cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fetal cerebrovascular impedance is reduced in left congenital diaphragmatic hernia

OBJECTIVES Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) can cause a significant mass effect in the fetal thorax, displacing the heart into the opposite hemithorax. In left-sided CDH (L-CDH), this is associated with smaller left-sided cardiac structures and reduced left-ventricular cardiac output (LVCO). The effect of these physiologic changes on cerebral blood flow is not well understood. We sought to describe the middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index (PI), a measure of cerebrovascular impedance, in fetuses with L-CDH and those with right-sided CDH (R-CDH) compared with unaffected fetuses, and the relationship between MCA-PI and LVCO. We hypothesized that MCA-PI would be lower in fetuses with L-CDH and similar in those with R-CDH compared to controls, and that MCA-PI would be correlated with LVCO. METHODS We identified all fetuses with CDH evaluated at The University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA from 2011 to 2018. Fetal echocardiograms and ultrasound scans were reviewed. Umbilical artery and MCA Doppler examinations were assessed to calculate pulsatility indices. Ventricular outputs were calculated using Doppler-derived stroke volume and fetal heart rate. Lung-to-head ratio (LHR), estimated fetal weight, biparietal diameter (BPD) and head circumference (HC) were obtained from fetal sonograms. Measurements in fetuses with CDH, according to the side of the defect, were compared with those in unaffected, gestational age-matched controls. A subset of CDH survivors had available data on neurodevelopmental outcome, as assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 3rd edition. RESULTS A total of 64 fetuses with CDH (L-CDH, n = 53; R-CDH, n = 11) comprised the study groups, with 27 unaffected fetuses serving as controls. Mean gestational age at evaluation was similar between the three groups. Compared to controls, fetuses with L-CDH had significantly lower LVCO expressed as a percentage of combined cardiac output (CCO) (32%; 95% CI, 29-35% vs 38%; 95% CI, 33-42%; P = 0.04) and lower MCA-PI Z-score (-1.3; 95% CI, -1.7 to -1.0 vs 0.08; 95% CI, -0.5 to 0.6; P < 0.001), while they did not differ between the R-CDH group and controls. There was a strong positive association between LVCO as a percentage of CCO and MCA-PI Z-score in the overall cohort of CDH and control fetuses (P = 0.01). BPD and HC were similar between the three groups. At neurodevelopmental follow-up, mean cognitive, motor and language scores in the CDH group were within 1 SD of those in the general population. CONCLUSION MCA-PI values are significantly lower in fetuses with L-CDH as compared to controls, and lower LVCO was correlated with lower MCA vascular impedance. The neurodevelopmental effect of changes in MCA-PI in response to decreased LVCO is unknown, although, on average, CDH survivors had neurodevelopmental scores in the normal range. This may reflect a fetal compensatory mechanism in response to diminished antegrade cerebral blood flow. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
COMPLETENESS RELATIONS IN SCATTERING THEORY FOR NON-HERMITIAN POTENTIALS

Publisher Summary This chapter explores completeness relations in scattering theory for non-Hermitian potentials. McKay and McKellar (MM) have discussed a number of interesting aspects of nonrelativistic scattering theory, for non-Hermitian (energy-dependent and/or complex) potentials. If |Ψk→(±), the eigenstates of a non-Hermitian two-body Hamiltonian, are assumed to be complete; it is a straightforward procedure to construct an off-energy-shell continuation of the two-body T-matrix, which may be used in Faddeev calculations. MM have not given a general proof of the completeness property but have instead derived necessary and sufficient conditions on the |Ψk→(±) for completeness to hold. This chapter presents a simple perturbative proof of the completeness of the |Ψk→(±). It follows MM in limiting the discussion to potentials that are nonsingular in coordinate space, falls off faster than 1/r for large interparticle separations, and gives no bound states. The second restriction allows using the usual form of formal scattering theory. The analysis is easily generalized to the case of bound states and singular core interactions.
Framework for describing perturbations to the cosmic microwave background from a gravitational wave burst with memory

Gravitational wave bursts with memory (BWMs) can generate measurable, long-lived frequency shifts and permanent angular deflections in distant sources of light. These perturbations vary across the sky with a characteristic spatial pattern and evolve slowly over long periods of time. In this work, we develop formalism that can be used to describe how a BWM influences the spatial pattern of temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background (CMB). We limit our attention to planar gravitational wave fronts---this assumption dramatically simplifies the necessary calculations. Using toy models of the CMB's primary temperature variation pattern, we demonstrate that a BWM can mix power from a spherical harmonic mode of a certain degree into modes of various other degrees with vastly different $l$ values. In other words, BWM-induced perturbations to the CMB at any angular scale depend in detail on the unperturbed character of the CMB on all angular scales. The tools developed herein will greatly facilitate future analyses of BWM-induced temperature perturbations that incorporate all of the important physics underlying the CMB.
Simulating transient heat transfer in graphene at finite Knudsen number via the Boltzmann transport equation and molecular dynamics

The phonon Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) with the relaxation time approximation (RTA) scattering model is used to calculate transient temperature profiles in graphene, and the results are compared to analogous molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For the BTE calculations, the phonon dispersion relation and frequency-dependent scattering rates are obtained from a combination of MD data and semi-empirical power-law expressions for the normal and Umklapp phonon lifetimes. The dimensions and initial temperature conditions of graphene are varied to study the size and temperature dependence of thermal transport physics at the mesoscopic scale. Good quantitative agreement to within 5% is found between the BTE and MD results, over a wide range of temperatures and lengthscales of the temperature variation in the graphene sheet. Small differences are attributed to the inaccuracy of the RTA as applied to graphene, and to neglecting four-phonon scattering in the BTE simulations. The present results may further understanding in applications such as the transient heating of nanoelectronics.
Modeling Frequency Dependent Ultrasound Attenuation in Cortical Bone: Solving Direct and Inverse Problems

The goal of this work is to quantify the porosity of cortical bone using non-invasive ultrasound attenuation. We do so by formulating a polydisperse version of the Independent Scattering Approximation (ISA) to mathematically model ultrasonic attenuation in cortical bone that is dependent upon the distributed parameter, pore radius. We use analytical Beta distributions to represent two cases of underlying microstructure: one with a relatively low expected value on pore radius, the other with a relatively high value. We simulate data for these cases by inputting the corresponding Beta density functions into a higherorder attenuation model and adding noise. With the polydisperse model and noisy attenuation data, we formulate and solve inverse problems using the Prohorov Metric Framework to reconstruct the input Beta density functions using piecewise linear splines. Furthermore, we use a regularization term to stabilize the inverse problem. We establish that the polydisperse ISA model and inverse problem formulation allow us to reconstruct the true probability density functions on pore radius for cases where the underlying microstructure varies.
Assessment of Soil Strength using a Robotically Deployed and Retrieved Penetrometer

This paper presents a method for performing free-fall penetrometer tests for soft soils using an instrumented dart deployed by a quadcopter. Tests were performed with three soil types and used to examine the effect of drop height on the penetration depth and the deceleration profile. Further tests analyzed the force required to remove a dart from the soil and the effect of pulling at different speeds and angles. The pull force of a consumer drone was measured, and tests were performed where a drone delivered and removed darts in soil representative of a wetland environment.
Abstract #1871: Autophagy regulation of HMGB1 release from dying tumor cells

The characteristics of tumor cell killing by an anti-cancer agent can determine the long-term effectiveness of the treatment. For example, if dying tumor cells release the immune modulator HMGB1 after treatment with anti-cancer drugs, they can activate a tumor-specific immune response that boosts the effectiveness of the initial treatment. We recently found that in response to tumor cell killing by an Epidermal Growth Factor-Receptor-targeted toxin, the induction of autophagy controls whether or not HMGB1 is released from dying tumor cells. Here we have examined the mechanism by which autophagy controls HMGB1 release in other tumor cells and the role of this mechanism in regulating the ability of other anti-cancer agents treat tumor cells. We found that as with the EGFR-targeted toxin, autophagy regulates HMGB1 after treatment with other anti-cancer agents including doxorubicin. These data identify a new function for autophagy during tumor cell killing by anti-cancer agents and open up the possibility of manipulating autophagy during cancer treatment as a way to influence the immunogenicity of the dying tumor cells. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 1871.
Dynamic and weak electric double layers in ultrathin nanopores.

The unique properties of aqueous electrolytes in ultrathin nanopores have drawn a great deal of attention in a variety of applications, such as power generation, water desalination, and disease diagnosis. Inside the nanopore, at the interface, properties of ions differ from those predicted by the classical ionic layering models (e.g., Gouy–Chapman electric double layer) when the thickness of the nanopore approaches the size of a single atom (e.g., nanopores in a single-layer graphene membrane). Here, using extensive molecular dynamics simulations, the structure and dynamics of aqueous ions inside nanopores are studied for different thicknesses, diameters, and surface charge densities of carbon-based nanopores [ultrathin graphene and finite-thickness carbon nanotubes (CNTs)]. The ion concentration and diffusion coefficient in ultrathin nanopores show no indication of the formation of a Stern layer (an immobile counter-ionic layer) as the counter-ions and nanopore atoms are weakly correlated in time compared to the strong correlation observed in thick nanopores. The weak correlation observed in ultrathin nanopores is indicative of a weak adsorption of counter-ions onto the surface compared to that of thick pores. The vanishing counter-ion adsorption (ion–wall correlation) in ultrathin nanopores leads to several orders of magnitude shorter ionic residence times (picoseconds) compared to the residence times in thick CNTs (seconds). The results of this study will help better understand the structure and dynamics of aqueous ions in ultrathin nanopores.
Island ceremony and submerged worlds

David Chandler and Jonathan Pugh’s ((2021) Anthropocene islands: there are only islands after the end of the world. Dialogues in Human Geography.) ambitious undertaking is to understand how islands...
Obesity 2021: Rejecting Old Misconceptions and Embracing a New Paradigm to Improve Outcomes

Despite the best efforts of many health care workers and increasing knowledge about the human energy regulatory system and dietary and exercise science, rates of obesity continue to rise. In the past 40 years, not a single country in the world has experienced a reduction in the prevalence of obesity. Over these same 40 years, treatment options such as medications, as well as bariatric and other surgical procedures, have continued to expand. Why then, are we not seeing more improvement in obesity outcomes? This commentary hypothesizes that it is due to a combination of factors. These factors include an individual's genetic predisposition combined with the modern obesogenic environment, an energy regulatory system that defends fat mass and fights loss, obesity not being seen as a disease state, and individual and societal weight bias. (Clin Ther. 2021;43:XXX-XXX) © 2021 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc.
EPICS: engineering projects in community service

Multidisciplinary, multi-semester design projects with real customers and a compelling context create a rich environment for engineering, technology and computer science students to learn about design, teamwork and experience the need for the professional skills that can be difficult to teach in traditional classes. Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) is a model for implementing these characteristics within a service-learning framework where community service providers serve as the "customers". The application of design to community issues can broaden students' understanding of their discipline and has the potential to increase participation of underrepresented populations. This interactive workshop will introduce participants to the EPICS model of service-learning design; explore the educational needs and resources of the participants' institutions and the potential for implementing similar programs at their own institutions.
El origen de los amerindios: debates actuales

In the last twenty years, contributions furnished by Archeology, Physical Anthopology, Linguistics, and Genetics have drammatically subverted the study of the origins of man in America. For example, through dental pieces Physical Anthropologists have obtained specimens resistant to post-mortem alterations directly related to evolutionary changes in the populations. At the same time, the study of genetic frequencies and changing distributions of genetic markers in American indigenous populations have yielded new information on settlement patterns and migration, rasing doubts about the archeological evidence of the earliest human migrations. The aim of this article is to offer an overview of this literature and the new questions aroused by it.
The regulation of purine utilization in bacteria. I. Purification of adenine phosphoribosyltransferase from Escherichia coli K12 and control of activity by nucleotides.

Abstract The adenine phosphoribosyltransferase of Escherichia coli K-12 is markedly derepressed under cultural conditions which preclude de novo synthesis of purines. The enzyme obtained from such cultures was purified to constant specific activity of 14.0 µmoles of AMP formed at 37° per min per mg. Enzyme activity is associated with an apparently homogeneous protein species as indicated by either acrylamide gel electrophoresis or gel filtration at low pH and in the presence of divalent cation. The molecular weight as estimated by gel filtration under these conditions is 40,000. At high pH and in the absence of divalent cations, several protein moieties are observed by these techniques; each, however, exhibits enzyme activity. Apparent Km values were found to be 0.01 to 0.02 mm and 0.15 to 0.25 mm for adenine and P-ribose-PP, respectively. The pH optimum is approximately 8.0 and either manganese or magnesium will satisfy the divalent cation requirement. All uncyclized nucleoside 5'-phosphate esters significantly inhibited activity, apparently by competing with P-ribose-PP. The total nucleotide pool is therefore postulated to be involved in the regulation of adenine utilization.
Crystal structure of human heme oxygenase-1

Heme oxygenase catalyzes the first step in the oxidative degradation of heme. The crystal structure of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) reported here reveals a novel helical fold with the heme sandwiched between two helices. The proximal helix provides a heme iron ligand, His 25. Conserved glycines in the distal helix near the oxygen binding site allow close contact between the helix backbone and heme in addition to providing flexibility for substrate binding and product release. Regioselective oxygenation of the alpha-meso heme carbon is due primarily to steric influence of the distal helix.
La cultura hohokam del sur de Arizona

Ademas de habiles agricultores que usaron un amplio abanico de estrategias para cultivar sus aridos terrenos, los hohokam se distinguen por haber construido enormes sistemas de canales de riego y por haber erigido juegos de pelota y plataformas –de tamano modesto si se les compara con otros monumentos del mundo antiguo– sin dirigentes poderosos ni burocracias
Registering histological and MR images of prostate for image-based cancer detection

This paper presents a deformable registration method to co-register histological images with MR images of the same prostate. By considering various distortion and cutting artifacts in histological images and also fundamentally different nature of histological and MR images, our registration method is thus guided by two types of landmark points that can be reliably detected in both histological and MR images, i.e., prostate boundary points, and internal salient points that can be identified by a scale-space analysis method. The similarity between these automatically detected landmarks in histological and MR images are defined by geometric features and normalized mutual information, respectively. By optimizing a function, which integrates the similarities between landmarks with spatial constraints, the correspondences between the landmarks as well as the deformable transformation between histological and MR images can be simultaneously obtained. The performance of our proposed registration algorithm has been evaluated by various designed experiments. This work is part of a larger effort to develop statistical atlases of prostate cancer using both imaging and histological information, and to use these atlases for optimal biopsy and therapy planning.
A graphical approach for presenting linkage results from a genomic screen.

Initially, a sib-pair linkage analysis was performed between the marker loci and six untransformed variables. Results from several variations of this initial analysis were compared using a graphical approach (P-plots) to simplify presentation. When results were compared to the generating model, most of the aspects of the generating model were recovered, although we did not find evidence of the polygenic component shared by Q2 and Q3, or evidence of linkage between MG4 and Q4 at the 0.01 level. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
PCOR, CER, and CBPR: Alphabet Soup or Complementary Fields of Health Research?

Comparative effectiveness research (CER) and community- based participatory research (CBPR) are two fields of research that do not have a history of strong collaboration. However, CER and CBPR researchers could benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration to design and implement relevant, timely, action-oriented research. This commentary explores field-specific definitions of stakeholders and then outlines various roles stakeholders might play within grant-funded research. Questions such as "What stakeholders should be involved?" and "How are stakeholders involved?" are addressed. The goal of this commentary is to highlight how the expertise and experiences of CBPR investigators can enhance the field of CER and to describe strategies for encouraging stakeholder involvement in CER research through the lens of CBPR. It is recommended that a team-based approach to conducting stakeholder-engaged CER encourages multiple stakeholders and "end users" to contribute their diverse expertise to the research process and contributes to the development of research with an increased likelihood of improving patient health and healthcare.
Al-Jazeera and the Arab Uprisings: The Language of Images and a Medium’s Stancetaking

This study (a) investigates the complex set of emergent meanings from Al-Jazeera's visual narratives about itself, and (b) analyzes how Al-Jazeera's visual texts articulate a broader set of nationalist meanings concerning Qatar, its home country. Rather than a content analysis of language, visual elements are emphasized, which transcend the news story or program content. The “content” here involves not just events themselves but the metatextual meanings emerging from the images woven among programs, promotional videos, and commercial advertisements.
Temperature effects on the fabrication of optical channels in planar GaAs/AlGaAs waveguides using MeV ions

Abstract We have fabricated optical channels in selectively masked planar GaAs/AlGaAs waveguide structures using both 10 MeV oxygen and 8 MeV carbon ions. Implantation at different temperatures appears to have a direct effect on the extracted propagation mode losses. Single-mode operation was observed from all the fabricated optical channels at a wavelength of 1.3 μm. The optical characterization results provide insight as to which ion beam parameters are best suited to optimize this fabrication process.
Neumann and Zagier's symplectic relations

Abstract We give a new proof of Neumann and Zagier's symplectic relations. This approach was originally suggested by Thurston.
A characterization of positive matrices

It is shown that an n-by-n matrix has a strictly dominant positive eigenvalue with positive left and right eigenvectors and this property is inherited by principle submatrices if and only if it is entry-wise positive. This limits the extent to which attractive Perron-Frobenius properities may be generalized outside the positive matrices.
Heterologous MVA-S prime Ad5-S boost regimen induces high and persistent levels of neutralizing antibody response against SARS coronavirus

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a novel coronavirus (CoV), SARS-CoV. In previous studies, we showed that a SARS-CoV spike (S) glycoprotein-based modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA-S) vaccine could induce strong neutralizing antibody (Nab) response which might have played a critical role in protecting Chinese rhesus monkeys from the pathogenic viral challenge. To date, however, it remains unknown what the minimal level of Nab is required to achieve sterile immunity in humans. It is therefore important to explore techniques to maximize the level of Nab response in vivo. Here, we evaluate various vaccination regimens using combinations of DNA-S, MVA-S, and adenovirus type 5 (Ad5-S) vaccines. We show that in vaccinated mice and rabbits, a heterologous MVA-S prime with Ad5-S boost regimen induces the highest and most persistent level of Nab response when compared with other combinations. Interestingly, the initial level of Nab after prime does not necessarily predict the magnitude of the secondary response after the boost. Thus, our data provides a promising optimal regimen for vaccine development in humans against SARS-CoV infection.
Prejudice toward contemporary outgroups as a generalized attitude.

The interrelatedness of attitudes toward homosexuals, Blacks, women, and old people was studied, as well as attitude differences on demographic variables. Three hundred and nine White undergraduates responded to the Homosexual Attitude Scale, The Attitudes Toward Women Scale, Multifactor Racial Attitude Inventory, and two attitudes toward old people scales. Nine of the ten possible intercorrelations were significant beyond the .01 levels. Prejudice toward quite distinct outgroups appears to be a generalized attitude. Attitude differences were found on the demographic variables of sex, political party, and religion. Women expressed more tolerant attitudes than men toward all four outgroups studied. Republicans were more prejudiced toward homosexuals and women than were Democrats or Independents. Participants who identified themselves as Christians were less supportive of equality between the sexes than were Catholics, Protestants, or those with no religion Christians were also more prejudiced toward homosexuals than were Catholics or those with no religion.
Beam Signal Processing for the Fermilab Longitudinal and Transverse Beam Damping Systems

A beam signal processor is used to secure the position of each charged bunch in the Fermilab main synchrotron. The signal processor operates at 317 MHz, 6 times the fundamental beam component and utilizes an amplitude-to-phase converter/hard limiter combination to obtain a normalized position signal. The normalization process is complete in less than 10 ns and is effective over a 23 dB intensity range. The methods used to sample and process the 2 ns beam signal are discussed and the principle parameters of the device listed. The processor outputs the derived position data to elements in a closed-loop beam damping system.
The hypE gene completes the gene cluster for H2-oxidation in Azotobacter vinelandii

The nucleotide sequence was obtained for the hypE gene in the cluster of structural and accessory genes required for the assembly and functioning of the membrane-bound, dimeric, (NiFe)hydrogenase in Azotobacter vinelandii. The hypE gene encodes a polypeptide of 341 amino acid residues which is rich in alanine, glycine, valine and proline and appears to be involved in maturation of the enzyme because chromosomal mutations in hypE block O2-dependent H2-oxidation and affect the amount, processing and localization of the (NiFe) hydrogenase alpha-subunit. The complete nucleotide sequence for the hydrogenase gene cluster in A. vinelandii has now been assembled into a contiguous sequence of 13,914 bp containing 16 potential genes which appear to be transcribed undirectionally. They are arranged in the order hoxK, hoxG, hoxZ, hoxM, hoxL, hoxO, hoxQ, hoxR, hoxT, hoxV, hypA, hypB, hypF, hypC, hypD and hypE. This cluster closely resembles those described for comparable (NiFe) hydrogenases in other bacteria.
Potential step study of electrooxidation of methanol in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate

Abstract A potential step method was used to characterize the electrooxidation of methanol on a chemically modified electrode in an ionic liquid solvent. Two major findings were reported from this study. Firstly, the oxidation was dominant 2.2 s after the potential step. Before that, the double layer charging and adsorption were dominant. Therefore, there should be a waiting time of a few seconds if a methanol sensor is developed with a potential step method. Secondly, the oxidation of methanol on the electrode was diffusion controlled. The concentration of methanol affected the diffusion. The diffusion constant D0 was 8.37 × 10−17 m2/s when the concentration was lower than 0.5 M and was 2.66 × 10−13 m2/s when the concentration was higher than 1.0 M. This suggests that the methanol concentration should be kept higher than a threshold in an ionic liquid based fuel cell.
cDNA cloning and characterization of lamina-associated polypeptide 1C (LAP1C), an integral protein of the inner nuclear membrane.

Lamina-associated polypeptides 1A-1C (LAPs1A-1C) are related integral membrane proteins of the inner nuclear membrane that bind to both A- and B-type lamins and have a putative role in the membrane attachment and assembly of the nuclear lamina. In this study, we have cloned a cDNA encoding LAP1C. The DNA sequence predicts a 506-amino acid protein of largely hydrophilic character with a single membrane-spanning region between residues 311-333. Mapping of the epitope recognized by the anti-LAP1 monoclonal antibody RL13 indicates that the hydrophilic domain containing residues 1-310 is exposed to the nucleoplasm and thus that LAP1C is a type II integral membrane protein. A second class of LAP1 cDNAs was isolated that contains two protein-coding nucleotide insertions in the LAP1C sequence. These probably encode parts of LAPs1A and/or −1B, suggesting that LAP1 isotypes arise from alternative splicing. Immunoblot analysis of mouse P19 teratocarcinoma cells and the P19MES-differentiated derivative of the latter suggest that LAP1 isotypes are differentially expressed during development, similar to members of the nuclear lamin family. Since the different LAP1 isotypes appear to bind lamins with different affinities, these changes in expression could be important for developmentally regulated alterations in nuclear structure.
Mass spectrometer for the study of sputtering

Abstract A single focusing mass spectrometer system has been built to study sputtering of surfaces by ion bombardment. Bombarding ions are formed in an oscillating electron source. Sputtered ions are mass analyzed directly. Sputtered neutrals are ionized and detected using a pulsed source-detector system which allows the measurement of the ionized sputtered neutral beam intensities to be made even in the presence of much larger signals from the residual gases in the instrument.
Compatibility of chiral and non-chiral models in quantum hadrodynamics

Abstract Non-chiral models of quantum hadrodynamics with a light (500–600 MeV) scalar meson successfully describe bulk nuclear properties. In contrast, chirally symmetric models are necessary to correctly describe pion dynamics. If the chiral scalar meson is taken to be light, however, the resulting strong non-linearities preclude a viable description of nuclear matter saturation. A resolution of this dilemma is discussed based on the linear σ model with a heavy chiral scalar and correlated two-pion exchange in the scalar-isoscalar channel.
Antiphospholipid antibodies differ in aPL cofactor requirement.

Although autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) may require a serum cofactor, beta2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI), for maximal binding in aPL ELISA, it is not known whether cofactor is absolutely re...
Baseband and Envelope Propagation in Media Modeled by a Class of Complex Dispersion Relations

We demonstrate that a class of simplified complex dispersion relations, which obey causality, can model baseband and envelope propagation in conventional and negative index materials. One such dispersion relation is a special case of the Drude model, another yields the Kuramoto-Shivashinsky equation, while a third, in the limit, yields the simplest dispersion for negative index materials.
Interpreting Tocqueville's Democracy in America

A collection of 18 scholars probe "Democracy in America"'s understanding of the modern world from the perspective of political theory, providing original analyses ranging from close textual exegeses to applications of Tocqueville's method - in one case to contemporary Asia.
Overexpression of mitochondrial Hsp70/Hsp75 protects astrocytes against ischemic injury in vitro.

Mitochondrial heat shock protein 70 (mtHsp70/Hsp75/Grp75/mortalin/TRAP-1/PBP74) is an essential mitochondrial chaperone and a member of the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) family. Although many studies have shown the protective properties of overexpression of the cytosolic inducible member of the HSP70 family, Hsp72, few studies have investigated the protective potential of Hsp75 against ischemic injury. Mitochondria are one of the primary targets of ischemic injury in astrocytes. In this study, we analyzed the effects of Hsp75 overexpression on cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP levels, and viability during the ischemia-like conditions of oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) or glucose deprivation (GD) in primary astrocytic cultures. We show that Hsp75 overexpression decreases ROS production and preserves mitochondrial membrane potential during GD, and preserves ATP levels and cell viability during OGD. These findings indicate that Hsp75 can provide protection against ischemia-like in vitro injury and suggest that it should be further studied as a potential candidate for protection against ischemic injury.
Effect of finite thickness of scattering layer on coda Q of local earthquakes

Abstract Theories based on the assumption of an infinite medium show that the coda attenuation factor, Q c −1 , of local earthquakes should be very close to the intrinsic Q i −1 , whereas many observations show that Q c −1 is close to the total Q − ( Q t −1 ). This paper shows by numerical modeling that Q c −1 depends on the thickness of the scattering layer. For source-receiver coincidence, if the thickness is greater than a half of the mean free path, Q c −1 lies between Q i −1 and Q t −1 . However, when the thickness is less, Q c −1 may be higher than Q t −1 . In addition, Q c −1 depends on the epicentral distance. The thinner the layer, the faster the change with distance in Q c −1 . For an unbounded scattering medium Q c −1 is even lower than Q i −1 at long epicentral distances.
Removal of Phosphorus from Contaminated Wastewater Using an Iron-Containing Quaternized Wood Nanocomposite

ABSTRACT Iron-containing quaternized wood nanocomposites have the ability to remove phos- phorus from water more quickly than non-quaternized versions. They allow for additional complexation of iron besides the o-catechol groups present in wood, where the iron complexes the phosphate ions and allowing for their removal. Quaternization also provides positive charges that attract the phosphate anion to the nanocomposite. These nanocomposites have proven that they can remove up to 100% of the phosphorus present in up to 10 mg/L phosphorus solutions with a 48-hour treatment. In 5 mg/L solutions, they have proven 99% removal capacity can be retained even after two regenerations.
Influence of the solvent system on the orientation of 3-butenenitrile and 3-dimethylaminopropionitrile in the co-ordination sphere of copper(I) and silver ions

Abstract The influence of the solvent system on the orientation of 3-butenenitrile and 3-dimethylaminopropionitrile in the co-ordination sphere of copper(I) and silver ion has been investigated by using propylene carbonate and 1,2-dichloroethane solutions and electrochemical, infrared, and proton NMR techniques.
Land ownership restrictions of the Midwestern states: influence on farm structure.

rights to own real estate (Zagaris, pp. 38-39). For example, the common law rule in England prior to 1870 prevented aliens from acquiring good title to land without the king's approval (Blackstone, vol. 2, pp. 249-50). The reason for limiting rights of aliens made sense in the feudal system that existed when the common law rule arose. In that feudal system, the king granted land to lords (and the lords in turn granted land to lessor lords) in exchange for a commitment to furnish specified goods or services-including service in the king's army. An alien was likely not to have the necessary loyalty to the king to uphold his obligation to provide such services. Therefore, to reduce the risk of conveying land to a party who would fail to perform the services promised, the law eliminated aliens (except those approved by the king) from the class of people that could hold land. The logic behind the current interest in restricting land ownership is not so simple. The primary objective of current laws that restrict the ownership of farmland by aliens and corporations is to influence farm structure by preserving the family farm (Minn. Stat. Ann. Sec. 500.24 (1), Supp. 1979; S.Dakota Compiled Laws Ann. Sec. 47-9A-1, Supp. 1979; Neb. Rev. Stat., Sec. 76-1501, 1976). There are important legal and practical limitations to the effectiveness of restrictive laws in attaining that objective. Some of those limitations are discussed in the second part of this article. The first part of this article summarizes the laws of the midwestern states that restrict the rights of aliens and corporations to control farmland.
Proline-rich region of non-muscle myosin light chain kinase modulates kinase activity and endothelial cytoskeletal dynamics.

Abstract Disruption of the pulmonary endothelial barrier and subsequent vascular leak is a hallmark of acute lung injury. Dynamic rearrangements in the endothelial cell (EC) peripheral membrane and underlying cytoskeleton are critical determinants of barrier function. The cytoskeletal effector protein non-muscle myosin light chain kinase (nmMLCK) and the actin-binding regulatory protein cortactin are important regulators of the endothelial barrier. In the present study we functionally characterize a proline-rich region of nmMLCK previously identified as the possible site of interaction between nmMLCK and cortactin. A mutant nmMLCK construct deficient in proline residues at the putative sites of cortactin binding (amino acids 973, 976, 1019, 1022) was generated. Co-immunoprecipitation studies in human lung EC transfected with wild-type or mutant nmMLCK demonstrated similar levels of cortactin interaction at baseline and after stimulation with the barrier-enhancing agonist, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). In contrast, binding studies utilizing recombinant nmMLCK fragments containing the wild-type or proline-deficient sequence demonstrated a two-fold increase in cortactin binding (p
Co-Enriching Microflora Associated with Culture Based Methods to Detect Salmonella from Tomato Phyllosphere

The ability to detect a specific organism from a complex environment is vitally important to many fields of public health, including food safety. For example, tomatoes have been implicated numerous times as vehicles of foodborne outbreaks due to strains of Salmonella but few studies have ever recovered Salmonella from a tomato phyllosphere environment. Precision of culturing techniques that target agents associated with outbreaks depend on numerous factors. One important factor to better understand is which species co-enrich during enrichment procedures and how microbial dynamics may impede or enhance detection of target pathogens. We used a shotgun sequence approach to describe taxa associated with samples pre-enrichment and throughout the enrichment steps of the Bacteriological Analytical Manual's (BAM) protocol for detection of Salmonella from environmental tomato samples. Recent work has shown that during efforts to enrich Salmonella (Proteobacteria) from tomato field samples, Firmicute genera are also co-enriched and at least one co-enriching Firmicute genus (Paenibacillus sp.) can inhibit and even kills strains of Salmonella. Here we provide a baseline description of microflora that co-culture during detection efforts and the utility of a bioinformatic approach to detect specific taxa from metagenomic sequence data. We observed that uncultured samples clustered together with distinct taxonomic profiles relative to the three cultured treatments (Universal Pre-enrichment broth (UPB), Tetrathionate (TT), and Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV)). There was little consistency among samples exposed to the same culturing medias, suggesting significant microbial differences in starting matrices or stochasticity associated with enrichment processes. Interestingly, Paenibacillus sp. (Salmonella inhibitor) was significantly enriched from uncultured to cultured (UPB) samples. Also of interest was the sequence based identification of a number of sequences as Salmonella despite indication by all media, that samples were culture negative for Salmonella. Our results substantiate the nascent utility of metagenomic methods to improve both biological and bioinformatic pathogen detection methods.
The translational regulation of lipoprotein lipase in diabetic rats involves the 3'-untranslated region of the lipoprotein lipase mRNA.

Adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity is decreased in patients with poorly controlled diabetes, and this contributes to the dyslipidemia of diabetes. To study the mechanism of this decrease in LPL, we studied adipose tissue LPL expression in male rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Heparin releasable and extractable LPL activity in the epididymal fat decreased by 75–80% in the diabetic group and treatment of the rats with insulin prior to sacrifice reversed this effect. Northern blot analysis indicated no corresponding change in LPL mRNA levels. However, LPL synthetic rate, measured using [35S]methionine pulse labeling, was decreased by 75% in the diabetic adipocytes, and insulin treatment reversed this effect. These results suggested regulation of LPL at the level of translation. Diabetic adipocytes demonstrated no change in the distribution of LPL mRNA associated with polysomes, suggesting no inhibition of translation initiation. Addition of cytoplasmic extracts from control and diabetic adipocytes to a reticulocyte lysate system demonstrated the inhibition of LPL translation in vitro. Using different LPL mRNA transcripts in this in vitro translation assay, we found that the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of the LPL mRNA was important in controlling translation inhibition by the cytoplasmic extracts. To identify the specific region involved, gel shift analysis was performed. A specific shift in mobility was observed when diabetic cytoplasmic extract was added to a transcript containing nucleotides 1818–2000 of the LPL 3′-UTR. Thus, inhibition of translation is the predominant mechanism for the decreased adipose tissue LPL in this insulin-deficient model of diabetes. Translation inhibition involves the interaction of a cytoplasmic factor, probably an RNA-binding protein, with specific sequences of the LPL 3′-UTR.
Addendum: Recovery of cellulases from spent broth of sugar beet pulp fermentation byTrichoderma reesei

The exo- and endo-glucanases ofTrichoderma reesei were recovered after growth on sugar beet pulp by vacuum concentration followed by (NH4)2SO4 or acetone precipitation. Final respective recoveries were 53% and 57% for the exoglucanase and 41% and 42% for the endoglucanase. The resuspended acetone precipitates of both enzymes showed no loss of activity after 30 d at 4°C, pH 4.8 and in the presence of 0.5% sorbic acid. (NH4)2SO4-precipitated exoglucanase lost activity in the same period.
Efficient Data Authentication in an Environment of Untrusted Third-Party Distributors

In the third-party model for the distribution of data, the trusted data creator or owner provides an untrusted party V with data and integrity verification (IV) items for that data. When a user U gets a subset of the data at D or is already in possession of that subset, U may request from D the IV items that make it possible for U to verify the integrity of its data: D must then provide U with the (hopefully small) number of needed IVs. Most of the published work in this area uses the Merkle tree or variants thereof. For the problem of 2-dimensional range data, the best published solutions require V to store O(n log n) IV items for a database of n items, and allow a user IA to be sent only O(log n) of those IVs for the purpose of verifying the integrity of the data it receives from D (regardless of the size of lA's query rectangle). For data that is modeled as a 2-dimensional grid (such as GIS or image data), this paper shows that better bounds are possible: The number of IVs stored at D (and the time it takes to compute them) can be brought down to O(n), and the number of IVs sent to IA for verification can be brought down to a constant.
Agriculture as a major evolutionary transition to human ultrasociality

The adoption of agriculture was one of the most momentous transformations in human history. It set into motion forces that changed our species from living in small numbers within the confines of local ecosystems into one that is now changing the biophysical characteristics of the entire planet. We argue that this transformation can be understood as a leap to ultrasociality—a type of social organization rare in nature but wildly successful when it occurs. Several species of ants and termites made a similar leap in social organization and the broad characteristics of their societies are remarkably similar to post hunter-gatherer human societies. Ultrasocial species dominate the ecosystems they occupy in terms of sheer numbers and the scale of ecosystem exploitation. We argue that the drivers for the ultrasocial transition to agriculture are economic. These societies operate as superorganisms exhibiting an unparalleled degree of division of labor and an economic organization centered around surplus production. We suggest that the origin of human and insect agriculture is an example of parallel evolution driven by similar forces of multi-level selection. Only with the evolution of expansionist agriculturalist societies did humans join ants and termites in the social domination of Earth. Viewing agriculture as an ultrasocial transition offers insights not only about the origins of agriculture and its consequences, but also about the forces shaping the current demographic transition and the modern global socio-economic system.
Deterioration Rates of Concrete Bridge Decks

Procedures are developed for estimating the parameters required for life‐cycle costing of the elements of maintenance and rehabilitation of concrete bridge decks subject to the deteriorative effects of deicing chemicals. The included elements are the age and extent of deterioration at which annual maintenance can be expected to begin, the rate of increase in annual maintenance, and the age at which rehabilitation is required. The information presented is primarily of use in formulating repair/rehabilitation/replacement policy. The calculated values of the parameters may be expected to vary considerably from observed values of individual bridges, but should reasonably reflect mean values for large numbers of bridges.
St. George the indigenous foreigner in Kerala Christianity

The cult of St. George in Kerala, South India, brought initially by Syrian merchants, bolstered by Portuguese and British colonizers, and currently called into question by the Vatican, represents a complex entanglement of cultural and colonial forces. Informed by post-colonial theories which argue for the hybridization of colonized cultures, this paper presents Kerala's St. George cult as reflecting an ambivalent stance toward foreign influences and impositions. In spite of hybrid St. George's occasional expedient association with imperial powers, however, I argue that this European-looking saint is, in the eyes of most of his devotees, uninterested in foreign affairs and, ultimately, a champion for indigenous concerns.
Phagocytosis by the monkey pigment epithelium.

Abstract Phagocytic activity of the pigment epithelium of the Rhesus monkey was studied by electron microscopy. Polystyrene spheres of various sizes were suspended in a saline solution and injected into the subretinal space. In the first few hours, the pigment epithelial cells actively phagocytized fragments of the outer segment produced by the injection injury. The spheres were engulfed at a considerably later stage. By the sixth hour, the larger spheres which had been surrounded by the microvilli were taken into the cell. Phagocytized spheres were usually distributed individually within the cytoplasm. On the other hand, the smaller (0·1 μm) spheres aggregated into clusters of 10–20 and were coated by a mucopoly-saccharide substance before they were engulfed by the pigment epithelium by 24 hr. When a mixture of 0·1 and 1·0 μm spheres were injected, the cell handled the two kinds of spheres separately evoking the pattern as described above. The size of the particles appears to be a determinant factor in the phagocytic activation. Fine foreign particles are not readily phagocytized unless the cell is considerably damaged. The invading histocytes always show an effective phagocytic activity for cleaning of the subretinal region.
Optical properties of single-crystal Be from 0.12 to 4.5 eV

Measurements of the optical absorptivity of single crystals of Be have been carried out in the energy range 0.12-4.5 eV with polarized light. The infrared absorptivity is considerably lower than previously reported. Evidence is presented for the onset of interband transitions for both polarizations beginning near 0.4 eV. A shoulder is noted in the absorptivity for $\mathrm{E}\ensuremath{\perp}c$ at about 1.3 eV. The absorptivity data are Kramers-Kronig analyzed and the optical constants are determined. An interpretation based on the band structure of Tripp, Everett, Gordon, and Stark is presented.