (left vs. right), and site (left vs. right internal jugular vein) were significant predictors of dislodgement. OTWE placement exhibited 1.7 times the odds of dislodgement (95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.6; P = .004) compared to DN and had significantly higher probability of dislodgement across time (hazard ratio = 2.0; P < .001) compared to DN. Dislodgement rates for OTWE vs. DN were 8% vs. 3% (3 months), 13% vs. 6% (6 months), and 38% vs. 17% (1 year). CONCLUSIONS TDC spontaneous dislodgement rates were significantly and consistently higher after OTWE compared to DN placement. These data support more careful attention to catheter fixation after OTWE placement.
A Note on Generic Properties of Continuous Maps

Let M be a compact manifold, with or without boundary. The genericity theorem of J. Palis, C. Pugh, M. Shub and D. Sullivan [PPSS] asserts that, among others, the property \( \Omega = \overline {\text{P}} \) (the set of non-wandering points is the closure of the set of periodic points) is C0-generic, i.e., holds for all homeomorphisms in some residual subset of the space Homeo(M) of all homeomorphisms of M to itself. This note points out and corrects a technical error in their proof, and extends the result to the space C0 (M, M) of all continuous maps of M to itself.
Odontoma associated with mandibular transmigrated canine in a geriatric patient: Second case report

Objective This report discusses the clinical relevance of a novel case of an odontoma and transmigrated canine in the setting of florid cemento-osseous dysplasia (COD), hypercementosis and moderate to severe periodontitis in a 66-year-old patient. Background An odontoma may infrequently impede tooth eruption and rarely has been implicated with canine transmigration. COD is a benign fibro-osseous lesion associated with decreased vascularity and poorer surgical intervention. Materials and methods A partially edentulous woman, in no acute distress, underwent clinical and radiographic evaluation in pursuit of comprehensive dental care. Results Radiographic assessment demonstrated multiple occult pathologies of the mandible, including compound odontoma, canine transmigration, florid COD, hypercementosis and moderate to severe periodontitis, a concurrence thought to be previously unreported. Furthermore, the presence of the odontoma and transmigrated canine is apparently the second reported case in the geriatric population. Conclusions The attending clinician should carefully weigh removal of an impacted and transmigrated canine associated with an odontoma in the setting of COD and compromised bone, particularly in older individuals. When surgical intervention is deferred in these clinical situations, patients should continue to be monitored for clinical and radiographic development of pathologic processes.
Tools for Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Green Growth : The U.S. and Mexico

This paper examines the processes used in the United States and Mexico to assess the economic costs and benefits of environmental improvement, the kinds of information obtained from these procedures, and the additional knowledge that is needed about both elements to improve understanding of the problems and prospects of advancing a green growth agenda. Because environmental and other development needs are large and resources are limited, it is important to choose the best projects, those with the highest returns on both public investments and private resources harnessed by regulation. The United States is well-established as a world leader in the use of quantitative methods to evaluate options for environmental regulation and policy. Mexico represents a case where a developing country has made clear advances in reforming its economy and in introducing transparency in its regulatory processes for environmental and other policy areas.
Manual enucleation of Xenopus oocytes.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes methods for the manual enucleation of Xenopus oocytes. Manual isolation is the only means to obtain the amphibian oocyte nuclei. However, the technique is not only useful for experiments relating to this specific cell type but is also appropriate for more general studies. Nuclear isolation techniques for mature Xenopus laevis oocytes are described, however, with minor modifications, they should be applicable to other mature amphibian oocytes. The procedures are applicable to problems relating specifically to oocytes and are also useful for studying more general aspects of nuclear functions, especially when the experiments require minimum exposure to nonphysiological conditions. Despite the fact that only small amounts of material can be obtained, the methods have been used to investigate the structure and function of lampbrush chromosomes, nucleocytoplasmic exchange, the structure of the nuclear envelope, the protein composition of various nuclear components, and aspects of RNA synthesis.
Formation of Hybrid Proteins from the α and β Subunits of Phycocyanins of Unicellular and Filamentous Blue-green Algae

Phycocyanins of two unicellular (Synechococcus sp., and Aphanocapsa sp.), and one filamentous (Anabaena sp.) blue-green alga, have been purified and characterized with respect to behavior on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the absence of denaturing agents, isoelectric point, absorption spectra in the visible region, subunit molecular weights, and amino acid composition. The α and β subunits of each of the phycocyanins were separated by chromatography in urea solutions, and characterized in a similar manner. Each phycocyanin was reconstituted from its separated subunits. Hybrid phycocyanins were formed from the α subunits of Synechococcus sp. phycocyanin and the β subunits of Aphanocapsa sp. and Anabaena sp. phycocyanins, and from the β subunit of Synechococcus sp. phycocyanin and the α subunits derived from the phycocyanins of the other two blue-green algae. The reconstituted and hybrid phycocyanins were purified by ion exchange chromatography, and recovered in an over-all yield of 40 to 60% based on the starting weight of subunit protein. The reconstituted and hybrid phycocyanins were characterized in the same manner as the native proteins. The native, reconstituted, and hybrid phycocyanins, all consisted of α and β subunits in a ratio of 1:1, as established by quantitative amino acid analyses and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The chromatographic properties, absorption spectra, and behavior on isoelectric focusing, of both the reconstituted and hybrid phycocyanins, were consistent with the possession by these macromolecules of a three-dimensional structure very similar to that of the native proteins. The divergence of unicellular and filamentous blue-green algae occurred over 2.5 billion years ago. The successful hybridization of subunits of phycocyanins from these two types of organisms indicates a conservation of structural features over a span of time considerably greater than had been involved in previous comparative studies of protein structure.
Timestamping events for inferring 'affects' relation and potential causality

The authors define a relation, 'affects', between every pair of events based on a relation 'locally affects' for each process between each pair of events on the process. A mechanism for timestamping events is defined such that 'affects' relation, and so potential concurrency, between events can be inferred from their timestamps. A timestamping mechanism is presented such that potential concurrency can be inferred partially/completely and the extent of such inferring depends on the costs associated with the mechanism. Inferring 'affects' relationship can be used for debugging and for inferring potential concurrency between events in traces of executions. >
Mine water aquaculture as an economic development strategy: linking coal mining, fish farming, water conservation and recreation.

Abstract This study involves a comprehensive economic analysis of mine water aquaculture. First, the costs and benefits are quantified using standard enterprise budgeting and feasibility techniques. Next, a price analysis is conducted to determine the underlying probability distribution and generate confidence intervals for use in planning purposes. Then, the relationships between mine sites and unemployment, and mine sites and tourism, respectively, are illustrated using a spatial analysis. Finally, the potential economic development impacts of growth in the aquaculture industry on statewide output, income, and employment are estimated. The results have implications for entrepreneurs and the aquaculture and coal industries in Appalachia and other parts of the US where coal mining can be linked to fish farming, water conservation, and recreation.
Acetyl Coenzyme A:Arylamine Acetyltransferase MEASUREMENT OF THE STEADY STATE CONCENTRATION OF THE ACETYL-ENZYME INTERMEDIATE

Abstract A preparation of acetyl-CoA:arylamine N-acetyltransferase from pigeon liver is rapidly and completely inactivated by iodoacetamide with a second order rate constant of 1950 m-1 min-1 at 25°, pH 7.5. This inactivation is prevented by p-nitrophenyl acetate, an active substrate, at concentrations as low as 1.7 x 10-8 m, far below the Ks value of 8.6 x 10-3 m. The protection afforded by 1.67 x 10-3 m p-nitrophenyl acetate is removed to varying extents in the presence of acceptor anilines under conditions in which the enzyme is catalyzing acetyl transfer. Saturating concentrations of p-toluidine bring about complete removal of protection, whereas saturating concentrations of p-cyanoaniline bring about only a 19% removal of protection. This effect of anilines exhibits the same dependence upon aniline concentration as does the rate of the normal catalyzed reaction. It is concluded: (a) there is a kinetically significant acetyl-enzyme intermediate that is not subject to inactivation by iodoacetamide; (b) the acetyl-enzyme intermediate is almost certainly a thiol ester; (c) the rate of inactivation by iodoacetamide provides a probe for the fraction of enzyme that exists as acetyl-enzyme during the steady state turnover of substrates; (d) with p-nitrophenyl acetate and p-toluidine acetyl-enzyme formation is the rate-determining step, whereas with the less reactive acceptor p-cyanoaniline the deacylation step is rate-determining, confirming earlier conclusions from kinetic data.
The fine structure of the thymocytes of young rats

Thymocytes of young rats were studied with the electron microscope to provide a base line for a comparative study of the fine structure of various types of lymphocytes. Fixation with OsO4 or glutaraldehyde, Epon embedding, and heavy metal staining were the principal techniques employed. Small thymocytes, with nuclei from 3.5 to 4.5 μ in diameter are in the vast majority. Our results, which in general confirm previous reports, show the thymocytes to be primitive, or undifferentiated in structure. Certain exceptions and additions were noted, however. There are no protoplasmic bridges between thymocytes and epithelial cells and no clear evidence of epithelial-thymocyte transformations. The nucleus contains typical pores and in many cases a clearly defined finely granular nucleolus, although the latter is not evident in most of the smallest cells. Cytoplasmic fragments appear to be separating from thymocytes by a process similar to the separation of platelets from megakaryocytes. The existence of a special band of cytoplasm beneath the plasma membrane devoid of formed elements is described for the thymocytes. The possibility of the common occurrence of this zone in other cells, and its possible significance, are discussed.
Hereditary Risk for Cancer

Cancer prevention consists of understanding cancer incidence in populations, identifying appropriate risk factors for specific cancers, stratifying individuals according to these risk factors, and applying effective interventions to individuals (and sometimes populations) according to their risk status. Evaluation of hereditary risk of cancer is a vital component of risk stratification. Appropriate assessment of hereditary genetic risk can lead to significant changes in the clinical management of individuals who are found to have a hereditary cancer syndrome; conversely, it can identify individuals who are not at elevated risk despite having a strong familial history of cancer. Through cancer risk evaluation, with or without genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes, individuals with inherited genetic changes associated with increased predisposition of cancer can be identified prior to the development or diagnosis of cancer. Determining that an individual has a strong inherited predisposition to cancer provides an opportunity to intervene with prevention and screening strategies documented to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity, or mortality.
New Developments in the Field of RAS Inhibition

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was extensively investigated and characterized throughout the first half of the 20th century. However, its contribution to the maintenance of high blood (BP) in essential hypertension and to the development of hypertensive cardiac complications remained under debate until the advent of the first pharmacologic probes capable of blocking its actions, namely the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) saralasin and the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) teprotide in the early 1970’s. Using these probes, we could demonstrate that even in normal-renin and low-renin hypertension, blockade of the RAS produced a fall in BP. And this fall was maximized if the patient had been previously submitted to sodium depletion by diuretics or low salt diet, which might produce only a small and possibly insignificant BP fall by itself, but rendered the hypertension RAS-dependent and far more responsive to RAS blockade. In parallel, we had found that excess angiotensin II, either exogenous (in experimental animals) or endogenous, in various clinical settings, could produce significant cardiac and renal tissue damage, because the vasculature of these organs is particularly sensitive to the constricting effects of angiotensin. In particularly, angiotensin excess was shown to produce widespread foci of necrosis and scarring of the myocardium, leading to replacement of myocardial tissue by fibrotic tissue, eventually progressing to ischemic cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Early clinical trials found that treatment of heart failure with ACEIs or ARBs leads to significant hemodynamic improvement in terms of increased cardiac output, decreased peripheral arterial resistance, decreased heart rate, increased coronary blood flow and diminished myocardial oxygen consumption. Subsequent large randomized long-term outcome trials with ACEIs or ARBs, such as the HOPE, EUROPA, LIFE, CHARM, etc., confirmed the functional and structural benefits of these therapeutic approaches and have now established treatment with an ACEI or ARB as mandatory therapy for patients with ischemic heart disease, as well as congestive or chronic heart failure. It is also now universally accepted that initiation of RAS-suppressing therapy with an ACEI or ARB in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, even not necessary including hypertension, offers long-term protection from ischemic heart disease, diastolic and systolic cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, as well as protection from renal insufficiency, cerebrovascular accidents and new onset type 2 diabetes mellitus. Drugs that inhibit the RAS now include, in addition to the ACEIs and ARBs, a new class, the direct renin inhibitors (DRIs), of which only aliskiren is commercially available to date. Several clinical trials have shown aliskiren to be equally effective to ACEIs and ARBs in terms of BP lowering, cardioprotection and nephroprotection. A large body of literature has now reported additional benefits of ACEI+ARB combination in selected patients, i.e., those with resistant hypertension on multidrug ATHENS CARDIOLOGY UPDATE 2010
The Importance of Nonlinear H2 Photoexcitiation in Strongly Irradiated PDRs

It is shown that, under sufficiently intense OB-star illumination of a stationary photoexcitation front (PDR), nonlinear H2 photoexcitation processes comprising driven resonant two-photon transitions between X-state quantum levels, with VUV continuum light from the star supplying both driving fields, largely determine the photonic pathways of H2 molecules in the PDR close to the ionization front. Specifically, for a PDR irradiated by a 0.1-pc-distant B0 III star, the total rate at which an H2 molecule is nonlinearly photoexcited out of any X-state quantum level is calculated to be roughly 100 times greater than the total rate at which it is linearly photoexcited out of the same level. In strongly excited PDRs, the populations in almost all of the ~300 bound quantum levels of the X state will be maintained approximately equal via a few myriads of interconnecting two-photon steps. The remarkable importance of two-photon transitions in H2 photoexcitation in strongly irradiated PDRs derives from the exceptionally narrow Raman linewidth that characterizes all two-photon transitions between bound H2 X-state quantum levels.
Cholangiopancreatography, sphincterotomy, and common duct stone removal via Roux-en-Y limb enteroscopy

An enteroscopic method that uses a pediatric colonoscope provides an alternative approach to the diagnostic and management problems arising in the setting of a Roux-en-Y limb hepaticojejunostomy or biliary diversion. Three patients with Roux-en-Y limb reconstructions who experienced recurrent cholangitis, recurrent pancreatitis, or choledocholithiasis in whom the technique was used are presented. The technique, which uses colonoscopic principles, is discussed along with the combined use of percutaneous transhepatic assistance. Enteroscopy of a Roux-en-Y limb is technically feasible and expands the diagnostic and management approach to biliary and pancreatic disease involving this postoperative anatomic condition.
GAs: How Do They Work?

In this chapter we discuss the actions of a genetic algorithm for a simple parameter optimization problem. We start with a few general comments; a detailed example follows.
Computer science apprenticeship

One of the old and effective ways of training is the apprenticeship way. The effectiveness of training people in the workplace comes from different reasons. One reason may be the engagement of the apprentice in real-world problems. Another reason may be the close presence of the supervisor who provides the apprentice with scaffolding along the training process. Typically, at the beginning of the process the apprentice can't perform a lot without the scaffolding support, and towards the end of the process, scaffolding fades and the apprentice is capable of performing tasks alone. Industry and academia could benefit from this kind of model to ease the transition of undergraduate students from school to work and within each community, the transition from one level to a higher one. The authors have created a computerized apprenticeship on the Web for computer science education. It integrates the modules: 'Interactive Notes', 'Case Library', 'Problem-Solving Activities' and a 'Collaboration' module. They have focused on computer graphics as the first subject.
Our genetic legacy

The Language of the Genes: Biology, History and the Evolutionary Future. By Steve Jones. HarperCollins: 1993. Pp. 251. £16.99. To be published in the United States later this year by Doubleday.
Nonspecific Binding of Complement by Digestion Fragments from Antiviral Gamma Globulin.

The nonspecificity of rabbit γ-globulin (antibody) to western equine encephalitis virus and the non-specificity of normal rabbit γ-globulin in complement-fixation tests with anti-gens prepared from chick-embryo cells infected with this virus and normal chick-embryo cells resided primarily in Porter9s fragment III. Addition of complement to fragment III from the anti-body globulin, followed by inactivation of the added complement, abolished the complement-fixing ability of fragment III with both specific and nonspecific antigens. Similar treatment of the undigested antibody abolished its complement-fixing ability with nonspecific antigen only.
Rater Training to Support High-Stakes Simulation-Based Assessments

Competency-based assessment and an emphasis on obtaining higher-level outcomes that reflect physicians' ability to demonstrate their skills has created a need for more advanced assessment practices. Simulation-based assessments provide medical education planners with tools to better evaluate the 6 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) core competencies by affording physicians opportunities to demonstrate their skills within a standardized and replicable testing environment, thus filling a gap in the current state of assessment for regulating the practice of medicine. Observational performance assessments derived from simulated clinical tasks and scenarios enable stronger inferences about the skill level a physician may possess, but also introduce the potential of rater errors into the assessment process. This article reviews the use of simulation-based assessments for certification, credentialing, initial licensure, and relicensing decisions and describes rater training strategies that may be used to reduce rater errors, increase rating accuracy, and enhance the validity of simulation-based observational performance assessments.
Thermoelectric Power Hydrogen Sensors for Reversible Hydrogen Storage Materials

Thermoelectric power has demonstrated a capability for rapid hydrogen assessment and can achieve the equivalent of the pressure-composition-temperature (activity) diagram. Effective use of hydrogen storage materials occurs in the alpha+beta two-phase region of the activity diagram. A thorough assessment of the content of each phase in this two-phase region can optimize the performance of hydrogen storage materials. The use of thermoelectric power measurements as a hydrogen sensor for reversible batteries is discussed.
An acoustic nonlinearity measurement technique with built-in couplant effect elimination

A modified technique to measure acoustic nonlinearity in fatigued components is proposed in this paper. As opposed to the conventional technique to measure acoustic nonlinearity, the proposed technique eliminates the couplant effects between the transducers and the specimen. The proposed technique is compared with the conventional technique by performing nonlinearity measurements on a fatigued aluminum alloy specimen and calculating the coefficient of variation (COV) of the nonlinearity parameter. Preliminary results show that the COV of the nonlinearity parameter obtained using the modified technique is approximately half of that obtained using conventional technique. It is therefore felt that the proposed technique will help to reduce the variability in the nonlinearity measurements in fatigued components.
Solid state C-13 NMR characterization of textiles: Qualitative and quantitative analysis

Abstract : Cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) carbon 13 NMR was used to qualitatively characterize textiles of various compositions. Rapid and accurate determination of cotton/polyester blends was accomplished with minimal sample preparation. Qualitative identification was demonstrated for various fiber blends including mislabeled samples. This technique fabrics and should extend to composite reinforcing materials and prepregs.
Effect of antibiotics on large ribosomal subunit assembly reveals possible function of 5 S rRNA.

Abstract Functional large ribosomal subunits of Thermus aquaticus can be reconstituted from ribosomal proteins and either natural or in vitro transcribed 23 S and 5 S rRNA. Omission of 5 S rRNA during subunit reconstitution results in dramatic decrease of the peptidyl transferase activity of the assembled subunits. However, the presence of some ribosome-targeted antibiotics of the macrolide, ketolide or streptogramin B groups during 50 S subunit reconstitution can partly restore the activity of ribosomal subunits assembled without 5 S rRNA. Among tested antibiotics, macrolide RU69874 was the most active: activity of the subunits assembled in the absence of 5 S rRNA was increased more than 30-fold if antibiotic was present during reconstitution procedure. Activity of the subunits assembled with 5 S rRNA was also slightly stimulated by RU69874, but to a much lesser extent, approximately 1.5-fold. Activity of the native T. aquaticus 50 S subunits incubated in the reconstitution conditions in the presence of RU69874 was, in contrast, slightly decreased. The presence of antibiotics was essential during the last incubation step of the in vitro assembly, indicating that drugs affect one of the last assembly steps. The 5 S rRNA was previously shown to form contacts with segments of domains II and V of 23 S rRNA. All the antibiotics which can functionally compensate for the lack of 5 S rRNA during subunit reconstitution interact simultaneously with the central loop in domain V (which is known to be a component of peptidyl transferase center) and a loop of the helix 35 in domain II of 23 S rRNA. It is proposed that simultaneous interaction of 5 S rRNA or of antibiotics with the two domains of 23 S rRNA is essential for the successful assembly of ribosomal peptidyl transferase center. Consequently, one of the functions of 5 S rRNA in the ribosome can be that of assisting the assembly of ribosomal peptidyl transferase by correctly positioning functionally important segments of domains II and V of 23 S rRNA.
Proteolysis in stored serum and its possible significance in cell culture.

ALMOST all the mammalian cell lines grown in continuous culture require the presence of a small amount of serum protein, usually supplied as whole or dialysed serum. The role of that protein, in an otherwise chemically defined medium1, is not yet known. It is used to an insignificant degree for the synthesis of cell protein2 ; and although it is reported to be necessary for the adhesion and flattening of the cells on the glass surface3,4, it is no less essential in suspension cultures. It is here shown that serum protein, presumably because of associated enzymes5, undergoes proteolysis on storage at 5° C. or during incubation to yield free amino-acids at a rate which may be significant in certain types of experiments. The amino-acids released are themselves not growth-stimulating since they are already supplied in the medium or are formed from glucose and glutamine. However, other breakdown products of the serum protein, or compounds bound to it and released by its degradation, may be the essential growth factors supplied by serum.
Response of two sweet potato cultivars to weed interference

Abstract Field experiments were conducted at the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC, U.S.A in 2000, 2001, and 2004 to assess the effect of different durations of weed interference on two sweet potato cultivars with different shoot growth habits. The cultivars were Beauregard, which has a spreading growth habit that is typical of U.S. sweet potato cultivars and Carolina Bunch, with an erect growth habit. Weed interference treatments included control plots that were maintained weed free throughout the growing season and plots that were maintained weed free for 0, 10, 20, and 30 days after transplanting. In general, Carolina Bunch was more tolerant of weed interference than was Beauregard. In two of three years Carolina Bunch storage root yields were higher than Beauregard yields in plots that received no weeding; whereas, yields of the two cultivars in weed free plots were not different. Weed interference affected shoot growth to a greater extent than it affected storage root production. At the end of the growing season, Carolina Bunch shoot biomass was greater than Beauregard shoot biomass in plots receiving no weeding and in plots that were maintained weed free for 10 days in all three years. Shoot biomasses of the two cultivars were not different in weed-free plots. Weed shoot biomasses were greater in Beauregard plots than in Carolina Bunch plots in several instances. These results demonstrate that sweet potato cultivars with a vigorous, erect shoot growth habit (with shorter stems, greater branching, and a denser and taller canopy early in the growing season) may be less susceptible to weed interference than cultivars with spreading shoot growth. This study also confirmed previous observations that sweet potato productivity is not greatly affected by moderate weed interference; thus, it may not require intense weed management to produce high yields.
An essential role of Nrf2 in American ginseng-mediated anti-oxidative actions in cardiomyocytes

Aim of the study Ginseng has been used as a folk medicine for thousands of years in Asia, and has become a popular herbal medicine world-wide. Recent studies have revealed that ginseng, including American ginseng, exerts antioxidant effects in the cardiovascular system; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Thus, we investigated role of Nrf2, a master transcription factor of endogenous anti-oxidative defense systems, in the regulation of American ginseng-mediated anti-oxidative actions in cardiomyocytes.
Mastery Over Stress Among Women With HIV/AIDS

To better understand how women with HIV infection deal with the stress of their disease, the authors explored the relationships between stressors, resources for managing stress, and mastery over stress in 80 HIV-positive women. Nurses and other professionals recruited participants in a variety of settings in 10 states. Participants completed a packet of research instruments that measured the stressors of perceived stress intensity, interpersonal conflict, and severity of illness; the resources of social support, support networks, and spiritual perspective; and the outcome of mastery over stress. Participants reported high levels of social support, spiritual perspective, interpersonal conflict, and perceived stress intensity. Twenty-nine women (36%) had achieved mastery over stress. Mastery over stress was significantly and positively correlated with social support, spiritual perspective, and physical functioning, a measure of severity of illness. Mastery over stress was significantly and negatively correlated with interpersonal conflict. An exploratory stepwise multiple regression analysis yielded two predictors of mastery over stress: social support and spiritual perspective. Although a comparison of these results with those reported in the literature for men suggests that men and women differ in how they respond to stressors, further research will be needed to enhance our understanding of these gender differences. Stress management training, especially related to interpersonal conflict, may be an effective intervention to facilitate mastery. Other potential interventions include assessing social support and spiritual perspective, discussing the potential benefit of these resources, and making referrals for psychosocial services as needed.
Coming to know and understand alternative assessment in science

(1996). Coming to know and understand alternative assessment in science. Journal of Science Teacher Education: Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 267-282.
Screening for psychiatric disorders among adults presenting for substance use disorder treatment: Current practices in the United States

This paper provides a brief overview of the status of screening, assessment, and management of psychiatric problems in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment settings in the USA. The literature shows that current best clinical practices guidelines support integrated treatment of co-occurring disorders (CODs) in SUD treatment programs, but in practice such care occurs at a low–moderate frequency, and is implemented inconsistently and with uneven quality across treatment settings. Several barriers to the consistent implementation of empirically supported COD assessment and treatment are discussed, with the conclusion that progress with such implementation depends heavily on administrative and health care system support and investment.
Magnetic resonance imaging of perfusion in rat cerebral 9L tumor after nicotinamide administration.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the effect of nicotinamide on normal brain and 9L tumor blood flow in the rat using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arterial spin tagging. Methods and Materials: Using MRI at 7 Tesla, measurements of blood perfusion were determined from two-dimensional maps of intracerebral 9L rat tumors and normal Fischer rat brains. The spatial and temporal influence of nicotinamide, 500 mg/kg i.p., on cerebral blood flow (CBF) was studied in normal brain and tumors between 5 and 21 days after tumor implantation. The MRI CBF measurements employed a variable tip-angle–gradient-recalled echo (VTA-GRE-CBF) readout of the magnetization of the tissue slice. The VTA-GRE-CBF required 8 minutes for a blood flow image with inplane resolution of 250 μm × 500 μm × 2 mm. Results: Normal brain blood flow decreased following the administration of nicotinamide. In contrast, tumor blood flow remained unaffected in the time following nicotinamide administration. Consequently, the blood flowing in the tumor relative to that in normal brain demonstrated a significant and selective increase in response to nicotinamide administration. Relative tumor blood flow increased at 10 minutes after nicotinamide injection compared with predrug levels and remained elevated for at least 1 hour. Conclusion: The results suggest that nicotinamide will not enhance radiosensitivity of brain tumors. The results support the use of nicotinamide to improve delivery of anticancer therapeutics through its ability to selectively increase tumor blood flow relative to that in normal brain.
Observations on a new simplified dye method for assessing amylase activity

Abstract A method utilizing a newly synthesized dye-labeled amylose substrate (Cibachron Blue F3GA-Amylose) provides a simple and reliable means for assaying serum amylase activity. The results correlated well with those obtained with an established saccharogenic method, especially at lower levels of amylase activity. More reliable results at higher levels of amylase activity may be obtained by modifying the procedure so as to employ 200 mg of the substrate. The chromogenic substrate is additionally of potential value as another means of differentiating amylases of different origins.
Immunochemical heterogeneity of parathyroid hormone in plasma.

ABSTRACT Immunoreactive parathyroid hormone was measured by radioimmunoassay in extracts of parathyroid glands and tumors and in plasmas from patients with 1°, 2° or 3° hyperparathyroidism. On serial dilution most extracts showed approximately parallel behavior in 2 or 3 different antisera. However, plasma specimens referred to the same extract as standard frequently showed greater immunoreactivity in 2 antisera (272 and 273) than in a third antiserum (C329). This anomaly was more marked in plasma from patients with hyperparathyroidism secondary to renal insufficiency than in plasma from patients with 1° hyperparathyroidism and was exhibited by some extracts of adenomas as well. Following parathyroidectomy, the apparent disappearance of parathyroid hormone was more rapid when measured in antiserum C329 than in antiserum 273 and in both antisera was slower in patients with renal insufficiency than in patients with 1° hyperparathyroidism. These findings suggest that parathyroid hormone in human plasma is im...
Yttrium-90 Radioembolization in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Who have Previously Received Sorafenib

Purpose: Ytrrium-90 radioembolization (RE) is a locoregional therapy option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor used in HCC that can potentially affect the efficacy of RE by altering tumor vascularity or suppressing post-irradiation angiogenesis. The safety and efficacy of sorafenib followed by RE has not been previously reported. Materials and Methods: Patients with HCC who received RE after sorafenib were included in this retrospective review. Overall survival, toxicity, and maximal radiographic response and necrosis criteria were examined. Results: Ten patients (15 RE administrations) fit the inclusion criteria. All were Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C. Median follow- up was 16.5 weeks. Median overall survival and radiographic progression-free survival were 30 weeks and 28 weeks, respectively. Significant differences in overall survival were seen based on Child-Pugh class (p=0.002) and radiographic response (p=0.009). Three patients had partial response, 6 had stable disease, and 1 had progressive disease. Grade 1 or 2 acute fatigue, anorexia, and abdominal pain were common. Three patients had Grade 3 ascites in the setting of disease progression. Two patients had Grade 3 biochemical toxicity. One patient was sufficiently downstaged following RE and sorafenib to receive a partial hepatectomy. Conclusion: Yttrium-90 radioembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have received sorafenib demonstrate acceptable toxicity and rates of radiographic response. However, the overall survival is lower than that reported in the literature on RE alone or sorafenib alone. This may be due in part to more patients in this study having advanced disease compared to these other study populations. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine whether the combination of RE and sorafenib is superior to either therapy alone.
NPR 7120.5 and NASA's Program/Project On-line Library and Resource Information System (POLARIS)

NASA's POLARIS information system provides rapid access to key program and project management requirements, guidance, and tools needed for planning and implementing NASA flight, technology, and infrastructure projects. Developed under leadership of the office of the Chief Engineer, NASA's POLARIS provides an agency-wide, Web-based information system that greatly enhances the support provided to program & project managers and their teams. POLARIS provides improved access to the agency's requirements, guidelines, and tools for program and project management. Instead of searching through long documents to find needed information, POLARIS enables users within the NASA intranet domain to access user-friendly interactive summaries and charts, dynamically search and display requirements, and access tools and other pertinent information needed to manage and implement NASA programs and projects. This paper presents a detailed description of the POLARIS website, an overview of the POLARIS design and development process, and the lessons learned in developing a system of this type.
The effect of goal orientation and place dependence on select goal interferences among winter backcountry users

Abstract This study examines a newly emerging conflict, helicopter skiing, among winter recreationists within the framework of Jacob and Schreyer's (1980) goal‐interference theory of conflict. In this model, conflict is defined as goal interference attributed to another's behavior. Among the sources of goal interference consistent with Jacob and Schreyer's propositions are goal orientation and place dependence. This study examined the effect of these two variables on select goal interferences in two samples of winter backcountry users. Group type was the strongest predictor of goal interference when attributions were made to helicopter skiing. Relationships between goal orientation, place dependence, and goal interference varied depending on the kind of interference attribution made and the kind of goal involved. Goal orientation was associated with setting‐based goal interferences regardless of whether attributions were made to helicopter skiing or more general discourteous behavior. Place dependence was...
High-performance thin-layer chromatographic determination of psychopharmacologic agents in blood serum

Abstract High-performance thin-layer chromatography affords a rapid, sensitive method for determination of psychopharmacologic agents in blood serum samples. Quantitation of the representative drugs chlorpromazine, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramien, and desipramine at levels as low as 5 ng/ml is demonstrated by scanning the developed thin-layer plates with a chromatographic spectrophotometer in the ultraviolet absorption mode. Neither derivatization prior to, nor color development after chromatographic separation is required to achieve sensitivity and reproducibility of determinations.
A C-terminal, cysteine-rich site in poliovirus 2CATPase is required for morphogenesis

The morphogenesis of viruses belonging to the genus Enterovirus in the family Picornaviridae is still poorly understood despite decades-long investigations. However, we recently provided evidence that 2CATPase gives specificity to poliovirus encapsidation through an interaction with capsid protein VP3. The polypeptide 2CATPase is a highly conserved non-structural protein of enteroviruses with important roles in RNA replication, encapsidation and uncoating. We have identified a site (K279/R280) near the C terminus of the polypeptide that is required for morphogenesis. The aim of the current project was to search for additional functional sites near the C terminus of the 2CATPase polypeptide, with particular interest in those that are required for encapsidation. We selected for analysis a cysteine-rich site of the polypeptide and constructed four mutants in which cysteines or a histidine was changed to an alanine. The RNA transcripts were transfected into HeLa cells yielding two lethal, one temperature-sensitive and one quasi-infectious mutants. All four mutants exhibited normal protein translation in vitro and three of them possessed severe RNA replication defects. The quasi-infectious mutant (C286A) yielded variants with a pseudo-reversion at the original site (A286D), but some also contained one additional mutation: A138V or M293V. The temperature-sensitive mutant (C272A/H273A) exhibited an encapsidation and possibly also an uncoating defect at 37 °C. Variants of this mutant revealed suppressor mutations at three different sites in the 2CATPase polypeptide: A138V, M293V and K295R. We concluded that the cysteine-rich site near the C terminus of 2CATPase is involved in encapsidation, possibly through an interaction with an upstream segment located between boxes A and B of the nucleotide-binding domain.
On the choice of production functions: the case of US manufacturing industries

A new CES (Bairam, 1989, 1991) production function that has the Cobb-Douglas and Leontief functions as special cases is considered and estimated. For the nondurable goods and durable-goods sectors in US manufacturing, the translog and CES functions cannot be estimated properly due to multicollinearity, whereas the Cobb-Douglas and new CES functions yield coefficients that have the correct sign and are significant at the 1% or 5% level. Both sectors exhibited increasing returns to scale, though the nondurable-goods sector is more efficient than the other sector. Although the Cobb-Douglas function cannot be rejected, the new CES functions has the maximized value of the log-likelihood function and the advantage that the variable output elasticity with respect to inputs can be tested.
Ultrastructure of Medial Smooth Muscle and Myofibroblasts in Human Arterial Dysplasia

• Ultrastructural characteristics of 20 dysplastic human renal arteries were documented. Loss of smooth muscle with collection of fibrous connective tissue predominated in medial fibrodysplasia, whereas excessive accumulations of elastic fibrils typified perimedial dysplasia. Myofibroblasts were a unique feature of both forms of arterial dysplasia. These modified smooth muscle cells seemed to be the source of abnormal connective tissue synthesis. Transformation of medial smooth muscle cells to myofibroblasts represented a morphologic continuum. Intramedial vasa vasorum were often isolated from surrounding cellular elements by unusual amounts of mural ground substances. The results of this study lend further support to the hypothesis that ischemia and direct physical forces effect hormonally altered cells in the pathogenesis of arterial dysplasia. ( Arch Surg 113:1280-1288, 1978)
Studies on the incorporation of CO2 into starch by Chlorella vulgaris

Chlorella vulgaris was grown photosynthetically in batch culture under nitrogen sufficiency or nitrogen limitation. The starch content of the cells was measured as the amount of glucose released by enzymic hydrolysis of partially purified starch. Nitrogen sufficient algae contained approximately 20% of their dry weight as starch, whereas in nitrogen limited cells starch comprised up to 55% of the cellular dry weight. Starch production was pH dependent; optimal production of starch was achieved between pH 7.5 and 8.0. Optimal growth of C. vulgaris occurred at pH 7.0. Carbon yield experiments showed that for every gram of carbon consumed 0.5 g of starch (glucose) could be recovered.