cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Subthreshold slope for insulated gate field-effect transistors

An explicit expression has been derived for the subthreshold slope of an insulated gate field-effect transistor. This expression is used to explore the influence of surface band-bending, gate insulator thickness, substrate doping, substrate bias, and temperature.
Thermodynamic Stability of Intergranular Amorphous Films in Bismuth‐Doped Zinc Oxide

It is shown that the solid-state equilibrium configuration of Bi-doped ZnO grain boundaries is a nanometer-thick amorphous film. Polycrystalline Bi-doped ZnO was investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The equilibrium state below the eutectic temperature and at 1 atm total pressure was approached from three different routes: samples were cooled from above the eutectic temperature (T{sub eutectic} = 740 C), processed entirely below the eutectic temperature, and desegregated by high applied pressure (1 GPa) followed by annealing at ambient pressure to restore segregation. In all instances, the final state is an amorphous intergranular film 1.0--1.5 nm in thickness. The results show that a thin intergranular film in this system has lower free energy than the crystal-crystal grain boundary. The implications of these results for creation of electrically active grain boundaries in zinc oxide varistors are discussed.
Moral Conviction and Emotion

People’s feelings about political issues are often experienced as moral convictions, that is, as rooted in beliefs about right and wrong, morality and immorality. The authors tested and found that ...
GABA receptor-mediated inhibition of reflex deglutition in the cat

In anesthetized cats, swallowing elicited by electrical stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerves (SLNs) was inhibited by the GABA-mimetic muscimol and by diazepam, an action that was reversed by picrotoxin and bicuculline. This inhibition supports the involvement of GABA receptors, specifically those of the GABAA subtype which both antagonists have been shown to block in various areas of the central nervous system. The inhibition of reflex swallowing and its reversal were unaltered by a transection of the brainstem at a midcollicular level. Stimulation of the SLNs also caused a bradycardia that was inhibited by both muscimol and diazepam and was restored by both GABA antagonists. Data from these experiments provide suggestive evidence for a role of GABA-ergic transmission in the central control of the deglutitory reflex.
Lessons Learned from Large Scale Evaluation of Systems that Produce Text: Nightmares and Pleasant Surprises

As the language generation community explores the possibility of an evaluation program for language generation, it behooves us to examine our experience in evaluation of other systems that produce text as output. Large scale evaluation of summarization systems and of question answering systems has been carried out for several years now. Summarization and question answering systems produce text output given text as input, while language generation produces text from a semantic representation. Given that the output has the same properties, we can learn from the mistakes and the understandings gained in earlier evaluations. In this invited talk, I will discuss what we have learned in the large scale summarization evaluations carried out in the Document Understanding Conferences (DUC) from 2001 to present, and in the large scale question answering evaluations carried out in TREC (e.g., the definition pilot) as well as the new large scale evaluations being carried out in the DARPA GALE (Global Autonomous Language Environment) program.
False Convictions and True Conscience

Society typically shows conscientious objectors more deference than civil disobedients, on the grounds that they appear more conscientious and less strategically minded than the latter. Kimberley Brownlee challenges this standard picture in Conscience and Conviction: The Case for Civil Disobedience, where she claims that civil disobedience is more conscientious than conscientious objection, in virtue of its communicativeness. Brownlee conceives of conscientious conviction as necessarily communicative, and distinguishes it from ‘conscience’—the set of practical moral skills involved in adequately responding to complex situations. This review article argues that Brownlee’s account of conviction is too narrow, as it excludes many core beliefs which we would want to classify as convictions although they violate one or more of the criteria of communicativeness, while her account of conscience is incomplete, because it ignores some of the persistent obstacles for the development of conscience produced by structural injustice. The article identifies these obstacles and offers some strategies for protecting against them, namely, vigilance, self-scrutiny, empathy and collaborative ambivalence.
A Comparative Study of Hepatitis B Viral Markers in the Family Members of Asian and Non-Asian Patients with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Positive Hepatocellular Carcinoma and with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Serologic tests for evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were performed on family members of Asian and non-Asian patients with either hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma or chronic HBV infection. Asian family members had a significant increase of HBsAg (34% higher) and of antibody to HBsAg or of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (50% higher) when they were compared with non-Asian family members. In the Asian group, viral markers were detected more frequently in blood relatives than in nonblood relatives of the index cases. Within this group, birthplace did not influence the frequency of antigenemia, since HBsAg was positive in 55 (44%) of 125 Asians born in Asia and in 36 (38%) of the 94 Asians who were born in the United States. Also, HBsAg positivity frequently was seen in offspring from HBsAg-positive carrier mothers as well as from HBsAg-positive carrier fathers whose spouses were either HBsAg-negative or who had antibody. The e antigen was found more often in individuals 30 years of age or younger than in older individuals. This study indicates that intrafamilial spread of HBsAg in Asian families plays an important role in the perpetuation of HBV infection and in the eventual development of chronic liver disease in this ethnic group.
Soil erosion and management recommendations at three State Vehicular Recreation areas, California

Off-road vehicle (ORV) impact on the landscape includes the destruction of protective vegetative cover, soil compaction, and increased runoff followed by increased erosion. An investigation of three State Vehicular Recreation Areas (SVRAs) in arid regions of California have documented 10-to 25-fold increases in sediment yield relative to nearby undisturbed basins. Soil texture and slope length are the dominant factors controlling soil erodibility in these areas. Organic carbon content of the soil exposed in hillclimb gullies was comparable to C horizon values of undisturbed soil profiles demonstrating a significant (70%) loss of soil fertility due to accelerated erosion. Soil erosion can be minimized and lifespan of these recreational areas prolonged by initiating and enforcing some critical management policies, including careful control over location and length of hillclimb, rotating use areas such that rehabilitation or revegetation is feasible, and seasonal use restrictions.
Synergistic Activation of Transcription by Physiologically Unrelated Transcription Factors through Cooperative DNA-Binding

Abstract Most eukaryotic promoters contain binding sites for several different transcription factors, which often act synergistically. Mechanistically, synergy is ascribed either to cooperative DNA-binding of the factors to the promoter or to some type of “multiple contact” mechanism in which each activator performs a different task in stimulating the transcription machinery. Here, it is shown that the yeast activators Gal4 and Put3 bind to DNA cooperatively in vivo and can activate transcription synergistically from certain synthetic promoters. Normally, Gal4 and Put3 bind to completely different promoters and activate physiologically unrelated sets of genes and it is extremely unlikely that they have evolved direct protein-protein contacts. These studies add to a growing body of evidence that binding of proteins to nearby sites in chromatin is intrinsically cooperative and suggest that many examples of synergy ascribed to multiple contact mechanisms may instead involve non-traditional cooperative DNA-binding.
Paleomagnetic assessment of oroflexural deformation in west‐central Nevada and significance for emplacement of allochthonous assemblages

Abrupt westerly deflections of north-south trending facies boundaries, the isopleth of (87sr/86Sr)° = 0.076, and arcuate structural trends of Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic age in the west-central Basin and Range Province, have been explained by (1) post-Early Jurassic oroflexural folding and shear, (2) the existence of a pre-Late Jurassic resistant block along the western continental margin, possibly representing late Precambrian breakup, and (3) regional flexure (“Mina deflection”) prior to intrusion of Late Cretaceous plutons which crosscut flexure-related structural trends. Paleomagnetic data gathered from Late Cretaceous plutons and remagnetized metasedimentary rocks along and north of the northern margin of the zone of east-west structural trends are not in support of significant oroflexural folding (and attending major clockwise rotation) since Late Cretaceous time. The data (Water Canyon pluton: D = 1°, I = 57°, α95 = 4°, k = 9, N= 132; Gunmetal pluton: D = 354, I = 60, α95 = 6, k = 21, N = 29; East Garfield Hills pluton: D = 349, I = 74, α95 = 11, k = 14, N = 12; La Panta pluton: D = 22, I = 66, α95 = 10, k = 16, N = 13; Gillis Canyon pluton: D = 354, I = 50, α95 = 4, k = 20, N = 50; and folded units of the Excelsior Mountains: D = 309, I = 79, α95 = 7, k = 12, N = 37) are dispersed from expected Cretaceous directions for the Mina deflection region, but they do not conform to a model of major systematic regional clockwise rotation. The generally small deflections of unit means from expected directions could be explained by irregular components of Late Cenozoic tilting and/or rotation. The paleomagnetic data do not deny the possibility of pre-Late Cretaceous oroclinal bending. Nevertheless, regional structural analysis complimented by the paleomagnetic results indicate that the Mina deflection is in all likelihood a primary feature whose geometry reflects the late Precambrian fragmentation of western North America. Structures related to the accretion of allochthonous assemblages between Middle Devonian and Cretaceous time in this part of the Cordillera also reflect the primary nature of this feature.
Brain stimulation reward in the lateral hypothalamic medial forebrain bundle: Mapping of boundaries and homogeneity

The boundaries and relative fiber concentration of the brain stimulation reward (BSR) sustaining system coursing through the lateral hypothalamic medial forebrain bundle (MFB) were mapped using a dorso-ventral moveable electrode. High response rates for BSR were found in a region extending dorso-ventrally from the zona incerta (ZI) to the base of the brain and medio-laterally from the fornix to the medial tip of the internal capsule (IC). Self-stimulation associated with perifornical area and self-stimulation associated with the tip of the internal capsule were mixed with aversion and forced movements, respectively. Current intensity threshold variations suggest: (i) that the reward system has a well-defined dorsal boundary ventral to the ZI, and (ii) that the core of the MFB contains a relatively higher concentration of reward relevant fibers than do its lateral, medial, dorsal and ventral components. No evidence was seen of independent mid-lateral and far-lateral MFB systems, though independent BSR sites in the dorsomedial and ventromedial hypothalamus were seen.
SPECIFICITY OF THE CYTOCHROME P-450 INTERACTION WITH CYTOCHROME B5

Abstract The specificity of the interaction of cytochromeb5 with different forms of cytochrome P-450 was examined. Immunopurification of cytochromes P-450 1A1, 2B1 and 2E1 from rat liver microsomes resulted in co-purification of cytochromeb5 with cytochrome P-450 forms 2B1 and 2EI but not 1A1. This specificity was evaluated in conjunction with multiple sequence alignment of the three cytochrome P-450s and a molecular model of the cytochrome P-450-cytochromeb5 complex [(1989) Biochemistry 28, 8201–8205]. These analyses suggest two basic residues in the arginine cluster region of P-450, which are present in P-450s 2B1 and 2E1 but are absent in P-450 1A1, as potential binding sites for cytochromeb5.
Against Transitions? Uncovering Conflicts in Changing Energy Systems

Energy analysts call major changes to the energy system “transitions”. However, the very phrase “energy transition” can frame the issue in such a way as to downplay the profound social and politica...
Pacemaker development in embryonic rat heart cultured in oculo.

ABSTRACT: Conditions that cause pacemaker formation in the developing heart are poorly understood. Embryonic rat myocardium grafted into the anterior eye chamber of an adult rat provides a promising model system in which to study pacemaker development. Electrophysiologic mapping with two microelectrodes showed that each embryonic heart graft developed a primary pacemaker within the region of contact with the host iris. These single, primary pacemakers were found in the centers of graft-iris junctions both in grafts that originally contained the natural pacemaker (e.g. right atria and whole hearts) and in grafts that excluded the sinoatrial pacemaker region (i.e. ventricles and left atrial appendages). Pacemaker action potentials were recorded in the region identified by mapping as the origin of the impulse in 11 of 11 grafts. Action potentials recorded from surrounding working cells were similar to adult rat heart cells in maximum diastolic potential, overshoot, amplitude, and duration. In contrast, maximum upstroke velocity was consistently slower in grafts than in adult hearts. Beating of grafts slowed or stopped within 3 days after transplantation but resumed by 10–14 days at rates similar to those observed before dissection (265 ± 12), a pattern consistent with development of a new pacemaker in oculo. The graft-iris junction is the site of blood vessel and nerve ingrowth into the graft and it is a region of contact between differentiated embryonic myocardial cells and nonmyocardial (iris epithelial) cells. The roles of these three factors (vascularization, innervation, and surface contact) in establishing the pacemaker were examined using embryonic heart cultured both in the anterior eye chamber and in vitro.
Crystallographic effects during radiative melting of semitransparentmaterials

Experiments have been performed to illustrate Crystallographic effects during radiative melting of unconfined vertical layers of semitransparent material. Radiative melting of a polycrystalline paraffin was performed and the instantaneous layer weight and transmittance were measured using a cantilever beam technique and thermopile radiation detector, respectively. The effects of radiative flux, initial solid subcooling, spectral distribution of the irradiation, and crystal structure of the solid as determined qualitatively by the sample solidification rate were studied. Experimental results show conclusively the dominant influence of Crystallographic effects in the form of multiple internal scattering of radiation during the melting process. A theoretical model is formulated to predict the melting rate of the material. Radiation transfer is treated by solving the one-dimensional radiative transfer equation for an absorbing-scattering medium using the discrete ordinates method. Melting rate and global layer reflectance as predicted by the model agree well with experimental data. Parametric studies conducted with the model illustrate the sensitivity of the melting behavior to such variables as incident radiative flux, initial layer opacity (material extinction coefficient), and scattering asymmetry factor.
Heavy metals in a stream ecosystem at sites near highways

Abstract Concentrations of lead, zinc, nickel, and cadmium were low in streamwater samples obtained quarterly over 1 year at three sites adjacent to highways of low to moderate traffic volumes (<50, 6,550, and 15,000 vehicles per day). Sediment concentrations of lead, nickel, and zinc were highly correlated with traffic density. Stream sediments appeared to serve as the storage reservoir and primary source for bioconcentration of heavy metals. Whole body (dry weight) concentrations of heavy metals in benthic insects and fish were generally comparable to literature values for animals from contaminated waters. Lead concentrations in members of three benthic insect families were significantly correlated with traffic density, as were lead and zinc concentrations in three fish species. Two of the fish species also showed progressive increases in nickel and cadmium with traffic density. Seasonal variation in heavy metal content was evident only in sediment, with highest values during the spring period of maximu...
HIV-1 viruses detected during episodic blips following interleukin-7 administration are similar to the viruses present before and after interleukin-7 therapy.

Background: Administration of recombinant human interleukin (IL)-7 leads to CD4 and CD8 T-cell expansions in HIV-infected individuals, demonstrating promising capacity for immune reconstitution. However, a proportion of patients treated with recombinant human IL-7 experience transient increases in plasma HIV-RNA (‘blips’), possibly reflecting ‘purging’ of a quiescent reservoir that provides a barrier to viral eradication. Objective: To identify the sources of HIV detected during transient viremic episodes following IL-7 administration, viral quasispecies were analyzed in a total of 281 primary sequences derived from seven patients who experienced the episodic blips following IL-7 therapy. Method: The C2-V3 regions of the HIV-1 env gene were sequenced from HIV-1 RNA in plasma and HIV DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained at baseline (day 0 of recombinant human IL-7 therapy), during the episode of viral blips (day 4), and at a time when levels of plasma HIV-RNA had returned to less than 50 copies/ml (day 28). Results: The HIV sequences detected during transient viremia following IL-7 administration were closely related to those of the plasma viruses present before and after cytokine administration. All virus quasispecies detected during blips were also present in proviral sequences in PBMCs. Conclusion: The low level viremia induced by IL-7 likely reflects predominantly transient induction or release of virus from a preexisting pool rather than activation of silent quasispecies.
Endothelial vasodilator production by uterine and systemic arteries. V. Effects of ovariectomy, the ovarian cycle, and pregnancy on prostacyclin synthase expression.

Prostacyclin (PGI2) is a potent vasodilator, the level of which is increased during pregnancy, and is the main eicosanoid of which production is elevated in the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle (VSM) of both uterine and omental (systemic) arteries. We tested the hypothesis that during physiologic states that have high uterine blood flow, such as pregnancy and the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle (versus luteal phase and ovariectomized ewes), there is an increased level of prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) expression in ovine uterine and omental artery endothelium and VSM. To investigate this, the cellular localization and PGIS protein expression level in uterine and systemic arteries was examined by immunohistochemistry as well as by Western immunoblot analysis of endothelial-isolated protein and denuded vessels (VSM). Whole uterine, but not omental (systemic), arteries from the pregnant ewes showed an increase (P < 0.001) in PGIS expression. Further localization of PGIS protein by immunohistochemistry and quantification by Western analysis showed PGIS to be somewhat higher in the uterine artery VSM (69 ± 7%) than endothelium (31 ± 7%). PGIS protein levels in uterine and omental artery endothelial isolated protein were not altered by ovariectomy or the ovarian cycle, although they were both significantly elevated by pregnancy. Uterine and omental artery VSM PGIS expression levels also were not altered by ovariectomy or the ovarian cycle, whereas PGIS expression, in uterine but not omental artery VSM showed a significant elevation during pregnancy. Thus, the rise in PGI2 production by uterine arteries observed in ovine pregnancy is paralleled by an elevation in PGIS expression in both endothelium and VSM, whereas those seen in omental arteries is associated with increases in endothelial PGIS.
Computer-Based Learning Module Increases Shared Decision Making in Breast Reconstruction

Background Shared decision making (SDM) combines evidence-based medicine with individual patient preferences. Patients who are actively engaged in their own health care management with their physicians have been shown to experience not only increased compliance, but also higher satisfaction and better outcomes. We hypothesize that a computer-based learning module for breast reconstruction increases patient involvement in the decision-making process.
Design of logic circuit technology for IBM system/370 models 145 and 155

Monolithic System Technology (MST) is a microelectronic circuit family consisting of high-density monolithic circuit chips on ceramic substrates. Using current-switch emitter follower (CSEF) logic, the technology is designed to provide a balanced reflection of cost and performance requirements. One version, MST-2, has been developed for use primarily in the middle range of System/370 -the Models 145 and 155. The typical package usually consists of a single multi-circuit chip on a 16-pin module substrate, and the design embodies a number of recent interconnection and packaging developments that make it well suited to large-scale automated production.
Plastic flow, voltage noise and vortex avalanches in superconductors

Abstract We use large-scale parallel simulations to compute the motion of superconducting magnetic vortices during avalanches triggered by small field increases. We relate observations of pulsing vortex movement in winding chains to features of statistical distributions and experimentally observable voltage noise. As pin density is decreased, the very broad distribution of avalanche sizes begins to develop typical avalanche sizes. We show that this corresponds to a crossover from pin-to-pin motion in broad channels to interstitial motion in narrow easy-flow channels. Our results are consistent with recent experiments.
Management of severe musculoskeletal trauma following a dog mauling attack in a nonagenarian

Abstract Dog bites are increasingly common injuries and pose a significant public health concern. We present a case of a 92-year-old woman who sustained severe musculoskeletal trauma to the bilateral upper and lower extremities following a mauling attack by her two pet Boston Terriers. Patterns of injury and risk factors for dog bite-related injuries, as well as important clinical considerations in the medical and surgical management of dog bite injuries are discussed.
Hybridization of the rotational state of HD adsorbed on porous materials: Porous Vycor glass and MgO.

Abstract We present measurements of the infrared absorption corresponding to the roto-vibrational transitions of HD adsorbed in Porous Vycor Glass and MgO pills. For glass the absorption line bandwidths at low coverages of HD are more than two times larger than those of adsorbed H2 and D2. Also, we observe the transitions corresponding to δJ=3 and δJ=5, whereas only the allowed δJ=0, ±2 are observed for the pure isotopes. HD is a molecule possessing spherical symmetry whose center-of-mass is asymmetrically located. Our observations strongly suggest hindrance of the rotational states of HD which may be attributed to the hybridization of rotations and adsorbed HD phonons resulting from the molecule mass-asymmetry. Results for HD on MgO are simmilarly analyzed and will be discussed also.
The evolution of pandemic influenza: evidence from India, 1918–19

The 1918–19 ‘Spanish’ Influenza was the most devastating pandemic in recent history, with estimates of global mortality ranging from 20 to 50 million. The focal point of the pandemic was India, with an estimated death toll of between 10 and 20 million. We will characterize the pattern of spread, mortality, and evolution of the 1918 influenza across India using spatial or temporal data. This study estimates weekly deaths in 213 districts from nine provinces in India. We compute statistical measures of the severity, speed, and duration of the virulent autumn wave of the disease as it evolved and diffused throughout India. These estimates create a clear picture of the spread of the pandemic across India. Analysis of the timing and mortality patterns of the disease reveals a striking pattern of speed deceleration, reduction in peak-week mortality, a prolonging of the epidemic wave, and a decrease in overall virulence of the pandemic over time. The findings are consistent with a variety of possible causes, including the changing nature of the dominant viral strain and the timing and severity of the monsoon. The results significantly advance our knowledge of this devastating pandemic at its global focal point.
Timing of breast reconstruction: Immediate versus delayed

Breast reconstruction is an integral part of treatment of breast cancer. Immediate reconstruction is breast reconstruction that is done at the same surgery as the mastectomy, whereas delayed reconstruction is done months or years after the mastectomy. Immediate and delayed reconstruction can be accomplished with autologous tissue flaps or prosthetic breast implants. The esthetic result, psychosocial effect, and cost of breast reconstruction are better with immediate reconstruction, but the risk of surgical complications is less with delayed reconstruction. Although immediate reconstruction is oncologically safe and esthetically advantageous, nationwide less than 20% of patients having a mastectomy have immediate breast reconstruction. Radiation treatment before or after mastectomy has a negative impact on the outcome of breast reconstruction and is one important factor to be considered in determining the optimal timing for breast reconstruction.
Are Intentional Processes with Tool Use Similar for Simulated and Executed Actions

We asked the question, does motor simula- tion (via imagery) and planning with execution have similar intentional characteristics? And, does use of a tool compared to arm reaching influence a different intention effect? We instructed participants to use motor imagery to estimate distance reachability with the hand (arm extended) and a 20-cm tool using a NOGO/GO intention paradigm. That is, use of imagery only and imagery with actual execution (IE). Results indicated no differences in accuracy within or between HAND and TOOL conditions. That is, there was no observable intentional effect. These findings lend pre- liminary support to an increasing body of evidence suggesting that the neurocognitive processes (in this case, intention) driving motor imagery and executed actions are similar for hand and tool use.
Particle impact damping: effect of mass ratio, material, and shape

Particle impact damping (PID) is measured for a cantilevered beam with a particle-filled enclosure attached to its free end. PID due to different particle materials is measured: lead spheres, steel spheres, glass spheres, tungsten carbide pellets, lead dust, steel dust, and sand.
A low power phase change memory using thermally confined TaN/TiN bottom electrode

Application of phase change memory (PCM) has been limited by the high power required to reset the device (changing from crystalline to amorphous state by melting the phase change material). Utilizing the poor thermal and electrical conductivity of TaN we have designed a simple structure that thermally insulates the bottom electrode and thus drastically reduces the heat loss. A 39nm bottom electrode with a TaN thermal barrier and 1.5nm of TiN conductor has demonstrated 30µA reset current, representing a 90% reduction. The benefit of thermal insulation is understood through electrothermal simulation, and the benefit is demonstrated in a 256Mb test chip. The low reset current also improves the reliability and excellent cycling endurance >1E9 is observed. This low power device is promising for expanding the application for PCM.
Molecular assay for the detection of Cochlosoma anatis in house flies and turkey specimens by polymerase chain reaction

A 1520 bp region of Cochlosoma anatis mtDNA 16S gene was subjected to DNA sequencing and a 466 bp portion was compared with other protozoan 16S sequences to develop PCR primers specific for C. anatis. This PCR diagnostic method allowed identification of C. anatis from house flies, Musca domestica L., turkey gut, and fecal samples within 6 h after field-collected samples reached the laboratory. House flies detected carrying C. anatis using the diagnostic 374 bp amplicons represented the first record of this protozoan in house flies.
The functions of epideictic: The Boston massacre orations as exemplar

Existing theories of epideictic focus on the content of the speeches as “praise and blame,”; on the speaker's uses of the event or, more recently, on the audience's uses of the event. This essay argues that three pairs of functions define the epideictic experience for speakers and audiences and produce their characteristic message contents. Those pairs include definition/understanding, shaping of community, and display/entertainment. The utility of the perspective is indicated through an exemplary case of such “communal definition.”
Civilizing the Enemy: German Reconstruction and the Invention of the West

Civilizing the Enemy: German Reconstruction and the Invention of the West. By Patrick Thaddeus Jackson. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 2006. 286p. $27.95.Rarely have I enjoyed (and learned from) reading a book as much as this one, whose parts are quite brilliant on occasion but whose overall argument falls well short of its claim and aim. Patrick Thaddeus Jackson argues with verve and conviction that the Federal Republic of Germany's creation and its subsequent joining in alliances with the United States and its European partners would not have occurred without the invention, the implementation, and deployment of “the West” as a unifying concept of political, cultural, and social identity. Challenging the explanatory powers of realist theories, as well as their international relations constructivist, Marxist, and liberal counterparts, Jackson develops something he calls a “transactional social constructionist conception of social reality: transactional because the analytic focus is on social ties and transactions rather than putatively solid and stable actors with relatively fixed interests, and social constructionist because the causal mechanisms producing policy outcomes involve the social production and reproduction of patterns of meaning” (p. 15, italics in original). This self-labeled “post-structural approach” (ibid., again italics in original) allows Jackson to navigate a fine line between the Scylla of contingency and the Charibdis of determinism even though he comes closer to the “agency” side of the ubiquitous agency—structure tension that will remain forever unresolved.
Modeling Studies of the Effect of Twins on the X-ray Diffraction Patterns of Boron Carbide

Simulation studies were carried out to analyze the effect of planar defects (twins) on the X-ray diffraction patterns of boron carbide, B4C. The presence of these defects had a marked influence on ...
Abstract A13: The microRNA-200 family overcomes cisplatin resistance by targeting ceramide glycosylation

Background: Chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 5 (CHD5) is a newly identified tumor suppressor that is frequently downregulated in a variety of human cancers. Our previous work revealed that the low expression of CHD5 in colorectal cancer is correlated with CHD5 promoter CpG island hypermethylation. In this study, we investigated the effect of microRNA-211 (miR-211)-regulated CHD5 expression on colorectal tumorigenesis. Methodology/Principal Findings: miR-211 was predicted to target CHD5 by TargetScan software analysis. A stably expressing exogenous miR-211 colorectal cancer cell line (HCT-116miR-211) was generated using lentiviral transduction and used as a model for in vitro and in vivo studies. The expression level of miR-211 in HCT-116miR-211 cells was upregulated by 16-fold compared to vector control cells (HCT-116vector). Exogenous miR-211 directly binds to the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of CHD5 mRNA, resulting in a 50% decrease in CHD5 protein level in HCT-116miR-211 cells. The levels of cell proliferation, tumor growth, and cell migration of HCT-116miR-211 cells were significantly higher than HCT-116vector cells under both in vitro and in vivo conditions, as determined using the methods of MTT, colony formation, flow cytometry, tumor xenografts, and scratch assay, respectively. In addition, we found that enforced expression of miR-211 in HCT-116 cells was able to alter p53 pathway-associated regulatory proteins, such as MDM2, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bax. Conclusion/Significance: Our results demonstrate that CHD5 is a direct target of miR-211 regulation. Enforced expression of miR-211 promotes tumor cell growth at least in part by downregulating the expression level of the CHD5 tumor suppressor. Our results provide a better understanding of the association of between miR-211-regulated CHD5 expression and CHD5 function in colorectal tumorigenesis. Citation Format: Chunxiao Cai, Hassan Ashktorab, Xiaowu Pang, Yuan Zhao, Wei Sha, Yulan Liu, Xinbin Gu. The microRNA-200 family overcomes cisplatin resistance by targeting ceramide glycosylation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Noncoding RNAs and Cancer; 2012 Jan 8-11; Miami Beach, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A13.
Detection and quantitation of eosinophils in the murine respiratory tract by flow cytometry.

Traditionally, the identification and quantification of eosinophils in inflammatory tissues and exudates has been primarily based upon morphologic criteria and manual counting. In this study, we describe a new flow cytometry-based assay to enumerate eosinophils present in murine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and lung parenchyma obtained from the normal/non-inflamed respiratory tract, following experimentally-induced allergic pulmonary inflammation, and during experimental infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). By using a murine Siglec-F-specific antibody in combination with antibodies directed to CD45 and CD11c, we demonstrate that eosinophils can be distinguished from other cell types in the BAL fluid and lung parenchyma based upon their distinct CD45+ Siglec-F+ and CD11clow/− staining profile. In the BAL fluid, this flow cytometry-based method of eosinophil identification/quantitation yields results comparable to the standard morphology-based method without the potential observer bias or staining artifacts inherent in morphology-based quantitation. Furthermore, this flow cytometry-based method can be directly adapted to enumerate eosinophils infiltrating the inflamed lung parenchyma, thereby obviating the need for quantitative morphometry of tissue sections.
Abdominal CT at low peak tube potential settings brings promises, but new rules apply.

What would happen if you clicked that often-ignored button over there on the CT console? Is it possible that the adjustment of one setting may bring many benefits to abdominal CT? Data are emerging to suggest that there may be such a button.
Extraction and characterization of oil bodies from soy beans: a natural source of pre-emulsified soybean oil

Soybeans contain oil bodies that are coated by a layer of oleosin proteins. In nature, this protein coating protects the oil bodies from environmental stresses and may be utilized by food manufacturers for the same purpose. In this study, oil bodies were extracted from soybean using an aqueous extraction method that involved blending, dispersion (pH 8.6), filtration, and centrifugation steps. The influence of NaCl (0-250 mM), thermal processing (30-90 degrees C, 20 min) and pH (2-8) on the properties and stability of the oil bodies was analyzed using zeta-potential, particle size, and creaming stability measurements. The extracted oil bodies were relatively small ( d 32 approximately 250 nm), and their zeta-potential went from around +12 mV to -20 mV as the pH was increased from 2 to 8, with an isoelectric point around pH 4. The oil bodies were stable to aggregation and creaming at low (pH = 2) and high (pH >/= 6) pH values but were unstable at intermediate values (3 </= pH </= 5), which was attributed to their relatively low zeta-potential. The oil bodies were stable to aggregation and creaming at relatively low salt concentrations (NaCl </= 25 mM, pH 7) but were unstable at higher values as a result of electrostatic screening effects. The oil bodies were stable to thermal processing from 30 to 90 degrees C (0 mM NaCl, pH 7), but there appeared to be a change in their interfacial properties (decrease in zeta-potential) at temperatures exceeding 60 degrees C. These results suggest that oil bodies extracted from soybeans have similar or improved stability compared to soybean oil emulsions produced from bulk ingredients and may provide a new way of creating functional soy products for the food industry.
Protein phosphatase 1 regulates the stability of the circadian protein PER2.

The circadian clock is regulated by a transcription/translation negative feedback loop. A key negative regulator of circadian rhythm in mammals is the PER2 (mammalian PERIOD 2) protein. Its daily degradation at the end of the night accompanies de-repression of transcription. CKIϵ (casein kinase I ϵ) has been identified as the kinase that phosphorylates PER2, targeting it for ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation. We now report that PER2 degradation is also negatively regulated by PP1 (protein phosphatase 1)-mediated dephosphorylation. In Xenopus egg extract, PP1 inhibition by Inhibitor-2 accelerated mPER2 degradation. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that PER2 bound to PP1c in transfected HEK-293 cells. PP1 immunoprecipitated from HEK-293 cells, mouse liver and mouse brain, dephosphorylated CKIϵ-phosphorylated PER2, showing that PER2 is a substrate for mammalian endogenous PP1. Moreover, over-expression of the dominant negative form of PP1c, the D95N mutant, accelerated ubiquitin and proteasome-mediated degradation of PER2, and shortened the PER2 half-life in HEK-293 cells. Over-expression of the PP1 inhibitors, protein phosphatase 1 holoenzyme inhibitor-1 and Inhibitor-2, confirmed these results. Thus PP1 regulates PER2 stability and is therefore a candidate to regulate mammalian circadian rhythms.
Evaluation of the Prevalence and Production of Escherichia coli Common Pilus among Avian Pathogenic E. coli and Its Role in Virulence

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) strains cause systemic and localized infections in poultry, jointly termed colibacillosis. Avian colibacillosis is responsible for significant economic losses to the poultry industry due to disease treatment, decrease in growth rate and egg production, and mortality. APEC are also considered a potential zoonotic risk for humans. Fully elucidating the virulence and zoonotic potential of APEC is key for designing successful strategies against their infections and their transmission. Herein, we investigated the prevalence of a newly discovered E. coli common pilus (ECP) for the subunit protein of the ECP pilus (ecpA) and ECP expression amongst APEC strains as well as the role of ECP in virulence. A PCR-based ecpA survey of a collection of 167 APEC strains has shown that 76% (127/167) were ecpA+. An immunofluorescence assay using anti-EcpA antibodies, revealed that among the ecpA+ strains, 37.8% (48/127) expressed ECP when grown in DMEM +0.5% Mannose in contact with HeLa cells at 37°C and/or in biofilm at 28°C; 35.4% (17/48) expressed ECP in both conditions and 64.6% (31/48) expressed ECP in biofilm only. We determined that the ecp operon in the APEC strain χ7122 (ecpA+, ECP-) was not truncated; the failure to detect ECP in some strains possessing non-truncated ecp genes might be attributed to differential regulatory mechanisms between strains that respond to specific environmental signals. To evaluate the role of ECP in the virulence of APEC, we generated ecpA and/or ecpD-deficient mutants from the strain χ7503 (ecpA+, ECP+). Deletion of ecpA and/or ecpD abolished ECP synthesis and expression, and reduced biofilm formation and motility in vitro and virulence in vivo. All together our data show that ecpA is highly prevalent among APEC isolates and its expression could be differentially regulated in these strains, and that ECP plays a role in the virulence of APEC.
The Epidemiology of Secondary Conditions Following Spinal Cord Injury

Secondary conditions following spinal cord injury have been well described in the literature and have a documented impact on morbidity and mortality. Many of these conditions are potentially preventable and/or amenable to treatment, with the best outcome in the latter case when treatment is applied early. An epidemiologic approach to secondary conditions attempts to identify factors that can be used to develop risk models for their development, which in turn can be useful to clinicians for monitoring, early identification, and treatment. In this article, we review the literature describing risk factors for five major secondary conditions (chronic pain, respiratory complications, urinary tract infections, pressure sores, and depression) and offer suggestions for clinical monitoring and research.
Antibiotic hypersensitivity in patients with CF

Antibiotic hypersensitivity reactions are relatively common in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The nature of the reactions and the mechanisms are no different in CF than the general population. Beta-lactam agents are the most common cause of these reactions. The risk depends on the specific betalactam agent used with Penicillins having a higher frequency of allergic reactions. There are several risk factors for developing these allergic responses, especially the increased usage. Since the available choices for antibiotic therapy is limited by the sensitivity of the organisms, management becomes a challenge. It is essential to classify the nature of the hypersensitivity reactions and determine the risks of repeat administration of the drug. Unfortunately, reliable skin tests are not available for all the antibiotics. RAST is of limited value. Recent data on cross-reactions between beta-lactam antibiotics and the option of newer agents offer useful alternative choices. Knowledge of the chemical structures of the antibiotics is useful for selecting suitable substitutes. Desensitization is a viable option in many of the reactions unless otherwise contradicted.
Welcoming the Wind? Determinants of Wind Power Development Among U.S. States

Although currently supplying less than 1 percent of consumption, wind is the fastest growing source of electricity in the United States. This article analyzes the emerging geography of wind energy on a state-by-state basis. Rather than physical wind energy potential, the primary determinants of wind energy development among U.S. states are human geographic factors of population distribution, and resulting geography of electricity demand and transmission line accessibility, together with state-based energy policies, including electric utility restructuring, renewable portfolio standards, and procedures for siting and permitting wind farms. Although simplified state-level siting and permitting procedures that minimize opportunities for local opposition show a statistical advantage in wind energy development, examination of U.S. examples of local opposition to wind farms and the European experience in wind energy development show that community acceptability of wind farms depends on procedural legitimacy in ...
Separation of soybean isoflavones from their 5-hydroxy derivatives by thin-layer chromatography.

TLC separation of daidzin from genistin was better with aluminum oxide than with silica gel. Crystalline genistin isolated from soybeans contained daidzin, genistein, and daidzein.
Genome Maintenance Defects in Cultured Cells and Mice following Partial Inactivation of the Essential Cell Cycle Checkpoint Gene Hus1

Cell cycle checkpoints are evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways that uphold genomic integrity. Complete inactivation of the mouse checkpoint gene Hus1 results in chromosomal instability, genotoxin hypersensitivity, and embryonic lethality. To determine the functional consequences of partial Hus1 impairment, we generated an allelic series in which Hus1 expression was incrementally reduced by combining a hypomorphic Hus1 allele, Hus1(neo), with either wild-type or null (Hus1(Delta1)) alleles. Primary Hus1(neo/Delta1) embryonic fibroblasts exhibited spontaneous chromosomal abnormalities and underwent premature senescence, while higher Hus1 expression in Hus1(neo/neo) cells allowed for normal proliferation. Antioxidant treatment almost fully suppressed premature senescence in Hus1(neo/Delta1) cultures, suggesting a critical role for Hus1 in oxidative stress responses. Treatment of Hus1(neo/neo) and Hus1(neo/Delta1) cells with the DNA adducting agent benzo(a)pyrene dihydrodriol epoxide resulted in a loss of cell viability that was associated with S-phase DNA damage checkpoint failure. Likewise, the DNA polymerase inhibitor aphidicolin triggered increased cell death, chromosomal aberrations, and H2AX phosphorylation, a marker for double-stranded DNA breaks, in Hus1(neo/neo) and Hus1(neo/Delta1) cultures compared to controls. Despite these pronounced genome maintenance defects in cultured Hus1(neo/Delta1) and Hus1(neo/neo) cells, mice of the same genotypes were born at expected frequencies and appeared grossly normal. A significant increase in micronucleus formation was observed in peripheral blood cells from Hus1(neo/Delta1) mice, but reduced Hus1 expression did not cause an elevated predisposition to spontaneous tumor development or accelerate tumorigenesis in p53-deficient mice. These results identify differential effects of altered Hus1 gene dosage on genome maintenance during in vitro culture, genotoxic stress responses, embryonic development, and adult homeostasis.