cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors Affecting Time NICU Nurses Spend With Fathers: Results From a Larger Study

Background:Father involvement in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is important for outcomes of children and should be encouraged. Neonatal nurses have been identified as a major source of support for fathers; yet, nurses have identified obstacles to family-centered care of the father.Purpose:
School counselors' experiences and responses during the South Carolina "1,000-year flood"

The purpose of our study was to explore the experiences of school counselors during the 2015 South Carolina “1,000-year flood.” We used consensual qualitative research methodology and identified se...
O12.3 Epidemiological impact of expedited partner therapy for men who have sex with men: a modeling study

Background Expedited partner therapy (EPT) is an intervention for patients with gonorrhea (NG) or chlamydia (CT), through which index patients are provided with medication to give to their partner. While EPT is recommended for heterosexuals, EPT is not recommended for men who have sex with men (MSM), partially due to concerns about overtreatment of uninfected partners and missed opportunities for HIV diagnosis. In this study, we used modeling to investigate the potential impact of EPT implementation on STI incidence among MSM in the United States. Methods We extended our stochastic network-based mathematical model of HIV, NG, and CT among MSM to include partner-delivered EPT for NG and CT. EPT implementation was simulated for 10 years. Counterfactual scenarios varied EPT coverage, provision, uptake, and partnership window duration. We estimated STI incidence, percent of infections averted (PIA), and process outcomes under each scenario, compared to a reference scenario that included routine and symptoms-based STI screening at current empirical levels among US MSM. Results Delivery of EPT to 20% of eligible MSM index patients (coverage) was projected to reduce cumulative STI infections among MSM by 22% over 10 years compared to current estimated STI screening levels. A 20% increase in providing medication to non-index partners (provision) averted 29% of STI infections compared to STI screening. By partnership type, intervention benefits were greatest when EPT was restricted to casual partners. The proportion of partners given medication who had no current STI varied from 55% to 65%, depending on coverage. The proportion of partners given medication with undiagnosed HIV infection was 4%. Conclusion EPT could substantially reduce bacterial STI incidence for MSM. However, this intervention could result in a substantial increase in unnecessary use of antibiotic medication by STI-uninfected MSM, raising concerns about cost and antimicrobial resistance in absence of additional medical evaluation. Disclosure No significant relationships.
Monolithic Integration of GaP on Superconducting Circuits for Applications in Quantum Computing

We demonstrate hybrid integration of gallium phosphide photonic crystal cavities with superconducting Nb circuits using direct wafer bonding. Quality factors of Qo = 1.4 · 105 are achieved for optical cavities in close proximity to the Nb electrodes.
Collaborative Approaches to Workplace Accessibility

We conducted narrative semi-structured interviews with three stakeholders to understand how people collaborate around accessibility in the workplace. We describe existing challenges that employers and disabled employees encounter in the workplace and the processes they use to co-create access.
Nutrient restriction, inducer of yeast meiosis, induces mammalian meiosis

From yeasts to mammals, the molecular machinery and chromosome structures carrying out meiosis are frequently conserved. However, the signal to initiate meiosis appears divergent: while nutrient restriction induces meiosis in the yeast system, retinoic acid (RA), a chordate morphogen, is necessary but not sufficient to induce meiotic initiation in mammalian germ cells via its target, Stra8. Here, using cultured mouse male germline stem cells without the support of gonadal somatic cells, we show that nutrient restriction in combination with RA robustly induces Spo11-dependent meiotic DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) and Stra8-dependent meiotic gene programs recapitulating those of early meiosis in vivo. Moreover, a distinct network of 11 nutrient restriction-upregulated transcription factor genes was identified, whose expression does not require RA and is associated with early meiosis in vivo. Thus, our study proposes a conserved model, in which nutrient restriction induces meiotic initiation by upregulating transcriptional factors for meiotic gene programs, and provides an in vitro platform to derive haploid gametes in culture. One Sentence Summarynutrient restriction synergizes with retinoic acid to induce mammalian meiotic initiation
Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution is Associated with Greater Bacterial Diversity in the Lower Respiratory Tract of Children

Abstract Background Exposure to particulate matter has been shown to increase the adhesion of bacteria to human airway epithelial cells. However, the impact of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on the respiratory microbiome is unknown. Methods Forty children were recruited through the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study, a longitudinal cohort followed from birth through early adolescence. Saliva and induced sputum were collected at age 14 years. Exposure to TRAP was characterized from birth through the time of sample collection using a previously validated land-use regression model. Sequencing of the bacterial 16S and ITS fungal rRNA genes was performed on sputum and saliva samples. The relative abundance of bacterial taxa and diversity indices were compared in children with exposure to high and low TRAP. We also used multiple linear regression to assess the effect of TRAP exposure, gender, asthma status, and socioeconomic status on the alpha diversity of bacteria in sputum. Results We observed higher bacterial alpha diversity indices in sputum than in saliva. The diversity indices for bacteria were greater in the high TRAP exposure group than the low exposure group. These differences remained after adjusting for asthma status, gender, and mother’s education. No differences were observed in the fungal microbiome between TRAP exposure groups. Conclusion Our findings indicate that exposure to TRAP in early childhood and adolescence may be associated with greater bacterial diversity in the lower respiratory tract. Asthma status does not appear to confound the observed differences in diversity. It is still unknown whether the development of asthma changes the lower respiratory tract microbiome or if an altered microbiome mediates a change in disease status. However, these results demonstrate that there may be a TRAP-exposure related change in the lower respiratory microbiota that is independent of asthma status.
After the Accord: A History of Federal Reserve Open Market Operations, the US Government Securities Market, and Treasury Debt Management from 1951 to 1979

In this book Garbade, a former analyst at a primary dealer and researcher at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, traces the evolution of open market operations, Treasury debt management, and the microstructure of the US government securities markets following the 1951 Treasury-Federal Reserve. This volume examines how these operations evolved, responding both to external forces and to one another. Utilising a vast scope of primary material, the work provides insight into how officials fashioned the instruments, facilities, and procedures needed to advance their policy objectives in light of their novel freedoms and responsibilities. Students and scholars of macroeconomics, financial regulation, and the history of central banking and the Federal Reserve will find this volume a welcome addition to Garbade's earlier studies of Treasury debt operations during World War I, the 1920s, and the Great Depression and since 1983.
Involving caregivers in design and assessment of opioid risk and safety communication intervention in children.

Abstract Background Opportunities to enhance opioid medication safety among children are frequently overlooked. There is little information about what information caregivers want when a child receives an opioid prescription following surgery. Objective This paper explores pediatric caregivers' baseline knowledge and expectations for opioid medication consults in order to refine an opioid safety consultation intervention. Second, it, assesses caregivers’ post-consult knowledge and evaluation after they received the refined opioid safety consultation. Patient involvement Pediatric patient caregivers were involved in designing and evaluating an opioid education intervention. Methods Fifteen pediatric caregivers were interviewed about opioid consultations in the pre-intervention phase to inform the design of the subsequent opioid risk and safety consultation intervention. An opioid safety consultation intervention was then developed. Another 15 pediatric caregivers were interviewed in the post-intervention phase to explore impact of the revised intervention. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze data. Results Caregivers in the pre-intervention phase reported some knowledge about opioids, wanted to know if their child was prescribed an opioid and wanted information about its opioid risks and safety. Caregivers in the post-intervention phase reported an increase in knowledge about opioid risks and safety, recognized benefit of pharmacists describing the medication as an "opioid", appreciated the handout and were satisfied with the topics covered in the consultation. Discussion Discussing opioid risks can be uncomfortable for pharmacists and patients. This study explored pediatric caregivers' expectations about opioid consults and information they wanted to receive from pharmacists. This was used to develop a patient-centered education intervention which was then evaluated by caregivers for effectiveness, convenience, and comfort. Practical value This study reports pediatric caregivers’ perspectives and expectations about opioid consults which provide guidance for pharmacists to facilitate open and informative counseling for opioid medications.
Exploring the Impact of Coordination in Human–Agent Teams

Teaming permits cognitively complex work to be rapidly executed by multiple entities. As artificial agents (AAs) participate in increasingly complex cognitive work, they hold the promise of moving ...
A More Scalable Mixed-Integer Encoding for Metric Temporal Logic.

The state-of-the-art in optimal control from timed temporal logic specifications, including Metric Temporal Logic (MTL) and Signal Temporal Logic (STL), is based on Mixed-Integer Convex Programming (MICP). The standard MICP approach is sound and complete, but struggles to scale to long and complex specifications. Drawing on recent advances in trajectory optimization for piecewise-affine systems, we propose a new MICP encoding for finite transition systems that significantly improves scalability to long and complex MTL specifications. Rather than seeking to reduce the number of variables in the MICP, we focus instead on designing an encoding with a tight convex relaxation. This leads to a larger optimization problem, but significantly improves branch-and-bound solver performance. In simulation experiments involving a mobile robot in a grid-world, the proposed encoding can reduce computation times by several orders of magnitude.
The B. subtilis Accessory Helicase PcrA Facilitates DNA Replication through Transcription Units.

In bacteria the concurrence of DNA replication and transcription leads to potentially deleterious encounters between the two machineries, which can occur in either the head-on (lagging strand genes) or co-directional (leading strand genes) orientations. These conflicts lead to replication fork stalling and can destabilize the genome. Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells possess resolution factors that reduce the severity of these encounters. Though Escherichia coli accessory helicases have been implicated in the mitigation of head-on conflicts, direct evidence of these proteins mitigating co-directional conflicts is lacking. Furthermore, the endogenous chromosomal regions where these helicases act, and the mechanism of recruitment, have not been identified. We show that the essential Bacillus subtilis accessory helicase PcrA aids replication progression through protein coding genes of both head-on and co-directional orientations, as well as rRNA and tRNA genes. ChIP-Seq experiments show that co-directional conflicts at highly transcribed rRNA, tRNA, and head-on protein coding genes are major targets of PcrA activity on the chromosome. Partial depletion of PcrA renders cells extremely sensitive to head-on conflicts, linking the essential function of PcrA to conflict resolution. Furthermore, ablating PcrA’s ATPase/helicase activity simultaneously increases its association with conflict regions, while incapacitating its ability to mitigate conflicts, and leads to cell death. In contrast, disruption of PcrA’s C-terminal RNA polymerase interaction domain does not impact its ability to mitigate conflicts between replication and transcription, its association with conflict regions, or cell survival. Altogether, this work establishes PcrA as an essential factor involved in mitigating transcription-replication conflicts and identifies chromosomal regions where it routinely acts. As both conflicts and accessory helicases are found in all domains of life, these results are broadly relevant.
Large Deformation Analysis of Plates and Shells

The Field/Boundary Element method is used to solve problems involving static and dynamic analysis of thin elastic plates and shallow shells undergoing finite delections. The method is developed through the use of the weak form of the appropriate governing differential equations and boundary conditions. The resulting equations are then linearized and incremental solution strategies are discussed. In the case of problems involving limit points, a procedure which is a variation of an arc-length method is described. Numerical results of both plate and shallow shell problems are given to demonstrate the computational efficiency of the method.
Covariation of change in bioavailable testosterone and adiposity in midlife women

Objective To determine whether menopause-related changes in reproductive hormones were associated with change in adiposity and whether these relationships were independent of important covariates. Methods Annual assessments of adiposity measures [computed tomography-assessed visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAT) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-assessed total body fat (TBF)] over 4 years from an ancillary study at the Chicago site of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) were paired with reproductive hormones collected by SWAN. Included were 243 women (44% African American, 56% Caucasian) who were eligible participants in a population-based cohort with a 72% participation rate. Results VAT increased by 3.8% annually, and SAT increased by 1.8% per year. Change in bioavailable testosterone was significantly positively associated with changes both in VAT and in SAT but was not related to change in total body fat. The associations were independent of age, race, physical activity, smoking, baseline TBF, baseline bioavailable testosterone, and change in TBF. Change in estradiol was unrelated to changes in any adiposity measure. Conclusions Bioavailable testosterone may play an important role in menopause-related redistribution of visceral and subcutaneous fat in the central abdominal region.
Pairing symmetry and flux quantization in a tricrystal superconducting ring of YBa2Cu3O7- delta.

We have used the concept of flux quantization in superconducting $\mathrm{Y}{\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ rings with 0, 2, and 3 grain-boundary Josephson junctions to test the pairing symmetry in high-${T}_{c}$ superconductors. The magnetic flux threading these rings at 4.2 K is measured by employing a scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscope. Spontaneous magnetization of a half magnetic flux quantum, $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{0}}{2}=\frac{h}{4e}$ has been observed in the 3-junction ring, but not in the 2-junction rings. These results are consistent with $d$-wave pairing symmetry.
Emotion regulation in depression: Examining the role of cognitive processes

Sustained negative affect is a hallmark feature of depressive episodes. The ability to regulate emotional responses to negative events may therefore play a critical role in our understanding of this debilitating disorder. Individual differences in cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and interpretation may underlie difficulties in emotion regulation and numerous studies have identified cognitive biases and deficits that characterise depressed people. Few studies, however, have explicitly linked these biases to the difficulties in emotion regulation that are associated with depression. In this paper we discuss relations among cognitive processes and emotion regulation and review the depression literature to identify cognitive biases and deficits that may underlie maladaptive responses to negative events and mood states. Our review suggests that difficulties in the disengagement from negative material, memory biases, and deficits in cognitive control are frequently observed in depressive disorders...
The numbers of z~2 star-forming and passive galaxies in 2.5 square degrees of deep CFHT imaging

We use an adaptation of the BzKs technique to select ~40,000 z~2 galaxies (to K(AB) = 24), including ~5,000 passively evolving (PE) objects (to K(AB) = 23), from 2.5 deg^2 of deep CFTH imaging. The passive galaxy luminosity function exhibits a clear peak at R = 22 and a declining faint-end slope ({\alpha} = - 0.12 [+0.16 -0.14]),while that of star-forming galaxies is characterized by a steep faint-end slope ({\alpha} = -1.43 +- [0.02] (systematic) [+0.05 -0.04] (random)). The details of the LFs are somewhat sensitive (at <25% level) to cosmic variance even in these large(~0.5 deg^2) fields, with the D2 field (located in the COSMOS field) most discrepant from the mean. The shape of the z ~ 2 stellar mass function of passive galaxies is remarkably similar to that at z ~ 0.9, save for a factor of ~4 lower number density. This similarity suggests that the same mechanism may be responsible for the formation of passive galaxies seen at both these epochs. This same formation mechanism may also operate down to z ~ 0 if the local PE galaxy mass function, known to be two-component, contains two distinct galaxy populations. This scenario is qualitatively in agreement with recent phenomenological mass-quenching models and extends them to span more than three quarters of the history of the Universe.
Robustness and Perturbation Analysis of a Class of Nonlinear Systems with Applications to Neural Networks

We study robustness properties of a large class of nonlinear systems, by addressing the following question: given a nonlinear system with specified asymptotically stable equilibria, under what conditions will a perturbed model of the system possess asymptotically stable equilibria which are close (in distance) to the asymptotically stable equilibria of the unperturbed system? In arriving at our results, we establish robustness stability results for the perturbed systems considered and we determine conditions which ensure the existence of asymptotically stable equilibria of the perturbed system which are near the asymptotically stable equilibria of the original unperturbed system. These results involve quantitative estimates of the distance between the corresponding equilibrium points of the unperturbed and perturbed systems. We apply the above results in the qualitative analysis of a large class of artificial neural networks.
Barriers to administering intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for acute ischemic stroke in the emergency department: A cross-sectional survey of stroke centers

Abstract Objective The logistics involved in administration of IV tPA for acute ischemic stroke patients are complex, and may contribute to variability in door-to-needle times between different hospitals. We sought to identify practice patterns in stroke centers related to IV tPA use. We hypothesized that there would be significant variability in logistics related to ancillary staff (i.e. nursing, pharmacists) processes in the emergency room setting. Methods A 21 question survey was distributed to attendees of the AHA/ASA Southwest Affiliate Stroke Coordinators Conference to evaluate potential barriers and delays with regards to thrombolysis for acute strokes patients in the Emergency Department setting. Answers were anonymous and aggregated to examine trends in responses. Results Responses were obtained from 37 of 67 (55%) stroke centers, which were located mainly in the Southwest United States. Logistical processes differed between facilities. Nursing and pharmacy carried stroke pagers in only 19% of the centers, and pharmacy responded to stroke alerts only one-third of centers. Insertion of Foley catheters and nasogastric tubes prior to tPA was routine in some of the sites. Other barriers to IV tPA administration included physician reluctance and inadequate communication between health care providers. Conclusion Practices regarding logistics for giving IV tPA may be variable amongst different stroke centers. Given this potential variability, prospective evaluation to confirm these preliminary findings is warranted.
Close Genetic Linkage of the Determinants of the Ribitol and d-Arabitol Catabolic Pathways in Klebsiella aerogenes

Klebsiella aerogenes strain W70 has separate inducible pathways for the degradation of the pentitols ribitol and d-arabitol. These pathways are closely linked genetically as determined by transduction with phage PW52. There are two regulatory sites for the ribitol catabolic pathway as defined by loci for mutations to constitutive synthesis of ribitol dehydrogenase and d-ribulokinase, rbtB and rbtC. The two control sites are separated by a site represented by the dalB22 mutation. This mutation deprives the cell of the ability to induce synthesis of d-arabitol dehydrogenase and d-xylulokinase activities. Two additional regulatory mutations for the d-arabitol pathway, dalC31 and dalC37, map to the opposite side of rbtB13 relative to dalB22. The order of the genetic sites thus far determined for this region is dalK-dalD-dalC31, dalC37-rbtB13-dalB22-rbtC14-rbtD-rbtK, where dalK and dalD represent structural genes for the kinase and dehydrogenase of the d-arabitol pathway, respectively, and rbtK and rbtD represent the corresponding genes for the ribitol pathway. The two mutations that lead to constitutive synthesis of the d-arabitol-induced enzymes, dalC31 and dalC37, have different phenotypes with regard to their response to xylitol. The growth of dalC31 is inhibited by xylitol, but the toxicity can be reduced by increasing the levels of ribitol dehydrogenase either by induction with ribitol or by selection of a ribitol dehydrogenase-constitutive mutation.
The Practice of English Language Teaching (3rd ed.)

TESOL Quarterly welcomes evaluative reviews of publications relevant to TESOL professionals.
QM-FE Calculations of Aliphatic Hydrogen Abstraction in Citrate Synthase and in Solution: Reproduction of the Effect of Enzyme Catalysis and Demonstration that an Enolate Rather than an Enol Is Formed

Mechanistic enzymologists have long debated how enzymes catalyze the abstraction of an unactivated C−H group. Citrate synthase, due to its ability to catalyze this abstraction and its central role in the respiratory cycle, has been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically. Despite this scrutiny, the question remains as to whether the initial aliphatic hydrogen abstraction step of the mechanism is stabilized by the formation of an enol-imidazolate intermediate through “short, strong” hydrogen bonds, as opposed to the more traditional enolate-imidazole complex. In an attempt to present a definitive answer to this question, quantum mechanical-free energy (QM-FE) calculations were performed for the formation of the enolate-imidazole complex from the reactants, as well as for the further formation of the enol-imidazolate system. These reactions were found to be extremely sensitive to the use of nonbonded cutoffs, and reliable results were only obtained with the use of particle mesh Ewald (PME)...
Cost-effectiveness analysis of interventions for congenital heart disease

Expansion of the options available for the treatment of congenital heart disease has been accompanied by an increasing realization of the limits of our available health care resources. Cost-effectiveness analysis is one of several analytic approaches that can improve decisions about the appropriate use of technology in interventional pediatric cardiology and other fields. In this article, cost-effectiveness analysis is distinguished from related approaches, such as cost-benefit analysis. Then, basic principles of cost-effectiveness analysis are described. Next, the application of these principles is illustrated, using a recently published comparison of transcatheter versus surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus. Finally, potential research implications of the surprising findings of this study are discussed.
Silicone spacer or tendon spacer for trapezium resection arthroplasty—Comparison of results

A comparison study was done for 25 consecutive trapeziectomies in 21 women with silicone replacements and 25 consecutive trapeziectomies in 24 women without silicone replacements who were reviewed from 1 to 9 years postoperatively. The patients, who ranged from 35 to 75 years of age, were housewives and clerical workers. All had trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis. Among the patients with silicone replacement of the trapezium, 90% reported pain relief; mean thumb abduction was 42.5°, pronation was 37.5°, and pinch strength averaged 5 kg. Among the patients without silicone replacement after trapeziectomy, 95% reported pain relief; mean thumb abduction was 46.8°, pronation was 41.4°, and pinch strength averaged 4.6 kg. For those patients with only one hand operated upon, pinch strength in that hand averaged 85% that of the opposite hand in patients with silicone trapezial replacement and 82%for those without silicone trapezial replacement. In this patient population, trapeziectomies with or without silicone replacement as treatment for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis appear to give similar results.
A Superlinearly Convergent Sequential Quadratically Constrained Quadratic Programming Algorithm for Degenerate Nonlinear Programming

We present an algorithm that achieves superlinear convergence for nonlinear programs satisfying the Mangasarian--Fromovitz constraint qualification and the quadratic growth condition. This convergence result is obtained despite the potential lack of a locally convex augmented Lagrangian. The algorithm solves a succession of subproblems that have quadratic objectives and quadratic constraints, both possibly nonconvex. By the use of a trust-region constraint we guarantee that any stationary point of the subproblem induces superlinear convergence, which avoids the problem of computing a global minimum. We compare this algorithm with sequential quadratic programming algorithms on several degenerate nonlinear programs.
Role of interleukin-6 in a glucan-induced model of granulomatous vasculitis

The role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in granulomatous vasculitis is not well understood. To investigate its involvement in this type of vasculitis a model of glucan-induced pulmonary vasculitis employed interleukin-6 deficient (IL-6-/-) mice. Briefly, IL-6-/- mice and C57B/J6 wild type (IL-6+/+) mice were injected intravenously with a suspension of glucan isolated from the cell wall of bakers yeast which results in a granulomatous vasculitis primarily in the pulmonary vasculature. Histological examination demonstrated no significant difference in the number of infiltrating leukocytes between the IL-6+/+ and IL-6-/- glucan-injured mice. Similar numbers of granulomas were noted in both the IL-6+/+ and IL-6-/- injured animals, while no granulomas were seen in saline injected control mice. Cells recovered from the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were differentially stained and counted. While there was a significant increase in infiltrating leukocytes recovered from the BAL following glucan-induced injury, there was no significant difference between the IL-6+/+ and IL-6-/- mice. In addition, no difference was demonstrated in total protein content in the BAL fluid between IL-6+/+ and IL-6-/- mice. However, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lungs of the IL-6-/- mice was less than in their IL-6+/+ counterparts suggesting that these animals have a partial defect in their ability to recruit neutrophils in this model. Studies done to look for levels of other cytokines/chemokines in these animals to compensate for the loss of IL-6 revealed that only IL-10 in the sera (p<0.016) and BAL fluid (p<0.05) of IL-6-/- mice was significantly higher then their IL-6+/+-injured counterparts. These studies suggest that IL-6, while possibly involved in early neutrophil accumulation in this model does not appear critical to the development of the TH-2 mediated granulomatous vasculitis.
Future technology challenges in distributed interactive simulation

The paper examines the changes in computer and communications capabilities over the next 10-15 years which are most likely to affect the central components of distributed interactive simulation (DIS): manned simulators, synthetic environments, and semi-automated forces (SAF). Because these components of DIS are currently very resource intensive, improvements in computer and communications capabilities translate into direct and immediate improvements in DIS capabilities. These improved capabilities in turn allow DIS to contribute in much broader arenas, enhancing troop readiness and reducing system acquisition costs. These improvements will not all come automatically, however. Substantial planning is required to ensure that DIS can take advantage of the coming changes, rather than being overcome by them. >
The Elements of Plant Micronutrients

Amino acid R groups in proteins provide a limited repertoire of functional groups for catalyzing biochemical transformations. The use of inorganic elements, particularly the first row transition metals, expands greatly the range of chemistry that can be catalyzed in a cell. Zinc ions are key for
Experimental observation of a delayed bifurcation at the threshold of an argon laser

Abstract An Ar + laser driven across the threshold region by a slow variation of the cavity losses displays a delayed bifurcation and easily observable lags relative to the true steady state of the system. The delayed bifurcation is the result of a dynamical stabilization of the zero-field state that persists even when the cavity losses are swept at a rate which is smaller, by several orders of magnitudes, than all the other decay rates of the system. These results are in good qualitative agreement with the predictions of a simple theoretical model.
Experimental verification of a theoretical model for continuous wave energy transfer dye mixture lasers in the near infrared

We report the experimental verification of a simulation model for cw energy transfer dye lasers. Experimentais results obtained with Rhodamine 610 (donor) and Nile Blue 690 (acceptor) confirm theoretical model predictions.
Bridging the High School-College Gap for Early Admitted Students.

Trends toward early admissions require that counselors give increasing attention to the special needs and expectations of students who enter college environments at younger ages.
Three-Dimensional Geometry as Carrier of Information about Time

A geometry of curved empty space which evolves in time in accordance with Einstein's field equations may be termed a "geometrodynamical history." It is known that such a history can be specified by giving on a 3-dimensional space-like hypersurface ("initial surface") (1) the geometry intrinsic to this surface and (2) the extrinsic curvature of this surface (having to do with how the surface is imbedded, or is to be imbedded, in a yet-to-be-constructed 4-dimensional manifold). However, the intrinsic and extrinsic curvatures of the surface cannot be specified independently, but have to satisfy the initial value equations of Foures and Lichnerowicz (analogous to div E=0 and div B=0 in electromagnetism). An alternative way of specifying a history is outlined here in which the intrinsic geometry is given freely on each of two hyper-surfaces, and nothing is specified as to the extrinsic curvature of either. In the special case in which the two so-specified 3-geometries are nearly alike—in a sense specified more precisely in the text—a procedure is outlined in order to find the following from Einstein's equations: (1) the invariant space-time interval between an arbitrary point on one surface and a nearby point on the other surface (and thus the 4-geometry interior to the thin sandwich); (2) the extrinsic curvature of the sandwich; hence (via the rest of Einstein's equations) (3) the entire enveloping 4-geometry or geometrodynamical history); and thus finally (4) the time-like separation of the original surfaces and their location in spacetime. In this sense two 3-geometries carry latent information about time.
Laser welding of an advanced rapidly-solidified titanium alloy

The present study investigated the laser weldability of the complex RS titanium alloy described above by comparatively evaluating the microstructures, mechanical properties and fracture characteristics of the base metal and the rapidly solidified weld fusion zone
Enteric drainage of a pancreas allograft is safe for patients with celiac sprue

Enteric drainage of exocrine secretions in whole organ pancreas transplantation is generally avoided in patients with pre-existing small bowel disease; however, bladder drainage is associated with a 20% rate of urinary tract-related complications. This is a case report of a type 1 diabetic patient with celiac sprue and renal failure. We performed a simultaneous cadaveric kidney pancreas transplant enterically draining the exocrine pancreas. There were no complications. The patient is now more than 6 months post-transplant with excellent function of both renal and pancreas allografts. We conclude that enteric drainage of pancreas allografts in patients with celiac sprue may be performed safely. Whole organ pancreas transplantation is being performed with greater success than ever before, mostly as a result of lessons learned from past experience (1). Enteric drainage of allograft exocrine secretions is preferred for simultaneous pancreas/kidney (SPK) recipients to avoid urinary tract complications associated with bladder drainage. However, most agree that diabetics with pre-existing bowel disease should have bladder drainage of allograft exocrine secretions, so as to prevent the devastating complication of a bowel leak. We describe here a successful case of enteric drainage of an SPK transplant in a patient with celiac sprue. We believe that, when carefully performed, enteric drainage of pancreas allografts is a safe approach for diabetic patients with celiac sprue, and may avert the serious complications associated with bladder drainage.
Construction and validation of a communication based emotional support scale

A review of the emotional support and social support literature indicates a paucity of instruments which directly measure the phenomena of interest. While many have utilized assessments of “strong” or “weak” links between relational partners, they have not examined the communication modalities specifically. They have also tended to view emotional support as a unilateral product of a source or receiver rather than a product of communicative interactions. In order to examine support more carefully, a unidimensional instrument was developed to measure the communication of emotional support in relationships. As tests of convergent validity, it was suggested that perceptions of emotional support will be positively correlated to perceptions of relational solidarity and relational quality. The final instrument consisted of 13 communication based items with high reliability and evidence of internal, face, and convergent validity.
Excimer and monomer fluorescence of 1,3-biscarbazolyl propane

Abstract 1,3-Biscarbazolyl propane (BCP) has been investigated as a model compound for polyvinyl carbazole, representing two neighbouring side groups of the latter. The fluorescence spectrum of BCP dissolved in cyclohexane, methanol, and benzene shows intramolecular excimer fluorescence. Compared with N-isopropyl carbazole, the quantum efficiency of monomer fluorescence of BCP is decreased.
N-Terminal Truncated Intracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Induces Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy, Inflammation and Systolic Heart Failure

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to progressive cardiac injury within the setting of ischemia-reperfusion injury and ischemic ventricular remodeling. A common feature of these conditions is an increase in oxidative stress, a process that engages multiple pro-inflammatory and innate immunity cascades. We recently reported on the identification and characterization of an intracellular isoform of MMP-2 generated by oxidative stress-mediated activation of an alternative promoter located within the first intron of the MMP-2 gene. Transcription from this site generates an N-terminal truncated 65 kDa isoform of MMP-2 (NTT-MMP-2) that lacks the secretory sequence and the inhibitory prodomain region. The NTT-MMP-2 isoform is intracellular, enzymatically active and localizes in part to mitochondria. Expression of the NTT-MMP-2 isoform triggers Nuclear Factor of Activated T-cell (NFAT) and NF-κB signaling with the expression of a highly defined innate immunity transcriptome, including Interleukin-6, MCP-1, IRF-7 and pro-apoptotic transcripts. To determine the functional significance of the NTT-MMP-2 isoform in vivo we generated cardiac-specific NTT-MMP-2 transgenic mice. These mice developed progressive cardiomyocyte and ventricular hypertrophy associated with systolic heart failure. Further, there was evidence for cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial infiltration with mononuclear cells. The NTT-MMP-2 transgenic hearts also demonstrated more severe injury following ex vivo ischemia-reperfusion injury. We conclude that a novel intracellular MMP-2 isoform induced by oxidant stress directly contributes, in the absence of superimposed injury, to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. inflammation, systolic heart failure and enhanced susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Measurement of Thrombomodulin mRNA Expression in Brain Capillaries by Polymerase Chain Reaction

Thrombomodulin (TM), an endothelial integral membrane protein, is a potent activator of the protein C anticoagulant pathway. TM protein expression is limited and regionally distributed in the brain. Recent investigations have demonstrated low TM mRNA expression by brain endothelium, corresponding to its distribution at the protein level. To facilitate the study of TM expression at the transcriptional level, we measured TM mRNA by quantitative-competitive polymerase chain reaction (QC-PCR) and by standard densitometric analysis of reverse transcriptase-PCR products (RT-PCR) in different regions of bovine brain. QC-PCR demonstrated differential TM mRNA expression in the pons (100+/-9%), cerebellum (359+/-103%), and cortex (441+/-24%). We compared these results with those of RT-PCR and found similar differences in relative TM mRNA expression in the pons (100+/-44%), cerebellum (343+/-8%), and cortex (404+/-62%). Data derived by QC-PCR and RT-PCR were highly correlated (r=0.99, p<0.03). These findings indicate that either QC-PCR or RT-PCR can be used to accurately quantify TM mRNA.
A Portrait of the Artist in Politics: Justice and Self-Interest in Aristophanes' Acharnians

The first extant play of Aristophanes, Acharnians, contains an eerily modern thought-experiment: what if justice is self-interest, rightly understood? The drama examines evidence for the hypothesis in three contexts: international relations; relations between the citizen and the polity; and a special case of the latter, relations between the artist and the polity. The drama shows how rudimentary justice can be secured by promoting economic interests over citizenship and artistic dissent over loyalty. Historically, these thoughts on justice—as refined in Aristophanes' later works—constitute an ancient analog of early liberal thought with its derivation of justice from interest. They represent a pre-Platonic position on justice that differs from both Sophistic and conventional Greek thinking. Normatively, Aristophanes' thought sheds light on weaknesses in modern justice theory. By making the artist's political function the linchpin of a vision of justice, Acharnians suggests a new way to view justice in relation to self-interest.
Trace measurements of nucleic acids using flow injection amperometry

Abstract Flow injection analysis with amperometric detection is used for quantitating nucleic acids down to picogram level. The procedure relies on the oxidation of the bound guanine moiety at the untreated carbon paste detector, and does not require any prior derivatization or hydrolysis reactions. The response is evaluated with respect to flow rate, operating potential, type and concentration of the nucleic acid, and other variables. At a fixed potential of +1.0 V ( vs. Ag AgCl ) the detection limits for double-stranded DNA, single-stranded DNA and tRNA are 460, 540 and 750 pg, respectively. Good reproducibility (R.S.D.s of 1.9–2.9%) is observed for prolonged series (n = 30). The attractive behavior of the carbon paste detector holds great promise for monitoring nucleic acids in Chromatographic effluents, and should facilitate new applications in molecular biology.
Interaction of two inhibitors which act on different enzymes of a metabolic pathway

Abstract An analysis of the interaction of two inhibitors which act on different enzymes of a generalized metabolic pathway is presented. The steady-state kinetic behaviour of the pathway is treated in terms of the operation of a single component enzyme, E, with which one inhibitor interacts directly. The other inhibitor is assumed to act on an enzyme prior to E , and affects E only by decreasing the concentration of its substrate. Whether the interaction of the two inhibitors is synergistic, independent or antagonistic is determined from a comparison of the effect of the direct inhibitor upon the apparent kinetic order of its target enzyme with its effect on the fractional substrate decrement produced by the remote inhibitor. The analysis is applied to three model pathways whose component reactions are catalyzed by enzymes operating with Michaelis-Menten-Henri kinetics with particular emphasis on conditions where the interaction is synergistic. It is found that synergism will in many cases result from the fact that a competitive inhibitor of a Michaelis-Menten-Henri enzyme will increase the apparent kinetic order of the reaction, making its rate more sensitive to the substrate decrease resulting from the action of a remote inhibitor. Cases are also described where synergism can result solely from one inhibitor increasing the fractional substrate decrement caused by the other. In all cases where a synergistic interaction was found in the model pathways a necessary condition was that the configuration of the pathway should be such that each inhibitor, acting alone, must be capable of reducing the pathway velocity. A brief description of the properties of metabolic pathways which are susceptible to inhibition at multiple points is presented.
Dysregulation of Local Stem/Progenitor Cells as a Common Cellular Mechanism for Heterotopic Ossification

Heterotopic ossification (HO), the abnormal formation of true marrow-containing bone within extraskeletal soft tissues, is a serious bony disorder that may be either acquired or hereditary. We utilized an animal model of the genetic disorder fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva to examine the cellular mechanisms underlying HO. We found that HO in these animals was triggered by soft tissue injuries and that the effects were mediated by macrophages. Spreading of HO beyond the initial injury site was mediated by an abnormal adaptive immune system. These observations suggest that dysregulation of local stem/progenitor cells could be a common cellular mechanism for typical HO irrespective of the signal initiating the bone formation.
ENCOUNTER WITH NEUROBIOLOGY: THE RESPONSE OF RITUAL STUDIES

Abstract. Knowledge of the working of the brain is of prime importance to anthropologists studying ritual and symbol. The play between the neocortical hemispheres can be inferred from the varying styles at different stages of ritual: one can begin to hypothesize archetypes for general processes such as self-healing social dramas that are at the roots of ritual: the concept of preparedness as a genetic endowment residing in the brain appears to confirm the fundamental importance of image making; while the shamanic skills of inhibition and disinhibition, releasing latent religious powers, can be grasped for what they are.
070 Epidermal Wound Healing is Delayed in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic PIGS

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes is a well established model of diabetes in rodents. However, these small mammals differ from humans in a number of anatomical and physiological ways, in contrast to pigs, who are more similar to humans. No diabetic pig model has been used for the study of wound healing. Our hypothesis is that re-epithelialization would be delayed in the streptozotocin induced diabetic pig. Method: Diabetes was induced by injecting Streptozotocin into two three month old female Yorkshire pigs. 52 full thickness wounds were created on the dorsum and dressed with polyvinyl chambers to keep the wounds wet and to allow for wound fluid monitoring. Serum glucose and wound fluid glucose concentrations were monitored daily. Wound contraction was monitored and biopsies taken on multiple days for re-epithelialization measurements. Results: The serum glucose was significantly increased for the duration of the experiment (>350 mg/dl). Wound fluid glucose closely followed serum glucose concentration. There was no statistical difference between the contraction rates of wounds in diabetic pigs and healthy pigs. Re-epithelialization was significantly delayed in diabetic wounds. Reepithelialization Day 12 Day 14 Day 16 Diabetic pig 38% 59% 82% Healthy pig 96% 100% 100% Conclusion: Epidermal regeneration of full thickness wounds is significantly delayed in the Streptozotocin induced diabetic pig. This is a very useful model of impaired wound healing because of the close similarity to human skin. The wound chambers add the advantage of monitoring and manipulating the wound environment.
DEPOLARIZATION IN e+e- AND e-e- COLLISIONS

I make some comments on the depolarization in beam–beam interactions at electron–electron and electron–positron colliders and present some results from a CAIN study of this effect.
Inhibition of ribosomal ribonucleic acid maturation by 5-azacytidine and 8-azaguanine in Novikoff hepatoma cells

The base analogues 5-azacytidine and 8-azaguanine both inhibit ribosomal RNA maturation in cultured Novikoff hepatoma cells in a manner similar to that reported for 5-fluorouridine. Formation of the mature 28S rRNA and the 18S rRNA from their precursors is markedly inhibited, while labeling of the 32S ribosomal precursor RNA is inhibited to a lesser degree. Processing of the 45S precursor RNA to the 38S precursor does not appear to be affected by these analogues. Chase experiments at low concentrations of actinomycin D show that 5-azacytidine and 5-fluorouridine can completely inhibit the formation of mature 28S RNA and 18S rRNA, while the maximum inhibition of the maturation process achieved with 8-azaguanine was approximately 70% at equimolar concentrations.