cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interparty Competition in the American States One More Time

This article seeks to introduce an alternative notion of time into the cross-sectional study of the causes and effects of interparty competition in the American states. Past studies which average interparty competition over long periods ignore important conceptual and methodological issues. As a result, some empirical findings which have acquired the status of conventional wisdom may be subject to question. It is suggested that many problems may be overcome by measuring interparty competition over very short periods of time. Sequential cross-sectional analysis identifies some relationships with interparty competition which are static over time and others which are dynamic over time.
A re-assessment of bacterial growth efficiency: the heat production and membrane potential of Streptococcus bovis in batch and continuous culture.

Glucose-limited, continuous cultures (dilution rate 0.1 h-1) of Streptococcus bovis JB1 fermented glucose at a rate of 3.9 μmol mg protein-1 h-1 and produced acctate, formate and ethanol. Based on a maximum ATP yield of 32 cells/mol ATP (Stouthamer 1973) and 3 ATP/glucose, the theoretical glucose consumption for growth would have been 2.1 μmol mg protein-1 h-1. Because the maintenance energy requirement was 1.7 μmol/mg protein/h (Russell and Baldwin 1979), virtually all of the glucose consumption could be explained by growth and maintenance and the YATP was 30. Glucose-limited, continuous cultures produced heat at a rate of 0.29 mW/mg protein, and this value was similar to the enthalpy change of the fermentation (0.32 mW/mg protein). Batch cultures (specific growth rate 2.0 h-1) fermented glucose at a rate of 81 μmol mg protein-1 h-1, and produced only lactate. The heat production was in close agreement with the theoretical enthalpy change (1.72 versus 1.70 mW/mg protein), but only 80% of the glucose consumption could be accounted by growth and maintenance. The YATP of the batch cultures was 25. Nitrogen-limited, glucose-excess, non-growing cultures fermented glucose at a rate of 6.9 μmol mg protein-1 h-1, and virtually all of the enthalpy for this homolactic fermentation could be accounted as heat (0.17 mW/mg protein). The nitrogenlimited cultures had a membrane potential of 150 mV, and nearly all of the heat production could be explained by a futile cycle of protons through the cell membrane (watts = amperes x voltage where H+/ATP was 3). The membrane voltage of the nitrogen-limited cells was higher than the glucose-limited continuous cultures (150 versus 80 mV), and this difference in voltage explained why nitrogen-limited cultures consumed glucose faster than the maintenance rate. Batch cultures had a membrane potential of 100 mV, and this voltage could not account for increased glucose consumption (more than growth plus maintenance). It appears that another mechanism causes the increased heat production and lower growth efficiency of batch cultures.
A risk profile of offshore-outsourced development projects

Even the best project management skills will not guarantee success in the complex world of offshore outsourcing.
CAUSATION AND CORRECTIVE JUSTICE: DOES TORT LAW MAKE SENSE?

The fact that a particular defendant's conduct was a "but for" cause of an injury to a particular plaintiff, which fact is a necessary condition for the plaintiff's recovering corrective damages from the defendant, is the fundamental building block of all tort law. Regardless of what other conditions, if any, tort law imposes as necessary for plaintiff's recovering from the defendant - proximate causation, foreseeability, negligence or recklessness or intent, design defect - a "but for" causal link between the plaintiff's injury and the defendant's conduct is essential. No causation, no tort. In this essay, I intend to examine the relevance of "but for" causation - that is, the relevance of tort law - to any of the proper normative concerns of the legal system. In part this examination is prompted by some recent cases, such as the Sindell 1 case, in which plaintiff's recovery is based upon a relation to the defendant's(s') conduct other than proof that the latter was a "but for" cause of plaintiff's injury. But this examination of the role of causation in compensation for injury is also prompted by a more thoroughgoing puzzlement over why the law looks backward in dealing with claims to compensation. I shall conclude that the case for "but for" causation cannot rest on the existence of something called "corrective justice" to which it is central and which within its domain "trumps" both retributive and distributive justice concerns. Moreover, I conclude that neither 1 Sindell v. Abbott Laboratories, 26 Cal. 3d 588; 607 E 2d 924; 163 Cal. Rptr. 132, cert. denied, 449 U.S. 912 (1980). Sindell has provoked some philosophical discussion of the relation between causation and liability. See Thomson, 'Remarks on Causation and Liability', Philosophy & Public Affairs 13 (1984): 101; Fischer & Ennis, 'Causation and Liability', Philosophy & Public Affairs 15 (1986): 33; Kagan, 'Causation, Liability, and Internalism', Philosophy & Public Affairs 15 (1986): 41; Thomson, 'A Note on Internalism', Philosophy & Public Affairs 15 (1986): 60; The Sindell case is described in note 27.
Modulation of neurite branching by protein phosphorylation in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

Abstract The control of branching of axons and dendrites is poorly understood. It has been hypothesized that branching may be produced by changes in the cytoskeleton [F.J. Diez-Guerra, J. Avila, MAP2 phosphorylation parallels dendrite arborization in hippocampal neurones in culture, NeuroReport 4 (1993) 412–419; P. Friedrich, A. Aszodi, MAP2: a sensitive cross-linker and adjustable spacer in dendritic architecture, FEBS Lett. 295 (1991) 5–9]. The assembly and stability of microtubules, which are prominent cytoskeletal elements in both axons and dendrites, are regulated by microtubule-associated proteins, including tau (predominantly found in axons) and MAP2 (predominantly found in dendrites). The phosphorylation state of tau and MAP2 modulates their interactions with microtubules. In their low-phosphorylation states, tau and MAP2 bind to microtubules and increase microtubule assembly and/or stability. Increased phosphorylation decreases these effects. Diez-Guerra and Avila [F.J. Diez-Guerra, J. Avila, MAP2 phosphorylation parallels dendrite arborization in hippocampal neurones in culture, NeuroReport 4 (1993) 412–419] found that protein phosphorylation correlates with neurite branching in cultured rat hippocampal neurons, and hypothesized that increased protein phosphorylation stimulates neurite branching. To test this hypothesis, we cultured rat hippocampal neurons in the presence of specific modulators of serine-threonine protein kinases and phosphatases. Inhibitors of several protein kinases, which would be expected to decrease protein phosphorylation, reduced branching. KT5720, an inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, and KN62, an inhibitor of Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinases, inhibited branching of both axons and dendrites. Calphostin C and chelerythrine, inhibitors of protein kinase C, inhibited branching of axons but not dendrites. Treatments that would be expected to increase protein phosphorylation, including inhibitors of protein phosphatases (okadaic acid, cyclosporin A and FK506) and stimulators of PKA (Sp-cAMPS) or PKC (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), increased dendrite branching. Only FK506 and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulated axon branching. A subset of these agents was tested to confirm their effects on protein phosphorylation in this preparation. Okadaic acid, FK506 and Sp-cAMPS all increased protein phosphorylation; KT5720 and KN62 decreased protein phosphorylation. On Western blots, the position of MAP2c extracted from cultures exposed to okadaic acid was slightly shifted toward higher molecular weight, suggesting greater phosphorylation, while the position of MAP2c from cultures exposed to KT5720 and KN62 was slightly shifted toward lower molecular weight, suggesting less phosphorylation. We conclude that protein phosphorylation modulates both dendrite branching and axon branching, but with differences in sensitivity to phosphorylation and/or dephosphorylation by specific kinases and phosphatases.
Computational micromechanics modeling of piezoresistivity in carbon nanotube–polymer nanocomposites

The macroscale piezoresistive response, i.e. the change in electrical resistivity under the application of strain, of carbon nanotube–polymer nanocomposites has been observed to lead to gauge facto...
Maternal care and birth outcomes among ethnic minority women in Finland

Background Care during pregnancy and labour is of great importance in every culture. Studies show that people of migrant origin have barriers to obtaining accessible and good quality care compared to people in the host society. The aim of this study is to compare the access to and use of maternity services, and their outcomes among ethnic minority women having a singleton birth in Finland.
Confinement Effect on Dipole-Dipole Interactions in Nanofluids

Intermolecular dipole-dipole interactions were once thought to average to zero in gases and liquids as a result of rapid molecular motion that leads to sharp nuclear magnetic resonance lines. Recent papers have shown that small residual couplings survive the motional averaging if the magnetization is nonuniform or nonspherical. Here, we show that a much larger, qualitatively different intermolecular dipolar interaction remains in nanogases and nanoliquids as an effect of confinement. The dipolar coupling that characterizes such interactions is identical for all spin pairs and depends on the shape, orientation (with respect to the external magnetic field), and volume of the gas/liquid container. This nanoscale effect is useful in the determination of nanostructures and could have unique applications in the exploration of quantum space.
Labor Relations in the Saginaw Valley Lumber Industry, 1865–1885

In the years after the Civil War, American industrial development was rapid. Mushrooming factory towns became, with the exploitation of timber and mineral resources, a characteristic feature even in frontier areas. The Saginaw Valley of Michigan mirrors this phenomenon. A lumberman's frontier, it grew to be a major center of lumber production for the nation.An essential factor in this industrial expansion was the growth of the labor force. In 1850 a single mill of the Valley employed 12 or 14 men; by 1885 it required the services of 75 to 150 men and in some cases of 200. In 1885 over 4,000 men were employed in the mills of the Valley. Such growth of the industry and of the labor force introduced serious problems of labor relations.This article is concerned with a description and analysis of labor relations in the sawmills of the Saginaw Valley from 1865 to 1885. Labor relations rest to a great extent upon attitudes; the attitudes of the employer, of the employee, and in some cases of the rest of the community. Presumably these attitudes have a basis in the conditions under which the industry is operated and under which the labor force works and lives.
Stabilization and photochemical regulation of antisense agents through PEGylation

Oligonucleotides are effective tools for the regulation of gene expression in cell culture and model organisms, most importantly through antisense mechanisms. Due to the inherent instability of DNA antisense agents, various modifications have been introduced to increase the efficacy of oligonucleotides, including phosphorothioate DNA, locked nucleic acids, peptide nucleic acids, and others. Here, we present antisense agent stabilization through conjugation of a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) group to a DNA oligonucleotide. By employing a photocleavable linker between the PEG group and the antisense agent, we were able to achieve light-induced deactivation of antisense activity. The bioconjugated PEG group provides stability to the DNA antisense agent without affecting its native function of silencing gene expression via RNase H-catalyzed mRNA degradation. Once irradiated with UV light of 365 nm, the PEG group is cleaved from the antisense agent leaving the DNA unprotected and open for degradation by endogenous nucleases, thereby restoring gene expression. By using a photocleavable PEG group (PhotoPEG), antisense activity can be regulated with high spatial and temporal resolution, paving the way for precise regulation of gene expression in biological systems.
Dosimetry studies utilizing the urolase right‐angle firing Neodymium: YAG laser fiber in the human prostate

Background and Objective Until recently, little or no objective data have been available to support either the choice of power setting or the timing of laser applications to achieve optimal tissue ablation in the human prostate. The objective of this study was to define quantitative dosimetry curves for the Urolase right angle laser fiber in human prostates. Study Design/Materials and Methods Transurethral Neodymium: YAG laser application was performed with the Urolase right-angle laser fiber in adult human prostates prior to planned radical surgery. Depth and volume of prostatic tissue coagulation for single, continuous laser applications were measured at variable power settings from 20 to 60 watts while holding total energy delivery constant. Then, holding the power setting constant at 40 watts, the extent of tissue coagulation was measured for variable treatment times from 60 to 120 seconds. Results Peak tissue coagulation was observed at 40 watts up to a maximum of 14 mm tissue penetration and 4.23 cc volume coagulated following a single spot laser application. The mean depth of tissue coagulation at 40 watts power setting was 13.5 mm, with a mean volume of tissue coagulation of 3.68 cc. The mean depth of tissue penetration at 40 watts was more than 25% greater than that observed at 60 watts, and the mean volume of tissue coagulation was 190% greater than that observed at 60 watts. As treatment time was increased from 60 to 90 seconds, extent of tissue coagulation increased significantly. However, beyond 90 seconds continuous laser application at 40 watts, a plateau in tissue effects was observed, with minimal increase in tissue coagulation between 90 and 120 seconds. Histologic examination of prostates removed acutely showed heat-induced damage to both stromal and glandular epithelial elements in laser-treated areas. At 1 year, the prostatic urethra was lined with a normal transitional epithelium, and mild periurethral fibrosis with focal squamous metaplasia was seen. Conclusion: Using the Urolase right-angle laser fiber, this study suggests that 40 watts power setting and 90 seconds continuous application time with a Neodymium: YAG laser source represent optimal treatment parameters to maximize prostatic tissue coagulation. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Development of IgE and allergy in infancy

Serum IgE levels were followed throughout the first year of life in a sample of 34 infants from atopic and nonatopic families. Their parents' serum IgE levels were also measured. Neonatal levels ranged from 0 to 10 U/ml. Half of the study group, which included a high proportion of infants from atopic families, maintained serum IgE levels below 10 U/ml until 1 yr of age. In the remainder, the serum IgE exceeded 10 U/ml before 1 yr of age, but the time of increase and the rate of increase varied from infant to infant; the sooner the IgE started to increase, the higher was the serum IgE level at 1 yr of age. The relationship of serum IgE level to the development of atopic disease and to other parameters was analyzed. Elevation of serum IgE level at or before 1 yr of age was highly correlated with atopic disease in the first 2 yr of life. The elevation preceded the manifestation of atopy.
The Coping Skills Training Program for Parents of Children With Developmental Disabilities: An Experimental Evaluation:

This pretest-posttest no-treatment control group study was undertaken to examine the effectiveness of a social work intervention called the Coping Skills Training Program (CSTP) in helping parents ...
Far-Ultraviolet FUSE Observations of the Dwarf Novae SS Aurigae and RU Pegasi in Quiescence

We have analyzed the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) spectra of two U Geminorum type dwarf novae, SS Aurigae and RU Pegasi, observed 28 days and 60 days (respectively) after their last outburst. In both systems, the FUSE spectra (905–1182 A) reveal evidence of the underlying accreting white dwarf exposed in the far-UV. Our grid of theoretical models yielded best-fitting single-temperature photosphere models to the FUSE spectra with Teff = 33,000 K for SS Aur and Teff = 53,000 K for RU Peg. For SS Aur, a white dwarf of 27,000 K plus a 48,000 K accretion belt yields the best agreement with the FUSE spectrum and parallax distance. This work provides two more dwarf nova systems with known white dwarf temperatures above the period gap where few are known. The absence of C III (1175 A) absorption in SS Aur and the elevation of N above solar suggests the possibility that SS Aur represents an additional accreting white dwarf where the surface C/N ratio derives from CNO processing. For RU Peg, the modeling uncertainties prevent any reliable conclusions about the surface abundances and rotational velocity.
Package unit size and amount of food: do both influence intake?

Objective: Large portions increase intake and are hypothesized to contribute to the obesity epidemic. However, it is unclear if portion size affects intake through changes in the unit size of available food or the overall amount of food available for consumption. Thus, this study examined the independent effects of package unit size and amount of food on intake. It was hypothesized that both variables would influence intake. Research Methods and Procedures: Non-obese (BMI <30 kg/m2), non-smoking, unrestrained, college-aged men (n = 12) and women (n = 16) who regularly consumed (≥3 times/wk) snack foods were randomly assigned to one of four groups crossing package unit size (small vs. large) and amount of food (small vs. large). Participants were given a box with 4 snack foods (potato chips, cheese crackers, cookies, and candy) packaged according to their assigned group to take home and eat over 3 days. Dependent variables were energy and gram intake of provided snack foods. Results: An effect of amount of food was found (p < 0.01). A 100% increase in the amount of food provided produced an 81% increase in energy consumed from the snack foods [small amount, 21,037.6 ± 10,852 kJ (5028 ± 2596 kcal) vs. large amount, 11,640.7 ± 4914.1 kJ (2782 ± 1174 kcal)]. No effect of package unit size was found. Discussion: These results suggest that the amount of food available to eat strongly influences intake.
Peopling the public sphere

There are two thrusts in current debates regarding the nature of communication for the human species. These two thrusts permeate virtually every discourse whether applied to the expanding Internet, communication technologies, journalism practice, communicating in the community, or the creation of public spheres. One of these thrusts is the structural thrust. In its most extreme form, human beings and their communication worlds are enslaved and the public sphere is nothing but a pawn of that enslavement. Whereas once the enslavement was seen as being controlled by feudal lords in kingdoms or tyrants in nation states, now the enslavement is seen as increasingly controlled by capital, and in particular, transnational corporations which, while decreasing in number, control more and more communication channels. Typically, for those writing in this thrust, the hopes for the future are few. The alternative, usually set up in opposition, is often called the postmodern thrust. This perspective points toward human ...
Carrier dephasing in the gain region of an inverted semiconductor

The polarization dephasing time has been measured across the gain region, at the transparency point, and into the absorption region of an optically excited GaAs multiple-quantum-well sample using spectral hole burning and degenerate four-wave mixing techniques. We observe strongly energy-dependent dephasing rates with a minimum at the crossover from gain to absorption. Numerical results for the microscopically calculated carrier-carrier scattering rates for a two-component electron-hole plasma in quantum wells show fair agreement with the experimental findings.
Apparatus for sampling and controlling gas composition in redox-controlled soil slurry

We used a soil slurry that is continuously flushed by a gas stream with controlled composition. Basic components of the system include a reaction chamber equipped to monitor and control slurry pH, E h , and temperature, flow controllers for precise control of gas flow rates, a mixing chamber for blending inlet gases from different sources, a low-volume manifold for collecting contamination-free samples of inlet and exit gases, a dryer to selectively remove water vapor from the exit gases, and a large-volume sample loop for collecting enough sample gas for NO analysis. (...)
Effects of chronic and acute treatment of antipsychotic drugs on calmodulin release from rat striatal membranes

Abstract Chronic treatment of rats with the antipsychotic drugs haloperidol and (+)-butaclamol results in supersensitivity of striatal dopamine (DA) receptors. Striatal membranes of these animals have an increased content of an endogenous Ca -binding protein, calmodulin. Both endogenous and protein kinase-induced release of calmodulin from striatal membranes of the antipsychotic drug-treated animals were found substantially lower than that from saline or (−)-butaclamol-treated rats. Acute treatment with the antipsychotic drugs produced no alterations in calmodulin content or calmodulin release from the membranes. The impaired calmodulin release seen in the chronic antipsychotic drug-treated rats could be associated with the supersensitivity of DA receptors.
Variation in the myosin light chain kinase gene is associated with development of acute lung injury after major trauma.

BACKGROUND Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the myosin light chain kinase (MYLK) gene have been implicated in the risk of sepsis-related acute lung injury and asthma. MYLK encodes protein isoforms involved in multiple components of the inflammatory response, including apoptosis, vascular permeability, and leukocyte diapedesis. We tested the association of MYLK gene variation in the development of acute lung injury in major trauma patients. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study of 273 subjects with major trauma (injury severity score > or = 16). All x-rays and clinical data were reviewed by three clinicians for acute lung injury classification. A total of 17 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms in MYLK were genotyped. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were individually assessed at the genotype level, and multiple logistic regression models were used to adjust for baseline variables. Haplotype analyses of sliding windows including 2-5 single nucleotide polymorphisms were conducted. RESULTS Ninety-one of the 273 subjects (33%) met criteria for acute lung injury within 5 days of traumatic insult. Three informative MYLK coding single nucleotide polymorphisms were individually associated with acute lung injury, with two informative risk-conferring genotypes His21Pro (CC genotype, odds ratio = 1.87, 95% confidence interval 1.06-3.33; p = 0.022) and Pro147Ser (TT, odds ratio = 2.13, 95% confidence interval 1.14-4.10; p = 0.011) more frequent than the noninformative Thr335Thr CC genotype (odds ratio = 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.20-0.85; p = 0.010). Each of these genotypic associations was more pronounced in African Americans with trauma. Multivariate analyses demonstrated the association of each MYLK single nucleotide polymorphism with acute lung injury to be independent of age, injury severity score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III, and the mechanism of trauma. Finally, haplotype analyses revealed strong acute lung injury associations with 2-4 single nucleotide polymorphism haplotypes, all involving His21Pro (p < 0.008). CONCLUSIONS Three MYLK coding single nucleotide polymorphisms previously associated with sepsis-induced acute lung injury and severe asthma in African Americans were associated with acute lung injury development after trauma in African Americans, although effect directions differed. These results confirm our prior studies implicating MYLK as a susceptibility gene in a distinct acute lung injury subset other than sepsis.
Microscopic modeling of the dielectric properties of silicon nitride

We investigate the differences between the dielectric properties of bulk silicon nitride and thin films, in both crystalline and amorphous structures. We show that to correctly account for the decrease of the optical (${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}$) and static (${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{0}$) dielectric constants at the nanoscale, it is necessary to take into account their spatial variations within the film and at the surface. A model based on the assumption of abrupt interfaces between vacuum and the film surfaces predicts the wrong trend of the dielectric properties as a function of the film thickness, i.e., an increase of ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{0}$ as the dimension of the film decreases. We also show that a first-principles description of the structural properties of amorphous bulk and thin films is necessary, in order to obtain structural properties in agreement with experiment, and thus electronic and dielectric properties consistent with available measurements.
Integrating video games and robotic play in physical environments

Active Learning Environments with Robotic Tangibles (ALERT) are mixed reality video gaming systems that use sensors, vision systems, and robots to provide an engaging experience that may motivate hitherto underrepresented kinds of learners to become interested in game design, programming, and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through the use of fiducials (i.e., meaningful markers) recognized by robots through computer vision as just-in-time instructions, users engage in spatially-based programming without the encumbrances of traditional procedural programs? syntax and structure. Since humans, robots, and video environments share many inherently spatial qualities, this natural style of physical programming is particularly well suited to fostering playful interactions with mobile robots in dynamic video environments. As these systems broaden the capabilities of video game technology and human-robot interaction (HRI) they are lowering many existing barriers to integrated video-robot game development and programming. Diverse ALERT video game scenarios and applications are enabling a broad range of gamers, learners, and developers to generate and engage in their own physically interactive games.
Red Cell Metabolic Alterations in Postnatal Life in Term Infants: Possible Control Mechanisms

Summary: Red cell glycolytic intermediates and enzymes in term infants in the first year of life were correlated with the fetal hemoglobin concentration (%F), intra- and extracellular venous pH, plasma inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and pyruvate kinase (PK) activity. Changes in the non-age-dependent enzymes phosphoglycerate kinase, enolase, and phosphofructokinase correlated most significantly with the postnatal decline in %F (P 0.05) or PK (P > 0.10), but correlated significantly with the plasma Pi concentration (P < 0.001). “Total triose phosphate” and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate did not correlate with Pi. It appears from these studies that an extracellular factor, Pi, alters the pattern of glycolytic intermediates in term infants and that the postnatal changes in phosphoglycerate kinase, enolase, and phosphofructokinase are unique to the “fetal” red cell and reflect passage from fetal to “adult” erythropoiesis. Speculation: It is proposed that the rise in the glucose-6-phosphate concentration in red cells from term infants previously reported is secondary to a combination of stimulation of hexokinase activity by plasma inorganic phosphorus and a relative block in glycolysis at the phosphofructokinase (PFK) step secondary to both decreased enzyme activity and decreased activation of PFK by plasma inorganic phosphorus. It is speculated from these studies that the relative block in glycolysis at the PFK step previously described in term infants is probably greater at the in vivo level than that predicted from enzyme activity under optimal in vitro conditions.
Complement-Mediated Neutrophil Activation in Sepsis- and Trauma-Related Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Clarification With Radioaerosol Lung Scans

Complement-mediated neutrophil activation (CMNA) has been proposed as an important pathogenic mechanism causing acute microvascular lung injury in the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). To clarify the relationship between CMNA and evolving lung injury, we studied 26 patients with multiple trauma and sepsis within 24 hours of risk establishment for ARDS. Pulmonary alveolar-capillary permeability (PACP) was quantified as the clearance rate of a particulate radioaerosol. Seventeen patients (65%) had increased PACP (six developed ARDS) while nine (35%) had normal PACP (none developed ARDS; clearance rates of 3.4%/min and 1.5%/min, respectively). These patients, regardless of evidence of early lung injury, had elevated plasma C3adesArg levels and neutrophil chemotactic desensitization to C5a/C5adesArg. Plasma C3adesArg levels correlated weakly, but significantly, with PACP. Thus, CMNA may be a necessary, but not a sufficient, pathogenic mechanism in the evolution of ARDS.
Three crystal forms of the bifunctional enzyme proline utilization A (PutA) from Bradyrhizobium japonicum

Proline utilization A proteins (PutAs) are large (1000–1300 residues) membrane-associated bifunctional flavoenzymes that catalyze the two-step oxidation of proline to glutamate by the sequential action of proline dehydrogenase and Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase domains. Here, the first successful crystallization efforts for a PutA protein are described. Three crystal forms of PutA from Bradyrhizobium japonicum are reported: apparent tetragonal, hexagonal and centered monoclinic. The apparent tetragonal and hexagonal crystals were grown in the presence of PEG 3350 and sodium formate near pH 7. The apparent tetragonal form diffracted to 2.7 A resolution and exhibited pseudo-merohedral twinning such that the true space group is P212121 with four molecules in the asymmetric unit. The hexagonal form diffracted to 2.3 A resolution and belonged to space group P6222 with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. Centered monoclinic crystals were grown in ammonium sulfate, diffracted to 2.3 A resolution and had two molecules in the asymmetric unit. Removing the histidine tag was important in order to obtain the C2 crystal form.
Docking interactions: cell-cycle regulation and beyond.

In budding yeast, the mating pathway activates Far1 to inhibit G1 cyclins in complex with the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cln–Cdk). Yet, the molecular mechanism has remained largely unclear for over 20 years. A recent report helps shed light on this regulation.
Efficient semiparametric seemingly unrelated quantile regression estimation

We propose an efficient semiparametric estimator for the coefficients of a multivariate linear regression model—with a conditional quantile restriction for each equation—in which the conditional distributions of errors given regressors are unknown. The procedure can be used to estimate multiple conditional quantiles of the same regression relationship. The proposed estimator is asymptotically as efficient as if the true optimal instruments were known. Simulation results suggest that the estimation procedure works well in practice and dominates an equation-by-equation efficiency correction if the errors are dependent conditional on the regressors.
A context-aware recognition survey for data collection using ubiquitous sensors in the home

Identifying what people do in the home can both inform ubiquitous computing application design decisions and provide training data to the machine learning algorithms used in their implementation. This paper describes an unsupervised technique in which contextual information gathered by ubiquitous sensors is used to help users label a multitude of anonymous activity episodes. This context-aware recognition survey is a game-like computer program in which users attempt to correctly guess which activity is happening after seeing a series of symbolic images that represent sensor values generated during the activity. We report a user study of the system, focusing on how well subjects were able to recognize their own activities, the activities of others, and counterfeits that did not correspond to any activity.
Determining the quantity and character of carotid artery embolic debris by electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy

Objectives Carotid artery angioplasty and stenting (CAS) is now routinely performed with embolic protection devices, yet little is known about the compositional characteristics of the captured embolic debris and whether the type or quantity of debris correlates with patient, lesion, or operator characteristics. This study examined the embolic debris generated during CAS using electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Methods Between 2003 and 2005, CAS for carotid stenosis was performed in 175 patients. Cerebral protection devices were used in all but three cases. Sixty-four consecutive unselected microporous filters from procedures performed by a single vascular surgeon were obtained for analysis. Captured particulate debris within the protection devices was quantified (number and mean size of particles) by light microscopy for all filters. Twenty protection devices (9 symptomatic, 11 asymptomatic patients) were processed for electron microscopy and EDS to assess morphology, cellular composition, and calcium content of debris. Results Captured particulate matter was present in 49 filters (77%) and included particles measuring 200 to 500 μm in 72%, 500 to 1000 μm in 53%, and >1000 μm in 33%. The mean number of captured particles was 6.9, and mean size was 248 ± 150 μm. Univariate analysis revealed that sequential patient cohort and filter type were correlated with the number (but not size) of captured particles. The number of particles significantly decreased after the first cohort of 20 patients (11.5 particles) compared with the second (5.0 particles, P = .023) and third (5.2 particles, P = .029) cohorts. The type of captured debris ranged from sheets of damaged red blood cells without other components to clumps of recently activated platelets with early fibrin crosslinking to plaque debris coated with well-organized coalescing areas of platelet thrombus. Platelet activation was more common in symptomatic patients (78%) than asymptomatic patients (27%; P Conclusions Particulate embolic debris is released in most patients during CAS and can measure >1000 μm in one third of patients. The number of particles may decrease with increasing operator experience with CAS. Debris captured during CAS with embolic protection exhibits a range of cellular and acellular components on electron microscopy, with a higher prevalence of platelet activation evident in symptomatic patients.
Religion is natural

Despite its considerable intellectual interest and great social relevance, religion has been neglected by contemporary developmental psychologists. But in the last few years, there has been an emerging body of research exploring children's grasp of certain universal religious ideas. Some recent findings suggest that two foundational aspects of religious belief – belief in mind–body dualism, and belief in divine agents – come naturally to young children. This research is briefly reviewed, and some future directions are discussed.
Governing natural resources

The author discusses the proper roles of states and local communities (or user groups) and hybrids thereof ("comanagement") in the governance of common property natural resources, with reference to some recently published works on this theme, notably the important new book by Jean‐Marie Baland and Jean‐Philippe Platteau, Halting Degradation of Natural Resources.
3,3-Bis(methylthio)-2-oxo-N-phenylpropanamide

The title com­pound, C12H15NO3S2, is the result of a re­arrangement of a bis­(methyl­thio)-β-lactam after prolonged exposure to silica gel. The compound crystallizes with a single mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit.
H-infinity vehicle control using nondimensional perturbation measures

Robust controller design techniques have been applied to the field of vehicle control to achieve many different performance measures: robust yaw rate control, robust lateral positioning using one or more driver inputs, robust observer design, and so on. A difficulty with many published approaches is to obtain an adequate description of the model uncertainty. Most bounds on plant frequency responses or parameter perturbations are based on ad-hoc limits that rely primarily on the designer's personal choice. The resulting controller design is therefore often vehicle specific, and is suitable only for application to a single design vehicle. This work shows that (a) the description of model uncertainty is not a design variable, (b) meaningful bounds on model uncertainty can be obtained from data and should be sought, and (c) these bounds can be used to generate a single controller suitable for any vehicle.
Thymosin beta in macrophage

Summary Thymosin, originally discovered as a thymic hormone regulating maturation of T cells, is found in many hematopoetic and non-hematopoetic tissues including bone marrow, spleen, and lungs. While studying chicken monocyte- and granulocyte- associated peptides by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization/ T ime-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, we found a peptide corresponding to mass/charge ratio (m/z) of 4963. This peptide was prominently associated with monocytes but not with the granulocyte population. Experiments revealed presence of this peptide in chicken macrophage cell lines. W e purified the 4963Da peptide from the macrophages by reverse phase HPLC and identified it as thymosin β4 (Tβ4) by peptide mass fingerprinting. T β4 binds to G- actin, and regulates its polymerization, which is essential for cell motility . Besides, it is also involved in a multitude of other functions regulating immunity and wound healing. This review surveys the physiological significance of Tβ4 in relation to macrophage function.
Perceptual Pre-weighting and Post-inverse weighting for Speech Coding

We investigate the effect on voice quality of perceptual pre-weighting of the input speech to a codec, and post- inverse weighting the output of the codec. The G.726 adaptive differential pulse code modulation (ADPCM) codec and the AMR narrowband (AMR-NB) code excited linear prediction (CELP) codec are employed in our experiments. The weighting function used has the same form as that of the perceptual weighting function for the analysis-by-synthesis codebook search in AMR- NB. We observe a significant improvement in voice quality at rates of 16 and 24 kbps in the case of G.726 when perceptual weighting is used. When we use pre-weighting with the AMR codec, the unweighted squared error is used within the analysis- by-synthesis codebook search loop, and we find that the quality of the pre-weighted approach is comparable to the quality achieved by the standard AMR codec. The proposed pre-weighting method requires an additional bit-rate of 1.35 kbps to communicate the linear prediction (LP) coefficients of the original speech input to the decoder.
Isolation and properties of two soluble heme proteins in extracts of the photoanaerobe Chromatium.

The involvement of heme proteins in photometabolism, first suggested by Hill (1, 2), seems certain from results of recent enzyme studies (3-5) and observations on systems in viva using differential spectrophotometry (6-10). Of the many heme proteins which exist in intimate association with the photoactive pigments in the functional subcellular structures of photosynthetic tissues, only three have been isolated in soluble form in sufficient amounts and purity for adequate characterization. One of these is the so-called “cytochrome f” of green plant tissues (11). The other two are variant cytochromes, one of the V type (12), and one an atypical heme protein called “RHP” (12, 13) obtained from extracts of the facultative photoheterotrophic purple bacterium, Rhodospirillum rubrum. We now report the isolation and identification of two soluble heme proteins contained in extracts of the obligate photoanaerobit purple bacterium, Chromatium. Previous studies (14, 15) have indicated the existence of both a cytochrome ‘Y-type and an RHP-type heme protein’ in partially resolved preparations (15). Some preliminary data have been published on their physicochemical properties. Complete resolution of these heme protein mixtures has been achieved so that it is now possible to characterize completely the two soluble Chromutium cytochrome components.
Inflammation, infection, and cardiovascular risk: how good is the clinical evidence?

Despite substantial gains in the prevention and treatment of acute myocardial infarction, many atherothrombotic events occur among individuals without readily apparent risk factors. Several lines of basic research indicate that inflammation and perhaps chronic infection may play important roles in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. For example, pathological studies demonstrate that atherosclerotic lesions are heavily infiltrated with cellular components associated with inflammation, influx of neutrophils into the walls of the epicardial vessels has been demonstrated in response to acute ischemia, and sites of acute plaque rupture are preferentially associated with inflammatory components.1 2 3 4 5 6 Further, proinflammatory cytokines as well as cellular adhesion molecules involved in the attachment of monocytes to the endothelial wall appear to be critical in early atherogenesis.7 8 With regard to chronic infection, evidence of prior exposure to Chlamydia pneumoniae , cytomegalovirus, and Helicobacter pylori has been detected within human atherosclerotic tissues,9 10 11 12 13 14 and it has been hypothesized that these organisms may activate vessel-associated leukocytes or lead to a transformation of vascular smooth muscles or endothelial cells.15 In addition, animal studies suggest that infection with cytomegalovirus and perhaps other agents can lead to endothelial lesions similar to that of human atherosclerosis.16 17 From an epidemiological perspective, however, the role of inflammation and infection as potential cardiovascular risk factors is far from certain. Although several studies have reported associations between exposure to various infectious agents and prevalent coronary disease,18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 these data derive almost exclusively from cross-sectional or retrospective studies that cannot establish a temporal relation between exposure and disease. Furthermore, it is difficult for cross-sectional and retrospective studies to exclude the possibility that observed associations are the result of inadvertent selection bias or residual confounding on the …
Generalized Solution in Singular Stochastic Control: The Nondegenerate Problem

This paper is concerned with singular stochastic control for non-degenerate problems. It generalizes the previous work in that the model equation is nonlinear and the cost function need not be convex. The associated dynamic programming equation takes the form of variational inequalities. By combining the principle of dynamic programming and the method of penalization, we show that the value function is characterized as a unique generalized (Sobolev) solution which satisfies the dynamic programming variational inequality in almost everywhere. The approximation for our singular control problem is given in terms of a family of penalized control problems. As a result of such a penalization, we obtain that the value function is also the minimum cost available when only the admissible pairs with uniformly Lipschitz controls are admitted in our cost criterion.
Components of the anorexia-cachexia syndrome: gastrointestinal symptom correlates of cancer anorexia.

Cancer-related anorexia is traditionally considered part of a complex but ill-defined anorexia–cachexia syndrome in which anorexia is intimately associated with other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and weight loss. We surveyed cancer patients with anorexia to learn more about the relationship between anorexia and these symptoms. A 22-item GI questionnaire assessed the severity of anorexia and the prevalence of concurrent GI symptoms, including taste changes, food aversions, altered sense of smell, and diurnal food intake changes. The relationship between anorexia severity and anticancer therapy and prior menstrual or pregnancy-related appetite changes was also assessed. Ninety-five of 101 patients with anorexia surveyed had complete data. Seventy-eight percent of them had moderate or severe anorexia. Abnormal diurnal appetite variation, taste changes, and food aversions were present in over 50% of all those with anorexia. Judged by the numerical rating scale, the worse the anorexia, the more prevalent were early satiety, constipation, vomiting, and food aversions. Those with more severe anorexia had greater weight loss, and worse performance status. Anorexia severity did not correlate with that during prior menses/pregnancy or antitumor therapy. Evaluation of multiple other GI symptoms is important in understanding the total experience of cancer anorexia. Early satiety, taste changes, food aversions, and altered sense of smell are important accompanying GI symptoms. Most validated anorexia tools do not assess these commonly associated GI symptoms. Future research should develop a comprehensive anorexia symptom questionnaire.
Network reconnaissance, attack, and defense laboratories for an introductory cyber-security course

Cyber security is an area where much curriculum development is taking place, and it is important that such efforts be shared. In this work we describe three lab exercises developed at the United States Naval Academy for use in our fundamentals of cyber-security course, a course required of all freshmen. The hands-on lab activities reinforce ideas presented in classroom discussions about basic network reconnaissance, attack, and defense. A class of approximately twenty students is divided into two teams. Each team's network has its own workstation, name server, and gateway router, and a webserver. Students each have an individual host machine on their own network. In the reconnaissance lab students attempt to discover the opponent network's topology, services and software, as well as guess account names and potential passwords. The information is then used in the succeeding attack lab, where denial of service attacks, injection attacks, and other remote exploits are conducted. During the defense lab, students harden their systems by managing accounts and passwords in both Unix and Windows systems, encrypting confidential files, defending against HTML injection attacks, configuring a firewall, shutting down unnecessary services, removing unnecessary software, and patching known vulnerabilities; all while maintaining a prescribed set of services. All three labs are conducted using virtual machines (VMs) in a virtual. Detailed instructor notes, lab instructions, student check sheets, grading sheets, and supporting software were developed for these labs. In this paper we discuss our experiences with these labs, assessment and evaluation material, and lessons learned. The insights that we have gained will prove useful to those thinking about implementing or refining labs in a cyber-security course, or perhaps even for other types of labs.