cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long Noncoding RNAs as Targets and Regulators of Nuclear Receptors

Intensive research has been directed at the discovery, biogenesis, and expression patterns of long noncoding RNAs , yet their biochemical functions have remained elusive for the most part. Nuclear receptors that interpret signaling mediated by small molecule hormones play a role in regulating the expression of some long noncoding RNAs. More importantly, these RNAs have also been shown to effect hormone-affected gene transcription regulated by the nuclear receptors. In this chapter, we summarize the current knowledge that has been acquired on hormonal signaling inducing expression of long noncoding RNAs and how they then may act in trans or in cis to modulate gene transcription. We highlight a few of these noncoding RNA molecules in terms of how they may impact hormone-driven cancers. Future directions critical for moving this field forward are presented, with a clear emphasis on the need for better biochemical approaches to address the mechanism of action of these exciting RNAs.
A note on the behaviour of the stable distributions for small index

Eq.(1.1) and (1.2) are the representations considered by Zolotarev, [6]. Here K ( ~ ) = I I I ~ I , and 0 0. The parameter fi is a skewness parameter, 7 is a centering parameter, c is a scale parameter, and e is the index parameter. A simple change of variables in (1.1) shows that, f(x; ~, fi, 7, c)= c-1/~f([x 7] c-1/~; ~, fi, O, 1), (1.3) for ~ Je 1. Thus, for the moment, we are able to restrict ourselves to the case 7 = 0, c = 1, and we will write, fix; c~, fi)= f(x; c~, fi, O, 1). (1.4) Trivially, f(x; c~, f l )=f(-x; ~,-fl). (1.5) Using (1.3) and (1.5), and an infinite series expansion derived from (1.1), we will show that if X is a random variable having a stable distribution with parameters e, fi, 7, c, as given in (1.1), then
Extended Hildebrand Solubility Approach: Solubility of Tolbutamide, Acetohexamide, and Sulfisomidine in Binary Solvent Mixtures

The extended Hildebrand approach for predicting solubilities of crystalline compounds in solvent mixtures was tested using tolbutamide, acetohexamide, and sulfisomidine in mixed solvents consisting of hexane-absolute ethanol and 95% (v/v) ethyl alcohol-aqueous buffer. The solubility of these drugs was determined at 25 ± 0.2° and then back-calculated using the adhesive energy term, W, to account for solute-solvent interaction. Solubilities were predicted within 13% for tolbutamide, 31% for acetohexamide, and 43% for sulfisomidine, and with considerably better accuracy in most solvent mixtures.
Cities, Constitutions, and Sovereign Borrowing in Europe, 1274–1785

This article investigates the politics of sovereign borrowing in Europe over the very long run+ I consider three alternative hypotheses regarding the sources of borrower credibility+ According to the first, European states with constitutional checks on executive authority found it easier to obtain credit at low interest rates than did states that lacked such constraints+ My second hypothesis focuses on state type ~city-state versus territorial state! and the way in which this may have influ- enced the balance of political power between owners of land and owners of capital in a society+ This hypothesis suggests that after controlling for other factors, one should observe that city-states in Europe found it easier to borrow than did larger territorial states, and that these city-states paid lower interest rates on their debt+ Finally, my third hypothesis suggests that borrower credibility depended on the simultaneous presence of both constitutional checks and balances and a city-state+ When one con- siders a broad sample of cases over a long time span there is strong support for the proposition involving city-states and merchant power, but less support for the argu- ment that constitutional checks influenced credibility regardless of state type ~city- state or territorial state!+ There is, however, some empirical evidence of an interaction effect whereby constitutional constraints on rulers made city-states particularly cred- ible as borrowers+ My results are robust to a number of controls for alternative deter- minants, for sample selection bias, and for the endogeneity of city-state development+ One of the most frequently cited recent arguments about European state develop- ment involves the effect of constitutional checks and balances on economic per- formance+ In areas where political institutions placed constraints on rulers, scholars have argued that property rights were more secure, which helped stimulate invest- ment, innovation, and growth+ Authors have suggested that checks and balances also facilitated long-term borrowing by governments, since creditors found it less likely that constrained rulers would default on loans+ Easier access to loans at low interest rates gave some states an advantage in international competition+ The con- trasting cases of Great Britain and France provide a popular illustration of the
The 14-3-3τ Phosphoserine-Binding Protein Is Required for Cardiomyocyte Survival

14-3-3 family members are intracellular dimeric phosphoserine-binding proteins that regulate signal transduction, cell cycle, apoptotic, and metabolic cascades. Previous work with global 14-3-3 protein inhibitors suggested that these proteins play a critical role in antagonizing apoptotic cell death in response to provocative stimuli. To determine the specific role of one family member in apoptosis, mice were generated with targeted disruption of the 14-3-3tau gene. 14-3-3tau(-/-) mice did not survive embryonic development, but haploinsufficient mice appeared normal at birth and were fertile. Cultured adult cardiomyocytes derived from 14-3-3tau(+/-) mice were sensitized to apoptosis in response to hydrogen peroxide or UV irradiation. 14-3-3tau(+/-) mice were intolerant of experimental myocardial infarction and developed pathological ventricular remodeling with increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis. ASK1, c-jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation was increased, but extracellular signal-regulated kinase MAPK activation was reduced, in 14-3-3tau(+/-) cardiac tissue. Inhibition of p38 MAPK increased survival in 14-3-3tau(+/-) mice subjected to myocardial infarction. These results demonstrate that 14-3-3tau plays a critical antiapoptotic function in cardiomyocytes and that therapeutic agents that increase 14-3-3tau activity may be beneficial to patients with myocardial infarction.
Loosely Coupled TCP Acceleration Architecture

We present a novel approach for scalable network acceleration. The architecture uses limited hardware support and preserves protocol processing flexibility, combining the benefits of TCP offload and onload. The architecture is based on decoupling the data movement functions, accelerated by a hardware engine, from complex protocol processing, controlled by an isolated software entity running on a central CPU. These operate in parallel and interact asynchronously. We describe a prototype implementation which achieves multi-gigabit throughput with extremely low CPU utilization.
Methylation-sensitive binding of transcription factor YY1 to an insulator sequence within the paternally expressed imprinted gene, Peg3

The 5'-ends of two paternally expressed mouse genes, Peg3 and Usp29, are jointly associated with a CpG island that exhibits allele-specific methylation. Sequence comparison of the regions derived from human, mouse and cow revealed the presence of two evolutionarily conserved sequence motifs including one that is repeated multiple times within the first intron of Peg3 in all three mammals. DNA mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays clearly demonstrated that this motif is an in vivo binding site for the Gli-type transcription factor YY1. The YY1-binding site contains one CpG dinucleotide, and methylation of this CpG site abolishes the binding activity of YY1 in vitro. The Peg3 YY1-binding sites are methylated only on the maternal chromosome in vivo, and ChIP assays confirmed that YY1 binds specifically to the paternal allele of the gene. Promoter, enhancer and insulator assays with deletion constructs of sequence surrounding the YY1-binding sites indicate that the region functions as a methylation-sensitive insulator that may influence the imprinted expression of Peg3 and neighboring genes. The current study is the first report demonstrating the involvement of YY1 in methylation-sensitive insulator activity and suggests a potential role of this highly conserved protein in mammalian genomic imprinting.
THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE U.S.-MEXICO FREE TRADE AGREEMENT: ANALYSIS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL FAST TRACK VOTE

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the strategic forces shaping U.S.-Mexico trade relationships and the possibilities of extending the trade agreement to the rest of the Americas. The paper concludes that constituency interests, party loyalty, the proportion of a state’s population of Hispanic origin, and the influence of textile-related employment in the state were significant explanatory factors in the Congressional Fast Track vote that occurred in May of 1991.
Feasibility investigations on a novel micro-manufacturing process for fabrication of fuel cell bipolar plates: Internal pressure-assisted embossing of micro-channels with in-die mechanical bonding

Abstract In this paper, we present the results of our studies on conceptual design and feasibility experiments towards development of a novel hybrid manufacturing process to fabricate fuel cell bipolar plates that consists of multi-array micro-channels on a large surface area. The premises of this hybrid micro-manufacturing process stem from the use of an internal pressure-assisted embossing process (cold or warm) combined with mechanical bonding of double bipolar plates in a single-die and single-step operation. Such combined use of hydraulic and mechanical forming forces and in-process bonding will (a) enable integrated forming of micro-channels on both surfaces (as anode and cathode flow fields) and at the middle (as cooling channels), (b) reduce the process steps, (c) reduce variation in dimensional tolerances and surface finish, (d) increase the product quality, (e) increase the performance of fuel cell by optimizing flow-field designs and ensuring consistent contact resistance, and (f) reduce the overall stack cost. This paper explains two experimental investigations that were performed to characterize and evaluate the feasibility of the conceptualized manufacturing process. The first investigation involved hydroforming of micro-channels using thin sheet metals of SS304 with a thickness of 51 μm. The width of the channels ranged from 0.46 to 1.33 mm and the height range was between 0.15 and 0.98 mm. Our feasibility experiments resulted in that different aspect ratios of micro-channels could be fabricated using internal pressure in a controllable manner although there is a limit to very sharp channel shapes (i.e., high aspect ratios with narrow channels). The second investigation was on the feasibility of mechanical bonding of thin sheet metal blanks. The effects of different process and material variables on the bond quality were studied. Successful bonding of various metal blanks (Ni201, Al3003, and SS304) was obtained. The experimental results from both investigations demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed manufacturing technique for making of the fuel cell bipolar plates.
Species Relationships in Krameria (Krameriaceae) Based on ITS Sequences and Morphology: Implications for Character Utility and Biogeography

The Krameriaceae is a monotypic family of 18 species distributed in the warm arid and semiarid regions of North and South America. We have used sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA repeat (ITS 1, 5.8S, and ITS 2) and morphology to infer relationships within Krameria. Using Kallstroemia parviflora, Guaiacum angustifolium, and Tribulus terrestris, three North American members of the Zygophyllaceae, as outgroups, our data provide evidence for two major clades in the genus, each containing a North and a South American subclade. Both the major clades and subclades are supported by morphological synapomorphies. The phylogeny does not provide an unequivocal resolution as to the hemisphere in which Krameria arose, but it does indicate an initial split leading to the ancestors of the two clades, each of which subsequently produced radiations in North and South America. Therefore, there must have been two independent dispersals to, or two vicariant episodes involving, North and South America.
Mortalin: A Positive Regulator of Centrosome Duplication and Amplification

Numeral abnormality of centrosomes (presence of more than two centrosomes) leads to mitotic defects and high frequencies of chromosome segregation errors. Centrosome amplification occurs frequently in various types of human cancers, and is believed to be a major cause of chromosomal instability. Centrosome amplification in many cases results from over-duplication (more than one duplication in a single cell cycle) caused by aberrant activities of the positive and negative regulators of centrosome duplication. Centrosome duplication is triggered by the cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2)-cyclin E kinase complex through targeting several centrosomally localized proteins, including Mps1 kinase. In contrast, p53 tumor suppressor protein suppresses centrosome duplication partly through transactivating p21 CDK inhibitor, and partly through direct regulation at centrosomes. Mortalin localizes to centrosomes, and when overexpressed, promotes centrosome duplication and induces centrosome amplification via targeting both Mps1 and p53. Here, we discuss the involvement of mortalin in the regulation of centrosome duplication and re-duplication, revealing a new and important aspect of oncogenic activity of mortalin, namely induction of numeral abnormality of centrosomes and consequent chromosome instability.
Intracorporate Opportunism: Redistributional Compensation and Fixing Underexposed Abuses of Corporate Wealth

Changes in government policy occur frequently and can significantly affect the value of investments. Depending on the type of action and design of the policy, the government may be obligated to provide compensation for losses in investment value. As a normative matter, whether these losses should be compensated has inspired a long-running academic discussion, with arguments against government compensation currently holding the high ground. But, this discussion has failed to investigate whether changes to corporate governance policy are similar to the standard model against compensation for policy change. In particular, a corporation combines a variety of economic interests and decisionmakers that permits opportunistic behavior in ways not considered in the compensation debate. The ongoing development of corporate governance in the United States and abroad raises concerns whether the presumption against compensation sufficiently addresses this risk of opportunism due to changes in corporate policy. This Article identifies the potential for opportunistic behavior within a corporation and proposes a scheme of redistributive compensation to mitigate such behavior. Requiring an equitable distribution of gains created by policy change can reduce the potential for opportunism under a market approach and substantially improve the quality of corporate decisions.
Alarm Behavior of Brooding Female Umbonia crassicornis (Homoptera: Membracidae)

Females of Umbonia crassicornis provide protection to eggs and 1st instars from insect predators. Females disperse reduviids, syrphid larvae and coccinellid beetles by directed aggressive movements. Visual stimuli from predators and alarm pheromones released from injured nymphs evoke the aggressive response of brooding females. Aggregates of nymphs and adults of 3 other membracid species respond to alarm pheromones but this is the 1st substantiated example of parent-offspring communication.
Absolute Determination of the Electrochemical Equivalent and the Atomic Weight of Zinc II. Final Determination.

A new, successful approach to the determination of atomic weights of suitable elements has been demonstrated in this research. An absolute constant-current coulometric method was employed for the determination of the electrochemical equivalent and the atomic weight of zinc. The effects of possible sources of systematic error were investigated and appropriate corrections applied. The newly determined values of the two constants are 0.3387958 mg C-1 and 65.3771 respectively. The uncertainty in the atomic weight of zinc was reduced by more than an order of magnitude. The publication of partial data resulted in the revision of the value of the atomic weight of zinc by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
Imaging of endogenous contrast for in situ ovarian cancer diagnosis

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality of all gynecologic cancers. Patients at high risk need technologies available that can detect early malignant changes. Optical techniques, possibly in conjunction with proteomic analyses of blood serum, will play an important role in the screening of high risk patients as well as diagnostic confirmation during surgical interventions.
Surface chemistry and annealing-driven interfacial changes in organic semiconducting thin films on silica surfaces.

Vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy was used in conjunction with steady-state IR spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and spectroscopic ellipsometry to characterize organic semiconductor thin films that were vapor deposited on silica- and trimethoxy(octadecyl)silane (ODTMS)-functionalized silica surfaces. The growth of perylene derivative N,N′-dioctyl-3,4,9,10-perylenedicarboximide (PTCDI-C8) was found to proceed differently on simple glass slides relative to that of native oxide on silicon and fused quartz slides. VSFG was applied to these samples to isolate structural changes that occurred specifically at the buried interface between the organic semiconductor and the silica dielectric upon thermal annealing. A model was introduced to globally fit the imide carbonyl symmetric and asymmetric interfacial spectra that included contributions from both inner and outer interfaces. The fits to the VSFG data and AFM topographic images revealed significant reordering at the outer inte...
45 ASSOCIATION IN BREAST AND COLON CANCER SCREENING BEHAVIOR IN WOMEN

Purpose Gender-based psychosocial factors appear to influence colorectal cancer (CRC) screening adherence. Given its near universal acceptance by the public, screening mammography represents a potential “teachable moment” for educating patients about the risk of CRC. Accordingly, to better understand screening behaviors among women, data from the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) were analyzed to identify potential relationships that would allow interventions to enhance CRC screening. Methods Women 50 years and older who participated in the BRFSS 2001 survey were included in the analysis. CRC, breast and cervical cancer screening adherence with American Cancer Society guidelines was determined. Breast and cervical cancer screening adherence and general health and demographic characteristics were used as predictors of CRC screening adherence. Results After adjusting for sociodemographic factors in a multivariate analysis, women 60-69 years old (adjusted OR 1.50, p Conclusions Women with up-to-date mammography and cervical cancer screening were more likely to be up-to-date with CRC screening. Regardless of the increased association between non-CRC-related cancer screening and CRC screening, rates of CRC screening utilization remained low in these otherwise compliant populations.
Of digits and things: opening remarks

Unlike our eyes, which bring us a world in images, our hands and fingers put us directly in touch with things in the world. Touching things directly, but also feeling themselves being touched at the same time, our hands and fingers are our first medium. But by remaining always contemporary – that is, always ready at hand – they are also our latest medium. Taking this observation as a starting point and keeping the idea of ‘the digital’ as a constant, this essay considers a few characteristics that establish German media theory as a distinct research project. It demonstrates, first, how artefacts ‘become’ media and, second, how this ‘becoming media’ can be formulated operationally and be studied in a manner consistent with the digital passages through which media appear as what they are. It is hoped that the discussion will shed some light on why and to what extent German media theory can be understood as ‘posthermeneutical’.
Revision Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

The popularity of the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has increased greatly over the past ten years. Advancements in technology and technique have led to an expansion of the indications and the number of surgeons who are performing RSA. With increased prevalence, there will be an associated increase in need for revision surgery. The potential causes for failed reverse total shoulder arthroplasty include infection, loosening, instability, and mechanical failure. The treatment of a failed reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is technically demanding and can have compromised outcomes. Conversion of a failed reverse total shoulder to a hemiarthroplasty or resection arthroplasty has poor results. There is limited available literature on the outcome following revision of a failed reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with a RSA with variable outcomes. An understanding of the etiology of the failure mechanism and the biomechanics of the reverse total shoulder is essential for successful revision. There is a need for greater understanding of the failure mechanisms for RSA and techniques to optimize outcome of a revision procedure.
Understanding immigrants, schooling, and school psychology: Contemporary science and practice

Immigration into the United States is a particularly salient topic of current contemporary educational, social, and political discussions. The school-related needs of immigrant children and youth can be well served by rigorous research and effective school psychology preservice training and preparation. This overview highlights key definitions, demographic statistics, and current resources related to immigration in U.S. society. This special topic section on understanding immigrants, schooling, and school psychology features articles relevant to this important topic. We conclude with a call for this effort to serve as a springboard for future discussions, scholarship, and school psychology training in preparing practitioners for serving children who are immigrants. (PsycINFO Database Record
Effect of the Counter Anion on the Oxidation of N-Benzyl-1,4-Dihydronicotinamide

It has been shown previously that the excitation energy of salts of the N-retinylidene-n-butylammonium (NRBA+) cation is dependent on the counter anion and the solvent [1, 2, 3, 4]. Recently a quantitative relationship has been shown for the effect of the anion [5], and at the same time, empirical relationships have been shown for certain physical properties of selected solvents [6]. However, only the anion effect shall interest us here.
The Impact of Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity on Artificial Urinary Sphincter Outcomes in Men

Objective To evaluate the impact of diabetes and obesity on artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) outcomes. Materials and Methods From 1987 to 2011, men with available diabetes and body mass index (BMI) information (568 of 954) undergoing primary AUS placement at our institution were evaluated. The incidence of all-cause reintervention, mechanical failure, atrophy, and erosion or infection was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable analyses evaluated the association between clinical characteristics and AUS outcomes. Results In total, 90 (16%) men had diabetes. Median follow-up among alive men without AUS event was 5.9 years. Diabetics had a greater 5-year incidence of erosion/infection (13% vs 8%; P = .025). On multivariable analysis, diabetes was independently associated with an increased risk of erosion/infection (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.26; P = .02); whereas greater BMI was associated with a reduced risk of erosion or infection (obese: HR = 0.39; P = .02; overweight: HR = 0.57; P = .07). Accordingly, in diabetics, greater average postoperative glucose level (176 mg/dL vs 153 mg/dL; P = .04) and use of nonantibiotic coated devices (13 of 62 vs 1 of 28; P = .035) was associated with a greater incidence of erosion or infection. There was no difference in social continence (≤1 pad/day) (45% vs 57%; P = .29) or high-level satisfaction (95% vs 90%; P = .43) among diabetics vs nondiabetics. However, with greater BMI ( P = .02). Conclusion We found that the presence of diabetes was independently associated with a 2.3-fold increased risk of AUS erosion or infection. These findings warrant the consideration of additional periprocedural measures to reduce the risk of this devastating complication.
Analytic Models of Checkpointing for Concurrent Component-Based Software Systems

Checkpointing and rollback is a key mechanism used to improve the reliability of software systems. The benefits of this mechanism can be offset by the overhead of checkpointing when the failure rate is low. The problem of developing analytic models of rollback and checkpointing has been continuously addressed for over four decades using different assumptions. This paper examines the problem under a more realistic angle, i.e., one in which there are several software components sharing resources (e.g., processors and I/O devices) among themselves and with the checkpointing processes. Additionally, the paper allows for different components to have different computing, rollback, and checkpointing demands, as well as different failure distributions. Our models also allow for various checkpointing processes to be executing concurrently to checkpoint the state of different software components. The analytic models developed here combine Markov Chains and Queuing Networks and allow us to compute the following metrics: (1) average time needed by a component to complete its execution, (2) average throughput of a component, (3) availability of a component, and (4) checkpointing overhead. The models were validated through extensive simulation and experimentation.
The “Naive Majority” Technique: A New Method for Conformity Studies

The relative advantages and disadvantages of 2 techniques most commonly used in conformity studies are discussed. Use of confederates provides for experimenter control of majority responses, face-to-face contact, and repeated use of confederates. Simulated group technique, on the other hand, permits testing a number of Ss at once all under completely standardized conditions. Neither method, however, subjects S to natural, spontaneous responses of the majority nor permits studying the effect of a nonconforming individual upon an unsuspecting majority. The “naive majority” technique provides for both. The success of this method in one study is described and the necessity for debriefing Ss is discussed.
Observed trends of soil fauna in the Antarctic Dry Valleys: early signs of shifts predicted under climate change.

Long-term observations of ecological communities are necessary for generating and testing predictions of ecosystem responses to climate change. We investigated temporal trends and spatial patterns of soil fauna along similar environmental gradients in three sites of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, spanning two distinct climatic phases: a decadal cooling trend from the early 1990s through the austral summer of February 2001, followed by a shift to the current trend of warming summers and more frequent discrete warming events. After February 2001, we observed a decline in the dominant species (the nematode Scottnema lindsayae) and increased abundance and expanded distribution of less common taxa (rotifers, tardigrades, and other nematode species). Such diverging responses have resulted in slightly greater evenness and spatial homogeneity of taxa. However, total abundance of soil fauna appears to be declining, as positive trends of the less common species so far have not compensated for the declining numbers of the dominant species. Interannual variation in the proportion of juveniles in the dominant species was consistent across sites, whereas trends in abundance varied more. Structural equation modeling supports the hypothesis that the observed biological trends arose from dissimilar responses by dominant and less common species to pulses of water availability resulting from enhanced ice melt. No direct effects of mean summer temperature were found, but there is evidence of indirect effects via its weak but significant positive relationship with soil moisture. Our findings show that combining an understanding of species responses to environmental change with long-term observations in the field can provide a context for validating and refining predictions of ecological trends in the abundance and diversity of soil fauna.
Emmy Noether, 1882–1935. By Auguste Dick

(1983). Emmy Noether, 1882–1935. By Auguste Dick. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 90, No. 10, pp. 717-718.
Municipal Wastewater as a Microbial Surveillance Platform for Enteric Diseases: A Case Study for Salmonella and Salmonellosis.

Municipal wastewater (MW) contains a conglomeration of human enteric microbiota from a community and, hence, represents a potential surveillance tool for gastrointestinal infectious disease burden ...
Detection of acetyltransferase modification of kanamycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, in bacteria using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Rationale The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a worldwide issue that has the potential, if not addressed, to eliminate classes of antibiotics that have extended life expectancy in the last century. An approach to confront this threat is the development of technologies that greatly accelerate the detection of antibiotic resistance to minimize unnecessary treatment involving antibiotics. Development of an analytical method for rapid detection of aminoglycoside resistance using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) has not been reported in the literature and is described here. Methods A strain of Escherichia coli carrying a plasmid encoding an aminoglycoside-modifide enzyme (N-acetyltransferase) was incubated with kanamycin, an aminoglycoside. The antibiotic and its modified form were observed using LC/MS. An ABSciex QTrap 6500+ was used for kinetic and quantitative analysis and high-resolution structural elucidation was performed using a Thermo Fisher Q-Exactive hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometer. Results Detection of kanamycin modification was achieved in less than an hour of incubation. Calibration curves for both modified and unmodified kanamycin from 0.5 to 50 μg mL-1 were obtained. Generation and depletion of modified and unmodified kanamycin as a function of time were performed. High-resolution mass spectrometry was employed for confirmation and structural elucidation of the novel precursor and product ion biomarkers with high mass accuracy (≤7 ppm). Conclusions A newly developed analytical method is able to determine bacterial resistance to aminoglycosides (via acetylation of kanamycin), qualitatively and quantitatively, within 30 minutes and 6 hours of incubation with kanamycin, respectively. High-resolution data support the placement of an acetyl group on kanamycin confirming aminoglycoside resistance and its mechanism. Quantification was achieved for both forms of the antibiotic 50- to 100-fold lower than the minimum inhibitory concentration for the resistant bacteria and can be used to replace conventional antimicrobial susceptibility tests.
Epr detection of endogenous nitric oxide in postischemic heart using lipid and aqueous-soluble dithiocarbamate-iron complexes

Spin-trapping techniques combined with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to measure nitric oxide (·NO) production were compared in the ischemic-reperfused myocardium for the first time, using both aqueous-soluble and lipophilic complexes of reduced iron (Fe) with dithiocarbamate derivatives. The aqueous-soluble complex of Fe and N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (MGD) formed MGD2-Fe-NO complex with a characteristic triplet EPR signal (aN12.5 G and giso = 2.04) at room temperature, in native isolated rat hearts following 40 min global ischemia and 15 min reperfusion. Diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC) and Fe formed in ischemic-reperfused myocardium the lipophilic DETC2-Fe-NO complex exhibiting an EPR signal (g⊥ = 2.04 and g∥ = 2.02 at 77K) with a triplet hyperfine structure at g⊥. Dithiocarbamate-Fe-NO complexes detected by both trapping agents were abolished by the ·NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. Quantitatively, both trapping procedures provi ded similar values for tissue ·NO production, which were observed primarily during ischemia. Postischemic hemodynamic recovery of the heart was not affected by the trapping procedure. (Mol Cell Biochem 175: 91–97, 1997)
The Interaction of Political Capacity and Economic Growth to Attract Foreign Direct Investments at the Provincial Levels of Developing Countries

This dissertation will explore how developing provinces within countries attract foreign direct investment. The policy implication to this study is important because it could account for the uneven distribution of growth in developing countries that so frequently leads to dual economies. To attract foreign direct investments, provincial governments compete among themselves trying to appeal to international investors. There is consensus in the economic development literature that both economic and political variables interact to advance a nation‟s economy. The ability for a country to provide a free market economy to exchange goods and ideas makes the environment more favorable for investors, hence it makes sense to focus on institutions that can attract FDI if the government is committed to developing its economy and compete in the global market. Political factors serves as an important component of strengthening a country‟s economy. Political variables such as political capacity have helped ensure the success of a growing economy. Governments must possess the ability to extract resources from its people, thereby pursuing policy goals to create a more favorable market environment for investors. Investors then feel more confident and comfortable investing in these economies. This political variable has helped countries redefine themselves in the global community as credible and safe countries for investment. However, this political variable alone is not enough to explain how to attract foreign direct investments in developing countries. Rather, governments must also possess the economic tools necessary, such as economic growth and an open economy. These economic tools combined with political capacity can effectively attract foreign direct investments. Many provinces in developing countries lack these variables, thereby jeopardizing the opportunity to attract foreign direct investments and compete in the global market. Hence, I look at both the political and economical variables as an interaction variable as a strong indicator to attract foreign direct investments. If my work is successful, I hope that these findings can serve as a policy tool for provinces of developing countries to effectively attract foreign direct investments in a competitive global market. Dedicated to my family
Cardiac effects of anesthetics.

The following chapters add to our knowledge of the possible mechanisms underlying the actions of anesthetics on the myocardium. These studies were designed to examine the effects of anesthetics on ionic fluxes across the sarcolemma, rapid changes in intracellular calcium, calcium transport functions of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), isometric contractile force, and calcium sensitivity of the contractile apparatus.
Hypoxia and thrombosis.

In this issue of Blood, Pilli and colleagues1 report that the essential antithrombotic factor protein S is inversely regulated by the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF1). This is an important contribution to our understanding of the molecular basis of the augmentation of thrombosis by hypoxia.
State early intervention administrator perspectives of prenatal supports for families with high probability diagnoses

Early intervention (EI) for families of infants and toddlers with or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities is federally guided to begin at birth or older. With technological advances in prenatal testing, pregnant families are increasingly learning of diagnoses that result in EI eligibility once the child is born. For these families, research is needed to determine the effects of beginning EI prenatally rather than waiting until birth. In this exploratory study, the perspectives of state EI administrators were uncovered to inform the development of a prenatal intervention to undertake such research. Participants reported strong support for prenatal EI, provided recommendations for prenatal intervention design, and offered potential systems change needs. These findings will contribute to the development and testing of a prenatal intervention that makes sense to and is compatible with one critical stakeholder group—those who administer EI programs.
Prenatal stress and enhanced developmental plasticity

Two separate lines of inquiry indicate (a) that prenatal stress is associated with heightened behavioral and physiological reactivity, and (b) that these postnatal phenotypes are associated with increased susceptibility to both positive and negative developmental experiences and environmental exposures. This research considered together raises the intriguing hypothesis first advanced by Pluess and Belsky (Dev Psychopathol 23:29-38, 2011) that prenatal-stress fosters, promotes or "programs" postnatal developmental plasticity. In this paper, we review further evidence consistent with this proposition, including a novel animal study which experimentally manipulated both prenatal stress and postnatal rearing. Directions for future work focused on mechanisms mediating the plasticity-inducing effects of prenatal stress and the moderators of such effects are outlined.
Reversible splenial lesion syndrome in children with benign convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis: A retrospective study of five cases.

Abstract Objective To assess the clinical and imaging features of reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES) with benign convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) in children. Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical course, blood and stool examinations, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG) findings, therapy and prognosis of five children with RESLES associated with CwG. Results Five previously healthy patients, four girls and one boy, with mean age 26.4 ± 8.1 months, had clusters of general tonic-clonic or clonic seizures within the first two days of gastroenteritis. Rotavirus antigen was positive in the stool of one case. Interictal EEG was normal except in one case, which showed occipital slow wave. The initial MRI was performed within five days of onset, four patients had an isolated lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC), and one patient had lesions extending outside the SCC that involved the genu of the corpus callosum. The follow-up MRI was performed 10–15 days after onset, and all lesions had completely disappeared. All patients were treated with antiviral, rehydration and anticonvulsant therapy in the acute phase. They had good prognosis and normal psychomotor development, with no neurological sequelae after 26–30 months of follow-up. Conclusions CwG and RESLES can coexist in young children. The patients present with clusters of general tonic-clonic or clonic seizures in the acute phase. Brain MRI shows focal lesion in the SCC with high signal intensity on T2-weighted and FLAIR sequences. It has good prognosis and excessive treatment is not necessary.
Lambda = 2.4 to 5 Micron Spectroscopy with the James Webb Space Telescope NIRCam Instrument

The James Webb Space Telescope near-infrared camera (JWST NIRCam) has two 2'2 x 2'2 fields of view that can be observed with either imaging or spectroscopic modes. Either of two R approx.1500 grisms with orthogonal dispersion directions can be used for slitless spectroscopy over lambda = 2.4 - 5.0 microns in each module, and shorter wavelength observations of the same fields can be obtained simultaneously. We describe the design drivers and parameters of the grisms and present the latest predicted spectroscopic sensitivities, saturation limits, resolving powers, and wavelength coverage values. Simultaneous short wavelength (0.6 - 2.3 microns) imaging observations of the 2.4 - 5.0 microns spectroscopic field can be performed in one of several different filter bands, either in-focus or defocused via weak lenses internal to NIRCam. The grisms are available for single-object time series spectroscopy and wide-field multi-object slitless spectroscopy modes in the first cycle of JWST observations. We present and discuss operational considerations including subarray sizes and data volume limits. Potential scientific uses of the grisms are illustrated with simulated observations of deep extragalactic fields, dark clouds, and transiting exoplanets. Information needed to plan observations using these spectroscopic modes are also provided.
The Grasp of Society

Today the notion of a competence for culture is thoroughly in disfavor with social scientists. In the past it has been used in an effort to describe human specificity somewhat in the way in which a vis dormitativa was meant to explain sleep. With no consensus on how to conceptually delimit what is meant by culture and with no systematic attempt to place this supposed competence into a phylogenetic or ontogenetic frame, there was every reason to stay away from this concept.
Directional bounds for polynomial zeros and eigenvalues

Abstract Directional versions of theorems by Cauchy and Pellet are obtained for both scalar and matrix polynomials, which derive bounds on the zeros of scalar polynomials and eigenvalues of matrix polynomials that depend on their arguments. Such bounds often deliver much better results than the standard theorems, which are formulated in terms of the moduli of the zeros or eigenvalues only and are therefore insensitive to their arguments.
Ecohydrology of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a key mediator of hydraulic fluxes between the land and atmosphere: for every gram of carbon assimilated by a plant, about 500 g of water are transpired to the atmosphere. In dryland ecosystems, this balance between carbon assimilation and water loss is particularly delicate. On one hand, attempts to assimilate carbon under water-limited conditions will eventually trigger leaf wilting (loss of rigidity caused by low turgor pressure) and xylem cavitation (breaks in the continuum of liquid water which may cause catastrophic loss of hydraulic conductivity), which may be reversible or irreversible depending on the degree of water stress. On the other hand, cessation of photosynthesis in an attempt to conserve water will ultimately lead to carbon starvation.
The tolerance of juvenile stone crabs to hypoxia: Size matters

Abstract Over the last fifty years, anthropogenic activities have increased nutrient loading into coastal habitats causing more frequent hypoxic events. Global climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of hypoxic conditions as temperatures continue to increase, which will pose physiological and metabolic limits on many coastal species. This study determined the survivorship and tolerance of the commercially important juvenile stone crab (Menippe mercenaria) during short-term hypoxic exposure under laboratory conditions. Small (2.0–3.0 mm carapace width) and large (5.0–18.0 mm carapace width) juveniles were gradually exposed to moderate hypoxic conditions (1.5 mg L−1 oxygen concentration) for 2 h and compared to individuals in normoxic conditions. Smaller juveniles were more sensitive than larger conspecifics and exhibited 80% mortality. Larger juveniles did not exhibit significant mortality (~12% total mortality); however, 35% of the larger crabs displayed immobile by the end of the experiment. These results indicate that juvenile stone crab tolerance to hypoxia is size-dependent and likely changes throughout ontogeny.
Validation of a consumer-grade activity monitor for continuous daily activity monitoring in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

BackgroundTechnological advancements of remote-monitoring used in clinical-care and research require validation of model updates.ObjectivesTo compare the output of a newer consumer-grade accelerome...
Leaders or Laggards

Over recent decades, a host of smaller jurisdictions have become extraordinarily dominant in specialized fields of cross-border corporate and financial services. Chief among them are Hong Kong and Singapore, both regarded as among the world’s most significant financial centers. This chapter analyzes their track records in achieving corporate sustainability and concludes that each is at once a leader and a laggard, depending on one’s perspective. The analysis highlights complex questions regarding how we ought to conceptualize and evaluate corporate sustainability in an era increasingly defined by the free movement of capital – because Hong Kong and Singapore represent microcosms of our increasingly globalized financial world. The challenges faced in assessing the sustainability of their corporate, financial, and economic models reflect underlying challenges in assessing the sustainability of unfettered global capital mobility.
Quantifying the buffering of oceanic oxygen isotopes at ancient midocean ridges

Abstract. To quantify the intensity of oceanic oxygen isotope buffering through hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic crust, a 2D hydrothermal circulation model was coupled with a 2D reactive transport model of oxygen isotopes. The coupled model calculates steady-state distributions of temperature, water flow and oxygen isotopes of solid rock and porewater given the physicochemical conditions of oceanic crust alteration and seawater δ18O . Using the present-day seawater δ18O under plausible modern alteration conditions, the model yields δ18O profiles for solid rock and porewater and fluxes of heat, water and 18O that are consistent with modern observations, confirming the model's validity. The model was then run with different assumed seawater δ18O values to evaluate oxygen isotopic buffering at the midocean ridges. The buffering intensity shown by the model is significantly weaker than previously assumed, and calculated δ18O profiles of oceanic crust are consistently relatively insensitive to seawater δ18O . These results are attributed to the fact that isotope exchange at shallow depths does not reach equilibrium due to the relatively low temperatures, and 18O supply via spreading solid rocks overwhelms that through water flow at deeper depths. Further model simulations under plausible alteration conditions during the Precambrian showed essentially the same results. Therefore, δ18O records of ophiolites that are invariant at different Earth ages can be explained by the relative insensitivity of oceanic rocks to seawater δ18O and do not require constant seawater δ18O through time.